Sensui's Herald

Disclaimer: Characters and setting are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi, I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.

Thanks for the feedback: Dragon Man 180, Night-Owl123, Wonderbee31, Peter Kim, WarpWizard, Jax9, mdizzle, JSB, The Violent Tomboy, Xoni Newcomer, Misawa Kaitou, Shinigami, AmnarRanma, Athenais, Magnus-sama, migele, Starshinesoldier, GoldenRat, Hiryo, Cammy, Willow Evenstar

Hiryo: For me the thing that really set "The Legendary Armor" story apart from earlier stories like "The Super Soba Noodles" was not so much what Akane did as what she said. Magical power ups are bad, but using emotional blackmail against Ranma is really hitting below the belt.

J : About Ranma calling Kurama's mother Shiori-san rather than Minamino-san; his informality is intentional and in reaction to the less than formal way in which Shiori is treating him. This might just be my background, but unless your a teacher/babysitter (aka someone the parents haveput in aposition of authority)you don't correct someone else's children when it comes to theirmanners.By that point in the story Ranma has beenspendingthe evening at Kurama's house on a fairly regular basis and Shiori's come to feel that his parents are so negligent in raising him that she's decided to treat him more like family than like a guest, even though it didn't happen explicitly, I'd assume that she gave him permission to address her in a less formal manner at the same time.

Notes:While Shampoo and Hiei are in her native country they'll be speaking her native language, thus her grammar will improve while Hiei's degrades. (Not that he'll ever speak in third person like Shampoo does, he might not be an expert in the language yet but he knows what she sounds like when she does that.)

/Chinese/

"Japanese"

Xian Pu took a deep breath then sighed happily at the smell s and sounds of her home. They were still a week's hike from the Joketsuzoku Village but these were the mountains she'd grown up exploring. The air was thin, arid and blessedly free of pollution. There was no 'city-glow' to compete with the stars, she could hear the sounds of animals, wind and water instead of the sounds of people and cars and the only language she'd heard in the last six days was her own. Hiei, unlike Genma, was scrupulous about knowing the language of any country he visited and had started practicing his Chinese before they left Tokyo, since they'd enter the country he'd used her language exclusively.

/Isn't this nice/ she asked.

/Less humans; that's good/ Hiei offered.

/I'm human/ Xian Pu said with a frown.

Hiei shrugged. /Not fond of humans…/ He paused trying to remember the word he was looking for/thinking beings of any sort. Xian is different./

Xian Pu smiled glowingly then noticed a rabbit that had ventured to the edge of the clearing. In a flash she had snatched a river-rounded stone from her pocket and winged it across the glade. The stone struck the rabbit cleanly, killing it mid-hop. /Finally! You get to cook dinner tonight/ Xian exclaimed.

/Prefer charred or raw/ Hiei asked with a grin. /No between./

/There will be no shirking/ Xian Pu scolded. /I caught dinner; you have to cook it. No getting out of the deal by claiming you can't cook./

/Raw it is/ Hiei declared. /Like food still kicking./

/Hiei-beloved, you are being bad./

Hiei looked remarkably unrepentant. Xian Pu shook her head and set to gutting her kill then slung it over her shoulder. She and Hiei continued on toward the village at a casual pace.

A half hour later, as they set up camp, Hiei had the impression that they were being watched. He removed his headband and scanned the area with his Jagon but only saw a few small animals.

/What is it/ Xian Pu asked.

/Zero/ Hiei said. He sounded annoyed.

Xian Pu nodded and set to skinning her rabbit while Hiei started a fire and set up a spit. Xian Pu added her pelt to those Hiei had collected then sat back to watch while Hiei cooked. Throughout the evening Hiei's gaze kept drifting back to the forest.

Long after Xian Pu had fallen asleep that night Hiei remained on guard. He absently stroked her long, lavender hair while he used his Jagon to search for the source of his disquiet.

