[FFML] [fanfic][UY/Ranma/SisPri] "Lonely Souls" Part 3 B Side (final draft)

[Frederick Herriot]

Darn, sorry!  I sent out 3A for a second time instead of 3B!

Fred

**** **** ****

	"Ranma?  Ranma, wake up!"

	Ranma moaned, opening her eyes.  Disorientation seized her for a second as 
she saw her own face gazing at her.  Her memory then clicked in on spotting 
the bandanna wrapped around her mirror-twin's hair.  "Oh, Toshiko, hi . . . 
" she hailed with a grunt as she slowly slid into a sitting position.  
"Damn!  What time is it?" she wondered, moving to gaze on the digital clock 
nearby.

	Toshiko grinned as she grabbed her sister.  "Time to get some exercise!"

	Vaulting to the window, she sent Ranma flying.  "HEY!" Ranma screamed, 
quickly noting she had just been tossed out of the THIRD floor of the 
rotunda.  Orientating herself to make a perfect two-point landing near the 
laundry bars by the sea wall, she braced herself as twin dynamos of finely 
honed martial arts energy leapt out the same window she emerged from, they 
landing nearby.

	As the windows in neighbouring bedrooms flew open, people looking outside 
to see what was going on, Ranma braced herself.  "Ready when you are," she 
declared with a grin as she sensed Toshiko and Kumiko preparing to attack.

	The mirror-twins lashed out.  Ranma, glad to FINALLY get a pair of good 
sparring partners -- for obvious reasons, Genma no longer made the grade -- 
screamed as she retaliated.  Watching the scene of punches, kicks, leaps and 
dodges, the people woken by the Saotomes could only stare in disbelief.  
"When Anee said Ranma-anee was good, she wasn't kidding!" Mamoru mused.

	"Don't look at it, Aria-sama," the twenty-something maid/governess who 
watched over Aria, Jeanne-Marie Louise Guenevere Rochelles -- Aria shortened 
that mouth-filling name all the time to "Jii-ya," much to Guenevere's total 
annoyance! -- declared as she covered the young Parisian's eyes when she 
tried to look outside to see what Ranma-neeya and her sisters were doing.

	"Whaaa!  Nee-sama and her sisters are going to have BIG appetites when 
they're done!" Shirayuki mused, she standing at the third floor landing.  
"Hime best make her Special Vitamin Milkshakes for Nee-sama and her 
sisters!"

	As the chef bounded to the kitchen to get started on breakfast, Rinrin 
peeked out her window.  The inventor had been busy all night working on some 
modifications for her first autonomous robot, Prototype Robot Number One -- 
"Mega-Rinrin" as it was known.  "Man, if they do that EVERY morning, I might 
as well throw my alarm clock away," she muttered before turning back to her 
work.

	The ground floor windows below Ranma's room, marking Ataru's and Karen's 
rooms, then opened.  "Onii-chan, can't they be a little LESS loud?" the 
latter asked as she looked over towards Ataru's room though she couldn't see 
him.

	"Talk to them later, Karen-chan . . . H-HEY!"

	Ranma appeared before her friend, and then she made him pole-vault right at 
Toshiko and Kumiko.  "C'mon!  You need exercise, too!"

	"ONII-CHAN!" Karen screamed as Ataru pivoted in mid-air, he landing by the 
safety wall overlooking the island's shoreline.

	"Oh, ya wanna be a bunch of wise guys, huh?!"  He balled up a ki sphere.  
"Try this on for size!  ***SEISHIN SHURIKEN ARASHI!***"

	The shockwave blasts from the Psychic Shuriken Storm shook Welcome House 
all the way to the chapel on the opposite side of the commons from the 
rotunda.  As Ataru and the Saotomes went at each other, Kaho burst from the 
front doors; she dressed in her school cheerleader's outfit, pom-poms in 
hand.  "***ONII-CHAMA, GAMBATTE!***" she cried out as she launched into her 
routine.

	Seeing this from the second floor landing, Chikage smiled.  *Have fun, 
Ani-kun, Ane-kun,* she mused.  *It won't last long.*

*    *    *

	Hearing the noise from the downtown part of the island, residents looked 
up, they quickly seeing smoke billow up from Welcome House.  A tall fellow 
then gazed on his portly friend.  "What the heck are those girls up to now?"

	"Search me!  Their brother wasn't THAT loud before!"

	They then nodded as they reached the only logical conclusion:

	"Mainlanders!"

	"Has to be."

	"Wish those girls would be more careful."

	"Hai.  Well, there goes the neighbourhood."

**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu at hotmail.com OR fherriot at yahoo.com
**** **** ****
"Ashokan Farewell," music by Jay Ungar, lyrics by Grian McGregor.  The 
arrangement of the words depicted here is my interpretation, following the 
version of the song as recorded on Track Three of the "The Civil War" CD, 
produced by Ken Burns and John Colby, distributed by Electra Nonesuch.
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi Rumiko; and 
"Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino Sakurako.
**** **** ****

NOTE:  The writer's notes are in a separate text file.

**** **** ****

THE THIRD PART, "B" SIDE - FAMILY BORN

	"***SAOTOME, HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?!***"

	Genma ducked Souun's Demon Head, waving his hands.  "Relax, Tendou-kun!" 
the Saotome patriarch soothed.  "We can get this fixed up as soon as we find 
that stupid son of mine and bring him back here!"

	"Oh, I'm truly sure that Ranma-kun will actually let you screw around with 
his mind like you did when he was only FIVE!" Nabiki barbed while giving 
Genma a knowing look from her place at the breakfast table.

	Genma glared at her.  "Nabiki, surely you can realise the advantage of what 
I did!  If the boy wasn't forced to concentrate on the Art, how could he 
have been able to kill Saffron and save your sister?!"

	Kasumi walked in from the kitchen, breakfast tray in hand.  "Perhaps," the 
eldest daughter mused.  "But maybe if Ranma-kun WAS able to develop other 
interests, he wouldn't have been forced into some of the fights he's had to 
deal with since he came here!"  Glaring at Genma, she tossed him a bag of 
dry ramen.  "There!  And don't you DARE go into my kitchen to cook that!"

	Souun jolted.  "Kasumi!  How can you be so mean to our guest?!"

	"He's YOUR guest, Father!  Not ours!" Kasumi snarled, her angry tone making 
Souun duck.  "Besides, he's lived on the road for ten years!  Surely he 
didn't spend ALL that time STEALING food!  And he STAYS out of my kitchen!  
I wouldn't want such an unsanitary beast in there!"

	"Or maybe he forced Ranma-kun to do all the cooking," Nabiki mused as she 
started to eat.  Seeing Genma glance hopefully at her plate, an icy look 
flashed in her eyes.  "If you even THINK of it, fatso, you're going back to 
the zoo and you're going to STAY there this time!" she warned.

	Genma ducked her look.  He then screamed out as a pipe sent him flying into 
the koi pond.  "If you aren't going to eat, Genma, get out of the way!" 
Happoosai snapped before he sweetly smiled at Kasumi.  "What's for 
breakfast?"

	Kasumi beamed.  "Coming right up, Ojii-san."

	Watching his daughters being so kind to his old teacher, Souun wailed, 
bemoaning yet again the threatened state of the future union of the 
Saotome-ryuu and Tendou-ryuu.  Kasumi, Nabiki and Happoosai ignored him.  
Seeing this from the pond, Genma-panda moaned.  *The boy will PAY for this!*

*    *    *

	In the southeast end of Tomobiki, the road train from the Toranoseishin 
Tower stood before a simple family home.  Black blurs flashed to and from 
the passenger cabin and a bedroom on the second floor.  Standing by the 
front door with her sister and parents, Inu Chigaiko could only smile.  
"Boy, when Ataru-kun said his uncle's ninjas were fast, he wasn't kidding," 
she declared before a cough shook her, her hand flying up to her mouth to 
catch the spittle.

	"You still have that cold, dear?" her mother Kindan wondered.

	"Y-yeah!"  Chigaiko sniffled, rubbing her nose.  "Can you get me an 
appointment with the doctor, Mom?  I think I need it."

	"I'll make the call today, but I think you won't be able to get in to see 
him until next week at the earliest," Kindan warned.

	"Oh, okay!"  Chigaiko then blinked as a ninja appeared before her, bowing 
his head respectfully.  "Is it all done?" she asked.

	"Yes, Young Mistress Chigaiko," the ninja reported.  "If you are ready to 
depart, we will take you to the Young Master's residence."

	Chigaiko nodded, and then she exchanged hugs and kisses with her family 
before boarding the road train.  The ninjas vanished as the driver guided 
the train towards Nerima.  "We should arrive at the Young Master's residence 
in a half-hour or so, ma'am," the driver reported.  "Traffic doesn't seem to 
be bad today.  Oh, I may have a pick-up," he then advised.

	"Who?" Chigaiko asked.

	"A potential student of Grandmaster Negako's."

	The ex-Tomobiki High sophomore nodded.  "Ah!"

*    *    *

	"Wow!"

	"Oh, my!  Is that really Ranma-kun?!"

	Nabiki whistled, turning the page of the latest issue of a popular teen 
fashion magazine.  "Sure looks like it," she mused.  "Man, whoever did the 
shots here really knows his business.  Make-up's not so bad, either!"

	Kasumi and Nabiki sat on the porch.  Souun and Genma were currently walking 
about town in some vain attempt to locate either Ranma or Moroboshi Negako.  
Minutes before, one of Nabiki's friends came by, carrying several fashion 
and other pop magazines she asserted had dozens of pictures of Ranma -- in 
both forms! -- inside.  One glance inside quickly proved how right she was.  
"So he used a Korean alias for each of his bodies, huh?  Very smart 
thinking, Ranma-kun . . . oh, THIS is nice!"  She pointed to one picture.

	"Oh, my!  Ranma-chan looks SO cute in that wedding dress!"  Kasumi covered 
her mouth.  "Ne, Nabiki-chan, how much would this pay?"

	"Can't say.  Probably a lot given that he's HAD to use some of that money 
to set up our private funds, plus the other money."

	"Do you think Uncle might try to steal Ranma-kun's money?"

	"Not with the bank Ranma-kun got those cheques made in.  Koshin Bank has 
special rules when it comes to underage clients, which Ranma-kun happens to 
be.  If there's ANY suspicion of child abuse or any other sort of 
impropriety between the client and the parents, the bank has the authority 
to block attempts by the parents to get control of those funds.  If Uncle 
wanted to push it, then . . . "  She paused, smirking.  "Well, I doubt he'd 
survive an investigation like THAT!  Nope!"  She shook her head again before 
turning back to the magazine.  "He can dream all he wants, but this time, he 
won't get a damned thing.  Too bad!"

	"Hai, too bad."  Kasumi pointed at one picture.  "Oh, isn't THAT cute?!"

	"Yeah!"  Nabiki then blinked as the front gate opened.  Seeing who was 
coming in, she sighed.  "Oh, wonderful!  Just what I needed . . . "

	"Tendou Nabiki, I would speak to you on a matter of great import!" Kunou 
Tatewaki declared as he marched up.  He then gracefully bowed to the older 
sister.  "A fair morning to you, Tendou Kasumi."  To Nabiki:  "May I enquire 
as to where your beauteous sister or the pig-tailed girl might be?"

	"Oh, neither of them are here, Kunou-san," Kasumi said.  "Akane's in the 
hospital right now and Ranma-chan moved out of the house."

	The scion of the Kunou family gasped.  "WHAT?!  What happened to them?!" he 
demanded before scanning around the property.  "And where is that foul demon 
Saotome?!  Has he unleashed some new vile sorcery on my beloveds?!"

	"No, he moved out too, Kunou-chan."  Nabiki set the fashion magazine aside 
before crossing her arms.  "Oh, by the way, I've got some good news for you! 
  There's no engagement now between Ranma-kun and Akane."

	Silence.

	More silence.

	Still more silence.

	Then . . .

	"No engagement?" Kunou gasped, he stunned by Nabiki's words.

	Nabiki nodded.  "Yep.  Akane's a free woman now."

	Blinking as that sank into his mind, Kunou then screamed out, "Oh, AT LAST! 
  At last, justice has prevailed!  I, Kunou Tatewaki, the Blue Thunder of 
Fuurinkan High, have finally succeeded!  The beautiful Tendou Akane has 
FINALLY escaped the clutches of that demon Saotome!  Justice has FINALLY 
prevailed!"  He crouched into a meditative pose as a hum rumbled from him, 
then he held up a finger.  "No!" he flatly said.  "No!  It must be done 
right, of course!"

	"Done right in what way, Kunou-san?" Kasumi asked.

	"Forgive me, but that must be resolved first between myself and your noble, 
fiery sister, Tendou Kasumi," the kendou-ka proclaimed before he turned on 
Nabiki.  "Now, Tendou Nabiki, what news of the pig-tailed one?  I last saw 
her on the television when she went Monday to aid in the rescue of those 
poor unfortunates at Tomobiki High School.  Much to my shock and horror, she 
doth proclaim to the media that she is a friend to that most vile, perverted 
beast, Moroboshi Ataru!  Pray tell me this is not so, Nabiki, I beg you!"

	Nabiki held out her hand.  "It doesn't come cheap, Kunou-chan."

	Ten thousand yen filled her hands.  "Yes, Ranma-chan IS Ataru-kun's 
friend."  She slipped the money into her pocket before she added, "Matter of 
fact, they're off on a trip together for the rest of the week with 
Ataru-kun's sisters.  You won't see her until Monday."

	"Oh, that is . . .!"  Kunou's voice trailed off as a horror-struck look 
crossed his face.  "WHAT?!" he wailed as lightning flashed in the 
background.  "You mean to say the pig-tailed girl is ALONE with that 
lecher?!"

	Nabiki nodded.  "Yep."

	"Where?!" he demanded.  "Tell me so I might smite the beast and rescue the 
pig-tailed one from Moroboshi's vile, diseased clutches!"

	Nabiki shook her head.  "I can't!  And no, you can't pay me any sort of 
money to get that information out of me.  Sorry."

	"WHAT?!  WHY NOT?!"

	"Simple," Nabiki replied.  "Ataru-kun's a ninja.  Not just ANY ninja, but 
one who's learned from the deadliest ninjitsu school of all!  How the heck 
do you think he's been able to defeat Mendou Shuutarou all the time when he 
was living in Tomobiki?!  Hell, how the heck do you expect me to keep track 
of someone like HIM, Kunou-chan?!  I may be good, but I'm not THAT good!"

	The kendou-ka considered that before gravely nodding.  "You are correct, 
Tendou Nabiki.  Very well.  I will have Sasuke seek out the vile beast and 
the pig-tailed one so I might smite Moroboshi and ensure he REMAINS 
defeated!"  He turned around to leave, waving at them.  "Fair thee well, my 
friends!"

