Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story are the property of 
the Rumiko Takahashi and co.

This story takes place after volume 38 of the Ranma manga and also 
draws ideas from the anime.

This is a side story to my next generation series, Another Time, Same 
Place.  You do not really need to read that series to enjoy this.  The 
only thing that needs to be known is that Ranma has disappeared after 
making a wish on a cursed magical brooch.

C & C welcomed.

Another Time, Same Place:  Life Goes On

By

Donny Cheng

Side Story

	"Akane you have to eat something.  That's it.  That's a good 
girl," Ryoga said as he spooned another scoop of rice into Akane's 
slack jawed mouth.

	Kasumi cast a worried glance at Akane before turning her 
attentions back to her father.  "Daddy, see?  Akane's eating.  Why 
don't you try some also?"

	Nabiki sighed and tried to turn a deaf ear to the proceedings.  
She had tried to stay up in her room so that she would not be able to 
see her dad and sister like this.  They were basically vegetables ever 
since they had gotten back from China, after Ranma had disappeared into 
thin air.  However, she found herself filled with apprehension as she 
stayed up in her room, wondering if that her father and Akane would 
ever wake up from whatever nightmare they lived within their minds.  
Nabiki found herself peaking into the living room every so often, 
enough that she finally decided to just stay by their side.

	Nabiki sighed as she cursed Ranma again in her mind.  She must 
have cursed him over a hundred times since the fatal wish.  The stupid 
jerk was the cause of all this as usual.  It was so easy to fault him 
for this, but even Nabiki found it increasingly harder to do so.  They 
had _all_ been caught up in the prospect of having a wish being granted 
to them, including herself.  For the first time since Ranma appeared, 
their foolishness had cost them one of their own.  And with his 
absence, everyone paid the price.

	From what she had heard, Shampoo had locked herself up in her 
room in the Nekohanten, believing she was the cause for Ranma's 
disappearance because she had found the wishing broach.  Ukyo had not 
stepped foot out of Ucchan's since they had gotten back.  Ten years of 
searching for Ranma down the drain, Nabiki supposed, was not something 
easily swallowed.  Kodachi had been sent to the mental institution 
after she had gone crazy and attacked Ranma's other suitors, blaming 
them for the incident.  Kuno was not much better after it was explained 
to him that his 'pigtailed goddess' was gone now that her 'master' was 
gone.  His sister and Akane not in their right minds did not help 
things.  Mousse's mourning was the real surprise.  However, Nabiki 
suspected it was more for the way Ranma affected Shampoo than any real 
grief over Ranma himself.

	Nabiki couldn't resist any longer and turned to look at the two 
still figures being cared for.  Their eyes remained blank, staring into 
nothing.  She could hear her father muttering about his hopes and 
dreams being shattered.  Nothing came out of Akane's mouth.  It was an 
increasingly annoying familiar scene.  *Damn you, Ranma.*

			* * * * *

	Kuno lay on his back and looked up at the ceiling.  Two pictures 
hung up there, taunting and teasing him at the same time.  He turned to 
his side.  More pictures flaunted their beauty at him.  Finally, he 
closed his eyes.  It did not help at all.  In his mind he could still 
see them as clearly as if they were standing beside him.  He opened his 
eyes.  The smiling face of the pigtailed girl and Tendo Akane greeted 
him.  It was true that he had often been led astray by the sight of 
others such as that amazon that claimed Saotome to be her husband, but 
his heart always came back to this mysterious girl and his first love.

	Ranma.  The name brought with it a hatred and longing that left 
him confused as it always did.  The vile Saotome did not deserve to be 
mentioned in the same breath as the goddess much less have the same 
name that Kuno held dear to his heart.  *Saotome!  I would wish myself 
gone and you here even if she would still be within your clutches.  At 
the very least she would still be alive.*

	Akane.  She was still alive, but she was only a shadow of her 
former glory.  A pretty shell with nothing inside of it was still just 
a shell.  Kuno had thought that Saotome's 'death' would free the proud 
girl he had fallen in love with the first time he had met her, but he 
had been so very wrong.

			* * * * *

	"Akane, I do not know what has happened, but it appears that the 
sorcerer that held you and the pigtailed girl will never come back," 
Kuno said as he watched over the group of girls that sat at the 
clearing from where Ranma was last seen.  For some odd reason, though 
Saotome was gone, his hold over the various girls, including Kodachi, 
was still strong as ever.  What had been even stranger had been the 
disappearance of the pigtailed goddess.