The next morning Xian Pu told Hiei about the region as they walked. /There are two main peoples who live in these mountains. My Joketsuzoku Amazons and the Musk. The Amazons have a matriarchal society; naturally; and the Musk treat their women as nothing more than breeding animals; even the ones who were born human. Some of the women escape and come to us for refuge and some of our boys run away from home and join the Musk. Every few decades our peoples go to war but neither side has ever been able to score a decisive victory./

Hiei scowled at the reminder that this trip was essentially to seek approval from a council of matriarchal elders. Still Khu Lon was remarkably fair-minded when compared with the crones in his mother's village who decreed that he had no right to live because he'd been born male. According to Xian Pu and Khu Lon going before the village elders was nothing more than a formality. It might not go badly.

/Then there's Jusenkyo and the Jusenkyo Preservation Society; what a bunch of hypocritical fuddy-duddies/ Xian Pu continued.

/Water curses/ Hiei asked.

Xian Pu nodded. /Yep, that's where Ranma, Mu Tze, Ryoga and I got our curses. Don't worry; we won't go there. My people only use it for punishments./

/Hn./

/There are also rumors about the Phoenix God's people living in the highest mountain above the Springs but I've never seen…/

Hiei held up a hand to hush Xian Pu as he yanked his headband off. /No hiding/ he shouted.

Hiei's sword and Xian Pu's bonbories vanished into thin air.

"Mousse," Hiei hissed, switching to Japanese. "I haven't killed you yet; don't press your luck."

The Amazon boy stepped out of thin air and sneered. "It took you two days to realize I was stalking you and another to recognize me. Do you honestly think it will be that easy? I've changed."

"Mousse get contacts?" Xian Pu asked disingenuously.

/No Xian Pu, I didn't just get contacts/ Mu Tse snapped. /My eyes have been opened. HE showed me all the things the Elders would have kept from me; the true potential of my abilities. A Master of Hidden Weapons, ha! I was barely a novice! I know what true power is now and I know what humanity is./

"Hn." Hiei looked unimpressed. Then he fainted forward. Mu Tse vanished for a heartbeat and reappeared behind Hiei. He sliced at the slight demon's unprotected back with a heavy saber. Hiei threw himself forward and only lost a piece of his cloak.

/You are fast. I doubt Saotome could of dodged that. Of course you are more wary than he/ Mu Tse said. /But then you are a demon, the truth is not so sugar coated in your world. We're all evil deep down inside. Honor is just a ruse to lull fools into complacency./

Hiei felt the ground open up beneath one foot and jumped into the air Mu Tse anticipated the maneuver and filled the air with a brace of daggers. Xian Pu gasped as a line of blood appeared on Hiei's cheek.

The demon grinned ferally. "Cute trick."

/The first of many/ Mu Tse promised. /I'm going to kill the both of you and dump your bodies on the Spirit Detective's doorstep./

/Why are you doing this Mu Tse/ Xian Pu demanded. /You always claimed you loved me./

/I do love you. I love you too much to stand seeing you give yourself to another. I devoted my entirelife to you! And this is how you repay me! A world where you don't love me after everything I've done for you deserves to be destroyed/

"What's Yusuke to you?" Hiei asked with a puzzled frown.

Mu Tse grinned. /He's the representative for the defense; you're the opening statement for the prosecution. A good opening statement should always bring the accused's crimes home./

"Maybe Mousse forget Chinese. You not making any sense," Xian Pu said. "What crimes? What is accused?"

"Humanity, you stupid bimbo. All of humanity is guilty of being hypocrites. Of pretending we're better than everyone else. Monsters ought to act like monsters. You tore my heart out Shampoo! Then you rubbed it in my face and asked me to tell you how happy I was for you!" Mu Tse smiled, a demented glow made his eyes burn. "Now it's my turn. I'm going to rip your heart out; or maybe cut off your heads. Then I'm going to hand it to the Spirit Detective so he understands what it is he risks his life to protect."

"You expect me to bare my neck so that you can make a point about humans being sanctimonious bastards? Add stupidity to the crimes you're guilty of," Hiei snorted.

"By all means, do your best to stay alive," Mu Tse replied. "I want your deaths to be a memory I'll savor for the rest of my days."

With that Mu Tse vanished. He reappeared directly behind Hiei and slashed at him with his sword. Hiei; having anticipated that tactic; dodged. As Mu Tse's sword swished past him Hiei punched the Amazon boy's wrist and made him drop his sword. The weapon vanished as soon as it left Mu Tse's hands. Hiei noted its loss but didn't allow disappointment to slow his follow-up blow, which was aimed at crushing Mu Tse's windpipe. Mu Tse vanished again a fraction of a second before the blow could land.

