OtakuLoki@aol.com (OtakuLoki)


     This story is a sequel to Mark Doherty's 'fic, "Emptyness and
Renewal."  If you haven't read it, I suggest you do so.  Not only is it
a very good story in its own right, this story assumes a knowledge of
the events described there.  If you haven't read "Emptyness and
Renewal," you can find it at the RAAC ftp site.
     I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mark
publically for letting me write this story, and giving me much valuable
C&C, including suggesting the title that I finally chose to use.  The
story is immeasureably better for his time and helpfulness.
     Any C&C should be directed to me directly at OtakuLoki@Aol.com.
As a note: I wish to acknowledge that this story makes liberal use of
characters and situations that belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan,
and Viz Video.  Also Mark Doherty has all rights (and blame) for the
two godlings, Zae and Liotha.  Thanks again, and I hope that you will
enjoy this story.



                              Fulfillment


     "Ukyou.  You're dodging the issue."
     Ranma looked up at his sparring partner, from where he lay on the
ground behind the Ucchan's.  She was flushed with exertion, and holding
her battle spatula in the ready position, her triumphant grin fading to
a thoughtful look.
     "What do you mean?  You still aren't as good as Ranchan is, even
if you can usually take me three out of four falls.  It's dangerous."
Seeing that Ranma was simply getting up, and talking, she dropped her
guard with the spatula, and walked forward to be closer to Ranma.  "And
Ranchan has a lot of enemies who will not hesitate to attack you once
they recognize you."
     Ranma sighed.  This argument happened every time he brought up
this subject.  "Ukyou, you've told me lots of times that I _don't_ look
like your 'Ranchan' because of my clothing and my hairstyle.  I think
your friends'll be confused long enough for you to tell them the truth
about who I am.  Or who I'm not."  Ranma grinned at that thought.
"You've had that voucher for dimensional travel for two months.  And
you've not used it once.  When you got it you were ready to go home and
never come back because you were missing your friends."
     "Now you keep coming up with reasons why it ain't time to go
visit.  I know at first you were worried about how dangerous it might
be for me to go with you."  Unspoken was the tacit agreement that
neither of them were going to visit the other world without both going.
Ranma was unwilling to take any chances with this second chance at
love, and Ukyou wanted to have him with her.  "But since then, I've
gotten as good as I can with these techniques that 'Ranchan' taught me.
But I ain't getting any better in them unless I can spar with someone
who actually knows how to use them."
     "Oh?  My advice and help is no longer good enough for you?"
     Ranma just looked at Ukyou.  After a moment she blushed, and
ducked her head.  Softly, he continued.  "That's not it, and you know
it.  Rather I've gone as far as I can with what WE know, and if I'm to
get better we need to talk to someone else.  Besides, you still need to
talk to your friends."
     Ukyou nodded.  "But..."
     "I know you're nervous.  I'm a bit nervous too.  But you need to
see them again.  After this first time I ain't gonna be as persistent,
but I think it would be fun to be able to spar with myself.  And this
ain't going to get easier for you with time.  It's just going to get
harder."
     "But I ran out on them!"
     "Ukyou, your 'Ranchan' knows why you left, and where you are.  The
rest left you alone during the worst time in your life.  A time when
you needed friends the most.  You've nothing to be guilty about."
Ranma looked at Ukyou's face, willing her to believe him.  Then a wry
grin crept onto his face.  "Except your unwillingness to admit that you
made mistakes, too."
     Ukyou looked shocked at this for a moment, then in a lightning
flash swung her spatula around, tossing Ranma over to a training mat.
"Why, you!!!"
     Ranma, who had been expecting a reaction of some sort from his
last dig, twisted in the air, and landed on his feet.  An unrepentant
grin was spread wide across his face.  Saccharine sincerity suffused
his sally.  "Yes, dear?"  For good measure he batted his eyes.
     Ukyou laughed, and her expression faded from shock to one of
resigned agreement.  "Okay.  You're right.  I'm wrong.  Don't worry,
though.  It won't happen often."  Ukyou mock-glared at her partner.
"We'll go tomorrow, okay?"
     "Yup."  He walked back over to her, and drew her in for a hug.
"And I'll be right there with you, ready to pound anyone who doesn't
accept your apologies.  Okay?"
     Ukyou dropped her spatula, and hugged Ranma back, hard.  "Thanks.
But I'll do my own pounding.  Okay?"
     "Deal."


     The next afternoon there were two female Okonomiyaki chefs dressed
up and sitting in the back room of the Ucchan's.  One wore a familiar
Blue okonomiyaki chef's shirt and black trousers, with a battle spatula
slung over her back.  The other was her complement with a red chef's
shirt and the same style black trousers.  Both had their hair done in a
loose ponytail, and the one in blue carried a small piece of jewelry in
her left hand.
     Genma studied his son, and the young woman with him.  Again he was
struck by the differences between the woman with his son, and the one
that he had raised as his daughter.  In spite of the face that they
both shared.  "Are you sure you need to do this?  And if you must do
this, does it have to be now?"
     Ranma answered.  "Yeah, pops.  It's no problem.  I know we're
going to miss the dinner business, but we told all our regulars, and if
we keep putting it off it'll only get harder."
     Genma sighed.  "Are you sure you don't want me to come along as
well?  I could be a big help if things are as crazy over there as Ukyou
says."
