11. DARKNESS ….

Cloud 9.

That's where both R's were the next week.

Perfectly aware that they had never been that happy… but hoping that they'd get even happier over time, once they would finally be together for good.

Which implied : once everybody would be informed of the pair now being officially a couple, and as a result, Ranma's and Akane's engagement being cancelled, with both young adults accepting it from their own will (and now being forced to).

And that, of course, meant… telling Saoun and Genma. Letting them know that their plans had been "foiled", and that their offspring wouldn't end up as a married couple, the latter then taking the lead of the Anything Goes school.

This evidently wouldn't go without saying. There would be a major outburst from both fathers.

But until then, Ranma and Ryoga made the most of what life had in store for them… by spending some time outside every two nights or so.

Every night would have raised suspicion, every three nights was too much waiting for the lovebirds. So they had settled on two nights, with the pretext of their leave being… meditation.

And why outside of the Tendo property ? Because they had had enough of the roof and wanted to find a new setting.

Good excuse. And none of the two fathers ever expressed any formal opposition,

But that didn't necessarily mean they bought it.

Anyway, during these love sessions, they continued to show each other so much love, but they still limited themselves most of the time to kissing, caressing each other's face, back. chest (for him… as he still didn't feel the courage to ask her permission to caress her chest as well…), and hugging each other oh-so-tightly !

Their happiness was complete, really, and the Tendo sisters, noticing their ongoing good mood, even elation at times, felt extremely happy for them.

And basically all appreciated the positive atmosphere in the house. Soun himself was pleased to live peacefully, without a father and his son fighting in the garden every single day.

There was only Genma who remained somber, serious, perhaps not really hostile… but at least unfriendly, and obviously suspicious.

Despite her sheer happiness, whenever she had some free time and wasn't thinking about Ryoga (which was rare), Ranma thought that, one of these days, there would be an altercation with her father. And at those times, her happiness ceased for a moment, like a river that had run dry.

The dreaded day came the following week, on a very windy, rainy, cold Thursday… an awful day altogether, and not just because of weather, given that :

Business had run less good than usual at THE RED PIG, which upset Ryoga (but then again, people were more prone to going home quickly, fleeing the stormy surroundings to enjoy a hot bath and some rest, rather than staying out in the wild weather just to go to and come back from a restaurant)

Ranma's monthly burden had just started again (Already ?! had she thought).

Akane had hurt herself while training in the dojo.

Nabiki had had headache.

Soun and Genma had bickered seriously over a shogi game.

And to top it off, Kasumi had made one of her dishes burn… which was extremely rare.

A horrible day, period. (a word which Ranma hated.. ^^')

One to forget, and quickly.

But alas for all… it wasn't over yet.

The worst was still to come.

/

Several of them had shared their misfortunes of the day, sparking a discussion about this unusual accumulation of negativity.

Ranma was the only one who didn't talk about her "issue", simply stating, when she was asked how her day had been, that she felt "particularly tired on that bloody day" (pun intended). But that was enough for the other women to guess.

That's when the storm broke out… both outside, in the sky, and inside, in the living room.

"Son… I've been patient enough… but enough's enough ! I want an answer, now ! Tell me what you feel for Ryoga !"

The arm of the pigtailed woman stopped in mid-air, and as she stared incredulously at her father, she slowly closed her mouth.

And put the rice back in her bowl, the chopsticks on the side.

Her movements were suddenly sluggish, as if she had just lost all her strength.

"Why do you ask me such a question ? And moreover in front of everybody ? Did you have to do it that way ?"

Her voice, that sounded happy for the past ten days or so, was now trembling with anger, with resentment.

"And why not ? I think your friends must also be wondering about your relationship ! After all, you spend so much time with Ryoga… almost all your free time ! And in your girl form ! So is this a very very close friendship… or something else ? Be honest !"

She clenched her fists on the table.

"Look, Pops, it has been a pretty bad day for everyone here, as we've heard. Each of us is tired of that Thursday, and doesn't need additional worries tonight. So let's keep this for –"

"For when ? Next month ? I've waited for you to come to me to discuss the matter, like a mature boy… hum, a mature person, rather. But you never came, and if I don't take the first step, you never will. So ?"

Ranma looked around her.

Ryoga… Akane… Kasumi… Nabiki… they all knew, and supported her. Supported them.

Her blue gaze stopped on Soun, who was watching her expectantly.