	He departed.  Kasumi and Nabiki watched him go.  The latter sighed.  "To 
quote the great cartoon . . . "  A pause.  "'What a maroon!'"

	The former shook her head.  "Indeed."

*    *    *

	"Sasuke-san, you have our deepest sympathies."

	"Thank you, Tenchi-san," Sasuke replied, nodding thanks to the other ninja, 
one of Yumoa Reigi's personal field scouts.  Both were perched in a tree 
overlooking the Tendou family courtyard.  "So where is Ataru-sama anyway?"

	"He is, as Nabiki-san just reported, with Ranma-sama and the Young 
Mistresses.  Surely, Sasuke-san, you can't expect us to stand idly by and 
allow that fool you serve to threaten the Young Mistresses, do you?!"

	The Kunou family retainer thought about it for a second before he shook his 
head.  "No, of course not," he replied.  "If the Master saw Sakuya-sama or 
Haruka-sama, he would . . .!"  A shudder raced through him before he nodded. 
  "No.  My master is not an evil man, but his obsessions blind him to so 
much.  I will not see a war start between the Kunous and the Moroboshis over 
that!"

	"A good point . . . ah!"

	A *toot!* filled the air.  Sasuke and Tenchi watched as a certain road 
train stopped by the front gate of the Tendou property.  Nabiki soon ran 
out, a gym bag in hand.  Quickly getting aboard, she relaxed beside Inu 
Chigaiko as the road train continued its journey to the Moroboshi home.  
"Where is Nabiki-sama going?" Sasuke wondered, staring at the other ninja.

	"To see our grandmaster about having her arms restored to proper motion so 
she can continue her studies in Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu."

	Sasuke perked before he smiled.  "Really?!  Good for her!"

*    *    *

	"***NEE-SAMA!  WHEN HIME SAYS 'SLOW,' HIME MEANS 'SLOW!'***"

	A spatula slammed down on the table beside Ranma's plate.  That act made 
the martial artist leap up to the pentacle-shaped ceiling frame six metres 
off the floor!  Everyone looked up to see Ranma hugging the wood beams, she 
shivering at the chef's outburst.  Shirayuki put her fists to hips.  
"HONESTLY, Nee-sama!  Hime can make all the uzura-dango Nee-sama wants!  Why 
is Nee-sama eating like someone was about to take all of Nee-sama's food 
away?!"

	"Because people DO try to take Ranma's food away, Shirayuki-san," Toshiko 
said in her template's defence.  "Specifically Genma!"

	"Why would Onee-sama's father do something like that?" Sakuya asked.

	"Partially, it's training."  Kumiko held up her chopsticks to emphasise her 
point.  "Working with chopsticks helps improve your fingers' dexterity, 
especially if you want to use shiatsu attacks.  Partially, it's a philosophy 
Genma rammed into Ranma every day during their training trip:  'Treat each 
meal like it was your last.'"  A tired sigh.  "And partially, it's because 
Genma's a greedy, lazy fool who wants to pig out all the time!"

	Shirayuki looked aghast before screaming, "***HIME NEVER HEARD SUCH A 
STUPID THING IN ALL OF HIME'S LIFE!***"  Everyone ducked her rant as 
Shirayuki looked up to Ranma, she insistently pointing to the spot the 
martial artist had just vacated.  "Nee-sama, come down here this INSTANT!"

	Ranma quaked before dropping to the floor, she waving her hands in a "Don't 
hit me!" gesture.  Shirayuki sighed, pointing to the former's chair.  "Sit, 
Nee-sama!  Hime isn't going to take Nee-sama's food away!"

	Ranma hopped into the chair.  "Okay!  Okay!  Okay!"

	"Now, Hime will tell Nee-sama Hime's philosophy about food!"  Shirayuki 
drew out a handkerchief to lie on Ranma's lap.  "Food is meant to be ENJOYED 
to the last morsel!"  She then drew out a plate of uzura-dango.  "After all, 
Hime and cooks like Hime LIKE to make food and they want those who eat their 
food to enjoy eating their food!"  She sat down beside Ranma.  Taking the 
latter's chopsticks, she used them to pick up one of the dumplings.  
"Nee-sama can't enjoy Hime's food if Nee-sama is shovelling it into 
Nee-sama's mouth like she was some silly stoker shovelling coal into a 
boiler!  Okay?!"  She held the dumpling before Ranma's mouth.  "Now, 
Nee-sama, say 'Aaah!'"

	Ranma backed away.  "Aw, c'mon, Shirayuki!  That's sissy stuff!"

	Hearing that, the cook stopped, sniffing.  "Nee-sama doesn't like Hime's 
cooking . . . " she tearfully moaned, looking down at her plate.

	Seeing THAT, Ranma slumped in defeat.  "Aaah . . . "

	Giggling, the other sisters watched as Shirayuki fed the martial artist.  
Hinako covered her mouth.  "Onee-tama's so funny!"

	Sakuya stared at Ataru.  "Poor Onee-sama.  I wonder what sort of other bad 
habits that fool father taught her," she whispered.

	"Quite a bit from what I've seen of her already," he whispered back.  "Do 
you think you can give Ranma the Talk, Sakuya-chan?"

	She blinked as she stared wide-eyed at him.  "You mean they were pressing 
an engagement between Onee-sama and that Akane girl and no one ever thought 
of giving Onee-sama the Talk?"  She then shook her head as she turned back 
to her breakfast.  "Gods, what were those stupid people thinking, anyway?"

	"You can say that again," Ataru muttered, rolling his eyes.

*    *    *

	"Oh, man!  Did she HAVE to do THAT?!  That was embarrassing!"

	Ataru chuckled as he escorted Ranma on a tour around town.  "Sorry, but 
they've done that to me many times since I first came here.  I was riding 
the escalators with Haruka-chan one day!"  He pointed up to the covered 
walkway connecting the higher and lower parts of the Island.  "I sprained my 
ankle and she had to help me back to the House.  Instant they saw that, they 
were all over me to make sure I got 'properly' fed and all that.  Heck, 
Haruka-chan even wanted to come into the furo and wash my back!"

	He shrugged.  Ranma gazed at him.  "Ataru, are you SURE they're your 
sisters?!" she demanded as her eyebrow arched before she looked ahead.  "I 
mean, I don't think sisters are supposed to do THAT with their brother!"

	He laughed.  "There were times I was unsure of it, too!  But then again, we 
could simply attribute it to the *newness* of it all."

	"You mean the fact that you just found out you were related and you weren't 
really sure as to what to do about that, right?"

	"Exactly.  It's like you with Toshiko-chan and Kumiko-chan, right?"

	Ranma nodded.  "I guess so.  Then again, I really haven't had a chance to 
spend any time with them.  I had to get them out of the house after Nabiki 
put them into that magical compact, then send them on their way.  Ukyou 
helped out, but I didn't want them to stay in Nerima any longer than it was 
safe for them.  Or me.  I busted them out of that compact after I got into a 
fight with Nabiki over some stupid lottery ticket she had that got burned up 
during a fight I had with Jijii.  Thank the gods that Jijii at least was 
able to supply them some travelling money so they didn't have to rough it 
like Oyaji and I did."

	"Given how well-skilled they are, Happoosai was probably making sure the 
Art would be guaranteed to continue through them.  Besides, would YOU want 
them to hang around in the same place as that fool father of yours?"

	Ranma shuddered.  "You got a point."

*    *    *

	"Oh, man . . .!"

	Ryuunosuke tried not to scream as she stared at Tomobiki High.  After 
waiting for a day for the embers to cool off, the wreckers would come soon 
to tear down what was left of the northwest wing.  That would allow the 
Mendou Emergency Construction and Repair Team -- the people who normally 
repaired the school when something odd happened -- to get to work on 
reconstruction.  Shinobu stood beside her friend, ready to support the 
orphaned girl if she needed it.

	Taking a breath, Ryuunosuke shook her head.  "Y'know, 'cept for the people 
dyin' . . . " she began before sucking back a sob.  "It don't look different 
from after the Pseudo-War and the Second Tag Race.  Don't it?"

	Shinobu nodded.  "Hai, that's true, isn't it?"

	"Shinobu?!  Ryuunosuke-kun?!"

	Both turned to see several of their classmates, led by Marubeya Momoe and 
Gekasawa Kumiko, walk up.  "Yo, guys!" Ryuunosuke hailed.

	Shinobu bowed.  "Ohayou, everyone.  What are you all doing here?"

	"Looking for you," Kumiko replied.  "Listen, we're trying to get all the 
people in class together, and then we'd go out and find Ataru-kun.  You 
know, thank him for coming over to help out with the clean-up and all that."

	Shinobu gagged on the lump that just formed in her throat.  Seeing that, 
Ryuunosuke sighed, squeezing Shinobu's shoulder before she turned back to 
the others.  "Look, Moroboshi don't want anything to do with us, Kumiko . . 
. "

	"Even if he doesn't, Ryuunosuke-kun, he did help us," Kumiko objected.  "I 
mean, it surprised me when the local papers only mentioned Saotome-san when 
they reported on the bombing.  I mean, I don't like Ataru-kun, but . . . "

	"AND he don't like us, Kumiko!" Ryuunosuke snapped.  "Look, Shinobu and I 
went by his old house last night.  There was this guy there.  He's the man 
runnin' Moroboshi's grandma's will.  He freakin' tore a strip off us both.  
Practically gloated over the fact that Moroboshi was leavin' us once and for 
all!  Even told us that Moroboshi burned all his yearbooks and photo albums 
just to help him forget we ever existed!  I say THAT'S a pretty strong 
message, Kumiko.  Look . . . "  She stopped as a hand grabbed hers.  
"Shinobu?"

	Shinobu sighed.  "I'm not giving up on him, Ryuu-chan."

	"Shinobu!" Ryuunosuke snapped.

	"Shinobu-chan!" Momoe gasped.

	Ataru's ex-girlfriend stared at her friends.  "Look, if there's anyone who 
might know where he is, it's Kamekichi Tampopo."

	"You mean the ramen shop cook that always beat up that slab of beef Rei all 
the time?!" Koi Shinjin, one of the boys, wondered.

	"Hey!  Rei-san's no slab of beef!" Kumiko snapped.

	"Yeah, right, sure!" another boy said, rolling his eyes.

	Shinobu moaned as the argument started.  God, it seemed that Lum and her 
friends would be affecting people's opinions for a LONG time!  "Alright!  
Enough, already!" she snapped.  "What's past is past!  We have to go on!  
Let's find Kamekichi-san, then go ask her about Ataru-kun!  Okay?!"

	The others nodded.

*    *    *

	"Remain still, Nabiki."

	Nabiki sighed, lying face-first on the sitting room floor as Negako 
manipulated the former's shiatsu pattern to entice the nerve clusters around 
her shoulders to fully and properly regenerate.  Inu Chigaiko sat to one 
side, she watching the ninjutsu grandmaster do her work.  "Oooh!  That feels 
great!" Nabiki purred delightedly as Negako's fingertips slightly vibrated 
as she sent ki energy into the body to break apart the scarred neural tissue 
within, thus allowing the neurons to reform whole and healthy.

	A happy whistling heralded the arrival of one of Nerima's three martial 
arts grandmasters.  "Good morning, ladies!" Happoosai hailed as he bounced 
in, landing on Negako's head.  "Hiya, Negako-chan!  How's Nabiki here?!"

	Negako calmly picked him off her head, setting him to one side.  "She will 
recover sooner if you do not distract me, Happy."

	"Ojii-chan, you even THINK of stealing my bra or panties right now, I won't 
bail you out of jail the next time you get really drunk," Nabiki warned with 
a glare as she raised a finger in dire warning.

	"Oh, relax, relax!  The girls from Saint Hebereke were more than happy to 
let me protect all their silky darlings!" Happoosai crooned before pulling 
out his pipe and lighting it as he watched Negako work.  "Looks good."

	"Yes, her potential is considerable.  The chances are good that once she 
has regained confidence, she could begin ki training."

	Everyone gaped.  "You're kidding!" Chigaiko exclaimed.

	"I do not joke, Chigaiko," Negako explained.  "Everyone on the planet has 
some ki-manipulation abilities.  Most do not go beyond the basics required 
to maintain one's health to the standard they feel is 'right.'  Remember, 
the ability to utilise ki is interconnected with one's faith in herself, her 
surroundings and Existence as a whole.  Since events in Nerima and Tomobiki 
defy what is seen as 'normal' to most, those not native to either place will 
not be able to conceive of what we would see as 'normal.'"

	"I never thought about that," Nabiki admitted.

	"Of course not.  Save for when Souun used his Demon Head attack to subdue 
someone, you did not encounter a situation where your concepts of 'reality' 
were broadened significantly until Ranma and Genma came to Nerima."

	A cell phone rang.  Negako pulled back, allowing Nabiki to sit up as she 
drew out the phone.  "Moshi-moshi, Tendou here."

	"Nabiki-san, it's me!" a woman called back.

	"Momoe-san, what's up?!"

	Chigaiko's jaw dropped.  Momoe?!  Marubeya Momoe?!  One of Mendou's 
floozies knew Nabiki?!  "Nothing much.  We're recovering," Momoe reported.  
"Listen, a bunch of yatai owners here told us that Kamekichi Tampopo moved 
to your part of Tokyo some weeks back.  Can you give an address?"

	"I probably could.  Why are you so interested?"

	"Well, we're actually looking for Moroboshi Ataru," Momoe admitted.  "You 
know, thank him for his help in what happened on Monday.  I know what you 
told me Monday night; Mendou-san doesn't know about this.  If anyone knows 
where Ataru-kun went, it'd be Tampopo-san.  Can you give?"

	"I . . . "  Nabiki paused, noticing Negako holding out her hand.  "Look, 
Momoe, Ataru-kun's sister's sitting right beside me.  I'll let you talk to 
her about it.  Just a second," she called out before handing the phone over.

*    *    *

	"'SISTER?!'" everyone exclaimed.

	Momoe stared at her phone before holding it to her ear.  "Moshi-moshi?"

	"This is Moroboshi Negako," a frighteningly cold woman's voice announced.  
"Ataru is not here right now.  What is the matter, Momoe?"

	"I . . . "  Momoe shook her head before calling back over the line, "I 
didn't know Ataru-kun had a sister!  Unless you're the . . .?"

	"I am she," Negako affirmed.  "Ataru did not remember me until seven weeks 
ago when I restored his memories after Kinshou tricked me into having his 
memories edited of key information five years ago.  This was done to help 
Kinshou embezzle Ataru's inheritance from his grandmother, Nagaiwakai.  If 
you watch NHK Nerima or TV Tokyo, you will learn the whole story this 
evening."

