Send C&C to: oddball22@hotmail.com Find my stories at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000 Ranma 1/2: New Challenges Bonds and Connections Chapter 11 "THAT INCREDIBLE IDIOT!" *CRASH!* "Please calm down, Ukyo-sama," Konatsu implored her. "It will do no good." "It will do me PLENTY of good!" Ukyo retorted angrily. She turned to where Yuri was sitting, having been strangely quiet. "Doesn't this upset you at all?" Yuri looked up from where she was reading the note left by her brother. "Of course it upsets me! I agree completely! My brother's being an idiot again. I just don't know what to do about it, since he could be anywhere by now." "Men," Ukyo spat out, then collapsed into a chair and took a deep breath. She looked over at Konatsu again. "What exactly did he say again?" Konatsu looked down as he recalled last night. "Well, it seems that those rope bindings weren't enough..." Konatsu glanced from the clock, which read 1:45 am, to wear Kenji lay, still unconscious or asleep, the kunoichi didn't know which. However, neither assumptions were actually correct as he noticed the other boy start to stir and groan. "ow, my head," the ninja boy complained weakly. Konatsu checked to make sure all his weapons were ready, just in case. "Kenji-sama?" he ventured. "yeah, kenzen, it's me," Kenji replied, his voice still weak. He tried sitting up, then realized he couldn't due to the fact that his wrists and ankles were bound with strong rope. "Uh, mind untying me?" Konatsu reluctantly shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot do that." Kenji sighed. "Look, I can understand why you guys did this, but I've got Kae under wraps for now." At Konatsu's confused stare, the other boy elaborated. "When Kae first took control of my body in that cave, she locked my consciousness in some sort of psychic prison, deep within my mind. It took me a long time to break out. But when I finally broke out and began to fight with her mentally, she would have pushed me back in there had not you activated my curse. The shock of it allowed me enough time to win and push her down instead, and then lock her up in the same mental cage I was in." He sighed again. "But it won't last. If I eventually broke free, so will she. That's why you've got to release me." The male kunoichi regarded the captive boy. It sounded like Kenji, but still... "Why must you be set free? Should you not be kept bound until we can find a way to exorcise her spirit from within you?" Kenji shook his head. "It's just a matter of time until she comes back, and she's more powerful than all of you. After all, she DID beat you twice." Konatsu looked down, embarrassed. "And if I could get out these bindings, so could she." Konatsu looked to see Kenji slip the last of the rope off and stand up. Konatsu instantly took up a ready stance. "Please, I cannot allow you to leave, Kenji-san." "Heh, that's the first time you've called me 'Kenji-san'," he noted wryly. "I'm disappointed in my sister, she should have known I could've got out of these simple bindings." He shook his head, then looked over at the kunoichi, still in a ready stance. "You must be serious. Look, you would do anything to protect Yuri and Ukyo, right?" He waited for Konatsu's nod, before continuing. "Me too. While she's inside me, I'm a danger to everyone around me." Kenji turned away and leaned one hand against the wall, while his other hand clenched into a fist then fell limply to his side. He tried to keep the pain he was feeling from spreading into his voice, but was unsuccessful. "Do you know why Kae was so insistent on killing my sister and Ukyo?" Konatsu shook his head, realizing after the fact that Kae did seem quite intent on that. "Why?" "She was hoping that the sight of them dying by my hands would be enough to dishearten me, so I wouldn't fight her control," he said in a much quieter voice. Konatsu had to strain his ears to hear it. "That's why I have to get away and find a way to remove her on my own. Or maybe she'll leave when she's accomplished her goals, I don't know. The point is, I can't stay here." Konatsu had been lowering the bamboo sword little by little during Kenji's explanation, finding himself almost agreeing with it. "But... I don't know. Yuri-sama and Ukyo-sama told me not to let you go..." He looked up as Kenji put a hand on his shoulder. "I can understand that," Kenji told him. "You don't want to betray my sister. You're the first guy she's gotten close to, that's pretty special. So, how about... this?" Konatsu's look of confusion lasted only until Kenji thrust his knee in the other boy's stomach, driving the air from his body and collapsing him to the floor. Kenji plucked the wooden sword from Konatsu's loose grip. "Sorry about this," Konatsu heard the other boy say, then there was an impact on the back of his head and all went black. Yuri frowned while Ukyo sat back and sighed, exasperated. "I don't believe this," the chef mumbled to herself, then glared at Konatsu. "I take it back. You're the idiot for letting him get