Well... here's the next chapter.... fingers crossed that it's some good.... :
)

Hard To Say Goodbye
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~By K-chan~
k-chan@rocketmail.com
*Ranma 1/2 characters are copywrited to the ingenius of Rumiko Takahashi and
co. - Viz, Kitty, Shogakakun and Fuji TV. I own nothing on these characters.*
~Be warned, this will be a sadfic but as for a bitter ending...? I don't
know... ^_~ 
~I'm taking this from the manga, so no Sasuke in this one.~
~A special thanks to The Verve and Radiohead for providing brilliant,
melancholy music to get me into the mood to write this...~


Chapter 2: The Human Abstract
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     There was laughing... not a quiet, soft laugh but a manic cackling over
and over again... getting louder and louder and it wouldn't stop. There was
no image, just darkness, no image, just blackness. An evil cackle, a familiar
cackle taunting... at him. Why? Why could the laughing leave him alone? Why
won't it go away? He just wanted peace... why wouldn't the laughing stop?
     WHY?!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

      Biting her bottom lip, she paced erratically up and down the worn floor
in the sitting room. Up. Down. Up. Down. She didn't pace like this; she
didn't panic, most of the time. Why now? All she had to do was lie down and
fall asleep. All her problems would be far away... but one would still be out
there, wandering alone. He wasn't her responsibility, she should just forget
all about it. She should... but she didn't. Everyone would be waking up soon.

      No-one but Kasumi knew...she had answered the phone, late at night,
when no-one but her and kasumi were up. Should she tell them or let them
sleep? Kasumi was sitting down on the sofa, calmly reading a book. How can
she just sit there? She's acting just like she did when mom died. Kasumi
hardly ever gets upset about anything since mom's death, that had always
worried her, how much her sister had changed since it. A person, seemingly so
calm and content but with tragedy in their past... someone like her.
     Then Kasumi looked up at her, probably wondering why the usually
composed person in front of her was acting so out of character. "I know
you're worried about Tatewaki, Nabiki," Kasumi stated; "but please get some
rest. You'll be of more help to him then."
      Nabiki stopped pacing and started to speak when...
      'Brrriiinng!' 'Brrrriinnng!' 
      Nabiki picked the phone almost immediately, clutching it nervously. She
knew something was wrong. She didn't know how she knew. "Hello? Tendo
residence speaking..."  
      "This is North Nerima Hospital speaking."
      "The hospital? Why, what's happened?" She kept her voice steady,
letting no emotion slip out. 
      "About half an hour ago, we brought in a seriously injured,
half-unconscious boy, involved in a car accident, we identified as a Tatewaki
Kuno. He's in surgery at the moment..."
      Oh my god, Kuno! How did he get to that part of town from South Nerima
General?  "Yes?" 
      "We uh... found out about his immediate family... and this number was
found in his wallet. You do know what happened to his family, don't you?"
     "Yes. I'm aware of the situation." Kuno keeps an actual wallet? Nabiki
just thought he carried money around his pockets. She should know this about
a customer, especially her best one.
      "We couldn't find any mention of any other close relatives of the Kuno
family in his files... Can that be true?"
      "Yes. I know of none, either."
      "It's just that there are forms that need to be signed and he is no
condition to look at them."
      "I'll be right over." She put the phone down with immediacy, her hand
shaking as she placed the receiver. Her face was paler than white as she
turned round to face Kasumi... This couldn't be happening, this couldn't...
First Kodachi and the principal and now... Kuno? No, it couldn't happen. Why
didn't she stop him leaving the last hospital? Why?! She should have known
better than that. And now... who knows?
      "Oneechan? Is everything OK? Nabiki?" Kasumi gently prodded her sister,
who seemed to be caught up in her own thoughts.
       "Uh, sorry Kasumi, I have -to go to the hospital n-now..." Nabiki
answered, her calm voice faltering slightly as she tried unsuccessfully to
compose her mixed up emotions. She walked silently into the hall and started
to put her jacket and scarf on. She had never taken her shoes off since she'd
gotten back.
      "What's wrong? What's happened?" Kasumi followed her sister into the
hall. 
      "It's Kuno, he's in hospital, he's been badly hurt in a car accident," 
       Kasumi looked both shocked and sad at this statement. "Oh dear! Is
your poor friend going to be alright?"
      Nabiki stepped back mentally. "F-friend?"
      "Yes, Tatewaki Kuno is who you're referring to isn't it?"
      Nabiki found it strange that anyone would consider Kuno her friend. A
customer perhaps, a classmate even... but a friend? "Yeah, that's right,
Kasumi, my friend." Nabiki  moved towards the door, preparing herself
mentally for the outside world. As the door creaked open, she turned back to
face her older sister. "Are you going to tell the rest about... what's
happened when they wake up?"
      Kasumi gave her a sympathetic, sad smile. "Yes, I was going to tell
everyone over breakfast. It would be better to tell Ranma and Akane about
this tragedy together."
      Nabiiki smiled back warmly and openly, a rare smile only her family
have ever seen. "Thanks oneesan. I don't know how long I'll be at the
hospital."
      "Take as long as you like, oneechan. Just remember to rest once you're
done, OK?" Kasumi asked as Nabiki stepped out into the frosty morning.
       "Bye Kasumi," Nabiki walked off into the hazy mist of snowfall, at
last alone with her thoughts, wondering why she felt so different since last
night and why she should care about someone she professed to hate.... And
wishing that her mom was still here to help...
      The 17 year old wandered on, unaware of the cold slowly invading her.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
      
