IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART A, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS YET!
If you didn't receive it, please send me a message, and I will
send it to you direct.
Coutuva.


Birth of an Angel....................Continued from Part A:


	Out in the kitchen, Carole sat at the table awaiting
Hitomi's arrival, the tea already made and set out.  She gestured
for Hitomi to join her, smiling pleasantly.
	"I have to apologize again, Hitomi... I didn't mean to
put you in the middle of all this.  I realize it must be a bit
intimidating."  she began, earnestly.
	"Don't worry about it.  Joy is incredible... and you too.
I have great respect for you both."  Hitomi assured, quickly.
	"It's not that bad... In one way or another, we've gone
through this since she was a baby."
	"Does your family know?"
	"No... and they never will.  They chose to turn us away
before she was even born, and that will always be their loss.
She's a beautiful child, Hitomi.  Even with suffering the way she
has, her strength and perseverance have kept me going all these
years... I wouldn't own a business today if it wasn't for her
example."  Carole explained, her voice growing sad.  "She's never
given up, never complained... always had a smile or a joke for me,
even when things had me down... and she's such a loving person.
She cares about everyone and everything."  she added, smiling
weakly.  "I wish she could have known her relatives, but they
can't be bothered with her.  It's always just been the two of us,
and that's how it's going to be until she dies."
	Hitomi gasped at that statement.  "You make it sound
like..." she began, but Carole interrupted her.
	"Yes, she will.  Probably within a couple of years."
Carole sighed, her voice cracking with emotion.  "You see, her
lungs are failing... it's only a matter of time before they fail
completely, and then not even a respirator can help her."  she
added, closing her eyes.
	Hitomi had to swallow hard to clear the huge lump from
her throat.  The thought of the lovely child in the next room
going through that tore out her heart, leaving her on the verge
of tears.
	"Carole... I'm so sorry."  she breathed, reaching for and
finally taking Caroles hand in hers, giving it a supportive
squeeze.  "I wish there was something..."
	"Thank you, Hitomi... but there isn't.  It's just part of
the disease..."  Carole sniffed, her own eyes starting to shimmer.
"I really didn't mean to tell you all of my troubles... but
something... made it all slip out."  she added, sheepishly.
"Huh... I brought you here to try to cheer you up, and now look
what I've done."  she grinned, wiping her face.
	"No... don't apologize... I'm glad you told me.  It looks
like I wasn't the only one in need of a shoulder today."  Hitomi
smiled, patting Carole's hand.



	Shampoo stood impatiently in the doorway, waiting for
the flustered Kikyo to find her purse.
	"Come on, Kikyo-san... we'll never find her if we don't
start looking!"  Shampoo chided, shaking her head.
	"Hai!  Gomen, gomen!  I'm just so worried I can't think
straight... Okay.  I've got everything.  Let's go!"  Kikyo gasped,
winded from racing all over the apartment.
	Once down on the street, Shampoo and Kikyo stopped for a
moment and looked at each other questioningly.
	"Which way do we go first?"  Kikyo finally asked, looking
up and down the street.
	"I don't know... I've only been here for a short time.
You know the city better than I do."  Shampoo replied, shrugging.
	"Not that much better... I've only lived here for a bit
less than a year.  Kuso, Hitomi... where are you?"  Kikyo responded,
looking around.  "Well, let's go this way... it's as good a way to
start as any."  she concluded, pointing toward the main
intersection just north of them.
	"Hai, Kikyo-san.  Sounds okay to me."  Shampoo nodded, as
the two of them strode off.
	"Lin-san... you knew Ranma pretty well, ne?  Where would he
go to be alone?"  Kikyo asked a few minutes later, hoping for a
clue.
	"Ailen liked to jump up in trees and on the roof of the
Dojo... sometimes he would go down to the River and sit on the bank,
too..." Shampoo replied, thinking back.  "Those were his favorite
ways to think.  I always thought it had to do with traveling for so
long with his Dad... When I needed to think, I went to a cafe or
a restaurant."  she added, smiling slightly.
	"Kuso... there aren't any of those around here.  Well,
let's just keep going... maybe we'll find a clue somewhere."
Kikyo insisted, trying to avoid showing that she was almost sick
with worry.
	"We should have called Akane... she could find Ailen no
matter where he went.  It was like instinct for her."  Shampoo
abruptly smirked.
	"Who is Akane?"  Kikyo asked, interest piqued.
	"Ailen's wife.  It was funny how no matter what was
happening, if Ailen didn't want her to be there, she'd always show
up... it seemed like she was connected to him, even then."  Shampoo
noted, remembering the many times Akane had spoiled her plans
simply by appearing out of nowhere.
	"Interesting idea, Lin-san, but not much help.  She's
already got him, and we're chasing Hitomi, not 'Ailen'."  Kikyo
replied, disappointedly.
	"Well... I tried."  Shampoo shrugged again, grinning
cheesily.
	Several streets later, the girls rounded a corner, only to
spot a gang of about five tough-looking punks coming toward them.
The girls instantly glanced at one another with a wink, and Kikyo
discreetly patted her jacket to ensure her .45 was within reach.
        As the two groups approached each other, the gang of punks
stopped in it's tracks, the front few staring fearfully at Shampoo.
Kikyo and Shampoo exchanged questioning glances, and as they
walked closer, one member of the gang whose face was covered with
bruises, pointed at Shampoo and yelled out loud.
	"There's another one!"  he stated, and the entire gang
turned tail and ran off.
	The girls, at first shocked, suddenly faced each other,
clasped hands and smiled knowingly.
	"Hitomi!" they chorused happily, knowing they were on the
right track.