	"I . . . I see."  Momoe sighed.  "Well, listen, Negako-san.  We'd like to 
know where your brother is right now . . . "

	"He is not here."

	"Er . . . o-okay, where is he?"

	"That is none of your business, Momoe."

	Momoe jolted.  "Hey!"

	"Listen and take heed," Negako warned.  "Reigi made it clear to Shinobu and 
Ryuunosuke last night.  If you are incapable of acknowledging that, neither 
Ataru nor I will be responsible for what might result from it."

	Momoe was stunned by the curt indifference Negako was demonstrating to her 
over the phone.  "I . . . " she began before sighing.  "Look!  All we want 
to do is thank him for helping out on Monday when that bomb went off!"

	"I will convey your gratitude to Ataru when he returns.  But do not expect 
any reciprocating show of emotion.  As far as he is concerned, no one living 
in Tomobiki deserves it."  Negako paused before she sank the stake in deep.  
"ESPECIALLY one whose obsession with an arrogant narcissist like Mendou 
Shuutarou blinds her to all else that occurs around her.  You are warned.  
Do not press this matter further, Momoe."

	*Beep!*  The connection was cut.  "Hey!" Momoe screamed, staring at the 
silent cell-phone in disbelief.  "Who the hell . . .?!"

*    *    *

	"Um, Negako-san?"

	"Yes, Nabiki?"

	"You believe in something called 'tact?'"

	Negako gazed at her.  "No."

	"Maybe you should learn," Nabiki warned, holding up a finger.

	The ninjutsu grandmaster shrugged before turning to Nabiki's shiatsu 
points.  "Sometimes, the most direct message is the best one," she 
explained.  "Besides, I spoke the truth about Ataru's feelings for those 
people."

	"A little white lie could've helped there, too, Negako-san."

	"Atop all the lies, jealousy, misinformation and twisted worldviews 
practised, felt and spoken by those people?  ESPECIALLY where it concerned 
Ataru?  When does it stop?  When people die?  People have ALREADY died as a 
result of events in Tomobiki and how they came to be.  Granted, death comes 
to all of us."  An eyebrow arched.  "But do you wish to rush it?"

	Nabiki sighed.  "Not really."  She then raised her finger to emphasise her 
point.  "But you STILL need to learn some tact, Negako-san."

	She laid her head down on her crossed arms.  Negako shook her head.

*    *    *

	"I can't believe that!"

	"Believe it," Momoe replied.  She had just explained to the others about 
what Nabiki had told her concerning Ataru and Negako.

	Kumiko nodded.  "Well, it does make some sense.  After all, how was 
Ataru-kun able to catch Mendou-san's katana all the time?"

	"Not to mention the times he was able to out-race everyone, even Lum-chan 
when he wanted to," Shinjin added.  "And what about those big lugs that 
showed up after the Pseudo-War and the Second Tag Race to pound Mendou, 
Megane and his pals into the dirt when they tried to go after Ataru?!"

	Momoe shuddered.  "Don't remind me of them!"

	"So what do we do now?" Ryuunosuke asked.

	"Look, if Ataru don't want anything to do with us anymore, let's forget all 
this," Shinjin then declared.  "I mean, he's makin' it obvious!  He don't 
want to have nothin' to do with us anymore!  Okay, that's cool!  C'mon, 
guys!"

	The boys walked off, leaving Shinobu, Ryuunosuke, Momoe and Kumiko standing 
alone.  "So what do we do?" Kumiko asked.

	"Maybe the guys have a good idea," Ryuunosuke noted.

	"NO!"

	Eyes locked on Shinobu.  "I'm not letting it end like THIS!" she hissed, 
her fists clenching.  "I will NOT let it end like THIS!"

	"We could ask Mendou-san to help," Kumiko proposed.

	"NO!" Shinobu shrilled as she glared at her classmate.  "Don't you remember 
after he came?!  When he started going gaga over Lum like the other boys 
did?!  You, Momoe and the other girls all cornered Ataru-kun one day to make 
him stay with Lum!  And when he refused, what did you do?!  Well?!"

	Kumiko blinked as she remembered that incident.  "I guess none of us 
believed Ataru-kun held grudges against US!" Momoe mused as she gazed 
heavenward.  "I mean, against Mendou-san, Rei-san, Megane and his crew, it's 
understandable!  But against US?!  I thought he liked us!"

	"Maybe he's learned how to hate us.  And I mean REALLY hate us."

	Eyes locked on Ryuunosuke.  "Just think about it," she warned.  "Before the 
Second Tag Race, when we were up on Ran's ship, he said 'I hate women' after 
he and Lum had that big fight when Carla tried to persuade Rupa to send his 
pigs down to get rid of the mushrooms.  What if Moroboshi really meant it?  
After all, two weeks after the mushrooms were gone, he just ups and 
vanishes.  Right at the same time, Lum gets the boot off the planet.  Ditto 
with Ran and Jariten.  Then, after Lum died, he comes back, packin' those 
martial arts skills, same as that redhead who showed up on Monday to help 
out at the school.  With Lum gone, all her friends probably decided it's not 
be worth comin' back to Earth.  After all, do they really care about us, 
stayin' in contact with us now that Lum's gone?  You said it yourself on 
Monday, Shinobu.  And without Lum to stop him, what's to stop Moroboshi from 
thinking about settlin' some old scores?"

	The others paled.  "Ataru would NEVER do that . . .!" Kumiko sputtered.

	"Really?  Willing to bet your life on it?  We beat up Moroboshi constantly 
before he vanished.  Sure, he did some dumbass things and he deserved it.  
But do you think that a part of him might've RESENTED everyone blamin' him 
for everything that was goin' on?  What that guy said to Shinobu and I last 
night's been echoin' in my head ever since."  She made a swirling motion 
with her finger around her ear.  "So Moroboshi comes back, then shows he can 
rip apart walls like they were confetti, not to mention hop from telephone 
pole to telephone pole like he was doin' the 400-metre hurdles.  I know what 
martial artists are like.  I had to learn martial arts to survive with a 
lunkhead like Oyaji.  Okay, we now got a good idea about where they came 
from.  And since he's as skilled as that red-haired girl . . . what was her 
name, Momoe?!" she asked her classmate.

	"Saotome Ranma.  And by the way, Ranma's not a 'she' but a 'he!'"

	Ryuunosuke jolted.  "EH?!"

	"She sure looked like a girl to me!" Shinobu asserted.

	"Shinobu, many people mistake Ryuunosuke-kun as a boy even with her saying 
'I'm a girl!' all the time.  I fall into that trap, too.  And I've known the 
truth about her almost as long as you have," Momoe reminded her, and then 
she moved to explain:  "Ranma-san has a magical curse that turns him into a 
girl when he's hit with cold water.  Hot water turns him back.  According to 
Nabiki-san, it's been the bane of his life for quite a while."

	Ryuunosuke whistled.  "No shit!"

	"Right," Momoe confirmed before sighing.  "Then you add what Ranma-san said 
on Monday.  But . . . "  Here, she paused before turning to Ryuunosuke.  "I 
can't see where you're coming from about Ataru-kun.  I really can't."

	Ryuunosuke turned to gaze towards Tomobiki High.  "Yeah.  It really makes 
me wonder.  Do we really KNOW this guy, especially now?"

	The others hummed.

*    *    *

	"RANMA did this?!"

	"Yeah."

	Once she was declared to be in stable condition, Akane had been immediately 
moved into a recovery room.  She would be discharged tomorrow, though the 
cast keeping her shattered elbow in place would not come off for a couple 
weeks.  Several of her classmates had come to visit her, having heard of her 
hospitalisation by Fuurinkan's very proficient student grapevine.

	"Why are you so CALM about it, Akane-chan?" Tokoro Yuka wondered.  "I mean, 
this is 'No-hit-girls' Saotome Ranma we're talking about!  Yeah, he's got a 
right to be pissed off at his dad and yours for all the garbage that's been 
heaped on his head over the last while, but THIS . . .?!"

	Asano Sayuri shook her head.  "This just proves everything I've said about 
that jerk!  So what else did he do?"

	Akane winced.  "He ended the engagement.  And said he didn't want anything 
to do with my family anymore."

	Chanpatsu Hiroshi shook his head.  "Oh man!  I can't believe that!  I mean, 
you guys fought all the time, but I'd NEVER believe he'd go and hit you 
right back!  Especially hit you with a ki blast . . .!"

	Akane sighed.  "There was a reason for that, Hiroshi."

	"Akane-chan, don't make excuses for the creep!" Sayuri cut in.

	"Sayuri, wait!  What are you talking about, Akane-chan?!" Yuka protested.

	"Brain damage."

	"Huh?"  Bosabosa Daisuke blinked.  "Ranma?"

	Akane nodded.  "You know about Moroboshi Ataru?  What happened on Monday, 
right?"  Seeing her classmates nod, she continued, "Well, Ataru-san has a 
sister.   An adopted sister who's VERY knowledgeable in martial arts, almost 
as much as Happoosai and Cologne.  She examined Ranma that night and found 
out that Ranma's father did something to him when he was five to make sure 
Ranma could never really concentrate on anything outside the martial arts.  
And Negako-san -- that's her name, Moroboshi Negako -- found out that all 
the times I hit him, all the times other people hit him, PLUS the Neko-ken . 
. . well, it was hurting Ranma to the point where if it wasn't healed, he'd 
end up a mental vegetable!  So Negako-san has to fix it all up.  But she 
can't do that if Ranma gets into another fight . . . "  She paused.  "So 
Negako-san erased Ranma's inhibitions when it comes to fighting.  If someone 
goes after him with that in place . . . "

	"He goes straight for the kill?" Daisuke finished.

	"And he won't care who he hits or why?" Hiroshi added.

	"Yeah.  And I found that out the hard way yesterday."

	Sayuri shook her head.  "I really have trouble accepting this."

	Yuka stared in annoyance at her friend.  "Would you've believed Ranma-kun's 
curse before you ever saw him transform, Sayuri-chan?" she wondered.  "Much 
less that whole Neko-ken business, not to mention everything else?"

	Sayuri declined to answer.  "So what made Ranma-kun freak out on you like 
that anyway, Akane?" Hiroshi wondered.  "You were doin' pretty okay before, 
even with all that trouble your dad and his dad started."

	Akane sighed.  "My cooking.  I tried to make beef stroganoff for him 
yesterday morning.  You know, show some sympathy for what happened on 
Monday, what Ranma did with Ataru-san in Tomobiki.  Well . . . "

	Her classmates nodded.  "Akane-chan, you KNOW Ranma-kun doesn't trust your 
cooking unless your sister or his mother helps out," Yuka said.

	"Yeah, I know that now . . . "

	"That's still no excuse," Sayuri muttered.

	"Maybe.  But given all the crap that's hit him since the wedding, he's got 
a right to feel pissed off," Hiroshi said with a wave of his hand.  "Give 
him time ta cool off and relax, Akane-chan.  He'll be okay.  I bet by the 
time school comes around, he'll be willing to give you another chance."

	Daisuke gazed on his friend.  "He better.  Once Kunou-sempai gets wind of 
this, guess what might start up again?  Eh, 'Roshi?"

	Everyone considered that.  Akane's eyes then widened.  "No . . . "

	Sayuri covered her face.  "Oh, gods!  Not THAT again!"

	Yuka shook her head.  "That's just what we DON'T need!"

	"Dai, don't say such unlucky things," Hiroshi hissed.

	"What unlucky things?"

	Everyone turned as Nabiki stepped in, her gym bag hanging off her shoulder. 
  "Hi, Onee-chan," Akane hailed.  "How are things at home?"

	Nabiki slipped off the bag before leaning on the bed.  "We're giving the 
panda a cold shoulder.  Dad doesn't like it, but we're not giving him a 
chance to do anything.  Auntie moved back to her house; the bedrooms, 
bathroom and kitchen are usable now.  I think Ranma-kun might pitch in some 
money to hurry the repairs.  Oh, we finally found out where Ranma-kun got 
all his money from!"

	"Where?" Yuka asked.

	"Modelling.  Both bodies, nothing risqué or anything like that, goes under 
a Korean name."  Nabiki then stared knowingly at Hiroshi and Daisuke.  "This 
means that any pictures I took of Ranma-kun's girl body best stop being 
circulated if you don't want the lawyers to come after you.  I trust you 
guys will pass the word around as quickly as you can?"

	Hiroshi and Daisuke gulped.  "'Lawyers' . . .?"

	Nabiki nodded.  "Yep.  I have to admit, I never thought of trying to get a 
modelling-type contract out of Ranma-kun.  It would've put us all on the 
road to easy street for sure.  Ah, well!" she lamented with a shrug.

	"What's going to happen when Kunou demands more pictures of his 'pig-tailed 
goddess,' Onee-chan?" Akane sarcastically wondered.

	"I'll tell him to visit a magazine shop," the middle Tendou daughter 
replied.  "I've no need of his money anymore, so I'll start scaling back 
trying to fleece the idiot.  Besides, soon as Ranma-kun's mind gets in 
better shape, I think Kunou-chan's gonna be done away with as soon as 
possible."

	"So it's all true?" Yuka gasped.  "About what Ranma-kun's father did and 
how that led up to what happened to Akane-chan yesterday?!"

	"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," Nabiki confirmed 
with a nod before she stared intently at Sayuri, making the younger girl 
duck.  "And if you have a problem with that, Sayuri-chan, that's just too 
damned bad."

	Sayuri sent a resentful look Nabiki's way.  "Onee-chan . . .!" Akane 
grumbled before sighing.  "So where's Ranma now?"

	"Off with Ataru-kun and his half-sisters until Sunday, then they'll be 
back.  Ataru-kun might be coming to Fuurinkan next week."

	Everyone's jaw dropped.  "He's coming here?!" Hiroshi asked before crossing 
his arms.  "Hey, that'll be pretty cool!  Right, Dai?!"

	"I wonder if he's still got those black books of his," Daisuke mused.  
"After all, they're said to be the . . .!"

	Instantly, Sayuri and Yuka swatted him with pillows.  "That's enough out of 
you, you perverted jerk!" the latter snarled.

	"H-hai . . . " Daisuke whimpered.

	Akane sighed.  "I wish I could talk to Ranma."

	Nabiki hummed.  "Well, let me talk to Negako-san and see if I can get the 
telephone number of where Ranma-kun's staying right now.  But I want to make 
sure that the panda doesn't get hold of it.  The LAST thing Ranma-kun needs 
to deal with right now is that lazy-ass fool!"

	Akane gazed understandingly at Nabiki.  "Why don't you just sell him to the 
zoo once and for all and get it over with, Onee-chan?"

	"Admittedly, it is tempting."  The middle Tendou daughter rose.  "Anyhow, 
I've got to get down to Kakazu-san's shop and get a new gi."

