Meiyo Ai soshite Nikushimi Chapter III The Judgement of Boukyaku Part VI: Sacrifice and Betrayal Post B/B A Ranma Nibunnoichi Fanfic by Joseph Kohle All characters of the Ranma series are the products of Rumiko Takahashi's imagination and are used without the permission of her or the innumerable companies that have rights to her products. This is not intended for sale and all creative rights and copyright privileges belong to Rumiko Takahashi and the author. Ukyou's steps slowed as she approached the clinic and finally stopped when she was a few buildings from her destination. It was late, probably close to midnight, but it was hard to tell. The lights from Tokyo were obscuring the sky, reflecting from the sparse clouds and blocking out any hope of seeing the stars. Only the deserted state of the street and the slowly gathering chill told her it was getting later. Rubbing her arms for warmth, she took a step toward the clinic and then stopped as she saw two figures approaching from the other direc- tion. Instinctively she crouched against a nearby stone wall and watched. There was a small figure hopping on a stick and another with long hair and a luxuriant figure. Ukyou was able to make a good guess as to their identity. This guess was proven correct as the two entered the cone of light thrown by a street lamp. Shampoo, her head bowed in silence, was walking a step behind her great-grandmother. Cologne seemed unaware of this and hopped steadily along until she came to Toufu-sensei's front door. Without a pause the withered goon proceeded up to the door and waited while Shampoo caught up and opened the door for them both. As the door closed, Ukyou found her feet and moved to the side of the clinic where she down against the wall. She was not sure if she wanted to go inside. Not with Cologne there. She did not want to make any promise, but she needed to see Ranma. "So I see almost every one has gathered," Cologne cooed, "But where is the good doctor?" The voice reached Ukyou's ears, startling her. Glancing upwards she saw an open window. Smiling since her dilemma had been solved, Ukyou got on her knees and looked into the clinic's waiting room. She could watch Ranma, be there for him, but not be seen. Her positioning was pure luck and very fortunate. The entire family was circled around Ranma's bed, their backs facing toward her. Cologne was watching Ranma, and Shampoo was beside her, both of them sideways to her own position. "I'm here, Cologne," Toufu-sensei replied. Ukyou flicked her eye to see Toufu exit from the back hall, a calm expression on his face. "Thank you, I need a witness for this. Are you willing?" Cologne asked. Toufu nodded his head in acceptance. "Now there are only the small matters of the conditions I made." "I already promised," Akane explained in a small voice. Ukyou couldn't see her face, but the pain in the answer was evident. Pity for Akane welled up within Ukyou. Akane had not had a choice in this. Everything had always rested on her decision. Shame for the way she had treated Akane closely followed the pity. The reality of the situation had never really asserted itself on her. Sure Akane had told her Ranma had died. That had shook her confidence, but it was hard to believe that anything could hurt Ranma. So she had just accepted that they would find a cure. When Akane had returned from finding Ouchi-sensei, the look on her face the set of her body had rammed the entire situation home. Ranma was in serious trouble. At that moment she had understood why Akane had been so close to Ranma, why she was acting like she had been. She had only been trying to fix him in her memory, trying to give herself something lasting. If she had only known she would have done the same. "Ah, but Saotome-san has not, and I want you to give son-in-law up in front of everyone," Cologne explained, shocking Ukyou back into reality. She saw the withered old ghoul turn and bore her eyes into Akane and then Genma. "Are you saying my daughter is not honorable?" Soun asked in a threatening voice, "That she will not keep her word?" "Did I say that?" Cologne asked avoiding the question, "But as I think about it, I want your word that engagement between son-in-law and your daughter is broken. Do I have it?" "That wasn't part of the bargain," Nabiki challenged. The anger and rage were pulsing in Nabiki's voice. Ukyou did not blame her. Cologne was deliberately provoking them. "You've already got enough. Akane has agreed. Saotome-san is going to agree, there is no need for this. Besides, a deal cannot be changed once made unless both parties accept." "Do you have a choice, Nabiki?" Cologne snapped, "I hold the cards. If I want Ranma to die he dies. I will save him only if I get what I want! Do you understand that?" Nabiki could only nod in acceptance, unable to argue with Cologne's unassailable position. "You are pushing, Cologne," Toufu-sensei said, "Honor only goes so far, and the insults you are throwing about so lightly could beget a blood-feud you would not want." "*Japanese honor is weak. You are nothing compared to the Amazon tribe. I will show you,*" Cologne stated in Mandarin. Ukyou tried to understand what she was saying, but her Chinese was minimal, only reflecting enough to relate to customers. "*Be careful what you say,*" Toufu-sensei answered in impeccable Mandarin, surprising Ukyou greatly, but then Toufu-sensei was a learned man, "*Your language is not hard to learn, and I will tolerate only so much of your insolence. As a martial artist, Ranma would rather die than see this travesty go through. You are traversing thin ice, Matriarch of the Amazons. Ask for the promises, nothing else. No more games. I will not allow this family to suffer any more.*" Ukyou watched as a satisfied rumble ran though the assembled family as Cologne glared at Toufu-sensei after he spoke to her. It meant that Toufu had gotten under her skin, which please Ukyou as well. Cologne nodded at Toufu-sensei before turning back to the group, smiling. For some reason that smiled reminded Ukyou of a cat she had once seen stalking a wounded bird. The same malicious joy was in the ghoul's eyes as had gleamed within the cat's. "Saotome Genma," Cologne intoned, turning to facing Ranma's father, "Do you annul the engagement between your son Saotome Ranma and Tendou Akane? Do you pledge that your son, Saotome Ranma, will marry my great- great-great-granddaughter, Shampoo? Do you annul all other engage- ments you have made for your son, Saotome Ranma? Do you swear this by the honor of your family name?" Ukyou gasped at the strength of the oath Cologne was asking. To ask on personal honour was generally strong enough, but to bring family honor into the picture. Not only was Cologne implying that she did not trust the individual honor of each and every person present, she was implying that Ranma was not honorable enough to hold up the honor of his own father. "I do," Genma said after a moment, "I swear by the honor of my family that all that you ask shall be done." After he spoke his head sank to his chest in defeat. For the first time, Ukyou felt sorry for the old man who had caused her so much grief. She saw Saotome Genma's age reflected in his face and body. He appeared as a withered old man, who had just surrendered for the last time. Cologne nodded as Shampoo eagerly clasped and unclasped her hands. Cologne turned to Tendou Soun. "Tendou Soun. Do you annul the engagement between Saotome Ranma and Tendou Akane? Do you give up any claim to Saotome Ranma carrying on your dojo? Do you swear this on your family honor?" "I swear it," Tendou Soun answered in a tearful voice. Cologne nodded in response as Soun began crying in earnest, grieving for the loss of his dream. "Tendou Akane," Cologne began, but she never finished as Akane interrupted her. "I swear anything you ask,. I give up Ranma. He is no longer mine. Just stop wasting time, stop tormenting us. Save Ranma," Akane demanded, her voice near to breaking from grief and anger, "And