Disclaimer: Ranma, don't own him don't wanna own him, can't own him.

Chapter 1...

A choice made...

Ranma closed his eyes and breathed. He sat cross-legged in the middle of the backyard and began to meditate. He had checked with Kasumi and knew that no one else would be near the house for quite some time. It was a reprieve from the chaos that had seemed to follow him day after dreadful day. Temporary at best but with what has happened to him in the past he was decisively needed for the sake of his own sanity. 'Man, the breeze is quite light today', he thought to himself as he allowed himself to ground himself. As a meditating technique, Ranma had taught himself to listen to the wind, instead of thinking of a lit candle. As mercurial and translucent as the wind, he had imagined himself, feigning and dodging, deciding long ago that a true warrior never truly needed to strike his opponent, instead the perfect warrior allowed the opponent to melt the wax of the candle with the fiery rage that his opponent had for him. Silently he thanked a certain old ghoul for that bit of philosophy

Deeper Ranma slipped into his meditative state. Allowing the breeze to encircle him, Ranma sought out its prefect form to enlighten him on the true meaning of being a warrior. The wind to wash over him and began to carry away all that which would harm his sense of being. All of the anger and resentment slowly lifted from his body, though regret was as stubborn as ever, and his ego and pride was ironclad attached to his being. Even so Ranma became more aware of his being, his ki, and something else that was more harshly embedded in him then his ego: the true enemy was always from within. Yet, even conflicted with such feelings, Ranma allowed himself peace as he continued to allow the breeze to carry him to his higher meditative state.

As he approached the state that he felt at most in peace with, he began to consider his enemy. It had a vicious hold on him, and threatened all that he had trained for and worse yet, this villain was the one thing that could destroy everything he held dear to him.

Honor.

In of itself, honor was a rock which held Ranma perfectly grounded, and steady. Honor had given Ranma something that his father did not give him, a sense of right and wrong, and his Code of Life. But, now, his rock had become his shackles, holding him to promises that consumed not only himself, but his friends, allies and even, (Damn you Ryoga) his rivals.

'But, how could one fight one's self and win?' He asked the wind.

The breeze, as if to answer, blew a leaf on to his face and flung it into the water. Ranma blinked, almost coming out of his meditative state and looked at the leaf. It somehow reminded him of his fight with Ryoga, when the lost boy first learned the breaking point. As the ripples extended from the floating leaf, Ranma retraced the battled.

He was winded and the Chestnut Fist had taken the last of his reserves. Ryoga while still in pain, could have defeated Ranma (which made Ranma shutter) but they had both fell into the creek below, and Ryoga had transformed into a pig getting knocked out in the process. Ranma studied the revelation closer, with a more critical eye, it was Ryoga that had destroyed the cliff-side causing them both to fall. Suddenly, it became crystal clear to Ranma...

... Ryoga had defeated himself.

Suddenly another prominent battle flickered into his mind. With Happosi's weakening pressure point, Ranma had absolutely no chance in the world of defeating the old master. All had literally seemed lost until Cologne had shown him the Ascending Dragon technique which allowed him not only to defeat the Happosi but to blast Kuno, Mousse and Principle Kuno at the same time. He simply spun everyone around in a pattern and let ... their auras.. do the... rest?

As he thought the wind begged another question: did Ranma defeated, Happi with the Ascending Dragon... or did Happi defeat himself?

It was confusing for Ranma at first, but his mind as a martial artist began to quickly place all of the pieces together...

Using his own weakness, his fear of cats, he defeated the Monarch of the Amazons...

The battle on the cliff-side that defeated resulted in Ryoga's defeat by using his own power against him...

Happi's defeat by using his own aura against him...

He allowed a smile to creep onto his face as the began to come out of his meditative state. He saw an opening that had not been there before. Ranma slowly rose to his feet, feeling refreshed and anew with a plan against his foe.