Hiei's lips pulled back in an irate baring of fangs.

When Mu Tse reappeared a moment later, his attack already half completed. Hiei threw up his right arm to defend himself and hissed as he felt Mu Tse's sword scrape against bone. Despite the injury Hiei swept Mu Tse's attach aside and punched him in the stomach.

Mu Tse grunted as the air was forcefully expelled from his body. He vanished as he doubled over.

Hiei remained on guard as Xian Pu rushed over with a roll of bandages to stem the flow of blood from Hiei's forearm.

"Mousse is bad crazy," Xian Pu said softly.

Hiei nodded grimly.

"Is using hidden weapons technique on own body. Hiding self in ki pocket," Xian Pu explained.

Hiei looked up sharply, he shoved Xian Pu aside and took another cut as Mu Tse reappeared.

Mu Tse vanished into the ether.

Hiei noted the direction Mu Tse had been moving and flexed his fingers. A sword of black flame, similar to Kuwabara's reiken, formed in his hand. He slashed through the air where Mu Tse should have been. The ki sword cut through the intangible boundaries of the Amazon boy's hiding place and spilled him out on the grass along with enough weapons to equip a small army of samurai.

Hiei kicked the startled boy in the jaw and Mu Tse lost consciousness.

"Your village has others like Khu Lon?" Hiei demanded.

"Yes, is whole Council of Elders," Xian Pu replied.

Hiei reclaimed his sword and tossed Xian Pu her weapons. "Good," he grunted as he hefted Mu Tse onto his shoulder. "Leave the gear, we're running from here on."

"What is hurry? Mousse defeated." Xian Pu asked.

"He was the opening statement," Hiei reminded her.

"There will be others," Xian Pu realized. She took off for the village of Joketsuzoku at a distance-eating jog.

Back in Tokyo, Shiori smiled as she glanced out the kitchen window. Suichi was tending his plants while Ranma preformed one of his katas. The boys worked on their individual interests in companionable silence.

For over a week they'd been working themselves up to telling her something. Shiori was reasonably sure that Ranma wanted to formally ask for permission to move in with them. After what Suichi had told her of his young friend's home-life; Shiori wouldn't dream of turning the boy away.

Some of it she'd guessed. It would have been difficult for her not to notice that Ranma's social development was badly stunted or that he was starved for stability and affection. But she would have given his father the benefit of the doubt; the things Suichi told her though… If anyone but her son had told her of a parent behaving like Saotome Genma she would have been inclined to think them a liar. The man had sold his son more than once; he'd physically endangered the boy and the emotional environment he subjected his child to was nothing short of abusive.

Suichi assured her that Ranma had long since advanced past the point where his father's antics could endanger him physically and her son believed that contacting the authorities now would do more harm than good.

Suichi felt that the best thing they could do for Ranma was to continue providing him with a place to go when he decided that he needed to escape the pressure cooker he lived in: mutually exclusive obligations Ranma was honor bound to fulfill, the responsibility for resolving every crisis that came along and he was being pushed into marriage too young with a girl who had even more emotional issues than Ranma himself.

As long as one had the tolerance to ignore interpersonal skills more suitable in a six-year-old than in a sixteen-year-old Ranma was a cheerful and friendly young man in spite of his father. From what Suichi told her, Akane hadn't faired so well. Parental neglect and persistent sexual harassment from her schoolmates had left her with a warped view of boys and a vast reserve of defensive rage to call on whenever she felt threatened. Ranma's martial arts skills threatened her sense of security and self-worth, Ranma's stunted social skills and his insecurities left him at a loss when dealing with Akane, on top of all that they did have feelings for one another, which could only add to the confusion and turmoil they felt.

Ranma needed to learn to deal with people; Akane needed to move past her bad experiences and learn to deal with the opposite sex without resorting to violence. Their fathers had to be completely out of touch with reality to think it was a good idea to push either Ranma or Akane into marriage at this point; they simply weren't ready; and to push them to marry each other, given their respective faults, was pure madness. Based on what Suichi had told her, Shiori firmly believed it would be best for both Ranma and Akane if Ranma were to move out of the Tendo household. Actually she believed it would have been for the best if Genma had never been allowed unsupervised access to his son and if someone had stepped in to take responsibility for Akane and her sisters after their mother's death.

