Happy New Year!

Okay, here's more of my repost of Hearts of Ice.  In case you're
curious, Part 21 is with the pre-readers, and may be posted in the next
few days, depending on their reaction.

Enjoy!  ^_^


-- Listar MIME Decryption --------------
-- Name   : HEART7-8.TXT

The characters of the Ranma 1/2 universe are the sole creation
and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. 
------------------------
Hearts of Ice
Part 7:  Power Play
by Krista Perry
------------------------


     Nabiki padded quietly out of her room and walked down the
hall.  The house was dark and silent except for the familiar,
comforting sound of Kasumi starting her early morning ritual of
preparing breakfast in the kitchen downstairs.  Nabiki shook her
head, a half smile tugging at her lips.  How oneechan managed to
get up so early every single morning and stay so damn cheerful
was a mystery to her.

     She was not a morning person herself.  Under normal
circumstances, she would still be in bed cherishing every extra
moment of unconscious bliss, curled in her downy-soft covers. 
For her to be up so early -- willingly at least -- was a rare
thing indeed.

     She headed downstairs, but then, on an impulse, she paused
outside Akane's room.  Reaching out, her hand hovered just over
the door knob, her eyes lingering on the English letters that
spelled out Akane's name on the little wooden duck that hung on
the door.

     A small, sad frown furrowed her brow, not quite reaching her
mouth.  She blinked, shook her head slightly, and opened the
door.

     Pale, pre-dawn light seeped through the closed drapes. 
Akane's homework was still spread open on the desk from where
she'd left it to go down to dinner three days previous, just
before the blood spell hit.

     Nabiki went over to the desk, sat down in the chair, and
opened the bottom drawer.  Underneath stacks of papers and
letters was a smooth metal tin, decorated with hand-painted
flowers... or were they little animals?  Nabiki grinned. 
Whatever they were, the bright splashes of color had been painted
with tender care, if little skill.

     She carefully pulled the lid off to reveal Akane's most
personal treasures within.  Lifting them out, she examined each
item in the dim light contemplatively, almost reverently.

     First Place award ribbons from martial arts tournaments. 
Mother's cook book, carefully folded open to the "How to boil
water" page.  Old photographs of the family, with Mother, holding
baby Akane on her lap, her beautiful face smiling in two-
dimensional black and white.  And, on the very bottom of the tin,
a picture of...

     Nabiki's eyes widened as she looked at the photo; a photo
which clearly showed Ranma kneeling on her sister's lap, his
hands curled into cat paws, kissing a very surprised Akane.

     A slow smirk crept onto Nabiki's face.  *Well, well.  After
all the fuss she made after that incident, who would have thought
she'd keep *this?** She chuckled softly.  It was a shame that
Ranma could only show his true affection for Akane when his
pathological terror of cats sent his mind on a temporary
vacation.

     *Hmm.  I wondered if Ranma ever figured out the *real*
reason Akane was so angry after his cat-kiss.*

     "Probably not," she muttered out loud as she placed the
treasures back into the tin.  She looked around the room, looking
at everything from the spare school uniform hanging on the wall
to the weights on the floor.  The whole room had the feel of
Akane, even though she was gone.  

     Nabiki sighed heavily.  She had no illusions about her
relationship with her little sister.  They didn't always get
along, and they had very little in common.  But that didn't
change the feelings and the bond of sisterhood between them.  Out
of the three siblings, Akane was more of a sister to her than
Kasumi.  Kasumi had taken the mantle of motherhood upon herself
after Mother's death; she had made the sacrifice and had grown up
fast so that the younger Tendo sisters could enjoy their youth,
and all the typical sibling rivalry that went with it.

     Sure, she and Akane argued frequently, and very rarely saw
eye to eye on anything.

     But that didn't matter.

     It was time to get her little sister back.

     Nabiki stood and left the room, closing the door softly
behind her.  She walked down the hall and peeked into the
Saotomes' room.  Ranma was sleeping deeply, curled on his side, a
thin line of drool running from the corner of his open mouth to
soak his pillow.  The lines of exhaustion that had creased his
face the previous night seemed to have smoothed slightly. 
Smiling in satisfaction, she quietly closed the door, and went
downstairs.

     Kasumi noticed her as she was on her way out the front door. 
"Why, Nabiki!  You're certainly up bright and early this morning. 
Where are you off to?"

     "I'll be back in a few minutes, oneechan."  Nabiki smiled,
her eyes glinting with secret devilment.  "I've got a little
errand to run."  

--------------------

     Ukyo wanted to scream.

     She didn't, of course.  Cute fiancees don't scream.

     She groaned instead, pulling her knees up to her chin as she
lay curled on her borrowed futon, staring up at the ceiling of
the Tendo living room.  Her long, thick hair spread out on her
pillow behind her head in a silky chestnut halo.  Her brow
furrowed in frustration over bright green eyes that glimmered
with conflicting emotions.

     *Why do I do this to myself?* she thought.

     The opportunity of a lifetime had just been dropped in her
lap, thanks to Shampoo's disastrous trip to China.  But she
wasn't completely happy with the way this opportunity had come
about.  Even though Ranchan's turbulent roma... er,
relationship... with Akane drove her crazy with frustration
sometimes, she didn't wish any real harm to come to her rival.

     In fact, she actually felt bad that Akane was gone.  Strange
though it was, she and Akane were almost... friends?  But that
wasn't the only reason.  She could see how badly the whole
situation was affecting the Tendo family.  Kasumi's cheerful
demeanor was tainted with strain and worry.  Ukyo hadn't seen
Tendo-san, but she knew that Kasumi was taking meals to his room,
leading her to believe that the grief-torn man had withdrawn into
himself.  And Nabiki...

     She didn't know what to think about Nabiki.  Out of all
those close to Akane, the middle Tendo daughter seemed the least
affected by her disappearance, at least emotionally.  Nabiki was
as cool and distant and calculating as ever.  And yet, last night
at the Nekohanten...

     Ukyo shook her head.  The workings of Nabiki's mind were a
mystery to her.  She couldn't understand how someone could
blackmail, extort and manipulate people the way she did, and
still be able to live with herself...

     *Oh, and who are you to judge?* she thought to herself
wryly.  *It's not like you've never benefitted from Nabiki's
schemes before.*  Memories rose to the surface of her mind of all
the times she'd bought candid pictures of Ranma-kun from Nabiki,
or even rented him by the hour so that she could spend time with
him.

     Ukyo cringed in shame, clutching her knees tighter to her
chest. *I... I can't believe I'm so desperate for a piece of
Ranchan that I'd stoop to *that.**  And yet she did.  She had.

     And now, Akane was gone.  Whisked away by the blood spell to
some unknown place, leaving Ranma behind, minus one fiancee.
     
     The opportunity of a lifetime.  Now that Akane was out of
the way, even if it was only temporarily, she could finally show
Ranchan what a supportive, helpful, loving person she really was;
prove to him once and for all that she was the right one for him. 
And without Akane's constant, violent presence to distract him,
he might finally notice.  And might finally start thinking of her
as more than just his childhood buddy.

     She knew, of course, that Shampoo had similar plans for
Ranchan.  It was so obvious, the way the purple-haired hussy had
hovered over him the night before.  

     Ukyo scowled at the thought.  Though she didn't have any
proof -- and though she hated to admit it because of what it
implied -- she was of the strong opinion that Nabiki might be
right about Shampoo.  She didn't think that Shampoo had really
been kidnapped by any Chinese dragon.  The whole blood spell
thing had to be just an elaborate ruse concocted by Shampoo to
get Ranchan for herself.  At least it was certainly easier to
believe *that* than the fanciful story Shampoo and Cologne had
perpetuated.  Still, stranger things had happened...

     If what she believed was true, though, then Shampoo had
failed to take her seriously as a rival for Ranchan's love.  In
that, the Chinese Amazon had made a big mistake.  Shampoo didn't
realize that once Akane was gone, *she,* Ukyo Kuonji, Ranchan's
best friend and confidant, was next in line for his affection.

     *Next in line...*  Ukyo grimaced.  *It almost sounds like
I'm waiting to get on a carnival ride.*

     She wanted to tell Ranchan of her suspicions about Shampoo. 
She would have in a second, but for one thing.  He believed
Shampoo's story.  He had stood up for her against Nabiki when the
canny girl had expressed the very things that had run through
Ukyo's own mind.  If she said anything now, she ran the risk of
alienating him just when she finally had him within her grasp...

     Ukyo sighed in frustration, uncurling herself and running
her hands through her hair as she sat up on the futon.  *Oh
Ranchan, why do things have to be so complicated?*

     Just then, Kasumi walked past the open screen.  "Good
morning, Ukyo," she said.  "Would you like some breakfast?"

     Ukyo looked at the eldest Tendo daughter.  In spite of all
that had happened, Kasumi still found time to think of others. 
Feeling strangely guilty, Ukyo pushed her confused emotions to
the back of her mind, and smiled.  "Thanks, Kasumi, that would be
nice.  Do you need any help in the kitchen?"

     "That's alright.  I'm almost done.  Do you mind waking up
Ranma and Ryoga?  Nabiki is gone, and Uncle Saotome is already at
the table."

     "Sure, no problem," she said, kneeling to fold the futon. 
*Nabiki's gone?* she thought.  *I wonder where she ran off to so
early?*

     At that moment, Nabiki burst through the front door.  She
ran down the hall and past the two astonished girls, holding a
small cardboard box to her chest, and leaped up the stairs,
taking two at a time.  She then disappeared into her room,
closing the door behind her.

     "Oh my," said Kasumi, looking at the stairs.  "I've never
seen Nabiki in such a hurry before.  I wonder what she's doing."

     Ukyo shook her head, baffled.  "I have no idea," she said. 
*But knowing her, it's something sneaky.*

     Kasumi went back into the kitchen.  Ukyo finished folding
the futon and the blankets, stacking them neatly in the corner. 
Then she walked up the stairs, pausing just outside of Nabiki's
room.  She strained to hear what the girl might be doing, but it
was deadly quiet on the other side of the door.  

     Ukyo frowned in puzzlement, then shrugged, and walked over
to Ranchan's door.

     She knocked.  "Ranchan, wake up, it's time for breakfast."

     There was no answer.  She opened the door carefully and
peeked in.  Ranma was still asleep, lying on his back, tangled up
in his covers, wearing nothing but his tank top and boxers.  His
arms sprawled on either side of his head, and his mouth hung
slightly open.  He was snoring softly.

