Revision Notes:
06/10/07 -- added honorific oniisama when Yuki refers to Eruchii
12/25/06 -- Release date

Special Thanks to:
Tin
Ellen Kuhfeld
Jourdan Bickham

And to the person reading this.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

And mutual fear brings Peace,
Till the selfish loves increase;
Then Cruelty knits a snare,
And spreads his baits with care.
The Human Abstract
William Blake

Rendezvous with Fate v.3
by iCe
Chapter 19

...We were learning what it was to be together as a family while trying to cope with the fact that we were actually, a family...

The slow movement of the sun across the horizon told Nabiki that they needed to camp soon. She looked half in irritation at the people entering Nerima. Nabiki never liked processions. They took longer than a normal trip and the welfare of the people under her needed to be tended to. If she had been alone, the entire Nerima trip could have taken two days at a leisurely pace, and one day at a hard pace. With all of the people and the things from Rose Brier that they needed to bring to Nerima, not to mention the prisoner, it had taken close to two weeks. It was exhausting.

'Where the hell is Ranma?' Nabiki asked herself, rubbing her decidedly masculine arm. She steeled her fingers. Ranma would not appreciate it if his body looked girly in front of his people. 'He can't be lost. And he moves faster than this mishmash lot.' He sighed. 'Although he could have forgotten which road we were taking, or what symbols to look for or decided to goof around.'

He looked up at the sky and noted the low-lying clouds. It started mid-afternoon and was progressively becoming worse. There was no hint of blue in the sky; instead, it looked washed with white. He tucked an unruly strand of hair back behind his ear.

There was a storm brewing - he could feel it from the coldness in the air. The strong wind was blowing against the trees, making the tall and slender branches sway. A constant rustling of leaves accompanied the motion.

Cologne pogoed beside him, motioning towards Hanae who was beside her respective foster mother while Shampoo played with her. "Hanae seems to be used to the constant travel and her lessons impress me. Although Sei isn't here, I also think he has a great deal of potential. Will you let her go for the advanced training? The ten year training trip?"

Nabiki and Ranma had left when they had been merely six. Hanae, and Sei as well, were already past that age. "We will not have a choice in the matter if they are aptly skilled. However, my son is not allowed to learn anything more because he is more Ikkasei than Saotome, and Hanae will not learn because she is adopted."

"You do not believe that Saotome blood flows through her?" Cologne asked, more than a little bit curious.

"Do you?" Nabiki-kun asked back looking at the child closely. "I have always wondered if Ranma had been capable of sleeping around when he was married to Kodachi. In my heart I knew he wasn't... but when I saw Hanae -- I thought she was proof that he was capable of it. Lately though, I have not been sure."

"So even you do not know from where the girl came from?" Cologne murmured watching the child chase a butterfly. "I thought Ranma would tell you at least."

"She is Rian's daughter." Nabiki whirled around to face Ranma. He dropped from a nearby tree and grinned at Nabiki, dusting his shirt from his travel and bowed with respect to Cologne. "I promised to tell you, didn't I?"

"By you?" Nabiki-kun asked, although he knew the answer before Ranma could shake his head in negation.

"Hikome's," Ranma supplied looking at Hanae then turned to Cologne. "She's old enough to train with the Amazons. Would you train her? She wants to learn what Rian was taught."

Cologne raised an impeccable eyebrow then turned to the young girl. "She is an Amazon. But surely you won't leave the girl to me."

"It's for the best. Her mother wanted her to learn the Ways she has walked." Ranma nodded toward the girl. "She'll not learn much here. She's not my heir and Happosai knows that. I've given her all that I can. Now it's time to let her do what she wants."

Nabiki looked at Ranma and frowned. Now that Kodachi was out of his life, it meant he could easily take Hanae in with him, even train her. Sending her away would mean that he would keep no one close to him anymore.

Accepting her new charge, Cologne smiled. It was obvious that she was pleased she could train a young girl again. "She will be good for Shampoo as well. The ghost of Rian has haunted Shampoo since she has left for your country. If it is really the girl's wish to train under Amazons then it would be a pleasure to do so."

Ranma nodded towards the gates of Nerima, which were looming ahead. "We must hurry in, the weather will not hold for long." His words were emphasized by a strong gust of wind.

"We must get them all settled in the Nerima house with mother, before the storm hits." Nabiki-kun looked back from where Ranma came from and frowned. Nabiki-kun wondered how the Tendos would be doing if the strong winds met them on the open road. A few drops of rain fell on his nose and he frowned when she wiped them off. "Well then, I suggest we move."

Ryouhei normally did not mind walking in the rain. However, being soaked in it when the wind was howling like a misbehaving ghost was uncomfortable. Especially since he kept his clothes in the cloth bag that doubled as his blanket, and was now fully soaked.

"A storm in the beginning of the year..." Akane muttered glaring at the low-lying clouds and the deep rumble of thunder she had heard. She had not seen lightning, so the storm clouds must still be relatively distant.

Ryouhei sensed that Akane wished she had worn pants. She had always been more practical than flashy, and the dress she now wore would be very difficult to clean.

"Unusual and ill-timed," Sohin commented as he walked the muddied road with long quick strides. "It is good we're near our destination."

Ryouhei winced slightly when he remembered Sohin's assault. It was some weeks since they left the Saotome safe house, but when they cut out the stitches, it had been painful nonetheless.

When Sohin and Ifuku insisted on leaving right after his stitches, Akane had objected. It was only through Sohin's repeated assurance that the wounds were minor that they had been able to assuage her fear of infection. It was emphasized by the fact that Ryouhei was able to walk freely.

He pressed the heel of his hand against the scar, but it was more to remind him of the pain that Sohin caused rather than staunch it. The wound had stopped being sore weeks ago. The stitches had been taken out just five days after the wound was sewn. "Are you all right?" Akane asked in mild concern.

"You should not worry about me overmuch, my lady," he reassured her. The puncture had been on his non-dominant arm. Even when the wound was fresh he could still maneuver it if needed.

Because of the rain, although Ryouhei noticed the gates that signaled the temple entrance, he had not been able to read the sign of which temple they visited. He was itching for a warm bath and dry clothes immediately, so he did not care overly much where he was. They were welcomed in warmly by the monks and were given blankets to wrap around themselves. The monks clearly knew Sohin, at least, and talked to him with ease.

"Houshi-sama, would you please tell me where Yuki-sama is?" Sohin

asked respectfully from one of the elder monks while he took off the muddy straw slippers by the entrance of the temple. "We bring news from the House of Tendo."

Even amidst people he clearly trusted, Sohin was careful about the Tendo secrets. And from what Ryouhei knew about Sohin after the agreed separation, he had hidden amongst these monks when he was younger. Ryouhei was unsure who knew of the heir's identity. Sohin called Yuki by an honorific, fully putting Sohin beneath the child's own status.

The monk smiled and welcomed him with the words, "When Yuki-sama was escorted here three months ago, we were worried. But the monks from Sagami did not know why you left Yuki-sama so suddenly. It was good that the young master knew that he should stay and hide here when you are in danger."

Ryouhei was aware that Sohin traveled almost constantly with the child for both the child's protection and his education, and it was also natural that they were regular temple visitors.

"I am fine, Houshi-sama, sorry for making you worry," Sohin reassured the monk. "I'm sorry that your monks had to travel so far."

'Far indeed,' Ryouhei thought. They were already two provinces west of Sagami, the province of Tutumi. They had been making good time, better time than their previous pace, as Akane had told him. Primarily the increase of speed was because they did not stop so often to try and find more straggling Tendo men.

Luckily, they were still inside Saotome territory. The Tendos had been living within Saotome lands for such a long time that Yuki was able to move freely within the Saotome borders.

"We have been waiting for your return, Sohin-san." The monk motioned towards the reception chamber, away from the whistling winds, and into warmer rooms. "I have asked someone to fetch Yuki-sama already."

Some apprentice monks handed them a change of stockings and a set of blankets to keep themselves warm. Others were already rummaging for spare clothes that they could wear while they waited for their clothes to dry.

The child came out of one of the small rooms as they moved towards the inner sanctum of the temple. As soon as the boy appeared, both Sohin and Ifuku bowed down low enough to kiss the ground. Ryouhei, who had not met the child, managed to look surprised before copying the Tendos.

Sohin and Ifuku might not be borne out of a legal wife, but this boy was the legal heir of Akane's uncle. Yuki had blood lines stronger than Akane herself.

Ryouhei might not have vowed allegiance to the Tendos, but this was the boy Akane had risked her life for. Still, he had not known that both Sohin and Ifuku showed this much deference to their younger cousin, especially since Sohin was rightfully liege.

Ryouhei glanced briefly at Akane. She had also bowed, but not as low as her two siblings. When she realized her mistake, she scrambled to imitate them.

"I think I told you to stop doing that Sohin-san," the boy's voice was light as he kneeled down to place his hand on Sohin's shoulder. Sohin looked up from the bow.

Ryouhei straightened to watch the interplay between the two 'heirs'. It also gave him a chance to gauge the boy. He had not met the boy when Akane had gone out to meet him. They had been too busy trying to fight for their lives back then. That had been the night that Akane had supposedly been killed by Ifuku.

When Akane had 'died', it had been near Rose Brier, on a rainy night, much like this one. They had approached the meeting place cautiously. Both Sohin and Ifuku had met Akane and him on the road.

As soon as they reached the temple where Yuki had been housed, they had been ambushed. Ifuku, Akane and he had been left to deal with the attackers. Sohin had left immediately.

That night, he had not understood why Sohin left his sisters to deal with five samurai. Now Ryouhei realized that Sohin had gone to hide Yuki. Ifuku and Akane had been left to assure Yuki's escape.

Ryouhei had managed to kill two, Ifuku managed to kill one. Sohin appeared to have killed the other two. Ryouhei and Ifuku had been left to bury Akane, and Ryouhei had remained in that town ever since.

Ryouhei briefly wondered what Akane would willingly risk her life for, as he looked at her cousin. Yuki's hair was cut severely over a delicate almost effeminate face, clear brown eyes that was unmistakably intelligent. He had his father's features and did not resemble the Tendo siblings. He did not look like he would suit to be a rough warrior nor a commanding liege.

From the way he carried himself, Ryouhei knew that the boy had been running away for far too long. There was a surprising proud tilt to the child's chin, showing an inner strength that earlier in their flight from Sanuki, Sohin's charge had lacked.