	Everyone's jaw dropped.  "What?!" Akane gasped.

	Nabiki flustered.  "Oh, forgot to tell you.  Negako-san's right now fixing 
my shoulders so I can head back into the doojou.  She's probably forgotten 
things about shiatsu that Toofuu-sensei couldn't learn in his whole 
lifetime!"  She then perked.  "Oh, speaking of which, he's back in town!"

	Akane gaped.  "Toofuu-sensei?!  Does Kasumi know?"

	Nabiki sighed.  "It's not gonna happen between them, Akane-chan."

	"Oh . . . "  The younger sister sighed.  "That's too bad.  Where did he go 
to, anyway?  Why did he go?  What did he do, anyway?"

	"Don't know the whole story yet, but I think Ataru-kun's sisters might hold 
some answers," Nabiki said.  "Anyhow, I've got to go."

	Hiroshi blinked.  "Hey, wait a sec'!  What's this about sisters?"

	"Are they cute?" Daisuke prodded.

	Pillows once again laid him low.  Nabiki shook her head.

*    *    *

	Located in the belt of onsen springs between Mount Ontake and Aomori, the 
Ryokan Ningyou-yakata was shrouded in mountain fog as the cloaked woman 
stepped into the hallway.  Glancing out the windows to confirm there was no 
one in the spring taking a morning soak, Chikage grinned as she slipped the 
hood away.  Picking up her pace, she walked to a corner in the hallway 
before stopping.

	"There you are . . . "

	Standing on the table was a beautiful porcelain doll in a soft silk kimono. 
  She still was in the "shielding her head from falling heavens" pose a 
certain young martial artist left her in some months ago.  And, given the 
many stories circulating about this particular work of art, a sign had been 
posted beside her:  DO NOT TOUCH!  VERY DANGEROUS!

	Of course, to someone like Chikage, danger was relative.

	Reaching into her cape, the sorceress drew out a perfect replica of the 
doll that made the inn so famous.  Lifting the real item from the table, she 
put the replica in its place.  Slipping the doll into a warp-space pocket, 
Chikage then turned the sign around.  Drawing out a pen, she wrote 
something.  With that done, she teleported away.  Minutes later, one of the 
ryokan's cleaners came up.  Sparing a glance at the doll, she stopped before 
looking again.  Wait!  The doll was back in its normal sitting position.  
What on Earth . . .?

	She leaned up to read the note:

"To Whomever This May Concern,
	"The Noroi no Ningyou has been removed from the inn for the safety of the 
staff and customers here.  Please do not concern yourself about her fate.  
This replica has been left in her place to ensure the Ryokan Ningyou-yakata 
may continue to use its legend to attract tourists and stay in business.
	"Though why someone would want to make money out of a side-story of the 
rape and murder of a young girl by her brother, frankly, eludes me.
	"Regardless, continued good thoughts about the doll would be wise.
"Truthfully yours,
"A Concerned Citizen"

	The cleaner blinked before letting out a blood-curling scream.

*    *    *

	Chikage stepped out of her bedroom at Welcome House, the Noroi no Ningyou 
cradled in her arms.  Walking around to Aria's room, she stopped and 
knocked.  A second later, the door opened to reveal Guenevere.  "Oh, 
Chikage-sama," the governess declared before she waved the sorceress inside.

	Chikage nodded as she was waved in.  "Thank you, Guenevere.  Aria-chan?"

	"What is it, Chikage-chan?" Aria asked before her eyes locked on what lay 
in the sorceress' arms.  "Ah!"  The young Parisian's eyes sparkled as she 
slipped off the bed, she walking over, her hands out.  "Aria likes dolls 
very much!" she declared as she took the doll to give her a hug.

	Guenevere watched before she jolted on seeing the doll's hands and feet 
twitch much more than what one might have expected Aria's embrace might 
produce.  "Chikage-sama, is that doll . . .?" she asked, turning on the 
sorceress.

	Chikage nodded.  "Alive?  In her own way, yes."

	Aria pulled the doll away.  As the women watched, a natural blush crossed 
the doll's face as her hands touched her cheeks.  "Waaaai . . . "  Aria's 
eyes sparkled as she drew the doll into her embrace.  "Aria made Ningyou-san 
blush."

	The doll shuddered for a moment, and then, after allowing what strength she 
had in her body to fade, she turned to gaze on Chikage.  *Why . . .?* a 
moaning, female voice echoed in everyone's ears.  *Why did you bring me 
here?*

	"To give you a chance to experience more positive things in life," the 
sorceress responded.  "I know how you came to be called the 'Noroi no 
Ningyou.'  In fact, my knowledge of your origins is far greater than the 
proprietors of that ryokan who named their establishment in your honour.  At 
the same time . . . "  Here, she paused.  "You need to understand that a 
person you look on as an 'infidel' is himself -- actually HERself -- a 
victim of the carelessness of others.  Much in the same manner as your old 
owner."

	*'Infidel?'* the doll wondered before she shuddered.  *HIM?!*

	Chikage nodded.  "Hai."

	"Kusun!"

	"Aria-sama!"  Guenevere was instantly at the young Parisian's side as tears 
brimmed in Aria's eyes.  "Aria-sama, what's wrong?!"

	"Kusun!"  Aria sniffed back tears.  "Ningyou-san hates Nee-ya!  Kusun!"

	The governess instantly moved to comfort.  In Aria's arms, the Noroi no 
Ningyou quaked, she unable to resist the torrents of pure sorrow currently 
pouring from the Parisian's heart.  Immediately, she moved to draw her 
stubby arms around the young girl's neck, she shifting her head to rub 
Aria's skin with her hair.  *No!  No!  No, Aria-sama!  Don't cry,* she 
pleaded.  *Please don't cry, Aria-sama!  Please don't cry!  Please don't cry 
. . . *

	"Kusun!  Ningyou-san hates Nee-ya!  Kusun!  Kusun!"

	"But Ane-kun doesn't hate Ningyou-san."

	Aria stopped, staring quizzically at Chikage.  In her arms, the doll turned 
to gaze on the sorceress.  *But he hurt me!  He insulted me!  He nearly 
killed me!  And why are you calling Saotome a girl?!  Saotome is a boy!*

	"Kusun!  Nee-ya is a girl!  Ningyou-san hates Nee-ya!  Kusun!"

	The doll quaked as another tidal wave of sorrow overwhelmed her defences.  
Seeing that, Chikage reached into her cape and drew a crystal ball.  
"Perhaps after seeing *this,* you might change your mind," she then 
declared.

	The doll looked as images flowed . . .

**    **    **

	Running along the main walkway at the inn was an overweight, bespectacled 
man in a gi, laughing as he drank from a glass bottle.  An outraged cry 
echoed from behind that fellow, "GET BACK HERE, OYAJI!  THAT'S MINE!"

	"BWA-HA-HA-HA!  There's nothing like milk after a hot bath!"

	The fight shifted indoors.  Ranma tried to take Genma out with a kick to 
the back of the head.  Genma used a towel to snare Ranma's leg and sent him 
into the table where the Noroi no Ningyou was sitting.

	"Damn you!" Ranma snarled.

	"BWA-HA-HA!  What are you?  A novice?!" Genma barbed as he fled the scene.

	Picking himself up, Ranma then noticed what else his fight had affected.  
"Oh, shit!" he moaned as he stared at the broken doll.

**    **    **

	"Nee-ya . . . " Aria whispered.

	Guenevere shook her head in disapproval.  "Such language!"

	Chikage slipped the crystal ball under her cape before gazing on the doll 
in Aria's arms.  "Now do you understand?" she asked.

	The doll remained still for a moment before lowering her head ashamedly.  
*It appears that I have done Ranma-sama an injustice,* she quietly whispered 
before shuddering as Aria's arms drew her close.  *Aria-sama . . . *

	"It's alright, Ningyou-san," the young Parisian said.  "Chikage-chan, 
Shirayuki-chan was right.  Nee-ya's father IS a stupid idiot!"

	"Aria-sama!" Guenevere gasped.

	The sorceress grinned.  "It's alright," she assured her sister.  "I suspect 
that Negako-anekun is presently aware of what has happened.  She might see 
this as an opportunity to teach a few people some harsh lessons.  At least, 
that is something *I* would contemplate doing.  In the meantime, Aria-chan, 
please keep Ningyou-san here.  I do not desire for Ane-kun to learn of her 
presence here at this time.  Ane-kun's memories of her will not be pleasant 
ones even if she is now estranged from Tendou Akane and her family."

	Aria nodded.  "Hai!  Aria will take care of Ningyou-san."

	With that, Chikage stepped out.

*    *    *

	"Interesting idea," Negako mused before turning back to her tea.

*    *    *

	"So you want us to get rid of these rocks, Jii-san?"

	The sailor whom Ataru had met the first day he came to the Island nodded. 
"Hai."  "Jii-san" -- his real name was unknown to almost everyone on 
Promised Island -- was the resident sage.  A skinny fellow in his sixties, 
Jii-san was the one everyone turned to for advice or help.  Ataru liked him; 
outside his considerable quantities of knowledge in everyday things, he had 
known Moroboshi Nagaiwakai in his youth.  Many significant gaps in Ataru's 
knowledge concerning his late grandmother had been filled by Jii-san.

	Ataru, Jii-san and Ranma stood in the lee of First Street East.  It was low 
tide, with an expanse of sand spread out around them for about fifty metres 
from the main retaining wall.  "The town council wants to put another dock 
here for ferries to Oo-shima and the islands in the Izu Islands, but these 
rocks have to go first," Jii-san reported as he indicated the rocks with his 
pipe.

	Ataru stared at the several large boulders sticking out from the sand.  
"Okay, that's easy enough.  Have it done by lunchtime?"

	Jii-san nodded before heading back to dry land.  "Fair enough."

	Ataru sighed, and then he noticed Ranma staring at him.  "What?  Never 
thought to use martial arts in maritime construction?"

	"Well, Ryouga's Bakusai Tenketsu was created by a miner, so I shouldn't be 
THAT surprised."  She crossed her arms before gazing on the first rock.  
"Pity I didn't teach myself that when Ryouga was learning it.  I could use 
it here."

	"'Blasting Point?'  That's a Nujiézú form, isn't it?" he mused before 
turning to the rock to trace a hand over its surface.  "Don't worry.  I got 
something that'll work better.  Ready for your first Saikoo Jinseijitsu 
lesson?"

	She nodded.  "Show me."

	"Okay.  Permit me to introduce you to, as we call it, the 'killer that 
leaves a message!'  ***SHINZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU!***"

	His middle fingertip hit the rock.  A quick flash masked the point of 
impact for a millisecond before the boulder crumbled, exploding seaward in a 
shower of dust and pebble-sized fragments.  Ranma whistled.  "Whoa!"

	"Wow!  Onii-chan, that was so NEAT!"

	Ataru spun around, grinning on seeing Karen standing on the roadway beyond 
the retaining wall, she waving at him.  "Hi, Karen-chan!"

	"What're you doing down here?!" Ranma asked.

	Karen flustered.  "Well . . . I just wanted to make sure that both of you 
would be there for the piano recital at the school."

	"We'll be there, Karen-chan," Ataru assured her.  "What?  Did you really 
think I was going to miss my sister's piano recital?"

	Karen's blush deepened.  "Well . . . "

	Ranma chuckled.  "Relax, Karen-chan.  He's gonna be there even if I gotta 
drag him up to the school to make sure, okay?!"

	She beamed.  "Hai!  Arigatou, Onee-chan!"

	She ran off.  Ataru and Ranma watched her go, and then the latter turned to 
the former.  "She really needs your support, doesn't she?"

	"Don't be surprised."  He waved her to the next boulder.  "She hasn't 
always been able to get the support she needed from her family."  Stopping 
before that rock, he ran his hand over the surface.  "There were . . . "  A 
pause.  "Issues."  He glanced at her before a smile crossed his face.  "But 
I don't have a right to talk about them in public.  It isn't my place, after 
all."

	"That's fair enough," she mused with an understanding nod.

	"Thanks."  He then braced himself.  "Okay, here we go!"

	He lashed out.  The finger hit the rock.  It disintegrated.  Watching that, 
Ranma hummed.  "It's like the Bakusai Tenketsu."

	He gave her a grateful look as he wiped his fingers clean of the dust from 
the destroyed rock.  Speaking about the sisters' family problems always 
weighed heavily on him, especially when it came to Karen.  "Yeah, it is, but 
there's a big difference between the Bakusai Tenketsu and the Shinzou 
Bakuhatsu Shoku."  He waved her over to the next rock.  "The Nujiézú 
manoeuvre is limited only to rock or rock-like substances.  Ours can work 
against most materials, including living tissue.  Here, let me show you . . 
. "

	He placed a hand on the rock.  The hand glowed.  A forest of glowing lines 
then appeared over the rock, branching out in almost every direction.  Ranma 
whistled.  "Whoa!  I never thought ki would exist in rock."

	"Well, calling it 'ki' might actually be a misnomer," Ataru mused.  "Ranma, 
the big secret in Saikoo Jinseijitsu-ryuu is that EVERYTHING in the world, 
even air molecules, has energy in them.  We call it 'ki' for convenience's 
sake.  I think the Zephyrites have a better term.  They call it the Te'a:  
'That Which Is Above mortal understanding.'"

	She was quick to sense the reverent tone in that title.  "You mean this is 
the energy of . . .?"  She stopped before whispering, "God?"

	"No, not what we'd call 'Kami-sama,' of course.  It's a TOO convenient to 
refer to this as a by-product of that."  He waved her up.  "Give it a try."

	Ranma placed herself by the rock.  Remembering what Ataru just did to scan 
out the energy within the granite, she infused a little ki energy into the 
rock.  The lines on the rock returned.  "Okay, where do I aim?" she asked.

	He pointed.  "Look for the largest cluster of intersecting lines."

	She saw that, nodding.  "Alright, here I go!"

	She pulled back her finger, concentrating her ki into that, and then . . .

	"***SHINZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU!***"

	*WHUMP!*

	The rock exploded.  Ataru blinked before whistling.  "Man, when Onee-chan 
told me what sort of learning prodigy you are, Ranma, she was NOT kidding!"

	Ranma laughed.  "Thanks!" she gushed with a smile, an impish look crossing 
her face before she went misty-eyed on Ataru.

	He blinked as she seemed to freeze for a moment, the smile and the sparkle 
in her eyes not fading.  "Ranma, what's wrong?" he asked.

	She blinked as confusion crossed her face.  Looking nowhere in particular, 
she then stared at him.  "I . . .!"  She blinked again before shaking her 
head.  "Um . . .!"  Her voice stopped, and then she looked away.  "Er, if I 
told you something that I thought was embarrassing or anything, Ataru, you'd 
keep it to yourself, wouldn't you?  I mean, I . . .!"  She shrugged.

