Hi all!  Here's the latest installment of One War, Three Sisters!  One more chapter to go!  Yaaaay!

Special thanks to Kevin Hammel and Josh Temple for their C&C.

For the last time, I don't own Ranma, Starcraft or X-Com.  They're owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Blizzard Entertainment and I think Hasbro repectivly.  Get it?  Got it?  Good.

So without further ado, here's the story

Chapter 16: Resolve

        She was almost ready.  Tapping at a few buttons, Ka'Dalanis
monitored Akane's vital signs.  They were strong and healthy.  This
afternoon, thought the Healer.  I will let her out this afternoon.
Perhaps it will give her some time to reconcile things-.  Her thoughts
were interrupted as the door to the chamber opened and a form in a dark
blue robe stepped in.
        [Greetings, Healer.]
        [En taro Adun, Judicator Wenella.  What brings you to my door?
I would have thought you would be busy with the Executor.]
        [I wish to speak with you,] Wenella said, ignoring Ka'Dalanis's
question.
        The Healer's eyes narrowed slightly.  [Ask, Judicator, and I
shall do my best to answer.]
        Walking over to the large vertical tank, Wenella rested a hand
on the glassy surface where Akane rested within.  [You were once of the
Dark Templar, were you not?]
        [Yes,] Ka'Dalanis replied cautiously.  [That was a long time
ago.]
        [And in all that time, you have never regretted your decision?]
        [No.]  Her reply was emphatic, a signal to end this particular
line of discussion.  Internally, Ka'Dalanis tried to silence the small
twinge of guilt at the lie, seeing Duran fall before her blade,
remembering the sensations as the icy flow enveloped her...
        Almost to herself, Wenella said, [Really?  Then I wonder what it
was that Varnor sensed about you...]
        [What exactly are you saying?] Ka'Dalanis demanded.  No one had
ever bullied her in her decisions, and she was not going to let anyone
start now.  Not even a Judicator.
        [You have been using your powers.  Varnor sensed it when you
left the human shuttle.  He has since felt surges of power, channelled
using the dark arts-]
        Ka'Dalanis tried to quell the panic she felt clawing up from
inside of her.  [Other Dark Templar, nothing more.]
        [In the Nexus?  No, the other Dark Templar are housed and train
in the Archives.  Of all who work and live in the Nexus, only you know
how to use their powers.]
        [I-I haven't...Varnor's wrong!  I haven't been doing anything!]
        Wenella turned away from the Tank, and Ka'Dalanis saw that her
eyes were glowing a bright blue.  [You have been using the powers of
your youth, secretly channelling the energies of the cold void!]
Wenella began advancing towards the Healer, her expression grave.
        [No!  I-]
        [You enjoy the feeling, don't you?  The cool energies running
along your nerves...]
        [I gave them up-]  Did she?  The energies where there, just out
of reach.  She longed to reach out and touch them, just one more time.
What harm could it do?   Just one more time...
        [You feel the temptation, do you not?  Power, strength, the
promise of glory and accomplishments.  You hunger for all that and
more!]
        [I-I-]  Ka'Dalanis shrank away from the Judicator, terror
suffusing her being.
        Towering over the fearful Healer, her mind-voice lowered to a
deadly quiet.  [You would use your powers for your own pleasure, and not
in the defence of your people.  In your selfishness, you would let
yourself be consumed by the dark arts.]  Reaching out, Wenella put one
hand on Ka'Dalanis's shoulder.  [That cannot be allowed to happen.]
        [NO!]  By some long lost reflex, the Healer reached out and
grabbed hold of the dark energies, shaping them into a powerful attack.
Lashing out at the Judicator, Ka'Dalanis struck with all her power.
Wenella reeled back, clutching her head with her hands.  Crashing
against Akane's tube, she fell to her knees as the Tank behind her shook
with the impact.
        Ka'Dalanis stared with horror at the fallen Judicator.  She
began to tremble, overwhelmed with disgust and guilt over her actions.
Ka'Dalanis collapsed in her chair, oblivious to everything except the
realization of what she had done.
        Wenella stood slowly.  Walking slowly over to the Healer, she
looked at Ka'Dalanis with an expression of pity.  [You have the power,
but not the control.]
        [I...I don't want it!  The pain, the death...I don't want them!
That is all these powers give me...]
        [And yet...?]
        [Yet...they feel so good!  The power rushing through me, the
feeling of being able to overcome any foe...]  She looked up at Wenella,
anguish filling her eyes.  [Judicator, what can I do?]
        [You are face with a difficult dilemma,] she replied.  [You have
the power, but do not wish to use it.  Yet the temptation is always
there.]
        [Will I forever have to live with this pain?  This desire?]
        [Perhaps.  You do not wish to rejoin the Dark Templar, and, to
be honest, you are too old to be a fighter once more.  Yet you lack the
experience for a higher position.]
        [Evil!  That is what they are!  Evil.  All they have caused me
is anguish and heartache!]
        Wenella shook her head.  [They are no more evil than that
Regeneration Tank is evil.  Both have the potential for harm, yet in the
right hands, they do enormous good.]
        [I don't care!  I hate them!  And...]  Ka'Dalanis's shoulders
slumped in defeat.  [I hate myself.  For being weak, for being a burden,
for the evils that I have done.]
        Wenella turned and went back to the Regeneration Tank.  For
several long moments she watched Akane float in the centre of the tube.
Akane looks so peaceful, she thought.  [You hate the powers because of
the harm you have caused with them, for the temptation they hold.  You
hate yourself for giving into those desires, and for the pain you have
dealt to others.]
        [Yes,] the Healer replied despondently.
        [Then perhaps you need to find a new way to use them.]
        [What do you mean?]
        [You enjoy being a Healer, yes?  Giving relief to that which is
pain?]
        [Of course.]
        [Could the powers of our dark brethren be used to heal instead
of hurt?]
        [Of course not!  They're-]  Ka'Dalanis stopped, actually
considering what Wenella was saying.
        [I will leave you to your thoughts.]  As she left the room,
Wenella turned slightly and saw Ka'Dalanis resting against the medical
console, staring at nothing, considering for the first time in a very
long time that maybe her attitudes, yes even her prejudices, may have
been wrong.