Let's get this over with ! I can't keep that secret any longer. My father knows… and perhaps even Soun guessed. What's the point of hiding it anymore ?

"Ryoga and I are in love with each other. We want to live together. I still intend to run the Anything Goes school of Martial Arts, and can do this with Akane. We discussed it and she agrees with –"

"Traitor !"

Ranma's eyes opened wide.

"What… what did you call ME ?!" she spat on a wrathful tone.

"You heard me ! How could you do that to me ?! We had everything set with Soun, and Akane and you had agreed to it !"

"Hey, you didn't ask us our opinion or agreement !"

"Since when do fathers have to ask their children's authorization ?"

"I would have like to be asked what I wanted, out of respect !" Akane chimed in.

"But we're doing this for your future, Akane !" Soun intervened.

"I want to decide what MY future will be like !" she retorted.

"And so do I !" screamed Ranma.

"You ungrateful kids !"

" !"

That angry shout, immediately followed by a very loud bang, made them all suddenly shut up, turn around and look wide-eyed at a livid Nabiki, whose hand was still firmly set on the table she had just slammed.

"Listen here, fathers, and don't you interrupt me ! You have NO right to decide of your children's future ! Parents who arrange marriages, who decide of their offspring's professions, who tell them how to behave, what to wear, what or who to like, who rule their kids' lives… they are contemptible, no less !"

"Nabiki !"

"Let me finish, Dad ! Children have the right to decide, to choose which future they want, whom they will love and marry ! It's not their parents business to choose for them !" (1)

"Tendo, your daughter –"

"I'm not finished yet, Genma Saotome !" the enraged brunette yelled, effectively shutting him up for the second time in only a few minutes. "Ranma and Ryoga love each other, and they absolutely have the right to. I will help them, and so will Kasumi and Akane. In fact, Ranma and Akane consider themselves very good friends, no more. They don't love each other, and my sister respects Ranma's decision, and her love for Ryoga. All three of us – Kasumi, Akane and I - support their couple, so there's only the two of you to disagree, and while fathers represent family authority, they still mustn't force their children !" She turned to Soun and her tone changed, from wrathful one to a reasonable yet energetic one. "Please, Dad, don't do this to Akane ! And to Ranma too ! They don't feel love for each other… but as Ranma told you, both of them can still take over the martial arts school together… but as friends, and not as spouses ! It's possible that way, Dad !"

Soun didn't reply, but turned to Genma… then to Nabiki… then to Akane… then to Ranma and Ryoga… and crossed his arms, his eyes closing as well.

He appeared to be pondering this deeply.

"I don't know…" he finally said. "That's not what was supposed to happen… I'm sad, but I… I don't want to disappoint my daughters, make them sad or angry… still… I really don't know… How could this happen ?"

He looked at each of his daughters in turn.

"Is it true, what Nabiki said ? Do you all agree to Ranma's and Ryoga's love ? Are you all supportive of their relationship ?"

Each of them confirmed it, either with a nod or a word.

"I see…" he replied, his gaze shifting from his children to Ranma, then to Ryoga… before he closed his eyes and pondered the situation again, arms crossed.

"You won't let me down, right, Tendo ?" asked Genma on an indignant tone.

No reply came, only a deep sigh from the Tendo father.

"Tendo ?!"

"We've got your back through all of this !" Nabiki said to the couple, before defiantly eyeing the panda-man, who clenched his teeth, his eyes throwing daggers at her.

But then… a heavy silence filled the room, no one exactly sure what to add.

That silence lasted, people exchanging looks : angry looks, disappointed looks, worried looks, sad looks… anything but happy looks.

Then, after what seemed like an eternity, most of them picked up their chopsticks and slowly ate onward, but only to fill their stomach, to feed their body, without any pleasure, mechanically.

Appetite was gone…

/

"Calm down, Ranma !"

He thought she would shrug away the hand he had put on her shoulder… but she accepted it, despite her deep upset.

"I hate him !"

"I understand why you're mad at him… but still, he remains your father !"

"I wish he wasn't. I wish that Soun was my father, and Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane my siblings. I'd be happy then, because they're all good people. Not like him, who steals my food, makes fun of me, humiliates me, flees when he should fight, continuously plays shogi instead of helping a bit around the house, every now and then… Is that the father I deserve ? He's a disgrace !"

