From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


Here it is, Part One of my latest Series!  For this and any of
my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

This Series began life as an attempt to finish a work by
Lurker called "Faux Existence", but has since become a
seperate work entirely.  There are, however, plot-
point similarities owing to its origin.

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Secrets: Volume One - Part One
------------------------------------------------------------------


	The train pulled into Kyoto station shortly after midnight,
most of its few passengers either asleep or well on their way.  On
one of the platform-side rows, a young girl gathered her pack and
rose from her seat, then tucked her shoulder-length hair up under
her beret-style hat.
	Stepping out onto the platform, she paused for a moment
and looked around.  There was no one to meet her, and in fact
almost nobody acknowledged her presence.  A smile crossed the
girl's face as she noted that fact, and then shouldered her pack
and walked off into the crisp night air.
	Owing mainly to the hour, the city was fairly quiet, which
suited the young woman just fine.  She wasn't in the mood for much
more than a shower and some sleep, particularly after the excursion
she had just completed.
	Before too long, she found herself a cheap hotel and booked
in, immediately heading to her room and tossing her pack aside,
then executing a full two-and-a-half forward spin up onto the
mattress.  It was hard as a rock, but felt like it was made of the
finest down compared to the fields and forests she had slept in for
the last several weeks.
	After a few minutes, she decided to take the bath she so
desperately needed, despite not really wanting to get up again.
Grudgingly, she finally rose and popped open the ties on her blouse
as she meandered to the bath.
	Starting the water, she straightened up and pulled her top
over her head, in the process knocking off her hat.  The hair that
was pushed up under it cascaded down in a red tide over her
shoulders, eliciting a sneer from her lips as she caught sight of
it in the cloudy vanity mirror.
        "That's the *next* thing that goes," she nodded sharply,
grabbing a lock and looking at it disdainfully.  Rubbing the strands
between her fingers, she abruptly smirked.  "Green," she decided,
making a note to purchase the appropriate dye.
	Looking back into the mirror, she regarded the face in it
intently, then smiled with great satisfaction.  Tomorrow was going
to be the first day of the rest of her life, and she couldn't wait.



	"Miyoko-chan!  Psst!  Miyoko-chan...!  Hey, girl, snap out
of it...!  Your favorite table wants you!"  Michi prodded, nudging
the green-haired hostess out of her trance.
        "Ah-Ano...  Gomen, Michi-chan...  I was just thinking about
something..." she flustered, blinking herself back to reality.
	"Well, you better think about your table before the boss
sees you staring into space like that," her friend cautioned,
winking at her.
        "Hai, hai...  On my way..." she grinned cheesily, casting a
last glance at the girl on the bar seat on the other side of the
lobby.  She still couldn't believe how much the sight of the
obviously transient woman had reminded her of her own experiences
from seven years earlier.  In fact, it had been ages since she'd
even thought about that time of her life, which made it seem all the
more curious.
	Sighing, she picked up and holstered her order panel,
grabbed an armload of menus and headed for her table.  She hated the
way this gang of old farts always drooled over her cleavage, but
put up with it to keep her job.  And as the most popular hostess
in the place, she had to put up with it a lot.
	Finally, her day ended, and as she stood in the changeroom
taking off her 'uniform', she puffed out a huge sigh of relief.
"Kuso, I'm glad to get this thing out of my ass..." she groaned,
stepping out of the bottoms.
        "Hai...  But, it brings in the tips, ne Miyoko-chan?" Michi
smirked, walking past to her own locker.
        "Sure...  As long as you don't mind looking like a Sailor
Scout," she grumbled, hanging the outfit up.
	"Well, showing it off beats having to sell it, ne?" Michi
countered, shooting her friend a glance through the mirror on her
door.
	"Don't even go there..." Miyoko warned, turning around and
snapping a hair tie at her snickering friend.
	Finally, she was dressed and ready, and wasted no time in
grabbing her purse and dashing out the door.  She didn't like the
afternoon shift, since it ended at the same time that the train came
in, and if she took too long changing, she'd have to wait a
half-hour longer than she wanted to for the next one.
	Thankfully, she made it just in time, getting through the
doors just as the train started moving.  It was a busy one, crammed
with homebound commuters like herself.  She counted herself as
lucky that she didn't need to go far, meaning she generally didn't
have to suffocate for long.
	As the train got up to speed, she kept an eye on the station
board, watching for her stop.  Just as it finally came up, she felt
a hand cup her backside and give a none-too-gentle squeeze.
	Looking back, she caught a man about a foot to her right
trying to conceal his delighted grin.  Her stomach lurched
sickeningly as she noted the flush on his cheeks.  Shifting herself
slowly through the swarm of bodies around her, she managed to get
right beside him, and simply stood there.  When the train braked to
its typical rapid stop, she was actually pushed against him by the
inertia, and politely apologized.
	When the doors opened however, the crowd spilled out as per
usual...  Except for the man.  He stood motionless in his spot until
an entering commuter bumped him, and he fell like a cut tree.
	Miyoko smirked as she glanced back, then shook her head.
"Sayonara, hentai!" she thought to herself, swinging her purse onto
her shoulder.
        Singing happily to herself as she walked home, she was
almost surprised at how fast she reached her building.  In a way,
she was almost disappointed that the walk seemed so short.
        As she stepped through her apartment door, she erked as
she heard her phone start ringing.  Kicking off her shoes, she
raced over to it and snatched it just before the answering machine.
        "Moshi-moshi...  Hai!" she smiled, the sound of her favorite
voice instantly making her heart beat faster.  "Hai...  Just got in.
You are...?  Then get over here...  I missed you, too...  See you in
a minute, then.  Ja!"  she smiled happily, then hung the phone up
slowly.
        "Masaka...  I better clean this damned dump up...!" she
abruptly realized, noting she had left a bigger mess that morning
than she thought she had.
	Setting herself, she whizzed through the apartment and had
it cleaned and dusted in record time, and even managed to have time
to brush her hair before her door chime rang.
	"Haaaii!" she called out, straightening her skirt as she
padded toward the door.  Looking through the peephole, she broke
out in a wide smile and opened the door immediately.
	As soon as she did, she found herself the recipient of a
huge, pleasant hug.  "Miyoko-chan!  I've been waiting for you to
get home...  I have some great news!!"
        "Ano...  Well, don't just stand there, Yoriko-chan...  Fill
me in!"  Miyoko urged, shaking her head at the blonde-haired girl's
excitement.
        "Hai...  I got the new job!!  I started today, and I get to
work days now!"
        "Sugoi!  That's great!!" Miyoko gushed, returning the hug
and slipping her a quick kiss on the cheek.
        "Hai!  And I'm making almost twice as much, too!" she
squealed again, jumping back to look into Miyoko's deep sapphire
blues happily.
	"That's fantastic, Yoriko-chan!  We oughta go celebrate...
where do you feel like going?"
        "How about...  Right here?"  she abruptly winked, a
mischievous glint flashing through her sea-green eyes.
	Miyoko smiled wantonly.  "I like the way you think,
girl..." she grinned, stepping back and gesturing her in.




	A few days later, as the girls shared a rare common day off
sauntering down the strip, Yoriko abruptly grabbed Miyoko's arm and
pointed to a building cross the street.
        "Look!  It's open!" she exclaimed, glancing at Miyoko
expectantly.
        "Finally...  I've been waiting for this," the green-haired
woman smiled, rubbing her hands together like she was plotting a
world conquest.  "Let's go check it out," she urged, stepping off
the curb.
        "Hai!  It'll be nice to try something different," Yoriko
agreed, nodding.
	Walking up to the shop, the first thing that greeted them
was the delightful aroma wafting out the open doors, which seemed
to be literally calling to them.  Stepping in, they were greeted by
a cheery young waitress with an armload of menus.  Miyoko had to
suppress a smirk.
	"Welcome to the Happy Spatula!  May I seat you, please?"
she asked, effusively.
        "Hai.  For two please, near the windows," Miyoko replied,
pleasantly.
        "Hai.  This way, please," the girl gestured, then turned
and started toward the seats.  Miyoko couldn't resist making an
'airhead' face after her, which broke Yoriko up so much she had to
cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
	After their food arrived, Miyoko was in her glory.  As she
worked her way into her third serving of the house specialty, she
looked up thoughtfully.  "Kuso, I haven't had okonomiyaki this good
in years...  It's almost as if..." she began, then gave herself a
mental shake.  That was a thought she didn't want to finish.
        "As if what, Miyoko-chan?" Yoriko asked, still working on
her first pie.
        "Ahh...  Nothing.  Just a thought," she deflected, as
nonchalantly as possible.  "How's yours...?"
        "Great!  I never knew it could be this good,"  she replied,
her eyes widening slightly.
        "Yeah, I know..." Miyoko replied, just as she heard someone
approach her from behind.  Turning, she saw a woman stepping up to
them wearing a wide smile.  She almost gasped aloud, then pretended
to be rubbing her eyes.
        "Konnichiwa!  I am Kuonji Ukyou, the owner of the Happy
Spatula!  I'm very pleased to meet you, and I hope your experience
has been pleasant in my little shop," she bowed, rising and looking
over her two new customers.  "How is your food?"
	"Oh, it's just wonderful, ne Miyoko-chan?" Yoriko smiled,
looking to her friend for a response.
        "Hm," Miyoko nodded sharply, still rubbing her eyes as she
acted like she had a mouth full of food.
	"Arigato gozaimashite!  Please, if you have any questions,
or want anything, just let me know, okay?  Enjoy your meal!" she
smiled brightly in return, then bowed and turned to walk away.  As
she took a few steps down the aisle, however, she glanced back at
the green-haired girl for a moment, then shrugged and continued
back to the grill.
	Miyoko watched her go intently, then abruptly sprang to her
feet and took her girlfriend's hand.  "C'mon, Yoriko-chan...  We
gotta go -- now," she stated, adamantly.
        "A-ano...  I'm not finished yet...!" she protested
incredulously, indicating her plate.
        "Bag it...  We gotta get out of here," she stated, her eyes
serious as she tossed a wad of yen on the table.
        "Iya...  I'll just make you buy next time, too," she
responded with a smirk, but Miyoko wasn't in the mood.
        "Fine...  C'mon," she insisted, almost pulling the
bewildered girl out the door.
	Back in the kitchen, Ukyou leaned against the prep counter
with consternation all over her face.  She was certain she knew
that green-haired girl from someplace, but couldn't quite put a
finger on it.  She frowned as she realized it was going to bother
her now, and she made a note to check into it later, thinking she
was probably just a friend of a friend or something.




	Back at her apartment, Miyoko immediately kicked off her
shoes and collapsed in her chair, puffing out a huge sigh of relief.
"Kuso, that was close..." she remarked, shaking her head.
        "Ano...  What was *that* all about...?" Yoriko asked, running
her hands through her windblown hair.
        "Ahh...  I kinda know the woman that runs that place...
she's someone I *don't* want to see," Miyoko replied, lowering her
eyes and hoping for the best.
	Yoriko nodded, somewhat relieved.  She could understand
that well enough, given that she had a certain someone she felt the
same about.
	"I'm sorry about dragging you off like that, Yoriko-chan...
I didn't want to embarrass you if things got...  Interesting," Miyoko
added, raising her gaze and extending her hand to the girl.  She
cringed inwardly at the misdirection, not liking to have to do it.
However, given the precautions she had taken, she was sure her
secret was safe.
        "It's okay...  I'd have probably done the same thing," Yoriko
smiled, taking the proffered hand in hers, then leaning down and
kissing Miyoko's forehead.  "I'll be right back..." she added,
heading off to the bathroom.
	Miyoko sighed again as the door closed behind Yoriko,
thanking her lucky stars.
	In the bathroom, Yoriko finished washing her hands and
looked around for a towel.  Not seeing one in the rack, she opened
the small linen cupboard to put a new one out.  Seeing them on the
top shelf, she pulled one out, only to end up bringing the whole
stack down.
	Frowning, she bent down and picked them up, but when she
went to put them back on the shelf, she noticed something at the
back.  Leaning up on tiptoe, she peered over the shelf to see
several boxes of green hair colour, and a bag full of supplies.
	Gasping, she settled back to her feet and blinked.  "You
dye your hair?!?" she asked out loud, incredulously.
        "Nani?" Miyoko responded from the living room, not quite
hearing the exclamation.
	Yoriko opened the door and grinned at her.  "I never knew
you coloured your hair...  It looks so natural...!" she gushed,
absolutely tickled.
        Miyoko erked.  "Huh..?" she stammered, rising to see what
had happened.
        "The towels fell...  I saw your hair stuff.  I never
knew...!" she reiterated as Miyoko joined her.
        Miyoko thought fast.  "Hai...  I just got tired of the old
colour a few years ago...  Top and bottom.  Kept it all like this
ever since," she indicated, striking a cheesy pose.  "And the
bottom part is a pain in the ass, let me tell you..." she groaned,
rolling her eyes.
	Yoriko giggled at the antics, then put the towels away.
"So, tell me...  What colour is it really?" she asked, leaning
forward and trying to see the roots.
        "Ano...  You'll laugh..." she flustered, playing it to the
hilt.
	"Iya, iya...  I wouldn't!" Yoriko insisted, shaking her head.
        "Ahhh...  It's red," she grimaced, acting like she really
detested it.  "Now you see why I had to do everything..." she added,
sheepishly.  Yoriko's eyes widened.
        "Red...?  Oh, Miyoko...  You'd look great as a redhead..."
she breathed, her eyes sparkling as she visualized it.
        "Maybe...  But I wanted something different... You know how
that goes..." she tossed off, turning and walking back to her chair.
        "Hai...  But I still think you'd be gorgeous that way.  You
don't happen to have any pictures, do you...?" she wheedled, firing
up her best kawaii eyes.
	Miyoko swallowed hard.  This was really getting
uncomfortable.  "Hai...  In my old album." she admitted, trying to
hide her resignation.  "I'll get it," she added, heading into her
room.  Yoriko grinned excitedly and plopped on the couch, anxiously
awaiting her return.
	In the bedroom, Miyoko pulled the book out of her closet
and frowned.  She hadn't looked at it since meeting Yoriko, not
having felt the need.  Flipping it open, she looked for a suitable
picture of herself and peeled back the clear covering.  Lifting
the picture out, she shoved the book away and headed back to the
livingroom.
        "Here...  You can have it if you want..." she smiled, hoping
that it would be enough.
        "Ohhh...  I was right...  You *do* look gorgeous...!
Arigato, Miyoko-chan...  I'll keep it under my pillow,"  she smiled,
holding the picture to her chest tightly.
	Miyoko felt her heart sink.  Yoriko was everything to her,
and yet since the restaurant, she had been lying to the girl almost
steadily.  She hated herself for it, but resigned herself to the
fact that the truth would be even more painful.




        Walking into her office-slash-apartment after locking up
for the night, Ukyou wasted no time in digging out her photo
albums, determined to find that green-haired girl.  Opening the
first one, she started flipping through pages slowly, intently
examining each one.
	She had only managed about four when her phone started
to ring.  For a moment, she contemplated ignoring it, but
finally groaned and got up to answer it.  The voice on the
other end stunned her.
        "Hey, Uuchan!  How's life in the big city?" the
familiar voice of Tendou Nabiki asked, a little too pleasantly
for her liking.  Instantly, she knew something was up, not
having even seen Nabiki since shortly after 'everything'
happened.
        "Been good so far...  What's up, Nabiki-san?" she finally
responded, proddingly.
        "Well, lots actually...  I've been doing a little 'research',
and I just figured, since you've got a shop in Kyoto now, you
might be interested in it," Nabiki stated, leadingly.
	"Why's that?  Does it involve me...?" she replied,
nervously.
	"In a way.  You've heard that Ranma's living his life as
a girl now, right?"
        "Well, no...  Haven't heard anything in years.  But, that
doesn't surprise me...  If I remember right, there was a rumour he
finally went to China; maybe that's why," she supplied, wondering
where this was leading.
        "Well, he definitely is...  I have that confirmed.  And he
*did* go to China, and that seems to be exactly why.  And I also
know that he came back to Japan, then disappeared again -- or so
he thought.  Turns out he's probably in Kyoto," she stated,
proudly.
	"Masaka..." the chef gasped, almost dropping the phone.
        "Hai...  Can't confirm it absolutely yet, but I'm damned
near certain.  I'll let you know."
	Ukyou's face paled.  She hadn't seen Ranma in years, but
her heart still fluttered at the possibility that she could.
"Arigato..." she breathed, and mindlessly hung up the phone.
        Her mind reeled...  Could it be true?  Could he actually
be that close?  And if he was, would he even talk to her
again...?  The questions buzzed through her head so fast, she
could barely keep track of them.
	Suddenly, her face fell as a shocking realization tore
through her thoughts.  There was a very *good* reason she felt
she knew that green-haired girl; she was actually onna-Ranma, just
with different-coloured hair.  It added up, especially after
her staff had told her of the woman's sudden, rapid departure.
	As the thought sank in, a smile parted her face, followed
by a laugh.  She couldn't believe that she had missed him so easily,
and kicked herself for being so blind.
        The only thing that worried her now was whether or not
she'd ever see him -- or *her* again.




	Tatewake's eyes narrowed as he regarded his loyal servant.
"You say my sister has already departed?" he asked flatly as he
looked over the fax.
	"Hai, Tatewake-dono.  As soon as she read it, she left,"
Sasuke replied, nodding.
	"It would appear my ex-wife does not wish me to be
appraised of this discovery," he mused, crumpling the paper and
tossing it in a nearby bin.  "You will depart immediately for Kyoto,
Sasuke...  And report on all that transpires," he commanded, anger
threaded through his voice.  "I do not plan on being kept in the
dark when it concerns the whereabouts of Saotome, and I certainly
will not permit this slight," he glowered, ominously.  "Go,
Sasuke...  I am most interested in the outcome," he smiled,
wickedly.
        "Hai.  I will not disappoint you," Sasuke asserted, then
simply vanished from the office.
	Kuno allowed himself a moment to gloat.  If indeed his old
enemy had been found, and the rumours were true, then he could well
be rid of the second-largest thorn in his side.



	
	The movie over, Miyoko stretched and yawned, disturbing
Yoriko who had been nestled comfortably against her side.
        "Mmm...  Not bad; a bit slow at the beginning, but not
bad..." she commented, as Yoriko slowly rose to a sit.
	"I liked it..." she indicated, grinning.
        "I could tell, teary-deary..." Miyoko noted, indicating the
tissues in her girlfriend's hand.
        "Hey...  I saw you blinking, too," Yoriko protested, pouting
affectedly.
	Miyoko shook her head adamantly.  "No way.  I don't cry over
movies," she indicated, firmly.
        "Sure, Miyoko-chan...  Just you wait...  I'll catch you one
day," Yoriko threatened, wagging a finger at her then breaking
out in a grin.
	"Not...!" she emphasized, setting her arms on her hips for
a moment, then breaking out in a grin of her own.
        "I will...  You wait," Yoriko reiterated, picking up the
remote.  "Want to catch the news?" she asked, pointing the device
at the set.
        "Iya...  I was planning on getting a bath and heading for
bed...  Care to join me?"  Miyoko invited, draping her arm over
Yoriko's shoulder and looking into her eyes suggestively.
	Yoriko's eyes softened as she returned the gaze, and a
naughty grin spread across her face.  "For which one?" she asked,
reaching up and brushing back her girlfriend's bangs.
        "Both," Miyoko replied, rising and extending a hand toward
the now smiling girl.
	In the bedroom, Miyoko was out of her clothes and into a
robe by the time Yoriko got her snug flares off, and headed into
the bath to start the furo.  Finally undressed, Yoriko opened the
closet door to get her robe, then jumped back with a yelp as a
book sailed past her face to the floor.
        "Ano...  What's this...?" she wondered aloud, noting that it
looked like a photo album, having fallen open on the floor in front
of her.  Bending over to pick it up, she jumped again as Miyoko came
up behind her and patted her bare butt.
        "Whatcha looking at, cutie...?" she asked, then erked.
"Ack..!  Where did you get that?" she gasped, her heart sinking all
over again.
	"It tried to kill me..." she replied incredulously, followed
by a smirk.  "Is this the album...?"
        "Hai..." Miyoko sighed, noting that it was wide open.  "That
I got the picture from," she finished, stepping back and landing
heavily on her bed.  Yoriko giggled delightedly and sat down beside
her, starting to flip through the book.
        "Aww...  No baby pictures... " she pouted, flipping further
in.  "Oh...  Here's some...  Feh.  These are all of a boy.  Who's he,
Miyoko-chan?"
        Miyoko tried to hide her grimace.  "That's...  My brother,
Saotome Ranma."
	Yoriko grinned.  "You have a brother...?  You never told
me..." she noted, regarding Miyoko questioningly.
        Miyoko swallowed hard.  "That's because...  I don't like to
talk about him.  He and my father went to China on a training
journey...  And he was killed in an accident there about seven years
ago..." she began, lowering her eyes.
        "Ohhh...  That's so sad..." Yoriko gasped, setting the book
aside and hugging Miyoko supportively.
        "Arigato...  He was a Martial Artist, and...  Well, at least
he went out doing what he loved most," she continued, her voice
softening suitably.  The act came fairly easily, since she felt
absolutely sick about lying to Yoriko again.  She quickly found
herself wishing she'd destroyed that damned book when she first
arrived in Kyoto.
        "Gomen, Miyoko-chan...  I didn't mean to pry...  I feel so
bad for you," Yoriko retracted gently, tightening her hug.  "You can
put the book away...  I'll never ask you about it again, I promise,"
she stated, resting her head on Miyoko's shoulder.
        "It's okay...  I just get sad when I think about him... " she
dismissed, a small smile crossing her lips.
	"I still feel bad..." Yoriko pouted, settling back beside her.
	Miyoko, looking for a way to change the subject, noticed
that Yoriko was still completely nude.  Making a big production out
of checking her out, she abruptly smiled mischievously.
        "Ano...  I know how you can make it up to me..." she hinted,
leaning over and kissing her.
        "Mmmm...  I thought you wanted to have a bath first..." Yoriko
breathed, snaking her arms over Miyoko's shoulders.
        "I don't know if I can wait that long..." Miyoko responded
breathily, pushing the girl down onto the bed as she untied her robe.




	The next morning, Ukyou passed the mid-city park on her way
back from the dry-cleaners, a walk she usually made just to get
some air.  As she gazed over the pretty blue lake, she noticed what
looked like a tent nestled amoung the trees on the far side.  The
sight made her shake her head, wondering who would be cheap enough
to camp in a city park.
	As she continued on her way, she glanced back at it again,
this time catching a glimpse of colour beside the tent.  Taking a
closer look, she almost squealed out loud.
	Dry-cleaning and all, she broke into a run over toward the
tent, and as she got closer, her sighting became confirmed.  The
flash of colour she had seen was indeed an orange umbrella.
	Racing up to the tent, she was intending to yell into it
to announce herself, but Ryouga saved her the trouble.  Just as
he backed out and started to rise and turn, he found himself
smothering in breasts.
	"Ryouga-kun!!  It's so damned good to see you!!" Ukyou
squealed, hugging the stuffing out of the stunned Martial Artist.
	When she finally let go and stepped back, Ryouga shook off
his reddening cheeks and smiled widely.  "Uuchan!  How did you
know I was here...?" he asked, skritching the back of his head.
        "I was out picking this up and saw your tent...  Then I saw
that thing,"  she responded happily, pointing to his umbrella.
"How are you...?  You look great...  A little wrinkled, but still
great," she grinned, adjusting her blouse.
        "I'm good...  Heh, funny...  I meant to look you up now that
I was here, since I heard you had a new place.  How's it going?"
        "It's going really well...  I have a staff!!  Say, why
dontcha pull on a shirt and c'mon over...  We're serving breakfast,
and I'd be glad to have your opinion," she offered, still smiling.
"It's not far..."
	Ryouga smirked.  "As if that's a problem for me..." he
noted, winking.
	Ukyou rolled her eyes.  "So, what brings you here?  I can't
believe you'd come all this way just to see me," she remarked,
smirking.
        His face sobered.  "Ano...  By any chance...  Have you
heard from Nabiki...?" he asked, lowering his voice.
        Ukyou blinked. "Hai...  Last night.  Why?"
	Ryouga's face brightened, and he seemed to sigh with relief.
"Good.  I thought I was the only one who knew," he explained,
reaching back into his tent for a shirt.  "Let me pack up, and
I'll take you up on that offer...  We can talk more on the way,"
he smiled, pulling on the shirt.
	Ukyou nodded, for some reason feeling a twinge of
disappointment.
	A while later, as the two walked along the street toward
Ukyou's shop, her curiosity finally got the better of her.
        "So, sugar...  What really brings you here?  I hope it's
nothing like the last time you came looking for Ranma..." she
asked, eyeing him warily.
        "No, Uuchan...  I've done a lot of thinking over the
years.  I finally figured out that beating each other to death
was not the way to accomplish anything.  If we had been smarter
back then...  And maybe stopped throwing punches long enough to
listen to each other, things would have been different now.  I
really think Ranma was just the first one to figure that out,"
he responded, earnestly.
        "Wow...  Are you sure you're the *real* Ryouga...?  If you
are, then you sure have changed..." she whistled, shaking her head
incredulously.
        Ryouga only smiled.  "Hai.  I have changed...  Like I'm
sure we all have.  It's just too bad that not everyone changed for
the better," he commented, sadly.
	Ukyou didn't answer right away, thinking back over her own
'changes'.  She, however, was quite happy with most of the results.
        "Yeah...  Although I have to admit, Nabiki hasn't changed
at all..." she observed, smirking.
	"That's what worries me..." Ryouga noted, frowning.
	Just at that moment, their attention was distracted by the
sound of a motorcycle approaching quite fast.  As they both turned
to watch it approach, the rider looked up at them as it passed,
then abruptly locked the bike up into a brakeslide.  As the rear
wheel came around, the rider cracked the gas again and roared up
to the sidewalk, braking to a fast halt.
	Kicking the stand down, the rider stepped off and started
toward the two now very surprised people, unsnapping its helmet
and pulling off its gloves.
        "Kuso...  I should have guessed," Ryouga spat, shaking his
head.
	"Huhn...?" Ukyou blurted, as the camouflage-clad figure
approached.
	As Ukyou watched guardedly, the figure stopped, raised
its mirrored visor, then removed its full-face helmet.
	Ukyou gasped out loud.  "Akane?!?" she exclaimed, leaning
closer to make sure.
        "Hey, Uuchan -- *Porky*," she smiled, a slightly sadistic
edge to her voice.
        "What...?" Ukyou blinked, glancing back and forth between
the two.
	"This isn't a good time, Akane..." Ryouga cautioned,
tiredly.
	"Oh, shut the hell up.  I didn't come here to talk to you,
anyway," she sneered, looking him over disdainfully.  Ryouga only
rolled his eyes.
        "Ano...  What gives with you two?" Ukyou interjected,
stunned by the display of hostility.
        "Nothing much...  Nothing much at all..." Akane replied
snobbishly, looking over at Ryouga.  He simply fumed quietly.
        "Sure...  Well, I was gonna invite you guys to my shop for
breakfast, but I don't want you busting up the place..."
        "It'll be cool...  Just keep us apart," Akane noted, grimly.




