Disclaimer: Chotto matte yo! Ano na… Why should I disclaim Ranma ½ when I never did claim that Ranma ½ is mine in the first place!

Title: Lost Memories

Summary: A boy with a forgotten past unexpectedly arrived and came to live together with the Tendo and Saotome family. How will he affect their lives? And how will they affect his life? How will his past affect them when it came to light? A Ranma and Akane pairing.

Acknowledgments: I would like to take ahem this opportunity to thank my MSN online friend, ms Rayearthann who I met on FanFic.net when reading her SlamDunk fic *Miss Match* and not forgetting her knowledgeable friend too (hmm actually already thank on MSN messenger and email already heh). She helped me in many various small sections of this particular volume. If not for her assistance, maybe I'm still stuck hee! But her most important contribution was when she asked me how's my vol 6 coming about. I was sort of slacking a lot and was not in the mood to write. That question slowly pave the way back for me to continue writing And of course my ever so helpful cousin, Izzana/Haroko (suddenly nowadays she had matured to be rather reliable heh. Must be either sick or nothing better to do =D Maybe neither but have become ever so helpful with her essential understanding of important aspects of everyday life which majority of us fail to see), for her help in chapter 33 clearing up the haze and mist in my mind as she showed me a clearer idea of what I've been thinking but do not know how to express them out. And also the readers who have been reading this little fic of mine. The thought of leaving you all hanging hurts my conscience =X wahahaha. Thus with that drive in mind, I managed to persevere and complete this tough volume.

Note: Can skip author notes since it's originally for fanfic.net before I decide to turn to mediaminer.org.

A/N no.1: I thought I could upload this volume in mid-April heh heh. Didn't manage to finish it in time though. Also during that period I accidentally thought up of 2 new ideas and thus decided to change the flow of a couple of chapters. Hence gotta revise back which takes more time. Compressed ideas were in the head but none could be decompress and be allowed to flow out for writing, causing me to get tired of it. Then it was already exam period so I had to leave it. After exams, I was busy with watching animes and playing basketball and sleeping and weather very the hot… can melt. No mood to write/type although ideas enter my head. So slowly jot them down in my head, C-fold towels (tissue paper that is used in labs), rough papers, 'ideas corner' notepad in com and when I eventually started back my vol 6 (after some gentle support from ms Ray - she rallied me hahaha), find out that I may had finished outlining 90% of the plot from vol 6 to the ending. Yatta! Although it is a rather late upload but hurhur, this longer period that I took really allow me to produce a better version than what I previously expected in April (also 15k words more). Well since I took such a long time to upload this, I actually produce a 25k words work keke 2.5 volumes worth. Usually try to upload 10k words only, like vol 1-4. Anyway hope you like this volume as much as my previous ones. Zettai wo muzukashii! [Absolutely hard!] Don't think I was good at writing out serious mood scenes. Hope I don't disappoint. One thing for sure, I really like the way volume 6 had turned out.

A/N no.2: Corrected my spelling mistake qi. Qi and chi are Chinese versions. The Japanese spelling is ki. Had a wonderful time scanning through the previous volumes to edit. =/ Then I began to doubt if ore [I] spelling is really ore. I thought it was ora (My reference was a Mouuse dialogue). Then while browsing my old saved webpages, came upon my old article and read that it is only Mouuse who butchered the pronounciation of ore wa to ora wa. Haiz mattaku… Anyway chapter 0 and vol 1-5 are all updated, edited and improved. Corrected grammatical and other common errors plus with extra details. Interested readers might want to read again as is slightly more detailed than before. Won't die if you don't haha. But I did took the trouble you know =P.

A/N no.3: Hmm fanfic.net site had undergone some tinkering aka improvement and now has the function to quickedit. Very cool function but -.- now the plus/addition sign "can't insert the plus sign" cannot be uploaded. So I changed my sounds indications from >insert plus sign<BOOM!>insert plus sign< to #BOOM!# One new convenience leads to another new inconvenience.

Reminder: I followed Japanese way naming, Saotome Ranma, and not Western way, Ranma Saotome. So the first name of any OC of mine that appear would be the family name while the second name is the individual name. Don't get mix up.

Volume 06

Chapter 31: The trigger

Chapter 32: A hero or...?

Chapter 33: Enduring the ruthless torments

Chapter 34: Parting

Chapter 35: Everything Also Can School

Chapter 36: Unexpected guests

Previously in volume 5, Yamazaki visited Tendo Dojo and intend to kill the Tendo family and Saotome family. In the process, he found out that Rukawa is still alive and well. A battle ensured where Yamazaki incapacitate both Soun and Genma! With that, he turned his attention to Kasumi…

Scene: Tendo Grounds,

Kasumi: (Kneeling, holding onto Soun) What is it do you want oji-san? Please don't hurt my family and Rukawa-kun.

Yamazaki: (Turns and smirks at Kasumi) How disgustingly nice of you. Let me start with you. (Points his palm out at Kasumi)

Nabiki: (Freezes in fear momentarily for her older sister)

Kasumi: (Looks on at Yamazaki, flabbergasted)

Rukawa: (Mutters) No… (Gets up unsteadily) (Drops back on his butt) Arghh giddy but… (Sees a blurred Soun getting up) Itai. My head hurts like mad. (Clutches his head) (In his mind, a familiar question ring) "Taisetsu na mono wa nan da?" [Who is the one person that is important to you?]

Yamazaki: (His palm glows as ki energy accumulates and ready to be release) #SYII…#

Kasumi: (Momentarily stops breathing) (Terrified) Onegai yamete… [Pl-please don't…]

Soun: No! Not my daughter! (Push Kasumi away from himself and charges at Yamazaki in an attempt to thwart his attack)

Yamazaki: (Targets the ki attack at Soun) Shinu Tendo Soun! [Die Tendo Soun!] #SIUU!#

Rukawa: Kasumi!

#Ba-boom!#

Soun: Arghhh! (Hurtles to the ground, writhing in pain)

Kasumi: (Snaps out of her shock) Oto-san! (Gets up)

Yamazaki: Shinu! (Targets Kasumi again) #SYII…# (Thinking) Heh Tendo could survive my attack. Oh well it was a weak attack for a weak female. Guess I will increase more power for this one who knows another idiot would try to stop me again. #SYIIIIIIIII!#

Genma: (Utters) Kasumi-san. (Tries to get up) Ite… My leg… (Clutches his right leg) Br-broken.

Rukawa: (In his mind) "Taisetsu na mono wa nan da?" (Mutters) Kasumi, I must protect her.

Kasumi: (Gapes at Yamazaki, staying rooted to her spot, shivering with fear)

Rukawa: (Shakes off his dizziness) Teme! I'm not down yet! (Gets up) (In his mind) "Taisetsu na mono wa nan da?"

Yamazaki: Hek! #SIUUUUUUUUUUU…#

Rukawa: NO! DON'T! (Rushes towards Kasumi) (Thinking) Kasumi.

Nabiki: (Screams) Dareka Kasumi oneechan ga tasuke! Motto hayaku Rukawa! [Someone help Kasumi! Faster Rukawa!]

Soun: (Ignores his tremendous pain) (Eyes widen in horror as the ki blast closes down its twenty meter distance to Kasumi and for once tears fail to form) KASUMI! RUN!

Kasumi: (Sees a flashing sphere of blaring energy roaring towards her) (Shivers with fright as her feet remains rooted to the ground) (Softly) Onegai… [Please…]

Rukawa: (Running towards Kasumi, aware of every little distance the ki blast covers as it roars towards Kasumi) (Feels the adrenaline rushing throughout his body) (Thinking heatedly) Kasumi, no…

Kasumi: (Feels the intensity of the spherical force closing towards her) (Softly) Kami-sama…

Nabiki: (Numbness caught in her throat) (Her heart fills with horror) (Her composed look disappears and despair clearly marks across her face) (Her hands grasps to the sliding door for support and unpromising hope…) Iie… Sonna.

Rukawa: (Sees the ki blast traveling through the air, closing its gap with Kasumi) (Thinking frenziedly) Kasumi. (An excruciating pain starts in his head as a familiar emotion of fear arouses…) No… It can't be.

Kasumi: (Feel the goose bumps forming everywhere on her skin) (Faintly) Watakushi no kazoku mamoru buji na… [Keep my family safe…]

Rukawa: (Sees the ki attack continues on its route edging nearer and nearer) (Becomes aware of a familiar agony reviving in his mind) (Terrified) (Thinking) Can't lose Kasumi.

Kasumi: (Turns her head and sees an on-rushing Rukawa) (Recalls)

(Start of recall sequence)

Nabiki: Seriously oneechan, sometimes when you think the time is right, for you to tell him or him to tell you, maybe it could be too late. It could also be there won't be even time for you to tell him your feelings.

(End of recall sequence)

Rukawa: (Sees the space between Kasumi and the threat minimizing rapidly) (His heart throbs acutely as a familiar feeling of anguish stirs… As Kasumi turned to face him) (Thinking solicitously) Kasumi dreams to become a mother and have her own family to love… Nothing more…

Kasumi: (Notices a mixed display of emotions evident on Rukawa's face) (Smiles slightly) (Softly) Soshite Rukawa-kun. [And Rukawa-kun]

Rukawa: (Sees the ki ball of energy blazing treacherously close to Kasumi) (Something in his mind reaches into his heart, tearing it to pieces… When seeing Kasumi smiling selflessly at him) (Thinking resolutely) Her dream, Kasumi… I can't let her die… Die… (A sudden intense sadness overwhelms his soul as a familiar encounter of torment awakens…)

Kasumi: (Close her eyes) (Thinking) Sayonara nandemo mina… [Goodbye everything everyone…]

Rukawa: (Reaches Kasumi, just inches away from her) (Thinking) Push her away from danger! Jump! (In his mind) "Taisetsu na mono wa nan da?" (A sudden erratic state attacks him) (His vision starts to blur out slowly) (Manages to catch a glimpse of the danger, just edges away from Kasumi) (His heart stops beating momentarily) (His mind speaks out to himself) The sight is so heartbreakingly familiar… (His vision of Kasumi's life hanging precariously by a thread disappears and all becomes dark as that unbearable image brings back his tragic lost memories for a fraction of a second)

Chapter 31: The trigger

Scene: Tendo Dojo, courtyard,

Rukawa: (Kasumi fades away in his view and in its place a new vision begins to swiftly form and playback in his mind for a split second)

(A/N: The flashback will go through in Rukawa's eyes, in first person view, as he encounters again his past experiences as himself. So it will be different from other flashbacks scenes that you have read. I hope it's not too confusing. "My thoughts" can be taken as Rukawa in his present state of mind, while "My body" reflects the actions taken by Rukawa from the past. Rukawa with his present state of mind losing his memory enters his "old" body, which was controlled by Rukawa from the past. In other words basically, Rukawa enters Shinguji's body and relives the past that was previously experienced by Shinguji. I asked around about a 'script format' for this kind of situation but no one seems to know how to write it. So after various pathetic, complicating and confusing attempts, came up and decided with "my body" and "my thoughts". I still kept my revised 1st version of this scene. Last updated on 11th of February. When I opened and read it, could vomit at my own work -_- Evoke v.t bring to one's mind. Evocation n.)

(Start of evocation sequence)

Scene: A clearing with forest near the edge, late afternoon,

My thoughts: (Sees Kasumi vanishing and a new unknown girl wearing a pink kimono standing in her place, looms larger and larger) Kasumi… W-what happened? Where am I?

My body: (Am aware that I am closing onto the unidentified girl just like I was doing before but with Kasumi, before everything went black)

My thoughts: Wha-what's going on? (Looks through the eyes of the person I am in, making out the girl's features, her long dark blue hair with bangs up to her shoulders and her fringe reaching her eyebrows standing within arm reach from myself, looking at me with wet eyes) Masaka… [It can't be…]

My body: (Realizes my intention to dive at the girl) (Hears scorn laughter in the background)

My thoughts: (Spots a familiar-looking individual standing some distance away in my peripheral vision…) Aitsu wa… [That guy is…] (And more critically, a dreaded alarming ki blast heading towards the young girl) Kore wa… [This is…] I'm moving, my body is moving on it's own, involuntarily.

My body: (Hears myself shouts huskily) Sakura! (Feels an excruciating pain pounding in my head as the fear of losing this girl strikes me)

Girl: (Smiles slightly at me)

My thoughts: (Sees the smile directed for me) Kanojo wa… [She is…]

My body: (Becomes aware of a suffering agony in my mind as the very thoughts of losing this girl tears my heart to pieces) (Hears myself yell) Shinai! [Never!] Zettai ni ja nai! [Absolutely not!]

My thoughts: This heartbreaking pain…

My body: (Felt myself lunging desperately at the girl)

My thoughts: That this body, this person is feeling…

My body: (Shoves the girl away with myself, my arms around her, out of the attack path)

My thoughts: Exactly… I know is precisely like what I felt when I saw Kasumi smiled at me…

My body: (Hears a roaring racket closing on behind me) (Felt myself twisting my body in mid-air to break the girl's fall)

My thoughts: (My vision switches from partly being covered by the girl hair and the ground below me to a blinding light in front of me, moving towards us mercilessly) I… I remembered this. Sore ga… Sore ga…[It… It…]

My body: (My eyes widened at the unanticipated sight of the ki blast trailing towards us instead of traveling by its original route) (My heart stops beating momentarily whilst in mid-air)

My thoughts: It changed its course… Seeking its target.

#BRRRRROOOOOMMMM!#

My body: (Felt intense pain shooting and surging throughout my body) (Hears myself screaming the girl's name in fear more than pain) Sakura!

My thoughts: No, no…

My body: (Felt my grip loosening over the wounded girl as I fell…) #Kkrrrrmmmmmmm…# (Rolled bumpily on the ground for a few seconds) (Becomes aware that I was back up on my feet instantly, ignoring every pain)

My thoughts: (Sees the girl lying motionlessly on the ground) No… Shimatta…

My body: (Running to the girl's aid immediately) (Dreadful thoughts form, wrecking havoc in my mind) (Hears myself speak unevenly through my bleeding lips) Sakura…

My thoughts: (Sees blood soaking the girl's pink kimono and the familiar presence of a big red ribbon tied on her hair as I came closer) Kanojo wa… Kanojo wa…

My body: (Unwanted doubts began to terrorize my mind upon seeing the repugnant sight) (Feels myself gently picking up Sakura and settling her into my arms) (Hears my voice faltering) Kami-sama… Sakura, onegai…

My thoughts: (Sees my hands brushing off Sakura's hair away from her still face)

Sakura: (Open her eyes, grimacing slightly in pain)

My thoughts: (Recognizes the girl; her calm lovely brown eyes…) Always watching me adoringly… (…Cute sharp nose…) Always wrinkling cutely in amusement at me, constantly teasing me to pull it and pull it I do… (…Sweet pink lips where only sweet words surface out of them…) Oh how I had wanted to kiss her when she would become my wife but now it looks like I won't have the chance… Sakura. Rukawa Sakura. M-my fiancée… (…And unwanted blood clearly trickling down her temple) Sonna…Sonna da… [No… Please no…]

My body: (Feels the anguish multiplying in intensity with every acute throb my heart made) (My view blurred as tears flooded my vision) (Hears myself croaking) Saku-ra…

My thoughts: (Sees Sakura looking at me) She's dying in my arms… Again. I-I lost her on that fateful day… Sakura died because of me. I can't believe I lost her. M-my fault. I remember… (Sorrow, grief and regret intertwine together and rush throughout my very soul, and savagely ravage every bit of my pitiful life out of me)

Sakura: (Lifts her hand up and grazes my cheek fondly) Ryo-chan… (Smiles affectionately despite the unbearable pain she is suffering from)

My body: (Felt myself trembling with total distress as I hears myself speaks with difficulty) Sa-Sakura… Daijobou, daijobou da yo. [It's gonna be all right. Everything will be fine] (Felt my hand reaching out and clasps shakily to her hand that is touching my face)

My thoughts: (Sees my distorted vision moves away from Sakura's weary face as I gazes down her badly injury inflicted body) (Sees blood literally gushing out of her wound on her abdomen, staining and soaking everything it touches) (Misery slowly creeps up my soul upon seeing Sakura's state, questioning my misgivings, making my qualms obvious to myself, deeply depressing me) (Thinking) I-I wish I could be the one to carry your wounds Sakura. I wish I were the one.

My body: (Felt myself releasing my hand that was holding onto Sakura's and laid it on the opened wound, fruitlessly trying to stop the massive bleeding) (Whimpering) Ore ga… Ore ga… [I'll… I'll…] (Numbness caught in my throat) (Grief and regret emerge from deep within me, surging out and induce the tears in my watery eyes to start falling as I held Sakura close to me desperately, losing all hope) (Hears myself uttering helplessly) I fail. I-I've fail.

Sakura: (Shakes her head, just barely) (Squeezes my hand, reassuringly) (Weakly) Ai shite imasu. [I love you]

My thoughts: (Reproachfully) Do I deserve to be loved by her… After all that had happened, she still loves me. I'm unworthy. After all my… My… Promises…? I don't remember yet but I believe I did make promises. Promises that are still unfulfilled yet were already broken.

My body: (Hears myself speaks) Sta-stay with me Sakura… Don't let go. Hold on. Ore wa… (Removes my hand from the futile attempt to stop the bleeding and return it back to holding Sakura's, gripping her hand tightly) (Felt myself leaning down, kissing Sakura's forehead and brings my forehead close to hers tenderly)

Sakura: (Smiles weakly) You know why I love you? (Places her hand onto my chest where my heart is beating wildly)

My body: (Hears myself utters almost incoherently) Na-nani?

Sakura: (Softly) Because you always fight for what you believe in. The self-belief in you. That's what makes what you are now. (Forces out a tiny grin as she reminisces the memorable time) Remember what you did to ojii-sama. (A tear trickles down her stained cheek) You remember don't you?

My thoughts: (Feels the ire surfacing from my soul vented towards myself) No… I don't remember at all. I'm useless, worthless… I can't even remember that unforgettable episode that we had share.

My body: (My head nods down with utmost difficulty, acknowledging her that I understood) (Yet, the tormenting thought of never seeing her alive, losing her to death, engulfs me, choking me) (Felt myself crying uncontrollably) (Hears myself whimpers pathetically as if I was suffocating) I'm sorry I couldn't protect you… I didn't protect you.

My thoughts: (Experiences a crushing emotion that vibrates devastatingly throughout my once-tranquil soul as the subsequent incident came harking back to my mind) Dareka… Dareka… [Someone… Anyone…] Kami-sama… Kill me… I don't ever want to watch this… Again.

Sakura: (Smiling blissfully, she whispered out her final…) Th-that was the most treasured, most special moment of my life, R- (Her hand drops back to her chest, virtually in silence except for her painful diminishing gasping of air)

My thoughts: (Sadness overwhelms my own soul, which will certainly torment me for eternity) I lost her… I should have been there for her… Damn me. I didn't protect her when she needs it most. (Sees her eyes shut… Forever) Dareka… [Somebody…] Please… Kill me. Now. I implore you … No, I'm begging… Onegai.

My body: (Everything that existed within myself mourns at the unfortunate loss) (Hears myself stammering incredulously) Sakura… Sakura… (Felt my hand stiffening as it held Sakura's hand) Wake up please… Sakura… Don't leave… I don't want to be without you… Sakura… Open your eyes… Please. (My vision turn to my bloodied hands) My hands, covered with her blood, I promised I would never allow anyone to hurt her but… (My gaze switches back to Sakura for a brief moment) Sakura… (Everything becomes dark as my eyelids close) WAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! (Holds Sakura's lifeless body to my trembling body) (Hears myself muttering repulsively) Yamazaki…

My mind: (Witlessly) Sakura… SAKURA! SAKURA! SAKURAAAAAAA…

(End of evocation sequence)

Chapter 32: A hero or…?

