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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

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Coutuva.




Goodbye Is Not Forever - Part Nine
--------------------------------------------------------------------




	After what seemed to Ranma an eternity, the car hovered over
the small yard behind the clinic, with Himiko desperately searching
for a way to set it down.  She eventually had to block one door in
order to land at all, as the yard was only marginally larger than
the car itself.
	Once they'd roused Tofuu and carried their charge into the
clinic, the doctor met them in the examining room -- and promptly
yawned.
	"Sorry.  I was up rather late last night.  I take it this
young lady is the patient?" he asked, looking over at the girl on
the exam table.
	Ranma nodded.  "Hai...  But there's more to it.  We brought
her here because we need an urgent and kinda 'discreet' favour, Doc.
There's this 'chip' thingy behind her ear that we need you to take
out, and she's gotta stay asleep until you do."
	"Oh?  What do you mean, Ranma?  Is it some sort of 
monitoring device?" he asked, stepping up and checking behind both
of her ears.
	"Iya.  Uhm, look Doc -- we can't answer any questions, and
I can't even tell you why.  I know that's asking a lot, but we're 
kinda desperate.  It's literally a life and death deal."
	Tofuu looked down at her for a moment, then moved an
assessing gaze about the other tense faces in the room.  A short
sigh later, he looked back at her over his glasses.  "Ranma, you
do understand that this is all highly irregular.  You're asking
me to perform a surgical procedure on a patient I don't know, and
for reasons you can't explain.  I shouldn't even attempt something
like this under these...  Questionable circumstances."
        "But Doc...  This is serious!  If we don't get that thing
out of her..." she trailed off, wanting to say more, but afraid
to give away too much.
        Tofuu looked at her with a disapproving frown, then
sighed again.
        "But how can I refuse a mother's request to help her
child?" he abruptly smiled, slipping her a wink.
	Ranma had to pick her jaw up out of her lap.  "Ahh...
Yeah.  Her name is Kayoko.  How'd you know?"
	"Well, Ranma, there's that, and the fact that her Ki
feels very much like yours," he responded, pointing to the union
of their hands.
	She flushed.  "Well, you're right...  But don't say
nothing, okay?" she half-smiled, then sobered.  "So tell me...
You think you can get it out?"
	"Certainly.  It's not very deep, although it seems that
it is sitting in a channel on the exterior of the skull. I...  
Don't suppose that you know if it has any sort of wiring, do you?"
	"It's a self-contained device that works without any sort
of direct connection," Himiko supplied, at which Ranma nodded.
	"Hai.  Turns out I got one, too, but it don't work
anymore.  Maybe later you can take it out, too."
	Tofuu smiled knowingly.  "No problem, then.  Anyone care
to assist?"
	"I can...  I want to make sure she's harmless," Nabiki
offered, to a quick eyebrow raise from Tofuu.
	Ranma slid her an appreciative look, then turned to her
daughter and rested a hand on her forehead.  "You're gonna be
fine, Kayoko-chan," she whispered, her eyes misting.  "And I
can't wait."