away!" Konatsu looked even more ashamed, if that was possible. "No, Kenji's just a coward. His solution to problems is to run away." She chuckled bitterly. "Brave, brave, sir Kenji." "I'm sure he had good reasons to-" Konatsu began to say. "No he didn't!" Yuri very nearly hissed. "Ukyo's right. You're a much better fighter than my brother, and yet you allowed him to take advantage of you." She shook her head. "We trusted you and you let us down." Her eyes met his. "I trusted you." Konatsu flinched, the words coming from Yuri hurting him greatly. He knew he had let them down, and he silently vowed he would make it up to them, especially Yuri. Yuri stood up and headed for the door, then turned towards Ukyo. "I'll be downstairs getting the grill warmed up." At Ukyo's absent nod, she took one last look at the ashamed kunoichi. "You'd better be ready to start cleaning soon, Konatsu-san." Then she left the room. If, Konatsu realized, he could ever get her to trust him again. "Ukyo?" Yuri called from downstairs. "You didn't open the restaurant at this morning, did you?" The chef stood and walked to the door. "No, why?" she called down the stairs. There was a pause, then, "I think you better come down here." Confused, Ukyo did just that, Konatsu following discreetly. Yuri was standing in front of the grill when Ukyo found her, and was a handed piece of paper. "What's this?" Ukyo asked, accepted the paper. "I just found it on the grill," Yuri responded. Ukyo's brow furrowed in confusion as she read the short note. "What the hell? 'Go to the Tendo Dojo at 10am if you want answers about Kae'. Who left this here?" Yuri shrugged. "I don't know, I just found it on the grill. But the note says for all of us to go, even Selah." Ukyo folded the note and placed it in her pocket. "I guess we'll find out later this morning. But let's get the morning crowd served first." The other girl nodded, and the group started into their normal morning routine. He awoke yet again, this time groaning and holding his head. "Stupid violent woman. What was her problem?" "I don't know, what is my problem?" Kodachi inquired in a low, dangerous voice. "Or maybe, I'm not the one with the problem?" "Urp!" Taro blinked his open, sat up, and beheld the same girl sitting by his side. "What'd you hit me for anyway!?" "As if you didn't know!" she shot back, angrily. "No one may partake of these lips without my permission, which you did not have!" Taro 'hmph'ed. "Don't act so shy! Considering your 'free' behavior already..." "How dare you!" Kodachi seethed, scandalized, and fixed him with a venomous glare. "I can assure you I have done nothing improper!" "Yeah, whatever," Taro waved her off, giving up on her and spying his pack across the room. He stood up, wrapping the blanket around his midsection. "But if that's the way you're gonna be, then I'll just leave." Kodachi blinked as he rummaged through his pack for clothes, then remembered how he had arrived. "Wait a moment. You are not fully healed, and I would like an explanation for your arrival, as well as your name." Taro froze and looked down, noting the bandages and fading bruises and burns, and came to a startling conclusion. "I'm healed enough," he told her. "As for how I got here, I was fighting... somebody, who was apparently a whole lot stronger than when I fought... them last." He shrugged, after putting on his pants under the blanket. "I lost, but I'm going to hunt them down and get a rematch. And you don't need to know my name." Kodachi was about to reply, when another voice interrupted her. "Mistress Kodachi, this came for you this morning," Sasuke's voice called from outside the room. A small envelope was pushed under the door. "Thank you, Sasuke," she replied, while picking up the missive. Opening the envelope, which was marked 'urgent', revealed two pieces of paper, one addressed to her, and one addressed to: "Pantyhose Taro? My, that is an unusual name." Taro froze as the girl spoke his hated name. "I wonder if..." Kodachi looked up to see the boy trying to finish dressing as discreetly as possible. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You are 'Pantyhose Taro'?" "Don't call me that!" he yelled. His face flushing with shame, embarrassment, and anger, he shouldered his pack and opened her window. Kodachi sat back on her shins and regarded the youth. He was brash, annoying, strange, and forceful, but then she had her own problems as well. Maybe... "Very well, how about just Taro-san? And do you have to leave right away?" Taro halted just as he was about to leap out the window, not quite sure if he heard right. She wasn't laughing at him? She wasn't make fun of his name? She wanted him to stay? Slowly, Taro took his foot off the windowsill and turned back around, doubt and confusion warring for prominence on his face. Her own was carefully controlled, but he could find no visible trace of mockery. He dropped his pack and crossed his arms over his chest, his lips turning up into a sneer. "What's the matter? Don't you have any good jokes about my