"Ranma, please ! He has his flaws, but I'm convinced that, deep inside, he loves you. Truly. He had a dream, for you and Akane, and he's bitter about that dream not becoming a reality."

"That dream involves forcing children to marry, and that's not acceptable, is it ?!"

"No, you're right, it isn't."

"Besides, even if Akane and I don't get married, that still doesn't prevent us from taking over our martial arts school. Who says we have to be married to do so ? We could be friends and still manage it all perfectly, don't you think ?"

"It seems possible to me, and perhaps Soun will come to the same conclusion. He appeared hesitant, so perhaps… there's a chance he'd end up vouching for your project : the dojo run by two friends instead of two spouses. I do hope he will."

"Same here."

She let her head fall back and land on his chest.

"Ah damn, Darling, why does it have to be so complicated at times ? Why do humans have to make it so uselessly difficult ? Why do their ego get so often in the way ? I wish existence was simpler, and that we all spent less time quarrelling, attacking the others, trying to dominate, to have the last word…"

He sighed.

"I feel the same, honestly…"

There was a lull in their conversation, then…

"You have no idea how dear to me you have become, my dear dear Ryoga. My love for you is growing each day, and I can't imagine my life without you, ever."

"You don't have to imagine it, for it won't happen. I'll remain by your side, Ranma. Even if I accidentally end up dying, I will –"

"Don't say that, Love ! I know these are things that can happen, but please don't bring it up !"

He hugged her tighter.

"Alright, I'm sorry. I didn't want to make you sad. I love you, Ranma, more than you can think."

"That's much better. I love you back, Ryoga, more than I can say, write or even imagine it. And now…" She moved her head so as to turn her face upward. "Give these lips a kiss : they miss the soft touch of your lips."

He positioned himself so that his face was right above hers.

"You don't have to ask twice…"

And their mouths fused again, lips first, and after a while, their tongues entered the dance…

/

The second day was when it started to worsen.

The recently-turned woman had found out this hard truth as she began experiencing greater pain, shortly after Ryoga had left, and she had to ask Kasumi for Dr Tofu's homemade painkiller.

"Oh, my poor Ranma, I'm sorry for you ! It's all too bad that you suffer that much from-"

"From them, yes, I know. Just don't pronounce that word. I hate it. I use a letter to refer to them : the letter P. So yeah, those P can be very painful, or long… and unfortunately, they're both of these, in my case : long AND painful. I got the wrong ticket at the lottery of life, I guess…"

That last metaphor was supposed to help alleviate the atmosphere, and it worked, given the light laughter of the firstborn Tendo.

"Ranma, you can be so funny, sometimes ! But still, I feel sorry for you."

"Thanks, Kasumi. You're an angel."

The compliment earned her a bright smile.

As she was going back to her room, with a hot water bottle in hand (it helped diffuse the pain to some extent, Kasumi had said), Ranma met Akane, who also showed her empathy regarding the current "ordeal".

"Yeah, those P are a pain in the… neck."

That made the youngest Tendo giggle.

"Thanks for your concern, Akane. I appreciate."

"If you need anything…"

She should have said : anyone, because that's someone I need, not something. And not just anyone… but the kindest man I've met in my whole life… I miss you, Darling…

"Ranma ? Are you with me ?"

"Uh ? Oh… yes, sure… I was just-"

"Thinking about him, of course. I could tell. Anyway, if you need help, I'm here for you … even if I'm not "him" !"

She winked at her dear red-haired friend and got downstairs, leaving said friend somewhat sheepish about her spacing out like that in front of her former fiancée.

But once she was lying in her bed, with her tummy warmed by the hot water bottle, she realized that she couldn't really get some rest : every time she closed her eyes, she soon reopened them and remained a long time staring at the ceiling, before trying again… and reopening her eyes.

Something's not right. I sense some trouble. Not my current trouble, but something else… that has occurred, or will occur… Or perhaps I'm imagining things ? … … … But no, I don't think I am. My sixth sense tells me there's a problem… either coming, or which has come already…

That negative impression didn't leave her.

And the weather did nothing to appease her : dark clouds, gusty wind, driving rain… and an always more intense cold.

The kind of weather that would suit the announcement of very bad news.

After what seemed like an eternity, Ranma got back up and headed downstairs. She felt restless now and needed something to calm her down : talking to someone, drinking some tea…

DRIIIIIING !

The redhead was passing by the phone when it started ringing.

