Most of the characters within the story are from the Anime Series, Ranma 1/2 and are property of Rumiko Takahashi, and whoever else may own the rights. I write this without permission and do so with no attempt to profit off of the marvelous works. Rather, I do so for everyone's benefit. Please enjoy and tell me what you think. In the end, there is often times said to be a bright light at the end of a narrow tunnel, beckoning the bodiless souls to the afterlife. For Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts, that is true, but he is not headed towards the afterlife. A darker, more sinister, fate lies in store for him, one filled with false promises and double meanings. Everything comes with a price, and life bears the greatest of them all. Warning: This fanfiction has adult themes and situations which may be offensive to some parties. Viewer discretion is advised. ******************************************** *A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: Mists of Jusenkyou* ******************************************** Chapter Two of In Search of the South Star by Ryan Erik Part Two: Trial by Friendship "You've got to do better than that, boy!" Genma shouted at his son, dodging the pig-tailed boy's aerial assault. "You have to concen-uff!" His last cut off sharply as Ranma's second attack knocked him back onto the grass near the koi pond. "Eat that, pops!" he shouted back, landing safely opposite of his father. "You were saying?" "You were lucky, boy," Genma retorted. He then stood up, sticking out his tongue. "Bet you can't do that again!" "I'll be only too happy to show you," Ranma replied, leaping into the air as his father did likewise. They traded blows, but this time Genma took the upper hand and smashed his son into the koi pond below and then landed safely out of water's reach. More angry about leaving herself open than at her father, Ranma emerged from the pool scowling. She quickly dragged herself out of the pond, plotting to even the score. She quickly rushed her father's awaiting figure, attacking him with a volley of kicks and punches. Genma's face darkened, having to double his effort in order to avoid her attacks. Through the ordeal, Ranma failed to score a single hit on her him. "Stop this nonsense, girl," he told her, dodging her attacks with a strained effort. "What are ya talkin' about, pop?" Ranma asked, not stopping her assault. Genma did not answer as he became completely defensive. Ranma knew something was wrong as she scored a few hits on her father's shoulder and yet he only jumped back out of range. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, frustrated. "Why aren't you fighting back?" She charged her father again, but this time he leapt out of the way. "I don't fight girls," he said solemnly. "Women are fragile flowers and should be treated accordingly." He crossed his arms over his chest, scowling at his son, currently daughter. "Shut up!" Ranma yelled angrily. "I'm a MAN!" She continued to try and engage him in combat, but all he did in return was evade. "Fight me, ya old fool!" "I think it's about time your mother taught you some manners, daughter," he told her, trying to be as stern as possible while dodging her continued attacks. "Women have no need for the art; they are meant to be protected. You need to learn how to become a proper wife for the man that you will marry." Something inside Ranma snapped. Coming from anyone else, these slights against her would have only further enraged her, but this was her father speaking, her guide and teacher to the realm of manhood. Though he did not set a good example himself, she certainly knew that he had the knowledge, even if not the practice. His serious nature and words sounded honest, something he only rarely became and then only when he was teaching her. Her father meant what he had said. She stood there, staring in shocked disbelief, as her father calmly walked away and into the Tendo home. Blinking away tears of pain, she looked around the empty yard. She tried to sort through what had just happened. She could not. The only thing she could focus on was getting some hot water, and fast. Entering the house, she dried her feet off on the mat Tendo-san had placed there for the ever-wet Jusenkyo victims. Gathering her nerves together, she took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen to see Kasumi happily preparing dinner for the family. "Oh, hello, Ranma-chan," she greeted warmly, not even needing to turn to see her visitor. "Would you like to help with dinner again?" Still confused by her father's odd behavior, she said, "Why'd you call me that, Kasumi?" "Call you what, dear?" Kasumi replied evenly. "Nothing," Ranma said, disregarding it. "Sure, I'll help ya." Aiding the oldest Tendo sister with various jobs, she performed them as if working a kata, clearing her mind. With the redhead's help, they quickly prepared dinner. Kasumi thanked her, and went about serving the family. Grabbing an empty teapot, Ranma filled it with tap water and placed it on a burner. The chill in the air in combination with her damp state giving rise to goose bumps, she rubbed her arms. Needing to beat her father for what he had said earlier, she grumbled, casting angry glances towards the dinner table. Food would have to wait; turning back into a male was a more important matter at the moment. Turning off the burner, she quickly dumped the contents of the teapot on her head. "Yeow!" she cried out, having left the water on too long. "Huh?" she said, looking at her still-female state. Her knees buckled, causing her to collapse to the floor. Kasumi and Akane came rushing into the kitchen, each helping the baffled redhead to her feet. "Did you burn yourself?" Kasumi asked, concerned. "You should know better than to spill boiling water on yourself, baka," Akane told her sarcastically. "To think you call me a klutz." "But I-I..." Ranma stuttered. "You didn't have to boil more water, Ranma-chan," Kasumi said soothingly. "I already have tea ready on the table. Why don't you go dry off and have dinner with the rest of us?" "Come on, Ranma," Akane said, nearly dragging the redhead towards the stairs. "I'll help you." "Uh, okay, Akane," she replied, wondering why she had not changed back. The couple entered the changing room, shutting the door behind them. Ranma began to peel her clothes off when she realized that Akane was still in the room. Having very little, if any, feminine modesty, Ranma did not mind; however, this was the first time Akane had ever actively helped without first calling her a pervert on general principle. Her pause allowed for yet another extremely odd occurrence. "Here, let me help you with that," Akane said, and began helping Ranma out of her shirt. "Really, didn't Auntie Saotome already scold you for not wearing a bra all the time?" "What?!" Ranma nearly yelled, falling on her backside as Akane tugged her shirt off. "Honestly, Ranma," Akane patronized. "You act like such a child sometimes. You know, you're a woman now and it's important to wear a bra, especially a woman of your size. You don't want to end up with a bad back, do you? Let's not even discuss the perverts who would do nothing but talk to your breasts all day. You wait here and I'll go to your room and get you some dry things." Not even giving Ranma a chance to say anything in her defense, even if she was able, Akane quickly left the room. Unfortunately, when she returned, the redhead still listlessly stared in hysterical disbelief. "Here you go," Akane smiled, as she brought her an outfit, still on hangers. Mechanically taking her clothes, she examined them, a cotton blouse, skirt, bra and panties. Her hands began to shake, the clothes falling to the floor. "Ranma, are you okay?" Akane asked, pressing her hand to Ranma's forehead. "You've been acting very strange today." "I'm a guy," she managed to squeak, sounding like nothing more than a loud whisper. "I'm fine; you're all acting weird, not me!" "Oh no, not again," Akane said, mostly to herself. More loudly and with outrage imminent, she asked, "Did Uncle Genma hit you on the head again? If he did, I'll have father send him away. You're a girl, Ranma." "Hit me on the head?" Ranma wondered aloud. "I'm a man, and I'm your fiancé! What is going on here?!" Unshed tears began to build up in Akane's beautiful