name you want to share?" Kodachi blinked. "No. Should I? I admit, it is a little unusual, but there must be a good reason. And after all, you are the one wearing pantyhose around your waist." She held out the piece of paper with his name on it. "And don't you want to read your note first?" Taro's insides warred against each other. One side told him he should just go and spare himself the humiliation that she was bound to deliver. The other informed him that here was a girl who didn't seem to mind his name, and wasn't the whole point of getting his named changed to be able to get to know a girl? Hesitantly, Taro took a step forward and grabbed the paper held out for him, still uncertain, but thinking he could at least see what the note said. Kodachi read hers at the same time. "WHAT!?" Taro crumpled his note and tossed it on the ground while turning to the girl. "Quick, where am I?" Kodachi looked up calmly from hers. "Why, we're in Nerima, of course." Taro nodded. "Good, then finding the Tendo Dojo should be easy." He turned back to the window. "Yours says to go to the Tendo Dojo as well?" Kodachi asked, somewhat curious. Taro nodded, but before he could speak, there came a knocking at the door. "Imouto-san? Are you in there? Sasuke told me he also gave you a note." "Yes, I am in here, oniisan," she replied, getting up to open the door. "Are you coming?" Tatewaki asked. The shake of his sister's head caused him to frown. "Why not? This promises news of our mother. Do you not want to find out? Are you not at least a little curious?" "Mother... abandoned us," Kodachi told him, though she felt uneasy saying that. "If she could not be bothered to care enough to stay with us, I fail to see why I should care about her." It sounded hollow to her, but there was a chance that this new information could put to shame all the negative feelings she had held for the past many years. Tatewaki frowned. He still didn't care for his mother much either, but the encounter with the person who claimed she was his mother, and who had sacrificed herself for him, had made him more receptive to the news. "Dachi, do you not remember a little over a week ago? Where were you? How were you feeling?" Kodachi's brow furrowed. "I... do not recall much from that time. I do remember that vile dog in my mind, but now he is gone." The elder Kuno sighed. "There is... something you should know, something I have kept from you." Kodachi sat back and regarded her brother in curiosity, as he began to relate the events of a week ago, when he showed up in her hospital room and found another woman there. The expression of the young Kuno girl's face went through many emotions as her brother told the tale, from anger, to surprise, to confusion, and finally ending up on disbelief. When he was finished, he glanced at her warily and awaited her response. "Why?" she said simply after a few moments, her voice rather flat and unemotional. "Because... I wasn't sure myself of what all of it meant," he confessed. "That is why I want to go. I was... angry at mother as well, but I realized I had been angry far too long. Anger never got me anything. Now I merely want to know why." Kodachi glanced down at the hands folded in her lap, understanding her brothers motives. But still... "I don't know but... I suppose it wouldn't hurt to come along." Tatewaki nodded, the hint of a smile gracing his lips, then shivered. "Imouto-san, why is your window open when the day is quite chilly?" Kodachi turned around and blinked, suddenly remembering Taro. She got up and closed the window. She wondered if she would see him again. "It's... nothing brother. Come, let us go." "Come on, Akane, you can do better than that!" Akane let out a low growl while she attempted to defend herself against her rapidly-moving opponent. She thrust out her right fist, but found it turned aside easily. Her left foot swung around in a near- perfect roundhouse, but it was leapt over. She could feel that her movements were slower and more sluggish then they used to be; it was almost like she was moving in molasses. By the look in her red-headed opponent's eyes, Akane could tell Ranma could see the same. Akane was aware that Kasumi had scheduled another examination with Doctor Tofu to find out the cause of this weakness, but that was later this afternoon. Growing frustrated, Akane leapt into the air and flipped, lashing out with her foot, only to find her target had also gone airborne and was now above her. She put up her forearms in a clumsy block that lessened a bit of the strike that knocked her from the air. Her currently-female husband called a time-out, which Akane reluctantly acceded to in order to dab the sweat off her brow with a nearby towel. When she turned back, she could tell Ranma was mulling over something. "Jeez, Akane, that was pretty pathetic," Ranma said at last, with her legendary tact. "Even for you. You should know not ta challenge your opponent's strengths. You know I'm better than you in the air." "Well I'm SORRY I'm not as good as you," Akane spat out