if you don't," Akane whispered. Ukyou barely caught this, and Akane was only sitting a few feet from her window. "If Ranma dies, I will spend my life finding a way to destroy you. This I swear on my family honor." Ukyou saw that Cologne did not hear this last part, for she only nodded and began to pull objects from her robes and set them on the floor in a pattern Ukyou could not discern. "It will take time to prepare for the ceremony," Cologne explained as Shampoo found a chair and sat down, "I will be finished when the moon rises, and then we will begin." Shaking with fear Ukyou slipped back down the wall and hugged her knees to her chest. There was something wrong here, but she could not figure it out. Ranchan was going to have the hardest night of his life. Ukyou knew this as certainly as she knew the sun would rise in the morning. The image formed in her mind and was quickly merged with her ki. A moment later an arc of shimmering energy swept outward from her hands to slash through the ethereal form of Boukyaku, leaving a swath of darkness missing. With a shriek of rage, Boukyaku formed a shield around his form, retreating to heal once again. Letting out a breath of air in relief, Xian Lin turned to help Ranma, but decided against it as she watched him fight amongst Boukyaku's creations. They had split up the fight early. She was concentrating on Boukyaku's physical form, since she was more efficient with her ki attacks. Ranma had taken the burden of defending her from the minions Boukyaku disgorged from the ground. His strength in this prison made the job a simple one, only the number of demons hindering him. Xian Lin watched in awe as he moved through the converging beasts, his red shirt the only splash of colour among the seething mass of black. He flowed through them like a stick into water, sliding past demons in a fluid dance of death that left mangled and still forms in his wake. There was no pause in his form. One attack led to another and then another. Styles changed in mid step. From power to precision and grace. One moment he was a charging bull bringing down a massive beast, only to switch in the next instant to a lithe reed that slipped between the smaller opponents, lashing out quickly and efficiently to remove the threat. It was not fighting, it was an art form. The heightened connection Ranma had gained with his spirit had created a masterful fighter in this hellish prison. He used small amounts of ki to augment his attacks, allowing him to remove opponents with one strike in most cases. Enthralled, Xian Lin watched him slip beneath an outstretched arm, striking upwards as he swept the feet of another beast on his side. The first fell, it jaw smashed into it brainpan. The other died as Ranma's foot crunched down on the exposed neck when he vaulted off the fallen beast to leap toward a massive worm-like creature. Xian Lin saw a brief flash of ki as Ranma descended. She recogniz- ed it instantly. It was his failed attempt at diverting a ki attack. He had changed it into an extension of his arm, his perfect reflexes allowing him to strike and release the blast in perfect conjunction. The worm split open, the black mist that composed its form dissipating into the air. As he landed, Ranma pivoted and lashed out with several kicks that were a blur to even Xian Lin's trained eye. One, two, three creatures fell, and then Ranma completed the circle, coming to rest on the balls of his feet. So caught up in Ranma's movements, it took a moment for Xian Lin to realize that the last of Boukyaku's latest wave had been defeated. Ranma relaxed slightly and turned toward her. He nodded his head and made his way to her side, as the creatures he had defeated dissolved back into the earth. "That one was shorter than the others," Ranma observed as he neared her, "I think we're starting to exhaust Boukyaku's strength." "He was not ready to fight us," Xian Lin explained, as she watched Boukyaku for signs of reentering the fight, "I told you that the four- teenth night has not yet started. Once it does, Boukyaku will gain his full strength, and then we will be in trouble." "How's that?" Ranma asked, "We seem to be holding our own, if not getting the better of the situation. Those creatures he's creating are like fighting practice dummies." "That's because they are extensions of his power. One on one they are no match for you, and Boukyaku does not have the skill to counter your martial arts and deal with me also. He might be powerful, but he is still limited in how he thinks. That will end when the new moon rises. The statue will start augmenting his power than. We will be in serious trouble. I don't know if we'll be able to defeat him than." "But you said we'd have a chance," Ranma exclaimed, "Now you're saying we have no chance?" "No, we can still win," Xian Lin shouted. She had to tell him the truth, but she didn't know how to make it sound encouraging, "If anyone breaks the curse, we'll be fine. We can hold out for the entire night. If we do not find a way out by the time the new moon sets, then we'll lose for sure. It just becomes harder at this point. We've just gotta hope that someone will break the Judgement." Ranma glanced at her uncertainly. Xian Lin could feel that he thought she had betrayed him, and it hurt her. "Don't turn away from me, Ranma," she pleaded, "We will lose if we don't work together. I don't intend to let Boukyaku have you or me. Trust me." Nodding Ranma turned to watch the encased form of Boukyaku. It would only be a little while before he began to fight again. Boukyaku healed faster than Happousai could steal panties. "I'm not giving up. Not now, not ever. We'll finish this, Xian Lin. One way or another it ends." He fell silent for a second before turning back to face her. "I trust you. I have no reason not to." Xian Lin smiled as she drank in his faith and acceptance of her. Then the world around them began to tremble, the air shimmering. "What's happening?" Ranma exclaimed in surprise. "The moon must be rising," Xian Lin shouted back as the air filled with a thunderous rumble, deafening to the two companions. Their ears pulsed in pain as the noise became unbearable. Then everything went silent, painful, eerily silent. The air ceased shimmering and became a dull red color. Ranma and Xian Lin found themselves standing on a flat, featureless plain of black marble that extended as far as the eyes could see. In front of them Boukyaku was a vaguely man-shaped form, the chaotically swirling darkness of his previous form shaping the body. "Now you are mine!" he proclaimed triumphantly. The ground exploded around them, disgorging hundreds of his demon minions. In an instant the tide of the battle had turned and Xian Lin and Ranma were fighting for their lives as Boukyaku chuckled in amusement. Cologne finished her preparations. All of the ingredients and objects needed for the breaking of the Judgement were spread out before her in the correct design. Everything would go fine. That is it would go fine if she hadn't switched one of the key ingredients, a herb that when ingested opened the body and mind to the energy of the world, but when mixed with the other objects blocked the power of Boukyaku, preventing him from attacking the victim. Instead of the herb, a powder of wolfsbane and ginger was held in the container that had once held the herb. Toufu would never notice the difference since wolfsbane and ginger had established niches in mythological medicine. A triumphant surge of emotion blossomed from the statue as the moon rose unseen in the sky. This signaled the start of her doctored ceremony. Cologne began speaking in the ancient tongue of the Amazon tribe. The words were the same as she had been taught to use to break the Judgement. She reached for the first object and began the purification ritual. That doctor would be sorry for insulting her, the whole family would suffer, particularly Ranma. Toufu watched as Cologne began her ceremony. More than anything he was curious