brown eyes. "Oh, Ranma. Your father tried to convince you that you were a boy, but I thought you got over that. Even after he dunked you in the spring of the drowned boy..." Her cheeks glistening with tears, she looked at the redhead with pleading eyes. Sincere, sympathetic compassion radiated from her voice as she began again, "You were okay for so long, why do you think otherwise?" "You're lying!" Ranma yelled, backing into the corner of the changing room. Using the only reaction she knew, her anger and frustration forced her to yell more loudly, "Why are you all lying to me?! I'm a man! You hear me? I'M A MAN!" "Oh, Ranma-chan!" Akane cried out, fleeing the changing room. Her head spinning, Ranma sat down on the floor, trying to regain control of her breathing. She looked at her naked breasts, unwanted physical attributes, and nearly cried out in frustration. Nodoka picked that moment to walk in on her child. "Daughter, what is this I hear about you claiming to be a boy again? I thought we went through this already?" "Not you too!" Ranma pleaded, her eyes full of misery. "Please, not you too?!" "You're not making any sense, Ranma-chan," her mother replied, kneeling down by her daughter. "You just need a nice, warm bath and to forget all those tomboy-ish fantasies. I thought the Tendo girls would be good influences on you, but I see that keeping your father around has only hampered any affect they might have had." She lovingly stroked Ranma's hair, a motion that would otherwise have been soothing, only not so in this circumstance. "Let me help you into your clothes, and we can show the family that you're all right...Ranma-chan?" * * * A strangled scream sounded from Kimiko's mouth, and she bolted upright into a sitting position. Sweat dripped down her forehead while tears streamed down her face. Breathing the warm air frantically, her heart threatened to burst from her chest. She clenched the covers of her bed as if they were the ropes that bound her in the realm of the living. She trembled, still not realizing that her experience had been nothing more than a dream. Illumination from the street lamp outside filled her bedroom, casting shadows upon the floor and walls. Feverishly glancing among them, the realization of her true location dawned upon her. Nervously, she closed her eyes and controlled her breathing, thus calming her. The events of the past month cascading through her mind, she released her death-grip on the bed sheets and lay back. Kicking the blankets from her, she sat up again, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Wiping the wetness from her eyes, she stood up suddenly. Her body ached but she felt the need to train, to take her mind away from reality. She needed escape. She walked over to her walk-in closet, selecting her gi from one of the hooks. Quickly shedding her pajamas, she dressed, tying her black belt around her thin waist. She examined herself in the mirror, pushing her hands through her tangled red hair. Closing the door to the house quietly, she used the keys Kiyoshi had given her and locked it. Walking down the pathway to the sidewalk, her bare feet passed over the ground making no sound. She gazed up towards the heavens, dark clouds beginning to gather. She hurried towards the gym in order to beat the impending downpour. * * * A young married couple walked down the shadowed streets, casting nervous glances around after having realized that they were lost. The young man, of about twenty years of age, smiled reassuringly at his partner. He pushed a hand through his black hair, wondering why he had had not paid any attention to where they were headed. the girl, of equal age and dark brown hair, asked. The apprehension easily noticeable in her voice, he felt a nervous chill run down his body. He asked the same question himself as they continued their track, slowly down the way. he responded truthfully. He felt her grip his arm more tentatively. He knew he could find their way home if only he saw a familiar location, but he had never been down this part of town before. Dan's wife, Jill, pointed out. Being a guy, asking directions was one of the hardest and most humbling things he could do. At least he was not on a date trying to impress a girlfriend; that would have looked really bad. He looked around nervously, hoping he could avoid the inevitable. he conceded, realizing that they needed to return home soon. He looked up at sign of the gym, reading, "The 24-Hour Club." The building itself was large and had wide glass doors that over looked the lobby, furnished in blue carpeting and a wooden receptionists' desk that was currently unoccupied. Walking up to the glass door, he pulled at the handle, but it was securely locked. <24-Hour Club my ass,> he muttered to himself. his wife said to him. She then calmly rapped her knuckles over the exterior of the glass door. As they waited for someone to answer, Dan felt several gentle rain drops land on the back of his neck. "Who could that be?" Kimiko said, thinking aloud to herself when she heard someone knocking on the entrance to the gym. Dodging the work out equipment, she made her way to the lobby, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. Upon arriving in the lobby, she looked through the glass. Seeing a young couple huddled up underneath the eaves of the gym, she quickly pushed the doors open, allowing their entry. Wondering how this date could have ended up any worse, Dan stood patiently at the door of the gym, his wife clinging to him for warmth. Not expecting to be out so late, neither of them had brought jackets. He put his arm around her shoulder and made a silent prayer for the rain to stop. Bringing his attention to the lobby, he watched as a young girl, of no more than fifteen years of age and standing a few inches above five feet, walked to the door, opening it for them. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. He ushered his wife in first and followed soon afterward. He smiled at the girl, whose messy red hair was braided in a ponytail resting over her right shoulder, strands falling every direction possible, amplifying her attractiveness. She wore a wrinkled, white karate gi that did not quite conceal her gray sports-bra, which in turn did not hide the size of her rather large, shapely breasts what-so-ever. Her eyes were red with strain, but they still sparkled with vitality. In other words, she was amazingly beautiful for a girl of any age. Had he not arrived with his wife, he might have considered flirting with her. he greeted, the smile never leaving his face. He wondered what a girl this young was doing up so late. Her brows furrowed in concentration, looking as if she was thinking it over. She put a hand to her head and spoke in heavily accented English, Before he could answer, his wife began speaking to her in Japanese. While he knew no languages other than English, his wife was fluent in a half dozen. He had trouble with his high school Spanish course and never even was able to speak much of anything in it, while his wife learned new languages in under a year. Dan was more than a little jealous. The redhead motioned for them to follow her and led them through a pathway cluttered with every type of exercise machine possible and into a cafeteria. The room had a few chairs placed near a small table, which he and his wife took. The girl walked behind the counter and offered, his wife said, smiling. he said, looking around the room. White tiles made up the floor, sparkling with a recently cleaned luster. Lining the walls, pictures of various sports athletes, signed by the person pictured, were addressed Nobukazu Nishiyama. The redhead, standing behind the glass counter, poured coffee into three red mugs. Jill took the red mug offered to her with a thank you and looked at it, letters in white, reading in English, "Nishiyama Inc." She smiled at the girl taking a seat across from her and her husband. "I'm Jill McArthur, and this is my husband, Daniel McArthur," she said, introducing herself. "I'm Kimiko Nishiyama," the redhead said, pushing her long red bangs out of her face and behind her ears. "What brings you two out here so late?" "We were on a date, but after dinner this baka decided we should walk back instead of calling a taxi," she explained, elbowing her husband softly. A paranoid look crossed