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From: "Brian Drozd" 
To: "Lord Archive" ,
        "Thomas Scrogg" 
Subject: Milestones
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 00:16:24 -0500
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Here is the second part to A New Path to Travel.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian_Drozd@msn.com

~~~~~~~

A New Path to Travel:
Milestones
By: Brian Drozd

Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc...., and are used
without
permission. Based upon a story idea from Lord Archive.
!!!Warning!!!
Scenes below contain adult situations.
<--<---->-->

     An elderly woman walked down the rainy Nerima streets. Not
surprisingly, she
carried an umbrella. Indeed with her long grayed hair and withered, one
hundred
forty centimeter body, she looked much like any other venerable lady. She
wore a
simple dress and a bronze medallion tied around her neck. She strolled up to
the
doors of the Nekohanten and opened them.
     She hastily shut the doors behind her to keep out the rain. She closed
her
umbrella and started looking around. It appeared that the restaurant was
closed
for the day, but that did not dissuade this woman. She walked up to the
kitchen
counter and tapped it with her umbrella, trying to get someone's attention.
     Mu-mu-chan awoke inside his cage. Shampoo had been angry again, angrier
than
when she had stumbled upon Ranma's marriage to Akane a month ago. He had
tried to
comfort his love, but she knocked him out and then placed him in his cage.
     Today, Cologne had arranged for an actual wedding ceremony. A
western-style
one, if he remembered correctly. In fact Cologne and Ranma were in the back
getting ready for it at the moment. Shampoo was probably busy packing;
tomorrow,
Cologne, Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, and he would be leaving for China.
     Another tap brought Mu-mu-chan's attention to the elderly woman at the
counter. He quacked to get her to notice him.
     The elderly woman smiled and walked around to the cage. She opened the
door
and picked up the duck inside. "" her thoughts echoed in Mu-mu-chan's head.
     The duck quacked back, thinking, ""
     The woman smiled. ""
     Mu-mu-chan responded, ""
     The woman raised an eyebrow and walked to the back rooms. She used her
hooked
umbrella to tap on the doorway.
     Cologne and Ranma looked up to see the elderly woman carrying
Mu-mu-chan.
Cologne smiled, "Ah, Arik, you're here!"
     Arik nodded, but said nothing.
     Cologne turned to her adopted son. "Ranma, this is Elder Arik-Bok
Gansukh.
She's going to be running the Nekohanten while we're in China. Elder Arik,
this is
my adopted son, Ranma Tendo."
     Arik put the duck she had been carrying down and walked up to touch
Ranma on
his shoulder. ""
     Ranma stepped back, discomfited by the foreign thoughts invading his
head.
"Huh?"
     Cologne bopped her son on his head. "Elder Arik lost the ability to
speak
when she was a child. The medallion she wears in magical, allowing her to
communicate with the person she touches. It even works on cursed forms."
Ranma
nodded but said nothing, looking warily at Arik.
     Arik touched Ranma again. ""
     Ranma fidgeted with the wedding clothes he wore. Saying he looked
uncomfortable was an understatement. He really didn't like wearing tuxedos.
     Cologne sighed, "Did you have to remind him of that, Arik? I just got
him
calmed."
     Arik smirked, obviously bemused. She gestured an apology.
     Cologne sighed again.
     Arik gestured some more.
     Cologne answered, "The ceremony is to be held at the Tendo dojo. In
fact, we
should be leaving now, if we wish to arrive on time."
     Ranma blinked. "Did she say something?"
     "Yes, she did. We will obviously have to teach you Joketsuzoku sign
language."
     Ranma rolled his eyes. "Great."
     Arik smirked. Then she gestured a bit more.
     Cologne frowned.
     Ranma said, "Let me guess. It's raining."
     Arik laughed silently.
     Cologne nodded. "Yes. Which is all the more reason why we should leave
now."
She turned to the duck. "You coming, mister part-time?"
     Mu-mu-chan quaked and waddled out the door.
     Arik shrugged and walked after the duck.
     Cologne grabbed a couple of umbrellas and tossed one to Ranma. "Come
on, son.
It's time to go."
     Ranma nodded and left.
<---->

     Kasumi opened the door. "Hello, Ranma. Elder. Mousse. Who is you
guest?"
     Cologne answered as she entered. "This is Elder Arik-Bok Gansukh. Arik,
this
is Kasumi Tendo, eldest sister to Ranma's wife."
     Arik touched Kasumi on the arm. ""
     Kasumi, being Kasumi, reacted with, "Oh, my. Hello."
     Ranma was the last to enter and closed the door behind him.
     Kasumi commented, "My, you have an unusual name, Elder."
     Arik smiled. ""
     There was a knock on the door.
     Ranma sighed. "Why don't you take my family to the dojo, Kasumi? I'll
get the
door."
     Kasumi nodded. "All right, Ranma-kun."
     Ranma returned to the door and opened it. He was surprised by who he
found on
the other side. "Ko... Kodachi."
