A/N: Do any of you guys watch KDramas or JDramas? These things are taking over my life. I'll have to write one on Dream High or My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. They are very very good. I cried. I laughed. I ate popcorn.

Sorry. Off topic. So. Yeah. This chapter is cool. I wrote it fairly quick because I had been mapping out and fact checking my down doggone story against itself. I don't want anybody, least of all me, scratching my head when they read it . Hopefully I can start spitting them out since I know what direction it's going in now! Yeah!

Thanks for sticking in! I love you guys lots and lots and lots and lots with lots on top!

A Delicate Covenant

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

~ Marcellus:

Yuuka stared out in the night, trying to number the stars, losing count then starting over. She's been out here for hours. "36….38…37." She growled, finally giving up the hopeless task of personalizing the sky. Placing her lovely face in her upturned palm, she turned her attention to the lake before her. This lake was her solitude and her peace, and with a sigh, she realized it would be the last time she'd have the chance to sit in front of it, collecting her thoughts in silence, where no one would dare bother her.

Picking a rock up, she threw it into the lake watching it rippled, watching it change. Change. How relevant. Her life as she knew it was changing forever. It many ways she always knew it would change, she realized that the day that she had Kasumi. With each birth, life changed for her. She welcomed it, just like she welcomed the birth of Nabiki and….

She looked back to the house behind her. Inside one of those rooms was her youngest daughter. Only a few months old, showing vast amounts of promise and power. A power she willingly handed over to her daughter. How she planned on wielding it seemed to be what was troubling her. Her jewel had rejected her as an owner and chose a new home in her daughter. And because of that, she felt herself weakening. Snorting, she rolled her eyes. "Stupid rock….I forgot how you lent me your strength over these years. My frail body is recoiling. Eh. I'll get stronger again, I hope. At least you chose a good person to abandon me for."

But this would be good, for her house and her clan. Her daughter, because of her husband's strong connection with the Prince of Taichousen, would become their next princess when she was of age. The young heir to the throne had literally chosen his bride, walking up to Yuuka and hugging her swollen belly. He had turned to his mother, his chubby fingers pointing towards Yuuka's middle where Akane rested and said "Can I have it?" The Princess laughed and smiled at Yuuka, while her husband and his First Sword smiled knowingly.

Yuuka's smiled faltered when she thought about their current situation. "Oh, right…that was months ago. Things have changed."

Her husband Soun, Kami's bless his loyal and good heart, had been put on trial for treason. He had chosen to protect his comrades in an ambush, leaving his post as First Sword, and subsequently breaking code. The Council cared not that he was given permission by the very person he was protecting to do so. The two men, Soun and Genma, were used to being fighters, and Genma was not yet used to being "protected", lived by a completely different code when in combat. They were warriors and watching each other's backs is what warriors do. Of course, he'd give Soun the right to go protect their men. While Soun was being praised for singlehandedly rescuing the men, when word got back that he'd abandoned his post at Genma side, Bishamon, one of the newest members of the council, had a conniption.

When debriefed, he called for Soun's head. The Council balked at his suggestion, stating it would be ridiculous to execute a hero who just saved the lives of fellow Chiyodians. At this Bishamon, pulled out the oldest Book of Law the Taichousen's library held. Stating a law that linked Soun's actions with direct high treason, he held the council directly responsible for the matter.

"To disregard the law of this clan will fall directly on your heads! Think of the outcome if word got out that we allowed this man to so conveniently break the law at his own whim. How will it get out, you say? I'll make it known that the council ruled in favor of criminality. Do you want every criminal, we held accountable for his or her actions, to feel the need for a retrial?"

Genma stood up abruptly, knocking his chair back in the process. "One of those men was your nephew, Bishamon! How could you even THINK to try a man who saved the life of your own blood? And you want him put on trial for high treason? That is an automatic death sentence! Have you lost your mind?"

Bishamon blanched a little, not used to the Prince's anger being directed towards him. Still, he knew that in order for the plan to work, he'd have to use this opportunity, no matter how hypocritical and heartless it made him appear. Clearing his throat, he straightened his back to continue. "I admit, the punishment does not exactly fit Soun's crime, but he must be held accountable for his actions! You, your Majesty could have been hurt, Heaven forbid, KILLED due to his actions! You can't just believe I am going to sit here and…

"You forget, Bishamon. I am a trained and seasoned warrior and was so LONG before I took this station. I ALLOWED Soun to go back. As Commanding Officer, I have that right."

