A/N: This chapter contains rather dark content; please be advised that this story is rated M for scenes of gore, violence, and traumatic situations. Can't have silver linings without clouds, ne?

I want to thank my reviewers as always, and encourage all forms of reviews. I respond directly through PM and will sometimes include responses in the A/N. If I miss a reply it's probably because I'm spending free time writing the story, Gomen!

Finally, I don't think any fanfiction can satisfy every reader's expectations, especially with the author struggling to keep things in character. That said, Ranma has always shown a caring streak for Konatsu: pushing Ukyo to raise his wages, fighting off his insane family, and even holding back when Konatsu was under the influence of the Toshintan (remember, that was one severe and deadly fight, but Ranma held back). They aren't BFF's yet, but they have a lot they could learn from one another.

Disclaimer: The original work below is based on the characters and works of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media. I do not own the rights to any of this content, and am not benefiting financially from its publishing.

Silver Linings Dojo

by Kevin Mohaj

Chapter 7: Split Body, Soul Snap

Konatsu watched Akane and Ranma walk away with mixed feelings. In a way, Ranma had given the kunoichi everything he wanted: a bed (a futon, but still), a day with a real family, and now he entrusted Ukyo to him; but everything was blunted by the momentous reality of the situation. Konatsu turned towards Ukyo; unsurprised to see her huddled on a bench on the sidewalk in tears—tears over losing Ranma.

The pigtailed martial artist' face filled Konatsu's thoughts. Ranma (it was hard for Konatsu to mentally remove the –sama) was so kind, as was Akane-sama and her tender family. Ranma explained how Ukyo was his friend; that he was shocked to see her destroying the wedding; how he felt betrayed. Konatsu spent most of the last night lost in thought: in memories of how Ukyo never treated him the way the Tendos and Ranma treated him.

Konatsu learned much after speaking long into the night with Ranma. The conversation centered on martial arts, of course, but Konatsu was still pleased to learn that Ranma appreciated his abilities, even respected them.

Konatsu's thoughts returned to the present as he looked down at the soundlessly weeping broken chef before him. Konatsu found himself overcome with intense emotions, and he analyzed them as Ono-sensei had instructed him.

Gratitude. I've made actual friends, and Ukyo-sama has been freed.

Affection. At first, I thought it was Ukyo-sama's kindness that drew me in. Now, looking at her like this, I know it runs deeper than that. I hate to see her in pain.

Anger. Yes, despite the affection. If Ranma thinks of me as almost an equal then I deserve respect from this woman.

Shock. I do deserve respect; Ranma says so; my life has been filled with challenges.

Confusion. What am I supposed to do now?

After Ukyo seemed to calm down, Konatsu stood before her. He still felt strange wearing Ranma's Chinese clothes and decided against wearing makeup (nothing in his arsenal of makeup would match these Chinese patterns). He stared at Ukyo for a moment before she looked up and met his gaze. She seemed to flinch when she met his eyes, but Konatsu didn't break eye contact. After a moment Konatsu picked Ukyo up and jumped to the roof of a nearby office building. He carried her over the rooftops to U-chan's, and was happy to see that the police presence was gone from the restaurant.

Konatsu carefully carried Ukyo into her room and deposited her on the bed. She began to cry softly again. Konatsu felt his desire to soothe the broken chef rising, but swallowed the feeling and walked back downstairs leaving Ukyo to her thoughts.

Konatsu felt like a strange weight was slowly lifting off of his shoulders. The male kunoichi was very thankful for his sessions with Ono-sensei, and his time with Ranma last night. For the first time in his life, Konatsu was no kenzan.

Konatsu took stock of the ruined stores of food as the police must have shut the power off before leaving. The kunoichi went to the kitchen counter and started preparing a list of ingredients to purchase from U-chan's supply channels.

Konatsu realized that the kitchen had been thoroughly searched by the police leaving pots, pans, and utensils strewn about the floor. The kunoichi quickly amassed the dishes and began to wash them thoroughly.

Konatsu knew that the restaurant itself was also in disarray, tables were thrown aside and the front counter was cluttered with loose paperwork. He organized the paperwork into various binders, set the tables and chairs out correctly, and started sweeping the restaurant.

It was around an hour after when Ukyo walked downstairs. Konatsu looked up at her from the store room for a moment before returning to his work. Ukyo then surveyed the restaurant and kitchen and a small sad smile appeared on her face.