bitterly. Ranma shook her head and frowned. "Well maybe if you took the Art more seriously, you wouldn't have to rely on handicaps to win your fights!" she shot back. She had dragged Akane out in the dojo after breakfast in order to spar with her, hoping that it would cheer her up, considering Akane had seemed down since coming home. But she also appeared to be distracted, her fighting level having dropped lower than normal. Akane flinched, stung by the comment. She opened her mouth to retort, but closed it again. "Forget it. Just forget, Ranma. This was a mistake." She wrapped the towel around her neck and turned to go, but she only made it a few steps before realizing someone was blocking the exit to the dojo. "Out of the w-Daddy?" Soun had been watching the altercation between his daughter and his son-in-law with a critical eye. What he saw, hurt him greatly, reminding him of his own cowardice in the matter. But maybe, just maybe, he could correct his mistake. "Ranma, could I have word alone with my daughter?" he said, his gaze never leaving Akane. Ranma blinked, then shrugged. "I guess. I was gonna go have a bath anyway." He walk briskly past father and daughter and out of the dojo, glancing at Akane out of the corner of his eye, but she was still looking at her father. With Ranma gone, Soun closed the door and strode to the middle of the dojo, assuming a ready stance that Akane recognized as being from the beginner's group of katas, from their school. "Daddy?" The meaning was clear, though it had been a long time since she had sparred with her father. The last time was a few months after her mother's death. When he didn't respond, Akane dropped the towel and hesitantly stood opposite him, assuming the opposing stance. "Begin!" With those words, her father shot forward and struck, following the kata exactly. Akane matched him move-for-move, jumping over a sweep and blocking a thrust punch. The moves were ones she had learned long ago, though hadn't actually used in several years. Still, as they battled around the dojo in ever increasing speeds, the forms and counters came back her easily. All too soon, they were finished, ending back up in the middle of the dojo. Her father gave her a short bow, which Akane returned. Then he surprised her by kneeling and prostrating himself. "Forgive me, daughter," he intoned solemnly. "Daddy?" Akane's confusion over her father's strange behavior only grew. She kneeled down in front of him, resting on her shins. "What's this all about?" Soun sat up, but didn't meet her gaze, keeping his face down. "I have been lax in your training. If I had continued to train you all those years ago, maybe you wouldn't have had so much trouble when Ranma showed up." Akane shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. Ranma was right; if I had really wanted to improve my skills, I would have found a way." "No!" The vehemence in her father's voice surprised her, as his head came up. "It was my duty as the sensei of this dojo to train my heir to be worthy of the position. Instead, I feared what happened to your mother would happen to you, and neglected your instruction because of that. I relied upon Saotome and his son to wed one of you girls and continue the school, but it was doomed to be one-sided, because of my failure to educate you properly in the Tendo Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu." To say Akane was stunned, would be an understatement. She had never heard her father say things like this before, or even see him so focused and coherent. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. "Therefore, I wish to correct this," Soun continued, either not taking note of his daughter's dazed state, or choosing not to. "If you are willing, I wish to take you on a training trip for week or two. There is much I need to teach you. Would you be willing to forgive me and allow me this second chance?" Akane swallowed, then found her voice. "Sure, daddy," she said slowly. She could see how important this was to him. "Let me talk to Ranma and-" "No," Soun cut her off, fixing her with a stern look. "This has to be your decision alone, because he will not coming. It will be just you and me. You may have taken the Saotome name when you married, but you still are, and always will be, a Tendo. You must make this decision as the heir to the Tendo Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu." Akane suddenly realized. Akane straightened and replied in a solemn voice. "I will, Father. I would be honored to complete my training with you." Soun nodded, then smiled for the first time and held out his arms. Akane smiled back, leaned in, and wrapped her arms around him while he patted her on the back. "I love you, daughter. I'm sorry I haven't been much of a father to you or your sisters." "We all loved mother very much," Akane said, blinking back the tears. "We were all hurt by her death, though deep down, we knew you were hurt worst of all." In order to know how her father truly felt, Akane had only to imagine Ranma dying, and how