about how the Amazon Matriarch was going to break the Judgement. He hoped to gain some knowledge from her that might help him with many of his patients. Besides she wanted to make sure that he was able to help anyone else who was Judged by the Amazon tribe. He could not understand the language. It was not exactly Chinese, but it was close to it. The forms and inflections were different though, so he could not follow it. He could follow the ritual though. Fascinated he watched her prepare a mixture of water and mustard seed. He used the same mixture hot to relieve congestion, but this was cold and she added a powder that caused the mixture to foam. This she took to Ranma's bedside. Dipping her fingers in the paste she drew a complex series of patterns across Ranma's brow and right arm. Then she took a piece of red ochre and spiraled the patterns together, connecting the statue, third eyes and heart. The remainder of the mixture was poured over the stature, hissing violently as it dissipated upon touching the statue. From this point she returned to her original position and replaced the bowl and red ochre exactly in their original positions before she started on the next step of the complex ritual. "Hiryu Shoten Ha!" Ranma shouted. The whirlwind flew from his hands to decimate the massed minions in front of him only to end abruptly and satisfyingly by slamming into Boukyaku, disrupting the swirling chaos of the demon's body. The attack halted Boukyaku for a moment as he repaired the damage Ranma had caused. On top of this the minions had been thinned to the point where Ranma could actually rest for a moment. Unfortunately, Ranma needed more than a moment of rest. His resources had been drawn to the limit by this battle. There was no lull in the combat, just a steady wavering of the intensity. The only reason they were not being overwhelmed was the weakness of Boukyaku's demonic creations and the fact that the spirit was unable to adapt to the strategies Ranma and Xian Lin were inventing as they fought. At this moment they had reverted to their original tactics. He was holding the limitless minions as Xian Lin concentrated on Boukyaku. The fact that his attack had struck the bastard was just an added bonus. In most cases he was charged with keeping the demons from Xian Lin. He glanced over at her. She was standing behind him like a burning angel of vengeance. Her white aura gleamed in the reddish haze of the world like a lighthouse on a stormy night. With an imperceptible mo- tion, Xian Lin cast several arcs of ki that streaked toward Boukyaku, crashing into his body with a crackle of power. Screaming in rage, Boukyaku gestured toward Xian Lin. A black cloud enveloped her, crushing downward oh her form. With a cry, Ranma raced to her aid. His headlong run was halted as the black sphere began to crack, white light leaking into the sky. The blackness closed in once more and then exploded outward. Xian Lin was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily. Ranma started to go to her when he saw the ground erupt behind her, dis- gorging several massive demons. Shouting a warning, Ranma darted forward, laughing himself into the air. Descending quickly he rotated to aim himself directly at the fore- most creature, a massive brute that shambled forward, its four arms waving rapidly in front of it. The thing never had a chance. Ranma was on top of it before it realized it was in danger. Striking out, Ranma spoke at the last moment before he struck, "Touch of the Blade." A blade of ki instantly appeared in his hand, slashing through the creature's neck and shoulder before disappearing into nothingness. Ranma could not hold the weapon in place and seriously doubted that it could be done. Each brief attack was tiring enough. The severed head fell with Ranma, landing next to him, and rolling in front of him. It shimmered for a moment and then Ranma was starring at Akane's severed head, her mouth agape in a silent scream, her eyes starring horrified at him. Screaming he backed away from the hideous sight. There was an evil chuckle echoing in his mind. Glancing away from the disgusting sight, Ranma found himself confronting Akane and Ukyou. Each was approaching him, swinging either mallet or spatula. Involuntarily he stepped backward. He could not fight them. His heart would not let him. "They're not real," he told himself, "You're not hurting them." "Ranma no baka!" He barely dodged the mallet as it descended toward his head. Leaping backward, he regained his position and warily watched the two approach him. They're not real, not real. With a cry they charged him. Ranma ducked the blows easily, slid- ing in between the two. He could not keep this up forever though. He leaped to avoid Ukyou's spatula and then twisted in midair to avoid the descent of the mallet. His hand touched the ground and he cartwheeled into a defensive stance. Akane and Ukyou pressed in on him, forcing him to dodge more blows. The more he dodged the faster they became, their attacks blurs to any but his eye. After a few moments their offensive overwhelmed him. He dodged Akane's mallet only to be swiped in the side by a spatula. Stumbling from the blow, he tried to dodge Akane's back swing but was clipped in the shoulder. He was sent flying by the blow to land a dozen feet away. Grunting in pain, he pushed himself off the ground as the two rushed at him. He knew he could not win this unless he attacked, but even if they were shades, they appeared to be his beloved and his best friend. "They're only illusions. The are not real," he repeated to himself." Closing his eyes, he met them head on his hand flashing outward. He pulled the punch on instinct but still felt soft flesh and the cracking of bones. Akane's scream of pain filled his ears. It almost halted him, but he forced himself to continue. Tears sting- ing his cheeks, he lashed out in the direction of the scream. His knife- hand connected with a crunch, and Akane's voice was silenced by a gurgling cry. Opening his eyes, he pivoted, lashing out backwards. His foot connected with Ukyou's midsection. Behind him the gurgling cry ended as Akane's body slumped to the ground with an audible thud. No time for that now. Concentrate. Its just Boukyaku. Only illusions. He spun, his leg whipping around to catch Ukyou on the side of the head. There was a snap as her head was wrenched to the side, her neck broken. Ranma stood silently, his eyes riveted to the two creatures he had just killed. They still looked like his friends. They had sounded like his friends, and even felt like them to his extended senses. Boukyaku had done this, perverted his own loved ones. Forced him to do the one thing he never would. Turning he looked past, Xian Lin's glowing form. If she had noticed what he had done, she did not show it, but he knew she could hear his thoughts. In a moment she would know what he was thinking. Beyond her Boukyaku rose over the landscape, a black mass of swirling clouds and vapor. Slits of red approximated eyes and a mouth. As his eyes found Boukyaku, the demon turned to stare at him, a gleeful gloating filling Ranma's mind. Anger flared within Ranma. This was going too far. It was obvious they were going to lose. Boukyaku was too powerful, and he had noticed nothing while here that even approximated outside interference. Well he would not go easily. He would take Boukyaku with him, destroy that thing as his last breath left his body. That thing would not enter his world, would not have Akane. Glowing brightly with his power, Ranma launched himself forward, his feet barely touching the ground as he raced towards Boukyaku. He was past Xian Lin in an instant. He heard her cry out for him to stop as she realized what he intended. Nothing was going to stop him. Death was a small price for Ranma to pay. He had been prepared before to pay it before. He would have gone through with seppuku if his mother had ever found out about his curse. Now in his death, he would assure the survival of