Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all rights to Ranma 1/2. I'm just borrowing her amazing characters for this story.

I wanted to get this out in a more timely manner for all of you who were diligently waiting. Your wonderful comments and encouragement mean alot. As a thank you this chapter is extra long (20 pages!) I thought I could close this story with this entry but it looks like I'll need just one more. I hope you all enjoy!

Ryoga watched as the cops and feds swarmed the warehouse. It turned out they had been keeping tabs on Kuno's various business dealings for awhile now, and were just waiting for a golden opportunity like this one. Apparently the anonymous tip he'd phoned in had been enough for a search warrant.

He'd left the secret door open for them when he'd made his exit, and it wasn't long before they were leading the workers Ranma had trapped out one by one. Next came the various plants all marked as evidence, along with samples of the synthesized drug.

Of course this wasn't what Ryoga had been watching for. He felt a feral smile cross his lips when they finally brought her out.

She was struggling against their taut and imprisoning grasp, her eyes darting here and there as she scanned the area before her. With his extra sensory hearing he could pick up what she was saying, the panic in her voice making his smile grow even wider.

"He out there!" she screamed, trying to halt them from pulling her forward. "No human!"

The two federal agents exchanged looks over Shampoo's head. It was clear by their expressions what they thought of her little tirade. They began trying to pull her forward once more, and only succeeded in igniting her panic further.

"He kill Shampoo!" Her eyes began darting towards the sky, quickly scanning as her body unconsciously shrank downward as if in defense of some expected airborne attack. "Red eyes... no human... sharp teeth... Shampoo saw..." She began to shake.

Ryoga had contemplated both killing Shampoo and bringing her across. In the end neither had appealed to him quite as much as this little scenario.

He hadn't cared for the way she'd tried to dismiss him upon their first meeting. The way she had looked at him as if he weren't worthy of her company. It had been very rewarding making her see the error of her ways. He had enjoyed toying with her. Unfortunately, for the sake of their plans, he'd had to make her forget their encounter. But not this time. No, this time he had made sure she would remember in stark detail, and the vision he knew would haunt her the rest of her days.

It would replay itself over and over in the dark recesses of her mind, causing her to question her own sanity. Her dreams would become nightmares, and he would be there, a constant reminder, haunting her forever.

Of course to the feds her ranting would merely look like she'd been sampling her own wonder drug. Maybe instead of jail she'd wind up in some mental health facility. By the looks of things it was a distinct possibility.

He watched as they slapped handcuffs on her and forcibly placed her in an awaiting squad car. Satisfied he turned and disappeared back into the night.

-R 1/2 -

Ranma gripped her tightly against him as he flew. The undercurrent of her ki was barely existent now, and he knew with utmost certainty that he wouldn't have time to make it to the hospital. He was losing her. He felt his heart break with the thought and knew he had an urgent decision to make.

Landing deftly, he made his way into a wooded area and out of sight. When he reached a clearing he knelt down and placed her gently on the ground. He gazed lovingly down at her, watching as the moonlight played softly across her sweet face. She looked so peaceful.

Peaceful...

The word was not lost on him. Did he have the right to shatter that peace and condemn her to this kind of life? Would she want that? Would she resent him for it? So many questions and no time for any answers. If he didn't act quickly she would die.

He couldn't bear the thought. He wasn't ready to lose her, and yet he wasn't ready to doom her to this sort of existence. If she died now, she died pure. If not...

He shook the thought roughly away.

"Akane..." he whispered into the darkness, wishing she could somehow hear him. He reached down with loving hands and stroked the hair away from her forehead, as if his mere touch might bring her back to him. "Please..."

But she remained as still as before, drifting further and further from him with every second that passed.

"I can't..." the words came tumbling out of his mouth, startling him, and yet he wasn't sure if he merely meant he couldn't lose her, or if they were in response to the impossible decision he was now forced to make.

He felt the tears course down his cheeks and he knew that it was much more than even that. The real reason, the one he didn't want to admit.

He wouldn't be saving her.