Out in the yard Ranma finished his kata. "I'm really going to show her today," he announced.

Kurama refrained from mentioning the last ten times Ranma had declared that this time he really would tell Shiori about his curse. Kurama, on the other hand, would never tell his mother his secret. He was all she had left of her husband; he wouldn't tell her he was actually an infamous Youko thief who counted his life in centuries rather than years. Years ago he had decided that he would live out Suichi's life span as Shiori's son. An absence of ten years or a hundred made no difference in Youko's life, but Kurama only had one chance to be Shiori's son.

"I'll tell her right before school then you can tell me if she still wants me to come back," Ranma continued.

"Mother wants you to move in with us," Kurama replied. "She won't change her mind."

"Pop wouldn't like that," Ranma remarked.

"It's been over a week and he has yet to notice your absence from the Tendo's," Kurama said quietly.

"Yeah, well I kind of stop by the Dojo on the way to school and harass him for being hungover every morning," Ranma said. "Yusuke and I get in a quick spar so he doesn't worry 'bout me neglecting my art. He spends the day recovering from the last night. Then he and Tendo go out partying with Yusuke's mom all night long again so he doesn't know I'm not staying at the Dojo."

"Yes, Kasumi-chan mentioned that she is on the verge of taking a frying pan to all three of them," Kurama remarked.

"Kasumi!" Ranma exclaimed in a tone of disbelief. "Kasumi-chan?" he added a moment later.

"Everyone has their limits," Kurama said with a shrug, "even Kasumi. Day after day, dealing with three drunken louts… do you blame her for being out of patience?"

"Kasumi-chan?" Ranma repeated. "Nobody calls her that."

Kurama frowned. "Maybe someone should. She's not much older than you, in truth, just a few years and the weight of too much responsibility. I've been teaching her herbal lore while you study with Genkai. It's a shame she felt she had to quit school to raise her sisters; she's very bright and has a thirst for learning. She's been studying Tofu-sensei's medical texts for years and has managed quite well even though he's incapable of pulling himself together long enough to offer her any assistance."

Ranma laughed. "Now I know why you got mad when I wanted to introduce ya to Ucchan; you like Kasumi."

"I do not," Kurama retorted. "She's a nice girl whom everyone takes for granted with the exception of a love-struck fool who turns into a raving lunatic at the mere mention of her name. She's as lonely as you were before you met Yusuke. She deserves a friend." Under his breath Kurama added, "and she doesn't giggle."

"Kurama likes Kasumi. Kurama likes Kasumi," Ranma chanted.

"Ranma, do grow-up," Kurama signed. "And weren't you about to tell Mother something?"

"Right," Ranma said with nervous determination. "I'm going to do it. Come on."

A few minutes later Ranma had Shiori seated in the garden. She looked slightly confused when he ran inside and returned with a steaming kettle and a pail of cold water.

Suichi patted her on the hand. "It's a little odd, but nothing bad," he assured his mother while Ranma prepared himself.

Ranma took a deep breath then announced, "During our trainin' trip Pop took me to China but he didn't speak Chinese so he took me to Jusenkyo, all the springs are cursed, I fell in and…" Ranma finished off his tale by dumping the pail of cold water over his head.

Shiori blinked at the little redhead sitting across from her and tried to sort out what Ranma had said. "Ranma?" she asked uncertainly.

Ranma nodded. She locked her hands behind her back and rocked from one foot to the other anxiously. "Yep, still me, except, well, I'm a girl."

"A-a curse?" Shiori stammered.

"Jusenkyo, the valley of cursed springs. Ya fall in ya take the body of whatever tragically drowned there last every time ya get splashed with cold water; a panda, a piglet, a cat, a duck, a yeti-riding-an-ox-while-carrying-an-eel-and-a-crane, an octopus and obviously a young girl. Hot water turns me back." Ranma demonstrated.

"An octopus drowned?" Shiori asked as she broke the weirdness down into more manageable bites.

