For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at: 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. Please Enjoy! Coutuva. Secrets: Volume One Part Two ----------------------------------------------------------------- The hands moved; Miyoko flinched. Another minute had passed, and she was still awake. She had so far watched two hours pass, and came to realize that she wasn't going to be sleeping any time soon. Sighing aloud, she flopped on her back in frustration, knowing full well what her problem really was. Rising from her bed, she walked to her dresser and looked into the large mirror, examining the face that stared back. It was a pretty face, one she had come to know well over the last seven years. It represented her new lease on life, having brought her more happiness than she had ever experienced before. Now, however, that happiness was in serious jeopardy. The last thing she had expected, especially after seven wonderful, peaceful years, was to see 'them' again. The face in the mirror darkened. Ukyou setting up a shop -- that she could see. But Shampoo and Mousse? Just showing up out of the blue? That seemed like too much of a coincidence to simply ignore. She began to wonder how they had found her, but as quickly as she asked the question, she answered it. It had to be only one person. The only one she knew that was persistent enough, and had the resources available. Nabiki. The face took on an unpleasant scowl. If Nabiki was behind it, then everyone in Nerima knew. The bitch would have made sure of it. "Damn!" she cursed out loud, her scowl changing to naked anger. She had invested too much in *this* life to have her old one interfere now, especially with things going so well between her and Yoriko. Suddenly, her anger fell away to a horrible realization. "Yoriko-chan..." she gasped, remembering their earlier conversation. Her girlfriend knew nothing of her past, other than the nebulous remarks she had made then. And making matters worse, the girl trusted her. Trusted her more than she did her own mother. She had met Yoriko when the poor girl was reeling from a failed relationship attempt. In fact, she had been sitting on the shoreline of the park's tiny lake, crying. She was utterly crushed, scared and alone, so Miyoko had taken her under her wing, trying to help her rebuild her life and her self-confidence. Over time, they became best friends, spending every waking moment together. And then it happened. Miyoko realized that she was becoming attracted to her, especially when Yoriko would be over watching TV, and fall sound asleep snuggled up against her side. It had been almost too much for Miyoko to take, but through a great effort of will, she'd kept her silence. She had valued Yoriko's friendship far too much to risk losing it -- especially over being considered a slobbering hentai. Yoriko, however, had not had any such fears. Miyoko recalled how she'd been relaxing in the furo, and heard Yoriko arrive and call out her name. Caught out, she opted to pretend to be asleep. Yoriko, as expected, wandered into the bath looking for her. To Miyoko's continuing amazement, instead of simply yelling at her to wake up, Yoriko had knelt down beside the tub, then reached over and touched her face lovingly. After a few moments of hesitation, the girl gave in to her urges and rose, then leaned over and kissed Miyoko full on the lips. Miyoko responded to the kiss passionately, startling Yoriko half to death. However, that didn't stop the girl from getting into it, which left both women flush-faced and breathing hard. Later, Yoriko had stunned her again by stating she was not a lesbian, but somehow, it had felt 'right' to do what she'd done. That had been two years ago, and their relationship had never looked back. Yoriko now seemed to be flourishing, having blossomed from a shattered, helpess girl to a confident, successful woman. She loved life again, and was caring and compassionate beyond her years -- and Miyoko loved her with every cell of her being. But, if the girl were to find out her secrets from anyone other than her, Miyoko knew all of that would be lost. And right now, there was a great danger of that happening. Suddenly, everything became clear. There was simply no alternative. She had to tell her girlfriend everything. About her curse, her past... And even her son. She had to bare her soul, and hope that Yoriko loved her enough... To forgive her. The mood was pensive but somber in the small restaurant, long closed for the day and empty, except for the small group of people huddled at a table. "Well, this sucks," Akane abruptly spat, kicking back in her chair. "Take it easy, Akane. Nabiki said that all we had to do was wait, and she'd fill us in," Ryouga ventured, despite the withering glare he got in return. "That is true. Her message to us said the same," Shampoo chimed in, nodding. "I really don't see why we even came, Shampoo. The very fact that he vanished without either a word or a trace makes it obvious. He wants nothing more to do with any of us," Mousse observed tiredly, pushing his glasses up his nose. Shampoo glanced back at her husband and sighed. "I want to see what happened to him. See if he really is changed like Nabiki said," she stated, her eyes going slightly misty. "From what I've seen... I'd bet yes, sugar," Ukyou supplied, shaking her head. "What do you mean?" Shampoo blinked, turning toward their host. "Like I told Ryouga and Akane already -- I've seen him. Well, I've seen *her*... And her girlfriend," she responded, shrugging. "One of my girls said her name's Yoriko..." Shampoo was floored. "Girlfriend?" she shuddered, suddenly looking a bit green. Mousse smirked and shook his head. "Makes sense, if you think about it." "Feh... Makes perfect sense to me... Hentai baka," Akane glowered, stubbing out her cigarette gruffly. "I'm going back to the hotel. Screw this," she snapped, grabbing her helmet and heading for the door. "Call me when something actually happens," The others simply watched her go, then all looked back at one another. Ukyou was the first to comment. "Damned shame..." she muttered, sadly. "Hai. She's been through a lot," Ryouga added, nodding. First Ranma left... Then it was my turn," he sighed, remorsefully. "Okay -- now you *have* to explain yourself, sugar." Ryouga raised his gaze, sighed again, then looked back at her sadly. "I tried to move in... After Ranma and Akane had their big fight. I figured that it was going to be my best chance to... Well, you know," he began, sheepishly. "Anyway... I actually thought I was getting somewhere when I made the mistake of getting caught in the rain. When I went into the bathroom at Akane's house to change back, she happened to walk in," he admitted, rolling his eyes. "When I got out of the hospital, she wouldn't even speak to me," he concluded, quietly. "Not that I could blame her. I betrayed her trust, and I guess I got what I deserved," he lamented, lowering his face. "I figured it was something like that. I know Ranchan hated what you were doing, but he swore by the code that he'd never tell -- and he never did. I have to admit, even I was tempted to, but he wouldn't let me," Ukyou indicated, pointedly. "Whatever else he is or was, he was a man of honour," Mousse noted, surprising everyone. Noticing the looks he was getting, he adjusted his glasses and squared himself. "I am no great friend of Saotome -- he is the reason it took me over ten years to marry the woman I love. I do, however, have great respect for him as a warrior, and as an honorable... Man," he stated, pausing momentarily. "I know of what occurred between him and Akane... And for my opinion, she brought her state upon herself. She was always a bitter, angry, and dare I say deeply bigoted girl. Unwilling to simply accept that which Saotome honestly did try to give her, and unable, it seems, to give it," he continued, to the hushed gapes of his companions. "She is destined to spend her days regretting the mistakes of her youth... And doing so alone." "Then why do you think she went to get that kettle? She must be trying to get him back," Ukyou countered, rising in her chair slightly. "I would suppose that she wants to unlock his curse, perhaps simply to hurt him as she perceives herself to have been. Or, she could well want him back. He did, after all, give her a child, and it is said that one never stops loving their first lover," Mousse replied, thoughtfully. Ryouga, meantime, sat blinking as he listened to the conversation. He was still having trouble believing it was *Mousse* speaking so... Intelligently. Finally, he could stand it no longer. "Ano... Don't take this wrong, Mousse... But... What happened to you?" he asked, eliciting a snicker from both Ukyou and Shampoo. Mousse smiled proudly. "Thank you for noticing... I finally had laser surgery on my eyes, and for the first time could read the books I so loved, and not take months to do so. My diction has improved as a result, and it is a blessing to be able to see what lies ahead," he smiled, bowing slightly. "Regrettably, I still do not have perfect vision, but it was a marked improvement." "Is it ever," Ryouga whistled, somewhat awestruck. "I have to agree, sugar. You don't come off anything like you used to," Ukyou smiled, rising and starting to clear the table. "Well, as exciting as this has been, I think it's time to call it a night, gang -- at least for me. Six o'clock comes pretty early, y'know," she indicated, a strong tone of suggestion in her voice. "We will be at our Hotel, the same one that Akane is at. Give us a call if you hear anything. I would assume that Nabiki will contact you first," Mousse indicated, handing Ukyou a business card from the Hotel, their room number written on the front. "Thank you for the food, and the compliment," he added with a smile, bowing quickly then offering Shampoo his hand. "No problem, sugar," she replied, winking. "So, Ryouga-kun... Where are you staying?" she abruptly redirected, glancing over at him as the others departed. "Ano... Still in my tent... At the park. I guess I should try to find a room," he answered, somewhat sheepishly. "Nope... Wrong answer. You won't find a room at this time of night, Ryouga-kun. You better stay here tonight. I have a spare room in the back. You don't snore, do you?" she offered, then looked at him hopefully. "No...!" he replied, looking offended. "Thanks, though," he followed, rising and pushing his chair in. "Okay, good. I'm a light sleeper," she replied, relieved. "The room is right back there, through the kitchen. It's the one on the right, beside mine," she indicated, wagging a thumb over her shoulder as she began gathering the dishes. "Let me help you with that, Ukyou," he suddenly offered, shooing her away from the table. "It's the least I can do," he added, flashing a small smile. She blinked. "A-ano... Sure," she stammered, then stepped aside, her hands rising to hide the pink tinge across her nose. "Nooo... Not another