Chapter 17 – Retribution

Written by Bing and Kalaong

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

When Michiko arrived home at exactly 9:30 that Friday evening, she couldn’t be more relieved. She was exhausted, and all she actually wanted to do was go upstairs in her room and sleep.

"Darling, I’m home!" She called out as she entered the house, pulling her suitcase behind her.

Ranma wandered into the living room. "Oh, hi."

Leaving the suitcase by the door, Michiko approached her husband. She put her arms around him. "Darling, I missed you."

Michiko leaned over to kiss him, but he turned his head away.

Alarmed, she asked, "What’s wrong?"

Ranma slowly eased out of her arms. "Michiko, could we talk?"

Michiko frowned. Something strange was going on here. During the past week, she had been calling him late at night, only to receive no answer from the other side.

She crossed her arms and asked, "What is it?"

He sat down on the recliner and gestured to the sofa. "Why don’t you sit down?"

She remained in her place. "I think I’d rather stand."

Ranma took a deep breath. Then he looked up at Michiko right in the eye and said, "I want a divorce."

She stiffened as her face went white. "You can’t be serious."

"I am."

Her eyebrows met as she gave him a frosty look. "It’s because of Akane, isn’t it?"

Ranma said, "Let me explain first, Michiko."

"Are you sleeping with her, Ranma?" She leaned over to him with her hands over her hips.

He held up his hands. "Could you please just let me talk?"

Her voice rose while she demanded, "You are, aren’t you? I should have known. She was opening her legs to you while we were engaged, and she’s opening them to you again while we’re still married. Is that where you’ve been for the past week or so when I was calling you? In between that whore’s legs?"

"Michiko, don’t- "

"Answer me, damn you!"

Ranma stood up and yelled at her face. "Yes! I’ve been with Akane! Yes, I’m having an affair with her! Yes, I’m in love with her! Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Michiko’s eyes went small as they began to fill with tears of anger. "You son of a bitch!"

She slapped him, hard, completely taking Ranma by surprise. Then like a wildcat, she began to attack him, trying to claw his face with her nails. Ranma managed to catch both of her wrists, but she continued to fight him. One nail was successful and scratched his cheek, drawing out some blood.

"Michiko, stop!" Ranma ordered as she tried to strike him again. He held her wrists tighter. "Stop! I said stop!" He let go of her and pushed her away.

Michiko fell backwards and down to the floor. Trying to catch her breath, she looked up at Ranma, full of fury as he stood before her while he wiped the blood off his face.

He spoke up again. "Michiko, "I didn’t really mean for this to happen."

"Didn’t mean what to happen? This or sleeping with that slut?"

"I never meant to hurt you."

"Like hell you did!" Michiko yelled as she got up on her feet again. "How dare you do this to me! How dare you throw away eighteen years of marriage because of her."

"This isn’t just about Akane, Michiko. It’s about us and this…this ‘marriage’. From day one, this marriage was going downhill. Day one!"

"Bullshit, Ranma! Everything was fine until she came back!"

"No, it wasn't, Michiko. First of all, I was forced to marry you. Your father came here offering a jar of Nannichuan in exchange for your hand in marriage, buying me as if I’m just another piece of property that would profit for your real estate business. Second of all, things got even worse since we got moved back to Japan. You said it yourself the last time when we decided to move back to San Francisco. Yes, I admit that it was my idea to move back to Japan so I can take over for my father, but that didn’t stop me from trying to work this marriage out. Time and time again, I’ve asked you to be home more often and even have a baby."

He went on. "Look at us, Michiko. I’m here five days a week alone while you’re in Osaka. The only time I get to see you are over the weekends, if you don’t have to work or go off somewhere like Hong Kong or Taiwan or whatever. And, when you’re home, all we do is have sex. That’s it. Sex. I mean if that’s the only reason why we’re together, then this is not a marriage I want to be in."

"But we agreed to work it out," said, Michiko, almost pleading. "I even agreed to have a baby."

Ranma shook his head. "No," he said in an adamant voice. "No, it’s too late for that."

"But…but why?"

"It wouldn’t be fair to the child. It wouldn’t be fair to stay together just for him or for her."

"But I still love you, Ranma." Michiko reached out for him.

Ranma moved away to avoid her. He shook his head. "I want a divorce, Michiko."

Michiko’s face went firm as she replied, "So she can have you? Never." She took a deep breath. "I am going to fight for this marriage, Ranma. There is no way I am going to lose you to that bitch."

He nodded. "Okay then. I’ll move out."

"And go to her, Ranma?"

"It’s that or a divorce, Michiko. One way or another, I’m going to Akane."

***

Lying wide awake, Akane stared up at the ceiling. She could not sleep. She knew that tonight was the night Ranma was going to tell Michiko the truth. Everything about their future hung in balance in what Michiko will have to say. And, already Akane had a sinking feeling about it.

Her thoughts were broken when she heard noise downstairs. Bolting up from the bed, she listened for it again. Someone was knocking, but this time it was louder and more urgent as if it was crying out to her.

Akane got out of bed and wrapped her robe around her. She hurried down the steps and quickly opened the door.

There he was standing with a knapsack and a small bag. His enticing, blue eyes that were filled with so much joy during their one week affair were now replaced with gloom.

"Hey." His voice came out low.

"Ranma."

She let him in without hesitation. Opening the light in the hall, she watched him pass by her and noticed something on his face. "What happened?" Akane asked as she tried to reach out for him.

He put his things down. "Oh, this?" Ranma pointed to his cheek. "That was the result of Michiko’s nail."

"Oh, Ranma." Akane opened her arms. "Come here. Let me hold you."

Having her arms around him, Ranma could already feel his wounds starting to heal. He held onto her, sighing sadly.

"Why don’t you tell me?" Akane suggested in a soothing, motherly voice. "Tell me while I’m holding you."

"She refuses to give me a divorce."

Akane closed her eyes. "Oh, no."

"I know. I know." Ranma rubbed his hands on her back. "She said that she’s going to fight for this marriage, and there was no way she was going to give me up to you."

Akane kept her arms around him, resting her head against his shoulder. She kept her eyes closed, remembering Michiko’s words not so long ago. "Well, I’m not about to give you up easily either."

"Oh, man, Akane. I wish things were so simple, but I’m not going to give up. No, not when we’re this close."

Akane pulled away from him slightly and put her hands on his face. "And you won’t go through this alone. I’ll always be right by your side in every step of the way. We’ll fight together. We’ll fight for our love."

Ranma smiled, admiring her. She was so gentle yet so strong. It was one of the best things about her. "I love you, Akane. I long to be free so you and I can start our lives together."

To be free. His words echoed through Akane’s mind. How painful it was to be imprisoned by a woman only for her own purposes. Yet she was here to offer the love he needed. A love that should be offered by a wife to her husband.

She stood on her toes and kissed his eyes closed. "I know. I know. I feel the same way. I want to give you the love you deserve as your wife. But for now, all I can offer you is solace."

Akane gave him a kiss that would begin to erase his pain.

Then she took his hand in hers and led them up the stairs and into the bed. She did not even bother to close the door before gently pressing him into the soft sheets. Then she lay down beside him, gently teasing the buttons out of his shirt as his hand slid inside her robe to caress her breasts. As he tenderly caressed her warm bosom, he caught one of her nipples between his thumb and forefinger, teasing it hard.

Akane parted his shirt only for him to move down to take her nipple into his mouth and suckle. She breathed in, the sensation so special, so tender.

But she pushed him away. She was happy. He was in her bed, sear5ching for her warmth. She knew he would lie next to her for the night, and the night after that, and so forth unto her life. He was the one who needed this. He was the one who needed the pleasure she could grant him, the one who needed her love.

She tugged the drawstring out of his pants and pressed them down, his boxers following. He shook them off and she slid her hand to his manhood, which pulsed in her grasp. She rolled onto her back, and tugged the belt of her robe free, letting her luscious body shine in the moonlight. She closed her eyes.

Akane whispered in the darkness. "Come here, Ranma. Take me. Take your mistress. She is here, and she loves you with all of her heart. She is here for your pleasure. She will take joy from your pleasure."

Ranma’s hand slid across her face, and she kissed it gently. His lips touched her own, and she licked up to them, letting her tongue slide across his own.

"Take me, Ranma. I want you to slip inside of my body and receive your need. Your pleasure. My love. My warmth. Your warmth will fill me and make me happy."

Ranma’s breath deepened. He moved above her body, his hardness hot against her. Finally, he was poised between her legs, and he waited, shaking.

"Inside, Ranma. Slip inside. I am here to be with you. I want you to be into my body, to share your warmth. You bring warmth to my cold universe. Do it now."

A pause of breath. And he pressed against her warm wet lips. Then they parted so gently, and invited him inside. She sighed. He was going into her body. He was inside of her.

His weight settled over her, his hardness clasped tenderly within. She began to caress him, her inner muscles tightening and loosening over his shaft. He moaned in pleasure and she smiled.

He was pleasured. He needed this, after what that bitch did to him. But it was not enough. He needed to come, to collapse in pleasure in her arms, let his warm wet seed flow into her depths. And he would. Because she would please him until he burst inside of her., filling her with his warm seed.

She raised her left leg, and wrapped it around him, pressing him into her. He pulsed, moaning, and she moved the other leg to cross the first. She raised her arms, and wrapped them around his neck, pressing her breasts to his chest, and her face into his shoulder.