	Akane accepted her drink from the waitress and slugged back
a few gulps, then parked the glass on the table with a resounding
thud.  "Hai, it was kinda short notice," she nodded, glancing at
Ryouga.  "Just got the call today," she added, digging a cigarette
out of her pocket.  "Anyway, that's not important...  Nabiki said
she's found that miserable bastard...  Did she or not?" she abruptly
demanded, tossing her lighter on the table.
        "No...  She said she's almost certain, but still couldn't
confirm it.  But, I can do better than that," Ukyou smiled, proudly.
"I think I may have actually seen her...  Her and her girlfriend,"
	Ryouga and Akane looked at each other for a moment, then
turned back to Ukyou.  The chef blinked at their fallen faces and
then smirked.  "Hey, I saw it for myself...  There were two girls
in here yesterday, and I could have sworn one of them was him,"
she added, seriously.  "And before I went to their table, they
were holding hands under it...  The staff was even noticing," she
noted, shrugging.  "I even thought they looked kinda cute, until I
talked to Nabiki last night and figured everything out," she added,
sighing.
        "So then he *is* a girl...?" Akane asked, frowning.
        "Hai...  I'm pretty sure that the green-haired one was him.
Those eyes looked damned familiar..." 
        "Kuso, then it's true...  He must have gone to China to use
the Chisuiton..." Ryouga stated, shaking his head.
        "Feh...  Like that matters," Akane abruptly spat, smirking.
I brought a little something that trumps his ace but good.  It's
locked in my saddlebag, ready to go," she grinned, evilly.
        "Masaka...  You don't mean..." Ryouga gasped, looking back
at her incredulously.
        "Damned straight...  The Kaisuifuu.  Went and got it myself,
'cause I figured he'd pull something like this," she smirked,
proudly.
        Ryouga looked at her wordlessly for a moment, then sighed
and shook his head sadly.  "Great..." he groaned, rolling his eyes.




	Miyoko stepped off the train as per usual, happily
anticipating an evening on the strip, enjoying Yoriko's company.
Starting toward the street, she caught a familiar sound on the
wind.  Turning, she gasped out loud, then instantly sprang upward.
	Looking down from the roof of the Terminal building, she
cursed silently.  Below her was an unmistakable mass of purple hair,
and beside its owner, a tall, proud figure that also stood out as
unmistakable.
        "Kuso...  What the hell are *they* doing here?!?" she cursed
to herself, crouching lower as they passed beneath her vantage.
They were conversing idly in Mandarin, and she could pick up the
odd word while they were still close enough.
        "Huhn...  Something about Kuno...  And Mousse being
jealous...?  Kuso, that doesn't make any sense," she huffed to
herself, frowning.  As she tried to figure it out, she waited for
the two Amazons to move from sight, then sprang back down to the
street.  Peering around the building cautiously, she made absolutely
sure they were long gone before stepping out.  "This is getting
nuts..." she puffed, heading home as fast as her legs would take
her.




        The exuberant seven year old boy raced around his bedroom
like a black-haired oni, fighting off an imaginary youma with all
the skill he possessed.  Just as he was about to vanquish his
enemy, his bedroom door slid open slowly to reveal his frowning
grandmother.
        "Kei-chan...  You're supposed to be in bed.  How are you
going to be ready for what comes tomorrow, if you don't have your
proper sleep?" she admonished, eyeing him levelly.
        "Gomen, baachan...  I can't sleep...!  Kaasan said she'd
call!" the boy responded, flopping on his bed.
        "Hai...  But it may not be for a while, little one.  Get
under your blankets and rest, and if she calls, I will come and
wake you," she responded, nodding.
        "Okay...  Baachan, what is Mom doing in Kyoto anyway?  She's
never gone away before..." he abruptly pouted, looking up at her
expectantly.
        "That's not true...  She went to China when you were very
young...  You just don't remember," she smiled, walking over to
tuck him in.
	"Then why is she in Kyoto?"
        "Hmm...  I guess I can tell you now...  Do you remember the
stories about your father?"
        "Hai!  Mom always tells me about him!" he responded, sitting
bolt upright.
	"Well, Your aunt Nabiki thinks she may have found him...
and that's why your mother went to Kyoto.  She wants to make sure,"
	Kei's eyes widened.  "Will I get to see him?"  he gasped,
his jaw dropping.
	Nodoka sighed, reaching down and brushing some stray hairs
away from the child's eyes.  "I can only hope so, Kei-chan..." she
replied, smiling sadly.
	After getting the child to settle, she walked from his room
and headed back to the kitchen and her tea, then took the cup out
onto the laundry porch.
	Gazing out at the koi pond, she could visualize the stories
that she had heard, and a smile crossed her face.  Sighing again,
she prayed that Nabiki was right, and that indeed, he had finally
been found.  She realized that if this attempt to contact him
failed, or worse yet, angered him further, then she would never
see her only son again.
	Absently, her hand moved to her cheek to wipe away the
tear.



 	Yoriko smiled brightly as her customer took his tray away,
then reached down and closed off her till.  She had to head to
the back and help bring in the stock, since their truck had
arrived a few minutes earlier.
	As she hand-bombed boxes off the cart and into the walk-in,
one of her co-workers came up to her and tapped her on the shoulder.
        "Yoriko-san...  There's a package here for you!" she
explained, pointing to the side door.
        "Ano...  Package?  I'm not expecting anything...?" she
responded, surprised.
	Sure enough, on the corner of the bench near the doors, a
small, brown-paper wrapped item sat waiting for her.  Picking it
up, she noticed it was unlabelled except for her name.  It also
rattled similarly to a removable drive cartridge.
	Curiosity piqued, she tore it open quickly, discovering it
contained a 3" CD and a small note.  Asking around to borrow a
player, she ended up having to use the staff blaster in the
changeroom.  Popping the disc in, she stood back and listened
intently.
	From the disk she heard a slightly sad song, apparently
sung by a female group.  The words were interesting, but the
voices and singing excellent.  Wondering what it was all about,
she unfolded the note and read it over.  To her continuing
surprise, there were only a few neatly written lines:

        "Usotsuki" (Liar) - DoCo    (*see note below - Coutuva)

	Tendou Kasumi
	Tendou Nabiki
	Tendou Akane
	Shampoo
	Saotome Ranma
	
	Yoriko blinked.  "Saotome Ranma?" she asked out loud,
restarting the song.  Listening even more closely, she swore
there were no *male* singers in it anywhere.  However, she also
noticed that one of the voices sounded amazingly like Miyoko.
Playing it once more, she picked out the voice and became
convinced.  It was Miyoko, no doubt about it.
	She listened to it again.  For some reason, the chorus
stuck in her head:

	"The girl is probably a liar
	Suddenly, it has become that I don't like you
	The boy is probably bewildered
	You were informed that I love you, having nodded
        It's the truth...  It was also some time ago"


        Her face contorted in confusion...  This was just too weird.




=================================================
END - Secrets V1P1                      A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com

***NOTE:  The Lyrics above are from the Original "Import Only"
Japanese version of "Team Ranma VS The Legendary Phoenix."  The song
is the end theme as sung by DoCo Japan. ***



From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


Secrets: Volume One Part Two
----------------------------------------------------------------


	
        The hands moved; Miyoko flinched.  Another minute had
passed, and she was still awake.  She had so far watched two
hours pass, and came to realize that she wasn't going to be
sleeping any time soon.  Sighing aloud, she flopped on her back
in frustration, knowing full well what her problem really was.
	Rising from her bed, she walked to her dresser and looked
into the large mirror, examining the face that stared back at
her intently.  It was a pretty face, one she had come to know
well over the last seven years.  It represented her new lease on
life, having brought her more happiness than she had ever
experienced before.
	Now, however, that happiness was in serious jeopardy.
The last thing she had expected, especially after seven wonderful,
peaceful years of privacy, was to see 'them' again.
	The face in the mirror darkened.  Ukyou setting up a
shop... that she could see.  But Shampoo and Mousse...  just
showing up out of the blue?  That seemed like too much of a
coincidence for her to simply ignore.
	She began to wonder how they had found her, but as
quickly as she asked the question, she answered it.  It had to
be only one person... the only one she knew of that was
persistent enough, and had the resources available to pull it
off.  Nabiki.
	The face took on an unpleasant scowl.  If Nabiki was
behind it, then everyone in Nerima knew.  The bitch would have
made sure of it.
	"Damn!" she cursed out loud, her scowl changing to naked
anger.  She had invested too much in *this* life to have her old
one interfere now, especially with things going so well between
her and Yoriko.
	Suddenly, her anger fell away to a horrible realization.
"Yoriko-chan..." she gasped, remembering their earlier
conversation.  Her girlfriend knew nothing of her past, other
than the nebulous remarks she had made then.  And making matters
worse, the girl trusted her...  Trusted her more than she did her
own mother.
        She had met Yoriko when the poor girl was reeling from a
failed relationship attempt, in fact she had been sitting on the
shoreline of the lake in the park, crying.  She was utterly
crushed, scared and alone, so Miyoko had taken her under her wing,
trying to help the girl rebuild her life and her self-confidence.
Over time, the two became best friends, spending every waking
moment together.
        Miyoko, much to her shame at the time, eventually began
to harbour certain thoughts about the girl, especially when she
would be over watching TV, and fall sound asleep snuggled up
against Miyoko's side.  It had been almost too much for Miyoko to
take, but through a great effort of will, she kept her silence,
valuing Yoriko's friendship too much to risk losing it over a
rejection.
        Yoriko, however, didn't have any such fear.  One day,
Miyoko had been relaxing in the furo, and when she heard Yoriko
arrive and call out her name, opted to 'play possum' for a joke,
and pretend to be asleep.  Yoriko, as expected, wandered into the
bath looking for her, since Miyoko already had a reputation for
falling asleep in such a manner.
        To Miyoko's continuing amazement, instead of simply yelling
at her to wake up, Yoriko had knelt down beside the tub, then
reached over and touched her face lovingly.  After a few moments
of hesitation, the girl gave in to her urges and rose, then leaned
over and kissed Miyoko full on the lips.
        Miyoko responded to the kiss passionately, startling Yoriko
half to death.  However, that didn't stop the girl from getting
into the kiss, which left both women flush-faced and breathing
hard.  Later, Yoriko stunned Miyoko by telling her that she was not
lesbian by any means, but somehow, it had just felt 'right' to do
what she had done.
	That was two years ago.  Their relationship never looked
back after that.  Now, Yoriko seemed to be flourishing, having
blossomed over the years from a shy, self-conscious girl to a
confident, successful woman.  She loved life again, and was caring
and compassionate beyond her years -- and Miyoko loved her with
every cell of her being.
        Miyoko's heart sank as she realized that it would shatter
the faith that Yoriko had in her if she was to find out her secrets
from anyone other than her... and right now, she knew there was a
great danger of that happening.
	There was simply no alternative.  She had to tell her
girlfriend everything...  About her curse, her past...  And even
her son.  She had to bare her soul, and hope that Yoriko loved her
enough...  To forgive her.
	


	The mood was pensive but somber in the small restaurant,
long closed for the day and empty, except for the small group of
people huddled at a table.
        "Well, this sucks..." Akane abruptly spat, kicking back
in her chair.
        "Take it easy, Akane...  Nabiki said that all we had to do
was wait, and she'd fill us in," Ryouga ventured, despite the
withering glare he got in return.
        "That is true.  Her message to us said the same," Shampoo
chimed in, nodding.
	"I really don't see why we even came, Shampoo.  The very
fact that he vanished without either a word or a trace makes it
obvious.  He wants nothing more to do with any of us," Mousse
observed tiredly, pushing his glasses up his nose.
	Shampoo glanced back at her husband and sighed.  "I want
to see what happened to him...  See if he really is changed like
Nabiki said," she stated, her eyes going slightly misty.
        "From what I've seen...  I'd bet yes, sugar," Ukyou
supplied, shaking her head.
	"What do you mean?"  Shampoo blinked, turning toward their
host.
        "Like I told Ryouga and Akane already...  I've seen him.
Well, I've seen *her*...  And her girlfriend," she responded,
shrugging.  "One of my girls said her name's Yoriko..."
        Shampoo was floored.
	"Girlfriend...?" she shuddered, suddenly feeling a bit
green.
	Mousse smirked and shook his head.  "Makes sense, if you
think about it."
        "Feh...  Makes perfect sense to me...  Hentai baka," Akane
glowered, stubbing out her cigarette gruffly.  "I'm going back to
the hotel.  Screw this," she snapped, grabbing her helmet and
heading for the door.  "Call me when something actually happens,"
	The others simply watched her go, then all looked back at
one another.  Ukyou was the first to comment.  "Damned shame... "
she muttered, sadly.
        "Hai...  She's been through a lot," Ryouga added, nodding.
First Ranma left...  Then it was my turn," he sighed, remorsefully.
        "Okay...  Now you *have* to explain yourself, sugar,"
Ukyou prodded, her curiosity driving her crazy.
	Ryouga raised his gaze, sighed again, then looked back at
Ukyou sadly.  "I tried to move in...  After Ranma and Akane had
their big fight.  I figured that it was going to be my best chance
to...  Well, you know," he began, sheepishly.  "Anyway...  I
actually thought I was getting somewhere when I made the mistake
of getting caught in the rain.  When I went into the bathroom at
Akane's house to change back, she happened to walk in," he
admitted, rolling his eyes.  "When I got out of the hospital,
she wouldn't even speak to me,"  he concluded, quietly.  "Not
that I could blame her.  I betrayed her trust, and I guess I got
what I deserved," he lamented, lowering his face.
	"I figured it was something like that.  I know Ranchan
hated what you were doing, but he swore by the code that he'd
never tell...  And he never did.  I have to admit, even I was
tempted to, but he wouldn't let me," Ukyou indicated, pointedly.
        "Whatever else he is or was, he was a man of honour,"
Mousse noted, surprising everyone.  Noticing the looks he was
getting, he adjusted his glasses and squared himself.  "I am no
great friend of Saotome...  He is the reason it took me over ten
years to marry the woman I love.  I do, however, have great
respect for him as a warrior, and as an honorable...  Man," he
stated, pausing momentarily.  "I know of what occurred between
him and Akane...  And for my opinion, she brought her state upon
herself.  She was always a bitter, angry, and dare I say deeply
bigoted girl...  Unwilling to simply accept that which Saotome
honestly did try to give her, and unable, it seems, to give it,"
he continued, to the hushed gapes of his companions.  "She is
destined to spend her days regretting the mistakes of her
youth...  And doing so alone."
	"Then why do you think she went to get that kettle?  She
must be trying to get him back..." Ukyou countered, rising in
her chair slightly.
	"I would suppose that she wants to unlock his curse...
perhaps simply to hurt him as she perceives herself to have been.
Or, she could well want him back...  He did, after all, give her
a child, and it is said that one never stops loving their first
lover," Mousse replied, thoughtfully.
	Ryouga, meantime, sat blinking as he listened to the
conversation.  He was still having trouble believing it was
*Mousse* speaking so...  Intelligently.  Finally, he could stand
it no longer.
        "Ano...  Don't take this wrong, Mousse...  But...  What
happened to you?!?" he asked, eliciting a snicker from both Ukyou
and Shampoo.
	Mousse only smiled proudly.  "Thank you for noticing...
I finally had laser surgery on my eyes, and for the first time
could read the books I so loved, and not take months to do so.
My diction has improved as a result, and it is a blessing to be
able to see what lies ahead," he smiled, bowing slightly.
"Regrettably, I still do not have perfect vision, but it was a
marked improvement."
        "Is it ever... " Ryouga whistled, somewhat awestruck.
        "I have to agree, sugar...  You don't come off anything
like you used to," Ukyou smiled, rising and starting to clear
the table.  "Well, as exciting as this has been, I think it's
time to call it a night, gang...  At least for me.  Six o'clock
comes pretty early, y'know," she indicated, a strong tone of
suggestion in her voice.
	"We will be at our Hotel, the same one that Akane is at.
Give us a call if you hear anything...  I would assume that Nabiki
will contact you first," Mousse indicated, handing Ukyou a
business card from the Hotel, their room number written on the
front.  "Thank you for the food, and the compliment," he added
with a smile, bowing quickly then offering Shampoo his hand.
	"No problem, sugar... " she replied, winking.  "So,
Ryouga-kun...  Where are you staying?" she abruptly redirected,
glancing over at him as the others departed.
        "Ano...  Still in my tent...  At the park.  I guess I
should try to find a room..." he answered, somewhat sheepishly.
        "Nope...  Wrong answer.  You won't find a room at this time
of night, Ryouga-kun...  You better stay here tonight.  I have a
spare room in the back.  You don't snore, do you?" Ukyou
offered, then looked at him hopefully.
	"No...!" he replied, looking offended.  "Thanks,
though..." he followed, rising and pushing his chair in.
        "Okay, good.  I'm a light sleeper," she replied, relieved.
"The room is right back there, through the kitchen.  It's the one
on the right, beside mine," she indicated, wagging a thumb over
her shoulder as she began gathering the dishes.
	"Let me help you with that, Ukyou..." he suddenly
offered, shooing her away from the table.  "It's the least I can
do," he added, flashing a small smile.
        "Ano...  Sure..." she stammered, stepping back as a small
flush suddenly flew across her face.

	

        "Nooo...  Not another evening shift..." Yoriko whined,
pouting affectedly.  "I thought you were days this week.  I had
all kinds of plans for us," she added, fretting.
        "Gomen, Yoriko-chan.  Michi called in sick, and they're
short handed at the club because Aiko and Suki are on holidays."
Miyoko explained, unhappily.  "It's only for four days, though..."
she added, walking up and placing her hands on Yoriko's shoulders,
looking deep into the girl's disappointed eyes.  "... and I promise
I'll make it up to you," she whispered, her eyes and tone dripping
with suggestiveness.
        "Oohhh...  Stop it, Miyoko-chan....  You're making me
shiver," Yoriko responded, her own voice husky.  "But I'm still
going to hold you to it," she smiled, then hugged Miyoko tightly.
	As she settled on the couch afterward, she watched
absently as Miyoko finished ironing her uniform blouse.  A smile
crossed her face as Miyoko began to sing softly to herself,
something she often did when she was doing her housework or just
in a good mood.
        Yoriko loved to hear her girlfriend sing, and could spend
hours just listening to her wonderful, lilting voice.  Just as she
was about to close her eyes and enjoy it, she suddenly recalled
something she meant to give to Miyoko.
        "Oh; Miyoko-chan...!  I almost forgot..!" she blurted,
grabbing at her purse and digging through it excitedly.
        "Huh...?  Forgot what...?" Miyoko asked, turning toward
Yoriko and regarding her questioningly.
	"This!  That song you were just singing reminded me of
it," she announced, holding up a 3" CD.  "Someone left it for me
at work...  It was probably meant for you..." she smirked, offering
the disc to Miyoko.
        "A CD...?  What's on it?" Miyoko responded, taking
it and looking it over for a label.  Suddenly, the pit of her
stomach tightened.
        "You!  I never knew you sang professionally...  Although
you still should be.  You do have a beautiful voice, Miyoko-chan,"
Yoriko responded, excitedly.  "Oh, this came with it...  They
screwed up the names, though....  They put your brother's down
instead," she added, holding up the note.
        Miyoko opened the note, read it, then sank to her knees.
"They know..." she gasped, totally stunned.  Tears began to run
down her face, and her stomach suddenly felt like it was full of
broken glass.  Her deepest fear had just been realized; they
*were* trying to destroy her life, and it looked like they wanted
to drag Yoriko down with her.  Instantly, a cold fury rose within
her, completely engulfing all of her senses.  The first shot had
been fired...  And it had drawn blood.
	So consumed with anger and hate was she that she barely
noticed Yoriko landing on her knees beside her, profusely and
tearfully apologizing for whatever she had done wrong, and
promising never to mention it again.
        Wordlessly, Miyoko rose to her feet and strode from the
room, her face a mask of pure rage.  She continued straight out
into the hall and strode deliberately toward the far end.
        Yoriko, having chased after her crying and begging her to
come back, froze in her tracks as she watched Miyoko open the
window at the end of the third-storey hall, glance out it for a
moment, then suddenly spring through it like she was launched from
a cannon.
        Shrieking in horror, Yoriko dashed to the window and looked
out, expecting to see the woman she loved falling to her death.
She was even more stunned to see Miyoko bounding off into the
distance at an incredible speed, leaping from rooftop to rooftop
like she had wings.
        Collapsing to the floor in shock, Yoriko stared gaping into
space as her head spun, trying desperately to sort out what had
just happened.  She wasn't having much luck.  Snapping out of her
daze, she picked herself up and walked back to the apartment
numbly, her gut churning.  She didn't understand why, but she had
the terrifying feeling that she had somehow opened Pandora's Box.



	Ukyou listened to the phone intently, writing everything
down so she was sure she'd be able to relay it right.  "Hai...  I
got it, Nabiki...  I don't think it'll work, but I got it," she
responded, critically.  "Sure...  Ryouga, Akane, Mousse and Shampoo.
That's it, though...  Nobody else.  Nope...  Neither one, sugar.
Okay...  See you then," she concluded, hanging the phone up slowly
as she reread the instructions.
        "That was Nabiki, ne?" Ryouga asked from behind her,
having been within earshot of the conversation.
	"Hai.  She outlined this hair-brained scheme to me, but I
think 'Dear ol' Nabs' has lost it," she grumbled, handing the pad
to Ryouga.
        "She *is* crazy...  All this will do is make him...  Ah,
'her' even madder," he agreed, upon reading it over.
        "I know...  Well, better call the others...  They'll want
to see it," she commented, heading out into the restaurant shaking
her head.
	


        Miyoko continued to leap from building to building, not
even caring that she was dressed in a skirt and tank top.  All that
mattered to her was that she was zeroing in on her target rapidly.
She had no idea where everyone else she had seen was, but she knew
how to get to Ukyou, and that was a start.
	As she traveled the Kyoto skyway, her mind reeled with a
combination of anger and fear.  Anger that Nabiki had interfered in
her life, and fear that it was going to cost her the love of the
only person she cared about.
	Suddenly, her heart was gripped with a wrenching
realization.  In her anger, she hadn't yet explained herself or the
situation to Yoriko, and worse yet, had taken off in a blind rage
without so much as a word.  She had left the poor girl cold at her
apartment, and probably scared her to death.  Cursing at her temper,
she decided her 'visit' could wait.  Yoriko was more important.
	Redirecting the angle of the leap she was just completing,
she rebounded instead of advancing, heading back as fast as she
could.  She only prayed she would get there before Yoriko did
anything she would regret for the rest of her life.




        Yoriko wasn't frightened and confused anymore.  Now, she was
scared and worried.  After taking some time to sort things out, it
was obvious to her that someone was trying to hurt her girlfriend.
It had something to do with the past that Miyoko didn't talk about,
and it had something to do with her brother, of that much she was
sure.  And whatever it was had brought out a white-hot fury in her
girlfriend, the likes of which Yoriko had never before seen.  That
had scared her, but, after thinking it through, it was now worrying
her sick.  She was afraid that whatever was at the bottom of it all
had the potential to drag Miyoko back into it, and quite possibly
away from her.  Miyoko's unprecedented wordless departure had
convinced her of that.
	She hadn't found the nerve to actually tell her yet, but
she *was* deeply in love with Miyoko.  Her silent strength, worldly
wisdom and genuine, forthright manner had long ago captured her
heart, and she knew that she wouldn't even be alive today had it
not been for Miyoko's unselfish, unlimited compassion.
        She needed Miyoko...  More than she needed the air she
breathed.  And she wasn't about to let some resurrected demon from
her girlfriend's secretive past take her away.  She didn't care
about the secrets themselves...  Yoriko herself had some that she'd
rather not divulge.  All she cared about...  All she wanted...  Was
Miyoko's love.  Nothing else mattered.
	During the course of trying to get things straight in her
head, Yoriko came to the conclusion that she had to confront the
owner of that okonomiyaki-ya.  She was the only other person who
knew anything about Miyoko, and Miyoko had been awfully anxious to
avoid contact with her.  Throwing on her shell and grabbing her
purse, she almost ran out of the apartment.