	After the second course of Joy's physio treatment, the
exhausted Carole had excused herself for a nap at Hitomi's
insistence, and Hitomi now sat on the couch beside the little
girl's bed, watching her favorite TV show with her.
	"I watch this talk show every day... unless I'm at the
hospital.  These people always have such terrible lives..." the
child stated, concerned.  "I wish I could help them get along."
she added, sighing sadly.
	"Oh?  You sound like you're planning to be a
psychologist."  Hitomi quipped, testing for a reaction.
	"I'd like that... or a Family Crisis Counselor.  They
help people with problems like that."  she replied, thoughtfully.
"What do you do, Hitomi?"  the child abruptly asked, leaning up
in her bed a bit.
	"I manage a Daycare Center.  If it wasn't Saturday, I'd
be surrounded by three to five year olds today."  Hitomi smiled,
thinking briefly about her kids.
	"That sounds like fun... I like little kids, too.  They
can be so funny sometimes.... and sometimes they need a big hug.
I like giving hugs."  Joy indicated, grinning.
	"Sounds like you could do the job all right."
	"I wouldn't mind trying... only my chair might scare
them." she noted, biting her lip.
	"Kids can be pretty tough... look at you."  Hitomi stated,
gesturing toward the girl.
	Joy's smile instantly faded away, replaced by a mask of
seriousness and regret.
	"I'm not tough... I just don't want my Mom to see how
much it hurts sometimes.  She's a great Mom, and she'd do
anything for me... but she's been through enough already.  She
doesn't need to know how much those leg things hurt me, and how
I hate being suctioned.  She hates doing it to me, and I don't
want to make things like that any harder."  she admitted, her
face softening.  "I feel so bad sometimes... Mom has no life
because of me, and I can't do anything to make it easier except
go along peacefully."  she continued, sadly.
	Hitomi, on the verge of tears herself, stood up and
stepped to Joy's bedside, shaking her head.
	"Joy-chan... You *are* your Mom's life.  She told me how
much she loves you... and how much you've meant to her life."
she began, patting the child's hand.  "Your Mom even said she
wouldn't be the person she was today if it hadn't been for you.
Don't ever feel bad for her... she's doing exactly what she wants
to be doing... loving you."  she continued, sniffing back her
tears.
	Joy looked up at her in shock, not quite knowing how to
react.  After a moment however, she smiled a small smile and
looked back into Hitomi's moist eyes.
	"Hitomi... could you hug me?" she asked quietly, as she
slowly raised her arms.
	"I would love to."  Hitomi replied, lifting Joy's arms
and wrapping the frail girl in a firm but gentle hug.  As she
held the child tightly, she thought she could feel a strong warmth
flash through the girl's chest, but didn't pay much attention to
it, being more concerned about the child herself.
	Still carefully holding the girl, Hitomi gently lifted her
from the bed and carried her delicate form over to the couch,
resting the child in her lap as she sat down.
	Joy looked back up at her and sniffed quietly, then buried
her face in Hitomi's blouse and began to cry.
	Hitomi smiled gently, knowing the poor girl hadn't ever
allowed herself the luxury of such tears... and they were long
overdue.


