"Of Loss, Life, & Love"
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by Luna12
Chapter 31: "Burn"


Ranma entered his family's apartment with a quick "Tadaima" before his eyes widened in surprise.

The small dining table was adorned in a beautiful table cloth. Atop were an orderly line of nine white plates each holding a different item. Suspiciously symbolic and traditional items. From Uncle Tendo and his Pop's meddling, he knew exactly what these things were for; he had somehow stumbled into a yui-no engagement party.

He blinked wide eyed. There was a large, red fabric envelope that he recognized as a kinpou, smoothed dried clam (naganoshi) for longevity, white linen thread (tomo-shiraga) for living together into old age, a pair of white fans (suehiro) for a flourishing family, a dried cuttlefish (surume) for constancy, a pair of dried kelp (konbu) for healthy children, a pair of dried bonito (katsuo-bushi), for a man's strength, a sake cask made from the yui-no willow tree to symbolise a pledge for obedience and gentleness in marriage, and a half rolled mokuroku scroll in exquisite handwriting cataloging the items.

Even more worrying were the two women seated serenely on either side of the table facing him expectantly. His mother was even more formally attired than usual, in the kimono she saved for special occasions and without her housecoat. Next to her was Ukyo, also impeccably dressed in a formal kimono. She wasn't wearing her bandolier or battle spatula, (they were stacked neatly against the wall nearby). His mother, quite tellingly, held the Saotome family sword across her lap, sheathed - for now.

Ranma gulped, feeling a strong sense of dread drop like a leaden weight in his gut.

"Son, I'm so glad you arrived as promised," Nodoka's face was a mixture of excited happiness and cautious hope...or was it worry?

Ukyo beamed a sly smile at him and patted the floor next to her. She, too, seemed a bundle of joy and nerves. "Ranchan, hun, come sit. We don't bite."

"That's not what I'm worried about." Ranma grumbled, waving his hand at the formal engagement table. "Whaddya think you're doing?"

Nodoka winced. "Why, this is your engagement celebration to Ukyo, dear."

Ukyo got to her feet and tried to guide Ranma to her side. He stubbornly planted his feet and shifted his stance for improved balance. It wouldn't matter how hard she tugged on his arm. He wasn't taking one step further into this mess.

Ukyo frowned, recognizing his defensive posture and feeling stung by the implied insult. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and prepare her argument.

"Ranchan, I can make you happy. Can't you understand that you can never be with Akane, not really. Your ma's health won't allow it. She won't allow it. But you can be happy. With me."

Ukyo pleadingly held out a small velvet black jewelry box. Ranma made no move for it, knowing that whatever gift inside would trap him into solidly accepting this engagement. He ended up taking a step backwards as his wits raced for a way to end this disaster.

His mother's frown deepened. "Ranma, my son, don't you think it's time to accept the betrothal? Ukyo-chan has told me all about your plans after you've wed and I approve."

Ranma's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What plans?! We never made plans!"

Ukyo flushed. "You know perfectly well, Ranchan. I told your ma here how wonderful it'd be with me to support you with my shop. We run the restaurant and you can still have time to be a martial artist. You won't need the Tendo dojo to support yourself or have to wander the world like your deadbeat pop."

Ranma's mouth dropped open momentarily before he sputtered out, "Are you crazy? I don't want to spend my life runnin' a food shop. That's your dream, not mine."

"But-"

Ranma cut her off. "I like to eat, yeah, but it doesn't mean I want to spend my life cooking for customers."

"Ranchan, be reasonable!" Ukyo pleaded, a mixture of hurt and stubborn pride. He couldn't refuse her now. Not when his mother was so clearly on her side and against Akane's.

Ranma looked ready to explode. "Why the hell is no one bothering to ask what I want in all this?!"

Nodoka shook her head patiently if also a bit patronizing. "We all want the best for you and your future, son."

"Then listen up. The both of you." He glared and both women kept silent as he continued. "I love the Art. All I want to do is be the best at it. That's the life I want." He paused to let this point sink in. Unbidden, his mind filled with what else he wanted in his life and a small smile escaped his lips. "Oh, and Akane and I won the DAFT. Thanks for asking, by the way." His voice dripped heavily with sarcasm in the last sentence.

Ukyo managed to look mildly embarrassed at her lapse, but plowed ahead anyway. "Ranchan, no one's asking you to give up your life as a martial artist. If you don't like the restaurant business, I can run it myself. We can still have a wonderful marriage."

