The soft whistle of wind mingled with the deep breathing of exhaustion.

"Ranma! Ryouga! Would you two please stop this stupid fighting!? One of you is going to get seriously hurt."

"Can't do that Akane. This has been a long time coming and one of us is going to walk away from this the winner."

"That's right Akane. I'm sorry but we have to do this."

"You....you stupid IDIOTS!!! Both of you are so stupid! You don't have to fight! Stop it right now!"

The crackle of released energy.

"SHI SHI HOUKOUDAN!!!!"

And again.

"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!!"

An explosion.

"RANMAAAAA!!!! RYOOOOOUGAAAAA!!!!"

Silence. Forever.

Pains of the Past
By Johnny O'Brien
Part Five

Akane stared at Kaseru in shock and felt a chill trickle down her spine. She shivered suddenly and wrapped her arms around herself. That couldn't be true could it? She had died. What was going on? She needed answers. She needed to find Ranma and Ryouga. She looked to her clothes once again and shivered more from the cold winds blowing all around her. She noticed her shoulders and hair were wet and wondered how that happened. She needed to think. That was it. Think. Try to remember what happened. She closed her eyes and thought hard, tried to remember. Images slowly made themselves present in her mind. Of Ranma. Of Ryouga. Of a flash of light. A sudden sensation of falling and the echoes of her own scream in her ears and then silence.

There was nothing for a time; only the darkness of her inner thoughts. Slowly, very slowly another image came. Of a kind smile. Slowly a face formed around the smile. Gentle blue eyes, soft brown hair, and a kind loving smile. She was familiar. Missed. Who was she? Why was she missed so much? More came into focus, a man tall and proud. Fatherly. A small girl with a smile like the woman's. Another girl with predatory eyes. A family. They were missed too. Who were they?

The woman once again, she was by herself and looking sad. Akane longed to run and hug this woman but where was she? Who was she? Why couldn't she remember? She knew if she could just remember all this would make sense. Harder she tried, pushing herself and her mind to remember who this woman was. Who this family was, but nothing more would come. She frowned in frustration and felt like screaming out at the world. She was startled out of her reverie by a hand being placed upon her shoulder. She opened her eyes to look up at Kaseru's smiling face.

"Miss Tendo I believe we should head someplace warmer. A storm is coming and we should get inside. Please come with me. There is much I have to tell you and you are undoubtedly hungry and wanting a warm bath.", Kaseru said and stood back up to his full height. Akane paused and glanced down at her rumbling stomach. She was hungry and cold and this....man seemed to know what was going on. She nodded to herself and rose up to her feet, pausing to grab hold of her tombstone as a dizzy spell passed over her. Kaseru moved to her side and got under one of her arm to give her something to lean on.

"I...I don't....need your help to walk." Akane said a bit bitterly.

"Please Miss Tendo. You have just been brought from the 'other side'. You are weak and will be for a few more hours. You do need help....for the moment. Come. I have a room at a hotel nearby. I'll explain everything there." Kaseru said and with grudging agreement Akane allowed his help and together the two moved slowly off to the graveyard's exit and further towards the hotel.

The rain finally began to fall again 45 minutes later. It was a hard and steady rain, much like the one of the other night but with very little lightning and thunder. Ranma stood by himself looking out the window at the falling rain. He sighed to himself and lowered his head. Today had just been a bad day. If he never saw Kuno again it would be too soon. They had lost their chance to apologize to Akane and Ryouga had almost killed himself. It was times like these he could see from Ryouga's point of view. It was times like these he also wondered what the point of going on with life was.

"Ranchan? Are you okay?" Ukyou asked as her hand gently came to rest on his shoulder. Ranma smiled softly and realized that he had just been given his answer. He turned and smiled just a little at Ukyou and nodded.

"Yeah. I'm fine Ucchan. How's Ryouga?" Ranma asked and paused to swallow a bit hoping he was still alive.

"Ryochan's fine Ranma. He's awake right now and wants to see you." Ukyou said with a small happy smile seeing Ranma's face light up with a wide smile.

