The past can be two things.  It can be full of sweet reminiscences, of
fond memories of days gone by.  Usually, however, such recollections are
tinged with melancholy, of a wish that the present would be better.  The
past is also filled with regret, of sometimes painful longing for the road
not taken, misgiving for the ill deed committed, remorse for the wrong
never set right.

One young man cursed the past almost daily.  He strode down the road next
to his love - he was one who happened to be quite happy with his present -
and thought over and over again about what he might have done differently.
He sighed and spoke so softly that the woman walking with him didn't hear.
"Please... I wish she'd find peace.  She doesn't deserve-"  His voice
caught, and this time the woman noticed and reached out to hold his hand.
He turned and smiled at her, drawing strength from her presence and for a
moment forgetting all about the past.

The past, however, did not forget him.

The past had heard his words, and felt the regret behind him.  The past,
despite appearances, was not capricious.  The past knew full well the pain
of regret.  How often others remembered the past with bitterness, and how
seldom they found joy in it.  It was time that this particular piece of
history was healed over before it hurt any more of the present.

Besides, the young man had made a wish, and he was worthy.

Plus there was a possibility of preventing tragedy in the future.  The
future might be a little hard to deal with at times, but should still be
protected as much as possible.  The past had a responsibility for the
future, after all.

The past smiled, and began.



O, for my sake do you with Fortune chide,
The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds,
That did not better for my life provide
Than public means which public manners breeds.
Thence comes it that my name receives a brand,
And almost thence my nature is subdued
To what it works in, like the dyer's hand:
Pity me then and wish I were renew'd;
Whilst, like a willing patient, I will drink
Potions of eisel 'gainst my strong infection
No bitterness that I will bitter think,
Nor double penance, to correct correction.
Pity me then, dear friend, and I assure ye
Even that your pity is enough to cure me.

-William Shakespeare
 Sonnet CXI


Goddess of My Harmful Deeds

by Richard Lawson


Akane stretched, feeling uncomfortable for some reason.  Still, being able
to sleep in was a luxury.  The baby wasn't crying - not yet, anyway - so
any moments of peace were precious.

She smiled, her eyes still closed, and turned on her side to hug her
husband.  Reaching out, her arm smacked the wall instead.

Wall?

Akane's eyes flew open.  She was facing a soft wall of some sort.  She
wasn't in her bed, she was on a cot.

She threw the blanket off of her and scrambled to her feet.  The room was
quite small and covered with dull gray cushions.

"What the hell?"  Akane shook her head, wondering if she was still
dreaming.  She slapped herself once, hard.  It hurt.  A lot.

She cursed, then stormed over to the door, only then realizing that it
didn't have a handle.  She grit her teeth and began pounding on it.  "Hey!
Let me out!"

A window on the door was pulled open.  An impassive face stared at her
through the Plexiglas.  "Akane?  Up already?  And so active.  Time for
your medication."

"Medication?"  Akane looked down at herself, seeing that she was
physically unhurt.  "What medication?  What's going on?"

The window was closed.  She heard the sound of a lock turning and she
stepped back.  The door opened, and a man nearly the size of the Dojo
Destroyer entered.  He had a small paper cup in one hand, a baton slung
through his belt, and a patronizing expression on his face.  "Come, time
to eat your candy.  Just like every day.  Then you can have breakfast and
maybe sit out in the yard for a-"

There followed the sounds of a surprised yelp and a cot being smashed.

Akane stepped cautiously out into the hallway.  She had no clue as to what
was happening, but she was certain she needed to get out of this place,
and right now.

---

Ranma blearily examined Nouma.  Why the boy insisted on waking up at five
every morning was beyond him.  Ranma loved his six-month-old son but
wished he'd sleep until at least eight.

Nouma finished his bottle and tossed it aside as best he could.  Ranma
picked him up and held him over his shoulder.  Nouma began playing with
his hair.

Ranma smiled and walked out of the nursery and down the hallway.  He
decided to go sit on the porch for a while and watch the sun come up and
let Akane sleep.

He looked in the door as he passed the bedroom and stopped.  Akane wasn't
there.  Ranma shrugged mentally and continued on to the porch.

He stepped outside and froze.  Akane was wandering around the yard in her
nightgown, without so much as a robe or slippers.  She seemed to be
mumbling to herself excitedly.  Ranma took another step forward and
realized she was clutching a pillow while talking to it.

"Isn't this nice, P-chan?  Home again, home again.  Is this home?  It
seems so familiar.  Must be home, must be home, that other place isn't
home.  Time for breakfast?  They'll come to give me breakfast, the nice
colored candy, and then some other stuff like eggs or rice."

She stopped and brought the pillow close to her face, speaking in a
whisper Ranma could barely hear.  "You know what, P-chan?  I hate the
candy.  I hate it."

Ranma's head was buzzing slightly.  This was so... weird.  Even more so
than usual.  "Akane?"

Akane snapped her head to the side and looked at him.  Shock covered her
face and the blood drained from it.  "R-Ranma?"

"What's going on?  Are you feeling okay?  Come inside and put a robe on."

Akane continued to gape at him.  A small kind of squeal started in her
throat.  It began to build in volume and intensity until she was screaming
loud enough to wake the dead.

Ranma ran over to her, mindful of the baby on his shoulder.  He clutched
Akane to his other shoulder.  She was as stiff as a statue.  "Akane! Calm
down!  Everything's okay, it's okay!"

Akane collapsed into him.  Ranma wasn't sure if she was conscious or not.

Ranma swallowed in a mouth gone dry, very sure that something was horribly
wrong.

---

Akane shivered in the morning air.  These strange pajamas she was wearing
did not insulate her from the cold very well.  Yet, as she had sneaked
through the building she'd awakened in, she had the distinct impression
that she should not ask anyone there for warmer clothing.  The place had
seemed very much like a prison.

Akane had no idea how she'd ended up in it, but was certain that she
didn't belong.

She'd found a barred window and had attempted to rip it open.  That had
proven much harder than she'd thought; for some reasons, her muscles
hadn't responded with the brute strength she was used to.  It had taken
several attempts and a judicious use of leverage, but she had eventually
gotten it open.  She'd run through the parking lot and out a gate,
ignoring the shout of a guard.

Running was something else she was good at, and she'd quickly made her way
through the city.  Now she was still jogging, doing her best to keep warm.
She was still in Tokyo, she was glad to note.  She got her bearings and
headed towards home.

---

Ranma had his son on one shoulder and his wife slung over the other.  He'd
tried, but he had not been able to come up with a better alternative.

