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I'm breaking up in itty bitty parts... I hate attatched files :)

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You will need to know that I stuck with the Japanese version to fully understand this.

                ~ Chapter 4 ~

_...they thought I was crazy, it was a surprise I didn't live up to that..._

 Akane leaned on the hallway, Ranma's side of the hallway as she had labeled it and waited for him to come out of the room, a little hurt that he had hid that room from her.

 "I'm not crazy, Ranma." She said as he came out, sliding the shoji close behind him.

 "Kodachi, did that bump on the head made you loose what common sense you had floating around there." He asked waving at her head for emphasis.

 "If you're so upset, I won't run at mornings, I'll do it at night and I'll practice at night too, but you have to fill up my morning schedule." He was being stubborn. Of course, he was upsetting her timetable too.

 "I wasn't just talking about the dress." He scowled again, Akane wondered if he scowled as much to anyone else. "I'd never call you Akane, and I'd never let you near Hanae."

 "Never say never." She smiled, it was the only way she knew how to respond, other than being violent about it, she still had her patience. Small, but she still had it. "I'll dress up for dinner so I can get out of this getup you so obviously despise." She tugged at it to stress her point, "Just don't look too surprised with my clothes. None of them fits me anymore."

 Ranma gave Akane what seemed like a puzzled stare. "Why not order some clothes?"

 "Order more?" She didn't see any boutiques ... say Tokyo Fashion around and Kodachi didn't seem to buy her clothes off the rack -- wait was there a rack in 1600? -- Possibly not. "I don't know how."

 To that Ranma laughed. It wasn't the usual laugh you hear day to day. Akane was actually surprised that he *could*. It was the closest to happy she had ever seen him. It didn't last long.

 "I'm sure Ifuku will enlighten you." He answered dryly. He let the topic go for a moment then focused on something he was really interested in, "Are you telling me you remember nothing? The doctor said some memory might return."

 Akane let out a sigh, obviously he didn't believe the truth, which honestly was understandable, but she still couldn't let it go. "I really have nothing to remember."

 "Don't tell me you expect me to believe that story about you dying and going in this body Kodachi. Frankly I'm having a hard time to believe you have amnesia. Don't expect me to believe that other one."

 She looked at him incredulously. Not only did he not believe the truth -- which was OK since she'd be skeptical herself if someone had told her -- but he doesn't believe the doctor's prognosis. 'This isn't happening to me...This isn't what I planned in my head these past weeks.'

 In her imagination, they would talk calmly and shake each other's hands. Hey, sometimes he had even believed her crazy story. She had been prepared for anything. Anything but this.

 By this time her temper had reached its limit. She shouted, "Believe what you want then!" She could feel she was close to tears. Damn. "Kodachi is dead, and I'm alive. I won't let her ruin my life as she has apparently done in yours!"

 She hated it when people saw her cry, she was about to whirl around to run to her room. If she didn't she might just grab things and start pounding on something to make her feel better.

 But she didn't. "Stop staring at me! I hate it when people see me cry!" She said as he continued to do just that. This, for some reason, made her want to pound him all the more, wielding her mallet (which had magically appeared) she pounded on the space he was standing on. The problem was she couldn't hit him. "Dammit! Stay *still*!"

 He did stop. With him he caught her two hands and pulled them apart pinning them against the wall, he did this so gently that they didn't break through the thin paper shoji. He was about to disarm her, but it looked like the mallet was nowhere in sight.

 "Kodachi, let's get this straight. You're reverting to a *mallet* now?" He asked letting her arms go, "You're picking such an 'unfeminine' weapon?"

 "*What* did you say?!" Akane shouted she had another mallet in her hand.

 Ranma had disarmed her just as quickly holding her hands behind her back, "I was just clarifying your choice in weapons. *You* were the one who referred to Ukyo's spatula as unfeminine and Shampoo and Rian's as uncouth, don't you think this is just the same? More so."

 She registered for the first time that he had insulted her choice of weapons... her nice choice of weapons... And her mallet, which has never failed her before, decided to do so now. Damn her stupid luck.