"Your wishes have come true, Yuki-chan," Sohin told him as he stood up, no longer the deferential vassal nor the child's loyal protector. He knelt because he was giving the last respectful nod to his cousin before he took what was his. Now, as he stood, he was no longer a peasant and was now claiming his full title as liege. Ryouhei sensed the change in Sohin's countenance as he straightened. "Your cousins have come to take your place. You are heir no longer."

The child closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then expelled it along with his worries before he smiled. "It is surely a relief to hear such news." He did seem to express genuine delight in the news because he did not want the initial title to begin with. Most heirs were spoiled little children waiting to claim their little kingdoms. Ryouhei supposed Yuki was different because he had not grown up as a pampered son of a nobleman, but as an orphan who moved from monastery to monastery. "And when am I to meet my cousins?"

It was then that the elderly monk intruded on their little gathering, maybe because it was more formal for a third person to do the introductions. "Yuki-sama, please let me do the honors of such an introduction."

The boy found it queer, especially since he expected that Sohin would take do the honors of introducing his long lost cousins. He nodded in assent though, eagerly awaiting the people who have come to call on him. The priest smiled and motioned to Akane first. "The youngest lady, Tendo Akane."

Yuki looked surprise at the introduction but bowed his head reverently before he looked up to face her. "I heard rumors of your demise, my lady. I am glad that you are safe."

"I am very honored to meet you, cousin," Akane said as she held out her hand to him, an odd gesture of welcome. The boy looked at the hand for a moment and Akane gave an embarrassed laugh as she reached out and took Yuki's hand between her own. "It's a greeting, our personal hello. Similar to the bow."

Ryouhei gave a small smile, Akane had always liked children and this was their first meeting. She always made children feel important in her presence.

The monk moved on to Ifuku. "My lady, Tendo Shori."

Yuki's eyes widened a little in surprise but still bowed in reverence to his older cousin. "I did not know you were so close to me, onee-sama."

From what Ryouhei understood when Akane was to visit him the first time, Sohin and the boy knew each other for a long time. Because of that and because Ifuku took on the mask of Sohin's wife, Ifuku must have been with the boy several times.

It could have been more difficult for the boy to accept because they knew each other closely, more than Akane and Yuki did. But Yuki did not brood over Ifuku's identity as he gave his newly found cousin a small hug.

"We are sorry to have deceived you, cousin," Ifuku confessed, bending low to look at Yuki eye to eye when he released her. "We feared for our lives."

"Then it is good news that you have changed your minds," Yuki said levelly, his smile still in place. "You must have gained a tactical advantage or you would not have come out of your hiding place. It has been a long time since you came of age to rule."

"I did not think that taking back our titles would be as easy as showing up in front of Lady Chisei's doorstep," Ifuku said ruefully, looking at her brother then back to Yuki. "She commands a great number of samurai who would willingly kill us. Our father's samurai have long since been discharged and turned into ronin by that woman. They're certainly old enough to be on the losing end against Chisei's own soldiers now."

"A sentiment that I have heard countless times from Sohin-san's lips. I am glad that Lady Chisei's doorstep will accommodate us now." He stepped back, a small gentleman. Sohin raised the boy well. Before the monk could speak yet again, Yuki said, "It is all right, I know who my last cousin is."

He moved towards Sohin and bowed as deeply as Sohin had bowed to him. "Lord Eruchii Tendo," he acknowledged his cousin with small admiration and more respect than one could have for someone that had just recently learned the truth. "I am pleased to learn that you will take your rightful place in the clan that my father has temporarily borrowed."

Sohin raised an eyebrow at the boy, though did not appear overly surprised that the boy knew his secret. "If you refuse to have me bow to you, Yuki-chan, you can't seriously expect me to ask bowing and scraping like that from you. I have been a merchant for twenty years, certainly enough time to wipe away the arrogance of wanting such things."

Yuki stood up quickly and grinned. "But you must have missed it, and I must have been the first to do so in twenty years."

Sohin was unsure what to say, so he said the thought that had been most prevalent after Yuki's obvious knowledge of his identity. "How long have you known who I was?"

"For more than a year, I suppose. I have never been sure, of course," Yuki answered formally, creasing his brow in concentration. "You bear traits similar to those of Tendo men, but not features. You know things about the Tendo premises that could not have come from casual observation of the lay of the land, but are far removed from the clan. And most of all, I feel from you the love for Sanuki every time I hear you tell me stories, but you do not return with me when I am given a small glimpse of it. It must be frustrating to be heir yet be so far from your own land."

"I'm sure you've shared an equal ordeal," Sohin answered, for the boy only visited Sanuki on the summers that Chisei permitted him to. "Do you think I would do a better job of ruling than yourself or Chisei?"

"Self-confidence has never been big on us Tendos has it?" Yuki asked a smile lingering on his face. "I believe you are far better than what Chisei could selfishly offer, and more capable than a seven-year-old boy. You don't need my approval. I am your cousin and I am your vassal."

Although it was true that Sohin had not needed his younger cousin's support, it was apparent that Sohin had wished to gain it. It also meant a significant number of samurai from that side of the family, more than Sohin had currently.

"You must come to live with us after this is over, Yuki-sama." Ifuku said extending her invitation to their ward. "We have grown terribly fond of you and will miss you if you do not go with us."

"I plan to ride with you to Lady Chisei's stronghold," Yuki declared, and looked as if he had never thought otherwise. "You have been gone more than twenty years. My presence would surely establish who you are. Though you are officially liege lord, it would help if the heir they acknowledge rides with you."

"If there is no swaying you otherwise," Sohin murmured as he met the boy eye to eye. He offered his hand to Yuki. "I would be happy for you to ride with us."

As soon as their samurai from Kamakura had been given temporary assignments in Nerima, Ranma and Nabiki had left their central fief for Musashi. They reached Happosai's capital in the one week travel allotment that they had set for themselves.

Ranma looked up the long winding road that led to Happosai's donjon and was filled with deep dread of what they were about to do. He understood that there had always been struggles in the past, that there had always been resentment, but they had never acted against their liege. At least, no acts so large as the both of them demanding their rights.

To his knowledge, no one had ever had the nerve to challenge Happosai over the way he ruled. Not since he publicly flogged and killed the family of the last one who tried.

As they moved from the pathway to the outer parts of the fortress, the worry did not abate. Although no samurai stopped their ascent, he felt that they have been moving too easily towards the inner donjon. Not that any of the samurai had reason to distrust them. They were hatamoto, banner supporters to Happosai. Ranma was a Tozama, an Outside Lord. The rank was only directly under Happosai's own of Kokushiu, a Lord of the Province. They were not questioned.

They had moved in those halls since they were children. They moved through them now, silently and purposefully. When they reached the double doors that led to the chambers where Happosai received his vassals, Ranma took a step back.

"Trouble, brother?" Nabiki asked as she noticed him taking one breath for courage. "Do you wish to continue?"

"We've come to a point where we can do nothing but go forward, Nabiki," Ranma answered softly. He inclined his head towards the two guards stationed by the doors. Addressing them he requested, "We'd rather come unannounced."

"Lord Happosai has just concluded a meeting. You're just in time to see the daimyos," one guard informed them as the other opened the door and entered preceding them. Though Ranma had expressed his dislike for the barking out of names, the guard ignored it. Happosai demanded protocol and Ranma had not expected the guard to follow his wishes.

When they entered, Happosai gave their herald a haughty dismissal. Though he stood just a little over three feet, his imperial wave still commanded attention. He held power that none of the other samurai had wielded. He started the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu. He was the root of the entire Saotome Clan.

He looked surprised to see the two of them. The daimyo that Happosai had been meeting with had not yet been dismissed, although it was obvious from their relaxed manner that the meeting was over. "What gives me the pleasure of your surprise visit?" Happosai inquired.

Ranma opened his mouth to speak, but Nabiki stilled him with a soft brush of her hand. She began, "Kodachi is dead, my lord." There was a pause, just to make sure that he heard her loudly and clearly in the large audience hall. Ranma winced, he would not have chosen those as the first words to greet Happosai. It effectively caught the attention of every single samurai present as well. "I killed her."

Happosai raised an eyebrow at that, hopping down from his elevated position and moving towards the Nabiki. "Impressive, child. You have actually learned to talk back since the time you returned from the Ikkasei's."

"We've served your house for our entire lives," Ranma said, cutting Nabiki's reply to the obvious challenge that Happosai laid down. "We were hoping that you would have given us enough respect to leave ourselves to our own devices."

Happosai's attention swiveled to the other sibling. His eyes narrowing he shook his head. "Is this what this is all about? I have never seen the two of you standing together for such a paltry issue. I am your liege, you will do as I command. If I see it fit to have you killed, I will."

This was the reason why he hadn't wanted Akane with them. Happosai just might sign his death warrant. Ranma suddenly realized that he did not understand why they were standing before Happosai either. They did not plan to take leadership from him, and they did not plan to kill him, the only two reasons that would have mattered.

Happosai may be wrong, he may be a lecherous pervert and he might be worse than that, but Saotomes were his playthings. He owned them. Confronting him because he played around with their lives like a chessboard did not suddenly give them the leeway to be right, because Happosai had the power to be right even though he wasn't.

"Kodachi was working for you. She was working for you the entire time that she tried to ruin us," Nabiki accused her eyes focused on their liege. "What would destroying us have done for you? Our only loyalties are with you. You have never questioned that."

Happosai eyed them critically before moving towards his small throne again. He sat down slowly before considering them both. "I trust no one, even you who have worked for me since birth. Trust ruins empires."

"What have we ever done to receive such special hate from you?" Ranma asked bitterly, stepping forward. "We have done everything you've ever asked of us. We've done your dirty work even when we didn't want to, and cleaned up after things you didn't want to be aired in public. Setting Kodachi after us has been your elaborate plan for the better part of the decade. We're not useful anymore, are we?"

Ranma sensed the unrest between the other clan heads gathered there. The twins were the focal point of Saotome politics because they were heirs, because Ranma was the best fighter the clan has produced in decades and because Nabiki had political skills enough to a good number of them. A move as strong as this would definitely change the political undercurrents in Saotome land.

"Ten years ago you would have not shown me this much disrespect!"

