Our Own Damnation

A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Alan Harnum 

All Ranma characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, first
published by Shogakukan in Japan and brought over to North
America by Viz Communications.

This copy of the story is from my centralized fanfiction archive
at http://www.thekeep.org/~harnums/fanfic.  I can be reached by
e-mail at harnums@thekeep.org

Part Two:  Lest Darkness Come

     "How much further is it to your place?" the woman asked, huddling
closer into the embrace of the man, as if to protect herself from some
unexpected chill.

     "What's with you tonight?" the man asked, glancing to the nervous
woman beside him.

     "That murder's really got me spooked," the woman said.
                                 
     "Come on, honey.  The police said whoever did it's probably long gone
by now," the man said reassuringly.

     "They said the body was too damaged to identify on the radio," the
woman said with a shudder.  "What kind of person does something like that?"

     "Well, whoever it is, they'll be caught soon enough, I'm sure," the
man said.  "And don't worry.  You're safe with me."

     "I know," the woman said.  "But it's frightening all the same."

     He stroked a lock of long dark hair out of her face and kissed her on
the cheek.  "Thinking about it will only make it worse.  Come on, my
apartments not far.  You know that."

     They passed by the entrance to an alleyway that seemed to yawn in the
darkness like a cave mouth.  For a moment, the woman had the strange
conviction that it was a cave, that somewhere within the depths that
seemed barely illuminated by the brightness of the streetlamps, some awful
beast waited.

     And then they were by it, and she relaxed.

     Then she felt her boyfriend slump over on top of her, and she turned
to ask what was wrong, and the words died in her mouth as she saw the wide
crimson slash across his throat, and heard his choking gasp as the blood
flowed from his neck to stain her white blouse.  The shadowy figure flicked
red droplets from the silvery glitter of the knife, and even as she
screamed and slipped from the embrace of the dying man, trying desperately
to flee, screaming again and again, it was upon her.

**********

     Ranma came inside to the breakfast table, towelling off her wet
red hair as her father padded along behind her as a panda.  As with most of
their morning workouts, it had ended with the two of them almost
simultaneously landing in the pond.

     The Tendos were already seated.  There was no conversation between
them, though.  Only a somber silence that sent chills down her spine.

     "Hey," she said, trying to lighten the mood.  "What's everybody so
glum about?"

     "There were another two murders last night," Akane said in a slightly
sick sounding voice.  Cologne's words of the day before came rushing back
to Ranma in a flash.

     "Oh geez," Ranma said, sitting down at the table.  "That's
awful."

     Mr. Tendo put down the paper and pointed at the front page, where a
colour picture showed two officers lifting a sheet-covered body into the
back of an ambulance on a dark street that looked familiar to Ranma.
It should have, she realized.  It was about a block from Ukyou's
restaurant.  She recognized the sign on the bookstore that was visible in
the background.

     "They're talking about a serial killer," Mr. Tendo said, equal parts
anger and fear mixing in his voice.  "Some psychopath stalking the streets
at night."

     "No way," Ranma said.  "That kind of thing doesn't happen over
here."

     "Well, that's not what it looks like," Nabiki said.  Ranma looked over
at her.  Nabiki turned away and stared at what appeared to be a
particularly interesting part of the wall.

     Soun handed her the newspaper.  Ranma glanced through the article,
trying to avoid looking at the white-covered body in the photo.  The body
shown belonged to Norio Iwakiyo, age twenty-six.  He was, or had been, an
up and coming junior partner with Okahashi Shipping.  He'd been out for a
walk with his girlfriend, nineteen year old Etsuko Akamori, who'd been a
secretary at Okahashi.  She was missing, although a small amount of her
blood type was found at the scene.  The man had died from a single slash
wound to the throat; no weapon had been found on the scene.  Police had
been called after a woman screaming was reported to them at around
eleven-thirty.  When they arrived, Norio was dead and Etsuko gone.  The
police were not ruling out the possibility that the murder of Norio and the
disappearance of Etsuko were connected to the brutal killing of the man now
identified as fifty-nine year old Hiroji Nishiki, a Shinto priest...

     Ranma put down the paper, unable to read further.  Cologne had been
right, as much as Ranma had hoped she was wrong.  The shrine had been only
the beginning.

     "Well, let's eat," Kasumi said with her usual cheery smile.  But in
her eyes Ranma could see reflected everything that showed on the faces of
the others.

     Delicious as it was, not even Ranma or her father seemed to have much
appetite for Kasumi's breakfast.  The horrific events of the night before
hung over the table like a dark cloud, and what conversation was made was
scarce.

     Pushing his bowl away half finished, Ranma stood up from the table.

     "I'm sorry I couldn't finish, Kasumi," Ranma said.  "I'm just not very
hungry today.  I'll be in the dojo if anyone wants me."

     "Mr. Saotome, would you like Ranma's leftovers?" Kasumi said.

     <No thank you> Genma said, holding up one of the signs that were his
means of communication as a panda.  The panda stood up, yawned and followed
his son, who was currently a daughter, into the bathroom.

     Ranma started to run water into the large bath, then turned to brush
her teeth at the sink.  Beside her, her father paced back and forth on all
four paws, his claws making scraping sounds on the tile.

     "Would you stop that already?" Ranma said, turning around.  "You're
making me nervous with all that toenail clicking."

     The panda mumbled something that probably would have been an apology
if he'd been capable of speech, then sat back on the low bench in front of
the bath and began to groom itself.

     Ranma walked upstairs and got some clean clothing for herself and her
father while she waited for the bath to fill.  Nabiki was heading into her
bedroom as Ranma came up the stairs; Ranma gave her a hesitant smile, but
Nabiki only closed the door to her room without even looking at her.

     Sighing, Ranma hoped she hadn't hurt Nabiki's feelings too badly;
perhaps she hadn't needed to be quite as honest as she was, even if Nabiki
had asked her to.  She grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for himself,
and one of the ten or so identical grey gis that hung on her father's side
of the closet.

     Returning to the bathroom, she found the bath nearly filled and her
father, now returned to human form, already soaking in it.  Ranma stripped
off her dirty clothes and gratefully slipped into the hot water, quickly
changing back to the gender she had been born with.

     "Good workout this morning, pop," Ranma said.  His father nodded,
then slipped deeper into the water until only his head was above.

     "I'm worried, Ranma," Genma said, his eyes closed.

     "About the murders?" Ranma said.

     "Yes."

     "Me too, pop.  Stuff like this never happens around here; heck,
they're even saying it might be a serial killer, like they have all the
time down in the west."

     "You be careful, Ranma."

     "Pop, I'll be fine.  Any psycho who tries to get me'll be in for a big
suprise," Ranma said cockily.

     "The people who do these things will not come rushing out to challenge
you, Ranma," Genma said.  "They're not warriors.  They are killers.  Be
careful, son."

     "Okay, pop.  I'll be careful."

     They finished their bath in silence, dressed, and parted company.
Genma went to play a few rounds of shogi with Soun, while Ranma headed for
the dojo.  He'd agreed last night to meet Akane after breakfast for some
more practice; she was already there, going fluidly through some of the
moves he'd shown her the day before.  Ranma watched her from the entrance,
as her lithe, athletic body went through the graceful motions, turning them
almost into a dance.  He smiled, affection and a little bit of pride in him
as he observed her.

     "You ready, Akane," he said finally, stepping into the dojo.  Akane
turned to him and dropped into a battle stance.

     "Sure I am, Ranma," she said.  "Just try me."

     Ranma tried her.  They circled each other for a moment, and then Akane
threw a quick jab followed by a kick, and the sparring match began.  Ranma
dodged and weaved, each attack Akane threw missing him with only a few
inches to spare.

     "Dammit, Ranma, fight back," Akane said with a snarl.  He could see
she was growing frustrated; even though he could have avoided her attacks
for hours, Ranma could see that she'd only see that as making fun of her.

     He didn't go full out against her; he didn't need to.  Within a few
seconds after he moved, Akane was flat on her back on the dojo floor with
the breath knocked out of her.

     "You're getting better," Ranma said.  "You almost managed to dodge my
first shot."

     "T-t-thank you," Akane said somewhat woozily.  "I think."

     Ranma offered her his hand.  She reached out weakly to grab it.  Then
her grip turned to iron, and she seemed to lose the dizziness she'd
apparently had before.  Suprised, Ranma was hauled off his feet and thrown
to the ground with his arm twisted behind his back.

     "Suprise," Akane said.

     "You sneaky little..." Ranma muttered.  "You were faking."

     "Neahhhh," Akane said, sticking her tongue out at him.  Ranma slid out
of the lock and tackled Akane to the ground, pinning her to the floor and
tickling her ribs.  Akane laughed uncontrollably in between yelling at him
to stop and threatening him with various terrible fates.  Ranma stopped and
lay down beside her on the floor of the dojo, smiling over at his red-faced
and still giggling fiancee.

     "That'll teach you to try to fool me," he said.

     "Try?  I succeeded in fooling you.  Give me some credit," Akane said,
smiling back at him.

     The pleasant moment was interrupted by a loud sob from the house.
Ranma was on his feet and running in a moment, Akane following quickly
behind.  In the living room, Soun was on his knees, clutching at the hem of
Kasumi's dress as Genma stood nearby, glancing at his friend with an
exasperated expression on his face.  Tears streamed down Soun's face.

     "No, Kasumi!  Don't go to the market!  Please!  I'd never be able to
forgive myself if something happened," he sobbed.  "Please please please
don't go."

     "Father, please," Kasumi said gently.  "It's broad daylight.  I'll be
fine."

     "But I'll be so worried while you're gone," Soun sniffed.  "Let me
come with you, at least."

     "There's no need for that, father," Kasumi said.  "Now you stay here
and finish your game with Mr. Saotome.  I'll only be gone for an hour.
There's some cold beer in the refrigerator, and a plate of snacks on the
counter for the two of you."

     "Kasumi, please.  Let me come with you," Soun pleaded, relinquishing
his grip on Kasumi's dress.

     "Father, if you're really that nervous, I'm sure Ranma would come with
me, won't you Ranma?" Kasumi said, looking to where Ranma and Akane watched
the scene in silence.