"Yeah, Pantyhose-boy had tentacles and everything, it was a real pain fightin' him," Ranma said.

"But how did it drown?" Shiori asked.

Suichi laughed. "For that matter how did the octopus find it's way to a spring in the mountains of China?"

"Oh," Ranma grinned. "I never thought of that. So ya aren't freaked out or nothing?"

"Real curses, magic, it's quite a bit to take in," Shiori said. "I must admit my head is reeling, but it doesn't change who you are does it?"

"Naw, I'm always me; I just look different sometimes," Ranma replied, the tension seeped out of his frame at Shiori's question.

"Then I can handle it," she said.

"So, you gonna tell me what's wrong baby-brother?"

Kuwabara glanced up to see Shizuru leaning against his door jam with her arms crossed casually across her chest. "Nothing's wrong," he muttered.

"Oh please, even if I weren't psychic I'd know. You've been sulking up here and throwing things at the wall all week," Shizuru stated.

"Why don't you mind your own business Shizuru," Kuwabara snapped.

Shizuru lunged across the bedroom to grab a handful of orange-red hair and used it to pin her younger brother against the wall. "You listen up Kazuma! You are my business. If you're miserable I can't ignore it you moron! I gave you a whole week to work out whatever's bugging you on your own and your only getting more and more upset. So spill already!"

"My powers don't work anymore! Happy now!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

"Hmmm, your aura looks stronger than ever," Shizuru said calmly. She sat down on the bed and kicked the chair toward Kuwabara. "Have you talked to Genkai?"

Kuwabara looked horrified. "What if she tells Urameshi? He already thinks I'm useless because of that punk Saotome. The only time I even see him anymore is when one of the girls drags him to school."

"Look baby brother; I'm pretty sure your spirit sword will sort itself out. If you want when's, why's or how's you're gonna have to talk to Genkai," Shizuru said. "As for Yusuke, why don't you invite both him and Ranma over? I know Yusuke's acting a bit like a kid with a new toy when it comes to Ranma, so it's up to you to remind them that a guy can have more than one friend. You've done it before; remember primary school when Okubo first moved into the neighborhood?"

Kuwabara made a face, "But I don't like Saotome."

"Why not?" Shizuru asked. "He seems like an okay kid; a little naive, a little pathetic with the way he latches onto anyone who gives him the time of day…"

"He keeps turning into a girl every time I try sparring with him!" Kuwabara exploded.

"So?

"I can't fight with a girl; it ain't right!" Kuwabara complained.

"You fight with me," Shizuru said.

"Not really, not anymoreand you're not a girl, you're my sister… Ow!" Kuwabara exclaimed as Shizuru's shoe hit him upside the head.

"Fighting with Ranma's girl-form just feels weird okay? Heck since the Dark Tournament I don't really like fighting with anyone except demons or sparring with the other guys. You know I always loved fighting, but I'm no bully Shizuru. I never picked on guys weaker than me I don't gang up on people and I DON'T FIGHT WITH GIRLS!"

Shizuru smiled a little. "Yeah, I remember the guys trying to convince you to let them help you against Yusuke. They told you that every other gang in the city that went up against 'the Great Urameshi' got at least six or seven guys together before they confronted him and you said you'd beat him on your own or not at all. They were only there to witness it."

"And I still will… Someday."

"Then you better get your act together. I saw Yusuke and Ranma sparring the other day at Genkai's; Yusuke's picking up a lot from Ranma. Baby brother; I've always thought it was great that you and your gang make a point of protecting your classmates instead of bullying thing but let's face facts. Point A: Ranma's stronger than you regardless of form. Point B: If you can tell yourself I'm not a real girl because we've been fighting since you were too little to know the difference between girls and boys, you can tell yourself Ranma's not a real girl because he's a guy half the time. Point C: Ranma-chan isn't the only female martial artist around here these days and someone's gonna clean your clock if you go around assuming you're stronger just because you're a guy; Shampoo for example. I'll bet she isn't going to let Hiei go off to fight without her."

Kuwabara looked uncertain.

Shizuru rolled her eyes. "If your friends were normal I'd say just don't fight with him, but seeing how it is with you guys why don't you get to know Ranma first? Take the girls along, make a group date of it; You and Yukina, Yusuke and Keiko, Ranma and Akane. If you ask real nice I'm sure Yukina and Keiko would put the kibosh on you guys' violent tendencies."