Rukawa: (In his mind) Taisetsu na mono wa nan da? Hai. Kanojo wa omoidasu. [Who is the one person that is important to you? Yes. I remember her] (The sudden recall image of Sakura dissolves abruptly in his mind at the same time as his present vision of Kasumi rooted to her spot returns back instantaneously) (Thinking) …Away from danger! Jump! (Realizes his original intention) Kasumi… "If you wish to protect someone, you must be ready to become the shield for that person." (A fleeting glance at the daunting ki and a vulnerable Kasumi…) Ne-

#Roaring racket…#

Kasumi: (With her eyes shut and the increasingly deafening hair-raising reverberation echoing in her ears, her fragile mind mentally forms image after image of dreadful terrifying outcomes) (Wrapping her trembling arms around herself in a vain attempt to console herself, her delicate body shook fearfully all the way down to her knees spurred by the thundering blare the ki produced as it travels, petrifying her endlessly to the core) (Thinking) Iiiiee, iiiieee desu… It's so close… Oka-san, watashi… Watashi wa… Hidoku kowai… [I'm… Awfully frightened…] (Tastes numbness sticking out at the back of her throat, pushing her closer to the verge of breaking down)

Rukawa: (Thinking) Never! (Yells out with thorough conviction) Zettai ni Kasumi wa shinu ja nai! [I definitely will not let Kasumi die!] (Ends his run directly in between Kasumi and the incoming ki blast) (Stretch out his arms and legs wide, allowing nothing to attempt to go pass him) I will face her fate. (A flash of determination appears ephemerally in his eyes before it shimmers away and simultaneously replaced by the emergence of capitulation creeping up his drained and bleeding visage)

(A/N: Ephemeral - lasting only a very short time. Ephemerally adv. Capitulate - v.i. surrender, yield. Capitulation n.)

Kasumi: (Hears incoherent shouting and faint running feet skidding and stopping abruptly at her anterior amidst the raucous background noises) (Her eyes peek open impulsively and just manages to distinguish a faint outline of Rukawa positioning himself in front of her, his back facing her, blocking the blinding light, attempting a crazy endeavor to prevent the dreadful missile from reaching and harming herself) (Gasps) (Her eyes widen at the unexpected sight) (Her lips move trying vainly to cry out loud but no sound surfaces)

Rukawa: (His eyebrows drop slightly and his eyes narrow) (Thinking) Gomen nasai Sakura… Gomen nasai. Please forgive me. I've broken promises I made. (Watches defeatedly as the intimidating ki clashes violently into himself)

#BROOOMMMMM!#

#Krikkle krackkle.#

#Klak klak klak…#

Clouds of dust, dirt and gravel envelop both Rukawa and Kasumi upon the shocking collision, obstructing visual sight.

Soun: (Mumbles) She's gone… (Tears trickle down his cheeks) Kasumi… Masaka…

Nabiki: (Looks in disbelief) Oneechan…

Genma: (Gapes)

Inside the all-encompassing dust particles and intense heat,

#WHHRRRRRRRR…#

Rukawa: Ek… Uh… (Agonizing pain ravages throughout his exposed bruised body while the heat attempts to burn every helpless exposed surfaces) (Stubbornly grits his teeth, ignoring the stinging and throbbing pain as he resists the bursting blistering force of the blast that tears away parts of his bare skin, trying to force him down to the ground) (Thinking) ARGH! WAAH WAAAH AHHH! Itaiii… But I can't fall… I can't fail… Sakura… I won't. I can't let Kasumi lose her life too. I-I rather die than… (Musters all his remaining rapidly depleting strength into making his final stand firmer) J-just a bit longer. (His eyesight starts to lose its focus)

A diminutive vortex started to generate due to the impact, lifting small rocks and stones, which continuously bump and collide with each other producing further heat in the process, and viciously batter at the two individuals within the area,

#WHRRRRR… Kla, kla, kla. Pa. Whrrrrrr…#

Kasumi: (Nerve-racking traumatic state) (Feels the tremendous hot air currents rushing pass her and intense heat energy radiating in front and around her) (Drops to a protective shielding sitting position) (Rest both her shivering arms in a criss-cross manner onto her forehead, protecting herself from the flying jagged materials) (Grimaces as the elevated rocks and stones randomly knock into her, cutting away at her smooth exposed skin and instigating the formation of holes to various parts of her clothes as well as bringing about bruises and scratches) (Chokes down her excruciating cries due to the sharp pain inflicted at her) (Thinking) Ite wa yo… [It's so painful…] Rukawa-kun, onegai… Daijobou. [Please… Be all right]

#Kla kla kla…#

Particles in the air gradually settled to the ground, eventually clearing the scene after the vortex began to subside,

Yamazaki: Heh…

Rukawa: (His distorting vision deteriorates away rapidly) (His legs gave way and drop down to his knees) #Pa.# (His eyes grew shut) (And awkwardly collapses to the floor, face first) #Thud.# (Diminishing gasping) Huh huh… (Thinking) Kasumi, run… Don't-

Kasumi: (Open her eyes and catches sight of a bruised and badly-battered Rukawa lying on his stomach bleeding profusely just inches in front of her, soaking his torn and tattered clothes creating a bloody mess) (Horror, evident in her eyes as the gory scene of a couple of months ago came harking back to her mind when Rukawa first arrived, almost crashing into herself) (Finding her voice back, softly) Chigau, chigau wa yo. Masaka… Rukawa-kun… [No, please don't. Don't tell me…] (Promptly crawls hurriedly towards Rukawa, without a second thought to her own condition and forgetting the current perilous situation before her) (Brings Rukawa up to her lap, and letting the back of his head to rest on the crook of her right arm as she looks disconsolately at him) (Stammering) N-ne, ne Rukawa-kun. O-onegai. Open your eyes. Wake u-up… (Slowly strokes Rukawa's hair with her left hand) (Sorrow threatens to break her fragile heart into minute pieces upon seeing Rukawa in this incapacitated condition) (Thinking) You… You saved me. You took what was intended for me. Rukawa-kun… (Touches Rukawa's bluish and swollen cheek delicately) (Tears flow down her cheeks continuously and uncontrollably)

Soun: (Takes a few moments to register the outcome) (Thinking) Ruka… Rukawa… -kun. Saved Kasumi. Kasumi is fine. (Immensely relieved) Yokatta. [I'm so glad] Rukawa-kun, arigato. A-arigato gozai mashite. (Continues to sob) I-I'm greatly indebted to you. (Drags himself on the ground in an attempt to reach his eldest daughter, still trying to save his family from harm) (Thinking) Kami-sama… What can I do? I don't have to strength to protect them. He doesn't just want my life only. But my daughters as well. Tasukeru kudasai… Washi no kazoku. Onegai desu. [Help me please, my family. I beg you] Give me the strength.

Nabiki: Oneechan, Rukawa-kun… (Glances at a smirking Yamazaki) (Apprehensive) (Thinking) How… How! What now! Oto-san, Saotome oji-san, Rukawa-kun. They are all unable to fight already. (Clench her trembling fists) I really do not know what to do… At this rate…

Genma: (Carefully holding to his broken shin) (Thinking) Still… He's gonna kill us all sooner or later. (Grits his teeth in agony) (Mutters) Ranma… I'm sorry. Sayonara.

Scene: Sakura Street Shopping District, a clothes shop, meanwhile,

Akane: Chotto Ranma. (Shaking Ranma) Wake up.

Ranma: (Open his eyes) Huh? (Stretches his arms from his sitting position) Have you finished?

Akane: Iie da. [No] (A/N: What's the difference between iie da, iie, dame and also chigau? Don't really know how to explain. Hmm if someone asked you if you have money, then can answer iie [no]. While if someone asked you to do something for him, then can answer iie da [no / I don't want to help / No way / Won't] Something like that ah. While chigau is like have the meaning [It's wrong / That's not it!] Dame is like "Don't / please don't" dame kudasai)

Ranma: Sou… (Yawns)

Akane: Ne Ranma which is nicer? (Shows a blue cotton blouse with fluffy white laces lining the neckline)

Ranma: (Shrug his shoulders sluggishly) Saa. [Who knows]

Akane: Come on Ranma. Give me your opinion on these.

Ranma: (Sleepily) Yare yare.

Akane: (In a lower voice) Or this is nicer? (Holds up a yellow pokka-dot dress)

Ranma: (Sigh) (Compares the clothes, bored) This is better. (Points lazily at the dress)

Akane: (Raises her voice a little) Ano ne.

Ranma: (Looks up at Akane groggily) Huh?

Akane: So what's wrong with the blouse?

Ranma: (A cold chill runs down his spine) (Thinking) Uh oh. Something tells me I'm in trouble. (Begins to speak) Ano na-

Akane: So why is it better? What makes you think you have a better fashion sense than me?

Ranma: (Hears Akane's rumbling echoing in his head) (Thinking) 'Taku… [Jeez…] Why the hell did she asked for my opinion when she's gonna disagree with my opinion anyway. Onna da, 'taku.

Akane: (Frowning) (Thinking) Ranma no baka! I just want confirmation that the blouse is definitely better than the dress.

(A/N: Ranma should have say "Have you make your choice Akane?" Then Akane who had already made her choice will be taken aback and will say uncertainly "Well… I thought I the blouse is nicer…" And Ranma can end this famous 'every man's nightmare' with a "Great choice! Fabulous! I love it!" And everyone can live happily ever after especially the male)

Scene: Tendo Grounds,

Kasumi: (Grasps hold of Rukawa's right hand with her shivering left hand) (Quavering voice) Rukawa-kun… (Clutches hold of Rukawa closer to her own trembling hurt body) (Sobbing softly) Rukawa-kun please don't leave me… Please. Watashi wa… Don't… Don't… (Squeezes Rukawa's hand shakily) (Thinking) Don't die. Don't leave me. I don't want to be bereaved of someone I care, someone I love again. Please live. Hold on. Don't give up. (Presses his cold hand against her warm wet cheeks, provoking her soft cries to turn to louder distressful weeping)

Yamazaki: Che… Allow me to help you two visits the next world together. (Points out his palm towards Kasumi)

Nabiki: (Her heart skips a beat) (Thinking) What can I do? Must think of something… Quick! No time! GAH! (Sees an umbrella in the umbrella stand next to her)

Soun: (Shouts) Yameru nasai… (Mutters) Onegai. [Stop it… Please] Take me instead, please. I beg you. Leave my daughters alone. They're innocent.

Yamazaki: Ja na.

Nabiki: (Turns back to her sister) Oneechan! Gah! (Runs towards Yamazaki impulsively)

Kasumi: (Bends herself forward, letting her forehead to come into contact with Rukawa's) (Faintly) Kami-sama… Rukawa-kun, please… I'm afraid, Rukawa-kun. Hontō ni kowai. [I'm really scared] Don't scare me. Please don't… (Wrap her arms around Rukawa protectively) I'm terrified that I will lose you. I can't lose you, Rukawa-kun…

(Flashes of memories recollected started)

Kasumi: (Blushes as she undresses her patient as modestly as she could) (Thinking) Ara, I think he was wearing his pyjamas. (Wipes away the dry blood and covers up the opened wounds with bandages) (Thinking) I better let him wear oto-san old clothes that he never wears anymore after oka-san… (Exits her room and return with some clothes and dresses her patient up) He's rather cute not really handsome and gorgeous like Ranma but... What am I thinking? (Shakes head) I can't be falling for him. I don't even know him for Kami-sama sake. (Sigh) Why am I taking care of him? Because I wanted to and he needs someone to take care of him. No no. Because you know you must and he needs to be taken care of because of his state.

------

Kasumi: (Approaches Rukawa and helps in undressing him before taking off his bandages)

Rukawa: (Watches intently how delicately Kasumi treats his injuries and covers them up with clean bandages) (Thinking) I really don't know what to think.

Kasumi: Ara is there something wrong with my face Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: (Blushes upon realizing he was staring at Kasumi the whole time) Eh oh sumimasen Kasumi-san. I just couldn't help staring at you. There's er nothing wrong with your face. I just saw…

Kasumi: Hmm?

Rukawa: (Thinking) The unconditional gentleness reflected on your face, as you were engrossed in applying medicine to my opened wounds. The kindness and compassion that you unknowingly showed from just doing a simple thing like treating my cuts. How caring your touches are when you are treating my wounds. How your selfless actions radiate love and concern like a mother to her child. Mother. I wonder what happen to the Tendo matriarch.

Kasumi: (Sees Rukawa seemed to be rather absorbed in his thoughts) Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: (Notices Kasumi) (Utters lamely) Saw… H-how lovely you are Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Smiles) (Thinking) That's what everybody says. (Begins to speak) There… All better now, Rukawa-kun (Pastes up the last bandage)

------

Kasumi: (Comes out of the changing cubicle) (Smiling) What do you think Rukawa-kun? (Turns around 360º)

Rukawa: (Sees Kasumi wearing the sleeveless creamy white summer dress with a floral pattern along with frills at the shoulders with the décolletage displaying out her neck and hollow of her throat and the skirt ending just after her knees) You…Er…Is…Look…Wow! (Thinking) Kasumi looks really stunning. Actually she is attractive regardless of the clothes she wears. I hardly think that any beautiful dresses in the world can overcome her natural beauty.

Kasumi: My, Rukawa-kun. How very eloquent of you. (Thinking) The dress is loose and comfortable with light, soft fabric. It would undoubtedly be practical to have it when the 'harsh' summer heat arrived. (Sigh) I wish I could buy it but... My family comes first even though it has been ages since I last had a new dress.

------

Saleswoman: And she looks really gorgeous in it don't you think so.

Rukawa: I know I know. She looks gorgeous in anything.

Kasumi: (Comes out of the changing cubicle holding the dress in her arms) (Smiling)

Rukawa: (Takes the dress from Kasumi and furtively noting the size before handing it back to the saleswoman) Arigato gozai masu.

Kasumi: (Slightly embarrassed) Arigato gozai masu. (Bows slightly)

Rukawa: (Scoots Kasumi out of the shop edgily)

Kasumi: (Giggles) (Thinking) Rukawa-kun looks so comical when he gets nervous. (Giggles) (Recalls Rukawa's conversation with the saleswoman) He thinks I'm beautiful. (Smiles)

------

Kasumi: (Thinking) Will there be anyone who will guide me? (Sadness marks across her anxious face) Am I fated to be alone? I don't want to be alone. Nobody had ever think about me. Or worry about me for that matter. No one seems to really notice or truly show that they actually…

Rukawa: (Alarmed over Kasumi's sad expression) Hey hey Kasumi-san, daijobou desu ka? (Shakes Kasumi gently) Kasumi-san. (Thinking) What's wrong with her? Don't scare me eh Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Starting to recognize her surrounding) Ara ara. (Focuses her vision on Rukawa) Rukawa-kun… (Thinking) Ara I was so lost in my thoughts.

Rukawa: (Relieved) You worried me for a good moment there, Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Softly) Worried? (Thinking) …Care about me…?

Rukawa: You know… Concerned because you were silent and motionless all of a sudden for some time.

Kasumi: (Thinking) Rukawa-kun, you… (Tears forming in her eyes)

Rukawa: Eh? (Alarmed at the suddenly tearful Kasumi)

Kasumi: (Promptly gets off her bed and hugs Rukawa, who was still sitting down on the floor near the bed, tightly)

Rukawa: Har? (Thinking) …

Kasumi: (Sobbing onto Rukawa's chest) Don't leave me Rukawa-kun…

Rukawa: Kasumi-san?

Kasumi: (Continues to cry) Please. (Thinking) I need someone to hold me… To comfort me… To console me… To tell me everything will be fine… To make me feel secure… I need you.

Rukawa: (Returns the hug) (Thinking) What's wrong with her? What did I said? (Begins to speak) I-I… (Bites his lip) (Thinking) Why is it hard to say it? (Breathes in deeply and breathes out) For her sake. (Begins to speak) I won't leave you Kasumi. (Slowly and cautiously pats Kasumi's back to comfort her) Don't worry. I-I'm here for you okay.

Kasumi: (Hugs Rukawa tighter) (Succumbing to her feelings, her inner emotions) (Continues to cry out her grievances, her troubles, her worries in the form of tears, that had all been accumulated as it was suppressed deep within her during the past eleven years, but never been released simply because there was never anyone around for her) (Sniffs) (Thinking) Ara, my actions are totally unacceptable. Rukawa-kun is after all a stranger… (Pauses) (Holds Rukawa even closer to herself and breathing in deeply) You are here for me to hold on to. Nothing else matters…

------

Soun: Kasumi? Asleep at this time? That's a first.

Nabiki: True. (Knocks on Kasumi's door softly) Oneechan? (Thinking) No reply. (Opens the door carefully to Kasumi's room to peek inside) (Gasps in astonishment at the unexpected scene in front of her)

Soun: (Sees a flabbergasted Nabiki) Nabiki, dōshita no? [What's the matter?] (Approaches Nabiki and follows her line of sight) (Sees a very intimate posture of his most beloved eldest daughter) (Thinking) NANI! Kasumi?! (Rub his eyes disbelievingly) In her room. In her night gown. Snuggling closely o-on-on Rukawa's lap. (His eyes widen dramatically) Wrapping her arms around his waist. Rukawa-kun sitting cross-legged. Hands resting on his knees. Head resting on Kasumi's forehead. Such improper disgraceful behavior from my most prim and proper eldest daughter! I am losing my eldest daughter! To-to an undeserving guy like Rukawa! In fact absolutely almost every man in this world do not deserve to be her husband! (Wails at the top of his lungs) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! KASUMI!

Nabiki: (Cover her ears protectively) (Flashes Soun an aggravated look for deafening her)

Genma: (Rushing up to the second level) What happened Tendo-kun? (Widen his eyes) (Thinking) Kasumi and…

Akane: Oto-san! Oneechan? Something bad must have happened! (Rushes out of the room) (Sees the scene in front of her) (Shocked) Ara! Kasumi oneechan. (Thinking) What is oneechan doing with Rukawa-kun?

Onna-Ranma: (Rushes out of the room simultaneously) (Thinking) Why is oji-san shouting like that? (Begins to speak) Nan da yo oji-san? (Blinks at the scene) (Blurts out) Whoa!

Rukawa: (Startled and slightly annoyed) (Thinking) What's with the crazy wailing? (Breathes in) Mmh what a nice sweet smell. (Open his eyes and sees Kasumi very, very close to him) (Remembers his awkward situation) (Blushes slightly) Ara I forgot… Er? (Becomes aware that the Tendo and Saotome family are staring at his uncomfortable and rather unhealthy position with Kasumi) (Stares back at them in horror) Shimatta… (Trembles in fear) I am so dead.

Kasumi: (Wakes up and sees Rukawa's face) (Smiles, remembering yesterday events) (Thinking) Ara, I cried myself to sleep yesterday and Rukawa-kun didn't wake me up. (Blushes) (Notices Rukawa's shocked expression and feel his panicking body shaking and trembling oddly) Dōshita no? [What's the matter?] (Follows his line of sight) Ara… (Her eyes widen slightly as she makes out…) Oto-san. Nabiki. Akane. Ranma-kun. Saotome oji-sama. (Her already blushing face burns deeper to a beetroot color) (Gets off Rukawa lightly, fairly embarrassed at the stares she received)

Rukawa: (Thinking) My arms and legs and back are all stiff and cramped. No escape…

Soun: (Grabs Rukawa by the collar once Kasumi removed herself from Rukawa) (Uses his demon head attack and yells furiously) Setsumei shite morao ka, Rukawa-kun?! [How do you explain yourself, Rukawa-kun?!]

Rukawa: (Shakes his head) (Tries to speak in a steady voice) Su-sumi-sumimasen Ten-Tendo oji-san b-but you see… I-I didn't… I mean… Is a mis-misunder-derstanding. I-is not what it seems. Hon-honest.