	Ranma sat worriedly at Kayoko's bedside, watching her
face for any sign of life.  Tofuu had already told her that the
procedure had gone as smoothly the one he'd done on her, and
he didn't forsee any problems.
	However, he had also mentioned that the girl's Ki was 
still weak, and she had a slight concussion.
	She was still trying to swallow her heart.
	As she continued to watch her daughter's gentle breathing,
she almost gasped at the hand that landed on her shoulder.
	"She's going to be fine, Ranma," Nabiki assured, quietly.
	"Hai - I know.  But I just can't stop worrying.  It's
like her getting well is all that matters," she sighed, raising a
hand to place atop Nabiki's.
	"Yeah, I guess I can understand that - okaasan."
	Ranma couldn't stop the smile that washed across her
worried face.  "Huh...  Okaasan.  Never woulda figured I'd like
being called that," she mused, then the smile fell away.
	She returned her saddening gaze to her daughter's quiet
face, trying to swallow the lump that had returned to her throat.
	Nabiki noticed instantly.
	"Ranma...?  What's wrong?"
	She drew a breath.  "Nabs...  Do you think my Mom ever 
really gave a damn about *me*?"
        Nabiki blinked.  "What?"
        "Yeah...  I mean -- this is killing me.  First missing
her, then seeing her like this...  It's ripping my guts out.  But
my Mom...  She's never even asked if I was okay.  It's like...
It's like she doesn't even care," she explained, the lump making 
it hard for her to breathe.  "I thought she did -- before all 
this, she always used to complain to 'Ranko' about my old man 
taking me away from her and stuff...  But now...  Now she she 
won't even talk to me," she continued, her voice thick.  
	"I can't speak for her, Ranma..." Nabiki responded quietly, 
her grip tightening slightly.  "She probably does -- but just 
can't deal with the idea of her 'man amoung men' having a baby,"
she put forth, in all seriousness.  "Or, she might be one of 
those types who thinks displays of affection are signs of 
weakness -- which would explain a lot, by the way."
	That response caught her looking.  "Huh?  What do you 
mean by that?"
	"I mean that at one time, you were the same way," she
stated, with a knowing smile.  "You hid your feelings behind
that overblown macho routine of yours, probably because 'men' 
don't do things like that," she began, swinging around to rest 
her rear against the bed.  "It worked, too.  In the beginning, I
was sure you could care less about anyone but yourself -- until
you spent more than five minutes as a girl," she sighed, a 
wistful look crossing her face.  "Then, even though you kept up
the routine, it was like you were a different person -- a 
wonderful, sensitive, caring person with the most expressive 
eyes I've ever seen," the girl smiled, crossing her arms.  "It 
used to kill me how you kept her prisoner behind all that 
attitude."
        She started to issue a 'suitable' response, only to have
it catch in her throat -- because of what flashed through her 
thoughts.  She saw the times that she'd changed to a girl on 
purpose, just to 'get away' with laughing when she went to 
festivals, or to evade the guilts over liking ice cream.  She 
even recalled talking babytalk to babies in the street -- babies
she'd make herself walk past when she was a guy.
	Suddenly, her behaviour during her 'marriage' took on an
entirely new and distinctly unsettling significance.
        "Ranma...?"
        "Uh -- hai?" she jolted, actually startled by Nabiki's
voice.
        "Something wrong?  You looked a little stunned, there."
        "Iya...  Just thinking about some stuff," she dismissed,
putting up a weak smile.
	"I can imagine," she responded knowingly, then flashed
a quick smile.  "Anyway, you should consider getting some sleep,
you know.  She's going to be out for a long time.  Tofuu really 
doped her," the girl noted, stepping out to turn toward the bed.
	"Sleep?  Huh.  There ain't no way I'm gonna be able to
sleep - not now -- not till she wakes up."
	"Sure...  And then you'll want to stay up longer," Nabiki
chided, crossing her arms behind her back.  "You need to get your
rest.  Hell, Himiko is already asleep.  Tofuu gave her 'something
for the pain'."
	"Iya.  I just can't.  Like I said, I'd...  Uhn," she
grunted, as Tofuu applied the pressure point.
	"Thanks, Doc.  I knew damned well she'd resist," Nabiki
smiled, as she watched him scoop her up and lay her on another
table.
	He nodded.  "It was a good call, Nabiki," he commented,
then turned toward her with a knowing smile.  "So tell me...
How long have you two been 'dating'?"
	Her smirk became accompanied by her usual stance.
"Nothing gets by you for long, does it?" she countered, then
sighed and moved over to rest a hand on Ranma's shoulder.  "I
guess you could say we're 'dating'..." she began, absently
adjusting Ranma's top.  "There's nothing official, but then
again, she probably likes it that way."
	"That's quite possible.  I assume he...  Knows?"
	Nabiki smiled.  "Yes, she 'knows'.  And to tell you the
truth, I'm still surprised she took it so well.  But, at the
same time, I'm no horse dentist."
	He responded with a knowing smile.  "I have to admit, I
am too.  Has he decided to stay a girl from now on, then?"
	Her smile became a frown.  "No.  She made that clear a
couple days ago.  This...  This is still pretty new.  I have no
idea where - or even if - it's going to go," she sighed, her hand
moving to fix Ranma's disheveled hair.
	"I see.  Well, far be it from me to suggest anything, but
I can see it working - and working quite well."
	"Thanks, Doc.  But I'm not counting on the white picket
fence just yet.  There's still too much overhead."
        "Then I assume Akane doesn't know."
	Her smirk returned.  "Officially.  But I imagine it
won't take her long.  Somehow, she can spot stuff like this a
mile away, even though she couldn't see what was right in front
of her."
	He chuckled.  "I think it would be best if I didn't offer
a comment on that one.  Do you need a place to sleep?"
	"Iya.  I'll stay in here," she smiled, at which he only
shook his head.
	"Very good, then.  I've set the alarm, so you should be
able to wake him before his daughter comes out of it."
	"Thanks again, Doc.  I know she appreciates all the help.
See you in a few hours."
	"That you will.  Oyasumi, Nabiki-san," he smiled again,
then took his leave.
	Nabiki, meantime, looked down at Ranma and smiled lovingly.
"A girl can still hope, though..." she whispered, then leaned down
and kissed her forehead - just before snuggling up beside her.