"He is?! That's great Ucchan. Come on!" Ranma said suddenly feeling a lot better than moments ago and dashed past her up the stairs. Ukyou smiled and followed Ranma slowly.

The old guest room looked almost like a hospital room now as it was filled with various medical instruments, all connected to Ryouga, as well as a hospital bed, upon which Ryouga lay. He had been cleaned up somewhat and was wearing a hospital gown and his bandana, which the doctors couldn't seem to take off. Nodoka sat right on the side of the bed and hovered over him like a protective mother, gently stroking his hair and looking down at him with a soft smile. Genma sat nearby trying to look stern, but a small happy smile was on his face showing he was very glad Ryouga hadn't killed himself. Ranma burst into the room and looked around and then to the bed with Ryouga. His wide grin got even wider and he walked over to the end of the bed and grinned.

"So you finally decided to wake up eh P-chan?!" Ranma said with a chuckle. Ryouga smiled a little tiredly and chuckled softly and nodded.

"Yeah. I had to. If I didn't....who'd beat you up?" Ryouga said with a smirk.

"Well it certainly won't be you!" Ranma said and laughed a bit moving over to the other side of the bed and sat down. Ukyou entered a few moments later and shut the door behind them.

"Oh? We'll see when I get...healed up." Ryouga said his voice holding a promise for Ranma.

"Yeah you'd better get healed up! And you'd better not try anything like this again you stupid idiot!" Ranma said frowning and gave Ryouga a thump on his shoulder. Ryouga winced and growled a bit back before closing his eyes and sighing.

"I'm sorry Ranma. I....I couldn't...I couldn't help myself. I just....I lost it. I'm sorry." Ryouga said familiar depression evident in his voice.

"Hey. It's alright. You're alive and that's all that matters! Just don't do it again! I don't want to lose my 'brother' now do I?" Ranma said with a smile.

"What? Brother?" Ryouga looked up confused. He blinked and looked to Nodoka with the same expression. "I...I thought that was....just a dream." Ryouga said to her and swallowed softly.

"A dream? No dear. It was no dream. I meant those words and you've been living with us for five years now. I know you haven't seen your real family for a long time and that you've come to think of us as your family. The only thing keeping it from being official are the documents and....Genma and I have been discussing getting them filled out; if you'd like to really become a member of our family that is." Nodoka said softly and leaned down placing a kiss upon his brow. Ryouga swallowed and smiled softly, his eyes twinkling a little in the light. He nodded softly and let out a contented sigh. Nodoka, Genma and Ranma all smiled a little wider.

Ukyou, who still stood off to one side sniffled lightly to herself and wiped her eyes as she watched the small happiness shared between the four. She lowered her head a bit and silently wished she could be a member of that family. She knew she was like Ryouga to them, almost a member of the family. She had made a promise to be Ranma's friend before his fiancée and she had kept it for five years. She would keep it for five more if she had too, but she truly loved Ranma and wished he would begin to get on with his life...even is she wouldn't have a place in it. She wanted him to be happy above all and she knew he wasn't as things were now.

"Ucchan? You okay? Why are you crying?" Ranma asked startling Ukyou.

"Huh? Oh....I'm fine Ranchan. Just...this is such a...beautiful moment." Ukyou said with a small forced laugh and wiped her eyes a bit, looking embarrassed. Ranma smiled a bit and nodded gesturing for her.

"Oh. Well come on over. I think pig-boy here is hungry. You mind making him some decent food?" Ranma asked as he dodged a sluggish swipe from Ryouga.

"Oh. Sure thing Ranchan." Ukyou said and headed over pushing back all those sad thoughts for another time.

Akane looked up from the rather nice meal she was eating in the small hotel room. She glanced around and smiled a little. She was warm, dry and was getting some food in her stomach. All she wanted now was answers and there was only one person who could answer them; this Kaseru fellow. She glanced over at the door to his room and frowned softly. There was something about him. She couldn't put her finger on it but he just seemed.....too nice. I mean he went through the trouble of bringing her back from the dead. Why? What did he get out of it? She sighed to herself and resolved to ask him that when he returned. She had been through several surprises since she woke up at the graveyard.

