C. Cowboy: for those who asked for other pairings, here they are! And I'd like to thank Misty Blue for helping me to pick out a name for Akane's mother, which is for this story Michiko, which is in Japanese "The Righteous Way"(I think). Anyway, I'm also using an part from 'The Ballad of Ranma and Akane' in this one. Read and Review!  

Chapter 4: Akane's Tears

Ryoga dashed down the stairs with Ukyo (Shampoo in her cat form on her shoulder) right behind him. "You better be ok, Saotome. We haven't settled things yet!" he growled leaving Ukyo struggling to keep up. He darted out of the door and in a second spotted Mr. Saotome and Mousse looking on a grief stricken Akane cradling Ranma.

"R-Ranma…" Ukyo stuttered her eyes widening in shock.

"You took the easy way out…" Ryoga muttered slowly stepping toward the fountain, "Ranma! We're supposed to keep fighting till one of us wins Akane!" he yelled clenching his fists till his knuckles were white.

Genma, Mousse, Ukyo, and Cat-Shampoo all turned to Ryoga who had tears in his eyes. "It…wasn't supposed to end this way…" he growled, "You took the easy way out… you… you coward…!"

Akane, oblivious to Ryoga's outburst, continued to lightly rock Ranma's body. "Please don't go, Ranma…" she begged in between sobs and sniffles "please…I-I need you… you… you can call me names… call me anything you want… put down my looks… my cooking… anything…a-and I promise…I'll never hit you with…my mallet or… call you 'Stupid' and 'jerk'… ever again…just come back to me…"

"Akane…" Ryoga sighed forlornly looking on at the girl he'd dreamed about for so very long. He

made his way into the fountain to Akane's side. He looked down on her and Ranma's battered body and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm here for you, My Akane." he reassured her, but gasped when Akane jerked her shoulder away.

"I…I just want Ranma…" she whispered, "I don't…want anything…or anyone else…I just want…my Ranma…"

'My Ranma…' repeated over and over in Ryoga's mind. Even in death, Ranma had defeated him, and he couldn't do anything at all about it. "Akane…" he sighed, "I guess…I'll always be alone…" his depression now reaching an all time low.

"R-Ryoga…" Ukyo sighed looking on at his saddened expression.

Shampoo, by then, had jumped down and used the water from the fountain to change back into her human form.  She was slumped down as if trying to cover herself. She shivered and felt something, which startled her, but when she felt warmth cover her shoulders she soon calmed.

"You ok, Shampoo?" Mousse asked placing his spare robe, that he kept in case of a cold-water accident, over her shoulders. "Shampoo fine. Shampoo strong Amazon. Shampoo no…no…no need…" What ever she was going to say wouldn't make it past her sobs.

"Shampoo…" Mousse sighed bringing the Amazon into a warm embrace.

Her eyes widened at first and tried to push away from the boy, but eventually gave up and sobbed into his shoulder, clinging to him. "Mousse…Why Mousse nice to Shampoo? Shampoo…always treat Mousse bad…" she whispered still holding on to him tight.

Mousse took a deep breath, "Shampoo…it's because I…I…I just want you to be…ok"

Shampoo smiled accepting his answer, and held him tighter "shei shei…thank you for being Shampoo…friend…"

Mousse felt his heart crumble; he knew how Akane was obviously feeling toward Ranma at that moment. "Yea… your…friend…"       

The tender scenes were quickly put to an end when Happosai bounced across the ground unconscious.

"Well…" Jubi said breathing heavily, "He was fun to play with for the time being…who else wants to try their luck?" 

Genma stepped up but Ryoga stood in front of him. "You… He was MY rival…if anyone had the right to take his life, IT WAS ME!!!!"  He screamed and tossed bandana after bandana at Jubi spinning toward him like buzz saws.

The bandanas cut into Jubi's body causing him to gasp and step back. Ryoga kept throwing them in a mad rage, and for the first time in his life, he ran out of bandanas.

"Is that it?" Jubi smirked, causing Ryoga's eyes to narrow.

  "I don't…want anything…or anyone else…I just want…my Ranma…" suddenly shot through Ryoga's mind, and it clicked. 'Akane was willing to throw everything away for a cure for Ranma, but not me, she was going to do it all for Ranma. Nothing for me…' the depression of the one he loved willing to sacrifice herself for his rival proved more then enough for one his most powerful techniques.

 A large energy ball began to form between Ryoga's hands and as it reached its largest and brightest level he let out a loud yell, "SHISHI HOKODAN!!!!!!!"  A massive blast shot from his hands and into Jubi sending him flying backwards through a wall.