she would feel afterward. It was pain she hoped no one would have to face. "I love you, too, daddy." "Oh hello!" Kasumi exclaimed as she opened up the door, revealing Ukyo, Yuri, Konatsu, and Selah. "Have you come to see Ranma and Akane?" "Um, not exactly," Ukyo told her, holding up a small piece of paper. "Do you know anything about this?" Kasumi took the note and read it to herself. "Hmmm, maybe that nice man who was here last night gave it to you. He said he would be returning today." "What man do you speak of?" Konatsu asked, curious. Kasumi's reply was interrupted by the creak of the gate opening, and all gathered turned to see three new people entering the yard. "What are you doing here!?" Ukyo demanded to know as she recognized the newcomers. "We were invited!" Kodachi retorted her in a superior tone, striding up to the chef and waving a piece of paper. Her brother and Sasuke followed. "And I would think you would be less hostile, considering I saved your life last night!" Ukyo flinched almost imperceptibly, while Yuri's gaze dropped. "Well, we helped save yours!" Selah boasted. "And if it wasn't for me, you'd all be in trouble!" There was a moment of tense silence, and at first it seemed like fighting would start any minute. Ukyo readied several mini- spatulas, while Tatewaki slowly reached across and grasped the hilt of his bokken. In response, Yuri flicked her wrist, allowing a yo-yo hidden in her sleeve to fall into her hand, and Kodachi pulled the handle of a ribbon from her kimono. Kasumi looked back and forth between all of her guests, and cleared her throat. "Perhaps you would care to tell us the reason for your visit, Kuno-san," she inquired, addressing Tatewaki. "Gladly, Tendo-san," the elder Kuno replied with a respectable bow, releasing his weapon. "I-" "Are we too early?" came a new female voice from the gate entrance. The assembled group turned to stare as three more people entered, a girl and two guys. One of the guys leaned back against the concrete wall after observing the battle-ready state of those already gathered, and smirked. "I'd say we're just in time. Though, it looks like you may have spoiled the free entertainment, Miyo-san." The young fortuneteller smiled slightly, then elbowed Toshi in the ribs, before advancing a couple of steps and mimicking Kuno's earlier bow. "Forgive us for intruding Tendo-san, but I have reason to believe something of great importance will happen here soon." Kasumi smiled warmly. "By all means, you are welcome here." "Kasumi? What's going on out here?" Akane emerged from behind her sister, still clad in her gi, with a white towel around her neck. She blinked at the group standing around in her front yard, perplexed. "What is everyone doing here?" "What, didn't you send this invitation?" Ukyo asked, holding up the piece of paper. "Indeed, we received one as well," the elder Kuno agreed. "If I may," Miyo offered, to which Kasumi nodded. "I believe our questions will be answered shortly, if we only have a little patience. For now, I suggest we wait." "You know something, don't you?" Ukyo asked. It was more of a statement then a question. Miyo merely smiled slightly and inclined her head toward the chef. "As do you." She gestured to everybody gathered in the yard. "As I suspect all of you know some things which others do not. I, myself, have only small fragments to go by, which I do not fully understand. Like you, I am hoping our benefactor will be able to enlighten us. Akane frowned, remembering the old man from last night. "Well, I suppose we can't do anything until he gets here. Why don't you all find someplace to wait." She turned to her sister. "I'm going to take a short bath to clean up, Kasumi." In the shadow of the wall, across the gate from Toshi, Hikaru Gosunkugi watched everyone break up and wander about the yard. His heart had caught in his chest at the sight of his Goddess, his old feelings for Akane coming flooding back as he gazed upon her perfection. He sighed in despair, realizing that she was out of his reach now, as she had been married to Ranma almost a week ago After she left, he despairingly realized she hadn't noticed him, as usual, In fact, no one had noticed him, but he actually didn't care much this time. He wondered why Miyo had dragged him down here. He wasn't really of use to anyone, and he didn't feel like leaving his room, ever since he failed Ariko. Miyo and Toshi had tried to convince him there was nothing he could have done, but Hikaru still felt responsible. He had admitted to himself he had grown used to the bubbly young sorceress who had befriended him. He marveled at that; a GIRL had befriended HIM! Most girls made him feel nervous, so much so that he ended up making a fool of himself. But for some odd reason he was able to talk to her. Once again, he wondered why that was, but still had no answer. Akane noticed Ranma was already in the furo when she slipped inside the bathroom, sitting with his back to her. She couldn't help smile at the memory of when she had encountered him in similar