YOU'LL NEVER BE GONE

Part 2: How I Choose To Remember

It was with a heavy heart that Ranma step through the gates of the Tendo Dojo. Two days before, he, Ryoga, and Genma had left the Amazon village, the morning after the Amazon funeral for Akane. For a full day they had hiked until they reached the coast, and from there they had spent several more hours walking until they had reached one of China's major cities. The Amazons had been true to their word, and once they had reached the airport, the three Japanese had found travel documents as well as plane tickets waiting for them. It had been several more hours of flying before they landed in Tokyo and then a short train ride to Nerima. During all that time, Ranma had been trying to decide just how it was he would be able to tell the family of the one he loved that their beloved sister and daughter had died in his arms. Even worse, he was not sure how to tell them about what he had done during the journey back.

Even though he knew that there was nothing else he could have done on Phoenix Mountain, Ranma still felt like he had failed everyone. He kept telling himself that if only he had been a little faster, or a little stronger, or a little smarter, then maybe just maybe he could have still saved her. It was a feeling that he knew was totally wrong, but would still take time to rid himself of.

Ranma steeled himself inside in preparation for what he knew he had to do. He still didn't like it and doubted that he ever would. Before he and the rest could make it to the front door, it flew open to reveal the very people that he feared confronting. The questions came flying out at him immediately.

"Hello, Ranma, did you just get back?"

"So, Saotome, did you and my little sister tie the knot while you were gone?"

"Son, where is my dear, sweet Akane?"

It was this last question that caused Ranma to flinch. It didn't go unnoticed nor did the tears he began to shed. It was then that the family saw what it was he was carrying in front of him. Just like the trip from Phoenix Mountain to the Amazon village, he had entrusted Akane's remains to no one else. For all intents and purposes, she had been his Amazon wife, if only in death. Stepping forward, he knelt down, placing the urn before him, and bowed low, his head touching the ground in front of him.

"I'm sorry, everyone," Ranma sobbed. "I tried to save her, but by the time I defeated my enemy, it was too late. She was just too far gone."

Ranma felt a pair of hands on his shoulders raise him from his crouch. He looked up to see the deep brown eyes of the eldest Tendo daughter staring into his, though the brown was beginning to be surrounded by red as her own tears began to fall. Kasumi quickly pulled Ranma into a loving embrace as they both leaned on each other for support, their sobs echoing in the silence that had ensued.

Genma walked over to Soun and comforted his oldest friend as he shed his tears for his departed daughter. It was not his usual sprinkler system that would drench anybody in a 10-foot radius, but tears of true grief that streamed down his cheeks. His dear girl was truly gone as was his heir to the school he worked so hard to build. Genma lad his friend into the dining room of the house.

Nabiki said nothing, though the mask she wore was becoming more difficult to maintain with each passing moment. She walked over to where Ranma had placed the urn and picked it up. As soon as she held it in her hands, all control left her and she began to grieve for her sister. Ryoga watched for a few moments before moving to the side of the middle Tendo and offering his shoulders. If it hadn't been for the fact that she was holding Akane's urn, Nabiki might have completely collapsed into his arms. As it was, though, she maintained her composure and allowed the Lost Boy to guide her into the dining room. They were slowly followed by Kasumi and Ranma.

"…she died in my arms after she told me that she loved me." It was a half-hour later and each of the Tendoes were crying softly as they listened to Ranma tell his story. "When we came out of the mountain, there was an Amazon messenger waiting for us. She told us that Cologne had returned to the village and had summoned us to appear before the council."

"You mean after all that they still tried to force you to marry Shampoo?" Nabiki asked, the anger evident in her voice. "Does that bat have no heart in her at all?"

"It wasn't like that at all, Nabiki, although that is what I first thought as well." Ranma sighed and then proceeded to tell them everything that had happened in the Amazon village. It came as quite a shock to the Kasumi and Nabiki to learn that they as well as Ranma and Akane were now considered members of the Amazon tribe. It was even more so when they learned that it was Shampoo herself that made this possible and that she was in love with Mousse the whole time.

"Well, they sure did a good job of hiding it," Nabiki chuckled nervously. "I swear those two would make it big in the movie business with talent like that."

"So, Ranma, were you able to stop by Jusenkyo on your way back?" Kasumi asked.

Ranma flinched visibly when she heard the question. "Yeah, we did," he replied nervously.