     He looked so peaceful.  At that moment, it seemed impossible
that he could be the center of the tangled tapestry of chaos and
misunderstanding that always seemed to surround him.

     Ukyo blinked, and realized that a silly smile had plastered
itself on her face as she looked at Ranma.  He was so *cute* when
he was asleep!  Akane was so lucky.  She probably saw him like
this all the time...

     Ukyo swallowed, and cut off the thought as her mixed
emotions over Akane's disappearance swelled within her.  She
pushed them back down, and went over to kneel by Ranma.

     "Hey," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder to shake
him lightly.  "Wake up.  It's time to eat.  You don't want to
miss breakfast, do you?"  She shook him again.

     Ranma sighed, rubbed his arm across his forehead, mumbled
something incoherent, and rolled over.  Still sound asleep.

     Ukyo grinned and felt her eyes moisten.  That was just so...
so *him.*  Watching him, being near him, she wondered what it
would be like to wake up every morning and see him like this, by
her side.  At the thought, her heart seemed so full it felt like
it would burst.  She pressed a hand to her chest to hold in the
sensation, almost afraid that her physical frame couldn't contain
the emotions she was feeling.  *Now I know what that old saying
means,* she thought, looking at Ranma with glistening eyes.  *I
love you so much, it hurts.*

     "Hey, silly," she said, speaking both to herself and Ranma
as she blinked back the wetness in her eyes and shook him again. 
"Wake up already."

     "Unghh," Ranma moaned, waving his arm limply as if trying to
brush away whatever was disturbing his sleep.  Ukyo giggled.

     "Don't wake him up."

     Ukyo gasped and turned to see Nabiki standing behind her in
the doorway, looking at her with a frown.

     "N-Nabiki!  You startled me.  Kasumi just asked me to wake
him for breakfast, I..."

     Nabiki's expression softened, but her eyes were still angry. 
Ukyo was surprised to realize that the anger wasn't directed at
her.  *What, then..?  Maybe it has something to do with that box
she had...*

     "Let him sleep, Ukyo.  He hasn't slept since he woke up
Friday morning."  

     "Friday?!  But today's Monday!"

     "Exactly."  The corner of Nabiki's mouth quirked in a half
smile.  "I'll bet you 2,000 yen that, left to himself, he doesn't
wake up before noon."

     Ukyo knew better than to bet against Nabiki.  "I'll pass,"
she said, waving her hands and getting to her feet.  "I'm sorry,
I had no idea he'd gone so long without sleep."

     "Yes, well," said Nabiki, turning to walk down the hallway,
"Akane's disappearance and those spell voices in his head have
really messed him up."

     "..."  Ukyo followed Nabiki silently down the stairs.

     Ryoga was already awake and kneeling at the table as Kasumi
dished out breakfast.  Ukyo knelt down next to him and cast a
disparaging look at Genma-panda, who was already wolfing down his
food with alarming speed.  "Pig," she muttered, failing to notice
when Ryoga flinched beside her.

     Ryoga glanced sidelong at Ukyo, and relaxed slightly when he
realized she was looking at Genma.  He sighed in relief and
turned to Kasumi.  "Thank you, Kasumi," he said, as she finished
loading his plate.  "I'm sorry if we're being a nuisance and
all..."

     "Nonsense," said Kasumi.  She smiled as usual, but Ryoga
could see that the past few days had taken its toll on her.  Her
smile was sincere, but her eyes were sad and tired.  "I know that
both you and Ukyo will do everything you can to help Ranma find
Akane.  It's nice to know they have such good friends."

     Ukyo and Ryoga both looked down and stared at their hands
uncomfortably.

     "Nabiki, aren't you going to have breakfast?"  Kasumi turned
as Nabiki walked by headed for the front door wearing her spring
jacket, her hands stuffed in the pockets.

     "No time, oneechan," she said without turning.  Then she
muttered, "The whole thing was silent, not a thing.  Time for me
to stir the pot a little and see what comes to the surface."

     And she was out the door.

     "What did she say?" Ryoga asked, turning to Ukyo.

     Ukyo raised a single eyebrow in confusion.  "Something about
a silent pot, I think, but don't ask me what she meant by it."

     "Oh my," said Kasumi.

--------------------

     Mousse was stooped over sweeping up broken glass from the
shattered door when Nabiki arrived at the Nekohanten.  "Don't
mind me," she said lightly, stepping through the door frame and
maneuvering around the Chinese boy.  "I'll let myself in."

     Mousse straightened and peered at her through his glasses. 
"Nabiki Tendo?  What are you doing here so early?"

     "Oh, nothing much."  She flashed a bright smile, not knowing
or caring if Mousse could see it or not.  "Just thought I'd stop
by and chat with the old ghoul for a few minutes."

     "Insolent girl."

     Nabiki's smile suddenly turned reptilian, and she turned to
face Cologne.  The withered crone stood balanced on her staff by
the kitchen doorway.  Shampoo stood behind her.

     Even better.

     "Well, Nabiki Tendo, what do you want?" Cologne asked,
unconcerned.  "We aren't open until 10, so if you need food,
you'll have to come back later."

     "You know that's not what I'm here for," Nabiki answered.

     The ancient Amazon and the teenage girl stared at each other
for a few moments, neither of them blinking, like two coiled
snakes ready to strike.  Shampoo and Mousse watched the silent
exchange uneasily.

     Finally Cologne spoke.  "I'm not a mind reader, girl.  Are
you going to tell me what you want, or are you going to leave so
that we can get back to work?  I'm a busy woman, you know."

     Nabiki raised an eyebrow.  "Oh yes, I know.  You've been
hard at work the past few weeks.  Or perhaps even longer.  Tell
me, exactly how long did it take you to think up this flimsy
Chinese dragon/kidnapping alibi when you decided to cast a blood
spell on my sister?"

     Cologne's eyes narrowed.  "So that's what this is all about. 
You still believe that this was all a plot to get rid of Akane
and trap Ranma, is that right?"

     "To put it bluntly -- yes."

     The old crone sighed.  "I'm sorry you feel that way.  I can
see that your mind is set, so there's probably nothing I can say
or do to convince you of the truth."

     Nabiki smiled nonchalantly.  "You're right on that count. 
However, that doesn't mean I don't have a few things that *I*
could say to Ranma to convince him that your so-called truth is
nothing but a pack of lies."

     "Is that so?"  Cologne's voice was like ice.

     "Mm-hm."  Nabiki nodded.  "Things like pointing out the big
gaping holes in your story that he was too tired and distracted
to notice.  Such as, if this blood spell was supposed to make him
hate Shampoo, and it succeeded in taking my sister away and
putting those voices in his head, *why, then, didn't the spell
make him hate Shampoo?*  Surely, for such a powerful blood spell,
that would be the easiest thing of all to accomplish."

     Shampoo paled.  Nabiki smiled at her, slow and cold, her
eyes glinting.

     Cologne gazed at Nabiki levelly.  "You do not understand,
foolish child.  Allow me to explain.  The *purpose* of the spell
was to turn Ranma's heart away from Shampoo.  The actual
*mechanics* of the spell, to accomplish that purpose, involved
the removal of your sister and the placement of the spell voices
in Ranma's mind."

     Nabiki blinked.  Cologne smiled, and continued, speaking
with clear, cold reasoning.  "There was nothing in the actual
spell that would force Ranma to hate Shampoo by magically
altering his feelings.  The dragon knew that once the spell was
cast, Shampoo would seem the most likely culprit.  Ranma's anger
-- which, I might add, *did* occur --was completely natural, and
completely uninfluenced by any magical mind-control, which is
just the way the dragon wanted it.

     "You can now see the deviousness of the dragon's plan.  The
dragon wanted to break Shampoo's spirit with the knowledge that
Ranma hated her of his own free will, without any actual mind-
altering influence exerted over him.  So you see, the spell did,
in fact, accomplish its purpose.  Fortunately, however, Shampoo
and I escaped the dragon -- something the beast did not count on
-- and we returned to Japan as soon as possible with the hope
that we could somehow undo the damage that was wrought by the
dragon's evil."

     Nabiki's smile had crumbled to an expression of defeat. 
Cologne's wrinkled face split in a chilling grin.

     "As you know," the old ghoul continued, "Ranma is no longer
angry at Shampoo and myself.  We have thus undone at least half
of the damage.  Now we will try to undo the other half, by
finding a way to break the blood spell, and return your sister to
you."  

     Cologne moved closer to Nabiki, who was blinking in shock. 
"We really do want to help you, but it would be nice if you
stopped leveling these unfounded accusations at us.  I
understand you want Akane back.  We all do.  Give us a chance,
and we will do everything in our power to help you."

     Nabiki blinked, then her expression dissolved into one of
cool blankness.  *Damn,* she thought.  *She's good.*

     Her expression hardened.  "Well, I'll give you one thing,"
she said, forcing anger into the coolness of her voice.  "You
spent more time thinking up that story than I originally gave you
credit for.  If you think I'm going to give up so easily, think
again.  I'm going to prove to Ranma that you are the one behind
the blood spell."

     Cologne sighed and shook her head as if patiently dealing
with a not-so-bright child.  "And how are you planning on doing
that?  With this?"  She held out a small hand-held tape recorder
that, moments ago, had been in Nabiki's jacket pocket.  It was
still recording.  Nabiki blanched.

     "Hoping to trip us up, eh girl?  Get it on tape and play it
for Ranma as indisputable proof of our treachery?"  She tossed it
back to Nabiki, who caught it clumsily.  "Go ahead and play this
conversation for him.  I'm sure he'll find it fascinating.  Now,
if you don't mind, we have a business to run, as well as a blood
spell to remove."

     Nabiki stared at Cologne, her expression unreadable.  Then
she turned on her heel, walked past a gaping Mousse, and out the
door.

--------------------

     Shampoo stood in Cologne's meditation chambers, pacing back
and forth nervously while the old Amazon leafed through an
ancient tome.  She glanced up in mild irritation.

     "Shampoo, calm down.  As you just witnessed, our alibi is
solid.  Not even the scrutiny of that devious Tendo girl was able
to penetrate it.  If anything, she's firmly established the
validity of our claim."

     Shampoo stopped pacing and faced Cologne, her face pale, her
expression troubled, but firm.  "Great-grandmother, I worried. 
Nabiki, she sneaky girl, she perceptive.  She..." Shampoo lowered
her voice, even though she knew Mousse was gone on errands.  "She
know we cast the blood spell."