"For anybody, OTHER than Your First Sword. He serves you AND this clan simultaneously. He protects you by order of the Council, not by order of YOU, your majesty. Bishamon has a point." Issendai, the lone councilwoman, save the Princess, spoke up. "It will speak of favoritism if we were to let this…situation go unpunished." Issendai sighed. She was beginning to see why Bishamon was elected to Council, but it didn't stop the inkling of displeasure of having to see him every time they met. He lacked the compassion that came with years of being a member of this council. Nonetheless, he was correct, and she was upset that he was.

Taking the book from Bishamon, she scanned the law, over and over again. "What we can do, is look into this law studiously, and decide Soun's fate. I pray," she eyed each one carefully, "that you understand the gravity of this situation. We are voting on the fate of a hero. Depending on our decision, we will have to look the Mothers, the Fathers, the children this man saved, and tell them that he should have done otherwise. I say we take a day or two and figure out what we would want to be told ourselves."

At the conclusion of the meeting, Genma stormed out of the chamber, followed closely by Nodoka. The man's rage had him knocking down whatever he came in contact with, inanimate object or person, on his arrow like storm to his personal wing. As he entered, he yelled for the servants to leave immediately and collapsed to his knees in a fit of anger. His wife quietly closed the doors behind him, carefully approaching him as if he were a rabid dog. Lightly she placed a hand on his shoulder, kneeling to meet him on the floor.

"Genma…honey."

"They want me to look that man in the eye, my best fucking friend, and tell him he should be punished for his actions. What GOOD is this station, these clothes, this house, EVERYTHING, if I can protect him? Damn it Nodoka! He is like my brother. The only brother I have in this godforsaken hellhole. I'd give my right arm, to protect his life."

Nodoka sighed, taking her husband's trembling hand into her lap. "The life of a monarch is a road that is often lonely, and full of decisions that bring nothing but despair. I know that better than anyone. But…" reaching over to take her husband's face, forcing him to look at her, "This isn't without hope, my love. We will find a way to save his life. That I promise you. If we have to abandon our ruling seats and run off with him, we will save him."

Genma's eyes fluttered close. He knew no woman more reasonable than his wife, and through the understanding of that, only felt relief. He had secretly been planning that all along, if they found some reason to execute him, but the thought of having to leave her behind, stilled him. He smiled briefly before he heard a cough behind him.

The two of them whipped around, thinking they were the only ones in the room. A thump of fright shook them before they realized that Soun and Yuuka stood behind them, smirks on their faces.

"You two…" stepping completely inside of the room, "should probably find a way not to scare ALL of the servants away, they stand as pretty good guards against intruders like us." Yuuka said lightly, a smile brightening up her face.

"You guys look like you just heard the world was coming to an end." Soun said rounding the tatami mats to face the monarchs. He got close enough to Genma to rap against his head with a firm knuckle. "It's not the end of the world, Genma."

"But…wait. You…you know? Impossible!" Genma howled, knocking away the man's irritating hand. "We just…What do you know, Soun?"

"I am your First Sword….who also has his very own Inochi as a wife. Nodoka forget she left Yuuka was in the Garden that emergency meeting was called. That old "enhanced everything" she has going for herself includes hearing."

Nodoka gasped while Genma searched his friend's face for strength. "I-I wanted to come to you first, to tell you…"

"Correct, I knew you'd do such. I also knew you'd try to interfere. But don't. I don't want you to fight for me, Genma. Not at all. This isn't your fight. And like I said, it's not the end of the world, old friend."

"You've completely lost it, Soun. They want to try you for TREASON. Treason. They will KILL you."

Soun scoffed. "That is a possibility. I knew of the Law beforehand, it is my very job to know everything about you, this clan and its functions. I took on that responsibility and I took on the consequences that came with it. And because I chose to do so, you will not endanger your newly won foot inside that proverbial door. It took you too long to garner the respect of these people. You will not lose it on a count of me."

Genma turned to Yuuka. "Talk some sense into this crazed fool! Let him know that we are not going to sit back and just let him…"

"You mean that whole "run away together" plot you two just came up with? No, your majesty. Soun is right. We have a superb and righteous leader of this clan now. Our job is to serve this house, and that is what Soun did. Leave it to me. If they DO indeed try my husband for treason and he is sentence to death, just know this. He will not die. I will not let him."