	Akane's dull eyes flashed with hatred as Kuno's words reached 
her.  Her hand shot out with ferocious speed and grabbed his shirt.  
Roughly, she yanked him down to her until his face was an inch from her 
own.  "Kuno.  If you ever say that again, I will _hurt_ you.  Ranma 
_is_ coming back.  And for the last time, he has _not_ cast a spell 
over me.  I am with him willingly," Akane said, not taking her eyes off 
of Kuno until he acknowledged what she said.

	*Ranma, I admit it.  Where are you?  I give up.  I'll say it 
first, if you would only come back,* Akane wailed in her mind.  She 
imagined seeing him pop up and laughing at her for being so stupid.  
She would yell at him and tell him that she was lying.  But it never 
happened.  Ranma still didn't pop up.

	Kuno was shaken as Akane released him.  Indignantly, he patted 
his crumpled gi down until it was smooth again.  *I see your power 
extends from beyond the grave Saotome.*  He sighed as Akane's 
expressive eyes, eyes that drew him in the first time he saw them, 
became dull once again.  Like a drone, she went back to waiting for 
Ranma's return with the same obsession that the other three girls in 
the area possessed.

			* * * * *

	Kuno sat up on his bed.  He would give anything to see the fierce 
gaze of his warrioress again.  So raw and intense were her eyes that 
day he bumped into her at the start of the semester, he doubted he 
could ever forget them and he never did.  Yes.  He could see it so 
clearly now.  The pigtailed girl, he refused to call her, Ranma, may be 
gone, but Akane was not.  As long as her body was still here, she might 
still be saved.

	Kuno paused for a moment as he stood up and changed into his 
normal attire.  A picture of his sister on the nightstand caught his 
attention.  They had taken his sister away just a few days ago.  He 
tried to summon some feeling, any feeling on the matter and found that 
he could not.  It was not that he did not care for his sister.  Despite 
all the squabbles that they got into, he did care for her.  He had 
taken care of her since their father had left for Hawaii all those 
years ago, but somehow they drifted apart.  He supposed that it had 
begun sometime when Kodachi won her first match in gymnastics.  
Overnight, it seemed that she didn't need him to watch over her 
anymore.  Their relationship had never been the same since.

	Kuno took up the picture and let a finger graze across Kodachi's 
cheek.  *How lucky you are, sister.  So easy for you to escape 
reality.*  Kodachi was in hands far more capable to taking care of her 
than he would ever be able to.  In some ways, Kuno found himself 
jealous of that fact.  He shook his head to clear it of the folly he 
was thinking.  Folly to be envious of being crazy, was it not?

			* * * * *

	"Nabiki, please."

	Nabiki sighed as Kasumi pleaded again.  It was useless trying to 
reason with her.  What Kasumi wanted was just impossible.  "Kasumi, I 
can't keep him away forever.  The last time I thought for sure he would 
barge his way in.  He seriously thinks Akane needs _him_ to save her."

	"I'm sure you can think of something.  Please, do this for Akane, 
Nabiki.  She doesn't need this right now."

	"Alright, alright.  I'll take care of him," Nabiki finally 
agreed.  She got up and stomped over to the front door.  The problem 
with Kuno was that he could have even beaten Ranma in a contest of 
stubbornness.  The more you tried to deny him something the stronger he 
tried to get it.  If she couldn't outright tell him that he could not 
see Akane, she would have to divert his attention.

	"Oh, it is you, Nabiki," Kuno sniffed.  "I was hoping to see your 
sister.  Is she well enough to see visitors today?  Surely her health 
has gotten better by now.  And if she is not better, this illness is 
worse than I thought.  I must see her."

	Nabiki frowned.  She had known that Kuno would not take no for an 
answer sooner or later.  Kasumi was right; Akane didn't need this right 
now.  Also, Kuno's safety might be in doubt should he try to see her.  
Nabiki shuddered as she recalled the only time her sister was out of 
her funk.  It had been only to look at Kuno with a hatred that made her 
fearful for her cash cow's life.  Once he goes spouting off about Ranma 
there was bound to be violence.  "She is much better right now 
actually, but sleeping.  Why don't you let her rest for another hour, 
okay?  In the mean time, I have something to talk to you about."