She was pure light and she had found him in all his darkness. To take that light away from her would be the bigger sin. It would change her, destroy everything he'd ever loved about her, the reason he'd been drawn to her in the first place. Never again would she walk in the sun, the craving for human blood so overwhelming it would be the only thing that drove her. No, to take her for himself would be the ultimate in selfishness, and he couldn't do that. Not to her, not to his Akane.

But he couldn't just let her die either.

Maybe if I try and draw the drug from her? The sudden thought came out of nowhere and shook him out of his reverie. Could it possibly work? It would, after all, have no effect on him and if he could draw enough of it out of her system without taking too much blood then perhaps...

He didn't doubt he could stop himself from taking too much. He'd done so before, using his martial arts skill of discipline to guide him. The question was could he draw enough of the drug into himself without killing her? Considering the alternatives he knew he didn't have much of a choice. It was her only hope.

"Please let this work," he whispered to whatever Kami might be listening. Gently he tilted her head to the side, exposing the smoothness of her neckline and the jugular vein that lay just beneath the surface.

Baring his teeth he let the sharp dual points penetrate her skin in one quick thrust. He felt the first drops of her blood flow through him, filling him instantly with the essence of her. The drug that now polluted her purity was also there. He grimaced as the vile taste poured into his mouth, infecting him, as he tried to draw out it's lethal poison.

It was then that Ranma began to feel something very strange...

The dizziness hit him first, making him feel lightheaded, as if he were suddenly floating then sinking. It was a disjointing sensation, one that left him slightly disoriented. Still, he refused to stop. He continued in his ministrations, wanting desperately to purge Akane of the vile concoction that still swam in her veins.

Soon after the dizziness came the nausea. It assaulted him quickly and he had to close his eyes against it, desperately willing it to subside. It was a feeling he'd long since forgotten, having had his last bout of sickness more than two-hundred years ago.

He forced himself to press on, knowing her very life depended on it. It was then that the first wave of pain hit him.

It was like nothing he'd ever felt. Not even when sunlight managed to touch him. It was piercing and it seemed to penetrate to the very core of his being, attaching itself like some sort of foreign parasite.

He resisted the first assault, every muscle tensing against the onslaught. The second wave however was enough to force him from her as he cried out, doubling over and clutching his stomach tightly as if he could somehow contain the pain there.

This wasn't supposed to happen, his mind reeled. Vampires as a rule were not affected by drugs or alcohol. Most poisons merely left them feeling a bit on the drunken side. At least that's what he'd always experienced. So why was it happening now?

Before he could contemplate it another wave of pain hit him. This one even more excruciating in it's intensity as it spread outward throughout his entire being. He was unable to stop the scream that forced itself from between his lips. It felt as if a hundred knives were suddenly being plunged through him, then twisted around in slow tight circles.

He gritted his teeth against it, his breathing coming out in ragged gasps.

He waited for a few moments, thinking the worst of it might be over, unfortunately he couldn't have been more wrong. The final wave hit him like a freight train, forcing the air out of his lungs as he fell backward, his eyes going from grey-blue to a crimson red. They blazed for a long minute, seemingly growing brighter as the pain once again rose up full force.

It felt like he was being pulled apart inch by inch. As if something inside him was desperately trying to claw its way out. When he could finally breathe again the scream that found its way to his lips was a welcome release. It pierced the night air with bloodcurdling ferocity, sending the wildlife scurrying madly for cover.

He was dying. Ranma was now sure of it. He felt the blackness coming and welcomed it. Anything to escape the relentless and all consuming pain. He felt something suddenly lift away from him, and then he was fading. The pain slowly receding as the world began to lose its focus.

He tilted his head, his gaze finding her.

"Akane, I'm sorry..." he managed to croak out the words, even through his haze. How he wished she would open her eyes and smile at him one final time.

With the last of his remaining strength he reached out and took her hand. He wound his fingers around hers, relishing the feel of her skin, the softness of her touch.

At least he wouldn't die alone. It was a small comfort, but one he held onto even as the darkness reached for him, pulling him down into a long and endless abyss.