     Ukyou stepped up, and touched Genma's arm.  "We'll be fine.  I'm
just going to see a few friends and introduce Ranma to them.  We'll be
back this evening, and we'll tell you what's going on.  You don't have
to worry so."  What she didn't say out loud was, "And there is no way
I'm introducing you to the other Genma.  You do not need a model for
more bad habits."
     Genma looked from Ukyou to his son and back again.  "Okay.  But be
careful, and come back safe."  Surprising both teens he then drew first
Ranma, then Ukyou into a heartfelt hug.  "I'll be waiting for you."
Turning quickly he walked back out to the main room of the Ucchan's
without another word.
     Ukyou watched him leave.  "I have to remember that he is not the
Genma that left me behind.  For what ever reason, he seems a much
better man than the version I knew."
     Ranma nodded.  "I know what you mean.  I am still horrified when I
think of the things your Genma did to me, and you and everyone else he
knew.  But I love my father, and I know he loves me.  He's not
perfect-"
     "Far from it."
     Ranma glared at Ukyou, but let her comment go unchallenged.  "He's
not perfect, but he's been there for me."  With a shake of her head
Ranma changed the subject.
     "So."  Ranma looked down at herself.  "Think this is really going
to help keep people from seeing who I am right off the bat?"
     "Ranma you are a very conservative dresser.  No matter which one
of you I'm talking about.  You get a favored style of dress and you
stick with it.  Also Ranchan is terribly insecure, he refuses to go out
in his female form anymore than he has to.  The two changes combined
here, should keep anyone from leaping to conclusions."  Ukyou had an
effort keeping a straight face, remembering some of the costumes that
Ranchan had worn when he did choose go out in his female form.
     "Okay.  Well, lets use the gizmo, then."
     "Here goes nothing."  Ukyou pressed the knob labeled 'Ranchan.'
With a quiet rush of air they were gone, and the room was empty.


     Another quiet rush of air, and a swirl of dust, and the two found
themselves in the back room of the Ucchan's.  Or an Ucchan's.  This
room was a mess, dust everywhere and even rat droppings on the floor.
It was obvious that there had been no one using this room for some
time.
     Ukyou froze in shock.  After a moment she sighed.  "Oh.  I guess
Konatsu couldn't keep this place up on his own."  Ukyou wanted to clean
up her place.  No matter that it wasn't her home anymore, it had been
for some of the most turbulent times in her life.  With an effort of
will she shook her head, and pulled Ranma along with her as she quickly
walked out of the Ucchan's without a second glance.
     Ranma swung his head from left to right as fast as he could to get
a coherent picture of the building they were leaving, but he only
caught flashes, all showing neglect, and in some cases, evidence of
violence.  Dust, rat spoor, and broken furniture.  Because of the speed
of the transit it had a nightmarish tint, especially since the, no HIS,
Ucchan's had become so important to him.  But he said nothing.  As
disturbing as this was for him, it must be terrible for Ukyou.  This
had been her home, her dream, and finally, her retreat.
     Ukyou drew them out of the front door, and down the street about
fifty meters, pushing aside anyone unlucky enough to be caught in her
way.  Once they turned the corner, she slowed to a walk and looked over
at Ranma sheepishly.  "I guess you saw that mess?"
     Ranma nodded.  "I didn't see much.  But it disturbed me, I can
imagine how you felt going through it."
     "I think we'll have to see some way to either get it cleaned or
find a different arrival point.  It would be too disturbing to see that
every time."
     "Yeah.  Was it my imagination, or did you see that some vandals
had gotten in and trashed the grill?"
     Ukyou sighed.  She hadn't hidden how upset Ranchan's wedding had
made her, nor how his reaction to her and Shampoo trying to stop it had
hurt.  But she hadn't given every detail.  "It wasn't vandals, Ranma.
It was me."
     "Oh."  They continued walking for a few minutes.
     Ukyou thought that had ended the topic, when Ranma reached out and
grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze.  "Sometimes I forget that you
had as many problems here as I had back home before we were introduced.
Remember, I'm here with you, and I want to help you whenever, and
however, I can."  With a final squeeze Ranma released her hand.
     Ukyou looked over and smiled at Ranma.  "Mostly it was good here,
otherwise I wouldn't want to even visit, like this.  But back there I
could feel just how depressed I was, it was almost tangible.  That was
what I fled, not the mess."  She held her eyes for a minute, then
leaned over and kissed Ranma on the cheek.  "And I know you are with
me, silly."
     "So, where to now?"
     "Well, to be honest, I'm afraid our best chance is to head to the
Tendo Dojo.  Ranchan had spent some time with his mother after the
curse was revealed, but for the most part the dojo had become his home.
If you want I can go there alone, and bring Ranchan out to meet you."
     "Naw.  I know they ain't at fault for anything that happened
elsewhere.  Besides, you did want to introduce me to your friends, and
they are there, so I'm coming with you."
     Ukyou smiled at Ranma.  "I knew you would say that, but I had to
ask.  Let's go."


     In a darkened room, illuminated only by numerous pairs of glowing
globes, a figure tripped over something in the dark and swore, landing
on a pair of globes showing the same scenes.  The person who fell
watched the two globes for a moment before recognition filtered in.