Happosai thundered. They had been the most obedient of his vassals, the most willing to do anything in order for the advancement of the art and the survival of the clan.

Clearing her throat Nabiki stepped towards her brother and laid a hand on his shoulder. "No, brother, it's not hate that Happosai has for us. It's fear. He fears what we will become one day and what he has become now." She looked at the old man pointedly. "You know that one day the student will surpass the teacher, don't you? Talk has been going about for years that Ranma would take your place as liege."

There was a surprised gasp from one of the other daimyos. They did not think that Nabiki would have the audacity to speak that frankly.

"That idiot will never become more than he is now," Happosai announced, pointing at Ranma. "He will never become liege."

"Here's news for you old man: I've never wanted to be liege. I was a born fighter, never a ruler," Ranma spat out as he motioned at the large hall. "Why take all of this and grow to a hundred just to become as paranoid as you are?"

"Because, my boy, your sister has always been power hungry," Happosai answered him, smiling. Nabiki had her jaw set on a frown. "Don't deny it. You've always dreamt of having all of this."

"If I take the clan it'll be because you are an inept leader and not because I've dreamt of wielding it." Nabiki shook her head. "I could not stand the fact that you move us like pawns on your shogi board, waiting for us all to die while you use our blood to water the altar of power."

"I don't want the clan," Ranma affirmed. "I may be heir but you can have the Saotome lands. I've trained because martial arts has been my life-blood. I've served you because that's been all that I am and all that I've known. I'm a Saotome Samurai and you shouldn't have ordered us destroyed."

"What would you do? Take the clan away from me?" he scoffed, as if it was the least of his worries. "You're too young to take it from my hands."

"I have enough troubles with Sagami already," Ranma muttered shaking his head. "But I will move. I'll not take your vassals or your fiefs but I cannot serve you anymore, my lord."

"Your pride will not let you, Ranma?" Happosai laughed. "Your pride is the least of my worries. Very well. You can move. You can take all of Nerima with you. But your mother remains here, with me."

Ranma looked up sharply at Happosai. It was common practice to keep either wives or close loved ones in the liege lord's stronghold to secure loyalty. "You could not even trust me this much?"

"Have you not been listening?" Happosai asked arching his eyebrows at the two of them. "I do not trust anyone. Even my own hatamoto."

"I'll leave your lands as soon as I can," Ranma answered. He was not carrying his sword because protocol demanded they bring no weapons inside the receiving hall, but he did lay down the letter entrusting Nerima to him. It was what marked him as daimyo, his symbol of power. "I've always been a wanderer, and though Sagami has been a place for me to rest for a while, my soul yearns to stray."

"I will leave with him, my lord. I shall have to take care of my brother," Nabiki said in a move of solidarity and support. She closed her eyes before whispering to him, "Wanderers tend to wander back towards home, brother."

"As will I." Ranma swiveled around to look at one of his cousins, a daimyo that had been standing towards his left. Another followed with, "I will leave with Lord Ranma as well, my lord."

One by one most of the samurai stepped forward to proclaiming their intent to join Ranma. It looked like there would have been another chorus of round about "me too's" that Happosai snapped his fingers commanding silence. "It seems that my vassals are not willing to let you leave casually," Happosai observed.

"You cannot simply wander around Japan with half of the entire clan trailing behind you, you know," Nabiki mentioned. She smiled a little. "You do know that if you wished you could take Happosai down now. With this much support, hell, you could win."

"I detest taking Happosai on," Ranma murmured swiveling back to face Happosai. "They can't all leave. We can't leave the borders alone to the Kunos, or to anyone happy enough to take our land because of an internal feud."

Happosai's eyes turned to Nabiki. "It's very astute of Ranma to mention that we would be vulnerable in case this many samurai leave my domain. And you Nabiki, what of your decision?"

"I have always been beside my brother. Nothing will change that fact. Not even if I disagree with the choices he makes." She stood there solidly behind him, whether he took the opportunity of a lifetime to take Happosai down, or left it. "It's a pity you never understood that."

"I own you, Nabiki Ikkasei. You were mere ronin before you were reinstated into the clan," Happosai pronounced holding on to the last strings of hope he had left.

Nabiki raised an eyebrow, and in the coolest voice she said, "I don't owe you anything, my lord. You were paid to get me back. It was never a personal favor to me. And if you weren't Ranma's liege then I wouldn't really owe you anything, would I?"

"The future really does have a way of arriving unannounced, doesn't it?" The question hung in the air for a while, the hall eerily silent, as if all stopped breathing to hear the verdict Happosai would pronounce. Then finally, Happosai nodded slightly at the two of them. "Very well, I will not meddle in your affairs any longer. You could stay in Nerima. If you win against me."

"I did not come here to fight," Ranma said uneasily as Happosai took off the outer garments of the ceremonial robes he wore. "I just wanted to be granted the peace that I thought I had."

"Things that matter are always difficult to attain, aren't they?" Happosai said. "Your pride would not let you go, Ranma. It is your nature."

"Well, this isn't about pride anymore," Ranma countered, his first act of disobedience against Happosai since his birth. "I have fulfilled your wishes, protected Nerima, married Kodachi and never have I raised my sword against you. I will not do so now."

And for the first time in his entire life, Ranma Saotome turned his back against a challenge and disobeyed his liege.

It was a moment surprisingly robbed of its poignancy.

Nabiki gave one last mocking bow towards Happosai then followed her brother out of the doors.

Sohin shielded his eyes from the rain, keeping the coat made of rushes around his body tightly to ward off the rain and looking at the small entourage that made up his party. Two sisters, one small cousin and a bodyguard. Not much for someone wanting to overthrow an entire army.

Ifuku was carrying Yuki in her arms shielding the young child from the rain while trying to keep up with the pace he was setting. Storms in the first month. They were shivering from the cold, gusty wind, but there was little else they could do. They had been postponing this for far too long.

"My Lord's house is not much further," Sohin told them. The rain made the roads muddy and vision poor, hampering their progress. "It's lucky for us that most of the exiled Tendos migrated up here."

"They certainly couldn't stay on that little island where Chisei was," Ifuku said tersely. "I would think she'd ferret out every single one and have them executed. She may not be the most powerful on that island but she knows how to exert pressure on those around her."

Before Akane could find words to reply, two horses drew up in front of them: samurai from the household that they were going to visit. "I need to speak with my uncle at once," Yuki said, while he uncovered his face to allow the samurai to identify his features.

"My lord, your uncle will gladly accept you on this occasion," one of the samurai answered as the other rode forward to announce them in the household. Dismounting from the horse, a rare sight since horses were generally not allowed to samurai, he offered the stallion to Yuki and Ifuku.

Hesitating, Yuki looked for confirmation from Sohin. Sohin misunderstood Yuki's look as one for permission to ride, but he had been mistaken. Yuki had looked at him to confirm his identity in Tendo ranks. "I would not ride above my cousin Eruchii-oniisama, please."

The samurai stopped for a moment to comprehend the words. With the Tendo children a living legend amongst every Tendo household, it was a shock to find out that the heir was finally appearing. "I'm sorry for not recognizing you earlier, my lord," the samurai stuttered to Sohin.

Sohin waved away the formality. Though it seemed far, truly the house had just been a few yards away and other horses were lent to them to aid in their visit. Word spread fast on who the visitors were, and they were not only treated with respect but a little awe. Sohin had to murmur his slight discomfort to Ifuku at the entire ordeal.

Before she could respond however, they were forced to stop in front of the gates of the main house and dismounted automatically. Mitsuo was waiting for them at the gates, uncommon for someone of great importance.

It was Yuki who was first to take off the coat of rushes and the broad hat that shielded his face as he went up to the uncle he visited once a year with his caretaker. Though Sohin had been with Yuki at all times he was never permitted to see the old Mitsuo. So it was with a little apprehension and a good deal of curiosity that he watched his uncle greet his cousin.

"You've weathered a storm to see me, young one," his voice was steady and did not betray his age. "You should not have risked the storm just for your New Year's gift."

"I do not think you could have waited for my otoshi-dama, uncle." The otoshi-dama was the New Year's gift customarily given to children, so at the mention of this, Mitsuo raised his eyebrow in merriment. "Meet my cousins, Uncle Mitsuo."

Mitsuo's eyes slowly reverted to the four at his doorstep, still not crossing the threshold towards the house. He slowly went to them revealing that he had a limp and was relying heavily on his right leg and a cane to walk. He motioned for the three to move forward. "Come closer to the light and shelter, children. You are welcome in my household."

Peeling away the wet reeds before they stepped into the immaculate tatami and putting away the hat, it was Sohin who bowed first. "Uncle Mitsuo, we meet at last."

The old man stopped at the words and shook his head. "It certainly took you children long enough to seek me out." He motioned for his wife to hand them over fresh clothes. "I'll wait for you in my room. I trust you remember where it is, Yuki-sama? Please lead the Eruchii-sama to it. I would like to speak to him alone for the moment."

Though Sohin did not want to waste more time than was necessary, he permitted a change of clothes and a quick bath. As soon as he was presentable, he bid the maids cease their preparations, waved goodbye to his sisters, and motioned for Yuki to lead them towards the meeting place.

Mitsuo looked complacent in his room with a calligraphy brush trying to create the perfect circle, very much the old daimyo that he was. Though he did not control land that he once did in Sanuki, Mitsuo managed to live in a small property with a handful of loyal samurai.

He looked up from his papers, putting his brush down gently. "Yuki-chan, could I speak to your cousin alone for awhile?" Yuki bowed before leaving with one of the maids at the entrance. Mitsuo patted a long pine box beside him. From its appearance, it had been taken out of hiding just recently. "You came for this. I thought its hiding place would die with me, young Tendo."

"I thought people had given up searching for their myths," Sohin admitted solemnly, his head bowed in silent respect for the wishes that had asked him to return.

"I have never given up wishing for your return," Mitsuo countered. "If I had not feared that any probe for your whereabouts would bring Chisei, I would have tried to find you. I have too few resources, and too large a fear, that I never tried; but I have never given up hope that you would find your way home."

There was sadness in that, because they had been missing for many years, because they had been too weak to return. But there was happiness too, because they were finally returning. And the happiness was all the stronger because of the sadness. "I am glad that I am able to return as well."