his loved ones. Screaming a battle cry, Ranma allowed his ki to surround him, lift him up from the ground. In a blinding flash, he streaked downward into the gloating form of Boukyaku. As he hit the world exploded, darkness surrounding him as he lashed out, striving to take Boukyaku with him, as he was dragged into oblivion. Akane watched the ceremony with unfeigned interest. It seemed Cologne was half done, at least she had gone through half of the items she had placed in front of her. She was now reaching for three more. She picked up two stones. One was a flat oval, the other a cracked chunk of some black stone. The third was a white bone that appeared to be from a human finger, although Akane was not sure. Lifting Ranma's hand, Cologne placed the oval stone underneath it and then placed the broken stone at the corner with the finger bone bisecting the oval from the broken stone to the opposite edge. Having done this she spoke a few words and inverted Ranma's hand, and slammed the statue downward towards the oval. It hit the bone squarely, pulverizing the fragment, swirling dust around the statue of Boukyaku. Suddenly Cologne cried out in pain as a blue pulse of energy burst from the statue to fill the room, flowing over everything and everyone. The blast rushed through Akane, filling her with an intoxicating taste of pure power, but as the initial rush reached its plateau within her, she felt a calm sense of purpose and surrender, a dread sense of purpose. "Ranma," she whispered, trying to hold onto the feeling. It was like trying to hold a breeze. It slipped through her fingers, rushing back out of her, draining into the statue once again. An aching emptiness took the place of the dizzying power that had just filled her. She saw her disappointment mirrored on every other face in the room. Except Cologne. Her face was confused, filled with fear and shock. Her expression struck Akane. "What's wrong?" she shouted, "What happened?" Don't let anything go wrong. Please don't. "I-I don't know," Cologne answered, "This has never happened before. The dust is supposed to be fused with the statue. What is Ranma doing? What is going on?" She continued talking but slipped into Chinese, making it impossible for Akane to understand. After a moment, she stopped talking and watched the statue for a moment. Curious, Akane followed Cologne's eyes. She briefly saw the blue covering the entire statue, and then the black was there, slowly growing more powerful, beating the blue back, beating Ranma back. "Just don't stare at it!" Akane shouted, "Help him. Finish the cere- mony. He's losing. Can't you see that? I made your stupid promise. Save him, dammit. Save him!" Ukyou jumped to her feet as a blue light flashed from the window. Akane's cry forced her to look into the room, pressing her face against the glass so she could see. She did not care if she was seen now. Something was going wrong, but she could see nothing out of the ordinary. Akane was yelling at Cologne and the old ghoul was shaking her head watching the statue clutched in Ranma's hand. Terrified, Ukyou forced her eyes to the statue. It was glowing with a blue aura. It was obviously Ranma's. At first she did not see the problem. It looked like Ranma had won, or was gaining back control of his life, but then she saw the black aura spreading like a malignant cancer across the pristine blue of Ranma's aura. She shook her head and mouthed the word no over and over again. He was dying, he was dying. She was about to shout at Cologne when Akane voiced her opinion. "Save him dammit!" she shouted, as Ukyou silently echoed her. Cologne showed surprise and incredulity on her face, but on the inside she was smiling in glee. The fool boy was attacking Boukyaku. Not only was he attacking, but it was obvious he was going to lose. This would make his death that much easier to explain until she told them the truth and destroyed them utterly. Now all she had to do was go through the ceremony and skip that one crucial part. Besides, the doctor would never be able to figure out that datura had an effect on demons. That was a secret kept by the Amazon tribe. Tonight Ranma would die, and the Amazon's would be reborn into glory and power she decided as she started on the next part of the ceremony. Akane did not watch her. She watched the statue. The black still covered less than a quarter of the statue, Ranma seemed to have slowed Boukyaku's progress, but he had not stopped it. It was an agonizingly slow advance. Ranma fought each step of the way, at some points even shoving the other thing backwards, regaining the lost ground, but this was not very often. As inexorable as the tide, the black spread over the statue like a fungus, until it covered nearly half. At this moment Cologne brought the next part of the ceremony forward, she had a feather and a small bowl of glittering dust. Dipping the feather in the dust, she brought it up with a quick jerk of her hand. A glittering cloud surrounded the statue and Ranma's hand. With quick and exact strokes, Cologne slashed a pattern in the dust, leaving glittering marks on the black statue. Akane leaned forward in hope as Ranma advanced against Bouk- yaku, forcing the black to retreat until it held only a quarter of the surface area. As soon as the dust had settled though, Ranma was already losing ground, faster than before. Desperate, Akane glanced at Cologne. She had picked up four of the last six items. That meant that she was almost done, three more steps at most, most likely two. Akane silently urged Cologne to hurry as she glanced back at the scene of the battle and saw Ranma tenaciously holding onto his precarious position. Just a little while longer, only a little while longer. Please, Ranma. Don't give up. Don't give up. As if Ranma could hear her pleas, his aura pushed into the darkness, parting it like a knife cutting silk. Then he was falling back under Boukyaku's retaliation, the blackness penetrating the blue. Akane cried out, but then Cologne was laying the next part of the ceremony on Ranma's breast which rose rhythmically despite the titanic struggle Ranma was embroiled in. As the intricately marked wooden bowl was placed on Ranma's breast, his aura increased in intensity, pushing against, Boukyaku. A moment later though he was falling back, losing ground quickly as Boukyaku pressed his attack Crying out in horror, Akane, almost rushed to Ranma's side. His blue covered only a quarter of the statue now, glowing faintly under the oppressive weight of the dark aura pressing inward on it. Then every thing changed and fell apart at once. A white light began to suffuse Ranma's blue, turning Ranma's aura into a serene blue-white. For a moment the black was pushed back, but it was not enough. Nothing seemed to be enough. Then Cologne was there again, lifting a bowl over the statue, she poured it over Ranma's hand and the statue. There was a flicker in the black, and it was pushed back, but then it stopped and surged forward almost triumphantly. Something had gone wrong. Something was wrong. "Save him. Stop this. He's not winning. The curse isn't broken." "I don't understand," Cologne stated, "It should've worked. I did everything right. You have to hope now, there is nothing more I can do. I've opened the way for Ranma. He must find his own way back." Ranma was not finding his way back though. He was losing once again, retreating slowly but surely. The additional power of the white not able to save him. He was down to a small, wan point among the black, when Ranma's body began to glow white. Light poured through the room illuminating everyone's tense face. It increased in intensity until rushing toward the statue. Ranma's position exploded outward as the white flooded around and into the statue. Boukyaku was shoved backwards in a rush, his position thrown from the winning side to the losing in a matter of seconds. Then the consequences of this action struck Akane as Kasumi gasped in shock, and Toufu-sensei rushed to