Author's Note: Well, here it is. The end. After, what...nearly a year and a half of writing, it's finally complete. This was one heck of a ride, folks, and I thank you for taking the time to read through it and live it with me. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was a wonderful experience, one I would like to repeat again. Actually, I have an Inu-Yasha fic planned after this. But wait! This story isn't at an end yet. I promised you guys a Ranma/Kagura arc, didn't I? Well, I'll be serving it up during the next few weeks.

And since this is the end, I wanna thank some people who've seen me through this story wtih support and advice – my kind reviewers!

Special Thanks to:

Wonderbee31

Hiyro

Author Dudicoff drop

Silverscale

Holy Sasami

Jetflash

Dogbertcarrol

Ranma hibiki

Malichite

Night-Owl123

Lord Rance

Drkjester

Dark Epyon

Ranko Urameshi

And everyone else who reviewed, read, commented, emailed or otherwise contacted me! Thank you all! It was a wonderful time!

P.S.: Anyone want me to write a sequel?

Epilogue: The True Neko-Ken

Ranma sat down on his futon in the Tendo Dojo, stretching his limbs. It felt good to be home. Huh. Since when do I think of this place as 'home?' Ever since Kasumi, he answered himself. The rasp of paper on wood alerted him that something had hit the ground, and as he looked down, noted th withered scroll Urd had given him. Carefully unrolling it, he read through it, mixed emotions playing over his face.

The Neko-Ken doesn't exist. It is a manifestation of survival instincts that take whatever form that has been ingrained in the trainee...in this case, cats. The Neko-Ken is a technique used to enable the trainee to access their true spiritual potential, and teach them how to access pure ki.

However, the trainee does go insane, as most children do not have the required physical and mental training to handle the ki manipulation that is required upon completion of the training.

This method, however efficient if properly conducted, is cruel to both the teacher and the trainee, and as such should never be used. This form of the Neko-Ken is uncontrollable, since finding a child of trainable age with the necessary physical and mental conditioning, as well as the required knowledge of ki manipulation such that the trainee would be able to undergo the training and maintain control over their emotions and reactions, is impossible.

The true Neko-Ken doesn't exist as such that it is not an actual fighting technique. Neither the enhanced speed or the ki claws that come with the beserker state of the actual training have been planned beforehand. The true Neko-Ken state is achieved when the trainee has attained a balance between their emotions, and found a purpose for their skills. The true Neko-Ken is the focal point around which revolves all of the training, spiritual and physical, which the trainee has undergone so far.

Once the trainee has put their inner demons to rest and calmed their turmoil, they should realize the purpose behind their training, realize the purpose of continuing it, and staying alive through it. Once the trainee has found their own reasons for continuing the Art, accessing pure, emotionally untainted ki becomes much easier.

There will be no need for a focus emotion once this is done, and the trainee will have attained a state of mastery that surpasses even higher ki manipulation.

Ranma chuckled as he read it, mumbling, "Baka oyaji...stupid training manual." There was a small note scribbled at the end of the scroll, in a different handwriting.

Well, Ranma, this is it. The solution to the Neko-Ken. Unfortunately, there is no cure for emotional trauma as inflicted upon you by the cats, but you could try and ask Urd if she can make you a potion for it.

At this point the martial artist shuddered, remembering all too well that the goddess, while well versed in the arcane arts, was a horrible cook, and that her talent in the kitchen was directly proportional to her success with potions.

Scared you for a moment, didn't I? Well, I just want you to remember one thing. As long as you know why you continue your training in the Art, as long as you have a purpose, you will stay alive. And the will to live makes you strong. Remember this, and stay strong.

As he read the final note, the pig-tailed youth began laughing. The advice he'd been given sounded all too familiar to his ears.

V--------------------V

Akane looked up as the door to her room opened, and Ranma stepped in. "What do you want?" Her voice sounded strained, as if she was forcing herself to sound hostile. He took in her sullen look, and sat down on the chair next to her bed. "Talk to you."

"Huh?" Ranma chuckled. "I wanted to talk to you. You asked me what I wanted." At her tired glare, he continued. "Listen...I know what you're thinking. You think I'm pitying you, think that maybe, if you don't have to listen to other people try to talk to you about it, it'll all turn out to be a bad dream, right?"

He kept talking, unbidden, as if ignoring the fact that she seemed to ignore him. "But it hurts. I know how much it hurts. I still have nightmares about it. But, Akane, it wasn't your fault like it was mine. I made that choice. I killed deliberately. I may have lost control over my skills, but a small part of me wanted that man to die. You did no such thing. Your only fault was that you haven't had the training to fight the spell. And you can prevent it from happening again, if you continue to train. I don't ever want to loose control like that again," he whispered, looking down at his hands.

"Not ever again. Neither do you. I know you don't. I can see the way you beat yourself up over it. But life goes on, Akane. It's a mistake we both made, and we both paid for. It's a mistake too costly to make again. So, now we have to stop it from ever happening again." He stood from his perch on her chair.

"You told me in Jusendo that you were a martial artist, that it was your duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. If that is truly what you believe, then let's go. We've got training to do." "Ranma..." her voice stopped him in the doorframe. The Saotome youth cocked his head to the side in a silent inquiry.

"You think I can do it?" Akane's voice was barely a whisper.

"I know you can." And Ranma left, not having to look to see the small smile spreading across the girl's face.

V--------------------V

"Hijin-Ken!" The golden projectiles slashed through the air, shearing into the practice dummy at the end of the training hall. Ranma turned around when he heard clapping from behind him, and stared straight into Kasumi's dark brown eyes. "How did you do that, Ranma-kun?" The martial artist stared down at his hands, the golden claws fading from his hands as he let the ki dissipate.

"It's the Neko-Ken, Kasumi. The real thing this time." He smiled as he sat down on the bench next to her. "I got full control over it now, and I don't think I'm ever going cat again. Still scared of 'em, though." A small giggle escaped her lips, and Ranma found himself entranced by the sound.

"Ya know...I wouldn't have been able to master it without you," he told her quietly. At her questioning glance, he plowed onward, hoping she would understand. "When I fought at Jusendo, I was loosing. Loosing badly, Kasumi. I was tired, and that ki blast I shot made me want to fall over and drop dead. But I realized if I did I'd be leaving you and Mom and all the others to die...and I couldn't. I wouldn't let anything happen to you." He looked up to stare into her eyes once more, searching those chocolate brown depths for something he hoped was there.

"I couldn't give up and let you get hurt. That's why I practice the Art, you know. To protect others. But...especially my friends and family. Especially the ones I love. And I love you, Tendo Kasumi." The words came easily now, and Ranma could see her eyes light up as she leaned towards him.

Their lips were microns apart when a sudden crash turned their attention to the shoji door, which was now lying flat on the ground, having been thrown out of its hinges by the weight of the people leaning against it. And, half standing, half lying on the ground in a tangled heap, were the smirking, smug, satisfied faces of Genma, Soun, Nodoka, Akane, Ryoga, Happosai, Cologne, Shampoo, and Ukyo.

Nabiki just looked triumphant as she held out her hand to Kuno, who reluctantly placed a thick wad of bills in her hands.

Ranma and Kasumi laughed. Things were far from what they had been before, but they were getting there. All it would take, was time. And he had all the time in the world. After all, now he had the three things he loved most – his Art, his friends, and his family.

THE END