        The first thing she felt was the cold.  The cold metal beneath
her bare feet.  Then came air.  Its harshness burned a path down her
throat as she breathed it.  Lastly came light.  As she opened here eyes,
she winced against its brightness around her.  Between them were dark
shadows, yet her vision could not yield any details.
        [Akane,] the voice seemed to echo around her head.  [Akane, can
you hear me?]  It sounded familiar, but she could not quite remember who
it was.
        [Ranma?] she guessed.  It was the first name that she could
think of.
        [No, Ranma's not here.]  A shadowy form flowed towards her.  As
it neared, it coalesced into a large alien form with glowing eyes.
        [Ka-Ka'Dalanis?]
        [Yes.]  Akane could feel the relief in the voice.  [How do you
feel?]
        Akane breathed in another lungful of air.  Much of the harshness
had disappeared, but her vision was still filled with shadows.  She took
a brief catalogue of vague aches and pains in her body before answering.
[I feel all right, but I can't see very well.  Is something wrong with
me?]
        [No, you're fine.  You have been in the Regeneration Tank for
many weeks and your body now must adjust to life outside its walls.
Your vision should clear in a few minutes.]
        Something warm and soft surrounded her, and she realized that
Ka'Dalanis was drying off the remaining regeneration fluid from her
body.  It was a familiar ritual between them, and Akane held off her
questions, allowing the calm of habit to comfort her.
        After Ka'Dalanis was done, Akane stretched, wincing slightly as
her muscles protested.  [What happened?] she asked as she put on her
microsuit. [I don't remember much after attacking Ranma.]  Ka'Dalanis
explained what Ranma had done, and their struggle to keep her alive, and
their alliance with the Protoss.  [So that's why I'm back here.]  Akane
looked around the room.  [I never thought I'd see this place again.]
        [As did I.]
        [Where's Nabiki?  I thought she'd be here.]
        [She's...up north.]
        Akane's brow furrowed.  [Up north?  The only thing up north
is...]  Her eyes widened in horror.  [No!  She wasn't captured by the
Zerg, was she?]
        [No!]  Ka'Dalanis quickly acted to correct Akane's conclusion.
[Akane, she's fine.  She...it's your sister, Akane.  Your OTHER sister,
Kasumi.  She was found by an X-Com patrol.  It's a long story, but the
short version is that she's alive.  She also has the ability to control
the Zerg.  She's managed to kill the Cerebrate in control of the Zerg
here in Japan, and she is at the northern Zerg base.  Nabiki is with
her.]
        Akane gaped at the Healer.  [K-Kasumi?  She's alive?]
Ka'Dalanis nodded.  [I've got to go to her!]  Leaping to her feet, she
began to stalk around the room, searching.  [Where's my armour?]
        [I'm sorry, Akane, but I can't let you leave.  You're not ready
for battle yet.  You are staying here until you're better.]
        [But-!]
        [No buts, Akane.  You're staying here.  And don't think of
stealing a shuttle either.  They're all away on missions.]
        Akane dropped into a chair, crossing her arms and legs angrily.
[Fine,] she muttered.  After a moment her expression softened.  [I
suppose Ranma's with Nabiki.]
        [Actually no.]  Akane's head jerked up as she stared at
Ka'Dalanis.  [He stayed here.  He's probably in the Citadel, training.
That's what he's been doing almost constantly since Nabiki left.]
        Akane stared into space and smiled slightly.  How like Ranma.
Standing, she made to leave the room.
        [Akane!  Where are you going?]
        [To see Ranma.  What do you think?]
        [Akane...]  The Healer knew that the issues between Ranma and
Akane needed to be resolved, but she was not sure if now was a good
time.
        [Don't worry I won't lose my temper.  I'm not angry with him.]
Spinning on her heels, she left.