 She didn't answer him, he didn't let her go. "Let's just get this out in the open to reawaken your foggy mind. You *cannot* hit me. Hanae is asleep. *You* are making noise. Do you really want me to dunk you in one of your potions to shut up?"

 Throughout his speech Akane stared at him wide-eyed. No one had stopped her hammer before. Not even Ryoga. Evading simply wasn't possible.

 And yet he did. If she wasn't angry she'd be amazed at the speed. They stood there in the hall, if someone had walked in, they'd have thought Ranma was actually embracing her, until they see her hands at her back where he kept a tight hold on both her wrists.

 "You have always been crazy Kodachi, so let's stop the games." He said, regarding her cautiously, she still had her legs, and her head, keeping her arms unusable was just a set-back.

 As she recognized the look she sighed, that look was going to get her in an asylum. Every second they stood at the center of the hallway -- they had moved considerably from Hanae's door -- anger seeped out of her. "I -- I'm sorry I remember now...I had a talk with Dr. Kinzaki and I told him of a dream I had of dying and going to another body."

 It was the biggest lie she had ever told. "He said it was natural for amnesia patients to believe anything other than what's truly happened to them..."

 She might be saving herself from whatever verdict of lunacy they had given her, but she'd just thrown her sanity down a cliff and drowned it. "Now it's back to amnesia? Did you dream that too?" He asked sarcastically, "And when did you turn into a terrible liar, I could see your face reddening. New trick you picked up, so you can convince me that you're lying?"

 She flushed, 'Was it that obvious?' She had never been a good liar. "Why would I try to convince you that I'm lying when it would do the worst possible thing to what you think on my sanity?"

 "Because what I think doesn't really matter does it?" Ranma sneered, "So, my dearest Kodachi, are you lying?"

 "No, the amnesia is real, and I'm not lying." You don't know how hard it is to sound indignant when you are doing just exactly what you're being accused of. "I still have no memory of you."

 He leaned towards her and her eyes widened, "What the HELL do you think you're doing?" She asked, trying to bring her arms up, he had a tight grip.

 "Seeing if you have amnesia, my dear wife." Ranma retorted, he brought up his left hand to hold her head making his right hand encircle her waist along with her hands. By now his mind was giving him warning signals that the only attack his wife would see -- if she chose to would be bringing up her knee.

 Akane meanwhile -- did not think of that. She was panicking and she had never been completely pinned down before -- well sure there were a lot of instances... but that had been in the dojo -- or in the bed, and it certainly wasn't an attack like this. Locking her ankle around his leg she shoved him off using her shoulders. He didn't move by much but he had dropped his hands.

 It wasn't her desired effect, he was standing, and she was on the floor, the shove causing her to loose her precarious balance, she hadn't expected him to still stand up.

 "I thought we already established something about fighting." He quipped.

 "Worth a try." She answered standing up, "Never, never do that again with me, Ranma! If you want a kiss, ASK. NICELY."

 She was also very angry by now. "Don't you ever force me. You idiot! You pervert!" She stomped off frustrated that she couldn't think of anything insulting to say.

 Ranma stared after her and wondered where she had gotten the strength to push him off. If he didn't have a great sense of balance he'd have stumbled a bit. If it were any other person he knew, they'd have been down on the floor. If it had been an ordinary person, they'd be at least five feet away on the floor, unconscious.

 He heard the door shut, more like banged, and winced. 'Wait...Back up a minute...PERVERT?' He shook his head as he rubbed his shoulder, "She has *got* to be kidding." Compared to her he was practically a priest.

 He didn't know if it had been a good idea to block Kodachi's hits, after all, anger, the longer put off when felt was more felt and painful. But then, if she let her hit him, he'd loose the last semblance of control he has.

 "Daddy, why didn't you wake me up?" A sleepy tug came with it.

 Ranma looked down to find Hanae rubbing her eyes out, apparently Kodachi did wake her, and he was thinking deeply enough not to notice her come.  "You were tired. You've seen it lots of times." he smiled at her, carrying her up.

 "That was Kodachi, right?"

 "Hmm...forgotten her already? You see her practically every year." Ranma asked heading towards her room. Ukyo had decorated that one, but she really had nothing in there but the luggage she had brought in. Mostly it was in Ukyo's place, he thought Hanae's things would be better off with her than his wife.