He "ahhhed" in appreciation and slid his arms under her body, lifted her as he flipped them over. Now she sat on his lap, his hot shaft deep within her, trapped between them. He slid his legs under him, and they began to rock back and forth on the bed.

He tenderly stroked her back and kissed her ear as they rocked, and she felt safe in his arms as they moved toward their destination. She was wrapped around him like a warm blanket, and Ranma felt the pain in his heart seep away.

It was not that fast, they rocked for what must have been hours, his manhood not moving very much, but neither lover needed to. There was pleasure, a warm undercurrent that swept around them and through them. But mostly there was love, tender and warm, caressing their forms as they savored their joining.

Then, with a deep gasp and a sigh, their climax washed over them. His seed splashing within her channel, and her body accepted it with joy, tenderly clasping him, letting juices flow down her channel to wet their junction.

He held her tighter, and she did the same. Somehow, though some miracle of balance, they drifted off to sleep, their bodies intertwined, still sitting and gently rocking on the bed.

***

Michiko was sitting in the exact same place where Ranma left her. On the couch. Alone. Only this time she had a glass of wine in her hand. The bottle of Burgundy on the coffee table was almost empty.

Her mind reeled back to the past. She remembered being eighteen and meeting Ranma Saotome for the first time. He was so handsome. She had never seen a man possess such beautiful, blue eyes. He was rather shy around her at first, but eventually began to feel at ease with her.

Michiko knew that her attraction to Ranma was strong, but he treated her like a friend. She went out with other guys, but none of them really appealed to her like Ranma did. Once she found out how bad they were in bed (and some didn’t even get that far), she dropped them. At the same time, she continued to pursue Ranma and took any chance there was to spend time with him. If he needed help with his lessons, she was there at the library with him. If he needed help to find a place, she drove him there. Yet, Ranma kept his distance by being Sir Gallahad.

Towards the end of their freshman year, Michiko thought she’d never get Ranma interested in her. Then as luck would have it, on the day they got their final grades, Ranma asked her if he could treat her to dinner. It was his way of thanking her after helping him pass his subjects. She agreed, of course.

Michiko never forgot that night. He took her to a nice restaurant, and when the meal ended, the night was still young. Ranma was about to take her home, but she insisted to let her take him to one of the bars there at San Francisco. He admitted that he wasn’t much of a drinker, but she managed to convince him by saying that he needed to relax and let loose after such an exhausting year.

Michiko’s tolerance for alcohol was high. Ranma had only taken a few drinks, and he was already babbling. Suddenly, in one night, she found out nearly everything she wanted to know about him for the past year. He spoke about his Jusenkyo curse; how his father and his friends had it and how they wanted to be cured; his crazy life in Nerima, and his four fiancées.

Finally, after deciding that he had enough, Michiko took him back to his place. She helped him to bed and took off his shirt. Once she did, her breath was caught. While all her previous lovers were soft and pale, he was hard and tanned. His chest was wide and well-defined, his abdomen flat, and his waist trim.

Michiko smiled as she looked down at him. She remembered his eyes blinking once Twice. He started to speak, but she put her finger over his mouth. She stood back. Off came the dress. Then she joined him in bed.

Kami! He was magnificent and she reached pleasures beyond her imagination. And just before it was all over, he called out her name.

"Akane."

She saw tears flowing down his face and she kissed them away.

"Yes, Ranma," she replied, "I’m here."

Finally, when the lovemaking ceased, they fell asleep. Sometime during the night, Michiko was awoken by cries. Cries that sounded so desperate.

"Akane…Akane…don’t leave…please…"

Her poor Ranma was dreaming, but he soon stopped calling out for this "Akane." She held him close as her eyes were filled with hatred. Whoever this Akane bitch was, she broke his heart, and now he was incapable of love.

After that night, things seemed to be going too fast for Ranma. They began dating afterwards. Months later, she proposed to him. He was taken by surprise. His answer was,

"I’ll think about it."

She thought he was going to refuse, but finally said yes. Plans were made, and Michiko was so excited. As the daughter of one of the richest men in San Francisco, Michiko wanted her wedding to be the biggest and the most glamorous wedding of the year. Friends and families that came from the highest society were invited and so were the richest businessmen across the country and her father’s business associates that came from half way around the world.

Then just a month before the wedding, Ranma told her that he had to get home and settle things with his fiancées. She agreed.

The wedding plans continued, and Michiko waited for him to return day after day. Week after week. She never heard from him except for this one letter.

It came a week before the wedding. Ranma was breaking off the engagement. He wrote that he didn’t love her. He realized that his heart belonged to Akane. He told her that it was better to call off the wedding before they get into something they will both regret in the future, and that he was sorry.

Sorry. Sorry didn’t begin to make up for what he did to her. She never felt so humiliated in her life. She would be the laughing stock of San Francisco if they find out that he called off the wedding and choose some other girl over her. Her! Michiko Tanaka! Daughter of one of the richest Japanese businessmen. No one ever dumped her. No one! And, she decided that she was not going to let him go that easily!

Michiko devised a plan. She remembered Ranma’s Jusenkyo curse and how the curse also affected his father and his friends, and she decided to use their desire to become cured as the basis for her plan. The question was: Will it work?

Well, there was no use sitting there in San Francisco wondering about it. She had to go and make sure the plan would work herself! After getting the letter, Michiko packed her bags and flew to Japan.

She met with her father and met her father in Osaka. She told him of her plan, and he agreed to help her. Yuuki Tanaka wasn’t ready for him and his daughter to look like fools in front of the society.

The first step was, of course, getting two jars of water from the Spring of Drowned Man and the Spring of Drowned Girl. They hired strong, skilled men to go to Jusenkyo and paid them a huge amount of money.

Once the jars were obtained, Tanaka and his daughter traveled to Nerima. Tanaka met with Genma Saotome as planned, but Michiko kept plain out of his sight. Tanaka told Genma the deal he was about to make with Ranma. If Ranma agreed to marry Michiko, he, Ranma, and his three friends would get the cure. Genma thought the deal was a wonderful idea, and Tanaka could see that he was very desperate for the cure. And Ranma’s father assured him that his son’s friends were probably willing to agree.

How to convince Ranma, however, was another story. Would he really be willing to give up Akane Tendo for the cure? The first phase might fail. Michiko knew that she would have to have a back-up plan.

On that fateful night, while Yuuki Tanaka presented the deal to Ranma and his friends, Michiko waited patiently in the limousine that had been parked a few blocks away from the Saotome residence.

An hour later, the chauffeur opened the door, and Michiko knew that it was time. She stepped out of the limousine and for the first time, she met Genma, Mousse, and Shampoo.

Michiko made it clear that she was desperate to get Ranma just as they were desperate to get the cure, but the root of their problems was the same.

Akane Tendo.

She introduced this hypothesis to them. If they pose a death threat to Akane Tendo, would it be possible that Ranma yield?

It was clever idea. Akane was Ranma’s weakness. The death threat was the only way to convince him.

And it worked. Michiko went back to America. Three days later, Ranma caught a flight going to San Francisco. They married within a week. He was hers at last.

Now their marriage is about to end all because of the same woman that threatened her eighteen years ago.

Akane Tendo.

Michiko threw her wineglass, and it shattered to pieces as it hit the wall. She stood up and walked up to the window, stepping on the broken glass. She yanked the curtains apart and glared at the Tendo home.

Akane Tendo, prepare yourself. You’re going to start paying for the pain you caused me. Tomorrow you’re going to find out what exactly it is like to have the man you love betray you.

***

~Saturday morning, Akane’s room~

Akane brushed the lint off her skirt while standing in front of the mirror. Beside her was Ranma who was buttoning his shirt. She looked at the two of them through the mirror and had to smile at their reflection.

Just think, Akane, there will be more mornings like this. Mornings where we get ready together to start the day.

Ranma turned to Akane with a questioning look in his eyes, without seeing her smile at their reflection. "I don’t know about this idea of yours, Akane."

She smiled again and squeezed his hand. "We have to do this, Ranma."

"I never imagined that I would actually tell my mother that I’m having an affair."

"Would you rather that she found out from someone else? I very much doubt that we can keep the fact that you’re living with me a secret. It’s better that we come clean to your mom."

"And Hikaru? Have you thought about how we’re going to tell him the truth that I’m his father and we’re lovers?"

"I thought since it’s a Sunday tomorrow, we could take a trip to Yokohama. I know it’s going to be tricky, but what choice do we have?"

Ranma nodded.

"Come on. Let’s go talk to Auntie Nodoka."

***

Sweeping the dirt off from her porch was part of Nodoka’s morning routine. It was mid-morning already, but the sun was not in sight. She looked up at the cloudy skies as she paused to sweep. She had no idea why, but she had a premonition that something was going to happen today, and it disturbed her.

The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She saw Ranma walking up to her with Akane right along beside him. Nodoka had seen them together at the dojo a few times whenever she visited them. She was glad at how well they’re getting along, and their partnership worked out better than she expected.

But there was something about them. Something had changed.

Ranma smiled. "Hey, Mom."

"Hello, Auntie Nodoka," greeted Akane.

Nodoka smiled at them cheerfully. "Good morning, you two. What a pleasant surprise to see you here."

"How are you doing, Mom?"

"Fine. I haven’t seen you in a long while."

Ranma tried hard not to blush and scratched the back of his head. "Well…uh…yeah…."

