Chapter 4

Ryouga was tired moreso than usual the day in school had been stupid yet necessary. Even after having endured that interesting spar if you could call it that he hadn't brought himself to recuperate. 'Sometimes being drained is feeling good…' Ryouga had only ice cream on his mind as he drifted to sleep on the bare ground.

Darian wasn't feeling as relaxed as Hibiki at the moment having recently returned to being a male citizen. He was drying himself of against the campfire. 'For getting away his curse sure is useful.' Darian went about drawing excess ki from the lost boy once more.

"Aaaah, aint the same as the method Happosai preaches but I will for the duration refrain from using my cursed form as such." Ryouga's slight form was his only audience. This was always the case when Darian accessed his sane speech patterns. 'They are only for those worthy…' Being an individual of internal anguish he had never dared to speak out. 'You are lonely for a reason Ryouga. Saffron was made for you.'

Ranma was trudging along the shoreline he couldn't figure out what his dad had in plan for him. 'I bet its something cool this time. Dad's always so good at knowing what's right!'

If Genma had seen the impossibly cheerful smile on his sons fae he would have throttled him on the spot. 'For the promise of FOOOOOOD!' Yes that is true Genma would pledge himself to the cause of food if given the chance. He never managed to refrain from getting kicked out though because of his gluttoneos ways however…

The sun licked the horizon they were running in the direction of the sea…

In the years of training Ryouga had learned to trust his sensei. The outcome of almost every training 'escapade' they went on would in the end always lead to better skills and further control. With the meeting of Ranma one of the major untruths had begun nagging at the unbreakable trust between the two. 'He always said that so much of my training was to prepare myself for the unavoidable clash between myself and the Saotome boy. Why was it not so?' Thoughts like these had come up on several occasions however.

When his sensei was still mostly insane the only reliable thing was that Ryouga would feel pain until he got better. Ryouga could agree with that after having come to the true understanding of the why…

Darian had come to understand more about his female side. Severals facets of the constant training had never before been thought of as bonding. This aspect had always been full of incessant gloating and plotting. He had never strayed from the goal of fashioning an indomitable core of martial arts ability into the boy. As a female he had come to see the dependancy both ways. He invested more than just time in to the Hibiki boy. A part of his life would be forever intwined with the spirit of the boy. 'I appreciate your presence more than you know Ryouga. I wish I could tell you…' Emotions never did Darian any good. Not in this life either.

Ryouga passes school with the lowest passing grade ever given in the history of the school. On his report card for the graduation he has failed half of the subjects yet still given exemption. (AN : hahaha don't know what school is like in Japan!) Amongst the graduates he is the one last to pass the most likely to sleep and the one least likely to speak up. He is only admired for one trait… That in fact beats up bullies.

Ryouga sighs at the crowd. They are all waiting for him to speak up. 'Has it never stopped occuring to them that I have no wish to talk to them. Ranma was the only one in any position to speak to me…' Holding in his emotions is strained whilst keeping in the cold ki produced. If the students had been ki sensitive they would probably reacted to the supercooled rim of ki splurting from Ryouga's mouth. 'Alone again. AGAIN!' Gasphing for air two thin rims of blood vaporizes in the air. "MOTHER!"

Darian is female for the occasion and talking to one of Ryouga's teachers. "Excuse me but I must check on my son." Looking about she darts strait for the one source of vocal abuse she will never fail to find.

A crowd of boys the same age as Ryouga stands in a circle around Ryouga. Ryouga being slightle shorter than average is hidden from view. "Move away!" Kaoru pushes her way through the throng of graduates.

Ryouga is covered in a reddish tinged veil of steaming blood. The effect it had on the students was nothing other than morbid curiosity. No adults are taking part of the spectacle. Kaoru's march stopped at the sight. "No." It was the only word that escaped her mouth. Ryouga had gotten her to visit a lady's salon for the occasion. The exemption had solved all his eduacation problems.

Ryouga smiled at his now mother. The pain gone in a flash. "I am happy for you mother." He smiled weakly while lifting his arms up. The offer plain on his face. 'I love you mother.'

Darian had for all the time spent as the simulacrum mother exploited the female side for mingling out the last part of the equation. 'You can only offer your life for those you truly love. The lie is replaced by truth once more.' Kaoru knew that she would kill Ryouga's soul in that moment if the return embrace was false. Therein lew the sacrifice. 'For you alone I sway.'

The boys witnessing the embrace would ask their mothers the same question: Does it hurt to hug me?

(AN: This chapter and actually most of the chapters before follow no essential outline and are therefore shifty at best. If you can find a plotline or any kind of coherent mode of… whatever, then please tell me before it is to late.)

Chapter 4.5

The eternal duo if you could call it such had once more traversed the chinese border. Therefore visibly female. Some differences could be spotted though. Ryouga was now close to the length of the other female. His female form sporting telltale signs of maturation with two valleys of nurture clinging to the wet fabric forever employed by the Hibiki's. The other female sporting hair of the same colour had a considerable tan glistening from the exposed portion of what mustn't be touched. (The author runs off to wash his hands and burn his fingers in purification!)

Reality shifts

Ryouga unhinges the umbrella from the pack without seemongly reaching for it. Colorless ki is the topic of the day. 'Remember the truth Ryouga your cursed form holds the other half of you. Draw from the other half! How could she know so much?' Ryouga grumbled silently while drawing out the tent.