     The Black Rose bowed. "Good day, Ranma-san." She then noticed his
attire and
inquired. "Is there some reason you're dressed as a gentleman today?"
     Ranma nervously responded, "Uh... um... well... not really."
     Kodachi smirked. "Ah. Well. Could you please tell Nabiki-san that I
wish to
speak with her?"
     Ranma blinked. "Uh... sure. Wait right here."
     Kodachi put a hand on him before he left. "I shall, but first I think
there
is something I must tell you. I realized I never loved you, Ranma-san."
     Ranma, between feeling uncomfortable in the tuxedo, nervous about
Kodachi's
presence, and anticipation of the upcoming ceremony, barely registered the
gymnast's statement. "Uh... right. Okay. I'll let Nabiki know you're here."
     Kodachi sighed, fully aware that Ranma was barely paying her any
attention.
 she thought,  "Thank you,
Ranma-
san," she said as she sat down to wait.
<---->

     A moment later, Nabiki found Kodachi in the waiting room. "Hello,
Kodachi.
What do you want?"
     Kodachi answered, "I would like your help. I would ask you to arrange
some
dates for me."
     Nabiki raised her eyebrow. "Really? I didn't think you were that
desperate,
yet."
     Kodachi smirked. "Over this past year, I have made a complete fool out
of
myself over a guy I *knew* didn't like me, just because he had nice eyes. I
think
I'm a bit beyond desperate, Tendo-san."
     It took everything Nabiki had not to react to that. Although, it wasn't
like
she couldn't understand the feeling. She hadn't had a real date in years;
all the
boys seemed to want either Kasumi or Akane. "Uh... have you got any
requirements?"
     Kodachi smiled. "I would like someone who would not... object to my...
eccentricities."
     Nabiki mentally frowned. 'Eccentricities' was putting it mildly. "All
right.
I'll see what I can do, Kodachi."
     Kodachi nodded. "Thank you." She stood and left.
<---->

     The wedding itself went off without a hitch, or at least none the
Tendos and
Saotomes noticed. (Cologne paralyzed Kuno when he arrived before he could
interrupt the wedding.) None of Ranma's other suitors were in attendance.
Mousse
served as best man, and Akane's sisters were her bridesmaids.
<--<---->-->

     Ryoga, or rather P-chan at the moment, sighed as he waited for Akari to
heat
up some water. Thankfully, Cologne, at Ranma's request, had managed to
explain his
being Akane's 'pet' to Akari without getting Akari pissed.
-->--><--<--

     Akari beamed as she entered the Nekohanten. "Hi, Ranma. Hello Ryoga!."
     Ryoga was stuck between Ranma and Cologne so he wouldn't run away. It
had
been a week since Akane and Ranma were married, and he had gotten to the
dojo as
P-chan again. Akane had watched him like a hawk to make sure he didn't run
off, so
she could be sure she gave P-chan to Akari. Thankfully, Akane was still
reluctant
to contact Akari.
     Ranma wasn't however.
     Ranma had arranged to meet with Akari at the Nekohanten. Then he snuck
P-chan
from Akane's watchful eyes and brought him here. He and Cologne were going
to try
to explain P-chan to Akari.
     Which, naturally, was why Ryoga was so nervous. "H... hi, Akari," Ryoga
stuttered out.
     Ranma smiled, "Hi!"
     Akari sat down at the table and asked, "So, what did you want to talk
to me
about, Ranma?"
     "Well, we've got this problem," Ranma started, indicating himself and
Ryoga.
"... and we kinda need your help."
     Cologne took over. "I have been told you know of Ryoga's Jusenkyo
curse,
correct?"
     Akari smiled. "Yeah. He turns into a cute black piglet."
     Cologne nodded. "About a year ago, Ryoga in his cursed form stumbled
into the
Tendo dojo. Akane found him as a piglet and adopted him as a pet."
     Akari frowned. "Doesn't she know about the curse?"
     Ranma shook his head. "No. She doesn't."
     Cologne continued, "Akane gave Ryoga's pig-form the name 'P-chan'. She
would
take her pet everywhere, even to bed with her."
     Akari gasped in horror and looked at Ryoga. "You... you didn't?"
     Ryoga shook his head. Cologne had coached him before hand on how to
describe
his relationship with Akane. "Akari, I was her *pet*. I did my best not to
take
advantage of her, but there was little I could do."
     Cologne smiled to herself, pleased that Ryoga had listened to her
coaching.
It wasn't exactly a lie on Ryoga's part. There simply wasn't a need to tell
Akari
that Ryoga couldn't take advantage of Akane because he fainted from blood
loss
every time he saw too much of any woman.
     Akari calmed down a bit. She chided herself for thinking Ryoga would
have
done anything improper. He wasn't that kind of guy. Still, she had a
question.
"Why didn't you just tell her you were P-chan?"