Ranma pulled his bangs in frustration. "Don't you get it? I'm not going to marry you, Ucchan." He took a deep breath. It was chancy trying to explain things here in front of his still addled mother, but it had to be done. "The only one I want, the only girl I love is -"

Ranma's voice was abruptly cut off by the eerie sensation of a soft, warm, furry creature rubbing its body against his legs.

"Ahh!" He yelled, leaping onto the table in a terror normally reserved for Lovecraftian horrors. "C-c-cat!"

Ukyo and Nodoka gave themselves equally puzzled looks. After arriving in Nerima, Ukyo had heard rumors that Ranma could enter some cat-fist crazy martial arts technique, like drunken fu, but she didn't realize it was because he was terrified of a harmless kitten!

"Uh, Ranchan, its just Tanaka's kitten from downstairs. He comes in the window sometimes."

The black and white socked kitten was equally startled by the young man's sudden behavior, but he recovered and then bounced up on the table, thinking it a merry game. Even more enticing, the table was covered in dried fish smells and a taunting, dangling white thread from Ranma's foot when he landed atop of the yuino gifts.

Ranma yelped and fell off the table in his eagerness to escape. The kitten followed the trailing spool of thread that had stuck to Ranma's foot, chasing the screaming young man in circles around the apartment. Ukyo and Nodoka stared in wild eyed shock. Before either woman could react and try to snatch away the offending feline, Ranma had leapt out the open window...the kitten now attached to his back with its claws dug in.

The women, wide-eyed, jumped to look out the window. Ranma had landed deftly and was still running. Repeated cries of "get it off, get it off, get it off!" echoed through the neighborhood.

Nodoka looked around at the shattered plates and wrecked living area and sighed. "That could have gone better..."

Ukyo nodded sagely in agreement before a funny expression replaced it, her nose scrunched. "Do you smell smoke?"

At that same moment, the fire alarm began a piercing wail. Both women's eyes widened in surprise as they jumped to their feet, the disappointment over the failed yui-no forgotten in light of a possible emergency.

Immediately the women exited the living room for the front door. The small corridor leading to the stairwell of the walk-up was already filling with smoke, and it was impossible to tell where the possible source of the fire was. They made their way down the stairs, and were mere steps away from the final exit when Nodoka stopped mid stride. "The family sword! I can't leave without it."

Ukyo made a move to grab her arm and stop her, but missed. The matronly woman was faster than she looked and had already ran back up the flight of stairs. Ukyo watched in horror as more smoke filled the confined stairwell and she lost sight of her. Was Nodoka insane? Or was this yet another side effect of the Amazon brainwashing, making all her thought processes addled?

"Come back!" Ukyo yelled. "It's not worth your life!"

Before she could decide on doing something equally risky and stupid, she felt a strong hand pull on her elbow. Tanaka, the tea shop owner and building landlord was urging her the rest of the way to the exit. "We have to get out!" he shouted.

Ukyo nodded and allowed herself to be led. There were extra firescapes on the opposite end of the building, and it was likely Nodoka wouldn't even come down this way. All she could do now was aid the neighbors in the bucket brigade and pray for the woman to run back out safe and sound.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As Akane turned the corner to reach the Saotome home, her nose curled at something acrid in the air. That didn't alarm her, until she noticed the large crowd forming a block ahead… a large crowd outside Ranma's apartment building.

Oh no, she thought. What now?

She was instantly running, praying that the smoke billowing out from the structure's rooftop wasn't as bad as it looked. Neighbors had already started a bucket brigade, tossing water on the bottom of the story and neighboring buildings. Near the front of the water assembly line was a young woman in a traditional kimono, and it took Akane an extra second to process that it was Ukyo...but there was no sign of the Saotome family.

Akane felt her heart clench. "Ranma! Where's Ranma?!"

Ukyo turned to see her rival frantic. The panic on Akane's face made Ukyo's own heart ache in a very different way. She really does love him. "He's okay, Akane. I've been here the whole time. He got chased out by a cat before the fire started. "

Akane felt her heart resume a more natural rhythm. For once, she was really grateful for Ranma's cat phobia.

"And Auntie Saotome? Did she get out?"

Ukyo frowned. In all the smoke and commotion, she never did get visual confirmation that Nodoka made it back out the second time.

"I think so…" Ukyo's voice was low and tinged with doubt. She had trouble making eye contact with Akane's intent stare.