Soun rose from his kneeling position to place a warm hand on Soun's shoulder. "Old friend, I probably will be found guilty. A law is a law. Until them, let us enjoy the lives we live, until they are not the lives we live anymore, ne?"

With that, the two left the room, with smiles on their faces.

And Soun was completely correct. Within a week, he was tried for high treason. But, Yuuka too, was correct. She did not let him die. Her influence as the sitting Inochi with the Imperial House, allowed them to step in and waive the automatic death sentence. The Imperial government stepping in on clan matter was unheard of, and made a swift impression on the clan people. They moved instead for exile, which the community agreed on wholeheartedly. They had no wish to watch the man, who brought many good men home, die for that action.

The council also annulled the standing contract of betrothal between the newly born Akane and Ranma four months after they were exiled. Yuuka remember receiving packages from both Genma and secretly Nodoka. She kept everything Nodoka sent, while Soun, with a smile on his face, sent back the parcels of money Genma would try to slip in with the gifts. The life he led was a quiet one, far too detached from Genma's and he didn't want there to be any sort of trail connecting the old friends. "Continue to make good decisions, you old Panda, and we will live the lives that were destined to us."

Yuuka snapped back to reality. Yuuka growled again at her memories wandering off., but they served as a fact check against her ever forgetful brain. She did, however remember what exactly brought her to this state of thinking. Without a betrothal, the only thing for Akane to do as a host was….nothing. Of course she could always take part in Inochi training, but for what purpose? A healer she supposed, but the type of healing they performed only served a purpose under the umbrella of the Imperials and the clans. Her magic would appear as sorcery to any hospital or church. Yuuka's brows gathered together in concentration. She found it extremely hard to concentrate now a day, as if her mind would wander off and her body would feel light. She often wondered when her focus would return, but for now, she'd just endure it.

Gathering her skirts, she turned to walk back the house, sure her daughter was hungry. Although someone may have fed her; her house was filled to the brim with Inochi as they were figuring out what to do next. With her no longer being connected to the Imperial House, SOMEONE would have to take her position when she left this place.

Gaala seemed a good choice, good a decision making, which was imperative as the head. But, she was unfeeling, cold and a stickler for rules. Orihime was very young and naive, but very powerful, very intelligent and full of hope. Hye Mi would actually be a perfect fit, but other than mastering the Japanese language, she had so much to learn about the culture, being a Korean native, so….

She shook her head; she'd pick someone by tonight's end. Then the ninnies could help her pack the rest of her stuff up to move to the house her and her family had been staying in since exile, and the new owner of the house could move in once she was chosen. As she entered the house, the rest of the members stopped moving, and let out a low whistle, the rightful call for when the Seat entered a room. Yuuka rolled her eyes. "You morons stop that. I'm not your leader anymore. Plus, this is a night of fun and memories and all kinds of other crap we get to cherish, so stop with the whistling."

"But Yuuka-sensei, the rules state…"

"See Gaala my dear, I was JUST saying that in my head. You're rule crazy. But we appreciate that. We'll need someone to remember how to run this place properly." She smiled before patting the younger woman on the head. "What have ya'll been doing while I was outside?"

"We fed your daughter because she was crying like a banshee, we started organizing what was left of your things, and someone…let Orihime cook."

Yuuka's eye twitched. "Dear God...okay. So since I've lost all my powers, someone PLEASE go stop that disaster from happening, I'm too weak to fight off her puppy dog eyes. And she's seven for the sake of everything holy. " Yuuka shook her head. "And turn up the heat! I shouldn't be freezing in my own house!" Yuuka wrapped her arms around herself, a slight shiver wracking her body.

Hye Mi frowned a bit. "Yuuka…it's hot as hell in here. You wanted it toasty because Akane's room was cold…" Walking up to her she placed a firm hand against Yuuka's head. Her frown deepened as she grabbed the woman's hand, only to find it balmy and moist. "You're burning up, woman." Yuuka shoved Hye Mi's hand away. "Nonsense, I am fine. I just need to sit…" She turned for the chaise, but never made it there, collapsing.