The two men stayed silent, because both knew that after this moment, their lives would change. They could not say what the outcome of the change would be, but there would be change, and they both acknowledged its arrival. Finally, Mitsuo noted, "Boy, you remind me of your father. He was my cousin if you recall."

"I thought I evaded being caught because I didn't look like my father," Sohin answered, startled.

"No. You misunderstood. You have too much of your mother's beauty in your face to take on the harsh angles of your father's frame. But you have the same air about you. Fierce passion and quiet regret." There was no criticism in the tone, just an observation. "You are no doubt your father's son."

"I don't even understand why Chisei wants me dead. I am useless as a liege, powerless as a daimyo and helpless as a man. There are more daimyo surrounding the borders of Sanuki," Sohin muttered under his breath. "She could have larger land and richer fiefs for less trouble."

Mitsuo looked startled and dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "I don't know what I should address first, insecurity or misconception." When Sohin didn't speak up Mitsuo straightened. "Eruchii-sama, you do not hold just a small parcel of land. Sanuki is your stronghold, but you hold four more provinces to your name. You hold the island of Awaji including the land of Awa, Tosa and Iyo."

Sohin wasn't able to speak for the sheer enormity of it. He had been away since he was child so he only understood a part of his responsibility. He had been reared as an heir to Sanuki because he was the first son, his father had probably held on to the thought of having a legal heir for the entirety of his lands. Mitsuo made sure Sohin understood the ramifications by saying, "Eruchii-sama, you hold the entire Narikaido, the entire south sea way." He pushed the bundle forward. "Open it."

Sohin obeyed as he unknotted the twine that protectively sealed the gift with nerveless fingers. When he got past the outer layer he unfurled the lengthwise cloth, eyes widening at the long banner. His hands involuntarily moved towards the symmetrical fan stenciled into the cloth. It was designed with half circles and filled with geometrical lines up to the base. He gave his respects to the god of war which resided in the flag before he scrutinized the seal. "I thought I would never see the family seal again."

Mitsuo snorted. "You will once you get back to Sanuki. Chisei has it sewn on every dress, every fan that she has."

"That has never been a problem," Sohin answered. He lifted out the sword that was nestled amidst the banner, drawing it against the light of the torches, admiring its blade. His father's sword. It was well cared for.

Mitsuo watched Sohin with the sword and nodded appreciatively. "The sword fits your hand, Lord Tendo. Its blade has been waiting for you to sharpen it against the whetstone of Chisei's rule.

"Narikaido will fall into Tendo hands once again," Mitsuo murmured as Sohin installed the blade against his side. The mark of the father, finally finding its way to his son.

-

After Yuki had lead Sohin to their uncle, Yuki had proposed that they all take another soak in the bath. He had reasoned that they had been too rushed to take a proper soak. Ifuku laughed at the small proclamation, but had decided to keep him in her sights, and Akane had declined.

Akane looked around the room. For someone in exile, Tendo Mitsuo seemed to be living a settled lifestyle.

Ryouhei noticed her apparent awe of the room and explained, "Mitsuo-sama was merely exiled, Akane-san. He wasn't hunted like the three of you for dead. And the Saotomes had previous dealings with Tendos in the past."

"What do you mean?" Akane asked as she started airing out the clothes that were soaked by the rain. She hadn't brought much with her, just one dress and one of the mannish clothes for disguise.

Ryouhei unhooked his sword from his belt, setting it down beside him as he sat. "Your father had been apprenticed to someone before he became liege. I believe he was with a Saotome. However, his father had died at a young age and the training was terminated. The Sagami daimyo did not know of it because it was at a time before him, but before your generation Saotome and Tendo always had strong ties."

"Then why didn't we seek their help?"

Ryouhei sighed. "When you were exiled at all of five summers, the Saotome daimyo whom your sire was close to, a Genma Saotome, had already been cast out by Lord Happosai. We could not gather support from that. Mitsuo-sama was allowed a handful of samurai and money. He had paid the Saotome liege for sanctuary. We had nothing but the clothes on our back."

Akane sighed before she nodded, there were too many political intrigues revolving around the Tendo clan. She could not even remember half of who she was supposed to be.

Standing up she approached Ryouhei as he unsheathed his sword. "Come, let me look at that wound of yours."

He looked appalled that she suggested it, a protective hand hovering over the wound over his shoulder. "My lady, it does not pain me."

"Well, we'd better change the bandage regardless," Akane urged, kneeling down in front of Ryouhei and tapping his obtrusive hand. "The faster we finish this, the sooner you get better, the less and less time between check ups."

He resignedly gave up as he pushed down the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the bandaged wound. Akane took out the bandage. It was soaked through because of the rain, and Ryouhei had only deemed his clothes worthy of change. She examined the wound closely, there was a scar, but it didn't need the bandage anymore. "I wish for the speedy invention of the Band-Aid," Akane muttered. "And maybe gauze and antiseptic."

Ryouhei just gave her a bewildered stare. Akane shook her head as took away the dressing. "You won't need it anymore. It's completely healed. Ryouhei-san, how long have we been together?"

"I was chosen by my lady's grandfather to be my lady's bodyguard." Akane's brows knit as she applied the ointment Ifuku had mixed to lessen the scarring. She wondered over his words. He had probably been a little over ten. "I came over with one older samurai who was to be your official guard until I turned fifteen. He returned to your grandfather soon after. "

Akane raised her eyebrows in surprise as she moved her attention to the exit wound on his back. She pulled more of his shirt off to apply the salve before saying, "I thought my mother was disowned. Love match and all."

"Your grandfather really did love your mother -- it was just that to give her the freedom she wanted, he had to disown her." He was about to give another shrug, when Akane held his shoulder in place. "Sorry, Sohin really did poke holes into me."

She patted his back, signaling the end of her ministrations and then pulled his shirt down to cover him. She gathered the ointment and wrapped it in Ifuku's furoshiki before turning her attention to her things.

"Akane-san, I am very grateful that you're alive," Ryouhei murmured.

It was the first time they had been alone together. Most of the time, they had the buffer of Sohin, Ifuku and later on Yuki between them. They had hardly talked except for the normal pleasantries. Ryouhei seemed to be a private man.

Akane turned around to face him. "Ryou--" she faltered. Other than the fact that he could actually find his way in the house, he looked very much like Ryoga. "-san, I am very grateful that I'm still alive as well."

If he objected to the shortening of the name, or if it was unusual, he didn't comment on it. Silence fell again. Akane shifted uneasily. What had Ranma been thinking when he thrust her back to her ancestor's life? She wasn't the Akane that this man knew.

Well at least she could find out who he was. She packed up the things that could be packed and settled to sit in front of him, waiting to be called for the dinner one of the maids promised.

"You don't talk too much, do you?" Akane observed, tilting her head to the side. "You're like him."

"Like Saotome?" he asked sullenly.

Akane laughed at the thought of Ranma brooding. Ranma hardly ever moped around the house, and when he did he certainly wasn't silent about it. She wondered what gave Ryouhei the idea. She reached out and touched his face. "No, you are like Ryo--"

He flinched, moving his face away. She dropped her hand and stopped in mid-sentence. She should have known better than to tell him he reminded her of someone else. She should have remained silent, especially when Ranma already told him about Ryoga.

She threw her hands around him, nestling her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I miss home unbearably, and you remind me of it."

"Sohin already told me that you've lost part of your memories." He clenched his fist in obvious anger. "This is what Ifuku has stripped from you."

Akane noticed wryly that though he was always respectful with her, it did not extend to either of her siblings. She stepped back from him. "None of this is their fault. They've been kind with me."

"Ifuku missed the goddamned spot!" He brought his hand a little lower than her left collarbone rubbing the scar under the yukata. She hadn't noticed it before Ryouhei demanded to see proof that she was who she claimed. It was an almost identical mark to his own scar. "When we killed those samurai, you were barely breathing!"

From what she understood, Ifuku was supposed to have hit her more on the periphery, much like the scars that Sohin bestowed Ryouhei. Akane frowned at the accusation testily. Ifuku wasn't meant to wield the sword. She had been a maid for some twenty years. "Don't talk about Ifuku that way!"

"She sacrificed you to protect that boy!" It was an unacceptable move in Ryouhei's eyes. "You came to meet him and she killed you for it."

Anger glinted in Akane's eyes. She might not understand why Ifuku struck such a blow, but Ifuku had Akane's loyalty. She wasn't going to turn against her own sister. "If you hate my sister so, then why did you come with us? Why not just leave us alone?"

"That is an interesting question," a voice stated from the doorway. Akane turned to see Sohin, carrying Yuki, who seemed to be sitting on his arms. Apparently, Sohin had passed by the furo, knowing Yuki would want another round of soaking. Ifuku was slightly behind them, worried expression on her face. Ryouhei made some inarticulate protests before Ifuku raised an eyebrow. Sohin sighed before he continued, "She's not going to get subtle hints and you were never going to say it."

"Sohin, if you must torture him, you should not try subtlety. It does not work with oblivious people," Ifuku commented.

Sohin shrugged as he let Yuki down. "We can't try hitting them with a blunt object. Look at what hitting them with a sharp one accomplished." Akane stared blankly at the by-play, wondering what was going on. Sohin gave a pointed look to Ifuku. Ryouhei settled for another sullen glare. "See?" Sohin asked pointedly.

Ifuku threw up her hands exasperatedly as a serving girl entered, laying down trays in front of them. The maid left them to fetch the food. While they were waiting, Ifuku nodded towards the sword Sohin removed from his waist. "Now that you have father's sword, what are you to do about that one?"

Akane noticed that Sohin's hand went around the discarded sword protectively. She settled herself in front of her tray and gave a questioning gaze to Ifuku. Ifuku shook her head.

"It's mine," Sohin said possessively. His grip on it tightened.

"We could sell it," Ryouhei suggested. "We're bound to need coin when traveling to Sanuki."

"I told you it was mine. You are not touching the sword." There was an icy quality to Sohin's voice, one that Akane had not heard in the short time that she had been with the Tendos. Yuki shifted uncomfortably and Ryouhei immediately decided on the wise thing to say -- nothing.

A maid entered and broke the tense atmosphere. Ifuku sighed.

'Well,' Akane thought. 'Welcome to my family.'

One month after settling the samurai into Nerima, no orders from Happosai and suddenly relieved of the border patrols, Ranma found the sudden free time disconcerting.