     "Hmm?  Me?" Ranma said, confused.  Kasumi nodded.

     "Yes, yes, that's a wonderful idea, Kasumi.  Ranma!  You'll protect my
oldest daughter, won't you?" Soun said, crawling on his knees towards Ranma
and grabbing hold of his leg.

     "Sure, Mr. Tendo," Ranma said.  "If it'll make you feel better."

     "Oh, thank you Ranma.  Thank you, thank you, thank you," Soun said.
Genma came up and patted his friend on the shoulder.

     "Come now, Tendo.  The crisis has passed.  And I still need to beat
you," he said.  Soun stood up and dusted himself off.

     "As if you could, Saotome.  Be careful now, Kasumi," he said, walking
away.

     "Shall we go, Ranma?" Kasumi said.

     "I'll come too," Akane said.  "If you don't mind, Kasumi."

     "Actually, Akane, you know what would help me even more?" Kasumi said.

     "What?" Akane said.

     "Could you peel the vegetables that are out on the counter while we're
gone?  I need them to make lunch today."

     "Sure, Kasumi," Akane said, jumping the change to work in the kitchen.
"Maybe I could whip up something for lunch as well."

     Behind Akane's back, Ranma made frantic gestures to Kasumi while
shaking his head and pointing at Akane.

     "That would be lovely, Akane," Kasumi said, putting her hand over her
smile as she watched Ranma.

     "Okay!  I'll get right on it!" Akane said, rushing off to the kitchen.

     "You do realize what you've done, don't you?" Ranma said as he stepped
out the door with Kasumi and started to walk to the market.

     "Akane will only get better if she practices, Ranma," Kasumi gently
chided.  "And you should be more encouraging.  It is you she really cooks
for, after all."

     "What do you mean by that?" Ranma said.

     "Well, you're the one she always wants to try her cooking," Kasumi
said.  "It's you she's trying to impress."

     "I wish she'd find some other way than through her cooking," Ranma
said.

     "Besides," Kasumi said.  "I wanted to talk to you without her being
around."

     Ranma was starting to notice a distressing similiarity among the focus
of conversation between him and the other members of the household over the
past twenty-four hours.

     "What about?" Ranma sighed.

     "How are you and Akane getting along these days?" Kasumi said.

     "We're getting along pretty good," Ranma said.  Kasumi smiled.

     "That's nice, Ranma.  You and Akane are a lovely couple," Kasumi said.

     "Hey!  We are not a-" Ranma began.  An almost disapproving look passed
across Kasumi's features, and he stopped.

     "Ranma, denying your feelings only hurts everyone around you.  I know
your father has probably always told you to conceal your emotions, but
sometimes, that's the wrong thing to do.  If you try to hide how you feel
about someone, those feelings won't go away," Kasumi said.

     "I guess," Ranma said.

     "I'm pleased to see that you and Akane are getting along so much
better these days," Kasumi said.  "It will be good to have you as part of
the family."

     "Thanks, Kasumi," Ranma said, deciding not to raise any arguments over
whether he would be becoming part of the family.

     "There's one other thing I wanted to talk to you about," Kasumi said.

     "What's that, Kasumi?" Ranma said.

     "Did you say something to Nabiki yesterday?  Something that might have
hurt her?" Kasumi said.  Ranma flinched and didn't answer.  "Please, Ranma.
I can tell something has hurt her."

     "Yeah," Ranma said guiltily.  "I guess it was probably my fault."

     "What did you say?" Kasumi said, not sounding angry with him.

     "She asked me if I didn't like her very much," Ranma said, shuffling
his feet as he walked beside Kasumi.

     "And?" Kasumi said.

     "And I told her the truth," Ranma said.

     "And what was that?" Kasumi said.

     "That I don't like her very much," Ranma said in a small voice,
expecting Kasumi to yell at him.  Instead, she only gave a small sigh.

     "Ranma, Nabiki is a hard person to like," Kasumi said.  "But she has
her good points."

     "Like what?" Ranma snorted, and then immediately regretted it.

     "Well, who do you think pays for the repairs to the dojo whenever you
or one of your little friends punches a hole in it?  Whose investment
portfolios are the primary source of income for the house?" Kasumi said.

     "Nabiki's," Ranma said quietly.

     "Everyone wants to feel that they are liked, Ranma," Kasumi said.
"Even if on the surface they seem not to care what people think of them.
Even if they do things that make people angry sometimes."

     Ranma nodded miserably.  More and more, he saw that he'd made a
mistake in leaving Nabiki that way yesterday.

     "I guess I'd better apologize to her when we get back," he said.

     "I think that's a wonderful idea, Ranma," Kasumi said with a smile.

     They had almost reached the market now; Ranma looked at the shrine as
they passed by it.  The police barriers were still around it, and several
officers moved in and out as they had the day before.  There was a small
crowd of curious on-lookers, but most of the people who passed by averted
their gaze from the shrine.  The smallest trace of a frown passed by on
Kasumi's face as she looked at the shrine, and then it was gone as if it
had never been there.

     The market had a few people in it, wandering through the shelves and
choosing their purchases.  Ranma held the shopping basket as he followed
Kasumi through the store, and she deposited her choices in it.  Kasumi was
a careful shopper, buying as much on sale as she could, and comparing
prices and sizes carefully before choosing which product to buy.  When she
had finished, they took their groceries to the counter and waited in line
for a few minutes until it was their turn.  The shop owner smiled as he saw
Kasumi.  He was a somewhat chubby man in his late forties, with his hair
almost all gone.

     "Good morning, Kasumi," he said.  "It's always a pleasure to see your
lovely face in here."

     "You flatter me, Mr. Ikesaka," Kasumi said.  "How's business?"

     The grocer sighed as he rang up the purchases on the ancient looking
cash register.  "Not as good this morning as usual.  I think a lot of
people are nervous about coming around here, even in the daytime, because
that murder in the shrine happened so close to here."

     "I do hope they catch whoever's doing these terrible things soon,"
Kasumi said, handing several bills to the grocer.  He handed her the change
and nodded.

     "Everyone who's been in the shop today has seemed so nervous," he
said.  "The possibility that it could be one person doing those three
murders is very frightening.  You take care now, Kasumi."

     "You too, Mr. Ikesaka," Kasumi said, waving cheerfully as she left the
store, Ranma following behind her with the now-full shopping basket.  The
walk home was pleasant, but Ranma began to notice the air of nervousness
and apprehension that hung over everyone they passed by.  The normally
friendly looks that most people had on their faces had been replaced by
frowns and suspicious gazes at people who looked unfamiliar.  There was
fear in the air, the natural response to the series of brutal, apparently
motiveless killings so close to the place they made their homes.  It was
the stuff of movies and the far-away United States, not of a peaceful place
like this.

     "Everyone's so scared," Ranma said quietly to Kasumi.  She nodded her
head, her long ponytail bobbing on her shoulder as she did so.

     "I know," Kasumi said.  "It's awful, isn't it?"

     "Yeah," Ranma said.  They arrived at the house soon.  When Ranma
opened the door and stepped inside, the first thing that hit him was the
smell.  It was a kind of combination of burning rubber and raw sewage,
managing to combine the worst aspects of both while leaving out the better
aspects, such as that the smell of them of them was usually restricted to
junkyards and sewage treament facilities as opposed to houses.  Ranma was
fairly sure that he knew where the smell was coming from.

     "Are you home now, Ranma?" Akane called.  "I want you to try my cake!
I made the recipe up myself!"

     Ranma groaned and looked pleadingly at Kasumi.

     "We all must make sacrifices for those we care for," Kasumi said,
without any trace of humour.  "Some sacrifices, however, are greater than
others."

     "RANMA!" Akane called.  "You'd better come and eat it now!  It looks
like it might catch on fire again!"

     There was the sound of someone spraying a fire extinguisher on
something, possibly something that resembled a cake.  Gulping, Ranma headed
towards the kitchen, trying to remember if he'd ever bothered to make up a
will.  Perhaps after he'd died from stomach cramps, they could use his body
to come up with some kind of antidote for Akane's cooking.

     As nobly as a deposed king steps towards the guillotine, or a rebel
leader faces the firing squad of the corrupt dictator, Ranma held his 
breath, plugged his nostrils and stepped into the kitchen.

**********

     Groaning, Ranma staggered into his room and collapsed upon his futon,
his stomach sending waves of protest to his entire body.  Thankfully, he'd
only taken one bite of Akane's cake before it had unexpectedly burst into
flames.  As Akane struggled to put it out, Ranma mumbled something about
having to use the bathroom, his voice muffled by the chunk of rock-hard
cake he was keeping concealed in one cheek.  Some of the taste was still
managing to seep down into his stomach, and he'd dashed upstairs and spat
the cake into the toilet of the upstairs bathroom.  Then he'd flushed it
down.  Hearing an ominous clunk from the pipes, he'd jiggled the handle a
few times ineffectually, then sighed and pulled the toilet plunger out from
under the sink.  It took a little while to get the cake to come back, given
that it had hard a greater density than the surrounding water, but Ranma
had eventually managed to unclog it from the pipes.  Not knowing what else
to do with it, he tossed it into the garbage can beside the sink and threw
a couple of sheets of toilet paper on top of it to conceal it from view.
By then, he was starting to feel somewhat unwell, and had decided to go and
have a bit of a lie down for a while.  Then the taste of it began to fully
hit him, and all he could do now was lie on his futon in agony.  He
wondered if it might not be better to stop fighting the urge to vomit, and
let his body expel the toxins from his system.  However, unless he wanted
to puke all over his bed, that would require that he actually get up off
the floor.  Ranma decided to just lie there.

     After what seemed like an hour, but was probably more around five
minutes, someone stepped into the room.  From his position on the floor,
Ranma could make out no details except the bare feet, which were dark and
callused.

     "Hey pop," Ranma managed to croak.

     "Hello son," Genma said, bending down.  "Is everything okay?"

     "Just Akane's cake," Ranma said.  "Should be fine in a few hours."

     "Well, that's good," Genma said.  Ranma groaned as another wave of
cramps hit him, and Genma patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.  "There
there, son.  Be strong."