The first surprise was that she had been dead. This came as quite a shock. She had since tried to remember what had happened concerning her death but it was the same as before. Her memory just wasn't there. Only vague images. Another surprise was that it had been five years since her death. She had been worrying exactly what had happened since she had died. What happened to Ranma and Ryouga? Were they alright? The third and most shocking surprise was that she was Jusenkyou cursed, or to be more accurate she was the curse.

She had found this out when she went to take a bath and her body changed to that of a smaller woman with long black hair. She took it well, in that she began to scream. Kaseru had rushed in and managed to calm her and explain. Apparently his daughter, who's body she was in, had been suffering from a terminal and rare mental illness. She had fallen into the spring that she cursed about a year ago. He had stayed by her side until her death and then after grieving for a time and then set off to bring Akane back from the dead. She had still to hear why. A sound from the other room got her attention as she looked to the door. A few moments later Kaseru entered and shut the door behind him. He turned and smiled softly to her.

"Ah. You've finished eating Miss Tendo?" Kaseru asked and watched calmly as Akane nodded a bit and rose from the small table in the room.

"Yes. I have. Thank you very much for your hospitality and for what you've done so far but I have some questions I'd like answers to." Akane said with a soft calm to her voice.

"Yes, yes of course Miss Tendo. Please have a seat on the bed. I'll answer any questions that I am able to." Kaseru said and moved getting himself a chair. He sat down facing Akane as she also sat down. She paused a bit in thought and then made up her mind and looked up to him.

"Why did you bring me back? What do you get out of it?" Akane asked calmly. Kaseru smiled a bit and chuckled.

"You are perceptive Miss Tendo. I admit my reasons for bringing you back are purely selfish. I had noticed you when I passed through here five years ago. You caught my eye so I watched you for a time. I saw in you the potential for such skill; such mastery of the Art. I have searched long and hard for an heir to my school but none have had the potential until you. The day I went to approach you was the day of your unfortunate accident. I went home then and continued to teach my daughter, Mimoko. She was good and learned well enough but she had not the potential I saw in you. Two years ago she found out she had a terminal illness and would die. She became....reckless. She trained dangerously and it was then she became cursed at Jusenkyou. I saw the opportunity to bring you back after my daughter's death and did so in the hope that you would become my student and carry on my school when I pass on." Kaseru said and sighed softly looking to Akane's astonished face.

"You...you want to...train me?" Akane said incredulous.

"Yes Miss Tendo. I do, however I would not think of making you accompany me against your will. I will give you a choice. You may either leave with me back to my home....or you may stay here. You must remember however it has been five years since your passing. People believe you dead and may not react as you expect to your return." Kaseru said keeping an even voice and a serious face. Akane blinked a bit at that and swallowed. He was right. It had been five years. What if Ran...everyone had moved on....had forgotten about her? No! Ranma and Ryouga and everyone else wouldn't forget about her. Just who was everyone else? Damn her memory! Why couldn't she remember them!?

"Miss Tendo? Are you alright?" Kaseru asked leaning forwards a bit concerned.

"I'm fine. Just thinking is all. I understand what you are saying but I still want to see Ranma and Ryouga. I want to see them....and....and if they don't need me....then I'll leave with you. Okay?" Akane said and looked to him.

'Oh yes Miss Tendo. That is just perfect. I just have to make sure they won't need you.' Kaseru thought to himself before he smiled softly and nodded.

"Of course. Do you have any other questions?" Kaseru said out loud and raised a brow curious.

"Yes I do. How come I can only remember Ranma and Ryouga? I know there are others....I can see...images...but I can't remember them." Akane asked the frustration showing in her voice.