Then she smiled.
     "Well, they are finally using your charm, Liotha."
     "What's that, Zae?  Who's come to harm?"
     "No one, Liotha.  At least no one new.  What I said was that they
were finally using that charm you had me make for them."
     Liotha looked at her friend in puzzlement.  "What charm?"
     "That charm."  Zae pointed to a feature in the vision the globes
were showing.  "You know, the one that you spent considerable effort
creating.  The one that allowed time and dimensional shifting?  That
charm!?"
     "That charm.  I'm glad we made it.  So who did I give it to,
again?"
     "Ranma, and Ukyou."
     Silence.
     "The first pair you got me to help you with.  Remember them?"
     "Oh.  Them.  They are better now.  We helped them, and they helped
each other.  We have other things to worry about."  There was a pause.
"But, I'm glad that they are using the gift I gave them."
     "Liotha...  Sometimes I wonder about you."


     Akane was walking home.  Ranma had gone off somewhere, to help
Ryouga, he said, but she wasn't certain.  Nabiki said she had business
to take care of on her own.  So Akane was stuck walking home from
school by herself.
     She wasn't angry, but a little introspective.  She and Ranma had
been getting along a lot better since the marriage fiasco.  They still
clashed, and her temper flared from time to time.  But she had heard a
lot from Shampoo, before the Amazon had left, about what Ranma had told
her.  She had also helped Ranma deal with his guilt over Ucchan's
disappearance.  She still wasn't sure how she felt about him, but she
knew it wasn't hatred.  For his part he seemed more determined to keep
his mouth under control around her.  But she saw signs of strain.
     He really missed having someone he could talk to as a friend.
Ryouga wasn't around enough, and the guys at school weren't terribly
sympathetic with his problems.  And, let's be honest with yourself, she
thought, it had been Ukyou to fill that place in his life.
     She still wasn't sure if she should believe what Ranma had told
her about Ukyou's fate.  She didn't doubt Ranma was telling her the
truth as he believed it.  But dreams were for her something less
trustworthy than Ranma wanted to get her to believe.  She hoped that
Ukyou was happy, but she was resigned to never finding out, and that
resignation was something she didn't care for.  As always, thinking of
Ukyou dropped her introspective mood to a sadder level.  She hadn't
quite forgiven her for the wedding fiasco.  Akane realized that she had
done much to hurt Ukyou, and she had done it just as deliberately.
Above all she wanted to tell Ukyou that she was sorry for what she had
done to her, and that Ranma really wanted her in his life.
     It was during this introspective mood that a pair of hands came
from behind her and covered her eyes, as a voice full of mirth and
mischief called out: "Guess who!"
     Akane stopped shock still, and lifted the hands away from her
eyes.  "Uk- Ukyou?  I hope that is you.  I really don't need to be
imagining things."
     "You got it, sugar!  Boy, it's great to see you!  How have you
been?"  Ukyou came around from behind Akane, pulling a smiling friend
with her.  Akane had only time for a quick look at the pair of them,
Ukyou, brown-haired, dressed as she often had in the blue shirt, and
black leggings, her companion in a matching red shirt, and black
leggings, with her red hair in a ponytail imitating Ukyou's own style.
Tears started to gather in the corner of her eyes.
     "Me?  How am I doing?  How about you!  You're the one that
everyone has been worried sick about since you disappeared three and a
half months ago.  How are you, and where have you been?  And who's your
friend?"  Akane was smiling through the tears.  This was much better
than resignation and uncertainty.  "Wait.  First..  I have to say
something.  I'm sorry we were ignoring you back then.  I'm not saying
you were right, but you didn't deserve to be left alone to rot.  I've
felt really bad about that."
     "Hey, what's this?  You've got Ranchan.  You can't be crying.  And
I did do something awful to you.  I think we all overreacted.  I'll
accept your apology on one condition."
     "Yes?"
     "Forgive me, please.  I had neither right nor cause to do what I
did to you and Ranchan.  I think I have spoken to him, but I wronged
you just as much."
     "You mean that alternate world story was true?"
     "Yup."
     "Wow, that was the one thing that I had the most problem
swallowing.  So, who's your friend?  Do I know her?"  For the first
time Akane looked at Ukyou's companion.  Really looked, noting the
details, and trying to place features.  She inventoried what she could
and compared it to other people she knew:  Red hair; athletic build;
certainly well muscled, but not grossly so; an open, impish grin; and
friendly blue eyes, laughing at some joke.  Akane couldn't place this
person at all, but she felt that she should know this girl.
     "You could say that."  Akane turned back to Ukyou, and saw that
she, too, was barely holding in her mirth.  "Allow me to introduce you
to Saotome Ranma.  My late `sister's fiance."
     Akane gasped in embarrassed horror as she fit all the pieces
together.  It was so obvious, and right.  Her face flushed a bright
red, as she turned to introduce herself to this stranger that should be
so familiar to her.  "Ple- Pleased to meet you, Ranma.  I must thank
you for doing what we neglected, and helping to heal Ukyou's hurts.  I
am on my way home, and I know my family would be glad to see both
Ukyou, and yourself."  Akane paused a moment, and looked into this
stranger with her fiance's smile... almost.  A part of her noted that
there was something missing from this Ranma's smile, but she didn't
have the time to analyze that thought.
