Author Notes:

I came up with this fic out of nowhere so don't blame me if you don't
like it. This is my first fic I've felt I wanted to share in a while.
I wrote this a while ago and haven't found a drive to edit it.
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   The virus had spread quickly. No one knew why only certain people
were infected. I had no clue that the virus existed until I too became
infected. Of course, I denied it. How could someone as strong as I was
get sick?! My overconfidence became my greatest weakness, not that I'd
admit having one, and it almost killed me. Soon, I spread the virus to
others close to me. They didn't know that it was me. I had hidden my
sickly nature till at last I could not do so anymore. Everyone felt
they had given it to me. I still denied it. I couldn't be sick. I
would fight it just like I fought everything else in my life. I would
not lose. Ranma Saotome never lost a fight. NEVER!

Time passed along and I lost several people that were close to me. It
was a horror I wasn't ready to face and yet it wouldn't wait for me to
catch up. Cologne died after fighting it harder then anyone. I almost
lost hope in my fight, but I couldn't lose this one. Then, Ukyo passed
on. My good friend Ukyo...why was this happening?! That, sadly, wasn't
the end of these chain of events...these horrorifying events. Shampoo
didn't live much longer then Cologne and Mousse followed soon after. I
couldn't take any more people dying! Why wouldn't it stop?! WHY?!
Akane, Mr. Tendo, and my father now had advancing symptoms. I too was
losing the fight against time. Each mourning became more and more
precious as the days wore on.


Ryoga came to the house one day. He was in the last stages of the
virus and didn't have much time. He was quickly taken inside and
occupied my bed. He lived only a few more days, but I cherished each
one. He was my best friend and greatest rival after all. I will always
remember the last things we spoke of. It saddens me to think of them,
but if I could stop the memories from flowing I would.


"I know I don't have much time...I can tell by the haunted look in
your eyes. I know we've mostly fought each other...but reme..remember
this. You're the greatest friend I've ever had. You...you aren't
the...the cause of my problems. I was blind. For...Forgive me. I know
you and Akane are infected. Figh...Fight it....Fight it and save her.
If it's...the last ti...time you do. Make sure to do it.
Keep....her...safffeeee." Ryoga spoke in a rasp and slowly his eyes
closed as he uttered the last word and his chest's slow motion slowed
further and then stopped.


I just sat there and looked at his still cold body...for who knows how
long. I was brought back to the present when a crying Akane jumped
into my arms and soaked my shoulder. It was then that I realized I had
been crying the whole time. Men never cried. I shouldn't be crying!
But...it felt better when I cried. Maybe, it was ok to cry at certain
times. I continued to let my tears slowly roll down my face and held
onto Akane. I would save Akane. I would save her and let Ryoga rest in
peace!


After Ryoga died I devoted my life to medicine. Dr. Tofu eagerly
taught me all that he could. We started the only facility that studied
the virus. Everyone else felt the virus was absolutely too dangerous
to go near let alone study. For two people infected it never seemed
dangerous. With Nabiki's help with getting large funding for the
studies we made leaps and bounds in the field.


It seems that the virus was very selective in it's hosts. It could
only survive in one that had a good size of bodily energy. It also
mutated very easily and adapted to it's host as fast as possible. It
would take the virus twice as long to kill me as I could distract the
virus by switching genders. It couldn't adapt to me, as my genetic
make-up would constantly change. It was agreed that I should welcome
the change as it would give me more time help save Akane and the
others. It wasn't long though before Dr. Tofu died as well.


With Dr. Tofu the research died as well. I couldn't stand being in the
clinic. There were too many memories. That's how things were now. Pain
was everywhere I looked. I soon found myself around Akane more then
ever. We slowly let our walls down and soon found ourselves opening up
to each other more then we ever have. Time wasn't on our side though.


During our first date Akane collapsed from overexertion. She didn't
have much time left. I felt like time was catching up to me as well.
It wouldn't be long. The bond we had been building between us became
ever more concrete. Then the final days came. I found myself unable to
leave her side. I was there to the very end. She died before me.
Minutes before me really. I couldn't believe what was happening. I
cried and mourned and wished for her to return. For everything to be
as it was. I felt so tired though. Yes, oh so very tired. I should
take a nap. I closed my eyes and let the darkness take hold. I
wouldn't wake the next day.

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-DuckBoyMousse

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