She shook her head, wondering what the girls were screaming for. She looked down at her dress. "Hellfire. Something's on my dress." She stated matter-of-factly, before slumping against the side of the chaise. Hye Mi grabbed the side of her face, forcing Yuuka's face up. A steady stream of blood was running from her nose to the fabric of her dress. At this point, the reserved Hye Mi panicked. "INVOKE!" the light from her jewel momentarily blinding her. She then snatched her jewel from around her neck and screamed "HATSUDOU!" before slamming her two hands together. The rock pulsed as it vanished into the palm of her hands, the whites of Hye Mi's eyes turning black, her skin darkening, and scripted words raced across her neck.

Cradling Yuuka's strangely smiling face in her lap; she placed both of her hands on her chest and shouted "CHIYU" watching her hands tint blue as she concentrated her power on Yuuka.

Yuuka woke up what seemed days later; feeling like someone had kicked her in the face. It in fact had been three days since Yuuka had fainted in front of all of her members, scaring them to death in the process. They had known she would grow weak from the unhosting event, but they had no idea it would come to this. When Yuuka opened her eyes, she noticed a sleeping Soun at the foot of her bed; she giggled as a little bit of drool hung on the edge of his bottom lip threatening to spill over. She nudged him with her foot watching with glee as he panicked and flopped around for a second before realizing he was awake. Still bewildered he realized that someone was laughing at him, only to find his wife giggling like a mad woman under the covers.

"That's not funny, you devilish fox-woman! I could have…" Finally realizing that she was awake and he wasn't dreaming, he rushed off the bed and gently pulled the covers back from her head. "You're awake…how do you feel?"

Taken aback by the sudden warmth in his eyes, she smiled. "I feel fine, Soun. Just fine."

"Don't lie to me woman. You're biting your lip. You always bite you lip when you're lying." Yuuka realized how she was worrying her lip before releasing it and looking up. "I'm tired Soun. That's all."

He sighed, used to her stubbornness. "You fainted. You've been asleep for three days. The girls won't tell me anything until you wake up. They said you'd probably have an answer, but knowing you, they'll have to tell me. "

She sat up at his words, running a shaky hand through her long tresses. She knew because it was her job to know. Something that her husband and she took very seriously. Their jobs. To research every inkling of it, every corner and every theory. Never be surprised. Always be ready. She couldn't say she was ready, but she knew what was happening. She had felt it for days, yet ignored it. She was young and beautiful, she had a wonderful family, and despite everything that was happening, she had had a wonderful life. But that life, she felt it leaving. The energy that she possessed, had all been stored within the rock, her life force was in her jewel. And she didn't have it anymore.

This by chance would make her daughter an even stronger woman of Inochi, but that would be a lesson that she would have to learn on her own, when she was of age. She wouldn't be there to teach her daughter.

She looked up at her husband, smiling. "Well! Those ninnies wouldn't know more about me, than I would. And I know I'm fine. "She turned from Soun, gathering strength from nowhere. She didn't have it in her to tell him now. She wanted to tell him when she was stronger, didn't look so frail. He was still dealing with losing his First Sword, his best friend. How could she tell him?

She didn't have to. She heard what sounded like pages being flipped, to find her husband holding her journal in her hand. She gasped. Frantically she tried to reach for the book, to snatch it out of his hands before he started reading. Grabbing it by the spine she tossed the book across the room into a dark corner.

He stood there looking dark, a look in his eyes that she couldn't read. "I'm feeling weaker by the day, the strength it takes to pick up my daughter leaves me breathless and discontent. I climbed to the training room today and almost collapsed from the sheer exhaustion of it all. I used to be able to run for miles without stopping, spar with a smile on my face. Now I can't even climb the stairs. I won't last long like this. There is nothing I can do. The energy just isn't coming anymore."

Yuuka realized is adept horror that he was reciting a passage from her journal by memory. "How did you…"

"You've been passed out for three days. How long do you think it takes to memorize something that tells you your wife thinks she's dying?"

"Soun, really. That's not what that is say-"

Before she could finish, Soun slammed his fist into the wall. "DON'T LIE TO ME YUUKA! DAMN IT WOMAN! "Yuuka refused to move, scared at his sudden anger.

He turned to her, his eyes furious. "For the love of everything precious, don't lie to my anymore. I am your husband! You are my rib! Don't you understand I feel your pain as if it were my own? "

Kneeling beside her bed, he grabbed her hand, kissing it over and over again, willing the tears that were now streaming down his face to stop. He held her had then against his forehead, hoping her touch would sooth his pain. "If you tell me you aren't dying. I'll believe you. I'll believe anything you say. I need you Yuuka. You…I can't operate in this world without. My hands…my head…my heart, they are in pain at the thought that this is true. Tell me it isn't. You're stronger than me. Stronger than this….Just…something…anything other than that."