     Ranma smiled at Akane's offer.  "I don't know if we can, Miss.
You see we are here specifically to meet the Ranma of this world, and
so we need to go to the Tendo Dojo.  Perhaps you can talk to Ukyou, and
we can arrange a different time to meet with your family..."  Ranma
broke off in confusion as both Ukyou and Akane dissolved into giggles.
In an aggrieved tone she broke over their mirth.  "Okay, what's the
joke, this time?"
     "Hehehe... Forgive me, Ranma.  I didn't mention my name.  I'm
Tendo Akane, and-"
     Ranma heard Akane's voice break off abruptly, and she knew that
she must be revealing some of what she felt on her face, but she didn't
think she could help it.  In shock she noticed things that she had
glanced over as she had been speaking with this young girl.  Except for
the hair, it was the image of the Akane of her world.  And the smile.
And perhaps something else she couldn't name.  But Ranma was still
surprised she hadn't put it together before this.
     She analyzed all this with a fraction of her mind, and her heart.
Instead, the majority of her thoughts and emotions were dealing with
being blind sided by the image of Ucchan's death.  She saw the two
maniacs bursting into the inn, shouting uncontrollably; saw the fight
going outside, and the fatal strike on the old pillar; mercifully Ranma
didn't see the retreat with Ucchan's broken body, or her final words.
But Ranma knew that they were there and it was the fault of someone
with this woman's face.  And she faced the fact that that woman and her
partner would never see justice for their crime.  This process ran
through her mind, and her eyes grew cold with hate and rage.  Her
laughing face stilled to a mask of barely controlled fury.
     Ranma had not felt this angry over the incident for weeks.  She
could speak with the Akane and Ryouga of her world without any of this
rage seeping out.  It was still there, but it had banked itself, and
was dying, slowly, from a lack of fuel.  Ranma knew that the coals
would be there her entire life.  She was dealing with it, and she
figured in a few years she may even be able to say she had forgiven
those two for their part in Ucchan's death.
     But this tension was something she had grown used to keeping in
control.  She must have relaxed her control, here on Ukyou's world.
And so, she was taken by surprise, and the force of her raw emotions
nearly blinded her for a moment.
     Akane, for her part, was in shock.  She was no stranger to temper,
lord knows.  And she and her Ranma could raise each other's ire with
ridiculous ease.  She believed that she had seen every one of Ranma's
expressions, and how he would express any emotion.
     She was wrong.  In the space of a tenth of a second she watched
this new Ranma go through shock, horror, grief and settle into a final
murderous fury.  It was frightening, both the rapidity of the change,
and that...
     God above...  It was all directed at her.
     Akane flinched back a step.  Then another.  Her eyes were wide in
fear and horror, her hands before her mouth, and tears were flowing
down her cheeks.  She was frozen.  She didn't know whether to run, or
to fight.  Her heart was racing, and she felt more alert than she had
ever been before.  But she was being torn in two by something she
couldn't defend against: the expression on Ranma's face.
     Ukyou felt the shock from these two people.  And she knew what had
happened.
     Recognizing the true danger, and the person who was most important
to her, she stepped between Ranma and Akane, facing Ranma.  As she
broke the eye contact between Akane and Ranma she heard Akane make her
first sound since her voice had stopped a moment before, a gut
wrenching sob.  Then Ukyou heard Akane fall to her knees, choking back
sobs.
     "Ranma.  This isn't her.  She's done nothing to you."  Speaking
calmly, but sternly she addressed Ranma.  She kept her face as stern as
her voice.  "I'm sorry I hadn't introduced you right from the bat, or
at least warned you who I had recognized.  But she has done nothing to
deserve the fear you have just shown her."
     For the first time Ranma's eyes acknowledged that it was now Ukyou
in front of her, not the murderer of her own world.  Especially not the
innocent girl of this world.  She blinked once.  And raised her hand to
her face massaging her forehead.  "God.  Ukyou.  That was intense."
     "I'm sorry.  It hit me from nowhere.  I was happy.  I was seeing
you happy in greeting a friend.  I was thrilled seeing you reclaim
something you had lost.  It was wonderful, and I was on top of the
world, and I was with you.  And that's all I was thinking of."
     "Then I heard her name.  And it all crashed in on me."
     "Shhh..  I know.  I know."  Ukyou stepped forward, and gently drew
Ranma into her arms.
     Ranma accepted her embrace.  "And I wasn't ready for it.  It was
like it happened yesterday, and she was there, smiling and worst of
all..."
     "Worst of all I had forgotten about her death.  And it was all so
wrong, and I needed to do something, but I couldn't..."
     "Let it go, Ranma.  Let the anger go.  Whatever else, she's
innocent.  I warned you about this, and we can do it.  Just let it go."
Ukyou bent her head onto Ranma's shoulder.  Trying to give some of her
calm to the woman in her arms.  With a tight squeeze and release Ranma
accepted her help, then pushed Ukyou to a distance so Ranma could look
into her eyes.
     "I think we have to talk to your friend, too.  I don't know what
she saw in my face, but I hadn't been that angry since you first
stopped me from killing them that day."
     Reminded of Akane, Ukyou turned to where the girl was still on her
knees.  Looking at them with a tear stained, crumpled face.  Seeing the
two concerned expressions looking at her she calmed down even further.