     Ryoga sighed. "There were times she needed someone to talk to, someone
she
could trust, so she'd talk to P-chan. If I told her, she'd feel betrayed, in
spite
of the fact that I haven't ever repeated a word. I don't want to loose her
friendship." Again, not a lie. Just not the entire truth.
     Ranma added his own partial truth, just as his new mother instructed,
"I also
don't want to see Akane hurt by this."
     Akari sighed. She could imagine how Akane would feel. If she were to
suddenly
learn Katsunishiki could turn into a guy and talk, after everything she'd
told him
while they traveled... Akari shuddered a bit at the thought. "I understand.
But
why are you telling me this?"
     Ranma answered, "Akane and I recently got married, and were going to
spend a
year on a training trip."
     Akari beamed. "Really?! Congratulations!!"
     Ranma nodded and continued, "Thank you. Anyways, Akane doesn't want to
leave
P-chan alone, but obviously neither Ryoga or I want him along. So, I've
convinced
Akane to ask someone to pig-sit P-chan..."
     Akari smirked, "And you naturally convinced her to ask me to look after
him."
     Ranma nodded. "Yep."
     Akari smiled. "Well, I'd love too." She winked at Ryoga. Ryoga blushed
a bit.
-->--><--<--

     Akari had stopped by the dojo with Ranma and P-chan after that
discussion,
and told Akane she'd be happy to look after P-chan for her.
     Since then they'd been here at her pig farm.
     A quick look at the wall clock elicited another sigh from the black
piglet.
By now the ceremony was over. He had really wanted to go, to see this
through to
the bitter end, but Katsunishiki had come down with a cold at the last
minute.
Ryoga wondered if something had happened to cancel it, as it had for the
first
wedding attempt. It was probably for the best that they got married without
a
ceremony.
     P-chan was so deep in thought that he didn't notice Akari pour the hot
water
over him until he noticed he was once again taller than she was.
     Akari noticed Ryoga's distraction; after all, he wasn't embarrassed in
spite
of being completely nude at the moment. She wrapped the towel she'd brought
with
her around Ryoga, hugging him in the process, and asked, "What's on your
mind,
Ryoga?"
     Ryoga returned the hug with a sad smile not taking his eyes off the
clock.
"The ceremony's over."
     Akari shrugged as she pulled away so she could look him in the eye.
"It's
only a ceremony. They *have* been married for a month now."
     "I know. But still, I would've liked to have been there."
     "I'm sure they'll forgive us, Ryoga."
     It was at this point that Ryoga's brain finally noticed his attire. He
instantly started to blush and belatedly checked to make sure the towel
covered
everything important.
     Akari giggled at Ryoga's discomfort. She handed him some clothes and
turned
around. He was just so *cute* when he got flustered like that.
<---->

     Ranma and Akane were in their room, trying to finish getting ready for
the
trip to China. Ranma was already done, but Akane was still having problems
deciding what she should take and what she couldn't.
     Ranma sighed. Akane was upset again, frustrated with her task. "Uh...
Akane?"
     "What?!" she snapped back at him.
     Ranma backed away reflexively. "You're mad again," he said, calmly and
tenderly. He had found, through first-hand experience over the past month,
that
stating the obvious like that tended to get Akane to calm down enough to
talk to
him rather than hit him with that mallet of hers.
     As Ranma predicted, Akane's anger subsided a little. "I... I'm just
going to
miss everyone, all right?!"
     Ranma smiled a bit. It was always nicer *not* being reintroduced to
Akane's
hammer. He placed a hand on Akane's shoulder. "I know. I'm gonna miss 'em,
too."
     Akane threw off Ranma's hand. "Hah! What would you know of it? I've
known
Sayuri and Yuka since I was in elementary! And my sisters, and dad, and..."
     Ranma interrupted her, "I've been with pop all my life. I've known Ukyo
since
I was six. Ryoga since junior high. I think of Nabiki and Kasumi as my
sisters,
and have been reunited with my mom for only a few months. Don'tcha think I'm
gonna
miss 'em too?"
     Akane sighed and sat down on her bed. "I know, but..."
     Ranma sat down next to his wife and hugged her. "It'll be okay, Akane."
<---->

     The next morning was time for good-byes. Akane's friends from school
had
dropped by along with some of his. Akane was saying good-bye to her friends.
     Nodoka approached her son. "I guess this is goodbye again, Ranma."
     Ranma hugged his mother. "Goodbye, mom. This time I won't stay gone for
as
long."
     With tears in her eyes, Nodoka whispered, "I know what you had to give
up,
Ranma. I found that Amazon book of laws before Nabiki returned it to you. I
know I
am no longer your mother."
     Ranma sighed as he released her. "I'm sorry."
     Nodoka smiled weakly. "I know. It was your only way out." After a
moment,
Nodoka added, "I love you, Ranma."
     Ranma smiled for her. "I love you too."
     Nodoka walked away, sorrowful.
     Ranma sighed, wishing he didn't have to hurt so many people.
