Well, here's the final installment...  This is, as
with the previous Series, based heavily on events and
situations from the preceeding stories, which are
available on my Web Site:

http://www.geocities.com/coutuva

As always, C&C is anticipated, accepted, and appreciated.
All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

**Note:  This story was actually written a while ago, but then
rewritten just recently, which has left some of the event
references dated.**

Please Enjoy.
Coutuva.




As Long As you Love Me	Part 4
------------------------------------------------------------


	Hitomi sat quietly on the Saotome's futon, listening
intently as Ranma related his tale.  Akane, who had joined
them after bringing tea and finger foods, sat demurely on her
mat beside Ranma, also listening carefully.  She couldn't help
but notice that Hitomi was still paying a lot of attention
to her, and she would feel her cheeks flush every time they
made eye contact.
	This Hitomi, she had noticed, was much different from
the Mu Lin person that she had met previously.  She seemed a
good deal more emotional, caring and sensitive, and several of
her mannerisms reminded Akane of her husband.
	Overall, however, she could not see anything 
exceptional about the girl.  The more she tossed that 
observation around in her head, the more she began to feel that
somehow, it wasn't fair that she had taken Ranma's body from 
him, and he was now forced to exist as a Spirit.
	Akane also noticed that her husband seemed quite
comfortable with the situation, treating Hitomi like someone he
respected.  She found that surprising, given what he had lost
in order for her to even exist.  She had always quietly
wondered about that, figuring that since his body was alive,
it should be possible for him to be put back in it.
	Adding to her confusion was the fact that she found
herself liking Hitomi, far more that she would have guessed.
She wrote it off to the notion that she was sensing her
husband's essence in the woman, because she certainly wasn't
into relationships with females.
	Miyabi, meantime, had slowly migrated toward Hitomi's
seat, and was now on the floor in front of her.  Hitomi glanced
down at her occasionally and smiled slightly, even catching
herself thinking that she wanted her own child to be just like
her.
	At length, Ranma wrapped up his tale, and regarded
Hitomi questioningly.
	The redhead looked back at him sadly, and sighed slowly.
	"Saotome-san, thank you for explaining things -- I think
I finally understand what I'm all about.  I know that Kiko-chan
was telling me the truth about all of that now, and that makes
me feel...  a bit better."
	Ranma's face darkened slightly as he listened, as he 
knew that the second shoe was about to drop.
	"But?" he asked, leaning toward his guest.
	"But...  That doesn't change what she did to your 
family, and I feel absolutely sick about it.  Akane-chan, I 
hope you can forgive her for her actions," she began, placing 
her hands together in front of her face and bowing her head.  
	"I still don't know why she made your children suffer 
for over six months, and the fact that she did makes me so mad
I could..." she began, her aura again flaring briefly.
	"Easy, Hitomi-chan.  Don't go ballistic yet," Joy
abruptly admonished, zipping around in front of Hitomi and
touching her shoulder.  The redhead looked back at her for a
moment, then her face slowly softened.
	"Gomen..." she finally responded, lowering her eyes.
"I get pretty upset about someone hurting kids," she added,
quietly.
	Joy had to stifle a smirk.  "Understatement of the year.
I think I'd better let you folks in on what this is all about."
Joy indicated, patting Hitomi's shoulder again gently, then
turning to face the assembled.
	"Hitomi has a very powerful calling, and it's the major
reason this is so hard on her.  First off, she loves Kikyo.
They are literally inseparable.  Second, she loves children --
any children.  So much so that she would kill without hesitation
anyone who causes serious harm to a child.  And on top of that,
because she loves Kikyo so much, she would likely do the same
to anyone that harmed her," she indicated, again reaching out
and touching Hitomi's shoulder gently.
	Akane gasped audibly.
        "Masaka..." she breathed, raising a hand to her mouth.
"This must be awful for you," she added, glancing at Ranma.
