Chapter 5

After the police finally left I sat down on top of the counter feeling quite numb. I started out the restaurant window into the darkness. Images of my life flitted through my mind making me wonder why I even bother to go on living. The sword was a connection I'd had. It was a small piece from the other world that came with me and not only that, it reminded me of my father. The only person who'd ever cared for and loved me. That sword was a representation of everything that I'd gone through to come where I was now. Without it, without that proof that I had treaded a the path and survived, my life was empty. I could feel tears running from my blankly staring eyes. 'Without it I'm nothing... Why did I ever want another life... Returning to the void would have been better.' At that moment in time I wanted nothing more than have my soul shredded and spread across time and space. 'Return to the void.'

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Ryoga shivered. He felt something... something similar to the depression he always felt on his travels. But it was also different... it wasn't angry depression, like his. It was more tangible. It blamed not one person... it was like it just existed, but it... His curiosity was peaked as he moved in the direction he felt it... Of course it took him longer than it should have. He came upon a sight that took his breath away... there was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. A forest green aura flowed around her form, mixed in with snaking black tendrils. The light played softly across her clear face making her tears seem like emerald rivers. She had power, that he could see. He was so breath taken with the sight before him that he didn't move for the next ten or so minutes.

At last he caught his mind and took a hesitant step forward. "Uh, are you alright?", he asked. A startled look appeared on her face as she turned to look at him. "How'd you get in here?", she asked calmly, quickly wiping the traces of tears from her face.

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When I heard a voice from the darkness I jerked a bit in surprise and looked over at the shadowy form. 'Did someone finally come to take my life from me? Was he the thief, maybe he came back to...' "How'd you get in here?", I asked, surprised at the calmness in my voice. The looming shadow sifted and I could hear clinking of metal pots. "Uh, sorry.", came the sheepish voice. "I tend to get lost allot." I frowned in confusion. He pulled out an electric lantern and turned it on. I gaped in surprise at who I saw. "Ryoga?" "Y-you know me? I'm sorry I can't say the same." "It's okay... I don't think we've met before anyways. I've just heard of you from a friend of mine." Ranma's face flahed through my mind and my depression returned once more. I sighed. "Come on. You can sleep in the guest room... I'll take you to Furinkan high tomorrow." "Furinkan! Uh, yeah. Okay." I took his arm and lead him up the stairs, rolling out an extra futon on the floor. "Oh. You don't have to do that! I have my own." "Yeah, I know and it probably hasn't been washed in a while." 'It would be hard to find somewhere to wash your laundry when you've got a Jusenkyo curse. I mean, you couldn't just use any water you find.' "Now, just don't go anywhere... I'll come fetch you again when it's morning, okay?" I looked at him questioningly. He was blushing hard. He nodded sheepishly. "Um, okay and... thanks." I nodded and turned to go. As I left the room I could hear him taking a breath to call for me to wait. But it never came so I went to bed.

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Somewhere in the recesses of a darkened mansion was a boy named Kuno... He held a glinting piece of pure metal in his hands with wide eyes and an evil smirk. "Tomorrow, Saotome, you shall know what it means to cross a Kuno."

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I started awake at the memory of what happened the night before. I felt cold at the thought of loosing my family treasure. But having some company this morning did lighten the mood a bit. I took a quick bath, dressed and went to call Ryoga. I made him some okonamiyaki for breakfast and we talked... he started telling me all about his adventures chasing after Ranma. I didn't say a word, it'd been a long time since I'd had the chance to just listen to someone and study them closely. Seeing emotions from happiness to hatred to depression to excitement flit across their faces made me feel somehow less alone in my life. It gave me a bit of strength to carry on, knowing that someone had had it just as bad as I had and they were still moving forward.

When we were done I took him by the arm again and lead him out of the restaurant, locking the door behind me. Shampoo and Cologne came walking up to me and Shampoo greeted me happily. "Hello Xian-chan.", I greeted, smiling happily. "Morning grandmother Cologne.", I greeted the elder. "Hello dear, may I ask who this is?", she inquired, indicating Ryoga. "This is Ryoga, usually known as the 'lost boy'." Ryoga growled a little at the comment. "Mmm, interesting.", nodded Cologne, looking him up and down.

Cologne then turned to me, "Child, you've already missed three morning practice sessions. I'm starting to worry about you...", she said frowning. I bowed, "I'm sorry Grandmother... It's just that my home was broken into last night. I was careless and didn't sense the intrusion till the intruder was long gone..." "Hmm?", asked Cologne with widened eyes. "Anything taken?" "My, family honor blade...", I said becoming more depressed. "I see... You Japanese place very high value on such things. Very well, you are excused for today, though if your absent tomorrow I'll be sure to come and 'wake you up'...", she replied with a smirk. I nodded quickly. I knew that I'd stretched my luck a bit far. I had no idea what she had in mind for me but I knew better than to push it.