	Ranma wasn't pleased with Nabiki's little trick, but her
reaction was tempered by how she'd awoken to the girl's warm,
comfortable form nestled against her side.
        By the time everyone else had awakened, she was already
back at Kayoko's side, and holding the girl's hand.  Himiko was
in amazing shape, given her rough day, moving Nabiki to comment
that she healed like a Saotome.
	Her response was a roll of her eyes, and an explanation
that Tofuu had used some 'pain management technique' on her.
	Nabiki then surprised everyone by volunteering to make
breakfast, but only after swearing Tofuu to secrecy.  In so
doing, she had to confess that when she was young, she had
learned far more than she'd ever let on.  She had kept her
ability quiet deliberately, mainly to avoid what she called
'Akane's situation' -- namely being forced to marry.
	And it turned out that her claim was no idle boast - much
to Ranma's delight.  Given Tofuu's limited stocks, Nabiki had
only made a typical miso, but it was so good Ranma had fourths. 
	Once breakfast was over with, however, attention quickly
returned to the sleeping Kayoko - and why she still was.
	"I don't get it -- why's she still out?" Ranma fretted,
wringing out the warm cloth she'd just wiped down the girl's
face with.
	"She's been through a lot, Ranma - and you said it
yourself -- she kicked out a lot of power.  That can't be easy to
shake off," Nabiki speculated, moving up behind her.
	"Yeah...  Maybe," she sighed, resting her hand on her
daughter's leg.  "But that don't make this any easier to take.
I figure if she don't wake up soon, I'm gonna go get Tofuu."
	Just as she turned to pick up the washcloth again, she
glanced back at her daughter -- and saw her eyes twitch.
	"Kayoko!  She's waking up!" she blurted, bringing Himiko
and Tofuu running.
	Kayoko, meantime, winced, groaned - and slowly opened an
ice-blue eye.  "Uhhnnn...  Whaa...  Where am I?" she croaked,
raising a hand to her forehead, and when she felt the edge of
the dressing tape, down behind her ear.  Her eyes widened.
	"You're in a hospital...  And you're perfect -- just
perfect," Ranma breathed, almost overcome by a surge of emotion.
	"Huh...?" the girl countered, until her searching gaze
found Ranma's shimmering one.  "Masa...  M-mom?  Is...  Is that
you?" she gasped, her eyes widening.
	Ranma felt her eyes blur as her hands found Kayoko's.
"Hai...  Kayoko-chan.  It's...  It's me."
	"You...  You're alive?" she whispered, her eyes filling
with tears despite her widening smile.  "Gomen nasai!" she
cried, then threw open her arms and lunged into Ranma's.
	The moment they touched, a soft, shimmering blue aura
rapidly grew around them -- and neither of them said another word.





	Tofuu stepped back and broke into a smile.  "She seems
perfectly healthy, Ranma.  The bruising is settling, and the site
is closing nicely.  It seems she's a typical Saotome."
	Ranma's smile widened.  "That's fantastic, Doc.  I don't
figure I can thank you enough for all this."
	"That's quite alright, Ranma.  Seeing her healthy, and
you two back together is thanks enough.  Well, I do have other
patients to get ready for, so I'll leave you to get acquainted.  I
imagine you'll have a lot to talk about."
	"Yeah.  I figure we do, too," Ranma smiled, patting her
daughter's hand.
	Kayoko's smile widened.
	"Very good, then.  Good luck, Ranma -- with whatever your
future holds," he smiled, then took his leave.
	Ranma shook her head.  "I still think that guy must be 
psychic," she quipped, eliciting a round of chuckles.