        Ranma narrowly dodged a Zergling claw.  Turning rapidly, he
delivered a powerful kick.  The creature gave a whimpering cry, then
fell to the ground, its skull a pulpy mess.  Ranma looked at the dozens
of Zergling and Hydralisk bodies around him, amazed at the detail of the
training scenario.  Reaching out with his mind, he reset the program,
turning up the difficulty level a few notches.  He watched as the Zerg
before him dissolved into patterns of shifting light, and coalesced into
more of the alien creatures.  He was just about to begin, when the doors
to the training room opened and a familiar figure stepped through.
        "Akane!" he exclaimed.  He started towards her, but had to
quickly dodge as his forgotten foes tried to swarm him.  Ranma jumped
and twisted about like a madman, desperately trying to stay one step
ahead of them.  "Akane!  Turn it off!  I can't turn it off!"
        [You mean you can't split your mental focus between the enemy
and the controls.]  Akane smiled slyly.  [I'll just let you continue as
you are.  I'm enjoying this too much to want it to end.]
        Ranma growled.  Stupid woman!  Fine, if she wanted a show, he'd
give it to her!  Cupping his hands, he let lose with a powerful ki blast
that incinerated three Hydralisks instantly.  Unfortunately, these
creatures were actually holograms, and so did not generate any ki,
denying him his Hiyru Shoten Ha technique.  Luckily for Ranma, the loss
of one special attack was hardly a hindrance.  Ranma put on a burst of
speed, moving so fast he appeared to exist in two places at once.  This
caused the creatures to become confused and start attacking each other
while trying to avoid the illusion.  While the creature were still
slashing and spitting deadly spines, he cloaked.  With a single leap,
Ranma landed behind a group of Hydralisks who were grouped together.
Hydralisks had tough bony armour protecting their fronts to protect them
from frontal assaults, but in order to move, their backs were
vulnerable.  Using the Amiguriken, Ranma crushed their spines easily.
De-cloaking, Ranma again blasted the creatures with another ki blast,
killing several Zerglings.  Ranma spun around to face his next foe...
        Only to fined there were none.  "Huh, it should have been harder
than that."  He shrugged and looked around one more time.  "So, what do
you think of-"  Ranma was interrupted as six Zerglings exploded from the
ground behind him.  Caught off guard, Ranma tried to evade the
creatures, but he tripped on the body of a fallen Hydralisk and fell to
the ground.
        Suddenly, a yellow blast of energy struck the creatures, and
Ranma watched as Akane attacked the monsters with a vengeance.  Moving
almost as fast as he had, Akane systematically killed all her opponents.
Akane finished in the centre of the arena, her back to Ranma, apparently
surveying the effects of her performance.
        Ranma gave her a knowing grin.  "I thought I told you, don't get
involved in a man's fight."  His comments were suppose to be humorous, a
reminder of their past arguments, but there was no reaction from Akane.
Ranma stood and walked towards her.  "Akane, that's a joke, okay?"  Just
as he got to her, Akane's legs folded out from under her and she fell to
her knees.  "Akane!"  Ranma knelt down beside her, and he noticed that
she was breathing in short gasps, her eyes closed tightly.  "Akane!  You
okay?"
        [I guess I shouldn't have done that,] she replied weakly.
Opening her eyes, she glanced at him.  [Are you all right?]
        Ranma snorted.  "Of course I'm all right.  The question is, are
*you* all right?  You want me to call Ka'Dalanis?"
        [No,] she replied.  [I'll be fine.  I just need to catch my
breath and relax for a bit.]
        "Well, I was going to head back to my and Nabiki's place at the
Archives-"
        [Great, I'll come with you.]
        Ranma hesitated an instant before answering.  "Sure," he
replied.  "We can talk about...you know, stuff."
        [Yes...talk.]

        Nabiki looked herself over.  She always did that after being
teleported off the Protoss shuttles.  Watching someone being teleported
on Star Trek was a heck of a lot different than actually *being*
teleported.  It gave her the willies.  Given the choice she would never
travel in another of those things again.
        Nabiki left the landing pad and made her way towards the
Archives.  Days had passed since Kasumi had entered the cocoon and no
one had any idea when, or if, she would ever emerge.  The Zerg under
Kerrigan's control were going berserk.  Telepathic communication between
Kerrigan in South America and her Cerebrates around the world had risen
to a level where even untrained sensitives could hear them as background
noise.  Unfortunately, listening to the messages and understanding them
were two different things.
        A laugh drew her attention.  She stepped around a corner and saw
about fifty yards away Akane and Ranma were walking together towards the
Archives.  Her face brightening Nabiki was about to call out to the two
when something inside her held her back.  There was something wrong with
this.  Something about Akane's posture, the way she moved, the
determined look in her eyes, rang a warning bell somewhere deep inside
her.  On hunch, Nabiki cloaked and followed.

        Akane was impressed with the apartment.  The Protoss had gone
through a considerable effort to make it comfortable to their visitors.
Human furniture occupied the main room with an entryway leading to a
small kitchen and two other doorways, one to a bathroom and a second to
the bedroom.  The only concession the Protoss had made to their own
desires was that everything was in the gold with blue trim colour scheme
that they favoured.
        [Nice,] commented Akane.
        Ranma shrugged and went to the kitchen.  "It's okay.  The
colours are a bit of an eyesore, but we've gotten use to them.  You want
something to eat?  Drink?"
        [No, thank you.]
        A few minutes later Ranma re-entered the main room with a bowl
of rice and some tuna.  Akane watched as he sat down and began to eat.
"So, how're you feeling?"
        [A little tired, and I ache a bit all over, but not too bad.]
Akane's expression turned sullen.  [Ka'Dalanis won't let me wear my
armour.]
        Ranma laughed.  "I can't say I blame her.  After all the trouble
we went through to keep you alive..."  Ranma trailed off and looked away
from his former fianc�.  "Look, about that, I'm sor-"
        [It's okay,] she replied, trying hard to sound cheerful.
[I...wasn't myself for a bit.]  They both avoided each other's eyes
awkwardly.