evening shift," Yoriko whined, pouting affectedly. "I thought you were days this week. I had all kinds of plans for us." "Gomen, Yoriko-chan. Michi called in sick, and they're short handed at the club because Aiko and Suki are on holidays." Miyoko explained, unhappily. "It's only for four days, though..." she added, walking up and placing her hands on Yoriko's shoulders, looking deep into the girl's disappointed eyes. "And I promise I'll make it up to you..." "Oohhh... Stop it, Miyoko-chan -- you're making me shiver," Yoriko responded, her own voice husky. "But I'm still going to hold you to it," she smiled, then hugged Miyoko tightly. As she settled on the couch afterward, she watched absently as Miyoko finished ironing her blouse. A smile crossed her face as Miyoko began to sing softly to herself, something she often did when she was doing her housework or just in a good mood. Yoriko loved to hear her girlfriend sing, and could spend hours doing just that. As she was about to close her eyes and enjoy it, however, she suddenly recalled something. "Oh! Miyoko-chan! I almost forgot...!" she blurted, grabbing at her purse. "Huh? Forgot what?" "This! Your singing reminded me of it," she announced, holding up a 3" CD. "Someone left it for me at work. It was probably meant for you," she replied, offering the disc. "A CD...? What's on it?" Miyoko responded, taking it and looking it over for a label. Suddenly, the pit of her stomach tightened. "You! I never knew you sang professionally -- although you still should be. You do have a beautiful voice, Miyoko-chan," Yoriko responded, excitedly. "Oh, this came with it -- they screwed up the names, though. They put your brother's down instead," she added, holding up the note. Miyoko opened the note, read it, then sank to her knees. "They *do* know..." Tears began to run down her face, and her stomach suddenly felt like it was full of broken glass. Her deepest fear had just been realized -- they *were* trying to destroy her life, and it looked like they wanted to drag Yoriko down with her. Instantly, a cold fury rose within her, completely engulfing all of her senses. The first shot had been fired -- And it had drawn blood. So consumed with anger and hate was she that she barely noticed Yoriko dropping to her knees, profusely and tearfully apologizing for whatever she had done wrong, and promising never to mention it again. Wordlessly, Miyoko rose to her feet and strode from the room, her face a mask of pure rage. She continued straight out into the hall, and strode deliberately toward the far end. Yoriko, who had chased after her, froze in her tracks as she watched Miyoko open the window at the end of the third-storey hall. Miyoko, meantime, glanced out it for a moment, then suddenly sprang out it like she was launched from a cannon. Shrieking in horror, Yoriko dashed to the window and looked out, expecting to see the woman she loved falling to her death. She was even more stunned to see Miyoko bounding off into the distance at incredible speed, leaping from rooftop to rooftop like she had wings. Collapsing to the floor in shock, Yoriko stared gaping into space as her head spun, trying desperately to sort out what had just happened. She wasn't having much luck. Snapping out of her daze, she picked herself up and walked back to the apartment numbly, her gut churning. She didn't understand why, but she had the terrifying feeling that she had somehow opened Pandora's Box. Ukyou listened to the phone intently, writing everything down so she'd be able to relay it right. "Hai... I got it, Nabiki-san. I don't think it'll work, but I got it," she responded, critically. "Sure... Ryouga, Akane, Mousse and Shampoo. That's it, though... Nobody else. Nope... Neither one, sugar. Okay... See you then," she concluded, hanging the phone up slowly as she reread the instructions. "That was Nabiki, na?" Ryouga asked from behind her, having been within earshot of the conversation. "Hai. She outlined this hair-brained scheme to me, but I think 'Dear ol' Nabs' has lost it," she grumbled, handing the pad to him. "She *is* crazy. All this will do is make him... Ah, 'her' even madder," he agreed, upon reading it over. "I know. Well, better call the others... They'll want to see it," she commented, heading out into the restaurant shaking her head. Miyoko continued to leap from building to building, not even caring that she was dressed in a skirt and tank top. All that mattered to her was that she was zeroing in on her target. She had no idea where everyone else she had seen was, but she knew how to get to Ukyou, and that was a start. As she traveled the Kyoto skyway, her mind reeled with a combination of anger and fear. Anger that Nabiki had interfered in her life, and fear that it was going to cost her the love of the only person she cared about. Suddenly, her heart wrenched. In her anger, she hadn't explained herself or the situation to Yoriko, and worse yet, had taken off in a blind rage without so much as a word. She had left the poor girl cold at her apartment, and probably scared her to death. Cursing at her temper, she decided her 'visit' could wait. Yoriko was more important. Redirecting the angle of the leap she was just completing, she rebounded instead of advancing, heading back as fast as she could. She only prayed she would get there before Yoriko did anything she would regret for the rest of her life. Yoriko wasn't frightened and confused anymore. Now, she was scared and worried. After taking