He came to the nursery first, and gently set Nouma in his crib.  Nouma,
fortunately, appeared to be in a good mood and began pulling at his
stuffed animals.

The master bedroom was next door.  Ranma gently laid Akane on the bed.
She sprawled on it gracelessly.  She *was* unconscious.  Ranma examined
her face.  The same familiar features, but there was something wrong with
it, something he couldn't put his finger on.  As if the slack expression
she had in sleep was the one she used most often when she was awake.

Ranma shook off these strange thoughts and went over to the phone.
Whatever was wrong, he was in over his head, and he needed help.

---

Akane sighed in relief as the Tendo home came into view.  Her feet were
numb and she was cold and miserable.  The sooner she got out of these
stupid clothes and into a hot bath, the better.

She pulled on the gate, but it was locked as usual.  She growled and took
a step back.  She wasn't quite in Ranma's leaping league, but she could do
okay.  Focusing her mind, she blew out a breath and jumped.  She grabbed
the top of the wall and pulled herself up and over.  She walked around to
the back door, which was usually unlocked in the morning when Ranma went
to the dojo to train.

The smell of breakfast cooking caused Akane's stomach to rumble as she
stepped inside.  She went to the master bedroom to change out of the
strange pajamas and to gather her bath things.  Her plan was to think
things through while soaking in hot water.

She stumbled into the bedroom and over to the closet.  She opened the door
and blinked.

Someone else's clothes were in the closet.

She ran her hand through the dresses.  They looked familiar.  She stopped
on a blue one and frowned at it.  Kasumi.  They were Kasumi's clothes.

Akane was getting very angry.  The world was conspiring against her,
trying to find ways to make things as difficult for her as possible.  It
had been a long time since she'd last felt this way, and she'd forgotten
how much she hated it.

She whirled and stormed out of the room.  Time to find out what the hell
was going on.

"Yes, sensei?"  A voice from further on down the hallway.  Akane turned to
see Kasumi's back.  She was on the phone.  Akane started towards her.

"Oh my!"  There was real shock behind Kasumi's usual exclamation.  Akane
slowed and stopped just behind her.

"Was anyone hurt?"  Kasumi sounded a little frightened.  After a few
seconds a pained sigh escaped her lips.  She leaned forward, putting her
hand on the table and supporting herself with it.

Akane took a step backwards, trying to be as silent as possible, fighting
back a feeling of dread.

"Yes."  Kasumi sounded on the verge of tears.  "Yes, I will let you know.
Please try not to hurt her."

Akane swallowed heavily.

"I understand.  Th-thank you, sensei."  Kasumi slowly hung up the phone.
She stood for a minute with her head hung.  Then she began sobbing, her
shoulders shaking with their force.

Akane took another step backwards, then turned and ran lightly down the
hall.  She ran into the master bedroom and tore off the pajamas.  She
hastily put on some of Kasumi's clothes, including a pair of her tennis
shoes.

She walked back to the door.  She carefully looked up and down the
hallway.  Kasumi was nowhere to be found.

Akane briefly considered her options.  Confronting Kasumi struck her as
being the wrong thing to do.  She was under no circumstances going back to
that place she'd awoken in this morning.  That left her one choice, as she
saw it.  Ranma.  She had to find Ranma.  No matter what was going on, he
would stand by her.  He always had.

She nodded to herself, then ran down the hallway.  She almost made it,
too.

Kasumi's short scream spun Akane around.  She looked up at her sister at
the top of the stairs.  Kasumi had both hands covering her mouth, as if
she had used them to block the scream.

Akane felt fear from Kasumi.  Real fear.  From Kasumi, who had never had
any reason to be afraid of her.  Who had been a mother as much as a sister
these past few years.  Kasumi.

Speech was difficult, but she forced herself.  "What's wrong, Kasumi?  Why
are you afraid?"

Kasumi merely trembled where she stood.

Akane drew another breath.  "Please, what's going on?  Where... where's
Ranma?"

Kasumi lowered her head until her hands covered her face.  She began
sobbing again.

Akane couldn't stand it.  She turned and fled.

---

Tofu felt Akane's head carefully, then turned to Ranma.  "There seems to
be nothing physically wrong with her.  She may have just been dreaming."

"Sleepwalking?"  Ranma furrowed his brow.  "She's never done that before."

Tofu looked behind Ranma.  Ranma turned to see Kasumi shake her head.
"Never to my knowledge," she said.

Ranma felt himself regaining his balance.  He knew that calling the Onos
was the right thing to do.  They were here to help, and together, he and
they would make things all right.

"Hmm."  Tofu sat back.  "I would like to wait and have her wake up
naturally.  Give her mind a chance to rest from whatever shock it
experienced this morning."

Ranma nodded just as the baby started crying.

Kasumi quickly rose to her feet.  "Allow me."  She waited for Ranma's nod,
then rushed out of the room.

Ranma chuckled.  "I bet she can't wait for her own.  How much longer?"

"Six months, give or take a few days."  Tofu spoke in an affectionate and
slightly awed tone of voice.  "I, too, am looking forward to it."

"I'll bet."  Ranma clasped Tofu's shoulder.  "You guys are probably going
to be the best parents in Japan.  Much better'n me and Akane."

"I would not say that."  Tofu spoke with a slight smile.  "I happen to
think that Nouma is quite fortunate to have you two as his parents."

Ranma grinned, then sobered.  "I dunno.  Sometimes I wonder why we did it.
I mean, just out of high school, we could have waited a few years, at
least long enough for Akane to graduate from college.  But she wanted to
get pregnant and... well, I couldn't deny her."

Tofu lifted an eyebrow.  "Do you have any regrets?"

"No," Ranma said quickly.  "I mean, I like the little rugrat.  But...
well, I sometimes worry that we weren't quite ready to be... good parents
for him."

"Ranma."  Tofu spoke in a chiding tone of voice, but with a smile.  "I
have seen men twice your age who have no idea how to be a parent.  I've
seen you with Nouma, and Akane too.  You both dote over him, and do
everything you can to make sure he never wants for anything.  Which, given
your curse and Akane's course schedule, is remarkable.  Don't ever sell
yourself short as a parent, Ranma.  I think you're going to have a
wonderful family life."

Ranma smiled at Tofu, letting him know that he was grateful for the words.

The sound of Akane's groaning cut through the conversation.  Ranma whipped
his head around to see his wife stirring restlessly.  She was frowning and
mumbling incoherently.  With a small shout, her eyes shot open.

Tofu immediately bent over her.  "Akane?  Are you all right?"

Akane focused on him, her face confused.  "Sensei?"

