Hiiiidy ho.

Uuuuugh. Toooo much celebration. Ah well back to the keyboard to crank out the next chappy.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Ranma ½. Never have never will. Nor do I own the song "Behind Blue Eyes" sung by The Who/Limp Bizkit, though it's one of my favorite songs and I wish I did. I wanted to make one song chapter in this story, and I thought this song went really well with it.

Do you know what lies behind MY blue eyes? NO! And you never will!!!! HAHA! Well, Kat14 knows but she'll never tell... riiiiight?

Kat14: I'm not even going to bother talking to you cuz I'm going to see you at school tomorrow. LOVE YOU!

Wired Akane: Curses. I hate it when I do that. But thank you for pointing that out, cuz I'm usually scarily anal about spelling. I actually came up with that theory myself. I'm fascinated by the relationship between physical and mental health, and also I've always believed that if you really have enough of an incentive and a will, you can pretty much overcome anything. I'm thrilled you like the story! Thanks for sticking by the story and me!

Anime-Tanker002: Worry not. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve in that department. Ranma used heroine when he was 19 and his mom died. He wanted something to relieve the pain, even temporarily (see chapter 2). Thanks!

Other Lovely Reviewers: The One Above All, Kitara-Kama, Sailorcrystaldestiny, Kibethan, dacrayZblaze1, Turkiss, Little Natsu, sunfire-moondesire, Kalen Darkmoon, Ryu Xander Himura, MercuryDestiny, dralan, Yaone-chan, and Plangkye. YOU ARE ALL TRULY WONDERFUL PEOPLE!

There will be a bunch of sudden changes of scene in this chap, and my comps being a bitch so it won't let me mark it, so try to stay alert to changes.
Let's get on with it shall we?

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

Akane was back in the cold hard chair. But this time she wasn't alone. Nabiki sat beside her, snoring softly, her hair tangled in her obscenely big hoop earrings, and her now badly scuffed shoes lying in a heap next to her stockinged feet. There were lines of heavy eyeliner and mascara down her cheeks where tears had carried them. Akane smiled in spite of herself. It wasn't often that she saw her prim and neat sister in such a state of disarray. She knew that Nabiki would never forgive herself if she could only see how she looked right now, sleeping in such a time and place, almost as if she were letting down the guard she had spent many years building up. Akane could see the soft side of her though, and she knew that it was only for her or Kasumi that Nabiki would ever risk scuffing her shoes. Akane felt immensely touched. She reached out and mercifully untangled Nabiki's hair from her earrings.

Suddenly Nabiki was jerked awake, but not because of Akane's gentle touch. Two men were running down the echoing hall as fast as their aging legs would allow them, and they looked highly upset. Both Akane and Nabiki jumped out of their seats to run and embrace their father, who grabbed his daughters and held on as though he was reluctant ever to let go again.

"Oh Akane, is it true? Did Ranma really try to kill himself?"

Akane felt her heart cringe at the mention of Ranma's name. But she stepped back to look Soun in the eye. She had expected to see them full of his ever-present tears, but there were none. Only a despairing look that frightened Akane still more.

"Yes dad, it's true."

The other man grunted. Akane looked over to meet the eyes of Genma Saotome, Ranma's mostly-missing-in-action father. She was shocked when she saw in his eyes, not fear, or hurt, or even worry. Anger. Cold, steely anger that burned through Akane like fire to the depth of her soul. He said nothing. He didn't have to. His eyes told Akane all she needed to know.

No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

"You don't even care do you?"

Genma looked at her, startled that she had addressed him directly. "Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You couldn't give less of a shit that your only child is laying somewhere in there dying. You've never cared about him, and now you dare to have that look in your eyes that say nothing to me except that you don't care!"

"Akane!" Soun gasped. He had heard his youngest daughter say some terrible things, but this certainly took home the gold.

"You know it dad! All you have to do is look at him! Look at his expression! Do you see any fear? Anything that would even convey a hint of concern! And don't look at me like I'm crazy, don't tell me you don't see it!"

"Tendo, kindly tell your daughter too keep her hysterics to herself. I am not interesting in her ramblings." Genma said stoically.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you care about whether Ranma lives or dies, and maybe I will" Akane snarled.

Genma hesitated, and then to Akane's surprise, he turned and faced her directly.

"Quite frankly Akane, I think it would be more in Ranma's own interest if he were to die."

Following this sentence was one of the loudest silences ever not heard by human ears.

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be

The silence was broken by Soun, whose voice was raised barely an octave above a whisper. "You can't mean that Saotome."

"I do. Ranma has disgraced not only himself, but me and the family name and honor."

Akane gaped. Then opened her mouth to give Genma a piece of her mind, but never got the chance.