She stared down at her husband, a man of unlimited strength, frail and weak before her, because of her. She held no answer to heal his pain, just as she held no answer to heal her own body.

Yuuka remained was silent.

A sob tore from Soun's lips at her silence. She wrapped herself around his, trying to get as close to him as possible, crawl inside him if she had to. She'd find the pain and sooth it, made this strong man's tears cease. She shushed and cooed at him, and all he could do was cling to her, daring the darkness to try and take her away.

There was nothing they could do. Over the course of the three days that their leader was unconscious, every Inochi woman had huddled together to try to heal her body. But you can't heal what isn't broken. Yuuka wasn't sick or ill, battered or bruised. She was just out of energy; lifeforce. There is not cure for that. They didn't know how much time she had left, they just knew that she'd grow weaker until she passed out from exhaustion and never woke up again. It would be a painless death, physically.

She decided to spend whatever time she had left away from everything, in the quiet town of Nerima where they had picked a quiet house and built on dojo for her husband's practice. Yuuka had picked Hye Mi to take her seat, as she was the best qualified and unless a new hosted Inochi was discovered, Orihime would then take Hye Mi's place when the time came.

Life wasn't that bad. Kasumi and Nabiki with little memory of their lives in Chiyoda soon forgot everything involving their lives as nobles, while Akane grew up as any regular child would. The jewel was put in a safe place, seeing that Akane wouldn't need it as a regular child. Eventually she'd happen across the rock, so Yuuka left a note letting her daughter know it was hers to keep. They lived a normal, happy life, for a number of years before quietly in her sleep one night, Yuuka passed.

OoO

Akane sat in front of a lake she'd found a short path from Orihime's house. There was a spot in particular that called out to her, so she sat, someone how feeling completely at peace. It was familiar yet foreign; she'd never sat here before, let alone seen the place, but for some strange reason, when the cool air whispered through her hair, she felt warm. Beside her sat her mother's journal. She'd read it front to back. Surprisingly, Yuuka had left numerous letters and instructions to herself and Orihime in there. She learned of her mother's life, her character, her sharp tongue, her fiery temper. Everything she'd imagined her mother to be, she found to be quite the opposite and that warmed her heart more than anything else could.

When imagining what someone is like, you put them on this utopian like pedestal, where everything is perfect. In contrast, doing that makes you seem immeasurable and unworthy. Akane knew her mother would never approve of such thinking, but how can one not, when all they are working with is their imagination and not tangible memories? Finding her mother's faults matched her own made her heart soar. Her mother was real now; she knew what she looked like in all of her spunky splendor. Orihime had stored a bottle of her mother's favorite perfume and given it to her; she could now imagine what her mother would smell like when she hugged her after a long day at school. By reading her mother's passages, she could imagine what she'd say to Akane as she scolded her for beating up yet another boy.

Everything was wonderful…except for the sole reason why Akane was reading a journal and not hearing this first hand from her mother. She glanced at the jeweled rock around her neck. She never hated anything more than this damned contraption latched around her neck like a noose. If she got rid of it, then maybe she could rid herself of the memory that her mother died because a damn rock couldn't understand how important Yuuka was to this world…her world.

She reached up to unclasp the gold chain holding the rock against her chest. Once she gathered it up in her hand, she held her hand back, ready to toss it into the lake. Just as she was about to release it, a hand caught her. Surprised, she looked up to see a pigtailed boy looking down at her questioningly. He reaching into her palm to remove the rock, and replaced it with a warm cup of tea.

"Drink."

Akane eyes steeped dangerously closed before she rolled her them, and lowered the small cup to her lips. Taking a sip, she eyed him as he took a seat behind her. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you're as tense and wound up as a spring. It's almost painful to look at. There is a slight muscle relaxer in that tea and…"before he finished his words, rubbed his hands together before placing them at the crook of her neck. He felt her tense even more before he called out for her to relax. "You need this, just accept it."

The moment his strong hands went to kneading the base of her neck, she instantly became boneless, leaning into his touch. He began at her neck and slowly moved to her shoulders, attacking a particularly tense knot. She became lost somewhere between his hands and the song he hummed softly in the quiet night. "God Ranma…."