"So you got cured then," Nabiki pressed.

Ranma began shedding tears once more as her voice cracked. "I still have a curse, but it's different." After a few moments of silence, it was obvious that Ranma didn't want to say any more about the subject. Finally she spoke again. "When will we be having Akane's funeral?"

Soun sighed heavily. "I think in three days. We need to discuss who we want to be there. It will be held in the dojo, of course."

"Shampoo, Cologne, and Mousse would like to attend if that is alright with everyone," Ryoga told them. "They also need to pick up some of their things from the restaurant."

"Does this mean they are moving back to China?" Nabiki asked.

Ranma nodded. "They didn't say what they would be doing with the Nekohanten. I guess they'll sell it or something."

"Do you think we should ask Ukyo and Konatsu to come?" Kasumi asked, bringing the subject back to the funeral plans.

"Yeah," Ranma answered. "Ukyo may have been another rival for Akane, but I know that she was also a friend. We need to invite our classmates as well."

"What about Kuno?" Nabiki asked. She flinched when she saw Ranma's eyes flare at the mention of the kendoist's name.

"No, I will not allow him to be there nor his crazed sister. Kami only knows what either one of them would do to me when they hear that Akane died. This is too important and solemn an event to have them interfering with it." Ranma's rage was pouring forth from him even as he kept his tone under control.

"We still need to be prepared for them, though, just in case they find out," Nabiki said. "Besides even if you keep them from the funeral, theirs is no way that you'll be able to hide Akane's death from them for long."

"I know," Ranma said softly. "But I would like to avoid it for as long as possible."

Soun cleared his throat. "It's getting late and I know that all of us are probably drained from everything that has happened. I suggest we turn in for the night and finish making plans tomorrow morning."

Everybody rose from the floor except for Ranma. He continued to stare at the urn holding Akane's ashes. Finally Soun came around and clapped him on the shoulder. "Son, would you mind taking Akane's remains out to the dojo and placing them on the shrine. It seems only fitting that you do so since you were recognized as her husband."

Ranma looked up and smiled, knowing that he had been fully accepted into the family. "It would be my honor, Tendo-sama." He rose and picked up the urn. Just before he stepped outside, however, Ranma turned back to Soun. "I would like to say some things at Akane's funeral, Mr. Tendo."

Soun nodded his head slowly. "Of course, son. You may after her sisters and I have spoken."

"Thank you, Mr. Tendo." Ranma turned and walked out to the dojo.

Just as Soun promised, the funeral took place three days later. The crowd was as diverse as any gathering in Nerima. The amazons had come from China to pay their final respects to their fallen Amazon sister. Ukyo attended dressed in a simple black dress along with Konatsu, wearing a black kimono. Sayuri and Yuka were there along with Ranma's friend Hiroshi and Daisuke. An adult Miss Hinako sat next to Soun wearing a respectable mourning dress, the fish bowl with her fighting fish nestled in her lap. Nodoka sat next to her husband.

The sister's spoke first. Kasumi spoke of how she had enjoyed watching Akane become a beautiful young woman. She told everyone of all the times she would take her sister to Doctor Tofu's after she hurt herself in her training or fights. Though she disapproved of the fights, Kasumi said she was very proud of the strength that Akane possessed and how she would never back down when her honor was at stake. When she was done, she took her seat next to Nabiki as she rose to her feet.

Nabiki began by telling everyone how selfless her sister was, despite outward appearances. Whenever a member of her family was threatened, Akane was always there to back them up. She spoke of how Akane put her family before her personal pride by allowing her to continue take photos of her even after she found out that they were being sold to Kunos and the other boys in the school in order to do her part to support her family. Finally, after she had said her peace, she returned to her place by her sister's side.

Soun rose from his place and walked over to the table that held Akane's remains. Tears formed in his eyes as he began to speak of the pride he had in his daughter's dedication to the family art. He spoke of his dreams for a united school and his regret for having pushed his little girl so hard and too soon into getting married. His sorrow grew as he spoke of the pain he felt for not being able to tell these things to Akane herself. After a few minutes, he asked Ranma to come forward so that he could say a few words about the woman that he loved.

Before Ranma could speak, however, a disturbance was heard outside the dojo. In the next instant, the doors were flung open and one Tatewaki Kuno burst into the training hall.