Nodoka nodded and set the broom aside and suggested, "Why don’t we all go inside?"

Inside, Nodoka served them tea and crackers in the living room. Ranma and Akane sat together on one side of the table while Nodoka was across from them.

The older woman eyed them carefully as both drank their tea quietly. They seemed a little nervous. Whatever reason they came here for must be very serious.

Gently, Nodoka put her teacup down and asked, "So what brings you by?"

Ranma looked at his mother and then at Akane who nodded at him. "Mom, me and Akane have something to say."

Nodoka’s head moved down slightly. "Yes?"

"Mom…me and Akane. " Ranma paused and began again. "Me and Akane… we, uh…"

Akane jumped right in. "We’ve come to a point where we realized that our relationship has progressed to a certain level."

"Yeah, that’s it." Ranma agreed as he nodded his head. "A certain level."

Nodoka gazed at them. "You’re having an affair. Is that what you’re trying to say?"

Surprised at her for being so straightforward, Ranma’s mouth dropped open, speechless. However, Akane replied, looking at her right in the eye, "Yes, Auntie, we are."

Nodoka took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a very long moment.

Oh, no. Ranma’s mind raced. Maybe…maybe this was a real bad idea.

Akane began to explain. "Auntie, we thought it was best to tell you the truth. I know that this is a shock for you…and I don’t blame you if you disapprove but…but Ranma and I love each other."

Nodoka’s eyes remained closed Then, as she held her hand up to Akane, her voice died down. She opened them again. "Well, you’re right about one thing. This is a shock. Not to mention this frankness that you display before me."

"Mom- " Ranma began to say.

Nodoka held up her hand again. "Let me finish." She continued. "You certainly showed up your nerve, but I have to admire you for your honesty. Not just to me. But to each other."

Ranma stared at his mom. Was that a slight smile he detected on her lips. "Mom...you mean…"

"It’s okay, dear. You can breathe again."

Ranma did just that and released all the tension he felt since he and Akane were at the house.

Nodoka spoke again. "I have to add that I had a feeling that this was going to happen."

Akane’s eyes widened as she looked at her incredulously. "You were expecting this?"

She nodded. "I may be old, but I’m not blind, dear. With the facts that you and Ranma are stuck in the dojo five days a week, that you are a widow, and that my son is in a bad marriage, this affair is inevitable. The two of you have this unforgettable history together. Out of this past formed a long lasting bond that is truly unbreakable. What’s even more special is the undying love and affection between you resulted to the birth of your child."

"You know about Hikaru?" Ranma looked at his mother and then at Akane. "You told her?"

Nodoka answered for her. "She didn’t have to tell me. I knew it the moment I saw him when Akane came back to stay."

Akane smiled at her and glanced back at Ranma who slid his hand over hers.

Nodoka paused to sip her tea and then placed the cup again on the table. "Now that the two of you have come to terms, what about Michiko?"

"I’ve left Michiko, Mom," replied Ranma. "I’ve asked her for a divorce, but she won’t give it to me."

His mother sighed. "She is a stubborn woman. Then again, she wasn’t ready to give you up to Akane then, and she’s not ready to give you up to Akane now."

"I’m going to file a divorce anyway. I’ll call Kuno and discuss it with him. As soon as the divorce is final, Akane and I are getting married."

"And you’re staying with Akane, I presume?" Nodoka almost had a sly look in her eyes.

"I’m no hypocrite, Mom, and I’ll be damned if I stay in that house for another second. There is no way I’m going back to Michiko."

Nodoka turned to Akane. "Does you family know about this?"

"Yes…but…" Akane trailed off, suddenly remembering her fight with Nabiki and the look on Kasumi’s face.

"Nabiki and Kasumi caught us," explained Ranma. "Nabiki obviously didn’t like what she saw. Kasumi…well…she wasn’t very verbal."

"I see." Nodoka understood. "And do you think Kuno will help you?"

"He’s a lawyer. He’ll do his job," replied Ranma.

"He’s also Nabiki’s husband."

"Well, if we can’t get his support, I’ll get another lawyer. One way or the other, I’m getting my divorce."

Ranma’s mother nodded thoughtfully. Her son has it all figured out and was ready to take matters into his own hands. The determination in his eyes said it all.

"Very well," she said. "Whatever decision you make, I will respect it."

Ranma smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Mom."

Nodoka turned to Akane. "Well, Akane, I must say that I am happy that you and my son are together again. If you didn’t come back here to Nerima, I don’t know what could have happened."

"Me neither," she admitted with a sheepish smile.

"And once of course it all works out…I do hope that I will get another grandchild?" Nodoka looked at them hopefully.

She winked at them as Ranma blinked once or twice. "Nani?"

Akane blushed and Nodoka laughed.

***

Later, when they were heading home, holding hands, Ranma noticed that Akane was suddenly quiet.

"What’s wrong, Akane-chan?" He asked.

"I was just thinking," she replied.

"About?"

"About what your mom said…if I didn’t come back here, she wouldn’t know what could have happened, and I agree. I have to admit that I never saw my father’s will coming. I was surprised that he even thought of us working together for a year before I could even claim the dojo and the house as rightfully mine. I use to think that he was crazy.

"Why was it necessary for us to work together just so I can inherit the dojo? I mean I am his heir, and it’s not like I don’t know how to run the dojo since I have one in Takasaki. Suddenly he laid down these conditions." Akane turned to him. "Did you have to serve a term with my father after your father died?"

"Nope." He shook his head. "I was living in San Francisco when Pop kicked the bucket. When I came back for the funeral, your dad handed me this letter from Pop. It had three words."

"Three words?" Akane was puzzled. "What?"

" ‘It’s yours, boy.’" Ranma did a perfect imitation of Genma’s voice.

"Kami!" Akane blinked in surprise. "That’s it?"

"Well, geez, Akane, what were you expecting?" He shook his head again. "Anyway, that was legal enough to say that I inherited his share. I didn’t have to sign any agreements with your dad. All I had to do was move back here to Japan."

"He wasn’t as thorough as my dad then in order to secure the partnership. But if you think about it, if my dad hadn’t put that condition, the Tendo-Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts wouldn’t be standing today."

"And we wouldn’t have found each other." Ranma smiled at her.

They stopped walking and stared at one another thoughtfully.

"Are you thinking what I’m thinking?" Akane asked.

Ranma chuckled. "Oh, man. Even when he’s dead, your dad is still meddling."

"His last attempt to put us together."

"But you know what, Akane? Even if he did or whatever his intentions were, I don’t mind that he did this."

Akane smiled at him. "Me neither." She linked her arm around his waist. "Come on. Let’s go home."

Ranma put his arm around her and agreed. "Our home."

***

~Yokohama University, early evening~

In Dormitory C, Room 10, Hikaru Sato stood in front of the mirror, combing his hair. He was dressed in a pair of black pants and blue Chinese silk shirt, a style he suddenly seemed to prefer.

There was a knock on the door. Hikaru turned his head and saw his dormitory advisor and friend standing at the doorway.

"Yo, Daiki."

"Phone call for you, Hikaru. It’s that Chinese girl."

Hikaru stepped out of the room. "Thanks."

Daiki followed him as he headed for the pay phone in the hall. "Things must be going serious between you, ne?"

Hikaru shrugged. "Yeah, so?"

"So…just how far have you gotten with this girl?"

Hikaru’s face went blank. "Uh, how far?"

Daiki raised his eyebrows up and down. "You know…have you scored with her yet?"

"What?" Suddenly, when he realized what Daiki was saying, he turned red. "Oh, man, shut up! It ain’t nuthin’ like that!" He growled.

Daiki snickered as he watched Hikaru held the phone up in his ear and turn away from him.

"Hello?"

"Hikaru?" Yi Ping’s voice came out rather shy.

"Hi, Yi Ping!" Hikaru exclaimed. "Where you at?"

"I’m at the train station here in Yokohama."

Meanwhile, Daiki was still watching Hikaru talk on the phone. He had seen Yi Ping once or twice and thought she was a knockout. Hikaru sure got lucky. He wondered if she had a sister that Hikaru can introduce him to.

As Daiki turned around, he nearly collided into someone who was coming his way.

"Pardon me." The voice was female and icy.

"Oh, sorry," Daiki apologized. He took a good look at the lady in front of him. She was beautiful. She looked sleek and sophisticated in a black blazer, a matching short skirt, and high heels.

"Hello." His eyes widened with curiosity. "May I help you?"

"I’m looking for Hikaru Sato. I was told that he resides on this floor."

Her eyes were cold. This was one woman you did not want to mess with. "Uh…he’s over there by the pay phone." He turned his head towards Hikaru and yelled, "Hey, Hikaru! You got a visitor!"

Hikaru whirled around with the phone on his ear. He saw a familiar-looking woman heading towards him. She stopped a few feet away from where he was.

"Hello, Hikaru."

It was Michiko Saotome.

Hikaru nearly dropped the phone, but continued to stand there without uttering a word.

"Hikaru?" Yi Ping’s voice called out from the receiver.

He turned his attention back to Yi Ping, but his eyes never left Michiko. "Oh! Sorry! Listen, Yi Ping, why don’t you go ahead and wait for me in front of the cinema? The one nearest to the station, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed.

They said their good-byes and hung up.

Michiko tilted her head up to him. He was tall like her husband. "You remember me."

Hikaru nodded. "You’re Saotome-sensei’s wife."