Soun: (Reverts back to normal mode and turns to Kasumi) Is that true? Kasumi, what do you have to say for yourself?

Kasumi: (Looks at Soun and gives a glance at the clock on her dressing table) (Realizes) (Shows a very shocked expression) Ara ara. (Lays a hand on her cheek) Gomen nasai, oto-san. I forgot to set the alarm clock and overslept. I'm sorry for not waking you all up. I better go and prepare breakfast now. Oh dear, oh dear… (Hurries herself to the kitchen)

#Thud.#

Everyone: (Faint) (Heads hitting the floor and their legs project upwards) (Oyakusoku pozu) (Sweating)

Rukawa: (Thinking) Is she for real or she's a pro at handling this kind of situation.

------

Kasumi: But Rukawa-kun, you didn't pass mine. (Smiles playfully)

Rukawa: (Notices the playfulness of Kasumi's smile) Ara, is it?

Kasumi: (Jokingly) Um hmm.

Rukawa: (Good-naturedly) Aw poor me. Oh well big stars are hard to get ne. (Smiles to himself, satisfied at seeing a more cheerful Kasumi)

Kasumi: (Smiles) (Comforts Rukawa teasingly) Oh you poor dear.

Rukawa: (Grins) Oh well this comfort is good enough to last me the disappointment for a lifetime.

Kasumi: I'm glad Rukawa-kun. (Thinking) You didn't pass Rukawa-kun because you couldn't pass or fail. I didn't lay any standards for you to reach. I love you… For who you are. Yes. I finally realized it. It doesn't matter to me anymore. How old you are, how childish and funny you seem to be, what kind of past you have, whatever faults you may have. The faults you have are what make you be you. I just love you… And I hope you will to someday. (Her facial features drop slightly)

Rukawa: (Notices Kasumi looking a little down) (Light-heartedly) Ne Kasumi-san, you sure you're not regretting your analysis now?

Kasumi: (Faces Rukawa, amused) That's my secret Rukawa-kun. (Smiles mysteriously)

------

Rukawa: Ne Kasumi-san, you may be just you but yourself is a lovely individual. I like you because you are you who is such a sweet and delightful person. (Pauses) (Face reddens) Ara I meant everyone like you because you are…

Kasumi: (Giggles) I understand Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Yeah is just a slip of the tongue.

Kasumi: (Thinking) Or the heart Rukawa-kun. (Begins to speak) What do you think of me Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: Eh? Well, you're a wonderful friend. I owe you and your family a lot. (Strokes his chin) Come to think of it, sometimes I feel I am a lot closer to you than I am with Ranma.

Kasumi: If that's the case, then why do you still refer me as Kasumi-san?

Rukawa: (Blinks) Eh? I guess I kind of got used to that. Then how do you want me to refer you as?

Kasumi: (Giggles) By my name, Rukawa-kun, what else?

Rukawa: That isn't very helpful.

Kasumi: Maybe you prefer shin'ai na? [Dear?] (Shows a very cute and innocent expression)

Rukawa: Wah Tendo oji-san will be after me by the scruff of my neck ne, Kasumi-san. (Exaggerates a pitiful face) Kawaisō na Rukawa-kun. [Poor Rukawa-kun]

Kasumi: (Giggles)

Rukawa: Oh well, I'll just call you Kasumi, yes?

Kasumi: Hai Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Or Kasumi-chan. (Grins kookily)

Kasumi: (Shows a thoughtful look) Hmm that seems to sound nicer. (Smiles cheekily at Rukawa, wrinkling her nose cutely) (Sees Rukawa lifted up his hand towards her and then pull his hand back quickly)

Rukawa: Hahaha but then, that should be left to your own family and your fated partner. (Thinking) I almost reach out my hand and pull her nose… What's the matter with me? It… It felt so familiar. Familiar? I ain't making any sense.

Kasumi: Ara Rukawa-kun. (Moves her head closer to Rukawa's) I thought I mentioned I chose you…

------

Kasumi: (Shyly) Dōshite Rukawa-kun? [Why Rukawa-kun?]

Rukawa: Well I-I… Is a reason required to buy you a present, Kasumi? (Thinking) What a hard question.

Kasumi: (Shakes her head) I guess not Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Hope you will like it Kasumi.

Kasumi: What is it Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: You will find out later. (Grins) It is being delivered later in the afternoon. I really hope you will like it. By the way, tonight I'm treating everyone out for dinner. Is just a small treat to show my gratitude for your family's assistance when I was in trouble. So you don't have to prepare dinner Kasumi. Have a rest. (Smiles) Ja ne Kasumi. Ittekimasu. (Leaves the kitchen for work)

Kasumi: (Waves her hand) Itterasshai Rukawa-kun. (Places her hand on her chest, feeling her heartbeat, watching Rukawa leaving) (Thinking) My heart is beating with excitement… I'm actually looking forward to his present. (Smiles to herself) He's always eliciting new emotions out of me. It has been a long time since I actually am looking forward to something. For myself.

------

Kasumi: (Feels someone's presence nearby) (Turns and sees Rukawa walking anxiously towards her) (Thinking) Rukawa-kun… Why are you here? A-are you here for me?

Rukawa: Hey… (Thinking) She must really wish to celebrate this day with her mother.

Kasumi: Rukawa-kun… (Thinking) Is he worried about me? Does he really think about me that much?

------

Rukawa: Don't cry Kasumi. Your mother wouldn't want to see you like this would she? She would want to see you smiling and living your life happily knowing that your love for her does not break even when death separates you two apart. Knowing that you still loves her and remembers her is more than what she would wish for. She would want you to carry on with your life and not grieve over her all your life. Most of all she would want you to be happy. Nothing more. Nothing less.

------

Kasumi: If you could meet oka-san, it would only take a minute to know she's special, an hour to appreciate her, just a day to love her, but to forget her it would take more than a lifetime.

Rukawa: (Nods) You know Kasumi. I may not have the chance to know her but I do have the opportunity to get to know her daughter, Tendo Kasumi. (Gazes at Kasumi softly) And you know what I say…

Kasumi: (Looks at Rukawa waiting expectantly for his words)

Rukawa: You're special too Kasumi in your own way. It would take more than just that mere weird technique Omoide eikyū no fukitoru [permanent memory erase] to forget you if I ever suffered from it again. (Smiles)

Kasumi: (Hugs Rukawa) Arigato Rukawa-kun. (Blinks her tears away) (Thinking) However blunt it may sound but still that is the sweetest form of words I have ever hear for myself.

(Flashes of memories recollected end)

Kasumi: (Her tears land onto Rukawa's face, smearing the stained blood on his still face) (Thinking) You, somehow, were always there for me, together with me. Sharing my life with you… That's what I want most. (Hugs Rukawa in desperation) (Whimpers weakly) More than anyone, I love you. And these are not just words Rukawa-kun. (Unaware of her surroundings except the presence of a limped lifeless Rukawa)

Yamazaki: (Smirks) (Thinking) Shinu ojo-san. [Die young lady] (A/N: Just for info, shinu is pronounced as "shin n" though sometimes can hear a faint 'u' sound, "shi nei" or "shi nai". My personal favourite "shi nai". It's like pronouncing "shi nai" and "shi nei" gives the meaning Die now. You're trying to kill someone. You want him to die. While pronoucing "shin n" project the meaning of like we're going to die or someone died or is dead. Its something which I guessed out from watching anime, the various pronouciations characters used in different situation. Can be wrong of course)

#Crack.#

Yamazaki: (Turns his attention away from Kasumi upon hearing a twig broken into two after being stepped upon) Nan da? (Sees Nabiki rushing pointlessly towards him armed with an umbrella) Don't joke with me… (Clenches his fist…)

Soun: (Fear encloses his heart tightly just waiting for the right moment to crush it) NABIKI NO DON'T! GET AWA-

#TWAK!#

Yamazaki: Oof! #Thud.# (Exclaims) Nani! (Quickly stands up) (Glares at his attackers)

Nabiki: Ara? (Gradually stops her run, stunned to see Cologne, Shampoo and Mousse arriving at the scene) (Unconsciously feels the tremendous weight of despair over her shoulders fading away)

Cologne: Hohoho!

Shampoo: (Points her bon bori at Yamazaki) Ojiji, omae wa iku hanarete. [You, grandpa/old man, get lost]

Soun: Obā-san! (Thinking) I will never be as relieved in future as much as I feeling now to see that o-baba. Thank Kami, they came. (Starts to breath a little easier)

Genma: (Thinking) That was close… But how did she know we were in trouble. Whatever the reason, if she didn't, I can't bear to imagine the outcome if she hadn't.

Yamazaki: Che! (Dashes at Shampoo, kicking out with a driving right foot to her gut)

Shampoo: (Jumps upwards dodging from the attack and immediately swings down the right bon bori at Yamazaki)

Yamazaki: (Fiercely swipes at the incoming bon bori with an aggressive uppercut, splitting it cleanly into two and with his other hand, ferociously grabs to Shampoo's neck) (Grins)

Shampoo: (Tries vainly to dislodge herself free from Yamazaki's vice grip) (Thinking) Gah! Can't breathe…

Mouuse: Shampoo! Ora wa… (Darts abruptly towards Shampoo and trips over his loose robe) #Thud.# Itai…

Yamazaki: (Under his breath) Pathetic bunch… (Sees Cologne appears right before him in the blink of the eye) NANI! (Frees Shampoo from his grip and dodges away from Cologne's walloping hardy stick)

Cologne: Hahaha!

Yamazaki: Teme wa! (Launches a flurry of wild punches towards Cologne) (Thinking) She's the strongest among them.

Cologne: (Dodges with ease) (Calmly knocks Yamazaki on the head with her stick…) #THWACK.# (And initiates a rapid thrusting attack with her stick to Yamazaki's gut)

Yamazaki: Ooof! (Collapses to the floor) (Mutters) Not bad… (Rubs his head and gets up)

Cologne: Sōdesu ka? [Is it?] (Darts towards Yamazaki) Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken! (Directs out a flurry of speedy punches)

Yamazaki: Che. (Barely avoids the punches) (Retreats backwards, with a couple of bruises received)

Mouuse: Hahahaha! Kisama wa yowai da! [You are weak!] (Thinking) Usually I am the one on the receiving end of that dried up monkey's stick. It sure is nice to be the spectator now. Heh. (Sees Shampoo watching Yamazaki thoughtfully, rubbing her sore neck) Damn it! I should have save Shampoo just now! Then she would have fallen in love with me and not that cursed Saotome Ranma! (Shouts) SHAMPOO! Watch me take care of him! I'll avenge you! (Initiates the stance) Fist of the white swan… #WHAM!# Ouch!

#Thud.#

Yamazaki: (Watches Mouuse fell to the ground clumsily) Urusei na bakero. [Shut up already, idiot]

Shampoo: (Shakes her head) Yare yare. Baka Mouuse.

Cologne: (Watches with interest as Mouuse attempts to lay an attack onto Yamazaki)

Shampoo: (Approaches Kasumi and Rukawa) (Squats down in front of Kasumi) Kasumi, daijobou ka?

Kasumi: (Startled) (Notices Shampoo's presence) (Choking with her words) Sha-Shampoo-chan… (Tears streaming down her scratched cheeks) (Turns her head back to Rukawa) Rukawa-kun… Kare… [He…]

Shampoo: (Slightly stunned upon seeing Kasumi unusual grief-stricken state since she was usually in a cheerful mood) (Awkwardly) Dai-daijobou, daijobou.

Nabiki: (Breaks off from her daze) (Quickly follows suit) Oneechan. (Put an arm around Kasumi comfortingly) Daijobou desu yo. Obā-san is here. Calm down now. It's gonna be okay, I promise.

Kasumi: (Wraps her left arm around Nabiki in response, pressing her tearful face against Nabiki's shoulder, sobbing and dampening Nabiki's shirt) Nabiki, Nabiki, Nabiki… 'Atashi…

Nabiki: (Strokes the back of Kasumi's head, trying to calm her sister down as well as comforting her own frightened self with every stroke telling her that her sister is alive) (Soothingly) Hush hush now. Everything will be fine now oneechan. Don't worry. Daijobou, daijobou yo. It will be all right, you hear me. It will be all right. I promise you. (Wrap her arms around Kasumi tightly with relief, patting Kasumi's back) (Holding back her tears…) (Thinking) I almost lose you oneechan. I almost lost you a few minutes ago. Yokatta. Hontō ni yokatta. [I'm so glad. Truly grateful] I can't bear the thought that I almost lost my older sister.

Kasumi: (Hears raucous dueling noises in the background made by Mouuse and Yamazaki as they fought) (Stammering) Na-Nabiki, I'm scared stiff. (Her left hand grips firmly to Nabiki's sleeve, shaking uncontrollably, as if afraid that Nabiki would disappear suddenly)

Nabiki: (Feels Kasumi's trembling body against hers) (Her calm composure falters a little) Me too oneechan. Me too. I am afraid as well.

Kasumi: (Sniffs) I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm unable to comfort you but instead you, you are… (Weakly) Gomen ne. (Continues to weep her terrified heart out)

Nabiki: (Wavering voice) Don't, don't say that. (A tear rolls down her cheek) It's all right. Obā-san will handle this and soon there will be nothing to be scared of. (Looks up, watching the fight between Yamazaki and the male warrior of Joketsuzoku)

Shampoo: (Observing the strange actions of the two sisters) (Thinking in chinese) If they were my sisters, I would have slapped them sound and hard to wake them up. Oh well Japanese girls are weaker than us, Joketsuzoku women.

Mouuse: Kisama! How dare you! Making a fool of me in front of Shampoo! (Jumps up high from the ground into the air and…) (Yells) Fist of the white swan! (Launches a variety of massive deadly weapons of war towards Yamazaki)

Yamazaki: (Dodges and breaks away all the arsenal thrown at him) Stupid tricks.

Mouuse: Nani!

Yamazaki: Swans don't have fists, only wings. Omae wa 'aho ka? [Are you a moron?]

Mouuse: Teme! Ano yarou! [Darn you damned bastard!] (Shoots out accurately several sharp blades towards an evasive Yamazaki, yet still manages to create holes on Yamazaki's coat, scratching the skin beneath the coat)

Yamazaki: … (Looks at his coat)

Mouuse: Hahaha! Ora no waza o, tejina yobawari suri ki ka! [You still dare think my techniques are tricks]

Yamazaki: (Looks at the holes with anger) Kisama! My favorite coat. (Removes his hood, revealing long silver hair and an unshaven face) (Obvious fury and rage mark across all over his facial features) Grr! Shi-Shi… +Syiii…+

Cologne: (Thinking) Hmm… Anger… Madness ka? Grey area. Impossible but… Interestingly, he seems to have obtained unlimited amount of ki energy made readily available. How did he acquire such…

Yamazaki: UNARE! #Siuuu…#

Mouuse: Ah!

#BOOMMM!!!#

Mouuse: Aaaaaah Shampoo! I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. (Disappears in the blue sky)

Shampoo: (Mutters) What that baka Mouuse talking about.

Yamazaki: Omae wa? [You are?] (Glares at Cologne, standing on her well-balanced wooden stick) (Thinking) She's no ordinary obā-san that's for sure.

Cologne: Hohoho! Defeat me and I will tell you my name. (Thinking) That was a massive usage of ki yet he's not even exhausted. It can't be but it does seem likely that it is the old forbidden and unattainable technique but no one could have master it. It is impossible to master. It should have been lost hundreds of years ago.

Yamazaki: Hah! You won't live to tell me your name by then.

Cologne: We shall see.

Yamazaki: (Thinking) Her expression… Teme. Looking down on me. Ore wa… (Realizes) Masaka! She wants me to show her my techniques and ultimately spotting my weakness. Chiku'so. She used that idiot to observe my abilities. Teme, o-baba. [old hag] (Begins to speak) Hmph! Ore ga modoku da. [I shall return] (Glares at Soun and Genma) (Sardonically) You may be saved by this obā-san now but I had already defeated your Master two months ago. HUAHUAHUAHUAHUA! We'll definitely not be stop by any interfering ojii-san or obā-san. (Retreats) (Thinking) Such confidence, I don't think I could defeat her single handedly. Yet! Nonetheless, we will not be stopped by a single o-baba. Although I defeated their Master not the way I would like to but victory is plain victory no matter how I won it.

Soun&Genma: (Incredulously) Oshishou-sama was defeated by him?! Masaka…

Shampoo: Ah hiba-chan. [Great-grandmother]

Cologne: Never mind Shampoo. Let him go. We got other things to handle anyway. (Thinking) Omae wa, tashou wa dekiru you ja na. [You're somewhat skillful] Able to comprehend what I was doing. Hmm Happi lost to him? That doesn't seem right considering his current skills. But the way he declared it, it might be possible. (Shakes her head) What was Happi doing?

Genma: (Thinking) We survived…

Soun: (Wrap his frail arms around his two daughters, crying buckets of tears of joy and relief)

------

Chapter 33: Enduring the ruthless torments

Scene: Kasumi's room, Monday, before dawn breaks,

Kasumi: (Wakes up and finds herself to be settling snugly on the futon under the warm blanket) (Feels a little self-conscious of herself) (Thinking) Oh dear, I fell asleep while attending to Rukawa-kun. (Her eyes get used to the darkness and her hands reach out) (Pauses) Rukawa-kun wa?

Scene: Tendo Dojo, in the dojo,

Rukawa: (Visible blood-stained bandages wrapping on various parts of his body) (Striking out at imaginary opponents) Huh huh… (An image of Yamazaki appears before his mind) Kisama! Kono yarou!

Kasumi: (Stands at the doorway intimidated, rooted to her spot, sensing something amiss within Rukawa) (Whispers to herself) Rukawa-kun… (Thinking) I want to rush to you, embrace you, share my innermost feelings with you, cry with you but… (Watches Rukawa punching and kicking air forcefully with unrepressed rage)

Rukawa: (Stops abruptly) Huh huh… (Standing and facing the butsudan) (Thinking) Sakura… (His short-lived fit of rage quickly changes to one of despairing grief) (Dropping miserably down to his knees, his body desolately bends forward, his forehead touching the wooden floor as his clenching fists tremble with resentment vented at himself) Chiku'so! Chiku'so! Chiku'so!

Kasumi: (Hears soft sobs) (Thinking) Rukawa-kun, dōshita no… [What's wrong…] (Finger her lips nervously, unsure of what to do) (Her heart thumps harder against her chest)

Rukawa: (Rises up to a sitting position) (Cover his crying face with his hands) (Thinking) "If you wish to protect someone, you must be ready to become the shield for that person." Sakura… (Remembering)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Ryoko: (Yells) Don't do it!

Yamazaki: (Smirks) Hek!#SIUU…#

Ryoko: (Gets up from the ground instantly ignoring his agonizing pain) NO! Yameru na! [Stop it!] (Rushes towards Sakura) (Yells) Sakura!

Sakura: (Standing still, looks on silently as the flashing sphere of blaring energy thunders towards her) (Thinking) I can feel it…

Ryoko: (Dashing forward towards Sakura, noting every little distance the threat covered as it travels towards Sakura) (Thinking) Help me save her, Kami-sama. Onegai. [I beg you]

Sakura: (Senses the hostility of the spherical power closing onto her) (Feel the goose bumps arising on every surface of her skin) (Thinking) It is time…

Ryoko: (Thinking) Shimatta, it is nearing her so fast.

Sakura: (Sadness deeply fills up her heart) (Reaches her hand up and lays her hand across her chest) (Thinking) I will miss you Ryo-chan.

Ryoko: (Looks at the ki blast anxiously as it continues on its course, terror holds his thumping vulnerable heart in a tight grip, threatening to squeeze it to a pulp) (Thinking) I can't lose Sakura. I don't want to lose her. I will not lose her!

Sakura: (Turns her head and sees the desperation in Ryoko's eyes as he ran) (Thinking) 'Atashi Ryo-chan ai shite imasu yo. [I love you, Ryo-chan] Stay strong for you and me. Don't act recklessly.

