On Tue, 28 Jul 1998, Coutuva wrote:

As promised, here's the final part.  If you

Thanks!

The Death of a Dream - Part 4
---------------------------------------------------------------

As things get really hairy...

	Hitomi was impressed.  As she stood before the large
mirror in the bath, she couldn't help but smile at the intricacy
of the rich pattern Kasumi had weaved into her hair.  It looked

"Woven" would probably be better.

        "Arigato gozaimashite, Kasumi-sama," she bowed, happily.
"It looks wonderful," she added, again looking it over.
	"Daijobou desu... I had a lot of practice while Akane was

"when Akane was" would definitely be better.

	Hitomi couldn't help but smirk knowingly.  "Always the
helper, ne?"  she noted, regarding the woman through the mirror.

She has X-ray vision?  It's a one-way mirror?  Or is it "in the mirror?"

	As Kasumi walked from the room, Hitomi's face darkened
slightly as she turned back to face the mirror.  She wasn't at
all pleased with her 'role' in the upcoming events, feeling that
there was a lot missing from Joy's description.  Overall, it seemed

That's an amazingly astute observation, for Hitomi.

a little simplistic to her, given how much had already gone into it.

Yeah!

	"Hm.  So, what happened to them?  The kids and the Centre,
I mean.  If they knew she wasn't coming back..." Ranma abruptly
asked, turning back towards Joy.
	"It's covered..." Joy responded, knowingly.  "And so is

suuure.

Kikyo," she added, her face becoming slightly sombre.  Ranma,
noting her expression, opted not to explore the issue.

Bad idea!  Don't let Joy fudge things!

	"Okay... I'll take your word for it.  Let's get back in the
house... I want to fill Akane in."  he responded, gesturing for Joy
to follow.

Obviously, that won't happen.

	"Package for Seirei Hitomi - sign here please."  the young
man standing behind the gate droned, shoving a box and clipboard
toward the surprised Ranma.

Okay, who knew she was here?

	"MAMUNO!!"  Hitomi screamed, leaping into the air and

Ah, the Dark guys, of course.  Wonder what the delivery guy got out of 
his deal?

	"Kuso..!" the redhead spat, snatching the symbol from the
air.  Just as she did, the mist finished forming and the resulting
creature dove toward her, firing a shot from it's razor-like claws.

"its"

	"This... is for Kikyo... and Miyabi-chan!  Shimei!!"  she

"Shimei?"  "Shine!" (aka "Die!"), perhaps?

	"Too many people have been hurt... This ends NOW!!" she
screamed angrily, and suddenly disappeared in a flash of blue light.

Whoops.

	Joy slumped to her knees, her face drained and bearing a
look of horror.  Ranma was equally as stunned.
	It wasn't until Akane burst through the door carrying her
barely-conscious daughter that either of them regained the power of
speech.

Ah, Hitomi dropped her off first?

	"Ranma... what the hell happened?!?"  Akane almost
shreiked, her face a picture of panic.

"shrieked"

	"So where's Hitomi...?" Ranma finally asked, despite
having a pretty good guess.
	Joy lowered her head.  "She's gone after them... by
herself." she responded, her tone ominous.
	"Then we'd better get after her...!  She doesn't..."  Ranma
blurted, but Joy silenced him with a sad shake of her head.
	"We can't, Ranma... Where she's gone, there's no way to
track her.  Neither our empathic or telepathic senses will work
unless we're right beside each other.  The 'atmosphere' there
absorbs those kind of energies," she stated, defeatedly.  "That's
why we were supposed to go in together."

But that wouldn't stop Ranma from at least trying.  He's giving Waay too 
much respect to Joy-chama's unsupported word.

	Joy raised her gaze to hers slowly, then drew a deep breath.
"Does the name 'Hiroshima' remind you of anything?" she remarked,
evenly.
	"Masaka... You mean..."  she gasped, stunned.
	"Hai," Joy nodded, sadly.  "And it's quite likely she won't
survive it."  she added, looking up at the frowning Ranma.

Yes, Hitomi will travel back in time!

