Hello again.

Since I'm off to NY for a week, I doubt I'll be able to work on the
"Untitled" story very much. So I thought I'd post my first fanfic again
instead to tide everyone over.

Of course, C & C is appreciated. (Don't worry, my computer is set up to pick
up your flames) ^_^.

HONOR LOST
A Ranma 1/2 fanfic by
Paul Meaney
Imafreek@aol.com

Part One - CRISIS


	Ranma sat cross-legged in the center of the Dojo, lost among his own
thoughts.  In front of him lay the Saotome family Katana.  The edge sharpened
beyond what would be considered normal.  Ranma stares at the weapon's glint
from the high polish.  It's fine gold and jeweled endpiece.  The worn leather
wrapped around the handle.
	A knock at the door disturbed him. 
"Are you all right, son?"
	"Just a minute, father." The words shocked him.  In all of his life, he had
always called him "Pop".  He quickly put the sword away in it's sheath, and
back into the weapon cache. 
"Come in."
	Genma slid the door open and walked in.  Age had not taken it's toll on the
man.  Other than a few wrinkles, he still held his form well.
It must have something to do with the curse, Ranma thought.  Having been the
only one cured, Ranma hasn't known what other effects would have occurred to
him over the past few years.
"You have a visitor."
"Really?" Ranma replied.  Most everyone Ranma knew from those care-free days
had moved on.  The few who were still around he hardly ever spoke to. 
"Who is it?"
"Just me, you old pervert." came a familiar voice. 
"Ryoga!!"  Exclaimed Ranma.  "How did you ever.."
"Part of my latest training, my old friend." Ryoga and Ranma embraced like
long lost brothers. "I was lucky to be in the area and came as soon as I
could."
"I'm glad you're here." Ranma took a good long look at his compadre.  Ryoga
still spent most of his time traveling, but now it was mostly training
journeys.  His hair was long and braided down the center  of his back.  His
smile framed with a goatee.  The lines in his face carved with the long, hard
experiences of the road.
"I want to clean up and get some food.  Perhaps rest for a while."
"Of course."
"And then... I want to visit Akane."


They arrived at the Medical Center later that afternoon, greeted, of course,
by Dr. Tofu. 
"Ranma! Ryoga!" Tofu exhaled.  "How are you?"
"Fine, Doc." Ryoga replied.  "Long time, no see. How is Kasumi??"
"Doc.. Any change?" A nervous Ranma interrupted. 
"Not yet, Ranma. I'm sorry.  The test results should be ready soon.  Why
don't you two go in and see Akane."
Ranma and Ryoga walked down a hallway, leaving Tofu behind to tend to his
business.  They arrived outside a plain white door with a �Do Not Disturb�
sign placed perfectly in it's center.  Ranma considered not going in.  He
couldn't go in there again.  He didn't have the strength, Or the courage.
 <<Not that long ago, I would have laughed at such lack thereof.>>
"Ranma?" 
"....."
"It's okay."  Ryoga assured him.  "Let's go in."
The room was exceptionally bright.  The window on the far wall was left
slightly ajar, letting a comforting breeze in.  Next to the window in a bed
lay a still figure covered in a simple white sheet...
"Akane.." Ryoga looked at the young woman.  Her skin was a little pale, but
she still was as pretty and vibrant as ever.  Her arms showed a few marks
from whatever event had taken place.
"Ranma.. No one has actually told me how this happened."