Ryoko: (Notices the gap between Sakura and the fatal ball of energy reducing as fast as his distance to Sakura decreases) (Thinking) Can I make it…

Sakura: (Thinking) I wish you will find someone who love you even more than I do and could take care of you even better than I could ever do. I'm afraid… (Tears forms in her eyes) I know, I won't have the chance to unite with you, Ryo-chan.

Ryoko: (Sees the orb shaped ki energy blazing dangerously close to Sakura) (Thinking) I must make it!

Sakura: (Blink her tears away) (Thinking) You have been everything I could ask for. Only death could separate me from you. Even so I wish you not be reckless enough to follow me. Sayonara Ryo-chan, ojii-sama, obā-sama soshite imoto-chan, Rei-chan. [Goodbye Ryo-chan, grandfather, grandmother and little sis, Rei-chan] May oto-sama and oka-sama watch over you all. Maybe I will meet them too.

Ryoko: (Reaches Sakura) (Thinking) Her eyes are wet… Will I ever have the chance to dry them?

Sakura: (Close her eyes, awaiting the moment) (Thinking) It is inevitable Ryo-chan… Don't ever blame yourself.

Yamazaki: HUAHUAHUAHUA!

Ryoko: (Shouts huskily) Sakura! (Thinking) I will never forgive myself… (Suffers an excruciating pain pounding in his head)

Sakura: (Open her eyes and smiles slightly at Ryoko) (Thinking) Don't die Ryo-chan… Have the courage to continue on living. I don't want you to die with me. I want you to live. Please, help me take care of Rei-chan. She needs someone to look after her. She's still young.

Ryoko: (Sees Sakura smiling at him) (Thinking) I-if I lose her… (Feels his heart tearing itself in misery) (Yells) Shinai! Zettai ni ja nai! [Never! Absolutely not!] (Frantically dives and grabs onto Sakura, his arms around her back, shoving her out of harm way)

Sakura: (Finds herself in Ryoko's arms) (Watches unperturbedly at the ki blast that trails directly towards her and Ryoko) (Close her eyes) (Thinking) Arigato Ryo-chan for everything. I am glad to have met and know you even if it's only less than a year.

#Roaring noise…#

Ryoko: (Thinking) Shimatta, something behind us… (Turns his body in mid-air) (Sees a blinding light zooming towards Sakura and himself) (Eyes widen in despair) Kami-sama… Naze? Naze ka! [Why? Why!] (His heart stops beating for a moment as the ki reaches them while in the air)

#BRRRRROOOOOMMMM!#

Ryoko: (Screams) Sakura! (Extreme pain shoots throughout his body) (Thinking) Errgh itai! (Loses his hold over Sakura and…) #Kkrrrrmmmmmmm…# (Fell and rolled on the ground briefly, receiving scratches and bruises from the landing)

Sakura: (Lying on the ground) (Feels immense pain on her abdomen) (Her face contorts in pain faintly) (Thinking) I-ite… (Starts to feel cold) (Close her eyes) 'Atashi-'atashi wa… [I-I'm…] I know I'm dying… But I'm not scared. Why…

Ryoko: (Thinking) I-itai-tai… Ah shimatta. Sakura… (Gets up immediately) (Sees Sakura lying motionlessly and without delay runs towards her) Chigau… Dame… [No… No…] Shimatta. She took most of that blow… Sakura go-gomen nasai. Onegai Kami, let her be all right. Sakura, don't leave me. I don't want to be alone without you. I don't want to lose you. Please be all right. How could I make a mistake like that? How could I allow such a thing to happen to Sakura? Ku'so. Ore wa, ore wa… [Damn it. I, I…] (Begins to speak) (Unevenly) Sakura… (Sees blood soaking through Sakura's kimono) (Thinking) Kami-sama… Naze da… I-I've fail… (Picks Sakura up carefully into his arms) (Begins to speak in a faltering voice) Kami-sama… Sakura, onegai… (Brushes off Sakura's hair away from her face) (Gazes despairingly at Sakura as blood trickles down her temple) (Utterly forgets his own injuries)

Sakura: (Thinking) Ryo-chan… (Opens her eyes, grimacing a little from her severe injuries)

Ryoko: (Regret and woe twist his face dramatically) (Thinking) How could I not protect her? (Feels the anguish wrapping up his heart causing severe pain with each throb it took) (Tears start to materialize in his eyes, awaiting the trigger before they start flowing down) (Croaking voice) Saku-ra…

Sakura: (Looks up at Ryoko) (Lifts her hand up and grazes Ryoko's cheek lovingly) Ryo-chan… (Smiles adoringly in spite of her condition) (Thinking) Because of you, Ryo-chan.

Ryoko: (Sobbing helplessly) (Trembling) Sa-Sakura… Daijobou, daijobou da yo. [It's gonna be all right] (Holds Sakura's grazing hand in response) (Gazes down Sakura's body) (Sees blood bleeding massively out of her wound on Sakura's abdomen) (Thinking) Chiku'so! Chiku'so! Chiku'so! It's not going to be all right! Who am I trying to kid! I'm going to lose her. Sa-Sakura. If only I was the one who received it… (Places his hand over Sakura's wound) (Tries to speak) Ore ga… Ore ga… [I'll… I'll…] (Numbness caught in his throat) (Feels intense grief and regret surfacing in him stirring the free falling of tears) (Holds Sakura close to himself forlornly) (Begins to speak) I fail. I-I've fail.

Sakura: (Barely manages to shake her head) (Thinking) Kami-sama please take care of Ryo-chan. Watch him please. (Squeezes Ryoko's hand) (Weakly) Ai shite imasu. [I love you]

Ryoko: Sta-stay with me Sakura… Don't let go. Hold on. Ore wa… (Places his hand back to Sakura's hand, holding it tightly) (Kisses Sakura's forehead caringly and rests his forehead onto hers tenderly) (Thinking) I don't want to ever let go of you.

Sakura: (Smiles weakly) You know why I love you? (Places her hand onto Ryoko's chest, feeling the rapid pounding heartbeats)

Ryoko: (Splutters) Na-nani?

Sakura: (Softly but with pride) Because you always fight for what you believe in. The self-belief in you. That's what makes what you are now. (Manages out a little grin as she recollects her cherished and memorable experience) Remember what you did to ojii-sama. You remember don't you?

Ryoko: (Sees a tear trickling down Sakura's stained cheek) (Nods his head meekly) (Thinking) I believe in you, Sakura. You were the one who gave me the confidence back in my life. It was all you… I am as good as dead if I had never met you on that day. I was nothing. So… Please hold on. For me. For us. Don't let go. Don't give up. Tell her that we're gonna watch the cherry blossoms again next spring. Tell her we're going to be together. Tell her she's going to live on with you. Tell her! (Looks at Sakura's state) (Torment overwhelms him) Oh Kami… I'm going to lose her. I'm gonna lose her because of me. (Cries uncontrollably) (Choking out his words) I'm sorry I couldn't protect you… I didn't protect you.

Sakura: (In a faint but bliss evident in her voice) That was the most treasured, most special moment of my life, R- (Starts to breath in sharply and painfully but eventually the gasps for life fades away) (Her hand unavoidably drops to her chest)

Ryoko: (Sees her eyelids shut her once bright cheerful brown eyes away from him for eternity) (Stammers in disbelief) Sakura… Sakura… (His hand that is holding Sakura's hand stiffens) Wake up please… Sakura… Don't leave… I don't want to be without you… Sakura… Open your eyes… Please. (Looks at his bloodied hands) My hands, covered with her blood, I promised I would never allow anyone to hurt her but… (Stares at Sakura for a brief moment) Sakura… (Close his eyes) WAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! (Holds despairingly to Sakura's lifeless body to his own) (Mutters unpleasantly) Yamazaki… (Thinking) I shall make you pay and I will die trying! (Open his eyes, raging fire burning madly in his dark dull eyes) (Places Sakura down on the ground gently) (Yells) Yamazaki!

Yamazaki: (Mockingly) Nani?! Not even a polite thank you to me for giving you some time with Rukawa? Some gratitude, you've shown me, Shinguji. Che!

Ryoko: (Mutters) Kisama! Damn you. Damn your associates. (His voice raise due to frustration) Damn ME! DAMN EVERYTHING! GAAAAAHHHH!!!! (Produces a battle aura that rages fervently due to his uneven emotions unconsciously)

Yamazaki: Heh. Show me what you got Shinguji Ryoko. (Generates a commanding battle aura in response) (Extends out his hand, beckoning Ryoko to come and get him) (Smirks) (Thinking) With him dead by my hands, and Nori-tachi [Nori's group] handling the respective families, another step done. (Smiles)

Ryoko: (Charges towards Yamazaki) Yamazaki, korosu! Shinu! YARRRRRRRHHHHHH!!! (Pull his fist exceedingly backwards, risking breaking his own shoulder blade in the process to gain more momentum for attack power)

(A/N: And around this time, somewhere a good distance away in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, a perverted little fella had just escaped from danger and is roof hopping away with his valuable pieces of treasure, and eventually sensed the battling fighting auras. And out of curiousity, you know what happened next but chapter 0 stopped abruptly didn't it hehe. Wonders what happen)

(End of flashback sequence)

Rukawa: (Breathes in heavily trying to calm himself) (Crawls resignedly to a corner, resting his back against a wall) (Bring his knees close to his chest, his chin on his knees, his arms crossing over his shins) (Rocks his body to and fro inconsolably) (Looks down to the floor empathetically) How could I let Sakura down… How could I allow someone whom I love to die… Ku'so! Look at me. I can't even avenge her death. I didn't even die trying to avenge her. I don't even know where or what had happened to her body. Sakura… "If you wish to protect someone, you must be ready to become the shield for that person." I don't remember who told me this… (Sniffs)

Kasumi: (Decides to approach Rukawa, cautiously) (Thinking) Yesterday when you protected me, when I hold your limped body despairingly in my arms, I felt angry, happy, secured, sad, empty, I don't know. Angry at the bad person who cause all these pain to us when we were so happy. Happy and secured, seeing you risking yourself for me, to protect me, knowing fully how you feel towards me. Yet sad and empty as I fear that I would lose you. My heart feels so satisfied to see you being there for me yet knowing that you were giving your all which could possibly lead to forgoing your own life for me, I feel awful. I want to ask you about this but… Seeing you as you are now… I can't help but feel that… That somehow you wanted to… Possibly wanted to… Actually wanted to… (Her shoulders slump) I don't want to believe it.

Rukawa: (Thinking) Kasumi. She's alive. She's the one who bandaged me up. Treat my wounds. I… I sort of saved her… Protected her yesterday. But yet, I'm no hero… I'm just a coward… A coward who was trying to use that opportunity to escape from life. Didn't I? Wasn't I? I can't believe I'm still alive even when there was no will to live left in me.

Kasumi: (Stands next to Rukawa, her right hand fingering her smooth chin, a slight frown outlines out across her worried-ridden face)

Rukawa: (Becomes aware of someone's presence nearby) (Turns his head and sees Kasumi already standing right next to him, inches away) (Startled) Ka-Kasumi.

Scene: Nabiki's room, meanwhile,

Nabiki: (Hears muffled sounds) Ara… (Rubs her eyes sleepily) (Looks around) (Takes out a peculiar-looking device underneath her pillow and holds it near her)

Rukawa's voice: (Electronically) Ka-Kasumi.

Nabiki: (Mutters groggily) Didn't install it in the dojo to spy on oneechan and Rukawa-kun… (Rubs her eyes again) (Looks up at the clock) Mattaku… Why're they up so early in the morning? Don't they have anything better to do? (Realizes) Heh… (Lopsided grin) This should be interesting. The shabby knight meets with the princess. (Gives a short giggle) Or the patient and the nurse. (Straightens her face to concentrate) Hmm… Why am I such a busybody? Shouldn't eavesdrop. Yes I shouldn't.

Kasumi's voice: (Electronically) Rukawa-kun…

Nabiki: Che, it won't hurt to listen. (Places the device close to her ear)

Scene: Tendo Dojo, in the dojo,

Kasumi: (Kneels down next to Rukawa) (Softly) Rukawa-kun…

Rukawa: (Stares at Kasumi with quivering eyes)

Kasumi: (Bites her lower lip) (Thinking) It is so hard to speak it out…

Rukawa: (Thinking) Kasumi. Did I wake her up when I placed her in the futon? She was stiff and uncomfortable sleeping in the seiza position next to me, resting her head on me, when I woke up. (A/N: Seiza is the kneeling form of sitting down)

Kasumi: (Breathes in deeply) Rukawa-kun, did… Did you wanted to die?

Rukawa: (Taken aback) (Thinking) Why is Kasumi so perceptive? (Looks away shamefully) Ever since I lost what was precious to me.

Kasumi: Dōshite?

Rukawa: W-when you were in danger, my mind was in turmoil. I'm not sure why but out of the blue… (Thinking) Out of the blue…?

(Start of flashback sequence)

Rukawa: Is there a cure Khu Lon obā-san? Can I ever retrieve my lost memories?

Cologne: I'm afraid not. Only the victim can cure himself. And that is very rare. He will remember glimpses of his past if he comes across a very similar incident in the present.

Rukawa: What do you mean obā-san?

Cologne: In your past, if you had experienced deep emotional events and at present, if you experience closely related events again, you might or will remember slight glimpses of that particular occurrence and slowly your past will return to you if you're lucky.

Rukawa: I still don't understand.

Cologne: Take Ranma for example.

Ranma: Huh?

Cologne: His neko-ken training deeply emotionally scarred him for life. If he is to be attacked by the technique omoide eikyū no fukitoru like you, the only way to cure him and allow him to remember his past, is to strapped him with fishcakes and threw him back into the pit of starving cats. That same painful, terrifying and traumatic experience will jolt his mind and start bringing back his old memories that was seemingly 'erased'. It must be a very intense experience and an emotional one or else it cannot trigger your mind to retrieve back your forgotten memories. This is why it is very rare for the victims to recover from this memory erase.

(End of flashback sequence)

Rukawa: (Thinking) Sou ka… The danger that threatens Kasumi, trigger the recovery of part of my memory since it was similar to the situation I was in before.

Kasumi: Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: Eh? Oh. Well, when you were in danger Kasumi, I actually recovered an important part of my past. (Pauses) (Sigh dismally) I lost someone dear to me, Kasumi. I lost her. I had let Sakura down. Watashi wa… Sakura… She… S-she was more than a fiancée. I love her.

Kasumi: (Covers her mouth) Mā… (Thinking) Rukawa-kun lost a loved one… Someone who found a place in his heart. (Her eyes soften) (Begins to speak) Go-gomen.

Rukawa: She always held me so gently whenever I was down. Somehow always able to cheer me up when I am sad. I know that I promised her that I'd always protect her and look after her. That I'd always be with her and never leave. That I'll always keep her happy. That we'll always be together forever… Lots of promises and hopes yet, I… I… (Close his eyes in disgrace) Failed them all.

Kasumi: Rukawa-kun…

Rukawa: (Looks at Kasumi) That's her name Kasumi. Sakura, Rukawa Sakura. Wa-watashi wa Rukawa ja nai. [I-I am not Rukawa] (Shakes his head dejectedly) Ryoko desu. Shinguji Ryoko, watashi wa. (A/N: Too crestfallen to even refer himself as ore or boku the masculine version of I, that's why he referred himself as watashi, a neutral version. This is why Jap language is rather interesting. Eng language for "I" cannot show a person attitude. Right now his masculine pride is shattered)

Kasumi: (Thinking) Oh dear… Yesterday, Yamazaki-san mentioned…

(Start of recall sequence)

Yamazaki: You're pathetic! Unable to defeat me and survived my Shi-Shi Unare even at its peak and yet you're running and hiding away from me when you should be out braying for my blood. Isn't revenge on your mind anymore even after I kill Rukawa?!

(End of recall sequence)

Kasumi: (Thinking) Rukawa-kun… Iie. Shinguji-kun no iinazuke was murdered. Rukawa-kun, kare… Shinguji-kun, he is starting to remember bits of his past already.

Rukawa: Kasumi, I guess you can just continue calling me Rukawa-kun. It doesn't matter not calling me by my real name. It's okay. I'm also used to being called Rukawa anyway. I may not even realize if people call me Shinguji or Ryoko. (Thinking) I-I had also failed as Shinguji Ryoko…

Kasumi: H-hai. (Scrutinizes Rukawa quietly amidst the unusual silence between them)

Rukawa: (His mind keeps playing back the only part of his past that he remembered presently, the inevitable death of Sakura, reducing him close to tears)

Kasumi: (Her caring heart breaks as she sat, watching Rukawa being tormented by his past, looking at his drawn face etched in misery as he recalled the chilling moments) (Thinking) Unfortunately it seems like the reality of his past is consuming him.

Rukawa: (Muttering to himself) In the moment of danger, how could I be so careless? I should have saved Sakura but…

Kasumi: (Thinking worriedly) He seriously needs support. I need, I must try to help him come to terms with himself. (Places her hand gently on Rukawa's cheek) That is how life goes, Rukawa-kun. It doesn't mean that you didn't love Sakura-san enough and condemning yourself certainly isn't right. Love cannot be obtained. It can only be earned. Love cannot be protected nor can it be destroyed. Everything that is fated to happen will happen. (Pauses) But it doesn't mean you should just let go of everything and allow everything to take its course without lifting a finger. Just do your best, attempt everything possible to change your fate. If it still couldn't be change then it is fated to happen. Nothing will change it. At least you know you tried everything you could to change fate. Blaming on yourself, lamenting for your powerlessness to protect Sakura-san is not right. (Grazes the back of her soft smooth fingers caringly on Rukawa's blue swollen cheek) That's how it is in life. You can't put the blame on yourself as if you didn't love Sakura-san enough.

Rukawa: (Oblivious to Kasumi) (Thinking) I didn't protect Sakura… I let her die… She died right in front of me… Under my very eyes… In (Looks at his hands) these arms… (Starts to tremble) I could never hold anyone with these hands ever again… They're stained with her blood. I understand now why me, myself reject myself from ever falling in love with Kasumi. I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy at all. I can't even take vengeance against Yamazaki for Sakura. I'm better off dead. I'm incompetent.

Kasumi: (Sigh inwardly) (Thinking) He is not even listening. (Places her arm around Rukawa's back comfortingly sharing their warmth with each other and the other hand clasps to both Rukawa's scabbed hands tightly) Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: (Turns his attention to Kasumi) Na-nani?

Kasumi: (Firmly) Rukawa-kun, you are free to die. You can run away. But nothing will change if you die. (Rests the side of her head tenderly onto Rukawa's shoulder) (Softer tone) But if you live, there are many things in life that you can help change. If you had died two months ago, you would not have the opportunity to do what you would be able to do now. (Thinking) And I would also not have the chance to know you. Knowing you has been an important part of my life. You widen my world.

Rukawa: But how can I stay alive like this? I did not protect Sakura from harm, Kasumi. I can't avenge her, for her, for me. And for goodness know whom else or why. (Getting obviously frustrated at himself) I don't even know why I'm at bad blood with that bastard! So much bad blood th-that our lives are at stake! I can't live this way. I can't… Live this way, knowing that I can't do anything, that I'm useless. Also… (Shifts himself to look at Kasumi in the eyes) Kasumi w-when I see you… Your smile, your beauty, the sweetness in you. They are like abominations to me. Reminding me of Sakura. Of someone who trusted me, someone I love but-but… Watashi wa…

Kasumi: (Softly) Rukawa-kun, anata wa anata desu yo. [You are you]

Rukawa: (Stares at Kasumi, taken aback)

(Start of sudden recall sequence)

Ryoko: Ore wa ore da yo! [I am myself!] I won't compare myself to your son's level no matter if he is supposedly superior or inferior to me.