	As the echo of the blast faded off into the mists, Hitomi
looked around her for signs of any new adversaries, and seeing
none, decided it was time to stop playing around.  Noting that she
couldn't sense anything around her, she raised her hand open flat
in front of her.  Instantly, she called up a bar-shaped energy
charge and regarded it coldly.
	"Find them." she commanded, and as the bar swung around to
point off to her right slightly, she huffed and vanished from sight.

Nani?  If she can't sense the demons, how can her energy bar do so?

	Suddenly, Nabiki wasn't smiling any longer.  She had just
recieved word that the redhead had simply disappeared, and she had

"received"

no idea why.  The news of the battle had also suprised her, making
her wonder just what was really going on.  Not being one to be
satisfied with unknowns, she picked up her phone again.
	"Hi.  Yeah, I knew you would.  You can?  Good... and bring
your toys, too... I need some answers, and I need them yesterday.
Great.  See you then." she grinned, hanging the phone back up slowly.
	"Wife... I would speak with thee." a certain annoying voice
announced, followed by the opening of the outer doors of her office.
	"What?" she responded flatly, in no mood to deal with *him*.
	"Your activities of late smack of collusion...  Hast thou

"collusion?"  collusion with what/whom?  

not learned from the errors of old?"  Tatewaki intoned, showing
somewhat more awareness than usual.

If not coherence.

	"You worry too much, Kuno-baby... I'm only trying to help my
dear sister Akane get her act together.  You don't mind that, do
you?"  she responded, leaning slightly on her sister's name.
	"In faith, I would give of mine own life to aid the fair
Akane... rather that than to dabble in the Black Arts."  he replied,
his normally vacant eyes regarding her evenly.  Nabiki was stunned.
	"Black Arts...?  Who said anything about the Black Arts?"
she recovered, trying to play it off coolly.
	"You have entertained that mage within our home... this

Miyo didn't show any inclination towards the dark side, rather the 
opposite. 

speaks dark intent.  I will no longer permit her presence." he
indicated, his eyes narrowing.  "And as my wife, you will respect
my wishes and cease involvement with any of her ilk." he followed,
raising his everpresent bokken and regarding it distantly.  "I
trust an accord had been struck?" he added, flashing her a look
that rattled her slightly.
	"Well, I think you're over reacting, but if it makes you
happy..." she acquiesced, rolling her eyes.
	"I am pleased." he responded, smiling.  "I shall be in the
study... do join me.  We have matters to discuss."  he indicated,
sheathing the bokken in his sash as he turned and walked out of the
room.  "Sasuke...! Tea... in the study!"  he shouted, striding into
the hallway without looking back.
	Nabiki puffed a huge sigh of relief and sank into her chair.
She had been, for the first time in her life, honestly scared of her
husband.  She shook her head slowly in disbelief, wondering what
had posessed him to actually threaten her.  Just as she completed

"possessed"

the thought, her eyes widened.
	"They know..." she breathed in horror, grabbing for her
phone.

They who?  Know what?  Nabiki at no time during this fic has contacted 
any of the bad guys, and although we heard something about an "accident", 
we see no connection to what has happened to Hitomi.
	And since we never come back to Nabiki, we haven't a *clue* what 
the heck she's talking about.

	Hitomi had her hands full.  Immediately after reappearing,
she was set upon by more creatures and demons than she could count,
not only of the earlier type, but of all manner and description.
Leaping, doging and incinerating creature after creature, she began

"dodging"

back.  It staggered her slightly, but only bought it's weilder a

"its wielder"

	Before her widening eyes, the masses twitched and stretched
into massive, almost man-like demons, the largest of them moving to
the front.  As the foremost one solidified, it became so massive
that it obscured her view of the other two completely, and was wider
than her feild of vision.

"field"

Only the Fates themselves could weild enough power... and survive.

"wield"

Your only salvation lies in joining with us... use your strength to
aid us in our conquest of the Triumvirate, and we will allow you to
rule alongside our might!"  it continued, glaring down at her with
it's flaring crimson eyes and an expectant smile.