some time to sort things out, it was obvious to her that someone was trying to hurt her girlfriend. It had something to do with the past that Miyoko didn't talk about, and it had something to do with her brother, of that much she was sure. And whatever it was had brought out a white-hot fury in her girlfriend, the likes of which she had never before seen. That had scared her, but, after she'd thought it through, it had begun to worry her sick. She was afraid that whatever was at the bottom of it had the potential to drag Miyoko back into it, and quite possibly away from her. Miyoko's unprecedented wordless departure had convinced her of that. She hadn't found the nerve to actually tell her yet, but she *was* deeply in love with Miyoko. The woman's silent strength, worldly wisdom and genuine, forthright manner had long ago captured her heart, and she knew that she wouldn't even be alive had it not been for Miyoko's unselfish, unlimited compassion. She needed Miyoko. More than she needed the air she breathed. And she wasn't about to let some resurrected demon from her girlfriend's secretive past take her away. She didn't care about the secrets themselves -- she had her own that she'd rather not divulge. All she cared about... All she wanted... Was Miyoko's love. Nothing else mattered. During the course of trying to get things straight in her head, she came to the conclusion that she had to confront the owner of that okonomiyaki-ya. She was the only other person who knew anything about Miyoko, and Miyoko had been awfully anxious to avoid her. Thus decided, she threw on her shell, grabbed her purse, and almost ran out of the apartment. Miyoko angled her approach perfectly, slipping neatly through the window of her apartment. As she settled to her feet in the middle of the living room, she called out for her girlfriend urgently. Her heart landed on the carpet with a squishy splat as she realized she was too late. Yoriko was already gone, and Miyoko, particularly given her mood, assumed the worst. "Baka! How could you be so foolish?" she cursed out loud, smacking herself in the forehead. Stomping over to the phone, she punched the speed-dial for Yoriko's apartment, praying she would be there to answer. Many long, agonizing rings later, Yoriko's answering machine picked up. Miyoko held the receiver out in front of her for a moment, glared at it, then shattered it to bits in her hand. "If I've lost her over this..." she snarled, lifting the remnants before her face. "Somebody's gonna die," she continued, then threw the pieces to the floor. Yoriko swallowed hard. Before her stood the 'Happy Spatula'. Within it lay her best hope for answers... But were they answers she really wanted to hear? Despite her current concerns and fears, she liked the way things were between Miyoko and herself. She knew that going into that shop could very likely alter that state forever, but, as she considered her next move, she reminded herself that if she didn't go in there and fight for Miyoko, she could just as easily lose her completely. Suddenly, she made up her mind. Miyoko had already given her back her life, and now something was threatening to take Miyoko's away. Her course was clear. Preparing herself, she strode across the street, headed straight for the restaurant door. Inside the shop meantime, the same table was occupied by the same faces, none of which looked very impressed. "You were right, Ryouga-san. This is crazy. It will accomplish nothing," Mousse pronounced, handing the pad to Shampoo. "You think. I figure it'll snap him out of this bullshit delusion he's living in. Once he can't hide behind his curse, he'll have to smarten up," Akane grinned savagely, setting the kettle on the table. "He won't have any more friggin' excuses," she added, shoving the kettle toward Ryouga. "Go fill it up. Warm water. We'll have it ready, just in case." "Akane -- I really don't think..." Ryouga began, but Akane cut him off. "Yeah, that's your problem isn't it, Hibiki? You just don't think, do you?" she suddenly snarled, jumping to her feet. "For once, just shut up and do as you're told!" she commanded, glaring death at the stunned Ryouga. "Cool it, Akane!" Ukyou quickly injected, breaking into her line of sight. "This is my place of business. If you two want to take this outside, that's fine. But don't start anything in here!" she warned, fingering the spatula in her hand. Akane shifted her glare to the angry chef, then puffed out a sigh and sat heavily. "Gomen, Ukyou..." she grumbled, then crossed her arms in front of her, scowling. "Good. Now, if..." she attempted, but was interrupted by the rustle of the shop curtain. Pasting on her best smile, Ukyou automatically turned toward her customer and rattled off her standard greeting. "Hi! Welcome to the Happy Spatula! May I seat you please?" she roted out, then her face promptly fell. She recognized the girl instantly. "Konnichiwa," Yoriko began, bowing politely. "May... I speak to the manager, please?" she asked tentatively. Recovering, Ukyou decided to play dumb. "That'd be me, sugar. Kuonji Ukyou. What can I do for you?" she responded, sweetly. Yoriko flashed a nervous smile, then looked back at Ukyou hopefully. "My name is Naganato Yoriko. I... Believe you know my friend... Takara Miyoko?" she stated, clutching her purse tightly. Before Ukyou could even react, a breadknife flashed through the air, narrowly missing Yoriko's ear. As she yelped in surprise, Akane was on her feet and in the girl's