"Nu-huh!" Kuwabara said as he shook his head. "Did ya hear about the last double date Yusuke and Ranma went on? Ranma is still staying over at Kurama's place after the fight he and Akane got into."

"So take the spatula girl instead," Shizuru said with a shrug. "It's not like that boy is ever going to be hurting for a date."

"Sis, you aren't the only one with a sixth sense an' mine is telling me that people who touch Saotome's love life with a ten foot pole usually lose an arm."

"Why did you want me to come?" Akane asked.

Kasumi smiled. "I went a bit overboard with my thank you gift. There was no possible way I could have gotten all that food plus the books I'm returning in one basket and I only have so many hands," she said. "Besides, Ranma's staying with Suichi-kun; it's the perfect opportunity for you to apologize to him."

Akane's mouth dropped open.

"I know that the both of you would rather just let things blow over, Akane, but this time thing's aren't blowing over." Kasumi's mouth tightened fractionally. "I've asked you not to strike people in anger before. I was wrong to let such behavior slide with Ranma. Even if you don't hurt him physically Suichi-kun tells me you do hurt his feelings."

"You're ganging up on me too, Kasumi?" Akane asked. "It was awful! All of Ranma's friends acted like I'm some sort of terrible person."

"Oh Akane," Kasumi said sympathetically. "I'm certain if they knew you better they'd realize that you really are a very sweet girl… even if you do act like a violent maniac on occasion."

"Ranma was flirting with everyone and acting like a complete pervert but they still blamed me for everything! You know what Ranma's like; Daddy and Uncle Genma would make him apologize to me for how he treated me," Akane whined.

Kasumi looked pensive. "Would you try apologizing? I want you both to be happy. Father and Uncle Saotome made a promise; your marriage to Ranma is a matter of family honor and I honestly think you'd be happy together if you'd just try a little harder."

"I do try!" Akane cried. "I cook for him and everything! But he keeps all those other girls around and he acts like such a pervert and he calls me names and…"

Kasumi took a deep breath and touched the spine of one of the books in her basket as if for strength. "Akane, stop it," she said firmly. "Ranma calls you names because you call him names. The other girls follow him around with little to no encouragement and he isn't a pervert… he just has a knack for ending up in situations that look bad. As for you cooking," Kasumi smiled. "I am so glad you're finally making an effort to learn. I think we should take advantage of Ranma staying with Suichi-kun. I'll help you get Father, Uncle Saotome and Urameshi-san to taste test for you. Then you can surprise Ranma with how much you've improved."

"You really think I'll get better?" Akane asked hopefully.

"I'm certain all you need is a li-lot of practice," Kasumi said. "Why don't you help me with breakfast tomorrow. They'll be too hungover to escape."

"Thanks Kasumi."

Kasumi smiled and rang the doorbell.

"I got it!" they heard Ranma shout from inside. A moment later the pigtailed boy threw open the door.

"Good evening, Ranma. May I see Suichi-kun?" Kasumi asked.

"Hi Ranma," Akane said quietly.

"Akane! What… um, why…. a…. hi," Ranma stammered. They stared at each other awkwardly then Ranma stepped back and yelled "Suichi! Kasumi's here with food and your books!"

Kasumi stepped into the foyer and set to removing her shoes. Akane hovered in the doorway. Ranma glanced toward the study where Shiori was balancing her books for the month.

Kurama came downstairs and smiled at Kasumi, "How have you been Kasumi-chan?"

The oldest Tendo girl blushed lightly. "Suichi-kun, I wanted to thank you for lending me your books. The one on the development of modern medicines from herbal remedies was very interesting. If you had a moment, there were a few things I wanted to ask…"

Kurama gestured for her to proceed him into the living room. "I would love to hear your views on it."

Ranma glanced toward Akane then toward Kurama seeking advise.

Kurama shrugged. "Mother could entertain her if you were busy."

Kasumi gave Ranma a pleading look and his resolve crumpled. He sighed and reached for his shoes. "There's a park several streets over," he suggested, not wanting to be punched through a wall while in Shiori Minamino's home.