Tofu put his palm on her forehead.  "Do you know where you are?"

Akane chewed her lip.  "Home?  I think I remember being home."

"Very good.  Can you tell me what day it is?"

"Day?  Um..."  She bit her lip again, being to look a little frightened.

"Never mind."  Tofu spoke in a calm, utterly soothing voice, and Akane
relaxed a little.  "Can you tell me your name?"

"S-Saotome Akane."

Ranma blinked.  Saotome?  Why did she think her name was Saotome?

"I see."  Tofu seemed to take it in stride.  "And can you tell me who this
is?"  He indicated Ranma.

Akane met his eyes.  As before, shock covered her face.  "No," she
whispered.  "No.  No no no no NO NO NO NONONONONO!"  She began screaming
and violently thrashing on the bed.

Ranma's gut wrenched again.  He moved over to try and calm her down, but
his approach only sent her into greater convulsions.  Finally, Tofu
applied a pressure point, and she lapsed back into unconsciousness.

Tofu spent a few minutes examining Akane again for signs of injury while
Ranma sat on the bed next to her, holding her hand and feeling her slip
away.

Finally Tofu sighed and sat back.  "She didn't hurt herself, thank
goodness.  This is very serious, Ranma.  We need to admit her to a
hospital right away.  She's had a trauma of some sort, and I cannot tell
what it is."

Ranma looked into Akane's face.  Once again it looked peaceful but...
haunted.

Ranma shook his head.  "No."

Tofu clearly hadn't been expecting that.  "What?"

"No.  She stays here."

"Ranma.  She may have had a stroke, or beginning to suffer from an
aneurysm, or any of a thousand other things that might be
life-threatening.  We need to get her to a specialist right now."

"No."  He looked up at Tofu.  "She was fine until she saw me.  I think...
I think this might be a spell of some sort.  Or something like that."

"Ranma."  Tofu was able to convey professional urgency quite well.  "I
know that many of the things that you face are... unusual in nature.  But
this may not be one of them.  There may be sound medical reasons for this
behavior.  Please, you must let me take her to a hospital.  If nothing
else, we can eliminate the physiological possibilities, and you can work
on the... more esoteric explanations."

"No."  Ranma had some difficulty meeting Tofu's gaze, but he did.  "I...
it has to happen here.  And now.  Whatever's gone wrong, I have to be the
one to set it right."

Tofu thinned his lips, looking very sorry for what he was about to say.
"Ranma.  Such an attitude may kill Akane.  Are you certain you want to
take such a chance?"

"Ranma-kun."  Ranma turned to see Kasumi standing in the door, holding
Nouma in her arms.  "Are you saying that you're willing to risk my
sister's life based solely on your intuition, disregarding Tofu's medical
advice?"

Ranma grit his teeth for a second, then spoke slowly and calmly.  "Kasumi.
I know she's your sister.  She's my wife, too.  I would never put her life
in danger if I can help it.  But this thing... I... I know that it's
nothing... nothing a hospital can help with."  Ranma swallowed.  "I can't
explain it any better than that, but I know it's true.  You gotta trust
me."

Kasumi looked into his eyes for a long time.  Ranma looked back at her, at
the same time squeezing Akane's hand.

Finally Kasumi looked down at Nouma.  "Will you allow me and Tofu to stay
here?  I can watch over the baby and Tofu can be around in case he can
help you in any way."

Ranma smiled.  "I'd like that a lot.  Thanks, Kasumi."

Nodding serenely, Kasumi turned her gaze to her husband.  "I'll take Nouma
with me and go back to our house.  I'll pack a few things and return here
in time to fix lunch."

Tofu looked at Kasumi evenly.  It was the first time Ranma had ever seen
anything like tension between them.  Finally, Tofu spoke in a cool tone of
voice.  "Very well."

Kasumi lowered her eyes, and Ranma could see flickers of regret in her
usually serene manner.  Then she turned and left the bedroom.

Tofu looked at Ranma's face, and again Ranma saw a first: Tofu looking
slightly angry.  "I truly hope you know what you are doing, Ranma.  It
would be a terrible tragedy if Akane were to die.  Terrible if it could
have been prevented."

"I know that!  Don't you think I don't know that!"  Ranma pounded his free
hand on his thigh.  "I'd like nothing better than to take Akane to the
hospital, have them give her a pill or something and cure her on the spot.
But I know that won't fix it; it'll make it worse.  If I wasn't sure of
that, I'd be on the way to the hospital with Akane right now."

Tofu spoke softly.  "You are certain, Ranma?"

"It's my wife's life we're talking about!  Of course I'm certain."  Ranma
looked down at Akane's face.  "As certain as I can be."

"Which means that you may be wrong."

Ranma spoke in an agonized whisper.  "Yes.  Damn you, yes.  I might be
wrong.  But if I always took the safe way, I might be dead - or worse - a
dozen times over already.  Akane, too.  This feels right.  Right enough
that I'm betting her life on it."  Ranma looked into Tofu's eyes again.
"Mine, too."

Tofu winced.  "Very well."  This time the words seemed a lot more
conciliatory.  "We will speak no more on this.  You have experience I have
trouble conceiving of, but you are right: it has stood you in good stead
before.  Please know, however, that I stand by my opinion that she needs
to go to a hospital, and that you have merely to give the word and I can
have half a dozen specialists examining her within the hour."

"Okay.  Thanks, Tofu-sensei."

"You are welcome.  If you will excuse me, I would like to talk with my
wife before she leaves.  Call me if you need anything."

Ranma nodded.

Tofu left the room.  Ranma stayed with his wife and prayed to whomever
might be listening that he hadn't just condemned her to death.

---

The Saotome home was quite small.  Ranma's family was by no means rich,
and sustained itself on the commissions Nodoka earned in her work.  Still,
it did well enough for Nodoka to support herself and her husband.

Akane glanced at the familiar family name next to the door, then gathered
herself and knocked on it.

After a moment, the door was swung open.  A familiar face looked out at
her.

She bowed.  "Father-in-law.  I am sorry to bother you this morning.  Can
you tell me where I might find Ranma?"

Silence.  She straightened and looked into his impassive face.  Sometimes
it was quite difficult to figure out what he was thinking.  This time was
no different.

He continued to stare at her until she shifted in place.  "Please.
Something's gone wrong.  I know I can set things right if I can find
Ranma."

Genma closed the door.

Akane felt it like a blow to the gut.  Genma had always liked her, even if
he had sometimes acted like a jerk.  He had been so eager to see them
married, and had been as proud as anyone on the day of their marriage.  He
had never been this... cold to her before.