With Hanae training with Cologne and Sei off of his care preparing for his year long training trip, Ranma's days were filled with the monotonous drills for the samurai and routine daimyo duties.

It was easy to sense his restlessness. He was used to managing two estates side by side along with whatever hatamoto duties Happosai would indulge in. The sudden change was bound to make anyone as active as Ranma yearn for some action. Peace and quiet did not go well with his personality.

Not to mention the fact that Ranma never showed or admitted his worry for the entire Tendo ordeal that he had pledged his support to.

Nabiki decided that she had to force the matter, or Ranma would not acknowledge it's presence at all in his life. She sought him out. Predictably, he was in the gardens beating a wooden stick driven in the middle of the ground.

She watched for a while, comfortable in the knowledge that they knew both were present, admiring his single-handed determination to splinter the hard wood and not bloody his knuckles. In mid-strike she asked incredulously, "Aren't you worried about them?" breaking their unspoken rule of silence about the Tendos. "Don't you miss her?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, unanswered. He stopped the fisted hand before hitting, immediately to look into her eyes. She thought he wouldn't answer the question because they stood facing each other for an inordinate amount of time. But he surprised her.

"I miss her so much that I'm afraid I'll drop everything here just to find her." He left that explosive comment in the air, and abruptly left the garden to think.

Nabiki stared after her brother in small wonder and more than a little bit of speculation. She narrowed her eyes at his retreating form. 'I have to get him to the Tendo stronghold,' she thought absentmindedly.

There was little option left for her to enact that particular plan. Ranma would not want to be forced into doing something he had already decided not to do. He would not do it for himself, and he would not do it even after a beating. He would not fight her for a bet like that, and there was little chance of her winning against him anyway. He never threw fights to save face, so that was out of the question.

Which left her to try and cajole Ranma into Sanuki by the only means she knew how: emotional blackmail. He would be angry when he found out, and he would be extremely resistant if it seemed like a plot to gain him something, but he would agree as a favor to her. If worded carefully and the setting was right.

"Besides, dearest brother, you're getting to be too much of an ogre locked in Nerima, and Sanuki seems to be the perfect remedy," Nabiki mulled to herself as she prepared for a grand plan of action.

The border of the Saotome land was marked with a checkpoint, a seki. Traveling along Saotome land had proved surprisingly easy with the directions that Ranma had given Sohin and the missive that contained Ranma's hanko explaining that he was to be let through the seki.

They had passed through three other provinces in the past month to reach the end of Saotome territory located at Owari. Although the travel was harsh, his uncle's horses had shortened the journey to a little over four weeks.

As Ranma had promised men were stationed at Owari waiting for him. Kumon Ryu had immediately introduced himself, saying it was more of a personal favor to Nabiki than Ranma's own that he was with the men. But before they talked, he had ushered Sohin to a small makeshift tent and presented a young boy to him.

"I thought we were going to talk about moving through Ise and Kii," Sohin asked as he knit his brow. "What were you thinking bringing a boy along to war?"

"It wasn't my idea to bring him along. He kind of snuck in," Ryu answered ruefully. "And it's not like you don't have a boy with you as well."

"That's different. That boy is my only ticket to Sanuki territory without bloodshed," Sohin explained, perplexed. He didn't want to bring Yuki along either, but he had little choice in the matter.

"Well think of him as your ticket to entering Ise territory," Ryu said choosing to imitate his earlier words. The boy just listened to the two of them without interrupting. "Eruchii-sama, may I present to you, Saotome-noh-Sei."

"I think, for me to fulfill the role of being a 'ticket', I might as well use the name I was born with, Kumon-san," the boy corrected as he approached the two men. "I am Ikkasei-noh-Sei. My father is daimyo of Ise."

Sohin froze in place as he regarded the young boy. They hadn't met in the short time that he had spent in Sanuki, but he had been still with his mother when he left Rose Brier. "You don't have to look like that. I know my name is awful, but my father has a thing for rhymes. I match my last name and the city. Imagine: Ikkasei-noh-Sei daimyo of Ise. People are going to fall down laughing before they take me seriously. That or make a grand tongue twister."

Sohin opened his mouth several times. That wasn't what he was going to point out, but now he didn't know if he was going to laugh or simply be stunned into silence.

Sohin had been told by Ifuku that the boy was known to be silent and seemed to lack humor, but Sohin had revised his impression on sight. Sei was mostly sarcastic, his jokes told with a straight face that made you wonder if he was serious or not, and was rigid to a fault. If his face grew any sterner, Sohin would have sworn he was turning thirty years older.

"It was a joke, Tendo-sama," he reassured Sohin before turning to Ryu. "All of the men my mother has associated with simply lack humor."

This time it was Ryu who seemed embarrassed. Then realization hit as he glared at Sohin. Sei closed his eyes in exasperation. "I can't be the grown up for the two of you. My mother had a total of one hundred seventy six fiancés accumulated over the span of ten years with Genma-san. She pretended to be courtesan to twelve men. She has kissed a total of four times. Three of which were an Amazon promise of death.

"I can't have you squabbling over my mother if you're expecting me to talk to my father to give us safe passage. My father thinks my mother is dead." Sei took a deep breath and opened the tent flap to leave. "I'll talk to the two of you when you're thinking of battle and not something else."

Ryu and Sohin looked at each other flabbergasted. It was Sohin who spoke up first. "How old is that kid? He can't be more than ten."

Ryu groaned. "I think thirty nine is more accurate. I thought he was going to enumerate the times she had sex too."

Sohin did not want to dwell on that particular thought. "What was Nabiki thinking telling him that kind of information?"

"Actually it was my foster mother. She's a delightful little gossip, with more tongue than brain," Sei called from the outside of the tent.

The two men yelped. "I can hear you, you know. Tents are hardly soundproof," Sei added in a serious stern voice. Sohin sighed. If you could not see him, Sei sounded almost like a twenty year old woman lecturing her wards.

He groaned. How the hell would they survive this?

-

"Sei, what are you doing here?" Akane gasped as she knelt down in front of the boy.

The boy smiled ruefully, motioning towards the Saotome soldiers. "Uhh, would you believe me if I told you I was leading an army to battle?" The stern look in Akane's eyes said otherwise. He blew at his bangs, making it flutter against his forehead. "You're going to cross over to my father's territory after that body of water. I wanted to talk to him."

Akane digested two things at once. One was that Sei's father was still very much alive. The second was that they were going to do it after what appeared to be months of separation, maybe more. "Where's Nabiki?"

"My father kind of doesn't know my mother still exists," Sei said slowly. He waved towards the tent. "Thus the rather large complication of men trying to marry her, her son who's trying to remain with her and a brother who's trying to keep her alive."

"And you're talking to him?" Akane asked, trying to understand what the boy was telling her between the lines. "What will happen to you?"

He gave a noncommittal shrug. "I don't know. I barely remember my father. He was away most of the time. I ran away when I was too young to remember."

"You can't just waltz into your father's hands again!" Akane pointed out in worry. "You would cause a war."

"I wasn't abducted by the Saotomes, I ran away. I ran away because my father was going to kill my mother. If you were to choose between your parents, who would you run to? Someone whom you barely know or someone who's been beside you forever?

"Now they're just bringing me back because they noticed I look frighteningly like my father. Because I am an orphan but demonstrate education. Because I stand out. Isn't that enough to plead for the Saotomes to pass through Ikkasei land? Isn't that enough to let you win your precious land?"

Akane wondered what it must feel like to be so young and be very much aware that the life you lead wasn't your own. She leaned in close and pressed the boy close to her in a tight hug. "What about Nabiki?"

"Mother does not know I am here," he answered stiffly. "But she is worried for the Tendo heirs crossing into Ikkasei territory. She's worried that the Tendo heir might say something about her and die because of it."

"That she would die?"

"My mother does not brood over much about her own death. She's more worried about his," Sei retorted motioning his head towards the tent that he just left. Sohin was emerging from its flap and Akane's eyes moved back towards Sei. "I do remember one thing about father. He is a very jealous man."

-

That evening, preparations were tense. Sohin did not trust easily and the Saotomes sensed that, but they followed him because Sei was with the Tendos, and they understood who Sei was. They respected his mother if not the child that stood before them, and they would die for him, simply because he was his mother's child.

Sohin glanced surreptitiously at the boy, knowing that he was being watched. Sei was silent most of the time, unlike their previous meeting. Although he was waited on hand and foot by the Saotome samurai, Omokage stayed by his side at all times. Nabiki chose well for her son's honor guard -- if he had to choose who would guard his back amongst Saotome ranks, it would be him.

Omokage noticed that he was looking at them and he inclined his head in acknowledgement of his presence. Sohin did the same. He supposed that he should demand more respect out of the man, but captivity was an equalizer of men and he supposed Omokage treated him more like an equal than a liege lord. He wondered briefly if Nabiki told the samurai that Ifuku was his sister, but decided that she wouldn't.

Nabiki gave out information sparingly, and she would not deem it important for Omokage to know that Sohin was a Tendo and that his sister was his supposed wife. Omokage would find that out sooner or later.

Sohin's gaze landed on Akane, already cleaning up after their makeshift dinner. They had started to get along, bonded against Ryouhei's jabs if not because of blood, something that had surprised him. She was loyal to a fault, and she had decided her loyalties lay with him over a bodyguard who had supposedly protected her since birth.

He walked towards her just as she rose from washing her hands. She smiled at him tentatively and he motioned vaguely towards the outskirts of the camp. She nodded, understanding the motions. Thankfully, Ryouhei was not around to interfere.

Sohin took Akane aside bringing her to the darker part of the camp. With the Saotome samurai, if they wanted privacy they needed to walk some distance before they could be free of the men. "Your bodyguard is not with you."

"He's out to answer the call of nature," Akane responded with a laugh. When she noticed his lack of comprehension, she looked down pointedly before looking up.

"Ahh," he said with understanding as soon as they reached their destination. They stopped at a clearing that the fire barely illuminated, but was free of people because of the river. Rock everywhere, and flowing water. Akane raised an eyebrow. Sohin rarely asked to talk to her alone.

She and Sohin had started grudgingly to get along, especially since Sohin received enough attacks from Ryouhei. With Ryouhei present to rile him, he barely tried to pick fights with her.

"Akane," his tone was serious. Not the commanding liege, but authoritative enough. "Do you love Saotome?"