(End of sudden recall sequence)

Kasumi: (Her eyes soften, smiles)

Rukawa: H-hai Ka-Kasumi… I have done everything I could, every effort I could muster to save her. It is Kami who decided if someone time has come. I am just me. (Thinking) Compare myself to somebody…? What's going on exactly? What was I doing? There were quite a number of people… Sakura was there as well…

Kasumi: (Nods) There are many difficult things that I may not understand Rukawa-kun and others that I may see in a different light. (Starts to tighten her arm around Rukawa a little) B-but I do know clearly that you saved me.

Rukawa: Kasumi…

Kasumi: (Tentatively hugs Rukawa) (Starts to cry) You didn't fail me Rukawa-kun. Arigato. Even if you did not manage to rescue me, I still don't think that you had let me down. I know that you had done everything you could to protect me. I'm sure Sakura-san would also think the same way. Sakura-san loves you because she just loves you and not because you could protect her. She would never blame you. You should not blame yourself.

Rukawa: (Pats Kasumi's back on impulse) (Thinking) Maybe Kasumi is right… But still… (Sigh) Knowing Ranma… If it was Akane-san, he would have single-handedly defeat Yamazaki even if the odds were stacked against him. Me… Hopeless. Thank Kami, at least Kasumi escaped unharmed. I guess it is a good thing I didn't die either on both occasions… Even when I… Well, half-heartedly wanted to. I still do have unfinished business with Yamazaki and also recovering more of my memory.

Kasumi: (Crying) Rukawa-kun, you saved me. Is as clear as that. (Thinking) Don't give up on life Rukawa-kun. Please don't. My heart is telling me that I may lose you somehow. Please.

Rukawa: (Thinking) Yes I did. I did save Kasumi. (Pauses) But the fact that I allowed Sakura to lose her life still remains. (Pauses) I didn't die. I can't die. I can't die yet. Not without him still living and breathing the air that Sakura used to breath in. Sakura, wait for me. I'll come find you once I have deal with Yamazaki no yarou. I will not die trying to kill him this time. I will not die if Yamazaki did not die. I won't rest till I or other forces at work shut his eyes permanently. I shall take him down along with me at all cost! Yes… That's my new purpose.

Kasumi: (Tightens her hug a little more, afraid to let go of Rukawa) (Thinking) Just hold on tight even if your heart is breaking. Reach into yourself, deep into your soul even if you think you can't see tomorrow. Close your eyes and feel your heart beating. See the world through your heart. Have the strength to live on and take another look on life, a clearer look with an opened mind, heart and soul and be able to see this world… Ai no subete ni deaeru yo. [Until you find all that is love]

Rukawa: (Rubs Kasumi's back) (Thinking) I'm sorry Kasumi. If I had never remember all this, I know I would have really fallen in love with you and take care of you and grow old together just like the dream you shared with me but… I guess I can't love you. It's not possible anymore. There's Sakura, my almost-to-be wife. I have to avenge her. The odds are against me to survive trying to kill Yamazaki. It isn't fair to love you and have you love me equally when deep in my heart I know I will never survive against Yamazaki but am willing to take him down with me no matter what. I'm giving up my life to take Yamazaki down. I'm devoting myself to see him die. But I'll be here for you till my end as I promised to myself yesterday. (Begins to speak) I guess so Kasumi…

Kasumi: (Continues to cry) (Thinking) I want you to believe in the future. Believe in yourself. Believe in the beauty of life. Everything wrong will become right as long as you are alive. Have faith. Please don't give up. Just remember you're not alone now, so don't you fear. I am by your side no matter what happen, Rukawa-kun. If the price to allow Rukawa-kun to keep on living is for me to never have him to love for myself or even at the cost of my life then I would without a second thought trade it, Kami-sama. Please don't let Rukawa-kun die inside as well as outside. I don't want him to suffer.

Rukawa: (Thinking) Why is she crying? I really don't understand. (Realizes) Shimatta… Maybe during the period I was unconscious, Nabiki-san or Tendo oji-san got hurt or even… (Begins to speak) Yo-yokatta [I'm glad], you're unhurt Kasumi. If I find out that you were killed while I'm still alive… That would just kill me Kasumi. I rather die protecting you. I don't want any regrets. (Wipes off Kasumi's streaming tears with his thumbs)

Kasumi: Are you sure Rukawa-kun? (Releases her hug)

Rukawa: Huh?

Kasumi: (Serious tone in her voice) Rukawa-kun no baka. If you died, can you protect me after that from his following attacks? If you died, the people you want to protect will be left vulnerable. You want to protect the people you care for… But first, you must account for your safety as well. Also there are people who don't want to see you die. How will your parents feel if they know you die? How will those who care about you feel when they found out that you died? (Thinking) How would I feel if you die? How would Sakura-san feel if she knows you die also? Remember that. Think about that. (A/N: Remember the time when Kasumi scold Akane for being too violent against Ranma in season 1, and wanted her to be more feminine for their mothers' sake, well the same tone of voice is applied here)

Rukawa: (Stares at Kasumi) (Thinking) Kasumi is really stern about this… Still…

Kasumi: Still I do feel touched that you're willing to risk your life for my sake. Arigato Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Ii-iie. It's nothing Kasumi. Ano… (Thinking) "If you died, the people you want to protect will be left vulnerable." "If you wish to protect someone, you must be ready to become the shield for that person." I'm so confused… (Shakes his head) (Begins to speak) Ne Kasumi, what happened after I lost conscious? (Thinking) I hope no one was seriously injured or killed. I wonder how they manage to subdue Yamazaki. I doubt he was defeated.

Kasumi: Obā-san arrived and chased him away. I'm not sure what happened though. (Thinking) I could only worry about you at that time.

Rukawa: Khu Lon obā-san ka… (Thinking) So she really could fight. (Mutters) Could even handle him, Yamazaki Kakuzo…

Kasumi: Ara?

Rukawa: Ah? Oh. That's his name.

Kasumi: Sou. [I see]

Rukawa: (Thinking) Why am I fighting him? I don't have a clue. I may not know the reason yet. But why I want to continue fighting him is crystal clear.

Kasumi: Ano, Yamazaki oji-san retreated but vowed to return back here. Saotome oji-sama is now at Tofu-sensei clinic with a broken leg. Ranma-kun and Akane-chan returned soon after and upon knowing what happened, Ranma-kun got really mad. Obā-chan warned Ranma-kun though not to act recklessly as Yamazaki oji-san is a very skillful martial artist capable of defeating Ranma-kun as well.

Rukawa: Ojii-chan, dare ka? [Who is ojii-chan?]

Kasumi: Happosai ojii-chan is oto-san and Saotome oji-sama's sensei. He is the master of Anything Goes School. We believed that ojii-chan is the person who is involved with you somehow someway.

Rukawa: Sou ka na. [Is that so] (Thinking) I don't recall any Happosai ojii-san at all yet. How is he involved with me? And if Ranma is supposedly not able to handle Yamazaki, what are my chances… But it seems that Khu Lon obā-san could take on Yamazaki. Could she even possibly defeat him? (Begins to speak) Kasumi, why is Yamazaki, also bad blood with your family?

Kasumi: Ara, I don't know Rukawa-kun. We must ask oto-san.

Rukawa: Sou ka na. (Stares onwards) (Thinking) A way to defeat Yamazaki. There must be a way. I know there is a way. A technique. I believe there is a technique I could learn. And even mastered it. Capable of defeating even Yamazaki. (Pauses) And myself…?

Chapter 34: Parting

Kasumi: (Scrutinizes a pondering Rukawa) (Thinking) Am I really going to lose Rukawa-kun…

(Start of recall sequence)

Nabiki: Seriously oneechan, sometimes when you think the time is right, for you to tell him or him to tell you, maybe it could be too late. It could also be there won't be even time for you to tell him your feelings.

(End of recall sequence)

Kasumi: (Thinking) I don't even own Rukawa-kun… How can I say I'm going to lose him? (Peeks at Rukawa) He looks so distant. It seems like I'm starting to lose him already. But can I let go of him… He has his own will. He is free to do what he wants. He does look like he wants to be free from the miseries of life. But it is wrong. But after all he have done for me… I can't sit and do nothing knowing that he… Yet he may not want people to interfere with his decisions… (Sigh) (Gazes at a pensive Rukawa) I was already happy with my life… I think. But with him around, I know I'm even happier… At the same time, I'm also more anxious and worried than before… But it was because I love him so I can't help but worry about his safety. (Grief gradually marks across her weary face) I don't want to ever experience it again…

(Starts of flashback sequence)

Kasumi: (Open her eyes and catches sight of a bruised and badly-battered Rukawa lying on his stomach bleeding profusely just inches in front of her, soaking his torn and tattered clothes creating a bloody mess) (Disbelief is evident in her eyes as the gory scene of a couple of months ago came harking back to her mind when Rukawa first arrived, almost crashing into herself) (Finding her voice back, softly) Chigau, chigau wa yo. Masaka… Rukawa-kun… [No, please don't. Don't tell me…] (Promptly crawls hurriedly towards Rukawa, without a second thought to her own condition and forgetting the current perilous situation) (Bringing Rukawa up to her lap, letting the back of his head to rest on the crook of her right arm, looking at him disconsolately) (Stammering) N-ne, ne Rukawa-kun. O-onegai. Open your eyes. Wake u-up… (Slowly strokes Rukawa's hair with her left hand) (Sorrow threatens to break her fragile heart into minute pieces upon seeing Rukawa in this incapacitated condition) (Thinking) You… You saved me. You took what was intended for me. Rukawa-kun… (Touches Rukawa's bluish and swollen cheek delicately) (Tears flow down her cheeks continuously and uncontrollably)

------

Kasumi: (Grasps hold of Rukawa's right hand with her shivering left hand) (Quavering voice) Rukawa-kun… (Clutches hold of Rukawa closer to her own trembling hurt body) (Sobbing softly) Rukawa-kun please don't leave me… Please. Watashi wa… Don't… Don't… (Squeezes Rukawa's hand shakily) (Thinking) Don't die. Don't leave me. I don't want to be bereaved of someone I care, someone I love again. Please live. Hold on. Don't give up. (Presses his cold hand against her warm wet cheeks, provoking her soft cries to turn to louder distressful weeping)

------

Kasumi: (Bends herself forward, letting her forehead to come into contact with Rukawa's) (Faintly) Kami-sama… Rukawa-kun, please… I'm afraid, Rukawa-kun. Honto ni kowai. [I'm really scared] Don't scare me. Please don't… (Wrap her arms around Rukawa protectively) I'm terrified that I will lose you. I can't lose you, Rukawa-kun… (Her tears land onto Rukawa's face, smearing the stained blood on his still face) (Thinking) You, somehow, were always there for me, together with me. Sharing my life with you… That's what I want most. (Hugs Rukawa in desperation) (Whimpers weakly) More than anyone, I love you. And these are not just words Rukawa-kun. (Unaware of her surroundings except the presence of a limped lifeless Rukawa)

(End of flashback sequence)

Kasumi: (Thinking) The feelings of losing all hope and faith…

Rukawa: (Realizes) Ara Kasumi. Dōshita no? [What's the matter?] (Places a hand on Kasumi's shoulder)

Kasumi: Ara. (Pauses) Iie desu. It is nothing Rukawa-kun. (Smiles)

Rukawa: Ne, are you sure? You can always tell me.

Kasumi: Mā, mā.

Rukawa: Hai, hai. (Looks up at the ceiling) (Thinking) I guess I need to go. I must go. To find myself. To search myself. I will just inform Kasumi, and then I'm (Pauses) off.

Kasumi: (Looks down) (Thinking) Hitotsu dake negai ga todoku nara kokoro tsutaete. [If only one wish can come true, show him my heart]

Rukawa: (Thinking) If I can't rely on my memory, I should follow my heart, where my feet will take me.

Kasumi: (Thinking) No regrets. Hai. (Takes a small deep breath to contain her shyness) (Softly) Rukawa-kun. Anata wa aishiteru desu yo. [I love you]

Rukawa: (Broke off from his thoughts) (Turns to Kasumi, his heart beating faster and faster) You said something Kasumi? (Thinking) Did I hear it wrongly?

Kasumi: Rukawa-kun… (Gazes fondly at Rukawa) (Thinking) Kisu wo uketomete. [Please accept my kiss]

Rukawa: H-hai? (Unconsciously starts to make short rapid breath) (Thinking) Why is she looking at me like that? (The aggressive thumping of his heart begins to echo deep in his eardrums)

Kasumi: (Reach out her hands and place them around Rukawa's neck instinctively) (Slowly guides her head towards Rukawa) (Thinking) I have loved you since the day I understood my feelings. I don't want to regret that I never told you how I truly feel for you.

Rukawa: (Moves himself back a little, albeit nervously) Eh?

Kasumi: (Brings her forehead to contact with Rukawa's bandaged forehead) Watashi wa… (I…) (Thinking) "Anata wa aishiteru" wo anata kara kikitai… Kisu suru shunkanno chikai kokyuu wo. ["I love you" I want to hear it from you… The breath just before the moment we kiss]

Rukawa: (Faintly) Kasumi… (Thinking) Mata kimi suki da yo Kasumi, demo… [I like you too Kasumi, but…] (The tip of his nose tingles as Kasumi's nose comes into contact and a whiff of her scent enters his nostrils weakening him, pleasuring him) Kasumi… (His hands unknowingly reach out gently to Kasumi's shoulders)

Scene: Nabiki's room, meanwhile,

Nabiki: (Lets out a huge gulp of air) Fuh! You're almost there oneechan! (Presses her ear closer to the device)

Scene: Tendo Dojo, in the dojo,

Kasumi: (Feels the security that Rukawa unconsciously emits by holding onto her) (Thinking) I've got my eyes on you, ever since the day we met. I know my hair and clothes aren't that eye-catching compare to other beautiful women but I do try my best at cooking and household chores. I just want to live simply and be your kind of woman. I get the feeling that when you're next to me, I don't need anything else. (Begins to speak in a soft voice) Watashi wa hontō ni dai suki desu yo. [I really like you a lot] (Her lips inches closer, reducing its gap with Rukawa's)

Rukawa: (Sees Kasumi closing her eyes) (His heart races madly with pure anxiety as well as plain excitement) (Thinking) Kisu… (Advances his mouth nearer to Kasumi's lips as well)

Kasumi: (Feel Rukawa's fast breathing trickling her nose, waking her from her daze) (Thinking) Ara. (Realizes her actions and open her eyes up wide) Dame. Chigau desu yo. Yamete. What am I doing? I-I should not be doing this. It isn't right.

Rukawa: (Aware of a slight hesitation on Kasumi's part) (Thinking) … (Becomes conscious of his own actions) What am I doing? (Flusters up)

Kasumi&Rukawa: Go-gomen. (Pull away from each other simultaneously with red-hot cheeks, in seiza position next to each other)

Rukawa: (Scratches his head, embarrassedly) Ano… [Umm…] (Thinking) What spurred Kasumi to suddenly behave like that? And baka. I really fell under her charm. Irresistible. Man, almost kiss her. Wasted. (Slaps his head) What am I thinking?! Bakabakabakabakabaka watashi wa. But it's really a waste. (Peeks at Kasumi who is tidying her hair) How tempting… (Shakes his head right and left violently) Dame, dame, dame! Oi stop thinking of that already. (Helplessly grins to himself as he imagines out the whole scene in his mind)

Kasumi: (Blushing beet-root red) Mā, mā. Gomen nasai Rukawa-kun. I wasn't myself. (Tries her best not to grin in amusement at Rukawa's ridiculous grin)

Rukawa: M-me too. Sumimasen. (Thinking) Almost had my first kiss. Well I don't recall kissing anyone before, I think. I do want to share it with a special person. Sure Kasumi is special but there's only one special person. Nobody else would be more special than my partner, my wife. Although from the look of things I may not have the chance to get marry, still I shouldn't steal Kasumi's lips from her future husband. Whew it was fortunate that Kasumi suddenly hesitated or else I don't know what would happen. Plus I can't have a relationship with Kasumi or with anyone for that matter. Sakura…

Kasumi: (Thinking) Ara I almost had my first kiss… I really want to share that special kiss with my husband who would really love me but… I've such a strong desire to kiss Rukawa-kun… To want him. (Sigh) It is not right. I mustn't be selfish. Rukawa-kun is grieving for Sakura-san. I should be there for Rukawa-kun to help him recover from his loss. Try my best to let him accept reality and proceed back in life. Not succumb to my selfish desires, wanting and longing for Rukawa-kun when he is still mourning and broken hearted. Things have changed drastically. I should just keep my feelings to myself even if it's hurting to do so.

Rukawa: Ahahaha. (Laughs feebly trying to break the uncomfortable tension) You know Kasumi, you were so cute just now. When we were both so close. I wonder how we both look like just now, in a trance.

Kasumi: (Giggles) Yokatta. [I'm glad] There isn't anyone watching us or else it would have been really awkward.

Rukawa: Sou da na. [You're right]

Scene: Nabiki's room, meanwhile,

Nabiki: (Lying on her stomach on her bed) Sōdesu ka? [Is that so?] (Grins a little) Watch maybe not, hear and knowing the going-on, definitely. Gee oneechan I was rooting for you, you know. You disappoint me…

Scene: Tendo Dojo, in the dojo,

Kasumi: (Roguishly) Ne, you were in a trance, Rukawa-kun? I wasn't… (Smiles playfully, her eyes brightening up slightly) (Fingers Rukawa's shoulder) That's so cuteee…

Rukawa: … (Flusters) (Thinking) Me and my big mouth.

Kasumi: (Blithely) Mā, mā. Nothing wrong with that.

Rukawa: So I was in a (Emphasizes) little trance-like state. Big deal.

Kasumi: (Gives a soft laughter) (Amused)

Rukawa: (Gazes at Kasumi) (Thinking) She looks so cute. If only… I better stop thinking about it. I should just tell her now and be done with it. Shouldn't waste any more time. (Begins to speak) Ne Kasumi

Kasumi: Nani, Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: I've decided.

Kasumi: Ara? Nan desu ka?

Rukawa: I guessed… Well you see… Hmm possibly, I somehow unconsciously… I mean the couple of months I was here, I may not want to recall (Pauses) I mean, when I did not remember my past, I never really thought fully of my past.

Kasumi: Hmm? Rukawa-kun what are you trying to say?

Rukawa: Never really intend… I mean, take every effort to find out about my past. I guessed I was rather content to live it here with your family.

Kasumi: Anata wa shuppatsu suru desu ka? [You are leaving?]

Rukawa: Watashi wa… Hai. I'm going to leave. Leave. (Pauses) Home. A while. I want to see where I will lead myself too. I guess a part of me didn't want to recall back the painful memories so I didn't really bother to look around and find out more about myself. Like I was trying to hide from myself. My past. I was running away… (Looks down) In other words. Trying to forget. But now… I think it is imperative that I do go out and see where I will lead myself too. It won't take long. (Thinking) I don't know how long. I don't know if I will return. I need to confront my past… I've been running away… I don't know what I am afraid of. Maybe it's Sakura's murder… If it is, then it's over… I guess. I already faced it. It's time to find out why. Why is Yamazaki after Sakura and me. Or is there something else. Is there more to my past than just this. I need to know…

Kasumi: (Thinking) People do tend to forget sad memories, Rukawa-kun. It is normal.

Rukawa: (Hastily) I'm not running away you see. (Thinking) Not anymore. (Begins to speak slowly) Yamazaki is sure gonna return someday soon to accomplish whatever he's trying to achieve, and he is my primary objective. Well eh, so you can take it as though I'm going on a training trip.

Kasumi: (Nods) Wakatteru. [I understand] (Gives a forced smile)

Rukawa: (Blushes) And… (Thinking) I can't leave her hanging like this. It wouldn't be fair to her.

Kasumi: (Thinking) Why is he so red suddenly?