     "What does that matter?" Cologne responded archly.  "It will
do her no good.  She won't convince Son-in-law.  You saw for
yourself how he stood up for you last night when she went after
us then and there."  She chuckled.  "I tell you, great-
granddaughter, that boy is practically yours.  When he finally
accepts the fact that he'll never see Akane again, he'll fall
right into your arms, and you'll be there to comfort him and be
his wife.  Then your honor will be restored, and we will all
return home together."

     Shampoo sank down to the floor, her arms wrapped around her
shoulders, shuddering as if she was cold.  "I hope you right,
great-grandmother."

     "Of course I'm right."

     "Good," said Shampoo.  *Because I have a horrible feeling
about all this.  We've done too much, we've gone too far...*

     "Is... "  Shampoo paused, swallowed.  "Is there way to get
Akane back?"

     Cologne turned and faced her granddaughter, her eyes
narrowing.  "Why are you asking that?" she said coldly.

     Shampoo shrank under Cologne's gaze, but then straightened. 
She had faced the Ancient One, after all.  She had fought demon
hordes, and had cast a blood spell bought with her own blood
price.  After all that, she should be able to face her great-
grandmother without fear.  "Because," she said strongly, "Akane
gone not just affect Ranma... or Nabiki.  Her family miss her. 
Mousse tell me her father, he shrivel up inside.  He may die of
much sadness."

     Cologne looked at Shampoo speculatively, surprised at the
girl's show of defiant spirit.  She had seen it often, but it had
never been directed at her before.  "This does not affect us. 
Why do you care?"

     Shampoo frowned as she searched for the words to make her
grandmother understand.  "Is... Is not honorable.  Maybe... after
we take Ranma to China... maybe we bring back Akane so her father
not die.  Ranma no need know she come back."

     Cologne was silent.  Shampoo waited patiently.

     "There is a spell..." Cologne said at last, "but I'm afraid
it is impossible to do without Ranma's presence, making it out of
the question."

     Shampoo's countenance fell.

     "I'm sorry Shampoo."  Cologne's voice was surprisingly
sympathetic.  "Your desire is honorable, but out of reach.  Just
be glad that you will soon have your husband by your side."

     "Yes, great-grandmother."  Shampoo sighed.  "I happy for
that."

--------------------

     A few hours later, Nabiki ran into her room, closed the door
firmly behind her, sat down at her desk, and plugged her
earphones into the stereo.  Fitting the earphones over her ears,
she picked up the long, thin, nondescript cardboard box that she
had just rushed home with, and dumped it upside-down.  A cassette
tape fell into her open palm.

     She slid the tape into the stereo cassette player, hit the
play button, and listened.  After a moment she hit the fast
forward button.  "Yeah, yeah," she muttered.  "Let's get on with
it."  After a moment, she hit the play button again.  And heard
her own voice.

     "...long did it take you to think up this flimsy Chinese
dragon/kidnapping alibi when you decided to cast a blood spell on
my sister?"

     "So that's what this is all about.  You still believe that
this was all a plot to get rid of Akane and trap Ranma, is that
right?"

     "To put it bluntly -- yes."

     Nabiki sighed and hit the fast forward button.  She didn't
want to listen to that tedious explanation again.

     Play.

     "...actual spell that would cause Ranma to..."

     FF.  Play.

      "...and return your sister..."

     FF.  Play.  

     "...think I'm going to give up so easily..." 

     Almost there.  FF.  Play.

     "...don't mind, we have a business to run, as well as a
blood spell to remove."

     Bingo.

     Long pause.  The sound of footsteps walking across broken
glass.  Long pause.

     Mousse's voice.  "Wow, she was *angry.*"

     Cologne.  "Mousse, finish sweeping up that glass, and then
go order us a new door.  When you're finished, come back and put
a temporary screen over the entrance."

     "But I--"

     *Whap!*

     "Gah!  Okay, okay, I'm going.  Jeeze..."

     Sound of sweeping glass.  Mousse mumbling something
unitelligable and quite probably profane.  Footsteps fading away
as Mousse leaves.  Long pause.

     Even longer pause.

     Nabiki drummed her fingers on her desk.

     Still nothing.  Just silence.  *Good grief, don't these
people talk to each other?!*  She hit the Play/Search button. 
The tape sped through minutes of silence.  Nabiki's frustration
grew with each spin of the tape reel.  Nothing!  All that work
for--

     *Click.*  Play.

     "--mother, I worried.  Nabiki, she sneaky girl, she
perceptive.  She...  she know we cast the blood spell."

     *YES!  JACKPOT!!!*  Nabiki threw up her fists in silent
victory.  *TOOK THE BAIT, HOOK, LINE and SINKER!!  I just KNEW it
was a good idea to have their house bugged before they got home
from China!!*

     She listened, her mind ecstatic, yet her outward appearance
calm and collected once again as she listened to Cologne and
Shampoo spill the whole scheme.  *This is beautiful,* she
thought.  *This is... a work of art.*  There it was.  The whole
thing.  Immortalized on tape.  In Japanese, even.  She wouldn't
even have to bother getting a translator.  She just couldn't wait
to--

     "--way to get Akane back?"

     Nabiki froze.  Then her hand jerked up and hit the rewind
button.

     Play.

     "...course I'm right."

     "Good." 

     Long pause.

     "Is...  Is there way to get Akane back?"

     "Why are you asking that?"

     "Because... Akane gone not just affect Ranma... or Nabiki. 
Her family miss her.  Mousse tell me her father, he shrivel up
inside.  He may die of much sadness."

     Nabiki's fists clenched convulsively, her mask of
impassiveness shattering.  Tears -- real tears, not the phoney
ones she was so expert at -- built behind her eyes, and she
blinked, trembling with anger.  *How dare they...*

     "This does not affect us.  Why do you care?"

     "Is... Is not honorable.  Maybe... after we take Ranma to
China... maybe we bring back Akane so her father not die.  Ranma
no need know she come back."

     Nabiki's breath caught in her throat.  She listened, her
eyes wide and unblinking.

     "There is a spell...  But I'm afraid it is impossible to do
without Ranma's presence, making it out of the question."

      Nabiki's hand flashed out and hit the rewind.

     Play.

     "...a spell...  But I'm afraid it is impossible to do
without Ranma's presence--"

     Stop.

     Nabiki smiled.

--------------------

     The Nekohanten was busy, swarming with customers for the
lunch hour rush.  Cologne had her hands full, having sent both
Mousse and Shampoo out on delivery runs, but it was nothing she
couldn't handle.  Using the Chestnut Fist, she had the orders hot
and ready almost as soon as they were requested, to the delight
of her patrons.

     She spared a glance to the screen entrance as it swung open
once again.  Nabiki Tendo stepped through and walked straight
towards her with a cool confidence that Cologne found strangely
unsettling.  *That girl,* she thought, frowning.  *How many more
times will it take before she realizes that she's 200 years too
early to defeat me?*

     Nabiki slid casually onto the stool in front of the counter,
directly across from Cologne.  "Okay, old ghoul," she said,
smiling slightly, looking at the crone through half-lidded eyes. 
"We need to talk.  I'd close the restaurant down if I were you."

     Cologne bristled at the girl's audacity.  "What is it this
time?" she said irritably.  "Another attempt to force a taped
confession from me?  I notice you brought your recorder along
with you again.  When are you going to realize--"

     Nabiki pulled the recorder out, a barely contained smirk on
her lips, and hit the play button.

     "She know we cast the blood spell."

     "What does that matter?  It will do her no good.  She won't
convince Son-in-law.  You saw for yourself how he stood up for
you last night when she went after us then and there.  I tell
you, great-granddaughter, that boy is practically yours.  When he
finally accepts the fact that he'll never see Akane again, he'll
fall right into your arms, and you'll be there to comfort him and
be his wife.  Then your honor will be restored, and we will all
return home together."

     Nabiki hit the stop button.  Cologne's face had turned the
color of rice paper.

     "You were saying?" said Nabiki sweetly.

     Cologne visibly took control of herself.  There was a sudden
flash of movement, and Nabiki found herself empty-handed.  A
moment later, she saw the crushed remains of her tape recorder
falling from the old ghoul's hand.

     Nabiki rolled her eyes.  "Oh please," she said disdainfully. 
"You actually think that I wouldn't make back-up dubs of that
tape?  At this moment, over 50 dubs have been distributed to 50
of my... associates... all over Tokyo and the surrounding area. 
They have orders to take this straight to Ranma and play it for
him should anything happen to me."  She leaned back in the stool,
her hands behind her head.  "I may play it for him anyway.  After
all, it seems like such a waste for that 'dragon' to go through
all the trouble of casting a spell to make Ranma hate Shampoo...
and have it not work."

     Cologne's eyes were narrowed in fury, and her battle aura
was raging red.  The patrons of the Nekohanten, noticing this,
carefully got up from their seats and beat a hasty exit out the
front door.  In moments, the place was empty but for Nabiki and
Cologne. 

     "Hmm," said Nabiki thoughtfully.  "I'd watch that if I were
you.  It seems bad for business."

     "What do you want?" Cologne hissed through clenched teeth.

     Nabiki smiled and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the
counter.  "Okay, here's the deal.  I want my sister back.  You
know a spell that will bring her back.  Of course, casting this
spell will completely destroy your elaborate scheme to trap
Ranma, but...  Well, that's just too bad.  However, I'm going to
give you a choice."

     Cologne couldn't believe that she had been out-maneuvered by
this impertinent stripling of a girl.  There had to be a way to
regain the upper hand...  "A choice?" she asked, visibly
swallowing her fury.

     "That's right.  The choice is this:  You cast the spell that
brings Akane back, and I don't play your confession to Ranma. 
You *don't* cast the spell that brings Akane back, and you have
one extremely pissed martial artist ready to tear you and your
precious granddaughter to pieces."

     Cologne stared.  

     Nabiki smiled pleasantly.  

     *Check and mate, you old witch,* she thought.

     "I'll give you an hour to think about it," she said, sliding
off the stool and heading out the door.  "But if I were you, I'd
cut your losses while you still can."  She turned and eyed
Cologne a final time.  "Ranma doesn't have to know about this,"
she said evenly.  "It really doesn't matter to me either way.  He
can take care of himself.  I just want my sister back."

     And she walked out the screen door, leaving Cologne stunned
and wide-eyed.

--------------------

End of Part Seven

The characters of the Ranma 1/2 universe are the sole creation
and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. 
----------------------
Hearts of Ice
Part 8:  Barriers
by Krista Perry
----------------------


     "You wanted to see me, Yuki-san?"