        Miyoko angled her approach perfectly, slipping neatly
through the window of her apartment.  As she settled to her feet
in the middle of the living room, she called out for her girlfriend
urgently.
	Her heart landed on the carpet with a squishy splat as she
realized she was too late.  Yoriko was already gone, and Miyoko,
particularly given her mood, assumed the worst.
	"Baka!  How could you be so foolish!?!?" she cursed out
loud, smacking herself in the forehead.  Stomping over to the
phone, she punched the speed-dial for Yoriko's apartment, praying
she would be there to answer.
        Many long, agonizing rings later, Yoriko's answering
machine picked up.  Miyoko held the receiver out in front of her
for a moment, glared at it, then shattered it to bits in her hand.
	"If I've lost her over this..." she snarled, lifting the
remnants before her face.  "Somebody's gonna die," she continued,
then threw the pieces to the floor.




        Yoriko swallowed hard.  Before her stood the 'Happy
Spatula'.  Within it lay her best hope for answers...  But were
they answers she really wanted to hear?  Despite her current
concerns and fears, she liked the way things were between Miyoko
and herself.  She knew that going into that shop could very likely
alter that state forever, but, as she considered her next move,
she reminded herself that if she didn't go in there and fight for
Miyoko, she could just as easily lose her completely.
        Suddenly, Yoriko made up her mind.  Miyoko had already
given her back her life, and now something was threatening to take
Miyoko's away; her course was clear.
	Setting herself, she strode across the street, headed
straight for the restaurant door.
	Inside the shop meantime, the same faces sat at the same
table, none of which looked very impressed.
        "You were right, Ryouga-san...  This is crazy.  It will
accomplish nothing," Mousse pronounced, handing the pad to Shampoo.
        "You think...  I figure it'll snap him out of this bullshit
delusion he's living in.  Once he can't hide behind his curse,
he'll have to smarten up," Akane grinned savagely, setting the
kettle on the table.  "He won't have any more friggin' excuses,"
she added, shoving the kettle toward Ryouga.  "Go fill it up...
warm water.  We'll have it ready, just in case."
        "Akane...  I really don't think..." Ryouga began, but Akane
cut him off.
        "Yeah...  That's your problem, isn't it Hibiki?  You just
don't think, do you?" she suddenly snarled, jumping to her feet.
"For once, just shut up and do as you're told!" she commanded,
glaring death at the stunned Ryouga.
        "Cool it, Akane!" Ukyou quickly injected, breaking into
her line of sight.  "This is my place of business...  If you two
want to take this outside, that's fine.  But don't start anything
in here!" she warned, fingering the spatula in her hand.
	Akane shifted her glare to the angry chef, then puffed out
a sigh and sat heavily.  "Gomen, Ukyou..." she grumbled, then
crossed her arms in front of her, scowling.
        "Good.  Now, if..." she attempted, but was interrupted by
the rustle of the shop curtain.  Pasting on her best smile, Ukyou
automatically turned toward her customer and rattled off her
standard greeting.
        "Hi!  Welcome to the Happy Spatula!  May I seat you?" she
roted out, then her face promptly fell.  She recognized the girl
instantly.
        "Konnichiwa..." Yoriko began, bowing politely.  "May...
I speak to the manager, please?" she asked tentatively.
	Recovering, Ukyou decided to play dumb.  "That'd be me,
sugar.  Kuonji Ukyou.  What can I do for you?" she responded,
sweetly.
        Yoriko flashed a nervous smile, then looked back at Ukyou
hopefully.  "My name is Naganato Yoriko.  I...  Believe you know my
friend...  Takara Miyoko?" she stated, clutching her purse
tightly.
	Before Ukyou could even react, a breadknife flashed through
the air, narrowly missing Yoriko's ear.  As she yelped in surprise,
Akane was on her feet and in the girl's face.  "It's you, isn't
it?!?  You're the one that's keeping him living this lie!!" she
snarled, grabbing Yoriko's blouse and twisting her fist in it.
        Yoriko was petrified.  All she could manage was to stare
fearfully back at Akane, her heart pounding in her chest, and her
entire body trembling.  Akane looked her up and down angrily, then
sneered in disgust.  "Just like I figured.  Weak, stupid and
gutless.  Just like he figures a woman should be," she spat,
then threw the frightened girl back hard against the wall.
        The impact stunned Yoriko enough that she couldn't prevent
herself from falling to the floor, ending up gasping for breath
and too stunned to even think.  Slowly, her shaking hand went to
her now torn blouse and pulled it closed, her fear-widened eyes
filling with tears.
	Ukyou finally recovered from her shock and dashed to the
girl's side, worried sick.  "It's okay, honey...  You'll be fine,"
she whispered, quickly checking her for injuries.  Satisfied that
she was only winded and scared to death, Ukyou snapped her head
around and literally screamed at Akane.
	"What in the name of *hell* were you thinking?!?  You
could've hurt her!  She's *not* a Martial Artist, you damned
fool!!"
	"Who cares?!?  She's the reason!  It's because of *her*
that he's here...!  It's because of *her* that *I* had to come
here!  She's lucky I didn't kill her!" Akane shot back, her eyes
flaring.
        "You know that's not true, Akane," Mousse abruptly stated,
flatly.
	Akane spun to confront him, a venomous insult ready on her
tongue, but instead, she clamped her mouth closed and simply
stared at him, unable to respond.  A second later, she huffed
angrily and slumped in her chair, muttering something under her
breath.
        Ukyou, meantime, turned her attention back to Yoriko, who
had only just started to recover.
        "C'mon, honey...  Let's get you up out of here, and I'll
get you a drink," she soothed, taking Yoriko's arm and urging her
to stand.
	"A - Arigato..." the very shaken girl responded, her face
still white.  As Ukyou lead her over to the table, Mousse rose and
pulled out a chair, then passed her his untouched water glass.
Akane watched the scene disdainfully, finally swinging her chair
around so her back was to Yoriko.
        Yoriko, after taking a long sip of the water, cleared her
throat and surprised everyone by immediately speaking to Akane.
"Ano...  Who...  Are you?  And why did you attack me?" she asked
pointedly, looking across the table at her.
	Akane only turned and shot a look back at her, then smirked.
"I'm your 'friend's' rightful fiancee, blondie...  Name's Tendou
Akane.  And I 'attacked' you because you're in my way," she
snapped, curtly.
        Yoriko's jaw dropped.  "Nani?  Fiancee?!?" she blurted
involuntarily, unable to fathom that Miyoko would even associate
with someone like this 'Akane'.
	Akane's smirk became a scowl.  "Didn't know that, did you?
Shit, you probably don't have a goddamned clue who your 'friend'
really is.  Well, let me smarten you up.  She's a lie...  Her whole
frigging *life* is a lie, koneko...  And she's been sucking you
right along with it," she growled, the look on her face
indicating her pleasure in the revelation.
        Yoriko shuddered, then anger flashed across her face.
A heartbeat later, she hauled off and slapped Akane across the
face as hard as she could.
	So unexpected was her act that Akane was unprepared to
stop it, and as her cheek reddened from the strike, she stared
back at the glaring Yoriko in gape-mouthed shock.  As she raised
her hand to her stinging face, she paused for a long moment, then
shook her head and smiled.
        "I'll give you that one, koneko...  I probably deserved
it," she stated, surprisingly calmly.  "But I wasn't kidding.
You're up to your ass in things you don't understand."
        Yoriko's face hardened.  "You don't know her...  Just by
the way you talk, you don't know her.  She's the most beautiful,
caring, selfless person I've ever known.  And you have no right
to be interfering in *our* life!" she asserted, not breaking
her gaze.
	Akane gaped back at her for a moment, then broke out in
cruel, mocking laughter.  "Honey, have I got *news* for you,"
she wailed, then kicked back in her chair.  "I just hope you're
not a fainter," she abruptly added, grinning wryly.
        Yoriko, despite her anger, couldn't help but swallow hard.




	Once she had calmed down enough to think clearly again,
it hadn't taken Miyoko too long to figure out where Yoriko had
likely gone.  Miyoko knew she was a smart girl, and that she had
likely made the connection between the disc and the Happy Spatula.
However, even if she hadn't, Miyoko couldn't take the chance.
	As she bounded through the air once more, she was deathly
afraid that she was already too late.



        "You expect me to believe that?!?" Yoriko exclaimed, wide
eyed.  "Do I really look that stupid!?" she followed, angrily.
"You're just making up some horror story so you can get him --
*her* back!" she retorted, her face livid.
	Akane only shook her head.  "No, I don't expect you to
believe me...  I expect you to believe *this*..." she countered,
grabbing her water glass and dousing Ryouga.
        Yoriko gasped in horror as she watched the stunned man
sitting near her suddenly change into a small black pig.  As the
occurrence sank in, she suddenly shuddered and melted back into
her chair.
	Akane huffed in response, ignoring Ryouga's squealing
protests.  "He changes to a pig, `cause he fell in the Pool of
Drowned Pig.  Mousse over there changes to a duck, Shampoo changes
to a cat, and *Ranma* changes to a girl.  How the hell else do you
think he got me pregnant?" she followed, setting her glass back
down.  "Sorry about the mess, Uuchan," she tossed off absently,
flashing a glance at the chef as she spoke.
	"Yeah, yeah..." Ukyou muttered, rising to go retrieve her
mop.  "C'mon Ryouga... " she waved, exasperatedly.
        "This...  Isn't true...  I've seen her in the bath... she's
a real woman!" Yoriko grasped pitifully, still valiantly resisting
the thought that this 'woman' across from her could be telling
the truth.
        "Wake up and smell the coffee, blondie...  I already told
you he locked his curse with that damned ladle.  He'd stay a woman
until it's unlocked, no matter what happens," Akane sneered, flatly.
        Yoriko shuddered again.  Her mind reeled...  Could it be
true?  Could her beloved Miyoko really be this...  Ranma?  She felt
her stomach lurch sickeningly.
	"Why...?  Why are you here...?" the shattered girl abruptly
whispered, raising her reddening eyes to meet Akane's cold glare.
	Akane's eyes flashed. "I want that *bastard* to suffer...
suffer like he made me suffer.  He destroyed my life, and I mean to
see that his perfect little world comes crashing down around his
goddamned ears...!" she snarled, leaning across the table into
Yoriko's draining face.  "And if that means shattering your little
fantasy, koneko, that's tough shit!"
        "Really fucking nice, Akane...  Why don't you pick on
someone who can kick your bitchy ass straight back to Nerima?" a
startlingly familiar and very angry voice suddenly snarled.
Everyone still in the room turned to the source, stunned to see a
green-haired woman standing just inside the door, decked out in a
black gi.
	Akane's face drained.  "R -- Ranma?" she gasped, falling
back into her chair.
        Miyoko's eyes narrowed.  "No, Akane...  Not any more.  It's
Miyoko now, and don't you *ever* forget it," she growled, eyeing
Akane coldly as she quickly moved to Yoriko's side.  Softening her
face, she knelt beside her girlfriend's chair and took her hands
gently.  "Are you okay, Yoriko-chan?" she asked softly, her eyes
shimmering with concern.
        "H - Hai..." Yoriko gasped quietly, her face an uncertain
mix of happiness, fright and confusion.  As Miyoko looked her over,
she immediately noticed the rips in her blouse.  Instantly, rage
flashed across her face.  In a blur, she was across the table and
had Akane by the front of her shirt, yanking her out of the chair
and spinning her to the floor.
	"What the hell did you do to her?!?" she yelled, preparing
to drive her fist into Akane's horrified face.
	Akane didn't get the chance to respond.
        Suddenly, Miyoko felt a presence behind her, and before she
could turn completely around, she felt the water strike her back
and shoulder...  And her face blanched as she felt
herself...  Change.
	Time seemed to stand still.
        Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyou and Yoriko all gasped, then held
their breath.
        Miyoko froze.  This, she hadn't expected.  It had been
seven years...  Seven precious years that she had lived without
knowing this sensation every time she turned around.  Seven years
of not having to live in fear of water.  Seven years that had
almost allowed him to forget this horrible, sickening curse.  And
suddenly, with one splash from a certain kettle, it had all been
washed away.
        Otoko-Miyoko lost control.  
	Faster than anyone could think, his hand left Akane's shirt
and snapped backwards, nailing a crushing grip on the stunned
Ryouga's throat...  And he began to squeeze.  He could feel the
tough, sinewy texture of Ryouga's windpipe as it began to buckle
under the relentless pressure of his fingers.  For a fleeting
second, it felt good.
	Ryouga's strained gurgle as he tried to draw breath fell on
deaf ears, the same ears that tuned out the panicked shouts around
them...  Until one shout; one pleading, frightened entreaty pierced
through his rage.  Shifting his gaze from Ryouga's cyanotic face,
he found the frightened, confused eyes of his girlfriend.
	Instantly, his heart shattered, and his bloodlust fled him
like a beaten horse.  Releasing his death-grip on Ryouga and letting
him drop gasping and choking to the floor, he gazed down at him
disdainfully.
        "And to think I used to consider you my friend," he
growled, turning his eyes away.
        Looking back at Yoriko, his expression melted into one of
deep sadness.  For an eternal moment, they simply looked into each
other's eyes, both uncertain of what to do next.
        Abruptly, otoko-Miyoko made up his mind.  Wordlessly, he
grabbed Yoriko around the waist and leapt toward the door.  In his
next leap, they were both gone.
	Mousse, as he slumped back into his seat, echoed the
thoughts of all present with one short sentence.
        "That went well,"  he deadpanned, pulling off his glasses
and rubbing the bridge of his nose.




        Otoko-Miyoko paced the shoreline of the small lake, his
heart a lump of lead in his chest.  A few feet away, Yoriko sat in
the sand crying softly.  It was a weak, painful cry...  The kind a
person is left with when they're utterly overwhelmed.  Every
pitiful sob tore through him like a bullet, until finally, he could
stand it no more.
	Turning, he walked up to her shuddering form and knelt
beside her, then tried to reach for her shoulder.
        "Yoriko-chan..." he ventured gently, but she shrank away
from his touch.
        "Don't...  Call me that," Yoriko sobbed, turning her face
away.  Otoko-Miyoko erked in confusion, then sighed heavily.
Suddenly, he knew what the problem was.
	Walking back to the edge of the water, he stopped mere
inches from the reach of the lapping wavelets, then turned to face
his girlfriend.
        "Yoriko!" he shouted, fiercely.
        "What!?!" she shouted back, raising her head to glare at
him.  As soon as she did, he took one step back.  As the coolness
of the water caressed his foot, he closed his eyes and shuddered
as the change came over him once more.
        Yoriko's face dropped.  Miyoko froze, hoping she had
guessed right.  A tense second dragged by.  Yoriko suddenly
squealed, leapt to her feet and raced over to Miyoko, throwing
herself into the shocked woman's arms.
        "Miyoko-chan...!" she wailed brokenly, then dissolved
in tears as she clamped on for dear life.  "I thought I'd lost you
forever..." she eventually sobbed, trying to bury her face even
deeper in Miyoko's gi.
        "No, Yoriko-chan...  You never lost me...  Not even for a
second," Miyoko assured, tightening her hug for emphasis.  "I'm
still me, no matter what form I happen to be in," she emphasized,
lifting Yoriko's face and smiling sadly.
        "Ano...  But I thought...  That woman made it sound..."
Yoriko began, but couldn't put her thoughts into words.  "I don't
understand any of this...!" she cried, jamming her eyes shut and
shaking her head violently.
        Miyoko had to smile, despite her aching chest.  "It's a
long story, Yoriko-chan..." she remarked, tiredly.  "A *very* long
story."


	
        "...and that's when they started to plan the wedding,"
Miyoko concluded, pausing to catch her breath.
        Yoriko couldn't believe her ears.  "You mean you were
actually going to marry her?!?" she blinked, aghast.
	"Hai.  Like I said, it took almost losing her to make me
realize I really did love her.  At the time, anyway," she
indicated, shaking her head.  "And you have to remember...  She
was a *girl* herself back then," she remarked, smirking.
        "Ay...  Somehow, I can't picture it," Yoriko stated,
grimacing.  Miyoko stifled a snicker.
	"Anyway, the wedding fell apart when that old pervert I
told you about pulled a stunt, which ended up turning it into a
riot scene.  That, I think, is when things *really* started to go
downhill.  I figure she blamed me for the entire fiasco, and
probably still does.  Actually, I'm *sure* she still does,"
she noted, sighing sadly and tossing the small rock she had been
playing with into the water.  "She *always* blamed me for
everything...  No matter what the truth was," she added, dourly.
        "Then...  Is that what this was all about...?  A failed
wedding?" Yoriko asked, her eyes widening at the thought.
        Miyoko looked across at her and smiled.  "I wish it was
something that simple," she lamented, rolling her eyes.  "That
was only the beginning.  A while after the dust settled, Akane
and I ended up alone together one night, which almost never
happened.  We had a few drinks...  And...  Well, it came out later
that I got her pregnant," Miyoko stated, her face sobering.
        "Then...  You really do have a son?" Yoriko asked, biting
her knuckle.
        Miyoko looked over at her sadly, then drew her knees to
her chest and set her chin on them.  "Hai," she sighed, closing
her eyes.  "He's almost seven now...  And I've never seen him.  He
lives with his mother back in Nerima."
        Yoriko didn't reply at first, only adjusting herself to
take the same pose as Miyoko.  After drawing a long breath, she
finally spoke.  "So...  What happened to make you..." she began,
but Miyoko beat her to it.
        "Make me leave?  Hrmph.  It was stupid, really...  The day
after we... 'you know'...  She woke up with a chip on her shoulder.
Started snarking at me every time we passed.  Turned out she had a
real problem with having gone to bed with a 'pervert', as she
considered me.  Well, we started to fight...  It lasted for three
days, finally coming to a head when she slashed me with a katana.
That was the first time she ever struck at me with the *intent* to
hurt me, and the only reason she was able to was because I wasn't
expecting it," she explained, her face darkening at the memory.
"You see, I *was* in love with her...  And because of that, I could
never hurt her, even accidentally.  When she slashed me though,
something snapped in my head.  Suddenly, all the crap I had been
putting up with...  The constant fights, the mallets, the insanity,
her lethal cooking...  Was for nothing.  She proved she didn't
love me, and my tolerance, which had taken a beating already,
just...  Wore out.  Later that night, after she had finally gone
to bed and my old man fell asleep, I packed my bags and left.
Sayonara Nerima, sayonara insanity,"  she concluded, puffing out
a breath.
        "Masaka...  I can't blame you.  She's nuts..." Yoriko
commented, shaking her head at the story.
        "You said it," Miyoko noted, nodding slightly.  "And from
what I've seen, she's only gotten worse.  It's sad, really," she
added, quietly.
        Yoriko bit her lip as she noticed Miyoko's expression, the
sadness in her girlfriend's features rekindling a certain burgeoning
fear.
        "Miyoko-chan...  Do you still love her?" she abruptly asked,
holding her breath.
        Miyoko puffed a single laugh and shook her head.  "No," she
stated, emphatically.  Turning, she took Yoriko's hand and held it
tightly.  "I love *you*, Yoriko-chan."
        Yoriko's reaction totally surprised her.  Lip trembling,
the girl yanked her hand back and stood up.  Looking down at the
blinking Miyoko with tearing eyes, she clenched her fists and tried
to speak clearly.  "Iya, Miyoko-chan...  You...  Have a family...
You can't abandon them for me.  I...  Won't ask that of you," she
sobbed, wiping her eyes.  "I can't...  Come between you...  And
your son," she added, fighting more powerful sobs.
        Miyoko, at first a bit shocked by Yoriko's reaction,
abruptly smiled appreciatively.  She had just been reminded of one
of the many reasons she loved this girl.
        "Yoriko-chan...  I think that's so 'you', it makes me love
you even more," she remarked, shifting the blinks back to Yoriko.
Shaking her head, she squared herself and took a deep breath.
"I have a son, yes.  But there's a lot more to it than that," she
stated, her face sobering once more.  "When I left, I didn't know
Akane was pregnant.  In fact, it was only three years ago that I
found out.  I was walking in the park and overheard some old
schoolmates talking about 'Akane's kid'.  It freaked me, so I
followed them for a while, and one of them mentioned that *I*
was the father," she related, her eyes lowering.  "I'd already
given up my entire history...  And my gender.  I'd been living
like this for three years, and for the first time ever I was
really, really *happy* with my life.  Because of that, I fought
with myself for ages over what to do...  I *love* kids; but, when
it came down to it, not enough to give up what I had here.  I...
Decided that I'd set up a trust fund for him, which he'll get
automatically when he's eighteen.  I put money in it every payday
so he'll be able to go to college...  And have a chance at a decent
future," she explained, her voice growing low.  "He's never even
seen me, Yoriko-chan...  And I *don't* want to see him," she
emphasized, her face indicating her seriousness.
        Yoriko only sniffed again and shook her head adamantly.
"He's...  Your son, Miyoko-chan...  He needs you; don't you even
care?!?" she blurted, starting to cry despite her best efforts.
        "Yes, dammit!  I *do* care!" Miyoko snapped in response,
then gasped as she realized that she had.  Collecting herself,
she rose to her feet and stepped up close to the sniffling Yoriko.
Looking directly into her eyes, Miyoko took her hands again and
held them gently.
        "Yoriko-chan...  I know what you're doing, and I love you
for it.  But...  If I ever see him...  I'll fall in love with him.
And if I do, then it's over, and all this has been for nothing.
They'll have me again; they've got that damned kettle, so I'll
be honour-bound to marry Akane, no matter how I feel about it.
Don't you see...?  That kid...  My son...  Is the key to my
damnation," she stated, firmly.
        Yoriko shuddered.  "But, Miyoko..." she began weakly, but
didn't finish.
        Miyoko, noting that fact, broke into a loving smile.  "I've
been to heaven, Yoriko-chan..." she said, squeezing Yoriko's hands
for emphasis.  "And there's no way I'm going back to that hell."
        The last of Yoriko's resistance crumbled at Miyoko's words,
and with a burst of powerful tears, she collapsed into her lover's
arms.
        "Miyoko-chan...  I love you...!" she wailed out loud,
shocking Miyoko.  This was the first time Yoriko had ever said the
words, and they seemed to send her aching heart into overdrive.
Euphoria literally wafted over her, leaving her barely capable of
forming the words she couldn't help but say.
        "And I love you, Yoriko-chan...  More than *anything*," she
whispered, urgently.




        "You should have waited, Akane...  I had it all figured out,
but you just had to jump the gun, didn't you?  Now he knows we have
that thing, and he'll probably disappear again," Nabiki
admonished, handing her shaken sister another cold cloth.
        "He jumped me...  Ryouga was only trying to protect me..."
she protested, glancing at the wheezing, gasping man.
	Nabiki was unimpressed.  "And why, praytell, would he jump
you...?  It wouldn't happen to have been something you did, would
it?" she intoned, glancing at the knife buried in the wall nearby.
"You, of all people, should know how protective he is.  Going
after his 'girlfriend' only made matters worse," she added, shaking
her head.
        "Nabiki, he was beyond pissed...  I've never seen him so mad.
I honestly thought Ryouga-kun here was a goner.  This may not be
such a great idea..." Ukyou pointed out, worriedly.
        "He scared *me*, too...  I have seen him get mad...  But
today, I also thought he would kill.  This is *not* the Ranma I
know...  No way,"  Shampoo quipped, shaking her purple-maned head.
"I wonder what makes him like this...?" she added, shooting a
barely noticeable glance at Akane.
	"I agree with you, Ukyou-san...  I don't think it is,
either.  We have seen enough to convince us that the person we saw
in here today is *not* Ranma.  She's a different personality
entirely, and I honestly believe that it serves no purpose to
continue this...  Exercise," Mousse seconded, glancing at Shampoo,
who nodded.
        Nabiki's eyes narrowed.  "Look; I didn't spend seven
years turning over rocks for this to fall apart now," she began,
her voice controlled.  "You guys go home...  Except you, Akane.
I'll take over from here, and we'll call you when it's all over,"
she continued, gruffly.
	Mousse huffed at her statement.  "That's assuming you
survive," he remarked, shaking his head as he rose to leave.
Shampoo had to suppress a grin.
	Once the Amazons departed and Ryouga had been ecourted
back to his room to rest, Nabiki sat beside Akane and regarded
her levelly.
        "Your call...  Do you think you can behave long enough to
finish this or not?" she asked, her voice low.
        "Cut me some slack,  Nabiki...  I'm not done with him yet,"
she growled, tossing aside her cloth.
	"Glad to hear it," Nabiki replied, her voice edged with
sarcasm.  "I've only got one ace left, and I *need* you to keep
your head on straight.  I do hope you brought your lithium."
	Akane's eyes widened.  "Keep your damned voice down!" she
hissed, angrily.



===========================================================
END - Secrets V1P2             A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com



From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Here it is, Part Three!  For this and any of my other works,
visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume One Part Three
----------------------------------------------------------------



	A skirt flew by.  A pair of shoes followed.  Then a
magazine -- and several small boxes.
        "Where *is* that damned thing?!?"  Miyoko cursed, rummaging
anxiously through her closet.  "I know it's here...  I brought it
with me on purpose!" she complained, settling back to sit on her
heels in front of the huge mess.
        "Are you sure that's where you put it?" Yoriko asked,
trying to be helpful.
        "Hai...  I'm sure it's...  Waitaminit!  There it is!" she
smiled, reaching into a tipped box at the back of the closet, and
reverently withdrawing the Chisuiton.  "Thank the Kami!  Now I can
be myself again..." she remarked excitedly, then abruptly gasped.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she had just said.
        Yoriko, noticing her state, knelt beside her and regarded
her worriedly.  "Miyoko-chan...  What is it?" she prodded gently,
placing her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder.
        Miyoko turned to her with a strange, contorted smile on her
face.  "All this crap has reminded me of the old days...  And how I
used to hate the thought of spending *any* time as a girl..." she
began, softly.
        Yoriko nodded, then cocked her head slightly, not quite
sure where Miyoko was going.
        "Well, it just hit me that now...  The thought of being
anything else bugs me even more," she noted with a smirk, then held
the ladle up and looked at it.  "I guess that just makes it
official, ne?" she added, turning toward Yoriko and smiling
brightly.
        "Hai...  I guess it does," she responded a second later,
then flashed a small smile and rose to her feet.  "Well, I have to
get in to work, Miyoko-chan...  And I need to get changed, too...
You're working again tonight, right...?" she redirected, fidgeting
with the scrap of paper she had in her hand.
        "Hai...  Got three left..." Miyoko answered, noticing
something odd in her girlfriend's demeanor.
        "Okay...  I'll call you tonight," she smiled quickly, then
leaned down and kissed Miyoko's forehead.  "Ja!" she added, quickly
turning and walking out of the room.
        "Ja..." Miyoko responded absently, a frown crossing her
face as she watched the girl go.