his face when they both turned to him, giggling like school girls. "How about you, dear?" "Hmm?" the girl responded, her mouth full of coffee. "How come you're up so late?" "Oh." The girl rested her head in her hands, her eyes shutting slowly. "I've just been training." Sitting upright, she rubbed her eyes, an apparent tactic to stay awake. Jill smiled at the beautiful girl and asked, "You wouldn't happen to know where Lighthouse Road is, would you?" Hoping that they were not too far from home, she waited patiently for the girl's answer. A thoughtful look crossed the redhead's face before she yawned. "Hai, you are a long way from home." Looking between the two, she continued, "It's nearly ten kilometers from here." Dan tried not to pay attention to the girls speaking in Japanese. Two girls, speaking in another language and giggling in his direction, was not a good combination. Wanting to be somewhere else, he sipped his coffee unenthusiastically. his wife informed him. She rested her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. he asked, not very unenthusiastic to how far away from home he led them. As his wife translated his message, he tried remembering where he heard the name Nishiyama before. Realization came to him and he remembered his brother's employer. An indescribable look crossed Kimiko's face from hearing his question and she nodded, forming her words carefully, she paused and spoke something to his wife in Japanese. Jill translated for him. he asked, his mood becoming more solemn. He bit his lip and tried not to swear. Bringing up something like that must have brought up sad memories. he apologized. the girl said with a heavy Japanese accent, standing up and walking around the counter, placing her mug in the sink. She walked back around and took their empty mugs. The cab arrived a few minutes after the call, and the couple departed, waving to Kimiko. Exhausted, she watched the cab until it turned a corner out of sight. "Back to training," she muttered unenthusiastically. * * * Two young adults stood across from each other on a grass-covered ground. The taller, by nearly a foot, casually awaited the other's attack. His long black hair swayed with the wind as he had his hands clasped in front of him. He wore a simple white gi, like the other, clasped together by an unadorned black belt that also felt the wind's touch. His beautiful, feminine yet strong, face seemed to bear an impenetrable arrogance. A light smile worn on his face, he casually explained the problems of his companion. The girl he stood across from, a beautiful little redhead, had her fists held out in front of her. A grim mask of determination kept her features in a scowl. Her bright red hair, tied into a long braid with a red ribbon, glistened with perspiration, and her posture visibly slouched. Shallow breathing rocked her tiny frame, though she seemed ready to run a marathon if he required it of her. "You're overcompensating again, Kimchan," the black-haired youth told the redhead, in an even tone. "Try not to overextend your punches. You have to remember that your arms aren't as long as they used to be." Grimacing under the memory, Kimiko struck at her brother with a series of quick jabs, followed by an extremely quick spin kick. Unfortunately for her though, the only thing she managed to hit was the air where the young man had stood. Taking deep slow breaths, she tried to keep her breathing under control. "Much better," he told her from behind her. She spun around, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "How the hell do you do that, Kiyoshi?" she asked of him, readying for an attack from his direction. "Experience," he said, mockingly. "You're almost back up to par." "Hardly," she quipped, thinking he joked at her expense. "I have a ways to go before I can even chance a fight with anyone of half-way decent ability." "English," he reminded her with an evil grin. "Amanda-san wants you to keep practicing even while we train." she told him in the required tongue, spite burning in her voice. No more than a second after she issued her warning, Kimiko attacked with a blurred snap kick, followed by a volley of punches. Like her earlier offensive, she failed to even touch him, but this time she felt his counter. Gritting her teeth, she attacked him with everything she could put out, being poked a dozen times from every possible angle. "You get a kick outta that, don't you?" she asked after she jumped back, too exhausted to continue. "English!" she asked again slowly, this time in English. he replied, an evil smirk on his face. Sorting through his message, she got the general idea of what he told her. she admitted to him. "Tomorrow we will have guests," he told her in Japanese, heading towards the house. "A friend of mine from work is bringing his family for dinner." He turned to face her, smirking, "Dress nice." She glared at his retreating figure until he entered the house. "Dress nice," she said, mocking his tone. "Kiyoshi-baka." Walking over to the koi pond, she dragged her feet across the grass. The koi regarded her curiously as she put her hand in their cold waters, tracing the name "Kimiko" in Kanji. "Stupid name, stupid Kiyoshi and STUPID GUESTS!" Angry, she slammed her hand down hard in the shallow pond, scattering the colorful fish. "Stupid fish." * * * "There you go," the blonde said, having finished putting make-up on the redhead. "Hold still one more second." Amanda picked up the tube of lipstick, reapplying it on her friend's lips once more. "Perfect!" "Great," Kimiko muttered, still shocked at her appearance in the mirror. Instead of the usual braid, her hair fell freely onto her shoulders, cascading down her back. As nice as it was that she could look at a beautiful young woman in the mirror, she would gladly have traded everything she had and more to once again see the form she had been born with. She pursed her lips together, smudging the lipstick a bit. "Who are we meeting again?" "Kiyoshi's business partner, Theodore McArthur; his wife, Shanna; and their daughter, Sally," Amanda replied with a smile. Putting her hands on the younger girl's shoulders, she gave them a gentle squeeze before leaving the room. "Might as well get this over with," Kimiko muttered, her voice tense. Wondering how Amanda convinced her to dress like this, she looked down at her red satin dress with a grimace. No matter how hard she protested, she could never deny the blonde anything. She was in many ways the mother that she never had. "Kiyoshi-baka never sticks up for me." With mild curiosity to see what Kiyoshi's guests would be like, she stood up and walked out of her room, closing the door behind her. Hearing the doorbell sound across the house, she slowly walked down the stairs to *greet* the guests. Pausing to gaze at the dragon painting, which Kiyoshi had taken time to explain in detail to her, she felt like burning a few villages herself. Calming herself, she took a deep breath. Taking the situation stoically, she calmly walked down the rest of the stairs. From her vantage point, she watched Amanda open the door, greeting two women and a man and bringing them into the hall. When Amanda moved to the side to allow them to enter, Kimiko had an unobstructed view. The first woman was probably no more than thirty years of age, having short brown hair and a petite figure. The next woman who entered couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen, with similar features with whom Kimiko figured to be her mother, but with long brown hair, ending between her shoulder blades. The man, around the age of his wife, shook hands with Kiyoshi as he entered. His head contained patches of jet black hair, but the majority of his head was bald. Guessing that he was the father, Kimiko watched as the man pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. * * * Sally McArthur had nearly thrown a fit when she was told that she had to accompany her parents to a dinner they were having with her father's boss. She had met him a few times before, but he seemed so boring, one of those all-business types. Her father probably figured that it would look good on his part if his *well behaved* daughter attended with him. She crossed her arms below her breasts in protest, not paying attention to her father's last minute instructions. He always worried