DRIIIIIING !

"I'll go get it !" Akane screamed at Kasumi, as she was walking away from the kitchen.

DRIIIIIING !

Ranma was staring at the ringing phone…

… and then, driven by some reflex (and perhaps also intuition), she decided to pick-up the receiver before Akane did.

"Tendo residence, good morning." she announced, as the short-haired girl stopped in front of her. "Oh hello, Mr Takahashi ! How are you ?"

Then her eyes opened wide.

"What ?!"

As she listened, a frown appeared on her forehead.

"No, he's not. He left this morning, as usual."

She briefly looked at Akane.

"I… I don't get it…"

She gulped and didn't utter anything for long, long seconds.

Too many seconds…

"Yes… I'm still here…" she weakly said, before adding : "No, I have no idea…"

Akane bit her lower lip, knowing that this couldn't be good, and hoping it wasn't too bad.

"I… I understand… yes…"

Their eyes met, and Akane could clearly see the distress haunting those once happy blue eyes.

"Of course… thanks for calling… Goodbye."

She remained standing there, with the receiver to her ear, motionless.

"Ranma ?"

As if this had broken a spell, the one called out lowered her arm and stretched it towards the phone… but so sluggishly like it almost seemed it was in slow motion.

Energy had left her.

She tried putting the receiver back in its place, but missed the spot and made it fall.

When it crashed, the frail woman put one hand on the wall and the other to her forehead.

"I feel… dizzy…"

Akane lunged at her staggering friend and caught her just in time, then kneeled down and kept Ranma's head in her lap.

"Oh God… God no… NO !" weakly mumbled a close-eyed redhead.

"Ranma ! What's wrong ? Please tell me what's wrong !"

The blue eyes opened with difficulty and locked with her dark ones.

"Ryoga… he didn't go to work… Mr Takahashi doesn't know where he is and thought he was sick… so he called here to check in with him… I told him that Ryoga wasn't sick and that he had left at the usual time, and that I had no idea where he could be…"

That's when the pressure, the worry got too intense for her : her eyes got wet.

"Oh dear… where is he, Akane ? Where can he be ?"

/

"Ranma ! You shouldn't go outside and walk all around town in your condition ! You're in pain !" exclaimed Kasumi, trying to convince the petite woman to change her mind.

"I would stay all comfy and safe in here, while the man I love is nowhere to be found since this morning and is somewhere out there, in this stormy weather, all cold and rainy ?! Sorry, Kasumi, but that's not going to happen !" countered the redhead with a sudden wince, her hands briskly clutching her abdomen.

"Ranma, you obviously won't be able to remain for long outside, given your suffering. We can all go outside, all of us, including Kasumi, and you could stay inside until you fee-"

"Akane, thanks for your concern, I do appreciate… but if I stay here while Ryoga might be in danger, for all we know, then I'll be suffering much more : psychical or psychological pain is much worse than physical pain, trust me ! I'd rather feel bad in my body than in my mind… or even in my soul ! It's difficult, yes, but it'll be more difficult if I don't go out looking for him, trying to help him a much as I can !"

The angry look was gone, replaced by a pleading look.

No one could decently forbid her to go find and help her Love… or even try to persuade to get some rest. Because she would be restless as long as he wouldn't have been found.

They watched her put on a thick coat and large scarf, grab an umbrella, turn around at them, weakly smile.

"For those who will help me find Ryoga, thank you very much !"

Her stare ended on her father, who watched her, frowning.

The man I love…

That's what displeased him.

Ranma turned around and hurried out of the house, walking as fast as the wind – and her pain – would let her.

She first went to the restaurant, but of course Ryoga hadn't returned, and Mr. Takahashi had no new info to share about his employee.

Then she "patrolled" around the neighbourhood, doing her best to deal with the lingering pain which didn't plan to give her a break anytime soon. She had taken more of Dr. Tofu's medicine before leaving the Tendo's, but for some reason, it didn't seem to work… or perhaps it took more time to work this time ? It might be because of the influence of her stress, which possibly disrupted the medicine's action… who could tell ?

But Ranma certainly didn't have it easy, keeping a hand over her tummy, wincing most of the time, as she meanwhile had to endure the gusty wind (fortunately not the rain, courtesy of the umbrella she had the presence of mind to take with her).

Where are you, Ryoga ? Where ?