Rukawa: Mata suki da, Kasumi. [I like you too, Kasumi]

Kasumi: (Light gasps) Ara. (Blushes) (Thinking) He does like me… Yokatta. Ureshii. [I'm so glad. So happy]

Rukawa: (Blurts out hurriedly) But I don't think it can work out, Kasumi. My life is a little complicated now and it does feel regretful that I know I cannot be with you.

Kasumi: (Disappointedly) Ara? Date… [But…] Rukawa-kun, how do you know we can never be together… No one can foresee the future. Anata ga…

Rukawa: (Hold her hands trying to convince) Gomen nasai Kasumi. I do feel selfish to say this b-but it is for your own good. (Smiles weakly)

Kasumi: Hai.

Rukawa: Sumimasen. (Gets up) (Kisses Kasumi's forehead lightly) O-genki desu Kasumi. [Take care] Sayonara. Please help me say goodbye to everyone. I will return as soon as possible. Domo arigato gozai mashite. (Bows)

Kasumi: (Waves her hand, smiling a strained smile) It-itterashai. (Thinking) He kissed me, so lightly. It felt like a whisper. A silent goodbye.

Rukawa: (His heart aches) (Thinking) I will miss you, Kasumi, for sure. We will meet again, if it is fated. I'll always remember you.

Scene: Nabiki's room, meanwhile,

Nabiki: (To herself in a low voice) I guess words are powerless to express one's feelings, and sometimes they become a silver knife. Even when oneechan is alone with Rukawa-kun… Where she could share her feelings but… It can be so hard. Baka, that Rukawa! (Gets off her bed and rushes hurriedly downstairs)

Scene: Outside Tendo Dojo, along the street,

Rukawa: (Trudging away with his head down)

Nabiki: My, my where are you going now, Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: (Turns around and sees a ruffled-looking Nabiki clad in her nightgown with her arms crossed and tapping her foot) Nabiki-san.

Nabiki: (Approaches Rukawa) Ain't it a wee bit too early for work and (Pokes Rukawa sharply in the ribs) as a matter of fact you're in no state to work.

Rukawa: (Yelling in his mind) Ow! That hurts Nabiki-san! (Faltering voice) Watashi wa…

Nabiki: (Casually) Nandemonai. [Nothing] Oh well, where you're going is no business of mine.

Rukawa: … (Thinking) What does Nabiki-san really want from me?

Nabiki: Just make sure you'll return back here one day okay.

Rukawa: Nabiki-san.

Nabiki: Or I will make sure you're dragged back here. I have my ways you know. (Smirks)

Rukawa: (Sweatdrops) Hai, hai.

Nabiki: Mattaku. Genki, genki desu Rukawa-kun. [Geez. Cheer up Rukawa-kun] Don't look so down. Yesterday no one sustained any serious injuries except Ranma-kun no chichi [Ranma's father] who suffered a broken leg. You even protected oneechan when she was in danger! You rescued oneechan. You saved her with your own body, spilling your blood. You should be proud of yourself.

Rukawa: Chigau. It isn't as heroic as you are trying to make it sound, Nabiki-san. Sure I did protect and save Kasumi but...

Nabiki: I know Rukawa-kun. But no matter what your motives were, you did well. You protected oneechan because you wanted her to live at least didn't you. You should have more confidence in yourself. Confidence is very important!

Rukawa: (Unconvincingly) Hai, hai.

Nabiki: You don't believe me don't you?

Rukawa: (Feebly) Hai Nabiki-san. Wakatteru mashite. [Understood perfectly]

Nabiki: Let me ask you this.

Rukawa: (Face-faults) …

Nabiki: Which is more important for the birds? Their wings or the self-belief that they can fly?

Rukawa: (Thinking) This sure does sounds tricky coming from Nabiki-san but nothing could fly without wings. Even airplanes have wings. (Begins to speak) Of course their wings. (Thinking) Wings are important. No wings there is no way they could fly.

Nabiki: Wrong! Penguins, ostriches, chickens. They all have WINGS! But we don't see them flying do we, Rukawa-kun?

Rukawa: (Sweatdrops) Sou da na… [I guess so…] (Thinking) Where did Nabiki-san read this kind of crap, I wonder.

Nabiki: (Smirks) Rukawa-kun, you do care a lot for oneechan. Once you understand that feelings of yours everything will become clearer. That's all I have to say.

Rukawa: (Smiles a little) Sayonara Nabiki-san. Arigato gozai masu. (Bows and goes off) (Thinking) I don't want my feelings for Kasumi to hinder me. I hope it isn't selfish of me.

Nabiki: (Crosses her arms, watching Rukawa staggers further and further away) (Thinking) Mattaku. What is exactly going on in that thick head of his? Rukawa-kun, no matter how you deny it to yourself or try to refuse to go along with it, you must accept the fact that you harbor deep feelings for Kasumi oneechan despite Sakura-san. Sakura-san just exists as a fragment of your memory now. She can't return your feelings anymore. (Sigh) (Hands on her hips) Seeing him really crestfallen about Sakura-san, I wonder how really deep and close were their relationship. (Pauses) Is he really as suicidal as oneechan seems to be afraid of, I wonder? (Heads back to find Kasumi, to cheer her up)

Rukawa: (Thinking musingly) Though I did want to die, I still attempted to protect Kasumi. Wanting her to live at any rate. That was my prime hope. And I was willing to die for her. Or did I want to die because I gave up. "But no matter what your motives were, you did well. You protected oneechan because you wanted her to live at least didn't you. You should have more confidence in yourself. Confidence is very important!" Heh… Even with her birdy crap story, she does have good sound judgement. (Turns around) (Mutters) Tendo Dojo… Arigato gozai masu, mina. I hope to return someday, if it is meant to be.

------

Chapter 35: Everything Also Can School

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, breakfast time,

Kasumi: (Serving breakfast on the dinner table) (Calls out) Mina, asagohan desu yo.

Muffled voices: Hai!

Kasumi: (Turns to Nabiki, smiling) Arigato Nabiki-chan for helping me.

Nabiki: No problem oneechan.

Soun: (Enters the room with a slight frown, his eyebrows furrow narrowly) (Sits down) (Thinking) The situation now is very grave. I'm sure that fellow is from Everything Also Can School. No mistake about it. That glowing fist hitting Rukawa-kun… No doubt about it that it is their special skill, Ryu Nagaru. I can't protect my family against Everything Also Can. I better moved house and hide my family elsewhere before he return. Even if oshishou-sama was here, I doubt he will help protect my family. Chiku'so oshishou-sama. He is the one who start all this problems with Everything Also Can Martial Arts School. I thought everything would end on that day. (Breathes out a gust of air) Then is decided. We must move house as soon as possible.

Akane: (Enters the room) Ohayo.

Ranma: (Wearing a white gi, following behind Akane, a slight scowl evident on his face) (Thinking) Kono yarou! [That bastard!] I really wanna beat him up. Grr. To hell with the warning obā-san gave me. I won't know if I can defeat him unless I tried fighting him. However much oyaji make my life 'miserable', oyaji is still my father. (Sits down)

Kasumi: Itadakimasu.

Soun: Ara, Kasumi. Rukawa-kun wa?

Kasumi: (Smiles) Rukawa-kun has already left home, oto-san.

Soun,Akane&Ranma: Nani?!

Kasumi: Mā, daijobou. Rukawa-kun will return back some day. He has some business to take of.

Akane&Ranma: Ah sou… Hai. (Thinking) Where did Rukawa-kun go?

Akane: Oneechan, are you okay with that?

Kasumi: Ara? Heki desu, Akane-chan. [I'm fine]

Akane: (Thinking) Oneechan seemed to handle Rukawa-kun departure pretty well.

Soun: (Thinking) Why is he already gone. Darn it.

Everyone: Itadakimasu. (Starts digging in their food)

Soun: (Thinking) He's in no condition to leave here. He received two potent Ryu Nagaru attacks. That boy… (Sigh) I haven't even thanked him yet for protecting Kasumi.

Ranma: (Thinking) What's Rukawa doing now? What is he thinking? He can't be running away. First oyaji. Now Rukawa is gone.

------

Kasumi: More rice oto-san?

Soun: Hai Kasumi. (Passes Kasumi the empty rice bowl)

Kasumi: (Receives the bowl and adds more rice to it from the rice-cooker) Here oto-san. (Hands out the filled bowl to Soun)

Soun: Arigato Kasumi. (Clears his throat) Mina, as we all knows the threat that was imposed on us…

Ranma: By the way oji-san, why are they hostile towards us? What happened?

Soun: Well you see Ranma-kun, it was roughly 10 years ago when oshishou-sama, Saotome-kun and I were on one of our various intensive training trips. We came upon one of those rather remote villages or settlements. It is southwest of here. The village is call… Hmm… Golonga ka?

Nabiki: Golanda ka?

Soun: Sou yo. [Ah you're right] (A/N: Golanda settlement is located southwest of Tokyo latitude 35° 37.00 N longitude 135° 43.00 E. Research it out to complement with the chapter 0 where Rukawa was blown away eastwards towards Nerima, ward of Tokyo, though the location of that battle is not at Golanda. It's further away from Golanda and nearer to Tokyo. How would the place look like? Couldn't find any information even with ms Ray's help. No idea so maybe we can just visualize it. Well in season 1 of Ranma ½ when Ryoga appeared, he was seen to be walking along a patchy road in a village-like area when a wild boar appeared and tried to attack him but failed as Ryoga stopped the boar with his incredible bamboo umbrella. Ryoga later asked for directions and proceeded but later find himself back at the same village. So with that kind of village-look-like in mind, let's imagine Golanda settlement to be similar to that, a little rural, but not that un-modernized)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Outskirts of Golanda village,

Genma: (Carrying a huge bundle on his back, gasping and wheezing) Oshishou-sama matte!

Happosai: (Stops his run and turns around) Urusei! [Shut up!] Why are you so slow! You must be as fast as me or you will never complete your training.

Soun: (Puffed out) But Oshishou-sama, we're carrying heavy backpacks unlike you.

Happosai: Damaru! [Keep quiet] You're students, I'm the master. (Jumps onto Soun) Go! I'm too fast am I? So you run and carry me as well then. Iku zo! [Let's go]

Soun: But Oshishou-sama…

Happosai: Urusei Soun or tonight no dinner for you!

Genma: But you never gave us any din-

Happosai: (Swipes down at Genma's head) Urusei Genma! Iku! (A/N: Iku on its own is pronounced as E-ke)

(End of flashback sequence)

Soun: And then later we enter that village and we finally have a meal there…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Golanda village, Wakouji's Restaurant entrance,

Soun&Genma: (Taken down by the chefs and waiters) Hora hora! Matte yo oshishou-sama!

Happosai: (Running off, way in front) You can handle this! Soun! Genma! You are well trained now! I take my leave first! #Burp.#

Soun&Genma: Matte!

Chief Chef: Don't let them escape!

(End of flashback sequence)

Soun: (Solemnly) And then we have to work hard for 3 days to pay our debts…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Inside Wakouji's Restaurant, kitchen,

Genma: (Balancing a towering stack of dirty plates)

Soun: (Washing dishes with tears streaming down excessively)

Chief Chef: Hora hora! Hayaku, hayaku slowpokes! [Hurry up, faster]

(End of flashback sequence)

Soun: Another time, we resort to stealing to supply our trip…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Outside Golanda village, on a patchy pavement,

Soun: (Running with a fat pink pig on his back)

Genma: (Running with a huge bundle of vegetables and Happosai sitting smugly on the bundle holding to a bottle of sake)

Crowd of angry villagers: (Armed with spades, pitch forks, etcetera) Matte dorobo! Kora kora! Teme! [Wait up thief! Hey you!]

Happosai: Run! Run! Faster! They're gaining on us! Soun! Genma! (Drinks sake) #Glug, glug…# (Brings out a whip and cracks it on Soun and Genma) Hayaku! [Hurry up!]

(End of flashback sequence)

Soun: (Wipes his tears with his dry sleeve) Those were the days.

Ranma: (Face-faults) (Thinking) Yare yare.

Nabiki: (Mutters) Basically you guys were just disturbing the villagers' peaceful lives.

Kasumi: Mā… [Oh dear…] (Places her hand on her cheek)

Soun: Then later, at the outskirts of that village, we happened upon a huge house with high brick fences owned by Yamaguchi-sama the Master of Everything Also Can Martial Arts School.

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Outside the fence of Yamaguchi's 'estate',

Happosai: (Sitting on Soun's shoulder) (Big round watery eyes) Ah my beauties… Hanging alone there…

Soun: (Trembling) (Shaking voice) Oshishou-sama… I think we should leave. (Standing on Genma's shoulders)

Happosai: (Skeptically) Leave? Why leave, I'm seeing exquisite underwear hanging to dry, all unprotected. I'm gonna take them. They deserved better and who else can take care of them better than me. (Crossly) Hold still Genma! Stop shaking!

Genma: (Knees shaking in fear) (Anxiously) But oshishou-sama had you read the sign?

Happosai: What sign?

Soun: (Points) There.

Happosai: (Reads out aloud) NO TRESPASSING! VIOLATORS WILL BE BEATEN TO DEATH. UNEXPECTED SURVIVORS WILL BE FURTHER HACKED. THE DEAD WILL BE BEHEADED FOR CONFIRMATION.

Soun: (Nervously) Let's leave oshishou-sama.

Happosai: Who cares! Doesn't matter. I have a more important mission. (Turns back to the courtyard, smiling broadly) The poor dearies, all alone and unprotected… (Jumps over the tall fence and…) Allow me to take you to a safer location, you silky darlings. (In the blink of the eye stole every lingerie that were hung out to dry into a dark green sack) (Return back to the spot where Genma and Soun were waiting) (Rushes off in the blink of an eye)

Soun&Genma: Oshishou-sama!

Happosai: Quiet idiots! Run!

#Crack! Thud!#

Soun&Genma: Ah! Oshishou-sama help us!

Happosai: (Turns around and sees Soun and Genma being held back on the ground by four individuals) Handle it yourself! Soun! Genma! Matta ne! [See you next time!] (Turns back)

#Wham!#

Happosai: (Falls to the ground) Ite ja ne ka! [That bloody hurt!] (Rubs his sore spot) (Sees 'his' treasure-filled sack landed safely into the arms of…)

Yamaguchi: What do we have here?

Happosai: (Sees an old bald man as tall as himself with a thick foot long white beard wearing a black hakama) (Scowls) Onore! You dare to stop me?!

Yamaguchi: Kisama! What do you think you're doing! Stealing my prized collection!

Happosai: Hn! They're way better off being in MY precious collection!

Yamaguchi: Heh…

Happosai: (Points to Yamaguchi) I challenge you to a duel! (His fiery red battle aura arousing) The winner shall keep these gorgeous darlings!

Yamaguchi: (Calmly) Yamaguchi of Everything Also Can School accepts your pathetic request for a challenge…

Happosai: Happosai of Anything Goes School.

Yamaguchi: Get ready to eat my dust.

Happosai: We will see.

Soun&Genma: Ite… (Looks at the two old men arguing) Whoa! Two dirty old men squabbling over…

Yamaguchi's men: Urusei!

(End of flashback sequence)

Soun: That's it.

Ranma: Nani? What do you mean that's it! Tell us what happened next! So they fight?

Soun: Genma and I were knocked on the head and we passed out. When we came to, oshishou-sama was sitting next to us, drinking sake laughing gaily. I asked him what happened. He said he and that guy compete each other with all of their special abilities.

Ranma: (Excitedly) (Clenches his right fist, shaking it in front of him) Two dirty but incredibly powerful old men fighting with their full strength! If only I could observe their fight.

Soun: Not exactly Ranma-kun.

Ranma: Eh?

Soun: They challenged each other with their thieving abilities to steal underwear and causing total havoc at the Golonga area. The winner kept the collection.

Nabiki: Golanda.

Soun: Golanda, right.

Akane: (Face-faults)

Ranma: (Sweatdrops) …

Nabiki&Akane: (Thinking) Expected…

Kasumi: Ara, what crude behavior.

Soun: Oshishou-sama won the competition and later that night we were under attack by…

Ranma: Heh so Yamaguchi-san wouldn't accept defeat lightly and turn to dirty tactics.

Soun: The villagers attacked us Ranma-kun to retrieve back their womenfolk's underwear stolen during the competition.

Ranma: …

Soun: The next morning, Everything Also Can attacked us. In the course of action, the prized collection was accidentally destroyed resulting in an extremely miserable oshishou-sama whose mood quickly changed to raging mad. During the tense battle with Yamaguchi-sama, Yamaguchi-sama slipped and fell off a cliff. With their Master gone, the students retreated and last we heard before we left that area, was the news that their school was disbanded. The guy from yesterday possessed skills of Everything Also Can. He must have been an ex-student of Yamaguchi-sama. But the relation with Rukawa-kun is of course unknown to me. Is it an individual personal grudge or is it with all the ex-students of Everything Also Can. It seems that the guy from yesterday still held a grudge against Saotome-kun and me thus including our family and most unfortunately also met up with Rukawa-kun who he thought he had killed previously.

Ranma: Everything Also Can…

Soun: They are not inferior to us although their Master was defeated by oshishou-sama. The students are well trained to adapt fast during battle and could fight well on land and air.

Nabiki: (Bored look) (Thinking) In other words oto-san and Saotome oji-san had mediocre fighting abilities compared to them and ojii-chan in his prime took on the whole of Everything Also Can School by himself.

Soun: I'm serious Nabiki.

Nabiki: Nani yo? What did I say?

Soun: (Gives Nabiki a weird look before turning back to Ranma) Their most influential capability is the ability to manipulate their ki flow. Because of this they are remarkable at using a wide variety of ki techniques. They manipulate their ki to improve their natural strength and agility. Ryu Nagaru and Shi-Shi Unare are surely their most powerful techniques.

Ranma&Akane: Ryu Nagaru… Shi-Shi Unare…

Kasumi: Mā, this is hard to understand.

Akane: It's okay oneechan. You don't need to understand this stuff.

Ranma: Yup! This kinda things can only be understood by tomboys who can't cook to save their skins.

Akane: Nani yo Ranma! (Glares)

Kasumi: Mā, mā, [Now, now,] don't quarrel Akane-chan, Ranma-kun.

Soun: Ahem… Ryu Nagaru is a technique where you have to first know the basics of controlling your inner ki freely. With that, the student will then precede training at an advanced level. With the mastering of ki manipulation completed, controlling and transmitting ki to any part of the body can be done. When performing the Ryu Nagaru technique, he the user will freely direct and maintain his ki to his fists. During battle, he will allow this ki to be transmitted in surging form together with the punching blow as the fist comes into contact with the opponent. A normal punching fist will kill cells around the point of impact only but with Ryu Nagaru, the transmitted ki in combination with the punching blow will kill cells even beyond the point of impact thus enhancing the damage caused, giving the ability to inflict internal injuries, making this skill immensely potent.

Ranma: … (Grimaces a little)

Soun: Ranma-kun, you have seen Rukawa-kun state hasn't you. He was only hit twice by that technique, on the face and on the gut. Yet the bruises and the swellings Rukawa-kun sustained were far more terrible than what your Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken could inflict even with a hundred more punches.

Ranma: Che!

Soun: Rukawa-kun may even be unknowingly be suffering from internal bleeding. (Gravely) Or should I say is suffering this very minute. Such is the might of Ryu Nagaru. He shouldn't have left hastily. He still had not recovered.

Kasumi: (Worried) (Thinking) Rukawa-kun, please be all right. (Regretfully) May-maybe I should had stopped him just now.

Nabiki: (Pats Kasumi shoulder)

Kasumi: (Looks at Nabiki gratefully)

Akane: But Rukawa-kun is already up and running…

Soun: (Shakes his head) Rukawa-kun may be forcing himself. Plus his body seems to be used to knocks and injuries. A bit similar to Ryoga-kun no Bakusai Tenketsu training. But he will surely succumbs… Ryu Nagaru [Dragon's Strike] is a technique not to be underestimated.