Ranma-onna's body. Turning her face slightly, Akane saw that Ranma was no longer breathing. Just like before. He was dead. Dead. It was impossible to suppress the wail of grief that rose in her throat, to join Shampoo's own shrill scream. Xian Lin sank back onto her haunches as Ranma disappeared into Boukyaku, the blazing bolt of blue energy he had become, slamming into Boukyaku's chaotic form, imposing order upon certain parts of it. She knew what Ranma was doing. She had felt him building up to this moment, and had hoped he would not do it, but he had. It was a noble attempt and might work, but not with him alone. Unlike him, she realized many of the truths of his situation. He was no longer a part of his body. In actuality, she inhabited his body, keeping his body alive and functioning. At this moment and since he had entered the statue, Ranma had been spiritually dead. He had transcended the mortal plane to the one she had been cursed to inhabit, while she was given a hold on life. It would be so easy for her to slip back into his body and take control of it, but she would not do that. That action would open the corridor for Boukyaku and give Ranma to oblivion. She cared for him too much to even contemplate such a deplorable act. He deserved more than that, but now he was doing it to himself. Without her help he was doomed to failure, but she realized that it was going to cost his life to defeat Boukyaku. She did not have the strength to defeat the demon and sustain his body. At least for awhile, she could let him take the burden. She needed to rest while she could. Carefully she watched the battle that raged within Boukyaku, while she replenished her strength, gaining back her center and balance. Reckless and foolhardy that his move was, Ranma had the strength to give Boukyaku a challenge. She saw this in the very first instant of the attack. As he struck, the creature of ki Ranma had transformed himself into had dispersed Boukyaku's form, filling it with Ranma's own energy. Instead of a body of swirling black, a glowing blue sphere had taken Boukyaku's place. This was not destined to last. Ranma had struck quickly and powerfully, surprising Boukyaku. He had only unhinged the demon, forcing the thing to recuperate and start from the beginning. Xian Lin saw Boukyaku begin his counter. A small dot of black appeared on the sphere Ranma was controlling. Xian Lin heard Ranma's feelings and thoughts clearly. His anger had not left him and he instantly pounced upon Boukyaku, forcing him into a defensive position from which he would have to fight out of. Ranma attacked mercilessly, forcing Boukyaku to gain every inch of ground that he had lost,. The process was arduous and painful for Ranma. He was fighting a new type of battle, and only his determination and sheer force of will was keeping Boukyaku at bay. Dreams and wishes don't build houses, so is it with determination and will. Though they help, superior skill and strength will ultimately win out. This was the reason Ranma was slowly beaten back. He was too inexperienced and not as strong as Boukyaku. Then as the sphere was almost half and half , the world around them shuddered. Xian Lin felt the difference in Boukyaku instantly. He was distracted by a new threat from the outside, that was trying to contain him. Split by the second front, Ranma gained his opening. Xian Lin experienced his dreadful glee, as he slammed into Boukyaku with a renewed vengeance, pushing him back until he was in a less formidable position. This trend was not a permanent one. Xian Lin realized this instantly. Someone was trying to break the curse, but that meant that Boukyaku was going to fight harder. It was imperative that Ranma survive this fight. If they were breaking the Judgement, he would be pulled from the fight and saved; however, if he lost before help could reach him, there would be no saving him. As if Ranma realized this, he punched an attack deep into Bouk- yaku's position, driving a wedge of blue into the swirling chaos, Bouk- yaku was a step behind him, pushing deeply into Ranma's defense, swaying the balance once again. Xian Lin could feel the desperation in Ranma, the exhaustion. He was nearing his limit. Then a burst of strength flooded through him, forcing him back to the edge of the balance for a moment. Xian Lin knew that the strengthening of the spirit had been completed, there was only one more step and Ranma would be free, it simply required Ranma to hold out, but he would not be able to. She could feel his attacks weakening, his defenses shattering under Boukyaku's onslaught. He needed her help. Taking her feet, Xian Lin decided it was time. Embracing her ki, she moved to the sphere and touched the blue, joining her own mind with Ranma's becoming one with him in the fight against Boukyaku. The experience was a new one to both of them. There conscious minds were still separate, but their ki had joined to form one being, a being that could deal with Boukyaku on two levels. They fought as a team, bolstering the other's attacks and defending each other. Being of two minds, it was harder for Boukyaku to break though, but blocking him was still difficult. His attacks were more powerful then they could manage. They needed more strength, more power, but to gain more power she would have to release the hold on Ranma's body. He would die, but they would win. Hold on. Hold on. There is only one more step, then we can return. Then this will be over. I know. I'll hold out. He will not win. Slowly they retreated from Boukyaku, backing up until they thought there was no where to go, and then Boukyaku became distracted, screaming in rage. The final part. It must be. Now Ranma. They both surged forward, slamming into Boukyaku, pushing him into a major retreat that almost turned into a rout, but then he stopped and held his place, a sensation of glee filling the void they were within. Boukyaku lashed out, throwing his entire might against them. Xian Lin and Ranma were overwhelmed, tumbling backwards towards the point they had just left as if an avalanche carried them. What's wrong? I thought we had won. I don't know. I don't know. Something is wrong. Just fight. We can't let him have your body. Is there anyway to defeat him? Xian Lin could feel that he already knew the answer. I don't want to. There is still hope. No, there isn't Xian Lin. I can't let him win. Let me die. It will save the ones I love. Join with me. We must stop this menace. Trust me. Xian Lin knew Ranma was right. They had failed, the cure had failed to work. There was no other way to keep Boukyaku from winning. With both of them at full strength, Boukyaku would hold no chance. They could easily contain him, it was obvious. Gently she reached back to Ranma's body and freed her remaining ki from his body, allowing it to die as she gathered all the energy she had used to sustain him. It rushed into them like a wave of water from a shattered dam. It filled them, amplified their power to a height unknown to either of them before. For an instant they discovered what it felt like to have the power of the kami in their hands. What the held was beyond any words. It was enough to hold Boukyaku. With a combined cry, they used Ranma's death to the utmost and attacked Boukyaku, forcing him away from the now empty husk that had held Ranma. He would not get Ranma's body. No one would. Ukyou watched as the white light suffused Ranma's body and then rushed into the statue throwing the black aura into a disorderly retreat. She watched in horror as Ranma's chest stopped rising and falling. "No, no, no," she muttered over and over in her mind. He had to live. He had to live. Dimly she heard Akane's and Shampoo's cries of grief. She wanted to join them, but her mind was still denying everything that she saw, was still unable to comprehend that Ranma had died. Like a statue she stood rooted in place, watching Ranma's body as Toufu-sensei checked I and then ran from the room. He must live. He must. But he's not breathing. "Oh