-R 1/2 -

Ryoga strode into the loft a little before dawn. He had hoped to find Ranma already there waiting. The way he had stormed off left Ryoga with little doubt that he had pinpointed Kuno's location.

If he had to guess, Ranma must have sensed that Akane was in trouble. He had put his mark on her and was now inexplicably connected to her ki. If she were in trouble it wasn't difficult to discern who the source of that danger might be. And if Kuno did have Akane there was no telling what sort of damage Ranma might inflict. His fury would be riding high, that much was guaranteed.

It didn't take a genius to see that Ranma was in love with her. Even if he wouldn't come right out and admit it. The thought of her being hurt was the one thing that could definitely push him over the edge.

Ryoga smiled.

If Akane's life were at stake he knew Ranma would have no choice but to pull out all the stops. He would finally be forced to embrace his true nature.

Ryoga felt giddy with the mere thought. Poor Kuno wouldn't know what hit him. Ranma's rage would be precise and deadly. He only wished he could be there to see it. He wondered absently if there would even be enough of Kuno left when it was all over.

Just the mere speculation had Ryoga itching to know how it had all played out. He wanted every last detail and he couldn't wait to pry the whole story out of Ranma. He just hoped he wouldn't decide to spend the day with Akane instead of coming home.

Ryoga frowned. Speaking of day, it was starting to worm its way back into the world. Soon it would be spreading out like some sort of warm blanket, forcing the dead to crawl back inside their wormholes.

Grumbling slightly under his breath, Ryoga reached and began drawing the curtains closed. It looked like the story would have to wait after all. Ranma wouldn't risk getting caught out in broad daylight.

Curtains drawn, he turned and started to make his way to one of the two walk-in closets. Before he could reach it however, he was suddenly halted in his tracks, as a strong sense of dread abruptly washed over him. It was a totally foreign feeling and he knew instantly that it was somehow connected to Ranma.

Something had happened to his friend.

Impossible, his mind reeled against the thought. Ranma was too powerful. He was strong, relentless, unstoppable. There was no way anything could have happened to him. Still, the feeling persisted. It would not leave him.

Frowning, Ryoga tried to reach out and touch Ranma's mind, only to come up short. Nothing. It was as if he'd hit a mental brick wall, a vast space filled with emptiness. Once again he went to the window and pulled back the curtain.

Dawn was already spreading her wings. His beloved darkness was being forced back by sudden streaks of golden light. Any thoughts of going to search for Ranma were instantly halted.

"Where are you?" he whispered as if his friend could somehow hear him.

It was in that second that he heard it. The scream, Ranma's scream. It echoed loudly inside the walls of his brain, so full of a gut wrenching agony that he had to close his eyes and clutch the sides of his head to keep from screaming himself.

Then just as suddenly as it had come it was gone, almost like it had been abruptly cut off.

Ryoga slowly raised his head to stare out the window at the city beyond. For the first time in a long time he felt a sense of helplessness. It was a feeling he didn't much care for.

"Ranma..." With a growl of frustration he rapped his fist roughly against the window frame.

A deep seeded desperation began to tug at him as he watched the sunlight continue to flood the world. He was trapped and wherever his friend was, he was on his own.

-R 1/2 -

Dawn had started to break fully, sending several shafts of light down through the trees to touch upon them. A soft breeze suddenly began to pick up, it ruffled Akane's short dark hair, penetrating through her deep slumber, gradually pulling her from the world of nightmares.

Slowly her eyes began to flutter open

She squinted against the brightness of the morning sun, a feeling of disorientation settling over her.

Where am I?

The thought was muddled, thick, like a heavy weight that had burrowed deep inside her brain. She tried to push through it, to think back to the last thing she remembered.

She'd been accosted on the street, only to awaken and find herself being held prisoner. After which she'd tried projecting her ki in hopes that Ranma would find her, only to then become a prize in the standoff between himself and Kuno.

It was all coming back to her.

Kuno holding Ranma at bay by threatening to inject her with some sort of drug. Ranma rushing Kuno...