Ranma: What about the other skill then?

Soun: Shi-Shi Unare. [Roaring Lion] It is a ki attack Shi-Shi Unare work a little similarly to Ryoga-kun no Shi-Shi Hokodan. It uses the anger emotion.

Ranma: Anger! Anger is still an emotion. I could do that and if it's such a powerful technique as said, could probably defeat him.

Soun: Chigau. [No] It's not exactly like that Ranma-kun. It's not as simple as that at all. Shi-Shi Unare is very hard to master or should I say impossible to master. But once mastered, your ki energy reserves will not be depleted.

Ranma: Sore wa…

Soun: Yes unlike other ki attacks where it consumed your inner body ki eventually resulting in exhaustion, Shi-Shi Unare of Everything Also Can doesn't drained your ki reserves.

Ranma: That's impossible!

Soun: When a person is angry, the ki flow in the body become more rapid, fluent, random and unmanageable. If this fluent ki flow could be kept under voluntary control, you could obtain energy with tremendous power without exhausting your body. This is because instead of using your own inner ki when you performed a ki-based attack, the fluency and rapid flow of ki if controlled will actually bring about the absorption of ki from the surroundings, the environment.

Ranma: Shi-Shi Unare… Unlimited energy… Incredible. Using ki from plants and surrounding living things instead of your own energy…

Soun: Sou da yo. [That's right] But of course all skills have at least a weakness. A stable mind and angry emotion are required to be maintained at equilibrium. This is pretty impossible to achieve since factually when one is angry, he generally loses his mind. So to be raging mad and yet keeping an intact stable mind in order to control the ki flow… Is literally unattainable. Instability in the mind during a random rapid flow of ki will cause the raging emotional anger to fuse with the ki and leading to madness. Unfeasible literally but… Everything Also Can had achieved. They had overcome the barrier. No one knows what kind of training they had undergone to achieve this remarkable feat. Truly the creator of Everything Also Can is a genius.

Nabiki: (Mutters) And the missing creator of Anything Goes is a true pervert…

Soun: (Crying) Sou yo… [Right…]

Ranma: Che. I'll still definitely not lose to them!

Chapter 36: Unexpected guests

Soun: (Shakes his head) Ranma-kun you haven't faced them yet. Yesterday was just one of the ex-students. If all the ex-students had regroup back… And it has already been a decade. The students might have honed their abilities to a master level. One student already has such incredible fighting ability. Able to even handle o-baba of Neko Hanten. If the whole school was revived, Anything Goes cannot handle them all even with oshishou-sama. (Remembering) A-and… The guy yesterday, mentioned that he had already defeated oshishou-sama.

Ranma: What! He defeated ojii-san?! That's impossible! (Thinking) Even with all my strength I still need to use dirty tricks in order to beat ojii-san. Yet that guy… (Grits his teeth) Kono aitsu-ra… (A/N: Aitsu means that person. Adding -ra will mean they. More polite people would use "kare" which means he)

Soun: Saotome-kun and I thought the matter would rest back there after the death of Yamaguchi-sama but it seems, the students think otherwise. I wonder why after a decade then only they started to strike at us. (Sigh) Anyway back to where I was saying before, since this threat is looming at us, I've decided to move house for the best interests of our safety.

Akane: Nani!

Kasumi: Mā…

Nabiki: …

Akane: I don't want to leave. I love our home here.

Soun: Look Akane, Kasumi-chan almost lost her life yesterday. I don't want any of my daughters to be in danger and…

Akane: But we can't always run. We can't hide forever.

Ranma: Don't worry oji-san. I will definitely defeat them!

Soun: Ranma-kun, sore wa…

Happosai's voice: What a haul! What a haul! What a haul for my return!

Ranma: (Mutters) Ojiji…? I thought oji-san said ojii-san was defeated.

Soun: Oshishou-sama…? It can't be.

Nabiki: (Mutters) Unfortunately or fortunately, he is in fact back.

Akane: Does this mean that the guy from yesterday had lie?

Happosai: Tadaima! (Appears at the living room, a wide grin plasters on his face, waving his right hand vigorously while his left hand put down a fresh new sack of stolen underwear) Ohayo! Yahoo! Yo Soun. Genma wa?

Kasumi: Ah o-kaeri nasai ojii-chan. (Smiles)

Everyone minus Kasumi: (Stares weirdly at Happosai) (Thinking) After 2 months… And someone said that he was defeated. He returned.

Happosai: Hehe… I miss you all especially… (Jumps towards…) AKANE-CHAN!

Akane: (Slams her solid knuckles right onto Happosai's jawline) (Eyebrows furrow dangerously) Welcome back ojii-chan. I guess we miss you a little too.

#Thud.#

Happosai: (Dejectedly) Hitoi Akane-chan… [That's mean Akane-chan…] (Gets up) (Rubs his jaw) (Eagerly) NABIKI-CHAN! (Hops towards Nabiki)

Nabiki: (Frowning) (Gives a hard elbow to Happosai on the chest)

Happosai: Ack!

#Klonk. Thud.#

Nabiki&Akane: (Standing next to Happosai, glaring down at him) Why did you come back anyway ojii-chan? It was so peaceful without you around.

Happosai: (Crawls forlornly to a desolated corner, a very exaggerated dark and gloomy corner) (Sobbing dramatically) I can see that I'm not wanted.

Akane: Finally, I thought he would never learn.

Nabiki: He will soon forget.

Kasumi: Mā, mā ojii-chan. [Now, now grandfather] (Approaches and comforts Happosai) Don't be so sad. Kawaisō na. [You poor thing]

Happosai: KASU-

#BLAM! Thud.#

Soun: (Holding up a badly beaten-up Happosai by the back of his collar) That's enough oshishou-sama.

Kasumi: Ara… (Covers her mouth)

Happosai: (Crawls back to his little corner) (Sobbing loudly) I just wanna show how much I miss your lovely daughters. (Turns around and scowls) Ranma!

Ranma: Nan da yo ojii-san.

Happosai: I can't say I missed you all this time.

Ranma: I'm glad to hear th…

#Splash.#

Onna-Ranma: Gack!

Happosai: (Throws the empty bucket away) (Smiling widely) Ranma-chan! (Glomps to onna-Ranma's chest) Long time no see. I missed this part of you so much more! (Delves deeper into onna-Ranma's bosom)

Onna-Ranma: (Feeling the willies) eeeeARGHHHH!

Scene: Top view of Tendo Dojo,

Onna-Ranma's voice: (Shouting) Teme ojiji! Yaaarghhhh! GET OFF ME!!! GET OFF!!! TEME WA…

#Crash! Thud! Bam! BOOM!#

The east wall of the Tendo house exploded into smithereens.

Happosai's voice: RANMA-CHAN! HOOOOOO SWEEEEEEETOOOO!

Onna-Ranma's voice: GYAAAAA!! ANO NA TEME OJIJI!

#Crack! Creak. Thump! Clang! Clash!#

The house shook and rocked hazardously.

Happosai's voice: (Yelling) Onore Ranma! I see that you truly need more discipline!

Onna-Ranma's voice: (Growling) CHIKU'SO… BRING IT ON OJIJI!

Happosai's voice: (Roaring) Happö Daikarin!

#BOOOOOMMMM!#

Part of the roof blew up into pieces, forming a sky-hole.

Scene: Broken-down Tendo Dojo, living room,

Soun: (Crying) (Muttering helplessly) Welcome back oshishou-sama… (Thinking) My poor house. I can't sell it in this condition now…

Nabiki: (Sigh) Yare yare. At this rate, ojii-chan would be the sole cause of our destruction.

Kasumi: (Smiling) Oto-san, (Pats Soun's shoulder comfortingly) isn't our home much more livelier now with ojii-chan back.

Soun: (Wiping his tearful eyes with his sleeve) Hai Kasumi.

Akane: Mattaku. [Jeez] Anta-tachi, yameru! [Stop it you two!]

#Fwap! Fwak! Thud! WHAM! Krik kreek…#

Happosai&Ranma: (Incoherent mumblings) (Heno heno moheji face)

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, when peace has reign,

Soun: Oshishou-sama, where have you been? Saotome-kun and I were so worried. You left and never return without any messages whatsoever.

Happosai: Okinawa, Soun.

Soun: Okinawa? What were you doing in Okinawa, oshishou-sama?

Happosai: I've been meditating there. It is a very good place to meditate and train the mind, Soun. (Sigh) I already miss my meditation.

Akane: (Thinking) Okinawa? To meditate? (Sweatdrops)

Happosai: The blue sky. Bright sun. Warm sand. Blue sea. Pretty white bubbly waves… (Thinking) Ah the pretty one-pieces, the revealing bikinis, the kawaii girls, the frisky café-girls, the… (Eyes wide and bubbly) Hoo sweeto! (Begins to speak) What a wonderful place to train the mind, body and soul.

#KOK!#

Ranma: Teme ojiji! Tell us the truth what you did there!

Happosai: (Glares at Ranma for knocking him on the head) I got sidetracked during my training on that fateful day. And then found myself in Okinawa and being taken care by many kawaii ojo-chan.

Ranma: Hah! (Kicks Happosai and stamps his foot disrespectfully on Happosai's head) Okinawa? Pretty girls took care of you? Dream on! Tell the truth what happen! I'm in no mood for your stupid dirty dreams.

Happosai: (Glares at Ranma) Onore Ranma! I see you have sadly been lacking respect towards your Master! (Takes out a lighted bomb from beneath his gi)

Soun: Ah oshishou-sama don't! Yameru kudasai!

Ranma: Grr. (Prepares to evade)

Kasumi,Nabiki&Akane: Ara… (Gasp)

Happosai:(Pitching stance) Happö -

#Sizzling sounds…#

Happosai: Daikarin!

#BOOM!#

Ranma: (Crashes out through the roof, spinning in circles) WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

Akane: (Mutters) Mattaku… [Jeez] (Shakes her head)

Ranma: (Stablizes himself in the air) I ain't surrendering yet! Mouko Takabisha! (Fire his attack downwards back to the house)

#BRROOOOOOMMMM!#

The house shook and rock, and torn paper sliding doors flung out of the building into the garden.

Ranma: (Calls out with satisfaction) Take that ojiji!

Akane's voice: (Yelling with fury) RANMA NO BAKA! YOU BETTER WATCH OUT WHEN YOU STEP BACK INTO THIS HOUSE!

Ranma: (Ears turning red) (Fingers his cheek, sweating) Ano… Did I miss?

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, much much later,

Soun: …And that's how it is.

Happosai: (Nods understandingly) Umm. I see, so that's what happened when I was away. (Rubs his chin thoughtfully) Grave, very grave…

Soun: So what are we going to do now oshishou-sama?

Happosai: (Stands up with a determined face) Wakatta. Let me handle it Soun. Don't worry. (Breathes in and out deeply)

Everyone: (Waits expectantly)

Happosai: (Rushes off) Sayonara Soun, mina. I'm going on a training trip! Matta ne! [See ya all next time!] Training! Training! Ah hahahahaha!

Ranma: Oiii temee ojiji! Don't you run away from the problem which you caused! (Chases Happosai and brings him down to the ground) (Ties Happosai up securely)

Happosai: (Struggling) Iie da! Iie da! [No! No!] Let me go! Let me go! I'm just a frail dying old man whose only dying wish is to have a kawaii ojo-chan looking after me. I ain't messing with those crazy people from Everything Also Can! I don't want to die yet and have no #Krikkkk!# ACK! (Chokes)

Ranma: (Tugs the end of the rope violently with his firm hands while his foot steps and squashes Happosai's head) Give up ojiji! You're staying here and you're gonna solve the problem that you caused! Now tell us the truth about what happened to you two months ago.

Happosai: What are you talking about! (Throws a childish tantrum) Let me go! Let me go! I'm just an innocent old man whose only hobby is living the rest of his life simply.

Ranma: Oii don't waste our time! You suddenly disappeared for two months and that guy from Everything Also Can School mentioned fighting you.

Happosai: Ranma. So what if something involving him and me happen two months back?

Ranma: Sore wa… Urusei na! That's not the point.

Happosai: Iie da! Iie da! I ain't gonna fight them!

Ranma: 'Taku. Really stubborn huh. Plan C!

Happosai: Plan C? Nan de plan C? What happened to plan A and B?

Ranma: Urusei. (Thinking) Oh after "A" comes "B". Oh well I'm never good in English anyway. (Brings out a chest-full of bright sparkling pinkish underwear) Tada!

Happosai: (Glares at Ranma) Nani! My new collection from today session!

Ranma: (Nastily) You know what I'm gonna do with them don't you.

Happosai: Huu… (Big pearly eyes) (Bigheartedly) Ranma-kun, if you want those pretty little panties, just ask me nicely. I'll gladly share them with you.

Ranma: Huh?! Why you…

Happosai: Or is that you would rather have Akane-chan's panties?

Ranma: Why would I want Akane's panties, stupid ojiji?!

Akane: So you finally show your true self eh Ranma?

Ranma: Huh? What are you talking about Akane?

Happosai: Akane-chan, you shouldn't blame Ranma-kun if he want to enjoy those beautiful darlings as well. Why they're in fact-

Akane&Ranma: Urusei! Damaru!

#WHAM!#

Happosai: #Vroooom…# (Skids across the room…) #Bam.# (Stops abruptly upon reaching the wall) (Heno heno moheji face)

Ranma: Ano na Akane, you heard me said I don't want any panties of yours. So before you say I'm a pervert, I'll say I'm not a pervert!

Akane: Ano ne Ranma! So you wouldn't want mine but would prefer Shampoo's panties eh?

Ranma: (Stunned) … (Thinking) What kind of logic is that?

Akane: Raaanmaaa…

Nabiki: Hey, hey Akane, Ranma-kun. Stop it you two. We're not here to be entertained by both of your squabbles. So if you two please make peace, we might be able to settle with ojii-chan by the end of the day.

Ranma: Ano na Nabiki, chigau da.

Nabiki: 5% increase interest loan rate if I hear another word.

Ranma: …

Nabiki: So if you please, continue back the interrogation phase with ojii-chan.

Ranma: (Turns his attention to Happosai) Oii ojii-san. Wake up. (Slaps Happosai hard continuously, grinning ear to ear) (Thinking) I'm enjoying this part of interrogation.

Happosai: (Woke up with swollen sore cheeks) Huh? Nani, nani? Is it morning already?

Ranma: You won't live to see morning if you don't talk.

Happosai: Oh… Sou ka. So Ranma-kun, now you want a share of my brassiere collection eh?

Ranma: Urusei na! I don't want any of your disgusting collection make it panties or bras!

Happosai: Then what's my latest collection doing over there?

Ranma: If you don't tell us what's going on, I will burn them to crisp just like the previous time!

Happosai: Iie da! Iie da! [No! No!] I was not involved in anything! I told you so! Don't victimize my poor silky materials! They're the results of my hard earned labor. By my sweat under the hot sun dripping down my brow, and tolerating the heavy knocks of broomsticks and mops, and the screams and shrieks of the evil unappreciative owners piercing and deafening my ear drums… Ah so much danger I faced just to rescue those…

Ranma: (Exasperatedly) Still can't persuade you eh. (Brings out a well-designed jug filled with multi-colored bras)

Happosai: (Widens his eyes) My favorite collection number 3!

Akane,Nabiki&Kasumi: (Curiously) Hmm… (Check out the jug contents)

Ranma: (Turns to Happosai) (Evilly) Heh heh…

Happosai: Nani omae wa… What are you gonna do with them!

Ranma: Simple. (Lights up a matchstick) (Turns around with the matchstick and…)

#CLANG! Dong… Thud.#

Ranma: (Feeling dizzy) What hit me…

Happosai: (Bubbly eyes) Ah Akane-chan, thank you for saving my collection. I knew it that you also like to collect as well. (Grins) So let's collect underwear together Akane-chan! Hoo greatoo!

Akane: (Rests the saucepan on her shoulder) Urusei ojii-chan. (Turns to Ranma) (Sharply) You will not burn our underwear Ranma!

Happosai: (Crying) Hitoi Akane-chan… Hontō ni hitoi… [That's mean Akane-chan… Really cruel]

Akane: Mattaku…

Ranma: (Rubs his aching forehead) Omee wa… [You…] Nani suru n da yo?! [What are you doing?!]

Kasumi: (Rummages through the chest) Ara, I've been looking for this piece for some time already. Yokatta.

Nabiki: Heh… So it was in here all along. (Holds out a black bra)

Happosai: Ah Nabiki-chan. Don't take it! It's my favourite. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

Akane: (Approaches Happosai) Now ojii-chan… (Pull up her sleeves) Talk. (Glares at Happosai with fiery eyes)

Ranma: Hn, you think you can do better Akane?

Happosai: (Sobs) Everyone is bullying me. Iie da! Iie da! Iie da! I'm going to die soon and only have this little hobby of mine yet everyone is so selfish and…

Akane: (Grits her teeth) Grrr! Kisama… (The room dimmer darkly as Akane's battle aura increases) (Glares menacingly with dark bloodshot red eyes which flashes sinisterly) I'm tired of waiting ojii-chan. (Flashes a malicious smile) (Cracks her knuckles loudly in Happosai's face) (A/N: I heard Akane mutters kisama at Ranma in ova episode 12. Hohoho, Akane starting to get violent with her language already. Always thought she only stick to anta since she's a girl. And Ukyo woo she's just like a tomboy with her onore and omae dialogue. Ranma losing out in rough language)

Happosai: (His eyes bulges out, alarmed and intimidated) (Rapidly) I was going on my regular intensive important training phase…

Ranma: (Sigh) Just say you were stealing underwear…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: A normal Friday evening in Nerima, two months ago,

Women: (Screaming) Kyaaa! Ahhhhh! Eeeek!

Happosai: (Running along the street, wearing a brown gi, a 'sneaking mask' that covered half his face tied up at the nose and carrying an overflowing bundle of sack on his back which revealed some very ahem interesting whitish and pinkish items near its opening) (Shouting joyfully) What a haul! What a haul! What a haul again today!

Horde of women: (Creating an enormous crowd of dust behind them)

#Rumble… Rumble…#

Horde of women: (Shouting) Shitagi dorobo! [Underwear thief!] Matte! Hentai oji-ji! Give me back my underwear! (Waving their exceptionally dangerous weapons composing of broomsticks, mops, baseball bats, etc, which are especially dangerous when wielded with very volatile tempers)

Happosai: (Rubs his face lovingly with a newly stolen pink bra while running)A brassierre! Brassierre! Hoo hoo! SWEETO! (Leaps onto a rooftop and roof-hops away)

Horde of women: Grrr… That hentai oji-ji escaped again! Maybe he is in league with those undergarment shopkeepers!

(End of flashback sequence)

Happosai: And after I managed to save myself from those undeserving violent owners, I sensed two tremendous battling auras. Being a kind loving old man, as you all know I am, I went to check it out. Who knows there is cute ojo-chan [young lady] needing me to be her shining knight to save her from two dirty old men.

Ranma: (Bored look) (Thinking) If there were, she wouldn't need another dirty old man after her.

Kasumi: Mā, so brave ojii-chan.

Happosai: (Moved to tears) Ka-Kasumi-chan…

Nabiki&Akane: (Sweatdrops)

Ranma: Yare yare. Continue your story ojii-san.

Happosai: I arrived there soon after and…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: A clearing close to a forest a good distance away from the city,

Happosai: (Sees two indistinct figures locked in a fury battle) (Shoulders slumped) (Mumbling sadly to himself with big teary eyes) Why is Kami-sama so cruel to a fragile and dying old man? I don't have that many more years left to live. I just wish for a kawaii girl to take care of me and be my girlfriend. Two stupid men fighting each other are boring.