 "Is she my mother at Rose Brier?" She asked solemnly.

 He nodded. Hanae was certainly more perceptive and brighter than your average six-year-old. In a house of paper doors... "I'm sorry I can't keep the noise down."

 "I'm a light sleeper, daddy." She whispered clinging to his neck. She was actually trying to reassure him.

 As he entered Hanae's room he looked about the pastel decorated walls. There was nothing much in the room, a few shelves to keep her dolls, a mirror, a closet for her clothes...

 When Hanae was newly born, he had brought her here. Kodachi threw her out... literally, he had run out to catch her ... in the rain. Good thing he had. Kodachi had been screaming then, she still did so now.

 He had taken pains to see that Hanae would not be around when Kodachi was, even if it meant she was away for some days. He had not counted in Kodachi's mind in that schedule, and Ukyo had told him she was going weeks in advance, he couldn't very well cancel on her.

 "Look, Hanae. Kodachi and I aren't on the best of terms." He put her down and rumpled her hair "And I *really* am not the person to deal with her."

 Bringing the luggage towards the bed Ranma unlocked it while Hanae got some hangers at the closet. "I'm sorry you had to come home when she's here and..."

 "It's okay, daddy. Kodachi isn't so bad." She reassured him, then smiled. "Do you want me to have dinner with you guys?"

 "No." Ranma answered grimly. "Kodachi is someone I have to handle alone."

 When Ranma got out of the room Nabiki welcomed him with a raised eyebrow. "Welcome home Ranma, and how is my brother, today?"  Nabiki droned wile giving her son a pat in the back to greet his uncle. The boy bowed immediately, then, the formalities finished, he rushed up to give his uncle a hug.

 Sei then, seeing Hanae who had risen from her bed again, asked her to go on for a swim, which the girl happily agreed to (even though she still couldn't figure out how to breathe under water). After she greeted her aunt and receiving permission, they were off to the bay. Then both of them proceeded to the tea house for privacy.

 "So what happened, Ranma?" Nabiki unconsciously arranged her kimono as she sat down on the cushion with her brother, "I trust everything is fine?"

 Ranma explained to her the location of the troops and the trouble that had been brewing in the side, as well as his suspicion of mobilization, the well placed fires and his worries.

 "Looks like you're right, if mercenaries are being hired... well it can not be good." She said after listening intently to what Ranma was saying. Once plotting would have made her smile now she saw all of it through dispassionate eyes and offered what she knows. "We still have to find out who's wreaking havoc on Nerima first. Mercenaries... they can never be traced to a house."

 Ranma would've given anything to see his sister happy, he didn't know she wished the same for him as well, and this was the only way to do it... give her a job that keeps her mind working.

 To others it may seem that he was working her hard, his own sister... but it was the only way. Nabiki was only happy with figuring things out.

 "Usually we start with who hates you -- or me -- enough to want to destroy us --" Nabiki suggested, since to those who don't know about her thought her to be Ranma's consort, "-- It is possible it is against Kodachi too... but her enemies are far too many, and an attack against her is unthinkable, most think she's touched by Kami"

 "We've both made enemies..." Ranma said slowly, unmindful of the maid who entered and left the sake and porcelain cups to Nabiki.

 "Yes, I must agree, though mine cause less property damage than yours." Nabiki let out sardonically offering the porcelain cup filled with sake to him which he declined at first and finally accepted.

 "Hey! You were the one who had a samurai out for your head because you just HAD to tell him you were better than him, and humiliated him in front everybody to boot."

 "Something someone I know would have done if he were goaded, hmmm?" Nabiki frowned as she remembered the said samurai. "He cost me a very good sword! But at least I don't bring super powered martial artists on the place."

 She placed the porcelain cup down and folded her hands in front of her leaning closer to her brother, "Cologne was one, an enraged Amazon with that fight of yours because you hadn't married the hair-care product that chased you half-way around the globe, it is fairly good luck that Rian didn't chose to go after you too. Pantyhose Tarou is another, just because you wouldn't let him in the border of Kanto because of our dear liege lord... need I go on?"