She was about to knock again when there was a cry from inside.  A shout of
anguish and anger.  It was followed by the sound of something being
smashed.  Akane wondered if she should rush inside to see what was wrong.

Another cry and sound of destruction dispelled all such notions.  Akane
clutched her hand in her heads, feeling like she was going mad.  The whole
world was askew and blaming her for it.

She turned and walked down the street.  She felt like a coward for fleeing
from one place after another.  But she seemed to be causing pain with her
very presence.  She needed to understand what was happening, and she
needed to find Ranma to do that.

"YOU!"  Akane whirled to see Nodoka standing on the street behind her.
Her face was bright red and she pointed at Akane as if to smite her with
her anger.  "You took my future!  The future of the Saotome clan!  And now
you come back to... to torment my husband, to further ruin my family!"

Akane spread her hands.  "Please, Mother-in-law..."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"  Nodoka was now screaming at the top of her lungs.
"GO AWAY!  GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK!"

Akane clenched her jaw.  She had had enough.  If this was about the damn
family name, they could talk about it, but Akane was certain she didn't
deserve Nodoka's unreasoning hatred.  She began to take a step forward.

A strong hand clasped her shoulder.  A voice called out to Nodoka.
"Saotome-san, please, allow me to handle this.  She will bother you no
more, I promise."

Nodoka heaved a couple of breaths, spluttering, trying to get something
out.  When she couldn't, she spat on the ground and stalked back into her
house.

Akane sighed.  She glared over her shoulder at the couple behind her.
"Well?  Are you going to treat me like that too?"

Ryoga sighed, looked into Akari's eyes, then back at her.  "Akane-san, we
must talk."

---

Ranma sat on a chair next to the bed where his wife lay sleeping.  He had
yet to let go of her hand.

Tofu was looking at the alarm clock next to the bed.  "She should be
waking up very soon now, Ranma.  I don't think you should be here."

Ranma started.  "What?"

"If what you say is true, she has reacted very badly to your presence
twice already.  Let me try and talk to her first.  Let's see if she can
stay coherent for more than a few minutes."

Ranma bristled at the suggestion.  Yet, he could find nothing unreasonable
in it.  What's more, while he had felt quite strongly that taking her to
the hospital would be disastrous, he had no such feelings about Tofu's
latest suggestion.

He stood up, leaned forward, and kissed Akane.  Then he walked over to the
door, took one step out, one step to the side, and slid down the wall
until he was sitting on the floor.

Almost on cue, he heard Akane stirring.  Tofu spoke to her in that same
soothing, professional voice.  "Akane.  How do you feel?"

"Where- where am I?"

"Don't you remember?"

"Home.  Home again.  But it can't be home.  Nope, not home."

"Why not?"

Akane spoke with a kind of scared urgency.  "It just isn't!  Not home, not
home!"

"Okay, Akane, relax.  Where is your home?"

"The nice place with the candy."

"I see," Tofu said after a few seconds.  "And how long have you lived
there?"

"How long?  Long.  Forever.  Except I hate the candy."

"Do you remember ever living here?"

"Will you feed me candy?"

"Do you want me to give you candy?"

"I hate the candy."

"Then I won't feed you any."

"This... I think... it looks familiar.  Do I know you?"

"Who do you think I am?"

"A sensei."

"Yes.  I am."

"Everyone's a sensei.  Everyone."

"Are they?"

"Except when they aren't."

"Oh.  Do you remember ever calling me Tofu-sensei?"

"Tofu-sensei?"

"Yes."

"You... you wouldn't... no.  I don't know you."

"What wouldn't I do?"

"Do I know you?"

Silence for a long while.  Ranma wrung his hands, trying to make sense of
the conversation.  Even he could tell that Akane was avoiding something.
What, he couldn't guess.

Tofu spoke again.  "Akane, what is the last thing you remember?"

"Remember?  I... I don't like remembering."

"Why not?"

"Because!  Remembering is remembering.  Isn't that right, P-chan?"

"Who is P-chan?"

"This is P-chan.  He's my pet."

"I see.  He's a nice pet."

"The man named him for me.  It was the right name, too.  The man was very
smart."

"Which man?"

"The man."

More silence.  Tofu was evidently running out of ideas.  Evidently he
decided to try a more direct approach.  "Do you remember your husband?"

The change in Akane's voice was immediate.  It bordered on hysteria.
"Husband?"

"Yes.  Do you remember him?"

"What's a husband?"

"You know what a husband is, don't you?"

"Someone you marry."

"Yes.  Do you remember marrying someone?"

"Marrying... someone?"

"Yes."

"No.  No.  No no-"

"That's okay, Akane.  Do you remember your son?"

"Son?"

"Yes.  Your baby."

"I don't have a baby."

There was something different about this denial.  While the others had
seemed slightly forced, this one seemed to be pure puzzlement.  Ranma
tried to think why that should be.

"Akane.  I know you don't like to remember.  I know it's painful.  But
please, try for me.  I'd like to know what you remember."

"I... I was walking around the yard.  I was here, at my not-home, instead
of my home.  And it felt kind of good, and then... and then..."

"Yes?  And then?"

"He... he shouldn't have... she was trying to... the brazen hussy wanted
him, but he... he was *mine*!"

Ranma rose to his feet.  Akane's voice was turning dark and ugly.  Angry
and hateful.  It chilled Ranma to the bone and set off all sorts of
warning bells.

A touch of alarm colored Tofu's voice.  "It's all right, Akane.  Relax."

"He spent all his time with her!  They were lovers and laughing at me, and
he's mine!  And then she showed up and they stood there and laughed at me
while they held hands.  Flaunting it!  They WANTED ME TO DIE SO THEY COULD
BE MARRIED BUT I WOULDN'T GIVE THEM THE SATISFACTION!"

"Akane, please-"

Tofu's impassioned plea was cut off by the sound of something crashing.

Ranma ran into the room to see Akane standing on the bed, her arms in a
position that indicated she had just thrown something.  Tofu was on his
hands and knees, the remains of the bedside table around him.  Ranma put
himself between him and Akane, quickly ascertaining that Tofu had no
serious injuries.

"YOU!"  Ranma looked up into the face of fury.  "YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!"

Ranma stepped onto the bed, carefully watching her.  "Who?  Who should I
stay away from?"

"DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH ME, RANMA!"  She gave him a vicious open-handed
slap.  Ranma was so mesmerized by her total fury that he didn't try to
block it.

"ADULTERER!  YOU HATE ME, YOU'VE ALWAYS HATED ME, YOU NEVER TOLD ME THE
TRUTH!  DIE, RANMA!"  She reached her hand back to slap him again.