(End of flashback sequence)

Ranma: Hah! It doesn't matter. No girls would want you to save them anyway.

Happosai: Omae wa…

Soun: Stop it Ranma-kun. Oshishou-sama, please continue.

Happosai: Hm I forgot that fella name…

(Start of flashback sequence)

#Klak. Boom!#

Happosai: (Notices the intensity of the battle) (Thinking) Hu… Might as well observe this while I'm here. (Sits down, places his "treasure" beside him and lights his pipe) (Observes the dueling men)

Yamazaki: (Rushes forward, swinging a powerful right hook)

The fella with forgotten name: (Sails backwards through the air as he failed to block the attack to his jaw, uprooting a tree in the process) (Gets up to his knees slowly oblivious to his surroundings, his hands holding his head trying to focus himself)

Happosai: Hmm? Pyjamas?

Yamazaki: (Jumps up high in the air) (Focuses his ki energy into his palms) #Syii…# (Release the potential killing ki blast from the sky) #Siuu…#

#Brooom…#

The ki blast caused such intensive destruction upon impact shaking the earth and leaving the already wounded martial artist lying in a two feet deep crater.

#Kla kla kla…#

Gravel and dirt came raining down for a few moments.

Happosai: Hmm is over already?

The fella with forgotten name: (Lies there for a good moment before finally rising up to his knees unsteadily, holding his head)

Happosai: So stubborn. Just like Ranma. Hu… Why is he so stubborn in wearing that precious pink bra of mine? He should be honored to wear it. After all not many boys like him could wear it properly. Grr… Students nowadays never respect their masters' requests! His manner to his master is unforgivable.

The fella with forgotten name: (Stands up and concentrates ki into his palms) #Syii…# (Targets it out towards the hooded man) #Siuu…#

Yamazaki: (Flicks off the incoming blast effortlessly) #Pak.# (Laughing) (The blast collides with ground)

#Broom! Kla kla…#

Rocks and stone shattered as the ki blast comes into contact to the ground.

The fella with forgotten name: (Slight increased in his battle aura intensity as he charges towards the hooded man)

Yamazaki: (Drives his body forward with his legs blurred meeting his opponent)

The fella with forgotten name: (Twists his body slightly and grasps his right fist with his left hand to increase the power of his elbow attack to the incoming opponent)

Yamazaki: (Evades the incoming elbow attack with ease)

The fella with forgotten name: (Stunned at the sudden disappearance of his opponent on his anterior view)

Yamazaki: (Materializing behind his opponent) (Instantly grasps his hands together, glowing them, raises over his head and brings down a deadly blow onto his opponent head)

The fella with forgotten name: (Fell to his knees) #Pa.# (Drops to the ground motionless obviously had succumbed to his injuries) #Thud.#

Yamazaki: (Laughs)

Happosai: (Sitting down and smoking his pipe) Hm this man is powerful. He can easily beat Ranma. And that technique with his glowing hands… It seems deadly. And his martial arts style look rather familiar... Hmm… (Spots an undistinguished figure lying on the ground further behind the hooded martial artist) (Strain his eyes to sharpen his vision) Nani? (Smiles widely) Hoo hoo sweeto! (Runs towards the motionless figure resting on the ground) (Thinking) Maybe I can save her and she shall be my girlfriend. (Begins to laugh joyfully) Ah hahaha greato!

(End of flashback sequence)

Ranma: Nani! You really found a girl that needs to be rescued there?

Happosai: Damaru Ranma! I'm relating the story now.

Ranma: Che.

Soun: (Thinking) Sou ka. The person who attacked us yesterday is Yamazaki-san. He did say he fought and beat oshishou-sama.

Nabiki&Kasumi: (Thinking) Yamazaki? So… It could be that…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Yamazaki: (Sees a form dashing passed him in a flash) (Mutters) Inquisitive idiot. (Follows Happosai to his destination)

Happosai: Hoo sweeto! (Closing near to the woman and realizes is no more than a girl) (Sees the girl distinguishes herself with long blue hair darker than Akane's, with her bangs reaching to her shoulders, tied up loosely into a ponytail with a big red ribbon. Her fringe just covering her eyebrows did not hide her adorable features, small cute sharp nose, and attractive pale lips… And blood trickling down the side of her head) (Sees the girl dressed in a torn, slightly burnt and bloodied pink kimono revealing a lethal deep opened wound on the left side of her abdomen, bleeding profusely, laying on the ground in a bloody mess) (Huge watery eyes appear on his old face) (Low trembling voice) S-so kawaii… (Draws nearer) Na-nani… (Holds the girl's by her wrist) P-pulse… No pulse… (Battle aura starts raging through him) (Shouts) Who did this!

(End of flashback sequence)

Nabiki&Kasumi: (Thinking) Tabun na onna wa… [Perhaps the woman is…] Masaka… Then the injured guy is probably…

Happosai: Huu… Kirei na kanojo wa… [She is so beautiful]

(Start of flashback sequence)

Yamazaki: (Standing nearby) Ba-ka…

Happosai: (Turns around)

Yamazaki: (Smiles evilly) Isn't it fairly obvious that I was given the honor to do it. (Slight arrogant bow)

Happosai: Teme! (Assumes an attacking stance)

Yamazaki: (Confidently) Yare yare. I shall let you join her, ojii-san. [Grandfather]

Happosai: (Poses his body in a pitching form) Happö Daikarin Supesharu! (Throws a special big round fuse bomb)

Yamazaki: (Catches the bomb and looks at it) Sending a toy my way. Wahahahahaha!

Happosai: Hu, orokamono ga… [Sigh, the fool...]

Yamazaki: That is so pathe…

#BOOOOOOM!#

Sending the fellow a good distance away, charred.

Yamazaki: Temee ojii-san! (Gets up angrily)

Happosai: (Hands on hips) Hahahaha! That will teach you to respect your elders.

Yamazaki: (Narrows his eyes) Ku'so! (Thinking) I will get you for this humiliation! (Controls his battle aura to the maximum and instantly dashes forward towards Happosai) Kieru Kumo! [Vanishing Spider!] (Prepares to execute a punch)

Happosai: (Positions his pipe in front of him to deflect his enemy's frontal attacks) (Reading his opponent's movements) (Thinking) Soon he will appear behind me like against the earlier fight. Hn… I dislike the arrogant look on your face!

Yamazaki: (Side steps Happosai at unbelievable speed, that is invisible to the naked eye, to reach Happosai's posterior) (Thinking) He's a gon… (Screams) Arrgg! (Clutches his face)

Happosai: (Grins) (Draws back his fist) Hahahaha! Bakero.

Yamazaki: (Thinking) This old man is… Grrr. (Kicks out with his right foot)

Happosai: (Blocks and targets a punch to the head)

Yamazaki: (Blocks and counterattacks)

A column of dust is soon produced covering them totally except for occasionally revealing parts of the legs, arms and heads.

Yamazaki: Ooof! (Hurtles to the ground, clutching his abdomen)

Happosai: Hahaha! I am Happosai the Master of Anything Goes Martial Arts School. Wait a hundred more years before thinking of defeating me.

Yamazaki: (Glares at Happosai) (Thinking) Anything Goes huh. I remembered you now… (Coughs out blood) (Begins to speak) It isn't over yet ojii-san. I, Yamazaki Hisashi, Master of Everything Also Can Martial Arts School, successor of Yamaguchi-sensei, shall finish you!

Happosai: Everything Also Can! (Thinking) But that can't be! I thought I removed this annoying rivaling group years ago. Che. They must have revived during my absence when Soun and Genma sealed me in that cave ten years ago.

Yamazaki: (Gets up on his feet) My master is inferior compared to me! (Clench his fists on his side) Ryu Nagaru! [Dragon's Strike] #Syii…# (Channels his ki energy to his fists)

Happosai: (Thinking) He is focusing his ki to his fists, enveloping them, to enhance his punching power. (Initiates a defensive posture)

Yamazaki: Hekk (Throws a punch at Happosai)

Happosai: Nani! (Dodges away from the incoming punch, abandoning trying to block the attack)

Yamazaki: Heh heh… (Grins)

Happosai: (Thinking) The tenacity of that blow…

Yamazaki: (Smirks) Scared now eh? Don't worry. A quick death it will be for you ojii-san.

Happosai: Hah! No one can kill me!

Yamazaki: (Thinking) Che! This ojii-san is as good as before even after all these years. That I admit. I better kill Shinguji first before he regained consciousness. (Begins to speak) Let me finish my task first before I play with you. (Dashes towards Shinguji)

Happosai: (Sees Yamazaki running towards his unconscious opponent) No! (Chases) (Thinking) I cannot allow the boy to die. I must know what happened when I was sealed away in that cave.

Yamazaki: (Drawing near to Shinguji) (Executes the Ryu Nagaru punch aiming towards Shinguji's chest) (Yells) Die and join the others, Shinguji! And I shall revive my School! (Crushes Shinguji's ribs upon impact, puncturing his lungs)

#Crack!#

Happosai: Hiyeak! (Launches a kick to Yamazaki's head)

Yamazaki: Ow! (Collides face first to the ground, hurtling ten meters away)

Happosai: Chiku'so! I'm too late. (Examines Shinguji) (Thinking) His injuries are too severe. I better perform the pressure points I learnt in China that will increase his healing recovery rate. It's probably his only chance to live. (Begins to deftly touch numerous points on the body)

Yamazaki: (Gets up swiftly) He must die! (Punches Happosai on the back his head)

Happosai: Don… Ouch! (A finger unknowingly touches a secluded pressure point on Shinguji's right temple as he fell hurtling to the ground) Ah ite! (Rubs his head furiously) (Turns around) Onore! [You!]

Yamazaki: (Raging mad) Shi-Shi Unare! [Roaring Lion!] #SYII…# (Releases a massive red glowing spherical ki blast as huge as Happosai's most enormous fuse bomb) #SIUU…#

Happosai: Ack! (Fruitlessly tries to defend himself with his arms)

#BROOOOM! Crack! Kla kla kla…#

Happosai: (Watches in half-horror as the ki blast hit directly onto Shinguji instead of himself)

Yamazaki: (Gasping for air lightly) Let's continue our duel shall we… (Cracks his knuckles) I'm all warmed up now.

Happosai: (Watches the dying body of Shinguji appended at the frontal edge of the ki blast traveling eastwards through the sky) (Turns his head and glances at the dead body of the unidentified girl thirty meters away) (Thinking) Everything Also Can… (Enormous dark red battle aura starts to rage around him)

Yamazaki: (Grins) (Generates his own fury gray battle aura)

(End of flashback sequence)

Happosai: Ah yes. Now I remembered. The other fellow is Shinguji-kun.

Soun: (Thinking) Shinguji-kun… Oshishou-sama was trying to save Shinguji-kun? And Shinguji-kun is supposedly Rukawa-kun isn't he?

Nabiki&Kasumi: (Thinking) Shinguji-kun… So it is Rukawa-kun and Sakura-san who were involved there with ojii-chan.

Ranma: So the real battle started?

Happosai: (Nods)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Happosai: (Initiates an attacking stance) Time to warm up. (Smirks)

Yamazaki: Hn. (Extend both his arms out in a defensive posture, the left hand clasps to the back of his right wrist)

Happosai: (Dashes towards Yamazaki and using his left foot…) Hiyeak! (Kicks out with his knee)

Yamazaki: (Uses both of his hands to impede Happosai's kick by stopping Happosai's shin)

Happosai: (Intuitively aims a sharp elbow towards Yamazaki's head when his kick was thwarted)

Yamazaki: (Brings up his right arm blocking off the attack)

Happosai: (Thinking) Che! (Commences a number of furious thrusting punches)

Yamazaki: (Skillfully thwarts every assault)

Happosai: (Thinking) Oh.

Yamazaki: (Thinking) My turn. (Bends his body horizontally to the ground, left leg supporting the body mass and his right leg lashes out at Happosai viciously who is still in mid-air)

Happosai: (Startled by the unexpected attack style) (Quickly blocks the lashing kick with his knee and skids a few meters back)

Yamazaki: (Grins) Weakening already ojii-san?

Happosai: I told you I was only warming up.

Yamazaki: Eh?!

Happosai: The real battle begins now. (Charges forward in less than half the blink of the eye)

Yamazaki: (Thinking) Joudan ja nai wa yo! [No kidding!] (Sees a faint outline of Happosai appearing behind him) Hyak! (Jumps and kicks out at… Empty air) Shimatta. (A/N: People living in Tokyo would be using ja nai wa yo while outside Tokyo it would be de wa nai yo. Golanda is a village which is still considered in the Tokyo area so my OCs are likely to use ja nai wa yo. Ja nai and de wa nai means "not". The wa yo and yo at the ending of the sentence are just particles)

Happosai: Back in front of you. (Pokes out an index finger onto Yamazaki's back, sending him flying across the plain)

Yamazaki: (Collides into a tree) #Crack! Thud…# (Grits his teeth in pain) Teme wa… (Coughs out blood)

Happosai: (Dashes onward and kicks Yamazaki up to the sky) #Fwak!# (Jumps up to follow-up an elbow attack)

#Clack. Thud.#

Yamazaki: (Lands onto the ground awkwardly) (Mutters) Ku'so! Ku'so! I can't lose!

(End of flashback sequence)

Happosai: (Grins) He was never any match for me.

Ranma: Whoa! So you did defeat that guy?

Happosai: I'm the Master of Anything Goes Martial Arts School. I've defeated their master before and I can defeat the students too! No mean feat. Ah hahahaha! (Hands on his hips, haughtily)

Akane: (Looks at Happosai with a weird expression, narrowing eyes) (Mutters) Then why ojii-chan tries to run away just now…

Happosai: (Gloomy) (Sobs) Why is Akane-chan always against me?

Nabiki: (Realizes to her surprise) (Thinking) Since when was ojii-chan suddenly freed from the bounded rope?

Ranma: Ojii-san, then what were you doing in Okinawa for? And if you had defeated him, why was he here and attacking us yesterday?! Injuring oyaji and so on!

Happosai: Oh. Sou da yo. [That's right] Urm… Well Yamazaki blew me away with a ki blast all the way to Okinawa. Hahahaha! (Scratches his bald head)

Ranma: (Sweatdrops) I thought you said you were winning…

Happosai: (Recalling the episode heatedly) I was WINNING! But something DESPICABLE occurred that is most shameful which the martial arts world had ever known! (Furiously) I can hardly believe that he would resort to such disgraceful opportunities!

Ranma: (Widen eyes with interest) What happened?

Nabiki: (Thinking) I have a bad feeling about this.

Happosai: I was about to land my tremendous final winning blow… (Close his eyes in concentration and relates)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Happosai: Yarghhh! (Targets a right fist towards Yamazaki)

Yamazaki: (Sitting on the ground) (Raises his arms in a futile attempt to protect himself) (Thinking) Ku'so! It's… It's over…

#Hwooooooooooooooooo…#

A gust of wind blows and…

Happosai: (A bunch of something fluttering away catches his eagle eye) (Immediately stops his 'tremendous final winning blow' midway…) AHHHHHHHHHHH! NOOOOO! My silky precious treasures! (Rushes off to save his newly stolen scattering undergarments from being soiled and blown away by the wind) No, no, no!

Yamazaki: (Watches Happosai in surprise) (Thinking) Huh? Chansu! [A chance!] (Targets out at Happosai) (Screams) Shi-Shi Unare! #SIUUUUU…#

Happosai: (Busy grabbing the spreading undergarments in the air before they reach the ground) Ara? (Turns around)

#BOOOOOOOOOOM!#

Happosai: WAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! (Flying across the sky and…) I will NEVER forget this! You burnt away my collection! (Disappears into the sky with a #Tink.# sound and…)

(End of flashback sequence)

Happosai: (Eyes still closed, shaking his head gravely) Reach Okinawa. (Crosses his arms) It is such a despicable act to attack a frail old man like me who was occupied with saving his little pieces of joy. I am ashamed that I fought with such a dishonorable martial artist.

#Dong…#

Happosai: Hn, and thus at Okinawa, in order to defeat Yamazaki, I forced myself to undergo meditation. (Grins) Hooo sweeto. The training was so much fun. (Opens his eyes) Ara?

Soun: (Solemn look) (Thinking) Disgraceful opportunities or disgraceful acts of yours, which lead to such opportunities…

Akane,Nabiki&Ranma: (Lying on the floor) (Oyakusoku pozu) (Sweating)

Happosai: Nani, nani? What happened?

Ranma: (Thinking) I feel sorry for myself and ashamed to have him as my Master… To be defeated by… By… I can almost burst into tears with embarrassment for Anything Goes School…

Akane: (Thinking) Ojii-chan, his perversion knows no bounds.

Nabiki: (Thinking) I have no comments.

Kasumi: (Worried) Ara, daijobou mina?

Scene: Deserted road, meanwhile,

Rukawa: (Walking, clutching his gut) (Thinking) It is getting more and more painful to ignore… Koff! KOFF! (Coughed out blood, staining the palm of his hand that covers his mouth) (Looks at his hand) (Mutters to himself) Chiku'so… At this rate, watashi wa… Ah… I-itai.

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, genkan, evening,

Ryoga: Ah konbawa. [Good evening] Anyone home? (Smiling elatedly at himself) (Thinking) Yatta! I finally found Akane-san's house. Oh truly it is fated that I would meet with Akane-san soon again. Now I can at last see Akane-san wonderful face.

Kasumi: (Appears from the kitchen) Ara Ryoga-kun. Konbawa. Welcome in. (Calls out) Ranma-kun. Your friend, Ryoga-kun is here.

Ryoga: Hai Kasumi-san. (Calls out behind him) Hey come in. Don't be shy.

Kasumi: (Sees a petite little girl with shoulder length light blue hair entering shyly) Ara, Ryoga-kun brought a friend? Anata dare desu ka?

Rei: (Smiles shakily) Rei desu.

Kasumi: Ara, kon'nichi wa Rei-chan. (Smiles warmly)

Rei: Kon-kon'nichi wa onee-onee-san. (Stands close to Ryoga, holding his right arm timidly)

Nabiki: (Climbs down the stairs) Heh Ryoga-kun. (Smirks) Hey Akane! Ranma-kun! Ryoga-kun paying us a visit. (Notices Rei) Anta dare?

Rei: Sumimasen. (Bows) Rei. Rukawa Rei desu, onee-san.

----

End.

A/N: A short note on why I used Kasumi's past to be the basis of her personality, her attitude and behavior is because is she really as oblivious as she sometimes seems or is it that, there is an iron shield of "everything's okay" that she's maintained since her mother's death, when she became the responsible one in the family?

Although Kasumi is always smiling, quiet and gentle, no matter how bad things happened. But facing a critical situation where she knew she could die, however "thick-skinned" a person is, she would eventually crack. When Kasumi was close to certain death, she would be on the brink of cracking. When she saw Rukawa in a gory state after saving her, she cracked - cried, suffered, lose all bearings of the surrounding. I used Nabiki to calm her down because Nabiki and Kasumi seemed to be pretty close aren't they? Akane is always with Ranma - be it arguing adventuring etc. When Soun and co. went off adventuring, the 2 Tendo girls usually stay home together. Yet being Kasumi, the mother figure she usually is, she would feel upset that she couldn't comfort her younger sister but instead be comforted by her younger sibling.

If you're wondering about where "Taisetsu na mono wa nan da" comes from and why the question present itself on Rukawa when Kasumi life was at the edge, it will be loosely explained in Volume 7.

Finally Volume 6 end, after a long 6 chapters. In my opinion, this volume was my favourite and best written among 7 volumes that I have finished. About half way from completing this story.

Coming up Volume 7! The past is revealed partially and a love story of two will be weaved and new mystery shall emerge. Why does Rukawa stay on with the Tendo and hardly think much of his past? How is his relationship with his parents/family? Find out in Volume 7 with a twist at the end.