	"Ranma, we might've only met on Saturday, but you ARE my friend," Ataru 
affirmed.  "I'd think it'd be raw for me to say stuff like that to anyone.  
However, if I felt you were in any danger, physical or psychological, I 
would see it as my responsibility AS your friend to speak to those who could 
help.  On that list are Onee-chan, Chikage and maybe Sakuya and Haruka.  If 
you don't like that even in those situations, no problem.  But I hope you'd 
understand that I WOULD, in those cases, always have your best interest in 
mind, Ranma."

	She took that in before her smile returned.  "Thank you," she said as a 
decision, one with long-term impact, flashed in her eyes.

	"You okay?" he asked.

	"I . . . "  She bit her lip before walking up.

	Ataru remained in place as Ranma leaned up against him.  She then drew her 
arms around his waist.  He blinked for a second as she leaned her head on 
his chest, a content sigh escaping her.  Ataru then reached up to gently 
cradle her shoulder with one hand, his other reaching up to gently ruffle 
her hair.  Ranma stiffened before she remembered that a hug was normally a 
two-person affair.

	"Sorry."

	"First time hugging another man in this body?" he wondered.

	She nodded.  "Yeah.  It feels . . . "  A pause.  "Really nice."

	"Believe me, it feels that way here, too," he mused before he turned to 
gaze down at her.  "Ranma, do you think you can do me . . .?"  He stopped 
before gazing at her.  "Actually do yourself a big favour?"

	She looked up at him.  "What?"

	"Would you spend a little time with Sakuya-chan?"

	Confusion crossed her face.  "Why?"

	"Because there are certain . . .!"  He paused.  "Well, there are certain 
*things* you need to know about the body you possess now.  Like I told you 
sometime ago -- and I'm pretty sure Tampopo-chan might've told you this too 
when you were out with her -- you might have to live with this body for the 
rest of your life.  Hell, there might come a time that you'll get stuck as a 
girl again, like what Elder Kelun and that Herb guy did to you."

	"I learned things from Kasumi when Herb froze me with the Chiisui-ton."

	He nodded.  "Yeah, but something tells me you got a very abridged version 
of what you have to know, Ranma.  Hell, what you DESERVE to know, especially 
after what Genma's done to you over the years.  Do you really think you can 
live your life based on all the lies he gave you?"

	"Of course not . . .!" she blurted before catching herself.  A sly grin 
then crossed her face.  "You are a slick one, Moroboshi Ataru."

	He winked, moving to pull away.  "Always have been, Ranma . . . "

	"Stop!"

	He froze, allowing Ranma to sink in again against him.  "Sorry," she 
whispered, that content smile again crossing her face.  "I just want to 
experience this for a little while more, Ataru.  Do you mind?"

	"Not at all.  Friends hug each other.  Guys do it all the time, especially 
if they're enjoying doing something together as a team.  Or as a 
partnership."

	"They DO?!  Then why didn't Oyaji tell ME that?"

	He shook his head.  "I really can't answer that.  And something tells me he 
won't be able to answer that even if you pound him into the dirt trying to 
get a truthful answer from him.  Ignore what he told you, okay?  You're not 
gonna be able to live YOUR life looking back at him."

	She considered that before nodding.  "Yeah, I guess I've been doing that 
even after I started finding out about all the crap he pulled on U-chan and 
everyone else . . . "  She paused, blinking.  "I'll be damned."

	"What is it?"

	"That's the first time I called her 'U-chan' in six weeks."

	"Maybe deep in your heart, you're forgiving her."

	"But how do I approach her now, Ataru?  I want my friend back.  I don't 
want her as a fiancée.  I'm tired of that!"

	"I don't blame you, Ranma.  But I don't think I can answer that.  You know, 
before the Second Tag Race, when I heard you had all the fiancées and all 
that, I thought, 'Lucky guy!  Wish I was like that!'"

	She laughed.  "Trust me, Ataru!  You don't want MY luck!"

	He smirked.  "Right.  Want to get back to rock-breaking?"

	"Yeah, okay."  She sighed.  "Ataru?"

	"Yeah?"

	"If I asked you to hug me again, will you do it?"

	"Sure thing."  He nodded.  "Ranma?"

	"Yeah?"

	"Call Ukyou tonight.  Tell her what you feel.  Don't try to turn it into an 
argument, okay?  I think she can use it."

	"But what if she goes into the 'You're my fiancée' routine again?"

	"THEN you can get angry."

	"Right."

*    *    *

	With Ranma's help, the rocks were done away with.  Ataru then used the 
Air-Whirlpool Heat-Fire Strike to send the debris into deeper water.  Both 
clambered back to shore.  After stopping for some nikuman at a roadside 
yatai, they made their way back to Welcome House.  By then, Sakuya, Toshiko 
and Kumiko had returned from shopping at the market.  Ranma was stunned to 
discover that her mirror-twins had gone out to buy some button shirts and 
designer slacks for her.  Given that Toshiko and Ranma had the same 
measurements, the former was able to get some sports bras and plain cotton 
panties for her template, thus allowing Ranma to forego her normal boxer 
shorts and muscle shirts.

	At first, the mirror-twins were worried that Ranma might resist wearing 
girl's undergarments even if she seemed more at ease with herself than she 
had been just two months before when Toshiko and Komakichi/Kumiko first 
emerged from Mirror Mansion.  Ranma surprised them.  While she normally wore 
boxers because they gave her privates room when her curse was triggered, she 
was locked as a girl for the time being.  So, for a while, there would be no 
worries.  Further, when she was modelling, Ranma had been prodded by Tampopo 
to try wearing bras and panties.  Over time, Ranma had become, if not 
totally comfortable with such clothing, understanding of how useful they 
were with a girl's body.

	After a lunch where Shirayuki did NOT have to yell at Ranma for eating too 
fast, everyone was off to Stargazer West College for the yearly piano 
recital hosted by the senior classes.  To Ranma's shock and Karen's 
embarrassment, Toshiko and Kumiko decided to wear cherry blossom-decorated 
kimonos for the occasion.  To the sisters' annoyance, Ranma's mirth and 
Ataru's embarrassment, the mirror-twins didn't waste ten seconds before they 
were hanging off his arms, doing their best to win his attention in an 
obviously more than friendly way.  Fortunately, Ataru did his best to keep 
Toshiko and Kumiko entertained without giving them too much of a false 
impression, positive or negative.

	The recital was meant to demonstrate students' skills with classical music. 
  They could, if they so desired, explore more modern music as long as it 
was centred on the piano.  Karen's best friend in music class, Takasu Koji, 
started the recital with a wonderful version of Sergei Rachmaninoff's 
"Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini."  Next was Koji's girlfriend, Niibori 
Yukari, who played the "Tempo di Menuetto" from Ludwig von Beethoven's 
Eighth Symphony.  Several others followed, performing tunes whose titles 
Ranma didn't catch.

	And then came Karen.

	"This song I'm going to play today was written a few years ago," she 
announced after being called up to the stage.  "This song's composer is a 
favourite of my brother's.  I taught myself to perform the composer's music 
after Onii-chan first came to the Island."  Her eyes fell on Ataru.  "To 
that end, I dedicate this not just to Onii-chan, but to his wonderful new 
friend, who's also here with us today.  Onii-chan, Onee-chan, ladies and 
gentlemen . . .!"  She bowed.  "I give you 'The End of August,' by Yanni 
Chrysomallis."

	Karen sat down at the piano and began to play.  Near the piano, Yukari 
positioned herself with a violin to accompany her friend.  Watching her, 
Ranma felt her eyes tear as the melody surged around and through her heart.  
She quickly noted Ataru's sister was not really paying attention to the 
sheet music set up before her, the clear mark of someone who had put in a 
lot of practice at the keyboard.  Ranma glanced at Ataru, he seated beside 
her (Toshiko and Kumiko sat to his other side and behind him respectively).  
He blinked, glancing at her.  Reaching over, he gently grasped her hand to 
squeeze it.  Ranma smiled as she turned back to Karen, she not pulling her 
hand away from Ataru's.

	The song ended.  Everyone applauded.  Karen stood to give the crowd a bow.  
To her surprise and delight, Ranma and Ataru were on their feet, giving her 
a standing ovation.  Blushing, she gave them a bow before taking up her 
music and returning to where her classmates were seated.

*    *    *

	The recital soon ended.  Everyone headed into the cafeteria to enjoy some 
snacks before going home.  "So which one did you like the best, Onee-sama?" 
Sakuya asked Ranma as the gang from the House sat around a couple of tables.

	"I'm not sure what to say about that.  I mean, I've never listened to 
classical music . . .! -- Heck, classical?  ANY music! -- so I couldn't 
really judge them by the songs.  But I could tell that Koji and Yukari both 
have a natural talent for the piano."

	"How?" Rinrin wondered.

	"It's the way they moved their hands."  Ranma held up her fingers.  "There 
wasn't any sort of hesitation when they moved from key to key.  Being as 
well trained as I am in the Art, I can tell the difference between those 
who're born to do something and those who've had to work hard to get to that 
level.  Karen-chan's that way.  How long has she played?"

	"Since she was eight, I believe," Haruka mused.

	"Well, I can see a very small amount of hesitation when she goes from key 
to key."  Ranma held up her thumb and index finger, a minuscule space 
between them.  "Most likely, that'll fade, but it's there.  It's not to say 
that she did bad.  I liked that song a lot.  And I could tell that she 
poured her heart out in it.  And . . . "  She then paused, blinking before 
she wiped her eyes.

	Hinako gently tugged Ranma's sleeve.  "Onee-tama, why are you crying?"

	The martial artist blinked before she gave the youngest sister a smile.  
"I'm okay, Hinako-chan.  I'm just very envious of Karen-chan right now."

	"Why?" Yotsuba asked.

	She gazed on the detective.  "Because when she expresses her love through 
music, she doesn't hurt anyone.  When I used to express my feelings for 
those I cared for, it always was in some big fight against jokers like those 
clowns from Nekoron or Saffron or Herb or what-have-you.  And when I did 
that, I ended up hurting someone.  That's kind of an ugly way to show your 
love, isn't it?"

	"Perhaps, Ane-kun, it is time for you to consider a career change," Chikage 
then mused.  "As you are right now, do you see yourself running a doojou to 
perpetuate your school of martial arts?"  An eyebrow arched.  "Do you see 
yourself dedicating ALL your life to the Art as you once did?"

	Ranma considered that before shaking her head.  "No."

	The sorceress reached into her jersey to draw out a tarot card.  "Then now 
would be the time to learn what else you can do."

	Everyone looked.  "The Fool?" Ranma asked.  "What does that mean?"

	"In the Tarot, this is the first card of the deck," Chikage explained.  
"One of the ways it can be interpreted is that the person it represents is 
about to start on a new path in his or her life.  Every time I've done a 
reading on you, Ane-kun, this card has ALWAYS shown up.  As has this one."

	She reached into her tunic to draw out a second card.  Yotsuba looked via 
her spyglass.  "The Three of Wands," she reported.

	"What does that one say, Chikage?" Ranma asked.

	"It's time for you to step back and take a long look at everything and 
everyone affecting your life, Ane-kun.  It's time for you to ask yourself 
what's really important in your life.  You're determined to take your life 
onto a new direction.  To go out and explore what you've missed before, 
either because of non-interest or fear.  You're willing to trust those you 
will meet in the future with the same openness you've shown to others before 
. . . "  She held up the Fool.  "But this time, you've come to accept that 
you will face disappointments and potential failures."  She held up the 
Three of Wands.  "Your life's adventure isn't over yet, Ane-kun.  It's about 
to become far more interesting."

	She put the cards away.  "I don't know if I should be content or scared."  
Ranma then gazed warily at Ataru.  "What do you think?"

	He chuckled.  "I'd rather not answer that one."

	"Those are the same two cards Chikage-chan showed Ani-chama two weeks ago," 
Yotsuba helpfully chimed in, holding up a finger.

	"YOTSUBA!"

	Everyone laughed.

*    *    *

	"You wish to speak to Ranma?"

	"Of course, Negako-san."  Nodoka sat across from Negako in the living room 
of the old shrine.  Chigaiko had gone to Tampopo's.  "He is my son.  I've 
been separated from him for over ten years.  I do want to try to make up 
that time."

	The grandmaster's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms.  "Much that I 
understand why, as Ranma's mother, you would desire to re-forge an emotional 
bond with him, there is something that concerns me."  A pause.  "What are 
your own family's intentions toward him?"

	Nodoka jolted, her eyes widening in shock before they drooped to the floor. 
  "H-how . . .?" she sputtered.  "How did you know . . .?"

	"Nodoka, your ki signature is an open book to me," Negako chided as if she 
was speaking to a particularly ignorant child.  "Your maiden name is 
Asagaya, is it not?  Your family originally hails from what is now called 
Oomiya in Saitama Prefecture.  In fact, some members of your family 
erroneously look upon Miyamoto Musashi as a distant relative."

	Silence fell as Ranma's mother considered her host's words.  "Yes, I am of 
that family.  Or rather, I was until I married Genma . . . "

	"Someone your father and almost all your siblings viewed as nothing short 
of burakumin, did they not?" Negako pressed.

	Nodoka bowed her head.  "Yes."  Tears brimmed in her eyes.  "He wasn't like 
that when he was younger, Negako-san.  He was . . . "  She paused.  "A more 
decent man.  A kind and caring man.  Someone who was willing to help those 
in need.  That's the way I saw Genma.  My sister Hisayo understood my 
feelings.  Father . . . "  She paused again, her lips twisting into a frown. 
  "Did not."

	"And when they discovered you had conceived Ranma beyond the bounds of a 
marriage, they forced you to marry Genma, then expelled you from their 
family because of your . . . "  Here, Negako paused as she sought out the 
right words before she wryly smiled.  "Moment of overwhelming lust, shall we 
say?"  Seeing Nodoka reluctantly nod, she continued, "But Hisayo strongly 
disagreed with Isao's stance against your marriage to Genma.  So, atop the 
'allowance' Isao paid you to remain clear of your siblings, Hisayo secretly 
supported you when Genma was taking Ranma on their training trip.  And still 
desires to support you now in spite of the fact that Isao now knows of her 
actions."

	Nodoka slowly nodded.  "H-hai.  Father told Onee-chan that if I was to be 
openly welcomed back, I'd have to divorce Genma.  And believe me; I am ready 
to do that after what you told me yesterday about what he did to Ranma.  If 
Ranma is to be welcomed into my family, I'd have to make my son agree to 
renounce the Saotome name.  I can certainly support that.  If Ranma does 
that, then all the agreements Genma forced on him would no longer be valid.  
I'm sure that Ukyou-chan's father could agree with *that* at least!"