     The Snow Woman looked up from her calligraphy, her long
white hair flowing around her on the floor, to see Akane standing
in the doorway of her quarters, smiling at her.  The girl was
wearing the new sapphire-colored silk bodice and matching silk
pants with gold trim that she had made for her.  The outfit was
cinched at the waist with a gold buckler to emphasize her
feminine curves.  Strapped to Akane's back was her now ever-
present katana; a gift from Masakazu.

     Yuki-onna returned the smile warmly and gestured for Akane
to sit down.  "So, do you like it?" she asked as Akane knelt
across from her.

     Akane beamed, and fingered the silk of her sleeve.  "Oh yes,
thank you.  It's beautiful.  And very comfortable.  Easy to move
in."  Her smile turned droll.  "Although I don't know how long it
will last.  That rather persistent oni yesterday totally scorched
the outfit I was wearing."

     "Ah well, if this gets ruined, it will just give me an
excuse to make you another one, as usual."  Yuki-onna smiled, but
then raised an eyebrow in concern.  "How is your arm doing? 
Better?"

     "Thanks to you."  Akane extended her arm for the Snow Woman
to examine.  "You can hardly tell I was burned at all.  If I'd
only been a split second faster, he would have missed me with
that flame burst altogether."  She sighed, brushing her dark
bangs from her eyes, and fingered a strand of shoulder-length
hair.  "Sensei's really going to give it to me over this, I just
know it."

     The Snow Woman chuckled.  "Well, you tell him that I said
I'll make sure he has the chills for a week if he does.  Besides,
from what I heard, the oni got the worst of it in the end."

     Akane flushed, pleased, and laughed lightly.  "Well, let's
just say that I doubt this particular oni will try to come after
you again any time in the near future."

     "I'm very glad to hear that.  You know, I've been watching
your sparring matches with Masakazu.  You're becoming quite
proficient with your sword."

     "Well, there's still a lot of room for improvement," said
Akane.  "I'm still light years away from beating sensei."  *Heh. 
I *might* be able to give Ranma a good fight, though,* she
thought, knowing better than to express thoughts about her fiance
out loud in front of the Snow Woman.  Yuki-onna wouldn't say
anything, but whenever Ranma was mentioned, Akane could feel her
friend grow cold and angry.  She sighed, a sad smile on her face. 
*I wonder what he's doing. Wouldn't Ranma be surprised to see me
now...*

     Thanks to Masakazu-sensei's rigorous and merciless training
over the past nine months, she had developed her martial arts
abilities to the point where she was now a force to be reckoned
with.  She was faster and more dexterous than she had ever been 
-- had ever hoped to be -- and her skill with wielding the katana
more than surpassed anything she'd ever seen Kuno do with his
bokken.

     Akane smiled wryly, thinking back to the moment Masakazu-
sensei had decided to train her in the use of the sword.  At his
insistence, she had been trying unsuccessfully for days to
develop a ki attack.  After three weeks, Masakazu had held his
feathered head in his hands in exasperation...

*****

     "Akane," the tengu groaned, "how is it that you are unable
to grasp this simple, fundamental aspect of martial arts?  You
cannot possibly hope to defeat a demon without learning to focus
your ki.  You can't just *punch out* a demon, you know. 
Inhabitants of this realm must be defeated with *spiritual*
energy."

     "I know, I know," Akane snapped, her mouth pinched in
frustration.  "I just *can't!*  I don't know why!"  Then the
anger drained out of her and she sagged to the floor, sitting
cross-legged in her gi.  She looked dejectedly at her hands, her
short black hair hanging in wisps around her sad, weary eyes.

     "Why can't I do it?  Ranma made it look so easy," she said
softly.  "He just concentrated, and the energy would form in his
hands."  She thought back to the ki blast he released at the
blood spell.  She'd never seen him use so much power before. 
Yes, it had left him totally drained, but he'd summoned and
focused the power so effortlessly.  Then again, when it came to
martial arts, Ranma seemed to do *everything* so effortlessly...

     "Back to Ranma again, is it?" the tengu asked, his black
eyes blinking with a sympathy that she didn't notice.  He sighed
and shook his head.  "I find it amazing that you can harbor so
many mixed feelings about this boy within your heart.  One moment
you are aching for his company, the next you are insanely jealous
over his superior skill as a martial artist, or at the thought he
might be spending time with one of his 'other fiancees.'  

     "The fiancee thing I can understand," he said, when Akane
winced at his exasperated tone.  "But how can you begrudge him
when he excels in something he takes such pride in, and gives him
such happiness?  Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I was under the
impression that you love Ranma."

     Akane flushed with both embarrassment and shame. 
Embarrassment because, even though she had admitted it to
herself, it still sounded strange to have someone point out her
true feelings for Ranma -- something the tengu did frequently, in
spite of his merciless habit of tormenting her with Ranma's voice
during their sparring matches.  Shame because she knew that
Masakazu-sensei was right.  If she really did love Ranma, she
shouldn't be angry at him just because he was naturally gifted at
martial arts, whereas *she* had to fight and struggle for each
iota of improvement in her skills.  She should be proud of him,
happy for him.

     She *was* proud of him, actually.  Though she never would
have admitted it a few months ago, Ranma was strong and swift
and... handsome.  And so nice when he wanted to be.  When she
*allowed* him to be...

     The memory of him doing his morning katas surfaced in her
mind.  His fluid grace, his intense focus, the way his finely
toned muscles moved as he went through each difficult routine... 
She remembered watching him from her bedroom window, her
expression surprisingly soft, and feeling proud, glad in her
heart that he was her fiance.  *If only I had told him...*

     She sighed.  Tears again.  She swiped at them angrily.  How
in Kami was she going to make it through six and a half more
years of this?  She had so many regrets over how she'd mishandled
her relationship with Ranma, so many fears that she would never
get the chance to tell him how she really felt...

     *Oh Ranma.  I miss you.  Please don't forget about me...*

     "Akane.  I want you to have this."

     Akane looked up, wiping the wetness from her eyes, to see
Masakazu holding out a katana, the blade resting on his
outstretched, feathered palms.  She stood, confusion flickering
over her face as she took the sword by the hilt and hefted it.

     "You... you want me to learn kendo?" she asked, trying to
push thoughts of Ranma aside so that she could concentrate on her
sensei's teachings.  She gave the sword an experimental circular
swing with a movement of her wrist.  Its weight and balance
perfectly suited her, and she smiled.  She had trained a little
in kendo, but she had learned from experience that anything
Masakazu taught her always surpassed anything she'd learned
before she came to the Kami plane.  It was as if all the training
she'd done in the mortal plane had been in a half-lit room,
whereas being trained by the tengu was like pulling back the
window shades and allowing the sun to stream in.

     "Actually," he responded, "I want to try a little experiment
to see if it will help you focus your ki.  I know you have no
lack of it," he said, his black eyes gleaming.  "Your battle
aura, which flares so frequently, is proof of that."

     Akane looked at the smooth sharp blade in admiration.  It
was a beautiful weapon.  "But how will a sword help me focus my
ki?"

     The tengu tilted his head and blinked at her, looking very
bird-like.  "I believe your problem with focusing your ki lies in
your inability to find your own path.  You've spent too much time
trying to imitate Ranma's methods, when his methods do not suit
you.  Think of the time when Ranma tried to master Ryoga's Shishi
Houkodan.  He could not master it because it didn't fit his
personality."

     Akane blinked, but said nothing.  She always found it
unnerving, the way the tengu was able to pluck out memories from
her mind at will and use them as teaching examples.  Still, it
kept her honest, especially with herself.  She knew she could
never hide anything from Masakazu-sensei.

     "Ranma created a ki attack that worked for him," he
continued.  "You need to do the same, yet you keep falling back
into Ranma's shadow.  His ki attack will not work for you."  The
tengu reached out and put his ruddy feathered hand over her own. 
"You must separate yourself from these fears of inadequacy you
have, Akane.  You are not Ranma.  You are not Shampoo, or Ukyo or
Kodachi.

     "But you *are* Akane.  As soon as you learn that this is
enough, you will find your focus."

     Masakazu gestured to the katana.  "Think of this as a part
of yourself.  Something that is unique, something that separates
you from the others, that allows you to step from their shadows
and shine with your own light."

     Akane looked at the gleaming metal of the sword and clasped
the hilt in front of her with both hands.  Could she actually
think of herself being as bright and beautiful as this katana? 
She closed her eyes and tried to feel as if the sword were an
extension of herself.  Masakazu's voice seemed to come directly
into her mind.

     **Focus on this, Akane.  Think of it as a symbol of the
strength that lies within you.  Let your ki flow through you and
into the katana.  Allow it to be a conduit for your ki, a
physical representation of the power within you.**

     Akane tried to imagine what the tengu was telling her.  She
felt her battle aura build around her, and tried to will it
through her arms, into her hands, into the solid, strangely
comforting grip of the sword, and along the long, curved blade.

     "Akane!"

     Akane's eyes flew open at Masakazu's exclamation, and stared
wide-eyed at the blade she held in front of her.  It pulsed with
blue energy.  Akane let out a startled squawk and dropped the
sword.  It clattered to the floor, the ki energy dissipating
instantly.

     "Well done, Akane!  I knew you could do it."  Masakazu's
eyes smiled over his expressionless beak.  "Now *that* is
something that will actually do some damage to those devils out
there!"

     "I..."  Akane blinked, and her throat felt tight.  An
incredulous smile tugged at her mouth.  "I did it?"  *I did it,*
she thought ecstatically.  *I can't believe it.  I've got a ki
attack.*

     "Now that you've managed this much, the rest should be
easy."

     Akane's cheer plummeted.  She knew from experience what
*that* meant.  She groaned in exhausted protest.  "The... rest?"

     Masakazu patted her on the shoulder.  "Of course!  Now that
you've gotten a taste of what it's like to actually focus your
ki, you need to practice controlling it.  If you could release it
in controlled blasts from your sword, that would really give
those demons something to think twice about.  And we'll start on
your kendo training immediately.  The blade itself, especially
charged with your ki, will be a most formidable weapon..."

******

     "Do you want me to work on the blood spell now, or do you
want to wait until after supper?"

     Akane blinked, coming out of her musing.  The Snow Woman was
smiling, her frost blue eyes twinkling.  "Well?  Sorry to startle
you out of your train of thought.  Do all mortals get glassy-eyed
as often as you do?"

     Akane humphed.  "Very funny," she said with mock seriousness
that dissolved into a grin.  "I don't mind if you work on the
blood spell now, as long as that's okay with you."

     "Very well."  Yuki-onna patted the mat in front of her. 
"Come sit."