Saotome Ranma would simply let Honor defeat itself. Now all that was needed was a plan of action, and with that he would do something that he rarely ever do: Ask for help.

Kasumi happily began cooking the evening meal. It was nice to see Ranma meditate, he treated everyone (including himself) more maturely when that happened. His abrasiveness subsided, Akane fought less with him, and as selfish as it sounded, he talked openly with her about himself, and his problems. She had almost giggled as a simple leaf had nearly knocked over the 'Big Bad Martial Artist', but she grew somber as he simply watched the leaf drift into the koi pond. It wasn't a look of befuddlement that Ranma had in his eyes, but Kasumi could not for the life of her understand what it was at first. However, when the odd look went to the determined on that Ranma had arose with, she had understood. Ranma had found an answer that he had been seeking. As she continued to watch him leaping over the pond and entering the house, she could have sworn that he had grown taller in that short of time that he had been meditating.

Entering the Tendo household, he quietly walked into kitchen and started taking out the plates and chopsticks. Still deep in thought he did not notice Kasumi quietly watching his movements. "Um, Kasumi?", he said tentatively. "Can we talk a bit after dinner?"

"I do not think that would be appropriate, it would not look... right." Kasumi responded, no matter how much she would enjoy the walk with her friend, it would be more right if it was Akane that he talked to.

Ranma sighed, he could swear that she was more honor-bound then he could ever be, but Kasumi was the only one he could ask about this, the one who could be trusted with this plan. "Well, I noticed that we are low on noodles, and a few other things, perhaps I could go with you to the store to do some shopping?"

Kasumi began to respond, "I'm sure that you and Akane..." but Ranma's serious sideways glance somehow silenced the argument.

"It has to do with the engagement, and I need your advice about it. I think I have chosen." He said plainly. Somehow this didn't sit well with Kasumi, and her smile slightly faltered. Turning back to the table that he was arranging, Kasumi quickly continued to prepare dinner.

'He's chosen who he is going to marry?' She thought dumbfounded, in the little corner of her mind where her less then pleasant thoughts stirred, 'Its about damn time.' was heard. Taking a deep breath she simply said, "I see. So when are you going to tell everyone else?" It held the same pleasantness as always but somewhere there was a hint of hesitation.

"In three days." Ranma said flatly. "But, I need to make preparations, and I need your help... your confidence to make this work. Because in three days everyone is going to know what the choice is, and it might become a little more hectic then normal."

"Do you plan on telling everyone?" Kasumi said, there was something about how he was saying it, but it was overrun by the fact that he had chosen.

"Yup." Ranma said finishing the setting of the table. "Every last person who has a personal stake in my honor that I c... c.. care about. I think that they should all know what I have decided, from my own mouth. Will ya help me with some small details?"

Kasumi smiled brightly, "Of course Ranma, I will be more then happy to help with the preparations."

Ranma then asked, "But, I need your word of honor that you will not say anything about this until the moment after I have told everyone who comes, what my choice is..."

"And you know you will have it." Kasumi said, almost immediately feeling that odd twinge in the back of her mind. That twinge became more of a bell of warning as she saw the sadness of Ranma's face. What has she just promised?

"Don't worry Kasumi... after I tell you about the choice, I won't make you help me if you don't want to, but I will hold you to your word." Ranma said, almost full of regret. Inside he was in knots, he was purposefully doing to Kasumi what had been done to himself in the past, her own honor would be used against her. But, as hypocritical as it was, this was needed for what he had planned in three days. He soon silenced himself as he heard Akane and Nabiki enter the front room.

Dinner was surprisingly quiet, Ranma and Akane had said very little to one another since she had come home from the marketplace. Nabiki had started to calculate the finances for the house, even Soun and Genma had not said much. But the most quiet was Kasumi, who had not said a word since her promise to Ranma. She had replayed the conversation in her mind and felt even more frightened each time she did so... who had he chosen? If it wasn't Akane then why would he ask for her help? The one thing that leaped into her mind was how Ranma said what he said... he never said, WHO he had chosen, but WHAT he had chosen.