"Konatsu-chan, I wanted… to thank you for all you've done," Ukyo said quietly.

Konatsu looked up from the front counter, he was still organizing paperwork, and he slowly nodded to Ukyo before replying, "Don't mention it, Ukyo-san, it was the least I could do."

Ukyo looked at him pensively, and Konatsu saw her eyes watering. The kunoichi just continued to sweep and refused to meet the her eyes. After a pause Ukyo walked upstairs. Konatsu resumed taking stock of needed foodstuffs when the phone rang. The ringing stopped before Konatsu could reach the phone, and he shrugged.

It's not like we are opening anytime soon anyway. Ukyo probably grabbed it.

As if summoned, Ukyo returned downstairs and approached Konatsu. He took a moment to look at her; damnit if she wasn't so beautiful this would be easier.

Ukyo was obviously forcing a smile when she said, "That was Akane… She said that… Ranma wants to see you before dinner tonight."

Konatsu nodded, "I'll just wrap up here then, and I'll be back after dinner to finish."

Ukyo shook her head, "You've done plenty for today, don't… overwork yourself… Go see your friends, Konatsu-san."

Konatsu gave her a hard look before nodding, "Very well, I'll see you soon, Ukyo-san."

Keeping a tight reign on his desire to stay, Konatsu emerged from U-chan's into the warmth of the day. The sun overhead temporarily blinded the kunoichi, and he closed his eyes for a moment before turning down the street towards the Tendo Dojo.

Walking down the busy streets of Nerima was not new to Konatsu. He often made deliveries or picked up extra supplies from the market. Most of the market folk knew Konatsu, but it was obvious that nobody recognized the kunoichi in the Chinese shirt and drawstring pants he was wearing. For the first time Konatsu noticed that the women in the market, both the older saleswomen he personally knew from dealings with U-chan's and the younger shopping women were frankly appraising him. It was at this moment that Konatsu realized that he could have changed clothing at U-chan's, but he found himself for once simply enjoying the attention.

Why shouldn't I enjoy the attention? I'm a man, and I want a woman in my life one day. Why keep up this charade?

For many years the kunoichi considered his garb to be part of his style. However, after talking to Ranma and Ono-sensei about his abilities, Konatsu realized for the first time that the only techniques that required the kunoichi garb were the Red Lipstick Hell, Mark of Gratitude, and the Lipstick Delay Technique. Ranma pointed out that while those techniques were effective in a somewhat disturbing psychological way, that they were merely distractions. For the first time in years, Konatsu didn't feel powerless without his usual outfit. Ranma even promised to train Konatsu in Anything-Goes martial arts to allow for his Secret Breast Pocket Mist attack without the groping requirement.

Ono-sensei didn't have much to say on the kunoichi's fighting style. During his therapy sessions Konatsu and Tofu-sensei would often discuss his abusive family, his feelings of inferiority, and his pursuit of Ukyo. It was Ono-sensei that first pointed out the similarities between Konatsu and Ranma, and also suggested that Konatsu attempt to make friends and live out his life, not the life his stepmother wanted from him.

Konatsu was nearing the Tendo dojo when his reverie was interrupted by a snarling sound coming down a dark alley. Konatsu turned to see two large tomcats surrounding a white kitten. The kitten was backed into a corner and the tomcats were closing in with teeth and claws bared.

"EIGHT-FACED BEAUTY THROWING STAR!" the kunoichi screamed as his arms began to blur. The two tomcats were suddenly each pinned by four shuriken and they struggled to escape with sharp yowls of surprise. Within moments Konatsu retrieved the white kitten and made his way back to the street.

The kitten looked up at the kunoichi with trusting eyes, and Konatsu smiled, "Well, you are a lucky thing. No collar though. You should be more careful, Neko-chan." Konatsu laughed suddenly as he placed the purring kitten into the soft grass, "You probably know your way home, but you better stay away from Ranma!" The kunoichi petted the white kitten once more before walking away.

He arrived at the gates of the Tendo home and to see Akane chasing a laughing Ranma around with a mallet. Konatsu shook his head as he approached the 'couple.' Ranma noticed him and waved only to be flattened into the soft earth.

Akane looked over and smiled at Konatsu tentatively, "Konnichiwa, Konatsu-san," she returned her mallet to the ethereal plane from whence its horror springs and approached the kunoichi.

Konatsu bowed deeply, "Akane-sama, I was told Ranma wanted to see me?"