        Yoriko had to fight back her tears as she left Miyoko's
building, her heart feeling like it was shattering in her chest.
That 'thing' that Miyoko found had sent a chill down her back, and
overwhelming guilt ripping through her conscience.
	She had never loved anyone this much in her entire life, and
it was that very situation that now made her feel like a monster.
She wanted to have Miyoko all to herself, no matter her history,
no matter her curse, no matter even -- her son.
        Sadly, Yoriko knew what it was like to grow up without a
father, as hers had been too involved in his own affairs to even
acknowledge her presence.  The scenes of the times he would walk
past her as she tried to speak to him still haunted the dark
corners of her memory, and when she saw the ladle, it somehow
brought it all right back to her in living, painful color.  It
also made her realize that she had been willing to allow Miyoko to
do the same thing, just so she could have the woman all to herself.
	Regrettably, there was only one way she could think of to
clear her conscience, and that meant she had to take matters into
her own hands, even though she knew full well it could all
backfire in her face.
	Wiping her tears, she raced back to her apartment, called
in sick, caught a shower and was out the door again in twenty
minutes.  Hailing a cab, she gave it the address she wanted and
jumped in quickly, hoping she would make it to her appointment
before she lost her nerve.
	Once she arrived outside her destination, she stood on the
sidewalk for a moment and took a deep breath.  Summoning all the
courage she could find, she pasted on her most disarming smile and
strode straight through the doors of the Happy Spatula.
	



	Nabiki closed her phone and smiled proudly across the table
at Akane.  "Phase two is in motion...  They're faxing what they
have to me, and digging a little deeper as we speak."
	Akane sighed tiredly. "Are you sure all this 'Cloak and
Dagger' crap is gonna get us anything?  A little piece of fluff
like her is probably so clean she squeaks," she countered,
disgustedly.
	"Oh, ye of little faith.  Everyone has something to hide,
Akane...  The only 'clean' people in this world are either not born
yet or have good press agents.  You'll see...  We'll turn up
something...  Even if we have to 'embellish' it a little," Nabiki
replied, her smile becoming slightly evil.
        "Right.  Well, it better work, Nabiki...  I'm getting
tired of all this waiting."
        "You won't have to wait much longer, sister dear...  I
figure I'll have something by this afternoon.  If I don't, then
that only means she *really* has something to hide," Nabiki
assured, confidently.
        "I only wish," Akane grumbled, digging a smoke out of
her jacket pocket.  "What's that one for?" she asked a moment
later, jabbing her lighter toward the file jacket on the table.
        "That's Ranma's dirty laundry," Nabiki smirked, picking
it up.  "It's my weapon of last resort.  He got some fake ID's and
he has a chequing account, so that means we could nail him on
fraud.  There's a few other goodies in there too...  He was pretty
careless," she explained, tossing it at Akane.  "If he won't
cooperate, we send this to the Police," she grinned, smugly.
	Akane looked at the file for a moment, then glared back
at her sister.  "No, we won't," she stated, angrily.
	Nabiki's face almost hit the table.  "What?  I thought
you wanted to get him...  One way or another...?"
        "I do...  But that's not one of the ways.  I don't *ever*
want this used, got that?" Akane snarled, shoving the file back
at her sister.
        "Okay...  It's your choice.  But, I'll keep it around...
Just in case," Nabiki responded, taking the file and slipping it
into her valise.  "Well, I'm starving; destroying people is
hungry work.  Coming?"
        "Yeah...  Might as well.  Gotta call home first...  Kei
isn't used to me not being there."
        "Make sure you don't say anything yet...  It's too soon."
	"I'm not gonna say anything until I've got that bastard
on a leash...  I don't want to get Kei all excited, then end up
disappointing him."
        Nabiki had to smile.  "Trust me, Akane...  You won't." 




	Ukyou's eyes fell out of her head.  Ryouga almost choked
on his food.
        Yoriko simply stood just inside the door, politely waiting
to be invited in.  Finally, Ukyou stuffed her eyes back in their
sockets and walked over to the nervous girl, the look on her face
saying it all.
        Noticing it, Yoriko smiled effacingly.  "I have come to
talk to you...  Do you have a few minutes?" she asked, bowing
quickly.
        "Ano...  Sure, sugar...  C'mon over here," Ukyou responded,
unable to conceal her curiosity.  "So, what's on your mind?" she
asked, after seating Yoriko near the grill.
        As Yoriko moved to the table, she was relieved to note
that the woman called Akane wasn't in the shop.
	Turning to face Ukyou, she meshed her fingers together in
her lap and flashed a hopeful smile, going for as many sympathy
points as she could.  "I am sorry to disturb you at work, but I
knew of no other way to contact you," she indicated, looking
over at Ukyou apologetically.
	Ukyou waved off the remark with a smile, then swung into
a chair across from her guest.  "Don't sweat it...  We're pretty
informal around here," Ukyou added, leaning back in her seat to
try to look as non-threatening as possible.
        Yoriko's gaze dropped for a moment, then she drew a breath
and steeled herself.
	Ukyou flashed a glance at Ryouga, who only shrugged and
turned on his stool to better hear the conversation.
        "Miyoko-chan doesn't know I'm here...  I came on my own to
speak to you," she began, looking directly into Ukyou's eyes.
"From what I saw when we first met, I believe you to be a friend
of Miyoko's...  And because of that, I have come to ask a favor --
for her.  I...  Want to find a way to bring Miyoko and her son
together...  Without forcing her back into her old life," she
began hesitantly, lowering her eyes for a moment.  "I can't bear
the thought of her son not knowing her...  She's a wonderful
person, and her child should know that," she insisted, raising
her gaze to Ukyou's now even wider eyes.  "But she won't see
him...  And you probably know the reasons why."
	Ukyou's face sobered.  "Yeah...  I sure do.  So what do
you want from me?"
        "I need your help...  I don't think that Akane woman will
let Miyoko see her son without a price, and...  It's a price I'm
not willing to pay," Yoriko indicated, her voice growing quiet.
"I...  Love her too much," she added, almost inaudibly.
	Before Ukyou could respond, a scoff from the doorway
caught everyone's attention.
	"You damned-well got that right, blondie!" Akane growled,
striding toward the table.
	"Akane, wait!  She's only..." Ukyou tried to inject, but
Akane stopped her with an angry glare.
	"Bullshit!" she snarled, stepping around the table and
stomping right up to Yoriko.  "If you think I'm gonna do you or
that bastard any favours, you're more of a damned idiot than I
thought you were!" she yelled, grabbing Yoriko's jacket and
leaning down into her face.  "And there's no way in hell I want
my son anywhere near a carpet-munching hentai like you, anyway,"
she growled, her eyes flaring.
        Yoriko, to everyone's surprise, only sighed resignedly.
"If that's the way you want to play this," she replied levelly,
meeting Akane's glare head-on.
        Akane's eyes widened.  "You little..." she began, but
never got to finish.  A hand landed on her shoulder suddenly,
actually startling her.
        "That's it, Akane...  You just stepped over the line,"
Miyoko growled, and before Akane knew what hit her, she found
herself being thrown across the room, ending up crumpled against
the same wall she had slammed Yoriko into.
	"It was bad enough you had to mess up *my* life by showing
up here...  But I will *not* let you hurt Yoriko!!  Ever!!" Miyoko
yelled, pouncing on the hapless Akane, picking her up and jamming
her into the wall again.  "Get it through your thick head, woman!
I'm *not* going back there...  No matter what kind of shit you try
to pull!!" she yelled, releasing her grip and letting Akane fall
to the floor.
	Turning to face the rest of the assembled, she glared at
each of them angrily.
        "Okay, you guys...  Listen up.  I'm only gonna say this
once.  Get the *hell* out of my life!" she ground out, her large
eyes flaring.  "All you've done by coming here is remind me why I
left in the first place...!" she growled, angrily.  "...and
convince me I made the right choice!!" she added, glaring at each
of them in turn.  "And if you *ever* lay another finger on
Yoriko...!" she hissed, her large eyes narrowing as she glanced
back at the slowly rising Akane.
        "Fuck you, Ranma...  I'm not the least bit interested in
you or your ditzy little plaything.  The only reason I'm here is to
pay you back for the way you screwed me over!" she snapped,
dusting herself off and looking down her nose at the green-haired
woman.
        "Don't shit me, Akane...  I know exactly why you're here.
If you believed that line of crap, you'd never have come," Miyoko
retorted, eyeing the woman levelly.  "So, pack up your bike and
your attitude and get lost...  You've found out what you wanted to
know."
	Akane's eyes flashed, but she didn't speak.  All she could
manage was to glare at Miyoko, her entire body trembling.  Miyoko
looked her up and down, then smirked disparagingly.
        "Don't even bother," she indicated smugly, turning her back
to the fuming woman.
	Akane popped a synapse.  "BASTARD!!!" she shrieked, pulling
out a huge mallet and aiming directly for Miyoko's head.
        Miyoko waited for exactly the right moment, then spun and
effortlessly caught the mallet in mid-swing, stopping it dead.
Akane, realizing something was wrong, opened her eyes to see Miyoko
holding the mallet up by the handle and shaking her head sadly.
	"How much more proof do you need...?" she asked quietly,
then flung the mallet aside.  "It's over, Akane.  It has been for a
long time," she reiterated coldly, then turned and offered her hand
to a slightly shocked Yoriko.  "C'mon, Yoriko-chan...  This is
finished," she remarked, then escourted her girlfriend out the
door without looking back.
        Once they had hailed and boarded a cab, Miyoko remained
expressionlessly silent for the entire ride back to her apartment.
To Yoriko, it felt like the longest one of her life.  She was
afraid that Miyoko was mad at her over her little act, and her
girlfriend's stony silence only made her feel worse.  The only
encouraging sign was that Miyoko held her hand right up until they
stepped through the apartment door.
        As soon as the door closed behind them, Miyoko stepped out
in front of her and turned back with a frighteningly shaken
expression on her face.
        "Yoriko-chan...  Hold me," she whispered brokenly, then
stepped forward and buried her face in Yoriko's shoulder.  A
heartbeat later, she did something that Yoriko thought she'd never
live to witness; she broke out in tears.




	Akane was devastated.  Nabiki, Ukyou and Ryouga were at a
loss.  What they had just witnessed was so incomprehensible, they
still couldn't accept it.
	Ranma *caught* a mallet.
	Abruptly, Akane rose to her feet and mindlessly groped for
her cigarette pack.  "I'm...  Going for a ride," she babbled, then
strode out the door.
	Her movement snapped the others out of their respective
trances, prompting Nabiki to be the first to comment.
        "I don't believe it...  He's immune to the mallet.  That was
his only Achilles heel..." she stated, shaking her head slowly.
        Ukyou hung her head.  "Nabiki...  You know why, don't
you...?" she began, defeatedly.  "He...  Really doesn't love her any
more," she followed, echoing the thoughts of all present.  As she
spoke the words, however, she had another realization.  He was not
only out of love with Akane, but he was very much in love with
someone else...  And it wasn't *her*.
	Wordlessly, she got up and walked back to her office,
slowly closing the door behind her.
        Ryouga's reaction was more succinct.  "Shimata..."
	Nabiki watched Ukyou go, then started to shake her head
violently.  "No.  I refuse to accept that...  He's been in love with
her since they met!  He..."
        "Give it up, Nabiki...  Nothing you or anyone else can do is
going to make the slightest bit of difference now.  He's right...
It's over," Ryouga admonished, frowning.
	Nabiki only glared back at him angrily.  "No way...!  I
don't care if he thinks he doesn't love her...  She loves him!  And
she has his child!  I don't care what any of you think...  He's
coming back, and he's going to marry her...  And he's going to do
what honour demands!  I'll make damned sure of it!" she shouted,
jumping to her feet.  "To hell with you defeatists...  I'll do it
all by myself!!" she growled, then stormed out the door.
        "Baka..." Ryouga sighed, shaking his head sadly.




	Tatewake couldn't understand why he hadn't heard from
Sasuke as of yet.  It had been almost two days, and his faithful
underling had not so much as faxed him an update.  One of two
things had likely occurred in his view, either absolutely nothing
or too much to step away from.  Tatewake sincerely hoped it was
the latter, as he was long tired of being vexed by the ghost of
Saotome.
        To this day, he still bore the scars of his discovery that
his 'Pigtailed Goddess' was in fact only Saotome's cursed form,
a revelation which had nearly driven him mad.
        He also blamed the man squarely for the ruination of his
dearest Akane, and for him having to settle for the hand of Tendou
Nabiki in her stead.  He had thought it to be a shrewd move at the
time, the potential long-term benefits outweighing the short-term
pain.
	He had not, however, taken into account the sheer
ruthlessness of the middle Tendou sister.  She had succeeded in
building herself an empire of thugs and ne'erdowells that cast a
tarnish upon the name of Kuno as their reputation became known.
	It had cost his empire a princely sum to be rid of her and
her band of miscreants, but it had so far proven to be worth every
penny.  And he congratulated himself on having had the presence of
mind to engage legal counsel, ensuring there were no loopholes in
their parting agreement.
	Sighing, he leaned forward in his chair and leafed through
the pile of documents on his desk, trying to decide which to
address first.  As he lifted one to inspect it more closely, his
private hotline suddenly buzzed.
	Snatching the receiver from its cradle in his desk
drawer, he raised it to his face and spoke a single word.
	"Hai."
	Listening intently to the voice of his servant, a thin
smile crossed his face.  "You have done exceptionally well, Sasuke.
Return to Nerima with all due haste and dispatch...  Your job is
done.  No, my sister is already returned...  Her driver, it seems,
came down with some malaise that prevented her from ever
arriving," he stated, then listened intently for another few
seconds.  "Very good," he finally remarked, and hung up the phone.
	Settling back in his chair, a wide, slightly malicious
smile spread across his face as he toyed with the news.  It was
far and away better than he had expected, and he could feel within
him an urge to celebrate.  His long-time enemy was vanquished, and
as it seemed, by the works of his own hand.  This meant that he,
Kuno Tatewake, had his choice of the women once held captive by
the spell of Saotome.
	Turning in his chair, he looked up at the wall behind him
and smiled deliriously.  Before him were two huge images, one
featuring a pre-fatigues Akane, side by side with one of a certain
purple-haired Amazon.
	Turning again and leaning forward, he touched a panel on
his desk.  "Come in here immediately," he barked at the secretary
who answered his summons.  "I must arrange to send a 'gift'," he
announced, smiling now with great satisfaction.




        Miyoko lay against Yoriko's side on the couch, numb from
shock.  Her hasty retreat from the okonomiyaki-ya, while serving
the purpose of underscoring her point, had also been to cover her
reaction to what had happened.
	Somehow, deep inside her, she had just *known* that she
could stop the mallet, and had in fact baited Akane into using it
just to prove that.  With that realization, an even bigger fact
now stared her in the face.  There was only one reason she was
suddenly immune; she really *didn't* love Akane any longer.
That phase of her life was over, there was no denying that now.
And that meant that Saotome Ranma the person was also as good as
gone.  She was Takara Miyoko now, and there was no turning
back.
	She shuddered.  This had been what she wanted -- what she
had in fact prayed for when she left Nerima all those years ago.
Now, it was hers.  The proof was indisputable...  And it hurt
like hell.
        The soft touch of Yoriko's hand in her matted green bangs
finally penetrated her daze, and she abruptly sat up and wiped
her eyes.
        "Miyoko-chan...?  Are you feeling better...?" Yoriko asked,
worriedly.
        "I...  Don't know, Yoriko-chan...  I'm kinda still in
shock," she replied, distantly.  "I did something back there...
Something that proved to me that my old life really is over.  Not
only did I attack Akane, but I *caught* that cursed mallet," she
added a moment later, turning to her girlfriend with shimmering
eyes.
        Yoriko looked back into her eyes uncertainly, then chewed
her lip.  "G-Gomen, Miyoko-chan...  I don't understand.  Is that...
good?" she asked, hesitantly.
        Miyoko's lower jaw shuddered visibly as she struggled to
answer.  "I...  Don't know," she sobbed, and collapsed into
Yoriko's arms all over again.
        Yoriko closed her arms over her girlfriend and held her
tight, suddenly understanding at least part of Miyoko's sadness.
She knew from painful personal experience how hard it was to
really lose your past.




	Ukyou sat in her office alone, not feeling particularly
inspired to create any works of culinary art this day.  The
events that unfolded a short time ago had shaken her to her core,
the real meaning of it all only now starting to sink in.
	Her Ranchan was no more.  The man she had loved with
everything she was had simply disappeared, lost to anger, hate and
the particular brand of insanity that only Nerima Ward could
foster.  In a strange way, she found she wasn't mad at the girl
known as Miyoko.  Instead, she envied her.  She had found the kind
of love that most people wish for; the kind Ukyou herself had
hoped to find.  As well, she seemed to have found herself,
something Ukyou had suddenly realized she still needed to do.
	Sighing, she reached into her desk drawer and removed a
tattered, faded picture, the only record she now possessed of the
man she once had built her life around.  A smile parted her visage
as she ran her finger over the image, tracing the outline of his
face.
	After a few almost pleasant moments reliving some events
now relegated to a lost history, she placed the picture back in
the drawer and closed it slowly.  As the grinning image slid from
her sight, she was abruptly struck by how that act mimicked what
had just happened.  A wry smile slid across her face, followed by
a resigned huff, then she buried her face in her hands and started
to cry.
	Hearing the soft sound of someone weeping, Ryouga pushed
Ukyou's office door open, then shook his head sadly at what he
saw.  Quietly, he walked up behind her and placed his hands on
her shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze.
	Ukyou, surprised at the sensation, immediately wiped away
her tears.  "G-Gomen...  I..." she stammered, but Ryouga only
smiled and shook his head.
        "Don't worry, Uuchan...  I understand.  I'm shocked too,"
he stated, sitting on the corner of her desk.  "I guess I knew
this is what would happen...  But I didn't think it would happen
like this," he remarked, still somewhat flabbergasted.
        "You said it, sugar...  But a part of me still hoped..."
she sniffed, not really wanting to finish the sentence.
        "We all did...  I think that's why most of us were here.
Well, we have our answers now," he sighed, rising from the desk.
"I just wish...  We could have at least parted as friends," he
added, quietly.
	Ukyou nodded sadly, then abruptly sat up straight.
"Maybe we still can..." she said, then started rummaging through
her desk.
	"What are you looking for...?"
        "My phonebook," she replied, anxiously.




        "You really had me worried, Miyoko-chan...  I think that's
the first time I've ever seen you cry," Yoriko noted, handing
her red-eyed girlfriend her tea.
        "I'm sorry, Yoriko-chan...  I must have come off like some
major suckybaby there..." she replied, embarrassedly.
	"No you didn't!" she protested, tossing a stern look at her.
"You were hurting, that's all...  If anyone can understand that,
it's me," she added, placing her hand on her knee.  "I don't ever
want you to think that you can't cry in front of me," she insisted,
her expression softening.
        Miyoko blinked back at her unexpected outburst, then smiled
appreciatively.  "Arigato, Yoriko-chan...  I just...  Don't usually
cry.  Things don't often bug me that much," she indicated, patting
Yoriko's hand.
        "Hai...  Well, I was surprised, but after I thought about
it, I'm not anymore.  You were pretty mad back there...  And then
when you found out you'd lost your past for good..." she trailed
off, the memories of her own experiences momentarily saddening her.
        "Yeah...  Kinda.  But there was more to it than that,"
Miyoko sighed, settling back in her chair.  "Seven years ago, I
made a choice.  I made myself a new life; I became Takara
Miyoko, and deliberately turned my back on my past.  It was a
*choice*.  But today, I found out that I don't have that
choice any more, and it tore my guts out," she indicated, glancing
at Yoriko.  "But, once I got over the shock, it didn't bug me any
more.  I don't need a choice...  I don't even want it.  *This* is
what I want...  It's what I've wanted since I left," she insisted,
patting her chest.  "I'm happier than hell about what happened,
because it means I'm finally *free*.  No more hiding...  No more
shit...  And I can live where I want, how I want, and with whoever
I want," she stated emphatically, looking over at the still
downcast Yoriko expectantly.
        "Are you sure, Miyoko-chan?  You don't regret..."
        "Look at me, Yoriko-chan...  Do you see any regret here?"
Miyoko countered excitedly, leaning forward and looking deep into
her girlfriend's sea-green eyes.  "It's over, Yoriko-chan...  That
life has no more hold on me!" she whispered, insistently.  "That
mallet bit proved it."
        "Miyoko-chan...  You have no idea how happy you've just
made me..." Yoriko smiled, leaning forward and hugging her happily.
        "Oh, I think I might have a clue..." Miyoko smirked,
returning the hug with gusto.
        "Shimata...  Miyoko...  What about your son?" Yoriko
suddenly gasped, snapping back up from the embrace.
        "Actually...  I don't know," Miyoko replied, after blinking
back her surprise.  "I suppose, now that Akane knows there's not a
hope in hell that I'm ever going to marry her, she might even try
to *keep* me from seeing him," she suggested, having to gather her
thoughts.  "Which reminds me...  I still don't know whether to kiss
you or kick your butt for going down there alone today... You
could have been hurt," she abruptly redirected, shooting Yoriko a
purposely disapproving gaze.  "What the hell ever possessed you to
try something like that?"
        Yoriko gasped, then swallowed hard.  In all the confusion,
she had forgotten about that little detail.
        "Gomen, Miyoko-chan... " she abruptly bowed, then slid off
the couch and landed on her knees in front of Miyoko.  "I went
there...  Because I love you so much," she began softly, then
waited nervously for a reaction.
        Miyoko only sighed, then rose from her seat and lifted
Yoriko back into hers.  Moving to the couch beside her, she took
Yoriko by the shoulders and looked directly into her eyes.
        "You mean you went into that pit of vipers alone...  Just
to stick up for me?" she asked, incredulously.
        "Iya, Miyoko-chan...  It wasn't... *Just* for you," she
countered, her face flushing slightly.  "I felt guilty...  I felt
terrible about wanting to keep you all to myself...  While your
son was missing out on what a beautiful person you are," she
explained, slowly.  "I...  Couldn't stand the thought of being so
happy...  And knowing what he would be going through," she
continued, sniffing and dabbing at her eyes.  "It's an awful
feeling, knowing your father doesn't want you, but it's an even
more awful feeling when you let it happen to someone just because
you're greedy...!" she concluded, finally starting to cry.
        Miyoko couldn't respond, the lump in her throat making it
difficult to breathe, much less talk.  She knew Yoriko was right,
and she also knew that the girl would never be happy until her
mind was at ease.
	That meant only one thing.
        Chewing her lip, Miyoko considered the possibility from a
few angles until abruptly, she remembered how they first got on
the subject.  From that, it occurred to her that perhaps, instead
of creating a new obstacle, she had inadvertently cleared the old
one.  Her eyebrows raised as she toyed with the idea, and as it
began to look better and better, she broke out in a smile.
	Gently, she pulled her sobbing girlfriend close and hugged
her tightly, then kissed her on the forehead and nestled her chin
near the girl's ear.
        "After the dust settles...  We'll try to set something up.
I promise," she whispered, happily.
        Yoriko gasped though her tears, then raised her face to
Miyoko's with hope written all over it.  "Miyoko-chan...  You mean
it?"
        "Hai.  You're right, Yoriko-chan.  I should at least see
him...  I owe him that much," she smiled, nodding.  "Only thing is,
I can't guarantee that anything we try is gonna work...  It all
depends on the Dragon Lady," she reminded, firmly.
        "Yattai!" Yoriko squealed, leaping back into Miyoko's arms.
"As long as we try, Miyoko-chan...  That's what matters!" she
gushed, excitedly.


	
	As Nabiki walked into her room and tossed her keycard on
the dresser, she noticed the pile of paper sitting on her fax.
Picking it up, she read the messages and frowned even more deeply.
Her 'assistant' had not been able to find anything more on the
girlfriend.  From his list of hits, Nabiki had to agree that he
had at least tried hard, but to her ongoing dismay, there was
nothing new in the entire package.
	Tossing aside the papers in a huff, she pulled out her
laptop and plugged it in, then as it booted up, ordered room
service for one.  It was going to be a long day; and quite
possibly, an equally long night.