"That’s right. I was hoping we could talk, Hikaru. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

He wanted to say yes, but he figured Michiko didn’t come here just to visit. "No, of course not."

"Good."

With Hikaru leading the way, Michiko arrived at his room. It was surprisingly tidy. The bed at the corner of the room was made. Next to it was a shelf where the books were placed neatly. Across from the bed was a desk where there was a laptop computer and a lamp.

Michiko glanced towards the top of the drawer, which was next to the closet. She saw three framed pictures placed next to the stereo. She walked up to look at the pictures. One frame had a picture of the Sato family taken when Hikaru was in his early teens. Another had a picture of Kouhei Sato alone. (Ah! The gay husband!) The last one was a photo of Hikaru, who had a graduation cap and gown on, while standing next to his mother.

Hikaru asked, "Can I get you anything? A soda or…"

Michiko shook her head and invited herself to sit down on the edge of Hikaru’s bed. Crossing her legs, she said, "No, I’m fine. I won’t be staying long."

He stood in front of her with one had at the back of his head. "So what can I do for you?"

Michiko grinned inwardly to herself. He is so much like Ranma…only more innocent…which would make things easier for me.

"Hikaru, have you been home lately?"

"No, not really. I haven’t been home since…"

"Yes?" She prompted. "You haven’t been home since…"

"For two weeks now," he replied. "I didn’t stay very long. I had to meet Yi Ping so I can show her around the campus."

Michiko nodded. "Did you notice, ah, anything strange while you were there?"

"Like?"

"Like maybe between my husband and your mother?"

"Uh…well…"

"You know something, Hikaru?"

"Well…there was a time when I came home Saotome-sensei was looking at my mom really weird. I’ve seen them together before whenever I come home, but that day…I remember it was different."

"How different, Hikaru?"

"I know before she moved back to Nerima, mom hated him. Then when she took up the partnership with him, she was nice to him…but sometimes when we get to the subject of Saotome-sensei…she acts all funny. You know…uncomfortable."

"But that day you came home...what was it like?"

"Something changed between them. The way they looked at each other."

Michiko shut her eyes for a long moment.

Hikaru’s eyebrows met. "Something’s going on between them, isn’t there? What do you know?"

Michiko spoke hesitantly, "I don’t know if I should say this, Hikaru, but I have noticed some changes, too…ever since they took that trip to Utsunomiya together…alone." She glanced up at him, wide eyed, giving him her most innocent look. "I’ve always wondered about those two, but I don’t want to question Ranma. He’s my husband. If I question him, it might mean that I don’t trust him. I do know that they have a past, but I don’t want to act like a jealous wife…it might drive him to madness."

Hikaru seemed to be thinking. "Well, they were engaged once…" He trailed off. "Wait a sec! That wedding dress!"

"Wedding dress?" Michiko’s eyes went wide.

"The damn wedding dress in the house. Mom said she was suppose to marry Saotome-sensei, but she said it was ruined because there were people who didn’t want to see them married."

"Are you sure, Hikaru? I don’t think that’s the version Ranma told me."

"What…what are you saying?"

"He…he said that he left her at the altar. He didn’t want to marry her. He came here to San Francisco to get away from her. Then we met and fell in love. We got married. He told me that he wanted children right away, but I wasn’t ready. He said that it was okay. Then later on, he told me that he wanted to go home. I wanted to go with him since I wanted to meet his parents, but he said no."

"That sounds rather fishy. Wouldn’t he want you to meet his family?"

Michiko nodded her head. "That’s what I thought, but I refused to question him. He is my husband. I let him go back. He said that he’ll be gone for a few days, but the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into a month.

"When he came back, I asked him why he was gone for so long. He told me that he had to take care of some business with your mother…something about securing the line for the dojo." Her eyes became cold. "That was eighteen years ago."

Hikaru could hardly breathe. "Eighteen…eighteen years ago?"

"First time I saw you at your grandfather’s funeral, I thought you looked familiar. I had my suspicions but now…the more I look at you…the more I realize how you look like my husband."

Hikaru trembled. "No…no…it can’t be…Ranma…Ranma Saotome…he’s my father…" He barely choked out the words.

Michiko closed her eyes again and shook her head. "Oh…Hikaru…"

"Kami! Our faces…our voices…our fighting skills…Dad was my exact opposite. He was always so quiet and calm, while me…I’m such a fighter."

"And maybe he started noticing the changes, too."

"You...you think he knew?"

Michiko shrugged. "Who knows? You said so yourself. The differences between you and this man whom you always called ‘Dad’ are so obvious. It is possible that he began to question them…question your mother…"

"Who had to tell the truth," supplied Hikaru.

"And after she told him, he must have been devastated. I can’t imagine what he must have felt when he found out."

To think what he must have felt when he discovered that I wasn’t his son.

He took a deep breath and said, "If I were him, I don’t know what I would have done…maybe I would have…oh no…No!" Hikaru’s voice was horrified. "Kami…My dad…he-he killed himself because…because…"

"He’s not your real father," finished Michiko.

Hikaru’s world shattered. He began breathing hard, leaning his hands against the desk as if it were to support him. Tears began to invade his eyes and he closed them.

Michiko shook her head. "What a pity. To not be able to know the truth…and to think that the privilege of having a child should have been mine…but I suppose that is not meant to be." She looked sad with her eyes downcast.

Hikaru turned to her. "What are you talking about?"

Time to put my acting skills at its peak.

"Ranma and I have been trying to have children for years. Then a few years back, I found that I couldn’t have any children. I was crushed. I love him so much and give him children. Lots of children so the Saotome line can be go on. I told him the truth. He said to me ‘That’s alright, darling. I’ll find another woman to knock out.’ I thought he was joking, but from the way your mother and my husband are…I don’t know!" Michiko let out some tears.

Hikaru’s nostrils flared as his fists clenched tightly. "My mother…he’s talking about my mother!"

Michiko sniffed. Easy. Don’t overdo it.

Hikaru could no longer control himself and let out his wrath.

"THEY’RE HAVING AN AFFAIR, AREN’T THEY?!! THE BASTARD IS SCREWING MY MOTHER!!! ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS HAVING HEIRS!!! WHEN HE DOESN’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY MOTHER!!! OR ME!!!"

Michiko covered her face and shook her head.

"OH, THAT BASTARD IS NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS!" He grabbed her hands harshly away from her face. "TAKE ME TO NERIMA!"

Michiko wiped her "tears" as she stammered, "N-now?"

"YES, NOW!"

She nodded and said in her most meek voice, "Yes, we’ll take my car."

Without wasting another minute, Hikaru headed out of his room. He nearly ran over Daiki who was walking towards his room. He heard the yells in Hikaru’s room, and wanted to see if everything was okay.

"Hey!" He shouted. "Watch it, Hikaru!"

"Sorry!" He yelled out, although he didn’t sound like he meant it. "I have to get home!"

"I thought you had a date!" Daiki called out.

Hikaru ignored him. Then Daiki noticed Michiko zip past him, trying to catch up to Hikaru. Together they rushed through the hall, bumping into other students who stared after them in confusion.

***

Hikaru Sato was very late!

Yi Ping checked her watch anxiously as she stood in front of the cinema. He was never late! Perhaps something had happened to him when he was on his way to meet her.

No, that couldn’t be it. Hikaru was one of the best fighters she had ever known. (In her age group, at least).

Yi Ping decided to go to his dorm. She arrived there within several minutes and simply went straight to his room only to find it empty with the door wide open.

She stepped into the hall, looking left and right. Then she spotted Daiki coming out of his room.

"Excuse me?" She called out.

"Oh, hi." He smiled at her. "You’re Yi Ping, right?"

"Yes. Have you seen Hikaru?"

"Seen Hikaru? I think everyone in this hall saw Hikaru especially with the way he walked out of here."

Yi Ping was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"The way he stormed out of here, you’d think there was a fire. He left with some chick."

"Chick?"

"Yeah, a woman, but don’t worry. She was older, and I doubt that she was his type. But, whatever she told him must have gotten him really upset. He was yelling, and it was disturbing everyone who was here."

"Why was he angry? What was he yelling about?"

"Something about his mom having an affair. I mean everyone heard it. Kinda embarrassing really."

Yi Ping’s eyes widened. She recalled how Hikaru had been upset one time about his mother and Ranma Saotome. He thought there was something going on, although Yi Ping dismissed the idea.

She said goodbye to Daiki and left the dormitory to set out for her next destination.

Nerima.

***

~Tendo Home and Dojo~

He was breathing…his breath flowed through the air like the sweetest song…everyone of her movements was caressing him…loving him…pleasuring him…

"A-a-a-akan-n-n-neeee…."

She opened her eyes and looked down upon her prisoner, lovingly clasped between her thighs, his masculinity high inside her, where gently pulsing muscles caressed him, teasing him…

"Shhh…You will breathe for me…breathe…just breathe…"

She loved this, missed this, the way he would writhe beneath her body with his voice nearly incoherent, as if she was the most intoxicating drug in existence. She pulsed her hips onto him with care, feeling as if every stroke of his hardened manhood inside of her warm body was setting her nerves on fire.

His breath quickens.

He was trying to hold back, to make it as good for her as possible, to pleasure her just a bit more…

But he could not resist her. No. Her body was ambrosia, nectar, clouds of dusty diamonds…

She smiled to herself as she felt his hips jab up into her vessel clumsily. He was there.