It had all happened so fast. She had felt the strong burning sensation flood her arm an instant before Ranma had crashed into Kuno, forcing him away from her. After that her memory was fuzzy. Things had taken on a surreal quality, as she had begun to slowly drift away from reality into a world of darkness.

I called his name...

The thought suddenly came to her. She had been floating away and calling to him had been her final attempt to stay herself. To anchor herself in this world, his world. And then there was nothing, only blackness.

Until...

"Ranma..." Once again she used his name to reassert herself, pushing the final remnants of drug induced stupor away. It was then that she felt it, a light touch against her hand. Pulling herself into a sitting position she looked down to find his fingers entwined with hers. A quick sideways glance revealed his prone form sprawled out next to her.

He lay still, too still, his eyes closed.

"Ranma!"

She was beside him in an instant, shaking his shoulders lightly, then more firmly when she realized she couldn't wake him. Slowly it began to dawn on her that although he was being steadily exposed to sunlight he wasn't burning.

"Oh Kami..." she breathed, gathering him close and cradling him in her arms. She tried to think. How had this happened? That dose Kuno had injected into her had definitely been enough to kill her so how...?

But then she thought she knew.

"Oh Ranma..." she whispered, stroking his hair lovingly. "you tried to save me by taking it into yourself didn't you?"

She felt the tears beginning to well behind her eyes. Instead of making her like himself he'd tried to give her back her own life. The sheer unselfishness of it all made her heart pain with love for him.

But then it must have all gone dreadfully wrong somehow...

It would seem that whatever Kuno had drugged her with had in some way clashed with what Ranma now was. Did that mean it had gone and suppressed the vampire within him? Was that why the sunlight no longer had any effect? Or had it gone and killed the demon and in turn taken Ranma along with it? How could she be sure? It wasn't as if she could simply look for a pulse.

The tears began to fall then as she slowly rocked him back and forth, whispering his name over and over as she held him close.

-R 1/2 -

Ranma was lost in the darkness. Somehow trapped in the back recesses of his own mind. He wandered aimlessly, searching desperately for a way out of the blackness that now surrounded him. Unfortunately it was like an endless maze of twists and turns and he couldn't discern which way was up or down.

So this is what happens to a vampire when he dies, he thought absently. At least he felt no more pain. For that he was grateful. Still, the disjointed sensation that he was both floating and sinking was back full force. He felt disoriented, as if nothing, including himself, held any real weight.

Was this his punishment? Would he be forced to linger here in a perpetual state of nothingness? Alone, never to see the light again? Was that what he deserved?

He thought of Akane then, hoping that she at least had found some modicum of peace. He pictured her sweet face, her loving smile and held tightly to the images, letting them sustain him.

It was only then that he noticed his surroundings seemed to solidify, as if they had taken on a sudden lifelike quality.

When they started to distort once more he again called upon her image, happily surprised when everything instantly began to come back into focus. The more he thought about her the more the disjointed feeling began to leave him. It was as if she were his final lifeline and only she could hold him in place. He closed his eyes.

Maybe if he concentrated hard enough...

"Ranma..." he heard her voice call his name as plainly as if she were standing beside him. She was whispering it over and over again, her loving tone reaching out to him, like some sort of force. He could feel it tugging at him, pulling him to her.

He opened his eyes and was nearly blinded by the sudden brilliance. A soft white light shone brightly, forming a slightly rounded tunnel.

"Ranma..." she called his name once again. It echoed off the walls of his prison, compelling his feet forward. Slowly he began drifting toward the light. All that mattered now was being with her. Letting instinct guide him, he followed her voice, allowing it to lead him wherever it may.

-R 1/2 -

"Akane..."

The sound of her name startled her. She stopped rocking him immediately, staring down at him, her eyes wide. When he remained motionless she began to wonder if her ears weren't playing tricks on her.

"Ranma?" her voice was breathless, full of agonizing hope. "Please Ranma," she pleaded. "if you can hear me, please come back to me."