     Akane got into her standard position, her back facing the
Snow Woman.  The Snow Woman focused herself, then began pulling
at the wisps of dragon blood in Akane's ki.

     She always worked in the same place, in the spot just
between Akane's shoulder blades.  When Akane had asked why, the
Snow Woman simply replied that there was a certain strand of
dragon blood, woven deep within the spell, that, if she could
just get to it and remove it, would solve a lot of their
problems.

     So every day, the Snow Woman removed strand after strand,
trying to hold back the rest of the blood spell that moved to
fill in the gaps she left, as she attempted to reach the
troublesome wisp that she insisted was the core of spell.

     Akane closed her eyes, feeling the not-unpleasant tingle of
magic as the Snow Woman worked in silence.  Minutes passed.

     "Akane..."

     Akane glanced over her shoulder.  She usually didn't speak
when the Snow Woman was working, not wanting to disrupt her
concentration.  She was surprised that Yuki-onna was addressing
her.  "Yes?" she asked.

     She suddenly felt the tingle of magic stop as the Snow
Woman's hands went still.  She turned.  "Is something wrong?" she
asked, worried.  Yuki-onna was looking at her with a strange,
pensive expression.  She had never seen such an expression on the
Snow Woman's smooth white face before.  "What is it?" she asked,
her apprehension growing.  Maybe there was something wrong with
the blood spell...

     "Akane..." said the Snow Woman, her eyes shimmering with
some unidentifiable emotion.  "Do you...  do you like it here?"

     Akane sighed with relief and smiled, reaching out to take
Yuki-onna's hand in her own.  "Of course I do," she said.  "I've
learned so much from Masakazu-sensei; and you... you've been so
kind to me.  Almost like a mother..."  Akane broke off as tears
suddenly brimmed in the Snow Woman's eyes, sliding down her face

and freezing into ice crystals.

     Akane panicked, her brows creasing over her brown eyes in
concern.  She had never seen the Snow Woman cry before.  "I'm
sorry, did I say something wrong?"

     The Snow Woman brushed the ice crystals from her face with a
slim, white hand, and she smiled tremulously.  "No, dear," she
said, giving Akane's hand a squeeze.  "You didn't say anything
wrong.  I...  I'm glad you like it here."  She motioned for Akane
to turn around so she could resume her work.  Akane complied, a
relieved, but slightly puzzled expression on her face.

     "Don't worry, Akane," Yuki-onna said softly.  "I'll get to
that stubborn wisp of dragon blood.  Then, when I remove it,
everything will be fine."

--------------------

     Akane started awake, bolting upright, her hand reaching to
clutch the hilt of the katana at her side as something... not
right... intruded on her awareness.  Immediately, instinctively,
she slid out of her futon, moving swiftly and silently from her
room and into the crystalline corridors of the Snow Woman's home.

     She paused in the main hall, where the entrance and three
separate hallways intersected.  Standing barefoot in her white
pajamas, holding her katana aloft, her dark shoulder-length hair
sticking out in a pillow-messed, static halo around her face, she
listened carefully.  Extending her senses in the unique way
Masakazu had taught her, she tried to pinpoint where the
unnatural intrusion was coming from.

     She frowned.  Whatever it was, it wasn't an oni.  Oni were
loud and raucous, and into destroying whatever lay in between
them and their desired goal.  Not to mention their very
distinctive smell -- reminiscent of burning hair -- that gave
them away every time.

     *Is it a demon?* she wondered, tensing, trying in vain to
recapture the sensation she'd felt upon waking.  Demons came in
all shapes and sizes, and could be quite silent and sneaky -- and
scent-less -- when they wanted to be.  But no, it didn't feel
like a demon, either.  She could always tell whenever a demon was
around by the tight, almost suffocating feeling in her chest, and
the way her pulse always shot up a few notches in physical
response to their presence.  She wasn't feeling anything like
that.

     Still, *something* had woken her up out of a sound sleep. 
If it wasn't an attack, then what was it?

     She headed for Yuki-onna's chambers, the way she always did
whenever she sensed something was wrong.  After all, whenever
something intruded into the Snow Woman's realm, it was usually
coming after the Snow Woman herself.  

     The past few days, though, there had been instances when
lustful invaders, while battling Akane to get to the Snow Woman,
had figured one woman was just as good as another.  More and more
often, Akane found that she was defending herself almost as much
as she was preventing the carnal denizens of the Kami plane from
reaching her friend.  In a strange way, the battles brought back
memories of mornings at Furinkan High after Kuno had issued that
stupid challenge to the male population of the student body.

     Of course, demons and oni were much more difficult to defeat
in combat than a bunch of hormone-crazed high school boys.  But
they were nothing she couldn't handle with her new skills.

     Akane frowned as she approached Yuki-onna's quarters.  The
feeling that something was not right still niggled at the back of
her mind, yet she could find no sign of any of the normal threats
that she usually faced.  Not a demon or an oni in sight.  Still,
she didn't discount the possibility that it could be some kind of
trap to lull her into relaxing her defenses.  

     She stopped outside the Snow Woman's door and knocked
softly.  "Yuki-san?" she called.  It was customary for the Snow
Woman to stay in her quarters when a threat was evident, for
there she could have the time to summon enough power to defend
herself, should it come to that.

     It was silent inside.  Akane slid the door open.  The room
was dark.  "Yuki-san?  Are you alright?"

     No answer.  Panic began to build in Akane's chest.  What if
a demon had somehow slipped past her and had managed to abduct
Yuki-onna?  She would have failed in defending and protecting the
woman who trusted her, who had become her friend and confidant
over the past nine months; the woman who was her only hope to
remove the blood spell that bound her to the Kami realm.

     "Yuki-san?!  Where are you?"  Akane focused her ki, and her
katana blazed with blue light.  She held it aloft, lighting the
room.  The room was empty.  There was no sign of the Snow Woman. 
*Oh no!  Where...?*

     She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye, and she
turned, sword ready, only to see that it was her own reflection
in the oval full-length mirror that stood in the corner of the
room.  Akane saw herself, looking like a ghost in her white
pajamas, lit by the blue light of her ki, her mussed hair falling
past her shoulders, a strange reminder of the time that had
passed since she came to the Kami plane.

     Fear and worry clawing at her mind, Akane turned to the
door, ready to run to outside and start searching the snowy,
barren landscape for her friend, when...

     She froze.  There it was; the sound that had roused her from
sleep.  A soft wailing, faint and ethereal...

     Akane swallowed, her brown eyes huge and scared.  "Yuki-
san?" she whispered.  *It's her...  Where is she?*

     A wail...  sobbing...  whispering through the room without
direction.

     "Yuki-san!" Akane called, her voice echoing off the icy
walls.

     The whispering wail again.  It sounded so sad, so
desperate...  Akane felt tears of helplessness spill down her
cheeks as she strained to hear, trying to locate its source. 
"Yuki-san, please, answer me!" 

     "...oh please..."  A voice.  The Snow Woman's, so faint, so
distant and full of such pain.  "... my little ones, my babies... 
oh my lost ones..."  The despairing cry echoed and ebbed from
nowhere.

     "... my lost little ones..."

     Akane stood, her katana hanging limp in her hand, her face
stricken in shock.  She felt a familiar presence behind her, and
turned.

     "Go back to bed, Akane-chan," said Masakazu, standing in the
doorway.  "There is nothing you can do for her, not tonight."

     Akane swallowed.  "Where is she?  Is she alright?"

     "She is fine.  You do not need to worry about protecting her
this night, or any night you awake sensing this... disturbance."

     "She..." Akane's face twisted in sympathetic grief as the
evidence of her friend's suffering faintly reached her ears. 
"She was... a mother?"

     The tengu peered at her, as if carefully considering
something.  Akane felt as if he was staring right into her soul,
and she shivered.  

     At last, he nodded.  "Long ago.  She fell in love with a
young woodcutter, whose life she spared when he... when he should
have frozen to death after he got lost in a snow storm.  She gave
up everything to be with him.  She lived as a mortal by his side,
and they had two children, both daughters, whom she loved more
than life itself.  But the man... betrayed her... and in doing
so, broke the spell that allowed her to stay as a mortal in the
mortal plane.  She was separated from both him and her children. 
She never saw them again.  Her daughters grew old and died
without knowing her.  Some nights..."

     The tengu trailed off as another faint sob whispered through
the room.  

     He bowed his head.  "Some nights..." he continued softly,
"she returns to the mortal plane.  Wherever the land is bitter
cold, she goes there and becomes one with the storm and the wind,
and mourns for her lost children.  And on some nights, like
tonight, her grief spans the barriers between the planes."

     Akane was speechless.  There was nothing to say, no words
that could bring comfort to the pain she heard in the voice that
was so familiar, yet so alien.  Tears slid down her cheeks as,
once again, the haunting wail echoed faintly in the room.

     "Go to bed, Akane-chan.  She will be back in the morning. 
But do not mention this to her.  It is not a subject she likes to
discuss."

     Akane swallowed and nodded numbly.  She wiped her tears on
her sleeve and, clutching her katana's hilt to her chest, walked
quietly back to her room.

     *I can keep demons from reaching Yuki-san,* she thought
sadly, as she slid back into her futon and stared at the ceiling,
*but how can I help her with the demons that already have a hold
on her?*

--------------------

     Cologne found the bugs right after Nabiki left the
Nekohanten, the girl's ultimatum still ringing in her ears.  The
ancient Amazon trembled with fury, a fury that grew as she went
from room to room, searching, finding bugs in every single room
in both the restaurant and the living quarters.  And she still
wasn't sure she'd found them all.  The fact that she had been so
outmaneuvered galled her more than anything she'd ever
experienced in her life.  Perhaps if they had spoken in
Mandarin...  But no, that pest of a girl probably had a
translator for just such an occasion.

     Still, there was a chance...

     When Shampoo returned from deliveries, Cologne motioned her
into silence.  The purple-haired Amazon paled at the look on her
great-grandmother's face, but obeyed as she followed the old
woman out of the restaurant.  They took to the roof tops and
crossed half of Nerima district before coming to rest on the roof
of a house in a quiet neighborhood.  There, Cologne, her anger
barely contained, told the girl what had transpired.

     Shampoo began to sob.  "Aiya.  It no work now.  If you cast
spell to bring Akane back now, things just like before."

     "Quit your childish crying, Shampoo," snapped Cologne. 
"There is still a chance to salvage our plan."  From her robes,
she pulled a small bottle with the label "110."   Shampoo's
sobbing ceased when she saw it, and she took it from Cologne's
hands, a gleam appearing in her eyes.