surroundings that first day. This time, she didn't leave and run away screaming, but instead grabbed a stool and began washing down. Ranma could sense Akane approach, even before she entered the bathroom. At first he wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind, so he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he listened to the splash of water as Akane doused herself, then the scrubbing as she lathered up. Despite their newfound physical intimacy, or maybe because of it, he felt himself growing warm as his mind filled in the pictures for the sounds his wife was making from behind him. When she finally doused herself again and slid into the furo to his right, he was unable to lift his head to look at her. Akane, likewise, was unable to look at Ranma for some strange reason. Logically, she knew it shouldn't be a problem as they had seen and explored each other thoroughly before, but in this case logic had nothing to with it. Instead, she just settled down in the steaming water up to her neck and tried to let the heat soothe her troubles and confusion away. Ranma finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry." This got her attention, and she turned to see him gazing not at her, but at the steamy water. Her brow furrowed. "Ranma? What do you mean?" "Well, I musta done something to upset you," he offered in a quieter voice. She had been happy before, and during, the wedding, but after the honeymoon her spirits seemed to have dropped. Ranma wondered if maybe there was something he wasn't doing right, as a husband to his wife. Akane let loose a tired sigh. "You haven't done anything, Ranma. What makes you say that?" He took several moments before responding. Akane studied him during this time, noting the way his jaw tensed and relaxed as he attempted several times to say something. His hair was slicked back, yet still tied into his trademark pigtail. His skin had a moist sheen covering, as well as a minor reddish tinge to it, and she watched in fascination as a single drop of water worked it's way down past his ear and crawled along the outer edge of his cheekbone. By the time Ranma was ready to speak, it had traversed the distance down his neck and chest, to join it's brethren in the furo. So caught in her the water droplet's journey, she nearly missed what Ranma had said. "What?" "I said, you don't seem very happy," he repeated somewhat sourly, still not looking at her. "I must have done something to upset you." Akane blinked. "Ranma, you haven't done anything to upset me." The corners of her lips turned upward into a small smile. "Other than being your normal Baka-self. If this is about what I think it is, than it's not because of you, it's because of me." He finally turned to look at her. "Akane?" Meeting her big, expression-filled brown eyes, Ranma suddenly felt vulnerable. But it was a good kind of vulnerable, he decided. Her smile grew a little bigger, and then she was pushing herself under his right arm and laying her head against his chest. Ranma had no choice but to drape that arm around her shoulders. She idly stroked her own right hand across his chest. "But let's not talk about this now," she told him. "Let's just enjoy this moment for now." She was going to tell him about her decision to accompany her father on a training trip, but decided it could wait. They had gained so much ground lately, that she didn't want to ruin the moment by telling him she was going away for awhile. Ranma seemed to sense this, and let it go. He, too, was content to just hold her, reveling in all the new sensations that this kind of closeness brought. It might have been some kind of drug, he told himself, but even if it was, he didn't want it to end. Her happiness was his own, and he would do anything to make her happy. The newlywed couple basked in the heat of the water, and of their own warm bodies. They may have even fallen asleep, had not Kasumi knocked on the door. "What is it, Kasumi?" Akane asked tiredly, somewhat upset at the intrusion. She knew they rarely had time to themselves, and most of these intrusions had resulted in little tiffs and arguments between her and Ranma. She was confident that if they had been left alone from the start, they might have gotten together a long time ago. "I though you should know that the charming elderly gentlemen from last night has returned," the eldest Tendo daughter told them. "He told everyone to gather in the dojo, so we are waiting for you." She lingered in the changing room for Akane's reply, then departed. Ranma and Akane looked at each other in surprise, nearly having forgotten the old man from last night, and not really expecting him to return. Reluctantly, they disengaged and exited the bath, getting dressed in the clothes Kasumi had left for them in the changing room. Somehow, they knew the next few hours would be something that might very well change their lives. But as they grasped hands and the hallway, they knew that whatever was waiting for them, they would face together. Nothing else mattered.