     His thoughts were disrupted when Nabiki turned him around. She had her
sunglasses on, and was not happy. "Nothing better happen to my sister while
you're
off in China, Ranma."
     Ranma nodded. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen."
     Nabiki nodded. The sincerity in Ranma's eyes as he said that convinced
Nabiki
that he wouldn't let Akane be harmed. "Okay, I believe that, but who's going
to
protect her from you, Ranma-kun?" She then smirked to let Ranma know she was
teasing him. It was so nice having a little brother.
     Ranma chuckled. "When's she ever needed help against me?" he joked
rubbing
his head.
     "Good point," Nabiki conceded, smiling. Then with a sigh she said,
"I'll see
you two in a year, then."
     Ranma nodded. "Bye, Nabiki."
     Nabiki went off to bid farewell to her sister.
     Genma and Soun approached next, and Ranma tried to hide a frown. Though
they'd been sober, miraculously, for the ceremony, it was obvious that both
were
roaringly drunk now. 
     Genma slapped Ranma on the back, holding his bottle of sake in the
other
hand. "Congratulations, my boy!"
     Ranma swatted Genma's hand away. "I ain't your boy, old man."
     Soun nodded. "Datss right, Ssaotome. He'ss now a Tendo!" he slurred.
     Genma straightened. "Now wait-a-minute. What about..."
     Ranma ducked out from between the two old men. He hadn't bothered
explaining
why he married into the Tendo family to Genma. Ranma figured he didn't need,
or
deserve, to know.
     While escaping from the inebriated fathers, Ranma bumped into Arik-Bok,
accidentally knocking her over. "Sorry, elder."
     "" Arik responded. A quick glance at where
Ranma
had come produced a smirk. ""
     Ranma nodded.
     Arik smiled and hugged Ranma. ""
     Ranma smiled. "I'll try. Goodbye, Elder."
<---->

     Sayuri frowned. "So you're really going to do this, huh Akane?"
     Akane nodded. "I have to."
     Yuka hugged Akane fiercely, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "I'm
going
to miss you so much."
     Akane returned the hug. "I'm going to miss you guys too."
     Sayuri hugged her friend next. "Don't worry. When you get back, well
tell you
all the gossip you missed."
     Akane smiled a bit at that. "At least I know most of it won't be about
me
this time."
     "Just make sure you come back in time for our senior year!" added Yuka.
     Akane responded, "I will."
     Reassured a bit, Yuka and Sayuri made their way from their friend so
she
could say goodbye to her family.
     Kasumi was almost crying when she hugged Akane. She was babbling
something
about their mother, and for just a moment, Akane had to make sure that she
was
hugging Kasumi and not their father. Startled by the realization that it
was, in
fact, Kasumi, Akane did her best to comfort her eldest sister.
     "Oh, please, Kasumi," Nabiki said as she approached, "She's just going
away
for a year. It's not like she dying. I mean what are you going to do when we
go
off to college, start flooding the house like father?"
     Kasumi released Akane, seeming appropriately abashed. Nabiki and Akane
giggled a bit at their elder sister. Nabiki turned to Akane and held out a
hand.
"Keep yourself safe, okay Akane."
     Akane shook her head. "I will."
     Nabiki added, "And try to be nice to Ranma."
     Akane noticed Nabiki's hand, and responded by hugging her sister. "I'm
going
to miss you too, sis."
     "No hugging! No hugging!" Nabiki looked horrified, and started looking
around
nervously.
     Akane giggled as she let Nabiki go.
     Nabiki yelled, "What did you do that for?! If anyone saw that, my
reputation
would be ruined!"
     "Goodbye, Nabiki," Akane said.
     Nabiki responded, "We'll see you in a year."
     Nodoka approached next. She also looked like she was near tears. Akane
intercepted the Saotome matron. "Aun... Mo...," she mumbled trying to figure
our
what to call Nodoka. She was uncomfortable calling Nodoka 'mom', but
probably
shouldn't call her 'Auntie Saotome' either.
     Nodoka smiled. "Oh, Akane, dear. Goodbye."
     Akane frowned. "Are you okay?"
     "I'll be fine, Akane. Don't worry about it." Nodoka responded as she
wiped
the tears from her eyes.
     Akane reluctantly accepted that. "Well, if you say so. Goodbye." She
hugged
Nodoka.
     Nodoka returned the hug, whispering, "Take care of him for me."
     Akane nodded. "You know I will."
     As Nodoka and Akane separated, Cologne called out, "Ranma, Akane. Time
to
go."
     With a few more hasty good-byes, Ranma and Akane followed Cologne,
Shampoo,
and Mousse on their way to China.
<---->

     Shampoo tried her best to walk proudly through the streets of Nerima.
Thankfully, her great-grandmother had allowed her to be absent from Ranma's
wedding ceremony.
      she corrected.  Shampoo shuddered slightly. She shuddered again as she heard Akane
speaking with him. 