"Ukyou, Ranma.  Why?  What..."  She sniffed.  "What did I do to you?"
     Ukyou took her arms away from Ranma, and started to turn to go to
Akane, when Ranma walked over to Akane first.  She was standing a bit
stiff, anger in her stride, but it was in control, and it was not
directed at the girl here facing them.  She stopped about a meter from
Akane, and dropped into a crouch, and looked at her calmly for a
moment.  Ranma looked into her face, searching for something, and then
nodded, to herself.
     As Ranma performed her inspection Akane noticed details about this
girl before her.  Her hair, again, different from the pig tail that her
Ranma wore.  But mostly the face.  There were lines there that had
taken time to grow:  sorrow; joy; grief; and of course anger.  But the
biggest difference was in the eyes.  Not the presence of rage there,
but an absence, a lack of something precious....
     "Tendo-san.  You are mistaken.  You have done nothing to me.  And
for what you may have done to Ukyou, she has forgiven you, so I cannot
act on that.  By any standard, then, I have no right for the anger and
rage I showed you just now.  I am sorry for my lack of control."  She
bowed her head, humbling herself to Akane.  Ukyou came up behind Ranma
at this moment, and put her left hand on her shoulder, even as she
extended her right to help Akane to her feet.
     Dazed, Akane took the proffered hand and rose to her feet.  "But
why, then?"
     Ranma stayed where she was, still crouched down.  Still repentant.
Ukyou squeezed Ranma's shoulder, and smiled a sad smile to Akane.
     "You know that my doppleganger in the other world is dead?"
     "Ranma said something about that.  But I didn't think much about
it.  Why?  You mean I-"
     Ranma shot to her feet, and with a fury that astonished all three
of them spoke to Akane.  "No!  You did nothing!  You are not your
doppleganger!  And you can't accept any guilt for any action she may
have taken."
     Akane again flinched from Ranma's vehemence.  "But you know what I
mean..."
     Gathering her strength Ranma, calmed herself.  She had to make her
see, and Ukyou, too.  "Akane, I have to believe that you and she are
different people.  Otherwise I will not be able to see you again.  And
I don't want that."
     "Not that I care really about you, but Ukyou wants to see her
'Ranchan' and that means seeing you, too.  And I want to train with
him, if I can."  Ranma offered a feeble grin.  She sobered again
quickly.  "Your doppleganger and a friend of hers-"
     "Ryouga."  Ukyou continued to watch the faces of both these people
even as she clarified details.
     "-killed my Ucchan.  My fiance.  It was unintentional, but it
happened while they were trying to beat me within an inch of my life.
It was murder, pure and simple.  And they will never come to justice
for it.  And I have to live with that."
     "Before I met this Ukyou," She pointed at the woman at her side.
"I couldn't imagine letting that happen.  I would take justice in my
hands, and then...  And then..."
     "When Ukyou came to my world living with these circumstances
became a possibility.  Once she decided to stay, I believed it was
likely.  But I still wish, from time to time, for justice."
     "It took months before your doppleganger would even admit she had
killed anyone.  And weeks after that before she even tried to apologize
for what she took from me.  Does it surprise you that I don't care for
her?"
     "And here, I was off my guard.  I didn't know you until you gave
your name.  And the surprise, added to the lack of guilt and remorse in
your eyes brought all my emotions and frustrations to me stronger than
they had been in months."
     Ranma paused, and swallowed.  Both Akane and Ukyou were waiting
patiently.  Certain that there was more to come, but unsure what it
might be.  "I won't apologize for what I feel.  I really don't care
what you choose to believe about my feelings.  But I had no call to
direct those emotions at you, an innocent.  It is not your fault."
     "I'm sorry I disturbed you with my loss of control."
     Akane looked back at Ranma's face.  It was...  Odd.  Not hating,
not angry, but tense.  Intuitively Akane knew that Ranma would never
again relax around her like she had first seen her, and she was
obscurely saddened by that knowledge.
     "Ranma.  I can't tell you it's all right now.  You frightened me
terribly.  But from what you tell me I can understand your reactions.
I'm sorry for your loss, and I can understand why my face is such a
burden to you.  I still think you would be welcomed for dinner with my
family, and my invitation stands.  As for my doppleganger's actions,
you have said that she and I are different people.  If that is so, you
will have to treat us differently.
     "And not just hide your emotions for her around me.  Otherwise it
does feel like you blame me for something.  I saw the face of someone a
moment ago who wanted me dead.  Painfully dead.  I know it's not
entirely your fault, and your apology and explanation were all I could
ask for.  But you have to act like you believe your own words.
Otherwise I won't believe you."
     Ranma nodded.  "I'll try.  You know, it's going to be hard, don't
you?"
     Akane returned her nod.  "Of course.  But you aren't afraid of
this challenge are you?  I know I'm more afraid of walking away from it
right now.  How about you?"
     "Me?  Afraid of any challenge?  Ha!  I'll be able to do this...
Ukyou, why are you laughing again?"
     "Because, silly, you're doing it again.  Once the word challenge
comes out, you'll do anything.  And even Akane here has learned to use
this.  It's priceless.  But thank you, Ranma, for making this effort.
And thank you Akane for listening"
     Akane offered a wry grin to Ukyou.  "Hey, after Ranma, er how are
we supposed to tell these two apart?"
