Why?

Ranma 1/2 and characters all belong to Rumiko Takahashi
This is my first serious fic.
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Honk! Honk!
	
	Damn it! I don't have time to be stuck in a traffic jam!

	"How far are we from the hospital and how much longer will it take?"  The
brunette glared at the taxi driver, "if this is some sort of idea to run up
the meter, I don't have time for it!"

	"Hey lady, ain't nothing I can do.  There was another of those damn
sightings of monsters in Juuban again involving a derailment.  We're stuck
due to emergency vehicles cutting off the roads, " he noticed the young
woman starting to try the door, "and the rail lines are shut down as well,
at least if you're still headed for Nerima."  The woman pulled her hand
back from the door angrily. And sat back in the seat, thinking.  After a
few minutes, she spoke again.

	"Fine.  An extra 10,000 yen if you can get me to Nerima Hospital in the
next 20 minutes.  My little sister is in there and nothing, but NOTHING, is
going to get in my way.  Either that or let me out now and I'll start
walking."

	"No need to be hasty la..."

	"Yes, there is."

	"Okay, okay.  An extra ten thousand?"

	"Subject to revoking in the next minute if you don't get moving now!"

	The cab-driver looked back at his passenger through the rearview mirror. 
Kuso! She's glowin'?  The cabby sighed.  This is why I moved OUT of
Nerima... I shoulda known better.  The woman was starting to try the door
again.  "Okay miss, here we go."  At least I can blame everything on one of
those crazy martial artists.

	The cab, which had been creeping along slowly, made a sudden swerve down
an alleyway, accelerating the whole time.  Eighteen minutes later, the cab
was in front of Nerima General Hospital.  A wad of money was shoved at the
cab-driver's face.

	"Keep the change."
	
	"Ahhh, you sure about that Ms. Tendo?"  By the time the cabby had spoken,
she was already through the door into the hospital.

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

	Where the hell will they be?  Kasumi said they'd taken her to Emergency,
but will they still be there?  Damn it taking forever to get here!  Nabiki
looked around the entranceway to the hospital.  Calm down, calm down,
you're supposed to be the cool, collected one of the family.  I've made it
this far, I can't start panicking yet - besides, Daddy will be doing enough
of a job for all of us.  Ah, Information!

	"Yes, may I help you?"  spoke an older woman, about 45-50, as she sat
behind the information booth counter.

	"Yes, my sister was admitted here early this morning.  Akane Tendo is her
name.  Could you tell me where to find her?"

	A few moments of tapping on the keyboard, "I don't have her listed here. 
You may want to check with Admissions though, sometimes there are delays in
updating my system."

	"Where is Admissions?"  Remember remember... they did say Nerima
General... damn I didn't write it down!  

	"Down that hallway, to the left,  3 more hallways down take a right, then
you should be there."

	"Thank you."  Nabiki turned and started moving with some speed.

	Down the hallway to the left, 3 or 4 hallways down... this is getting
pitiful Nabiki.  You can do odds and run gambling rings out of your head,
but can't remember directions given to you 2 minutes ago.  And if I keep
talking to myself I won't remember!  

	"Sir, can you tell me where is Admissions? "  The doctor turned and
pointed at a sign.  "Down that hall."

	"Sorry."  Know I know how Ryouga feels.  She quickly went down the
hallway.  A line of several people were in front of her.  It took about 15
minutes for her to reach the front.

	"Yes?"

	"My sister, Akane Tendo, is supposed to be here.  Could you tell me what
room she's in?"  2 minutes of keyboard tapping, then the nurse spoke, "I
have no one listed by that name here.  Let me call upstairs and confirm
with them."  Another 2 minutes that felt like forever, then, "She's still
in Emergency."  A series of directions later, Nabiki was outside the
building, walking around to the Emergency entrance.  This is probably
easier than trying to find it walking through that damn maze of a building.

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

	Nabiki walked through the Emergency room entrance.  Where's the nurses so
I can go through all this agai...

	"Kasumi!"  This is tearing her apart.  She's been crying.

	"Nabiki,  good, you made it."  Kasumi grabbed Nabiki's hands.  Nabiki
could feel them shaking in her palms, and tightened her grip.  
	
	"Come on Kasumi and sit down.  The connection was bad and I'm not sure
exactly what happened.  Tell me, please."

	"Well, we've heard several different stories now from her and her friends,
but his is what we do know," a deep indrawn breath, "Akane was staying over
at Sayori's house last night, in their guest room.  She was stopped last
night at about 1 AM walking to the train station by an officer. 
Apparently, a friend of hers, Miyori, had been delayed arriving for a get
together at Sayori's. She was at the train station and wanted someone to
meet her before coming to the house.  Akane answered the phone and went to
meet her.  Along the way, she was spotted walking erratically by an
officer.  He stopped her, and noticed the blood.  He then brought her here.
 She was groggy, but did manage to give them Sayori's name and the police
called her.  Sayori then called us. "  Kasumi's hands started to shake
again.  

	"I don't understand it!  Why did she attempt suicide?"  Nabiki looked at
Kasumi,  "I just don't understand that kind of thinking,  especially from
Akane!  She's always readyt o go, overcoming any problem..."

	"She was very serious about it according to the psychologist.  68 stitches
from cutting her wrists, there are marks on her neck where she apparently
tried to strangle herself, and she had her stomache pumped for an overdose
of aspirin and Valium."  Kasumi started to shake harder, "If it wasn't for
that phone call, she'd.. she'd.."  Nabiki hugged her sister.  "Easy, relax
Kasumi,  she's in the hospital now and they've got people trained for these
things.  Come on, big sister, she didn't die, she's in the hospital, and we
can go from here."

	"Y.. Yes.  Let's go in to see her, Nabiki.  She'll be glad you're here."

	"Who else is here?"

	"Father is sleeping in one of the other rooms.  They had to hook him up to
an IV to prevent dehydration and sedated him.  Ryouga is currently sitting
with her."

	"Where the hell is Ranma?  Why isn't he here during this?"  Nabiki's mind
raced.  If Ranma was in some way responsible for this, he might be lying
low.  But this is Ranma!  Those two are meant for each other even if they
can't see it.... But if he's involved in anyway with this, a fight, an old
fiancee, I'll break him like a twig!

	"Mr. Saotome and Ranma are on a training trip.  They're supposed to arrive
back tomorrow.  Mousse volunteered to attempt to find them, so they might
be back later today."

	The two stood in front of a half-opened door for a moment, then walked in.
 Akane was wrapped up in a blanket, looking very tired.  An IV was stuck in
one arm, and Nabiki could see the bandages at Akane's wrists and the
stiches at her inner elbows.  

	"Hey big sister,  I guess I screwed up big this time,"  A tight chuckle.

	"Akane,  Why?"

****************************************
Author's notes

	I dislike reading dark-toned fiction, and I've found I hate writing it
even more, but sometimes you just have to.  I've had most of this on the
hard-drive for about a month, since my sister attempted to commit suicide. 
Blind luck is the only reason she's still around today.  She's in therapy
now, so everything seems to be all right now.  
	I personally can't comprehend that sort of thinking, but I do not want to
start any sort of debate on it.  I think I'll go back to nice short, happy
spamfics now.  

Russ
















"My Dream?  All people have invisible wings.  My dream... my dream is to
have everyone learn to fly on their own wings!"
 -- Gally, Hunter-Warrior