     As Shampoo continued to walk on, she thought of the place she was
leaving.  She had been a bit
surprised that
she didn't miss Joketsuzoku more. 
     She sighed, knowing that wasn't the truth. Until she'd come here, she'd
been
able to buy that, but she knew better now. Many of her 'sisters' disliked
her
because she had an attitude similar to Kuno's; too arrogant for her own
good. She
was a good fighter, but not good enough to be that arrogant. Maybe if she
had
married Ranma, but she hadn't.
     Before Ranma had come to the village, her life had been predictable.
Enjoyable. Now all of her plans for the future had been put through a
blender.
     At least her honor was still intact.
<---->

     Mousse stumbled a bit under the weight of Cologne and Shampoo's stuff.
At
least Ranma hadn't accepted Cologne's offer to let him carry everything.
     Since becoming an Amazon, Ranma and he had become friends. It was a
nice
change; Ranma and Akane were among the few Amazons who didn't treat him like
dirt.
     He would miss Nerima. It was the first time he hadn't been treated like
a
lower life form by most of the people around him.
     But maybe, just maybe, with Ranma and Akane in the village, life at
Joketsuzoku would be better for him.
<---->

     Ranma and Akane were walking side-by-side a few steps behind Mousse.
Akane
sighed. "I'm can't believe I'm leaving this place."
     Ranma shook his head. "Geez, Akane. Why don't you say it once more? I
think
you've only said it a thousand times."
     Akane sneered. "I'm just going to miss this place, all right?! I've
lived
here my entire life!"
     Ranma responded. "I *know* that, Akane! Heck, by now every kami in
heaven
knows it! There's no reason to repeat it over and over like some kind of
mantra!"
     Akane resisted the urge to smash Ranma. He ~did~ have a point after
all. It
was hard to admit, but he did. The only thing she was accomplishing by
saying she
was going to miss everyone here was straining Ranma's nerves. She knew Ranma
was
as nervous about this trip as she was. And though he was used to being on
the
road, it didn't mean he wasn't going to miss Nerima any less than she would.
     After a few seconds to calm down, Akane swallowed her pride. "I'm
sorry,
Ranma. You're... you're... right." It had gotten easier to say that since
she
first really apologized to Ranma, but it was still difficult.
     Ranma put a hand on Akane's shoulder. Somehow seeing him smile at her
like
that made all of her worries evaporate. "It's okay, Akane."
     Trying to change topics, Akane asked, "So, do you have any idea why
Auntie
Saotome looked like she was about to burst into tears."
     "She found out I ain't her son anymore," Ranma responded with a heavy
sigh.
     Akane winced. This wasn't helping. Besides how was she supposed to
respond to
that? "She'll be okay, Ranma. She's a strong woman. She'd have to be to stay
married to your father." Again Akane winced. Sticking her foot in her mouth
wasn't
going to help either.
     Ranma didn't react as Akane expected. He was used to unthinking
comments.
Besides, it was the truth. "Yeah. I guess you've got a point."
     Akane relaxed a bit. "I'm a little surprised the ceremony wasn't
interrupted."
     "I guess." Ranma said.
     "So what do you think it'll be like?"
     Ranma shrugged. "Don't know."
     Akane frowned. "Come on, Ranma. This is starting to get depressing."
     "Yeah."
     Akane sighed in frustration. They continued on in silence.
<---->

     Kodachi sighed quietly from her perch. The shortest route to the
airport from
the Tendo dojo passed right in front of the Kuno mansion. 
thought
Kodachi sourly. She, like the other girls Ranma threw aside by marrying
Akane, had
done her best to avoid the couple. The incident yesterday morning was an
accident;
if she'd known what was going on, she'd have waited.
     However, the chance to watch him one last time had proved too tempting
to
pass up. And so here she was, at the highest point on the Kuno estate,
watching.
The withered old troll was leading, followed closely by the Chinese wench
Shampoo,
and their servant, who not surprisingly carried the bags for all three.
Kodachi
would be thankful never to cross Shampoo's path again. Not that she was
afraid of
her. It was just that she hated Shampoo, for being her rival, for her broken
Japanese, for assuming she didn't know Mandarin.
     In fact, Kodachi spoke Mandarin, among other languages, fluently. She'd
picked it up when she started gathering plants for her greenhouse. There
were just
so many interesting Chinese flowers, so many with... interesting effects. It
simply paid to learn the language to facilitate ordering.
     It was really annoying listening to that Chinese bimbo insult her in
Mandarin. The only reason she hadn't let Shampoo know was because Kodachi
hoped to
gain insight into Shampoo's plans. It had frequently worked, though by the
time
she could act upon the information thus gained, Ranma usually had found his
own
way out of Shampoo's plots.
     Kodachi sat silently and watched as Ranma and Akane walked past,
oblivious to
her presence. It was the first time since the wedding a month ago that she'd
seen
both together. Ranma, as handsome as ever, of course, and Akane both carried
their
backpacks. They were chatting calmly, a feat for those two.