	*She is well!  Truly, this day of our reunion was fated,* Kuno 
smiled.  "Very well, Nabiki.  I shall do business with you for the 
moment.  Perchance, you have more photos of your sister?  Or have you 
found the last remaining photos of the pigtailed girl?"

	"Business?  Who said anything about business?" Nabiki asked as 
she wrapped an arm over one of Kuno's and hugged it to her body.  "I 
wanted to talk about us.  You see, I've had the greatest crush on you, 
Kuno, for the longest time.  With my sister now better, I fear my only 
competition will once again ensnare your heart."  Nabiki had the 
satisfaction of watching Kuno's jaw become unglued to the rest of his 
face.

			* * * * *

	Kuno sat at the restaurant and found that he could only stare at 
the middle Tendo sister.  It seemed that the girl was truly smitten 
with him.  It was understandable, but not something he could deal with.  
When he had tried to let her down gently, the girl had cried and went 
on about telling Akane how he had hurt her.  A very difficult 
situation.

	Nabiki tried her best to look demure and hurt.  She took a finger 
and started to circle the rim of her glass of water, while her head was 
bowed down, her eyes careful to avoid contact with the boy in front of 
her.  "I know that your heart belongs to my sister, but I find myself 
irresistibly drawn to you.  All I ask is that you let me be your girl 
friend for a few weeks.  I won't bother you ever again after that."

	*Why did I not see this?  The meetings about selling pictures had 
all been a pretext to see me.  How it must have wounded her heart to 
give me the images of my loves, her rivals.  I must tread over this 
carefully.  I do not wish for Tendo Akane to hate me for any poorly 
conceived notion that I had hurt her dear sister,* Kuno thought 
gravely.  "Very well, Nabiki.  I shall let you date me."

	"Oh, Kuno-chan!" Nabiki said, fluttering her eyes exaggeratedly.  
*I think I'm going to be sick.  You owe me one big time, little 
sister.*

			* * * * *

	"Bwee!"

	Akari looked up from the pigpen.  "Ryoga?"

	No, it wasn't him, just one of her pigs.  *Silly piglet.  Why do 
you keep thinking he'll be back?* Akari asked herself.

	Their parting had been strained, but a reasonably amicable one.  
Ryoga had looked so sad, worried about how she might react.  He had 
been surprised when she had said 'okay' and gave him a peck on his 
cheek.  The relief and concern he had on his face told her all she 
needed to know.  He loved Akane more than he loved her.  *I hope you're 
happy with Akane, Ryoga.*

			* * * * *

	Ryoga grunted as the bar of soap hit him in the face.  He tried 
hard not to dodge as a bucket hit him on the chest.  It hurt like hell.

	Running out of ammunition, Akane ran at the pervert with her 
fists.  It was over in another five minutes.  She stood there staring 
at the bloody mess that was Ryoga, trying to make some sense of what 
she had seen when she entered the furo only to see her pet jumping into 
the hot water and a boy emerging.  *Ranma... you knew about this,* 
Akane thought angrily for a moment before realizing what was feeling.  
Anger at _him_.  *No, this isn't your fault, Ranma.  You must have had 
some reason to do it.  I didn't mean it!  I wasn't angry, really!* 

	Ryoga groaned as he got up from the beating he had just received, 
and stared after the fleeing girl with tears streaming down her face.  
Despite the injuries he knew his body had newly acquired, the only 
thing he could think of was to get dressed and make sure Akane was all 
right.  His feeling of protectiveness overrode any thought of personal 
survival.  It wasn't until he had seen the full fury of her face that 
he understood what he must do.  His guilt of being 'P-Chan' was pushed 
aside for the moment as Akane's well being was the most important thing 
right now.

	Akane's wet footprints on the ground were fortunately visable 
enough for him to find his way to her room.  He stood outside, putting 
his ear to the door.  He could hear Kasumi's voice consoling her.  "I'm 
sorry," Ryoga whispered, knowing that she could not hear him.  It 
looked like it would have to be the roof for him tonight.  *I'm sorry, 
Ranma, for what I'm about to do, but Akane comes first.  I know you 
wouldn't want to see her like this either.*

			* * * * *

	"What's with Ryoga?" Nabiki asked upon entering the living room.  
Ryoga was black and blue all over and seemed to be in a very deep 
sleep.  She carefully placed the six shopping bags she had with her on 
the table, hoping Kasumi would help her put them away.  *I should have 
pretended to be Kuno's girlfriend earlier.*

	"Uh, he slept... I mean, he is... oh my!  How should I put this?  
Ryoga has been sleeping with Akane for the past year."