	"Hai...  I...  Really don't know what to do.  And it's
making me crazy," Hitomi sniffed in response, raising her
reddened, puffy eyes to meet Akane's.
	"Hai...  I can almost identify with that.  Hitomi-chan,
I want you to listen to me for a minute longer," Ranma
indicated, his face becoming serious.  "I had the opportunity
to be in touch with Kikyo's actual soul during your 'absence',
and I can tell you this much.  The girl loves you, Hitomi.
So much that when she thought that she was going to lose you,
she tried to kill herself."
	Htiomi's eyes widened in shock.
	"Ano...  You mean..." she breathed, the color draining
from her face.
	"I do.  She was attacked by someone who wanted to get
her away from you, because they thought you were really me.
They threatened to tell all her secrets if she didn't leave,
including a personal one that Kikyo is deeply ashamed of.
With everything that had just happened to her with Mu Lin,
and the state she was in emotionally, that was the last straw.
She actually went through with it, and if I hadn't gotten to
her in time, you would have lost her," he stated, his voice
going quiet.
	Hitomi was speechless.  All she could manage was to
look back at Ranma incredulously, shaking her head slowly.
	"And there's more.  You don't know about the life
Kikyo has had, Hitomi-chan.  She was born here in Japan, and
lived here up until about 6 years ago.  She was an elementary
school teacher, and fairly happy in her life, except that she
was only attracted to relationships with women.  This was hard
on her, as she could have lost her job and her reputation over
it.  Things took a bad turn for her when she tried to get a
better teaching position, and the place she tried for did a
background check on her.  They found out she was burakumin, 
and that literally destroyed her.  Her life, her job, her
girlfriend at the time, anything she held dear was ripped
away in an instant.  She had to leave the country to ever have
a hope at a normal life again, since being burakumin is like
being dead in this place," Ranma sighed, still amazed at the
sad truth of that situation.
	As Ranma spoke, Hitomi lowered her head, and he could
see a single tear fall from her eye and land on her hands, 
which were folded together tightly in her lap.
	"There's lots more, Hitomi.  Kikyo moved to Canada, got
her citizenship and joined a special unit of the Military, 
using her weapons skills to promote the Armed Forces.  That went
okay until someone discovered her sexual preference, and 
threatened to expose her.  After her discharge, which she took
to protect someone she cared about, she was approached by my 
sister-in-law to work for her.  She acted as an agent for Nabiki
in Canada, which she did proudly until she started at the 
Daycare, and met you.  Shortly before that however, she got the 
assignment to find me.  When she figured out that you might be 
me, she deliberately misled her boss to protect you and her 
relationship with you.  When that decision was made, she didn't 
know I had kids, or was married.  That information was not 
provided to her.  So you see, she didn't 'deliberately' harm 
anyone, much less any children.  She could have turned you over
right away, but she was too much in love with you to stand 
losing you.  She finally had something wonderful in her life, 
and she simply refused to give it up," he concluded, leaning 
back in his chair.
	Akane looked over at him blinking, then shot him a look
that even he couldn't figure out.  Deep inside, he had the 
feeling that he wasn't quite finished explaining things yet.
	Clearing his throat, he winked at Akane and turned his
gaze back to Hitomi.
	"Hitomi-chan, she went through a version of hell while
Mu Lin was trying to take you over, and again when she did.  And
the baby she's carrying?  She did that for you as well, even
though she despises contact with men.  To tell you the truth,
it's utterly repulsive to her to have a male even touch her.
But, she did it all willingly because of her love for you,
Hitomi," Ranma stressed, knowing he was making his point.
	"And I think if you really search your heart, you'll 
know that's true," he added, levelly.
	Hitomi sat silent for a few seconds, then sniffed once.
Taking a deep breath, she sniffed again, and slowly raised her
moist gaze to meet Ranmas.
	"I...  Know that now, Saotome-san.  I had no idea...