"its"
and no, Hitomi's a good little puppet.

	Hitomi glared back at the creature angrily, then looked
around at the murmering, growling horde of minion demons that seemed

"murmuring"

loud, booming crack that they expected, the two became bathed in
a soft, bluish-tinted light, then the light suddenly increased in
density until they could no longer be seen.  A moment later, the
light pulsed and disappeared, leaving only Ranma laying flat on
his back on the floor.  His eyes were closed and he wasn't moving,
which instantly sent Akane into a blind panic.

uhoh

	Everyone's jaws but Joy's dropped in unison as onna-Ranma

That's Akane's, unless the kids are present.

	Joy stood back and watched the family laughing, joking and
celebrating Ranam's 'rebirth' as it were, and had to smile at

"Ranma's"

come back, specifically to give Ranma back his body.  Joy knew that
such an act was not part of the plan, and assumed that the Fates
must have decided to allow it to happen, given Hitomi's performance.

Or if we're really lucky, Hitomi did it to snub the Fates.

What bothered her most was that situation meant that Hitomi was
definitely gone, and Joy, for many reasons beyond simple friendship,
knew she would miss her terribly.

She was so easy to manipulate!

	Sighing sadly, Joy also realized that her job was almost
done, now that the Spirit World was at peace and Ranma was once
again a normal human.  That meant she only had one duty left to
perform, and she wasn't looking forward to it.  It also meant that
the time had come for her to say her good byes, and leave Ranma's
family to the great life they had coming.

Time to grow up...

        "Arigato, Joy-sama." he began softly, rising to his feet.
"I miss her too... and I always will," he indicated, earnestly.
"Like I told her a while ago... she was the only incarnation of my
female side that I actually liked,"  he added, a touch of sadness

Ah, so his niceness to Mu Lin was only a facade.  In reality he 
considered her just as obnoxious as I did.

	"Hai... it even surprised me... but I think she felt
guilty, especially after meeting your family.  You know how much
that meant to her."

Hitomi is the only one who felt guilty about that, apparently...

	Ranma looked down for a moment, then glanced at Akane and
his children.  "Yeah... I do."  he nodded, his voice quiet.  After
a moment ofthoughtful silence, he looked back at her with concern
on his face.  "There is one thing I'm curious about though... what
really happened to Shampoo?  I can't see her just going back to
China..."
        "She did... after a certain subtle 'suggestion'.  She took

"mindfuck" would seem a better term.

things pretty hard, and I think plans to start a new life, as far
away from her old one as possible.  Believe it or not, it's the
best thing for her,"  Joy noted, thoughtfully.  "I wish her luck."

No, I don't believe it.  And what about Mousse, her still legally married 
husband whom NO ONE has bothered to update?  Or does Joy-chama just not 
care? 

	"I don't envy you that job.  She's not going to take this
well."

No, Suicide Lass probably won't...

	Akane, having remained silent thus far, stepped up and
wrapped another tight hug around her husband.  Looking up into his
eyes, she asked the question for which she most feared the answer.
	"Is that it?  Is it... really over?" she breathed, her
eyes widening hopefully.
	Ranma could only look back into her eyes and smile, his
look confident but sad. "Hai, Akane-chan.  It's over." he
acknowledged, firmly.

Even if you never *did* get a proper apology from the people who 
deliberately hurt you. > 

 
	Okimayaki Kikyo looked over the cans of vegetables before
her intently, pausing only to smile at her daughter as she played
happily in her stroller.  Every so often, she would also have to
acknowledge compliments from other people in the aisles, as to a
person they would all smile and wave at the bubbly little girl.

I take it some time has passed?

        It had been almost four months since Kikyo had been
revived, only to be told the painful story of her lover's
sacrifice.  The passage of time had not diminshed the wrenching
pain in her heart, nor the empty feeling in her soul however,
leaving her still feeling as torn as if it had happened only
yesterday.

Umm....plot holes...

        In fact, had it not been for her daughter, and the child's
incredible resemblance to her father, Kikyo knew she wouldn't
have been able to go on alone.
	"C'mon, Hitomi-chan... we have to get home and make supper.