"I will see you tomorrow then, excuse me, I have to tend to the restaurant.", she said. I nodded and greeted her, then jogging after Shampoo and Ryoga who were already a ways up the road, with Shampoo clinging tightly to Ryoga's bicep. I smirked and shook my head at the sight of Shampoo swooning over some guy. 'Well, I suppose there's a first for everything.' I was also surprised to learn that Ryogoa could speak fluid Mandarin(What's the language again?) I just shrugged to myself as I followed after a ditzy Shampoo and a blushing Ryoga.

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As Cologne was heading back to her restaurant she felt something strange... but for some reason she chose to ignore her senses. She felt no threat towards herself and she felt that her daughter would take care of whatever it was, she and her friend Ukyou could take care of themselves, her immediate interests were in opening the restaurant for the morning rush... Luckily she could still handle the customers since their shop wasn't as well known as of yet.

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Coming to the school ground I was surprised to see the destruction. There were craters everywhere and gashes cutting deep into the ground. With wide eyes I walked onto the grounds. I saw children running everywhere, some were running away in fear while others ran towards the sounds of battle in excitement.

Shampoo, Ryoga and I ran towards the cries of an excited crowd. When the football field came into view my sight immediately locked on the familiar sword held in the hands of an idiot. "It can't be..."

There was a certain horror in watching your own sword being held by another. The feeling could only be described as 'my soul felt like it was ripped from my body.' It was like I was being torn apart inside. I just stood there and watched the scene before me. Ranma's hair was matted to his face with sweat, he looked exhausted but there wasn't a mark on him. From his movements I could see he was trying to direct Kuno away from the crowds.

Kuno casually swung the sword and a projected blade flew across the field at Ranma who dodged it easily. I could see fury in Kuno's eyes. Ranma's dodging was only making him angrier and even more reckless. I felt somehow oddly detached as I watched the scene but a deep rooted anger started boiling up from inside me. I've done nothing wrong, nothing to deserve this. Hurting someone with that blade is the same as hurting them by my hand and I couldn't let that happen.

That was when I saw her. Akane was running across the field just as Kuno launched another projected blade. From his anger build up he released a horizontal blade at Ranma, it was almost three meters in length, Ranma just ducked under it... not realizing that Akane was taking such a risk behind him. Time seemed to slow down at that moment... Akane was running and Ranma's head turned to look behind him, his eyes widening in surprise. I was already moving, my legs pumped with way too much ki. My feet sank into the ground, creating footholds for me to launch myself forward even faster. The world blurred around me as I had one destination in mind. I went faster than I'd ever gone before as the blade spun clockwise. It's right edge cut into the ground as I dove forward, launching myself at Akane and shoving her out of the way with so much force that she skidded at least ten meters on the ground before coming to a stop. In that moment I saw what Akane had been trying to do. Her best friend, Yuka was huddled, in fear, trying to hide from the fight.

Then there was pain as the blade cut cleanly through part of my middle... I could feel the blood flowing out of my body, staining my school uniform with a beautiful red color, the color of life. But something was different... the wound... I could feel it healing up at amazing speeds. The 'energy' from the attack was fusing with me and I felt my connection with the sword grow stronger. It wasn't apparent on the outside because of all the blood but I could feel the skin closing up and the bleeding stop. It was like a rush of power went through me... my ki was completely restored and the pain in my legs from the overuse of ki disappeared. I felt like a million bucks. I was only staring at myself in awe for a second. As my head rose and I looked out over the crowd I could feel the shocked stares of the people around me... Kuno's face was twisted in horror and the sword fell limply from his hands. I glared at him with undisguised hatred for what he'd done. He took the bases of another clan's honor and used it to attack another. Kuno recoiled at my gaze and turned and ran... I pitied his soul... and I hoped that at least now he'd grow up. Everyone gaped at me as I walked forward and sheathed the sword. I then tied it to my back and started walking away.

"Ukyou?", gasped a thoroughly confused Ryoga. "How are you still standing? I mean the blade and the blood...", he trailed off. "It's been a long morning and I'm going home. Goodbye." I ignored him as I walked away, I ignored everyone.

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Ryoga had looked on in pure horror as he saw his new found friend cut in half. His body was frozen and he couldn't move an inch as he looked at the scene in utter shock. But when she walked away, as if nothing was wrong he was even more shocked.

He tried to talk with her but she just ignored him and walked away. Shampoo stood at his side and next to her was a gaping Nabiki. "That was Ukyou family sword...", commented Shampoo. They just stood there for a second, feeling numb at what just happened and slowly the crowd dispersed. Shampoo who was still holing onto Ryoga's arm, though a little less affectionately, lead him to where Ranma was leaning over Akane's unconscious body. Nabiki rushed ahead to check up on her sister. Ryoga acknowledged that this person was his rival but he definitely wasn't in the mood for fighting right now so he only watched as the scenes around him played out.