She waited for a long moment before she saw his eyes begin to flutter open. Suddenly she was staring into those two beautiful grey-blue pools. She could tell instantly that he was trying to comprehend what he was seeing. She smiled down at him, willing him to understand that the vision before him was indeed real.

She watched his eyes widen as he slowly reached a hand up to lovingly caress her cheek. It was as if he wanted to prove to himself that she wasn't going to suddenly disappear. That what he was seeing was definitely no hallucination.

"Akane...?"

Her smile grew, her eyes reassuring him that she was really here, that it was no dream.

"Welcome back," she whispered. He returned her smile with a weak one of his own, relief flooding through him at the sight of her.

"It worked..." he managed to whisper, before succumbing to a sudden and prolonged fit of coughing. She helped him into a sitting position, gently rubbing his back until the worst of it had passed.

"How do you feel?"

He groaned. "Like I've been run over a few times."

She frowned. "But do you feel any different?"

His brow furrowed at her question, his confusion evident. "Different?

"Well, for one thing you've been sitting here in broad daylight and so far no smoking flames. Or hadn't you noticed?"

Ranma stared down at his hands, turning them over and back as if in total awe. There wasn't the slightest blemish, not even the familiar pain that came with sudden exposure to the light. In fact, he had to admit the sun felt pretty good. He simply couldn't believe it.

He met her gaze with a brilliant smile, which she returned wholeheartedly.

"Well?"

He took a moment and searched within himself for the usual familiar presence that had always been separate, yet part of him. It wasn't there. He could no longer feel it's existence. No longer feel that overwhelming and all consuming thirst for blood. Whatever drug Shampoo had conjured here it must have bound with the vampire inside him, neutralizing it.

"That's why it felt like I was being torn in two," he muttered under his breath.

"Huh?"

At her confusion he explained. "I tried to draw the drug from your system. I thought it would have no effect on me. Instead, the pain... it was excruciating. Somehow it must have eradicated the vampire. Akane," his smile began to grow. "it's gone. I'm finally free."

"Ranma..." his name fell from her lips, echoing her sheer happiness for him. He let out a joyful cry, before reaching out and pulling her into his arms. He crushed her to him and she gave a startled laugh, reciprocating the hug instantly.

"I knew it..." she whispered in his ear. He pulled back to stare at her, his smile lighting in his grey-blue eyes.

"Knew what?"

She reached out a hand to caress his handsome face, her eyes soft, full of love. "Instead of taking my life, you tried to give it back."

He blushed, his gaze dropping away as he remembered. "Trading your life for... for that existence..." he closed his eyes, willing the image of her lifeless form away. "I... I just couldn't..."

"And I love you for it." she stated firmly, wanting him to know he'd made the right decision. "Thank you, Ranma."

He brought his gaze up to meet hers, his eyes holding all his love for her. "Anytime, Akane."

She smiled quietly as her gaze slid softly away. Ranma could tell there was something else on her mind. And he had a pretty good guess as to what it was. While it was all well and good that things had turned out the way they had, he was sure she was still curious as to why it had even come to that.

"You're wondering why I never mesmerized Kuno." It wasn't a question but a statement of fact. She stared at him then, a bit unnerved by his incredible insight, before nodding slowly.

"I had just busted up his little drug ring by forcing sixty of his workers behind a locked door with my mind. Let's just say it left me with quite a headache. And then while on my way to find you I was hit with this incredible bolt of pain. It was so sheer it literally dropped me out of the sky. My headache which had barely subsided came back full force."

Akane listened with dawning horror. She knew instantly where the bolt of pain had come from. It had been all her fault. If Ranma hadn't been connected to her ki when Kuno had dropped his bombshell... In the end everything had been her fault.

"I knew it would be too risky for me to try any sort of mesmerism. He would have fought me and in my current state I couldn't guarantee full control. But I promise you, Akane," he said, his voice firm. "you won't have to worry about him ever again."

"You killed him?" Her voice was choked, full of unshed tears. He reached up then, grasping her face in both his hands, never once shying away from the answer.

"Yes." His voice had been firm in it's finality, as if to say he had done what had needed to be done and if it came down to it he'd do it again.