"Hold, foul sorcerer. I shall not let you make a travesty of dear Akane's memory by speaking as though she actually held a love for thee. All know that it was I, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, that truly held her heart. As such, I demand the honor of speaking as her beloved."

Ranma's anger rose but for Akane's memory he kept it in check as he walked up to Kuno. Despite his control, there was a fire in his eyes that burned brighter than the largest sun. His voice was strained as his glare bore into the delusional kendoist. Fortunately for Kuno, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, Ranma wasn't the first one to reach him. The sound of a hand hitting flesh echoed throughout the dojo.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Nabiki yelled as the tears came to her eyes. "How dare you dishonor Akane's memory with your presence."

"Dishonor?" Kuno replied. "Feh. I think not for it is only the highest honor that I attend surpassed only by words of the love that I and the fiery Tigress Akane shared."

"Love? She hated you Kuno." Nabiki was in near hysterics. It was to the point that Ryoga actually had to restrain her from striking the idiot once again. "You practically forced yourself on her, you drove off anyone else who showed an interest in her, and then you had the nerve to issue that DAMN proclamation about beating her in order to date her. You made her life hell."

"Nay for it was the dark spells of the vile Saotome that caused her to keep her love for me silent. All know that I am the only one worthy of her. Now please stand aside for I would speak of my beloved's memory."

"You will not say a single word, Kuno" Ranma told him, his voice one of ice. "I will not allow you to taint this ceremony nor the love we shared with your delusions. Leave."

"You have no right to deny me such things. Your foul magic does not affect me as it did Akane Tendo and still does the Pig-tailed Goddess."

"Kuno, listen to me and get it through your thick skull. Neither Akane Tendo nor the Pig-tailed Girl ever felt anything for you other then vile hatred. Now Akane is dead and the Pig-tailed Girl is no more. You will never see either of them again."

"What words are these?" Kuno demanded. "You dare to tell me that not only have you allowed the tigress, Akane Tendo, to pass from this mortal world, but you also state that you have taken away my fiery Goddess as well? Prepare to be smited thusly, cretin."

Kuno's attack was halted when a high pitched laugh filled the air. Ranma groaned as the expected black rose petals swirled around him moments before Kodachi Kuno landed beside him and wrapped her arms around him. This time it was Shampoo who was held back from removing a Kuno from their family registry.

"Ranma-darling, it is a most joyous day. Not only is the foul peasant, Akane Tendo, gone from our lives, but you have also dismissed the red-headed harlot that has plagued our love. Let us depart from this peasantry and celebrate our future union."

It took all of Ranma's control to keep from throwing the gymnast out of the building. As it was, he was distracted from this by the first uninvited guest.

"Woman, how dare you speak ill of my loves. After I deal with this foul demon once and for all, I shall take you to task for your words."

"Now, brother dear, even if you could take down my darling Ranma, I would not allow you to do so simply because he removed such commoner filth."

These words were the last straw. Ranma let go of his anger and approached both the Kuno siblings. They never saw him approach, so busy were they arguing amongst themselves. That was until each one felt a solid grip on their throats as they were lifted off of their feet.

"You dare to disgrace this solemn event with your presence when you were told to specifically stay away." Ranma's voice was a feral growl comparable only to the few times he had gone into his neko-ken. "You then dishonor the memory of the woman I love with your insults and delusions. I have had enough of this. We gave you the chance to stay away but you have chosen to ignore this. Now you will suffer the consequences of your actions."

As soon as he uttered those words, he threw both Kuno siblings out of the dojo where they impacted the wall of the compound. Ranma walked over to their crumpled forms and was surprised to find that the elder Kuno was still conscious. Doctor Tofu quickly approached the two and determined that several limbs had been broken as well as shoulders dislocated. It seemed like Kodachi had also suffered a concussion.

"You're done, Kuno," Ranma growled to the kendoist. "Never darken the doors of this place or approach this family again."

"Never. I shall visit my just vengeance upon thee when mine body heals."

"That will be hard considering you two are going to be quite indisposed for the next few years," Nabiki stated as she waved her cell phone in front of Kuno's face. "I've already phoned the police and had them send people to both here and your estate."

"And what would one such as I have to fear of the authorities?"

"How about assault for all the times you have attacked both Ranma and my dear sister. Add to that all the drugs that I'm sure the police will find in your sister's room and gardens and I think that will be enough to get both of you out of our lives for a while."