Ryoga finally relaxed, though still breathing heavily. "No…one…could have…survived that…" He whispered hoarsely and stumbled backwards.

"RYOGA!" Ukyo gasped and dashed out catching him before he hit the ground. "Ryoga?" she asked looking down at him, "Say something, Sugar…" she pleaded holding his face tight to her chest.

"Ukyo…" she heard his muffled voice. And pulled him back managing a slight giggle. She couldn't help but chuckle at his bright blush and nosebleed she'd given him when he awoke.

"Is it…over?" Genma asked noticing how dead quiet it was. Then a voice from a near by hole in the wall answered his question.

"Was that your best shot?" Jubi asked stepping through the hole surprisingly unharmed. "Now my angel," he smiled in the direction of grief stricken Akane. "Why would you cry for that young fool?  If he was half a decent Martial Artist he would've been able to avoid that situation easily."

Akane's eyes shot open, almost looking as though fire were blazing within them. "What…did you just say?" She asked her voice sounding as cold as the blue energy, which had encircled her body. She gently lay Ranma back down on the ground. And slowly rose to her feet, her chi growing stronger by the second.

"Come along Akane," Jubi chuckled. "We have a wedding to…" He was cut off when Akane flying kicked him square in the face.

Jubi stumbled back shocked. He couldn't get his defenses up in time to avoid Akane's rage induced barrage of punches and kicks. Stumblling back trying hopelessly to gain his footing Jubi failed to protect him from her. There were no signs of her letting her attack stop. Akane gave him yet another hard uppercut, which sent him flying backward. Jubi hit the hard ground with a sickening thud. Akane then took on her fighting stance waiting for him to get back up.

"Ha! That wasn't very lady like, Akane." Jubi smirked sarcastically getting back to his feet. "Perhaps the fool was correct in calling you an uncute tomboy."

"HE IS NOT A FOOL!" she yelled launching yet another attack. "And nobody, NOBODY, calls me that BUT RANMA!" 

This time though, Jubi was ready for her. He caught her flying fist in his palm and gave a sharp squeeze, making her yelp in pain. "Perhaps I was incorrect in thinking you would be a worthy bride, my dear."

Jubi struck her sending her tumbling backwards. "Do you wish to be with him that much, Akane?" he asked raising a glowing hand."I will grant you your wish then."

'Ranma…' Akane thought closing her eyes tight. 'I'm coming right behind you…'

Meanwhile 'elsewhere'

"Ranma."

"Wha-What?" Ranma asked slowly getting up. "Where am I?" he looked around he was in what looked like a poorly lit tunnel with a single bright light emitting from a distance.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up." a woman's voice chuckled from behind him.

He spun around and turned coming face to face with a traditionally dressed woman.

 "Who are you?" He asked.

The woman slowly walked toward him. He looked closely at her features figuring her to be in her late 30's. She had the grace and beauty of Kasumi, a mischievous smile that was not unlike Nabiki, with short black hair that was worn in a similar style as Akane's. When she had gotten closer Ranma could see her eyes, they shined with the same love of life that Ranma always admired about Akane's eyes.

"My name is Michiko." She introduced herself with a warm smile. "Michiko Tendo.  I've been watching you for quite a while, Ranma."

Ranma's eyes widened in shock, "Tendo? Does that mean you're…"

"Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane's mother? Yes and I'm very proud to call them my daughters." Michiko answered with pleasure.

"But… you're supposed to be dead. Does that mean…I'm d-d-dead?" he asked increasingly getting scared.

She sighed, "Yes, my young frien. I'm afraid you are d-'living impaired'." 

Ranma then panicked, "WHAT? I'M DEAD?? I'M JUST SIXTEEN! I CAN'T DIE NOW! I'VE GOT SO MUCH TO DO! LIKE BEATING UP RYOGA ONCE AND FOR ALL. TAKE OVER THE TENDO DOJO AND TELL AKANE…" Ranma cut himself short trying to calm himself down, but with little success.

"No need to hide, Ranma." Michiko soothed. "I've been your guardian angel for close to…I'd say, the last twelve mortal years. Give or take. I know all about the feelings you have for my daughter, even though some of the things you have… called her have made me 'slightly' upset."

"Like…" Ranma interrupted bring up his hand to count his fingers. "Uncute, unsexy, terrible cook, tomboy…" his list was cut off when he learned of another trait that Akane obviously took from her mother, the massive mallet from out of nowhere.

