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PART XV
Never say Never.
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All three were so different, Tatewaki Kuno noted, yet each so perfect. He sighed and flipped through his photo album, trying
vainly to make a decision. 
He stopped at one page and gazed adoringly at the photograph. The face of Akane Tendo looked back up at him. Dressed in a
floral frock, she was frozen in frame as she cheerfully walked down the street, doing an errand for Kasumi. "Ah, Akane
Tendo," he sighed happily. He flicked over to the next page and his gaze settled on the Pig-tailed girl. Dressed in her
typical Chinese garb, she was caught in the midst of balancing on a fence as she dodged a panda. "The Pig-tailed girl..." His
love for her was matched equally by his other love, and he'd thought there was no room in his heart for another. With a sigh,
he turned to the back pages, which were devoted entirely to photographs of the Bandannaed girl. He craved these photographs
even more than the ones of Akane Tendo and the Pig-tailed girl, if only because of the fact that Nabiki seemed to have
greater trouble obtaining them. He sighed with love as he gazed at her photographs, although a small part of him wondered why
she almost always wore clothes which were far too large for her. Except for in his favourite photograph where she'd been
wearing nothing but skimpy lingerie. Obviously too shy to show off her wares to him in person, she'd had Nabiki photograph
her in it. "Ah... the Bandannaed girl." Aphrodite, Ariadne and Arachne. Three goddesses. Akane Tendo with her liquid brown
eyes and short brown hair was as equally as beauteous as the Pigtailed girl with her sparkling blue eyes and long red hair,
who was equally as beauteous as the Bandannaed girl with her deep green eyes and spiky black hair... "Each one is so
different... HOWEVER SHALL I CHOOSE?!!!"
As usual, he reached his verdict and rushed out of the house to purchase three bouquets of roses.

*SPLASH*
Ryoga-chan sat up with a gasp. "Why do you always have to do that to me?" she griped, wringing out her black T-shirt.
"Because it works so well," Ukyo replied, pouring a waiting kettle over her head. When the transformation was complete, she
hovered expectantly, nearby. 
"Uh... do you want something?" Ryoga asked after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah." Ukyo moved in for the kill. "An explanation as to why you hugged me for starters."
"Um..." The crimson blush instantly appeared on his face again. "Evil genetic clone? Twin brother? Nabiki's blackmailing me?"
Delighted as he was to have finally beaten Ranma in a fair fight, he decided Ukyo would probably be less than happy to hear
that he'd knocked the tar out of her ex-fiance.
Fortunately, he was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Ranma. Unfortunately, Ranma spilled the beans anyway.
"Ryoga Hibiki, I challenge you to a re-match!" He pointed his finger at Ryoga. "I shall never accept your victory over me!"
Ukyo looked at them both in amazement. "You," she began, pointing to Ryoga, "won a fight against Ranchan?!" She finished by
pointing at Ranma.
"You don't have to sound so surprised!" Ryoga snapped.
Ukyo sighed and turned to face Ranma. "Ranchan..." she began gently. "How much of Akane's cooking did you eat before he
fought you?"
"Hey!"
Ranma shook his head. "None."
Ukyo paused in consideration. "Then _you_", she pointed to Ryoga. "Must have cheated!!!"
The demon head loomed over her. "I WON THAT CONTEST FAIR AND SQUARE!!!!!"
"EEEEEEEEK!!!!!"
Skuld appeared from the back room to see what all the commotion was about. "Could you keep it down a little, I'm trying to
find a cure here!" she snapped.
Ranma grinned arrogantly at Ryoga. "I hereby challenge you to a rematch. One week from today at noon in the soccer field at
school."
"What if I refuse?" 
The quiet question threw Ranma for a second before he recovered. "What?"
"What if I refuse?" Ryoga settled down on a stool before continuing. "Your father and the Tendo's all saw us fight, they know
I didn't cheat." He grinned. "If you accept your defeat, I won't mention it again. I'll even stop randomly attacking you." He
paused for a second. "Except for when you mistreat Akane. How about it?"
"No!" Ranma crossed his arms. "This is a matter of honour!"
Skuld looked up and a look of confusion crossed her face as she looked at Ranma.
"What this is, is a matter of you not liking the fact that you're not invincible", Ryoga shot back angrily. 
Merdith watched from the shadows and began to play with her puppet. Ranma smiled slowly. "You know, P-Chan..."
"Don't call me that!"
Ranma continued, ignoring the interruption and slowly walking over to Ryoga. "There's a certain Tendo girl who would pay
large amounts of money to hear about a certain pet belonging to a certain other Tendo girl..."
Ryoga paled considerably. "Y-you wouldn't dare!" he stammered.