Kuno began raving his protests until Doctor Tofu finally decided that enough was enough and hit the pressure point to send Kuno into blissful sleep. He turned to those gathered and assured them that he would meet and deal with the authorities when they arrived. Everyone filed back into the dojo and took their seats so that the funeral could continue. Ranma resumed his place next to the table bearing Akane's urn. He took a few breaths to bring his emotions back under control. Finally after a few moments he spoke.

"I loved Akane almost from the first moment that I saw her. She treated me with friendship when I was feeling at my lowest point. Despite what happened later on when she found out about my curse, my feelings never changed for her. If anything, they became stronger. But I could never tell her how I felt because I feared the same rejection I saw that first night.

"Now I realize that I was a fool as well as blind. If I had just been willing to see, I would have noticed how much she cared for me. Her attempts to improve her skills both in Martial Arts and in the kitchen should have been the proof that I needed. I let my pride and ego get in my way and now so much has been lost.

"Akane is so much a part of me that I never want to let her go. After she died, I dreaded the thought that I might eventually let her memory fade over time. I decided I needed a way to remember her always.

"During the battles in China, Akane was kidnapped by our enemies in order to get us to relinquish what they wanted. Once they got her to China, however, our foes decided that they could make use of her in another way as well.

"Akane was taken to Jusenkyo and cast into a spring, but she wasn't cursed. The spring she was thrown in had not had anything drown in it until then. Though she didn't die there, she did technically drown. A new curse was created and one of our enemies used that curse to get close to us."

Ranma pulled a flask he had hidden away in his clothing and unscrewed the top.

"You all heard me tell Kuno that his pigtailed Goddess was gone and I was telling the truth."

A slight gasp was heard as several guests began to realize exactly what it was that Ranma was telling them. Tears formed in the eyes of each of the Tendoes as well as Genma, Nodoka, Ryoga, and the Amazons.

"This is how I choose to remember the woman I love."

With those words, Ranma raised the flask over his head and poured the contents on him. The change was immediate as his body shrank and his hair became shorter. The guests could only stare in shock at the results of the transformation.

"I am Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo will always be a part of me. Now and Forever."

End Ch 2

AN: I hope nobody saw that coming. (You did understand what the new "curse" is, right?)

In case you couldn't tell this is a divergence fic. That being said there are a few changes from the manga. One: obviously, Akane died at Jusendo. Two: Jusenkyo did not flood. I can't think of a way to write out an explanation other than to just say that it didn't. Sorry. Three: Instead of the curses mixing ( like they did with Taro) one takes the place of the other. I wll give a quick explanation for Taro in the next chapter.

This is the second part of a four part story. There will also be a small sidestory involving two characters. The reason it will be a sidestory is simpy because to write it as another chapter would disrupt the flow that I have outline for the story. I would ask you to figure out which two caharacters but it's not going to be even remotely obvious until part three is posted. Still if you want to guess, more power to you.

I guess this story is not as well liked as some of my others for various reasons. The main one (which I got through emails, only one person has posted a review) is that the characters, especially Ranma and Ryoga, are too OOC. Please let me explain why. This story, as I stated in my AN's at the end of the first chapter, is mostly to help me deal with the grief of losing the opportunity to make amends with my father. Hopefully others will read this and either not make the same mistake or be able to use this story as a way to deal with their own grief. I am taking alot of the feelings I have from my loss and putting them into this story. Besides, I really doubt that anyone, real or fictional, could be dealt such an emotional blow and not be changed by it.

I also would like to say that life really is too short to let pride and the pain of old conflicts divide us from those we care about. Because of my own foolish pride, my kids will never know one of their grandfather's and he never had a chance to see his grandchildren. I regret that even more than the fact that I never was able to realize and tell my dad how much he meant to me. I hope that all of you who read this take these words to heart. Please remeber to let those you love know how you feel because you never know if they will be there tomorrow. I always thought I had another day or week or month to tell my dad and now that opportunity is lost forever.

This story is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Joe Rudd. Even though he missed out on alot of time with me, the time he did have has shaped me. Dad, I know you are watching over all of us at home and I hope that I make you proud in everything that I do. I miss you, I love you, and I'm sorry. Someday I will see you again.

Thank you for all of those who have supported me in this endeavour. Your strength has been greatly appreciated in seeing me through this.