"You only think?!" Akane scanned the crowds of neighbors, hoping to catch the familiar face.

Ukyo puffed up defensively. "It was filling up with smoke...she was right behind me. I couldn't see a thing, so I just got out of there!"

Akane bit her bottom lip in worry and tried to gauge the situation. Where were the fire trucks? Why was it taking so long? The smoke billowing out of the building was intense. She couldn't take the risk of assuming the best. If Auntie Saotome was still inside, every second counted.

Akane grimly turned away and faced Ukyo. "I'm going inside."

Ukyo's eyes bulged. "Are you CRAZY?!"

But Akane had already rushed past her, stopping briefly to grab two buckets of water from one of the helping neighbors. She poured one over her head, and with a quick rip at the bottom of her damp shirt, she created a makeshift mask over her nose and mouth.

Armed with a bucket and a prayer, Akane charged into hell.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

As he approached his neighborhood, Ranma was still feeling the heebie jeebies from being chased by that fluffy feline monstrosity. His senses remained on high alert, so the moment he noticed the burnt, acrid air, his hair stood on end. It didn't smell anything like a casual barbeque.

A bad premonition washed over him and he raced the rest of the way home. It wasn't hard to spy the towering pillars of flame and smoke emanating from his mother's apartment building.

The neighbors had been forced to back away from their volunteer extinguishing efforts as the heat intensified. They clustered together as witnesses to the tragedy.

One face Ranma immediately recognized in the crowd. "Ucchan!" he called, racing up to her in relief. He was scanning the crowd desperately. "Did everyone get out? Where's my mom?!"

Ukyo's mind raced. She did not want a repeat of the last time someone asked after Nodoka. It was crazy to think anyone could survive the flaming building, even her Ranchan. She couldn't protect either of them, but she was determined to protect Ranma in their place. If she told him she didn't know where Nodoka was, or worse, that Akane had charged in and had not returned, he'd likely throw away his life in a rash rescue attempt.

Ukyo geared up her resolve and gave Ranma her best poker face. "Your ma ran out with me, Ranchan." All technically true, she thought to herself. There was no need to mention Nodoka running back inside and losing track of her afterwards. "She's probably out looking for you." Oh how I hope that's true. She silently prayed. Please let it be true.

The sick feeling in Ranma's stomach eased. He could hear the sirens of the fire engines approaching, and he allowed himself to relax.

Ukyo felt like a heel. She needed to protect Ranma from his own heroic impulses...but at the cost of dooming Akane? A small, dark part of Ukyo realized this was her best chance to really win Ranma for herself, but this was not how she wanted her victory. She wasn't some monster. Aside from one very poor outburst throwing bombs at Akane's failed wedding, she never wished the Tendo rival any permanent harm. Ukyo suddenly felt incredibly angry at both Nodoka and Akane for being so pig-headedly stupid and reckless, thereby forcing her into this impossible position. She might as well have been made responsible for stemming off a suicidal march of lemmings.

Ukyo reached for Ranma's hand, but he didn't notice. His attention was drawn to the burning building. Guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders. Conscience-stricken, she desperately wished to see Akane and Nodoka come out the door.

Ukyo opened her mouth to speak. Maybe it wasn't too late? With the firefighters arriving, maybe she should tell Ranma the truth?

Before Ukyo could say a word, the first story doorway collapsed into a pile of burning rubble, rendering any entrance impossible. Mesmerized, all eyes turned to see the inferno devour more of the structure. The building creaked and moaned louder, threatening to collapse further. Ukyo gulped. It was crazy and dangerous to enter before, but now it surely was a deathtrap.

Ukyo felt tears prick her eyes, but she pressed her lips firmly together. Her continued silence and lies of omission were for Ranchan's own good, so why did it leave her feeling so empty? Her hand tightened around his, but despite the heat pouring off the building and his own warm hand, Ukyo shivered. Her insides churned with remorse. She wanted to confess, but she knew Ranma. The guy was a born hero. Reckless and strong, he wouldn't think twice about hurtling into certain selfdestruction to … Ukyo swallowed hard, as the realization gripped her...

… to save those he loved.

With a heavy but determined heart, Ukyo remained mute.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Akane was in hell.

Or at least a close approximation.

She reached the open door to the Saotome apartment and her lungs seized and coughed at the caustic, smoke-filled air. She had managed to race her way up the stairs on foot, but here she went to her hands and knees, where the air was clearer and the heat less intense.