Skuld narrowed her eyes. 
"Wouldn't I?" Ranma smiled sinisterly. "Do you really want to take the chance?"
"Ryoga..."
Ryoga ignored the suddenly agitated goddess. "Then I accept your challenge," he said quietly.
"Great!" The old, perky Ranma was back. "No backing out?"
"No backing out."
"Ryogaaaa!" Skuld buried her head in her hands. *Damn, damn, DAMN!*
"Good. Now we'll discuss the terms." Ranma grinned merrily. 
*Oops! Should've done the terms first!* Ryoga thought. Well, it was too late now. "OK, then, if I win again, you... uh..."
"Akane?" Ranma queried. Ryoga shook his head. "She hates being the prize in fights, you know that. No, if I win..." Looking
around, he spotted Ukyo and was hit by sudden inspiration. "You pay back Ucchan for all the food you've freeloaded from her."
"Huh?!" Ukyo looked surprised. She laughed nervously. "No, it's OK..."
"I agree," Ranma declared, cutting her off. "But if I win..." He paused for dramatic effect. "If I win, you leave Nerima." He
leaned forward. "For good."

Mousse stormed out of the Cat Caf�, a dark rage radiating from him. Minutes earlier, his beloved had returned home with a man
who she'd decided she loved, who, worse still, returned the affections. It wouldn't have been so bad if it was a normal man.
But no, it had to be the cross-dresser who'd been chasing after Ukyo for so long. When he'd attempted to kill him though,
Shampoo had grabbed the nearest weapon - a bazooka - and calmly stated that if he so much as harmed a hair on the head of her
Tsubasa, he'd have his guts pumped full of lead. 
Now he thought about it, it was obvious. Ryoga and Ukyo were sick to death of other people interfering in their relationship
and had decided to remove the obstacles with a love potion. While he was off now to kill them, he had to admit he was
impressed. Love potions had a horrible tendency to backfire.
He pushed open the door to Ucchans. "Hibiki, Kuonji, say your farewells because today is the day you shall repent for your
sins against humanity!" It hadn't taken him long to think of that.
"That would've been a marvellous entrance, if not for the fact that I'm Skuld." She decided now would not be the greatest
time to tell him that he'd just ruined the cure to the love potion by spilling it all down her shirt front. Reaching over,
she knocked the glasses back over his eyes. "Ryoga and Ukyo are over there, arguing."
Mousse fumed. If they'd put so much effort into getting rid of their rivals, the least they could do was _pretend_ they were
a happy couple.
The argument grew louder as he drew closer. "You can't, you're injured!"
"That's why I have a week to prepare, dummy!"
"You don't have to do this." Ukyo tried again. 
"Yes I do." Ryoga crossed his arms.
Mousse ran forward. "Hibiki, Kuonji, prepare..."
*KAPOW*
He flew backwards out of the restaurant onto the pavement. Undaunted, he jumped to his feet and ran back inside. "To die!"
"I'll prove I'm fine." Ryoga stood ready.
*KAPOW*
Mousse made another airborne exit through the door and stood up again. "I could have..."
*KAPOW*
Repeat the above action, except this time, Mousse is a bit more battered.
"Accepted it in time if.."
*KAPOW*
Pause, then repeat again.
"You'd pretended you..."
*KAPOW*
I don't need to explain again, do I?
"Were getting along..."
*KAPOW*
"But I just wanna..."
*KAPOW*
"Ask you why..."
*KAPOW*
"You didn't make it me she chose!"
Ukyo scowled at Ryoga as Mousse made yet another charge for them. "I don't need you to protect me!"
"Who said I was doing that?!" 
"If he comes my way, I can handle him."
Ryoga batted Mousse away and looked at her in astonishment. "Of course he's coming your way, I'm right by you!"
Ukyo shrugged. "So move away from me."
"Don't be a dummy, he'll attack you."
"I thought you said you weren't protecting me," Ukyo jibed.
Ryoga bristled. "You don't need protecting, you need restraining."
*CLANNNNNNNNG*
"JERK!"
*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*CLANG*
Mousse wobbled into the restaurant just in time to see the Ukyo fire oni pound Ryoga into the floor. "Um... I'll come back
later..."

*SPLASH*
Ryoga-chan sat up with a sharp intake of breath as she was splashed with icy water for the second time that night. "Don't DO
that! Are you trying to slowly murder me through pneumonia or something?!"
Ukyo sighed. "Withdraw from the duel with Ranchan... please?"
Ryoga-chan looked at Ukyo in surprise. *Is she... worried.. about me?!* For some reason, that made her feel strange. She
blushed lightly and fixed her gaze on the floor. "Umm..."