	"What!?  But, but, what about Ranma?" Nabiki asked, her jaw 
dropping to the ground at Kasumi's statement.

	"Ah, I meant to say that Ryoga is P-Chan.  It seems he's been to 
Jusenkyo too."

	"P-Chan?"  *Of course!  It all makes sense now.  Man, now that I 
think of it, Ranma wasn't being very subtle with those hints.  I always 
thought they were insults like Akane said.*  "So, how's Akane taking 
it?"

	"We only found out yesterday while you were out on one of your 
dates with Kuno.  So, she's still a little sore and not talking to 
anyone right now.  She's becoming a vegetable, I'm afraid.  I'll go up 
in a few minutes to check on her again.  In the meantime, could you do 
something about Ryoga.  Oh I didn't mean it like that, Nabiki," Kasumi 
said.

	*I hope she doesn't hurt him too badly,* she thought as her 
sister developed a wild gleam in her eye and started to actually crack 
her knuckles.  Nabiki wasn't a violent sort, but Kasumi knew that her 
sister had other ways of dealing with 'problems'.  Ways that would make 
a beating more preferable.

	"He's really not a bad sort.  I found him on the roof last night.  
He really does care about Akane and I don't think he wants to leave her 
side even now," Kasumi said, shaking her head at Ryoga's problem.  She 
left Nabiki to deal with Ryoga as she went back up the stairs to 
Akane's room.

			* * * * *

	"What?  That's your brilliant plan?" Nabiki asked incredulously 
as she listened to what Pig Boy had to say for himself.  When she had 
asked him what he planned to do now that Akane knew, this was the last 
thing she expected.  "She'll kill you.  Do you remember what she almost 
did to Kuno when he badmouthed Ranma in front of her?  It's suicide."

	"I don't care," Ryoga said steadfastly.  "It's the only way to 
get her moving.  She's spent the last few weeks like Mr. Tendo.  The 
only time they move is when they remember to eat or go the bathroom.  
That's not living!  I can't stand to see Akane like this.  Besides, I'm 
sure this is what Ranma would have done."

	"That's because you're both stupid," Nabiki said, shaking her 
head.  But Ryoga did have a point.  This was exactly what Ranma would 
have tried to do.

	"Um... can you make sure she doesn't kill me?  I mean it won't 
work if I'm not there to keep doing this," Ryoga said, scratching the 
back of his head and grinned sheepishly at Nabiki.

	Nabiki didn't know if she should have clapped her hands or banged 
her head on the floor at this.

			* * * * *

	Akane stood staring up at the ceiling.  Teardrops welled up in 
her eyes making it hard for her to see too clearly.  *I didn't mean it, 
Ranma.  I wasn't angry at you.  You must have had some reason to keep 
it a secret from me.  I know that you would never hurt me if you could 
help it.*

	"Bwahahaha!  I tell you, Nabiki.  You think that joke was bad?  
You should listen to the time we snuck Happosai into the room as P-
Chan.  Man, me and Ranma had fun with that one."

	Akane blinked back her tears at sudden loud laughter emanating 
from the floor of her room.  It was Ryoga downstairs, apparently 
talking to Nabiki.  *What did he say!?  He's lying!*

	With unnatural speed, Akane sprung from her bed and raced out the 
door, down the hallway and stairs to the living room.  In ten seconds 
flat, she was down upon the laughing boy with her hands around his 
neck, stopping the awful lies from coming out of his mouth.  "Why are 
you doing this?  Ranma would never have done that!  He lov... he cared 
about me!  I was wrong.  It wasn't Ranma that was picking on you, it 
was the other way around."

	"Akane, you're killing him.  Get off of him," Nabiki said, 
grabbing hold of one of her sister's taunt arms.

	Akane shuddered as her senses came back to her and she stared 
down at the unconscious body of Ryoga.  She looked at her trembling 
hands.  "H-He deserved it," Akane stuttered.  "Lying about Ranma that 
way.  He would never hurt me.  Ranma would never hurt me."

	Nabiki watched sadly as Akane slowly trudged back the way she 
came from, her voice still repeating how Ranma would never hurt her 
over and over.  *It took you too late to realize that, Akane.  Too 
late.*  "Ryoga, you alive?" she asked, turning to the matter at hand.