god, not Ranchan, not Ranchan." Toufu-sensei checked Ranma's vital signs. He was not dead yet, but it would not be long. His breathing was very shallow, almost impercep- tible, but his heart was still beating. It was amazing the body was still living. It meant that Ranma had left some residual ki to keep him alive, but not much. Toufu did not understand what had happened, but he knew that if some ki was not placed into Ranma's body he would never be able to return. He stood back from his body, trying to think of something. It was hard to think with Shampoo and Akane crying. The other's shout and grief stricken voices were not helping maters much either. "I told you," Cologne suddenly shouted, her voice carrying through the din to reach Toufu's ears, "I can't do anything. I opened the path for his ki to return, he just must use it. Obviously he knows it is there since he drained his ki to attack Boukyaku. Is it my fault the boy is stupid?" Draw ki back into the body. He had heard that before. Some herb. He knew it was something he had heard of, that he must have in the clinic somewhere. Suddenly he snapped is fingers. Datura. Datura was the answer. It would make the body receptive, open it to ki. Spinning he rushed from the room to his medicine room. Throwing the door open he rushed in and began to dig through the many different bottles and pouches of herbs. Finally he found what he was looking for in a bag. It was the dried leaves of datura. Grabbing the pouch he rushed to his clinic and turned on the hot water as he looked for a mortar and pestle. He found one and took it over next to the sink. Opening the bag he took out three leaves and then after a moments consideration took out two more. It would be very strong, almost lethal, but he needed that kind of strength to be assured of the result. Placing the five leaves in the small bowl he ground them to a fine powder. He poured the powdered datura into a beaker and added enough water to make it a syrupy mixture. Allowing it to steep for a few moments, he went to find a hypodermic needle and syringe. He found one on the opposite counter. Rushing back he filled the syringe with the datura solution. Leaving the rest next to the sink, he rushed back out into the waiting room. Everything was still in an uproar. It was split down the middle of grief and anger. Akane was slowly turning to anger, her grief burning away under her anger. Nabiki was glaring at Cologne who stood calmly, watching the battle continue around the statue. No one but Ukyou noticed him as he slipped next to Ranma. To his relief he found Ranma-onna was still living, although just barely. Without a second thought, he plunged the needle into Ranma's vein and injected most of the datura into his blood system. Stepping back he placed the syringe on the bed next to Ranma's right hand and watched Ranma closely. It should only take a few seconds, just a few seconds. Ranma's body suddenly twitched, her left hand clenching in pain, a soft moan escaping her lips. Even with the commotion, the small noise and movement halted everything. Soon everyone was watching Ranma, praying for him to make it. They were holding Boukyaku, they could hold him for the entire night. He would not win. It was obvious to them. It was obvious to him. There was an unspoken agreement between them. They were about to call the contest when the unexpected happened. Xian Lin and Ranma felt it first. A connection with Ranma's body opened and began to tug at them. Someone had found a way to get them back, but then they saw the danger. Boukyaku could follow with them, or simply push past them. There was no way to save themselves. If they did Boukyaku would win, but it was hard to resist their ki's natural tendency to return to its original shell. We can't go back. We've got to stay. I know. I'm sorry I can't save your life. I was hoping so much. It is worth it, Xian Lin. She couldn't do it. She could not let him throw away his life like that. He deserved a chance. She did not want him to become cursed like her. It wasn't fair to him. He had suffered so much in his life. There was still things he had to finish. Besides she cared for his friends as if they were her own. In a way they were. She had come to know them with Ranma. She shared his perceptions and memories of them. She loved them as much as he did. Therefore she did not want them to suffer. They all deserved more. She made her decision. It was a small sacrifice. Promise me you'll find a way to save me. Promise me. What are you doing? You're blocking me. Just promise. Please I promise Xian Lin. I'll save you, but please don't do this. Let me stay. No, go. She pushed herself away from him, shoving Ranma back into his body. Boukyaku screamed in rage as he realized what was happening, but Xian Lin imposed herself between him and Ranma's body. He would not get free. He would never get free. I promise. I swear I'll find away. That was the last she heard as Ranma left her life as quickly as he entered it. Then Boukyaku was crashing into her, trying to crush her. She refused to give him that satisfaction. She fought him, delaying him while Ranma regained his body and his senses enough to be able to close the connection between his body and the statue. Hurry, Ranma. I can't hold out forever. Please hurry. She blocked a vicious attack and slashed back with her own blast of energy. Hurry. Please hurry. Akane watched eagerly as Ranma's body struggled. Ranma's arms and legs were flailing slightly, as if she were trying to claw her way back into the real world. Then she was coughing, a weak sound almost like crying. As her arms lifted from the bed, trying to move, Akane saw Ranma's eyes flutter open for a second and then again a moment later. He was going to live. Relief flooded through her body, sweeping aside all of the difficulties, everything that had happened up to this point. Her Ranma had returned. She began to run to him. He was going to live. The nightmare was over. Ranma was coming back to her. In her delirious state, she did not see Shampoo until the Amazon knocked her aside in her own headlong rush to reach Ranma's side. Akane fell heavily to the floor, her face reflecting the shock she felt. Angrily, she prepared to rush the Amazon girl. "Stupid girl, remember promise," Shampoo shouted as she grabbed Ranma's left hand, "Husband no longer yours." Akane sank heavily to the floor as she heard this. It was true, she had given up Ranma. Cologne had saved him, or at least opened the way to save him. Rightfully she had no claim to him anymore. She wanted to cry. She wanted to shout in grief, but she would not give anyone that satisfaction. She had done what had been needed. She would not regret it. She would accept it. But it still hurt. The pain of not having him tore at her heart, ripping her apart. Roughly she shoved the grief down. It did not matter any more. She had lost him. Before he had come into her life, she had gotten along fine, why not when he was gone? Because he is part of you. Akane shook the thoughts away and stood up, watching as Ranma came back to life, her eyes starring around groggily. Akane watched as Ranma pushed away Shampoo. Ranma's mouth was moving soundlessly. It seemed like she was calling for her, but Akane could not go. She put on a blank face. She would show no weakness. She would not give Shampoo and Cologne the satisfaction. Ranma's eyes meet her own. Though they were clouded and unfo- cused, Akane saw the plea in them, the hurt and the confusion. He needed her. Something horrible had happened to him, and now the one person he did not want comforting him was and the person he needed was watching impassively. Her heart was being ground into a fine powder, her strength breaking under his demanding blue-grey eyes. It was too much for her. The loss was too recent to face like this. Then Ranma turned away, disappointment brimming in his eyes. As soon as his eyes left her, Akane forced herself to turn away from Ranma. She walked stiffly