Akane stormed out of the house.  "BAKA!" She cried.  Another fight ending
with Ranma in a heap on the floor.  Some things never change, Ranma thought.
 In a minute or so, I'll go meet her at the gravesite, then I'll apologize..
again. 
Ranma picked himself up and brushed the debris off of his tunic.  It's
amazing how the little things wound up into such large arguments. 
"POP!" He shouted, "I'm going out to get Akane!" 
Genma met him at the front door, as usual.  For an old man, he could still
move pretty fast.
"Son, one day you're going to learn that you cant be fighting with Akane
forever.  I figured you two have been married long enough to have gotten
around those petty arguments."
"Pop, you should know that old habits die hard."
"Ranma, Ranma, Ranma. You've grown up a lot in the past few years and you
still don't understand.."
"You know we've tried before Pop, we kinda _like_ to fight.  It's our way.
 The best thing about fighting though, is making up when you're finished."
 He finished with a sly grin.
"Mark my words, Ranma! You're going to learn the hard way!! Did I ever tell
you about the time I.."
With a large splash, Genma was transformed into his panda form.  Ranma had a
habit of knowing exactly where to place an extra bucket of water in key areas
of the house, just for occasions like this.
"Spare me the lecture for later, Pop.  I want to catch up to my wife."
Ranma bolted out before his father could think twice.  Running through the
back streets, knowing Akane would have taken the same path.  Ahead of him was
the old covered bridge, a crowd of people gathered at the entrance.  <<It
must have finally collapsed.>>  Ranma thought.  <<The city should have
repaired it a long time ago.>>  Then a terror ran through him..
"Akane..."


"It was an accident." Ranma choked.
"Oh..."
Never had Ryoga seen Ranma in such a state.
"Ranma..." He started, "I.. I.. I'll go and talk to Dr. Tofu and see if
there's anything I can do."  Ryoga left the room quietly.
<<There's nothing anyone can do.>>
"I'm sorry, Akane."  He kneeled by the bedside and took her hand.
 Surprisingly, it was warmer than he had expected.  "I should have been there
for you.  Please, Akane, don't leave me.  Come back.  I can't go on without
you.  I need you here with me." 
Ranma pleaded, but his cries fell on deaf ears. 
"I love you."
"AKANE! You stupid girl!"  Ranma felt the rage flowing through him, building
up with no way to release it.  "You can't do this to me!!  Not after all
we've been through!!  I won't let you go!!"
He releases a punch on an unsuspecting night table, shattering it to bits.
 It's contents spew across the room. 
"STUPID TOMBOY MACHO CHICK!"  A helpless chair finds it's way out through the
window.  All of course, to no avail.
Weeping hysterically, he plants himself by her side on the floor amongst the
broken glass and wood splinters.  Not caring about the cuts and slowly
flowing blood from sitting in such hazardous objects.
"I won't let you go.." he whispers.


Tofu came running down the hallway, nearly knocking Ryoga over.
"What's the hurry, Doc?"
"We must get Ranma!"
They burst into the wrecked room together. "Ranma!!" Tofu cried.
"I'm sorry about the room, Doc."
"Never you mind.. I know what's wrong!"
Ranmas' face lit up. 
"You do? Tell me! what is it??"
"Akane was in no accident!  She was poisoned!"
"What?" Ranma and Ryoga both shouted.
"I tested her blood.  It's some sort of virus, but it did not come from any
injury that you reported."  Tofu moved towards the bed and began checking
Akane's bruises.  Finally he stopped. "Here! You see?"
He held up her arm and pointed out a bruise with a tiny mark in it's center.
 She had been injected!
"Who would have done such a thing?" Ryoga asked.
"And why?" Tofu added.
Ranma pondered it over.  Back in the old days, it was fairly easy to tell who
was up to what.  But now... No one was left.  There were no would-be
alternative brides.  No ploys to separate him and Akane.  Nothing.
Everyone seemed to figure this out as a deathly silence filled the room.