                         
=======================================================
END - Secrets V1P3                   A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Here it is, Part Four!  For this and any of my other works,
visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume One Part Four
-------------------------------------------------------------------



        "Sugoi, Miyoko-chan...!  You look great!" Yoriko gushed,
walking around her nervously smiling girlfriend and taking in the
sight.
        "Yeah...  I thought it was time to let the real me out
again," she indicated, flashing a sheepish grin.  "So I guess you
like it...?"
        "Like it?  I love it...!  It looks so...  Wild!" Yoriko
exclaimed, walking up and taking a handful of Miyoko's shining
flame-red locks and holding them against her cheek.  "Mmmm...  You
have such beautiful, rich hair...  And it looks so nice with that
dress...  You're a *fox* Miyoko-chan!" she added, her cheeks
flushing slightly.
        "Ano...  Stop it, Yoriko-chan...  You're embarrassing me,"
Miyoko blushed, despite her smile.  She had worried that suddenly
going back to her original hair color might have spooked Yoriko,
but was completely unprepared for such an 'enthusiastic' response.
        "I can't help it...  You look *gorgeous*," she smiled back,
allowing her eyes to roam over Miyoko's figure-hugging green
China Mini.  "I always wanted to see you in one of those, but I
thought you didn't like them or something," she added, reaching
over and straightening one of the bodice ties.
        "No...  Just didn't have anyone I wanted to wear them for,"
Miyoko smiled, self-consciously straightening out some pesky
wrinkles.
        Yoriko flushed again, then abruptly clasped her hands
together.  "Let me braid you...  You'd look so good...!" she gushed,
excitedly stepping behind Miyoko and gathering her hair in.
        "Whoa, Yoriko-chan...  Slow down a bit, here...!" Miyoko
blurted, reeling from the outburst.  "What's got into you?" she
chided, half-seriously.
        "You, Miyoko-chan!" she stated, wrapping her arms around
Miyoko and squeezing.  "You're just so...  Perfect!" she added,
happily.
        "Heh...  As long as you think so, I won't argue," she
smirked, shaking her head slightly.
        "I don't think...  I know."




        After sitting Miyoko on the coffee table, Yoriko pulled out
every brush and ribbon she could find, determined to create a
masterpiece.  As she fussed and fretted, Miyoko simply sat back
and enjoyed the attention.
        "You're not snoozing on me, are you?" Yoriko finally asked,
noticing her girlfriend's silence.
        "No...  Not yet anyway.  You have great hands, Yoriko-chan,"
she moaned in response, her gentle smile widening slightly.  "You
can pinch me if I snore," she added, sighing deeply.
        "Hai, hai...  Oh, Miyoko...  I almost forgot.  I had a
message on my machine this morning...  Probably from yesterday by
the sound of it," she mentioned, starting a new braid.
        "Oh yeah?  Who was it from...?" Miyoko responded, opening
her eyes grudgingly.
	"I think it was that woman who owns the 'Happy Spatula'...
Kuonji Ukyou?  She said she couldn't find your number, but wanted
to talk to you," she explained, curiosity in her tone.
        "Huhn...  I don't know if I like the sound of that," Miyoko
grumbled, not impressed that she had bothered Yoriko at home.  "Is
the cordless beside you?  I might as well get to the bottom of it,"
she muttered, sighing.
        "Here...  I already punched in the number...  Just hit the
button."
        "Hai," she responded, then put the unit to her ear.  Within
two rings, a pleasant voice answered.  "Ano...  Could I speak to
Kuonji Ukyou, please?  Hai.  Domo," she responded, then began to
hum as she waited for Ukyou.
	Finally, the silence of the hold was broken by a breathless
"Kuonji Ukyou desu."
        "Ohaiyo, Kuonji-san...  It's Miyoko.  Hai, she just gave me
your message.  Ano...  Let me talk it over with Yoriko-chan.  Only
if she does, too.  Okay...  I'll let you know.  Ja," she concluded,
pushing the 'End' button slowly.
        "More trouble?" Yoriko ventured, noticing Miyoko's
distraction.
        "Iya...  She said she wants to see us...  So we can start
over from the beginning," she responded incredulously, turning as
far as she could to see the girl's reaction.  "What do you think?"
        "Well...  She never did anything to me...  She was actually
pretty nice.  How about you?"
        "I dunno...  Still a lot of hard feelings there..." Miyoko
noted, darkly.  "Let me think about it for a while...  I don't want
to be distracted right now, anyway," she smiled, closing her eyes.
"I'm liking this too much," she noted, leaning back slightly.
        "So am I...  Cause my turn's next," Yoriko quipped, lifting
Miyoko's hair aside and wetly kissing the back of her neck.
	"Ah...!  Keep that up and neither of us will get
finished..." Miyoko shivered, reaching back and tickling the inside
of the girl's thigh.
        "Hey!  You're one to talk..!" Yoriko squealed, slapping her
legs closed.  "Owww..." she abruptly followed, rubbing her now sore
knees.
        Miyoko lost it.
	An hour later, the two of them stood admiring themselves in
Miyoko's bedroom mirror, Miyoko quite impressed with the intricacy
of Yoriko's work.
        "This is beautiful, Yoriko-chan... " she smiled, flipping
the long braid over her shoulder.
        "No...  It's only because of who's wearing it," Yoriko
deflected, fussing over a ribbon.  "You'd make anything look good,"
she added, smiling.
        "Don't be so modest...  You should have been a hairdresser,"
Miyoko insisted, glancing at her in the mirror.  "So...  Now that
we're all dressed and ready, what do we do?  I'd hate to waste my
surprise day off..." she added nonchalantly, hoping Yoriko would
catch the hint.
	"Day off?!?  I thought you still had two more nights...?"
Yoriko squealed, grabbing Miyoko's hands.
        "Iya...  Michi came back today.  They called me first thing
this morning," she explained, smiling.  "I figured since it was
yours, too..." she added, looking to Yoriko to complete the
sentence.
        "We could do something together...?" Yoriko finished,
hopefully.
        "Hai...  All we need is the 'something'," she nodded,
happily.
	"What about going to see your friends...?  She sounded like
she really wanted to talk to you..." Yoriko offered, delicately.
        "Hmm...  I don't know if I want to deal with that today,
Yoriko-chan...  I'd kinda like to keep this one to ourselves," she
responded, leadingly.  "We haven't had any *us* time all week."
        Yoriko's response made her day.  "I was hoping you'd say
that!" she grinned, excitedly.
	



	Nabiki still couldn't believe her eyes.  She read over the
tenth set of printouts one more time to make sure, but the results
were the same.
	Nothing new.  
        Whoever this Naganato Yoriko was, she had absolutely no
footprints.  No family, no previous addresses, no medical history,
no traffic tickets...  Absolutely nothing.  She was in the phone
book and worked at a fast food joint, and that was it.  Nabiki had
never seen the like of it before.  Even people in 'Informant'
programs had some trail behind them, but this girl's sheet was
absolutely clean.
	She couldn't understand it.
	Frowning, she tossed the pile of paper back on the table,
resolving to look into the matter again after she got something to
eat.  She was convinced that she was just missing something, or
perhaps she just hadn't tripped over the right source yet.  Either
way, she wasn't about to just let it go.  As far as she was
concerned, it was just getting interesting.
	Feeling some tightness across the top of her shoulders, she
rubbed her eyes and stretched in her chair, deciding it was as good
a time as any to start her day.
	Glancing at her watch, she picked up her phone to buzz
Akane's room, partly to see how she was doing, and partly wondering
if she wanted to join her out in the baths.
	By the time the phone had rung six times, she realized that
Akane wasn't there.  Looking at her watch again, she found it hard
to believe that her sister would be up and out so early.  Shrugging
it off, she changed into one of the hotel kimonos and gathered up
her bath bag.  Akane or no, after the session she had just put in,
she was going to enjoy a good, hot soak.
	A little over an hour later, she was walking back up the
hall still smiling contentedly when she noticed Housekeeping in her
sister's room.  Curious, she walked to the door and peeked inside,
only to gasp as she noticed the absence of Akane's personal
effects.
	Catching the attention of the chambermaid, she asked her
if she knew anything.
        "Gomen...  Lady here moved -- double room," the Taiwanese
girl explained, in her best broken Japanese.  Frowning, Nabiki
slipped her 500 yen for her trouble and trotted back to her room
quickly.
	Grabbing her phone, she immediately called down to the
desk, wondering why Akane hadn't told her about her plans.
        "Yes...  She moved to a first-floor double room...  Number
1123," the Desk Manager confirmed, pleasantly.
        "Can you connect me?"  Nabiki responded, curtly.  "Thanks."
Again, all she was greeted with was a ringing phone.  Huffing, she
left a message and hung up angrily.  As she was about to sit back
and try to figure out what Akane was up to, she heard a knock at
her door.
	Silently, she walked to the peephole and peered out, only
to frown as she saw Akane waiting outside in the hall.  What also
struck her was that the woman was wearing a kimono...  Something
she hadn't done in probably five years.  Curiosity piqued, she
quickly opened the door and almost yanked Akane in.
        "Well...  Isn't this a surprise...  Run out of camo paint?"
Nabiki jibed, purposely looking her sister over intently.
        "No...  I just felt like it," she replied, walking past her
smirking sister and settling in a chair.  Nabiki couldn't help but
notice the scent of fine perfume as she passed, which instantly
raised an eyebrow.
        "Okay...  The kimono, maybe...  But you're going to have to
explain the perfume," she prodded, eyeing her sister suspiciously.
        "My son is coming," she sighed, flashing a frown at the
question.  "I talked to him last night, and they'll be here later
today."
	"You put on perfume for your son...?"
        "No, Nabiki...  Nodoka is bringing him, and I don't need her
climbing all over me, too," she groaned, quickly tiring of the
questions.
        "This is a surprise...  I take it you decided to go ahead
anyway?  I was sure you gave up..." Nabiki blinked, regarding her
sister quizzically.
        "Nabiki...  Can...  We not talk about this right now?  I
came to tell you about my new room, and ask if you wanted to get
your hair done with me," she deflected, eyeing her sister with a
slightly pleading look.
        "Uh...  Sure," Nabiki responded, not quite sure what to make
of her sister's 'different' attitude.  "When and where?"
        "I saw a decent place yesterday...  We can go after we have
something for breakfast."
	"Don't you mean lunch...?  It's after ten o'clock, you
know," Nabiki corrected, twisting her watch arm in the air.
	"Whatever... " she droned, reaching for the room service
menu.  "Anything good on here...?"
        "If you're desperate...  There's a better place across the
street."
        "Okay...  Come get me when you're ready, and we'll go
there," she acquiesced, then rose and headed toward the door.
"Oh...  Do you have any blush?" she abruptly asked, turning back
to face her very surprised sister.
        "Hai...  One sec..." she finally said, digging it out of her
makeup case.  "Here...  It's a bit dark, so be careful."
        "Thanks," Akane grinned, then turned and walked out the door.
"1123...  Near the middle," she tossed back over her shoulder, then
stepped off toward the elevator.
	Nabiki sank to the bed.  She had no idea what had come
over Akane, but she liked it.  The only thing that concerned her was
what had motivated the sudden change, fearing it may be a result of
the shock she'd suffered.  Eyebrows knitting with concern, she
decided her little sister needed to watched.




        It was just like the 'old days'.  Miyoko and Yoriko spent
their day in a pleasant whirlwind, cruising from shop to shop on the
strip and then hitting all of the major malls.  After an exciting,
fun day of doing everything from shopping to catching a movie,
Yoriko decided a pit stop was in order, and suggested a trip to
Miyoko's favorite sundae shop.
        Miyoko didn't need any convincing.
	As the girls sat at the bar enjoying their confections, a
group of young men passed by the large window, and to a man, they
all gaped at Miyoko.  She noticed the unashamed leering, and her
face instantly darkened.
	"Hey!  Shake yer heads!  Yer eyes are stuck!" she suddenly
shouted, embarrassing the group into beating a hasty retreat, and
turning every head in the small shop.
        "Ay, Miyoko-chan...  What happened?"  Yoriko gasped, the
outburst catching her off guard.
        "Gomen, Yoriko-chan...  Had a bunch of hentai peeking up my
skirt," she grumbled, lifting her butt and tugging her hem down.
"Its been happening all day."
        Yoriko smiled knowingly.  "I don't blame them one bit...
Like I said, you are quite the fox, Miyoko-chan," she winked,
smiling.
	"Yeah, well it wouldn't be so bad it if wasn't all *men*
gawking at me like that...  Ugh," she shuddered, suddenly feeling
a bit green.  "That's the reason I stopped wearing these."
        Yoriko blinked back at her for a moment, then abruptly
slapped her hands over her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"G-Gomen...!" she stammered, noting the frosty glare leveled at
her in response.
        "Baka ne... " Miyoko smirked, then started to laugh
herself.
        When they reluctantly finished their treat, Miyoko
suggested they pass by a certain sports shop on the Mall's main
floor, having earlier seen a flyer detailing a Martial Arts
exhibition.
        Reluctantly, Yoriko agreed, mainly because she couldn't
come up with anything else to do.  When they arrived at the shop
in question, she opted to simply sit and wait while Miyoko
watched the demonstration intently.  After several minutes, she
couldn't help but giggle at her girlfriend's constant criticism
of the exhibitor's form.
        "Ano...  Why don't you show them how it's done then,
Miyoko-chan?" she quipped, finally.
        "Nahh...  They wouldn't let anyone else on the mats...
insurance crap, right?" she shrugged, as Yoriko blinked back at
her.  She hadn't intended her remark to be serious.
	As she was about to state that fact, the presenter
stepped onto the mats with the Artist and asked if anyone would
like to try their skills, and determine their need for
professional instruction.
        Miyoko instantly turned to Yoriko and smiled.
        "Go for it, Miyoko-chan!"  Yoriko encouraged, able to see
for herself how badly Miyoko wanted to.
        "Arigato!" Miyoko whispered, shooting her hand up.
	A few minutes later, she stood on the mats looking very
timid and demure, facing the Artist directly.  The presenter
announced that one of the benefits of the Arts was an increase in
dexterity and speed, then handed off to the Artist.  Miyoko had to
fight down her smirk.
	The Artist took a stance, then delivered a fast jab to
Miyoko's face, to which she didn't even react.  A second later,
she broke out in a girlish giggle, asking if she was supposed to
have done something.  The Artist huffed, then took his stance
again.
        Yoriko had to hold her hands so tight over her mouth that
she had trouble breathing.
	The Artist tried again, unloading a flurry of quick punches,
to which Miyoko reacted in her usual fashion...  Effortlessly
bobbing and weaving in and out of his strike zone.  All the while,
she giggled like a schoolgirl, teasing the Artist by saying it was
such great fun.  The gathering crowd laughed at her antics, which
Yoriko greatly appreciated.
	Finally, the Artist tried to vary his attacks, but every
time he struck, Miyoko wasn't there.  Becoming frustrated, he
stepped out and gathered himself, then came at her with blood in
his eye.  This time, Miyoko did smile.
	Again, she ducked and swung around his achingly slow
strikes, each time zipping under his guard to tie another knot in
his gi belt.  When she ran out of belt, she waited for a kick,
leapt into the air and rolled forward, coming to rest standing on
top of his head.  Her landing was so light that he at first didn't
notice, and actually spun around looking for her.  Squatting down,
she tapped his forehead and giggled.
	"My win!" she quipped, then leapt off his head and stood
in front of him.  The gathered crowd went wild.  The Artist, after
recovering from his shock, bowed deeply.
        "Arigato, Sensei!" he barked, respectfully.
        "It was a good fight," Miyoko whispered as she returned
the bow, not wanting to hurt the man's pride any further.
	



        "They want you to what?!?" Yoriko gasped, her eyes
widening with excitement.
	"Teach Martial Arts at their Dojo.  That's what that guy
with the mike was bugging me about...   Hell, he was begging me,"
Miyoko replied, sheepishly.  "All I was doing was having a little
fun," she added, shaking her head.
        "That's wonderful, Miyoko-chan!  What did you say?" she
prodded, giddily.
        "I said I'd have to think about it," Miyoko responded,
flatly.
        "Ano...  Why?"  she blinked, a bit shocked.
	"I don't know if I can..." 
        "But -- you were incredible...  You made it look so
easy...!"
        "It's not...  I've been at this for 23 years...  Since I
was three.  Not like that guy...  I figure he probably started about
five years ago.  He's got the basics, but not the skill," Miyoko
noted, taking a sip of her pop.  "He just needs to work harder," she
added, seriously.
        Yoriko frowned slightly.  "Listen to you...  You even sound
like a Sensei.  You should take it..." she prodded, urgingly.
        "I dunno...  I like teaching, but I've never done it
full-time...  I'm afraid I'd get bored."
	"What have you got to lose...?  You're good at it, and I
know you're patient and understanding...  It probably pays better
than the club, too," Yoriko countered, insistently.
        "Hai...  A *lot* better," Miyoko acknowledged, grudgingly.
        "Ano...  I don't understand, Miyoko-chan...  Why would you
hesitate?"
        Miyoko looked over at her sadly. "Too much going on
right now to try to get involved in something that requires that
much concentration.  It wouldn't be fair to my students or my
employer," she stated, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
        Finally, Yoriko understood.  "Then maybe we'd better go
to that Spatula place, and see what they want...  It might take
some of that away," she suggested, hopefully.
        Miyoko stopped walking and turned toward her, regarding
her questioningly.  "I didn't want to see any of them today,
Yoriko-chan.  This was supposed to be *our* time together," she
complained, unable to fathom Yoriko's suggestion.
        "I know...  And I can't remember when we've had more
fun...  But it would make me even happier to see you able to do
what you really want...  Without worrying about it," she
explained, placing her hand on Miyoko's arm.
        Miyoko considered her response for a few moments, then
her face softened and she sighed out loud.  "You would have to
put it that way, wouldn't you?  Baka ne..." she grumbled, eyeing
the now grinning Yoriko levelly despite her own smile.
	"Then you'll go?" she asked, breaking into a full smile.
	"Like I have a choice.  Well, it's getting on supper time
anyway...  Let's go," she capitulated, gesturing to Yoriko to lead
off.

                   

	The Happy Spatula was buzzing with the beginnings of the
supper rush, and as the girls walked in the door, Miyoko had to
whistle at the bustle of activity.
	"I don't think I've ever seen this place so busy..." she
whispered, leaning toward Yoriko so she'd be heard over the din.
        "Hai...  This may be a bad time..." Yoriko agreed, also
noting the chaos.
	"Welcome to the Happy Spatula!  May I seat you?" a pleasant
young girl suddenly offered, having appeared out of nowhere.
        "Hai...  Is there anything near the grill?" Miyoko
recovered, noting that Ukyou was on station.
        "Certainly!  Follow me please," she smiled, and led the two
girls to stools at the far end of the grill counter.  "May I take
your order, or would you like a menu?"
        "Three for me...  Shrimp.  And she'll have one to start...
vegetable.  And two iced cocoa, please," the redhead stated,
flashing a polite smile.
        "Arigato...  It will only be a few minutes," the young girl
bowed, then turned and handed the order off to Ukyou.  The
beleaguered chef looked it over, gasped, then raised her anxious
gaze to the crowd.  After a quick sweep of the room, she frowned
disappointedly.
        "Right here, Kuonji-san..." Miyoko called out, shooting a
smirking glance at Yoriko, who in turn giggled.
        "Miyoko-chan!" Ukyou blurted, surprising her with both the
honorific and the name it was attached to.  "I'm sorry...  Things
got busy and I'm down a girl...  You guys got some time?" she
gasped, apologetically.
        "Hai...  We both have the day off," Miyoko indicated,
glancing over at Yoriko, who nodded her agreement.
        "Good...  I'll get yours made and try to get free," she
responded, starting to prepare their order as she spoke.
        "Okay..." Miyoko nodded, then looked back at Yoriko.
"Kuso...  I hope she doesn't take too long.  I don't want to be
here all night," she remarked, fretting.
        "Hai..." Yoriko agreed, distantly.  Reaching over and
placing her hand on top of Miyoko's, she met her girlfriend's
sapphire blues with a soft, almost shimmering gaze.  "I'm glad you
decided to come here, Miyoko-chan.  I hope it works out for the
best," she stated softly, flashing a smile.
        "Me, too...  For a lot of reasons.  Cross your fingers,"
Miyoko replied, taking Yoriko's hand in hers and squeezing it
gently.
        "I am...  And my toes too," she smirked back, nodding.
        Just as Miyoko went to reply, two plates landed in front of
them, loaded with hot okonomiyaki.
        "Enjoy!" Ukyou smiled, tipping her spatula to them.  "By
the way...  Love the hair!" she added, winking.



	"Well, we didn't exactly get off on the right foot, did
we...?" Ukyou offered, looking across the table at Miyoko
sheepishly.
	"Tell you the truth, I was too pissed to care.  I'm happy
here, Kuonji-san...  Seeing you guys again, and having that damned
disk show up..."
	Ukyou blinked.  "What disk?"
	"An audio disk of that soundtrack we did about a hundred
years ago...  *Someone* slipped to Yoriko-chan at work."
        "Ano...  I never heard of it.  I mean...  I remember you
and the other girls doing it, but I didn't know about this," she
responded, earnestly.
        Miyoko studied her eyes for a moment, then sighed out loud.
"Yeah, I guess you didn't," she conceded, actually a little relieved.
        "Let me guess...  Yoriko-san didn't know about...
'everything' at that point, did she?"
        "Nope...  But she does now.  After Ryouga nailed me with
that damned kettle, I told her the entire wretched tale," Miyoko
responded, seeking her girlfriend's hand under the table and giving
it a gentle squeeze.
	Ukyou's eyes widened.  "No wonder you were so mad... " she
gasped, covering her gaping mouth.
        "Hai...  It's not something I'm proud of," she grumbled,
lowering her eyes.  At that, Yoriko reached over and rubbed her
back supportively, then looked up at Ukyou.
        "Until all this happened...  I had no idea how upset she
could get.  She scared me that night, too..." she noted, solemnly.
        "And I still owe you an apology for that," Miyoko replied,
looking up into Yoriko's eyes seriously.
        "Daijobu desu...  I can understand, Miyoko-chan." she
assured, flashing a smile.
        "You shouldn't have had to... " Miyoko stated, bitterness
edging her voice.
        Ukyou, noting the tone of Miyoko's voice,  abruptly leaned
forward and took hold of her arm.  "Ano...  I didn't mean to get
you all upset again, Miyoko-chan...  That's not why I wanted to
see you two," she noted, imploringly.  "I just wanted to see... If
we could still be friends.  I know the score, so don't worry about
that.  I just don't want you hating me," she almost begged,
switching her searching gaze back and forth between the two
girl's faces.
        "And that sorta goes for me, too...  Even though you did
try to punch my ticket," Ryouga abruptly smirked, walking out from
the back room and standing beside Ukyou.  "I didn't know what
Nabiki was up to, either...  This is all I knew about it up until
she arrived," he added, handing Miyoko a crumpled, folded piece of
paper.
        "Kuso...  She actually sent you a letter?" she gasped,
reading it over and then showing it to Yoriko.
        "Hai...  She phoned me...  Same day you two ran out," Ukyou
noted, to which Miyoko blinked.
        "You mean you knew it was me...?" she asked, wide-eyed.
        "Iya...  It didn't click until Nabiki called that night.
My girls told me about your 'dash' after I spoke to you..." she
corrected, shaking her head.
        "Hai...  Dash is right!  She pulled me out of here so fast
I lost my lunch... literally," Yoriko quipped, drawing assorted
snickers and looks.
        "Well...?  What do you say, Miyoko-chan?" Ukyou prodded,
nervously. "Still friends...?" she dangled, looking somewhat like
she was holding her breath.
        Miyoko only looked at her for a second, then abruptly
rose.  "We need a conference.  C'mon, Yoriko-chan," she stated,
then escourted Yoriko a safe distance away.  Turning to face her,
she looked deep into the girl's eyes.  "You know her history with
me...  Do you trust her?"
        Yoriko's eyes widened slightly as she recalled Miyoko's
description, then settled back quickly.  "If you do, I do," she
responded, to a huff from Miyoko.
        "That's not what I want to know, Yoriko-chan.  I'm not
going to risk upsetting you over *any* of them.  You have to tell
me...  Do you trust her?" she repeated, hardening her gaze.
        "Hai, Miyoko-chan.  I saw her eyes...  She values your
friendship...  And even your approval.  I don't fear her,"  she
responded, firmly.  "She'll be a good friend."
        "Okay...  I think so too, but if you didn't feel good
about it, there was no way I'd have done it.  Let's go," she
smiled, gesturing back toward the table.  In a way, she was glad
that Ukyou and Ryouga seemed to be 'on her side', despite the
fact that it meant her 'cover' was officially beyond blown.
However, as she realized almost within the same thought, it also
meant that there were two less people to worry about -- just as
Yoriko had said.
	She deliberately kept her game face in place as she sat
back down, then glared across the table at the others.  "We talked
it over, and decided that we stood to lose a lot if we let you back
into our lives..." she began, almost losing it over watching
Ukyou's shoulders drop.  "...without being able to trust you.  But,
we both felt that we could," she concluded, breaking into a smile.
        Ukyou almost broke out in tears.  "Arigato, Miyoko-chan...
I'm flattered," she sniffed, trying to maintain a semblance of
composure.
        Miyoko reached across the table and touched her arm gently.
"It's nice to have a friend," she stated, then looked up at Ryouga.
"I still don't know if I'm willing to forgive you for that kettle
stunt... " she intoned, eyeing him evenly.  "Although, if you think
about it, it's probably the only reason Akane is still breathing,"
she added, darkly.  "What do you say, Ryouga?  Think we can get
along well enough to stay in the same city?"
        "Ano...  It's been a lot of years...  Miyoko.  During that
time, I did a lot of thinking, just like you probably did.  Because
of that, I came here with only one purpose in mind.  To bury the
hatchet once and for all.  We were all crazy back then, and maybe,
if we'd have been smarter, then none of this would have had to
happen," he responded, adamantly.  "If you can accept me as a
friend, then I can accept...  You," he stated, carefully.
        Miyoko was impressed.  Rising from her seat, she walked
up to the man she used to routinely fight to the death, about to
extend her hand.  Just before she did, she decided to do what she
really felt like doing.  In a move that caught Ryouga completely
by surprise,  she stepped right up to him and wrapped a hug around
him.
        "It's a deal, buddy," she whispered, softly.
	After recovering from his shock, Ryouga shrugged and
wrapped his arms around her, patting her back affectionately.
Finally, Miyoko stepped back slowly, then looked up at Ryouga and
smirked knowingly.  "Just don't forget...  I can still kick your
butt all over Kyoto," she grinned, wagging a finger at him.
        Ryouga laughed.  "One of these days, you'll have to try,"
he replied, winking.
	