        What's she up to? wondered Nabiki.  She had managed to jump
through the door silently just behind the two, and now watched from a
corner of the room, invisible.  She watched as the silence between the
two of them lengthened.

        Akane abruptly broke the silence.  [Blast it, there's no good
way to say this so...]  Taking Ranma's face in her hands she drew him
close.  Ranma froze, his eyes widening like a deer caught in headlights.
Their lips met in a kiss.

        Nabiki forced herself to breath deeply and quietly.  How dare
she-!  That little tramp!  I'll take care of her!  But instead of de-
cloaking, Nabiki waited, a sick, morbid curiosity making her want to see
Ranma's reaction.

        Eventually, Akane pulled away, tears in her eyes.  [Why?] she
asked.  [Don't you love me?]
        Ranma managed to relax slightly and swallow the last bit of food
in his mouth.  It tasted like ashes.  "Akane, I...Nabiki and I-"
        Akane stood, her face flushed with anger and shame.  [Am I ugly
to you now?] she demanded.  [I've never been your 'cute' fianc�.  I've
always been the tomboy, the uncute one, remember?  Never mind that
Shampoo and Ukyo were probably just as bad as I ever was!]
        Ranma put down the food and stood.  "Look, you don't understand.
I was-"
        [That's right!  I don't understand!  There's a lot I don't
understand anymore, but that doesn't make any difference to me!  I love
you.  Get it?  I always have!  Can't you love me?]
        Ranma began to sweat.  "Akane, things are different now.  I-"
        Akane undid the clasps to her microsuit and pulled it down,
exposing her chest.  [Am I uncute now?  Am I?  What will it take?]
        "Akane!"  Ranma recoiled from her as though she were a cat.  She
advanced, driving him back into a corner.  "Nabiki-!"
        [Leave her out of this!  This has nothing to do with her!  This
is between you and me!  Do you love me?]  Before he could answer, Akane
stepped in close and wrapped her arms around him, drawing him down for
another kiss.  After a brief internal battle, Ranma succumbed to the
conflicting desires raging inside him.  He joined her in the kiss,
wrapping his arms around her.  When they separated, Ranma's expression
was one of guilty anguish.
        "Yes," he whispered.  "I love you."

        Nabiki felt her knees go weak and she slowly down the wall,
falling to her knees.  Tears began to flow down her cheeks, and her
hands started to shake.  She wanted to vomit.  Struggling to maintain
her cloak, Nabiki forced herself to watch this horror unfold.  She
wanted to appear, to interrupt this, but a small, coolly logical part of
her brain noted that the two looked so...right together.  The pair had
fought for years.  They fought each other, other people, their own
desires, even death to be together.  Was it wrong?  After all Ranma and
Akane had gone through, what right did *she* have to interfere?
        Dammit, but it hurts! she thought.  Ranma's mine!  I fought too!
Fought to live when the Zerg attacked, fought all the years we've been
at war!  I don't want to share him.  He's mine!
        Yet despite her own desires, she could not bring herself to stop
the destruction of their marriage.  Bringing her knees up to her chin,
Nabiki wept silently.

        Akane's face lit up like a small sun.  [Oh Ranma!]  Embracing
him tightly, she kissed him, and he returned it.  Their hands roamed
over each other's bodies.  [Yes,] said Akane, her mind-voice a whisper.
Ranma's hands ran through her hair and down her back.  Akane
reciprocated, by undoing his shirt and pulling it off, leaving only an
undershirt.
        "Akane," said Ranma hoarsely.  His mouth moved back up and
nibbled on her earlobe.  Akane sighed in response and he moved his hands
up to her chest.  Akane gasped as the sensations overwhelmed her.  [Yet,
right there.  Please...]  Finally he and Akane were together, like they
had always secretly dreamed of!  His mouth trailed his kisses down to
the hollow of her throat and were beginning to make a path down her
chest when, suddenly, an unbidden blast of rationality intruded on his
mind.  What was he doing?  He was married to Nabiki!
        "No!"  Ranma pushed Akane away from him.

        Nabiki's head shot up at the loud negation.  She stared with
amazement and hope as Ranma forced Akane away from him.  Akane stumbled
back and, with a cry of surprise, fell heavily on the couch.  Nabiki
waited, hardly daring to breathe.

        [Wh-what?  What's happened?  Did I do something wrong?  Did I
hurt you?]
        "No, it's...Akane, I...I can't do this!"  His exclamation was
thick with both loathing and a desperate desire.
        [Why not?  We love each other.  Why can't we?]
        "Akane, I'm married!  To your sister!  Do you have any idea what
this could do to her?"
        [I don't care about my sister right now!  I just care about us!
You said you loved me!  Why did you stop?]
        "I do love you Akane.  But I-"  He stopped as his voice broke.
Fighting back more tears, he continued.  "But I love Nabiki more...now."