"I've been called a lot of names by you, but never God." She threw an elbow against his side, smiling when he laughed as it connected. "Let see what other names you've called me in the few days we've known each other…There was pig-brain. Shithead. Arrogant prick. The quaint and lovely way you said "Your Highness" after you kneed my royal jewels."

Akane laughed. "Don't forget asshole. That's my personal favorite."

"Ah! How could I forget asshole? Hm. Just rings of warmth and sincerity." Ranma joked as he moved to her opposite shoulder.

"That's because I was completely sincere when I said it. And just so you know, so you'll never doubt my sincerity, I will ALWAYS mean asshole when I call you that."

"That reassures me. Thank you Akane." His hands stopped for a second, before he inched her around to face him. He paused for a second, just staring at her, before he placed a hand behind his head. Sighing, he whispered. "No, really. Thank you Akane."

Akane looked around, confused. "What have I done now?"

"You're here. You could have walked away, left me to my own troubles. Accepted the protective custody they offered you instead of staying. But you didn't. I don't deserve you being here…" He paused, looking down as his hand. Uncurling his fingers, the jewel caught a simmer of the moonlight. "If I knew how to comfort you through this, I would, I swear I would. But I don't know how. And I don't know what to do."

Akane sat back at bit, trying to formulate to gather her thoughts into sense. "Some of this is your fault. But most of it isn't. I don't understand how all of this is connected, but the strings are starting to show themselves. Something is starting to make sense. This is a lot bigger than me or you. Whatever triggered this, it didn't start with you knowing me or me knowing you. Don't blame yourself for something that is out of your control. I mean think about it. You're sitting here, the Prince of an entire clan, who just happens to have a knack for building things. I'm sitting here, the daughter of a First Sword and an Inochi. I wield powers like some kind of freakazoid. Just so happen that we ended up working together, when our parents were best of friends?"

Ranma blinked once. Then twice. "What do you mean our parents were best of friends?" The confusion on Ranma's face was laughable, and she'd be just as confused as he was if her mother hadn't connected some of the dots for her.

"My father, Tendo Soun, was YOUR father's First Sword. Shortly after his marriage to your mother, he elected my father to that position. Your mother? She picked my name; apparently MY mother and YOUR mother were very close because of that."

Getting more excited the more she revealed she grabbed his hand. "Remember when we sat at your kitchen table and you said something about Anything Goes Martial Arts? Happosai taught your father and my father everything they know about martial arts. The same training and everything."

"Everything is in," Akane picked up her mother's journal, "this book. I've spent the last four hours reading it from cover to cover. There was something cryptic in there about you and me, and destiny. That's what got me thinking that this is WAY bigger than me or you. We need to figure it out, too."

Ranma nodded, his lips slightly pursed as he thought. Eying her carefully, he softly said "Do you think you'll be able to figure it out, when your rock is at the bottom of a lake?"

Akane's smile faltered for a second. She forgot about that insane act of angst and unthinking. Letting go of a nervous giggle, she reasserted her smile. "Thank you for stopping me, I let something get to me and it made me forget what was important. "

Ranma was still very confused. He'd been in classical schooling since he could remember. He remembers nothing about a Tendo Soun in any of his history classes. Nor Happosai personally teaching him anything. He thought his father and him were the only ones privy to that special brand of torture. He liked Akane's father all the more now for living through that. When they got back, his father had a lot of explaining to do.

He'd received a report that Yoruichi was meeting with a few special people to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. They should be able to return by tomorrow.

He was excited. For once, he had a foreknowledge of what was happening, rather than it taking him by surprise. The feeling was good. The rush of endorphins knocked up his courage a tad, so he turned to the woman in front of him. She was gazing off into the lake again, giving him a moment to just look at her. She still didn't know he had plans to fix the mess his life was in, and take her as his. He'd tell her one day, as soon as he found a way around this ridiculous ruling the Council handed him. He knew he was a product of monarchy, but to actually be with someone who made his life full? He'd denounce his thrown before he let her go. He loved her completely and he wished he could show that to her, this very instance.

But he wanted everything to be absolutely perfect, he didn't her want to get the wrong idea, by him considering her, his. His what? His mistress? He laughed. He'd never. No, that he'd considered her his everything, his fiancé if she'd had him. He'd have to regain her trust again. Time didn't allow for anything too magical, so to be able to sit by her like this was a start.

"Hey Akane."

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Hmm?"

"One day you'll forgive me fully. I know you will. And on that day, I'll be the happiest man alive."