     Then Genma's face slid up out of Ranma's view and his feet padded
across the floor to the dresser.

     "What are you doin', pop?" Ranma said.

     "Getting some money from my stash," he said.  "We need to order some
takeout for lunch.  The kitchen won't be back in working order until
dinner, at least."

     That meant none of Kasumi's delicious meals, Ranma thought with
disappointment.  On the other hand, it meant that Akane wouldn't be able to
try and cook anything for about another day.

     "You try to sleep, son.  That might help you feel better.  Call Kasumi
if you need anything," Genma said, turning out the light and closing the
door softly.  Ranma lay there in the darkness for a few minutes before
sliding off into an uneasy sleep.  His last thought before he drifted off
was of his promise to Kasumi to speak to Nabiki when they came home; he'd
have to remember to do that later, when he didn't feel like he was going to
die at any minute.

**********

     Ranma floated on soft clouds, everything around him clear and blue.
He was at peace, the burning pain he'd felt before replaced by a wonderful
coolness that permeated his entire body.  Ranma blinked his eyes and came
fully awake in the darkened room.  Someone was wiping his head with a soft,
damp cloth while murmuring soothingly to him.  He couldn't make out quite
who it was.

     "Ailen?" a bright voice with a heavy Chinese accent said.  "You awake
now?"

     "Hi Shampoo," Ranma croaked, his eyes adjusting to the darkness enough
that he was able make out the Amazon sitting beside him.

     "Poor ailen," she said sympathetically, wiping his forehead again.
"Shampoo worry that violent girl's cooking finally kill ailen.  You should
stay with Shampoo, she much better cook."

     "You got that right," Ranma said with a small laugh.  "How'd you get
in here anyway?"

     "Shampoo deliver ramen for family," she said.  "See you no here and
that kitchen destroyed.  Shampoo pretty sure what happen."

     "Akane'll be mad if she finds you in here," Ranma said, worrying
himself about what conclusions Akane might gather if she found him and
Shampoo together in a dark room.

     "Shampoo can handle violent girl," Shampoo said in a smug tone.
"She no match for Shampoo.  Maybe Shampoo go challenge her now, show her
who better bride for husband is."

     "Shampoo, no," Ranma said.  He pushed himself to a sitting position,
feeling better than he did before he went to sleep.  "I would never, ever
forgive you if you did anything to hurt Akane.  Do you understand me?"

     Shampoo looked at the floor and didn't answer.  Ranma grabbed her
wrists in a weak grip until she looked him in the face.

     "Shampoo," Ranma said, the words coming out harsher than he meant them
to.  "Do you understand me?"

     "Shampoo understand," she said, nodding.  "Why Ranma care so much
about violent girl anyway?  She not his wife like Shampoo."

     "Shampooo..." Ranma said, realizing that if he was ever to have any
chance with Akane, he was going to have to do something about all the other
women in his life.  "We have to talk."

     Shampoo didn't say anything, but fear showed in her eyes.  Finally,
she nodded and bowed her head.

     "Can you meet me at four at the cafe near your restaurant?" Ranma
said.  Shampoo's eyes brightened.

     "Oh!  Ranma want date with Shampoo!  Shampoo worry there for a second
Ranma want to talk about something else.  Okay, Shampoo see Ranma later,"
she said happily.  Before Ranma could say anything else, she wrapped her
arms around him in a tight embrace, bounded to the open window of the room
and slipped out.  Ranma could see her long purple hair waving behind her as
she made her way across the rooftops on her way back to the Nekohanten.

     He thought of the smile Shampoo always seemed to have on her face, of
how she was always happy to see him.  He hoped he wouldn't make that smile
disappear forever with what he had to say to her.

     The memory of Nabiki crying by the pond yesterday came back to him;
was it his destiny to hurt the women he knew?

     "Better go talk to her," Ranma said, rising to his feet.  He'd put it
off for too long anyway.  Ranma walked out the darkened bedroom and into
the hall.  Hopefully everyone would be finished lunch by now, and Nabiki
would be in her bedroom.  Ranma walked to her door and knocked.

     "Come in," Nabiki's voice said from behind the door.  Ranma turned the
handle and stepped inside the room.  Nabiki was lying on the bed in shorts
and a t-shirt, flipping through a fashion magazine with a bored expression
on her face.

     "Ummm... hi Nabiki," Ranma said, shuffling nervously in the doorway.
Nabiki looked up at him and then turned her eyes back to the magazine.

     "What do you want, Ranma?" Nabiki said.

     "I wanted to talk to you about what I said yesterday," Ranma said.

     "What about it?"

     "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about what I said to you.  I was
feeling kind of stressed out at the time, and I sorta took it out on you,"
Ranma said.

     "But what you said was true all the same, wasn't it Ranma?" Nabiki
said.

     "It isn't as true as I said.  You make me mad a lot Nabiki, but...
deep down, I know you're not a bad person.  You and me are just really
different people.  You're smart, and I do most of my thinking with my
fists.  I guess I can't really blame you for treating me the way you do."

     "Ranma, I'm sorry too," Nabiki said, putting down her magazine.  "I've
done some things to you that weren't very nice either.  I didn't think I'd
ever say I was sorry to you, but if you had the guts to apologize to me, I
guess I can only do the same to you."

     "It's okay, Nabiki," Ranma said.  "I'll see you around, okay?"

     "Of course you will," Nabiki said.  "We live in the same house."

     Ranma smiled and left, a great load lifted from his mind.  The last
two days had been just great.

     Except for those murders; that cast a shadow over everything.  It
would have been bad enough alone, but to go along with them were all the
things Cologne had said to him; he really should go and talk to the old
ghoul.  She might be able to tell him more than she had before.

     Whether she'd be willing to talk to him after what he was going to say
to her great-grandaughter this afternoon was a matter Ranma didn't
particularly want to think about.  Right now, he didn't particularly want
to think about anything at all.  He'd been doing a lot of thinking
recently; he'd had enough for now.

     Ranma was lounging by the pond in the backyard when he heard Kasumi
speaking to someone on the back porch.  He raised his head and listened.

     "He's right out here, Ryoga," he heard Kasumi say.

     "Thank you, Kasumi," Ryoga's voice replied.

     "Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?"

     "Hmm?  Oh, I wouldn't want to trouble you."

     "Oh, it would be no trouble.  Ranma and Akane would love to see you,
I'm sure."

     "Well, alright.  If it isn't any trouble."

     "Wonderful.  Why don't you stick around the house after you talk to
Ranma?  It wouldn't do for you to go wandering off by accident."

     "Okay, Kasumi.  Thank you very much."

     "Goodbye, Ryoga."

     There was the sound of Kasumi's light footsteps going back into the
house, and then Ranma could hear Ryoga pounding across the yard towards
him.

     "RANMA!  Prepare to die!"

     Ranma moved his head to the side as he heard the whistle of the
descending umbrella.  It hit the ground beside his head, leaving a small
crater.  Ranma threw a hand up and stopped it about an inch from Ryoga's
nose.  The lost boy paused in the process of lifting his umbrella up for
another blow.

     "Hey Ryoga," Ranma said cheerfully.  "What'd I do this time?"

     Ryoga slung the umbrella over his back and hauled Ranma to his feet by
the collar of his shirt.  He dug into his pockets with one hand and pulled
out a wrinkled piece of newsprint.  It was the article that Ranma had read
in the papers this morning, on the murder of the couple last night.

     "What is the meaning of this, Ranma!  How could you let some murderous
psychopath into the neighbourhood!  Akane could be in danger!" Ryoga
shouted angrily.

     "Hold on a minute!  How can you hold me responsible for something like
this?" Ranma said in an annoyed tone of voice.

     "You're responsible for everything else that happens around here!"
Ryoga replied, giving Ranma a shake.

     "Dammit, Ryoga, how could I have had anything to do with this?" Ranma
said, his anger growing.  He hated being blamed for things that weren't his
fault, especially by Ryoga, who held Ranma responsible for everything bad
that happened to him.  Possibly this was because Ranma was responsible for
almost everything bad that happened to Ryoga, but he sure couldn't be
expected to be responsible for this.

     "How could you have had anything to do with this?  How could you have
had anything to do with this?" Ryoga yelled.  Then a rare thoughtful
expression passed across his face.  "How could you have had anything to do
with this?" he said reflectively.  Then he released Ranma from his grip and
shook his head.  "I guess you couldn't have had anything to do with this.
Even you wouldn't stoop so low as to kill people."

     "Thanks for the vote of confidence," Ranma muttered.

     "Sorry I kinda lost control there," Ryoga said.  "I got into town this
morning and saw the newspaper article and thought about how close it was
to Akane's house, and..."

     "It's okay, Ryoga," Ranma said.  "Everybody's on edge about these
murders.  I'm worried too."

     Ryoga nodded his head.  "Do you police have any idea of who's doing
it?"

     "I don't really know.  Some people have talked about it being a serial
killer, like they have in the United States all the time," Ranma said.

     "Damn," Ryoga said.  "I wish there was something we could do."

     "Hey!  That reminds me.  Siddown for a while Ryoga, I wanna talk to
you," Ranma said, snapping his fingers.

     "Alright," Ryoga said somewhat suspiciously, sitting down and laying
his red umbrella beside him, but keeping the wooden handle within easy
reach.  Ranma sat down beside him and told him about what Cologne had said
to him yesterday in the storeroom of the Nekohanten.  When he was finished,
Ryoga cupped his chin with one hand and stared into the pool.

     "Interesting," Ryoga said.  "So, the old ghoul says that there's more
to these killings than meets the eye."

     "I guess so," Ranma said.  "I was more interested in what she said
about all of us having a part to play in what was to come.  I was trying to
figure out who she meant."

     "Who do you think she meant?" Ryoga said.

     "Well, me, I guess.  And her too.  And maybe Shampoo and Mousse.  And
you too, since you're the first person I've had any urge to talk to this
about," Ranma said, scratching his head contemplatively.

     "Do you think she could have been including Akane?" Ryoga said.

     "I hope not," Ranma said.

     "Me too," Ryoga said with a sigh.

     "So," Ranma said.  "Where've you been the past couple of weeks?"