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I didn't go to school a few days after that, the weekend came and went too... I only met with Cologne and Shampoo to train... They were curious on what had happened and Cologne had heard the story from Shampoo but other than that they did nothing. From there it was back 'home' for meditation and training of my own. It was on the afternoon of the third day that there was a knock on my front door.

I was still dressed in my ninja uniform but I ignored it and went to open the door... There stood the three people... Those three people, Ranma, Akane and Nabiki. Akane's left arm was in a cast and I looked at it a bit guiltily. I figured it must have been broken from the force I put into throwing her out of the way. I idly rubbed the scar that was left behind after the healing... Of course Ranma flinched at this. I leaned against the door frame and waited... "Uh, hello?", said Akane. I nodded, "Hello." They shifted uncomfortably, Nabiki to her credit just stood there stoically, not showing any kind of emotion. She then spoke up, "Can we come in. Ranma had wanted to taste his ol' friend Ucchan's cooking again." I was about to protest but then I changed my mind. It was probably the way that Nabiki had said that... or maybe it was because I missed Ranma... either way, I just sighed and stepped away from the door, letting them in. The room was a bit dusty so I had to clean the counter before I started cooking. One for each of them...

There was an uncomfortable silence in the air as I kept myself busy. "Forget about it.", I said. "Huh?", asked Ranma and Akane in unison. "If you wanted to ask me about the sword then forget about it. It's family business." I wanted to say something to Nabiki about how she'd sold my info to Ranma but deep down I'd know she'd do it so I didn't really blame her for it anymore.

I set their food in front of them and asked, "How about you tell me what's been going on at school the past few days?" I smirked to myself as all of them started talking at the same time. 'They must be really uncomfortable... how to lighten the mood?" "So? Ranma, when are you and Akane getting married?", I asked, inwardly winching at the thought. "I'm not marrying that pervert!" "Who says I want to marry some tomboy, like her?" 'Well at least they aren't uncomfortable anymore...' "I'm not a tomboy, you're a baka!" "Your thighs are too thick!" "Your ego's too big!" "You're built like a brick!" "Your just plain thick!" "Um, Ranma.", I interrupted. "Did Ryoga send you that challenge letter?" "Ryoga? Oh, you mean lost boy. Uh, yeah. I got a challenge letter from him yesterday, it was dated for the day before. The idiot should be back here in about five days." Akane bopped him on the head. "Don't insult Ryoga-san." "You've met him?", I asked. "Uh, yeah. Only briefly but he seems like such a nice guy, unlike Ranma here." "Stupid pig boy.", grumbled Ranma. I rested my face in the palm of my hand... 'Oh boy. I'd wanted to stop that from happening.'

Nabiki's eyes drifted up behind the counter wall. She felt somewhat responsible for what had happened... Her taking a picture of the sword had almost gotten her sister killed... 'Time to up security on my information and maybe raise Sasuke's and Kuno's interest rates.', she thought to herself. Her eyes finally rested on the wall space the sword had been before, "Ukyou, where's that family sword of yours?", asked Nabiki curiously. Startled from my conversation with Ranma I looked up, "Oh, I put it somewhere safe. I don't want it getting stolen again." 'Subspace pockets are always the best way...'

As the night wore on we became more comfortable with each other but other than the mention of the sword and commenting that Tatewaki hadn't been in school the past few days, there was nothing else said about the fight. We chatted till late night and they eventually convinced me to return to school the next day. I think in that time we all became really good friends... I could still see a somewhat jealous twinkle in Akane's eyes but other than that she was actually nice to me.

"Hey, I'm going to visit my father this weekend, since it's a three day weekend. Would you like to come? Xian-chan and Grandmother are already going..." They hesitated. "We'd love to but we'd better make sure with our fathers first." "Just invite them along... It's only a ten minute train ride from there to the ocean. It'd be great fun.", I said smiling. 'And maybe I could get Ranma to notice me in a bathing suit... Aaarg! Shut up stupid brain.', I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

A while later they left with smiles and goodbyes and I was left alone to think. Suddenly I felt a familiar presence... "Konatsu! Come out here now!" A perky looking girl suddenly appeared. "Hiii! Ukyou-sama." "Still dressing up, I see." "Well... I have something great to tell you!..." I tapped my foot waiting. "You know how you told me you only like girls?", I nodded. "Well then all our problems are solved! You see I was following after you when I came upon this mysterious place. It had all kinds of springs there. They had a lion spring, a tiger spring, a bear spring and best of all! A girl spring... and I fell in!" My eyes widened... 'Oh boy, this could mean trouble.' Konatsu lifted up her cute shirt, displaying her well endowed chest... I promptly fainted. It might have been from the blood loss or maybe it was just the shock. 'Even though I am a girl it doesn't mean I see somebody built like that everyday.', I thought to myself.

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Haha! I hope you liked this chapter... I tried really hard. Tell me about any faults and comments and whatever... sorry about my writing, you have to realize that this is my first fic I-)

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