        Nabiki wanted to shout.  She wanted to sing.  She wanted to
dance.  The elation and relief that washed through her almost broke the
concentration needed to cloak.  She wanted to de-cloak, wrap her arms
around her husband and gloat over her rejected sister.
        Her compassion held her back.  The look of defeat and despair on
Akane's face would have broken her heart had it not been so full of joy.
Nabiki decided to sit back and wait for this confrontation to end.

        Akane stood.  She reached for him, her expression full of
anguish.  [Ranma...]
        Ranma turned away from her, and rested his arms on the wall, and
his head against his arms.  "I can't, Akane.  I want to, but I can't."
He took in a deep and shaky breath.  "I love her, and I promised her
that I'd be true to her.  Even when I don't want to be..."  His voice
trailed off.  He could feel tears making their way down his cheeks, and
made no effort to brush them away.
        Akane, too, was weeping.  She stepped toward him.  [Ranma, I-]
        "Please, go away."  Akane could barely hear his whispered plea.
"Please, just go."
        [Ranma-]  Akane rested a hand on his shoulder.
        Ranma twisted around, batting her arm away.  "Didn't you hear
me?" he growled.  "Get.  Out."
        Akane stepped back, alarmed.  [Ranma-!]
        Ranma advanced.  "What, did you lose your ears as well as your
voice?  Get out!"
        Akane winced, stung by his words.  She valiantly tried to rally
herself, drawing herself up against him.  [I'm not-!]
        "GET OUT!" he roared.  Ranma's face was red, and his expression
was twisted into a nearly unrecognizable rage.  His fists were clenched
and Akane was afraid he might lash out at her.  In her condition, she
might not survive a fight.
        Akane's forced her fear and pain down, and summoned up as much
anger as she could.  Her gaze cooled until it could have left a skin of
ice on a glass of water.  Eyes sparkling, she drew herself up, trying to
gather what remained of her dignity.  She pulled her suit back around
her and redid the clasps.  [Fine, then!] she hissed fiercely in his
mind, and stomped to the door.  It slid open and she stopped a moment to
glare at him, putting as much as her hatred into her gaze as she could.
        Part of Ranma's anger melted away.  He took a step towards.
"Akane, please don't hate me or Nabiki, we-"
        Akane felt more tears burn at her eyes and, before they could
fall, turned and ran, her long dark hair flowing behind her like a
cloak.
        Ranma leapt to the door.  He cried out her name, but she was
already gone.  "I'm sorry," he whispered.  Closing the door, he turned
and leaned his back against it.  Running his fingers through his hair,
he stared up at nothing.
        Nabiki appeared, still in the corner where she had watched
Akane's failed seduction attempt.
        Ranma's eyes widened in surprise and horror.  "Nabiki?" he
whispered harshly.  His hands started to shake and his face became a
sickly grey colour.  "I...I..."  Ranma fell to his knees and bowed low
to the ground.  "I'm sorry!  I'm sorry!"  Weeping, he repeated the words
over and over, begging for forgiveness.
        Nabiki rushed to him, taking him in her arms and holding him
like a child.  "It's okay, it's okay."  She tried to comfort him,
rocking him back and forth as he wept into her shoulder.  She did not
know how long they stayed that way, but eventually, Ranma's sobs
stopped.
        "I'm sorry," managed to choke out for what seemed like the
hundredth time.  His face was still red, but this time from his crying.
        "I saw everything Ranma," she said gently.  "You didn't betray
me, Ranma.  You kept your promise."
        "But I wanted to."  Nabiki could hear the anguish and doubt in
his voice.  "I *still* want to.  Nabiki, I love her.  I wasn't lying
when I said that.  I love you *and* her!"
        Nabiki took a moment to think of what to say, what words he
needed to hear.  Nabiki's mouth quirked up into a slight smile.  "Well,
now I guess you know what Kuno went through, don't you?"
        Ranma gaped at her a moment, not quite believing his ears.  He
then burst out laughing.  Unable to stop herself, Nabiki joined him, and
soon the two of them were rolling on the floor, clutching their sides,
barely able to breath.
        Ranma struck a dramatic pose.  "Whomever shall I choose!" he
mock wailed in a fair imitation of his ex-adversary's voice.  That sent
them over the edge again.
        "Oh God!  This isn't funny!" managed Ranma through his laughter.
"I shouldn't be laughing!  Why am I laughing?"
        Nabiki managed to calm down enough to catch her breath.  "You're
right," she replied, managing to insert a note of sobriety around the
giggles that threatened to burst out of her.  "It isn't funny."
        Nabiki's apparent calmness managed to stop Ranma's hysterical
laughter.  He took several deep breaths, wiping the tears from his
cheeks.
        Sitting beside each other with their backs against the door,
they looked beyond the room, through the window and out at the blue sky
outside.  Ranma took Naibki's hand.  "I love you," he whispered.
        Nabiki gave a ghost of a smile.  "I know."