     Ryoga blushed and gave a rare smile.  "Akari's."

     "Eh, you lucky pig," Ranma said, nudging Ryoga in the ribs with his
elbow.  Ryoga glared at him.

     "Shut up, Ranma," he said without any real anger.

     "So, how are you getting along with Akari?" Ranma said.  He'd worked
hard on setting Ryoga up with Akari, partly because he thought it might get
the guy out of his hair, but also because he thought Ryoga deserved a
little happiness in his life.  Ryoga's smile grew even broader.

     "Oh, she's a wonderful girl, Ranma.  She's kind, and sweet, and
caring, and beautiful, and she doesn't even mind that I turn into that
hideous form," he said.

     "So, you're really happy with her, then?" Ranma said.  Ryoga nodded.

     "I can't believe I thought she was making fun of me at first," he
said.  "Boy, does she ever love pigs."

     "So I guess this means you're giving up on Akane, then?" Ranma said.

     "What?  What gave you that idea?  I..." Ryoga said.  Then he gave a
somewhat bitter smile and looked into the pond again.  "I'm starting to
sound like Kuno, aren't I?"

     "Kinda," Ranma said with a grin.  He was pleased that he was getting
along so well with Ryoga right now.  If he could only get him to give up on
Akane and focus on Akari, things would be great.

     "I don't know, Ranma.  Deep in my heart, I know Akane only loves me as
P-chan," Ryoga said.  "But I still cannot bear to quite leave her behind."

     "Is that why you left Akari's house?" Ranma said.

     "Actually, I went out to feed the pigs for her, and I kind of got
turned around, and before I knew it, I'd ended up here," Ryoga said.  "I
really ought to call her and tell her I'm okay."

     "Ryoga," Ranma said, trying to think of the best way to approach the
subject.  "Things have been kinda different between Akane and me lately."

     "What do you mean?" Ryoga said.

     "We haven't been fighting as much as we used to," Ranma said.  "And
we've kinda grown closer than we were the last time I saw you."

     "Oh," Ryoga said, looking at the ground.  "Tell me something, Ranma?"

     "What, Ryoga?"

     "Do you truly care for Akane?  As more than a friend?"

     "Yeah, Ryoga.  I guess that's what I'm trying to say," Ranma said,
watching Ryoga's face carefully.  To his suprise, another smile crossed
Ryoga's face.

     "I'm glad to hear you finally admit it, Ranma," Ryoga said.  "I saw it
a long time ago, I think.  But until now, I didn't know for sure."

     "I don't think I really did either," Ranma said with a laugh.

     "I hope you and Akane are very happy together," Ryoga said.  Ranma
blinked.

     "Do you really mean that, Ryoga?" he said.  Ryoga nodded.

     "I guess I do.  Akari and I have gotten closer to," Ryoga said, with a
deep blush.

     "You mean...?" Ranma said, giving Ryoga a sly grin.

     "Not until we're married, you pervert," Ryoga said with a growl.  "But
we've come close a few times."

     Ranma laughed, throwing his head back and looking at the sky.  "I'd
have thought you'd pass out before you'd ever be able to even kiss a girl."

     "Well, it took some repeated conditioning to help me lose my
nervousness," Ryoga said.  "Akari and I had to practice a lot to get it
right."

     Ranma laughed again, shaking his head.  "We've changed a lot since
last year, haven't we, Ryoga?  I mean, we've been talking for more than
five minutes and neither one of us has tried to rip the other's head off."

     "I guess we have, Ranma.  I guess we have," Ryoga said.  "Everyone has
to grow up sooner or later.  Even two immature guys like us."

     They both laughed then, and for a few moments they sat in silence, two
old friends who had just realized that they were, staring up at the wide
blue expanse that seemed filled with endless possibility.  But over that
bright sky hung dark clouds, that if not visible to the eye, were in the
minds of both of them.

**********

     Ryoga dodged the kick and leaped back on the balls of his feet before
driving forwards with a straight punch at Ranma's head.  Ranma leaped high
into the air to avoid it, and Ryoga leaped after him.  They continued their
battle in midair, furious kicks and punches being blocked and dodged by
both of them as they reached the top arc of their jumps and began to
descend to the ground.  Ryoga reached out and grabbed Ranma by the shirt,
flipping him over so as to drive him headfirst into the mats.  Ranma rolled
forward and brought his feet into Ryoga's stomach, turning himself over and
throwing Ryoga away from him.  He landed on his feet while Ryoga crashed
to the ground, almost immediately coming back up again and charging Ranma.

     Ranma sidestepped, but Ryoga lashed out with a fist that caught Ranma
in the side of the head and spun him to the floor.  He twisted to the side,
avoiding the fist Ryoga drove at his head, and flipped to his feet as Ryoga
pulled his fist out of the hole he'd punched in the floor.  Ranma's jumping
kick hit him in the side, knocking him sprawling to the floor.  Ranma's
eyes caught the clock; it was a quarter to four.  He'd become so caught up
in their sparring match, he'd forgotten to watch the time.  He'd have to
rush to meet Shampoo in time.

     "Hey Ryoga," he said, as Ryoga hopped up from where he'd landed, ready
to fight again. "I gotta go meet somebody."

     "Hmm?  Who?" Ryoga said.

     "Shampoo," Ranma said.  Ryoga's eyes narrowed.

     "So," he said.  "After giving me all those lines about how you cared
for Akane, you're running off behind her back for a tryst with Shampoo."

     "Actually, Ryoga, I'm gonna tell Shampoo that I'm not ever marrying
her, and try not to break her heart while I'm doing it," Ranma said, his
words like ice.  Ryoga hung his head.

     "I'm sorry, Ranma.  Old habits are hard to break.  Good luck."

     "Thanks, Ryoga.  Why don't you call Akari while I'm gone?  I'm sure
Kasumi won't mind you using the phone."

     "Oh, to hear her voice again..." Ryoga said, a goofy smile on his
face.  Ranma gave him a thumbs up and left the dojo by the back entrance,
the one that lead out onto the streets.

     He passed a police van driving down the street as he ran towards the
cafe where he'd agreed to meet Shampoo.  The voice coming from the
loudspeaker mounted on top was soft but commanding.

     "Attention citizens," it said.  "For your own safety, a nine pm curfew
has been enacted.  Please ensure that you are indoors with your doors
locked by nine pm."

     The people around Ranma looked at the police van with apprehensive
gazes.  Ranma looked back at it as it turned the corner and shook his head.

     "This isn't good," he said with a sigh.

     He reached the cafe soon after; looking at the digital clock visible
on an office building many blocks away, he saw it was few minutes after
four.

     Ranma took a deep breath and pushed open the door that led inside.
His eyes scanned the interior; there were few customers in the cafe.
Shampoo sat at a corner table, a pot of tea in front of her.  She smiled
and waved him over as he entered.  He gave her a weak smile back and made
his way across the room to the table.

     "Hey Shampoo," he said, sliding the chair out and sitting down across
from her.

     "Nihao, Ranma," Shampoo said, smiling brightly.  "I order tea."

     "Thanks," Ranma said.  Shampoo picked up the pot and poured him a cup.
He took it and raised it to his lips, breathing in the fragrance of the
herbs before taking a small sip.

     "Shampoo so happy to go on date with Ranma," Shampoo said, putting her
hands over Ranma's as he lowered his teacup to the table.  "Ranma tell
Shampoo now how he really feel?"

     Shampoo couldn't have been more accurate in her words, but Ranma was
pretty sure she would be expecting a different answer from the one he was
going to give her.

     "Yeah," he said, nodding glumly.  "Shampoo..."

     He gulped and cleared his throat, looking nervously at Shampoo's
smiling face.  She'd changed over the past year as well, he could see.  Her
face was more slender, and she'd grown taller.  She'd gone from being a
cute teenager to a devastatingly beautiful woman.  Hopefully, she had
matured inside as well, and would be able to handle what he had to tell
her.

     "Go on, Ranma," Shampoo said.  "You can tell Shampoo."

     Ranma remembered what he'd told Akane yesterday, and that gave him the
words he needed.  "Shampoo, you're a really nice girl.  You're beautiful, a
good fighter, a great cook and your husband will be very happy to have you
as a wife."

     Shampoo's smile widened at each compliment Ranma gave her.  He took a
breath and continued.

     "However, Shampoo, that husband is not going to be me," Ranma said,
turning his face away from the expression of shock and pain he saw on her
face.  "I'm sorry."

     "Ranma... Ranma joking, no?" Shampoo said desperately.  Ranma shook
his head miserably.

     "Shampoo... I don't know if it's your laws, or if you really do love
me.  I can't change the way I feel about you, Shampoo."

     "No, ailen.  Violent girl make you say this," Shampoo said, pain and
rage in her voice.  She knocked her chair over standing up.  "Shampoo teach
her."

     "NO!" Ranma shouted, jumping up out of his chair.  "Don't you ever,
EVER do anything to hurt Akane!  If you touch her, Shampoo, I swear that
I'll..."

     The few customers in the cafe were staring at them now, the young man
yelling at the girl in front of him, whose eyes were just now beginning to
brim with tears.

     "Ranma..." Shampoo said.

     "I'm sorry, Shampoo," Ranma said, hanging his head.  With a wail,
Shampoo ran from the cafe.  Ranma cursed loudly and ran after her, ignoring
the stares of the customers.  Outside, Ranma saw Shampoo slide open the
door of the Nekohanten a few buildings down.  He started to head quickly
towards the Nekohanten, but then the door flew open and a white robed
figure burst out, his long black hair waving behind him.

     Mousse's glasses were firmly set over his eyes, and behind the thick
lenses his gaze burned with fury.

     "SAOTOME!" he yelled.  "YOU WILL PAY!"

     The naginata was in Mousse's hands faster than Ranma would have
thought possible, and he rushed Ranma, making quick, skillful jabs with the
long spear.  This wasn't like most of the other times he'd thought Mousse;
no wooden ducks or yoyos this time.  Mousse was out for blood.  He had
reach and suprise, and was running on pure rage.  Everyone has certain
triggers; with Mousse, all you had to do was hurt Shampoo in any way.