face. "It's you, isn't it? You're the one that's keeping him living this lie!" she snarled, grabbing Yoriko's blouse and twisting her fist in it. Yoriko was petrified. All she could manage was to stare fearfully back at Akane, her heart pounding in her chest, and her entire body trembling. Akane looked her up and down angrily, then sneered in disgust. "Just like I figured. Weak, stupid and gutless. Just like he figures a woman should be," she spat, then threw the frightened girl back hard against the wall. The impact stunned Yoriko enough that she couldn't prevent herself from falling to the floor, ending up gasping for breath and too stunned to even think. Slowly, her shaking hand went to her now torn blouse and pulled it closed, her fear-widened eyes filling with tears. Ukyou finally recovered from her shock and dashed to the girl's side, worried sick. "It's okay, honey... You'll be fine," she whispered, quickly checking her for injuries. Satisfied that she was only winded and scared to death, Ukyou snapped her head around and literally screamed at Akane. "What in the name of *hell* were you thinking? You could've hurt her! She's *not* a Martial Artist, you damned fool!" "Who cares? She's the reason! It's because of *her* that he's here! It's because of *her* that *I* had to come here! She's lucky I didn't kill her!" Akane shot back, her eyes flaring. "You know that's not true, Akane," Mousse abruptly stated, flatly. Akane spun to confront him, a venomous insult ready on her tongue, but instead, she clamped her mouth closed and simply stared at him, unable to respond. A second later, she huffed angrily and slumped in her chair, muttering something under her breath. Ukyou, meantime, turned her attention back to Yoriko, who had only just started to recover. "C'mon, honey... Let's get you up out of here, and I'll get you a drink," she soothed, taking Yoriko's arm and urging her to stand. "A - Arigato..." the very shaken girl responded, her face still white. As Ukyou lead her over to the table, Mousse rose and pulled out a chair, then passed her his untouched water glass. Akane watched the scene disdainfully, finally swinging her chair around so her back was to Yoriko. Yoriko, after taking a long sip of the water, cleared her throat and surprised everyone by immediately speaking to Akane. "Ano... Who... Are you? And why did you attack me?" she asked pointedly, looking across the table at her. Akane only turned and shot a look back at her, then smirked. "I'm your 'friend's' rightful fiancee, blondie... Name's Tendou Akane. And I 'attacked' you because you're in my way," she snapped, curtly. Yoriko's jaw dropped. "Nani? Fiancee?" she blurted involuntarily, unable to fathom that Miyoko would even associate with someone like this 'Akane'. Akane's smirk became a scowl. "Didn't know that, did you? Shit, you probably don't have a goddamned clue who your 'friend' really is. Well, let me smarten you up. She's a lie... Her whole frigging *life* is a lie, koneko... And she's been sucking you right along with it," she growled, the look on her face indicating her pleasure in the revelation. Yoriko shuddered, then anger flashed across her face. A heartbeat later, she hauled off and slapped Akane across the face. So unexpected was her act that Akane was unprepared to stop it, and as her cheek reddened from the strike, she stared back at the glaring Yoriko in gape-mouthed shock. As she raised her hand to her stinging face, she paused for a long moment, then shook her head and smiled. "I'll give you that one, koneko... I probably deserved it," she stated, surprisingly calmly. "But I wasn't kidding. You're up to your ass in things you don't understand." Yoriko's face hardened. "You don't know her. Just by the way you talk, you don't know her. She's the most beautiful, caring, selfless person I've ever known. And you have no right to be interfering in *our* life!" she asserted, not breaking her gaze. Akane gaped back at her for a moment, then broke out in cruel, mocking laughter. "Honey, have I got *news* for you," she wailed, then kicked back in her chair. "I just hope you're not a fainter," she abruptly added, grinning wryly. Yoriko, despite her anger, couldn't help but swallow hard. Once she had calmed down enough to think clearly again, it hadn't taken Miyoko too long to figure out where Yoriko had likely gone. Miyoko knew she was a smart girl, and that she had likely made the connection between the disc and the Happy Spatula. However, even if she hadn't, Miyoko couldn't take the chance. As she bounded through the air once more, she was deathly afraid that she was already too late. "You expect me to believe that?" Yoriko exclaimed, wide eyed. "Do I really look that stupid?" she followed, angrily. "You're just making up some horror story so you can get him -- *her* back!" she retorted, her face livid. Akane only shook her head. "No, I don't expect you to believe me. I expect you to believe *this*..." she countered, grabbing her water glass and dousing Ryouga. Yoriko gasped in horror as she watched the stunned man sitting near her suddenly change into a small black pig. As the occurrence sank in, she suddenly shuddered and melted back into her chair. Akane huffed in response, ignoring Ryouga's squealing protests. "He changes to a pig, `cause he fell in the Pool of Drowned Pig. Mousse over there changes to a duck, Shampoo changes to a cat, and *Ranma* changes to a girl. How the hell else do you think he got me pregnant?" she followed, setting