Akane narrowed her eyes. Direct to the point. Sohin had never tried to skirt any issue. But she hadn't expected the personal question. They were months away from Ranma's territory. They were about to leave Saotome territory. "Is this about leaving the Saotome boundaries?"

Sohin shook his head. "I'm your older brother. This is about you."

"I'm not leaving you. I'm not returning to him," Akane answered slowly. She rubbed her hands against her arms, then closed her eyes. 'A moment stretched on to forever.' She opened her eyes again. "Don't remind me of what I lost, Sohin. Don't ask me to stay in Saotome land."

Sohin reached out tentatively and gave her shoulder a soothing pat. They were technically brother and sister, but they hadn't been together long enough for him to be comfortable enough to offer a reassuring hug. "I'm more selfish than you think, Akane. I wouldn't ask you to leave us. I need you to keep the triumvirate whole."

"Then why ask?"

Sohin looked uncomfortable under the question. The easy answer was something he did not like. "You've not answered my question."

Akane bent down on one of the larger borders to sit on it. She brought up her leg, staring at nothing for a while before turning her attention to Sohin again.

Sohin smiled at her, sitting just below the rock she occupied. It did not offer eye-contact but soothing companionship. "I thought you'd forgotten me. You do that a lot lately, retreat to somewhere we can't reach you."

"I was just thinking about how I was going to answer you." Akane took a deep breath, wondering if she could say the right things to make Sohin understand. "You give up some things because you must. I am with you because of him. Nabiki told me the truth. If I cannot accept that he is married, then I am not worthy of him."

"And if someone asks me for you, should I keep your hand in wait, or should I give you away in hopes that you will forget?" So he understood. Akane had failed to remember that Sohin was in much of a similar situation. He gave her a choice rarely offered to women at these times. "You're my sister, Akane, regardless of what happens, it's your happiness that I want."

"Has anyone offered?" There was another long pause. Obviously he didn't like the answer to that one either. "It wouldn't be fair for anyone to receive me as a bride. I don't have a dowry large enough to be worthy of anybody."

"Not even loyalty and trust?" he asked slowly.

"I've given both to you."

He stopped for a long moment, and she wondered if he understood that she had given away everything. He asked again, "And love?"

"I was married before I came here." She didn't have to elaborate for him to know that it wasn't merely the location she was talking about. "I thought I loved him. I guess I did, but what I felt there paled to what I experienced here. After Ranma, I've nothing left to give."

"Are you quite sure, Akane?"

Akane stepped off the rock and slid beside Sohin. She rested her head on his shoulder. She'd always wanted an older brother. "I'm quite sure, oniisan." And then she cried. Sohin stiffened up beside her, then began to tentatively pat her shoulder. Sohin did not have the experience of comforting Akane. "He's given me one memory to last for forever. How can I not be sure? How could I choose anyone else? How could I let someone take that memory away? How could I explain when I meet him again that I've given up? I can't."

He thought to change the topic. Any topic just to get her mind off what they were talking about now. "Hey, you know what, that's the first time you've called me oniisan."

"Don't let it go to your head," Akane said in between sobs.

"I doubt you'll let me," Sohin retorted as he gripped her shoulders tightly, until all of the pain washed away.

In retrospect, Ranma sensed that it had taken Nabiki considerable planning to breach the topic of the Tendos with him again. After another short-tempered bellow at a newly recruited samurai under his watch, Nabiki had approached him with a chiding look and a gleam in her eye that signaled him to be wary.

She brought him an earthenware mug containing cool water and a small towel to wipe his face on. The morning drills with the samurai were hardly a chore for Ranma, but he'd been edgy lately, and he was more short-tempered than not when people did not get the maneuvers right.

When Genma was around he took on the duty as guardmaster in Nerima. Although his presence was rare because of strained relations between him and Nodoka, Genma had been increasingly frequenting the Nerima household, bringing his current wards with him.

As guardmaster he allowed Ranma time with the men. Genma did so because he understood the frustration of loosing Rose Brier. Nabiki, he sensed, knew it was more than that.

But since Nabiki managed most of Ranma's administrative work, all that was left for Ranma to do was arrange, then re-arrange the samurai shifts and beat his samurai to the ground for their lack of skills. Something that he didn't enjoy much of late.

"You aren't going to Sanuki for Akane?" she had asked, exasperated, as he took the cup for a drink. He was already starting to regret telling her the truth when she asked if he had missed Akane, but it had just spilled over his lips. A truth that needed to be voiced out before it ate him. When he remained silent, she raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "I see. You wouldn't go there for me?"

"Go there yourself if you're so worried," Ranma bit out, wiping his face before beginning another kata as the other samurai took up their shinai and practiced inside the dojo, giving them privacy for talk and Ranma room to maneuver.

"I can't," Nabiki muttered darkly as she glared at him, her hands planted firmly on her hips, the very image of a woman out to nag. "My conditions don't allow traveling."

That stopped him in mid-punch. Nabiki was hardly ever sick, she was as healthy as a horse. She never had a condition that disallowed traveling. He turned to her slowly. "What condition?"

She rolled her eyes at him, exasperated. At least, from her demeanor, he knew that whatever the matter with her was, it wasn't serious enough for her to be in her deathbed. "Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"Nabiki," he warned her, dropping his fists to his sides, giving her his full attention. "Just spit it out. What the hell do you want in Sanuki anyway?"

She bit her lip and winced before she blurted out, "Oh all right. I need to talk to the father of your soon to be nephew. He happens to be in Sagami."

The moment she said the words his mouth dropped open. "When the hell did you have time to get pregnant?"

"What are you--" she stopped in mid-sentence, confused at their conversation and then slowly smiled, as if the conversation suddenly caught up with her. "You were so busy during ganjitsu. It hardly took effort to entertain myself."

"Apparently," Ranma said dryly as he went towards the porch to reach the towel and glass once again. "You do understand that he could very well be dead by now."

"I know," she answered gravely, following him towards the shade of the house. She leaned against his arm closing her eyes, a gesture of comfort that they had shared long before they came back to Japan. "But you'll go and see for yourself and you'll tell me about it."

Ranma knew he couldn't deny anything his sister asked. "Fine, I'll go to Sanuki, Nabiki." He paused for a moment then realized something. "You created one hell of a stunt trying to kill yourself with Kodachi when you're pregnant."

"I didn't know then," Nabiki answered releasing him lightly. "There had been no signs before. I'm sure now."

He nodded touching his cheek to hers. "I'll get him back for you, Nabiki." He wouldn't go to the Tendo stronghold for himself, but he would do anything for Nabiki.

He felt rather than saw her smile against his cheek. "Try not to beat him senseless, all right?"

The three Tendo heirs and Omokage were the only companions Sei took on the first boat out of Owari for Ise. He hoped it would lead to fewer wrong conclusions on his father's part. Or rather, since his father would probably arrive at a more accurate conclusion than the lie they were telling, conclusions that didn't lead to war.

He leaned closer to Omokage, someone whom Sei had worked under several times during sparring against a larger opponent. Dressed in the usual peasant garb, he didn't look much different than the Tendos. Sei looked up to him with a small smile. "Are you ready to pretend to be a fisherman?"

Omokage smiled ruefully, tugging at the peasant clothes they had acquired at the closest seki, checkpoint. "When my lord commands, I obey." That was what Sei remembered in Omokage, determined and loyal to a fault.

Sei nodded. "Explaining to my father why I never came back is going to be tricky."

"Explaining to your father why you have Saotomes on your heels is going to be trickier," Omokage corrected.

Sei groaned. He was half convinced that his father wasn't going to believe his lies either. As Omokage steered their small boat to shore, Sei jumped off before docking.

One of the samurai, who Sei assumed to be the watch between the waterways, approached them. Ever since the entire business with his mother's alleged murder of his uncle, Ikkasei-Saotome relations had been strained leading to more paranoia on both sides. Since the docks were the direct port for Saotome landings, they were assigned a more stringent watch now than back when he was younger.

"You've entered Ise, fisherman, what business do you have in Ikkasei territory?" the inquiry was directed at Omokage. Sei after all, was just eight.

"We wish to have audience with the Ikkasei liege," Sei declared just as Omokage helped Akane from the boat.

The samurai inclined his head in Sei's direction without removing his attention from the others. "Ikkasei-sama holds court for grievances at the start of every month, come back then, child, and wait your turn."

From his inner kimono, Sei lifted an omamori charm that he always wore around his neck. He pried open the charm and tapped it against his palm. A hanko slid out and Sei held it out-for the samurai to see. "You'll grant me audience now because he's my father and I haven't seen him in three years."

The samurai took an inordinate amount of time looking at the seal before he was lucid enough to realize the meaning of what was being shown to him. "Seiichi-sama?"

Sei smiled ruefully as he hid the hanko inside the omamori once again. "I haven't heard my whole name in a long time. Please inform my father of my arrival."

-

Both Omokage and Sohin flanked Sei as he walked through the main Ikkasei donjon for the first time in three years. Similar to Rose Brier, the house was situated near the sea so that there could only be three points of attack. It was build on top of a man-made hill so that the castle was higher and they could see all points of approach.

His father had other palaces, and his main one resided deep inside Ise, but he toured his fief from east to west, starting in the beginning of the year, and during ganjitsu up to the second month. They were lucky that he was here.

They had been asked to wait in his father's receiving room, complete with a raised dais. Sei looked around the room. There was a small banner on either side with their crest, three cloves moving towards the center in a hatched circle adorning it. Sei rubbed his palm, he'd taken nothing marking him as Saotome from the main house. Amidst all of the seals, he felt like he'd lost his identity.

Akane squeezed his shoulder lightly and gave him a smile of encouragement. Considering their time together had been limited, he appreciated the gesture.

When his father entered the room, he had two samurai guard with him. Sei cocked his head as he assessed the kimono his father wore. It was adorned with five seals, marking him part of the ruling class. In the Saotome household, Nabiki and Ranma rarely dressed formally, but if he remembered correctly, his father always wore five seals, making his kimono formal.

They stood apart from each other, assessing each other until finally his father broke silence, "You look well, boy."

"Thank you, outou-sama," Sei answered as respectfully as possible. "I have been gone a long time. How is okaa-sama?"