	"This is getting us nowhere, Lin-san... I think we should
head back home in case she calls."  Kikyo finally admitted,
defeatedly.
	"I think so too.  She's a tough one... she'll be okay.  She
probably spent the night walking around, and is looking to come
home for a nap.  We should be there when she does."  Shampoo agreed,
nodding.
	"Look... there's a coffee shop.  Let's grab a quick one,
then catch a cab home.  Hitomi has her purse, so she has a key to
get in."  Kikyo indicated, pointing across the street.  "Besides,
my feet are killing me... I should have worn sneakers."
	"Westerners..."  Shampoo smirked, shaking her head.
"Okay... one coffee, then we go home."  she acquiesced, gesturing
for Kikyo to lead off.


	Hitomi continued to cuddle the sobbing child, occasionally
brushing aside errant locks of her auburn hair as she gently rocked
her.  Inwardly, she felt a powerful glow of satisfaction, knowing
somehow that she had unlocked a side of Joy that the child didn't
want to let her mother ever see... the small, frightened little
girl that she also was.
	Despite her concern for Joy's plight, Hitomi's thoughts
eventually came back to her own troubles.  It still bothered her
that her whole world was gone, and that she didn't have a past,
but she also found herself thinking that perhaps she was actually
lucky.
	After getting to know Carole and Joy, she realized that by
comparison, she was fortunate.  No family problems, no health
problems, no past to regret or to have get in the way of the
future... and she had the love of a very special person, who gave
that love willingly and freely.
        Suddenly, she actually began to feel guilty and somewhat
childish for having run off like she did, except for the fact that
it had allowed her to meet these two very special people.
	Smiling happily, she gently hugged Joy once again, then
looked down at the little girl tenderly.
	"Feel any better?"  she asked, wiping the child's cheek.
	"Yeah... I do.  I guess I needed that."  Joy replied,
sniffing.
	"I think you did, too... You've never let yourself cry,
have you?  No matter how sad or scared you were, ne?"  Hitomi
asked, still rocking the girl gently.
	"No.  I never cry.  It would scare Mom to see me crying,
so I never ever do."  she replied, firmly.
	"Well, you should let yourself cry sometimes... it helps
get all that stress out, and actually makes you feel better.  Just
like now."  Hitomi advised, smiling.  Leaning closer to Joy's
ear, she whispered quietly as if telling her a big secret.  "It's
one of the advantages of being a girl." she breathed, winking.
	"Gotcha."  Joy winked back, giving Hitomi a quick 'thumbs up'.
	"What's going on in here, you two?" a bemused voice asked
from the kitchen doorway.
	"Hi, Mom!  I thought you were taking a nap..."  Joy asked,
craning her neck to see her mother.
	"Well, I was, but I couldn't sleep... I'm just not a day
sleeper."  she shrugged, walking over to Hitomi and her daughter.
"Did you bug Hitomi to take you out of your bed?"  she asked, setting
her hands on her hips.
	"No, Carole-chan... I did it myself.  She just looked like
she needed a hug, so I gave her one.  I hope you don't mind."  Hitomi
indicated, regarding Carole nervously.
	Carole smiled gently, then turned to Joy and winked.  "Do I
have any reason to mind?" she asked the child, who immediately shook
her head vigorously.
	"No, Mom... She hugs great!"  Joy replied, happily.  "Since
you found her and brought her home, can we keep her?"  the child