 "Hey -- Shampoo saved us money by making doors!" Ranma protested falling back to the banter that usually found its way when he was talking to Nabiki.

 "Oh yes! *DOORS*! How can we forget those?" Nabiki nodded slowly, "Be that as it may, there are the four regents to put in mind. We are under the Lord Ieyasu, so Briar Rose is in his corner... and since the Kanto is the center point of the region... we are at a tactical advantage... all the other regents would want us in their corner. They can be the ONLY ONES."

 She let this information sink in. "Those powered friends of yours wouldn't go on a systematic destruction of the Kanto Regions, they'd think it dishonorable not to fight your ritualized bashes. The peasants can not be under revolt, you tax fairly and you're as nice a lord as they come. The etas... they will not even think about pulling a stunt like this... all the rest have no motive."

 "Do you think Cologne would do it?" Ranma queried a moment of silence.

 Nabiki sighed, "I wouldn't know, Cologne is still in China last I've heard of her, but she's not been hostile ever since you married Kodachi. She almost looked sympathetic."

 "It doesn't make any sense."

 "Ranma, Ranma, Ranma, when will you learn that nothing in this world makes sense?"

 "I've thought of putting one of the samurai on this, Konatsu seems a good choice, this being his area of specialty... but I wanted you to be in on this first. I don't mean any disrespect or insult on your abilities, after all you are my sister. I think it would be best if it was kept to family."

 Nabiki sat back up straightly, "Think Konatsu isn't up for the job?"

 "Your idea. What I'm saying is, you might want to take it on...you know as a personal project" He was pleased to see Nabiki's predatory smile on her face, it meant she was interested. That smile wouldn't last long...

 "Oh?" She settled her chin on her hands, time for a little brotherly talk, "What makes you think I'll work on this project of yours Ranma?"

 "This project of mine is also a project of yours Nabiki. You are a Saotome."

 "I swear I was switched at birth." She drawled still giving him that predatory look.

 "And you'll want it for the rep Nabs. I mean a case you *couldn't* solve?"

 Nabiki stared at him for a moment. It was Ranma's turn to smile, he had hit a chord. "I take it back, you may be my brother. I'm still not entirely sure on that part."

 "Sure, sure. Still can't resist a challenge?"

 "It's what got that man a sword." She muttered. "It's what gets you all those enemies..."

 "So you'll take it. Thanks."

 "I never said anything like that."

 Ranma nodded, since Nabiki was under his household, he could give out the order and follow it, but he liked the play of words, it kept his wits about him. He was also sure that Nabiki would do so anyway.

 "Okay, I'll look into the matter." She said a little too resignedly for him to take it seriously.

 Still... he wanted this over with and done, and he could kill two birds with one stone... "You want incentive...how about if I...tell you about the little history of Hanae?"

 Nabiki frowned at that and looked at Ranma puzzled. No one had ever asked anything from him, and she was so interested in that child he had. Nabiki stopped, so that was what her brother was getting at... he had never told her the reason for Hanae because there was no need to, she had been tied to other things back then... now... there must be a reason why he wanted to tell her, but he still used it as a bargaining chip, so that he wouldn't loose face.

 Nabiki had a fine head for investigative matters as well plus a large penchant for adventure -- having Ranma for a brother made that addictive. She was also at best a little bit below Ranma for his fighting skills, they were raised by the same foster father after all.

 "I swear, one of these days I'm going to find out how you get away with this."

 "Really Nabiki, you should recognize your techniques by now." He shook his head at her. "Anyway, thanks. I do hope you find it soon."

 "You don't trust me?" Nabiki asked wide-eyed pointing to herself.

 "Let's just finish this quickly."

 "So... you never answered my question... I wasn't talking about your trip." At his blank stare she repeated it, "So... what happened Ranma?"

 He stared at her, he still did not know what she was talking about, then it hit him while she just stared not giving any explanation... she was talking about Kodachi.

 He cringed a little he didn't know how Nabiki put up with Kodachi, but she did, she had been left alone at the house with Kodachi, and it seems they have not met even once, she has even managed to conceal her son to her. In a paper house... well... Ranma made a mental note to ask that from Nabiki some other time.