        "She's your daughter, all right," Nabiki smirked, as she
watched Kayoko make short work of her food.
	Kayoko finished her plate, set down her sticks and sighed.
"Gomen...  I can't remember the last time I ate - I was starved."
	"Don't worry about it.  Eat -- you need to get your
strength back," Ranma encouraged, with a gesture toward the
plates.
	"Iya.  I don't want it.  I never did.  Especially...
Especially not now."
        "Hey -- I already told you I know none of that was your
fault," Ranma countered, her eyes firm even as her hand settled
on the downcast girl's shoulder.  "I smashed that damned chip
myself, so don't get all guilty on me - I'm too happy to have you
back to worry about that any more."
	Kayoko raised her head and flashed a sheepish smile.  "I
can't help it.  A lot of this started because I wanted to find
out who you were - and what happened to you."
	"What?  How do you figure that?"
	She sat back and drew a breath.  "All my life, well, at
least as far back as I can remember, I've had this ability to
change into a redhead, and I had these weird powers.  My
'parents' never really explained why, but I always had the
feeling they knew more than they were letting on," she began,
her pretty face sobering.  "I had clues...  They virtually
raised me at their offices, never let me go to regular school,
and I had no friends besides their co-worker's children.  And
those kids even treated me weird -- almost like they were
afraid of me," she huffed, then steadied herself.  "One day,
about a week ago, one of my 'friends' told me I was adopted.
I confronted my 'family', and all they ever told me was yes,
and that you and my father were both dead."
	Ranma sobered, and took her daughter's hand.  "Ano...
Your father...  Really is.  He died in a car crash."
	Nabiki gasped.
	Kayoko bit her lip.  "Hai.  I know.  It was in the
files."
	Himiko, who had been deep in thought, abruptly perked
up.  "Files?"
	The girl nodded.  "I...  Wanted to find out more, so
when I got a chance, I wrote a search engine 'bot to query the
'Net for my adoption records.  I found something - but not
from the National Registry.  It turned out to be a memo from
R&D to Corporate H.Q. - about my discovery that I was adopted.
That really made me wonder, so I started to dig deeper, and I
found out that there was a lot more - and it was all right
there at Doppelganger, but heavily encrypted.  2048 bit, in
fact."
	Himiko grimaced.
	"Eyuck," Nabiki seconded, shaking her head.
	"Iya -- it wasn't that bad.  Somebody in the department
had a twisted sense of irony.  The key turned out to be my
name - in gaijin sequence."
	Himiko bapped her forehead.
	Ranma, caught out by the mention of the company name,
blinked back into the conversation.  "So you got in, then," she
smirked, trying to cover.
	"Hai.  And I found a lot more than my history.  I found
details of my 'conception', information about you, my father,
me...  I found so much that I had to download it to a PID and
take it home to examine.  But...  That same night...  Was when
I got caught.  I...  Made the mistake of assuming that my
'parents' really didn't know anything, but just before I was
'sent out', I overheard someone refer to them as the project
leaders."
        Ranma frowned again.  "Kuso...  So what'd they do?"
Kayoko's face darkened.  "I was at home in my room...  Studying
the last of this information.  I think they must have had a
contingency for something like this, because as I was reading,
I smelled something funny - then passed out.  After that, they
kept me drugged, and once it was ready, fitted me with that
damned regulator.  Then I was sent here, and it...  It was
horrible.  I knew who you were - and I was being commanded to
kill you.  And I couldn't...  I couldn't stop myself," she
hitched, followed by several sniffs.
        "You mean...  You were aware of all that?"
        She nodded.  "Hai.  I...  I felt like a prisoner in my
own body.  I tried to fight it...  Tried as hard as I could.
I weakened or blocked my attacks whenever I could manage, but
it was so hard...  I was so afraid...  I'd end up killing
you..." she trailed off, her tears finally getting the better
of her.
        Ranma instinctively reached out to her, heart breaking
at even the thought.
        "Those miserable bastards...  I can't believe anyone
could be that sadistic," she growled, even as she gently cradled
her weeping child.
        "As much as I hate them, I get the feeling that wasn't
part of the plan," Himiko broke in, startling everyone.  "She
said they talked about things - after they'd implanted her.  So,
unless they were planning to make this go like a cheap anime,
they must have assumed she was beyond conscious thought."
        "Hai.  Now that you say that, I never knew what was
happening to me.  Hell, I never even knew it had happened,"
Ranma gasped, then gaped back at Himiko.
        "Just a guess, but I figure it's probably because of
her 'ability'," Himiko supplied, without skipping a beat.
        "Well, it wouldn't have had to work too hard on you
anyway, Ranma," Nabiki slipped in, earning herself a look.
        "Funny, Nabs.  Anyway, would you pass me that water
glass?" she glowered, then took it and passed it on to her
daughter.  "Here...  This'll help."
        "Arigato..." the girl sniffed, flashing a grateful smile.
        "Ever the doting mother, eh, Ranma?" Nabiki chuckled, at
which Ranma turned to Kayoko again - and smiled.
        "Yeah.  Now that I can be," she stated softly, as she ran
a hand through her daughter's lustrous black hair.  Kayoko's
smile widened, accompanied by something that sounded like a
whimper.
        "Gomen...  I still can't believe this is actually
happening.  I was so afraid that I'd never get to know you...
Never be able to tell you...  That you really need a new
hairstyle," she sniffed through a laugh, reaching up to flip a
certain pigtail.
        A second later, they were back in each other's arms.




=====================================================================
END - Goodbye Is Not Forever - Part 9    A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

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