Part Two - COMPLICATIONS


Dinner went by very quietly.  Genma tried to start some small talk, but to no
avail.
"I wish Soun were here" He muttered.
"We all do, Mr. Saotome" replied Nabiki.
Tofu walked in with Kasumi, each bringing plates of assorted desserts.
"Come on, everyone." Kasumi said.  "There still is hope." 
"Without knowing what Akane was injected with, we cant make an antidote"
Ranma blurted.
"I never said that, Ranma."  Replied Tofu.  "It will be a little harder to
find an antidote."
"Time is something we don't have, Doc." Ranma said.  "We can't wait for you
to develop that cure."
Dinner was obviously over.  Everyone eventually went their separate ways
about the house.  Ranma sat on the futon in the room he shared with Akane.  A
knock came at the door. 
"Come in."
"Hi, Ranma, can we talk?"
"Of course, Nabiki."
"I don't know if this is a good time or not.. But I have something to discuss
with you.  It's rather important."
"Go on, Nabiki.  I can use a little distraction.  What is it?  Your holdings
go down or something?"
"No, Ranma.  This isn't about money.  It's about... well..."
"What?"  Ranma never saw Nabiki like this before.  She never seemed to be
bothered by anything.  This was.. different.  She slipped him a piece of
paper. 
"Read this."
Ranma opened the paper.  It was in Soun's handwriting. 
"This is part of your father's will, Nabiki."  Ranma observed.  After the
funeral, everyone got a personal note from him each with advice and his final
wishes.
"I know that, Ranma.  Just read it, please."
Ranma read the paper, eyes widening as he went on.  Soun had wanted the Dojo
to go on no matter what had happened.  He and Genma, the last two �official�
students of Happosai, had arranged for the Anything-Goes School of Martial
Arts to carry on with the marriage of their future children.  Of course, if
conditions had changed, backup plans had to be in place.  It looked now that
one of those plans would come into reality.
"I see why you came to me.  The situation has developed where you would get
nervous."  He said when finished.  "Who else knows about this?"
"Just your father I suppose." She replied.
"Let's keep this to ourselves, then." 
"Hai."  Nabiki replied.  "We can.. talk later."


"Pop.." Ranma called as he entered his father's room.  "You still awake?"
"Yes." Genma replied.  "What is it, son?"
"I had a little talk with Nabiki a while ago.."
"Oh?"
"Why didn't you tell me about Mr. Tendo's final arrangements?"
"Because no one ever thinks these things will ever happen, son.  I saw no
need to tell you."
"And what about Akane?  If she dies am I to so easily forget all about her?"
"Of course not, son.  I never said that.  But with no heirs of your own to
carry on the dojo, you must be wed to another.  Soun's final wish was that if
a situation like this arose, you would marry another of the girls and the
dojo would carry on.  Luckily, Nabiki has not yet married."
"This is ridiculous, pop!!  I love Akane!  And what about Nabiki?  What if
she doesn't want to marry me?  What if Kasumi hadn't married Tofu?? Or.."
"No questions, Ranma."  Genma said.  "I understand what you are going
through.  I'm sorry, but we have all been through enough to understand where
our responsibilities and honor lie."
Ranma thought about it.  As long as Akane was alive, these arrangements
didn't exist.  If Akane did die.. well.. Ranma didn't think he could go on.
 Keeping the thought to himself, Ranma finally spoke 
"Hai. The dojo must carry on. I'll do as you ask."
"Thank you, son.  You do Soun and I great honor.  He would be proud." Genma
said, tears churning from his eyes, as Ranma left.
	Ranma had left the light on in the bedroom.  He missed Akane by his side at
night.  He had never felt as bad as he did now.  The only world he knew was
crumbling around him, and there was nothing he could do about it.  He lay on
the futon, not bothering to undress and tried to think of more happier
times...but none would come to him as sleep embraced him.