	

        "Ohhh....  My feet hurt," Yoriko complained as she sat on
Miyoko's couch, rubbing her foot gingerly.
        Miyoko snickered at her as she hung her purse on its hook
and pulled out her slippers.  "I think if I'm gonna train anyone,
it should be you," she jibed, starting to undo her dress ties.
        "Sure, Miyoko-chan...  Then you'd be in trouble for dating
a student," Yoriko retorted, making a silly face at her.
        "It'd be worth it," she responded, tossing a smoky look
over her shoulder as she walked into her room.  Yoriko, picking up
on the less-than-subtle hint, and of course not wanting to miss
the show, immediately jumped off the couch and followed.
        As she entered Miyoko's room, she was treated to the
breathtaking sight of Miyoko just pulling her dress over her head.
"You're in a *much* better mood..." she remarked, sighing inwardly
at the scene before her.
        "Hai...  You were right, Yoriko-chan.  Settling that stuff
did take some pressure off," she smiled in response, sliding her
arm bracelet off.
        "I hoped it would...  I don't like seeing you held prisoner
like this," she indicated, frowning slightly.  Miyoko nodded.
        "Hai...  I don't much like it either... " she grumbled,
kicking off her slippers.  As she turned to face her mirror once
more, she flipped her braid over her shoulder and paused to admire
it again.  "Seems like such a shame to take this out..." she
pouted, holding it up to gaze at it.
        "Don't worry...  It just gives me an excuse to do it again
for you," Yoriko pointed out, flashing her pixie grin.
        "Well, in that case..." Miyoko smirked, starting to untie
one of the ribbons.
        Yoriko grinned at her, then walked up and took the braid
from her.  "Let me..." she purred, deftly slipping the first bow
out.  "Do you want me to put a sleeping ribbon in...?"
        "Not yet...  I was just going to have a bath...  Care to
join me?" Miyoko replied suggestively, tossing the girl a look
through the mirror.
	"I could be talked into it..." she responded softly,
returning Miyoko's gaze.
        "Mmmm...  Then you'd better get changed..." Miyoko smiled,
turning around and starting to open the buttons on Yoriko's blouse.
        A few moments later, as her underwear landed on the bed,
Yoriko looked Miyoko over appreciatively...  Then frowned.
        "Hey...  No fair. You're still dressed!" she protested
affectedly, pointing to Miyoko's black lace bikini panties.
        "I can fix that..." Miyoko breathed with a wanton smile,
and reached down to slide a thumb under the waistband above each
hip.  Her next move made Yoriko gasp.
	Turning to the side, she bent sharply forward as she
slipped her undies over her curvey hips, then about the time her
chin met her shins, she slid them down her legs slowly until they
sat just above her ankles.  Lifting her arms and entwining her
hands behind her lower back, she then lifted her chin and
straightened up slowly, slipping Yoriko a smouldering glance as
she rose and stepped out of the panties.
        "Shimata..." Yoriko gulped, waving a hand before her
heating face.  However, Miyoko wasn't finished quite yet.  Turning,
she reached out for Yoriko's face and took it in her hands, guiding
the girls lips to her own.  As soon as they met, Miyoko's hands
moved down the blonde-haired girl's form until they fully embraced
her, pulling the girl's now trembling body tight to her own.




        Miyoko lay in the darkened room staring at the ceiling,
Yoriko's head nestled comfortably on her shoulder.  The girl was
sleeping soundly, her big day having tired her out completely.  As
she slept, her hand still cupped Miyoko's left breast, a little
quirk of hers that had developed over time.  Miyoko had to smile
as she glanced over at the girl, her heart warming all over again
as she watched her peaceful face.
	She knew she was the luckiest person on Earth to have found
someone as tolerant and accepting as Yoriko, especially given what
their lives had become over the last few days.  Even with all the
insanity, the pain and the anger, Yoriko's feelings for her hadn't
wavered, and in fact, they seemed to be getting stronger.
        Miyoko actually found the situation slightly amusing -- it
seemed that their roles had come almost full circle, as Yoriko was
now actually encouraging and supporting *her*.
        Leaning over to kiss Yoriko's forehead gently, Miyoko
decided she couldn't wait any longer.  It was time their
relationship moved to the next level -- provided Yoriko was
willing.



=========================================================
END - Secrets V1P4                  A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


Here it is, Part Five!  For this and any of my other works,
visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume One Part Five
-------------------------------------------------------------------



        Miyoko leaned forward over the railing of her balcony, a
faint smile crossing her face as she watched the sun slowly break
free of the horizon, bathing the wakening city in light.  Her
smile spread slightly as the heat of the sun gradually warmed her
face, giving her the feeling that perhaps, the beautiful sunrise
was a good omen.
	This was an event she seldom witnessed, being someone who
normally valued every last moment of her night's sleep.  This past
night, however, that sleep had been fitful, short-lived, and
definitely unsatisfying.  In fact, she had actually been anxious
to get it over with.
        Today, she would ask Yoriko the question that had been
burning in her heart for the past few months, and the anticipation
was driving her crazy.
	In her mind, she ran over her approaches, rehearsed her
lines, and even debated how she should dress for the occasion -- in
short, she was petrified.  She found that almost laughable, since
she had won battles against enemies that would send other Martial
Artists running, and yet was deathly afraid of a one-syllable word.
	Grunting in frustration, she closed her eyes and began a
breathing exercise, one intended to focus and clear the mind.  Just
as she noticed it starting to help, she was interrupted by the
sensation of two soft, warm arms wrapping around her waist,
followed by the feeling of a face nestling against her upper back.
Her heart instantly melted.
        "Ohaiyo, Miyoko-chan..." her favorite voice greeted happily
but sleepily, followed by a gentle squeeze.  "I missed you..." she
added, moaning contentedly as she repositioned her face.
        "Ohaiyo, Yoriko-chan...  Gomen.  I couldn't sleep,"  she
replied, clasping her girlfriend's arms and holding them snugly.
        "Ano...  Something wrong, Miyoko-chan...?" Yoriko asked,
raising her head.
        "Iya...  Nothing's wrong...  Actually, things couldn't be
more perfect," she stated, deciding that she'd never get a better
opportunity.  Opening Yoriko's hold around her waist, she turned
around and smiled at the confused girl, then took both of her
hands.  Looking directly into her sea-green eyes, she drew a
breath and spoke.
        "Yoriko-chan...  I...  Have something to ask you..."




        "Ohaiyo, okaasan!" a bright, exuberant shout echoed off
the walls, just as Akane felt the corner of her bed sink quickly.
        "Ohaiyo, Kei-chan!" she responded happily, reaching up
to receive the flying hug that was sailing toward her.  "Mmm,
you're awfully excited this morning...  Did Baachan give you that
sugar cereal again?" she recovered, sitting up in her bed as Kei
rolled off to the floor.
        "Iya, Kaasan...  I'm starvated!" he replied, his eyes wide
as plates.  "I came to get you up so we could go eat!"  he
explained, grinning.
	"He's been bouncing off the walls in here, Akane-chan..."
Nodoka informed, stepping out of the bathroom.  "He's been up for
an hour already, just itching to wake you," she added, smiling
indulgently.
	Akane looked at the clock beside her and frowned.  "Too bad
you won't get up this early on a school day," she admonished,
reaching to her side for her kimono.  "Okay...  I have to get
dressed, then we'll go.  There's a nice little place across the
road...  Auntie Nabiki and I went there yesterday," she smiled,
glancing up at Nodoka, who nodded her agreement.
        "Hai!  Can I watch Tenchi?"  Kei replied, already
standing in front of the TV.
	"Only until I'm ready.  I don't want to have to drag you
away from that thing like I do at home," she smirked, swinging out
of her bed and wrapping the kimono about herself quickly.
	"Arigato, Kaasan!" he grinned, landing on his backside
between the beds, looking back to his mother to turn on the set.
"Okay!  I'm ready!"
        "Hai, hai...  Here you go," she groaned affectedly, punching
up his favorite channel.
	When she stepped from the bath a few minutes later, Nodoka
caught her in the hallway and whispered urgently into her ear.
        "Akane...  He's been asking about Ranma since he woke up.
Neither of you said anything about the situation when you came to
meet us, and I've been putting his questions off as best I can.
What is going on...?  Are we going to see him?" she buttonholed,
her steel gray eyes riveting Akane's.
        "Hai...  It just that things aren't turning out to be as...
simple as we thought they'd be," Akane sighed, lowering her gaze.
"We'll have to find someplace to talk, Nodoka-sama...  It's a long
story," she added, looking back at the woman pleadingly.
        "You mean...  You still haven't found him?" Nodoka gasped,
fearfully.
        "Iya, iya...  We did...!  I've talked to him...  Sort of,"
Akane flustered, trying not to speak too loudly.  Noting Nodoka's
confused expression, she sighed again and rested her hand on the
back of Nodoka's nervously meshed ones.  "I'll call Nabiki...  If
she'll take Kei for a little while, I can fill you in," she
assured, then turned and strode away quickly...  Before her tears
came back.
	In her room, Nabiki was at her wits end.  Never in her
entire 'career' had she ever encountered the scenario that was now
staring her in the face.  According to her last set of searches,
Naganato Yoriko didn't even have a birth registration.  Now, she
was convinced that something deliberate was going on.
	Smirking, she pulled her cell phone out of her valise and
punched one of her speedial codes.  When the gruff voice on the
other end answered, she rolled her eyes.
	"Yeah, it's about time you woke up anyway.  Listen...
Gather a few of your 'associates' and get over here...  Right;
those ones.  No...  Just 'detained'.  Yep.  I'll expect you by
noon...  I'm at the Taihei.  Call me when you get here," she
stated, slapping the phone closed.
	A wicked smile crossed her face as she thought over her
plan.  It was risky, but she knew she'd accomplish one of two
things; either get her answers or get this mystery woman out of
the picture for good.  In her opinion, that was worth incurring
the wrath of Ranma, especially since she knew he didn't make a
habit of striking women.
	Flopping backwards on to her bed, she was just about to
indulge in a good stretch when her room phone rang.
        "Tendou Nabiki desu," she snipped, annoyed at the
disruption.  "Oh..!  Akane!  Gomen...  I was up rather late last
night.  Sure...!  Better you than me.  Just be careful...  You
know how sensitive she is.  An hour?  No problem...  I'll be ready.
Ja!" she grinned, glad to hear that Akane was taking it upon
herself to break the news to Nodoka.  She was actually planning
to get Akane to do it anyway, figuring Nodoka would be feeling
sorry for her, and not make too much of a fuss.
	Smiling to herself, she flopped back down again and
snickered out loud.  Things were suddenly starting to work out
very well.




	It wasn't any of the reactions she had been expecting, and
she wasn't quite sure what to do about it.  Yoriko had stood
wordlessly in front of her for several long moments, her eyes wide
and fixed.  Then, the girl simply stepped forward, wrapped her arms
around her, and laid her head on her shoulder.
        After several more moments of silence, Yoriko finally
gasped a breath, then sniffed once and spoke.
        "Miyoko-chan...  Those were the most beautiful words...
I've ever heard anyone say...  And I have prayed that if anyone ever
would, it would be you," she breathed, tightening her hug.  "I am
honoured that you love me enough to ask me to share your home..."
she added, sniffing once more.  "I didn't think...  Anyone could,"
she sobbed, finally dissolving in tears.
        Miyoko felt her heart literally reach out of her chest and
envelop the sobbing girl, and tightened her own hug in response.
"Yori-chan...  I just always want us to be together," she
whispered gently, the surge of emotion coursing through her
bringing moisture to her own eyes.  Quickly wiping her face, she
took Yoriko by the shoulders and lifted her away, wanting to finish
what she had started.
        Yoriko, meantime, surprised by the unexpected maneuver,
looked back at her with slight shock in her eyes.  Miyoko broke
into a knowing smile, then raised a finger to her lips and mimed
the 'Shhh' sign.
	Reaching down into the pocket of her robe, she withdrew
something she kept covered with her hand, then held the hand up
before Yoriko's face.
        "I just thought...  The occasion called for something
special," she smiled, and brought her other hand up to
simultaneously reveal and open a small velvet ring box.  Yoriko
gasped out loud, totally shocked and utterly thrilled by the
gesture.
        "Suki da yo, Yori-chan... " she whispered, taking the
delicate gold and diamond ring from the box and slipping it on
Yoriko's trembling finger.  "Now, it's official," she added, then
smiled the most beautiful smile Yoriko had ever seen.
        Yoriko hit her limit.  Looking down at the gorgeous,
sparkling ring adorning her finger, then back up at Miyoko's
lovingly smiling face, she lost the battle with her overwhelmed
emotions.  With a swoon that felt like it came from her very soul,
she simply collapsed into Miyoko's arms.




        As Akane, Nabiki, Nodoka and Kei stepped out of their
hotel and waited to cross the busy street, none of them noticed
the black Mercedes parked halfway down the block, nor did they
notice the occupants watching them intently.
	The two men in the front seat of the car exchanged glances,
then the one on the driver's side nodded.  The passenger side
individual pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number, then
uttered a single sentence.
        "Confirmed departure -- move in," he instructed, then
closed the phone and opened his door.




	Akane sat on the bench at the park, eyes lowered and face
downcast.  Nodoka sat bolt upright beside her, her face white as a
ghost.
        "He's...  A girl now?" she repeated, the fact stubbornly
refusing to stick.
        "Hai...  And he wants to stay that way.  He went back to
China and used the Chisuiton to lock himself as a girl, then came
here to start a new life," she added, not raising her gaze.  "He
wasn't very happy when he found out we'd tracked him down."
	Nodoka remained silent for several minutes, her expression
unchanged.  Finally, just about the time Akane was about to check
her pulse, she abruptly spoke.
        "What...  Have we done...?" she gasped, her eyes closing
slowly.  "For the sake of our own selfish interests...  We destroyed
him.  This is exactly as I feared...  And exactly as I expected," she
whispered, shaking her head sadly.
        Akane couldn't help but grimace.  "Nodoka-sama...  There's
-- more," she ventured, hesitantly.
        "Hai?" Nodoka responded, quietly.
	Akane swallowed hard.  "He doesn't love me.  We had a...
Discussion, and certain things that happened...  Proved it," she
sniffed, wiping her eyes.
        Nodoka only huffed.  "Akane-chan...  I cannot offer you any
sympathy.  You held my son's love in your hand...  And chose to let
it fall to the dirt.  That was your choice, and yours alone," she
stated, the merest hint of bitterness edging her voice.
	Akane's humbled response was almost inaudible.  "I know..."
        "Your past actions have cost you a husband...  Me my son...
and our families their legacy.  I should, by all right, get up and
walk away from you for what you have done," she continued, her
eyes opening slowly.
	Akane cringed.  This was the moment she had been dreading
for the past seven years, and it felt every bit as horrid as she
thought it would.  Glancing back up at Nodoka, she fully expected
to be greeted with a scathing glare and a drawn katana.  Instead,
she was shocked to see a single tear trailing down the woman's
cheek.
        "The only reason I am not...  Is because I too share a
large part of the blame," Nodoka abruptly asserted, crossing her
hands in her lap.  "When my husband and your father agreed to unite
the families, I allowed my only son to be forced into a life he had
no control over.  Only when he left...  And never spoke to any of
us again...  Did I realize my mistake," she explained, her voice
wavering.  "I have lived with my shame since then...  As I hoped one
day to tell him," she added, dabbing at her eyes briefly with a
kerchief.
	Akane didn't quite know how to respond, so she opted not
to say a word.  Nodoka noticed her silence, and took it as reason
to continue.
        "Akane-chan...  Our actions, along with those of some who
also acted selfishly, only succeeded in driving him away.  There is
likely no hope of either of us recovering that which we have
lost...  But the same should not have to be true for your son," she
noted, turning to face her.
	Akane blinked.  "But how...?  I came here hoping to bring
him home...  But all we did was fight.  I may have even pushed him
further away," Akane confirmed, lowering her gaze again.  "I know
now...  That I can't face him, Nodoka-sama.  There's too much..."
she began, but Nodoka finished for her.
        "Anger," she stated, nodding.  "I know.  I never
understood why a pretty young girl like you, with a loving family
such as yours, carried so much anger in her soul.  It almost seemed
that the harder people tried to love you, the angrier you became,"
she observed, shaking her head.
        Akane only nodded sadly.  It struck her at that moment that
without realizing it, Nodoka had repeated, virtually word for word,
what her therapist had told her by only her third session.  Akane
also recalled how she had almost beaten the poor therapist to a
pulp over it, which led to her being put on the lithium that
until yesterday, she hadn't been taking properly.
        "I will see him...  If he will see me.  We have an
opportunity to make up for two lifetimes worth of mistakes,
Akane-chan...  Although neither of us stand to benefit as much as
will your son.  I only need your promise...  That you will accept
that.  Promise it...  On your honour."
	Akane sighed resignedly, knowing what such a promise meant
to Nodoka.  Even so, it took her only a heartbeat to make up her
mind.
        "Nodoka-sama...  I promise it.  On my honour...  What ever
there is left of it," she stated, clearly but sadly.
	Nodoka smiled and nodded approvingly.  "I am proud of you,
Akane-chan...  It takes courage to face one's faults and grow from
the experience."
        "Domo, Nodoka-sama...  It's been...  A painful lesson," she
acknowledged, sighing.  A moment later, she turned to Nodoka with
curiosity on her face.  "Why...  Are you helping me?"
	Nodoka only smiled thinly.  "Helping you gives me the chance
to face my own demons...  And perhaps be able to know my so -- my
*daughter* as she lives now.  I missed his youth, through my own
noble naivet^Â...  I do not wish to miss any more," she noted,
quietly.



        "Take this...  Your instructions and a picture are inside.
I'll call you later," Nabiki whispered, handing the envelope to
the man sitting on a nearby bench.  "Now, get out of here," she
ordered quietly, looking like she was accepting thanks for
returning something.
        "Sure thing, Boss..." the man responded, and tipped his
tennis visor to her.
        Nabiki then turned and walked back over to Kei, just in
time to join him in some rides down the long slides.  As she made
her way to the top yet again, she glanced over at the bench
occupied by Nodoka and Akane, and had to look twice as she noticed
that they seemed to be hugging each other.
        "Uh-oh...  This doesn't look good..." she grumbled,
frowning.




        Yoriko rolled on her back and yawned loudly, then rubbed
her eyes and slowly sat up in the bed.  As soon as she saw Miyoko
sitting at her side, she broke out in a case of the giggles.
        Miyoko, at first glad to see Yoriko snap out of it, was a
bit taken aback.
	"What are you giggling at...?" she finally asked, regarding
the girl like she was from Mars.
	"I had a dream..." she began, her cheeks flushing slightly.
        "Must have been some dream..." Miyoko quipped, touching her
own cheek and then pointing at Yoriko.
        "Hai...  It was...  Absolutely wonderful," she gushed, her
face reddening even more as she leaned forward and double-crossed
her arms.  Miyoko bit the inside of her lip.
        "So...  Tell me...  What was it about?" she prodded,
wanting to see if Yoriko would actually say it.
        "Ano...  Well...  It's kinda... " the girl waffled, her eyes
darting around as she wrung her hands in the blanket over her lap.
        "Yoriko...  Hold up your left hand," she finally insisted,
unable to stand the suspense.  "And look at it," she added, smirking.
        "Masaka...  You mean...?" she gasped, her eyes again
widening as she spotted the ring.
        "Hai...  We can start today, if you want," she confirmed,
smiling brightly.
        "Oh, Miyoko-chan!!  I love you!!" she squealed, leaping up
and knocking Miyoko down on the bed.  "This *is* a dream come true!!"
she wailed, hugging the stuffing out of the now laughing redhead.
        "In more ways than one, Yoriko-chan..." Miyoko seconded,
pulling her into a passionate kiss.
        Miyoko continued to be amazed by how excited and happy her
gesture had made Yoriko, given how much she had worried about
asking her.   Yoriko was on a tear, making them breakfast in record
time, laying out a skirt and blouse for Miyoko, and even making the
bed, so anxious was she to get things underway.
        For her part, Miyoko was thrilled, but couldn't help but
notice how Yoriko was acting as if it was a limited time offer.
Finally however, she managed to get the blonde dynamo to land long
enough to talk to her, and laid out a more detailed proposal.
        "Hai...  You can move whatever you need in for now, but I'm
putting in a request for a larger unit.  We should be able to swing
a two-bedroom," she indicated, happily.
        "Okay...  I don't have much anyway...  Most of my clothes
are already here," Yoriko noted, grinning.
        "That's true..." Miyoko smirked, remembering Yoriko's
tiny one-room apartment from the only time she had ever seen it.
"You have more clothes here than you have closet space for," she
indicated, wagging her thumb at the hall closet.
        "Hai...  And it took you this long to get the hint?" Yoriko
retorted, shaking her head in mock disgust.
        "Ha, ha...  Smartass.  So, all ready to go?"
	"Hai!  Let me put these away and we're gone!" she responded,
almost jumping to her feet as she grabbed the few dishes off the
table.
        "Forget those...  That's what the dishwasher's for!" Miyoko
chided, walking to the door and slipping her purse over her shoulder.
        "Well, somebody has to put them in it, ne?" Yoriko grinned,
running over and stepping into her shoes.
        "Baka ne... " Miyoko groaned, then abruptly took Yoriko by
the shoulders and looked into her eyes.  "I forgot to tell you...
I'm so damned happy you said yes!" she blurted, pulling the girl
into a huge hug.
        Yoriko simply melted into the embrace.  "Iya, Miyoko-chan...
you told me," she whispered, holding her ring finger up behind
Miyoko's back.
	



        "That's it...?  Two bags?" Miyoko blinked, looking over
the two plastic shopping bags filled with Yoriko's possessions.
        "Hai!  Like I said...  Everything else is already at your
place," she replied, grabbing the bags from her bed and looking
over the room again.  "And I'm just month to month here...  I tell
the landlord I'm out, and it's done.  Believe it or not, there's a
waiting list for this building..." she indicated, turning back
toward Miyoko and smiling.
        "Hai...  It's a lot like what I was in when I first got
here..." Miyoko nodded, thoughtfully.  "I guess this means you're
done, ne?" she followed, taking the heavier bag from her.
	"You bet!  Packed and ready!"
        "Then let's go...  You have to work in two hours, so we
better get you settled in."
        "Hai, hai... " Yoriko droned, rolling her eyes.  "I wish
I could book it...  I'm too happy to think about work," she pouted,
starting through the door that Miyoko held for her.
        When they arrived back at Miyoko's apartment, Miyoko opened
the door, then abruptly turned and picked Yoriko up, carrying her
across the threshold.  Yoriko almost started to cry again after
Miyoko, while still holding her up, looked into her eyes and said
"Welcome Home."
        As soon as her feet touched the entry mat, Yoriko
immediately hugged Miyoko tightly, then turned to whisper in her
ear.  "It's always felt like home to me," she emphasized, happily.
        After finding a few corners to tuck her things into, Yoriko
had to start getting ready for work, and pouted all the way through
the process.  Now that she had what she had been wishing for, she
didn't want to leave -- even for that.
        It was only through Miyoko's gentle urging that she finally
did go, although she lingered in the doorway like she was leaving
on a trip abroad.  Miyoko had to shake her head at the girl, but
she could understand how she felt.  She loved being with Yoriko,
and always missed her when they were apart.
        Yoriko was still pouting as she walked out of the grounds
of the building and turned out onto the sidewalk.  Glancing down at
her hand as she trudged up the street, she smiled happily at the
sight of the ring, just that fact that it was there reminding her
that it was all still true; she wasn't imagining it, and it wasn't
going to change.  Sighing, she raised her gaze again and picked up
her pace, already counting the minutes until she could go *home*.
        Rounding the corner, Yoriko walked right past the old green
Toyota sitting by the curb, not paying any attention to it or its
four male occupants.  As she passed it, the three passengers
watched her go, then turned to the driver almost simultaneously.
	"That her?" the front-seat passenger asked, incredulously.
        "Yep...  That's her, see?"  he responded, handing off the
picture.
        "I don't get it...  She's only tiny.  Why four of us?" a
voice from the back asked, critically.
	"Because she's paying for four of us.  Any other stupid
questions?"
        "Then what's next?  She must be goin' to work...  She'll be
there at least four hours.  I know 'cause my cousin works for that
place in Tokyo."
        "Yep...  She is.  Only today, she's gonna be late," the
driver replied, starting the car.




        Miyoko wandered into her bedroom, still smiling over the
events of the day.  She reached forward to open the top drawer of
her dresser, only to gasp as she noticed Yoriko's till keys and
passcard sitting on the top.  Smirking, she realized that the girl
must really have been messed up, since she normally wore the works
around her wrist.
	Sighing, she dashed to the doorway and slid on her soft
flats, then ran to the end of the hall.  She knew there was only
one way she'd catch Yoriko now, and opened the window wide.
	Picking her first rebound point and setting herself, she
sprang out into the early afternoon sky.