"Are you Mr. Saotome?" asked a male voice behind her. Akane spun round to face a gruff, stern looking man wearing a lab coat. Standing behind him was Moriko Nakamura, looking highly upset and confused.

"I am." Replied Genma, giving Akane a dark look that told her this discussion was far from over.

"I'm Dr Sadako, Ranma's surgeon. I understand that this must be a painful time for you Mr. Saotome, but it is our policy to be blunt and forward with our patients and their families." He shifted, but not uncomfortably, as Moriko had been. He didn't seem the slightest bit afraid to tell the news he brought, and in one heart-stopping moment, Akane knew what that news was.

"Ranma has been on life support since he arrived here. As Dr Nakamura informed Miss Tendo, in cases such as his, the patient, if he or she is to wake up at all, they will wake up within approximately twenty- four hours. It has been about that now, Mr. Saotome, and, with your permission, we would like to take Ranma off the life support."

Akane's heart stopped. Her blood turned to ice in her veins and she felt every cell in her body turn cold. "You can't do that!" she screamed. "You can't! Mr. Saotome please!"

Genma ignored Akane. He turned to Dr Sadako and nodded. "Yes. I think that would be the kindest thing at this point."

"The kindest thing!? For who!?" Akane felt as though she were once again in a nightmare. She couldn't move or breathe. She heard Soun's voice and it pulsed through her head: "Saotome, please reconsider! They said 'probably' didn't they? Surely there's a chance-"

"Tendo, I've made my decision."

"Dr Nakamura," said Dr Sadako turning to Moriko, "they've moved Ranma, so I'm not quite sure where he is. Could you please-"

"NO!!! YOU CAN'T!! YOU CAN'T KILL RANMA!!"

Akane rushed towards Genma, but Moriko grabbed her by the arms. She turned to the young doctor, her eyes flooding. "You! I thought you understood! I thought you cared! LIAR!! Now you're going to stand by and let Ranma die!"

Akane turned to Nabiki imploringly, but her sister looked back at her with wide, helpless eyes, clouded by tears and confusion. There was no one left. No one left who could help her, or help Ranma. She knew what she had to do.

I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

"I'm sorry Moriko" she muttered, and with one swipe of her arm sent Moriko hurtling into the concrete wall. Then she ran. She ran, once again, as though all the dogs of hell were at her heels. Once again on a rescue mission for Ranma.

She realized, as she ran, that she hadn't a clue where Ranma was. She didn't slow down though. Her subconscious was telling her that this was madness, that she could be running straight past him. But she somehow knew she wasn't. She could practically hear him...

"Akaaaaneeeee! Akaaaaaneeee! Where are yooou?" Ranma knew he was getting closer. He ran, but he didn't know where he was running. He didn't know where he was going, but he somehow knew that every stride he ran was taking him a little closer to freedom.

Akane skidded to a halt in front of the door to room 1323. She knew he was behind it. She KNEW. She jerked the door open and ducked inside. Ranma lay on his back. He had a tube of clear liquid running into his elbow and a large white bandage wrapped around his left wrist. There was a machine on a table beside him that every few seconds let out a slow steady "beep- beep-beep". There was an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, obstructing his face. He was barely recognizable. But he was Ranma.

"Nakamura! Are you all right?!"

Moriko groaned and rubbed her head. For a second she couldn't remember what had happened. Then it hit her. Akane had thrown her into the wall to prevent Mr. Saotome from getting to Ranma. Because Mr. Saotome wanted to shut down life support. Because Akane loved Ranma so very much...

"Nakamura, we have to catch her! God only knows what she might do! Where is Ranma? She must have gone there."

Moriko was battling with her conscience. She had two options. And she didn't like either of them particularly. She could lose her job if she chose one, and she could end a life and destroy another if she chose the other.

No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you

"Nakamura!"

"All right! All right! Come on, he's down here."

And she began to run towards the room where she knew quite well Ranma was being kept. As she approached room 1323, she felt a fire burning in her heart. The fire could have been compassion, pity, empathy, or perhaps she was just touched by Akane's love. She didn't know. But whatever it was, it was what caused her to say: "I think he's upstairs! Come on!" And lead the troupe including Dr Sadako, Soun, Genma, and Nabiki crashing through the door to the south staircase.

What the hell am I DOING?? Thought Moriko as she raced blindly up the stairs to nowhere. "I could lose my JOB for this!

But she kept running. Go Akane" she thought to herself. Hurry. I'll buy you some time. Go and do what you will. Your love is your own.