Ranma brought his hand up and blocked it.  The blow had a lot more force
than he'd expected, and he was forced back a step.  Akane stepped into
him, trying to pummel his stomach.  Ranma reached down and grabbed her
wrists.  She tried to wrench them away but he held them firm, this time
not surprised by her unexpected strength.

Ranma took a quick look behind him.  Tofu was now on one knee, preparing
to stand up.  He had one of his hands pressed to his forehead, with blood
dripping through his fingers.  Ranma knew enough about such things to know
that Tofu would be out of it for a minute or two.  He'd have to do this
alone.

He looked back at Akane, whose face was still fury personified.  "How DARE
you!"  Her cheeks were flushed and she had spittle on her chin.  "Ranma,
you do NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO-"  She stopped and her eyes widened, her
expression melting from fury into shock.  "Ranma?"

Ranma bit down hard on the impulse to snap at her.  "Yes?" he managed
calmly.

Akane's lower lip began trembling violently.  She lowered her face into
his chest and began to cry, sobs that were half screams.  Ranma released
her wrists and put his arms around her.  Akane almost flung herself at
him.  They fell on the bed, Akane landing on top of him.  "R-R-Ranma."
She clutched him tightly.

Ranma tightened his grip on her and let her cry.  This was at least
different from her previous reactions to his presence, but he wasn't sure
if it was a good one or not.

But at least she was letting him try to help her, and that had to be all
right.

---

"Dammit, Ryoga, just tell me.  What's going on?"

"Akane-san, your sister Kasumi called me and told me that you had escaped.
That you had been to her house, and would likely try to visit Ranma's
parents."

"Her house?  Since when is it her house?"

"Akane-san..."  Ryoga sighed, apparently at a loss on how to proceed.

"Akane."  Akari was standing slightly behind Ryoga, clearly keeping him
between her and Akane.  "What is the last thing you remember before this
morning?"

Akane glared at her.  Akari paled slightly and Ryoga put his arm out to
cover her.  This only made Akane angrier, but she attempted to control it.
"The last thing I remember is going to bed, of course.  What does that
have to do with anything?"

Akari still look frightened, but she continued to speak gently.  "Where
did you go to bed?"

"At home of course.  *My* home.  The Tendo home.  The one Kasumi thinks is
hers."

"And... and was there anyone else in the house with you?"

"Of course!  Ranma and Nouma.  Who else would there be?  Dad's in Kyoto
this week."

Ryoga looked confused.  "Nouma?"

"My son, idiot.  Where is he?  Where is Ranma?"

Akari and Ryoga looked at each other for a long time.  Finally, Ryoga
turned back to Akane.  "We'll take you to him."

Akari drew in a sharp breath but said nothing.  The three of them moved
down the street.  Ryoga began to turn in one direction but Akari quickly
pulled on his arm and pointed another way.  Ryoga nodded impassively and
moved where she indicated.

Akane growled.  "Tell me, Ryoga.  Tell me what's going on."

Ryoga didn't look at her.  "This morning, Akane-san, you escaped from a
mental hospital where you've been staying for almost two years."

Akane froze.  Ryoga stopped but didn't turn to face her.  Akari looked up
into Ryoga's face, concern etched onto her features.

Akane tried to get her brain to work.  "M-mental hospital?"

"Yes," Ryoga spoke into the air in front of him.  "Kasumi tells me that
they were quite surprised by your attack.  That you've been so completely
passive for so long that they were fooled.  They need to get you back
inside before you hurt someone."

"Hurt someone?"  Fear everywhere she looked.

"Yes."  Ryoga began to move forward again.  Akari stayed with him, and
after a moment Akane ran to catch up.

"How did I end up in...," it was unbelievable, "...a mental hospital?"

"It began after your marriage to Ranma."

"What did?"

Ryoga spoke with a touch of anger.  "You don't remember?"

"Remember what?  What started?"

"The beatings."

"Beatings!"  Akane shook her head.  "Ranma would never lay a hand on me in
anger.  And if he tried, I'd knock him silly."

"You misunderstand, Akane-san.  Ranma never beat you.  You beat Ranma."

Moisture fled Akane's mouth.  "I... I beat him?  As in hit him?"

"At first it was just hitting.  Then it became assault.  Ranma was never
without bruises somewhere.  The beatings increased in intensity and
frequency."

"No!"  The denial sounded false for some reason, even though she knew it
was genuine.  "I... even if I were to... beat on him, he'd never allow..."

"He allowed it because he loved you, and he thought that if he was passive
enough that you would stop.  He was wrong, of course."  Ryoga clenched his
jaw.  "That damn support group should have told him that.  They didn't.
Either that or he wasn't listening."

"Support group?"

"Yes.  Ukyo took him.  She was hoping that it would help him to deal with
your abuse.  It did absolutely nothing.  Months and months of ineffectual
talking before you found out about it."

The pause seemed significant.  Akane forced herself to ask.  "And what did
I do when I found out?"

"You beat him so hard that he was in the hospital for days.  He stopped
going to the meetings after that."

Her head was buzzing.  The unreality of the conversation was making it
hard for her to think.  "And... and what happened to my son?"

"You don't have any children, Akane.  You never did."

"That's a lie!"  Akane found a bit of relief in her anger.  "He's six
months old, and beautiful, and his name is Nouma..."

"You never got pregnant, Akane.  You were too busy fighting with Ranma all
the time."

"No!  That's not true!  Wait until we get to Ranma, he'll tell you."

"Yes, I suppose that's true.  We're nearly there."

Akane blinked and looked around.  She had been so intent on the
conversation that she had paid no attention to where they were going.
What she saw froze her heart.  She wanted to deny what she was seeing, but
she couldn't.  "Mother's buried here."

"Yes."  A bit of sympathy was beginning to leak into Ryoga's voice.

Akane reached and grabbed Ryoga's arm.  "Tell me.  Tell me now.  What
happened to Ranma?"

Ryoga pointed.  Akane followed his arm, and saw two new markers next to
her mother's.

Her breath came in ragged gasps.  She meant to stay still but her feet
carried her along.

Ryoga spoke softly, sadly behind her.  "You were practicing one day.  Both
of you were.  Ranma with just his fists, you with your katana.  Ukyo came
by, we think to try and convince him to leave you.  We think that's what
set you off."

Akane looked at a marker, a marker with letters that should spell a name,
but somehow she couldn't make them, there was a name on them that couldn't
be there.