Kiko-chan never told me much about her life.  I feel terrible 
for the things I was thinking about her," she began slowly, 
sniffing yet again.  "I do love her...  More than I have
the words to say.  I miss her so much right now -- she's all I
can think about -- especially since we had that fight.  I was
awful to her, and I hope she can see fit to forgive me," she
added quietly, wiping her face on her sleeve.
	"Go home to her, Hitomi-chan.  She needs to know that
you still love her," Ranma advised, smiling gently.
	"You see, Hitomi-chan?  It's amazing what a difference
getting it from the horse's mouth makes, ne?" Joy smiled, to a
collective groan from both Ranma and Akane.
	"Hai.  I will, Saotome Ranma-san," Hitomi responded,
the sparkle returning to her large blue eyes for the first time
all evening.  Rising from the futon, she stepped over toward her
hosts and smiled brightly.
	"I will never forget this.  Arigato gozaimasu,
Saotome-sama," she indicated, a happy, satisfied smile now
lighting up her face.  Straightening her skirt, she bowed
respectfully.
	At the same moment, Miyabi saw an opportunity and leapt
toward Hitomi, intent on glomping her leg to say goodbye.  As 
she homed in, her foot caught a wayward toy and she tripped,
stumbling into Hitomi and knocking her forward.
	Before anyone could react, Hitomi landed squarely on top
of Ranma, and with a loud crack, the two disappeared into a
brilliant flash of blue light.




	Shampoo paced the floor of the livingroom, having left
Kikyo staring numbly at the ceiling in the darkened bedroom.
When her tears had run out, Shampoo had brought her there and 
laid her down, hoping that she would rest.  
	As a precaution, she had already gone through the room 
and removed all the guns and ammo that she could find, fearing 
the worst.
	She was heartsick over Kikyo's state and the fact
that Hitomi was gone.  All she could think about was how she was
going to repair the damage she had done, and the horrific guilt
she felt over causing everything.
	Wandering into the kitchen, she carefully ran herself a
glass of water, and was just starting to drink when the phone
rang.  As she turned to go answer it, it stopped in mid-ring.
Looking at the phone and noting the in-use light was lit, she
assumed that Kikyo must have picked it up.  She smiled to 
herself, thinking it was likely Hitomi calling home.
	A few silent minutes later, an anguished scream pierced
the air, sending the Amazon racing down the hallway and crashing
through the bedroom door.  The sight before her froze her
blood in it's veins.
	The phone lay on the bed beside a sitting Kikyo, who was
crying uncontrollably.  In her lap, she limply held a small
semi-automatic pistol, and it was pointed up at her face.  
	Kikyo glanced up quickly at her, and uttered only one 
tear-soaked word.
	"Sayonara..." she sobbed weakly, and raised the gun
before her.
	Shampoo's instincts took over and she instantly leapt
through the air, only to hear a loud, sharp bang echo through 
her ears.




	Shampoo picked herself up from whatever she had come to
rest on, and looked about her surroundings.  The entire
featureless area about her was simply black, with no light
other than immediately around her.
	Checking herself over quickly, she noticed much to her
surprise that she didn't have any wounds, and nothing seemed
out of place.
	"Am I dead?" she asked aloud, startled by the sound of
her own voice.
	"No...  But if I were you, I might want to be," a
distorted voice answered from somewhere in the void, sending a
chill down the already shaken Amazon's spine.  
	"So, tell me, Amazon...  Are you happy with yourself?"
the same voice asked, its tone dripping with disgust.  "Both
Hitomi and Kikyo are dead -- as well as their unborn child -- 
and it's all because of you.  You should be happy.  Kikyo isn't
going to have Hitomi's baby after all," the voice taunted,
sarcastically.  "That *is* what you wanted, isn't it?"
	Shampoo shuddered involuntarily, her face dropping in
stunned disbelief.
	"D...  Dead?" she blurted, her chest suddenly feeling
as if a vise had been clamped on it.
	"Yes, Shampoo.  Dead.  Just like you planned," the
voice confirmed, flatly.