     "That sneaky Tendo girl will be back for our answer in less
than an hour," said Cologne.  "When she comes, use this to erase
her memory of the tape's existence.  If she doesn't remember it,
she can't tell her people to play it for Son-in-law.  And nothing
will happen to her -- physically, that is -- so her people won't
know anything is wrong."

     Shampoo nodded.  "That good plan," she said.

     Nabiki, however, was prepared.

     When she walked into the Nekohanten for the third time that
day, she found both Cologne and Shampoo waiting for her.  Shampoo
was looking at her with an expression usually reserved for cats
about to pounce on their prey, and in one hand she held a small
bottle and a comb.  She tensed to leap at Nabiki when suddenly, a
beeping sound came from Nabiki's pocket.  Nabiki held up her
hand, and Shampoo paused uncertainly, her eyes wide, wondering
what strange trick the Tendo girl had up her sleeve.

     Nabiki pulled out a small cellular phone from her jacket
pocket.  "Excuse me a moment," she said, lowering her hand and
smiling with saccharine sweetness at Cologne and Shampoo.  She
flipped the phone open and held it to her ear.  "Yes, I'm in. 
Everything checks out okay," she said, deliberately looking at
the bottle in Shampoo's hand.  "Hold the release of the tape for
another hour.  We'll speak again then, and you'll get my
instructions.  And you'll know what to do if anything... strange
happens.  All right.  In an hour then.  Bye."

     She closed the phone and slid it back into her pocket.  She
turned to Shampoo.  "You planning on doing something with that?"
she asked, her eyes wide and innocent as she looked at the bottle
and comb in the Amazon's hand.

     Shampoo felt numb.  It was all over.  She had lost.  After
all that she had done, after the Ancient One, the demons, and the
blood price, she had lost.  Ranma would never willingly be her
husband; not if they were forced to bring Akane back.  "Shampoo
not know what you talking," she said lifelessly.  "Shampoo just
on way to take shower."

     Nabiki smirked.  "Of course."  She turned to Cologne. 
"Well, what will it be, old ghoul?  Do you bring my sister back,
safe and unharmed physically, mentally, *and* without any weird
magical side-effects, or does Ranma get an ear-full of how you
got rid of her to trap him?"

     Cologne seethed.  She longed to reach out and break the
girl's neck with a flick of her finger.  All the numerous and
diverse ways to kill a person, both painlessly and... not so...
flashed through her mind.  She could do it.  She could kill the
girl, and then she and Shampoo could flee to China to escape the
repercussions of the act.  Perhaps even make it appear as if that
fool boy Mousse was responsible.

     But then there would be no going home.  To go back to the
tribe, having failed to return with Ranma, Shampoo's known
husband by law, especially after resorting to such serious
magic...  For such dishonor, they would be banished, or worse.

     On the other hand...

     Cologne peered at Nabiki intently.  The girl seemed to have
an agenda all her own.  She only cared about getting Akane back. 
It didn't seem to matter to her whether or not Ranma heard the
truth that was on the tapes.  Hmm.  If she *did* cast the spell
to bring back that troublesome girl...

     "If I bring Akane back," she said slowly, "do you swear that
Ranma shall never know about Shampoo's and my involvement with
the blood spell?"

     Nabiki looked at her coolly.  "I already told you the terms. 
You bring Akane back, and I never tell Ranma never what's on those
tapes."

     Cologne nodded slightly, noting to herself that Nabiki made
no stipulations about Son-in-law finding out through some other
means.

     "If there is *any* chance of him finding out about our
involvement, we lose everything we have invested in the boy," she
replied.  "Returning your sister will set us back to square one,
which is inconvenient, considering the work we've done to remove
the obstacles to Son-in-law's heart.  But it's not something we
couldn't deal with... eventually."

     Nabiki's eyes narrowed at the veiled threat, but she
recognized the offer as well.  She pursed her lips thoughtfully. 
"All right," she said.  "Try this on for size.  You bring back
Akane, and swear that you will never do anything to hurt or
enchant or displace either her or any member of my family again,
and I will use my... talents... to make sure that Ranma never
finds out that you and Shampoo had anything to do with the blood
spell."

     Shampoo listened to the exchange, a small spark of hope
igniting in her heart once again.

     Cologne considered the offer carefully.  With Akane back in
the picture, she knew it would be next to impossible to get Ranma
to marry Shampoo willingly.  That was a dream her great
granddaughter would have to live without.  Still, Nabiki's terms
may prevent her from interfering with the Tendos, but didn't say
anything about including Ranma in the deal.

     Nabiki was leaving Son-in-law open as fair game.  And
Cologne could tell by the look in her eyes that the girl knew it. 
That was the deal.

     Resolved, she looked Nabiki in the eye.  "I agree to your
terms," she said.  "Bring Ranma here tonight, and we will return
your sister to you."

     Nabiki's eyes glinted brightly from under lowered lids. 
"Nice doing business with you," she said, smiling.

--------------------

     Ranma woke up feeling better than he had in a long time.

     Physically, that is.

     The first thing that surfaced in his mind as he came out of
sleep was the thought that he had to find Akane.  The thought
pierced through his soul with such anguished intensity that he
felt guilty for having slept at all when he should be searching
for a way to get her back.

     Then he noticed that... something was missing...

     *What..?* he thought.  Then he realized.  The spell voices. 
The constant babble that he had forced to the back of his mind so
that he could think clearly, keeping them there by sheer will,
were gone.

     *Gone...  How?*  He didn't know whether to be glad or
worried.  Did that mean that the spell was broken?  And if the
spell was broken, then did that mean that Akane might have come
back..?

     Ranma leaped out of his futon before the thought was even
finished, almost tripping on his tangled blankets, burst out of
the bedroom door, and tore down the stairs.  He stopped short in
the living room where Nabiki, Ukyo and Ryoga sat in a circle
playing poker.  They stared at him with wide eyes.

     "Is she here?" he asked breathlessly.

     Ukyo blinked.  "Is who here, Ranchan?"

     Ranma's heart sank, and the hopeful expression on his face
imploded.  He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.  "N...
Never mind.  I thought Akane might have come back, that's all."

     "What made you think that?" asked Nabiki, looking at him
curiously.

     "The spell voices," he said, pointing to his head.  "They're
gone.  I don't know how or why, but I don't hear them anymore.  I
was hoping..."

     *The spell voices are gone?* thought Nabiki.  *That's
strange.  But maybe Shampoo only wanted it to be temporary.  I
guess she realized having a husband who hears voices in his head
isn't such a great thing.*

     "It's about time you woke up, Saotome," said Ryoga
critically, his arms folded across his chest.  "We've been
waiting for hours.  Nabiki," he said, casting her an evil glance,
"has something to tell you."

     Nabiki ignored the crusty look from Ryoga and looked at
Ranma.  "That's right.  I went over to the Nekohanten this
afternoon, and found out that Cologne has already found a spell
that can get Akane back."  She smiled guilessly and put on her
best Kasumi expression.  "Imagine that!"

     Ranma blinked.  He looked out the window and noticed the sun
was hanging low in the western sky.  He turned back to Nabiki. 
"You... you knew this afternoon, and you didn't wake me up?!"

     Ryoga threw up his hands.  "That's what *I've* been saying!"

     "Oh, be quiet, you two.  Ranma, you needed to sleep and get
your strength back.  Now that you're rested, we'll all go. 
Together," said Nabiki firmly, stopping Ranma as he turned to run
out the door.  "You may as well stick around, because Cologne
knows not to start the spell until I get there anyway."

     Ranma turned back, growling in frustration, and glared at
Nabiki.  "And why is that?" he asked, disgruntled.

     "Oh, just a little deal I worked out with her, to make sure
I didn't miss any of the action this time," she answered
smoothly.

     "Well then," said Ranma impatiently.  "We're all here. 
Let's get going."

     "One thing, Ranma?" said Nabiki coyly.

     "What is it?  We're wasting time standing here!"

     She pointed at him.  "You might want to consider getting
dressed first."

     Ranma looked down to see that he was simply wearing his tank
top and boxers.  Ukyo burst out laughing at look on his face. 
"Ah, jeeze," he muttered, and ran upstairs to change into some
clothes.

     Nabiki went over to the phone, picked up the receiver, and
dialed.  "Hello, Doctor Tofu?  Yes, Ranma's awake, and we're on
our way to the Nekohanten now...  Great.  We'll see you there." 
She hung up the phone.

     "Why does Doctor Tofu need to be there," asked Ukyo.  "You
don't think something's going to go wrong with the spell, do
you?"  There was a strange mixture of apprehension and...
hope?... in her voice.

     Nabiki gave her a narrow look, but Ukyo just gazed back at
her.  "Doctor Tofu is familiar with how some of those strange
Chinese spells work," she said finally.  "Let's just say that I
want him there to make sure everything goes right.  You never
know when all that weird archaic knowledge of his is going to
come in handy."

     "That's a great idea, Nabiki," said Ryoga enthusiastically. 
"No sense in taking chances, after all, especially when it comes
to getting Akane back."

     "Yeah," said Ukyo.  "It would be a shame if something were to 
happen and the spell didn't work."

     Nabiki raised an eyebrow at Ukyo and opened her mouth to say
something, but at that moment, Ranma ran down the stairs, wearing
his red sleeveless Chinese shirt and black pants. "Is it okay to
go *now?*" he asked impatiently.

     Nabiki smiled sweetly.  "But of course, Ranma.  After you." 
She gestured out the door.  Then she noticed that Ranma was
giving her a funny look.  "What?" she asked.

     "It'll take too long to walk if we have to wait for you," he
said, and in one swift movement, swept her up in his arms.

     Nabiki let out a startled, undignified squawk.  "What do you
think you're doing?" she exclaimed, but Ranma wasn't listening.  

     "Come on," he said to Ryoga and Ukyo.  "Let's go, Ucchan. 
Follow me, Ryoga, and don't get lost."  Ranma ran out into the
yard carrying Nabiki in his arms, and leapt from the wall to a
neighboring roof.

     Ryoga fumed, but followed close behind nonetheless.

     Nabiki gasped as she saw and felt the ground moving away
rapidly leap after leap, and she threw her arms around Ranma's
neck to make sure she didn't slip out of his grasp.  After
jumping from rooftop to rooftop for a few moments, and realizing
how solid Ranma's grip was, she relaxed, and allowed a little if
her indignation to dissolve away.  She looked into Ranma's face. 
He was staring straight ahead, moving with such focused ease, it
was almost as if he didn't realize he was carrying her.  And he
had *that* look on his face.  The peculiar shimmer in his blue
eyes that said he was thinking about Akane...