After some time, she decided to expand her search, going to the park, and even forcing herself to walk to the training ground where they had originally reunited, upon Ryoga's return.

Tears were now streaming down her face as she faced the raging elements, wind blowing always more fiercely, rain turning to a real deluge… and always that piercing cold, which made her hunch her shoulders !

Did he go away by himself ? Or was he abducted ? Attacked ?

She didn't dare to consider the last two possibilities… but they still could be valid, alas.

But who would do him any harm ? And, most importantly : why ?

Fatigue was wearing her down, but the combined energies of despair and love kept pushing her forward.

She ended up leaning against a wall, safe from rain, to catch her breath, take a few minutes of respite and try to calm down that pain which, although less intense now, was still present, harassing her midriff.

Why can't this pain let me be ? The medicine doesn't seem to work… What's wrong ?

What an awful day that was ! Almost only negative stuff on that damn Friday…

/

As evening was starting, they decided to go the police office, to report Ryoga's disappearance.

Mr. Takahashi excused himself from work for this administrative task and he told the officers that his employee hadn't showed up, gave them the few pieces of info he could regarding Ryoga, then the Tendo family confirmed that he had well left this morning, at what time, how he was dressed, in which locations each family member had been searching. They also confirmed that he had seemingly no reason to suddenly leave, without warning.

"We will publish a "Missing" notice, based on the photo you provided and the description of your friend's clothing today." explained the officer they were presently with. "This might take some time, but we have good chances to find him if he's still around. What I personally hope is that he didn't go, or wasn't taken, to a remote part of the city, because it would take longer then… and in case of a missing person, time is the vital factor !"

Ranma, whose pain had partly receded since she had taken medicine again, once back home, looked at him very anxiously.

"Do you have an estimation ? How much time does it usually take ?"

"It varies from one case to the other, but we often find people a few days later. I would say within a week, or ten days, in most of the cases."

"That's a long time…" she replied, more worried than ever.

"Don't get too anxious about it : it can take only 2 or 3 days, if we're lucky. But be sure I'll phone you immediately if we find him or if we're on a lead.

It wasn't much… but still better than nothing. And anyway, what other choice did they have ? Continue patrolling in that awful weather ? Sure, they could… but they'd most likely end up exhausted and without any results.

They got back home but didn't eat much. Ranma, in particular, accepted to have something only because the three sisters were insisting, with Soun also asking her to put something in her empty belly, to avoid adding the pain of hunger to the current pain of her "monthly burden".

Only her father didn't seem very concerned by her distress and ache, but his frown had "softened" to some extent : it now appeared more like the sign of preoccupation rather than the sign of anger or hostility… as if he still felt abstracted by the disappearance of their young friend, despite the latter being the cause of his son's permanent change to daughter.

And obviously, that night, a certain woman couldn't manage to sleep, anguish gnawing her mind as she wondered where her beloved was, in which condition… and why he found himself there, in the first place.

Please protect him. Please save his life. Please allow us to find him.

And her physical suffering, while diminished, was still present, it wouldn't disappear, and this only added to her overall discomfort.

She recently had felt happier than she had ever been… and now, she was on the other end of the spectrum : bad, low, miserable. Because he wasn't there and she cruelly missed him… and feared for his life.

/

The next morning, Ranma was even edgier, barely standing the long wait.

Her abdominal pain had risen again and, after giving her medicine again, Kasumi had left to go get some more from Dr. Tofu, as it seemed obvious that a good provision of the remedy would be needed for the poor Saotome daughter.

The red-haired one had expressed her intention to resume her search, but her now intense suffering, coupled with the sisters' insistence that she remained here, at least until the medicine efficiently helped blocking the pain, had forced her to stay home.

Akane and Nabiki were presently in her room, trying to comfort her.

"How do you feel ?"asked the first one.

"Very anxious, of course. And still painful, if you were asking about my tummy…" replied Ranma.

"Be confident. I'm convinced that it won't take them that long to find him. I have a good inkling about this." the second one told her.

"Thanks for the comfort. I appreciate. But what I would appreciate even more is if we were informed that Ryoga has fina-"

DRIIIIING !

The three females hurried downstairs and, once they were in front of the phone…

"You should answer, Ranma…" Nabiki told her with a gesture to the phone.

The suffering woman turned to Akane, who nodded, so she quickly grabbed the receiver as the fourth ringing ended.