added, trying to tighten her grip on Hitomi's neck.
	Carole broke out laughing, and Hitomi immediately flushed a
bright red, then began to giggle herself.  "Hey, Kiddo... do you
think I'm your pet or something?"  Hitomi chided, lifting the child
up to look her in the eyes.
	"No... I just... don't want you to leave.  I... really like
you, Hitomi-chan."  she replied, her eyes starting to shimmer.
	"Joy... She has to go eventually... she has a job like me,
and she has other people who care about her, too."  Carole pointed
out, kneeling beside her daughter.
	"I know, Mom... I'm sorry.  She just makes me feel so
good... I can't remember the last time I was this happy."
	"Joy-chan... I really like you, too... and you've made me
think twice about a few things just since I've met you.  I promise,
I'll visit you often, and even come and sit with you to give your
Mom a chance to get out.  Is that okay with you?"  Hitomi offered,
smiling.
	"Hai... I would like that, Hitomi-chan."  Joy replied
softly, leaning forward to try to hug her.  Hitomi pulled her into
another hug, and this time stood up and cradled the child's frail
form against her chest.
	Walking the few steps toward the bed, Hitomi was about to
place the child in it when her eye caught sight of her reflection
in a large mirror across from them.
	Pausing for a second, she had to smile at the image, for
the first time happy about what it portrayed.
	Tucking the child into the bed, she pulled the side up
and latched it into place, then reached over and ran her fingers
through Joy's hair gently.
	"I have to go, Joy-chan... but I also have to thank you.
You've made me feel a lot better than when I first came here.  I
owe you a great debt of thanks."  she stated, stepping back and
bowing respectfully.
	"Hitomi... I'm going to miss you... don't wait too long
to come see me again."  Joy insisted, wiping her eyes.
	"Joy-chan... I couldn't.  I'd miss you too much." she
smiled, pulling the girl's blankets up over her shoulders.
Inwardly, she made herself a vow that she would do whatever she
could to make the child's last days, however many there were, as
pleasant as possible.
	A few minutes later, after saying a tearful good-bye to
Joy, Hitomi stood in the doorway, about to head back home.
Surprisingly, despite how long she had wandered during the night,
it turned out she was only a few miles from her apartment, and
could walk it easily.
	"Thanks for all the kindnesses, Carole-chan... I didn't
expect you to go to all the trouble." Hitomi bowed, smiling.
"You and your daughter have made me realize that I do have a
life to live... and I can't thank you enough."
	"And thank you, Hitomi... I've never seen Joy attach
herself to someone so quickly... and she's genuinely happy.  Not
trying to just look like she is."
	Hitomi had to smile at that observation.  "I had a
feeling you might have known.  Talk to her about it...  she'd
feel better if she knew."  she smiled, pleasantly.  "Well, I
must go... I've taken too much of your time and generosity already,
and I'm sure Kikyo is worried about me.  Say good-bye to Joy again
for me, and tell her I'll be back, if that's okay with you."
	Carole's mouth dropped.  "Okay...?" she blurted, a bit
surprised.  "I can't wait.. and neither can she."  she insisted,
taking Hitomi's hand.  "Come whenever you like, please."  she
reiterated, smiling.
	"Thank you."  Hitomi bowed again, then stepped back out
the door.  "I'll see you soon... and Joy, too!"  she repeated,
then turned to walk away, waving happily.