     Ukyou smiled a sad smile.  "Well, what we've done is to call the
Ranma of this world Ranchan.  And, of course the Ukyou of his world is
Ucchan.  It at least keeps things straight in our minds."
     Ranma spoke up quietly.  "And we both have memories of people we
loved who used those names.  We had to make a break from our pasts, and
seeing those names used only for people who were lost to us, made it
somewhat easier to accept that loss."
     "I see.  Well, as I was saying, after you left, 'Ranchan' had no
one else to talk with, so he kept coming to me, and I learned to listen
a bit."  Akane blushed.  "Not to imply that he won't be thrilled to see
you back, and safe."
     Ukyou grinned.  "I know.  But thanks."
     "Anyhow, will you join my family for dinner?"
     Ukyou looked to Ranma, who nodded.  "Sure.  Let's go."
     As they walked off towards the dojo, Ukyou asked, "So what else is
new?  And why isn't Konatsu running the Ucchan's?"
     "Oh.  Well, Ukyou, you know that he was never...  The entrepreneur
that Nabiki is."
     Ukyou laughed.  "Well, yes.  But so few of us are."
     Akane wasn't sure if that was as innocent a comment as it
appeared, but did not press it.  "Well, he tried.  At least he wanted
to, but first it took me and 'Ranchan' about two weeks to get him to
stop attacking Ranma because of what Ranma did to you.  And there was
that time I malleted him a bit too hard, he was concussed for a few
days.  He came in even accusing me of wanting you dead, for no reason
at all.  As if what you-"
     Akane stopped embarrassed.  Ukyou looked at her, and smiled a sad
smile.  "It's okay, sugar.  We both have made and admitted mistakes.  I
know you must have been doubly furious with him.  And I never did see
much benefit to Konatsu's temper."  Ukyou paused and looked at Akane's
face.  Why not, she thought.  "He reminded me too much of a certain
rival I had."
     Akane turned to Ukyou in shock, her eyes wide.  She saw Ukyou's
wry grin, and Ranma watching them both calmly.  It was that calm
expectation that kept her temper in line.  She was waiting, ready to
protect her love.  And she expected danger.  If Akane was to ever see
anything more friendly than that calm from this Ranma she would have to
earn it.  And that meant keeping her temper.
     After a moment Akane started to grin.  If it was a little forced,
no one commented on it.  Ukyou's laughter had an infectious quality
that soon eased any begrudging aspects to the grin.  Even Ranma cracked
a grimace.
     After a moment, Akane continued her explanation.  "Once Konatsu
accepted that 'Ranchan' had no further news about you he went to the
Nekohanten, and talked to Cologne about the likelihood that he might be
able to find the person who had told us you were gone."
     "Huh?  Who told you I was gone?"
     Akane looked surprised.  "You didn't know this?  Well, it was an
odd woman.  Not really young or old.  She just was.  And her hair was
sort of multihued...  Like a prism, constantly in motion, changing its
colors moment by moment."
     Ukyou thought a moment.  "Had Shampoo and Cologne already given up
on Ranchan?"
     "Lets see...  Yeah.  They gave up the day after Konatsu went into
the hospital.  I was in a bad mood then."  Akane pointedly did not
comment on Ranma's start at that phrase.
     "Sorry, rock in my shoe."  Ranma flushed under Ukyou's stare.
     "Go on, Akane."
     "Well, they had given up, and Mousse was pretty ecstatic about it.
They were talking about maybe staying for a bit longer, or going back
to China.  Mousse wanted to stay.  Shampoo wanted to go home, but
Cologne was not decided.  The funny thing is that the day after Konatsu
talked to Cologne they were selling the store, and any fixtures they
couldn't carry on their backs.  They were out of town by the end of the
week.  And they wouldn't slow down long enough to even tell anyone why
they had made up their minds so quickly."
     Akane looked at her companions.  They seemed to be sharing a
private joke, great grins spread across their faces.  "What's so
funny?"
     "Hold on.  You know that woman you met?  Well, she apparently has
had some 'dealings' with the Amazons before.  And the Amazons have not
forgotten her.  We saw her talk down Shampoo and she intended to the
same to Cologne.  Since we haven't seen any of them, I can only assume
that she did what she had planned."
     Akane goggled at the idea.  The only person she had even seen to
change Cologne's mind had been Shampoo.  And that had been a weeks long
process that focused on convincing her that Shampoo did not want her
'husband.' Whatever else Cologne was, she did not want her great
granddaughter to be unhappy.  That this stranger could talk Cologne
into changing her mind on her own in a single conversation was
unthinkable.
     "Yup.  And that was when Cologne had a reason and a law to back
her up.  Let's just say that the Amazons hadn't very fond memories of
this woman.  I got the distinct impression that she had indulged in a
few atrocities in the past.  So when Cologne had no more reason to
stay, and the news that 'Rainbow Hair,'I think Shampoo called her, had
showed up, Cologne would have decided that discretion is the better
part of valor."
     Akane shook her head, uncomfortable with memories of talking back
to this person who scared one of the most formidable people she had
known.  "Any ways Konatsu told us that since Cologne knew of this
person, he was going to follow her.  He hoped that she would show him
how to summon her.  I think she brought him along just so that she and
Shampoo would be able to salvage more from the Nekohanten."