      The laughs had long since stopped, leaving a relatively quiet chasm of
nothingness in its place... Slipping further and further into this peace,
something glinted. No... it sparked, momentarily. What could it be? 
      It sparked again, a longer flash lingered on a second or so. Shimmering
shades of orange and yellow danced, intertwining with each other, with whisps
of ghostly grey flirting over it. There was something familiar about this
image. The smell was so bitter, so foul... 
      Aha! There it was again, for longer... No, no it can't be that! It must
go, it must leave! It was not his fault! Why does it taunt him so; why?! He
had done everything he could. The fire knew he had survived it and yet it
came back, just like the laughing... over and over and over.... 
      "_Leave me alone_!!! Just leave me _alone_!!!" He screamed out loud,
suddenly sitting bolt upright when a sharp pain struck his ribs. Clasping a
hand at his chest, he fell back to the comfort of the soft sheets of the bed
and closed his eyes. Bed...? Where was he? That must have meant those strange
images were only a dream, it must have meant all of this was a dream... His
sister was probably making her version of breakfast now. He smiled at this
thought only for his face to start screaming in pain. Why did he feel so
weak, so? Why was such pain coarsing through his body?
      Opening his eyes, which were frustratingly blurry at first, he saw... a
slim figure standing nearby in the lighted room... it was a girl? "Younger
sister?"
      "No, Kuno," the voice of the girl whispered quietly in a strange tone
which held a mixture of pity, sympathy and sadness. It was familiar but
unfamiliar in its unassuming manner.
      Blinking his eyes open, Kuno slowly sat up right in his bed, for some
reason his leg was held down by something, causing him much difficulty. He
was about to scold this strange girl for being in his bedroom when his eyes
gained focus.. The strange girl was Nabiki, standing there with a mask of
coolness when she really seemed quite uncomfortable with the situation. He
had recently prided himself on his increased perceptiveness, it had come
about since....
      No.
      No!
      NO!!
      It couldn't be true! It could not be real!! It had to be fake, an
illusion like Ranma's sorcery...
      But all of it came rushing back. Memories, feelings, experiences he did
not wish to know about, he did not want to remember. But they continued to
feed the dark emotions which rattled him. The fire... Kodachi's screams...
Nabiki's look of pity... mother's words... Mrs. Okanoni... the thief... and
the hypnotising glow of the headlights... It was not fair! Why was Kami so
angry with him, what had he done to deserve these injustices? What?!
      Nabiki watched Kuno closely, she felt so... sorry for him. Imagine...
thinking everything was alright and then having it slam you right in the gut,
the real truth. 
      Kuno was still adjusting to the real nightmare, so much so that he did
not bother to hide his real feelings. His face had lost any impulsiveness she
had seen before. His eyes were so sad and lonely,  his face was screwed up in
misery and shock. Kuno.... Kuno seemed so vulnerable... so hurt. She was
disturbed with this unusual sight and yet at the same time she was affected
in a another way by his open vulnerability. It was so... touching. He seemed
so human just then, still a pompous jerk perhaps, but a pompous jerk with
humanity in him.  It was a strange feeling, though and it felt so foreign to
her. She would just shove it aside until she could deal with it, later.
That's were bad feelings go - in "later". 
      As a tear fell unawares from Kuno's eye, down his cheek, Nabiki felt at
a real loss at what to do. Kasumi would know, she was good at this sort of
thing. She always had been, making people feel better or pointing out their
faults when they hurt someone's feelings badly. Nabiki had many good points,
she knew, but comforting was not one of them. What should she do?
      Avoiding eye contact, Nabiki spoke quietly but calmly. "I have to make
a phonecall, Kuno, but you keep well, OK? I'll... come back later."
      Kuno, his emotional reckoning interrupted, looked towards the composed
figure at the end of his bed. He had forgotten all about her, how could he be
so rude? Mother would be ashamed at this selfish display of emotion. Kodachi
would laugh at him for being so weak... weak... No, he was strong!! But what
about...? Quenching back unwanted memories, Kuno decided to risk speaking, he
hoped someone as socially aware as him could speak without letting this
embarrassing grief of his ruin his barely salvageable reputation. 
      He felt a hardness in his chest as he spoke, slowing his speech down as
he tried to get rid of this unnatural feeling. "Goodbye, Nabiki Tendo."
There. Done. And what a fine effort it was as well. Yes, perfectly composed.
Mother would be proud she would hopefully forgive him for the crying...
      Nabiki left Kuno's ward; both uncomfortable in their thoughts... 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