     Kodachi watched as Akane started talking about something. Ranma was
watching
his wife lovingly, and a part of Kodachi, the same part that had latched to
Ranma
that fateful night when she'd gone to attack Akane in the night, wanted to
turn
away. The rest of her fractured mind reasserted itself, insisting that
Kodachi see
the love Ranma had, had always had, for Akane.
     A few moments after Ranma and Akane disappeared, Kodachi whispered,
"Good-bye
Ranma." It was over. Now, Kodachi was alone again, except for her brother.
     Speaking of which, she'd have to find out how he'd been paralyzed
yesterday.
That servant of the Amazons, Mousse, had come by the other day and dropped
her
brother off. Apparently he'd tried to breakup a wedding ceremony for Ranma
and
Akane, foolishly deluding himself into believing he could do something about
Ranma
and Akane's union.
     She had planned on speaking to him when he came out of the paralysis,
but had
gone to bed when she found he was still stuck two hours later. Now, Tatewaki
had
been locked that way for over twelve hours. Kodachi was curious how much
longer it
would last, and how it had been done. After all, thanks to several
experiments she
had performed on him, Tatewaki had developed a strong resistance to such
things.
It was part of the reason he could still get back up after the beatings he
took
from Akane, Ranma, and just about any other martial artist who crossed his
path.
     As Kodachi entered the Kuno mansion, she felt the loneliness again. The
mansion had been so full of people when she was younger: her mother, and her
mother's siblings and their families. After her mother's death, her father
drove
all of the other Kuno's out before he himself departed for those damn
American
islands.
     Kodachi wrenched her thoughts back to the present, and the hurried for
a
phone. She'd have to ask Nabiki to expedite her search. Before the emptiness
of
the mansion overwhelmed her.
<---->

     Kuno fumed in impotent fury. He'd been rendered immobile by that
accursed,
shriveled, old troll. Not that this was a new thing for him; his twisted
sister
had oft done the same. Yet, she'd never before left him in such a powerless
state
for this lengthy a period.
     Kuno pondered the duration of his forced immobility. He remained
hopeful that
he would be empowered by dusk, so he could set about freeing his beloveds
once
again.
<---->

     Ranma took Akane's hand as the plane started to leave.
     Akane turned back from looking out of the window, and smiled at her
husband.
     "It'll be okay. We'll be back before you know it," Ranma said.
     Akane nodded and turned back to the window. She silently preyed that
her
sisters and friends would be all right while she was gone.
<---->

     Kodachi entered the room where she'd had her brother placed yesterday.
"So,
still paralyzed, are we, brother-dearest?"
     Naturally Kuno responded mutely.
     Kodachi examined him again. "Amazing! You haven't moved at all since
that
Amazon servant brought you back yesterday, have you?"
     Kuno didn't respond.
     Kodachi laughed depravedly. "Really, bother-dearest, Akane is lost to
you.
She and Ranma have consummated. Indeed, they have been married for nearly a
month
now! You should try to let her go, you know."
     If Kuno could have, he would have growled at his sister. As it was, he
was
lucky to be breathing.
     Kodachi shook her head. "I could release you from your condition, you
know? A
simple thing, really. But, you must learn, brother-dearest." Kodachi started
walking out the room. "Besides Akane and Ranma are leaving town. And I am
glad to
be rid of both, so you will stay like that until they are gone." With a
wicked
smile, Kodachi left Kuno to fume.
<---->

     Ukyo felt low.
     That was a pretty accurate description of how she had felt for weeks
now.
Ever since that day, a couple of days after she'd found out about Ranma's
marriage. The day she'd tried to seduce him.
-->--><--<--

     Ukyo sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't
believe she
was going to do this.
     Akane's friends had insisted that they take her out for a belated
bridal
shower tonight, and so she had invited Ranma over. She then sent Konatsu out
for
the evening, ensuring that he wouldn't return until tomorrow.
     If Akane deserved a bridal shower, than Ranma certainly deserved a
bachelor
party. Including a striper.
     Akane had only won Ranma because she'd defeated him in battle. He never
said
he loved her, after all. Therefore, she still had a chance. She was going to
try
to seduce him. That would prove he was hers and no one else's.
     Which was why she was currently dressed in a little blue teddy. It just
barely covered everything important, and even then it wouldn't be hard to
fill in
the blanks.
     Examining herself in the mirror, she couldn't believe she had such an
easy
time passing herself off as a guy. There was no way anyone could mistake her
for a
boy now. She was almost surprised by just how big her chest was. If she
judged
correctly only Ranma himself could claim to be bigger. She smirked at that
thought.
     "Ucchan?"
     Ukyo smiled. Ranma was here! "I'm upstairs, Ranma honey! Come on up!"
She
moved to her bed and got ready.
     Ranma knocked and cautiously opened Ukyo's bedroom door. He was
suspicious.