her glass back down. "Sorry about the mess, Uuchan," she tossed off absently, flashing a glance at the chef as she spoke. "Yeah, yeah..." Ukyou muttered, rising to go retrieve her mop. "C'mon Ryouga," she waved, exasperatedly. "This... Isn't true... I've seen her in the bath... She's a real woman!" Yoriko grasped pitifully, still valiantly resisting the thought that this 'woman' across from her could be telling the truth. "Wake up and smell the coffee, blondie... I already told you he locked his curse with that damned ladle. He'd stay a woman until it's unlocked, no matter what happens," Akane sneered, flatly. Yoriko shuddered again. Her mind reeled. Could it be true? Could her beloved Miyoko really be this... Ranma? She felt her stomach lurch sickeningly. "Why...? Why are you here?" the shattered girl abruptly whispered, raising her reddening eyes to meet Akane's cold glare. Akane's eyes flashed. "I want that *bastard* to suffer... suffer like he made me suffer. He destroyed my life, and I mean to see that his perfect little world comes crashing down around his goddamned ears!" she snarled, leaning across the table into Yoriko's draining face. "And if that means shattering your little fantasy, koneko, that's tough shit!" "Really fucking nice, Akane... Why don't you pick on someone who can kick your bitchy ass straight back to Nerima?" a startlingly familiar and very angry voice suddenly snarled. Everyone still in the room turned to the source, stunned to see a green-haired woman standing just inside the door, decked out in a black gi. Akane's face drained. "R -- Ranma?" she gasped, falling back into her chair. Miyoko's eyes narrowed. "No, Akane... Not any more. It's Miyoko now, and don't you *ever* forget it," she growled, eyeing Akane coldly as she quickly moved to Yoriko's side. Softening her face, she knelt beside her girlfriend's chair and took her hands gently. "Are you okay, Yoriko-chan?" she asked softly, her eyes shimmering with concern. "H - Hai..." Yoriko gasped quietly, her face an uncertain mix of happiness, fright and confusion. As Miyoko looked her over, she immediately noticed the rips in her blouse. Instantly, rage flashed across her face. In a blur, she was across the table and had Akane by the front of her shirt, yanking her out of the chair and spinning her to the floor. "What the hell did you do to her?" she yelled, preparing to drive her fist into Akane's horrified face. Akane didn't get the chance to respond. Suddenly, Miyoko felt a presence behind her, and before she could turn completely around, she felt the water strike her back and shoulder. Her face drained as she first felt a tingle -- and then the change. Time seemed to stand still. Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyou and Yoriko all gasped, then held their breath. Miyoko froze. This, she hadn't expected. It had been seven years. Seven precious years that she had lived without knowing this sensation every time she turned around. Seven years of not having to live in fear of water. Seven years that had almost allowed him to forget this horrible, sickening curse. And suddenly, with one splash from a certain kettle, it had all been washed away. Otoko-Miyoko lost control. Faster than anyone could think, his hand left Akane's shirt and snapped backwards, nailing a crushing grip on the stunned Ryouga's throat -- and he began to squeeze. He could feel the tough, sinewy texture of Ryouga's windpipe as it began to buckle under the relentless pressure of his fingers. For a fleeting second, it felt good. Ryouga's strained gurgle as he tried to draw breath fell on deaf ears, the same ears that tuned out the panicked shouts around them... Until one shout -- one pleading, frightened entreaty pierced through his rage. Shifting his gaze from Ryouga's cyanotic face, he found the frightened, confused eyes of his girlfriend. Instantly, his heart shattered, and his bloodlust fled him like a beaten horse. Releasing his death-grip on Ryouga and letting him drop gasping and choking to the floor, he gazed down at him disdainfully. "And to think I used to consider you my friend," he growled, turning his eyes away. Looking back at Yoriko, his expression melted into one of deep sadness. For an eternal moment, they simply looked into each other's eyes. Abruptly, otoko-Miyoko made up his mind. Wordlessly, he grabbed Yoriko around the waist and leapt toward the door. In his next leap, they were both gone. Mousse, as he slumped back into his seat, echoed the thoughts of all present with one short sentence. "That went well," he deadpanned, pulling off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. Otoko-Miyoko paced the shoreline of the small lake, his heart a lump of lead in his chest. A few feet away, Yoriko sat in the sand crying softly. It was a weak, painful cry, the kind a person is left with when they're utterly overwhelmed. Every pitiful sob tore through him like a bullet, until finally, he could stand it no more. Turning, he walked up to her shuddering form and knelt beside her, then tried to reach for her shoulder. "Yoriko-chan..." he ventured gently, but she shrank away from his touch. "Don't... Call me that," Yoriko sobbed, turning her face away. Otoko-Miyoko erked in confusion, then sighed heavily. Suddenly, he knew what the problem was. Walking back to the edge of the water, he stopped mere inches from the reach of the lapping wavelets, then turned to face his girlfriend. "Yoriko!" he shouted, fiercely. "What?" she shouted back, raising