about other's opinions more than his own. Though he had made his way high up the corporate ladder in a short amount of time, she could hardly feel any respect for how he accomplished such a feat. The door opened to the Nishiyama household opened, a beautiful blonde woman greeting them. She seemed overly energetic in her welcoming, but that was not necessarily a bad thing. she whispered to herself. Her father ushered her mother in, then her, before entering himself. She gave the hostess an appreciative glance before noticing whom she figured to be her father's boss, Kiyoshi. He was quite tall, probably an inch over six foot, and very handsome, but she had little interest in him. Kiyoshi greeted warmly, shaking her father's hand. He bowed deeply. she said unenthusiastically. Her father glared at her disapprovingly, but Kiyoshi only smiled and said, The blonde woman smiled and bowed. The rest of the introductions and small talk was completely blocked when turned to see the redhead, dressed in a red satin dress, slowly walk down the stairs. Sally had to pinch herself to make sure that this was not a dream. She was nothing short of stunning. she murmured under her breath. * * * With dinner served, the adults engaged themselves into a conversation about something or another, which completely went over her head. The whole situation put her in an uncomfortable position. From the moment Kiyoshi had introduced her to the McArthurs, the daughter had been paying her an overwhelming amount of attention. Kimiko did not know what to think of anything anymore. Sally asked her, scooting her chair closer and leaning towards her. she replied slowly, remembering the correct age she was assumed to be. the brunette told her. she said evenly. Sally said, fumbling with her chopsticks. * * * The door to Kimiko's room opened, allowing the two girls to enter. The shades had been drawn shut earlier, what little light visible from the outside being shut out. The redhead's hand slid up and down the wall, searching for the light switch. With a click, her ceiling lamp turned on, shedding light into the room. she told the brunette, closing the door. Sally took a seat on the foot of the redhead's bed, smoothing out her dress. The light green color scheme gave the room a pleasant atmosphere, more so than hers, which was mostly white. The amount of empty space within it, though, almost made it feel lonely, since the only objects inside were the bed, a vanity mirror and an unused desk. Her eyes glancing up Kimiko's body slowly, she faced her. she told Sally, turning to open the closet. The brunette sighed regretfully upon Kimiko's exit into her walk-in closet. The redhead had such a beautiful figure; Sally could only wonder if her bountiful proportions were real. From the signals Kimiko had been sending her all night long, she figured that the attraction was mutual, or it could have just been wishful thinking. Kimiko emerged from the closet moments later, wearing a loose-fitting, red shirt and a pair of black shorts. She left a few of her shirt buttons near her breasts unused, giving Sally quite an eyeful. she muttered very softly to herself. Kimiko asked, letting her hair fall to her shoulders. she replied, smiling. the redhead answered, buttoning her shirt to the collar. She then sat across from the brunette on the other side of the bed. Her eyes downcast, she relaxed her back against the head of the bed and sighed deeply. Kimiko shifted to sit cross-legged, avoiding the girl's gaze. the older girl complimented, smiling. the redhead responded, a small smile forming on her face. "Hello, I am called Sally. How are you?" Sally replied in heavily accented Japanese. Kimiko inquired, her obvious tension beginning to fade into curiosity. Sally smiled, happy that girl was opening up to her. the redhead told her, her eyes meeting Sally's the first time since they had come up here. she said honestly. A quarter of an hour passed, the two girls talking about nothing in particular, ranging from music to sports. Apparently, Sally had a knack for basketball, but did not follow through with it. Kimiko truly enjoyed their conversation, until it came around to uncomfortable subjects. Sally adjusted the top of her dress to her shoulders, a bit lower than she had it before. She had begun talking about a few outfits she had seen at the local mall that she liked, but Kimiko definitely had a hard time following. Not only did she not particularly care for the subject, but the brunette's constant adjusting of her clothes made gave her cheeks a reddish tinge. Kimiko said, her meaning getting scrambled in the confines of her limited English speaking abilities, but Sally seemed to understand. she replied, shrugging. the redhead remarked vehemently. Sally told her solemnly. Kimiko shot back, confused. This girl seemed to have a low opinion of herself. She needed cheering up. Sally looked at the redhead curiously, her brows furrowing in curiosity. Smiling back, Kimiko's mood dramatically changed since they began talking freely. Just being able to talk about stupid subjects released much of her tension. Kimiko answered truthfully. The brunette's face lightened, her mouth forming a broad smile. She roughly pulled the much smaller redhead into a hug, practically pushing the girl's face into her breasts. Kimiko's cheeks burned bright red, her eyes opening wide. Though she was quite used to her own body, other females' made her extremely nervous. Amanda was around enough to prove that point since she dressed so freely in front of her. This whole situation reminded her of plenty she had been in, in the past; though, the intentions were quite different now. Only now, something about it felt different. Instead of the muscle-stiffening, eye-bulging, impossible to explain sensation that she expected, this felt pleasant, a hug between sisters. Something about the situation felt disturbingly wrong. She should have either been nervous or in position, ready for Akane to smack her into orbit. She recognized the missing sensation, the rush between male to female contact called sexual attraction. Never before did she feel more helpless in losing another part of herself, a part she could no longer replace with a splash of warm water. What other changes had she yet to realize that would surprise her in the worst situations? Did she even want to know? Tentatively putting her arms around the brunette, Kimiko sighed. The close embrace felt entirely too good, an offer of comfort from an impartial friend. Potential friendship, a beacon in the storm of her life, shined out to her and all she had to do was reach out and grasp it firmly. A knock on the door caused the two girls to separate, Kimiko sliding to her feet to answer it. She opened the door wide, Amanda's ever-cheerful figure in the doorway. the blonde informed them, leaving the direction she had arrived. Sally said, walking towards Kimiko. The new friends said their good-byes and Sally planted a quick kiss on Kimiko's cheek before rushing to join her parents. Kimiko stood in the doorway to her room, facing the hall but staring straight through. Nothing making sense to her anymore, she tried to understand what had happened, but too much had hit her, too fast. The future she had planned was nothing more than an old newspaper carried away by the wind. All she desired was to have a stable life, and the quicker she chased it, the faster it became, eluding her. She had nothing, no plans, no friends, no future, and no life. The hug she had shared with Sally was the first offer of true friendship that she had received since her awakening, a friendship between peers. The warmth it left behind was more addicting than any drug. She wanted more. She needed more. But most of all, she needed a friend. "Kimchan?" Kiyoshi's concern evident in his voice, brought her back to reality. "Are you all right, sugar?" Amanda asked, just as concerned as Kiyoshi had been. "I'm fine," Kimiko replied quickly, the scowl on her face betraying her words. "I'm just tired, that's all." "If you're sure..." Amanda started. "If you need to talk about anything, don't hesitate to wake me up, okay love?" "Hai." "Same goes for me too," Kiyoshi said, turning to leave towards his room. "I don't sleep much anyway." Kimiko nodded, closing the door to her room. She quickly changed into pajamas and