"Aaaaahhhh…kaaaaahhhh…neeeeeee! Sooooo gooood!"

"Come for me, Ranma. Come. Inside me. That’s what you want. That’s what I want."

"Uhhhnnnhhhh!!!!"

And his seed pulsed forth, deep into her vessel, and she came, her channel shaking, clasping…the tightly clenching muscles tugged his seed into her womb, where it would seek its goal, to prove her fertile spirit, to once more fill her with his child…

Akane gasped. His child! I could have one more of his wonderful children…and this time, I know that he will be here to watch me bring into this world…that he will be its father…my lover…yes, yes, yes!

"Ranmaaaaaaaa!" She called as she fell forward, collapsing on his heaving chest, where she lay for along moment as his spent organ shrank and softened within her channel.

She reached up, placed her hands on his cheeks, and kissed him as deeply as she could.

"GYAAAAHHHH! BAAASTAAARD!"

Their heads turned as one to the scream at the door to Akane’s bedroom where Hikaru stood, his face twisted in rage.

He had jumped out of Michiko’s car as they moved by the gates of the dojo and dashed in. The skies grumbled as he reached the dark living room, brightening only to the stroke of lightning. As he took another step forward, he felt something soft. He saw that it was a shirt. Then his eyes wandered further, a skirt…blouse…pants…boxers…bra…panties…a trail of clothing going up the stairs.

Hikaru shook as he stared at the garments. Outside the heavens growled in anger as his face became wrenched in fury.

Without thinking, he raced up the stairs and arrived at his mother’s room. He would have thought his feet pounding the floor would have attracted attention, but as he arrived at the doorway of his mother’s room…

She’s cut her hair, he thought, half-crazed. Then his mind saw her naked form. He saw her hips bouncing, and what she was bouncing upon.

Ranma Saotome was buried in the sheets, groaning as his mother rode him, hard and fast, and then his hips arched and the muscles on his stomach stood out as he groaned.

He’s….he’s….he’s…coming…inside…of …her!

And then her back was arched…her back was arched, her…back…was…arched…and she called out his name!

Then Akane leaned down, placed her hands over Ranma’s cheeks and kissed him with full of passion.

"GYAAAAHHHH! BAAASTAAARD!"

Both Ranma and Akane turned their head at the same time, seeing Hikaru standing in the doorway with his hands clenched into fists as his face was filled with rage.

Akane gasped. "H…Hikaru, this isn’t what it looks like."

"THEN WHAT THE HELL IS IT, MOTHER?"

She was speechless as Ranma who stared at him in shock.

"YOU!!! GET DRESSED AND GET OUTSIDE!!!"

"Hikaru, I…"

"NOW!!!" Then he stomped down the stairs and went out of the house.

Akane withdrew from Ranma who was saying, "Akane, I…"

She placed her finger on his lips. "I’m not sorry, Ranma. I wanted to make love with you. I love to make love with you. He just saw his mother in bed with someone else she’s not married to."

As they got dressed, he said, "Akane, it had to happen eventually. I just wish it wasn’t like this."

She put a hand on his cheek. "Neither did I. Come on. We have a lot of explaining to do. And he, more than anyone else, deserves an explanation."

Ranma nodded. "Hai, Akane-chan, hai."

***

With Akane trailing from behind, Ranma rushed outside. They quickly saw Hikaru’s figure standing at the pathway in front of the house. They saw someone lurking behind him in the shadows, but could not see who it was. Ranma and Akane frowned and became quickly disturbed. A thunderbolt flickered in the sky, shedding light to reveal a face they least expected to see.

"Michiko!" Ranma shouted.

Michiko let out a venom smile. "Hello, my darling husband."

Shocked, Akane looked at Hikaru and then at Michiko. It was at that moment when she realized what she had done. "You bitch! You told him!"

Ranma looked at her, aghast. "What? You mean she knew about Hikaru?"

If Michiko was surprised that Akane didn’t tell him, she didn’t show it. Her plan was working better than she expected. "Oh, for shame! Why, Akane, I thought you shared that talk we had at the Kobe Restaurant with my husband. I mean after all, you’re sharing the same sheets with him!!!"

"Damn you!" Akane shouted. "You had no right!" She turned to her son. "Hikaru, I don’t know what she told you, but please listen to me for a moment."

"Why? So you can lie to me again?" He retorted.

"No! No!" Akane’s voice was desperate.

Ranma spoke in a calm voice as he held out his hands before him. "Hikaru, please give us a chance to speak."

"Shut up!" Hikaru pointed at Ranma. "You ruined my life! You screwed my mother and then you just left her! Then you have the nerve to come back into her life! Worse, you drove Kouhei Sato to his grave!"

"What?" Ranma was startled at the accusation.

"He found out that I wasn’t his son! He killed himself! Because of you he’s buried in a cemetery while you’re here alive screwing my mother!"

"No." Ranma shook his head. "Hikaru, that’s not true!"

"He’s right, Hikaru!" Akane agreed. "Ranma is completely innocent! He had nothing to do with your dad’s death!"

Michiko said, "No, Hikaru, they’re lying to you."

"Don’t listen to her!" Ranma told him.

Hikaru trembled in anger. "Enough!" He shot Ranma a deadly look. "Ranma Saotome, tonight, you’re going to pay for what you did!"

He raised his fist high into the air as thunder roared in the skies. Then he smashed it into the ground. The concrete broke apart, creating a crack that zig-zagged across the sidewalk, stopping just before Ranma’s feet.

Ranma looked up at his challenger’s eyes. Eyes so much like his own. Eyes that were so full of anger and hatred.

"Hikaru, I don’t want to fight you. There’s no way I’m going to hurt you. You’re my son."

"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER!"

The words hit Ranma as if his own chestnut fist attack was directed at him.

"YOU WILL NEVER BE MY FATHER!"

Hikaru charged at him like a bull, letting out a war-like cry as he began to aim his fist at Ranma.

Akane screamed, "Hikaru!"

Hikaru flew into the air and saw Ranma below him. He got ready to aim his fist at him.

"Look out!" Ranma cried out as he pushed Akane out of the way.

Hikaru landed with his fist on the pavement which shook in anger and then exploded. Pieces of concrete flew into the air. Ranma used himself to protect Akane as he raised his arm as a shield for himself.

The rain of solid particles ceased as a cloud of dust appeared. Ranma and Akane coughed, and as the smoke cleared, they saw Hikaru kneeling with his fist resting on the spot where Ranma had been standing. He stood up and turned to Ranma with his eyes blazing.

"BAASTAAARD!" He started running again to attack him.

Then as if in slow motion, Akane threw herself in between her son and the father of her child with her arms raised. Hikaru’s feet screeched against the ground as he came to a sudden halt.

Akane turned to her son with tears in her eyes. "Hikaru…please…"

"Mom…"

"Hikaru, don’t do this! I swear to you that Ranma never knew about you until a few months ago. And your dad…he knew about you while I was carrying you in my womb, but he loved you like you were his own."

"Why should I believe you? You’ve been lying to me for eighteen years, how do I know if you’re telling the truth?"

"That’s right, Hikaru," agreed Michiko as he looked back at her. "She lied to you all your life to hide her own mistakes."

"No, Hikaru!" Akane shook her head as he turned his head again to her. "I did it to protect you. I didn’t want you to grow up feeling unwanted and unloved. The woman behind you is the reason why your father never knew you because she took him away from ME…from US before you even had a chance to meet him."

Ranma added, "If I had known about you, I would have come back, because I love your mother, Hikaru."

"If you loved her so much, then why did you leave her?" Hikaru demanded.

"Because I had to save her."

"Don’t listen to them, Hikaru," said Michiko.

So many contradictions. Hikaru’s head was spinning from confusion. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to get away from here! Fast!

He sprinted past his mother and Ranma. Then he leaped into the air, landing on the rooftop and began to run.

Far behind him, he heard a cry. His mother’s.

"HIKAAARRUUU!!!!!"

Then the skies opened up.

***

Nothing could be heard except for the sound of pitter-pattering rain. Ranma and Akane gazed up to the roof, staring after their son with worry.

Then they heard hands clapping from behind.

"Bravo! Bravo! Good show!" Michiko exclaimed with grin.

Akane turned slowly towards her, giving her the evil eye. Forming her hands into fists, trembling, she snarled, "You bitch!"

"I must say that my plan worked out better than I hoped."

"How dare you! How dare you twist my son’s mind!"

Michiko pretended to look innocent. "Moi?" She put her hand over her chest. "Why, Akane, he did that all by himself. All I did was tell a lie here and tell a lie there. It’s not my fault that he’s so gullible. He was easy to control." She smiled at Ranma. "I guess we all know where he got that from, right, Ranma, sweetheart?"

Ranma turned to away from her. The sight of her repulsed him. "You disgust me, Michiko."

"Oh? You didn’t seem to think so when we’re in bed together moaning out loud as you came." She laughed. "We had great times together, Ranma. Don’t tell me for the past eighteen years I didn’t give you the satisfaction you wanted."

Akane equally met Michiko’s stare. "If you’re so good as you said you were, then why did he slide out of your bed and slide into mine?" She paused for a moment, thinking out loud, "Why, just over a week ago, just like eighteen years ago, all I had to do was kiss him and he made love to me. He came back to me, one last time, right after you threw that damn deal at him, to give me Hikaru. I’m sure of it."

Michiko bared her teeth. "You whore!" She struck Akane hard across the cheek.