	"Do you realise WHY Isao wants that now, Nodoka?"

	Ranma's mother blinked.  "I don't understand . . . "

	Negako smirked.  It was a thoroughly menacing sight.  "Do you believe Isao 
would accept Ranma as part of his family after he so thoroughly rejected 
Genma when you wed?  No.  He views Ranma in much the same way as many others 
have come to view him over the last two years.  Not as a person, but as a 
prize.  A living icon of martial arts supremacy.  All under your father's 
control and influence."  The smile faded.  "I believe Ranma has forcefully 
expressed his stance about those who see him as a thing instead of a person, 
Nodoka."

	Nodoka sputtered.  "But . . . "

	Negako shook her head.  "No, Nodoka.  If it is financial security you seek 
for Ranma, it will not come from Isao or your siblings.  Yes, the Asagaya 
family is well off.  But divide that wealth between Ranma and your nephews 
and nieces, all of those your older brothers' children.  I do not believe 
there will be that much left over.  And would either Ryuuzuke or Ichihara 
truly desire to see part of their inheritance taken away to support Ranma?"  
A pause before Negako icily smiled, she shaking her head again.  "I do not 
think so."

	"But still . . . "

	"No, Nodoka.  You agreed with me yesterday that Ranma should strive to 
become a 'gentle man,' one who is as much master of his own destiny as Fate 
will allow.  If you try to force Ranma to submit to your plan, all that work 
will be for naught.  Further, I believe Ranma will not submit to Isao's 
whim, especially when he learns of what Isao did to you.  I wonder what 
Ranma might do if he learns how your brothers beat you while you were 
growing up.  What might he do to them if he learns how Ryuuzuke and Ichihara 
view you now?  How much they will strive to suppress you once you are again 
within their reach?"

	"But Ranma needs a place to belong, Negako-san!  Surely you can understand 
that, can't you?!" Nodoka pleaded.

	"Yes, I can understand that.  But will Ranma?"

	Nodoka sighed.  "He will when I explain it to him."

	"Then ensure you explain ALL to him, Nodoka," Negako ordained.  "For if you 
do not, I WILL tell him everything.  After all . . . "  A pause.  "As his 
teacher, I have a duty and a responsibility to ensure his welfare, do I 
not?"

	Nodoka gazed on the grandmaster, nodding.  "H-hai."

*    *    *

	The meeting was soon concluded.  Nodoka took her leave, she returning back 
to her rebuilt home.  Negako watched her go from the front porch, her eyes 
narrow.  "It may have been better if you never re-entered her life, Nodoka," 
she grimly whispered before speaking up, "You overheard, Happy?"

	"Everything."  Happoosai slipped out from the shadows, he gazing in the 
direction Nodoka had gone.  "I can't believe that even after all this time, 
Isao's angry at me because I stole Nana-chan's underwear and made love to 
her once!"  He crossed his arms.  "And he believes he can try to take MY Art 
under his control?!  Hah!  He can damn hell think again!"

	Negako sighed.  "You should learn to control your urges more, Happy," she 
gently scolded, turning to head inside the old shrine.

	Happoosai nodded before bounding off on his rounds.  Negako then stopped, 
glancing over her shoulder.  Closing her eyes, she sighed.  "If only you 
knew what your seduction of Nana led to, Happy.  If only you knew."

*    *    *

	"Holy . . .!" Ranma gasped.  "Rinrin-chan, you built THIS?!"

	"Hai!"  Rinrin grinned, standing beside her scratch-built submersible, the 
Plato-Mecha Number Four.  With the sun setting, work spotlights had been 
flipped on.  Rinrin had been working on the port turbojet when Ranma came 
from the House.  "I'm getting her ready for a trial run after putting in 
modifications and extra gear.  Might take her out tomorrow if the weather's 
good."

	Ranma blinked before she gave the Plato-Mecha a detailed look-over.  "She's 
impressive," she stated, noting the bubble cockpit at the bow with its 
side-by-side chairs.  "Ataru told me you loved to make things, but until I 
saw the Aniki Special, I thought they'd be simple stuff.  Not anything like 
THIS!"

	Ranma waved to the submersible.  "Well, one of the Island's industries IS 
equipment recycling," the teen inventor noted.  "Even the Self-Defence 
Forces send a lot of their surplus stuff our way; that's how I was able to 
build the Plato-Mecha."  Rinrin waved to her creation.  "At least now, 
thanks to a special fund Aniki set up for me, we've got a navigation system, 
GPS, radar, sonar and everything else we can use to cruise around the Sagami 
Sea."

	"Really?"  Ranma then blinked.  "Oh, yeah, I forgot."  She snapped her 
fingers.  "Shirayuki-chan's got supper ready."

	Rinrin nodded.  "Okay!"

	She policed the work area, ensuring no fire hazard was left behind.  Once 
done, she fell in beside Ranma as they headed to Welcome House.  "Say, 
Aneki, if we go out tomorrow, why don't you come with us?"  Rinrin gazed on 
the martial artist.  "It'd be good for you to get some fresh air.  We can 
even show you the cottage where we got conceived!" she added with a wink, 
holding up a finger.

	Ranma gazed quizzically at Rinrin.  "Huh?  What do you mean?"

	"Aneki, don't you know anything about how children are born?!"

	"Um . . . well, it's . . .!"  Ranma flustered before sighing.  "No."

	Rinrin stared at the martial artist before crossing her arms.  "You mean to 
tell me that even with all the crap your dad and all those goofs dropped on 
you to make you marry Akane, you were NEVER told about the birds and the 
bees?!"  On seeing Ranma nod, she breathed out, "Didn't your mom ever tell 
you?!"

	A weak shrug responded.  "No, not really . . .!"

	Rinrin shook her head.  By this time, both were on the main path back to 
Welcome House.  "Oh, geez!  I've heard of dysfunctional families, but THIS 
takes the cake!"  She looked at Ranma.  "Aneki, you BETTER go have a LONG 
talk with Sakuya-chan about this!  Trust me, you'll NEED it!"

	Ranma gazed on her.  "That's what your brother said to me earlier today 
when we were breaking rocks on the east side."

	"Really?"  She made an approving nod.  "Good thing Aniki said that to you.  
Trust me, Aneki!  If you're going to have a happy life from now on, 
especially with your curse, you BETTER know this stuff!"

	"I . . .!"  A pause.  "Y-yeah!  Hey, can you tell me something?  If you 
guys know about my curse and all that, why the heck are you all calling me 
'big sister' all the time?!  You know I'm a boy, don't you?!"

	Rinrin jolted before she looked away, twirling her fingers.  She KNEW the 
truth about what was happening to the person beside her -- or rather, she at 
least knew what Chikage and Negako predicted WOULD happen to Ranma if the 
latter made certain decisions in the immediate future.  Taking a breath, she 
stared at the House.  "Y-yeah, I know that.  And I saw you transform back at 
Tampopo-san's place, but . . . "  She paused, sighing.  "I dunno.  I mean, 
it's not that I want to insult you, but I really look on you -- and I think 
I'm speaking for everyone else, too -- as a girl, not a guy.  Besides, 
what's wrong with being a girl, anyway?  I know you were born a guy and all 
that, but with your ability to change now, you got a chance to see things in 
a whole different way.  You really ought to take advantage of it.  I know 
you're not the type to go crazy about it like some guys might if they had 
that sort of curse, but . . . "

	"But Akane always said that doing that sorta thing's perverted . . .!"

	Rinrin's eyebrow arched.  "Oh?!  And who the heck makes that girl the world 
expert on what's perverted and what's not, Aneki?!  Who the heck makes that 
girl the expert on what YOU feel and why?!  Well?"

	Ranma blinked as she looked nowhere in particular while they passed under 
the gateway to Welcome House.  "Yeah, you got a point, but still . . . "

	"But nothing!  Look, have you seen yourself nude as a girl?!"

	"All the time!"

	"So what's Akane's problem?  She's not the one who has to live with that 
curse!  YOU do!  She's got no right to force you to conform to what she 
thinks is proper, ESPECIALLY now that you've told her to take a hike!  And 
if she thinks she can force you into doing something she wants, you've got a 
right to break every bone in her body if that's what it takes to make her 
get lost!"

	"I . . . "  Ranma paused, shaking her head.  "I don't want to do something 
like THAT to her, Rinrin-chan!  It's not right . . .!"

	"Okay!  Okay!  It's not right then!  But it's not right for her to keep 
treating you like crap, either!" Rinrin protested.

	"Yeah, you're right.  I . . . "  She blinked on hearing a fiddle from 
Ataru's room.  "Hey, what the . . .?"  She slowed down.  "Is that Ataru?"

	"Yeah, it is.  I know the song, too," Rinrin declared before singing:

The sun is sinking low in the sky above Ashokan;
The pines and the willows know soon we will part.
There's a whisper in the wind of promises unspoken
And a love that will always remain in my heart.

My thoughts will return to the sound of your laughter,
The magic of moving as one.
And a time we'll remember long ever after
The moonlight and music and dancing are done.

	Will we climb the hills once more?
	Will we walk the woods together?
	Will I feel you holding me close once again?
	Will every song we've sung stay with us forever?
	Will you dance in my dreams or my arms until then?

Under the moon the mountains lie sleeping,
Over the lake, the stars shine.
They wonder if you and I will be keeping
The magic and music, or leave them behind.

	Will we climb the hills once more?
	Will we walk the woods together?
	Will I feel you holding me close once again?
	Will every song we've sung stay with us forever?
	Will you dance in my dreams or my arms until then?

Under the moon the mountains lie sleeping,
Over the lake the stars shine.
They wonder if you and I will be keeping
The magic and music, or leave them behind.

The sun is sinking low in the sky above Ashokan;
The pines and the willows know soon we will part.
There's a whisper in the wind of promises unspoken
And a love that will always remain in my heart.

My thoughts will return to the sound of your laughter,
The magic of moving as one.
And a time we'll remember -- long ever after
The moonlight and music and dancing are done.

	By then, both had arrived at the rotunda's main doors.  "I didn't know he 
played the fiddle," Ranma mused.  "Where'd he learn?"

	"When he and Negako-aneki were training in a special place called 
'Sanctuary,'" Rinrin explained as they headed into the dining room.  "Aneki 
taught Aniki how to play the violin and the saxophone, too."

	"I just wish he didn't play that damned song," Sakuya muttered from her 
place at the table as Rinrin and Ranma sat down.

	Ranma stared at her.  "Why?  That was an okay song!"

	"'Okay?!'" Sakuya snapped.  "It makes Onii-sama CRY!  Some 'okay!'"

	"Ani-kun needs the chance to let the pain in his heart go, Sakuya."

	Eyes turned to Chikage as the sorceress took her place at the table.  The 
sisters gave her knowing looks.  "There's something you're not telling us 
about what Anii did when he was off with Anee, Chikage.  Is there?" Mamoru 
asked.

	Before Chikage could answer, the doors opened, revealing Ataru.  "Hi, 
everyone," he hailed as he took his place at the head of the table.

	The others were quick to notice his downcast mood.  "Onii-chan, are you 
alright?" Karen gently probed as Shirayuki wheeled in dinner.

	"Not really," he admitted.  "I just got a call from Reigi-kun.  The 
Yamaguchis won't claim either Kinshou's or Muchi's ashes."

	Silence fell over the room.  The sisters looked down on their plates.  "So 
what will we do now, Anigimi-sama?" Haruka asked.

	He sighed.  "Rinrin, is the Plato-Mecha ready to go?"

	"Um . . . "  Rinrin paused before reporting, "I just need to do some final 
adjustments on the portside impeller.  It should take me a couple hours to 
finish that.  Then I can get Jii-san to put her in the water."

	"Alright, then.  Do that and tomorrow morning, we'll take her out and bury 
the ashes in the trenches east of the Island, okay?"

	Rinrin nodded.  "Okay."

	"Don't they deserve to be buried like other people?" Ranma asked.  "Ataru, 
even if you did reject them, they deserve . . . "

	He gave her a weary look, making Ranma stop.  Seeing the guilt cross her 
face, he moved to moderate.  "It's not your fault, Ranma."

	"But still . . . "

	"It has to be done this way, Ane-kun."

	Eyes locked on Chikage.  "Why?" Ranma wondered.

	"Because our clan's doors have always been open to those who need our 
protection -- a hearth fire, a family to embrace them and make them feel 
welcome, even a close friend to provide a shoulder to lay one's head on -- 
we grossly frown on any act that seeks to isolate one of us from the rest of 
the Clan.  That is what Kinshou did to Ani-kun five years ago.  That is what 
she could've tried to do to us had she learned of us.  Is that right?  Is it 
honourable to isolate someone like that, especially because of greed?"

	Ranma sighed.  "No, not really, I guess."

	"Kaho would've wanted to know Kaho's father," Kaho said.  "But what was 
Kaho's father like? Why did he let Onii-chama be hurt like that by his wife? 
  Onii-chama did the right thing letting Negako-oneechama out of 
Onii-chama's head.  Why couldn't he understand?  Why didn't he stand up to 
his wife?  Why did he go along with his wife and sell Onii-chama off to Lum? 
  Why, Onee-chama?"

	The transformed martial artist nodded.

*    *    *

	"Damn that Oyaji!"

	Sakuya stared at Ranma.  "I'm sorry, Onee-sama," the former apologised as 
she placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder.  Both were in Ranma's guestroom, they 
having spent the last two hours there.  Toshiko and Kumiko had gone off with 
Ataru to see the sights around the Island.  "I mean, we all guessed your dad 
was a lunkhead, but I'd believe that if he wanted you to marry this Akane 
girl, he should've given you some warning . . . "

	Ranma rose, shaking her head before she stared out the window at Welcome 
House's courtyard.  "Yeah, I know," she replied before her eyes turned to 
gaze down at her own stomach.  "I can't believe it.  I mean, I never really 
sat back and thought about it.  I . . . "  Her hand fell on her navel.  "I 
can create a life here if I wanted to.  I . . . "  A shaky breath escaped 
her.  "Oh, man!"

	"Yeah, it's really something, isn't it?" Sakuya noted as she stood up to 
stand beside Ranma.  "And your dad always said 'women are weak?'  What a 
dork!  He doesn't know anything at all, does he?"

	A snort.  "More like he doesn't CARE!" Ranma spat out.

	"Are you okay, Onee-sama?"

	Ranma shook her head.  "I dunno. You know, ever since I got to Nerima and 
got deluged by the fiancée business, I've always wondered what it was really 
all about.  I mean, Ukyou and Shanpú say they love me.  But right now, I 
don't understand what love is.  I don't think I ever really did understand 
it even with what I said during the fight against Saffron and I thought that 
Akane was dying!  And they expected me to get married, raise kids?!  How do 
you do that?!"