Akane stepped towards Ranma. She reached out and stroked his face. He didn't flinch. Then she heard running footsteps coming towards the room. No! She froze in horror, but the footsteps ran past. They'll be back thought Akane, and looked around the room. She grabbed a chair from the side of the empty bed next to Ranma's, and stuck it under the doorknob. She had no idea how to proceed, but her hands moved with the solemnity and calm of one who is being controlled by some force unknown to the human mind.

No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through

Akane saw her hands move up towards Ranma's face. She stroked his cheek. It was warm and rough. He hadn't shaved in a while.

"Come on now my love. It's time to wake up."

She used the same words she remembered her mother whispering to her every morning. This was the one thing that would ever wake her up as a child. The harmonious, laughing, loving voice that could only have come from her beautiful mother.

"Mom... help me to wake him. Tell him I need him. I don't know if he can hear me, but you can. I know you can. Even after you were gone I knew you'd never left me. Now I need you more than ever. Help me... mommy please ..."

She spoke so softly that she herself barely heard it. But she knew her mother had. She was everywhere.

'Ranma... do you know who I am?'
'Yes. You're Akane's mom. She looks just like you.'
'Are you ready to go back now? Do you want to go back? It will be hard if you do, you know. You will live forever knowing that you tried to end your own life. And your father is angry Ranma, very angry. And Akane-'
'If I do go back... will Akane still want me? Will she forgive me?'
'That I cannot predict. You will have to find out for yourself. Are you willing to risk it? Do you want to try one last time? This is your last chance Ranma. You will get no more. What is your decision?'

"Ranma?" Akane's voice cracked briefly with panic. She could hear footsteps. She didn't know if it was them, but she knew she didn't have long. "Ranma? Please wake up! Your father's lost his mind! If you don't wake up he'll let them shut down the life support! Ranma I know you can hear me! I heard you! I heard you call me, and now I'm calling you. Hear me Ranma. Open your eyes."

But my dreams they aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengance
That's never free

"Akane? Akane come now, this is ridiculous! Open the door!"

Akane spun around so fast that her neck cricked. But she didn't even notice. Her heart was numb with panic. It was too late. Ranma was going to die. After he had come so far, after he had gone to such great lengths to reach her-

"He wants to live!" Akane screamed at the door, not caring if they knew she was in the room. "He came to me! He doesn't want to die! He wants to live!"

She rose to her feet and took battle stance. She didn't care who she had to fight and how hard she had to fight them; she wasn't going to let them take him.

Suddenly there was a choking sound behind her. Akane spun around again to face Ranma, and saw that his head was jerking convulsively, as if he were trying to free his head. She looked and saw that his eyes were still shut. He wasn't awake. The machine next to him started beeping loud and fast.

"What's happening?!" Akane yelled to the door. "What's going on?!"

No one know how to say
That they're sorry and don't worry
I'm not telling lies

"Akane, he may be trying to breath on his own! Take the tube out of his mouth!" Yelled Moriko through the door.

"Nakamura-" Dr Sadako began, but Moriko cut him off "Oh shut up, you were going to let him off anyway what does it matter to you who does it?"

Akane barely heard them. She leaned over Ranma's convulsing form and gently slid the tube out of his throat. For a moment he lay motionless. The machine beeped wildly. Akane held her own breath. For a moment there was no oxygen in the whole room as she watched. Then Ranma's chest rose and fell, very gently. It was barely a flutter. But it was enough. Akane's heart thudded in her chest. Now if he would open his eyes.

'Ranma? The time is now. Do you go back or do you go forward?'

'I... I...'

'NOW!'

Akane didn't even turn around when she heard loud, regular thuds on the door. She knew that they were going to break it down. Break down the door, just like she had done at Ranma's apartment. Only she had done it to save his life. They were doing it to end it. She knew her time was up.

"Ranma ..." and without thinking, Akane took Ranma's face in her hands and looked at his closed eyelids. She imagined his eyes, his bright, clear, blue eyes. She imagined seeing her reflection in them. She slowly lowered her face to Ranma's and pressed her lips to his. For a moment there was no sound, no murderers crashing through the door. No annoying machines that were the one link between a person's life and death. There was nothing but Akane's determination to have Ranma live, and Ranma's purgatorial existence. Ranma's lips were warm. Akane would never have known that just hours ago he was clutching fast to his life, and even now his minutes were numbered. For less than twelve seconds she was suspended over Ranma's supine form, before she felt something. The feeling that you get when you think you might... be being watched.

She hardly dared to open her eyes. She slowly lifted her head. Slowly opened her eyes.

Akane Tendo would never, for the rest of her life, be able to name what she felt, when she saw her own reflection in Ranma's bright, clear, blue eyes.

No one knows what its like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes.

-R&R-

Dark Eyed Mermaid