Ranma gasped, "Akane!"

He stepped forward, but Akane held out her hand to him. She faced Michiko and grinned as her cheek reddened from the slap Michiko delivered. "You know what? Between the that month he spent with me eighteen years ago that gave me my Hikaru and this past week, I do believe that Ranma and I have made love more times, in more ways, than you ever just used his body over the past eighteen years."

Michiko gritted her teeth at that. Akane’s voice began to rise to the sound of the beating rain. "You only used his body a few times every month, like he was some kind of a toy, when he was willing to give you so much more!

"Love! Family. Children! He makes such wonderful children. You saw Hikaru!"

She spoke through clenched teeth, "And you HURT him!"

Akane raised her hand and slapped Michiko across the cheek. The powerful blow made Michiko collapse on the wet ground.

Michiko’s eyes went small as her cheek developed into a red, rosy color. She peered angrily up at Akane through her wet bangs plastered against her forehead. "Oh, you’ll pay for this, Akane."

Akane gave her a smirk. "You only have a sheet of paper. You have his indignation! You will never touch him again.

"I hold his heart. I have his body and soul. I carried and bore his son. And he is my lover!"

Michiko spat. "You are his whore!"

Akane smiled. "I prefer mistress. And I carry the title with reverent pride."

She screamed, "I AM HIS WIFE!"

Akane spoke calmly as she looked down on her. "So what? No matter what, he will stay with me. He will love me. He will be with me."

"I have his name!"

"You have nothing! I have everything!"

"I BEAT YOU! I MARRIED HIM! I WON!"

"You beat no one but yourself. You enslaved him. You lost."

"I have destroyed your son!"

Akane shook her head with pity. "I love our son, as a mother should. And, he returns that love, as any son would. He will be back. We will be a family. Our house will be filled with laughter. Our lives will be filled with happiness. Your house will stand empty, your life miserable, and your bed cold because Ranma is mine. Now. And forevermore."

Michiko shrieked and got up, raising her arms to attack her, but her intention was quickly interrupted when Ranma shielded Akane from her. Michiko came to an abrupt stop. Her eyes widened with alarm as he told her with determination, "Go home, Michiko."

Akane emerged from behind him and said in a quiet voice, "You heard your husband. Get out."

Then she and Ranma turned around and headed back to the house, hand held tenderly in hand.

***

Yi Ping found him exactly where she expected him, his thinking place, which was also known as the rooftop of Furinkan High. The rooftop was also the point of their rendezvous. Whenever Hikaru is in town, she meets him there after her classes.

As the rainfall went on, Hikaru Sato was sitting on the cold concrete, with his chin propped on one knee, hugging his legs.

Yi Ping touched his shoulder. "Hikaru?"

"Hi, Yi Ping, " he said, without even bothering to turn around.

She knelt down before him. She saw that his eyes were red. He had been crying! Her heart immediately went out for him. It pained her to see his beautiful blue eyes that were always so cheerful had nothing but sorrow. Tenderly, Yi Ping swept his hair away from his forehead.

"Would you like to talk about it?" She asked in a gentle voice.

Instead of replying, he reached out and embraced her. She put her arms around him and comforted him like a mother would do to her child.

Moments later, she cupped his face and made him look at her. "What happened, Hikaru?"

Slowly, Hikaru told her the previous events that happened that evening, starting from the point where Michiko came to the dorm to the point where he ran off, leaving his mother as she cried out for him.

"So you were confused," said Yi Ping, "and took off."

He nodded. "I couldn’t take it anymore. Mrs. Saotome was saying one thing, and then my mom was saying another."

"Maybe…maybe you and your mom should talk."

"No!" He exclaimed harshly. "How do I know she’s going to tell me another lie? She lied to me about my real father, Yi Ping. She lied! Worse, she’s sleeping with that stupid jerk."

Yi Ping sighed. "Okay, Hikaru. But, surely, sitting out here in the rain won’t solve your problems."

"I don’t wanna go home," he told her in a stubborn Ranma-like voice.

"So? Who says that you have to?" Yi Ping stood up and offered her hand. "Come on. You can stay with us."

Hikaru hesitated and then he took her hand, nodding. "Hai," he agreed with a sigh.

***

Mousse and Shampoo bought a house five minutes away from the Nekohanten during their first years of marriage. It was here where Yi Ping and her younger brother Mao were born and where they spent their childhood playing and learning the most basic Amazon martial arts techniques brought from the motherland.

By the time Hikaru and Yi Ping go to the house, the rain finally ended. It was already nine in the evening, and Yi Ping guessed her family except for Mao was still awake. And sure enough, the light in the living room was still on.

She let herself and Hikaru in. Hikaru had been to Yi Ping’s house before, but ever since his mother came from that trip in Utsunomiya, she forbid Hikaru from going there. He never did understand why, and it was only a few weeks ago when his mom said that she and Yi Ping’s mother "didn’t see eye to eye."

There were voices, belonging to Yi Ping’s parents coming from the kitchen, speaking in rapid Chinese. Then as Yi Ping closed the door, they heard some shuffling and Mousse call out in Chinese, "Yi Ping? Is that you?"

"Yes, Father," she replied.

Mousse came to the living room, starting to say, "You’re a little early-" He stopped and saw his daughter standing by the door with Hikaru Sato, "Oh, hello," he greeted in Japanese.

"Hi." Hikaru lifted his hand slowly as an attempt to wave.

At that moment, Shampoo emerged from the kitchen. She immediately saw Hikaru and became startled. Her eyes widened. "Oh…hi, Hikaru."

Hikaru greeted back. "Hello."

There was an uncomfortable silence until Yi Ping spoke up, "Mama, Hikaru needs a place to stay for the night. Can he stay please?"

Before Shampoo could reply, Hikaru spoke up, "I know this is awkward since you and my mom don’t get along. I mean I would understand it if you said no."

Yi Ping pleaded, "Mama, please let him stay. Hikaru…he can’t go home right now."

Her parents looked at each other, and then they turned to them. Mousse nodded as Shampoo said, "Of course, you may stay, Hikaru. Since you’re both soaking wet, Yi Ping, go change. Hikaru, I’ll bring you some fresh clothes that you can change into."

As her daughter sighed with relief, Hikaru blinked at the sudden warmth and hospitality of this woman whom his mother didn’t like very much showed him. "Domo arigato."

"I will find you towel," said Mousse before he and Shampoo left the living room.

When they were gone, Yi Ping turned to him. "Why don’t you sit down, Hikaru?" Then she patted his hand. "I’ll be right back, okay?"

"Thanks, Yi Ping." Hikaru smiled.

She squeezed his hand slightly. "Don’t worry. Things will be fine."

***

"He’s not there?" Akane said through the phone. "Alright…you will?" She let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks you, Kasumi."

She hung up the phone and stared at it for along while until she heard the front door opening. Akane quickly ran to see who it was at the door and saw Ranma coming in, alone.

When Ranma saw her standing there in the hall, he shook his head. "I looked everywhere in the neighborhood, and there’s no sign of him."

"I called Kasumi. She said that Hikaru hasn’t been there, but she’ll call Nabiki for me."

"Maybe he’s on his way back to Yokohama," offered Ranma. "Did you call his dorm? Maybe you can ask one of his classmates to tell Hikaru to call you back when he gets there."

"I actually did." Akane sighed and hugged herself. "Oh, Ranma, I’m so worried."

He hugged her, and she did the same to him. During the past week or so, it was always been one of them trying to comfort the other. Now they were taking that same role for each other.

"This wasn’t exactly the family reunion I hoped for, " said Ranma.

"I’m sorry, Ranma."

"Don’t be sorry. He had to find out about me and about us."

"I should have told him, but I really wanted to wait for the right time."

Ranma put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her. "How the hell did Michiko find out?"

"It happened while you and Hikaru were on a camping trip. She came here to Nerima and began throwing all this information about our son. She even knew about Kouhei."

Ranma was shaking his head with disbelief. "She knew…all this time…she knew."

"I was afraid that she might tell you and then you might get angry at me for keeping your son away from you. Once I learned the truth, however, it suddenly didn’t matter that she knew. I had you by my side, and we would tell Hikaru our story. I just never thought that she would use the truth to hurt Hikaru and use him as a weapon of her own revenge against us."

Ranma wrapped his arms around her again. "He’ll come back to us, Akane, It’s like you said. We’ll all be together in this house and be a family. Just like we were meant to be."

***

After Yi Ping changed her clothes, she joined her parents and Hikaru at the kitchen. Hikaru, who was now wearing a pair of clothes that belonged to Mousse, was sitting at the table with her father as they drank tea. Her mother was pouring a cup for herself.

Shampoo smiled at her daughter. "Would you like some tea, Yi Ping?’

Yi Ping nodded and sat next to Hikaru. The phone rang, and since she was the nearest one to it, Shampoo volunteered, "I’ll get it."

Setting the teapot down, she answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Shampoo? Honey, it’s me."

"Oh, hello, Ukyou."

"I’m so sorry to be calling you pretty late, but I just got a phone call from Akane. Hikaru seems to be missing," said Ukyou. "I thought since Hikaru and Yi Ping are very close that maybe she would hear from him."

"Hikaru?" Shampoo’s eyes turned towards the young man.

The moment Hikaru heard his name, he stood up. "Who’s that?"

Shampoo covered the mouthpiece and told him, "It’s Ukyou. She said that your mother is looking for you."