A tense silence filled the room. They all knew Nabiki was dead or rather presumed to be dead, but then Sei had been lost right after she had been sentenced to death. He wasn't supposed to know she was dead. He wasn't supposed to know what had happened to her. "I sent your mother to Saotome land when she killed your uncle. The Saotomes tell me she died there a long time ago."

Sei bowed his head for a moment of respect for his supposedly dead mother. His father, Sugoshi, eyed him closely. "Seiichi, where have you been these past three years?"

Sei looked his father in the eye. "I was playing near the shore, I got caught up in the waves. This fisherman saved me." He waved his hand towards Omokage before continuing, "At the time, I couldn't tell him where I was from or who my father was. I only knew you were 'father'. I was hidden away from court most of the time."

"And you're returning now, because?"

"I am returning now because I found something that leads me back here." Sei took the charm from around his neck again and tapped out the hanko. He started to approach his father, but one of the samurai flanking him moved forward instead, opening his palm. Sei sighed and handed the stamp over.

The samurai looked at the seal and then announced, "It is Seiichi-sama's official hanko seal, my lord. His whole name is etched on it."

"And your mother always placed an omamori around your neck for protection," his father mused. "Even if she had been baptized Christian long before I married her. I guess you'll want to stay here now."

"I would rather go to Saotome territory and visit my mother's grave, father. If I could be permitted to do so," Sei requested fervently.

"That is out of the question. After we establish if you really are my son, you need to study to become daimyo," Sugoshi said emphatically. "You've lived with a fisherman for three years. What would you know of ruling Ise?"

"But please father, I want to pay my respects to my mother's grave! And I remember she told me once long ago that I have talent and her brother could teach me more than she could."

"You remember that but not your father's name." Sugoshi snorted. "Saotome Ranma could only teach you how to fight. He cannot teach you how to become daimyo."

"Then let me learn how to fight under him. Otou-sama, I will be with you for the rest of my life. I will oversee all that you ask of me, but please give me this request," the pain in his voice was real. Just as the pledge of his loyalty was equally truthful. His voice broke when he said, "She is my mother."

His father frowned, he may have not understood Nabiki, but he had cared for her in his own way. It was when she had supposedly broken her allegiance that he had turned cold to her. "I will think about your request Seiichi." He then turned towards Omokage and the Tendos. "And you must want something in return, for taking care of my son for three years."

"I would ask that my friends be granted passage through your territory, my lord." After a beat, Omokage continued, "They bring samurai with them."

Sugoshi raised an eyebrow and turned towards his son. "Your return is turning out to be stranger and stranger, Seiichi. Why would four peasants need safe passage through my lands?"

"I believe they want to go to Narikaido, otou-sama," Sei answered with a small hesitation in his voice. "He is the missing liege of Sanuki."

"And it was just a grand coincidence that they come to my door with my prodigal son," Sugoshi speculated out loud, weighing each of them down as they stood before him. "Four heirs brought in by one man, and a trail of samurai not far behind. Do you catch them like you do fish?"

Omokage remained silent, and Sugoshi turned to his son. "Did they take you from our shores, Seiichi? Did they take you to use you as a bargaining chip?"

Sei's startled look was not faked. He had not thought his father would think that, although it was a logical conclusion. "Otou-sama, okaa-sama has done right by me with my training. I would not be taken against my will if I could help it," Sei answered in defense to both the Tendos and his mother.

Sugoshi assessed Sei, but took his word for truth. "I will grant you your request to train under your uncle. But remember, you will study all there is to know about what being liege is under one of my retainers. You will return to me when I call you, every time I call you.

"As for the three of you, I grant you passage, but remember that you owe the house of Ikkasei a favor, and I am a man who never forgets debts owed to him."

They all bowed.

-

Sei's father's trust was not that long reaching, he had allowed passage on the condition that there were fifty Ikkasei men to escort them through the length of Ikkasei land.

Sei gave it some thought and managed to point out to Omokage that the best time to overtake the closest Ikkasei land was now, when a good deal of the Ikkasei samurai were busy with them.

Omokage had tweaked Sei's hair ruefully and whispered, "And if your father's spies hear you tell me that, I'd be flogged to death for trespassing and we will be constant attack through his borders. An advantage for the Tendos, but I'd rather remain alive, thank you."

Sei smiled a little before saying, "I knew you had some head for politics, Omokage-san."

To which Omokage just shook his head ruefully. Politics was something he was not interested in. He swiveled his eyes to Ryu and Sohin, both of whom were ordering men about.

"Kumon-san doesn't like losing," Sei observed slowly, watching both men. Kumon had been ordered to follow the Tendo heir, but it obviously irked him, especially now that he knew the Tendo heir was competition.

"No one likes losing, Sei-sama," Omokage informed him.

Sei shrugged. "Oh, but Kumon-san lost before he even knew his competitor, and it irks him a little." Sei's eyes swiveled to another brooding male. "This party seems to have an abundance of sulking, depressed, overbearing males."

"You mean Ryouhei-san?" Omokage inquired, following Sei's gaze. "Akane-sama has informed me that he is her personal guard."

"There is tension between the males here," Sei observed as Ryouhei took his time before answering a direct order from Sohin. Sohin did not reprimand him, but the tension was still present. "How are we going to survive walking to Sanuki with all of these men wanting to kill each other?"

"By not bringing them along," Akane answered.

Sei started, looking at Akane who had been behind them. Omokage bowed but Sei gave a small displeased frown. "It is impolite to listen to conversations not directed to you, Akane-sama."

She laughed as she sat down beside him motioning for Yuki to come. The boys regarded each other in silence before Akane introduced them, "Lord Seiichi Ikkasei, I would like you to meet my cousin, Lord Yuki Tendo. Yuki, this is Lord Sei, he is the son of the Ikkasei liege."

Both of them bowed formally before Yuki settled close to Akane. Sei turned to him, "You weren't there with the negotiations. I would have thought they'd bring their important cousin along."

"I was with Ryu-san."

Sei raised an eyebrow at the almost timid reply. He looked at Akane who was giving Yuki an encouraging smile. Sei glanced at Omokage briefly before extending his hand. "I know a couple of moves I want to try out. Has anyone been teaching you martial arts?"

"I know a bit from Sohin-niisan," came the reply after a while.

Shy. He was going to have to work on that. "The Tendo heir," Sei murmured. Sei leveled a critical eye at Sohin's movement, he hadn't seen the peasant-turned-samurai fight before, but from the way he moved, he must know at least the basics. "Okay, come on, I'll try it out and maybe I'll teach you."

Yuki turned to Akane for consent before leaving with Sei. Sei sighed, well, at least this was a change from Hanae. Hanae was jut too cocky for her own good.

-

Their weeks settled into a rhythm for the trip to Ikkasei. Sei, it seemed, was a good sparring partner for Yuki, whom up to that point had only the briefest interactions with children his age. They sparred when they camped, and Sei and Yuki were taught politics by the Ikkasei scholar they had with them when they were moving out.

Ryu Kumon and the three Tendos almost always conferred in the evenings to refine plans on what they were going to do once they reached Tendo territory. They had decided to cross over in small groups by the docks so as not to attract attention. The first to cross would be the heirs and Ryu.

They nit-picked the plan nightly, even if they already knew it by heart. Afterwards, Sohin sparred with the samurai because he intended to increase his skills before he arrived on Tendo soil. It was something which Ryu enjoyed and Ryouhei took advantage of regularly.

Ryouhei slammed his fist against Sohin's gut. Sohin moved back, but he didn't manage to evade the tail end of it. Even with the reduced power the punch had knocked his breath out of him.

"Wonderful," Sohin coughed out when he managed to force enough air into his lungs. "Kill the man whose consent you need for marriage. It's a sure way to get me to choose you as her husband."

"I didn't say I wanted to marry her," Ryouhei said defensively.

"Then you are an idiot," Sohin pointed out as he leaned towards one of the larger trees. His breath heaving. "When will you accept that she's not the same person she was a year ago?"

"I'm not sure why we're having this conversation. You tell me I'm an idiot for not wanting to marry her, but you tell me she's not the same person, making her unwilling to marry me," Ryouhei said bringing his fists forward in another ready stance. "Make up your mind."

"I will when the world stops spinning," Sohin muttered. He really should not have decided to test Ryouhei's strength. Sohin himself had endurance and a strong hitting arm, but Ryouhei could take more pain than he could, even if Sohin's strength equaled Ryouhei's own. "Stop trying to woo her if you won't have her. She's not yours."

"She will always be Akane."

Aside from his bruising body, Sohin started to feel the familiar pounding on his head whenever Ryouhei tried to reconcile his immaculate view of his sister with the current Akane. "Ryouhei, she views you fondly. But you've always been more of a brother than her lover."

"She said that?"

That would be the only way Ryouhei would back off. Sohin contemplated lying. His conscience won out. "No, but I know her."

"Then there's still a chance. I know her better than you do, Sohin-san." Sohin heard the dislike he had for the honorific.

Sohin refrained from saying, 'Not Akane now you don't.' Ryouhei looking like Akane's husband didn't help matters. Ryouhei acting like her husband didn't help matters. Akane's admission that she still loved Ranma didn't help matters either. He cursed his conscience -- things would be simpler if he did not have it. "You're a bullheaded idiot."

"You keep insulting me that way and I'll feed you to the ground," Ryouhei threatened.

"You will have to work harder to follow up on that threat," Sohin said as he straightened, getting his second wind. He'd not let Ryouhei beat him this easily.

-

Moving through Ikkasei territory was easy with the lost Ise heir in their party and an armed escort making sure that the samurai that followed them would not savage Ikkasei land.

The travel through the Gokiraido, which spanned the entire Ikkasei territory, was also educational for Sei, who had not walked the land since he had been five. Even if they were traveling from Ise to Yamamoto and Kawashi only, the scholarly man whom Sugoshi had assigned to Sei had lectured him on most of the land's politics and resources.

After breakfast they traveled most of the day, stopping only for lunch and for dinner. They camped outside settlements because the Ikkasei samurai did not want them entering cities. With the number of Saotome samurai they had, it was a perfectly justified worry.

The Ikkasei samurai had provisions from Ise, and the Saotomes had enough coin between themselves to buy provisions, although only the women were allowed inside the city to buy. Ryouhei was a good hunter, and occasionally at dawn he hunted to provide food for his lady. Sohin let Ryouhei feed Akane -- it was one mouth less for him to hunt and buy things for.