        Akane stormed around the training room, stalking around in
circles like a trapped animal.  Her hands were clenched into fists, and
her expression was locked into a grimace of rage.  How dare he! she
seethed to her self.  That stupid, prideful, arrogant, lying-!  Her
thoughts followed the movements of her body, whirling around uselessly
until, burning for some sort of escape, she struck the wall with an
inarticulate cry.  The bare metal of the wall crumpled inward with a
satisfying shriek.  Akane growled, and imagined that the sound was a cry
of pain coming from Ranma.  Several blows later, the panel was a
shapeless twisted mass.
        Still furious, Akane activated the holo-trainer, and a dozen
Zerg appeared.  Akane tore through them like a whirlwind, and she
immediately pushed the difficulty up a notch and restarted the sequence.
She did not remember how long she fought, but eventually her strength
failed her.  The Zerg swarmed over her, ripping into her body.  She fell
under the mass of aliens, crying out in pain.  Her vision dimmed, but
before she fell into peaceful oblivion, she thought she heard Ranma cry
out her name.  Despite her previous anger, she could not help but smile.

        Akane floated slowly out of unconsciousness.  Taking a deep
breath, she winced as pain shot along her back.  Despite herself, a
muted moan escaped her.
        "Akane!  Akane are you all right?" came a voice.
        She opened her eyes and saw a dark blur above her.  [Ranma?] she
thought weakly.
        The form shook its head.  "No, it me, Ryoga."
        Akane blinked several times and the blur eventually refocused
into the eternally lost boy.  Akane's expression darkened.  [Oh, it's
you,] she said flatly.  Then she realized she was lying on the floor of
the training room, with Ryoga supporting her head with his lap.  Angrily
she sat up...and quickly fell back down as her muscles screamed in
protest.  [Ow.]
        Ryoga grinned.  "Yeah, I can relate.  I've been through my share
of tough fights."
        Akane slowly rolled on to her hands and knees.  Leaning back she
managed to get into a sitting position on her knees.  [What happened?]
        "I was looking for Ranma.  I was told he was here, and when I
got here, the Zerg were swarming you.  I deactivated the trainer and
made sure you were okay."  He paused.  "You are okay, right?" he asked
hesitantly.
        [Yes.  The safeties were on.  They wouldn't have done much worse
to me than they already have.]  This time she paused.  [I suppose I
should thank you.]
        "Hey, no problem,] he replied, grinning nervously.  "Always
willing to help a friend!"
        [And since when was *I* your friend?]  she retorted.  [I haven't
forgotten all the things you did when you were 'P-Chan!]  Her expression
became melancholy, and she looked away.  [Just most of them.]  Her mind-
voice was barely a whisper of a thought.
        "Can...can I tell you a story, Akane?" Rygoa asked nervously.
        [Well, I'm certainly not going anywhere until my muscles are
working properly,] she replied peevishly.
        Ryoga took a deep breath.  "There was someone I knew once.  He
didn't spend a lot of time around people, and he didn't have
many...well, to be honest, he didn't have any friends.  He was lonely
all the time.  He barely saw his parents."  Ryoga took another shaking
breath.  "He was terrible in school, because he was almost never there.
He only did things he could do on his own.  He wasn't stupid, but he was
very...insecure.  For some reason, he ended up learning martial arts.
He would spend hours, days, weeks, even months, training himself.  It
was all he had really.  He couldn't go to a dojo, so he ended up
learning on his own.  Usually from books or developing his own style.
He became the best he could be."
        Rygoa smiled slightly.  "It turned out that he was very good at
martial arts, better than anyone he knew.  Maybe it was all the time he
put into it.  Maybe it was because he was obsessed at being good at
*something*.  He didn't have much else, especially when it came to
people.  When the people at his school saw how good he was, they began
to respect him.  Some even liked him and wanted to learn.  But the guy
didn't know how to handle his fame.  He was scared by the attention.  He
could make friends now, but how long would they stay friends?  He built
walls of anger around him, to protect himself.  He didn't want to be
hurt, so he held himself apart from people.  The only thing he had was
his martial arts and the adulation and amazement of the people around
him."  Ryoga laughed.  It was a dry, barking sound.  "Of course, it
didn't last.  By pushing people away, he was seen as aloof, arrogant.
He lost most of his fans except for the most stubborn."
        "Then someone else came.  Someone who was better than he was."
Ryoga's eyes darkened and tears threatened to fill his eyes.  "The few
people who still respected his abilities quickly turned to the newcomer.
The newcomer was a cocky, prideful jerk, but at least he knew how to
make friends."
        [So what happened?]  Despite herself, Akane was becoming
interested.  The story sounded familiar, but she could not quite figure
it out.
        "Well eventually, the first guy found a way to challenged the
new guy to a fight.  His pride, self-esteem and respect had been hurt,
and the first guy wanted blood."
        [So they fought?]
        Ryoga smiled.  It was a smile full of weariness.  "There was
a...miscommunication, and they missed each other.  The newcomer left
with his father.  Of course, the challenger couldn't let him get away!"
Ryoga's voice filled with mock indignation.  "After all he had suffered,
he was determined to punish the one responsible!"  Ryoga's face twisted
into an expression of disgust.  "In probably what was one of the
stupidest move he ever made, he left his home and followed the newcomer.
After suffering a great deal, he eventually found him.  By now, his
anger and need for revenge had consumed him.  He hadn't had anything
else for a long time.  He challenged the newcomer to a fight.  He lost,
of course.  But he was determined to get his revenge.  Nothing would
make him quit.  He would get his revenge by any means necessary!
        "So they fought again, one night, and he was injured.  And much
to his surprise, a girl helped him.  He was amazed.  No one had ever