She felt the tears finally begin to fall, as the feelings she had been so carefully guarding finally spilled over in a tidal wave of emotion.

"He... he killed my father." The confession came out in an anguished rush.

Ranma's heart pained at the hurt he saw swimming in her eyes. He pulled her close, trying to ease her sorrow as best he could. So that had been the bolt of pain he'd felt. He now understood why it had been so stark. He felt his anger spike. If Kuno had been standing there he would have killed him all over again.

"All... all my fault," she said, trying to pull away.

"No, Akane," he said, pulling back to grasp her chin ever so slightly. He forced her to look at him, wanting desperately for her to understand.

"That bastard is the one to blame. You couldn't have known how deep his obsession would run." He searched her eyes, hoping she could somehow see that he was right, that she needed to let go of the guilt if she ever hoped to get past this.

He held her gaze, his voice softening. "Please, listen to me," he implored her. "Blaming yourself won't bring your dad back."

Her heart pained at his words, and she closed her eyes, trying desperately to will it away.

"Hey," he whispered, urging her to look at him, his voice full of concern yet laced with steely determination. "do you honestly think your father would want you to blame yourself?" When she remained silent he gently pressed her for an answer. "Well... do you?"

After a few more moments she finally gave a slight shake of her head.

"No."

"Then don't," he encouraged with a soft smile. "Okay?"

He watched her take in his words and knew she wanted desperately to believe them.

"Akane...?"

"Okay," she finally whispered, unable to resist, his obvious concern touching her heart, easing her pain.

"Come here," he said, extending his arms to her. She slid gratefully into them, wanting nothing more than to lose herself in his embrace. He held her tightly, stroking her hair soothingly. "Feel better?"

She nodded softly against his chest. "A little."

"Good." It was comforting to know he had been able to help her, even if it was only slightly. "You know," he reasoned, "I think your dad would actually be quite proud of you."

At his words she pulled back to stare at him questioningly. "He would?"

"Sure," he returned easily. "It's because of you that I now have a second chance at a real life. You've done something no one has ever been able to do." He brushed her face lovingly with the ball of his thumb. "You've given a lonely old vampire back his humanity."

She smiled for him then. The smile he'd been longing to see. It started small then grew bright, holding so much love that he was suddenly taken aback by its sheer beauty. He felt his breath catch and his heartbeat speed up at the mere sight.

She stared at him, her eyes searching, grateful for his comforting words. He was right. Her dad wouldn't want her to blame herself, nor would he want her to be sad. If he were here now he would tell her to get on with her life, to move forward and be happy. That happiness, she realized could only be found in the man sitting beside her.

Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to show him just what he meant to her.

Reaching up, she placed her hands on either side of his face and gently guided him to her. The world around her fell away as she felt his lips brush ever so gently against hers.

Her eyes closed instantly, savoring the feel of him as he began to deepen the kiss. She responded instantly, without hesitation, her pain fading even further as she felt her desire for him beginning to grow.

Ranma reveled in her response. He felt his desire slowly begin to build. It rose steadily in an all too familiar, pulse pounding, tidal wave of pleasure. He was drowning and he relished every moment of it.

Taking her cue, and wanting to distract her from any further thoughts of her father's death, he slowly eased her back until she was lying beneath him, his lips never once leaving hers.

Without thinking about it, he felt a familiar sensation of release as his desire suddenly escaped and was sent hurtling towards her.

She gasped, then moaned as it hit her full force, her every nerve ending now completely on fire. The reaction startled him back into the present.

"Whoa..." he said, watching as she desperately tried to catch her breath. "Did I just...?" She let out another short moan in response. He hadn't pulled the desire before he sent it. He hadn't known he'd had to. With the vampire eradicated he'd thought... But how...?

It had to be connected to the drug somehow. And then he remembered what Ryoga had told him. How he'd explained exactly what it could do. Little by little the words came back to him.

The high is apparently very clean, and not only does it leave the subject wanting more, it can also leave them open to suggestion.