Akane looked at Konatsu curiously while a twitching Ranma pulled himself to his feet muttering insults at Akane, "I left a message for you to be here for dinner later tonight…"

Ranma looked up at Konatsu with worry evident in his eyes, "I didn't say anything about meeting early…"

Konatsu met Akane's worried gaze and felt the blood draining from his face. He turned and raced back towards U-chan's vaguely registering Akane dragging a confused Ranma behind.

~~~k~m~~~

WHERE AM I NOW?

Hibiki Ryoga was pulling out maps of Europe with frustration evident on his face. Life had been going relatively well for the forlorn martial artist. After the wedding he accidentally crashed, the one place I didn't want to be at the time, Ryoga found himself lost again. Somehow, by some miracle, he arrived at the Unryu farm the next day.

Ryoga sighed happily in remembrance of the past week at the Unryu homestead. He told Akari of Jusendo and she was remarkably calm, but seemed to act more possessively with him. Not that I mind, Ryoga thought to himself with a grin.

He also told her how he found himself at the wedding somehow, and about the destruction and chaos. Ryoga was still confused about his feelings for Akane, but that day he decided to give up that fight. He decided to enjoy the life that was at his fingertips! The past five days were full of peace and a shyly budding romance (Ryoga was still suffering severe bashful/nosebleed tendencies).

Then this morning, and he was just going to the bathroom, Ryoga found himself on the busy streets of a city.

So our lost hero continues his trek, his mind wandering, and depression setting in.

Then, he watched silently as a very… pretty man wearing a familiar Chinese shirt raced past him followed by Akane and Ranma. Ryoga didn't even have time to speak before the three were gone.

Ryoga thought hard about what to do. Chase after them and he might find himself in another city than Nerima (he had to assume that's where he was at this point, after all… why would Akane and Ranma be in Prague?). He looked across the street and saw a nice park. Perfect, I can find that map Akari made for me to get back home using this park as a landmark!

Ryoga grinned at his cleverness and fastened his eyes on a park bench. He took a step, then another, one more… (damnit I'm walking right somehow). He glared at the park bench intently and took another step. His view of the bench seemed to obscure and he growled and refocused. Finally he grasped the bench and sat himself down, looking up to make sure he hadn't arrived in some other park, he grinned as he read the kanji on a nearby sign: "Nerima Ward Public Park."

I'm going home. I'm going home!

The perpetually lost boy fumbled through his bag for Akari's map.

~~~k~m~~~

Konatsu fairly flew up the stairs of U-chan's with Akane and Ranma trailing behind him. He kicked the door to her room open when it wouldn't open. Ranma, Akane, and Konatsu spilled into the room.

Ukyo was kneeling on a large white silk sheet facing away from the door. Her body was oddly still, and a bloody knife lay to her right on the floor, the area of the sheet near Ukyo was stained red.

Konatsu registered Akane's scream as he quickly severed large strips of the white silk and quickly folded them into rigid compressed forms.

Konatsu registered Ranma racing to the phone as he drew his kunai and severed the rope tying Ukyo's knees together, Jigaki… the kunoichi thought in horror.

Konatsu saw Akane's face turn from horror to shock even as he lifted Ukyo into his arms and compressed the hardened silk against her cut neck. He felt her feint pulse as he raced out of the room.

He met Ranma at the entrance who shouted, "Doc Tofu is closer than the hospital!"

Konatsu nodded and raced with all his training through the door praying to the Kamis for the woman he loved.

~~~k~m~~~

Ono Tofu slammed the phone down and rushed to his largest examination room; he quickly prepared intravenous fluids and set up a device for a blood transfusion. Having prepared as much as possible, the doctor rushed to his door even as Konatsu bounded in. Wearing Ranma's clothes, file that away for later.

"Take her into the first room!" Tofu barked at the kunoichi and followed him inside. Ranma and Akane walked in a moment later.

Tofu quickly went to work connecting the young chef to intravenous fluids after he was satisfied that the strange white bandages were somehow stopping the bleeding quite effectively. The doctor realized this was going to be touch and go, and that three teens were watching in horror.

"All of you, out now!" Tofu barked at them. He barely registered the door closing behind them as he went to work using shiatsu to strengthen Ukyo's heartbeat.

~~~k~m~~~

Ryoga had found the map! Pouring over the hand-drawn map of Nerima he smiled as he noticed the public park. That's where I am! He thought happily, but then felt a wave of nausea. What was that? He stood carefully and began to repack his bag when the sound of crying filled his ears.