	"Yeah," Ryoga groaned weakly as he shook himself awake at 
Nabiki's prodding.

	"So, how long you're going to keep doing this?"

	"How ever long it takes."

	"When our mother died, it took Akane six months to talk again."

	"..."

			* * * * *

	"Our orders ready, Mousse?" Nabiki asked as she sat down at one 
of the tables.

	"Yep, I just have to pack them up in a box for you to carry.  
Sorry, about making you come all this way.  The delivery boy just quit 
this morning.  He didn't realize how far Shampoo used to deliver to on 
her bicycle."

	"Oh?" Nabiki asked.  "Shampoo still not up to moving around yet?"

	"Ranma," Mousse said darkly as if that one word explained 
everything.

	"Still?  I guess she really did care about the big jerk.  I hear 
Ukyo is the same."

	"Along with your sister."

	Nabiki flinched.  "Yeah.  But I think she's getting better."

	"I know, Ryoga told me when I found him in one of our storage 
rooms lost as usual, trying to find the dojo," Mousse said.  He paused 
for a moment before daring to ask the question he had to when he first 
called Nabiki over to the restaurant.  "Is it _really_ working?  
Ryoga's plan?  He didn't look to well."

	Nabiki winced.  That was an understatement.  Ryoga looked like he 
had been wrung and hung out to dry.  The boy hardly slept, keeping a 
constant vigil over Akane on top of their roof, be it rain or shine.  
When Akane was awake, he would hover over her, taunting her about how 
bad Ranma was.  It had the usual effect of her flailing at Ryoga.  In 
fact, Akane seemed to be in a perpetual state of anger these days, due 
in no small part to the boy.  When she was angry, she had no time to be 
sad.  "Yeah, it's working.  Why?"

	Mousse raised up the sleeve of his robe, revealing his left arm.  
It was black and blue all over.

	Nabiki understood.  He was trying the same thing with Shampoo.  
"I hate to say this Mousse, but you might be the wrong person to do 
this.  While Akane hates Ryoga at the moment, she doesn't hate him 
enough to..."

	"...deal any permanent damage.  However, Shampoo is a different 
story," Mousse finished for Nabiki.  "I agree with Ryoga in that 
respect.  It is a chance I must take."

	"Mousse, stop slacking.  I've boxed the food.  You can give it to 
her now." Cologne ordered from inside the kitchen.  The boy jumped at 
her command.  She ignored him when he called her by his customary 
nickname for her, 'old ghoul'.  For once, Mousse's constant hounding of 
her great granddaughter through the years was useful.  *Just this once, 
Mousse, because I need you.  You're probably the only one that could 
irritate Shampoo enough to get a response from her.*

			* * * * *

	Nabiki stopped at Ucchan's next before heading home.  With Ukyo's 
presence gone, it had fallen into a sad state of affairs and needed all 
the business it could get.  Konatsu had compensated by making the food 
cheaper.  It had worked moderately well, keeping the restaurant from 
going into the red too deep.

	"Hi, Konatsu.  Two beef specials to go."

	Konatsu nodded relieved at seeing a customer enter.  "I'll have 
it ready in a few moments.  Would you like to sit down, first?"

	"Sure, my legs are killing me.  The place seems to be doing 
better," Nabiki noted as she looked around.  There was a smattering of 
people around her.

	"Not as much as before, I'm afraid," Konatsu replied.  "But since 
I've started opening during school hours, I've almost managed to make 
up for it.  Still Ukyo managed to make more and she only opened after 
school hours."

	"Any idea when she'll get better?" Nabiki asked, however, 
Konatsu's dejected expression answered that.

	"Not for some time.  Her body is still very weak, but I think 
she'll come through.  Just a matter of time."

	"Oh?" Nabiki asked.  She would have figured Ukyo would have had 
the toughest time getting over Ranma given her history of being stuck 
up on the boy.

	Konatsu nodded and related to Nabiki, Ukyo's condition.

			* * * * *

	"Ranchan!  Are you there?"

	"I'm here, Ucchan," Konatsu said in a soothing voice as he held 
his Ukyo-sama in his arms.  He could only stay another few minutes 
before he went would have to go down and open the restaurant.  
Fortunately, Ukyo's breathing regained its previous even pace.