"Tendo residence." Listening. "Good morning, officer. Have you…?" Goggling. "REALLY ? WHERE ?" Gulping. "Gosh, I hope he didn't stay there too long…" Paying attention. "Can we go right now ?!" Nodding. "We're on our way. Please wait for us. Bye."

She almost slammed the receiver down in its spot.

"Ryoga has been found earlier this morning, on the river bank, maybe two kilometres away from the restaurant. His clothes were soaked. They urgently took him to the hospital to check on him, as they dreaded about some hypothermia, as his body was extremely cold. He must have spent some time in the river and got unconscious as he finally managed to get himself out of it. (2) The officer said that, given the raging waters of the river during the storm, with the current getting three times faster than usual, he must have had a hard time trying to catch something, on the banks, that could help him pull himself off the river, and that this exhausted him, to the point he blacked out once on the river bank. Now quick, let's go, LET'S GO !"

/

"I'm sorry, you cannot be allowed to see him for the moment. His condition is critical. He has suffered severe hypothermia and is extremely weak. We are currently doing our utmost to save him. His constitution seems strong, resistant… but he spent quite some time in cold water, and then with wet clothes on, exposed to some violent and icy wind, as well as driving rain. All this maintained his body temperature far below the acceptable level. Additionally to hypothermia, he experiences breathing difficulty, which is why we had to intubate him, and placed an intravenous drip on his left arm."

The redhead's eyes opened wide and didn't leave those of the brunette woman in front of her.

"But he will live, Doctor ? HE WILL LIVE ?!" Ranma ended up screaming, out of despair at this accumulation of bad news.

"He has chances to survive, yes, but I have to be honest with you : they're limited. I'm not sure we can say, at this point, that your friend is in a life-threatening condition, but… it's close to that. I hope we can save him, of course, yet…" She was moved by those desperate blue eyes pleadingly staring at her. "I'm… I'm sorry, I can't promise you anything."

Ranma hung her head, and tiny hot drops started to roll down her cheeks.

A hand on her shoulder made her raise her head back.

The woman in long white coat was staring intensely at her.

"But what I can promise you is that we will do our best to save your friend. You have my word on this. We will do all we can. And I dearly hope we'll succeed."

Ranma nodded, trying to make out the doctor's face through her tears.

A small smile briefly played on the practitioner's lips as she uttered the same two words as Nabiki that morning : "Be confident."

Another nod, as the poor redhead wiped out her tears.

The doctor left, leaving them silent, all eyes on the despaired girlfriend, who was now experiencing a supplementary pain : the lump in her throat.

She collapsed in a nearby chair, a hand over her tummy, wetness returning in her eyes, the throat ache growing more painful.

I'll try to be confident… I'll try… but nevertheless, I'm scared… so scared… Ryoga… please don't leave us… don't leave me…

Ryoga…

Ryoga…..

/

Author's Notes :

(1)Nabiki's speech on parents deciding for their children : this reflects my

opinions on the matter. Parents mustn't force their offspring, especially not in

marriage things. Period.

(2)Ryoga carried away by a raging river : does that ring any bell at your end,

dear readers ? He was in his P-Chan's form, but in which episode was it again ?

Come on, let's see if you know your Ranma anime by heart… ;)

I originally intended to make only one chapter from this one and the next one… but it would have been way too long if I had, so I split the whole thing.

Pretty dark chappy, eh ? It reminds me of another very ominous one called "The Black Hole", in one of my MBC stories : someone had disappeared and her friends were looking for her in the stormiest weather ever, with the missing girl also passing out afterwards ! I didn't craft this chappy here with that ancient chapter in mind… but curiously enough, I noticed the similarity only after finishing this one.

Poor Ranma… she's been going through awful times during those two days, especially the second one (call it "Black Friday" indeed). I hate making a character suffer, but somehow, I felt it was necessary for the plot I have in mind. Sorry, Ranma… I love you and hope you forgive me. ^^'

Oh, and… guess what ? I've just started reading the manga, two days ago (eh no, I hadn't read it, shame on me, I know.. ^^') and find it awesome ! And much funnier that the anime ! First volume finished, starting the second one this afternoon. Great work, gratitude galore, dear Rumiko ! :D

Thanxxxx a lot as always to those who pay any attention and support this story, one way or another. I'll catch you next week, or the following one.

Long live Ranma !

Take care & B happy, guys !

! LEO !