	"NOO!  They can't be dead -- they can't!" she
screamed, collapsing to her knees. "NO, NO, NO!  That's NOT what
I wanted!" she cried, powerful sobs shaking her entire body.
	"Well, that's what you got, Shampoo," the voice again
taunted, becoming increasingly hostile.
        "I...  I...  Only wanted...  To have my own baby," she
haltingly sobbed, barely able to say the words.  "I never...
EVER...  Wanted anyone to get hurt!  Why did they have to die?"
she wailed, falling the rest of the way to the floor, which was
now wet with her tears.
	"Fine for you to say, Amazon.  But it happened, didn't
it?  You deliberately tore them apart.  They were two souls
literally intertwined, indescribably happy with each other's
love...  Until you came along.  Old habits die hard, don't they
Shampoo?  You can't find happiness, so you make damned sure
nobody else has any," the voice responded, accompanied by
faint, distant footfalls.
	Shampoo didn't respond, now so immersed in her grief
that she didn't even notice the movement in the blackness.
	"You asked why they had to die...  Think about it,
Amazon.  Hitomi had to go to Japan to set her mind at ease...
Had she not had to do that, she'd still be alive," the voice
indicated, coldly.  "And Kikyo...  When she found out Hitomi
was no more, she felt she had nothing left to live for.  All
her life, she had sacrificed so others could succeed, or at
least go on with their own lives.  She was always forced to
lose, until Hitomi came along, and gave her more happiness
and love than she had ever known.  But you took that away from
her.  Don't delude yourself -- you killed her as sure as if 
you had pulled the trigger."
	Shampoo pounded the floor or whatever it was beneath
her with her fist, her anger at herself not even allowing her
to speak.  Still crying uncontrollably, she abruptly pushed
herself upright and pulled a dagger from behind her back.
	"Gomen nasai, minna!" she yelled tearfully, and drove
the blade at her chest.
	"No way, Amazon...  You're not taking the easy way 
out," the voice abruptly remarked, as the dagger suddenly 
disappeared.
	Stunned, the Amazon turned in the direction of the 
voice, which now seemed to be coming from beside her.  As she 
caught sight of the figure stepping toward her, her face 
dropped and her sobs caught in her throat.
	"Joy?" she blurted, as a small figure wearing a green
china mini stepped from the murk.
	"Hai.  It's me, Shampoo.  Nice gesture, but I don't
think it'll buy you any points," she commented, handing the
Amazon back her dagger.
	Shampoo's face darkened abruptly.
	"Something's strange here.  How do I know who you are?
And why can I remember everything you talked about?  Even though
I wasn't there?" the Amazon asked, her expresion changing to one
of suspicion.
        "Smart girl -- you're catching on.  You've been dreaming,
Shampoo.   Consider yourself lucky; I made you dream the
potential results of your dirty little plan, so you could see 
what would happen -- before anyone died," Joy snipped, looking 
down her nose at Shampoo.
	"What?  You mean..." she stammered, breathing a sigh of
relief.
	"Exactly.  You see, Shampoo, I can't let you destroy what
Hitomi and Kikyo have -- especially since there are plans for
Hitomi," Joy explained, still regarding the Amazon disdainfully.
        "I don't understand..." Shampoo blinked, squaring herself
around on her backside and regarding Joy questioningly.
	"I wouldn't expect you to.  Hitomi is a creature of the
Spirit World, Amazon.  Her strength comes from The Realm of the
Light, and so does her ability to enhance the lives of those she
meets.  She's not your Ailen, and she's not even really human.
She's meant for bigger and better things, so I advise you to get
with the program.  You can be part of it, or you can go on about
your usual life, but not with them.  You've already proven that
doesn't work," Joy explained, walking around the sitting Amazon.
	Shampoo lowered her head away from Joy's scathing gaze,
feeling both guilty and ashamed.
	"Can I...  Still stay with them?" she finally asked,
quietly.