Ukyo continued blithely. "I mean, you couldn't even stand up against me, so you obviously haven't got a chance against a
superior martial artist like him."
Her fuse finally blowing out, Ryoga-chan jumped to her feet, casually kicking her trousers to one side. "For your
information, I totally wiped the floor with your _dear_ Ranchan - As A Girl - and I'll do it again, you got that?!"
Tatewaki Kuno chose that second to enter at full speed through the door. He grasped hold of Ryoga-chan's hands, kneeling down
in front of her. "Yes! Smite him again, my beloved!!! I, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, have complete and total faith in
you!"
"Uh..." Sweatdrops appeared on Ukyo and Ryoga-chan's heads.
"Ah, see how my words of pure love have rendered her speechless." He produced a bouquet of red roses and plonked them in her
arms. "Let it be heard now, that if he harms one hair on your head, I shall rise to your defence in the name of love! I also
shall seek out vengeance against the one who has been as foolish as to scar your beautiful face."
Ryoga-chan shrugged. If Ranma could use his girl side to get what he wanted, so could she. She put on her very best kawaii
face and batted her eyelashes at him. "O-oh, Kuno-sempai! You'd really do that for me?"
"I'm going to puke," Ukyo mumbled.
Ryoga-chan ignored her and gave Kuno a fang-toothed grin. "I'm so.. so... MOVED!!" she squealed, quickly punching out as he
moved forward to glomp her. *This goon could actually be useful..* she noted.
"My love, for you I would do anything!" Kuno proclaimed, moving forward and once again meeting an unyielding fist.
"Goody. Now get lost, I have to train." Satisfied, she punted him through the roof before tossing the roses aside. 
Ukyo picked up the bouquet. "You should really put these in some water, you know. They're nice."
"Yeah?" Ryoga-chan shrugged. "You can keep them if you want."
*I'd rather be given flowers that aren't hand-me-downs* she thought. "I prefer white roses."
"Oh." Ryoga-chan carefully stored that piece of information. "White roses."
"Not that it's important or anything," Ukyo said hastily. She quickly changed the subject. "That was a sickening display."
"You mean the acting?" Ryoga-chan said neutrally. "Or the fact that he thinks I'm as good as Ranma?" "A mild delusion, I'm
sure. Ranchan never loses." Ryoga-chan's short-fused temper blew again. "Well at least SOMEONE has a little faith in my
ability! Ranma isn't some sort of invincible god, y'know! He still loses to Mr Saotome and Happosai and Cologne - he just
wins the fights that count!" Instantly all the blood drained from her face 
The Takahashi goddess states that Ranma Saotome never loses... the fights that really matter.
And if this fight didn't matter, then she was a Samurai Pizza Cat.
"ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" With a wail of dismay, she pounded her fist against the
wall. 
Ukyo jumped back in alarm. "Ryoga, what is it?!" 
"I'm going to lose anyway. It's a universal law," Ryoga-chan said in a dismal voice, before running up the stairs to her room. *I've lost before I've even started," she thought hopelessly. *This
is going to be my last week in Nerima. Ever.*
After a few moments, Ukyo decided to pay her oldest friend a visit.

Mousse grabbed hold of the person in front of him. "I've got you at last, Ryoga Hibiki!"
"Excuse me, Sir?" Mihoshi was very confused. "My name's Mihoshi. Ryoga Hibiki lives at Ucchans okonomiyaki restaurant, which
is closed at the moment because it's getting late, but I guess if you're a friend of his, you'd be allowed right in..."
Mousse pulled his glasses back over his eyes. "You're not Hibiki!"
"I thought I just said that." Mihoshi gave him a surprisingly Kasumi-like smile. "You see, I can't be Ryoga because I'm a
girl and Ryoga's a guy, or at least he is most of time, it's not like he's a girl through his own choosing..."
"HIBIKI, PREPARE TO DIE!!!" What the hell. It took a lot less time to think up.
Mihoshi's Galaxy Police Training kicked in. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, BUSTER!!!" she roared, pulling out her laser pistol. 
Mousse stopped dead and turned to face her. "Uh... what," he began, pointing to the pistol, "are you doing with that
thing?!!"
Mihoshi held the pistol rigidly. "I can't let you kill Ryoga. If you even attempt to harm him, I'll use this." Her voice
began to crack. "Please don't make me use it, because that'll really hurt and I don't want to have to do it!"
Mousse looked at her for a few moments. "Ah! You were that girl in the hospital room who Shampoo called a Bubble-head, aren't
you?"
Mihoshi fumed. "Hmph. She should look in a mirror when she says that."