	The okonomiyaki chef had become bedridden after a week of not 
eating.  She had finally gotten sick from lack of nourishment.  
Fortunately, she took on a delirious state in the mean time.  It had 
allowed Konatsu, in the guise of Saotome, to take care of her without 
much trouble.

	Konatsu gently moved Ukyo's head off of his lap and back onto her 
pillow as he got up to let in the first customers of the day.  They 
needed all the business they could these days, since most of the 
regulars had left when they realized it was not Ukyo cooking.  He had 
gotten much better since his first attempt at cooking, but it was still 
not even close to the quality the regulars were used to.

	"Konatsu?"

	Konatsu paused as he heard his name being faintly whispered.  
"Yes?"  Silence greeted him.  He turned and looked back at his 
mistress.  She was fast asleep.  His hopes of her coming out of her 
delirium were dashed.  "I'm here.  I'll always be here, Ukyo-sama," he 
whispered.

	Ukyo smiled in her sleep at a wonderful dream blossoming.

			* * * * *

	Nabiki shook her head.  What had not worked for her sister was 
working admirably for Ukyo.  She supposed the latter never had the same 
kind of care her sister had had from Kasumi in the past ten years and 
was more susceptible to it than Akane was.  She could not see for a 
moment, the ninja copying what Ryoga and Mousse were attempting.  "Good 
for you, Konatsu."

	Konatsu blushed at Nabiki's praise.  Not knowing what to say to 
that, he just quickly finished off the order and handed it back to 
Nabiki in silence.  "Oh, I think Kuno-san was here looking for you 
earlier."

	"Okay, thanks for telling me," Nabiki said, before mentally 
smacking herself.  They were supposed to have a date today.  She 
quickly left the restaurant and ran home as fast as she could without 
making a mess of the food she carried.  *If Kuno gets there first in 
the mood Akane's in...*  Her thoughts were interrupted as something 
suddenly dropped down from the sky in front of her.  It was Kuno of 
course.

	"Ohh, your sister seems to be feeling much better," Kuno groaned 
out before passing out.

	Nabiki sighed.  Fortunately, Dr. Tofu was close by.  "Hey, you," 
she said to a passing boy, she recognized from Furinkan.  "I'll give 
you..."  Nabiki went to Kuno's prone body and searched for his wallet.  
*Hmm, he carries quite a bit on him.*  "...one thousand yen if you help 
me carry him to the clinic over there."

	Nabiki grinned in satisfaction as the boy eagerly took up the job 
at hand.  She took two thousand yen from the wallet before putting the 
wallet back on his body.  *That should cover my fees,* she thought to 
herself and followed after the two boys to Dr. Tofu's.

			* * * * *

	Kuno sat up and turned to the side.  It was a familiar looking 
scene.  His head ached, Nabiki sat watching, and he knew his wallet had 
just gotten lighter.  "Where is Akane?" he asked, before realizing what 
he was saying.  He was asking a woman that had fallen in love with him.  
It would be demoralizing for her to hear this.  Not to mention the fact 
that said woman had the habit of squealing to anyone that would listen 
and Akane would be sure to know about him playing with her sister's 
heart.

	Nabiki considered her answer as she looked at the vapid 
expression on Kuno's face.  *One more sacrificial lamb might help ease 
Ryoga's task of reviving Akane to her former self.  The problem is if 
Kuno could handle the beatings.  Weeks of punching out Ryoga has 
toughened her somewhat, and that is a guy that laughs at anything less 
than a boulder.*  "Oh, my heart.  I can feel it breaking.  The first 
person you ask for when you wake up is my sister?  I can see that you 
don't care for me."

	Kuno thought quickly as he saw Nabiki about to get up from her 
chair by his side.  *I have but another week to pretend to be her 
boyfriend.  I can't let all this work go for naught.*  Closing his 
eyes, he sank back to the bed.  He then quickly sat up again just 
before, Nabiki reached the door.  "Nabiki," he said before collapsing, 
pretending that he had only been talking in his sleep the whole time.

	Nabiki smirked.  *He's smarter than I give him credit for.  Oh, 
well, might as well play this to the hilt.  You better get well soon, 
Akane.*  Nabiki went back to the bed where Kuno did an adequate job of 
appearing to be asleep.  "Oh, Kuno-chan!"

	Kuno felt his cheeks flush as he felt something soft and warm 
drape over him.  Before he could open his eyes to check exactly what 
was happening, the feeling was gone.

	"Oh, sorry, was I intruding?" Tofu said as he entered the room.