Scorched plaster tiles from the ceiling were falling like demonic snow. Unsettling creaks and groans from the dying building warned Akane of her limited time. She was starting to think Ukyou was right. She was crazy. She wasn't even sure Nodoka was in here, yet she couldn't live with herself if she was wrong.

"Auntie Saotome!" she shouted, praying for a response.

Akane strained her ears, crawling deeper into the apartment towards the two bedrooms.

"Auntie Saotome!" Again Akane paused to listen over the crackling of the flames licking the walls of the kitchen. Akane readied herself to leave. This had been a foolish, pointless, dangerous -

Akane's mental diatribe was cut short by a weak cry for help. "I'm (cough cough) trapped…"

"I'm coming!" Akane called back, recognizing Nodoka's voice instantly.

There was a soft thud from the same direction as the plea for help. "Auntie Saotome!" Akane crawled forward, desperate to hear a response other than her own ragged breathing.

Of the two bedroom doors, only one was shut. It was nearest to the kitchen and tendrils of flame were eating away at the door.

With the last remaining pail of water, Akane threw the contents onto the door. It sizzled and extinguished, but the flaming wall next to it threatened to engulf the door once more.

Akane rose and readied herself. She had only one chance to try and break her way through. In a blur of motion, she ran and launched a fierce flying kick.

The door and even its frame went down.

So did most of the ceiling.

A scream tore through the air, escaping Akane's throat unbidden. For a moment her vision filled with illusionary speckles of light. Sharp, brutal pain claimed her left knee, where the brunt of a collapsed ceiling support beam had landed. On pure instinct, she clawed and and tried to push away the structure crushing her leg. Immediately her hands recoiled from the heat. Her skirt and tights had partly shielded her knee from the heat, but there was no such protection for her hands. The beam itself was not on fire, but it might as well have been. Her hands throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the urgency of wanting that crushing, burning weight off her knee.

For a moment, helplessness overwhelmed her and she berated herself for her stupidity. After all those times of criticizing Ranma for charging in head first without thinking, she had to go and do the same. What an ironic end, she thought.

No! She refused to let it end this way. She would NOT die here. Not like this. Not today.

Akane mentally braced herself for the only option available to her. On the mental count of three she pushed the beam with all her strength, ignoring her body's instinctive protest of making direct and prolonged contact with the searing heat.

The beam barely budged, but it was enough. Adrenaline coursed through her and she wrenched her leg free.

All Akane could do was clutch her burnt hands to her chest, involuntary tears streaming. She tried to regain her center, to push the agony to the back of her mind. From being injured during competitive meets and sparring matches she had learned to manage pain, but this was a thousand times worse than anything she had felt before. Only now, she had a much more important incentive than a mere trophy, defending her pride or dojo. It was down to survival, and Ranma's mother was counting on her.

Akane tentatively tried to bend her knee and regretted it. The sharp, shooting pain sent her whimpering and seeing red.

She shook her head and forced herself to regain focus. Where was Auntie Saotome? It took a moment for Akane's eyes to adjust to the smoky scene. Nodoka was only a few feet away, piled in an unconscious heap on the floor. In her hands she clenched the sheathed family sword and a worn, leather bound photo album.

Akane grunted and half dragged, half crawled, to her. The smoke obscured her vision so she couldn't tell if Nodoka was breathing. Akane felt her throat constrict in fear and desperately felt for a pulse. Her stinging fingers found it, and she swallowed hard in minor relief. She had reached her alive, but could they still escape?

Akane quickly took stock of the grim situation. Returning the way she had entered was no longer an option. Waiting for a miraculous rescue from firefighters wasn't a time permissible option, either.

Akane quickly looked around the smoke filled room. A small smile graced her lips.

Determined, Akane limped and staggered to their only viable escape route. Her burnt and mangled hands were stiff, and she couldn't manage to twist open the rusted, locked latches.

The smoke was becoming more and more unbearable, and it wouldn't be long before the flames reached them. Akane felt her temper flare. She did not get this close to fail now!

XXXXXXXXXXXX

A loud crash filled the air and all eyes went up to see glass shards raining down from a now very broken window - accompanied by a wooden desk chair. With the window open, even more smoke billowed out from the building. Even through the charcoal air, Ranma could make out a figure - no, wait, two figures - on the window ledge. A brief breeze helped to clear the smoke and Ranma's jaw dropped. It was Akane. She was up on the window ledge...carrying his mother?! What the hell?!