     "Mousse, calm down," Ranma said, dodging to the side as the spear
whistled by him.  He looked for an opening, and found none as Mousse swung
the spear back and almost came away with a piece of Ranma's arm.  This was
bad; Ranma could easily get hurt or even killed here.  He had to either
calm Mousse down or disarm him.

     On the next thrust, Ranma grabbed the naginata by the shaft as it
passed by him and twisted, redirecting the thrust of the spear into a pile
of nearby crates.  The sharp blade lodged in a crate, and Mousse was forced
to let go as Ranma swung up on the shaft and launched a two-footed kick
that Mousse barely dodged.  Ranma pressed the attack, knowing that given
even a second, Mousse would have another weapon in his hands.  Usually, he
could beat any armed foe with ease; he knew what to expect from someone who
only used one weapon.  But Mousse used so many different weapons that
fighting him was as unpredictable as fighting an unarmed foe.

     Ranma threw a punch at Mousse's chest.  Mousse dodged back, his robe
swirling about him.  He threw both fists out at Ranma, and the clink of
metal was Ranma's only warning before he nearly got eight inches of steel
claw through his head.  Mousse wore his long fighting claws now, on both
hands.  

     "What did you do to her, Ranma Saotome?" Mousse snarled.  "What have
you done to make her cry so?"

     "I dumped her," Ranma said, catching Mousse's wrists as he swung the
claws at him.  "Now will you CALM DOWN!"

     Mousse seemed to deflate.  The claws slid back into his sleeves.

     "You told my Shampoo that you did not love her," Mousse said softly.

     "That's basically what I did," Ranma said.  Mousse's face lit up.

     "Oh, happy day!  Shampoo, you will at last be mine!  Ranma Saotome, I
thank you from the bottom of my heart!" Mousse said, grinning broadly.
Ranma grabbed him by the sleeve as he turned to go.

     "Lemme give you some advice, Mousse," Ranma said.  "Now might not be
the best time to go rushing to Shampoo telling her all about how much you
love her.  This is gonna be a hard time for her, and she needs a friend
right now a lot more than she needs a husband.  Be her friend, Mousse.  You
can try for something more later."

     Mousse nodded.  "Your words ring true, Ranma Saotome.  I do not doubt
that they are correct.  I apologize for my rash actions; you have done me
more good in this day than I ever did you."

     "I'll see you, Mousse," Ranma said, walking away.  Mousse nodded and
headed back towards the Nekohanten.  Perhaps something good would come of
what he'd had to do to Shampoo after all.

     Ranma walked back to the house with his head hanging low and his
spirits lower.  He'd been dreading this moment; the time he'd have to
finally tell one of his fiancees that she was not going to be the one.  Now
that it was over with, he felt both relief and sadness.

     He came in through the front door.  Hearing the sounds of Akane's
laughter in the living room, he came in to see her sitting on the couch
with Ryoga.

     "Yeah, it was about then that I realized I was over in Spain," Ryoga
said, obviously finishing some story of his travels.  Akane laughed, and
Ranma couldn't help smiling.  Ryoga seemed far more comfortable around
Akane than he'd ever been before; it was nice to see.  Just as long as pig
boy didn't go getting any ideas.

     "Hi Ranma," Akane said.

     "Hey Ranma," Ryoga said, raising a hand in greeting.  He hopped over
the back of the couch and came to stand beside Ranma.

     "How'd it go?" he said quietly enough that Akane couldn't hear.

     "As well as it could've, I guess," Ranma said.  "I feel really bad
about hurting Shampoo."

     "Akari told me something once," Ryoga said.  "Anyone who's afraid of
feeling pain is also afraid of feeling love."

     He patted Ranma on the shoulder in a friendly way.  Ranma gave him a
weak smile.  "Did you call Akari?" he asked.  Ryoga nodded.

     "Yeah.  I told her I had some things to do here, but I'd be back as
soon as I could," he said.

     "When's the wedding gonna be, man," Ranma said, nudging him in the
ribs.  Ryoga blushed.

     "We don't really know yet," he said seriously.  "We're still a little
young."

     "I'm glad you found someone, Ryoga," Ranma said.

     "Thanks, Ranma.  I never thought I'd be hearing something like that
from you," Ryoga said.

     "Hey, I never thought I'd be saying it," Ranma said.  "What did you
mean by things to do here?"

     "You told me that Cologne said we had some part to play in what was
going to happen, didn't you?" Ryoga said.  "Well, I figure that I'd better
be around for it."

     "Hey!  Am I being deliberately excluded from this conversation?" Akane
said from the couch.

     "Sorry, Akane.  Guy talk," Ranma said, coming over to the couch and
sitting down beside her.  Ryoga perched on the armrest beside Akane, his
feet on the floor.  Akane shifted over a bit, bringing herself closer to
Ranma.  Her fingertips brushed his, and she smiled at him.

     "Where are you staying, Ryoga?" Akane asked.  Ryoga looked at her,
confused for a moment.  Ranma knew, of course, where Ryoga usually stayed
when he was around here.  However, he would not be staying there any more
if Ranma had anything to do with it.

     Ryoga seemed lost for an answer; Ranma stepped in.  "I think Ryoga
usually camps out near here, right Ryoga?"

     Ryoga nodded.  "Yeah.  Camping.  That's what I do."

     Akane pursed her lips.  "Well, I wouldn't want you staying out on your
own like that, not with all these murders that are going on."

     "Yeah," Ranma said, finding himself agreeing with Akane.  "We'd be
worried about you."

     "We'll make up a bed for you down here," Akane said firmly.

     "I... I wouldn't want to impose," Ryoga said.

     "Ryoga," Akane said.  "You're my friend.  It wouldn't be imposing at
all, would it, Ranma?"

     "No," Ranma said.  "Of course it wouldn't."

     "T.. thank you," Ryoga said, blushing deeply and looking away.  "I am
honoured by your hospitality."

     The three of them watched TV together until dinner.  Akane gradually
moved over until her head rested against Ranma's shoulder.  He put his arm
around her, glancing over at Ryoga.  Ryoga looked at the two of them with
sadness in his eyes, but a smile on his face.  Ranma could see he was
making an effort to show his approval for Ranma's new relationship with
Akane, and as much as he appreciated it from Ryoga, he hoped there wouldn't
be any problems later on.  The fact that Ryoga had been so concerned about
Akane when they spoke of the murders in the backyard told Ranma that Ryoga
still held some feelings for Akane; but the feelings he now held for Akari
seemed to be stronger.

     There was nothing particularly good on TV; Akane insisted on watching
reruns of both Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon and Magic Knight Rayearth, which
send Ranma and Ryoga into exagerrated gag fits, both of them having very
little tolerance for magical girls anime.  Ranma kept on asking why the
monsters never attacked when the girls were making there five-minute long
opening speeches, until Akane smacked him lightly in the head and told him
to shut up, she was trying to watch.  In the end, of course, goodness
triumphed over evil, and the power of love overcame the dark forces.
Ranma finally snatched the remote control from Akane as the credits for
Magic Knight Rayearth rolled by, and managed to find the last half-hour of
a badly-dubbed Italian-made American Western, and for a short while he was
able to forget the murders and warnings, and the tears in Shampoo's eyes,
and laugh along with his friend and his fiancee at dialogue that always
seemed to be heard a second before the characters opened their mouths to
speak, and usually ended a second after they closed them.

     Nabiki came in right as the hero finished his lecture to the villains
and the final gunfight began.  She sat down in front of the couch and
watched with them, rolling her eyes as the hero shot one villain on the
balcony above so that he fell on top of another of his partners in crime
down below.  Then she burst into giggles with the rest of them as the gun
of the man on the ground went off as he fell beneath the considerable
weight of the man from the balcony, neatly hitting a third man who was
about to break a chair over the hero's head from behind.

     Finally, justice triumphed and the town was saved.  The hero rode off
into the sunset with the lovely schoolmarm sitting primly on the back of
his horse, and the credits began to role.  Ranma and Ryoga clapped and
whistled, as Akane and Nabiki simply groaned.

     "Dinnertime, everyone," Kasumi called.  The four of them hustled into
the dining room by the back porch.  Genma and Soun stood up from their
shogi game, each backing away slowly while keeping an eye on the other.

     Dinner was a lively affair.  Ranma and Ryoga bantered good naturedly
back and forth, both of them making threats that, this time at least, they
had no intention of carrying out.

     "You two are certainly all buddy-buddy all of a sudden," Nabiki said
after a while.  "What happened?"

     "What are you talking about, Nabiki?" Ranma asked deadpan.  "Ryoga and
I are eternal enemies, right Ryoga?"

     "You bet, Ranma," Ryoga said, giving Ranma a light punch in the
shoulder.  Nabiki groaned theatrically.

     "Now who am I gonna use for my betting pools?" Nabiki said.  "Nobody's
willing to bet on you and Kuno anymore, Ranma."

     Ranma shrugged.  "Sorry."

     "It's so nice to see you two getting along better," Kasumi said.  "I
always thought you two were good friends, but you seemed to fight so much."

     "Yeah, well, I hope we don't stop," Ranma said.  "Ryoga's the only guy
I know who comes close to me in skill.  I don't wanna get outta practice."

     "Comes close as in I'm slightly better than him," Ryoga said with a
smirk.

     "Comes close as in you've occasionally managed to be slightly
difficult to beat," Ranma shot back.

     "Oh yeah!  I'll make you eat those words, Ranma!" Ryoga growled.

     "Fine, Ryoga!  Out in the dojo after dinner," Ranma said.  Ryoga
nodded and began to speed up the pace of his eating, as did Ranma.

     "I knew it wouldn't last long," Nabiki said.  The phone rang then.
Kasumi stood up and picked it up.

     "Hello?  He's eating dinner right now, can he call you... oh my...
alright, then," Kasumi said.  "It's for you, Ranma."

     "Who could be callin' me right now?" Ranma said, getting up from the
table and taking the phone from Kasumi.  "Hello?"

     "Ranma," Cologne's unmistakeable voice said at the other end of the
line.  Ranma was suprised she hadn't called him son-in-law, but then
remembered that she probably had a pretty good reason.

     "Hi Cologne," Ranma said.  "What are you callin' here for?"