"You started shouting.  And then you took your katana and stabbed Ranma in
the stomach.  And when Ukyo tried to help him, you stabbed her, too.  They
both died very quickly."

And now the words formed, they told of Ranma Saotome and how he had been
born on one day and died on another.

Akane fell to her hands and knees, staring at the ground, underneath which
Ranma was buried.

It isn't true.  It's a lie, it has to be a lie.  Ranma is alive, I slept
with him last night.

And all during the engagement you hit him, didn't you?  Beat on him with
your fists or whatever weapon was convenient.  And sometimes he didn't
deserve it, sometimes you did it because you got mad at the world in
general and he was a convenient outlet.

But it never hurt him.  He healed so quickly, he always recovered and went
on and lived.

Not so easy to recover from a stabbing wound, is it?  And if a sword had
been available, would you have used it?

No!  I love Ranma, love him so much.  After we got married I stopped
hitting him so much.

But you didn't stop, did you?

But it never hurt him!  Never!  I never beat him so hard that bruises
appeared.  I never sent him to the hospital!

That's the way you remember it.  What if reality is different?  What if
you *did* hurt him, but you don't want to remember it that way?  What if
you created a new fantasy world in your head, one where you and Ranma had
a wonderful marriage, and a son, and happiness.  An idyllic world where
everyone lived happily ever after.  Certainly more pleasant to remember
than a life of misery and pain that ended with you murdering two people
and winding up in a mental hospital, isn't it?

"NO!"  She lifted her head to yell at the marker with her husband's name
on it.  "It *is* true!  I remember you, Ranma!  I can feel you lying next
to me as I fell asleep last night!  I can smell our baby, feel the
softness of his skin, listen to him crying and burbling, *see* him being
carried in your arms!  It's real, it *has* to be, *no one* can create a
fantasy world that elaborate!  DO YOU HEAR ME, RANMA!"  She grabbed the
marker with her hands.  "YOU'RE ALIVE!"

She felt the grip on her shoulder again.  She looked over her shoulder at
Ryoga.  "Yes, I got angry at him.  Yes, I hit him.  Yes, I got jealous for
no reason sometimes.  I won't make excuses.  But it never got out of hand.
If it had, Kasumi would have gotten help for me, or Nabiki, or... or
*anyone*."

The stone in her hands threatened to crumble under her grip.  She released
the marker and stood up to face Ryoga, putting her hands on his chest in
an effort to make him believe her.  "And I would never have killed him.
Never.  I love him, and I would never... never hurt..."

And she leaned forward and sobbed into Ryoga's chest.  She *had* hurt
Ranma.  Beaten him.  Pounded him with mallets and rocks and whatever was
handy.  How far a step from those weapons to katanas?  How far from a
temporary bump on the head to a marker in the ground?

But Nouma was still set firmly in her mind, and she grabbed at him like an
anchor.  She controlled her sobbing.  "I'm not lying and I'm not crazy.  I
*do* have a son.  I remember him too vividly for him to be a delusion.  No
matter what, Ryoga, I am not going to let go of that."

Ryoga sighed and put his arms around her.  "All right, Akane-san.  But we
do need to get you back to the hospital.  Please."

She lifted her head to look into his eyes.  She saw in them sadness and
disbelief.  And... hope.  Akane decided she liked the hope.  "Okay.  But
first... give me a few moments here."

Ryoga nodded, released her, and stepped back.

Akane turned back towards the markers.  She looked at the other new one
and saw Ukyo's name on it.  A sad sigh escaped her lips; Ukyo was so happy
with her new boyfriend.  They'd had dinner, the four of them, and it had
been wonderful, Ranma and Ukyo acting like old friends, Ikaru being drawn
out almost despite himself, Akane feeling a wonderful peace at how great
everything was going for everybody.

She ignored the two new markers, because they were false and painful.
Instead, she prayed to her mother for strength and help, in the hope that
the truth would find her again.

---

Akane's sobs slowed and eventually turned into sniffing.  During that time
Tofu had come over long enough for Ranma to nod slightly at him to let him
know he was all right.  Then Tofu had left, presumably to treat the gash
on his forehead.

Ranma waited until Akane had stopped trembling, then spoke.  "Are you
okay, dear?"

A muffled, tired voice came from his chest.  "You are not Ranma."

Ranma's first impulse was to insist that he *was*.  He stopped himself and
tried to remember how Tofu had dealt with this.  "Why not?  Uh, why am I
not Ranma?"

She began quivering again.  "Because... because Ranma... Ranma..."  She
clutched him tightly.  "Blood, so much blood, everywhere, on the ground,
on the katana, on my clothes, on my hands, blood blood blood..."

"Akane."  Ranma tried to cut her off before she could become hysterical
again.  "Hush, the blood is gone."

"No it isn't."  Agony in her voice.  "It's everywhere.  It covered my eyes
when I got angry.  It welled up in your body if I hit it hard enough.  I
couldn't stop until I saw blood.  And then it was too much, I needed to
see *all* of your blood, and I did, and it's everywhere."

This was so confusing.  Ranma tried to work it through.  "Akane.  I'm not
bleeding now."

Akane pushed him away.  She grabbed the bottom of his tank top and lifted
it up.  Her hand rubbed his stomach for a few seconds.  Then she looked
into his face.  "No blood?"

Ranma nodded.  "No blood."

She rolled off the bed and walked quickly to the window, staring out it.
"Blood, my whole life is blood, blood and candy... and I don't know which
is worse."

Ranma didn't move for a second, then slowly clambered off the bed and
walked up behind her.  "There's a lot more to life than that, Akane."

She flinched.  "Not to *my* life.  Not after I... I... NO!"  She lashed
out with her fists and smashed the window.

"Hey!"  Ranma grabbed Akane's shoulders and pulled her away from the
window.

She turned around and held up her hands.  Each of them had several small
cuts.  "See?  Blood.  It always comes down to blood."

Tofu came rushing in, a bandage on his forehead.  Ranma flicked his eyes
over to him and back to Akane.  Tofu stood in the doorway for a second,
then left.  He quickly returned with a first aid kit.  Ranma gently guided
Akane to the bed and sat her on it.  Tofu took her hands and silently
began to treat them.

Ranma sat down next to Akane.  "See?  We can stop the blood from flowing.
Just let me help."

She turned her head and looked up into his face.  "Ranma.  Ranma."  Tears
began to well in her eyes.  "I'm sorry.  I'm sorry.  I... I *knew* that
you were good and nice and honorable but... but I couldn't get past the
anger, the anger that lived inside me and made me think bad things about
you and made me hit you, harder and harder and harder and HARDER..."