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she giggled. "You put that much faith in my forgiveness, Your Highness?"

In his mind he whispered I put my entire life in your hands. Out loud he simply stated "Yeah, I do."

She nudged him softly with her elbow. "Gimme some time, I'm getting there." She smiled at him before handing him a few piece of rock. "Betcha I can make it skip times that you can. Loser grants the other a wish when this is all over with?"

With mock surprise, Ranma gasp. "Farther than me? Out of your mind, pixie woman. I'll have you know that I was the rock skippi-" He stopped as he watched her skip a rock far across the lake till it disappeared in the darkness. He turned to her, her face full of laughter. "I've been had, haven't I?"

She smiled brightly. "Pretty much!"

OoO

Bishamon was an ignorant man. Very intelligent, but very ignorant. Especially in looking "not" suspicious. Yoruichi had had her eye on the older man for years now. Every suspect ruling that every happened in that insufferable council chamber always had him looking even more suspicious. He'd never broken the law, no. But he always seemed serpentine like, waiting for the right opportunity to strike or slither by.

Point in case. When Yoruichi planned for Ranma and Akane to go to the mountains while all of the tension in Chiyoda calmed itself, who did she see slinking his way to the guest chamber? At first she thought he might be favorable to the gathering of the Amazon and Taichousen houses. But that didn't require a personal visit. A messenger could have relayed anything that needed to me told without the alderman bothering himself with the hike. Yet there he stood. He rushed in as soon as he was announced, and to her surprise stayed for more than an hour. What in all of Chiyoda could be that important for an alderman to visit a foreign guest? Pleasure? Yoruichi shuddered at the thought. If not that, what could possibly be this urgent? As she stood watch, his actions worrying her, she witnessed him hurriedly leaving the wing, carrying a piece of parchment with a jade seal.

Jade seal? The science department? Why would he be hand delivering a message from Cologne to the science department, especially without Ranma being present. Everything had been centralized around Ranma's conversion project, so until he returned there should only be one person down there….

Yoruichi smirked, before silently dropping from the branch she had been standing on. "Let's see what the idiot is up too".

OoO

Cologne watched her incredibly pissed off granddaughter pace a hole into the floor of her guest suite. After a servant girl fetched her earlier to tell her that Shampoo was acting out in homicidal rage in her room, Cologne summoned the younger woman to her. After hearing what happened at the lunch table a few days back, Cologne considered a couple of things.

For starters, she never wanted Akane to touch foot inside of Chiyoda. The sole purpose of having Kodachi kidnap the woman was to keep her far away from Chiyoda. Secondly, she wanted Akane far from Ranma. Although having them placed in the same company served her purpose for planning, the fact that they had built a rapport and were close to each other was not a part of the plan. She witnessed firsthand how he'd foolishly ran into the middle of what seemed a very powerful fight to save the woman. Idiot. Simply if Ranma had just fallen in love with her granddaughter by now this could be solved easily. She heard that Ranma challenged the betrothal at the last council meeting.

Thank all the Kamis Bishamon was there, to bring some sense to those softhearted fools that populated the other seats in that chamber. Do they know how long this had been planned? They almost ruined it, with a crapload of sappiness and rubbish. The quickest way to correct this was to have Ranma continue until his completion of Yangupawa was complete whilst separating Akane and him from each other. She had direct connection with the scientist that ran Ranma's lab, and he would shortly understand the change of plans.

She growled. The thought of Akane and Ranma holed up in the Chiyodian Mountains together, peeved her greatly. She'd worry about her granddaughter later. She was guaranteed her spot at Ranma's side, so putting too much effort in consoling her was a waste of energy. Now that Kodachi proved herself worthless, and Moose was handling the Masura clan for her, she had no choice but to finish this out herself. Bishamon would help no doubt, to keep the overzealous Taichousen, namely a black cat named Yoruichi and the ever stoic Ulquiorra from interfering and snooping where they didn't belong. She had to make nothing happened before the wedding between her granddaughter and son in law on the first day of Spring. She needed unlimited access to the Taichousen clan and their Prince for as long as she could manage.

The power of Yangupawa would be hers, if she had to kill to get it.

A/N: People are going to start reading this and circling names, since I grab names from things I've seen, Hye Mi being for Dream High. So atleast I can actually visualize her when I write, HA! But anyways….what was I going to say. I forgot *poof*