     "You upset my great-grandaughter a great deal this afternoon, Ranma,"
Cologne said with a tinge of hostility in her voice.  "A great deal."

     "I'm sorry, Cologne.  I didn't know how else to tell her," Ranma said.

     Cologne's voice softened as she replied.  "I know, boy.  You did the
best you could.  I saw this coming long ago, although it came as a great
suprise to Shampoo."

     "Does this mean you're not going to..?" Ranma said.

     "There is much I must consider, Ranma.  You may not love my
great-grandaughter, but by our laws, she is obligated to marry you,"
Cologne said.  "But now is not the time for fighting between you and I,
Ranma.  I fear that in these coming days all of us will have to work
together, as painful as it may be for some."

     "How's Shampoo doing right now?" Ranma said.

     "She's getting better," Cologne said.  "I think she ran out of tears
about an hour ago.  Mousse is with her right now, and I'm suprised to say
he actually seems to be doing some good."

     "That's good, Cologne."

     "I'm sorry, Ranma.  I've allowed myself to become distracted from my
real intentions," Cologne said.  "Tell me, do you know where your friend
Ryoga is?"

     "Yeah, he's right here with us in the house," Ranma said, confused.

     "That's a relief," Cologne said.

     "Why?  What's wrong?" Ranma said, his apprehension growing.

     "You have no doubt heard of the other murders?" Cologne said.

     "Yeah," Ranma said.

     "It is growing stronger," Cologne said.  "I can feel it.  Just a few
minutes ago, I felt a great premonition of danger to someone close to you,
one of your friends most likely.  I fear for any of them who are alone."

     "Ukyou," Ranma said, a cold feeling spreading through him.  "Ukyou
lives alone."

     "It is urgent that she not stay on her own this night, Ranma.  You
must find some excuse to bring her to the Tendo's home for the night,"
Cologne said.

     "But... Akane's father will have a fit, not to mention Akane..."

     "Ranma, you must," Cologne said.  "I have to go, Ranma.  Shampoo
appears to have tossed Mousse through the window."

     "Bye," Ranma said, hanging up the phone.  Now what was he going to do,
he wondered as he sat back down at the table.

     "What did Cologne want?" Kasumi asked.

     "Hmm?  Nothing much," Ranma said, his thoughts on Ukyou.  Cologne had
sounded deadly serious; Ukyou might be in real danger.  He needed to ask
someone else about this, but he didn't want to panic them.

     His eyes fell on Ryoga; he'd already told him about Cologne's warning.
Maybe he could come up with something.

     Ranma ate the last of his dinner in silence and stood up from the
table.  Ryoga followed him as he walked towards the dojo.

     "What did Cologne say," he asked.

     "She said Ukyou may be in danger," Ranma said.  "Dammit, I have to
come up with some reason for her to stay the night here that won't tick off
Akane or her dad."

     Ryoga shook his head nervously.  "That's bad.  I wouldn't want
anything to happen to her."

     "Yeah," Ranma said.  "But I don't know what I can do."

     "Talk to Akane," Ryoga said.  "Tell her you're worried about Ukyou
being on her own when the last murder was commited so close to her
restaurant.  Ask if she can stay downstairs with me for the night."

     "That's a good idea, Ryoga," Ranma said.  "Thanks."

     "Okay," Ryoga said.  "You go talk to Akane.  I'm gonna be in the
dojo."

     "Yeah, we still need to settle our litte disagreement from dinner,"
Ranma said.

     Ryoga grinned and walked off towards the dojo, as Ranma went back in
search of Akane.

**********

     "...and it'll just be until they catch this guy, Akane.  I'm really
worried about her."

     "You sure that's the only reason you want her to stay here, Ranma?"
Akane asked suspiciously.  They were in Akane's bedroom, Akane lying on her
bed as Ranma sat on her desk chair.

     "Akane," Ranma said with a sigh, "you wanna know where I was this
afternoon?  I was out trying to tell Shampoo that I don't want to marry her
without breaking her heart, and I don't think I did too good a job of it,
okay?  Why can't you ever trust me?"

     "You did what?" Akane said, her eyes wide.

     "I dumped Shampoo, okay?  I told her I wasn't going to be her
husband," Ranma said.

     "Ranma... you really did that?" Akane said.

     "Of course!  Do you not believe me or somethin'?" Ranma said.

     "Oh... that must have been hard for you.  Do you think she'll be
okay?"

     "Yeah.  Shampoo's tough, and I know Mousse'll be there for her," Ranma
said.  "Even if she doesn't want him to be there."

     "Okay, Ranma," Akane said.  "I trust you.  She'll stay downstairs with
Ryoga?"

     Ranma nodded.  "Yeah.  Thanks, Akane.  I'll go out and get her now."

     "Are you ever going to... tell Ukyou what you told Shampoo?" Akane
asked.  Ranma sighed.

     "I guess I'm gonna have to, eventually.  But I need some time to think
about it.  It's gonna be a lot harder than it was with Shampoo, I know
that."

     "Okay, Ranma," Akane said.  "Don't be long."

     Ranma stood up off the bed and put a hand on Akane's shoulder.

     "Thanks a lot, Akane.  It's good to know you trust me like this,"
Ranma said.  He bent down and gave her a quick peck on the lips, then left
her room.

     "I think I could get used to him this way," Akane said with a gentle
smile as she stood up to close her door.

**********

     Ranma arrived at Ukyou's just as the last customer was leaving with a
contented smile on his face.  Ukyou was outside, carrying in her store
sign.

     "Hi Ranchan," she said with a nod.  "What are you doing here so late?"

     "Can I come inside for a bit, Ucchan?" Ranma said.  "I need to ask you
something."

     "Sure, hon.  Make yourself at home," Ukyou said.  Ranma followed her
into the restaurant, closing the door behind him.  Ukyou put her store sign
down by the front door and started wiping off one of the tables.

     "What do you wanna ask me, Ranchan?" she said.

     "Well, you know about all those murders that have been happening,
right?" Ranma asked.

     "How could I not have?  One of them took place about a street down
from here," Ukyou said, a visible shudder passing through her body.  "I had
two cops in here for about ten minutes this morning asking if I'd had any
suspicious customers in the past few days."

     "Have you?" Ranma said.

     "Nobody unusual," Ukyou said.  "Just my regulars."

     "Anyway, Ukyou.  I'm worried about you being on your own, with what's
happening around here," Ranma said.

     "That's so sweet of you, Ranchan," Ukyou said, giving him a quick
smile.

     "I'd really feel better if you'd come and stay at the Tendo's
tonight," Ranma said.  "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to
you."

     "Won't Akane mind?" Ukyou asked.

     "No, I already asked her.  Ryoga's staying over too; we can kinda have
a sleep-over thing," Ranma said.

     "Sure.  I guess it would be fun," Ukyou said.  "And I am kinda nervous
about staying here on my own.  Lemme close up the restaurant and get some
clothing, okay?"

     "Alright," Ranma said.  "I'll help."

     The two set to work, wiping off counter, tables and grill and making
sure all the doors and windows were securely locked.  Ukyou went upstairs
to her small living area and came down with a gym bag full of her clothing.
Finally, she grabbed her big spatula from were it hung over the counter and
slung it over her back.

     "Okay, I'm set, Ranchan.  Let's go," she said.  Ukyou locked the
restaurant behind her with her key, then slipped it into her pocket and
nodded to Ranma.  They strolled quickly along the street together; the sun
was just beginning to set, but already they walked for long stretches
without seeing any other people.  Those who they did see seemed to be
rushing to get indoors as quickly as possible.  It was with some relief
that arrived at the Tendo house and entered, firmly closing and locking the
door behind them.

     "I'm home, everyone," Ranma called, perhaps as much to reassure
himself as to tell the others.  As it was, no one answered.  Ranma shrugged
and continued down the hall towards the living room.

     "Just dump your stuff in the living room," Ranma said.  "We'll make up
a futon for you later.  Ryoga's gonna be down here too."

     "I have to sleep in the same room as Ryoga?" Ukyou muttered.

     "Yeah... There's not much room anywhere else," Ranma said.  "Sorry."

     "He just better not snore," Ukyou said resignedly.  She followed Ranma
into the living room and put her bag down by the couch, laying her large
spatula on top of it.

     "Speaking of Ryoga, I gotta go meet him in the dojo," Ranma said.
"We've gotta settle something.  Wanna come along?"

     "Sure, Ranchan," Ukyou said.  "I'm always here to cheer you on."

     Ranma went to the bottom of the chairs and cupped his hands over his
mouth.  "Hey Akane!  Ukyou's here!  Wanna come to the dojo with us?"

     "Yeah, I'll be down in a minute," Akane yelled, sticking her head out
of the door to her room.  It took her less than that, actually, and the
three of them were soon walking through the hallway that connected the
house to the dojo.

     "Thanks you for having me, Akane," Ukyou said.

     "It's nothing, Ukyou.  You're my friend too," Akane said.  "I'd feel
terrible if anything happened to you."

     "Hey Akane, why don't we bring our futons downstairs and sleep in the
living room with Ucchan and Ryoga," Ranma said.

     Akane giggled.  "Sure.  That would be fun.  We could pour some cold
water on you, and Ukyou and I can give you a makeover."

     "Yeah, Ranchan.  You need help on your feminity," Ukyou said
chidingly.

     "Hey!  I don't wanna be feminine," Ranma said.  "I'm a guy."

     Ryoga was in the dojo as he'd said he would be.  Ranma had been a bit
concerned he might have got lost along the way, but Ryoga was actually
fairly good about finding his way around the dojo.

     "So, you decided to show your face, Ranma," he said, punching a fist
into his open palm with a smack.

     "Let's get this over with," Ranma said.  Ukyou and Akane took seats by
the wall as Ranma and Ryoga faced each other across the floor of the dojo.

     "Come on, Ranchan," Ukyou called.  "Wipe the floor with him."

     Ranma struck first, darting forward and striking the suprised Ryoga
dozens of times with his fist.  The speed training he'd had from Cologne
had served to further enchance his already phenomenal speed and agility,
making any effort to block every punch an exercise in futility.  His last
show was an uppercut to Ryoga's chin that sent him flying backwards to the
floor.  Ranma knew the fight wasn't over, though; Ryoga was ridiculously
difficult to injure.