That had to be it. Since it contained properties for mind control it only made sense that, even with the vampire gone, he had somehow retained this keen ability. It left him in wonder. If he could still use his mind to send his desire then could he also still use it to influence others?

He watched as Akane struggled to calm herself. He was amazed at how well she had handled such an assault to her senses. He decided there was no better time than now to test the limits of this retained ability.

He softly sent out a suggestion that her body calm itself, that the fire now raging in her every nerve ending slowly settle into a pattern of sweet release. He watched amazed as her breathing instantly began to slow, her features taking on a look of serene and utter bliss.

He shook his head in stunned disbelief. It worked.

Akane felt her body suddenly flood with release, quenching the all consuming fire and freeing her from the intense restraints of her desire. She groaned out loud in both disappointment and relief. What had just happened? How was he still able to...?

She turned her gaze to him then, her eyes still glassy with her desire.

"How...?" was all she could manage. He merely smiled, his hand coming up to caress her cheek lovingly.

"Sorry about that Akane," he told her. "Had I known I still had the ability to send you my desire I would have controlled it better."

"But... does that mean...?"

"No," he said, picking up instantly on what she was asking. "The vampire is gone. The drug has properties for mind control. I assume it's the reason why I can still perform that little trick."

He watched as the soft smile began to spread across her lips and couldn't help but smile too. He knew she would take pleasure in such an ability, just as much as he would enjoy utilizing it.

She pressed her forehead to his, her arms coming up to snake around his neck. "Then, did you also..."

"Give your desire release?" he finished for her, his voice growing husky. She nodded, closing her eyes and taking in one long shuttering breath.

"Yes," he whispered, kissing her forehead softly. "It seems I've retained the power of suggestion as well. It makes sense I guess, seeing as how the abilities are closely related."

She opened her eyes once more, her gaze connecting and locking with his beautiful grey-blue pools. "And my desire?" She asked. "My... love for you...do you still...feel it?

He smiled at her, a soft smile that lit his handsome face. For a moment it left her breathless.

"I may no longer be connected to your ki, Akane," he told her. "But I'm still sensitive to your thoughts and feelings. Your desire, your love for me has never been more present." She watched as he reached for the right words to explain it. "It's as if what we've felt for each other has suddenly been transformed into something more substantial, more real. It's here and now. Can you feel it?"

She nodded instantly. "Yes," her voice was a whispered rush, filled with brimming emotion. And now it could be truly realized, with nothing left to stand in the way, or hold them back. They were free to explore what it all might mean, for he was human once again, fully and beautifully human.

She smiled for him again, a smile so radiant, so full of pure and unadulterated love that he felt his heart nearly explode with the wonder of it.

"Kiss me, Ranma." she breathed, her arms tightening around him, pulling him closer. He obliged instantly, his lips finding hers and drinking deeply.

This time when he released his desire it was tightly controlled. A whirlwind of sensations that swept her up and brought her down, only to sweep her up once again. She cried out as she rode wave after wave, not sure if she would be able to bear it for a second longer, yet never wanting it to stop.

It wasn't long before they'd shed the final barriers, their bodies now intertwined, their lips and hands exploring each and every undiscovered inch.

Ranma brought her to the brink of orgasm several times, until she was begging him to release her. He smiled then, obliging her as he took his own indulgence, this time needing only her touch and the drive of his own desire to find his sensual release.

They came down slowly and he pulled her close, savoring the feel of her against him, the sun's warmth caressing his skin, making him feel completely and utterly alive.

He smiled contentedly, unable to help himself. It was true what he'd told her. In the end it really was she who had saved him, pulling him back from the edge of a very dark abyss, one he had treaded for over two hundred long years.

Her love had not only sustained him when he had needed it most, but it had transcended him, making him believe in his own humanity again. For that he knew he would be forever grateful.

With each passing moment they slipped further and further into the world of dreams. A world overflowing with their every want, their every desire, all they had to do was reach out and grab hold.

And what they reached for was each other.

There ya go! Hope this was up to par! I'd be interested to hear what you thought!