jumped into her bed, falling asleep almost immediately. * * * Standing in an unfamiliar atmosphere, sudden awareness confused Kimiko. A deep fog obscured her sight, only further making her situation impossible to sort. The air she breathed, though moist, refreshed her senses. Something about her surroundings cried out to be remembered, but she could see so little of it to distinguish it from on place or another. Her face creased in a smile, realizing her current state of dress. She wore a turquoise-green, long-sleeved, Chinese tunic with a yellow ribbon tied around her thin waist, a pair of pink trousers that cuffed off at the ankle and a pair of comfortable, black slippers. A pair of yellow bracers covered her wrists, offering protection when blocking attacks. Though her outfit was colorful, it was just shy of gaudy, resembling an outfit that she pictured an Amazon might wear. She decided to start walking, picking a random direction to travel. Her feet carried her gracefully over the misty expanses of her location, and she noted the soft soil beneath her feet. Carefully planning each step, she was ready for any danger that could rear its head. Her ears ringing, she felt as if the silence slowly enveloped her being. Her imagination began creating illusions of what her present location might look like. The dense fog could conceal anything from an immense clearing to a dimly lit forest. The later seemed unlikely considering she had yet to run into a tree. Nearly losing her balance, she quickly recoiled her left foot when it met thin air instead of solid earth. Cautiously planting it next to her other foot, she knelt, left knee in dirt. With her hands, she felt the surface; she had found a cliff, by nearly falling over it herself, the length of the drop unknown. Sucking in a deep breath, she silently thanked whichever god was looking out for her that she did not plummet to her death. Wondering what she should do next, she stood and waited for what could have been an hour or less than a minute. With no desire to know the length of the cliff from first-hand experience, she began to turn around, but the sudden clearing of the fog prompted her to stay a moment longer. Carefully standing on the ledge, she gazed down over the valley which she had seen in nightmares for several years. She stood on the last obstacle blocking Jusenkyo from the knowledge of mainstream China. The valley of the hundred springs had been aptly named as its waters occupied nearly all of its territory. This cliff held more meaning for her than any other part of Jusenkyo's surroundings for this happened to be the exact spot where she accidentally knocked Ryouga into the spring of the drowned black piglet. "Hello, Kimchan," a voice warmly greeted from behind her. Kimiko had no need of sight to recognize the speaker. "Your suffering tears at me deeply," Lillith told her, pressing her hand to the redhead's shoulder. "I only wish that I could help you, but you have yet to ask." Kimiko did not know what to think, say, or do. She had hoped against reason that Lillith was nothing more than a figment of her over-active imagination, or even a voice in her head, but she knew differently. Hope and reality were two very different things. "I understand your protest of my existence within you," the spirit empathized. "I promise that I will not force you to do anything that you have no wish to do." "What about Happosai's change?" she demanded, more scared than angry. She continued, her back still to the apparition. "Though I agree he needed it, how do I know you won't do the same thing to me? How can I trust you?" "Trust is not something easily gained," Lillith agreed. "I can only hope that you grow to trust me over time. Please give me a chance to earn yours. I swear that I will not do anything you do not wish me to do. I care for your well-being more so than my own." The spirit quickly spoke again, leaving no time for reply, "Before you decide, there is someone here who wants to spend some time with you." Kimiko turned to question the spirit further, but no sight met her eyes. She looked around seeing only the nearby forest and the various plant-life. She gazed out among the numerous trees, gently swaying in the wind. Something caught her attention towards the entrance of the woods, a figure approaching her from the distance of about thirty-five meters. She waited patiently, wondering if she should meet the person half-way. Something inside kept her from doing so, maintaining her position instead. The figure quickly closed the distance between them, becoming easily recognizable, a face that she had not seen in a long time. As he approached Kimiko, her heart quickened, threatening to burst out of her chest. This was the man whom she wanted to see more than anything, but not like this. This was the face she had seen in the mirror for the majority of her life; Ranma Saotome, a faint white light surrounding him, walked towards her, and this time she did not gaze into the depths of a mirror. He wore her favorite red Chinese shirt with black trousers, the style mirrored by her own. Her legs threatened to give out from underneath her; he was less than ten meters from her now. As the distance between them narrowed, she began to sense energy radiating from him. For an instant, his brilliant blue aura shined bright, only to vanish the next. She could feel the strength and confidence that he emanated, and feel herself being drawn to it, like a moth to the flame. She took a few steps forward, close enough to touch him. They stood apart a moment, staring at one another. Kimiko held her hand out tentatively, the confidence he projected becoming her strength, and he reached out also, taking her hand in his. His touch shot warmth up her arm, a feeling of wholeness encompassing her for the briefest of seconds. His mouth formed a slight frown and he spoke, "Ya know, pink just isn't your color. You're way too much of a tomboy for it. Purple maybe, but definitely not pink." Her mouth still slack-jawed from seeing herself, rather *her old self*, his remark lingered in her head as she tried to pull sense out of it. Her eyes narrowed in anger and she tugged her hand from his grasp. As she pulled her hand back and attempted to slap him across the face, she replied, "You baka! I'm not a tomboy; I'm a guy!" Dodging her strike, he laughed apologetically, "Hold on, I was only teasing, all right? Sheesh, you're acting like Akane." "Humph," she said, crossing her arms under her breasts and turning her head. "So, what did you want? You didn't just come her to insult me, did you?" The mirth on his face quickly became serious, his eyebrows furrowing in thought. "No, I didn't." She looked into his eyes, filled with a childish maturity, having been through so much yet so little. He looked just as scared as she felt, inwardly. "So then, why?" she snapped, still angry over his insult. "I came to remind you who we are, and who we aren't anymore." "What do you mean *we*?" she asked. "I'm Ranma Saotome, not you." Though she said the words, she did not mean them. In her heart, she knew that he was more than a dream, more than a fantasy. All the emotions rushing through her felt too real, too genuine to be false. "You know as well as I, that we are one and the same." His eyes gazing back at her, she knew and believed it. "Kimchan, we have a problem. You want to be Ranma Saotome because that is who you were." "I still am," she reminded him with more than an edge of hostility. "You were partially right, thinking that Ranma died when you awoke in the hospital, but then again, very wrong. You've been through so much pain and suffering, losing your family and your identity, that you've changed. You went through it. I didn't. I couldn't." Confusion raced through her mind, understanding most of his words, but unable to see the distinction between her and Ranma. "I-I'm still a guy!" she said, mostly to herself. "I just can't change back, right now." A tear begin to trickle down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away, not wanting to show her weakness. "I know," he responded softly, then repeated. "I know." He stepped towards her, removing all space between them. Her heart begin to flutter nervously as he wrapped his arms around her small frame. The warmth of their bodies created a feeling of unease within