Ukyo seemed awfully happy that he was here, considering he was happily
married to
Akane. "Ukyo?"
     Ukyo smiled seductively when Ranma opened her door. "Come in, Ranchan."
     Ranma was a bit surprised by what he saw inside Ukyo's bedroom. Ukyo
was
dressed, if it could be called that, in a really sexy blue lace teddy. He
wondered
if Konatsu knew she had that, absently noticing that Ukyo had stood and was
slinking toward him.
     Ukyo frowned mentally when she realized that Ranma wasn't paying
attention to
her, at least not in the way she wanted. "Like what you see, Ranchan?" She
sashayed over toward Ranma, and put a hand on his chest.
     Ranma looked his friend in the eye. "Sorry, Ucchan. I didn't know you
were
gettin' ready for bed. I'll see myself out." He started to turn.
     Ukyo used her other hand to keep Ranma in place while she started to
move her
other hand in circular motions. Something in the back of her mind was
screaming
that something was wrong, but Ukyo firmly ignored it. "That's okay, Ranchan.
You
can stay, you know."
     Ranma was starting to figure out what Ukyo was trying to do. He didn't
want
to hurt her any more than he had to. "No, I think I should be going. I'm
married,
Ucchan."
     Ukyo wasn't going to give up that easily. She moved her hand down and
tried
slipping her hand down Ranma's pants. Maybe that would...
     Ranma grabbed her and gave Ukyo a momentary glare of ice.
     Ukyo froze as though a deer caught in headlights.
     Then Ranma's features softened into a pitying look. "I think I'd better
leave, Ukyo," Ranma stated.
     Ukyo looked in Ranma's eyes, searching for some sign of desire or
caring. She
couldn't find either, only pity. Pity that she had sunk so low that she
would try
and seduce him.
     Ranma turned and left the Ucchan's.
     Ukyo broke down into tears.
-->--><--<--

     By the next day, Ukyo was roaringly drunk. Her alcohol-muddled mind
offered
her a solution though. She could kill Akane and take Ranma back.
-->--><--<--

     Ukyo, wobbling slightly in spite of herself, stood not so patently in
an
alleyway. The road currently in front of her was one Akane and Ranma
frequently
used, and as soon as that husband-stealing witch passed by, Ukyo planned on
cutting her head off with her big spatula.
     Hearing Akane's voice approaching, Ukyo 'sssh'ed the area around her
and got
ready. When she thought her victim was close enough, she swung wildly from
the
hidden corner of the alleyway.
     The spatula stopped moving suddenly. Ukyo lurched and stumbled into the
street. Ranma, closest to the building Ukyo had been hiding behind, and
Akane
looked at her in mind surprise for a moment. Ranma still held the blade
where he'd
caught it. "Ukyo?" he ventured.
     Ukyo scowled at Akane for a moment before lunging at her. "I'll kill
you!"
     Akane, prepared for a fight the moment Ranma had been attack,
sidestepped the
clumsy attack. As Ukyo went by, Akane rolled her nose up at the smell of
alcohol.
Turing to face the chef, she asked, "Have you been drinking?"
     Ukyo paused a moment to let the question seep into her addled brain and
an
answer to percolate up. "Yeap!"
     Ranma addressed her. "I think we'd better take you back to the
Ucchan's."
     Ukyo shook her head. "Not until I kill Akane." She turned and looked
back at
Akane. "All two of her." She turned back to Ranma. "It's only way you both
can be
mine."
     Akane stated, "She's sloshed."
     Ranma nodded. "Totally."
     Akane asked, "What should we do? She isn't likely going to let us get
close."
     Ranma smirked. "Maybe. Hang on I've got an idea." He focused on Ukyo.
"Hey,
Ucchan?"
     Ukyo perked up and tried to focus on Ranma. "Yes, Ranchan?"
     Ranma spread his arms. "How 'bout a hug?" He winced as he felt rather
than
saw Akane get angry.
     Ukyo beamed, shooting Akane a victorious look. "Sure!" She stumbled
into his
arms, and promptly fell unconscious when Ranma hit a pressure point.
     Ranma turned back to Akane. "There are some advantages to being
Cologne's
student."
     Akane calmed down, realizing he hadn't been serious about hugging Ukyo.
"Come
on, let's get her back to the Ucchan's, so we can get on with our date."
     Ranma nodded and picked Ukyo up.
-->--><--<--

     When she woke up and remembered what she had done, she didn't think she
could
feel lower.
     Today, though she did.
     Today had been the day Ranma and Akane were leaving for China for a
year.
They had let everyone know when they were leaving so they could say goodbye
to
everyone.
     She had tried to go. But she couldn't bring herself to face him. Not
after
the wedding ceremony they'd had yesterday. Not seeing the loving looks Ranma
cast
toward his wife today.
     She was thankful Konatsu had been with her. She probably wouldn't have
made
it back to the Ucchan's through her tears.
     Once home she had proceeded to get herself as drunk as Genma and Soun
had
been.