     Ukyou giggled in spite of herself.  "That's terrible!  Poor
Konatsu!"  Akane looked at her, and started giggling in turn.  The
conversation drifted in a mostly friendly manner as they walked towards
the dojo.


     Genma was worried.  But he wouldn't show it.  He checked the
storeroom, and seeing no one there he went back out the front room of
the Ucchan's.  He sat down and picked up the newspaper that was lying
next to his seat.  The front room of the restaurant was spotless, the
grill was polished, and the floor gleamed.  Genma didn't seem to notice
the paper was upside down as he sipped from the cup of tea next to him.
It had been six hours since his son and his new friend had left.
     Six hours, ten minutes and thirty... five seconds, now.  Not that
he was counting.
     He set the cup of tea down, and walked back to the back room once
again.  It was still empty.
     Sit down, read the paper, sip his tea.  He was calm.  He was
relaxed.  He was enjoying his evening alone in the closed store.
     He wanted to scream in frustration.  Worse, he wanted to call
Nodoka, and ask for her support.
     Six hours, thirteen minutes, and...  Forty seconds, now.
     Check the back room.  Still empty.
     Back to the newspaper, and the tea.  This time the newspaper is
right side up, but he still doesn't notice that the tea had gone cold
hours ago.  He takes his sip, and stares at the paper for as long as he
can.  Then he gets up, and walks back to the back room.
     No one.  Not that he expected anyone there.  He was just checking
the inventory.  They were going to need more flour soon.  Say in a week
or so.  But it looked good.
     After his cursory look at the room Genma left again, and went back
to his newspaper, and his tea.  He looked calm.  Except when he
fidgeted, turning to look at the doorway leading towards the back room.
He wasn't worried though.  He knew his son, and heir, could handle
anything that was thrown at him.  He tried not to think about what had
happened after Ucchan had died.
     Six hours, eighteen minutes, and...  Ten seconds, now.
     But he wasn't worried.  Not him, not Genma Saotome.
     He was terrified.


     Ranma and Ukyou returned to the back room of their Ucchan's with
as little noise as they had made when they left.  Ukyou looked much the
same as she had when they left.  At some point, Ranma had returned to
his male body, and his clothes looked a little more unkempt than they
had when they left.  He also had a series of bruises on his face.  They
looked about at the neat, orderly room, filled with supplies, and both
seemed to relax a little.
     "Ukyou, I'm glad we wont have to see that other place again."
     Ukyou smiled at Ranma.  "I know, but we would have looked awfully
silly, showing up at the Tendo's this evening."  Looking at him, she
spotted the bruises on his face, and guilt covered her face.  "I'm
sorry that Ranchan was so mean to you.  I thought he would behave
better than that."
     Ranma smiled at her.  "Ukyou.  If you'll recall I gave as good as
I got.  Besides, I went there for training, remember?  A few bruises
are nothing."  He paused and looked at Ukyou.  She seemed a bit tired,
and he had good idea why.  "Besides, I know exactly why he was so
jealous."  He drew her into a hug.
     Ukyou looked into Ranma's eyes.  "Oh?"
     "Yup.  I was taking his Ukyou away from him.  And leaving him with
only that violent maniac."
     "Ranma!  She's not..."  Ukyou stopped.  "Okay, she is.  But that
isn't the whole story.  Still-"
     At this point Genma entered the room.  Ranma and Ukyou were too
busy looking into each other's eyes to notice the relief that came over
his face, momentarily.  "Ah.  You're back.  I'm glad to see both home,
hale and hearty."
     With a start, the two broke apart, and looked at Genma.
Embarrassed flushes grew on both of their features.  Genma started, as
he noticed the bruises on his son's face.  "What happened to you?"
     Ranma winced to hear the concern in his father's voice.  "Ah,
pops, it's nothing.  I just clocked myself a few good ones during
practice today."
     Ukyou growled.  "Some macho idiot wanted to see if Ranma was up to
the job of 'protecting' me.  So he kind of went a bit too hard on his
student."  She grimaced at the memory.  "Though it was amusing when
Akane came to Ranma's aid."
     Ranma looked at Ukyou in surprise.  Amusing hadn't been the word
he had been thinking, actually.  Fascinating, perhaps.  Or even mind
boggling, but not amusing.  She had reached back to somewhere and
pulled out a large mallet, and proceeded to drive 'Ranchan' into the
ground, like a tent pole.  While calling out her battle cry, "Ranma no
baka!"
     Genma looked at Ukyou in shock as well.  "Akane?  You met her
today?"
     Ukyou smiled her sad smile.  "Yes.  Remember, where I came from
your dream of uniting the Tendo and Saotome schools is going to become
a reality.  Ranchan and Akane seem to be on the verge of marrying
anytime now."  Before Genma could do more than blink at this news, her
face turned ugly with anger.  "All it took was shattering my dreams,
and abandoning me as a child."
     Ranma put a hand on Ukyou's shoulder.  "You know, if I can't blame
that Akane for what her doppleganger did, you can't blame my father for
what his doppleganger did."
     Ukyou looked at Ranma, shock and understanding on her face.  He
noticed and smiled at her.  "I know it's hard.  But, please, let it
go."  Receiving a nod from her, he turned back to Genma.