Ranma had ordered his men to bear no Saotome markings, effectively branding most of the men who followed Sohin as mercenary or rogue. It calmed the Ikkaseis a good deal, and made Sohin admit that stripping them of the title would at least not add strain to Ikkasei-Saotome relations.

The Saotomes would have to worry about getting back to Saotome land, but Ryu had assured Sohin more than once that they were splitting into four groups and would reenter Gokiraido in smaller numbers to return home. Since it was borrowing trouble, Sohin didn't add that to his worries.

After going over their plan again, as they had every evening, Sohin sighed. Although now so close to Sanuki, Sohin's hesitation was more apparent. "For this kind of plan, don't you think we have too many samurai?"

"You will need the samurai in case samurai under Chisei rally to her," Ryu explained. "We are merely a precaution. Mostly, this depends on you and Yuki-sama."

Sohin looked at his younger cousin, who was with them tonight listening to their plans, and who smiled at them with confidence at what they had come up with. Sohin sighed as he dismissed them to their nightly duties. Yuki would have more lessons alongside Sei, and Ifuku and Akane joined him in nightly practice with the Saotome samurai.

Although Sohin's fighting was good, the Saotome samurai had pressed him to be better than what he already was. They had been surprised that he was more skilled than they had initially assessed, although rough in his art. As if he had been taught some of the basic forms, and the rest were a mish-mash of things that he had patched up in places he had visited.

It was a style similar to what the Saotomes practiced, except for less of their aerial techniques. The nightly fights had forced him to learn quickly, and now, most Saotome samurai had to work hard to keep the bite of Sohin's blade from their bodies.

Ifuku and Akane rested as they watched Sohin fight Ryu again. Most of the time, Ryu won, but Sohin had earned Saotome respect easily because he had beaten Ryu once or twice, and that was sufficient enough for Sohin to be good.

Sohin nodded. "I wish I did not need this many men."

"You shouldn't. I have seen you playact with Yuki. The boy will do well, and so will you," Ryu reassured him.

Sohin just hoped it was not misplaced trust or merely for easing his troubled mind that Ryu voiced the words.

-

Akane wasn't accustomed to traveling far by foot, which was preferable to traveling by horse. Naturally, Akane had commuted from her work to the house and from school, and she had been on training trips with her father when she was young, but traveling for months on end was quite different from traveling for days.

It was a good thing, then, that she was on foot most of the time, or she would have to show that she never did get experience riding a horse. By the end of the first month of their travel she ached in places that she didn't know had muscles.

At least, she noted with weariness, she was used to sleeping on the hard ground of the earth, or she would have more sore muscles.

On their journey, peasants were already tilling their paddies so that it would be ready for their rice seedling patches. Because it had not snowed the past year, there had been no remaining snow on the land, and the ground was not as hard.

Since Yuki and Sei were engrossed in lessons most of the mornings, the Ikkasei retainer taking up their time, she only had time to talk with them over food. She had to marvel at the difference and level of maturity of both Sei and Yuki from children where she came from. They never quarreled, and although they played games and wished fervently for a break in their lessons as all children are wont to do, they accepted compromise and punishment with little fuss.

The samurai had chosen a scenic place to stop for their lunch, since the day marked the middle of spring. There was a river beside them and its water was already warm. Its trickling sound was a soothing counterpoint to the rest of the journey that lay ahead.

Sohin had fashioned a kite for Yuki that day, and gave it to the boy after lunch, so that they would have something to play with while the samurai scouted for a trail ahead of them. So, after lunch both Yuki and Sei were tagging the bright red kite through the azure sky while the wind blew fluffs of willow in their way.

Although it was too early for cherry blossoms, plum trees were already showering them with flowers, and there were patches of violets. After they tangled their kite into a tall plum tree, Akane trotted up to them filtering the sun out with her hand as she whistled at the height that their kite had reached.

"Waah, that far, huh?" Akane asked in good nature, as she pulled her peasant's sleeve's up her arms. The tree was around twenty-feet tall. "I can climb a tree."

Sei looked dubious, but Akane had already reached for the first branch before he could protest, and had swung herself up. Ifuku, who had seen the commotion, approached the two children. She leaned towards Sei and whispered, "My lord, don't you know how to jump the trees?"

Sei gave her a sheepish smile. "I do. But my father's samurai is here and Akane-sama seems to be doing well."

"I heard that!" Akane hissed as she ascended another branch. "Hey, I can do this on my own."

By that time, Sohin was already sitting on a large gnarled root of the tree, motioning for Ifuku, Sei and Yuki to sit on the natural benches. Sei and Yuki all scrambled to follow, while Ifuku walked towards him offering a light towel to both children. Yuki gave Sohin the kite strings to roll again into a ball.

"I think these plums are already ripe!" Akane called from above them, as she tapped the orange fruit in front of her. Unripe loquats were sour, but it was better than no dessert at all. Unfortunately, tapping did not reveal any sound that would tell her if it was all right to pluck and the fruit bruised easily.

"I thought you were fetching a kite!" Sohin shouted back. Yuki suppressed a giggle at the rhyme, and Sohin reached out to tweak his nose because of it.

"Oh, be quiet! I'm getting that too. But I might as well do something else while I'm up here," Akane told him, as she straddled a branch while eyeing the offerings of the tree.

By then, Ryouhei approached them with mild concern. "My lady, are you all right?"

"I need a sword! My kodachi isn't cut out for this." Akane said instead, the tree would not yield its fruit to her willingly without it. "Is there any chance that you guys have one with you?"

"There is no way I'm giving you father's sword to pick fruit!" Sohin sounded appalled. He should be, their father's sword was generations old. To suggest using it for harvest of fruit was blasphemy.

"Give her the Yokohama sword then," Sei suggested. For a moment Sohin was struck dumb. Before he could formulate a reply, Sei shrugged. "I told you the lady who cared for me was the town gossip. You were the talk of Yokohama, you know."

Sohin shook his head. "There is no way I'm giving you any of my swords!" However, Sohin took pity on Akane and unbelted a small dagger. He hefted the blade lightly and was about to throw it towards her when Ryouhei took it from his fingers and followed Akane.

"Hey! I said I could fetch it myself!" Akane said indignantly, taking the sheathed dagger from Ryouhei's fingers. It had taken Ryouhei mere moments to jump towards the height Akane had climbed painstakingly to, which irritated her a little.

As Akane made short work of the plums, Ryouhei took the fruits she had deposited in a makeshift basket from a large cloth that he had used as a bag.

Ifuku pushed at Sohin as Sei and Yuki tracked the butterflies flitting from flower to flower in the plum tree's shade. "Shouldn't you be helping her?"

"And interrupt them before my lord Ryouhei permits?" Sohin scoffed, his attention at the knotted ball of string that Yuki and Sei had returned to him. "I better not, else I get flayed before I reach my destination."

"You know you're not so far that I can't hear you!" Akane reminded him again, as she tried to hit him with a plum. Sohin had evaded without looking, which galled Akane. Sometimes she wished there were normal people in the bunch that she associated with. She turned to Ryouhei. "Can you do that?"

"Do what, my lady?"

"Dodge without looking?" Akane demanded.

From the look that he gave her, half sheepish, half proud, she guessed that he could. "I can't!" Yuki admitted to honestly. "They can, but I can't. So don't ask them or you're going to feel bad."

Akane gave him a small smile and then scrambled up to follow up on her promise to fetch his kite. After a few moments of struggle, she managed to untangle it from one of the branches.

She wrapped the tail end of the kite onto her left fore-arm and moved down slowly from the branches. Ryouhei moved towards her, offering an arm to lean closer, but she waved him away.

He hovered behind her but let her continue down the tree alone. By the time she reached the ground Yuki had a big grin plastered across his face. Sohin was standing up, one hand outstretched. "Would you refuse your own brother's hand, my lady?"

Akane laughed. "Well, okay, but only since you lent me your dagger." She turned towards Sei. "We have dessert!" Ryouhei had landed lightly behind her, laying the fruit down into the ground.

Sei took one immediately and peeled it with the small dagger that he carried with him. "Mmm, wise choice with the fruit, Akane-sama."

Akane smiled with her handy-work as she offered one of the plums to Yuki. He bit into the flesh and agreed with Sei immediately. Akane smiled lightly. In these moments, she could believe they were family.

Disclaimer: Ranma co. were borrowed from the brilliant mind of Rumiko Takahashi. The original story was based on a book, When there is Hope.

Author's Notes:

17207

I'm unsure about the stand that Ranma took when facing Happosai. I don't really know if it was especially brave, or especially stupid.

As for Sohin's cut and subsequent healing (this chapter and the previous chapter), I had to look at tons of Human Atlases to make sure that the hit Sohin performed on the previous chapter was within the realm of the believable. As some of us know, the chest area as well as the abdomen are critical places for stab wounds, so it would be difficult (if not impossible) to create the suicidal move that was described here. I hope you could suspend your disbelief for this moment.

A scene in this chapter was inspired by one of my favorite manhwa (Gung) and subsequently it's TV series (Princess Hours). Brownie points to those who could get it. Hopefully I'll be able to read the end of gung.

Sei's character is turning out well. He's developed over the years that I've written this (much like Ifuku). He's grown up if you will. Yuki has too, although not a lot. The charm that Sei's father mentions here is an omamori, it's sort of a cloth folded pouch wich you could hide something small in. Ideally carried at all times, as Sei would have needed it to be in his person when he ran away. :)

I wrote this piece when there was a storm blowing over our city. Storms are really terrifying in their beauty, of course, this one wasn't really a 'storm' story and it wasn't even a particularly strong storm (we had two strong ones pass by Manila this year Milenyo and Reming)

Research for this Chapter:
Family Seals (Mon) largely in Wikipedia.

Daimyo Flags generally in Flags of the World.

Spring time! I don't have spring in my country, so I had to know how spring 'feels' like. We only have two seasons in my country, rainy and dry. I also researched fruits that would be seasonal by that time.

iCe

other weird notes I just wanted to say:

I wore a yukata to my christmas party... haha, look at my livejournal. It took me hours to make the obi just right, and I plan on using the things I learned in the Japan trip on the last chapters.

1 more chapter + TWO EPILOGUES to go

website: ice dot esmartdesign dot com : working thanks to Arthur Hansen
email: siuane at gmail dot com
livejournal: ice underscore of underscore dreams