 "It was nothing, I was just testing her 'amnesia'."

 "It didn't look like it." Nabiki said softly, she had seen the whole encounter and waited until Kodachi was safely out of reach before she called her son to greet her brother. "You lost your temper for a moment there, brother. It was not how you usually handled her. Don't tell me you're starting to find in yourself... affection for the woman."

 He was also surprised at how he managed the situation a while ago. 'Yeah, Real *smooth*.'  And the fact that it had been years since he felt anything more than hatred for his wife.

 But at least the bottom of the line was that she had rejected him. Sure, she had been a bit out of character, but that fact still remained. Kodachi -- he knew -- simply did not love him. She had been forced to find a husband and he had been at the right place in the right time. He had given his love easily and his trust freely. It was different now. She didn't need him anymore.

 He wondered if he could keep her out of his bed from pure hatred. That was what he had done before, it had only been in the last three years did the alcohol, food and long and endless nights had taken the toll with her. He hoped hatred was enough for now.

 He stopped and looked at Nabiki in the eyes, "No, I hate her even more."



 At dinnertime, Akane was worried about her husband and that girl that it seemed her heart was beating faster -- that and the rustle of her skirt was getting pretty annoying.

 She reached an empty room though, with the soft light of the lantern. She looked around to make sure -- but he really wasn't anywhere She walked to her chair and said out loud, "Coward."

 "Who are you talking to, Kodachi?" Akane was so startled she let out a scream when she whirled around to face her husband. By this time, her heart was beating so fast and so loudly, she swore he could hear it. She clutched her heart as if to steady it.

 He had been standing by the window, hidden by the shadows. When he moved, it seemed as if the shadows moved with him, making him very disconcerting to watch. And he was fast too. He was in front of her before she could let out a squeak. "You scared me half to death."

 "I'm not that lucky."

 "And exactly *what* do you mean by that?" She asked her temper getting the better of her. Again.

 "Calm down Kodachi. I mean it exactly the way you heard it. Or is your ear just as gone as your head is nowadays?"

 She had to shake her head, there had to be something other than his good looks that was pretty much okay. "Is Hanae joining us? And please, call me Akane."

 "No." He answered stiffly. It was obvious he still didn't want her near the child. "And, as I said, I'd *never* call you Akane. Kodachi suites you."

 A short-sword, a deadly weapon in a skilled one's hands, that was what Kodachi's namesake was, obviously, it was what she was as well.

 "Akane... crimson... It sounds like a bloodbath."

 "Kodachi ignites a bloodbath."

 "Then Kodachi it is then."

 "Hmmm...witty tonight aren't we?" Akane smiled a little, "I suppose it is better than your biting sarcasm. Honestly! Where do you get all that from anyway? You're much to grumpy for a man your age...uh...how old are you anyway?"

 "Twenty-nine, as you know."

 She ignored the as you know part, and continued with the next question in her mind, "How long have we been married?"

 "Seven glorious years."

 "And was one of us in love during these 'seven glorious years'?" She asked curiously, from his tone, she knew he was getting bored from the conversation.

 "You are mistaking the word affection for <love>." He used the Latin word for it. "<Love> is a Christian word, Kodachi, it is the priests who let you believe ai is synonymous to both. <Love> has no Japanese translation as we Japanese understand it, it is an illusion, a word within a word."

 She stared, she presumed that the unknown word was love in some other language she did not understand. She didn't know how he had the perception to understand that she was talking about love when... as he pointed out there was no Japanese translation for it. "Well... were we?"

 "One of us was." He answered then cursed himself, when he realized what he had just said. It had been automatic, she knew that, he had been thinking of something else when he had been answering, so it was the truth.

 If she had been looking at him, she would have caught a slight flicker of change in his expression, despite his curt remarks.

 "Then it must have been me. You seem too dead to the world to feel anything."

 "Really? That's new. I've never known for you to care for anybody but yourself." He said this dispassionately that Akane had to wonder what Kodachi did to make him marry her.

 "Then you loved me!" She exclaimed happily, that certainly would make her mission easier. But then the present situation brought her back to reality, "But...you don't anymore. You hate me. The servants are afraid of me. I have no friends..."