        "Here she comes...  You two get out here, and start walking
toward her.  I'll move the car just behind her, then we'll get out
and box her in.  Remember, wear the glasses and act like cops.  And
make damned sure you don't hurt her...!  The boss says that if she
gets hurt, then we're dead," the driver instructed, his tone very
serious.
        "Then we'd have to use feather-lined gloves...  She looks
like she'd break if you touched her, period," the front one
responded, shaking his head.
        "Just make sure, got it?" he reiterated, angrily.  "I want
to get paid for this job...  Not hospitalized.  Go!"
	As the two in the back stepped out, the car then moved down
the street as normally as possible, then, as it passed Yoriko, it
pulled over and stopped.  The other two got out quickly and started
walking up behind the unsuspecting girl.
        Miyoko cleared her third rooftop and angled across the main
street, expecting to see some sign of Yoriko's brightly colored
uniform on the sidewalks below.  Not spotting her, she took another
bounce and propelled herself further up the street, figuring Yoriko
must be just up ahead.
        "Ano...  I don't understand...  What do you want with me?"
Yoriko blinked, nervously.
        "We want you to come with us, Ma'am...  Immediately," the
man in front of her stated, then suddenly grabbed her shoulders and
spun her around, covering her mouth with a chunk of duct tape.
	Before she knew what hit her, another man grabbed her feet
and the two of them carried her toward a car with its door open.
Yoriko panicked and tried to struggle free, but a third man grabbed
her arm and held it painfully tight, just as they reached the car.
        Miyoko, thinking she may have overshot Yoriko by accident,
slid down the roof of a cafe and settled to her feet atop a garbage
bin.  Casting her gaze up and down the street, she was about leap
down when she saw a flash of colour.  Bounding off the container,
she moved toward the flash rapidly, only to feel her heart stop as
she discovered what had caught her eye.
        Two large thugs, one on the curb and another on the street,
were in the process of forcing the struggling Yoriko into a car.  As
she homed in on the vehicle, the thugs finally got her in and dove
in themselves, and the car screeched away from the curb.
        Bouncing off a convenient sign, Miyoko propelled herself
toward the car, enraged beyond reason; someone was hurting Yoriko,
and there was only one price for that transgression.
	Swinging her legs under her, she slammed into the roof the
car, caving the middle of it in.  Balling her fists, she rained
chestnut punches on the windshield, shattering it into a mass of
vision-blocking broken glass.  The car slammed on its brakes and
careened to the side, Miyoko using the motion to roll forward to
the street and stand ready.
	The first gorilla bailed out of the car and leapt over
the hood at her, brandishing a long knife.  Miyoko leapt at him
head on, slapping the knife from his hand and driving her fist into
his face.  As his nose exploded in a burst of red, she angled over
his shoulder and grabbed his shirt, using her momentum to launch
him over her head and across the sidewalk, then completely through
a wooden fence.  The second thug on the passenger side jumped out
his door snarling, only to be met with a leg sweep that brought
him down onto Miyoko's upward thrusted elbow, jamming his
shattered jaw into his cheekbones.  As he recoiled backwards
from the impact, Miyoko followed through with a kick that sent
him into the same fence as his companion.
	The third was already on his way around the car as she
regained her stance, and tried to launch a kick at her.  Blocking
it, she delivered a solid kick to his chest, feeling several of
his ribs crack.  She followed that with an aerial changeup to the
side of his head, sprawling him face first into the concrete of
the sidewalk.
	As she spun to go after the fourth, she froze in her tracks
as he dragged the terrified Yoriko from the car and jammed a gun
in her temple.
	"Back off!!  I don't want to hurt her, but if you so much
as move, I'll do her right here!!" he shouted, his voice a panicked
shriek.
        Miyoko glared back at him with eyes as hard as steel.
"You just signed your death certificate, asshole..." she growled,
and in a move so fast it looked like a twitch, fired Yoriko's keys
straight into his face.
        What happened next looked to the frightened Yoriko like a
slow motion replay of a Jackie Chan movie.  The thug, stunned by
the set of keys embedding themselves in his face, let go of Yoriko
and dropped the gun, moving to claw at the pain.  Yoriko fell to
the side just as Miyoko grabbed the roof of the car, lifted her
legs and launched herself through it over the back seat, driving
her feet into the thug's knees.  As they both let go with sickening
pops, he collapsed to the ground screaming while Miyoko landed hard
on his chest.  As she lined her fist up on his remaining eye, she
looked down at him and snarled.
        "Who sent you...  And why?" she demanded, pressing her knee
into his chest.
        "Won't...  Tell you..." he croaked, trying to shake his
head.
        Miyoko frowned.  "It's your funeral," she remarked coldly,
then drew her fist back and yelled a strike cry.
        "OKAY!!" the thug suddenly shrieked, as Miyoko stopped her
fist mere millimeters from his eye.
        "Talk," she commanded, drawing her fist back to ready.
        "Ten - Tendou Nabiki...  She wanted us...  To hold her for
questioning," he gasped, having a hard time breathing with Miyoko's
weight on his chest.
        "Chikusho...  I knew it," Miyoko snarled, then lifted the
hapless thug and growled into his face.  "Tell that bitch she's
next," she ordered, then let the thug drop.
        Getting up off of him, she immediately went to Yoriko's
side, worried that she was hurt.  Yoriko, meantime, sat motionless
against the side of the car, eyes wide and body trembling.
        "Yoriko-chan..!  Are you okay?" Miyoko blurted, ripping
the tape away from her face so fast she barely noticed it go.
        Yoriko blinked once, turned her eyes to Miyoko, then burst
out in tears as she dove into the redhead's arms.
        "Miyoko-chan...  I was so scared!!" she wailed, her small
form still shivering as she clawed at Miyoko's blouse.
        "Shhh...  It's okay, Yoriko-chan...  I took care of them,"
Miyoko soothed, stroking the back of her head gently.
        "I...  I thought they were going to rape me...  Or kidnap
me...  I was so scared..." the girl blubbered, drawing her legs up
under herself and cowering against Miyoko's chest.
        "Bastards... " Miyoko spat in response, turning and
ripping the keys out of the thug's face beside her.  "C'mon,
Yoriko-chan...  Let's get you home."
        "H-Hai..." Yoriko gasped, tightening her hold as Miyoko
rose and lifted her up.
        "Hang on, Yoriko-chan..." Miyoko advised, then leapt into
the air.




	Nabiki's face fell as she stepped into her room and turned
on the lights.  Her valise had been emptied all over the room, and
her computer lay plugged in and open on her bed.  Diskettes and
removable drive cartridges were also scattered about, and every
drawer in the room was open.
	Her first reaction was anger, assuming that her room had
been simply ransacked by someone looking for valuables.  However,
as she thought about it, she realized that all of her valuables
were still in the room.  Gasping, she dashed to her computer and
turned it on.  As she watched the video and BIOS copyrights flash
by, her heart sank when the computer simply flashed blank, leaving
her with nothing but a cryptic message:  "Missing Operating System".
	Her hard drive had been cleaned off; completely.
	Shutting the now-useless machine off, she felt her chest
tighten.  In a panic, she gathered up the scattered papers to see
what was missing.  Her heart sank even further as she noticed that
anything to do with her searches on Naganato Yoriko was gone.
	"Oh my god..." she gasped, her face draining.




=========================================================
END - Secrets V1P5                     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


Here it is, Part Six!  For this and any of my other works,
visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume One Part Six
-------------------------------------------------------------------



        Nodoka, Akane and Kei slowly walked back to their hotel
from the park, taking full advantage of the pleasant afternoon.
Nodoka noticed that except for the period when they had spoken,
Akane wouldn't let Kei out of her sight.  In a way, she seemed
to be clinging to the child, as if she couldn't stand to be
separated from him.
	Nodoka had a feeling she knew why, having witnessed many
such occasions in the past, particularly when Akane had been upset
over something.  She knew that Akane didn't have any friends, and
with her father having passed away, very little contact with her
family.  In fact, she knew that had she not volunteered to look
after Kei while Akane worked, she herself would probably not have
been around much either.
	She was pleasantly surprised by the apparent change in
attitude that Akane had exhibited since she arrived, and earnestly
hoped that it was a sign of things to come.  She was aware of
Akane's anger control problem, having seen the empty prescription
bottle in the one of trashcans she changed out.  She hoped also
that perhaps, her 'kinder, gentler' attitude was a sign that Akane
had finally stopped fighting her therapy.
        "Akane-chan...  Look over there...  Isn't that a nice
looking little shop?" she ventured, curious about the reaction.
        Akane looked across the street and smiled.  "Hai...  Want
to go in?" she asked, glancing back at Nodoka.
	"Hai. I do.  It's been a while since I've just gone
shopping, and as long as I'm here, I might as well indulge," she
responded, happily.  "How about you, Kei-chan?  Feel like doing
some shopping?" she redirected, grinning.
        "Ano...  Shopping?  Yuk," he grimaced, drawing a laugh from
both women.



        It had taken hours, but Miyoko finally managed to get
Yoriko calmed down enough to stop trembling.  The poor girl had
literally gone into shock, clinging to Miyoko like a frightened
child.  The situation had honestly scared Miyoko, bringing her very
close to calling an ambulance.
        Miyoko had seen people handle trauma in a wide variety of
ways, but had never seen anyone react like this.  It was almost as
if the experience had awakened some lurking demon from Yoriko's
past, and that demon was so powerful that it utterly terrified her.
        Even now, as the exhausted Yoriko slept fitfully against
her side, she knew that the girl was still reliving the earlier
episode.  Miyoko sighed again as she glanced over at her, her heart
aching for the girl's torment.
	Her face darkened as she vowed to herself that Nabiki was
going to suffer for this outrage, and suffer as much as she could
make her.  She was already angry at the middle Tendou sister for
her interference in what was once an idyllic life, and this
incident only served to throw fuel on that fire.
        "She's going to pay for this, Yoriko-chan...  I swear it,"
she whispered, leaning down to kiss her girlfriend's forehead.  "As
soon as you're okay," she added, pulling the blanket back up
over the girl's shoulder.




	Nabiki was stunned.  He cell phone lay beside her open hand
on the bed, its flip still open.  She had just heard from her
'assistant', as he called in from the Emergency room of the
Hospital.  She had already figured that Ranma would be angry, but
couldn't believe just how angry he had actually been.  Suddenly,
she knew what it was like to be in fear for her life.
	Having already gathered her papers and such back together,
she decided it was a good time to leave.  Hurriedly packing her
suitcases, she called down for a porter and stacked them all near
the door.
	 A few minutes later, she heard a faint knock at her door,
followed by a voice yelling "Porter!"  She walked to the door
quietly and peered out the peephole nervously.  In the hall stood a
young man with a cart, patiently waiting for her to open her door.
        Flinging it open, she was about to put the rush on him when
two large men in black suits and sunglasses stepped in from either
side.
        "Tendou Nabiki?  Would you come with us, please?" the one
on the right stated, gruffly.
        "Why should I?" she snapped, trying to act tough.
	The man opened his coat to reveal a shiny automatic pistol
in a shoulder holster, then smirked slightly.  "We believe it would
be in your best interest," he stated, quietly.




        "C'mon, Mom!  I want to watch Sailor Moon!" Kei insisted,
tugging at his mother's hand as they made their way toward the hotel.
	"We're only going in to get cleaned up and changed, and
then we're going back out," Akane chided, shaking her head.
Nodoka only smiled.
	"Mo-om..." he groaned, looking up at her impatiently.  "We
only got ten minutes!" he indicated, frowning.
        "I'm not rushing for that, Kei-chan.  If we get there in
time, we do.  If we don't, you'll catch the rerun tonight anyway,
so just hold your horses," she responded, her patience wearing.
	"Will Nabiki be meeting us there, Akane-chan?"  Nodoka
asked, attempting to disrupt the 'discussion' before it created a
scene.
	"No, probably not.  She told me she had to follow up on some
things, and may not be back until later," Akane replied, hoping
Nodoka wouldn't press for details.
        "I see...  So then we should just go for supper without
her?"
        "Hai...  She'll probably meet us there," Akane confirmed,
breathing a sigh of relief.
        "I hope she does...  I'd like to see what her plans are,"
Nodoka remarked, sighing.  "I'm still hoping that things will work
out...  At least partially."
        "Hai...  I am too," Akane responded, trying not to sound as
sad as she felt.
	"Is it a nice place, this 'Happy Spatula'?"
        "Not too bad...  It's not fancy, but the food is excellent.
You probably know the chef...  Kuonji Ukyou?"
        "Hai...  I do remember that name...  She was the girl with
the boyish clothes, was she not?" Nodoka asked, thoughtfully.
        "That's her...  She left Nerima in the spring to open this
place."
        "I look forward to meeting her," she smiled, noting that
Kei had settled nicely, and their Hotel was only half a block
away.  "Although, I think I'll call a cab to take us there.  Kei
seems to be getting a bit tired," she noted, as the child
finished yawning.
        "He probably is...  You traveled late into last night.
I...  Meant to thank you for bringing him so quickly, by the
way...  I was missing him pretty badly," Akane smiled, glancing
down at him.
	"I know... " she responded, smiling.
	



        "Don't worry, Yoriko-chan...  By the time I get back, this
will all be over," Miyoko insisted, darkly.
        "Miyo-kooo....  I don't want you getting in trouble just
for me..." Yoriko whined, grabbing her girlfriend's gi sleeve as
she walked by the couch.
        "Yoriko-chan...  If I don't finish this now, it'll never
*be* finished.  She went after you to get to me...  She probably
found out something about your background, and was going to
threaten you with revealing it.  That's her style.  I know that
if..." she started, but stopped as she noticed Yoriko's face.
	 The girl had sunk back to her knees on the couch, looking
like she had seen a ghost.
        "Yoriko-chan...?" she asked, moving up to her and sitting
beside her worriedly.
        "Ano...  Gomen, Miyoko-chan...  I just...  Had a
flashback..." she gasped, shaking her head.
        Miyoko growled.  "See?!?  This is what I mean...  If I
don't put a stop to this crap, we'll never have any damned peace!"
she snarled, leaping to her feet.
        "What...  Where are you going, Miyoko-chan?" Yoriko abruptly
asked, bailing off the couch and heading after Miyoko.
        "The Happy Spatula...  They know where she is, and I know
they'll tell me...  At least they damned-well better," she replied,
stomping toward the door.
        "I'm coming, too...  I want to see what's going on..."
Yoriko insisted, stopping to slide on her uniform pants.
        Miyoko stopped and looked at her for a moment, considering
insisting that she stay at home, but when she saw the concern in her
eyes, she simply grunted.
        "C'mon, Yoriko-chan...  Let's get this over with," she
glowered, holding open the door.




	It was busy, but not terribly crowded at the Happy Spatula,
much to Nodoka's relief.  She had been slightly afraid of ending up
stuck in a small, noisy restaurant, especially since she had
expected to be having some fairly serious conversations.
	The meal turned out to be a cordial affair, at least until
the rush quieted, then Ukyou made her way over to their table and
introduced herself.
        "You're Mrs. Saotome?!?" Ukyou exclaimed, blinking in
surprise.  "I had you pictured a lot differently..." she added,
regarding her intently.
	"I have the feeling that I should take that as a
compliment," Nodoka remarked, uncertain of exactly *how* to take
it.
        "Hai...  It is.  I was expecting someone older...  And less
pleasant," Ukyou indicated, earnestly.
	Nodoka flashed a glance at Akane, who only shrugged.
	"So this is the same little guy that I remember as only
being this big?" Ukyou redirected, walking over and tousling
Kei's hair.
        "Hai!  I growed this much!" Kei indicated proudly,
holding his hands about a foot apart.  "I don't fit my pants
anymore!" he added, eliciting a snicker from Nodoka and red
cheeks from Akane.
        "Wow...  You must be cold," Ukyou quipped, shooting a smirk
at Akane.  "So, I guess you plan on going ahead, ne?" she slid in,
lowering an eyebrow.
        "No...  I just couldn't stand to be without the man in my
life...  I missed him," Akane replied, adjusting Kei's shirt
front as she flashed a scathing look back at the chef.  "He came
in late last night with baachan."
	"Baachan?" Ukyou blinked, then leaned close to Akane.
"How much does he know?" she whispered quickly, not wanting to
hurt the boy's feelings over a casual remark.
        "He doesn't know who Miyoko is, if that's what you mean.
I'll explain it later," Akane whispered back, tersely.
        "Hai...  I'll go back to the kitchen...  Come see me."
        "Nodoka-sama...  Ukyou would like to show me something in
the kitchen...  Could you look after Kei-chan for a minute?"
Akane announced, slipping Nodoka a wink.
        "Most certainly, Akane-chan...  Take your time," Nodoka
smiled, rising with Akane to move closer to Kei.
	In the kitchen, Akane wasted no time.  "I called them and
asked them to come...  And Kei doesn't know about 'Miyoko' or
her little plaything.  And no, this isn't a setup, so don't give
me that look," she whispered, seriously.
        "That's what I wanted to know...  So if this isn't a setup,
then why are they here...?" Ukyou countered, eyeing her
suspiciously.
	Akane's face immediately saddened slightly, although her
voice didn't give it away.  "Like I said...  I missed him.  We've
never been apart for more than a few hours."
        "Fair enough...  Where's Nabiki?  I thought she was coming
with you?"
        "I don't know...  She left us at the park today, and I
haven't seen her since.  She's probably still trying to dig up some
dirt on 'blondie'."
        "Masaka...  I hoped she'd quit," Ukyou responded, frowning.
"That's only going to raise more hell."
        "Don't ask me...  Anyway, let's get back out there...  I
don't want Kei eating too much junk...  And Nodoka will feed it to
him just to spoil him," Akane noted, glancing back toward their
table.  "He's a bit hyperactive, and sugar makes him wild."
	Ukyou only stared back at her for a heartbeat, eyes slightly
wide. "Kuso, Akane...  What happened to you...?  You sound like a
mom, and look like a woman all of a sudden...  What gives?" Ukyou
abruptly blurted, regarding her incredulously.
	Akane's face abruptly sobered, and her eyes rolled to the
side.  "It's amazing what being slammed into a wall can do to a
person..." she responded at length, then turned and walked back to
the table.
	Ukyou watched her go, then broke into a smile.  "There may
be hope for you yet, Akane-chan..." she whispered, starting after
her.
    


        "Is this a progress report, Sasuke?" Tatewaki asked,
turning his chair to face his underling.
        "Hai, Tatewaki-dono," the diminutive ninja replied, bowing.
"Phase One of your 'present' has been long completed.  They expect
Phase Two completion fairly soon."
        "Very good, Sasuke...  Pass along my compliments, and report
back on Phase Two.  I am most interested in the results," he
smiled, turning his chair back around.  "You are dismissed."
        "Arigato, Tatewaki-dono," Sasuke replied, and quickly
exited the office.
	"Are you enjoying your little game, brother dear...?" a
familiar voice intoned from the sliding panel in the wall.
        "I am...  And the play becomes more exciting by the minute,"
he smiled, leaning back in his chair and grinning evilly.



	
        Miyoko sprang back from the doorway and flattened against
the wall, face white as a ghost.  Yoriko, startled by the sudden
move, gasped and reached out to her.
        "Miyoko-chan?" she blurted, noting the shock on her face.
        "Maaa...  I can't believe this...  DAMMIT!" she suddenly
cursed, spinning to punch the brick wall and scattering shards of
masonry and dust all about her.
        "Miyoko...?" Yoriko shrank, tucking her hands under her
chin fearfully.
        Miyoko blinked, then shook herself. "G-Gomen,
Yoriko-chan...  I didn't mean to scare you..." she began, then her
eyes suddenly flew open.  "Hang on!" she warned, then grabbed
Yoriko by the waist and leapt straight up.
        "Aieee...!" Yoriko squealed, then suddenly found herself
on the roof.
        "Shhh...  They're right down there..." Miyoko cautioned,
pointing at the ground below her.
        Yoriko moved over beside her and looked over the edge, only
to see the owner of the shop and two other women, one of whom was
holding a small boy.  All three were looking around, she assumed
for the source of the damage to the wall.
        "He's...  Incredible..." Miyoko suddenly breathed, her eyes
softening.
        Yoriko blinked.  "Is that your son...?" she asked quietly,
touching the redhead's shoulder.
        Miyoko turned to her and nodded, her face a mixture of
pride and sadness.  "Hai...  And he's every bit as handsome and
healthy as I hoped," she smiled, sadly.  "And that's not all...
See that older woman...?   That's...  My mother," she added,
shaking her head.  "Shimata...  I'm not ready for this..."
        Yoriko bit her lip as her mind conveniently replayed
Miyoko's words from a few nights ago.  Unconsciously, her hand
sought out her new ring and toyed with it nervously.
        Abruptly, Miyoko turned to her and rose to her feet again,
then stepped up and hugged her tightly.  "Yoriko-chan...  Give me
strength," she sniffed, lifting back and looking deep into her
eyes.
        "Miyoko-chan...  I love you..." she responded, returning
the hug supportively, even though her knees felt weak.




	Nabiki didn't know whether to be angry or scared, but she
was definitely a little of both.  She sat alone in a small, dark
room, furnished only with a desk, a chair and a large mirror on the
wall behind the far end of the table.
	She had a suspicion what was going to happen, but no clue
as to anything beyond that.  In fact, she started to rise to go and
inspect the mirror, just to throw a little defiance at her captors.
        "Remain seated!" a gruff, badly amplified voice ordered,
startling her slightly.
	"And why should I do that?  Afraid I'll figure out who you
are?" she responded, off-handedly.
	"If you do not follow our instructions, you will be
punished.  And judging from your history, there are many who would
like the opportunity.  Move to your seat!" the voice ordered again,
then went silent.
	Nabiki fumed for a moment, then decided to play the game
and see what transpired.  Settling into her seat, she crossed her
hands on the table and waited like a schoolgirl.
	The voice returned a second later.  "What are your
intentions concerning Naganato Yoriko?" it demanded, flatly.
        "She's dating my brother in law...  I want it stopped," she
replied, evenly.
        "Takara Miyoko is not married, in either of her forms.
What are your intentions?" the voice repeated, a bit angrier.
	Nabiki raised an eyebrow.  These people had done their
homework.  "Ranma is my sister's rightful fiancee...  That 'Yoriko'
is preventing him from marrying my sister as he is honour-bound to
do!" she shot back, indignantly.
        "Takara Miyoko left Nerima Ward long before meeting
Naganato Yoriko.  Your argument is invalid.  What are your *real*
intentions?" the voice persisted, sounding more impatient.
        "I've already told you!" Nabiki snapped, angrily.
	"Lies!  You have persisted in attempts to gather
information on Naganato Yoriko for more than 72 hours.  This
indicates malicious intent.  You will explain your actions!" the
voice yelled, angrily.
	Nabiki's patience wore out.  "Yeah, my intent was malicious
all right...  I want that little blonde twat out of my family's
life, and I was trying to find something to discredit her!!  Can
you assholes grasp that concept??" she shouted, leaping to her feet.
	"It is apparent that you do not wish to cooperate.  You will
remain in your present quarters until you provide reasonable
responses.  Oyasumi," the voice replied, followed by a click -- 
and silence.
	"Bastards!!" she spat, landing heavily back in her chair.
Looking around her room glumly, she sighed and looked at her watch.
Noting that it was only seven p.m., she suddenly had the sickening
feeling that it was going to be a long, lonely night.
	Meanwhile, behind the mirror, several people observed
Nabiki's behavior, each shaking their heads.
        "Do you believe her?" the one at the microphone asked,
turning to another seated beside him.
	"It's possible, but I want to make sure before we turn her
loose.  She spent far too much time digging for my liking," he
replied, flipping through his reports.  "She could be a mole..."
	"There is a family agreement to wed the children, but one
of the parents has passed away now.  And observations have
indicated nothing but animosity and anger between the principals.
That was the core of the situation that resulted in his leaving,"
a third, female observer indicated, flipping through pages on her
palmtop.
	"Hm.  Okay, continue the session in the morning, and keep
the heat on...  She may crack then.  We'll decide based on what
happens," the first one stated, rising from his chair.  "Pack it
up for tonight, we'll meet here tomorrow at six am.  I have to
submit a progress report now, so I will see you then," he
continued, opening the door at the rear of the room.
	Quietly, the others followed, except for the one female
observer.  Taking a last look at Nabiki cradling her head in her
hands, she shook her head sadly.  "Stupid girl..." she whispered,
then turned and left the room.
	