	"Like I said, that's up to you.  They both love you in
their own way.  You have soul-sisters for life in them, even
though you certainly don't deserve it," Joy sighed, stopping 
and facing the Amazon.  "But, I'll tell you this much -- if 
you're even dreaming about coming between them again, then I 
can't allow you to ever go back, Shampoo.  I've been given the
responsibility to watch over Hitomi, and right now, you're a 
threat," Joy replied, her eyes narrowing.
	Shampoo gasped at the fire seething in Joy's eyes.  The
sight left little doubt in her mind that the Spirit-child was
deadly serious.
	"Well, Amazon?  We can stay here as long as it takes to
smarten you up.  Time means nothing on this plane," Joy prodded,
crossing her arms.
        "Joy-sama...  Before I answer, I have to ask a 
question," Shampoo responded, quietly.
	"Be my guest..." she responded, bemusedly.
	"What...  What is to become of me?  I have no purpose...
nothing to live for.  Even if I do go back, what is there for
me?" she sniffed, her voice again starting to waver.  "Everything
I've ever done has either failed or hurt someone else...  
Joy-sama, if that is to be my fate, then I don't want to go back.
To them or anyone else.  I am better off...  Dead," she continued,
closing her eyes and starting to cry.  "I love Hitomi-chan and 
Kikyo-san...  But they have something wonderful, and I...  I only
wanted to know what that feels like.  Nobody has ever loved me 
like that, and I want it...  I want it more than life.  I thought
I could get it if I could have Hitomi's child," she went on, 
opening her large, moist eyes imploringly.  "Tell me.  Tell me 
what my fate is to be."
	Joy slowly softened her face, a small smile drifting 
across her lips.
	"Shampoo, I wish I could tell you, because if anyone needs
guidance, it's you, to be sure.  About all I can say is that your
life is not without purpose...  But it's not going to be an easy
one, by any means," she began, kneeling before the distraught 
woman.  "You just have to look deep inside yourself.  Search your
soul for your true calling.  The rest, including love, will 
follow, I promise," she added, smiling assuringly.
	"So I am not...  Useless?" Shampoo stammered, her heart
lifting slightly.
	"No, Shampoo...  You have a lot to offer.  You just haven't
put any effort into figuring that out yet.  Your life has been
dictated by instinct -- gut reaction.  *You* have to take control
now, or you'll never achieve your potential."
	"Take...  Control?" the Amazon echoed, thoughtfully.  "I
don't...  Know how," she finally added, blinking back.
	Joy could only smile again, and shake her head knowingly.
	"Shampoo, if you had put as much energy into planning 
your life as you did your schemes, you'd already be there," she 
winked, rising to her feet.
        Shampoo went quiet for several minutes, then a small smile
weaved its way across her face.  Closing her eyes, she huffed and
shook her head slightly. 
        "Joy-sama, I think I am ready to go back.  I have a good
idea of what I need to do -- I just want to be sure," she asserted,
regarding Joy expectantly.
	"I think you are too, Shampoo.  Just don't make me do 
this again.  You've used up your chances," Joy indicated, wagging
a finger at her.
	"I will not interfere with my friends any more.  Now that
I know I have a purpose, I want to find out what it is," she
replied, smiling.
	"Do you swear -- on your honor?"
	"Yes.  I swear it," Shampoo replied, emphatically.
Abruptly, her face softened.  "Joy-sama -- thank you.  I will 
never forget what you have done," she stated, bowing repectfully.
	"Just doing my job, Shampoo.  Now go; meet your destiny."
Joy smiled, waving her hand in front of her.





	Shampoo awoke with a start, and was pleased to discover
that she was back in the house, and in her own bed.  Listening
intently, she could hear voices coming from the livingroom, and
instantly jumped from under her covers and threw on her top.
	Fearing the worst, she raced out the door and down the
hallway, only to come to a sliding stop in the livingroom.