Looking up, Ryoga saw Akane and Konatsu trailing Ranma. The three of them looked terrible; Konatsu in particular was covered in blood. Ryoga looked into at Ranma and felt the blood draining from his face as he soaked in the pigtailed boy's aura. Ranma just walked past him like he was in a trance moving towards the lake in the center of the park.

Akane and Konatsu saw Ryoga and made to approach when Ryoga held his hands up at them in a halting motion.

Ryoga didn't recognize the polychromatic aura surrounding his rival, but when the colors suddenly flared he was blinded by the stunning array.

"Ranma!" the lost boy screamed before rushing towards the lake.

~~~k~m~~~

Konatsu paused when Ryoga frantically waved them away, and was blinded by a flash of radiant colors. Konatsu gasped as Ryoga moved at a superhuman speed and tackled Ranma from behind, curling and pushing upwards to ascend over the lake.

"Ranma!" Akane shouted in panic as Ryoga threw Ranma into the lake right before a soundless explosion of colors erupted from Ranma. Konatsu felt as if time slowed to a halt as he raced towards the lake with his arm covering his eyes from the brilliance.

Konatsu looked up in time to see Ranma transform into Ranma-chan as she hit the lake even as the water seemed to explode outwards jutting sharp spikes from the pressure of the ki explosion. Konatsu jumped high to dodge an approaching spike and landed on top of it. Looking around, Konatsu thought he entered a nightmare: the spikes jutted out from the lake ending in wickedly sharp points. Konatsu found his footing and was shocked that the spike, although cold to the touch, wasn't slick. Konatsu heard Akane's scream and looked up.

Ryoga was hanging lifelessly some seven meters away from Konatsu, impaled through his side on the tallest spike. Blood was pouring freely down the spike mixing with the crystalline semisolid. Konatsu realized quickly that gravity was forcing Ryoga further down the spike, impaling him more severely by the moment; Konatsu realized that Ranma-chan was trapped in the solid lake beneath. Konatsu drew his kusarigama and took a deep breath.

Konatsu used the spiked edge of the kusarigama to scale the tallest spike. He reached out a hand.

Konatsu took the offered hand and felt himself being thrown high into the air, the kunoichi deftly swung his kusarigama's sharpened edge and severed the spike holding Ryoga, watching as the lost boy fell.

Konatsu dropped his kusarigama and caught Ryoga gently, pushing away from the crystal towards the grass on the edge of the lake. Konatsu ripped off his silk Chinese shirt and started to fold it into a rock hard compress.

Konatsu was as gentle as possible as he pulled the crystalline spike out of Ryoga's side even as his dexterous hands quickly wrapped the wounds with hardened silk. Konatsu tossed the spike away even as he started beating frantically on Ryoga's chest. He opened Ryoga's mouth and forced air into his lungs and counted. Konatsu looked behind him to see himself frantically hacking away at the crystalline lake with his kusarigama.

Ryoga hacked a harsh cough and turned over, spilling vomit onto the grass. Konatsu breathed a few sighs of relief, and then he turned back towards the lake.

Four identical male kunoichi attacked the crystal spikes with kusarigamas that began to glow an earthy orange as Konatsu struggled to free his friend. Terror and misery flooded through the young ninja as he ripped and and cut a path into the impossible spikes of crystal. Inexorably the split body technique and the hardness of the crystal wore the kunoichi down. He felt his copies disappear and he fell to the cold crystal surface of the lake in exhaustion.

Konatsu looked down and saw Ranma-chan's face, almost serene, at the top of the lake. Just a few meters away… Konatsu struggled to raise his kusarigama, but his arm fell limp instead. He felt tears pouring down his face.

Konatsu felt a great pull around his middle and was suddenly flying through the air towards the soft earth away from the lake. He looked up in surprise in time to hear a strained scream:

"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!"

~~~k~m~~~

A/N: I know it's my first cliffhanger; I'm angry at myself as well. Luckily for all of us I'm almost done with Chapter 8.

I've been in a posting frenzy, so one more shout out to my reviewers (come on and join the club, you know you want to); please PM or leave a review if I've made one of my frequent errors.

Feel free to shame my poor grammar and spelling publicly in a review.

Yes, Konatsu was using the split-body technique throughout the story. He is saving lives not fighting enemies; ergo I believe he had the ability to use the technique. He never uses the technique in battle in the manga, and I've drawn my own conclusions from that fact.