"Images? Hmmmm. I think that is because you've been on the other side for so long. When you die and 'move on' you're memories are altered so you do not remember the bad or the good times in your life. It is depending really. Also bringing you back have also probably affected your mind quite a bit. I assure you they should come back in time. Just have patience Miss Tendo." Kaseru said kindly and reached out and patted her shoulder, smiling softly. Akane looked up and smiled a little back and nodded.

"Okay. Just one more question. When can I see Ranma and Ryouga?" Akane asked softly and looked down. Kaseru watches and smirked to himself before changing it to a kind smile and chuckling softly.

"That I can answer easily Miss Tendo, you will be able to see them in a few hours. Get a little rest now. I have to go and tell and Ranma and Ryouga to expect us." Kaseru said and rose and crossed over to the door to his room. He paused and looked back with a smile.

"Don't worry Miss Tendo. I'm sure everything will turn out just fine. I'll be back in a little while." Kaseru said and turned exiting to his room leaving Akane by herself to rest. He quickly put on his trench coat and hat and got an umbrella from nearby. He stepped out into the hard rain opening the umbrella and set off at a quick jog towards the Tendo Dojo a smirk on his face. He chuckled softly to himself. Yes. Things would turn out just fine....for him.

Ryouga was feeling....happy. This was quite a feat for anyone who knew Ryouga as well as what he had gone through only hours before. He was feeling happy for a couple of reasons. Number one was that he had been accepted into the family he had lived with for the last five years. He thought for a moment of his real family and sighed softly. It was his entire family's cursed sense of direction that kept him from seeing them for the past eight years or so. He missed his mother. And his father. But now he had a new family; one that would always be home if he got lost for a while. He had a family that would keep him from getting lost in the first place. He paused and looked to Ranma. His brother...err...sister....whatever. His new sibling.

He looked over to Genma, who was playing Ranma in a game of shoji, and thought of how he would become Genma's son. He remembered the trouble Ranma had from Genma and wondered if that was a good idea but then just smiled. Genma was a good father, just made poor decisions at times. He looked to his new mother, Nodoka. He remembered the past five years living with her and how much of a mother she truly became for him. Whenever he was depressed she was always there to talk to it about. She always made him feel better. She was a mother...and now she was also his. He shifted suddenly in his bed and moved leaning over and hugged Nodoka, who still sat on the side of his bed.

"Oh! Ryouga? What was that for dear?" Nodoka asked smiling softly down at him hugging him back.

"Nothing really. I just felt like it. You don't mind?" Ryouga said softly. Nodoka just smiled and laughed softly. She leaned down and gave him another kiss on his brow smiling at the way the poor boys eyes lit up under the attention.

"Oh. I don't mind dear. Anytime you want a hug you feel free. Alright?" Nodoka said laughing softly. Ryouga was about to answer when a knock at the door got their attention. The door cracked open and Ukyou poked her head in looking a little disturbed.

"Ucchan? Something wrong?" Ranma asked seeing the expression on her face.

"I'm not sure Ranchan. There's.....someone here to see you and Ryouga. I don't know who he is but he says it's urgent." Ukyou said obviously nervous about the visitor. Ranma blinked and looked to Ryouga and back.

"Okay Ucchan. Send him up. Mom? Pop? Could you let us see this guy alone? We'll be fine." Ranma said to Ukyou and his parents.

"Very well son." Genma said rising and heading for the door.

"Alright dear. Be careful and watch out for Ryouga." Nodoka said and followed Genma out. Ranma moved around to where his mother had been sitting and sat down. Ryouga shifted himself to sit up and try and look more intimidating. He, of course, failed miserably.

"What do you think?" Ranma asked Ryouga quietly.

"If it's Kuno I'm going to kill him; slowly and painfully." Ryouga said back just as quietly his voice laden with menace.

"If it's Kuno you'll have to get in line. Besides I don't think he would've gotten past Ukyou." Ranma said with a soft chuckle.

"Yeah. You're probably right. So who do think this guy is?" Ranma asked.

"I really have no idea. I hope he's not here for a fight." Ryouga commented with a slight frown as he and Ranma watched the door waiting for this mystery man to arrive.