	Hitomi was just walking back from the kitchen carrying 
two glasses of milk, and Kikyo was in the wing chair, feet 
propped up on the coffee table and looking weary.  Both of them
stared back at her in surprise.
	"Lin-san?  What's wrong?" Hitomi finally asked, as she 
handed a glass to Kikyo.
        "I thought...  Kuso, I must have been having a bad
dream.  I was sure you two were having a big fight," she 
recovered, breathing a sigh of relief.
	Kikyo smiled sheepishly while Hitomi nodded knowingly.
        "Lin-san, you weren't dreaming.  We did have a fight.  
We were up most of the night 'discussing' things, after I 
overheard the conversation you two had out here," Hitomi 
explained, a small smile on her face.
        "Hai...  I was in a *really* lousy mood last night 
because my back hurt, my feet ached and I had a headache.  I 
took it out on Anata," Kikyo admitted, embarrassed.
	Shampoo gasped.  "Ano...  So then you...  Told her all
about it?"
        "Hai...  I did.  Hitomi-chan knows all about my life as
a 'secret agent' now," Kikyo smirked, shrugging.  "I even told
her about my assignment to find Ranma.  All I can say is, thank
the Kami that she trusts me.  I burned the dossier after Mu Lin
told us he was dead," she added, reaching for Hitomi's hand and
squeezing it gently.
        Hitomi returned the squeeze and smiled, then leaned down
to kiss her girlfriend's forehead affectionately.
	"Kiko-chan... I love you -- and that means I trust you,"
she smiled, happily.  "I know in my heart that you'd never
do anything to hurt me."
	Kikyo's cheeks flushed brightly, and she lowered her
head for a moment.
	"Anata...  I want you to know that I am sorry for the
way I've been behaving, and that I know I didn't handle things
very well back then.  Someday, I want to talk to Ranma and his
wife, and apologize to them, too," Kikyo indicated, quietly.
	"Ano...  I think they understand, Kikyo-san.  I just 
have this feeling," Shampoo smiled, winking at Hitomi.
	Hitomi, much to Shampoo's surprise, winked back at her
knowingly.  "I think you might be right about that, Lin-san,"
she commented, raising her glass to the Amazon.  "Well, I was
going to save this for your birthday, but now that all this 
has happened, I can't think of a better time to bring it out,"
she added, winking at Kikyo and heading toward their stereo
system.
	"Anata?  What are you up to?"
	"You'll see..." Hitomi replied, smiling mischeivously.
	Reaching into a small bag buried in the drawer of the
cabinet, she produced a CD and promptly ripped the shrinkwrap
from it.  Opening the case, she took the disc and dropped it
into the player, then turned to face the other two women.
Looking over at Kikyo lovingly, she smiled again.
	"Kiko-chan, I picked this up when we went shopping for
Joy's dress...  Remember?  I had heard it in the music store we
passed, and I thought at that time that it really fit us.  Now,
it's even more appropriate," she explained, and turned to the
player to start the disc.
        As the music began, Kikyo listened intently to the words.
By the time the first chorus ended, she was smiling widely 
despite the tears in her eyes.  A second later, she stood up 
and opened her arms.
	Hitomi also smiled, then walked over to happily accept
the hug.
        "Anata -- you're too good for me," Kikyo breathed,
sniffing back her tears.
        "No, I'm *perfect* for you," Hitomi countered, hugging
her girlfriend tightly.
	Shampoo had to smile as well, secretly thanking both Joy
and the Fates.  As she watched the other two hugging, she 
couldn't help but agree with Hitomi.  The words of the song 
couldn't have been more perfect for the two of them if they had 
been specially written.
	Curious, she walked over to the stereo and picked up the
CD case, then glanced at the player to see what cut was playing.
Noting it was on cut one, she then read the liner.
        "Backstreet Boys -- As Long As You Love Me," she read
aloud, then smiled gently to herself.  



==================================================================
END As Long As You Love Me            A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@gmail.com