towards the front door, her body rigid as a steel rod. She was not going to cry. Her grief would never be shown to the world. "Akane," Ranma's soft, begging cry reached her as she stepped through the door and into the street. It destroyed her. As the door closed behind her she took a few steps and fell to her knees. Sometimes the loss is too much, the pain so great that there is no way to express it no release from the burning torment within body and soul. This grief thrust itself upward grasping Akane's heart in a vice grip, crushing the air from her lungs as if a steel beam had slammed down on her body.. She wanted to cry out in anguish, retaliate against the heavens. Everything pushed against the dam holding it in. Akane opened her mouth in a silent scream, wanting the release, needing it. Only a soft whimper escaped her though, as she collapsed against the ground, her life shattered, her soul crying out in unending torment. From the shadows at the side of the building, Ukyou watched in silent pity. No one deserved the pain Akane was going through. No one. It was like swimming through syrup. He struggled to reach the surface and the fresh air. His mind was exploding form the effects of the journey into his body. Something was trying to drag him back into dreams and illusions. No he would not allow it. He would not. If he gave into the blackness that was trying to drag him down, he might never wake up. Xian Lin's sacrifice would be worth nothing than. With renewed determination, Ranma struggled to the surface of consciousness. Finally he broke free and became aware of his surroun- dings, the air rasping in his lungs, the bed underneath him, the clothes on his body. Like a drowning man gasped for air, he grabbed each of these sensations and enjoyed them. Slowly his other senses came back. Sight was the first. He was in Toufu-sensei's clinic. The Tendou's and his father were gathered around him, and.and...Cologne and Shampoo. He tried to push himself up, wanting to wring the old woman's neck. Then Shampoo was in his arms, hugging him. Disgusted, Ranma tried to pushed her away from him, but his arms felt like they had been weighted down with lead. Shampoo barely moved under his onslaught. She asked him a question as she hugged him, but he had not regained his hearing yet. What is going on? Where is Akane? He tried to move Shampoo aside and saw Akane starring at him, her face a stone statue. What is going on? Why is Akane so sad? Why is Shampoo in my arms? He glanced around. Everyone but Shampoo seemed to be miserable. Kasumi had a pitying look in her eyes. Nabiki was glaring at the Amazon in his arms. Soun was crying, as was his father. Toufu-sensei only sadly returned his gaze. He turned back around only to catch sight Akane disappearing out the door. In a moment of desperation, he found his voice. "Akane!" he called out, but she did not respond. He tried to push himself up to go after her, but there was no way. He was too weak. "Husband stay with Shampoo," Shampoo said. Ranma was over- whelmed by the noise of the room as his hearing kicked in, pain flaring in his eardrums as the noise assaulted him. "I'm not your husband," he stated groggily, "Nor will I ever be." "Violent girl give you up, Father promise husband to Shampoo," Shampoo explained, "It only way great-grandmother allow you to live." Ranma sank back onto the bed, his mind reeling. He had to marry Shampoo? Akane had given him up? No, it couldn't be true. What kind of hell had he returned to. This was not worth Xian Lin's sacrifice. Xian Lin! He glanced down at the statue. A black aura and white fought across the surface, but it was obvious Xian Lin was losing. He had to help her, but how. In desperation he lifted the statue and smashed it on the bed. There was the crackling of glass and something wet covered his hand and the statue. Surprised Ranma watched as the black aura of Boukyaku halted its attack and retreated from Xian Lin. Soon the white covered most of the statue, the black only occupying a small corner. Picking up his hand, Ranma saw a little blood from where the broken syringe had punctured his skin, but there was a syrupy sub- stance on his hand and the statue. Had that done it? He did not know but for the moment Xian Lin was safe. At least that was one less thing to worry about. Now to deal with Akane and Shampoo and a way to free Xian Lin. Ranma suddenly wished he had never broken off any of his engagements. His life had been so much simpler before. I need some answers. What is going on? Why these promises? Is Shampoo lying to me? Why is everyone so sad? Oh god, what has happened? At this point his body and mind retaliated against the narcotic in his body. Darkness and unconsciousness descended over him like a comforting blanket. His head and body slipped backwards onto the bed, as he instinctively curled into a fetal position, the statue clutched tightly to his body like a favorite stuffed animal. The room was in chaos. Everyone was still trying to figure out what to do. First Ranma had died, or appeared to have died, and then he had come alive and looked around before slipping into unconsciousness. Cologne was furious. She did not know how the doctor had done it, but he had obviously found a way to bring Ranma back to his body. He must have used some datura, that would be the only reason Boukyaku lost to that white aura so easily. Now was not the time to dwell on that she realized. It was time to make with what she had been given. She had Ranma now. His death would have been better, but the fact that he had survived this was testament to his strength. He would make a priceless addition to the Amazon tribe. Now she just had to get him away from these fools. Really it was a simple task. Ranma had been promised to Shampoo, so as Shampoo's guardian she could take Ranma with her. She stepped up to the bed fully intending to do this. Shampoo was sitting beside the boy when Cologne hopped up beside the bed. "We take Husband home now?" Shampoo asked anxiously. "Yes, great-granddaughter," Cologne answered, "It is time to return to Joketsuzoku." "Aieee! Shampoo so happy!" Shampoo began to gather Ranma in her arms when Toufu-sensei intervened. "He stays here," he said quietly, grabbing Shampoos forearm and pulling it away from Ranma. "I don't think so," Cologne stated.. This doctor was beginning to annoy her, "Son-in-law is to be married to Shampoo, as such he will come with us." "You will leave him here, and let him recuperate and say his farewells to his family and friends." The voice was quiet but it carried the weight of an emperor. "Am I understood?" "Hai, but that does not mean I must agree," Cologne shot back,. "They promised." She pointed a wrinkled finger at the distraught Soun and Genma. "Are you going to break their honor?" "No, but you are going to make a mistake," Toufu said carefully, "Ranma is not going to be please when he wakes up. He will not believe you. He will refuse everything you say and return here t his family. Only then will he realize the promise they made on the honor of his family. What do you think he will do then? Commit seppuku? I believe so. But will he leave it at that or seek revenge first?" Cologne smiled inwardly at the thought of her son-in-law's suicide. It might be worth it, but she realized it was a pointless battle. She was not going to be able to walk out of here with Ranma. It did not matter. He was the property of the Amazon tribe now, and nothing would change that. "Fine, you may keep the boy until he is healthy and has said his farewells," Cologne agreed, "But I will take the statue of Boukyaku back." She walked forward and grabbed the statue in Ranma's hands and pulled. To her surprise it did not budge. "*What is this? How can he hold this statue while asleep?