With some time to kill before going home, Akane and Ranma had wandered off
together away from the others, trying to get some time alone.  Akane was safe
from the plans of Cologne, who led them to China and had once again tried to
trick Ranma into marrying Shampoo.
"I hate this place.  It gives me the creeps." Akane said.
"I'm surprised no one has destroyed it." Ranma commented.  "It's way too
dangerous."
They looked out together over the cursed springs.  A common chill brought
them together in an embrace.
"Do you know which ones are which?"
"Of course not.  The only one who knew was the Jusenkyo Guide, and he never
bothered to mark any of them."
"Ranma... why didn't you or your father ever ask him which one was nannichuan
and reverse the curse?"
Ranma had never thought about it.  That solution was too... simple.  
"Uhhh... I dunno"
"Maybe you like being a girl half the time?"
"No I don't stupid tomboy!"
"Jerk"
"Macho"
"Baka"
"Uncute, unsexy..."
The kick sent Ranma high into the air.  She had promised Kasumi never to
strike someone in anger, but Ranma made things easy for her to forget.  
Akane had just realized that she had directed Ranma towards the springs. 
"Oh no!! Ranma!! I'm sorry!"  She couldn't stand for him to be cursed with
something else.  Everyone was used to his girl side.  This was bound to cause
more problems and bring more hardships to their relationship.  A loud splash
directed Akane to Ranmas' landing point.
"Ranma!! Ranma!!!"  She kneeled in front of the pool.
Ranma's form moved under the surface.  Akane could not make out what was
going on under the bubbles and ripples.
"AHHHH!" Ranma surfaced... as Ranma??!
"RANMA!!" Akane shouted!  "It's.. You..."
"I'm a guy!" Ranma looked at himself in disbelief.  "I.. I'm cured!! I'm
CURED!!!"
With new found joy, Ranma leapt into the air, bouncing from tree limb to tree
limb.  Akane watches him, crying with shared happiness.  Ranma finally calmed
down enough to be by Akane's side.
"This is the happiest day of my life!!" He bursts.
"Oh, Ranma, I'm so happy for you!"
"Akane?"
"What is it, Ranma?"
"I want to make this day really special.  I want the icing on my cake.."
"What are you talking about?"
"Akane, we've known each other a long time and.. well, even though.. uh...
and our parents really want us to.."
"Ranma what are you saying??"
"Akane... I love you." he brought her in close. "Will you marry me?"
Akane was shocked, for the longest time she wanted to hear this.  It seemed
so unreal and yet.. 
"Ranma... of course I'll marry you, stupid baka." She whispered as she kissed
him.
"Macho" He replied with his own.
After a few more insults, each with a kiss more passionate than the one
before, Ranma came up with an idea.
"We have to mark the Nannichuan somehow."  He ran to a nearby tree and with a
loud kei, lopped off a branch.  He returned and placed the branch firmly in
the center of the pool, between the two bamboo poles.  "There. Now everyone
can return to normal. Pop, Mousse, Ryoga.."
"Why would Ryoga need the pool, Ranma?"
"Uhhhh.. Err... Because he can use the extra help."
"I wish you wouldn�t make fun of him, Ranma.  He's your friend and deserves
better.  You treat him almost as bad as P-Chan."
"Yeah.. well, let's get back.  It looks like it's going to storm soon."
Upon their arrival back at the long abandoned Jusenkyo groundskeeper�s house,
Ranma boasted of his discovery of Nanichuan, his cure and his and Akane�s
final breakdown to get married.  After several dousings to prove his point, a
great celebration went underway.  Outside, however, The oncoming storm Ranma
and Akane witnessed before grew with as much rage as the happiness in the
house.
The next morning, when the party had returned to the springs, branches and
leaves covered the springs from the violent storm, erasing the mark Ranma had
left.


	Ranma, with Ryoga in tow, returned to Tofu's center.  After checking on
Akane, they went into a small, private room. 
	"I have news, Ranma.  I've identified the poison."  Tofu announced as Ranma
perked up.  "It's called Iocane.  A very slow acting poison.  It's origin is
in..."
	"..China, isn't it?" Ranma said.
	"I'm not an expert on such things, but I'm pretty sure.. how did you know?"
	"It all fits now.  The slow poison acts as a time limit.  It's Cologne.  She
wants me to come to her."
	"But Shampoo and Mousse.." Ryoga interrupted.
	"Are married, I know.  I don't know why she wants me there, but I'm sure
she'll have the cure."
	"I'll go with you, old friend." Ryoga said.
	"I wish to go also.."
	"No.  Doc, you have to stay and watch after Akane.  I know you will take
good care of her."
	"Hai."
	"Ryoga."
	"To the death, my friend, lets go!"
	"No."
	"WHAT??"
	"This is something I have to do alone... For Akane."
	"Yes." Ryoga said, with an odd grin.  "I suppose it is."