"Oh, great." Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Whatever you do, please don’t tell her that I’m here."

"But…"

"I don’t wanna see my mom right now, and I especially don’t wanna see Ranma Saotome."

Shampoo’s face looked disturbed as Yi Ping said, "Mother, please."

Hastily, she turned back to the phone. "Ukyou?"

"I’m here, sugar."

"My daughter hasn’t heard anything from Hikaru, but we’ll call you back once we hear something."

"Will you please? Akane is really worried."

"Sure."

Ukyou thanked her and they both hung up. Shampoo looked back at Hikaru and Yi Ping. With her arms crossed, she set a determined look in eyes. "I don’t know what’s going on here, but I can tell you right now that your mother is probably at her wit’s ends, wondering where you are, Hikaru."

Mouss nodded towards him. "Why don’t you give your mom a call? Just to let her know that you are okay."

"No thanks," replied Hikaru.

"Then would you please tell us what’s going on? I think that you should at least explain, Hikaru," said Mousse as Shampoo stood next to him. He looked at his wife who put her hand on his shoulder as she nodded in agreement.

Hikaru hesitated. He looked at Yi Ping with a questioning look in his eyes.

Yi Ping gave him a reassuring smile as she told him in a soothing voice, "It’s okay, Hikaru. You can tell them."

"Whatever will be said will stay in this room," swore Mousse.

"Alright," he agreed. "I’ll tell you." He sat down again and began. "This evening when I was getting ready to meet Yi Ping, Michiko Saotome came to my dorm."

Shampoo frowned. "What did she want?"

"She said that there was something going on with my mom and her husband. I’ve been suspicious myself. She told me some stuff that led to the conclusion that they were having an affair."

"An a-affair?" repeated Mousse in a shaky voice.

"Then when I went home this evening, I found my mom and him together…"

Shampoo blinked. "Aiya."

"But that’s not all. I also found out that Ranma Saotome is my real father."

Mousse’s face went ashen while Shampoo gasped. Their eyes went wide with horror as the truth hit them stone cold.

Hikaru went on. "It was unbelievable, but it all makes sense. My dad and I are like night and day. Mom said that my dad knew it all along, but I don’t believe her. She kept the truth from me. She lied to me. Worse, she’s sleeping with the bastard who’s responsible for my dad’s death!" He clenched his fists. "Ranma abandoned me and my mom, and I hate him for it!"

Shampoo stared at Hikaru as she placed her hand over her chest. Suddenly, it seemed difficult for her to breathe. It was as if the walls were closing in on her. She looked at Mousse who had a guilty look in his eyes.

"Mousse, what have we done?" She murmured.

Tears formed in her eyes as he moved to embrace her.

The pieces of the puzzle began to fit. Now wonder Akane continued to hold a grudge against them. They just didn’t take Ranma away from her. They took Ranma away from Hikaru! Kami! To separate a father from his child! And all because they had been so selfish!

Shampoo sobbed into her husband’s shoulder, releasing her guilt. Akane…Ranma…I am sorry. So sorry.

Yi Ping was stunned. Her mother was always so tough, and she had never seen her cry. "Mama?"

"She’ll be fine," Mousse told his daughter as he rubbed Shampoo’s back.

"Mousse?"

He looked down at Shampoo who said, "We can never ever bring the past back, can we?"

Mousse nodded. "Then it’s time to tell all, Shampoo."

Shampoo nodded and wiped her tears. Then she faced Hikaru. "Sit down. There’s something we have to say."

Hikaru glanced at Yi Ping who shrugged. He took his seat again as Shampoo sat down next to her husband with their hands joined together.

Shampoo turned to the two of them. "What I’m about to tell you will have a strong impact in your lives, especially yours, Hikaru. Most of it are not good, and I admit that I’m not too proud of them."

Mousse added, "It will, however, shed some light on this mystery looming above you, Hikaru. Right now you have a distorted image of Ranma Saotome, but he is not the kind of person you are thinking of now. As for Akane, I think we understand why she had to keep the truth from you." His look met Shampoo’s eyes. Mousse squeezed her hand and his wife suddenly felt some encouragement.

Shampoo began softly, "Our story starts in China. As you know Yi Ping, your father and I belonged to a tribe of Chinese amazons. Our laws were different from the outside world and they strictly ruled our lives.

"Your father and I loved each other all our lives. When we were young, he would profess his love for me, but although I had feelings for him, I rejected him. You see Amazon law would not permit it because your father was weaker than me. An Amazon woman can not be dominated by a weaker man since he is not worthy of her. An ideal husband must possess great strength and skill, and he must be a formidable fighter.

"As I was growing up, I was trained very hard by my great grandmother to become the best Joketsuzoku warrior. I joined many competitions and won every match. I didn’t know the taste of defeat until this girl…an outsider…came to our village and beat me. I vowed revenge to kill her since I couldn’t accept that I had lost. This girl’s name was Ranma Saotome."

A surprised look spread across Yi Ping’s face as Hikaru repeated, "Ranma Saotome? I don’t understand. He’s a guy."

Mousse said, "He is, but what you don’t know about Ranma is that he spent his half of his life as a girl. You see, Hikaru, when Ranma was training with his father at the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo in China, he fell into one of the springs there. The Spring of Drowned Girl. Since then, he becomes a girl when doused with cold water. The only thing that could turn him back to his normal form is hot water."

"Wooaah!" Hikaru waved his hands. "I can believe your Amazon ways of life, but Ranma turning into a girl?"

"It’s true."

"This is too weird." Nonetheless, he was interested. Hikaru turned to Shampoo. "Please go on."

Shampoo nodded. "I chased Ranma around in China and followed him to Japan. I finally came upon him, but this time he beat me in combat…as a male."

Hikaru blinked. "In combat? Then that means he had to marry you…"

Shampoo raised an eyebrow. "You know that law?"

"He mentioned it to me a long time ago. I thought he was just pulling my leg, but he looked pretty serious."

"He speaks the truth." She paused. "I was in love with Ranma. Not only he was handsome, he possessed the qualities of an ideal husband for an Amazon woman. Ranma was the best martial artist.

"At this time, Ranma was already engaged to your mother. I knew even then that Ranma loved your mother. He watched out for her, fought for her, and made so many sacrifices for her.

"Ranma and your mother had a lot of suitors, and we all tried to break their engagement. We never were successful. Finally, Ranma and Akane’s wedding came. When we heard the news, we planned to destroy it. Just like the other suitors, I could not bear to watch the one I love marry another. We crashed the wedding and succeeded." By now, Shampoo was weeping again, and she stopped to wipe her tears.

Hikaru swallowed thickly, remembering that day when he discovered his mother’s wedding dress. "G-Go on. Please."

Shampoo took a deep breath and continued. "Because of the crashed wedding, it had been decided that there wasn’t going to be one for awhile. I think things became awkward between your parents. They were both young and there was that question of whether they wanted to marry because of family honor or because they love each other.

"Two years later, your mother left for college. I thought I was going to have a chance to win Ranma, but he left for America as an exchange student no sooner after Akane’s departure.

"He returned a year later to Japan. He had met Michiko and they planned to marry, and therefore breaking all the engagements. Ranma remained in Japan for a month, but I barely saw him.

"One day Genma Saotome and a businessman came to our restaurant. He introduced himself as Yuuki Tanaka. He was Michiko’s father. They invited Mousse and me for dinner. We agreed. When we got there, we also found out that Ryoga Hibiki was invited.

So, there we were sitting at the dinner table with the Saotomes and Mr. Tanaka."

"Why were the three of you invited?" asked Hikaru.

"I was just getting to that. Ranma, Genma Saotome, Ryoga Hibiki, Mousse and I had one thing in common, we were cursed because we fell into the Springs of Jusenkyo. We lived half of our life in our cursed forms. I fell in to the Spring of Drowned Cat; Mousse, the Spring of Drowned Duck; Ryoga, the Spring of Drowned Pig; and Genma, the Spring of Drowned Panda." Shampoo went on even though she saw the astonished looks on Hikaru and Yi Ping’s faces. "Our curses were a nuisance. Could you imagine living half of your life as a cat? Or as a duck? A pig? A giant panda? You might take it for granted that you can actually use cold water without even worrying into turning into your cursed form." She cleared her throat, returning to her story. "As it turned out, Ranma had broken his engagement with Michiko, and Mr. Tanaka was there to make sure that it wasn’t going to happen. Mr. Tanaka offered a cure for the five of us. He said that if Ranma would marry his daughter, he would give it to us. Ranma refused. We were outraged and confronted him in private. He told us that he wasn’t going to marry Michiko. He said that he was going to marry Akane. He said that Akane loved him just the way he was and that his curse didn’t matter. He loved her and there was no way he was going to give her up for a cure.

"Things happened very fast. Ranma told us that he was going to elope with Akane. Ranma and Ryoga argued. Ryoga tried to stop him from going, but Ranma knocked him unconscious. Then he left…"

***

(Flashback)

"You can’t buy me, Tanaka! There’s no way I’m going to marry your daughter over a jar of Nannichuan! You can just kiss my ass!"

As Yuuki Tanaka watched Ranma run out of the house, he said to himself, "We’ll see about that."

At that moment, Genma, Shampoo, and Mousse arrived.

"Where is he?" Genma demanded furiously as he looked around the room.

"He’s gone." Tanaka stood up and looked at him. "Your boy is very stubborn, Genma. It’s such a shame that we had to reach this point."