	"No, not really.  I was just leaving," Nabiki said, smoothing out 
her dress as she stood up.  *Heh, that should give the guy something to 
think about and buy me some time.*

	Tofu watched as Nabiki left the room before turning to look at 
Kuno.  "Kids these days are so forward."

	*Forward?  What does he mean?* Kuno thought frantically, trying 
to think what it could have been that was pressed against him.

	"I don't know what I'd do if K-K-Kasumi was like that."

	*Uh oh,* Kuno thought, before he could expand on what had 
happened with Nabiki just now.  He felt the bones of his arm start to 
break.  It was fortunate that fool doctor would be able to fix what he 
broke in the mean time though.  Kuno passed out a minute later and 
would later wake up to find himself in perfect working order.

			* * * * *

	"What's going on?" Nabiki asked as she looked over at the 
feverish Ryoga.  That wasn't new, since the lost boy had been sick for 
quite some time now with the lack of sleep, staying outside during the 
nights, and his body beaten upon.  It still didn't stop the guy from 
trying to raise the ire of her sister though.  What was surprising was 
that Akane was there tending to him.

	"Ah, Akane went a little overboard this morning after Kuno showed 
up.  I wasn't there to watch and things got out of hand," Kasumi said 
worriedly.  It was especially foolish of Ryoga to start calling Akane 
an 'uncute tomboy'.  "I've just called Dr. Tofu over.  Hopefully, he 
could help."

	"Stupid.  Why didn't you dodge?  Why don't you ever dodge?  I 
know you're faster than me," Akane murmured, her voice wavering, as she 
placed another wet cloth over Ryoga's forehead.

	*I think it's time I ended this little charade,* Nabiki thought 
sickly as she looked at the two people who were shattered and broken 
for different reasons.

			* * * * *

	"What!?  Why did you let him do this?  The stupid idiot," Akane 
shrieked as she looked over the restless boy that hovered between sleep 
and consciousness.

	"Don't you understand?  Let me spell it out for you.  They guy's 
head over heels for you," Nabiki said into Akane's uncomprehending 
face.  "L-O-V-E."

	"Ryoga?  But he has Akari..."

	"Where has he been since we came back from China?  He's been 
here, you dolt.  He broke it off with Akari, so he could look after 
you.  Does a normal boy break off a perfectly good relationship with 
another girl to so he could look after another?"

	"No, he isn't... he can't be in love with me.  I would have 
known," Akane asserted, but could not muster up the force to back it 
up.  *Yeah, just like you _knew_ exactly how Ranma felt about you,* she 
berated herself silently.  "P-Chan.  He was pretending to be P-Chan to 
get close to me.  Ranma tried to warn me.  But why didn't he tell me?  
Ranma would never hurt me on purpose."  *I know he wouldn't.*

	"Bastard, this is all your fault Ranma.  You knocked me into that 
spring.  You have made my life a living hell!" Ryoga called out in his 
semi-conscious state, seeming to respond to the conversation between 
the two sisters.

	Nabiki snorted.  "Of course, I should have known.  If it's 
Ranma's fault that Ryoga got this curse, the jerk probably felt 
obligated to keep it from you.  And we all know how jealous he gets, so 
he tried to hint the truth to you at the same time.  I can't believe I 
was so dense."

	"Don't call him a jerk... don't look at me like that.  I know 
I've made my mistakes, but that doesn't mean, I'm going to keep making 
them," Akane said firmly.  This new tidbit of information reinforced 
her belief in her former fiancée.  It also, strangely, made her at 
peace with Ryoga's curse.  *I know Ranma would have killed Ryoga if he 
ever suspected that I was being abused.*

	"So, what do we do about Lost Boy?" Nabiki asked, surprised at 
the steely resolve in Akane.  Her sister was back among the living.

	"First we keep him until he's better.  After that, we'll see.  I 
still haven't forgiven him and desecrating Ranma's memory to help me is 
not something I'm happy with."

	*Ulp,* Nabiki gulped as Akane's gaze fell upon her.  *Does she 
know I helped Ryoga do this?*

			* * * * *

	"You've got to be kidding me," Nabiki said, still shocked at what 
Kuno was saying.

	"I must have you both!" Kuno yelled leaping at Nabiki.

	Fortunately for Nabiki, Akane's fist intercepted him.  "Looks 
like you did too good a job of pretending to be his girlfriend, Sis."