her head to glare at him. As soon as she did, he took one step back. As the coolness of the water caressed his foot, he closed his eyes and shuddered as the change came over him once more. Yoriko's face dropped. Miyoko froze, hoping she had guessed right. A tense second dragged by. Yoriko suddenly squealed, leapt to her feet and raced over to Miyoko, throwing herself into the shocked woman's arms. "Miyoko-chan!" she wailed brokenly, then dissolved in tears as she clamped on for dear life. "I thought I'd lost you forever," she eventually sobbed, trying to bury her face even deeper in Miyoko's gi. "No, Yoriko-chan. You never lost me -- not even for a second," Miyoko assured, tightening her hug for emphasis. "I'm still me, no matter what form I'm in," she emphasized, lifting Yoriko's face and smiling sadly. "Ano... But I thought... That woman made it sound..." Yoriko began, but couldn't put her thoughts into words. "I don't understand any of this!" she cried, jamming her eyes shut and shaking her head violently. Miyoko had to smile, despite her aching chest. "It's a long story, Yoriko-chan..." she remarked, tiredly. "A *very* long story." "...and that's when they started to plan the wedding," Miyoko concluded, pausing to catch her breath. Yoriko couldn't believe her ears. "You mean you were actually going to marry her?" she blinked, aghast. "Hai. Like I said, it took almost losing her to make me realize I really did love her. At the time, anyway," she indicated, shaking her head. "And you have to remember... She was a *girl* herself back then," she remarked, smirking. "Ay... Somehow, I can't picture it," Yoriko stated, grimacing. Miyoko stifled a snicker. "Anyway, the wedding fell apart when that old pervert I told you about pulled a stunt, which ended up turning it into a riot scene. That, I think, is when things *really* started to go downhill. I figure she blamed me for the entire fiasco, and probably still does. Actually, I'm *sure* she still does," she noted, sighing sadly and tossing the small rock she had been playing with into the water. "She *always* blamed me for everything... No matter what the truth was," she added, dourly. "Then... Is that what this was all about? A failed wedding?" Yoriko asked, her eyes widening at the thought. Miyoko looked across at her and smiled. "I wish it was something that simple," she lamented, rolling her eyes. "That was only the beginning. A while after the dust settled, Akane and I ended up alone together one night, which almost never happened. We had a few drinks... And... Well, it came out later that I got her pregnant," Miyoko stated, her face sobering. "Then... You really do have a son?" Yoriko asked, biting her knuckle. Miyoko looked over at her sadly, then drew her knees to her chest and set her chin on them. "Hai," she sighed, closing her eyes. "He's almost seven now... And I've never seen him. He lives with his mother back in Nerima." Yoriko didn't reply at first, only adjusting herself to take the same pose as Miyoko. After drawing a long breath, she finally spoke. "So... What happened to make you..." she began, but Miyoko beat her to it. "Make me leave? Hrmph. It was stupid, really... The day after we... 'you know'... She woke up with a chip on her shoulder. Started snarking at me every time we passed. Turned out she had a real problem with having gone to bed with a 'pervert', as she considered me. Well, we started to fight... It lasted for three days, finally coming to a head when she slashed me with a katana. That was the first time she ever struck at me with the *intent* to hurt me, and the only reason she was able to was because I wasn't expecting it," she explained, her face darkening at the memory. "You see, I *was* in love with her... And because of that, I could never hurt her, even accidentally. When she slashed me though, something snapped in my head. Suddenly, all the crap I had been putting up with... The constant fights, the mallets, the insanity, her lethal cooking... Was for nothing. She proved she didn't love me, and my tolerance, which had taken a beating already, just... Wore out. Later that night, after she had finally gone to bed and my old man fell asleep, I packed my bags and left. Sayonara Nerima, sayonara insanity," she concluded, puffing out a breath. "Masaka... I can't blame you. She's nuts..." Yoriko commented, shaking her head at the story. "You said it," Miyoko noted, nodding slightly. "And from what I've seen, she's only gotten worse. It's sad, really," she added, quietly. Yoriko bit her lip as she noticed Miyoko's expression, the sadness in her girlfriend's features rekindling a certain burgeoning fear. "Miyoko-chan... Do you still love her?" she abruptly asked, holding her breath. Miyoko puffed a single laugh and shook her head. "No," she stated, emphatically. Turning, she took Yoriko's hand and held it tightly. "I love *you*, Yoriko-chan." Yoriko's reaction totally surprised her. Lip trembling, the girl yanked her hand back and stood up. Looking down at the blinking Miyoko with tearing eyes, she clenched her fists and tried to speak clearly. "Iya, Miyoko-chan... You... Have a family... You can't abandon them for me. I... Won't ask that of you," she sobbed, wiping her eyes. "I can't... Come between you... And your son," she added, fighting more powerful sobs. Miyoko, at first a bit shocked by Yoriko's reaction, abruptly smiled appreciatively. She had just been reminded of one of the many reasons she loved this girl. "Yoriko-chan... I think