"THAT'S MY DAUGHTER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU JERK!!!" Michiko yelled when she replaced her mallet. "Now then…" she cleared her throat. "You know, Ranma, fate is a strange thing. A lot of people believe fate is carved in stone. But it's really more like a river flowing. And sometimes just a single grain of sand can send it down another path."

"Umm what does this have to do with me?" Ranma asked looking at her confused.

"It has everything to do with you, Ranma." She answered him with a smile. "All through history, a few chosen people show themselves. Each like that one single grain of sand, which can change the course of history. You, Ranma Saotome. You are one of those few people."

"I… I don't understand." He stuttered still feeling confused.

"Ranma." Michiko's smile vanished. "It was fated for my daughter, Akane, to be here instead of you. It was her time, but you selflessly sacrificed your own life for her and rewrote the course of fate."

"What?" Ranma gasped looking up into her eyes.

"But, Ranma you have done a lot of good and this was not the first time you've changed fate." She continued to tell him. "And because of the good you've done. I am here to give you a chance to return to your mortal life."

  "I can go back?" Ranma asked his hope starting to rise.

"Yes…but there's a reason." She warned looking away. "Something is going to happen, soon. And only you can stand up to this threat. It will be a threat to the entire world, and you may or may not survive the coming battle. But the lives of every person on the planet is in jeopardy, your father, your mother, your friends… Akane." She explained emphasizing the last name mentioned. "It's your choice, you can go back and face this threat, or you can come with me to eternal peace. It is your choice."

"Michiko." Ranma spoke up after a few moments of silence. "I can't abandon them. I can't abandon her." looking up with courage and determination.

"Then promise me something." Michiko asked in return before turning her back in the direction of the light. "Promise me… you'll look after my daughters, especially Akane. She maybe as stubborn as her mother at that age, and refuses to admit she really does cares about you, Ranma. But please look out for them all"

Ranma affirmed with a nod, and gave her his word. "I…know. I promise I'll look after them."

Michiko turned slightly and smiled upon him. "Ranma, I'm always going to be watching you." She said sincerely her face features soon turned to that of an Akaneish PO'ed face. "BUT don't try anything with my daughter or else, understand?!"

Ranma sweatdroped. "Guess I'll be going. Anything you want me to tell Akane and the others?"


 "Just tell them, I love them. Goodbye Ranma, and good luck." She said before reaching the light.

…

"Do you wish to be with him that much, Akane?" Jubi asked raising a glowing hand toward her, "I will grant you your wish then."

'Ranma…' Akane thought closing her eyes tight. 'I'm coming right behind you…'

She tried not to look but she couldn't help it, her eyes widened in fear as Jubi launched his chi blast at her. 

(When you smile... you're cute you know?

For a while, why not let your pride go?)

She began to scream, but as her mouth opened she felt two strong arms scoop her up and leap away. "What?" She asked gently being set down. She looked up. "Ranma?" she gasped with tears. 

(When it comes to being stubborn
Yes, it's true... we're both guilty of pretending)

Ranma stood there looking down upon her. His clothing torn from his fight and the fall, but other then that, all his bruises and cuts were gone without even a scar.

(A couple engaged by meddling parents
At least that's how it was at first)

"AKANE! YOU IDIOT! Were you just going to stand there and let him blast ya??" he scolded but melted as soon as he noticed her tear stained face.

(And then before we knew it love had grown
How could we have ever known?)

"Ranma? You're alive? You're really alive? I… I thought you…died…" she breathed…then her eyes widened in sudden fear. "Does this mean…I'm dead too?" 

(I'm no good at feelings or stuff like that)

 "No we're both alive, Akane." he chuckled.

(It's not you, it's me too... we're clumsy at love)

"But… you… you were gone…" she said bringing a hand to his face checking if this was real.

Ranma in return placed his hand on her's and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Akane…I was gone…but I came back… for you."   

(Today I can't seem to meet your gaze)

She tried to ask what he was talking about but just took this opportunity to give him a tight hug. "Don't ever do that to me again, or else, Ranma!" 

(In my whole life I've not felt this way before...)

He slowly pushed her away, but not out of the embrace.  "I don't plan on it. I'm sorry for scaring you." He whispered slowly moving his face toward hers.

(Can't say it aloud; let's just keep it quiet for now

 Without words, you hand in mine's enough…)

She closed her eyes and rose up on her toes to meet him… their lips were about to touch…

 "That's so sweet, I think I'm getting cavities." Jubi interrupted their moment of intimacy.

Ranma spun around to face him. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about you. We've got a score to settle!" he growled gently pushing Akane behind him. "You ready for round two, Jubi?"

To Be Concluded…