"I assure you gentlemen I'm not here for a fight and as for who I am I give you my name; Kaseru. Shodoro Kaseru." Kaseru said off from the shadows of the room to the left of Ranma and Ryouga. Ranma was immediately on his feat in battle stance and facing Kaseru. How the hell did he get in without being seen, or sensed?

"You are not exactly enforcing our trust with your dramatic entrance." Ranma deadpanned with a scowl on his face. Ryouga grunted his agreement and glared at the man.

"Forgive me gentlemen it is a force of habit. As I said I am not here for a fight but to help you...and a dear friend of yours." Kaseru said in a calm voice and lightly adjusted his glasses while regarding the two boys.

"Go on..." Ranma said relaxing a little but still tensed for a fight.

"Yeah. What friend are you talking about that needs help?" Ryouga asked a bit beginning to get a bad feeling all of a sudden.

"Well allow me to start from the beginning. I was at the cemetery earlier today paying my respects to my late wife and I happened to notice the....incident with you and your party. I forgive you for watching but I had a feeling I should and I was correct. After you all left I approached the grave and I felt it. It was unrest; severe unrest." Kaseru said calmly and waited for it to sink into there heads.

"Unrest?" Ranma asked looking confused.

"What are you talking about?" Ryouga asked. Kaseru sighed mentally and paused a moment to collect himself. He faked a pensive look and then continued.

"I mean the actions of today with perhaps others have created a state of unrest. Tell me, your friend, Akane Tendo. How long has she been dead?" Kaseru asked calmly. Ranma growled a little but calmed himself.

"Five years." Ranma stated coldly.

"I see. I sensed you two were very dear to her. Have you paid your respects to her yet?" Kaseru asked faking a sad look now.

"No. Why?" Ryouga asked swallowing not liking where this was heading.

"It is simple Mr. Hibiki. The events of today have only increased the unrest I sensed. Akane's spirit is not at rest. For spirits to rest they must have closure in the mortal world. Akane does not have that. I believe the only way for her to get the rest she deserves is to have you two pay your respects to her. Properly.", Kaseru said with a small smile watching the two boys reactions of shock. Ranma and Ryouga looked to each other and then to Kaseru and sighed.

"We can't do that." Ranma said quietly.

"Yeah. Kuno destroyed our only chance to." Ryouga added.

"Yes, yes I know, I saw that but I am offering you another chance. I will be able to call the spirit of Akane into the body of my daughter. She is closely attuned to the other side. She has done this many times. You will be able to speak to her. You must remember one thing above all though. No matter what, you have to convince her that you do not need her. She feels she is needed here and that it causing her unrest. Once she knows that she is not needed she will finally be able to rest. We must act quickly however before her spirit becomes stuck in a state of unrest forever." Kaseru said adding urgency to his voice and a determined look to his face.

Ranma looked at Ryouga once again and then two stared into each others eyes. For a few moments they just stared at each other in silent communication and then nodded to each other.

"Right. We understand. We'll do whatever we have to in order to help Akane." Ranma said while Ryouga nodded sternly in agreement.

"Excellent. Get yourselves dressed and ready. Meet me at her grave in exactly one hour. Time grows short gentlemen. I will see you there." Kaseru said and bowed softly.

"Right. Come on Ryouga let's get you dressed. Oh by the way....hey! Where'd he go?!" Ranma said turning to Ryouga and then back to see Kaseru gone.

"Damn. He's good Ranma. Do you trust him?" Ryouga asked grunting a bit getting out of bed.

"I don't know if I do or not but we've got to see if he's telling the truth. For Akane's sake. Remember if he is telling the truth, we have to make her believe she isn't needed here. Got it?" Ranma asked calmly helping Ryouga to his feet as well as disconnecting him from the equipment monitoring him.

"I got it Ranma. Anything for Akane. We've only got an hour to get there so let's hurry. My clothes are over there." Ryouga said holding himself up while Ranma went and got his clothes.