	Upon his announcement at the dojo that he was leaving for China, Ranma was
showered with tear-filled �good-lucks�.  Ranma then retreated to his room to
pack a few things when a figure appeared at the doorway.
	"Nabiki?"
	"Ranma-Chan.  I request to accompany you on this journey."  The
ultra-seriousness in her voice caught Ranma by surprise.
	"What?  You can't be serious, Nabiki.  I don't know what kind of situation
I'm going into, but I know it will be dangerous.  I can't risk your life,
also."
	"You will not refuse me."  She demanded.  "I will go because Akane is my
sister, I will do her honor.  Believe it or not, I still have some skill."
	"Akane told me that you and Kasumi used to practice when you were young.
 But I don't.."
	"Also if we come back to.. the worst, we will need this time together to
prepare ourselves."
	What she said began to make sense to Ranma.  Although he didn't know which
reason she gave was more valid, he made his decision. 
"I suspect that you're packed and have booked us for a flight to China?"
	"Hai, I have."
	"Then let's go."


Part 3 - THE PLANE


	The plane ride was not unpleasant.  Ranma and Nabiki talked about a lot of
different things.  Ranma got tired of the small talk, and still being
somewhat awkward towards women, asked her outright. 
"Nabiki.. Do you... like me?"
	"Ranma.. You are my sister's husband."
	"That's not what I asked."
	"..."
	"The truth, Nabiki.  You said this time was for us to.. well.. prepare for
the worst."
	Nabiki had a sad look on her face.  Ranma had seen her expel more emotions
in the past 24 hours than in all the years he had known her.
	"When you first came to us, I had no idea what to expect.  All I knew was
that one of us was to be your wife.  I did know it would be between Akane and
I, because Tofu and Kasumi were already seeing each other."  She paused and
took a deep breath.  "Upon the announcement that you were to choose one of
us.. Kasumi didn't want to give up Tofu and I..."
	"You what?"
	"I was scared."
	"Scared?  You?"
	"I didn't know anything about you.  I panicked.  So to rid ourselves of
problems, we 'mutually' decided it was to be Akane."
	"I see."
	"Don't get the wrong idea, Ranma.  We were quite young at the time."
	"I can understand that."
	"And.. believe it or not.. I was.. jealous sometimes."
	"It never seemed that way.  The only thing you ever seemed interested in is
money."
	"You should know better than that.  Our father raised us better.  We all
knew where our duties lied.  A good portion of that money went to the house,
you know that."
	Ranma had been taken aback by everything Nabiki had told him.  He sat
bewildered in the chair, not knowing what to say. 
	"What about you, Ranma?"
	"..."
	"Did you ever think of me?"
	"To be honest, it did cross my mind on several occasions." Ranma said.
	"The thought of a fiancee never was your main concern."
	"I was pre-occupied.  A curse and an arranged marriage is a bit too much for
someone that age to bear."  Ranma paused.  "Besides, manipulating Kuno all
the time must have made up for it."
	"Kuno.. was...." She blinked.  "A mistake."
	"I thought you really liked him."
	"For a while, yes." Nabiki started.  "But he was.."
	"Nothing like me, thank god."  Ranma joked.
	Nabiki took a long deep breath. 
"Exactly."
	Ranma was blown away from that one. 
"...what..."
	"Kuno was nice, but he didn't have a clue most of the time.  Taking
advantage of him wasn't much fun after a while.. it was.. a job.  That's when
I thought I'd have been better off with an arranged fiancee."  She finished,
tears welling in her eyes.
	"Nabiki... I'm sorry.  I had no idea."
"Ranma.." She grabbed his hand,  "What it all comes down to is.. I hope we
succeed.  I think it will be too hard for both of us to start over again."
	With that said, he smiled his agreement and squeezed her hand.  She then
laid her head on Ranmas' shoulder.  Ranma slipped his arm around her to help
comfort her.
He held her for a while.  It felt good to hold someone again.  A long time
ago, he had admired Nabiki (If only she hadn't worried about money all the
time..), and again pondered over what it would have been like to be engaged
to her... or Kasumi. 
With a sudden realization that this felt _good_, he began to push her away.
 They looked at each other.  A heartbeat passed.  Nabiki moved in closer.. 
"Ranma... keep in mind that I may be a better choice than seppiku." She
whispered.
 He wondered how she knew.  Nabiki was very special, indeed.  As he moved to
meet her, he looked into her eyes.  In them he saw Akane.  He flooded with
guilt.  He turned bright red.  
"I'm sorry, Nabiki."
"Ranma.. It's okay."
"It's not, Nabiki. I.."
"Ranma... We're only human. I think Akane would understand."
I hope she lives long enough to tell me that herself, Ranma thought as the
plane and his thoughts drifted on..