*" she muttered in Mandarin. There was no way she was going to be able to force it from Ranma, he was stronger than her, but there were always pressure points. She touched a few, but when she reached for the statue this time, it flared white and threw her backwards. Ranma only mumbled and pulled the statue closer to her body. "I don't think he's going to release it," Nabiki commented condes- cendingly. Cologne saw the amusement sparkle in the girl's eyes. Grum- bling angrily, Cologne hopped to her feet. She would come back for the statue later. She was not leaving it in the hands of these weaklings. "Great-granddaughter, we are leaving," Cologne said and pulled the bewildered Shampoo form the clinic. "Why we leave, Great-Grandmother?" Shampoo asked. "Don't worry, we'll be back later," Cologne assured the girl as she began walking down the street. Ukyou watched Cologne and Shampoo disappear into the early morning darkness. Anger burned within her like the fire in a forge. Ranchan did not deserve what he was being forced upon him. He had been unconscious, he had not agreed to any of this, and now Cologne seemed to be treating him like a piece of meat. It did not matter that Shampoo loved Ranma. Ranma was being used and Ukyou hated that. She hated it because Ranma was being used and it was hurting the only people who had ever been her friends. Akane was suffering. Even though she was not here, having finally regained her feet, running into the night just before Cologne had exited the clinic, Ukyou knew she would be grieving for a long time. She had seen how much Akane cared for Ranma. The Tendou's were grieving the loss of Ranma, even in their joy that he was safe. It was not fair, it was not fair to anyone. She remembered Ranma's words when he had broken the engage- ment. They burned in her mind as a testament to her, but also as a reminder of who Ranma was. They were sitting at the counter, Ranma watching her sadly. She was still crying softly, the tears running down her cheeks. "Y-you don't love me?" she asked fearfully. "I never said that, Ucchan," he said his voice quiet in the empty restaurant, "I care for you a lot. You're my best friend. How could I throw that away?" She sniffled in response, still trying to come to grips with what Ranma had said. He was breaking their engagement. He was no longer her fiancee. "But why?" she wailed, "I've done everything for you. I've given my life for you. I'll do anything for you, Ranchan. Just give me the chance. I'll make a perfect wife. Please, Ranchan," she begged grabbing his hand. She saw the pain burning in is grey-blue eyes, those eyes that had always captivated her and everyone else. She knew he was breaking. He couldn't stand to make girls cry. "I-I can't, Ucchan," Ranma said, pulling his hand from her's and standing up, "I can't go on like this. I won't be forced by you or anyone." he turned around to face her. "This is my life, Ucchan. I want to choose who I marry, who I decide to spend my life with. I don't wanna be told who I've gotta love or marry or be nice to. It just ain't me." "I'm sorry I hurt you, Ucchan, but I've gotta do this. I hurt Shampoo when I told her. I hurt Akane when I told her, and Kodachi..." Ranma paused and glanced around fearfully, "She doesn't even deserve me to tell her. I'll send a note or something telling her to get help." Sighing, Ranma returned to the counter and sat down. Ukyou watched him for a second. She had never realized that Ranma hated being forced so much. Generally he just took it in stride, trying to juggle all of his fiancees. "D-do I have a chance, Ranchan?" she asked fearfully, "Will you one day marry me?" Ranma gazed into her eyes at that moment. She saw regret in them, pain, sorrow and then finally acceptance. "I-I..yes. You still have a chance, Ucchan." He said it silently and then slowly stood and left the restaurant. Ranma did not deserve what was going to happen to him. He was being thrown around like a rag doll. She knew they had done it to save his life. She knew they had had no choice, but it was still not fair. Maybe there was one thing she could do to help him. If he disappeared, if they couldn't find him... She climbed to her feet and glanced into the window. The room was dark. It was obvious everyone had left while she was thinking. Ranma was sleeping quietly in the center of the room. She looked so peaceful as a passing car illuminated the calm and relaxed face. Ranchan does not even know what is happening. I've gotta help him. He deserves better than this, and maybe, just maybe he'll come back to me. She smiled at the though and stealthily opened the window and slipped into the clinic's waiting room. The room was silent and still. No one was about, but Ukyou knew that Toufu-sensei was in the building somewhere. She silently he hoped he was sleeping. With soft steps, she approached Ranma-onna and gently lifted the small, young lady into her arms and then slipped back out of the clinic into the night. It was the only way. She would take Ranma to her place. She would let him recover, and then she would help him do whatever he wanted, and be damned with all of their honor. Ranma deserved better. She deserved better. Author's Notes: Boy was that a long one. I never intended it to be that long, but I guess I really needed to get to the point at a good rate rather that rush it. Well I don't want to put to much in this Note, just a few comments. First thing first, I'd like to give my sincerest gratitude and thanks to James "Phoenix" Jones who was a great help in being a sounding board for some of my plot ideas for this episode. I'd also like to thank all those people wo told me my original ending sucked and needed some help...hey, they were right, and this one I like a whole lot more. Ch 3 is finished and now I'm forging on to Ch 4 and the rest of the series. This is where original story I had planned takes up. Well actually just elements of that original story. Ch 2 and Ch3 changed the plot around so much that I can't do everything I wanted to because it just will not work, and some of it was pretty stupid. For anyone who cares, or actually keeps track of time, CH 3 covered 14 days In the curse and 2 days before, so 16 days, ch 2 was 5 days, 2 in the hospital, 2 training that were not shown and the one of the date. Ch 1 was a week, about seven days, actually eight because it goes into the day he wakes up. So total time so far is 29 days, just a little over four weeks. Just though some poeple might want to know. I don't make a big deal of days of the week or actuall time, well I do for my own sanity, but I never really care too much and it is not important to the story accept in the fact that I have to make everything fit together.. On account of this, it is easy to miss the time in my writing, and I guess I dont want people confused. Well I didn't really tie anything together, now did I? Ha, ha, ha, And you thought I'd have a nifty clear everything up solution, well you probably didn't but let me gloat. I've not had enough to gloat about lately ^_^ The crux of the matter is that Ch 3 could only end in a few ways, and most of them were either just silly and unfinished, like my original ending, or they destroyed the story later on. Basically Ranma is away from Boukyaku, he has gotten out of the statue and into his own bady, I can't really do much more than that. Heck the resolution with just the Amazons is going to take two Chapters at least..not long like this one, but still two different Chapters. That was one of the reasons I ended it with Ukyou "acquiring" Ranma. It is a great continuation point into Ch 4 The Golden Apple .....hmm I suddenly just got an idea for another fic...oh well I'll write it later.... Besides I like leaving cliffhangers at the end of my Chapters. What is going to happen? How will Ranma react? Will he even wake? And just what about that mysterious guy taking all those pictures of Akane? Sorry, wrong fic....that was the self-insertion fic I burned and then feed to my dog.... Enough talking, er writing, I've gotta go to work or I don't get paid, and then I can't pay for my online time and then I can't put out anymore of MASN...someetoimes you just can't win.. Until next time Ja ne Joseph Kohle