her, but she tentatively put her arms around his waist anyway, holding him tightly. After a few moments, he released his hold on her, a slight smile on his face. She let go of him, but did not back away. "Let's walk," he suggested, offering his arm to her, which she took with no visible hesitation. They walked together in silence, arm in arm, through the forest surrounding Jusenkyo. Though not a single creature stirred, life seemed to seep from every pore of this strange land. A very slight breeze washed over them, rustling the forest, but it still made no sound. "You remember when we were ten and pop had us training in the mountains?" Ranma asked, breaking the silence. "I think so," Kimiko replied. "Well in late spring, we saw that rock landslide. Remember that?" "Yeah, get to the point." "Well, after we watched it, pop told us something that I still remember. He said to look closely and tell him what happened. We told'em that a buncha rocks had fallen from the cliff into the woods. He cuffed us and called us, stupid boy. Still following?" "Sure," she replied, the memory as clear as day. "He told me to look at the grass and trees that had been knocked over. When I did, I saw that the grass had bent and stood back up, but the trees had fallen over." "That's right, Kim. He told us that a martial artist should always bend when changes in our lives happen that we cannot change. If you can't, then you're like the mountain tree and break." He paused, taking his arm from her and resting it around her shoulders. "I don't want us to be broken. Keep me in your heart, but bend. If you bend enough, you'll find you're still Ranma inside, but if you'll also find that you can be Kim too. If you don't, we'll break like the trees." She put her arm around his waist, continuing to walk by his side. His words sank into her conscious, their meaning clear as the blue sky. Her mood became more solemn than ever, her features devoid of emotion. She did not want bend, but even less did she want to break. "I want a cure," she said faintly. "I don't want to bend. I want to be a man again." "So do I," he replied, sighing. "Though pop wasn't a wise man, he knew what he was talking about. Remember to bend with the wind so that you can stand once more." He slowed their pace, stopping and turning to her, his hands on her shoulders. "We'll make it out okay, Kimchan. I trust you." He pulled her into a hug for a moment again before releasing her. "Goodbye, I'll always be a part of you." Stepping forward, he walked straight into her, his warmth becoming hers, his strength becoming hers. She closed her eyes and they became one once more, to walk together side by side, forever. "Thank you, Lilly," she said, hoping that the spirit could hear her. * * * Kimiko's eyes opened slowly, taking in her new location. She stood wearing her pajamas in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at Ranma's reflection, surrounded by a bright white glow. She watched in paralyzed awe as he grinned, his image slowly fading into her own. When the illusion ended, she smiled, pressing her hand to the mirror. "I was Ranma and always will be," she said to herself, the words meaning more. "I am Kimiko and will be from now on." Her voice carried well, though she merely whispered the words. Understanding that finding a cure for her curse had a poor outlook, she did not lose hope. She took hold of that hope, a shining light to guide her through the darkness. Though she may never be able to become a man again, she would pull through, defeating any obstacles in her path to self-discovery. Ranma Saotome was a survivor, and so now would Kimiko Nishiyama be. * * * After washing and dressing in her underwear, Kimiko stood inside of her large walk-in closet, her hands passing over the many outfits Amanda had purchased for her. The smooth silks and soft cottons felt cool on her warm, damp hands. Remembering the comfortable feeling of the blouse they stopped over, she removed it from its hanger. After pulling it over her head, she began again, searching for a bottom to go with the blouse. A part of her screamed that this is what girls do, but she did not want to listen today. She would dress solely for comfort today, and no comments from any party would cause her to change her mind. Once more, her hands stopped over another garment, this time a skirt that matched well with the blouse. Her heart fluttered when she realized that she just had chosen a skirt without being forced. Could this be the change that she so dreaded the whole of her life since she traveled to Jusenkyo? Some part of her wanted to listen and toss the offending garment onto the floor, away from her in denial. Though, something stopped her from doing just that. She in no way had to wear a skirt, or even anything remotely feminine, yet she lifted one of her legs and slipped into it. Her heart was still pounding quickly, but this oddly felt right. She was going to prove to herself that she could wear whatever the hell she wanted to wear, and damn the consequences. Girls wear dresses, and she just happened to physically be one, but did she want to wear one? Looking in the mirror within the large closet, she examined her reflection closely, not missing a detail. Strangely, a faint trace of pure white clung to her aura. She shrugged the thought off as nothing and further examined her clothing. The white blouse and light red skirt looked good on her body, or so she had to admit to herself. Any thoughts of taking them off slowly faded from her mind. "Uncute tomboy," she said, teasing herself. In a sudden flash of motion, she brought her right leg up in a quick, thrusting kick, stopping less than an inch from the surface of the mirror. She stood there, balanced upon one foot with the other outstretched. Pivoting on her left heel, she lowered her back bringing it parallel with her right leg, stretching as far as she was able without falling over. Then, she brought her leg down to stand straight once more. She blinked, watching every motion that her reflection made. Bringing her hands up in front of her, she dropped into a kenpo defensive stance. She shot her left arm out many times in rapid succession, slashing thin air with her punches. Bringing her right arm into the action, she nearly tripled the amount of punches her Chestnut fist unleashed upon the empty space. Just as suddenly, she stopped her motion and examined her reflection again. She had yet to break into a sweat, something that less than a week ago would not have been possible. She had restored a great deal of her abilities in her training with Kiyoshi, the master and founder of the Anything-Goes style of martial arts. She stared at her clothing in awe as it had been undamaged by her activity. Not having much experience with skirts and other feminine clothing before, she had always figured it would be useless for any combat, but then again she had never given it a second thought before. Akane had often times fought him and others in her school clothes without damaging them. The thought made her feel a little bit more comfortable, if not completely with herself. So, what was it that had scared her, she wondered. She felt the same within, though not outwardly. Pushing aside all the doubts that had been assailing her recently, she strolled out of the closet with renewed confidence, not caring what others might think or feel about her. Today, she would visit her new friend, and no one would stop her. No one could stop Ranma Saotome - no, Kimiko Nishiyama. * * * Kimiko's knuckles rapped against the door of the address she was given by Sally over the phone. She stood there patiently, her braid swaying in the strong Monterey winds. Pushing her long red bangs behind her ears, she tried to stop herself from tapping her foot anxiously, but failed. The door opened slowly, a groggy figure with short black hair answering. He immediately livened when he recognized her. she responded, recognizing the man. he said coyly. He stood back, allowing her entry. She took a few steps into the house, the smell of eggs and bacon frying assaulting her senses. A repetitive bass sound echoed throughout the house, the sounds of a stereo. She looked around the cozily furnished living area, scattered chairs and a couch set around a black coffee table. The mantle, equipped with a fireplace, lay