that's so 'you', it makes me love you even more," she remarked, shifting the blinks back to Yoriko. Shaking her head, she squared herself and took a deep breath. "I have a son, yes. But there's a lot more to it than that," she stated, her face sobering once more. "When I left, I didn't know Akane was pregnant. In fact, it was only three years ago that I found out. I was walking in the park and overheard some old schoolmates talking about 'Akane's kid'. It freaked me, so I followed them for a while, and one of them mentioned that *I* was the father," she related, her eyes lowering. "I'd already given up my entire history... And my gender. I'd been living like this for three years, and for the first time ever I was really, really *happy* with my life. Because of that, I fought with myself for ages over what to do... I *love* kids; but, when it came down to it, not enough to give up what I had here. I... Decided that I'd set up a trust fund for him, which he'll get automatically when he's eighteen. I put money in it every payday so he'll be able to go to college... And have a chance at a decent future," she explained, her voice growing low. "He's never even seen me, Yoriko-chan... And I *don't* want to see him," she emphasized, her face indicating her seriousness. Yoriko only sniffed again and shook her head adamantly. "He's... Your son, Miyoko-chan... He needs you; don't you even care?" she blurted, starting to cry despite her best efforts. "Yes, dammit! I *do* care!" Miyoko snapped in response, then gasped as she realized that she had. Collecting herself, she rose to her feet and stepped up close to the sniffling Yoriko. Looking directly into her eyes, Miyoko took her hands again and held them gently. "Yoriko-chan... I know what you're doing, and I love you for it. But... If I ever see him... I'll fall in love with him. And if I do, then it's over, and all this has been for nothing. They'll have me again; they've got that damned kettle, so I'll be honour-bound to marry Akane, no matter how I feel about it. Don't you see...? That kid... My son... Is the key to my damnation," she stated, firmly. Yoriko shuddered. "But, Miyoko..." she began weakly, but didn't finish. Miyoko, noting that fact, broke into a loving smile. "I've been to heaven, Yoriko-chan..." she said, squeezing Yoriko's hands for emphasis. "And there's no way I'm going back to that hell." The last of Yoriko's resistance crumbled at Miyoko's words, and with a burst of powerful tears, she collapsed into her lover's arms. "Miyoko-chan... I love you!" she wailed out loud, shocking Miyoko. This was the first time Yoriko had ever said the words, and they seemed to send her aching heart into overdrive. Euphoria literally wafted over her, leaving her barely capable of forming the words she couldn't help but say. "And I love you, Yoriko-chan... More than *anything*," she whispered, urgently. "You should have waited, Akane... I had it all figured out, but you just had to jump the gun, didn't you? Now he knows we have that thing, and he'll probably disappear again," Nabiki admonished, handing her shaken sister another cold cloth. "He jumped me... Ryouga was only trying to protect me..." she protested, glancing at the wheezing, gasping man. Nabiki was unimpressed. "And why, praytell, would he jump you? It wouldn't happen to have been something you did, would it?" she intoned, glancing at the knife buried in the wall nearby. "You, of all people, should know how protective he is. Going after his 'girlfriend' only made matters worse," she added, shaking her head. "Nabiki, he was beyond pissed. I've never seen him so mad. I honestly thought Ryouga-kun here was a goner. This may not be such a great idea," Ukyou pointed out, worriedly. "He scared *me*, too. I have seen him get mad -- but today, I also thought he would kill. This is *not* the Ranma I know. No way," Shampoo quipped, shaking her purple-maned head. "I wonder what makes him like this?" she added, shooting a barely noticeable glance at Akane. "I agree with you, Ukyou-san. I don't think it is, either. We have seen enough to convince us that the person we saw in here today is *not* Ranma. She's a different personality entirely, and I honestly believe that it serves no purpose to continue this... Exercise," Mousse seconded, glancing at Shampoo, who nodded. Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "Look, I didn't spend seven years turning over rocks for this to fall apart now," she began, her voice controlled. "You guys go home -- except you, Akane. I'll take over from here, and we'll call you when it's all over," she continued, gruffly. Mousse huffed at her statement. "That's assuming you survive," he remarked, shaking his head as he rose to leave. Shampoo suppressed a grin. Once the Amazons departed and Ryouga had been escourted back to his room to rest, Nabiki sat beside Akane and regarded her levelly. "Your call -- do you think you can behave long enough to finish this or not?" she asked, her voice low. "Cut me some slack, Nabiki. I'm not done with him yet," she growled, tossing aside her cloth. "Glad to hear it," Nabiki replied, her voice edged with sarcasm. "I've only got one ace left, and I *need* you to keep your head on straight. I do hope you brought your lithium." Akane's eyes widened. "Keep your damned voice down!" she hissed, angrily. =============================================================== END - Secrets V1P2 A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished! coutuva@vecdev.com