The wedding went on without any major outbreaks. All was quite peaceful at
the reception.  Soun couldn't stop crying from the happiness he felt.  
If he doesn't stop soon, Ranma thought, in this heat he'll cry himself into
dehydration.
	"Ranma, why didn't Ryoga show up?" Kasumi asked.  "Wasn't he supposed to be
your best man?"
	"You know him, he's as lost as yesterday." He said eyeballing P-Chan in the
corner of the dojo.  "I have a feeling that he'll show up tomorrow"
	"Ranma, I thought I told you to talk nice about him!!" Akane remarked.
	"It's hard to be nice to someone who wants to kill you half the time."
	"Does that include me?" She asked.
	"Of course, not." He said, kissing her nose. "You're my little tomboy."
	"I don't know whether to kiss you or kill you."
	"If you kill me, you won't get to kiss me anymore."
	Akane thought it over. "Death it is.." She said.  "It will be a long, slow
death where I'll torture you by being your wife for the rest of our lives."
	"GOOD LORD, NO!" Ranma said.  They both smiled and hugged each other.
	Ranma decided to finally go talk to Ryoga. 
"Hiya P-chan."
	The pig let out a snort of disgust. 
	"I thank you for not ruining my wedding.  I know you had something planned
to break it up, but I didn't think you counted on being a pig for the day."
	Ryoga twitched with anger.
	"One more thing.  I hope you don't plan on being in our marital bed.  You
may be used to sleeping with Akane, but I think it's my job now."
	The last straw being broken, Ryoga sunk his teeth into Ranmas' arm.
	"YEEEEOOOOW!  You little.."
	Ranma threw Ryoga across the room.  Ryoga quickly recovered.  Taking up what
would be a pig's battle stance.
	Akane witnessed the entire incident, and quickly ran to her new husband. 
"Ranma! Leave him alone!!  Don't you DARE ruin this day!!"
	Ranma did not want to cause a scene at his own wedding. 
"You're right, Akane."  With a last leer, he turned away intending to cool
off outside by the pool and mingle with some guests.  Akane started over to
P-chan , ready to calm the pig.
	P-chan, however, had other ideas and leapt over Akane towards Ranma�s'
turned back. 
	"Ranma! Look out!"  Akane cried.
	Ranma turned, and seeing the pig-shaped blur coming towards him,
instinctively ducked.  The pig went over his intended target and crashed into
Kasumi, who happened to be carrying a tray of hot water for tea.
	The room fell silent as a naked Ryoga materialized.
	No one could move.  Ryoga was bright red, a combination of the scalding
water and embarrassment.  He ran out the door, crying hysterically.  Everyone
was still frozen in place in disbelief.  All but Ranma, who stirred himself
awake.


Ranma awoke with Nabiki curled up next to him on the plane.  The dream was
what had happened long ago.  Why were pieces of his past coming to him in his
sleep?  Before he could think any more of it, the plane went into it's final
descent.