     Nabiki sighed.  She allowed herself a small, self-indulgent
smile as she felt Ranma's sleek muscles moving beneath his shirt
as he ran. *Ah well,* she thought with a mental shrug. *There are
worse ways to travel, I guess.*

     Ukyo stood in the Tendo yard, looking after Ranma's rapidly
diminishing form for a moment.  The smile on her face had long
since crumbled away, as if a huge weight had settled over her,
crushing it.  Then she sighed heavily and leaped to the wall,
following after the man she loved.

     *So close...* she thought.

     The light of the setting sun reflected off the unshed tears
in her eyes.

--------------------

     Ranma swallowed and licked his lips nervously as he sat
cross-legged on the floor of the Nekohanten restaurant.  Cologne
knelt on the floor next to him, drawing arcane symbols, and
spreading a thin, musky smelling powder in a circle around him,
occasionally consulting an ancient leather scroll, and muttering
in Chinese.  Ranma wondered how she could read the strange
Chinese scrawl in the semi-darkness.  The lights were off, and
the blinds had been partially pulled, allowing the last of the
sunset glow to stream in on the proceedings.  The tables and
chairs had been cleared out of the way, and his friends, Ryoga,
Ukyo, Shampoo, Mousse and Nabiki, sat on the edge of the room,
watching the proceedings uneasily.  

     Nabiki seemed especially anxious.  She kept looking at the
door as if expecting someone to come through at any moment.

     Ranma tried hard not to fidget.  He could hardly believe it! 
He was going to get Akane back.  His chest felt tight as a
plethora of emotions swirled inside him.  He was excited and
nervous all at the same time.  He was happy and scared to see
Akane again.  Was she okay?  Would she be glad to see him?  Or
would she be angry at him for not being able to save her and
mallet him into the floor?

     He cleared his throat.  "Uh...  How exactly is this supposed
to work?" he asked as Cologne consulted the scroll again.  She
glared at him briefly for interrupting her.

     "The mechanics of the spell are simple, Ranma.  All you have
to do is concentrate on Akane.  Focus on her with all your being,
and when the incense is lit and the incantation recited, you will
pull her from wherever she's been sent to."

     Nabiki frowned.  That seemed *way* too simple...

     Shampoo and Ukyo frowned, not liking the idea of Ranma
focusing on Akane with his whole being.

     Just then, there was a knock on the screen door.  Cologne's
irritation at the interruptions grew.  "Now who could that be? 
The sign says we're closed."

     Nabiki stood, not allowing the relief she felt to show on
her face.  "Oh, that must be Doctor Tofu.  I invited him to come
and help you with the spell.  I was sure you wouldn't mind. 
After all, we're all here to help Ranma and Akane, and give them
our support, aren't we?"

     Cologne shot Nabiki a look that would have turned anyone
else into stone.  Nabiki returned the gaze steadily.

     "Doctor Tofu's here?" asked Ranma.  He glanced around out of
habit, just to make sure Kasumi wasn't anywhere around.  "That's
great," he said.  "Just in case Akane needs help or anything when
she comes back."

     Cologne glanced at Ranma, and forced herself to relax. 
"Shampoo," she said at last, "go let the man in."

     Shampoo nodded and went to unlock the screen door.  Tofu
stepped through and blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to
the dim light.  "Hello," he said, bowing to Cologne.  "Thank you
for allowing me to come and participate in this.  I've read about
the magic of the ancient Chinese Amazons, but I've never had the
opportunity to see that magic in use.  This is a priceless
opportunity for me."

     Cologne looked up at the young doctor.  They sized each
other up for a moment.

     Tofu looked at her calmly through his glasses.  He was glad
Nabiki had informed him of this little gathering.  He'd been a
personal witness to some of the underhanded tricks the ancient
Amazon had pulled on Ranma, such as inflicting him with the Full
Body Cat Tongue so that he couldn't stand to touch the hot water
he needed to change back into a man.  Tofu was pleased to hear
that there was a chance to find Akane, but he wasn't sure whether
or not to believe the crone's claims of innocence when it came to
the blood spell, and he wanted to make sure that, in this
instance, she didn't try any dark magic.

     "Yesss," said Cologne reluctantly.  "Well, we're just about
to begin.  So if you'll just step over to the side with the
others..."

     "My, this looks impressive," interrupted Tofu, staring at
the chalked symbols on the floor.  "And is this the scroll?  Mind
if I take a look at it?"

     Cologne scowled and held it just out of his grasp.  "It's in
ancient Chinese, sonny-boy, you wouldn't understand it anyway."

     "Oh, on the contrary.  I'm quite fluent in ancient Chinese."

     Cologne paled.

     "If you let me just glance at the scroll for a moment," he
continued, "that would help me understand what happens when you
actually cast the spell."

     Ranma watched the exchange with growing impatience.  "Aw,
come on, just let him look at it, he ain't gonna hurt it or
nothing."

     Shampoo looked at her great-grandmother, her brows
furrowing.  Grandmother had not even allowed *her* to look at the
scroll.  What could possibly be on there that she wouldn't want
anyone to see?

     Cologne peered at Tofu.  "All right," she said, relenting,
much to everyone's surprise.  "I trust that when you read it,
you'll know *exactly* what needs to be done for the spell to
succeed."

     Tofu took the scroll from the Amazon elder, a puzzled
expression on his face.  Then he held it up and scanned it.  His
eyes widened as he read the name of the spell, and he glanced
briefly over at Ranma, who was watching him curiously.  Then he
scanned the rest of it, his eyes moving up and down quickly.  It
took a few minutes for him to read the whole thing.  When he
finished, he cleared his throat uneasily.

     "Well," he said.  Everybody leaned in closer, looking at him
intently.  "Yes.  That's it then.  Very good.  So, Ranma, you
know that all you have to do is think of Akane while Cologne
lights the incense and recites the incantation.  I guess we can
get on with it."  And with that, he went and sat against the wall
between Nabiki and Ryoga.  Cologne smiled.

     Nabiki leaned over to the doctor.  "And what was *that* all
about?" she whispered.

     Tofu went to answer, but noticed that Ranma was watching
him, the boy's eyebrows raised in confusion.  "It's nothing,
really," he said.  "I'll tell you later."

     Nabiki scowled.  She was dying to know what that scroll
said, and why Doctor Tofu was so reluctant to say anything. 
Still, he seemed to think it was okay to proceed with the spell,
so that eased her fears a little.  She felt better knowing that
he knew what was going on and could make sure the old ghoul did
it right.

     "Are you ready?" Cologne asked Ranma.  "Remember, you must
think of nothing but Akane.  You must focus on her totally, and
let nothing distract you.  Do you think you can do that?"

     Ranma snorted.  "Jeeze, whaddya think I've been *doing* the
past few days?!"

     Cologne frowned, but nodded.  "Very well.  I will begin the
spell."  She walked over to Ranma and passed a withered hand over
his eyes, making him blink his eyes shut.  She pressed her
fingers to his eyelids.  "Keep your eyes closed," she said
softly, "and concentrate."

     Ranma swallowed and nodded silently.

     Striking a long match so that it flared brightly in the
growing gloom, Cologne leaned over and lit the circle of incense
that surrounded Ranma.  It began to smoulder, sending wafts of
spicy smoke through the room.

     Ryoga fought the sudden urge to sneeze, pinching his nose
and holding his breath until the itching sensation passed.  His
eyes watered, but he just blinked, and tried to ignore the
burning.  There was no way he was going to do anything that might
prevent the spell from bringing Akane back...

     He watched as the smoke from the incense thickened the air
in the restaurant.  Ranma sat in the circle, his eyes closed, his
breathing focused, his expression one of intense concentration.

     Cologne began to chant softly in Chinese.

     Shampoo and Mousse strained to hear what Cologne was saying. 
Shampoo frowned in frustration.  Great-grandmother's voice was so
low, she could only make out the occasional word. *Is that the
way the spell is supposed to be cast?* Shampoo thought. *Or does
she just not want Mousse and I to know what the spell says?  Why
would she relent and let Doctor Tofu know, and not me?*

     Mousse, on the other hand, with his exceptional hearing,
caught a lot more than just the occasional word.  What he heard
made his eyes go wide behind his glasses.  Phrases like "true
love," "forever binding," and "eternally linked, overcoming all
barriers."

     Mousse felt a slow half-smile grow on his face.  No wonder
the old ghoul had been so hesitant to tell anyone, *especially*
Ranma, about the true nature of the spell.  From what he could
gather from the crone's mumbling, the spell's power was based on
True Love; more specifically, the True Love that existed between
Ranma and Akane.  The power of that link, combined with the magic
of the spell, would draw Akane from wherever she had been sent
and bring her back home.

     No wonder Doctor Tofu didn't say anything when he read the
spell.  It seemed that *everybody* knew of Ranma and Akane's true
feelings for each other, except for Ranma and Akane.  If Ranma
knew the true nature of the spell -- that it was his unconfessed
love for Akane that would bring her home -- his brain would
probably freeze right there, sending him into a blind, stuttering
panic of denial, and then everything would be ruined.

     Mousse didn't think that, even if Akane's safe return was on
the line, Ranma would be able to confess his true feelings. 
Especially in a room full of people, most of whom would want to
kill him or, at the very least, beat the living daylights out of
him over such a revelation.  Besides, Akane had been in serious
danger before and, although Ranma always came to her rescue
without fail, he would *never* admit that he even *liked,* let
alone *loved* her.  Whenever it seemed as if he was about to say
those three little words, they always turned out to be "macho
uncute tomboy."

     Still, if this spell succeeded, it could change
everything...

     Mousse leaned back against the wall, his arms folded over
his chest, and smiled.  No way was he going to do anything that
might interfere in this spell.  With Ranma and Akane back
together, and the true nature of the spell revealed, Shampoo was
practically his.

     Cologne continued her low chant, and as the soft, barely
audible words filled the air, the incense smoke began to curl and
waft around Ranma.  Ranma, his mind completely focused on Akane,
didn't even notice as it slowly swirled around him, clinging to
his skin like a living thing.  He breathed it in through his
nose, and as the smoke filled his head, the mental picture of
Akane in his mind came into even sharper focus than before.  It
was like she was standing in front of him, so real, that he felt
he could open his eyes and she would be standing there.