"ARE YOU CALLING SHAMPOO A BUBBLE-HEAD?!!!" People looked nervously at each other and began to clear the area.
"YES, I'M CALLING THAT CHINESE BIMBETTE A BUBBLE-HEAD!!!"
"OH, YEAH?!! BIMBETTE?!!" Mousse snorted. "Pot calling kettle black here."
"WATCH WHO YOU'RE CALLING A BIMBETTE, GIRLYBOY!!!" Mihoshi snarled.
"GIRLYBOY?!!!" Battle auras lit up the street. "At least I don't turn into a nauseatingly, kawaii midget girl!"
"No." Mihoshi stopped.
"Huh?"
The battle aura flared again. "You just LOOK like one!!!!

"So there's a demon controlling Ranma?" Ryoga lay on his back on the futon, although for some obscure reason, he had his feet
on the pillow and his head where his feet would normally be. 
Mini-Skuld nodded. "I did try to warn you," she reminded him.
Ryoga sighed. "I guess I'll have to deal with that as soon as possible. Can you distract Ucchan?"
"She's not in. Let's go now while it's still light out.
A few minutes later, Magical Guy Makoto was bouncing carefully across rooftops towards the Tendo Dojo. "You know, I feel like
a total idiot in this getup."
"You look great. In fact, my big sister Urd is a big fan of yours. She keeps asking me to get your autograph." 
"Urgh! I keep getting people crowding around me during the day...someone is bound to recognise me sooner or later." Ryoga
sighed. First he'd started out by just being weird, with his sense of direction. Then he'd gotten cursed. Then he'd
discovered he wasn't even human. Then he'd become a sex-changing super-hero/ heroine. It was bad enough when people knew the
first one or two of those things. He wanted to keep the others secret. No need to alienate people further. *What a pick-up
line _that_ would be,* he thought sourly. *Hi, my name's Ryoga Hibiki. I'm also that masked super hero you have posters of on
your locker doors. Plus, I go by the name of Magical Girl Ryoko. And I'm only partly human.* Noooo. That could _definitely_
stay a secret.
"Nobody will recognise you. It's like a built in natural defence thing. Like Sailor Moon. Pigtails like that should get you
spotted like that." She snapped her fingers. "But they don't. Somewhere out there is a girl with one blonde pigtail hacked
off who looks identical to Sailor Moon. But nobody will ever know it's her Of course, sometimes there will be the odd person
who finds out." She grinned. "But trust me. Even with those cuts down your face, no-one..."
"You can still see them?!!" Ryoga raised a hand to his face, unconsciously running his fingers along the narrow slash marks.
He groaned. "That's it. I'm done for. The second someone turns a light on, they're gonna know it's me. And with Nabiki Tendo
in the area, the whole city would know by midday tomorrow!"
"And yet you plough onwards," Skuld joked.
Ryoga made a face. "Of course. If I get rid of this demon, then he might just forget about this rematch... or at least change
the terms a little." Skuld nodded silently as he continued. "Why on Earth does he have a cosmic law concerning his fights?"
"I have no idea."
Arriving at the Dojo, Ryoga looked around apprehensively. "Do you feel it?"
Skuld frowned. "There's something wrong.. it's too widespread."
"What do you mean?"
At the same moment, the shadows erupted around his ankles. "She means I'm everywhere around you!" The voice wasn't loud, but
it had the effect of sending shivers racing down the lost boy's spine. With a yell of surprise, Ryoga found himself sinking
into the black shadows that oozed around him. "You truly think I would've been as naive as to stay inside that body and not
set a trap?" Merdith chuckled lightly. This was too easy! How had the others all managed to fail? The ShadowDemon lightly ran
a finger along his jawbone. "Look what the cat brought in."
*She's toying with me... but for how long?* Ryoga realised as he struggled to free his arms, but to no avail.
"Sweet dreams, little one." Merdith was impressed. Most people gave in to the shadows within seconds, eventually realising
that it would end all their fear and pain. But this one was still struggling violently. "Close your eyes and go to sleep..."

End Part XV
Final song - In The Air Tonight
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Member 30 of SSoAGMA, Deadly Everyday Object Weaponary Technique, Dragon Warrior Style
Mousse no miku; Generally dangerous English otaku; Supporter of cliched pairs;
Member of the Chan club; WoS; SCG; COURT; SOotCiP;CotMHW - Launderer of the Robes of Death;
Head Castrator of the Hotnit Feminisation Project; Keeper of the Moneybags for the Hotnit Fan Club;
4th Gen. EOE; Image Consultant For "That Guy"; #WASHU#;AKPReSS, Gen. Div.; SLAP;
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Coming soon to list near you.. the legendary 50 foot sig of Team Chan !