helped him before.  He was always having to fix things or do things by
himself.  He never had anyone else.  And now someone else was supporting
him, caring for him, loving him in a way no one had ever loved him
before."  Tears were now coursing freely down his cheeks.  "There was
only one problem," he rasped, his voice choked with sorrow.  "She didn't
care for him, she cared for her pet, P-Chan."
        Suddenly all the pieces came back together and, in a less than a
second, a flood of memories returned.  Akane's eyes widened as she
remembered.  [Why?] she asked.  [Why didn't you tell me the truth?]
        "Don't you understand?!"  Ryoga stood and turned away from.
"I've been alone my whole life!  Martial arts was the only thing I was
ever good at!  Ranma came and took that away!  I had to get even with
him somehow."  He turned back, looking down at the young woman he loved.
"Of course, he made it easy with the bread.  It was an easy, if stupid,
excuse.  When he ran out on our duel, I chased him.  I chased him around
China and Japan until I came to Nerima.  When I found him, what did I
see?  He had a home.  Friends.  He even had a fianc�!  I've never had a
friend in my life!  I'd always get lost and spend weeks trying to find
my way back!  My parents had the same problem I do.  I never saw them
more than once every few months!  I had nothing, and he had everything!"
        Ryoga was now flushed with anger, his hands shaking with his
rage.  "All I had was my loneliness!  I didn't even have the pride of
being the best martial artist, because he was better than I was!"  Ryoga
began to pace around the room.  Gastrulating wildly he rambled on.  "He
had everything I wanted, everything I wished for!  I spent nights
dreaming of his life, wishing I could be in his place!"
        [His life was hardly perfect.]
        He spun around, facing her.  "So?  I would have traded anything
for what he had!  He had his father, the dojo, and you!"  He cackled
wildly, edging on the border of hysteria.  "I hated him!  I threatened
to kill him, and I would have, if I'd been good enough!"  Ryoga's voice
built up into a roaring crescendo.  "I hated him, I hated him!  I HATE
HIM!"  Ryoga tore off one of the metal panels that made up the walls and
threw it with all his strength into the wall opposite him.  There was a
loud bang and an explosion of sparks.  Akane leapt back, startled and
afraid.  If he attacked her, there was no possibility of her survival.
Then, as quickly as his rage appeared, it drained out of him, and he
fell to his knees.
        "Don't you see?" he whispered.  Akane had to strain to hear him.
"Don't you understand, when you kissed me, when you took care of me, you
were the first person in my life to do something like that.  How could I
not fall in love with you?  You were beautiful, caring, and
compassionate.  It was like nothing I'd ever felt before.  I suddenly
found myself with two things: my revenge and you.  Of course, I'd held
on to my revenge for so long I couldn't give it up just like that.  I
could see that Ranma really cared for you, even if neither of did.  So I
used you.  I used your ignorance and Ranma's knowledge against him.  I
couldn't beat him with martial arts, so I decided to do it another way."
        [You tried to turn me against Ranma.]
        Ryoga nodded.  "Yeah, I did.  Sometimes it worked and sometimes
it didn't, but I was never proud what I did.  It was a need, Akane.
Your caring, even if it was just for you pet P-Chan, was an addicting
drug more powerful than anything anyone could create.  I found myself
locked, trapped.  I couldn't tell you, yet I eventually knew that you
and Ranma would get married if I didn't do something."  Ryoga sighed,
and he sunk into a huddle of misery.  "I couldn't even keep the two of
you apart.  I failed, even in that, just like I fail in everything."
Turning away from her, he pulled his knees up to his face and began to
weep into them.  "Go away, Akane.  I love you, but it doesn't matter.
You don't deserve a failure like me.  Go to Ranma.  He deserves to have
you.  He gets everything anyway, so why not you?"
        [I...I already tried.  He rejected me.]
        Ryoga's head shot up and he turned towards her, his tear
streaked face filled with disbelief.  "He what?!"
        Akane could feel her own tears beginning to course down her
face.  [I tried to seduce him, I tried to make him love me, but he
pushed me away.]  Her shoulders began to shake as she began to cry.  [He
loves Nabiki more that I.]  This time she turned away from him, not
wanting him to see her so vulnerable.
        "It looks like we're both failures."
        [I guess so.]
        "Akane, maybe we-"
        [No!]  Akane turned back to him.  [No, I can't.  I don't...I'm
not...I'm not ready.  I'm not emotionally equipped to handle something
like this right now!  I just...damn it, I don't even know what to think,
much less say!]
        Ryoga stood and walked over to her.
        "Actually, I was thinking we could just be friends.  You know,
start over?"
        Akane took a deep breath and looked into his eyes, seeing the
hope, the plea.  [You know we can't do that.  There's too much between
us for that.]
        Ryoga sighed.  "I know.  But we can try, can't we?"
        Akane stared at him for a moment longer before slowly smiling a
sad, tired smile.  [We can always try.]
        Ryoga's eyes lit up and a grin broke out on his face.  Stepping
back, he bowed to her.  "I'm Ryoga Hibiki.  Pleased to meet you."
        Grinning, Akane duplicated his bow.  "And I'm Akane Tendo.
Pleased to meet you, too."
        They straightened and stared at each other for a few moments
enjoying their newfound relationship.  Not love, but two friends
enjoying each other's presence, and each giving what comfort they could
to the other from their past sufferings.
        Grinning his foolish grin, Ryoga motioned to the door.
        "Let's go.  I'm suddenly hungry."
        [Okay.]  Akane followed Ryoga as they left the room to get
something to eat.
        "Did you really try to seduce Ranma?  And he rejected you?"
        Akane sighed.  [Yes.]
        Ryoga chuckled.  "Wow, Ranma with an emotional backbone.  Who'd
have thought?"
        Akane gave a soundless laugh.  [He always was rather spineless
when it came to girls, wasn't he?]
        "Oh yes.  Of course, I wasn't much better than he was around
you."
        [I remember. Sort of.]