     Then he frowned.  There was something different about her. 
She seemed happy, and she was smiling in that way that made his
heart flutter inside his chest, but that wasn't it.  She was
wearing unusual clothes, and her hair seemed longer than usual.
That was odd, she'd only been gone three days...  Some weird
side-effect of the spell, perhaps?  Oh well, it didn't matter, as
long as it brought her back to him.  Ranma felt a strange
tingling fill his body, especially his heart...

--------------------

     Akane was laughing at a funny story the Snow Woman told when
suddenly her smile broke, and she doubled over in pain, her cup
falling from nerveless fingers, splashing tea across the table.

     "Akane!  What's wrong?"  Yuki-onna was immediately by her
side.

     "I -- I don't... know," Akane gasped, tears of pain
streaming from her eyes.  Her heart felt as though it was being
pulled out through her back.  There was a sudden, solid *wrench,*
and Akane screamed as she felt herself being ripped asunder.

     Yuki-onna grabbed Akane by the shoulders and focused all her
magic on the girl, placing barriers around her, trying to protect
her from whatever was trying to pull her apart.  She concentrated
on the blood spell in Akane's ki, fearing that it was the cause
of her pain, and gasped.

     The blood spell was flaring brightly, almost blindingly,
especially the wisp of dragon blood that served as the
transdimensional connection between Akane and her wretched
fiance.  Some magic in the mortal plane was trying to pull her
home.  But the blood spell was fighting back, refusing to let its
captive go, and in the process, was killing Akane.

     *Those *fools!** she thought, her white face a mask of both
rage and concern as she poured her power into building protective
barriers around Akane, trying desperately to block the mortal
magic. *Don't they know that such a spell as this cannot hope to
counteract the effects of a spell cast with dragon blood?!* Her
lips curled into a snarl.  The boy Ranma was behind this, she
just knew it.  Even separated by dimensions, he still found a way
to hurt Akane.

     "Akane, hold on," she said as the girl cried out again. 
There had to be a way to stop the mortal spell completely...

     The Snow Woman's frost-blue eyes lit with an idea.  Swiftly,
she summoned the last scrap of her power, and poured it into the
magical barriers she'd placed around Akane, imbuing them with
reflective properties, sending the spell back to the mortal
plane...

     *Heh,* she thought. *This will give that wicked boy a taste
of his own medicine.*  With her spell finally in place, Akane
immediately collapsed in relief as pull on her body and soul
abated.

     Yuki-onna held Akane close as the girl trembled in reaction. 
"W-what was that?" she asked, frightened that the soul-wrenching
pain might return.  "What happened?"

     The Snow Woman hushed her softly.  "It's alright, my child,
it's over.  Don't worry about it."

     But Akane wasn't in the mood to be comforted.  Shakily, she
pushed herself upright.  "I *am* worried about it," she said. 
"What if it happens again?  What *was* it, anyway?  I felt like I
was being ripped to--" She stopped short as she suddenly felt a
strange, warm tingle fill her body, especially her heart.  Her
brown eyes widened in surprise...

--------------------

     Cologne frowned.  She had ceased chanting moments ago, but
the spell didn't seem to be working.  Akane should have returned
by now.  She glanced at Ranma.  The boy was concentrating so hard
that beads of sweat stood out on his brow.  The others, still
sitting against the wall, were beginning to fidget uncomfortably
and cast nervous glances at each other.  Her eyes narrowed. 
Could it be that she overestimated Ranma's feelings for Akane? 
The spell would only work with True Love...  

     If that was the case, then that meant Shampoo might still
have a chance to win Ranma.  Of course, if the spell didn't work,
then Nabiki would play that damned tape and, True Love or no,
Ranma wouldn't have anything to do with Shampoo after that.

     Cologne began to sweat.  The only other way she knew to get
Akane back was by breaking the blood spell itself, and such a
feat was far beyond her power...

     Ranma sat in the silence, concentrating on Akane with all
his heart, willing her to come back to him.  But he knew, with a
sinking sensation in his chest, that the spell hadn't worked. 
Maybe it was because he hadn't focused hard enough.  Tears began
to leak from his closed eyelids. *Akane,* he thought, fighting
the sob that was rising in his throat, threatening to break
loose, *please come back!  I... I need you...*

     The thought was cut off, and he flinched as a jolt of pain
abruptly stabbed through his body.  The image of Akane shattered
in his mind, and his eyes flew open as wave after wave of tearing
agony suddenly washed over him.  He looked at Cologne, who was
staring back at him in surprise, and opened his mouth, but the
pain was so great, he couldn't make a sound; he simply collapsed
onto his side, curled into a fetal position, trembling in pain
and torment as he felt himself breaking apart, body and soul.

     "Ranchan!"  Ukyo leaped to her feet to run to Ranma's side,
but Tofu jumped up and restrained her.

     "Don't just rush into the middle of the spell," he said,
holding her.  "You might make things worse!"  That stopped her
but didn't erase the fear on her face.  By this time, everyone
was standing, just outside the spell boundaries, wanting to help,
but not knowing what to do.  Tofu looked at Ranma's ki.  "The
blood spell...  Oh no.."

     "What's happening?" demanded Nabiki, glaring at Cologne.

     "I don't know!"  Cologne was shaken, and everyone could
tell.  "I don't know what's causing this!  Akane should be pulled
here from wherever she's been sent--"

     "The blood spell!" said Doctor Tofu.  "The blood spell is
fighting back!  It's trying to keep Ranma and Akane apart!  It
won't allow the True Love spell to work!"

     "The *WHAT* spell?!" yelled Ukyo, Ryoga and Shampoo
simultaneously.

     Then Ranma began to fade out of existence.

     "Great-grandmother!" Shampoo screamed, "*do* something!"

     Cologne hesitated only a moment.  "Quickly!" she said to the
others, "erase the symbols on the floor!  You, lost boy!  Open
the door and the windows to air out the incense!"  It was
dangerous, so dangerous to mess with the spell elements while its
power was still active, but she could see no other option to save
Ranma...

     Shampoo rushed to the kitchen and was back a moment later
with dishtowels.  Immediately, Tofu, Nabiki, Ukyo and Mousse were
on their knees, rubbing away at the arcane symbols of the spell. 
Ryoga opened the doors and windows, and Cologne whirled her
staff, creating a wind that blew the choking incense smoke from
the room.  Then they turned to the still fading form of the boy
who had affected each of their lives so deeply, to see if their
efforts had helped.

     Ranma was completely transparent.  He seemed to hover like a
ghost on the edge of reality, curled on his side, his eyes
clenched with pain.  Then he opened his eyes and looked up, his
gaze focusing on the air a few feet in front of him.  Slowly, in
spite of the agony that coursed through his being, he uncurled
himself and reached out with an intangible arm.  He opened his
mouth and whispered a single, hoarse word.  

     "Akane...?"

--------------------

     The Snow Woman looked at Akane in concern, as the girl broke
off her sentence.  "What is it?  Are you alright?"

     Akane didn't answer.  She looked down at the back of her
hands as the tingle throughout her body grew stronger.  Her heart
began to pound, not painfully as it had a few moments before,
when she felt as if she was being ripped to shreds by some
unknown force, but... almost in anticipation..?

     A crackle of energy split through the room, causing her to
jump in surprise.

     The Snow Woman let out a startled gasp.  "No!  It can't
be..." *My reflection spell!  It's pulling him through the
barrier instead of Akane!*

     "What's happening?" asked Akane.  She had experienced
strange things since she had come to the Kami plane, but nothing
like *this*...

     Something began to appear on the floor a few feet away from
her.  She stepped away from it in alarm.  What was it?  A spirit? 
Was this another attack?  In an instant, her katana was in her
hand, blazing with blue ki, and she moved towards it.

     "Wait!  Akane, no!"  Akane was startled by the urgency in
the Snow Woman's voice, but didn't take her eyes off the slowly
solidifying object.

     "Don't worry, whatever it is, it won't..."  She stopped, her
voice catching in her throat.  The ghostly image was a figure...
a boy, curled on his side, as if in a terrible amount of pain. 
He was wearing black pants and a... red silk shirt...

     Akane felt the blood drain from her face.  The sword fell
from her hand.

     ... dark hair, braided into a pigtail...

     "R... Ranma?"  Her voice was so soft, she thought she'd
mouthed the word.  But he seemed to hear her.  Slowly, he opened
his eyes and looked at her.

     His eyes!  They were as blue and beautiful as she
remembered, in spite of the pain that she saw reflected in them. 
An expression of indescribable happiness flickered across his
face, fighting with the pain, and he slowly uncurled himself,
reaching out a transparent arm towards her.  "Akane..?"

     Akane stumbled forward a few steps and sank to her knees. 
"Oh Ranma," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

     She couldn't think of anything else to say.  After all the
hours and days and weeks she'd spent daydreaming of what she
might say if she ever got to see Ranma again, she couldn't think
of a single thing.  Almost two whole years had gone by, and she
had been so sure that Ranma had long since forgotten her and
married one of his other fiancees...

     "Akane..." The word was a gasp of pain, and both Ranma and
Akane flinched at his agony.  "I... I'm sorry..."

     Akane began to sob quietly.  "R-Ranma, *I'm* s-sorry..."

     Suddenly she remembered.  The most important thing she
wanted to tell him.  "I'm sorry... I never told you that I l-love
you..."

     She looked at his ghostly form anxiously, expecting some
type of off-the-cuff response, but was surprised to see Ranma
looking at her in shock, his pain forgotten even though he was
still torn between two planes of existence.

     "Really?" he whispered.

     Akane's throat closed off with a sob.  She nodded
vehemently.

     His expression softened, and his eyes warmed with inner
light.  "Akane, I-- "

     There was a crackle of energy, and Ranma's words choked into
a strangled cry as the dimensional pull on his body suddenly
reversed itself.  He began to fade from Akane's sight the same
way he appeared.

     "Ranma!" she screamed.  She was losing him again!  She
couldn't..!  He had come for her, how could this be happening?!

     Ranma looked up, tears of agony and despair streaming from
his eyes as he felt himself being pulled back to the Nekohanten. 
"Akane," he choked through the pain.  "W-where are you?"

     "I'm in the Kami plane, Ranma!"  She hoped he could
understand her, she was crying so hard.  "I'm with Yuki-onna, the
Snow Woman!"

     She could barely see the outline of his form.  "I-I'll 
f-find you."  His sobbing voice came to her as if from a great
distance.  "Akane..."

     And he was gone.

     A moment passed, and Akane heard footsteps behind her as the
Snow Woman walked away, slowly, deliberately.

     Akane sat, her arms wrapped around her knees, and shook with
silent sobs.

--------------------

End of Part Eight