behind the table, a beautiful painting of a scenic area hung above. he pointed out, walking down a well-lit hall. She followed him down it, glancing at the family pictures. He paused in front of a door, knocking. Sally's voice asked, the thump of music silencing. he replied, winking at Kimiko as the door opened. the brunette greeted, bowing to the redhead. Kimiko smiled, returning the bow as the man walked past her, down the hall. she asked, walking back into he room, motioning for Kimiko to follow. she replied, closing the door as she entered the older girl's room. The sweet smell of potpourri filling her nostrils, Kimiko slid into the center of the guest room. Her eyes opened wide, taking in the unusual decoration. From top to bottom, the walls had been completely covered with posters of manga characters, none of which Kimiko recognized. Against the far corner, a neatly made bed lay out of the way. Across from the bed, a desk sat with a computer and monitor resting on its surface. The monitor's display pictured a scenic bay, quickly fading into a mountainous scene. A dresser, next to the door, lay to her right, occupying nearly all of the remaining space the room offered. If this was a guest room, they must have had one particular guest in mind when they furnished and decorated it. Sally beckoned, pushing the chair from her desk towards Kimiko. the redhead asked, sitting in the offered seat. Sally replied nonchalantly. Shrugging, Sally replied, Sally paused, stood up and walked to her dresser. Opening one of the drawers, she procured a pair of socks. Sally said, sliding a pair of tennis-shoes from under her bed. Kimiko asked curiously while patiently waiting. Sally explained. Tying up the lace on her left foot, she smiled sweetly. Kimiko paused for a moment. She had absolutely no idea about Japan now that she had been away for nearly two decades. the redhead responded, her cheeks becoming a red hue. Sally replied, fitting her right foot into its shoe. She blanched slightly at the thought of being stuck in a love movie without being forced by Akane. Sally exclaimed, jumping to her feet. Grabbing a set of keys from the top of her stereo, she vaulted for the door. Kimiko stood there for a moment, blinking in confusion. "I wonder if all Americans are like her," she thought aloud in Japanese. Shrugging, she sprinted to catch up with her brunette friend. Sally cried, flooring her Porsche convertible. Kimiko's eyes widened in horror as the little black car swerved through traffic. Holding the door handle tightly, she gritted her teeth wondering if she had a prayer for survival. Sally cast her a glance, patting the redhead on the shoulder. she said, not watching the road. "Like that makes it safer?" Kimiko asked her in Japanese, too scared to respond in English. the brunette asked, shifting into cruise control at about ninety miles per hour. Only a few times had Kimiko been on a roller coaster in her life, and now she knew that there was simply nothing left to fear from them. After the dozen near fatal crashes from this short drive, Kimiko knew that some god or another was watching out for her. Her hands still clutched the door handle as if it were her lifeline. Sally said, smiling. Kimiko said, beginning to giggle hysterically. Joining her friends apparent mirth, Sally laughed a bit before dragging the smaller girl towards a small cafe with a bright pink sign. Kimiko could not make out the cursive script, but she figured that it was the pop bar that Sally had told her about. The interior of the bar had the same color scheme as the exterior, solely consisting of excessively bright, fluorescent colors. The bar itself was long, stretching over the length of the building, stools lined up along it. There were just as many tables in the back, if not more. Half-filled with people, Sally literally mowed through the crowd finding them two seats at the bar. Surprisingly, no one minded. She unceremoniously plopped herself onto the far stool, finally releasing Kimiko's hand. the bartender greeted, grinning broadly. He had shoulder-length blonde hair, high cheek bones and excessively tanned skin. His oval brown eyes hinted at some Asian ancestry, but the rest of his features were definitely of European descent. His too-cute face reminded Kimiko of quite a few pretty boys she had taught a lesson through her life. She resisted the urge to crack her knuckles. Sally replied, not nearly as enthusiastic as he. he said, reaching underneath the bar and bring up two glasses. With quick, practiced motions he twirled the thin glasses in his hands and filled them with a carbonated, pink liquid from the fountain behind the bar. Sally responded deadpan. Serving the strawberry soda pop to the girls, Johnny smirked and leaned over the bar. Kimiko definitely knew his type all too well. he said, inching closer to the brunette. His proposition sounded more like an insult than asking a girl out. she responded evenly, sipping at her soda. Kimiko lifted her drink, taking a sip. Albeit a bit sweet, the soda tasted delicious. Johnny slid over a few feet to stand right in front of the redhead, his smirk still adamant on his face. He leaned over towards her, his eyelids no more than slits. Placing her glass down carefully with a neutral expression on her face, she returned his challenge of nerves. she told him coolly. Fighting her poor grammar, she asked, She cracked her knuckles loudly, enhancing the effect. His eyes opening wide in feigned fear, he took a small step back, raising his hands. His smirk reappeared on his face, but he did not lean over the counter again. He then strolled down the bar to tend a few other customers. Sally told her after he left ears reach. Kimiko replied, chugging her glass of pop. Sally said with a wink. she said, shaking her glass for effect. <'Course, *babe*,> Sally giggled, mimicking Johnny's tone. Barely holding back fits of laughter, Sally exited the pop bar with Kimiko in tow. She barely managed to cool her down after Johnny pinched her butt as he walked past. If she had not of been there, she was sure that Johnny would be nothing more than a stain on the floor. Kimiko's temper matched her crimson hair in every way possible. It would have been a shame if the redhead messed up her cute outfit with a bloodstain. They leapt into Sally's Porsche and as soon as they settled, the brunette fixed the radio till it played a heavy metal song. With a wry grin, she peeled out of the parking lot and into the street, car horns shrieking at every turn. Driving towards the movie theater, the grin on her face disappeared. She bit her lip sharply while turning a corner, drops of blood mixing with her saliva. Kimiko told her, her voice shaky. Sally did as she was told, though she did not concentrate on driving; rather, she wondered what the redhead planned. Her heart rate increasing drastically, she tried to hold back a smile. As she had said, Kimiko yanked a few tissues from the box at her feet and dabbed Sally's lip and the surrounding facial area, removing the blood that dripped down her chin. the brunette said, her heart still pounding. She had expected something kinky, like licking the blood, but that was more wishful thinking than anything. Kimiko replied, evenly. Sally said, turning to her friend with a wink. As Sally had promised, they arrived at the mall safely, if one can call four near-collisions "safe." Sally watched Kimiko curiously, observing the redhead's shudder as they passed a few salons and fashion stores, making their way through the crowds. The ticket booth had a short line and since Kimiko knew nothing about any of the movies present, Sally chose one. Of course, she chose "Orion's Belt, Revisited," the sequel to a psychological thriller that had come out two years ago. The original movie included plenty of blood and gore, a truck load of female nudity and enough shocks to make people, who had seen the movie previously, jump out of their seats. Naturally, it became a popular flick with young men, enough so to create the movie they were about to see. Sally began as they took their seats in the front row, Making herself comfortable, she remembered what she had forgotten to buy, though she felt rather bloated. she asked Kimiko. the girl answered, pressing her right hand to her stomach. Sally agreed sheepishly. Kimiko replied, smiling. Setting