        [I'm trying to get a hold of Akane, but she's not answering.
Could you contact her for me?]
        [I'm sorry Major Saotome, but she left strict instructions not
to be disturbed,] replied the com-tech on the other end of the line.
        Nabiki growled.  [Then could you take a message?] she asked a
little more forcefully.
        [Of course.]
        [Please let her know that I want to talk to her, and she can
contact me at any time.]
        [Message sent.  En taro Adun, Major.]
        [Yeah, en taro Adun.]
        "She's avoiding you, Nabiki," commented Ranma as he slipped his
shirt over his head.  One thing he had grown to love about the Protoss
were their sonic showers.  No possibility of getting hit with cold water
at unexpected times.
        "I know!" said the exasperated woman.  "All I want to do is talk
to her!"  Getting up from the console, she began to pace around the
room.  "I don't blame her for anything, and I don't hate her either.
She tried to seduce you, fine.  You said no, end of story."
        Ranma shuddered at the memory of how close to the line between
'yes' and 'no' he had come.  "Tell her that."
        "I'm trying!  But she doesn't want to talk!  I leave messages,
but she doesn't answer.  I try to find her, but she avoids me.  I even
tried scanning the base with my mind, but she's shielding!  It's been a
week!   I don't know what to do!"
        "Well, what about Ka'Dalanis?"
        Nabiki stopped pacing and turned to face him.  "What about
Ka'Dalanis?"
        "Why don't you try seeing her?  Akane has to go back into the
tank for three hours a day.  She has to be around Ka'Dalanis."
        Nabiki stared at him for a long moment, then smiled.  "Ranma, I
could kiss you."  Then, giving him a smouldering look.  "And maybe a bit
more."
        Ranma grinned back.  "You won't get any objections out of me."
        So she did.

        [Hello, Akane,] said Ka'Dalanis as Akane entered the room.
        [Hello, Dala.]  Akane clamoured out of her armour and stretched.
[Oh, that felt good!]
        [Busy day?]
        [Yes.  Ryoga was helping me train.  He's quite the taskmaster.]
        [You and he are beginning to get along rather nicely,] the
Healer noted.
        Akane stopped and glared at Ka'Dalanis.  [He's just a friend.]
        [Of course.]
        [He is!]
        [I believe you, Akane.]
        [Don't patronize me!]
        [I'm not patronizing you,] replied the Healer in a placating
tone.  Akane did not believe her.  Ka'Dalanis helped Akane take off the
microsuit and hung it up while Akane stepped into the Regeneration Tank.
Going to the console, Ka'Dalanis began the regeneration process, but
stopped a few moments later.  It did not take Akane long to notice.
        [Is something wrong?] she asked.  The Healer did not answer for
a long moment
        [Your sister came by today.]
        Akane's face darkened, both with anger and shame.  [I don't want
to talk to her.]
        [She told me what you tried to do,] continued Ka'Dalanis.  [I
don't pretend to understand human mating customs, but from what I do
know, what you tried was not good for yourself, Nabiki, or Ranma.]
        [I said I don't want to-]
        [Akane, she doesn't hate you.  She isn't angry with you.  She
just wants to talk.]
        Akane paled.  [I...I...]  With a bitter sigh, Akane leaned back
against the wall of the tank.  [I was so stupid,] she said miserably.
[I wanted him to love me so much, but all I did was push him away.]  She
could feel tears coursing down her cheeks and she absently brushed them
away.  [I can't face them, not after what I did.]
        Ka'Dalanis went to Akane and put one massive hand on Akane's
shoulder in a consoling gesture.  [Akane, you are the only one who can
forgive yourself.  Just as I had to forgive myself for what I did to
you, now you must forgive yourself for what you did to them.  Talk to
them, Akane.  You will see.]
        Akane looked up at her second mother.  [You're sure?]
        Ka'Dalanis projected all the love, care and comfort she could
into her mind voice.  [Trust me.]
        Eventually, Akane nodded.  [I'll see them in the morning.]
        Ka'Dalanis nodded.  [Good.  Now, time for your rest.]

End Chapter 16

C&C, or even hearing how cool my story is, would be greatly appreciated.

Previous chapters can be found at: http://members.shaw.ca/a.brown10/

Nighthawke


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