Ranma for his part was quiet as he went over the thoughts that came from his meditation. Three days, he wondered, if it was enough time to enact his plan. 'Show some backbone', he chided himself, 'I've decided what to do now I have to just have to act upon the idea.' He didn't even notice his father stealing some of his pickles and rice. He also didn't notice the small looks that he got from Akane. Focused on his determination everything else had taken a back seat.

With that silence came an uncomfortable feeling from Akane, who had hoped that he would say anything, insult or otherwise. The silence was close to unbearable for her as she simply ate. 'What's wrong with my baka?' She thought to herself, 'Maybe I should prod a bit and see if I can get him to snap out of whatever the heck is wrong with him this time.'

"Ranma?" She asked quietly. When he didn't respond, she started to get annoyed. "Ranma, what's wrong?" She ever so gently prodded her elbow into his arm just enough to get his attention.

"Nothin', I'm just thinking about a technique." He said as truthfully as possible, his eyes never leaving the soup bowl.

"Oh", Akane thought, as her annoyance had become subsided, for the moment, "So can I see the move that you are working on after dinner?"

"No, I haven't perfected it yet." Ranma had said, sparing Kasumi a glance, he continued, "It's something that I have been working on for years."

Genma had slapped hearty on his son's back saying, "I knew I was still teaching you something, perhaps a few good pointers of what your working on will help you become as good as I am." This only illicit an angry look from Ranma as he turned back, and looked at Akane for the first time since dinner began.

"No? What do you mean no?" Akane's temper started rise again, "What do you think I'm not good enough to know how to learn a move from the Great Ranma Saotome? What's really wrong, you don't want to be seen by anyone doing something that your not good at?"

Between Genma's comment and Akane's prodding Ranma's mouth got the better of him, "Nope, I just doubt that a tomboy like yourself is smart enough to even come close to understanding its moves." 'Whoops!' the back of his mind shouted out after the statement.

Akane fought the urge at leaving Ranma under the dinner table as she gritted her teeth and said hotly, "RANMA! You take that back, anything you know I CAN LEARN AS WELL!"

With her blue aura up and everyone else backing away from her, Ranma took a deep breath, "Maybe..." but his foot slammed right into his mouth as he couldn't resist the comment, "...in a million years."

That was the last thing that Ranma heard himself say in the house as the ever famous mallet and smacked Ranma right out of the house. With the amount of anger behind the swing it had looked like he was being thrown right toward the marketplace.

Nabiki commented, "Nice shot sis. If we knew that you'd do that well tonight I'd have sent him with a list of groceries."

Kasumi just sighed and started heating up some water.

Later that evening, Ranma returned home, and as Kasumi had predicted wet and a girl. Kasumi pleasantly smiled as he turned she walked into the kitchen, handing Ranma a kettle and setting some tea right beside him. "Do you feel alright Ranma?"

For his part Ranma didn't seem as hurt as he would usually be when knocked into LEO by the Akane Express. He simply let the hot water wash over him bringing him back to his original state. Not that it was an odd feeling, changing from girl to young man was now a natural occurrence for him. Looking over to Kasumi, he said, "Thanks for the hot water Kasumi. I feel fine actually. I was thinking about that talk that I want to have with you, are you still up for the evening?"

'Goodness, he is much too use to the abuse.' The eldest daughter thought to herself as she took off her apron, "Yes, yes I most certainly am. We can walk out to the Dojo if you want to talk in private."

"Naw, no offense, but there are ears everywhere and I ain't up ta dealing with that particular problem." Ranma said as he started back toward the front door. "Beside's it's a nice night for a walk any how."

Knowing Ranma's stubbornness, Kasumi simply put on her shoes on her way out the door. It concerned her that she was going out with a walk with her sister's fiancee' and it didn't seem proper to her. But, he had confided in her, and Kasumi was more then happy to oblige Ranma with at least a little bit of time to talk. Seeing that the sun had nearly set she gazed out into the sky and agreed with Ranma, "It is a beautiful night."