       Kasumi sat down at the end of the table, having just laid out
breakfast, seeming immune to the craziness which existed. Ranma was fighting
with Akane while similarity fighting off his father's attempts to steal his
food. It seemed a perfectly normal day for Nerima until Nodoka noticed
something.
      "Kasumi dear, aren't you going to eat?" She asked the young woman,
whose mind seemed to be on something else.
      "I don't feel like eating, Mrs. Saotome," she replied in a quiet voice.
      "Why ever not?"
      "I have some bad news for you all."
      Soun, hearing his daughter mention "bad news", put his paper down and
looked at her with a worried expression on his face. "What's the matter,
aren't you well?"  
      Akane's ears perked up. Kasumi wasn't well? Kasumi? She stopped arguing
with Ranma and turned to look at her sister, who noticed Akane's lack of
interest and his curiosity peaked as well.
      Taking in a deep breath, Kasumi decided now was the time to tell them.
"I'm fine... but there's been an horrible accident. It happened late last
night..."
     
* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
           
      Nabiki couldn't believe it! The hospital staff wouldn't let her sign
any forms regarding insurance because they thought she was too young. And
they wouldn't let her go see the driver who ran Kuno over. She smiled with an
edge of malice. They must think she's some sort of stupid, immature
teenager...  well, they'd soon find out differently. And the driver wouldn't
know what hit them, either...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

       She opened the hospital curtains open slightly and stepped into the
room, drawing closely to Kuno's bedside. Her heart beat faster as she
nervously approached his sleeping form. What was she going to say? Should she
wake him? He looked so peaceful.... She had never seen him so peaceful... 
      Before she could make up her mind, an argument outside on the other
side of curtain woke him up. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed up at the
person near him, slowly gathering his thoughts and beginning to realise who
was next to him. She saw his stare and gasped in morbid fascination and pity
by the darkness and desolation clear in his eyes, all swirling inside of him.
It was amazing how she found that, at this moment, she could read him like a
book. 
      His eyes widened as he finally recognised who it was. She... came? Her?

      "Akane...." his sore and dry throat croaked with an unreadable tone.
      The schoolgirl smiled sadly and replied: "Hello, Upperclassman Kuno."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
   
       Nabiki put down the phone in disbelief after having had a conversation
with Kasumi... Akane was here, along with Ranma? But she hadn't seen them!
But she had been busy with other "matters". 
      She started to walk quickly down the corridor towards Kuno's ward. She
couldn't let them go near them! After seeing Kuno's reaction the last time
she had mentioned her younger sister's name, Nabiki knew that it would be
wiser not to mention Akane again. But... now what was she supposed to do? It
had been over an hour since Ranma and Akane had apparently set off for the
hospital and taking into account Ranma's speed, they were probably here
already. 
      Akane's appearance is well-meaning but ill-timed and taking into
account Ranma... she knew that in either form he would end up being a
dangerous ingredient to an already volatile cocktail. And what with Kuno's
unpredictable mood swings and depression, Nabiki could only hope that she'd
get there in time.....