	Shampoo sat spinning her empty mug on the table in front
of her, waiting none too patiently for Kikyo to finish hers.
	"Kikyo-san... we have to get back to the apartment.  If
we're not there, she might go out again... even go looking for
us."  Shampoo reminded, impatiently.
	"Hai.  All done, Lin-san.  I just really needed it."
Kikyo stated, apologetically.  "Let's go and grab a cab."
	"Aiyah... I'm glad this is not an emergency."  Shampoo
quipped, sliding from her seat.
	Kikyo shot her a smirk, and tossed a loonie on the table
as she also rose from her seat.
	Just as they were about to head for the payphone, Shampoo
caught a flash of red out of the corner of her eye.
	"Aiyah!  Kikyo-san!  Look!"  she blurted, grabbing Kikyo's
shoulder and turning her toward the window.
	"Hitomi!"  Kikyo shouted, running for the door.
	Bursting out onto the street, Kikyo immediately shouted
the redhead's name again, which thankfully, she heard.
	"Kiko-chan!"  Hitomi shrieked in response, running back
toward her girlfriend.
	As the two met an a classic romance-movie hug, they both
burst into tears.
	"Gad, Hitomi-chan... you had me scared half to death!"
Kikyo gushed, wiping her face.
	"I know.. I know... Gomen nasai, Kiko-chan... Lin-san.
I was pretty upset, and I acted like a Baka.  Can you forgive me?"
Hitomi sniffed, pleadingly.
	"Forgive you?  Can you forgive me?  I should have told
you about this a long time ago, Hitomi-chan... I'm really sorry I
kept it from you."  Kikyo stated, sheepishly.  "So, where did you
go?  We were worried when we didn't hear from you all night."
	"I walked around a lot... and ended up meeting a very
special little girl."  Hitomi began, her big blue eyes shimmering
at the memory.  "First though, I have to do some shopping... if
you two want to come along, I'll tell you all about it."  she
mentioned, clasping Kikyo's hands.
	"I wouldn't miss it.  Do you want to come, Lin-san?"
	"Hai!  I'm glad to see you too, Hitomi-san.  I thought I
had made you mad over how I used my curse."  Shampoo stated,
nervously.
	"Daijobu... I have one too, remember?  It came with the
body, I assume."  she mentioned, thoughtfully.  "I'm just glad
it's all out in the open now... At least I *know* my story,
instead of always having to wonder about it." she added, smiling.
	"I'm happy for you then... we were afraid you wouldn't be
too happy about it, and that's why you left."
	"Don't worry, Lin-san... My head's on straight now."  she
assured, grinning.  "C'mon.  I want to pick something up, then I
need a bath and a good sleep.  And I have to tell you about the
people I met last night."  Hitomi urged, motioning them down the
street.
	"Then what do we wait for?  Let's go... I like shopping,
too."  Shampoo smiled, nodding her approval.


	A week later, Carole went to the door in response to a
strident knock.  Opening it, she was greeted by a delivery person,
holding a large, flat box toward her.
	Startled, she signed for the package and took it inside,
then noted the card on top of it.
	"To the little lady who lived up to her name" it read,
and was signed "Hitomi".  Smiling, she picked the box up and
quickly brought it in to her daughter.
	"Joy!  Look!  This just came for you, and it's from
Hitomi!"  she announced excitedly, placing the package on her
daughter's bed.
	"Wow! Is it ever big!" the child squealed, and waited
anxiously for her Mom to raise the head of the bed for her.
	When she finally got the package open, her eyes went
wide as saucers.  In the box, carefully wrapped in tissue paper
lay a replica of the silk China Mini that Hitomi had been wearing
the morning they first met.
	Smiling so wide she felt her cheeks stretch, Joy begged
her mother to put it on her, and was delighted to discover that it
fit perfectly.
	Looking up happily at her Mom, the little girl's face
abruptly became serious.
	"Mom... I want you to promise me something."  she finally
said, reaching for her Mother's hand.