"Reach what point?"

"Come with me. The three of you please," he told them.

They exited the house with Tanaka leading the way, and walked down the street until they came upon a limousine, parked by the sidewalk. A chauffeur was standing by the vehicle, and Tanaka nodded at him. He opened the door at the back.

"There’s someone I’d like you three to meet," said Tanaka. "Meet my lovely daughter. Michiko Tanaka."

She emerged from the vehicle with grace. Shampoo eyed the woman. Michiko was very beautiful and possessed a lithe figure. She reminded Shampoo as one of the sophisticated models she saw in the magazine.

"Michiko, these are Genma, Shampoo, and Mousse."

Michiko nodded at them. "I’m not here to socialize. So let’s get down to business. Tell me just how desperate are you to get the cure."

"We want to be normal," replied Mousse, as he emphasized on the last word.

"We not convince Ranma. He want to marry Akane." Shampoo spat out Akane’s name.

"You don’t sound like a very big fan of Akane Tendo, Shampoo."

Shampoo’s face was livid. She recalled Ranma’s words in the kitchen after he admitted that he was sleeping with Akane. "Shampoo hate Akane. She whore. Ranma pick Akane while Shampoo love him! Shampoo insulted!"

"But you do want to be cured, don’t you?"

Shampoo nodded. "Yes."

"Would you be willing to do anything? And I do mean anything?" Michiko’s eyes were firm.

Genma raised an eyebrow. "You have a plan?"

"I want Ranma and you want the cure. This Akane seems to standing in our way. She must be taken care of."

"You mean…"

"Make a deal with Ranma. Tell him that if he doesn’t yield to your wants, you will get rid of Akane. I’m sure that will convince him enough. He can’t work against the three of you."

Tanaka put his arm around Genma and gave Michiko an admiring smile. "My daughter is very smart, isn’t she? Well, what do you say Saotome? If our children marry, not only will you get the cure, but you will have a chance to expand your school. Would you rather be stuck being a panda for the rest of your days and live the life you have now or be normal and strike it rich?"

Genma turned to Mousse and Shampoo. "Let’s do it."

"Shampoo with you," she agreed.

"I stand by any decision my love Shampoo would make," declared Mousse.

Michiko was pleased. Very pleased. "Good."

"Our work is done here, " said Tanaka. As he entered the limousine, he said, "Give me a call, Genma, when you’re ready to deliver your son."

Before Michiko followed her father inside, she turned to the group one last time. "Unless you want to be stuck with those damned curses for the rest of your lives, you never heard it from me."

***

"And so we confronted Ranma," finished Shampoo. "He had no choice. It was Akane’s life or the cure."

"So he lost my mother and you got your cure," said Hikaru sarcastically. "How you lived with yourselves is a mystery."

Shampoo’s lower lip trembled as tears filled her eyes. "It…it wasn’t like that. There were feelings of …of guilt."

"When, Mama?" Yi Ping challenged as she stood up and slammed her fists on the table. "Tonight? After you realized that everything is too late? After you realized that you and Father caused the separation of Hikaru and his real dad."

"You have to understand…that night we were very desperate "

She shook her head. "No. No, you weren’t. You were jealous of Akane Tendo You wanted to hurt her."

Shampoo’s eyes widened. "Yi Ping…"

"Well, it’s true, isn’t it? Ranma Saotome was in love with Akane! And instead of accepting it and going on with your life, you agreed with that horrible woman to kill her! You hated Akane so much that you wanted to punish her, and you didn’t care if Ranma married Michiko because you wanted her out of the picture!" Yi Ping’s eyes went small as she snarled. "Well, congratulations, Mama! You finally succeeded. Not only did you get your cure, Ranma gave her up. And as a consolation prize, you also made him give up his son!"

Mousse stood up. "Yi Ping! Have you no shame to speak to your mother that way?"

"Shame? Why should I?" Yi Ping cried out as tears formed in her eyes. "You certainly didn’t know the meaning of it when you decided to work with Michiko."

Her verbal attack hit them like knives that were hurled straight at them.

"And you’re just about to find out the deeper meaning of it."

With that, Yi Ping fled from the kitchen in tears.

Concerned for the girl that meant so much to him, Hikaru quickly went after her. "Yi Ping!"

Mousse called her name while Shampoo cried it out in agony as she put out her arm as an attempt to reach out for the daughter she just lost.

***

She didn’t know where she was going, but she kept running until she reached outside as tears streamed down her face. She stopped once she found herself standing in front of her house. She buried her face into her hands and continued to cry as her shoulders shook.

Then a voice called out to her from behind. It was a voice of an angel.

"Yi Ping." Hikaru put his hand on her shoulder.

"Oh, Hikaru! Hikaru!" She turned around and sobbed into his chest as he put his arms around her to comfort her.

He ran his hands through her long black mane and closed his eyes, sighing. When her cries subsided, he held her by the shoulders and looked at her. "What do you say we leave this place, Yi Ping?"

"Where would we go?" Yi Ping sniffed as she wiped her cheeks.

"I don’t know. There’s gotta be a place out there that’s better than this."

***

~Tendo Home, Sunday~

Akane was sitting on the porch looking at the koi pond as the sun was setting on the horizon. On her lap was a letter she had received hours ago. She looked down at it, seeing the how the folds of the paper had been worn from re-opening it. Akane had read the letter over and over that she already memorized the words.

The letter said:

Dear Mom,

By the time you get this letter, Yi Ping and I will probably be long gone. Last night after I was over at her house. It was there where I found out the truth. Yi Ping’s mother revealed everything from the Jusenkyo curse to the death threat they made leading to your separation with my real father.

I realized that my accusations on him were wrong, and I apologize for it. I still have mixed feelings about him, though. He’s the real reason why I’m here, but to me he’s a stranger. It’s gonna take some time to get use to him. Also he’s a married man. I admit that your affair with him is not the best news in my life.

I decided to take a few days off from school. Yi Ping has to deal with some stuff that her mother did in order to come to terms with it. I am in the same situation she is in and we decided to take this journey together.

You won’t be hearing from me for awhile. Sayonara.

Your son,

Hikaru

Ranma entered the room and saw Akane gazing outside. He sat down next to her. Realizing that he was present, she leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.

Ranma said, "You know I can’t say that I blame the kid, Akane."

Akane looked at him and saw sadness in his eyes. "He’ll come around, Ranma."

"I know."

He put his arm around her shoulder as they watched the sun go down as the skies lost its bright orange color. They were quiet for a moment until Ranma spoke up.

"You know what, Akane-chan?"

"What?"

"Someday the sun is going to shine forever in our lives."

Akane smiled at him. "What a lovely thought."

They faced the gray, darkening skies, thinking of the unknown future that they were about to face.

Author’s notes:

Man, I thought I’d never get to this part. As if this chapter isn’t long enough already, I’d like to add my comments about some of the scenes in this chapter.

1. Hikaru’s powerful punch
2. I know this scene is almost similar to the first scene of the episode, Close Call! The Dance of Death on Ice!, where Ranma made that famous punch that broke the skating rink. I loved that scene. Ranma was so cool! But the real reason I chose to follow that scene was because I wanted to elaborate more of just how alike Ranma and Hikaru are. I’ve shown through some parts of this fanfic and this chapter how Ranma and Hikaru have the same speech, mannerisms, and appetite. My aim in that scene was to point out how they are similar in when it comes to their style in fighting and their strength.
3. Akane as the human shield.

Okay, so I got this scene too from the OAV, An Akane to Remember. (Man, I love that OAV!) I thought it was a good idea for Akane to come in between Ranma and Hikaru. Hikaru would never hit his mother, and this was one way to get him to stop and listen to them.

3. Hikaru catching Ranma and Akane together. (Ahem. Blush)

I thought it was significant to have this scene. I figured that after letting out all that steam at the dorm, the drive to Nerima probably would have calm Hikaru a bit. Just a bit. It is a pretty long drive, guys. (points at the map of Tokyo and its nearby cities). Once seeing his mom and Ranma, of course, I had to describe it just how Hikaru sees it and this was what broke the camel’s back.

4. Although Hikaru knows the truth, it is obvious that it will be awhile before things between his parents and him get settled. Ranma was his sensei and his mother’s business partner. Then suddenly, overnight, Ranma is his father and his mother’s lover. It would, of course, be normal for him to disapprove his mother’s affair with him. For obvious reasons, Ranma is still married and as Hikaru mentioned in his letter, "a stranger". And he probably doesn’t understand why sex would have to be a part of their relationship. Like any child, he expects his mother to act a certain way, neglecting the fact that his mother has needs. We look up to our parents as role models, which is why that sometimes when they disappoint us, we’re the ones who get hurt the most. (Just take a look at Yi Ping). We see our parents as these perfect, docile creatures when we forget that they are human, too. They feel, love, hate, and make mistakes just like us.

5. When I started doing this chapter, I thought of the perfect passage "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," as the best one to describe Michiko. However, as I was going through Shampoo’s confession, I considered her also, as another "woman scorned." Both felt betrayed and in response, they vented out their anger in revenge. The only difference is that Shampoo felt guilty and when she and Mousse realized the real damage, it was too late to make up for it, and all she could do was confess.

Of course, I hope that you liked the chapter. It’s always important to me that you do, and yeah, there’s going to be a few more twists in DYR 18 and DYR 19. Some of you know it already, so stay tuned everyone.