"Right. Anything for Akane. I'm going to leave everybody a note so they don't worry." Ranma said and quickly scribbled out a note while Ryouga dressed. The two moved to the window, Ryouga grabbing his umbrella while Ranma opened it. Ryouga quickly stuck the umbrella outside to block the rain as the two climbed onto the windowsill and glanced down.

"Can you make that in your condition?" Ranma asked glancing at Ryouga.

"Don't worry about me. I can handle pain." Ryouga said looking down. Ranma sighed a bit and wrapped his arms around Ryouga to support most of his weight as they landed. Ryouga nodded a bit and the two jumped down and landed in the backyard with a grunt. The two paused for a moment to get their bearings and then headed off into the night.

A few minutes later the door to the room opened and Ukyou peeked inside. She glanced around the room and saw no one. She immediately rushed further into the room half screaming.

"Ranma!?! Ryouga!?!" Ukyou shouted out and looked to the open window. She rushed to it and continued screaming out into the night. Genma, Nodoka and Nabiki soon rushed into the room to see what the commotion was.

"Ukyou what is it? Oh no! Where are my boys?!" Nodoka asked frantic upon seeing the room empty. Genma saw the note and picked it up.

"We have to go look for them! That man probably took them!" Ukyou said jumping to a conclusion.

"Wait! They left us a note." Genma said holding it up. Ukyou snatched it out of his hand and began reading it.

"Dear Guys. Don't worry about us we aren't in any trouble. That guy that came here was called Kaseru and he said Akane's spirit was in unrest and we've gone to help her rest. Don't worry we'll be fine and Mom I'll make sure Ryouga doesn't get hurt. We'll be back soon. Love Ranma." Ukyou read the note and then glanced towards the open window and sighed. 'I hope you know what you're doing Ranchan. I really hope you know what you're doing.' Ukyou thought to herself as Nabiki walked over and closed the window.

Cologne sighed softly to herself as she finished cleaning up the kitchen of the Nekohanten. She could have let one of the owners or even Mousse do it but tonight she felt like doing something plus she wanted the privacy. She had been truly amazed at the gall as well as the stupidity of the Kuno boy. How he could have actually thought he was doing good when he stopped Ryouga from paying his respects to Akane was beyond even her. She sighed and softly hopped along out into the dining area. She flicked off the switch and started for the stairs when she sensed someone passing by very quickly. She stopped in her tracks as she reached out with her senses to identify the person.

She slowly began to recognize the chi of this person. It was familiar and powerful. She continued reaching and then froze. She swallowed hard as a shiver worked its way up and down her spine. Old, very old memories came back to her and she shuddered as she thought of them. She broke herself out of her shocked state and quickly ascended the stairs. She had to hurry and warn the others as soon as possible.

"He should be dead. What's he doing here? I'm not sure I want to know. Whatever it is it won't be good. Dammit I wish Happosai was still around. With him on our side we might stand a chance if it comes to a fight. Damn you Kaseru! Why couldn't you just stay dead the first time?" Cologne said as she burst through the door to Shampoo and Mousse's room startling them from sleep.

"Aiya! Great-Grandmother what wrong?!" Shampoo asked seeing Cologne's face.

"Get dressed child! You too Mousse! We haven't much time!" Cologne barked to them and turned hopping off to her own room. She sighed to herself as she gathered a few things she would need if it came to a fight. She pitied anyone who went up against Kaseru in a fight and here she was preparing to do just that. Cologne muttered to herself as she finished getting what she needed and turned hopping off out the door to gather Shampoo and Mousse for the battle she hoped and prayed wouldn't come. Nerima had seen its share of destruction from martial artists but it hadn't been visited by Kaseru before. Cologne shuddered remembering the battle at her village and wondered if Nerima would even survive if it came to a battle.

'Well one thing is for certain. If it doesn't survive at least most of the people's deaths will be painless.' Cologne thought to herself as she entered the room to see Shampoo and Mousse ready for combat. She sighed softly and thought, 'Yes. It's the ones that face Kaseru in battle I will pity; for they are the ones that he will let suffer.'

End of Part Five