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

       Kuno looked up at Akane, who seemed unsure what to say. His love was
here to see him... oh joyous day! He smiled at her when another face slowly
super-imposed itself over the schoolgirl's. It was different but blurry
around the edges. Then the new face smiled and Kuno knew who it was and knew
why it was doing this to him every time he thought of his loves... finally
knew....
      Akane watched as Kuno's eyes seemed to glaze over as his demeanour
soured from the almost happy expression of a few seconds ago to a.. sad,
almost resigned face. What was wrong? She thought she could cheer him up, she
thought she could help. 
      Kuno looked at his hallucination with an almost sober view. His eyes
said that it was Kodachi standing before him with an evil smile on her
face.... but he knew that it was Akane, that his younger sister was not here
anymore. The reason for all this was finally dawning on him and it was now
time to embrace this new truth, to admit it...
      The hospital curtain opened slightly as a head peeked in.
      "Akane, you OK?" Ranma asked; "It seemed a bit too quiet in here."
      Before Akane could answer, Ranma felt another set of eyes upon him and
he shivered but didn't know why.
      Kuno was sitting up in bed, his hands at his sides, he seemed ready to
jump out. His eyes were narrowed and his face was painted with undisguised
fury and hatred. How dare Saotome come here?! How dare he!! The source of all
his troubles, the imprisoner of his pigtailed girl!!! He was facing his worst
enemy... his _worst_ enemy...  
     "How dare you show your face!" Kuno snarled, his blood thickening up as
if hot lava was flowing through him. Suddenly he jumped towards the stunned
martial artist, not noticing the crying pain in his leg and the agonising
shrieks of his injured arm as his  IV got sharply ripped as he dived with
surprising speed towards his nemesis.
      As a maddened Kuno lunged for him, Ranma was momentarily taken
off-guard by the attack. He couldn't believe that Kuno was acting so.. so... 
      Thought was cut off as he heard Akane scream and his instincts finally
kicked in before Kuno did. He dodged to the side as 17 year-old flew past him
and fell onto the floor, slamming into the hard metal legs of an empty
hospital bed opposite him and the sickening 'clang' as head collided with
metal. 
      Ranma couldn't breathed heavily as what had just happened had knocked
the wind out of him. He couldn't believe it, Kuno had just attacked him for
no reason. No challenge was issued and he had seemed to be really angry with
him for some reason. Ranma had expected maybe for Kuno to treat him with
contempt and disdain as usual, but not with the sort of unrestrained show of
loathing usually reserved by... Ryoga. Kuno was turning into Ryoga? Nah... it
must just be temporary insanity, it had to be. Kuno would be fine when he
woke up. Yes, he would, Ranma was sure of it.   
      He glanced at Akane and saw that she was very pale and stood silently,
her mouth wide open. She was also... shivering? Was she in shock, was she
alright? "Ak -"
      "Unh..! Face me you.. nhhh! You deviants!" A pained voice announced. 
      Ranma turned round in shock. Kuno got up, after that? He usually stayed
down after a crash like that. And did he hear right... "deviants..."? Who
else was Kuno talking too? He hoped it wasn't Akane.
      Kuno staggered away from the battered bed. A headache erupted inside
his turmoiled head, a sharp pain stabbed repeatedly at his arm. His eyes only
just escaped a sharp cut down one of his cheeks. Not hearing the gasps and
cries of shocked patients around him,  Kuno fixed his eyes on his slightly
blurry surroundings which were spinning gently round him and saw his worst
enemy, there were now three of them  and they seemed slightly taller than
before but oddly familiar. All he knew was that they must go, he would punish
them for what they had done. 
      "You will pay for killing them! For letting them die!!" He shouted in
blind rage, tears streaming down his eyes, his inured body not seeming to
slow him down as he ran towards one of the enemies, having been forced to
choose.
      (What is he talking about?) Both Ranma and Akane thought to themselves.

      Ranma readied himself for a fight when he heard Akane cry out.
      "Don't hurt him, Ranma, he's sick!!"
      "In more ways than one..." Ranma muttered to himself, although he did
feel sympathy for the guy and what he'd been through. But... he couldn't let
anyone else get hurt, especially with Akane there. He wouldn't let Kuno touch
her...
      Kuno stampeded up to a steadfast Ranma, his teeth clenched and his
fists scrunched up so tightly the knuckles had turned white. The kendoist's
eyes were red with anger and rage and his whole stance was shaky with
indescribable pain but determined. Everyone watched with horrified
fascination, struck dumb by such intensity of emotion and anger. The
confrontation was nigh... 
      The quiet seemed unbreakable...
      "Kuno, don't do it! Ranma hasn't killed anyone!! Please, stop this
_now_!" A voice shouted from the entrance to the ward. Everyone turned to
look to see who it was, including both Kuno and Ranma.
      "Nabiki...?" Kuno whispered in surprise. She had come back to see him?
Suddenly instinct told him someone was behind him. What -?
      "Aaaah!" A stabbing pain hit his senses. He turned to see a doctor
standing there holding a needle. A drowsy feeling began to swamp the whole of
him and haziness drifted through his mind as the ground seemed to shake and
shift beneath him. "You should have let me finished... why?"
       "I'm sorry," the doctor answered with genuine sympathy as the
anesthesia began took control of the teenager standing infront of him. "It
was for the best." 
       "Whose best?" Asked Kuno sadly as he dropped to the ground in an
awkward heap. Mouth still open. Mind closed. Doctors and nurses immediately
clamoured round the fallen soldier as Nabiki made her way over to Ranma, her
mixed up emotions unrecognisable on her calm face.
      "I guess I was too late," she understated as her eyes wandered to her
'best customer' who was being wheeled off to Casualty.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 
End of chapter 2...
This is shorter than the last chapter but any kind of C&C is appreciated on
its effectiveness, grammar, characterization etc, etc... And the long-term
focus will stay on Kuno, I promise. ^_^