     "Well, pops.  I have now a date this Saturday afternoon for
another lesson.  And the Tendo's of that world are going to throw a
real welcome home party for Ukyou at the same time.  But in the
meantime, we have to get to bed.  Is that enough for you for now?
We'll tell more later.  But it's been a long day for both of us."
     Genma nodded.  "No problem.  Everything is all cleaned up for
tomorrow.  Go to bed."  He smiled at them both.  "And welcome home."
     Ukyou looked from one to the other.  Yes, it was home.  That was
the hardest thing that she had seen today.  Even if she wanted to go
back to her universe, she wouldn't fit in there anymore.  This was home
for her now.  She smiled at Genma.  "Thank you, father."  Then she and
Ranma left the stunned and flushed Genma alone in the storeroom as they
sought their beds.


     Ranma sat on the roof of the dojo.  He was thinking.  Not avoiding
anyone.  Just thinking.
     Or maybe he should call himself 'Ranchan' now.  It seems that no
one else would be doing that for him on a regular basis.  He sighed.
     It had been great to see Ucchan.  No, not Ucchan, that was the
dead one.  It had been great to see Ukyou again.  But it hurt a bit,
too.  Her first words to him had been the worst.
     He saw her come through the entrance to the dojo, with Akane and
some other girl.  In his joy he ran forward to her.  "Ucchan!  You're
back!"
     He didn't understand why she, or the redhead had winced when he
called her that.  "Ranchan.  Yes.  I'm back.  Could you do me a favor,
please?"
     "Anything Ucchan.  You know that."
     Ukyou had sighed.  "Don't call me that.  Please."
     It still hurt to think of that.  He knew that he had lost some of
their old closeness when he had talked to her after the wedding fiasco.
But he hadn't expected that to change so greatly.  And finding out that
she had replaced him with that imitation had also hurt.  He was glad
that she was happy, but...
     And so, he was on the roof, looking for some way to come to
acceptance of what he had learned today.
     He was still staring out over the city when Akane climbed up next
to him.
     For a few minutes they both stared out at the city in silence.
     "I know how you feel, Ranma."
     "Do you?  I feel like I lost my best friend today.  My only
childhood friend, and now she's gone."
     Akane grimaced, and slapped him on the back of his head.  Not
hard, but enough to punctuate her muttered, "Ranma no baka."
     He looked at her with an expression of hurt, and anger.
     "Ranma, she still wants to be your, no our friend.  But she has to
get on with her life.  Would you like it better to see her constantly
moping about, looking at you with a secret pain in her eyes?  Does your
ego really need to feed on that amount of pain?"
     "Besides, it's obvious that the other Ranma thinks that the sun
rises and sets in her eyes.  And he even managed to tag you a few times
in your 'spar' in spite of the way you took advantage of him.  Do you
need to have her give that up?"
     Ranma started as Akane's words sank in.  "No, I want her to be
happy.  But why couldn't she be happy here?"
     Akane looked at him.  "I guess it just didn't work out that way.
You know, you weren't the only one to get an unpleasant surprise
today."
     Ranma looked at her.  "What do you mean?  What could be worse than
losing your best friend to yourself?"
     Akane looked at him in shock.  This idiot was so wrapped up in his
own pain, he thought it was the only thing that mattered.  "I saw
someone wearing the face of my fiance today, someone who wanted me
dead."  That should shock Ranma out of his self pity.
     Ranma stared at her.  "He did what?"  Akane was obscurely pleased
to see the change in his expression.  Fury was on his face, and his
fists were clenched.  Yup, she had been right to wait until after the
two travelers had left before sharing this news with him.  "I'll kill
him Saturday, just you wait.  I'll-"
     Akane reached out, and put her hand over Ranma's mouth.  "No you
won't.  He had reasons, for his emotions.  And he apologized.  It was
just a case of mistaken identity."
     "You know how his Ucchan is dead?"
     Ranma, his mouth still covered by Akane's hand, nodded.
     She sighed.  "Well, according to what he and Ukyou told me, it's
my fault."
     Ranma stared at Akane, not understanding, but not able to ask
anything coherent, either.
     "Well, not me, but the other me.  You know?"  Ranma nodded.
     "That's why he was so mad at me."  Akane took her hand from
Ranma's mouth.  "And for one moment, I looked into his eyes as he
recognized me.  And I could only think that it was you that was hating
me so much, and I felt so alone."
     Akane looked at Ranma, her eyes glistening.  "So, I know a bit how
alone you might be feeling now.  I just want you to know that you
aren't alone.  Even if Ukyou's not going to be around all the time,
there are people here who want to help you, and see you happy.  Okay?"
     Ranma nodded silently, not trusting himself to say anything.
     Akane waited a moment.  "Look, I've got to get some sleep.
Goodnight.  And don't stay out here all night, Okay?
     "I still have some thinking to do, Akane."  He looked out at the
city a bit longer.  "Goodnight Akane, I'll be down eventually."
     Akane nodded, then, started to climb back down off the roof.
     Ranma turned just before her head sank out of sight.  "And Akane,
thanks."
     Akane stopped still for a moment, then smiled as she dropped out
of sight.
     Ranma sat on the roof of the dojo.  He was thinking.  Not avoiding
anyone.  Just thinking.
     But he was no longer thinking about Ukyou, nor his doppleganger.


                                The end.