	Sakuya patted Ranma's shoulder.  "Onee-sama, you're seventeen!  You don't 
have to worry about kids.  Most people these days wait until they're thirty 
to get married.  Some don't even bother with marriage when you get down to 
it."

	"Yeah, but it was honour . . . "  Ranma's voice trailed off for a moment.  
"Well, it WAS honour.  Now . . . I just don't know."

	"Well, let's go to the basics, then."  Sakuya guided her back to the bed 
before she sat in a rocking chair nearby.  "What is love?"

	"I don't know.  Or at least, I can't describe it in words right now."

	"Okay."  Sakuya held up four fingers.  "For you to say you love someone and 
to build a relationship with that someone, you need four things.  They are 
Truth," -- she dropped one finger -- "Trust," -- down went the second -- 
"Respect," -- the third -- "And Hope."  She made a fist with her hand.

	"Now, Truth."  Up went a finger.  "You didn't start off right because you 
met Akane as a girl and you didn't consider revealing the truth until she 
walked in on you in the furo.  Then, everything your dad kept from you piled 
on.  Since you weren't shown the truth about how to interact with people, 
you had no clear way to navigate yourself out of that particular mess, 
right?"

	Ranma nodded.  "Right."

	"Next comes Trust."  Sakuya held up a second finger.  "Akane assumed right 
from when she first found out about your curse that you were nothing more 
than a pervert.  She didn't change that basic viewpoint no matter how much 
you tried to explain things to her.  Put simply, she never trusted you.  
Trust, like Truth, is a two-way street to make a relationship work.  So, it 
comes to the point where you no longer trust Akane to believe you.  Even 
after you had to KILL someone to save her life, she still doesn't trust you.

	"Then Respect."  Up went a third finger.  "Since Akane doesn't trust you, 
she feels she has no cause to respect you.  She can't accept you're the 
better martial artist because you always let her into your guard and she got 
away with braining you with that mallet.  In fact, she doesn't even respect 
your Art since no one's ever forced her to see that you have to WORK to gain 
a skill, right?"

	"Yeah."

	"Okay, then.  You know if you want to learn something, you have to work and 
work at it to get it right.  Akane doesn't know that.  She can't bring 
herself to accept that."  A pause.  "You want to know something, Onee-sama?  
Akane can't respect you because she doesn't respect herself!"

	Ranma blinked.  "Yeah, that's true, isn't it?"

	"Yeah."  Sakuya put up the fourth finger.  "Now, Hope.  Tell me something, 
Onee-sama?  Can you see yourself sometime in the future, married to Akane, 
raising your children, living with Akane until the day you finally die?  Can 
you really imagine that deep in your heart?"

	"Not anymore."

	Sakuya shrugged.  "Then there's no love between you.  And unless those 
things change, there could never be any love between you."

	Ranma gazed at her, nodding.

*    *    *

	On the southwest side of the island, there was a seashore house built on 
tall poles hooding a cove, the house resting on a cliff.  The cove was 
bisected with a dock for small boats.  Standing on the porch overlooking the 
beach spread out to one side of the house, Ataru sipped a snifter of spring 
water.  Footsteps heralded the arrival of the mirror-twins from inspecting 
the interior.  "Well?"

	Toshiko and Kumiko exchanged a look.  "We like it," the former declared.  
"Still, don't you think it's queer to let us make use of the same house your 
sisters were conceived in?  What do your sisters think of this place?"

	"Nice place to visit, especially come summer vacation, but the House has 
more conveniences, not to mention individual rooms."  He set the snifter 
aside before relaxing against the rail, turning to gaze out to sea.  "Here, 
there's not that much room.  It's a vacation cottage.  Great for one or two 
people or maybe a small family, but not fourteen people or more."

	"What about you?" Kumiko wondered.

	"Even with the work I've done since I came here, I'm still getting used to 
all this wealth Grandma left behind.  I guess one of the few good things 
being with Muchi and Kinshou taught me is how to not put so much value on 
money.  I wasn't born to the rich life like Mendou.  Neither were the girls. 
  I think after it all gets ironed out, we'll be letting go of a lot of 
things."

	"Like this place."  Toshiko looked around, and then she nodded.  "Well, if 
you're willing to let us live here, we'll move in right away.  I just hope 
that you and Ranma will consent to come back to the Island full-time real 
soon.  I'm sure your sisters would gladly want you back . . . "

	Kumiko crossed her arms.  "And I'm pretty sure Ranma would like to get away 
from those morons in Nerima once and for all," she added.

	"Agreed."

	"Soon as Onee-chan finishes fixing Ranma's mind up, I'll pop an invitation 
to her to come here full-time," Ataru said.  "I suppose by then, some 
permanent solution to Ranma's fiancée problem will be worked out.  With that 
done, she's got nothing hanging over her head, so she can concentrate on the 
college exams."

	The mirror-twins stared quizzically at their host.  Kumiko then walked up 
to relax beside Ataru, Toshiko shifting to his other side.  "Ataru-kun, can 
I ask you something?" the former wondered as she gazed on him.  "How much do 
you know about Jusenkyou and how it's affected Ranma?"

	Ataru picked up the flute.  "I know in Ranma's case, the full effects 
haven't sunk in.  Mostly, that's because of the mental damage she took when 
that fool Genma forced her to learn the Neko-ken.  Why are you asking, 
Kumiko-chan?"

	"And your sisters?  Do they know this?" Toshiko added.

	He looked at her before nodding.  "Yes."  He then sipped some water.  "I 
take it that whatever explanation you gave Ranma about you being frozen as a 
girl wasn't the whole truth.  Was it?"  He glanced at Kumiko.

	The raven-haired mirror-twin nodded.  "Hai, it wasn't the whole truth.  I 
would've told her the truth if the Jusenkyou guide hadn't let slip what 
really happened to Ranma when she and Genma went there."

	He nodded.  "When you fell into the Nyanniichuan, Kumiko-chan, how long was 
it before you initially transformed back?"

	"Truthfully, I didn't wait.  When I jumped out of the pool, my sense of 
balance was thrown off because of the change.  I tripped and smacked my head 
on a rock beyond the pools."  Kumiko flustered.  "I was out of it for about 
ten minutes.  Toshiko didn't want to move me from where I fell, so the guide 
went off to get some hot water.  By the time he came back to me, it was too 
late.  With general human-based curses, the basic mental changes only need 
five minutes to take full effect."  She deeply inhaled.  "Then again, I WAS 
born of a magical mirror whose underlying spirit was female."  A shrug.  "So 
maybe Jusenkyou DID 'set me right' when I fell into that pond."

	"When we talked to the guide about it, he always wondered why it didn't 
take affect on Ranma like it did to you, Kumiko," Toshiko added.  "So how 
could the Neko-ken interfere with that?  The guide said that Ranma didn't 
change back for almost twenty minutes . . . "

	"The Neko-ken's not just a physical art form.  It's also a spiritual 
thing," Ataru said.  "Remember, the dorkheads who created it wanted to 
infuse a Neko-ken student with not just the physical attack skills of a cat, 
but its fighting spirit, too.  That's all up here . . . "  He pointed to his 
head, and then his heart.  "And here, too.  And since Ranma was a boy when 
she first learned the Neko-ken, the cat-spirit that was formed inside her 
was a male spirit.  Suddenly, you force something like Jusenkyou on top of 
that and . . . "

	He shuddered.  "So the Neko-ken spirit and the Nyanniichuan spirit have 
been trying to fight for control of Ranma?" Kumiko wondered.

	He nodded.  "Subconsciously, yes. At least, that's the way Onee-chan sees 
it.  Think about it.  Why is it Ranma's such a water magnet all the time, 
both hot and cold?  Yeah, that's typical of most Jusenkyou victims, but 
according to what Onee-chan divined from Ranma's ki, it's ESPECIALLY true 
with her.  And Onee-chan found out that in most times whenever the Neko-ken 
madness overcame Ranma, it was when she was male.  How did she usually snap 
out of it?"  An eyebrow arched.  "People dunked her in water and transformed 
her into a girl."

	The mirror-twins sighed before gazing on Ataru.  "Was that why Tampopo-san 
asked Negako-san to come look at Ranma?" Kumiko asked.

	"Hai.  Tampopo-chan doesn't have Onee-chan's knowledge base when it comes 
to martial arts, but she could tell that something was REALLY off with 
Ranma.  I'm just amazed at myself that I was able to pick up what else 
happened."

	Toshiko scowled.  "Stupid panda."

	Ataru made a dismissive wave with his hand.  "Oh, forget him.  He's 
harmless.  Right now, the big thing is figuring out how to break this to 
Ranma."

	Kumiko shook her head.  "The sooner the better, I think."

	"Maybe.  I've hesitated in saying anything because Ranma's got enough on 
her plate," Ataru admitted.  "But still . . . "

	The mirror-twins nodded.

*    *    *

	Ranma sighed as she walked along the southeastern seashore of Promised 
Island.  A full moon had just appeared, its reflected sunlight creating 
eerie shadows in the small town beyond the curve of Stargazer Hill.  Her 
right hand was held up, the fingers going up and down as she ran through 
what Sakuya told her earlier, applying it to everyone else she knew back in 
Nerima.

	"Ukyou?"  Ranma extended the fingers.  "Well, I tell her the truth all the 
time of how I feel.  She tells me the truth of how she feels.  But the 
messages never really got across.  She's my friend.  Is she?  I trust her . 
. . "  She dropped the middle finger.  "Well, I trusted her until the 
wedding when she decided to throw bombs at Mom.  I respect her, but she 
really doesn't respect my opinions, so that's out."  Down went the ring 
finger.  "And I really can't imagine marrying her.  I still see her as my 
buddy from when we were kids.  I guess that means I don't respect her, 
either."  Down went the little finger.  "And since she don't respect me and 
I really don't respect her, she can't understand what I'm telling her.  
Truth is out."  She dropped the index finger.

	"Shanpú?"  Out went the four fingers.  "She often lies to me."  Down went 
the index finger.  "I can't trust her because her village laws don't allow 
that sorta thing.  She really doesn't trust me.  If she did, then she 
wouldn't be going hog-wild to hook me."  Down went the middle finger.  "I 
can't respect her because she doesn't respect me because I'm a man.  If how 
she and her great-grandmother treat Misú is any indication, men don't have 
any real rights among the Amazons."  Down went the ring finger.  "I sure as 
hell can't see myself living with her in that village and I KNOW she can't 
imagine living anywhere else outside the village.  So hope is out."  She 
lowered her little finger.

	"Kodachi?"  Out went the fingers.  They then collapsed.  "Forget it."

	"Kasumi?"  Out went the fingers.  "She knows the truth . . . "  Ranma then 
shook her head, her fist closing up.  "Nah!  I can't think of marrying 
someone I sorta look on like a big sister!  It ain't right.  Besides, she 
can't really want to stay on as a housewife!  It ain't fair to her.  And I 
don't want to really deal with that idiot father of hers anymore.

	"Nabiki?"  Out went the fingers.  Ranma then shuddered.  "She doesn't tell 
me the truth.  She doesn't trust me.  She sure as hell doesn't respect me.  
And I think I'd rather commit seppuku than marry her . . . "

	"There is one more, Ane-kun."

	Ranma spun around to see Chikage standing behind her, the latter dressed in 
a flowing, black lace-up gown trimmed in red-and-silver laurel.  "Chikage!" 
Ranma gasped before she calmed herself.  "Shit!  Don't do that to me!"

	The sorceress chuckled apologetically.  "I'm sorry, Ane-kun.  But in 
sensing your mood, I felt you'd desire a little company."

	"I . . . "  She sighed.  "Um, thanks!  I . . . "  She looked at her hand.  
No doubt, Chikage knew what was bothering her.  "I guess I got no one, eh?"

	"There is someone else you might consider, Ane-kun."

	"Who?!  One of you?" Ranma quipped.

	Chikage sighed.  "No, someone else."

	"Negako?!" Ranma asked, shuddering.  "Uh-uh!  No than- . . .!"

	"I was thinking of Ani-kun."

	Silence.

	"What?!" Ranma eeped, her eyes widening.

	"Here."  Chikage reached up to extend Ranma's fingers.  "Humour me.  Take 
what Sakuya told you and apply it to Ani-kun."

	"WHAT?!" Ranma cried out, automatically shaking her head.  "Uh-uh!  No way! 
  He's a man!  I'm a man, even if I'm stuck as . . .!"

	"Please?"

	Ranma's voice failed as she stared in confusion at Chikage.  As far as she 
knew, from the way Ataru and the other sisters described her in the past, 
the sorceress NEVER used the word "please" when it came to ANY request she 
made!

	"I . . . "  Ranma looked at her hand.  "He tells me the truth.  But . . . " 
  A pause, and then she shook her head.  "I kinda figured out that he's 
keeping something BIG from me.  And from all you guys, too, I guess.  Is it 
something you know about, Chikage?"  Seeing her nod, Ranma breathed out, 
"Well, I guess that means it's gotta be bad.  Really bad.  I . . . "  Her 
ring finger wavered.  "Then that means he respects me.  And he cares for my 
feelings, too, right?  He . . . "  A pause.  "He's afraid that if I learn 
it, I wouldn't want to be with him anymore, right?!  I . . . "  Another 
pause.  "Jeez!  What would be so bad that he'd feel he'd have to do that . . 
.?"

	"As far as I can presently discern, it was worse than your battle with 
Saffron," Chikage explained.  "INFINITELY worse."

	Ranma stared at her before she nodded.  "Oh."  She gazed on her hand.  "And 
. . . "  A pause.  "He trusts me to understand that, doesn't he?"  She 
blinked on seeing the middle finger waver.  "He knows it's bad and that it'd 
blow my mind away, right?  He WANTS to tell me . . .!"  Her voice caught in 
her throat, and then she sighed.  "But how can I make him trust me to accept 
what he's got to say?  I just can't walk up and . . . "  Another pause, her 
index finger wavering.  "I can, can't I?  Or maybe he can't tell it because 
he doesn't know what to say!  Yeah, I can understand that . . .!"  Her voice 
trailed off, her eyes locked on her little finger.  The one finger that had 
not moved at all.

	"I . . . "  Ranma blinked.  "I want his friendship.  I like being with him. 
  I can trust him in case we get into a fight.  If what happened on Monday 
meant anything, we'd be perfect partners.  He pretty much told me today that 
he wants to be my partner, too.  I trust him.  And to trust him, I have to 
respect him.  And I told him the truth about me and he's pretty much done 
the same about himself.  Yeah!  Yeah!  I can do that.  Then . . . "  She 
paused.  "Friendship and love are the same, right, Chikage?"  She stared at 
Chikage.