     "Have you gotten stronger since we last fought?" Ryoga said, getting
to his feet.  "That kind of tickled."

     Ranma rushed him, getting ready to launch himself into the air, but
Ryoga moved with unexpected speed, hammering Ranma in the side with a
closed fist.  The impact sent him stumbling sideways, trying to catch his
breath, but he didn't fall.  Weaving backwards, he avoided the side kick
Ryoga threw as he followed up from the punch and countered with a kick of
his own that Ryoga's deflected with his forearm.  Then they were in close
quarters, and Ranma knew that if Ryoga managed to get his hands on him, it
would be bad.  Ranma was faster than Ryoga, and, in his opinion, more
skilled, but Ryoga certainly had the edge in strength and toughness.  The
only way to beat him was to strike quickly and avoid being struck himself,
continue wearing down Ryoga until he could finish him off with a few good
blows.

     What he'd said to Ryoga at dinner was true, though; he was the only
person Ranma saw regularly who was a good enough fighter to provide a real
challenge.  A fight against Ryoga wasn't like a fight against Kuno or even
his father; it was something he really had to put all of himself into if he
was to have a chance of winning.

     They fought for what seemed to them like hours, two warriors just
coming into the prime of their fighting skill.  A hundred attacks were
thrown; a hundred attacks were dodged or blocked.  Ryoga grabbed Ranma;
Ranma slipped free and counterattacked.  Back and forth they battled across
the floor of the wooden arena, each searching for openings in the defenses
of the other and finding little or none.  Techniques were used in
unexpected ways, or invented on the spot.

     Finally, they faced each other across the floor of the dojo, each
breathing heavily and near exhaustion.  Ryoga had taken literally hundreds
of kicks and punches from Ranma, but his unnatural resistance to damage of
all kinds allowed him to keep going.  Ranma had not always been succesful
in avoiding Ryoga's shots, and any hit Ryoga landed left Ranma feeling as
if he's been hit by a sledgehammer.

     "Alright, Ryoga," Ranma said, cocking his fist back.  "It's time to
end this."

     "My thoughts exactly," Ryoga said, getting ready to charge.

     Yelling their battle cries, Ranma and Ryoga rushed at each other, each
knowing that what happened in the next few seconds would likely determine
the outcome of the fight.

     Ranma threw a punch at Ryoga's chin, and felt satisfaction as heard it
connect and saw the dizziness in Ryoga's eyes.  He had won, he thought
triumphantly, as Ryoga stumbled backwards.

     Then Ryoga's fist seemed to come out of nowhere and smash into the
side of his head.  Ranma wavered for a moment, then tumbled to the floor
alongside the prone figure of his opponent.

     "Honestly, Ukyou," Akane said, coming to stand over him.   "You'd
think they'd just be willing to say it was a draw sometime after the first
fifteen minutes, wouldn't you?"

     "What can I say, Akane?  Ryoga's as stubborn as the day is long, and
you know Ranma honey isn't much better."

     Ranma decided he'd close his eyes for a while.

**********

     He came to lying on the couch in the living room.  Ryoga was sitting
crosslegged in front of the couch, an icepack held to a swelling bruise
over his right eye.

     "I was wondering how long it would take you to wake up," Ryoga said.

     "How long have I been out?" Ranma said.

     "About ten minutes," Ryoga said.  "That's what Akane told me after I
woke up five minutes ago."

     "Where are the girls?" Ranma said.

     "They're making some popcorn in the kitchen," Ryoga said, pointing his
thumb in the direction of the hall closet.

     "Popcorn... Even Akane can't screw up popcorn, can she?  And Ukyou's
with her, right..."

     The sound of voices arguing was heard from the kitchen.

     "I'm telling you, Akane, soy sauce is not the kind of thing you put on
popcorn," Ranma heard Ukyou say.

     "But you put it on rice!  They're both white!"

     "Akane, you don't cook by colour coding ingredients!"

     "You don't?"

     Ranma groaned and tried to decide whether he should fake being
unconscious for a little while longer.  He eventually decided against it;
hopefully Ukyou would manage to constrain the beast that Akane became in
the kitchen.

     "Where's everybody else?" Ranma asked, sitting up.  Ryoga appeared to
think about it for a minute.

     "I think Nabiki's up in her room.  Your dad and Mr. Tendo are upstairs
in Mr. Tendo's room with their shogi game.  I'm not really sure about
Kasumi," Ryoga said, ticking the names off on his fingers as he talked.

     "Okay, Ryoga.  You stay here.  I'm gonna go have a look for Kasumi,"
Ranma said.

     "What for?  She's around here somewhere?" Ryoga said.

     "I just wanna make sure I know where everyone is tonight," Ranma said.

     "You're really worried about what Cologne said, aren't you?" Ryoga
asked.  Ranma nodded.

     "Yeah.  She's not the type to joke around.  I'm sure she's somewhere;
I just wanna reassure myself," Ranma said.  He got up from the couch and
headed up the stairs; he'd check Kasumi's bedroom first.

     He knocked on the door.  There was no answer, and he knocked again,
harder this time.  Still receiving no answer, he carefully turned the
handle.

     "Kasumi?" he called softly, peering inside.  The light was out, and
no one was there.  Ranma closed the door and went to Nabiki's room.  Nabiki
might know where her older sister was.  Ranma knocked.

     "Come in," Nabiki's voice said.

     "Hey Nabiki," Ranma said, stepping into the room.

     "Hi Ranma," Nabiki said.  She was sitting at her desk, occasionally
checking loose sheets of paper before entering figures into her notebook.
"How's your little party going?"

     "Pretty good.  Have you seen Kasumi?" Ranma asked.

     "Not since a little after dinner," Nabiki said.  "Why?  You looking
for her?"

     "Yeah, kinda," Ranma said, backing out of the room.  "Thanks anyway,
Nabiki."

     He almost went to Soun's room and asked there, but he didn't want to
panic Mr. Tendo, who panicked fairly easily where any of his daughters were
concerned.

     Ranma headed back downstairs.  Ryoga looked up from where he was
sitting on the couch.  Ranma shook his head and came to stand next to the
couch.

     "No luck," he said.  "She's not in her room, and Nabiki doesn't know
where she is."

     "Do you think she's okay?" Ryoga said, worry in his voice.

     "I dunno, Ryoga.  I'm gonna take a look down here, okay?" Ranma said.

     "Call me if you need me," Ryoga said.  Ranma nodded and left to look
around the main floor.  He could still hear the sounds of Akane and Ukyou
in the kitchen.  He didn't see or hear any sign of Kasumi, though.  A
gradual apprehension building in him, he stepped into the area that
divided the bathroom from the rest of the house, where they kept the washer
and dryer and the laundry baskets.  Sure enough, Kasumi's clothing was in
a neatly folded pile in one of the baskets.  She must be taking a bath,
Ranma realized with relief.  The occupied sign was neatly hung on the
handle of the door that led into the bathroom.

     Except, if Nabiki hadn't seen her until a little after dinner, wasn't
it an awfully long bath?  It had been over an hour and a half since dinner,
and even for something as relaxing as a hot bath, that was a long time.

     Ranma went back through the living room and into the kitchen.  Akane
and Ukyou were watching the popcorn maker as it spat fluffy white kernels
into a large bowl on the table.

     "Hey Akane," Ranma said.  "How long has Kasumi been in the bathroom?"

     "You mean she's still in there?" Akane said, eyes widening as she
turned to look at Ranma.  "She told me she was going in a little after you
left to get Ukyou, and to call her when you got back!  I totally forgot!"

     "Wouldn't she have gotten out on her own by now?" Ranma asked.  Akane
nodded.  Ranma began to feel slightly sick; why hadn't he been more
careful?

     "Do you think something could've happened to her?" Akane asked,
starting to look scared.

     "We better go check," Ukyou said.  "Come on, Akane."

     The three of them walked quickly into the living room.  Ukyou bent
down and grabbed her large spatula from on top of her bag, as Ranma
motioned to Ryoga to join them.

     "What's going on?" Ryoga said nervously.

     "Nothing yet, Ryoga," Ranma said.  "Come on."

     The four of them walked in silence to the laundry room.  Akane went up
the door and knocked on it.

     "K... Kasumi?  You in there, Kasumi?" she said, panic rising in her
voice.  "Kasumi, answer me!"

     There was no answer.  Akane reached out and tried to pull the door
open.  It was locked.

     "N... no," Akane said, backing away.  "Kasumi never locks the door.
She never does."

     "Akane, get out the way," Ranma said.  "KASUMI!" he yelled, loud
enough that he could probably be heard upstairs.  He pounded on the door
with his fist.  Receiving no answer, he stepped back, set himself and
rammed the door with his shoulder, realizing now that something was very
wrong.  The door shook but didn't give.  Ranma pulled back for another try,
but Ryoga grabbed his arm and pushed by.  Ranma was about to protest, but
then Ryoga stabbed two fingers into the lock.

     "BAKUSAI TENKETSU!" Ryoga yelled.  The section of the door with the
lock exploded in a shower of splinters; Ranma felt one of them dig into his
cheek, but he was beyond caring now.  Ryoga threw the door open and stepped
into the bathroom; Ranma and the others followed him.

     Ranma took in the scene as he stepped in; the bathroom was filled with
steam, and Kasumi lay motionless in the tub, her head resting against the
rim and her eyes closed.

     Ranma felt tears begin to stream down his cheeks; behind him, he heard
Akane begin to sob.  In front of him, Ryoga growled and punched his fist
into the wall with a crack.

     "NO!" the lost boy yelled, his eyes filled with tears.  "NO!"

     Kasumi opened her eyes and looked up at the four people who had
suddenly burst into the bathroom.

     "Hello," she said calmly, in the manner only Kasumi could manage when
confronted with four people who had just broken down the door while she was
taking a bath.  "I'm sorry.  I must have fallen asleep.  Is everything
okay?"

     "KASUMI!" Akane shouted, rushing by Ryoga and Ranma and falling to her
knees beside the bath.  "We were so worried!  You didn't answer and the
door was locked and you never lock the door and you'd been in here for so
long and..."