Before Ukyo could muster any response, Ranma was leaping up to the gutter on the first story's overhang. Deftly dodging flames, Ranma made an almost effortless second leap to reach the short gable adjacent to the broken window.

Akane had already managed to drag Nodoka and herself onto the short, sloped ledge by the time Ranma reached them. Nodoka was limp and unresponsive across Akane's lap.

Akane was coughing, her voice muffled behind her ragged mask. She motioned to Ranma. "Get her *cough cough * to the *cough* ground!"

Ranma cradled his mother, but as he prepared himself to jump he noticed Akane wasn't managing to stand properly. Normally he knew Akane could handle a two story leap just fine. (Ranma was pretty sure he'd never forget the repercussions from when the Tendo balcony gave way with him, Akane, and Nabiki on it). A quick glance was all he needed to see the state of Akane's swollen and bleeding left knee. She couldn't safely jump down with that injury, and there was no chance in hell he wasn't bringing Akane with him right now.

"Hold onto my neck! I'll get us all down at the same time." Akane complied without argument, carefully climbing onto his back, reminiscent of so many times before.

Back on solid ground, Akane let go and limped into a sitting position. She ripped off her mask, gratefully gulping in the cleaner night air. Ranma laid his mother tenderly on the ground.

"Mother...come on. Wake up." Ranma's voice cracked. As if in answer, Nodoka started to cough.

Suddenly Ranma found himself surrounded by uniformed emergency medical technicians, authoritatively moving him aside. Ranma stepped back helplessly. Efficiently, the EMTs transported her to one of the waiting ambulances.

Akane coughed lightly where she sat, taking in the chaos. The night was filled with flashing lights from emergency vehicles, and the fire department had arrived; dousing the smoldering remains of the apartment building. After the rush of trying to escape, Akane found herself shaking slightly. She watched the EMTs take Auntie Saotome in a stretcher, breathing but unresponsive, and it brought back painful memories of her father's heart attack. After all her efforts, what if she was still too late to save her?

She turned to look at Ranma, who stood stock still as he was forced to let the medical professionals take charge.

Ranma turned to Akane with an unreadable mix of emotions. He was so grateful Akane saved his mother, shocked that she had been inside the whole time, angry at Akane for risking her life, beyond relieved that she seemed okay, but also worried at the look of her injuries. Akane's hands were covered in white blisters, the skin bright red with burns. He wasn't sure how she mangled her knee, but it was swelling to the size of a melon.

"Ranma?" Akane felt a bit unnerved by his silent shutdown. "Are you-hey! * cough cough * Where are you taking me?"

In a graceful swoop, Ranma scooped Akane in his arms and was marching her straight to a newly arrived ambulance. He felt her tremble in his arms and knew he'd made the right decision, even if she socked him for it. Her injuries didn't look life threatening, but he was taking no chances.

Once Akane realized their destination, she tried to wiggle free. "Ranma *cough * I'm * cough cough * NOT going in that ambulance." The last place Akane ever wanted to see again was the Nerima hospital. She was more than willing to accept medical treatment as long as it wasn't in the place she had spent weeks of stressful vigil watching her father die. She figured Doctor Tofu at his clinic could handle her injuries. "You *cough cough * put me down!"

Ranma's mouth was set in firm determination. While Akane contemplated giving him a hard jab with her elbow, Ranma managed to deposit her gently on the stretcher. An EMT attempted to place an air mask over her face, and she tried to wave him away.

Ranma glared daggers at her. "Damn it, Akane. Stop being a stubborn, macho chick, and let them take care of you!"

Akane was ready to rile up at the rude remarks, but then his hand reached out and caressed her face, his thumb gently wiping away a streak of soot off her cheek. The look in his eyes held her captive. Was Ranma... crying? His eyes were shining with moisture, but nothing spilled.

Ranma's voice went lower. "Please," he whispered out in a croak. That little word, the last thing she ever expected to hear from the overly proud Ranma Saotome, pacified her. Akane went still and allowed the EMT to do his work.

When the medics insisted on transporting her to the hospital, Akane huffed, but under Ranma's worried gaze, she did not protest. Ranma was told he couldn't ride along and his face went grave. For a moment he contemplated sneaking a ride on top of the ambulance.

Akane didn't like it anymore than he did, but she tried to give him a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. Go check on your mom. We'll meet up later."