	Hitomi walked up the street happily, finally able to make
good on her promise to visit Joy and her Mom.   It had taken far
longer than she wanted,  but she was still excited about seeing them
again.
	As she walked toward the house, she had a sudden feeling of
foreboding strike her, and began to worry that something had
happened.  Quickening her pace, she took the stairs two at a time,
and knocked rapidly at the door.
	Within a few seconds, Carole opened it, and Hitomi knew
before she could even say hello that something was terribly wrong.
Carole's face was red, her eyes puffy, and her hand was holding
tightly to a wad of tissues.
	"Carole-chan... what happened?"   Hitomi asked gently,
reaching for the woman's shoulder.
	"Hitomi..." Carole sobbed, wiping her face quickly.
"Joy passed away a few days ago." she blurted, and dove into the
stunned redhead's arms, crying her eyes out.
	Once Hitomi had managed to settle Carole in the kitchen,
she made up a quick pot of tea and sat beside her, holding her hand.
	"Carole... I'm so sorry.  How did it happen?"  Hitomi
finally asked, feeling the lump in her throat getting bigger.
	"She... was doing fine for the last few weeks... her chest
had somehow cleared, and she was going into a remission."  she
began, pausing to sniff and wipe her eyes.   "But on the weekend,
she complained of pain in her chest... I called an ambulance... but
her heart gave out before it could get here.  They... couldn't save
her."  she sniffed, her tears again threatening to get the better
of her.  "But... at least... at least it was quick.  She didn't
suffer."  she added, finally losing control.
	Hitomi closed her eyes, feeling the sting of salt building
within them, and her chest tightened as she remembered the sweet
little girl's face, and how it lit up when she smiled.
	Pulling Carole toward her, Hitomi hugged her tightly as
the two of them wept openly.
	Quite a while later, Carole was finally able to put aside
her tears long enough to speak, and Hitomi fought hers off as well,
knowing she was all Carole had for support.
	"I... wanted to call you... tell you thanks for the
beautiful dress.  Joy absolutely loved it, and it looks wonderful
on her.  She... she even asked to be buried in it, Hitomi."  she
stated, her voice still wavering.
	"Thank you, Carole... I am honored that she thought so
much of it."  Hitomi replied, bowing slightly.  It took a tremendous
effort of will for her to retain her composure at that revelation,
and she had to settle for wiping her still-streaming eyes.
	"Hitomi... your visit that morning completely changed her...
she became genuinely happy.  She started talking to me far more than
she ever had, and we seemed to be getting even closer to each other.
You... you made her last days happy and carefree... and I can't thank
you enough."
	"No... Carole, it was Joy that did that... In fact, she
actually made me realize how wonderful life can really be.  Even
with what was happening to her, she loved life... loved people...
and loved you."  Hitomi insisted, smiling as much as her emotional
state would let her.  "When I met her, I was questioning myself...
I had completely lost my focus, and couldn't see any reason for
my existence..." she continued, dabbing her eyes.  "Joy proved to
me that life is worth living... and I owe her more than I could
ever repay for that simple lesson." she concluded, nodding.
	Carole looked back at the Chinese woman before her, and saw
in her eyes that she meant every word she said.  Closing her eyes,
she lowered her head momentarily, then raised her gaze again to
Hitomi.
	"Hitomi... Would you come to her funeral?  It's this
afternoon.  I know this is short notice, but..."  she began, but
Hitomi jumped in immediately.
	"Carole-chan... I would consider it an honor."  she replied,
hugging the woman tightly.

        After a simple ceremony, attended by only the Priest,
Carole and Hitomi, the two women walked up to the casket and said
their good-byes to the child that had changed both of their lives.
	Hitomi was struck by how pretty and peaceful she looked,
and by the fact that she was indeed wearing the Mini.  Noticing
that something was missing, she removed a bloom from a nearby
bouquet and set it in place in the child's hair.  Nodding her
satisfaction, she then leaned down into the opening and gently
kissed the child's forehead.
	"Sayonara, Joy-chan... The Light awaits."  she whispered,
touching the child's cheek softly.
	On the ride to the interment, Hitomi and Carole held each
other supportively, too overwhelmed to even speak.
	When the short graveside ceremony was complete, the two
women stood quietly, each offering a silent prayer for Joy's soul,
and each in turn placed a single rose atop the casket.
	Stepping back, Hitomi offered a hand to Carole, who took
it willingly, then leaned her head on the redhead's shoulder.
	"Gad, Hitomi... I miss her so much... I don't know what
I'll do with my life now."  she sniffed, sadly.
	"Carole... you know she would want you to move on... have
a happy, full life.  Don't throw it all away now... make her
proud of you." Hitomi advised, dabbing her own eyes yet again.
	"But I love her so much... she was everything to me.  Why
did she have to die, Hitomi... Why?  She was such a beautiful,
selfless person..."
        "I know... I only knew her for a short time, but I miss
her too... very, very much."  Hitomi noted, sadly.
	After a silent moment, she turned to Carole and actually
smiled broadly, confusing the distraught woman somewhat.
	"Hitomi?  What is it?" Carole finally asked, wondering why
Hitomi could possibly be smiling.
	"Carole-chan... something just occurred to me."  Hitomi
began, looking back toward the casket.  "I don't think we've seen
the death of a child... I think what we've actually seen... is
the birth of an angel."



===========================================================
END - The Birth of an Angel    A Ranma1/2 FanFic by Coutuva


Comments Appreciated, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


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"No, we don't broadcast animation live any more... it
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