Ranma rushed in.  "I'm fine, Akane."

"No you're NOT!"  Akane's voice became shrill.  "YOU'RE not fine, I'M not
fine, it will never be 'fine'."  Her brow began to furrow again.  "Who
*are* you!  Why... why are you doing this to me!"

Ranma swallowed.  "I'm your husband, Akane."  He paused for a second, and
memories of the beach came flooding in.  "I will serve you and you alone
with every last breath as lover, provider, and shield, and not forsake
you, no matter how the winds may blow, for as long as we two shall live."
He smiled.  "Remember, Akane?"

"No!"  She squeezed her eyes shut.  "We... forsaken, I'm... *you* did
this!  You were with *her*, you were *her* friend and you were *never* my
friend and I hated you and loved you and hated you and... and... and I had
a katana in my hands... and *she* was there and I hate her, I hate her
*so* much and... and..."

Ranma looked at Tofu.  He was just finishing up the last of the
bandaging - Akane had stayed remarkably still - and met Ranma's gaze.
Tofu looked as much at a loss as Ranma felt.  No help there.

Ranma looked back into Akane's eyes.  "What?" he prompted gently.  She was
on the verge of something, something important, he was certain of that
much at least.

"And... I stabbed forward.  And the blade went in.  And the blood came, so
much of it, but it wasn't enough, I'd seen all of your blood already.  But
her blood... I had never seen her blood.  So I stabbed her, too, and her
blood joined yours.  And you died and she died and blood was
everywhere..."

She began wailing, and Ranma hugged her again, trying to fight off the
cold lump settling into his stomach.  "Akane, it's okay, I'm here."

Akane spoke through her sobs.  "No, you're not here, you're dead, dead and
buried and I killed you, I was so angry and it was my fault, I killed you
I killed you you're dead oh God you're dead..."

Ranma looked at Tofu again, pleading with his eyes.  Tofu grimaced and
spoke in a tone that made it clear he was guessing.  "Akane appears to be
describing some sort of psychosis."

Ranma spoke softly to him.  "What kind of psychosis?"

"Intermittent Explosive Disorder, also known as rage disorder.  It is
often indicated by several discrete episodes of failure to resist
aggressive impulses that result in serious acts of assault or destruction
of property.  The degree of aggressiveness expressed during the episodes
is grossly out of proportion to any of the precipitating psycho-social
stressors."

Ranma blinked at the clinical tone in Akane's voice.  "Is that what you
have?"

"I don't know!"  Her voice was almost child-like in its anguish.  "Words,
just words that they say sometimes.  All I know is I killed you, you're
dead, and it's all my fault, I wouldn't listen I wouldn't believe you, you
were trying to help and all I saw were reasons to be angry and then I saw
your blood..."

"Akane."  Ranma had at least figured out when to cut her off.  "If... if
you were suffering from this... this rage thing, then... then it's not
your fault."

Akane shoved him away.  She looked up into his face, anger coloring her
features.  "If it's not my fault, then whose fault is it!  It has to be
somebody's fault!"

"No, it doesn't."  Tofu spoke a little more insistently.  "You could just
as easily blame yourself for having the flu.  It's a mental disease, and
they can be the most difficult to diagnose and treat.  And it is *not*
your fault that you developed one."

"Yeah."  Ranma felt good about Tofu's words.  "That's right.  No one came
blame you."

Akane studied him closely, her face fearful but with a kind of hope in it.
"You don't blame me?  For killing you?"

Ranma suppressed a twinge and instead smiled gently.  "I... well, I
forgive you."

"Or Ukyo?"

With a remarkable effort of will, Ranma kept himself from flinching.
Instead, he tried to stay on track.  "Didn't you hear Tofu-sensei?  It
wasn't you that did that, it was your disease.  I forgive you.  I love
you."

Akane once again drew him in and began sobbing.  "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I
didn't want to kill you, I just wanted us to be in love and it all went so
wrong, I started to sink and I kept on sinking and I couldn't get out and
now I'm drowning in blood, oh please please I want to die..."

"NO!"  Ranma was surprised at the anger in his own voice.  He swallowed it
and spoke again, more gently.  "No.  I forbid you to kill yourself, Akane.
If you feel like you owe me something, then make it up to me by getting
better.  Only when you get better will... will you have... put the ghosts
to rest."

"But it hurts, it hurts too much, I need to run away so the pain won't
find me..."

"Akane, that's not the way a martial artist acts.  Eventually we have to
face our enemy."  Ranma reached down and lifted Akane's chin until she was
looking at him.  "For me, Akane, please.  Get better.  I know it will be
hard and I know it will hurt, but I'll always be with you, helping you.
Depend on that."

Akane looked from one of his eyes to the other.  Ranma hoped she could
find what she needed in them.

Then she smiled, a small, happy smile that lit her whole face and made her
beautiful.

Ranma smiled with her, putting all his love in it.

And then she rolled her eyes up and collapsed back onto the bed.

---

Ryoga let out a breath.  This was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do,
and he had no idea if he was doing it right.

A hand was gently placed over his.  He looked at Akari, seeing reassurance
in her face.  He relaxed and smiled, thankful for her presence.  He'd
never have been able to do this without her.

He looked back over at Akane, who was still kneeling in front of her
mother's marker and praying.  He wondered how much time he should give
her.  Already it had been half an hour.

Ryoga shook his head.  Akane was so... ill.  She had caused so much
damage, devastated several lives and was completely unaware of it.
Instead she went out and hurt more people.

If only she would get better.  Then maybe healing would begin.

Suddenly Akane fell forward.  Her head hit her mother's marker and she
lolled on the ground.

Ryoga sprang over to kneel at her side and cradle her in his arms.
"Akane-san!"

She fluttered her eyes open.  She spoke in the detached, distant voice he
had come to know when he had visited her in the hospital.  "Oh.  Hi."  She
frowned slightly.  "You're Ryoga, right?"

Ryoga nodded sadly.  "Yes.  Ryoga."

"You keep coming to visit me.  You're so nice."  She struggled to her feet
with Ryoga's help.  She looked around, frowning.  "Where am I?"

"You don't remember?"

"I don't like remembering."  Her eyes found a marker.  "Mother's grave."

"Yes."

Her eyes moved over to the other markers.  She flinched and looked away.
"No," she said softly.

Ryoga cocked his head.  "What?"

Tears began to fall from her eyes.  "No!  He was alive.  I saw him and
talked to him and he was alive, oh God oh God no no no NO!"  She covered
her face with her hands.

Ryoga rushed over to her.  "Akane, it's okay.  Please, don't... don't do
this."