     Kasumi stroked Akane's hair with one wet hand.  "Akane, Akane.  I'm
okay.  I was very tired and fell asleep in the bathtub.  I'm not usually a
very heavy sleeper, but I guess I didn't hear you.  I locked the door so
that Ryoga wouldn't accidentally wander in here."

     "What's going on?  What's with all the yelling?" Genma said, coming
into the bathroom at a run.  Nabiki and Soun were behind him.

     "It's okay, pop.  Just a bit of a misunderstanding," Ranma said.

     "RANMA!  RYOGA!  What are you doing in here while my oldest daughter
is having her bath?" Soun shouted, looming over the two boys.  They quickly
scattered from the bathroom back to the living room and flopped down on the
couch.

     "Damn.  I was really worried there for a while," Ryoga said.

     "You're telling me.  When we came in there and she wasn't moving, I
was so sure that something terrible had happened..." Ranma said.

     "Ranma," Ryoga said.  "Do you think we should tell everyone else about
what Cologne said?"

     "I dunno," Ranma said.  "I don't wanna scare them.  Maybe we should
tell Ukyou and Akane later on tonight."

     Ryoga nodded.  "Sounds good to me."

     Genma and Soun came into the room and stood over the back of the
couch.

     "Perhaps you two would mind explaining why you broke my bathroom
door?" Soun said.

     "Yes.  Please explain, Ranma," Genma said.

     "Well... uh..." Ranma began.

     "...nobody knew where she was, and she'd been in there so long..."
Ryoga continued.

     "...and the door was locked, and we didn't know if she was alright..."

     "...and she wasn't answering when we called her..."

     "It's alright, father," Kasumi said, coming into the living room in a
bathtowel.  "I'd fallen asleep in the tub.  With all these murders going
on, you can't blame them for what happened.  They were worried I might be
in trouble."

     "Yeah.  You really had us scared for a little while, Kasumi," Akane
said from beside her sister.

     "Anybody want some popcorn?" Ukyou said, emerging from the kitchen
with a bowl full of it.  Nabiki followed behind her with another.  "We
kinda made more than the four of us needed."

     "I'd love some, Ukyou," Genma said.  Ukyou and Nabiki brought the
bowls over, and the entire household settled down in front of the TV as the
tension that had filled the air only minutes before drained away.  The
three Tendo sisters settled onto couch, which Ranma and Ryoga vacated to
lie on the floor in front of the TV.  Ukyou pushed them apart and sat down
between them, while Genma and Soun each sat down on the floor at opposite
ends of the couch.  The popcorn bowls were passed around, and everyone was
soon contentedly eating as Ranma turned on TV.

     "Let's see what's on," he said, searching for something good.

     "LIVE!  From the Tokyo Amphitheate!  It's the WWF Does Japan!"

     "Am I lucky, or am I lucky," Ranma said, settling back down.  There
were collective groans from everyone else.

     "Ranma, how can you stand to watch this?" Nabiki said, stuffing a
handful of popcorn in her mouth.  "It's all fake."

     "It is?" Genma said, suprised.

     "Of course it's fake, Saotome.  Didn't you know that?" Soun said.

     "Of course I did," Genma said quickly through a mouthful of popcorn.

     The bell rang; the titans clashed in the ring; laughter filled the
room.

**********

        Genma, Soun and Kasumi left after the first match; Kasumi saying
she didn't like the violence very much, and Genma and Soun saying that
they'd get back to their game and leave the young people in peace.  Taking
a bottle of sake from the kitchen, they headed upstairs after saying
goodnight.  Nabiki stayed until the event was over, then told them all not
to be too loud, and not to do anything she wouldn't do.  Ranma inquired as
to what exactly she wouldn't do, and Nabiki thought for a moment before
saying that whatever it was, she at least wouldn't do it for free.

     They channel surfed for another ten minutes, but found nothing of any
interest.  Finally, Ranma turned off the TV.

     "Akane, Ucchan," he said.  "Ryoga and I have to tell you guys some
stuff."

     And they did.  Ranma did most of the talking actually, telling both
the girls about Cologne's warning the day before, and the phone call he'd
gotten at dinner this evening warning of the possible danger to one of his
friends.

     "But you would've thought to ask me anyway, right Ranchan?" Ukyou
said.

     "Yeah, of course," Ranma said, hoping he sounded sincere.  Ukyou
looked happy.  Akane simply looked a little mad.

     "Why didn't you tell me this yesterday?" she asked, glaring at Ranma.

     "I didn't wanna freak you out or nothin', Akane," Ranma said.

     "I don't get freaked out!" Akane said hotly.

     "Yeah?  Remember what you were like in that ghost cave?" Ranma
replied.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ukyou and Ryoga exchange a
glance, and remembered their strange behaviour in the cave.

     "Well, if you'd listened to me instead of making fun of me, maybe I
wouldn't have got 'freaked out'!"

     "Umm... Akane... Remember that we have to be quiet," Ryoga said.

     Muttering something Ranma couldn't make out, Akane looked away and
picked at an interesting part of her shirt.

     "So, does Cologne have any idea what's going on?" Ukyou said.

     "Not really," Ranma said.

     "Has she gone to the police?" Ukyou said.  Ryoga snorted.

     "Hello.  I'm three hundred years old, a martial arts master, and I've
come to tell you that the darks winds have started blowing," he said in a
fairly decent imitation of Cologne.  Ukyou giggled.

     "What I wanna know is whether us having a part to play means that
we're gonna be the ones who stop whoever it is that's doing these things,"
Ranma said.  "Or if it means that whoever's killing people is gonna go
after one of us."

     Everyone was silent for a moment, remembering their earlier panic
about Kasumi.  Ranma stood up and glanced around.

     "I'm gonna go make sure all the doors and windows are locked," he
said.  "Can't be too careful."

     "I'll come with you, Ranchan," Ukyou said, hopping up quickly.  Akane
didn't say anything.  Ranma tried to catch her eye with his, but she didn't
seem to want to look at him.

     "Okay," he said with a slight sigh.  "Come on, Ucchan."

     He went around the main floor, checking the doors and windows that led
to the outside.  Any he found unsecured, he latched.  He was about to go
back to the living room when he remembered the dojo.

     "I'm gonna go check the dojo," he said to Ukyou as they stepped out of
the kitchen.  "You can go back if you want."

     Ukyou shook her head.  "Nope.  I'll come with you."

     Ranma shrugged and led the way to the dojo.  He flipped on the lights
and looked around carefully.  All the windows were okay; the gate leading 
to the outside was locked, but Ranma threw the bar across it as well.
When he turned around, Ukyou was standing there with a smile on her face
but the shimmer of tears in her eyes.

     "Ucchan, what is it?" he said softly.  She let out a small sob and
collapsed against him.  Ranma wrapped his arms around her and held her, not
knowing what else to do.

     "I'm sorry, Ranchan," she said, wiping her eyes.  "I'm just scared."

     "Ah, come on, I won't let anything happen to you," Ranma said, taking
his arms off her and holding her by the shoulders.  "You're my best friend
in the world, Ucchan."

     "I know.  I know you won't let anything happen to me," Ukyou sniffled.
"But I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about you."

     "Huh?" Ranma said.

     "These things always centre around you, Ranchan.  And no matter how
many martial artists or princes you've fought, you've never faced anybody
like this before.  Whoever this guy is, he's a monster in human form.  I'm
so worried that you'll get hurt or even killed."

     "Ucchan..." Ranma said, at a loss for words.

     "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?  Don't be too proud to ask
for help.  We all care for you, Ranma.  I care for you, Akane cares for
you.  Heck, even Ryoga cares for you."

     "I know, Ucchan.  I care for you too," Ranma said.  Ukyou wrapped her
arms around his waist, and for a moment Ranma was afraid she was going to
kiss him, but then she just hugged him tightly, resting her head against
his shoulder.  Her hair smelled fresh and clean, the vague flowery scent of
her shampoo tickling his nose.  It felt so good to be held like that.

     "I just love you so much," Ukyou said.  "I don't know what I would do
if anything ever happened to you."

     Ukyou's words sent pain driving into Ranma's heart.  He remembered
what he'd said to Akane, and the expression on Shampoo's face this
afternoon.  Someday, he was going to have to do to Ucchan what he'd done to
Shampoo, but for the life of him, he didn't know if he'd ever be able to
find the strength.  Ukyou loved him; she'd said it now.  She'd shown it in
so many ways.

     And he realized that he loved her too, loved her as the best friend
he'd ever had.  It had been born of joy and sorrow, of betrayal and
forgiveness, and had become all the stronger for it.

     But as much as he loved her, as deep as their friendship went, he
could never love her in the way she loved him.  For he knew that his heart
belonged to someone else, and though he didn't know if she returned it,
but hoped with all his being that she did.

     Finally, Ukyou let him go.  Ranma reached up a hand to her face and
wiped away a tear.

     "Let's get back to the living room," he said.  "If we're gone much
longer, Akane and Ryoga might start getting worried."

     Ukyou nodded and smiled.  They walked back together in silence, what
needed to be said having been said, and that which still remained unsaid
they both knew.

**********

     Ranma lay in his pyjamas under his futon.  He could hear the gentle
breathing of Ryoga nearby; the girls were about ten feet away.  Akane's
anger had gradually drained away, and the talk had gone from more serious
subjects to light hearted chatting.  They'd reminisced about their past
adventures together, recalling past triumphs and defeats.  Ryoga had told a
few stories about the places he'd been to in his wanderings, and Ranma had
shared some of what his father had done while they were on the road
together.  Finally, they'd grown tired and gone to lie in their beds, but
the talking continued, as it always did.  The first one to drop off was
Akane; Ukyou followed her quickly.  Ryoga stayed awake for a while after,
but any conversation he made was punctuated with yawns and snores.
Finally, only Ranma remained awake, alone with his thoughts.  He wondered
what the new day would bring tomorrow; would the killer tonight be quiet,
or would word of yet another atrocity be splashed across the pages of the
morning papers?  Thus it was with an uneasy heart Ranma finally found
sleep, or sleep found him perhaps.

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