	"You owe me big," Nabiki said through her clenched teeth as she 
purposely walked on top of Kuno's spread-eagled body.

	Akane only smiled.

			* * * * *

	Shampoo sighed, not knowing what to do as she donned her usual 
waitress outfit, prepared to go downstairs for the first time in over a 
month.  She had been surprised that it had been Akane of all people 
that had come to the restaurant to tell her it was not her fault.  In 
fact, the girl even went so far as to tell Shampoo that Ranma had been 
almost grateful enough to give her a date when he had learned of the 
wishing brooch.  This she didn't believe, but the fact that Akane would 
make something up like this did make her feel better.

	It took his death before Shampoo could acknowledge that her rival 
held Ranma's heart in a stronger hold than she had.  *I could have 
eventually stolen it for myself, just that there wasn't enough time,* 
Shampoo told herself confidently.  Still, knowing the fiancée closest 
to Ranma didn't blame her had made her want to kick herself less and 
less these days over telling him of the brooch.

	She opened her door only to see Mousse standing there, ready to 
give his daily opinion of her former husband.  She sucker punched him 
in the stomach before he could talk.  ""

	"" Mousse managed to squeak out.

	*Stupid, Mousse,* Shampoo thought shaking her head.  Even now she 
could see the love in his eyes.  *Was I that bad with Ranma?*  ""

	Mousse obediently followed.  And almost slammed into the wall, 
had not his glasses suddenly fall into place over the bridge of his 
nose.  He looked at Shampoo in front of him.  He had thought for sure 
that someone had placed his glasses from atop his head onto his face.  
*Was it her?*

			* * * * *

	Ukyo smiled as she closed the door to the ninja's room.  She 
remembered the first time she had tried to do that.  Konatsu's training 
would always cause him to bolt awake thinking someone was in the room.  
Now, however the ninja just slept blissfully.  He was obviously tired.  
"Thank you for taking care of me, Konatsu."

	She then closed the door and headed downstairs to get ready for 
school.  It would be strange to know Ranma wasn't in this world 
anymore.  She rarely had him out of her thoughts since she met him all 
those years ago and now it was forcibly taken out of her hands.  She 
could think of him, but it would not mean a thing.

	Opening the door, she let herself out of Ucchan's and almost 
collided with a bicycle rider riding at her full speed.  "Hey, watch it 
jackass!"

	"Oh, it Okonomiyaki Girl," Shampoo said stopping.  She was about 
to reply in kind, but then realized that they had nothing to argue 
about anymore.

	"Hey, Shampoo," Ukyo said lamely, not knowing what else there was 
to say to a person she had only known as a rival which they no longer 
were.  She had heard about the Chinese Amazon's self-imposed exile in 
her room at the Nekohanten over Ranma and Akane's subsequent visit just 
a day ago.  "So, you talked with Akane?"

	Shampoo nodded.  "Violent Girl make things clearer."

	"Good to hear that, Shampoo," Akane said, running up to the pair 
when she saw them on the streets.  "Going to school, Ukyo?"

	"Yeah," Ukyo confirmed.  It was getting awkward at how little she 
found she had to say to the others.

	Shampoo decided to take the initiative when it looked like the 
three of them might be standing there forever.  "Shampoo deliver food 
now.  Life busy, must go on."

	Akane and Ukyo were surprised as they heard how solemn Shampoo's 
voice was.  Akane decided to follow Shampoo's example.  It needed to be 
said out loud.  "Yeah, I've got a ton of stuff to catch up on with 
school.  After this year, it'll be just one more year before 
graduation.  My life is quite full at the moment, but I think I'll 
manage."

	Ukyo looked at the two expectant faces and slowly found herself 
smiling.  "Yeah, I've got a lot going on with my life too."

	Three heads nodded at one another, before Shampoo left Akane and 
Ukyo to go to school as the new day began.

			* * * * *

	Ryoga lifted his backpack onto his shoulders.  *I'm going, but 
I'm coming back, Akane.  I understand that you need a little time and 
some space.*  He walked a few feet before the ground suddenly gave way 
and he fell face first into a deep puddle.

	*Argh!  This is all yo... my fault,* Ryoga thought and suddenly 
found himself laughing uncontrollably.  "Yeah, my fault.  See you in 
the next life, Ranma."

			* * * * *

The End. (maybe)

    Source: geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/4537

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