Ranma reluctantly nodded his agreement. He was forced to stand back and watch them take Akane away.

It was then that he started to notice the remaining crowd of neighbors.

Ochida-san, an elderly lady he recognized as living down the street, gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "That's one brave girlfriend you have, there, sonny. Couldn't believe she charged into that blaze!"

Another neighbor, a man in his late thirties who had been part of the bucket brigade, nodded in agreement. "We all saw. Soon as she heard your mother might be inside, she was off. There was no talking sense into her to wait, though that other young lady sure tried to." With a tilt of his head, he indicated the direction where the okonomiyaki chef stood waiting.

A few feet away from them, Ukyo's face went pale. It was difficult to tell if the sweat on her brow was from helping to battle the flames or from the neighbors' gossip.

"I was agreeing with the young miss, there," Tanaka continued with a nod in Ukyo's direction, "that your girl was nuts. Brave, though."

Ranma's eyes simply grew wider as the truth slowly pieced itself together. He was unable to form words and he refused to look in Ukyo's direction.

Ukyo swallowed hard and cautiously approached Ranma.

"Ranchan…" He still didn't turn to face her and Ukyo felt her stomach twist.

Ranma's head was spinning. Unconsciously, his fists clenched. He was not prone to losing his temper, but Ranma wanted to rage at her. She lied to him. Intentionally and straight to his face. Ukyo never saw his mother escape the house. From what the neighbors said, they all saw Akane rush inside, and Ukyo had even tried to stop her. Why then, when he asked where his mother was, did she not breath a word about it? Hadn't he directly asked her if everyone got out?!

The next thought struck Ranma like a thunderbolt. Did that mean Ukyo wanted to leave Akane there unaided...to burn?

Ranma felt his stomach roll with cold, overwhelming nausea. He had more than enough experience with a sick gut, but it couldn't compare to this sensation. Swallowing Akane's cookies was soothing in comparison.

Ukyo cleared her throat, fighting her building anxiety from Ranma's lack of response. "I honestly didn't know your ma was in there, hun. I thought she ran out."

The omission was nearly a screaming confession. She didn't believe his mother was inside, but as for Akane...

Now, Ranma turned to face her. His eyes were watery again. The betrayal ran deep, and he searched Ukyo's face for any possibility that it was a misunderstanding, that his childhood friend hadn't done the unspeakable.

He was staring her in the eyes, and Ukyo couldn't return the gaze. That in itself was an answer. Still, he had to be certain. His voice was quiet, but the underlying tone was flat and dangerous. "And Akane? You never saw Akane charge in, even when all the neighbors saw it?"

Ukyo bit her bottom lip nervously. Her instinct was to lie again. Her Ranchan wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, so all she needed to do was deny the accusation. Simple, right? All she had to do was shred any integrity she had left to save her relationship.

What little resolve Ukyo had crumbled under the weight of Ranma's hurt, piercing stare. "I-I tried to stop her! Look, it was crazy to go in there. I couldn't let you rush in and get yourself killed!"

Ranma's fists were trembling. He could have helped them sooner had he known. His mother could have died, for all he knew she may still...and Akane...he shook his head fiercely. How could he possibly ever trust Ukyo again?

He expected underhanded lies from Shampoo and the Kunos ... but Ucchan?

Ranma turned away from her, a little disgusted and afraid of what he might say next. There was nothing more to do here, and he started to walk away.

Ukyo felt her world falling apart. She ran up to him, forcing him to face her. "Don't you see how much I love you, Ranma? I couldn't let you go in there!"

Ranma couldn't control his emotions anymore, and they exploded out. "Love? So because you 'love' me, you'll lie to me, manipulate me, and endanger the people I love?!"

The neighbors stood watching the melodrama with a mixture of awe and embarrassment.

Ukyo was openly crying, but for once, Ranma felt no sympathy at a girls' tears. The words Ukyo had challenged him with before came rushing out.

"I never want to see you again, Kuonji."


Author's Note:

As my hilarious and marvelous beta-reader Angela Jewell suggested, cue Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust". Additional thanks to PurseMonger for giving this chapter a second look over.

Please Review! It helps chase away the dreaded and evil Writer's Block.

I know many of you expected a dramatic Neko-ken appearance, but so many other works have told that story quite well. My personal favorite is MadamHydra's unfinished "Tiger Claw".

Original Post Date: Nov. 27, 2014 (Happy Thanksgiving!)