Akane nodded her acceptance.

The silence between Akane and Ranma as they walked was that of someone holding their breath so they'd be sure to hear the other shoe drop.

Ranma ran out of patience first. "So, um what'd ya want? Some new challenger show up at the Dojo or something?"

Akane frowned. "I don't need you taking care of me all the time Ranma. I'm a martial artist too."

"Sure, but I'm a whole lot better one."

Akane already had her mouth open to retort with an insult of her own when it occurred to her that she hadn't been insulted. Ranma's tone hadn't even been bragging, he was simply stating a fact. For several minutes Akane struggled to shift mental gears. "When are you coming home?" she asked.

"You mean like to the Dojo?" Ranma asked.

"Ranma no baka! Where did you think? Of course the Dojo's home." Akane rolled her eyes.

Ranma glanced away and fidgeted nervously. "It's not like I'm still mad at you or nothing but I unpacked my whole pack. I never do that. First cause Pop was always getting in some mess and we'd end up takin' off in the middle of the night then 'cause I was always getting kicked out of the Dojo for a couple a days over something… Shiori-san even says I can decorate her guestroom how I like."

"You don't have to come home right now," Akane replied quickly. "Maybe in a few days, or even a week or two."

Ranma flinched. "Yeah, maybe, I don't know."

"I'm sure Kasumi wouldn't mind if you decorated the room at our place. You never said you wanted to," Akane continued.

"I didn't know I wanted to," Ranma said. "I don't know if I'm gonna. I don't know what I'd do to decorate, but Shiori-san said I could. It's like she wants me to feel like I belong here."

"You belong at the Dojo baka," Akane said. "Your dad's there. You've lived with us ever since you came to Nerima. I…" Akane trailed off. She couldn't say that she'd never imagined the day that Ranma would move out of her home; it was too close to admitting that she expected to marry him someday.

"Aww come on Akane, it's not like you want me around or nothing. I'm always making you mad." Ranma scuffed his shoe against the pavement. "I'm gonna stay here for awhile. I'll see you at school and in the morning when I come over to spar with Yusuke. Maybe we could even manage to get along if we don't have to do it all the time… I mean sometimes you don't hate me, right?"

"I… Ranma, I don't hateyou," Akane said unhappily.

"Thanks. This'll be better, you'll see. You never wanted a fiancé and Kurama does want a younger brother, I think, well he and him mom want me around anyway… Maybe I'll put a name plate on my door like you and your sisters."

"Ranma…" Akane trailed off. The picture that was starting to come into focus wasn't one she wanted to see but she couldn't ignore it anymore. Ranma, who never really got angry, had been angry with her. Ranma felt at home with this Kurama/Suichi person, not in the Dojo. Ranma was leaving her and it wasn't even because of the other fiancées shamelessly throwing themselves at him or fawning over him, it was because someone's mom told him that he could put his name on the door to her guestroom. "Ranma, tell Kasumi I'll see her at home," Akane said then started trudging back to Nerima.

"See ya around," Ranma said. He eagerly turned back toward the Minamino's.

Ryoga poured his tale of woe into the sympathetic ear of a tall dark man and that of the man's pale, emerald-haired companion. "It always comes back to Ranma," Ryoga finished angrily. "Because of him I've seen hell!"

The dark man exchanged a satisfied look with his companion, as if to say, 'This one will do nicely.' Then he put a hand on Ryoga's shoulder. "It's human nature to hurt others," he said sadly. "It's just how we're made."

"No, you don't understand," Ryoga protested. "It's Ranma."

"Oh some have given in more than others," the dark man said easily, "but it's in all of us. Your Ranma need to be punished for what he's done, but so do we all."

He held out his hand to Ryoga. "Come with me. Come see the truth. Come see why you've been so miserable. Come be a part of seeing justice done."

Sometime later

"Open your eyes you miserable little worm!" The dark man grabbed Ryoga's head and forced his eyes back to the screen.

Ryoga screamed. "Make it stop! Please make it stop," he sobbed.

"Kazuya, I don't believe he can take much more," the emerald-haired man observed.

"Shut it, Itsuki. I'll decide when it's enough," the dark man growled.

Ryoga whimpered.