her seat back until she practically looked straight up, Sally patiently waited for the movie to begin. A cool, air-conditioned breeze brushed over them, sending a shiver up her spine. She looked over to her friend, currently rubbing her arms. She was not the only one with goose bumps. she asked, sparking conversation. Kimiko answered in an embarrassed tone. Sally asked, receiving a nod. the redhead admitted. she explained. Kimiko replied. she told her friend. Kimiko asked, not understanding. she explained, putting her hands behind her head. The lights dimmed and a strangled hush loomed over the audience, which consisted of no more than the two girls and a couple groups of teenagers near to the back of the theater. A low hum, barely audible to them, rumbled ominously once the illumination of the lamps above them ceased. The floor in front of the girls opened, revealing the projector's lens. Sally warned, grabbing Kimiko's hand in hers. The redhead looked over to her in question, and she whispered to her, Uriah Cinemas, the company behind "Orion's Belt, Revisited" and quite a few other big movies, was notorious for creating the mood before the movie actually began. Apparently, Kimiko knew nothing about this and was in for quite a shock. A loud sound wave cascaded over them, an explosion of huge proportion erupting in front of them. Sally strained to keep Kimiko from literally jumping out of her seat. Kimiko stuttered as the remains of a large spacecraft drifted in the temporal space. Sally replied, grinning. Kimiko whispered fervently. Sally asked, confused. she muttered, her eyes not leaving the floating, three-dimensional picture. Sally gave the redhead's hand a reassuring squeeze before releasing it, and returning her attention to the movie. Kimiko could only watch in silenced awe as the movie transgressed. Used to corny Chinese flicks and other low-budget martial art films, she simply marveled the visuals presented to her. The unrealistic fighting choreography did nothing for her, but the amazing special effects kept her on the edge of her seat. Quite a few explosions, gunshots and dead bodies later, the two stars of the film practically eliminated all of their opposition. In a tender moment, their clothes seemed to have been misplaced. Sally chose that second to startle the redhead by putting her arm around her. She turned her head to the brunette, confused towards her intentions. Sally, both arms stretched around the chairs to her flanks, smiled back. Kimiko bit her lip, not used to such close behavior between friends. Quickly removing her arm from Kimiko's shoulders, Sally mouthed, and continued watching the movie, and Kimiko did likewise. Cursing silently, Sally grimaced at her bad luck. Apparently all of the *signals* she had received, she perceived wrong. She shrugged internally, guessing she could work within the realm of friendship. Not having many plain friends, the notion did not lack merit. * * * Striding confidently towards her front door, Kimiko waved to her friend who had already sped half-way down the street. Reaching it, she turned the knob, but it refused to turn. She blinked, not knowing any reason why it should have been locked. A creak from the roof-tiles was all the notice she received before a dark figure descended upon her. Quickly rolling to her left, she stood quickly, squaring off with her opponent. Almost as suddenly as the initial attack, the figure continued its assault, redirecting its trajectory and flying towards her position. Darting out of its path, she stifled a panicked yelp, nearly being struck. In mid-air, it quickly landed on its feet charging her. The shadow of a man unleashed a flurry of punches upon her. Though not quite Chestnut fist speed, a few managed to break through her defenses. The figure drove its head down into head-butt, forcing her to jump out of its range. Knowing the time for defense had passed, she countered the attack with a leaping jump-kick, barely missing it's covered head. With a rock-steady smirk rooted firmly on her face, she decided that she had enough. It was time for her to lead this dance of combat. With the cry of "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken," she leveled nearly two-hundred quick blasts towards her opponent. She had to admit that the man had extreme skill since he did manage to block nearly all of them, but against a Chestnut fist, nearly all did not cut it. Falling back a few steps to recover, the man prepared for her next assault with barely enough time to not lose his head from her violent spin kick. He pressed her back, nearly striking her with a few quick punches. "What the hell is that?!" Kimiko yelled, pointing over the man's shoulder. Trying to catch him off guard as he turned to look, she attacked him with a lunge kick. Unfortunately for her, he caught her foot and twisted it, the sudden change of momentum flipping her off of her stable leg and onto the ground with a thud. Rolling out of the way, she narrowly dodged his foot-stomp, and quickly stood. Having to dodge another series of combos from her ruthless attacker, she realized he was purposefully leading her towards the side of the house. In an attempt to change their path, she darted towards him, still parrying his attacks. Taking two strikes on the right shoulder and one in the gut, she blasted the side of her opponent's face with an open-hand palm strike, practically ripping his cheek open. He leapt back out of the rest of her attack, but she did not give up her advantage, pressing him further. Gasping for breath, she leapt at him again, catching his left shoulder and knocking him to the grass. Charging for the kill, she brought her foot down hard, but that was when everything went wrong. The next thing she realized was that she lay flat on her back, the dark figure over her, pressing her arms and legs down, hard. She strained against his impressive strength but to no avail. She could only imagine the placid grin on his face. "I...never lose," she whispered, drawing upon her internal energy. The exquisitely calm chi hit her with a rush, filling her every pore. She felt nothing physical, readying to blast her offender to hell. "Kimchan!" Her meditative state shattered, she looked closely at the figure on top of her. Having shed his face mask, the blood from his cheek dripped down on her. "Ki-Kiyoshi?" she whispered in shock, the strain of channeling her chi exhausting her. "I don't understand." "You are getting very good," he told her, coughing over his right to his right side. "You really got me good." The shock on her face turning to mild anger, she tried to knee him in the stomach, but he still had her pinned down. "Mind getting off of me?" she asked, annoyed. "You're getting blood all over me!" "Actually, I do mind," he retorted, grinning. "I'm very comfortable where I am." To prove his point, he rested most of his weight on her. An uncomfortable warmth blossomed from her stomach, spreading over her entire body. Stifling the urge to cry out, she concentrated her still present chi energy in order to counter his pin. Not nearly using as much power as her initial blast would have, she broke Kiyoshi's lock and rolled out from underneath him onto her feet. "Amanda left some dinner out for you," he casually told her, dusting himself off. "It's in the fridge. I really did mean what I said earlier, Kimchan. You are easily as good as you were before the coma, if still as overly-confident." She walked over to him, all of her aggression burnt. The day having been spent well, she smiled at its interesting, if fruitful, closing. A bit of her good cheer darkened when she saw the long cut along the side of his face. "Sorry," she muttered, barely audible to his ears. "It's my fault for being so careless," he replied, grinning. "It won't scar, if that's what your feeling down about. Like you, I heal perfectly." "Oh yeah," she muttered, not quite sure of his meaning. "Well," he sighed, closing the gap between them. "I believe I can say that was a draw." Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he started walking with her towards the front door. "Thanks," she whispered, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Older brother." He paused slightly, mirroring her smile, and then attempted to turn the knob. "Uh, you wouldn't happen to have the key?"