Aww...

        As she was about to pick up the pouch of tools and start
edging the walk, she happened to glance toward the bridge in the
center of the garden, and was startled to see someone standing in
the middle of it.
        It was a woman, with lustrous, deep auburn hair tossing
like a wave in the gentle breeze.  She stood about five-foot four,
sported a long, pretty, pale green sundress, and as far as Kikyo
could see, had an excellent body.

Cop out ending coming up!

        Face darkening, Kikyo set her daughter down in her playpen
and walked toward the woman, miffed that someone would have the
nerve to tresspass on her property, especially in the garden.  As

"trespass"  And since when is it Kikyo's property?  Hitomi doesn't seem 
the type to have thought of a power of attorney.

she approached the woman, 

she was suprised to 
see her break out > in a wide and unsettlingly familiar smile.

        As Kikyo stepped onto the bridge, the auburn haired
woman turned to her and bowed deeply, and as she rose, her large
sea-green eyes locked into Kikyo's and began to shimmer.
        "Kiko-chan..." the woman suddenly breathed, clasping her
hands together in front of her and biting her lip.
        Kikyo stopped in her tracks.  Gaping at the woman, she
had to blink and take a second look to make sure she wasn't seeing
things.  Even with the different frame, hair and eyes, Kikyo 
suddenly knew exactly who the stranger was.
	"Hitomi...?" she gasped, her heart racing.
	"No... not any more.  My name... is Miyuki." the woman
almost whispered, regarding Kikyo hopefully.
	Kikyo didn't care.  Bursting out in tears, she leapt toward
Miyuki and wrapped her in a huge hug, at which Miyuki herself broke
out in tears.  As the two of them wept openly, Miyuki found enough
composure to whisper into Kikyo's ear.
	"I'm back, Kiko-chan... and I'll never leave you again.
Ever." she sniffed, hugging Kikyo even tighter.

And what innocent family was destroyed to create Miyuki, Hmm?

	Okay, so we have Shampoo taking off to parts of China unknown 
under mental compulsion, having served her role as bait.
	Hitomi disappears with no viable explanation.
	So Kikyo wakes up (how much later?) with a huge hole in the wall 
and Phil's corpse on the floor.  Phil's corpse, which just happens to be 
full of bullet holes from Kikyo's gun.
	How likely is it that no one's come by in the meantime and seen 
this?  I don't remember reading that Kikyo was using a silencer, and 
those ki-blasts are probably pretty loud, especially when they destroy 
things.
	And even if Phil's corpse was somehow disappeared, isn't his 
going missing going to raise some questions?
	Then there's the daycare center.  Without Hitomi's literally 
magic touch, and Kikyo being in late pregnancy/early motherhood and less 
able to work, won't it be having problems?
	Oh, and Anita.  Sure, she might have been temporarily scared off 
by Hitomi, but Hitomi ain't around anymore is she?  And if what I suspect 
about Anita's role is correct, she's going to be drawn back to Kikyo...
	I'm worried about Kikyo as a mom too.  Her role in the stories 
has definitely taught her "truth is bad, lies are good."  And if Miyuki 
keeps Hitomi's brain lapses, she's not going to be much help.

roller coaster for me, especially this segment.  My thanks to
all who responded along the way, for it was for them that I
tried my best.  I'm not done writing by any means, and I hope

You're welcome.

	Well, the Hitomi blowing herself up and giving the body back to 
Ranma bits were very nice.
	But overall, it's another disappointing ending that leaves more 
loose ends than it ties up.  Kikyo still never has to deal with the 
consequences of her actions, Nabiki is set up for something then left 
hanging, vital facts about Hitomi are still not explained, Shampoo is 
shuffled off the scene without so much as a "by your leave"...and not 
one. single. word. about. Mousse.
	I'm just sorry that apparently we won't get another story that 
actually deals with the issues raised by this saga.

SKJAM!
"In Hong Kong, I would be the star of this movie."--Jet Li, Lethal Weapon 
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