	"'Love' is a strange thing to comprehend even at the best of times, 
Ane-kun.  There are different types of love depending on the situation.  But 
in the end, it is the same.  People just find it hard for whatever reason to 
accept that.  After all, you can say that you love a friend.  Just as much, 
as deeply, as one can love a sibling, a parent . . . "  A pause.  "Or a 
life-mate."

	"But . . . "  Ranma pointed to herself.  "I'm a guy."

	"What does your birth-gender and Ani-kun's gender have to do with love?"  
Chikage's eyebrow arched.  "Ane-kun, there are gay couples out there who 
enjoy loving relationships, relationships that endure homophobic assaults 
from every quarter.  There're lesbian couples who do the same thing.  There 
are multi-partner groups who are in the same situation.  The people involved 
in those relationships don't find what they do 'unusual.'  They see it as a 
truly blessed thing.  In light of that, do the opinions of society matter?  
Of course not.

	"You and Ani-kun are in the same situation.  And you, deep in your hearts, 
do not WANT to live in such a situation anymore.  That is why Fate brought 
you together.  Fate can be fickle, but sometimes, She can also be kind.  
Especially to those who have suffered Her Wrath for as long as you and 
Ani-kun have."

	Chikage turned away, she gazing at the moon above.  "You know, when he came 
to this island and we started to bond as a family, Ani-kun started to have 
very bad nightmares.  Nightmares about all the times he felt that he was 
totally alone in this world.  About all the times Kinshou said 'I wish you 
were never born!'  About when Miyake Shinobu left him, abandoning him so she 
could pursue a rich narcissist like Mendou Shuutarou.  About the time he 
came to believe Lum could not accept a potential 'husband' who refused to 
bow to her every whim and desire.  About the time when he allowed 
Negako-anekun to live her own life -- and the betrayal that followed, which 
ultimately killed our grandmother from a broken heart.  About even the time 
when Nokoko-anekun disappeared after she learned that she was not Ani-kun's 
cousin, but his sister.

	"Every time we heard him cry, it tore into our hearts.  Even me."  Her eyes 
closed, eyelashes glistening.  "Even Negako-anekun.  Every time we looked 
into his room, there she was, holding his hand.  No doubt feeling guilty 
over what her being tricked by Kinshou five years ago had cost him, the man 
who gave the Saikoo Jinseijitsu her dream.  And it hurt, Ane-kun.  It hurt 
so much."

	She gazed on the moon.  "So I came here.  Looked up.  It was a full moon.  
I prayed.  We all prayed in our chosen way.  For someone to come.  To show 
Ani-kun he wasn't alone in his sufferings.  And that someone could be with 
him.  And love him.  And through their shared pain, they would enjoy a 
shared healing.

	"And thus, Fate brought you into Ani-kun's life."

	Ranma blinked as Chikage stared at her.  "I don't know . . . "

	"It's alright to be unsure."  She drew Ranma's hand up, holding it between 
her own hands.  "But know this:  You have endured considerable brain damage 
since you were exposed to that pit."  Sensing Ranma shiver, Chikage touched 
a shiatsu point to calm her.  "And as Negako-anekun strives to heal you, you 
WILL change, evolve into someone different than you were.  You will evolve 
into a whole new being.  And as you evolve . . . "  Her eyes locked on 
Ranma's.  "You will then learn Jusenkyou's most horrible secret."

	Ranma stared at her before she squeezed her eyes closed.  "No . . . "

	"Ane-kun, how long after you first fell into the Nyanniichuan?" Chikage 
asked.  "How long was it before you changed back?"

	"I . . . "  Ranma sucked in her breath, biting her lip.  Tears streamed 
down her cheeks unchecked.  "About . . . " she began, her voice suddenly 
very dry.  "About twenty minutes, I think.  I . . . "  A gulp.  "I just got 
so angry at Oyaji for taking me into that place, totally destroying 
everything he made me believe and accept as the right thing . . . "  A 
shudder shook her again as her voice started to break.  "And I . . . "  She 
blinked.  "No, it was the guide.  He changed Oyaji back right away, but then 
I lost it and went out to beat his ass.  The guide couldn't do anything to 
me.  So I didn't change back until after I got done chasing Oyaji all over 
the place . . . "

	A sob stole her voice as Chikage moved to comfort, she shushing Ranma as 
she held her close.  As the strength in Ranma's body faded, Chikage scooped 
her up, carrying her to a bench.  Sitting her, Chikage allowed Ranma to 
remain close, the latter sobbing.  Time became meaningless as Ranma wept, 
the words spoken on the plains of Jusenkyou by the guide repeating again in 
her mind . . .

**    **    **

	"Oh, Honoured Customer, is too late for you!"

	"What?!" Ranma demanded.

	The portly guide shook his head, drawing out his pipe as he stared out at 
the scattered ponds with their bamboo training poles.  He had just poured 
hot water on Ranma.  Genma was hiding, not wanting to deal with his child at 
this time.  "I no tell this to you before other Honoured Customer.  I think 
he no understand.  I also think he might hurt you for thing that is not your 
fault."

	"Whaddayamean?!"

	A sigh.  "Jusenkyou give worse than body to those who no change back right 
away after falling into spring."  The guide waved to the ponds.  "Spirits of 
those who drown in springs in springs.  When someone fall in, spirits of 
those who drown in springs also copy into that person.  Like you, Honoured 
Customer."

	Ranma deflated.  "What?!" he stammered.  "Y-you mean . . .?"

	"I see it not happen.  But it will happen, Honoured Customer.  For that, I 
sorry.  I no can tell you unless it happen to you.  It part of my curse, 
see?"

	"N-no . . .!"

	The guide's eyes fell on the young man from Japan.  Who, the guide knew, 
would one day become a young woman, in body AND spirit.  "No cure for that, 
Honoured Customer.  You have to change right away back to normal or else 
spirit's copy mix with your spirit.  When that happen, you become a girl 
here."  He pointed to his heart.  "No cure for th- . . . "

	"Ranma!"

	Ranma turned as Genma marched toward them, both backpacks in hand.  "C'mon, 
we're leaving!  There's more training to do!"

	Ranma blinked, nodding.  "Right!"

**    **    **

	"No cure . . . "

	Chikage watched as Ranma sat up, the latter wiping her eyes as she took 
several breaths to compose herself.  "Yes," the young sorceress confirmed 
with a nod.  "And one day soon, you will no longer DESIRE a cure.  Perhaps 
even come to look on your birth-form with the same disgust you once looked 
on your cursed-form.  You will think of yourself in your heart and soul as a 
woman.  How that will affect you?  Well, that is for Fate to decide.  You 
can run from it as long as you can, Ane-kun.  But there is no escape."

	"Why didn't it latch on then?" Ranma wondered.

	"The damage to your mind from the Neko-ken training, that supported by the 
abuse from all those you've fought in Nerima," Chikage replied.  "Now, 
Ane-kun, you have a choice.  And it is a difficult choice, indeed:  Do you 
wish to live as a man?  And be forever afraid of cats?  Not have conscious 
use of the full mental capacity you were blessed with at birth?  And perhaps 
one day confront someone who could easily manipulate you just like your 
father did?  Or would you wish to live as a woman?  Heal the wounds you've 
suffered from for all those years?  Turn Jusenkyou's curse into a gift?  A 
gift of freedom and control over your life?  Then embrace the gift Nature 
gave you and ensure you remain free?"

	Silence fell as Ranma considered that.  A shudder raced through her as a 
very dim memory suddenly came forth.  "I used to like c-cats . . . " she 
stuttered that one word which had haunted her nightmares for so long.  
"There was this one alley c-c-cat that lived near my house.  I useta take 
food out to him all the time, before the trip.  I . . . "

	"You desired to adopt him as your pet," Chikage finished.  "By the time you 
were taken from your mother by Genma, the cat had come to trust you very 
much.  Then you were gone.  And sadly, survival demanded that he turn his 
attention to more vital matters as soon as he came to realise, in his own 
way, that you would never come back to him."

	Ranma jolted, her eyes widening.  "You know . . .?"

	"Negako-anekun told me."  A pause.  "There is more to that story.  Four 
years after you were taken away from your mother, yours and Genma's training 
voyage returned you to the Tokyo area.  That is when Genma decided it was 
time for you to learn the Neko-ken.  So he went far and wide, seeking out 
alley cats to serve as the training 'mechanism.'"

	She stopped.  Ranma blinked, her skin paling.  "That c-c-c-cat . . .?"

	"Yes, he was in the pit," Chikage confirmed with a nod.  "But before he and 
you faced the Neko-ken, he -- along with the others -- had been starved to 
the point where any 'domestic' behaviour that might've been ingrained into 
them was long since eliminated.  All he saw when you were lowered into that 
pit every time was the food wrapped around you.  All he wanted was the food. 
  He couldn't recognise you -- even if he remembered you -- because his 
hunger blinded him to EVERYTHING but the food.  And that is what he went 
after.  As did they all."

	Silence fell anew as Ranma shuddered, fresh tears flowing down her cheeks 
as she hugged herself, the fear the Neko-ken had unleashed in her for so 
long fighting the grief she felt at a lost friend who had suffered because 
of her.  She blinked as Chikage's hand squeezed her shoulder.  She stared at 
the sorceress.  "What happened to . . .?" Ranma asked before her voice 
faltered.

	"Several days after you and Genma left, someone found the pit," Chikage 
reported.  "The Humane Society was called in to investigate.  Since the pit 
was so deep, the sides so sheer -- and the cats themselves so weak from 
hunger -- they couldn't crawl out to seek out fresh prey.  So, being 
carnivores, they turned on each other.  By the time they were discovered, 
only four were still alive.  Your friend, included.  But because they were 
so weak from being starved for so long, it was then decided to humanely put 
them to sleep."

	"No . . . "

	Fresh sobs took away Ranma's voice as Chikage moved to comfort.  "Hush!" 
the sorceress soothed.  "You cannot change the past, Ane-kun.  You can 
change the future.  Seize the day, Ane-kun.  Let this and all the days ahead 
be yours once and for all.  Be free, Ane-kun . . . "

	*And help Ani-kun be free, too,* she mentally added.

	Time became meaningless again as Ranma wept.  The reasons became irrelevant 
to the martial artist as the many mental dams holding back years of abuse, 
emotional neglect, even contempt, from Genma and so many others, finally 
shattered.  Chikage remained still, her hand gently stroking Ranma's hair as 
the sorceress became a rock for the martial artist to cling to.  Finally, 
Ranma's moans morphed into sniffles as a hand reached up to wipe her eyes.  
Straightening herself, she drew Chikage into an embrace.  "Thanks."

	"You needed it, Ane-kun."  Chikage reached up to dry Ranma's cheeks with 
her thumbs before she then smirked.  "What a stupid fool your father is.  He 
doesn't begin to realise how much he's ultimately failed.  Not just you, but 
his friend and Souun's children, not to mention his wife."

	A blink.  "You mean about what the guide said?"

	A nod.  "Hai.  And that transformation of your spirit HAS been happening, 
bit by bit, since you left Jusenkyou.  Unfortunately, atop yours and 
everyone else's resistance to the idea of you being a girl, you personally 
do not have a proper example to template yourself from when it comes to 
BEING female."

	"I . . . "  Ranma blinked before she gazed out to sea.  "I . . . geez, 
Chikage, I really don't know . . .!"  She bit her lip before looking anew at 
the sorceress, a shrug rolling her shoulder.  "I mean, I still got a lot of 
trouble believing what the guide said.  Yeah, it's been easy for me to dress 
up as a girl and act kawaii and all that, but geez!  I do that all the 
time."

	"True.  You should remind yourself that dressing as a girl and, as you say 
it, 'acting kawaii' are but very small parts of what being a woman is 
about."  Chikage chuckled, crossing her arms.  "Since it would be best for 
you to remain in one body while Negako-anekun and Ani-kun are busy healing 
you, you should realise you'll be facing one LARGE element of being a woman 
in three weeks from now when you endure the peak of your first-ever 
menstrual cycle."

	"My first period, you mean?"  On seeing Chikage nod, Ranma sighed.  "Kasumi 
told me about that when Herb froze me with the Chiisui-ton.  But I didn't go 
through it because I was able to unlock myself shortly after."

	"Good for her.  Sadly, given that you have not had any chance to evolve 
naturally through menarche into adolescence as other women have, I suspect 
you'll be experiencing a particularly painful 'first blood.'"  The sorceress 
rose to stand again beside Ranma.  "I can only guess at how others, even 
those women who are 'close' to you, might react, given their attitudes 
towards you."

	"Oh, boy, you sure got THAT right!"  Ranma winced before she rattled off on 
her fingers.  "Akane will have another damned excuse to call me a pervert.  
Shanpú might decide that since I'm not a man, she'd have to go back on her 
first mission and try ta kill me.  I think Ukyou MIGHT accept it since she's 
legally registered as a boy and all that . . . "

	"What is written on paper can NEVER stand up to the facts of biology," 
Chikage warned.  "Besides, look at what good can come out of it.  If you 
become a woman, your engagements are effectively rendered null-and-void.  
Isn't that what you really want, Ane-kun?"  Seeing Ranma nod, she continued, 
"And if they understand you had no choice, I believe things will change to 
everyone's benefit.  Didn't Akane say to you when you met 'Let's be 
friends?'  Yes, she betrayed her own words not two hours later when she 
learned of your curse.  In fact, you might say her being forced to deal with 
you potentially reinforced her attitudes towards boys as a whole.  And you 
have to take into account your over-protectiveness towards her as well, 
Ane-kun.  It did not do Akane any good."

	"That's true.  But what about Ukyou and Shanpú?  What do I do with them?"

	"Given Genma's attitudes -- and in the worse-case scenario, Nodoka's -- if 
he learns you are a woman in spirit as well as body, he might decide enough 
is enough and renounce you then and there.  If he does that, Ane-kun, Ukyou 
effectively succeeds in the mission her father charged her with:  The 
break-up of the Saotome family and the end of the Saotome-ryuu.  When 
Ukyou's father learns of that, atop learning what has happened to you AND 
what you've planned for Genma in case he did decide to renounce you, I 
strongly believe there to be no good reason for him not to release his child 
from what she was forced into.  In the end, you both would come out of that 
winners."

	A smirk crossed Ranma's face.  "Yeah, that's true, isn't it?"  She then 
sighed.  "What about Shanpú?"

	"As for her, there is no threat from the Kiss of Death," Chikage said, a 
light smile crossing her face.  "Shanpú's failure towards that end was 
punished by her receiving her curse from the Maoniichuan.  All you face now 
is the Kiss of Marriage.  And when you emotionally become a woman, her claim 
on you will become questionable.  I don't believe she is bisexual, so . . . 
"

	"'Bisexual?!'"

	"Attracted sexually to both men and women," the sorceress explained before 
her eyebrow arched.  "And there is another thing you have to deal wi