She trembled, lowered her hands, and studied them carefully.  "Blood.  My
hands were bleeding just now.  Ranma... Ranma's stomach was... was..."

Slowly, with considerable effort, she turned to face the markers.  She
stared at them for a long time, breathing heavily.  Ryoga didn't know what
to do, so did nothing, praying that something good would happen.

Finally she looked back at Ryoga, tears still running down her face.
"Ranma's dead.  Isn't he?"

Ryoga slowly nodded.

Akane looked down at her hands.  "And... and I killed him, didn't I?"

A bit of relief flooded Ryoga.  At last she was acknowledging it.  "Yes."

Akane went over to Ranma's marker.  She put a trembling hand on it.
"Ranma.  Thank you for... for what you said, for helping me, for being
alive even though you're dead.  I promise I'll try.  I'll get better
because you want me to."  She leaned over Ranma's marker and spoke in an
agonize whisper.  "But it hurts so much."

Ryoga's brain whirled with the many different aspects of Akane he'd been
seeing.  This version was closer to what he'd seen in the hospital.
Curiously now she seemed less rational than when she had insisted that
Ranma was alive and they had a son.  Less rational, but closer to reality.
He stepped up to her.  "Akane-san.  You must go back to the hospital now."

"Okay."  She straightened and turned towards him.  "You're Ryoga, right?"

He sighed heavily.  "Yes.  I'm Ryoga."

"You're so nice."  She smiled tremulously.  "Will you keep coming to visit
me, Ryoga?  I'd like your help.  I'm not sure, but I think you're the only
one who can look at me without hating me.  Other than Ranma, of course.
But Ranma's dead, even when he's alive, so you're the only one who can
come see me."

Ryoga felt a strange kind of hope.  Akane was still vague and unable to
focus and almost childlike in her personality, but she was hanging on to
the fact that Ranma was dead.  Ryoga was no sensei, but he thought that
perhaps it was an excellent place to start healing.  "I will keep coming
to visit, Akane-san.  I promise."

"Thank you, P-chan."  Akane smiled, then looked forward and begin humming
softly as she walked.  Ryoga looked over at Akari in surprise, finding
relief and amusement in her eyes.

Ryoga felt good.  The hope grew stronger in him that Akane was eventually
going to be whole.  And, no matter what else had happened, that had to be
good.

---

Ranma gently released Akane, and turned to look at Tofu.  He was about to
ask him a question when Akane spoke.  "Ranma?"

Ranma turned back.  "Yes, Akane?"

"Ranma!"  She grabbed him and hugged him fiercely, pulling him back into
the bed with her.

Ranma grimaced slightly, wondering how many times he would have to play
this scene out.

"Ranma."  Akane spoke in a rush, fear in her voice.  "I'm sorry.  I'm
sorry that I was unfair to you, that I hit you all the time.  I was so
mean to you, I would get so angry and beat on you, but I never... I
never..."

"Hush, Akane."  Ranma shook her.  "I forgive you.  I mean, I wasn't no
good either.  I insulted you plenty of times."

"But your insults never drew blood.  Your insults would... would never...
kill me."

Ranma drew a big breath.  "Okay.  You're right, hitting wasn't so good,
especially when you did it out of anger.  But Akane... you'd never kill
me.  I know that.  If you were to ever get *that* carried away, I would
stop you.  But you never did.  Even in your rage you had control.  Please,
don't worry that you'd ever really hurt me.  You haven't.  And you won't."

Akane sighed loudly.  "Th-thank you, Ranma.  I will never... never strike
you in anger again."

Ranma smiled gently.  "Okay.  Sounds fair.  But do remember to keep
calling me an idiot when I deserve it.  Hell, I hope you'll hit me over
the head with a mallet *once* in a while, for old time's sake, even if you
don't do it out of anger.  It wouldn't be the same otherwise."

Akane reached up to grab Ranma's face with her hands.  "Tell me.  Do we
have a son?"

Ranma sobered.  "Yes.  Of course."

"I never want to hit him, Ranma.  Never.  Promise me you'll stop me before
I do."

Ranma swallowed.  "I don't think you ever will.  But yes.  I promise."

Akane sighed again, this time in relief.  "Oh God, Ranma, I had the most
horrible dream."

"Yes.  I know.  I heard some of it."

"Everyone was afraid of me.  Even Kasumi.  Your parents hated me."

"And I was dead because you killed me."

Akane nodded miserably.

"Well, it didn't happen.  I'm here.  And glad to be married to you."

Akane smiled up at him.  She moved her head up and kissed him
passionately.

Tofu coughed slightly.  "I would still like to have Akane undergo some
tests, Ranma."

They separated in a rush.  Akane smiled a promise to him.

Ranma smiled it right back.  Then he turned to Tofu.  "Well, I got no more
objections.  But I'm sure you'll find nothing wrong.  She's okay now."

"More than okay."  Akane grinned affectionately at him.

The sound of the front door opening interrupted the conversation.
"Kasumi's back."  Ranma turned to Akane.  "She's got Nouma with her."

Akane needed no further encouragement.  Together they ran past a smiling
Tofu so they could be reunited with their son.

---

The past sighed happily.  She loved happy endings.

"You did that very well."

The past looked over her shoulder at the present, who had somehow sneaked
up on her.  "Don't I always?" she said testily.

The present's mouth turned slightly down.

"Don't answer that."  The past stretched luxuriously.  "Well, enough
solving every mortal's problems, time for Xena."

A smile returned to the present's face.  "I saw what else you did.  Kept a
potential problem from developing in the future.  Our sister will
appreciate that."

"What can I say?  I'm great.  Let's get back to your boyfriend's place.
When are you going to marry him?"

The present blushed and didn't answer.

The past chuckled throatily.  "Well, leave it to me.  A potion or two
will-"

"That's not proper!  It will happen if Kami-sama wills it so."

"Oh, like *you're* one to always obey Father's will."

The present's blush deepened.  "Let's just go home.  I... I want to be
with him."

The past grinned affectionately.  "And you know what, Sis?  I want to be
with you when you're with him."

The present laughed gaily.  Together, they left to rejoin the ones they
loved.

~*~

AUTHOR'S NOTES

"The Bitter End" is by Zen.  He has kindly allowed me to use his
characters in this story.  If you haven't read it, do.  It's an excellent
piece of work.

"Thy Inward Love" is by me, of course.  Consider TIL and TBE to be the
bookends of possible endings to a Ranma/Akane marriage.  :)

Thanks to White Wolf for inspiring the OMG angle.  Tell me if it works or
not.