After walking a few blocks from the Tendo's Ranma started looking around, making sure that no one had followed, including the lost boy. 'That hard head would show up on my wedding night just to make my life hell.' he thought morbidly. He also looked at Kasumi, she seemed pensive about the walk, and he knew that it wouldn't get any better. 'Ok Saotome, its time to put the plan into action.' the determination came back into his eyes. He turned to Kasumi and said, "I have decided on something." it was a simple statement in of itself but he was still hesitating in opening up the flood gates, "I'm tired Kasumi, tired of the promises, the obligation, the hatred that people have toward each other toward and because of me."

She simply nodded, there was no need for her to say anything at the moment. The boy, no, the young man, needed to collect his thoughts for whatever reason that eluded her. As she thought before, it was nice to see him in this light.

"Ya know how many people I have to marry to fulfill obligation of honor?" Ranma asked. He shook his head in disgust "At least three or four of them. You know how many of them I love?"

Kasumi looking at Ranma as they walked, "At least one?" She had hoped anyway. But the reaction that Ranma had told her differently. "All of them?"

"Not a single one of them." Ranma said flatly. The response caused Kasumi's smile to falter a bit as he continued, "I don't know them in any other way other then being my fiancee's. We never talk... unless its something of grand importance about the situation an' I'm tired of it Kasumi, worn out from the whole blasted thing. Damn it I don't want a fiancee, I want a friend."

"But Ranma, you aren't exactly forth coming with your feelings." Kasumi countered. "Have you talked to Akane about it?" Heck even Shampoo knowing about this would serve some good, she thought to herself.

"Her, no... I ... can't." His resolve faltered a bit, he had to admit that Akane would be the best out of the three fiancee's but the rejection he dealt with her day after day destroy that caring "She hates the idea of a forced marriage, and even if she l..l..likes me the engagement thing has tainted her feelings towards me."

"What about Ukyo or Shampoo?" Kasumi finally asked. While she didn't see talking to either of the other rivals 'improper' so to speak, she was a supporter of the Tendo/Saotome union, however this point needed to be addressed "I mean, even though I wouldn't exactly approve going to the other two, you would be talking to someone."

Ranma, sweating a bit, stopped walking. He turned to look at Kasumi and simply bowed his head, "Shampoo is trapped in this about as badly as I am... trapped by honor and law. She has to kill me or marry me, there is no in between for her as far as she is concerned. And Ucchan... I can talk to her, but I can't talk to her like I can..." He raised his head. 'Courage Saotome' he thought as his resolve came back to him, "Like I can talk to you."

There, it was said.

"I see." Kasumi said hesitantly. It was the closest to him declaring his feelings toward anyone she knew. She didn't like where this was going in the least bit. Not that she minded the attention, it was just that Ranma was engaged to her sister. Her face wore the confused thoughts she was feeling at the moment. Her smile simply vanished into something that was unreadable

"Hold on just a sec Kasumi, I ain't lookin' to get engaged to you or nothing like that", Ranma said he wasn't disappointed that Kasumi had been taken aback, he just wanted to make sure this didn't spin out of control like most of his conversations had, "I like you as a friend, and right now I need a friend's help."

A sigh came out of Kasumi, she looked down at the street as if to say something else. However, she somehow knew not to press the issue of Saotome's new found courage. Being forever the Tendo diplomat she decided to bring the subject back as she spoke softly, "You have said as such, and you have said that you have decided, now what have you decided?"

Ranma looked at Kasumi, he was impressed by how tactical Kasumi was, he had definitely not given her enough credit on intelligence. But a morbid though had crept into his head, reminding him of what he had to do, 'I'm so sorry.' was all that he thought at his mouth said, "I have decided... to commit seppuku." And as Kasumi paled Ranma simply continued, "And I want you to be my second."