 The last part was brought on by the fact that no one had come to call upon her, regardless of her accident. She wasn't that dense not to notice.

 "So, you remember then." He said sarcastically.

 "I still can't remember." Akane scowled a little, he was being sarcastic again, she hated that. For every step she took forward he managed to pull her two steps backward. She couldn't even read his reactions with his back on her...how rude of him. "But I'm not deaf, I'm not blind, and I'm certainly not stupid. I know what's going on around here."

 He grunted, it looked like he was about to say something more, but he continued to stare out the black night. "Can't we make a new beginning? Forget anything happened? I'm a different person."

 "It's too late for that, Kodachi. There is nothing left of this marriage, and there is nothing left to forgive. How much do you think *anyone* can forgive? And I am not a forgiving man. You know that."

 "But that's it." Akane said softly moving towards him until only a chair remained in between them. "I don't know that, Ranma. I don't know why everyone hates me."

 He whirled around, it took Akane her whole-life's training of self control not to shrink back from him. He was angry, that was probably the reason why he hadn't faced her, "You want to know? What do you want me to tell you?" He almost smiled at that, as if he was having the sadistic pleasure of telling her, her misdeeds.

 It seemed as if he was waiting for her answer, but for the life of her, Akane could not speak. "Nothing? I'll pick it out for you then. You abuse the servants -- even though they are loyal to the Kunos, flaunted your lovers -- and heaven knows that they don't need the flaunting you do -- of course you kill them afterwards, drink yourself into stupors, poison anything that's moving and test out your little ribbons on anyone who gets in your way -- that was before you lost your gymnastics training to your vices, after that you ask Sasuke to do it for you."

 Not knowing what to say she just stared at him, and endured the words, she had asked for it, and she had gotten I, although she didn't understand the part about the ribbons, she figured it was something just as bad as everything else.

 "I got you speechless, Kodachi, that's a first." Ranma paused looking at her, "Do you want me to continue? Should I tell you about the men you've seduced, the families you've torn apart? Or should I just skip that and tell you about the people you've left sick and those that you left so beaten up out to die?"

 He left that for her to answer, when she didn't he tilted his head in mock appraisal, "Perhaps a story containing some -- or one that contains all? You once insinuated in public that you slept with a good man -- you want to remember his name? Does Daisuke ring any bells in that memory of yours? I knew he didn't, you knew it, hell the man *knows* he didn't. But his liege lord as certain as hell didn't know and denied him seppuku, which he deserved, he was hunted by my cousin... to the death, and left out for the dogs."

 As a rule a married woman may not even stay alone in a closed room with another man. This act was punishable by the woman's husband or his kin to take both their heads, Ranma's cousin had not known of Kodachi's misdeeds and thought her accusations to be true.

 "His wife, poor over-emotional, fragile Sayuri who didn't know you for the scheming liar that you are believed you. She didn't even ask to commit seppuku, she just did it... without a second! Her four-year-old son found her. She was ordered to be buried in the eta village along with her son, who by the way, my cousin also killed."

 "Why..."

 "He killed them because he thought he was defending your honor. Mine and yours."

 The story was interrupted by a maid, who quickly assessed the situation and backed off silently, wide-eyed at Ranma's gaze. Ranma let her get out before he continued.

 "You dared to come up to the liege lord and offered your condolences for the loss of one of his vassals, shaming me yet again and tried to dig out the son in the eta village. You are a consummate liar and actress, Kodachi, but even you failed to stir the crowds that day. Later, I found out that your brother had ordered the pathetic apology to save what scraps of honor you have left."

 He clutched the katana he wore so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. For a brief moment, Akane envisioned her neck slashed, and her hand unconsciously shot up to her throat. It seemed as if he realized that he was about to break the hilt and let go of it immediately.

 "You think you can come to me with a pretty pout and an absurd story that you don't remember anything? It's a grand game, Kodachi, but I don't believe any of it."

 Akane was stunned, before she had only pictured Kodachi as a shadow that moved about, with a couple of bad things here and bad things there. She had never painted a picture of her so close to what Ranma had related. And suddenly, she knew why nobody liked her. She knew why she was being treated badly, "Then why are we still married?"
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