     Ukyo sighed again and looked out the window as depression sunk in.
     Konatsu worriedly put a hand on Ukyo's shoulder. If Ukyo wished to
drink,
there wasn't much he could do save take care of her.
     Ukyo looked at the hand on her shoulder dumbly for a moment. Then she
reacted
by swinging wildly at the owner of said hand.
     Instincts he'd had since birth taking over, Konatsu moved out of the
way.
"Ukyo-sama?! Relax! Let me help you to bed!" he pleaded.
     Ukyo's intoxicated mind translated Konatsu gentle pleading into rude
commandments. "Stay away from me, you freak!!"
     Realizing that Ukyo felt threatened, Konatsu took a step back.
"Ukyo-sama.
Calm down. You're drunk. You need to sleep."
     Ukyo's drunken depression transformed into nearly frenzied rage. "Of
course,
I'm drunk, you cross-dressing pervert!! That's why I've been drinking this
stuff!"
She shook her bottle of sake at Konatsu.
     "Ukyo. Let me help you to bed. You can sleep this off, and then get on
with
your life tomorrow."
     Ukyo sneered, "With you?!"
     Konatsu didn't say anything. It was his fondest wish, to be with Ukyo,
and he
would certainly welcome the opportunity, but right now was not the time to
bring
that up.
     When Konatsu didn't respond, Ukyo scowled. "Let me make one thing,
perfectly
clear, little Miss Konatsu. I don't want you! I hate cross-dressers! And I
will
not marry anyone who looks better than me in a dress!! Now get your
effeminate
little ass OUT OF MY STORE!"
     Konatsu frowned. Circling around Ukyo so that he always faced her, he
moved
slowly to the door. He would leave and return after a few minutes, after
Ukyo had
had a chance to calm down. He would stay hidden, using his gift at ninjitsu
to
stay out of his friend's senses.
<---->

     Nabiki sighed as a string of commercials interrupted the program she
and
Kasumi were watching. The Saotomes had stayed in their home after Ranma and
Akane's marriage, and right now Soun was visiting them, leaving only the
eldest
two Tendo girls at home.
     "Is there something wrong, Nabiki?" Kasumi asked gently.
     Nabiki shook her head. "Not really. I'm just missing Akane already."
     Kasumi smirked. "And Ranma?"
     Nabiki nodded. "Yeah. I guess."
     "He did make life interesting, didn't he?"
     Nabiki chuckled. "That's an understatement."
     "You're worried you'll be bored."
     "Of course. No Ranma, no crazies around here. Unless you want to count
the
Kunos."
     "Be nice, Nabiki." Kasumi chastised lightly.
     Nabiki smirked. "I was being nice."
     Kasumi smiled for a moment, then sighed. "I hope she's okay."
     "She will be. Ranma won't let anything happen to her."
     "I know."
     The show they were watching returned, allowing both to be distracted
from
worrying about their little sister.
<---->

     In a small restaurant on the other side of Nerima, four men were
sitting at a
table. They were all dressed identically, white shirts and dark slacks. One
was a
towering giant, about one hundred eight centimeters tall and at least a
meter
wide, with ill-kept, curly, black hair. Next to him sat a very handsome
young man
with well-kept, gorgeous, brown hair, someone who could easily attract any
girl's
attention. Across from the elegant man sat a small, wimpy man with
reddish-brown
hair, the kind of person every bully in school loved. And next to the small
man
sat the group's leader: an intelligent looking man in smart glasses with
well
combed, oily, black hair.
     They could be found here often, frequently stuffing their faces to get
the
attention of a buxom, scarlet-haired waitress.
     But not today.
     Today they had serious business to discuss.
     The comely man spoke up first. "So? What's the problem Nakanuma?"
     The man in glasses responded. "Simple. I have heard that the martial
artist
threat in the area is moving out. There will be a few leftovers, but they
should
be easy enough to handle."
     The giant asked, "What are you talking about?"
     Takafumi Nakanuma answered, "Simple. So far the Yakuza have left the
Nerima
area completely alone. Almost as though they were scared to. Well, without
the
martial artist, we should be able to move in. And I'll finally be able to
proof
myself to them."
     The smallest one commented, "Oh, yeah. You and your dreams of being
some kind
of gangster."
     Nakanuma turned on him. "What was that, Jiro?!"
     Jiro Higashimura cowered. "N... nothing. Nothing at all."
     Nakanuma turned back to the handsome man. "I want you to go in first,
Eichi.
Find yourself a fat pigeon, and get the lay of the area."
     Eichi Asaike nodded. "Then what?"
     "Then, Jiro, Shintaro, and I come in and start selling protection.
We'll work
from there."
     Shintaro Kiyoyama nodded. He liked any job where he got a chance to use
violence.
     Jiro just sighed. He'd seen Nakanuma do things like this all the time
and
never got anywhere before. This time wasn't likely to be different.
<--<--<--<--<---->-->-->-->-->

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