        Miyoko paced a long loop along the edge of the roof, trying
desperately to sort out her thoughts.  Yoriko, worried as she was,
could only watch her helplessly.
	The appearance of both her son *and* her mother had thrown
Miyoko for a major loop, washing away her anger at Nabiki and
replacing it with a certain very specific kind of fear.  Knowing
her love for children, and recalling how her heart had leapt at the
sight of that head of unruly black hair in Akane's arms, she knew
she could be a sitting duck.
	Sighing heavily as she paced, she shook her head.  It was
going to take every bit of strength she possessed not to crumble
the second she made eye contact, and if the boy knew her...  It was
going to be almost impossible.
	She knew there was a simple way around it, that being to
just go back home and pretend she hadn't seen him.  Unfortunately,
the tightness in her chest wouldn't let her get away with that,
and neither would Yoriko.  Sighing again, she realized she had no
choice.  She had to face them, and face them now.
	The problem was that she simply didn't know how.
        Yoriko, now sitting on the side of a large vent cover, was
dealing with an argument of her own.  She could see plainly how
much this situation was bothering Miyoko, and realized that she was
partly to blame.  As well, her old fears about their relationship
being broken up had resurfaced as well, making her start to wish
she didn't have such a guilty conscience.
	Abruptly, she frowned.  She couldn't believe she was doing
it again.  Inwardly, she chided herself for putting her selfish
interests ahead of those of Miyoko's son, and vowed that she would
help Miyoko through this, no matter the cost.  Even so, those last
words still sent a shudder through her.
        "Shimata...!" Miyoko suddenly gasped, pointing to a large,
slanted panel a few feet away.
        "Miyoko?  What?" Yoriko sputtered, caught off-guard by the
hushed outburst.
	"A skylight!  If they're not too far away..." she trailed
off, springing over to the unit suddenly.
        Yoriko rose and walked quickly over to join her, still
wondering what her girlfriend was up to.
        "All right!  They're right near us...!" Miyoko noted,
excitedly.  Gently, she wedged her fingers under the lip of the
glass panel and tried to lift it up.  It moved about an eighth of
an inch, then stopped against a lock.  "Kuso...  See if any of the
panes are loose...!" she instructed quietly, looking the panel
over.
        "Hai!  This one, Miyoko-chan!" Yoriko indicated, pointing
to one with most of its glazing missing.
        "Great!  Now, if I can just get it out..." Miyoko grinned,
starting to pick at the glazing.  Suddenly, as she was about to try
lifting the pane, the entire skylight began to open slowly.
"Ack...!" she yelped, then looked around for who was responsible.
Off to the side, near the entry to the kitchen, she spotted Ryouga
turning the crank carefully and winking up at them.
        Miyoko smirked and signed an 'ok' back to him, followed
by a thankful smile.
        As the panel finally rose enough that Miyoko could hear
the conversation at the table, she sat near the skylight and
listened intently.
        "Miyoko-chan, what are you doing...?" Yoriko finally asked,
settling beside her quietly.
        "I want to see what they're up to...  It'll be easier to
deal with if I know what to expect," she whispered, leaning closer
to the opening.
        "Hai...  I guess so," Yoriko agreed, looking down at the
laughing little boy below them.  Miyoko was right...  He was a
beautiful child, and he had Miyoko's eyes.  Her heart sank.
	



        "What is it, Miyoko-chan...?"  Yoriko prodded gently,
kneeling before her as she sat on the same vent she herself had
been on an hour and a half ago.
        "Ano...  I'm not sure, Yoriko-chan.  Everything I heard...
sounded like it was coming from different people," she observed,
patting the cover beside her.
        "What do you mean...?" Yoriko blinked, slightly confused.
	"I expected to hear them plotting some kind of trap for
me...  You know.  Instead...  I hear a little boy talking about
this incredible father...  Whom he's never met.  I hear Akane
with more love in her voice than I knew she had the capacity
for...  Except when she's talking about me.  I heard my mother
speaking with remorse...  Something I didn't think she ever did,"
she explained, looking slightly flabbergasted.
        "Ano...  I don't understand, Miyoko-chan.  Is that good...
or bad?" she asked carefully, placing her hand on Miyoko's knee
and looking at her searchingly.
        Miyoko smiled and shook her head.  "Neither...  But I think
it's given me a way to sort all this out, Yoriko-chan...  And if it
works, nobody ends up getting hurt," she indicated, happily.




        "No, it's getting late Ukyou...  And a certain young man
can't miss his beauty sleep," Akane waved off with a quick smile,
adjusting Kei's bangs.
        "Is it time for Sailor Moon?" he brightened, looking up
from the coloring book Ukyou had supplied earlier.
        "If we get home in the next half-hour, maybe."
	"Let's go, Mom!  You said I could watch this one!" he
reminded, insistently.
	"How about you, Nodoka-sama?  Would you like another?"
Ukyou offered, lifting the pot toward her.
        "Oh, my no...  I'll be up all night as it is now.  Thank
you anyway," Nodoka deflected, smiling.  "Do you want to leave
now, Akane-chan?" she asked, noting Akane gathering Kei's
crayons.
        "Nani?  If you guys leave now, you'll miss all the fun!"
a familiar voice exclaimed, turning every head at the table.
"Konbanwa...!  Auntie Miyoko's here!" she smiled, walking right up
to Kei.  "You must be Ranma's boy...  I can tell because you look
just like him," she grinned, kneeling beside his chair.  "You even
have the same hair."
        Kei's eyes just about fell out of his head, along with
Akane's and Nodoka's.  "You know my Dad?" he gasped, jaw dropping
open.  Akane opened her mouth to register an objection to what was
happening, but Nodoka reached over and touched her shoulder,
flashing her a look.
        "Hai...  I do so.  I just saw him a few days ago," Miyoko
nodded, looking down at his doodles.
        "Is he coming...?" Kei continued, still wide-eyed.
        "Ano...  I don't know, little guy...  A lot depends on
what happens over the next little while," she replied, casting a
glance at Nodoka and Akane.  "Besides, he's no fun anyway.  All
he talks about is Martial Arts and stuff," she remarked, affecting
a grimace.
	"Hai!!  I know!  He's a great Marsh Artist!  Mom told me
how he flushed an entire tower down the drain to save her from
seven luckies!" Kei gushed, causing Miyoko to have to turn away
to avoid breaking out laughing.
	"He did, did he?  What else did he do...?"  she prompted,
needing some time to compose herself.  Fifteen minutes later, she
was more than convinced her idea was correct.
        "Tell you what, Kei-chan...  I have to talk to your Mom
and Baachan for a few minutes...  Can I borrow them?" she asked,
sweetly.
        "Hai!  But not too long...  I want to watch Sailor Moon!"
Kei insisted, seriously.
        Miyoko nodded and smiled brightly, then reached over and
touched his cheek gently.  "Gad, you are an incredible kid...  I'm
glad I met you," she breathed, then stood up and looked over at
Akane.  "Shall we?" she asked, gesturing toward the door.
	"Damn straight..." Akane responded, long tired of holding
her tongue.
        Outside, Yoriko waited none too patiently, dreading what
was about to happen.  As she heard everyone approaching, she moved
back slightly, setting up to meet Miyoko as pre-arranged.
        "Okay, 'Auntie'...  Would you mind explaining yourself...
like right now?" Akane snapped, her cheeks already reddening.
        "In a minute...  Move back away from the door, first,"
Miyoko deflected, urgingly.  Once everyone was out of earshot,
and Yoriko had moved in beside her, Miyoko cleared her throat.  She
didn't notice Akane's eyebrow twitch as the woman caught sight of
Yoriko, but Yoriko noticed it immediately.
	"First things first.  Mom, I would like you to meet
someone.  This is Naganato Yoriko...  And we are in love," she
stated, emphatically.  "In fact, we live together here in Kyoto,"
she announced, stepping aside to gesture to Yoriko.
        "Hajimemashite, Saotome-sama," Yoriko bowed with a polite
smile, then stepped back and stood quietly, eyes lowered.
        "Ano...  I am...  Pleased to meet you too, Naganato-san..."
she replied weakly, still trying to assimilate what the girl meant.
        Miyoko had to smirk.
        "Well...?" Akane reiterated, setting her hands on her hips.
        "Well nothing.  I have a proposal for you, Akane...  One
that I think will make everyone happy," Miyoko replied, eyeing the
woman levelly.  "And I want you to just listen to it.  Then, think
it over and tell me your opinion.  What happens after that will
depend on your response," she instructed, firmly.
        "Hey...  You're in no position to be making demands,
Ranma..." Akane growled, taking a step forward.
        "Akane-chan...  Let him, er, her speak.  It can't hurt to
do that," Nodoka intervened, surprising Miyoko considerably.
	"Arigato, Kaasan... " she stated, smiling at her slightly.
        "Fine...  Speak your piece, Ranma...  But don't get your
hopes up," she glowered, crossing her arms.
        Miyoko only smirked again.  "Let's go over to that bench...
you two might want to sit down," she indicated, ominously.



==========================================================
END - Secrets V1P6                     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com



From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Here it is, Part Seven!  For this and any of my other works,
visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume One Part Seven
-------------------------------------------------------------------



        "Get on with it Ranma...  We haven't got all night," Akane
grumbled as she settled on the bench.
        "My name is Miyoko," she responded, evenly.  "Okay, here's
my proposal.  You two just go back to Nerima and forget about finding
Ranma.  He's gone, and he ain't coming back," she began, to the
chorused gasps of the two women.  "Auntie Miyoko exists now, and
that's how Kei-chan is going to know me," she continued, before
either of them could react.
        "What the hell are you saying...?" Akane blurted, before
Nodoka hushed her with a look.
	"I'm saying this.  I heard your conversations for the last
hour and a half.  Forgive me for eavesdropping, but I wanted to find
out why Kei and my mother were here.  I discovered something during
all that; Kei thinks his Dad is a god.  He has such a huge image
built up that I doubt any man could live up to it.  If I came back as
his Dad now, one of two things is bound to happen...  He'll be
disappointed, or he'll be so in awe of me that I'll be all he talks
about...  Moreso than now," she noted, earnestly.  "Do you think you
can handle that?" she asked pointedly, looking directly at Akane.
	Akane opened her mouth, but nothing came out.  Sheepishly,
she closed it.
        Miyoko nodded confidently.  "I heard you too, Akane...  When
you talked about me, all I heard was anger.  When you spoke to Kei,
or about him to someone else, there was nothing but love and pride
in your voice.  He's everything to you, isn't he?" she noted,
gently.
        Akane lowered her eyes and smiled slightly.  "Hai...  He is."
	"As I figured.  There's no point in me coming back as
Ranma...  It'd cause more problems that it'd solve.  However, if I
was to visit every so often as 'Auntie Miyoko'...  I'd get to see
him, you won't have to put up with my ghost, and Kei can have his
image...  For now," she explained, pleasantly.
	"Which still leaves him without a father..." Akane noted,
dourly.
        "Not quite...  There may not be a dominant male, but I'll
still be a part of his life," Miyoko stated, firmly.  "It's better
than things are now."
	Akane didn't reply for a moment.  Finally, she looked up at
Miyoko with a strange mix of emotions on her face.  "So what will
you do?  Move back to Nerima?" she asked, in a manner that made
her question difficult to read.
        Miyoko's answer was swift.  "No.  I have a life here now,"
she replied, reaching for Yoriko's hand and gently urging her
toward herself.  "Yoriko-chan and I have a life here.  We'll come
to visit you often...  Maybe even stay in town a few days...  But
that's about it," she reiterated, firmly.
	Abruptly, Nodoka spoke up, unable to contain her questions
any longer.  "Then what of your engagement...?  The Dojo...?" she
asked, although Miyoko could tell from her voice that she already
knew those answers.
	"Nothing.  When Akane and I were fighting prior to my
'departure', she screamed at me that our engagement was off.  We're
not in love anymore, anyway...  In fact, we can't even get along
for more than a few minutes," she attempted, to which Nodoka
responded with a sad nod.
        "I expected as much...  From the day you left," she
acquiesced, lowering her gaze.  "I must tell you...  Of my shame
over that arrangement.  I missed out on your life because of it,
and it has caused our families nothing but trouble.  I regret
agreeing to participate in it, and I ask for your forgiveness for
what my actions have done to you," she continued, then fell
silent.
        Miyoko almost couldn't speak.  "I'm glad to hear you say
that, but it didn't actually work out all that bad..." she
indicated, clearing her throat repeatedly.  "I met Yoriko-chan
here because of my curse, which I got by training for that
arrangement," she noted, squeezing Yoriko's hand and looking over
at her flushing face happily.
        "Then you will forgive me...?" she asked, raising her
now hopeful face.
        "I never blamed you...  I always thought it was Pop's idea,"
she noted, smirking.
        Nodoka smiled with relief and rose to face Miyoko.  "I...
missed you," she stated softly, then stepped forward and hugged
the redhead happily.  "And I'm glad to have you back," she added,
sniffing.
        "Well, sorta, anyway...  But we'll talk about it," Miyoko
noted, returning the hug.
        Akane, meantime, had not responded to Miyoko's assertion
that she was staying in Kyoto, instead keeping her eyes downcast.
Yoriko noticed her state, and gently tapped Miyoko's shoulder when
she stepped away from Nodoka, pointing it out to her.
        "Akane...?  What do you say...?" Miyoko asked, stepping
a bit closer.
        "I...  Can't accept...  Your terms," she choked, her voice
barely controlled.  "That deal gives it all to you...  And leaves
me right where I am now.  That's not what I want," she bit off,
not looking up.
        Miyoko frowned.  "You got a better idea?" she asked,
mainly to see what Akane was thinking.
        "I...  Just don't like it!" she snapped abruptly, then
jumped off the bench and plowed through between Miyoko and Yoriko,
storming back into the restaurant.
        "Real mature, Akane!" Miyoko hollered after her, snarling.
"You okay, Yoriko-chan?" she asked, turning to her girlfriend and
looking her over.
        "Hai...  Except for my foot..." she winced, indicating the
solid footprint on the top of her soft black shoe.
        "Kuso...  How petty can you get..." Miyoko grumbled,
looking back after Akane, now long out of sight.
        "R... Miyoko, I'll speak to her... She's having a
difficult time with all of this.  Your solution makes sense to me,
and I'll try to make her see that it can work.  This is my Hotel,
and my room number is 1123.  Call me tomorrow, and I'll let you
know what she says," Nodoka interjected, handing her a business
card.
        "Arigato...  I didn't expect she'd accept it right away...
it's not what she wants.  I figure she still wants me to come
back, but there's no way I am," she reiterated, sternly.  "If
she can ever learn to accept that, then this has a chance to work."
        "Let me speak to her.  You go home...  She'll only get more
upset if you stay here," Nodoka repeated, touching Miyoko's arm.
        "Hai...  That's it in a nutshell.  Thanks again, Mom...
I'm glad at least *we* can understand each other," she smiled,
nodding.  "We'll have to do the girl-talk thing one day..." she
winked, smirking.
        Nodoka froze for a second, the implications of Miyoko's
quip abruptly hitting home.  "Hai...  She responded slowly, then
her face took on a thoughtful look.  "Gomen, Miyoko...  It just
occurred to me that I...  Really do have a *daughter* now..." she
stated, slightly embarrassed.
        Miyoko smiled.  "Arigato...  I appreciate that more than
you can know," she stated, her face indicating her great relief
and happiness.
	Nodoka lowered her head for a moment, then brought it back
up with a genuine smile firmly in place,  "After everything that's
happened, I don't care about your gender.  I'm just happy to be
able to get to know you...  Again," she indicated earnestly, then
stepped forward and hugged Miyoko happily.  As she stepped back,
her smile abruptly took on a mischievous edge.  "Just wait till I
teach you tea ceremony," she remarked, then bowed politely.
"Oyasumi, Miyoko....  Chan," she smiled, then walked back into the
shop.
        Miyoko sighed happily and turned to Yoriko with a smile.
"Well, at least it's underway.  It's up to her now," she indicated,
glancing at the shop.
        "Miyoko-chan...  I'm so proud of you...  You did it..."
Yoriko smiled, wrapping a hug around the receptive redhead.
        "It's not done yet though, Yoriko-chan...  I still owe
Nabiki for what she did to you, and I intend to see that she pays
you back...  With interest," Miyoko noted, her face sobering
slightly.
        "You've done enough for one day, Miyoko-chan...  Let's go
home," Yoriko urged, more than ready to call it a day.
        "Hai...  I guess so.  How's your foot...?"
        "Sore, but I can use it.  I'll be fine to get home," she
grinned, starting to lead Miyoko away.
        "You talked me into it,"  Miyoko grinned, happily.




	Nabiki was startled out of her uncomfortable sleep by the
sound of the door behind her clanging shut, followed by the clack
of the lock turning.  Rubbing the bleariness from her eyes, she
was surprised to see a tray of food on the floor just inside the
doorway.
        "Huh...  So they decided to feed me," she observed aloud,
frowning.  "Probably poisoned," she grumbled, moving to retrieve
the tray.  Setting it on the table, she noted with mild surprise
what it was made up of.  Fresh, hot coffee, eggs, bacon and toast,
served on a good quality china plate, and the accompanying
silverware was neatly wrapped in the serviettes.
	"Have to give them good marks on presentation..." she
mused, noting the precise arrangement of the food items.
	As she quickly ate her food, she wondered if her 'hosts'
were going to let her use a bathroom, but, noting the lack of any
other doors, decided that she was out of luck.
	Looking around the room once more, she couldn't help but
wonder who her 'hosts' were, given how much effort had gone into
just her quarters.  The walls were seamless, and by the way sound
behaved in the room, quite thick and well insulated.  An ideal
facility for the purpose, and it could be in any part of a larger
building.
	The more she thought about it, the more she actually
started to get nervous, as she had just described how it would be
possible to keep her in the room indefinitely, with no fear of
discovery.
	Just about the time that she was about to start worrying
seriously, she heard a soft click from the sound system.
        "Ohaiyo.  We trust your sleep was adequate?" the voice
asked, slightly sarcastically.
	"Oh, just wonderful," she sneered, rolling her eyes.
        "Very well.  Have you reconsidered your responses?" the
voice prodded, curtly.
        "Not one little bit," she remarked, crossing her feet on
the table.
	"It has come to our attention that you arranged to have
Naganato Yoriko kidnapped.  Is that true?" the voice stated,
accusingly.
        "Hai.  I wanted to invite her to tea," she responded
smugly, secretly impressed by her 'host's' intelligence gathering.
	"Enough of your insolence!  What is your interest in
Naganato Yoriko?  You will tell us the truth, or be held here until
you do!"  the voice commanded, impatiently.
        "I already told you...  Look, you have pretty good
intelligence by the sound of things...  You tell me," she volleyed,
wondering what they'd say to that.
	"What we know indicates a malicious attempt to cause harm
to Naganato Yoriko, both physically, and by seeking to malign her.
If this is in fact your objective, then you shall be dealt with
accordingly," the voice responded, obviously ready for such a
redirect.
        "Very good...  Not accurate, but very good.  I told you
already what my intentions were, and on no uncertain terms.  Stuff
that in your pipe and smoke it," she retorted, crossing her arms.
	"Again, you refuse to cooperate.  Before we ask you to
reconsider for the last time, you should be aware that we have
evidence of several of your illegal practices, evidence the
government would be most interested in.  Extortions, illegal
imports and exports, forcible detainments, assaults...  And if the
government doesn't handle them all, we are certain that the
recipients of your acts would be interested in knowing who ordered
them," the voice indicated, sternly.
	All of Nabiki's bravado instantly vanished.  It hadn't
occurred to her that the info gathering she was so impressed with
had been used on her.  And if they were even half as efficient in
her case, she knew they probably had her by the short and curlies.
        "Okay...  Look.  If you guys have that much of a problem,
then I insist you use pentathol.  As long as a real doctor or nurse
gives me the shot, that is," she suggested, trying to keep her cool.
	Silence reigned for a few long seconds, then the voice
responded.  "An excellent suggestion.  We will arrange it," the
voice indicated, then she heard the sound system click off.
	Nabiki shuddered.  She had suggested it as a bluff, hoping
they'd take it as meaning she was for real.  The last thing she
expected was for them to actually do it.
	Now, she was scared.





        Miyoko opened her eyes slowly, the wonderful aromas flooding
her room making further sleep impossible.  It took her a second to
realize that Yoriko wasn't beside her, and was likely the source of
the aroma, rather than it coming from some nearby apartment.
	Rolling on her back, she stretched catlike in the bed,
working the sleep from her body.  Throwing the blankets aside, she
crawled out of the bed and groped around for her robe, only to find
it wasn't on the back of her makeup chair as per usual.  Giving up,
she went to her dresser and pulled out an oversized tank tee,
pulling it over her head as she walked to the bathroom.
	A few minutes later, she wandered into the kitchen, there to
find a fully-laid table arranged immaculately, and hot food waiting.
Her coffee was even poured.
        "Ohaiyo, Yoriko-chan!" she announced, walking up to the
brightly-smiling girl and slipping her a hug and kiss.
        "Ohaiyo!  It's all ready, Miyoko-chan!  Dig in!" she urged,
excitedly.
        "Hai...  Can't wait; it looks fantastic!" Miyoko noted,
still slightly overwhelmed.  "Are you going to join me...?" she
asked, noticing at that point that there was only one place set.
        "Iya...  I already ate some toast..." Yoriko responded,
turning off the stove and lifting away the pan of eggs she had
just made.
        Miyoko erked.  "You mean you made all this just for me?"
she gasped, looking at Yoriko incredulously.
	"Hai!" she responded, proudly.  "After what you did for me
yesterday...  It was the least I could do," she grinned, happily.
"So sit down...  It's getting cold!" the girl chided, sliding the
perfect sunny-side eggs off onto her plate.
        Miyoko smiled and shook her head.  "Baka ne...  If you ever
do this again, I expect you to join me, girl..." she noted, sliding
into her seat.
        "Oh...  I never eat a big breakfast...  It would make me
fat," Yoriko responded, patting her tummy.
        Miyoko instantly smirked.  "Judging by how you moved last
night, I don't think that's a concern," she intoned, wagging her
eyebrows at the now flushing girl.
        "Stop it...  That's private..." Yoriko sputtered, turning
bright red despite her smile.
        Miyoko started to snicker at her, then picked up a piece of
bacon.  "Mmmm...  This is really good, Yoriko-chan...  You better be
careful...  A girl could get used to this," she commented,
snatching another slice.
	"I hope so..." she responded happily, still waving her
hand before her face.




	It had taken surprisingly little time for her 'hosts' to
arrange things, and Nabiki now found herself on a gurney, and a
shot of 'truth serum' going into her arm.  Everything had been
brought into her room, including a waiver she had to sign stating
that she had agreed to the injection as part of an interview for a
high security job.
	All of the Medical staff wore full-face masks, as did the
grunts that brought her gurney in.  Despite her fear, Nabiki
couldn't help but be impressed at the efficiency.
	All too rapidly it seemed, her mind began to fog and her
body felt like she was floating off the gurney.  She heard her
voice speaking, but barely understood what she was saying, as her
ability to think seemed to vanish along with her inhibitions.
	The session seemed to be over in a flash, although as her
head finally began to clear, she noticed that it had gone on for
almost two hours.  She also assumed they must have used some sort
of counter-agent after the session, since she was 'coming to' so
fast.
	The gurney, staff and everything else new was gone from
her room, and as she collected her marbles, she couldn't help but
groan aloud.
        "Are you feeling better?" the voice suddenly asked,
although devoid of any emotion.
        "No...  As a matter of fact, I feel like shit," she
responded, slowly.
	"You will be pleased to know that we accept your story.
You are to be released, but before this is done, you must agree
never to divulge your attendance at this interview, and never
divulge what has been discussed.  You must also cease and desist
any activities concerning Naganato Yoriko," it instructed, firmly.
"We have your records, and several tape recordings of your session
'under oath'.  Should you violate this agreement, we will not
hesitate to use this information against you," the voice continued,
insistently.  "And we *will* be monitoring you."
        "I'll be a good little girl, I promise...  Can I go to the
bathroom, now?" she groaned, crossing her legs.




        "She did what?" Miyoko blinked, as Nodoka repeated her
statement.  "Shimata...  I can't believe she'd pull that after
everything else," she commented, shaking her head sadly.  "Okay...
Thanks, Mom...  Have a good trip home, and I'll call you soon.
Ja," she concluded, hanging up the phone.
        "Ano...  What did she do, Miyoko-chan?" Yoriko asked,
noting the consternation on her girlfriend's face.
        "Kuso...  She packed up and left this morning while Mom was
in the baths.  They never got a chance to talk because Akane
refused to let her," she relayed, sadly.  "Even I didn't expect
this," she noted, frowning.
        "That's terrible...  What about your son...?" Yoriko asked,
moving to sit beside her.
        "I dunno...  She didn't say a word.  I have a bad feeling
about this, Yoriko-chan.  She's probably going to pull something
stupid...  Just to be obstinate," she sighed, shaking her head
again.  "Damn, why can't she ever do anything the *easy* way?
Things looked so good last night," she cursed, huffing in
frustration.
        Yoriko sighed and lowered her head, then looked up at
Miyoko and spoke.  "Ano...  I think...  It has a lot to do with me,
Miyoko-chan," she indicated, sadly.  "I've noticed that every time
I was around her, she got crazy.  You said she had a hang-up about
you changing to a girl...  And she was really mean, rude and
insulting to me when I met her the second time..." she continued,
watching Miyoko's eyes for a reaction.  "I think she's very
bigoted...  Even homophobic," she ventured, nervously.  "I've seen
it before..." she added, quietly.
        Miyoko didn't reply at first, considering Yoriko's theory.
After a moment, she nodded resignedly.  "Hai...  That's very
possible.  I thought she was just jealous, but come to think of it,
she even made a point of hurting you last night..." she observed,
thoughtfully.  "Kuso, if that *is* at the bottom of this, then
we may have 'Mission Impossible' on our hands...  I just wish I
knew what the hell she was thinking," she grumbled, looking up at
Yoriko resignedly.  "I'm not about to chase her back to Nerima to
find out, though, if that's what she's trying to do," she added,
firmly.
        Yoriko smiled supportively, then took Miyoko's hand gently.
"Don't dwell on it, Miyoko-chan...  You did the right thing by at
least trying...  I think that was the most selfless thing you could
have done," she soothed, reaching over and touching Miyoko's cheek.
Tell you what...  I have to work again, so I can't take you shopping,
but let's go out for lunch...  It'll make you feel better," she
suggested, happily.
        Miyoko looked at her sideways.  "Is that your answer for
everything?" she smirked, rising from the couch.
        "Hai...  If you can't beat 'em, go shopping!" she stated,
flashing her now-famous pixie-grin.
        "Baka ne..." Miyoko laughed, lifting her off the couch and
into a big, squashy hug.




	Nabiki walked along the sidewalk, trying to look dignified
despite her spinning head.  Her 'hosts' had stopped, removed her
blindfold and dropped her a few blocks from her hotel, a classic
practice intended for her to 'walk off' her medications before
anyone saw her.
	Finally, she reached her hotel and went to the desk, having
to pick up a spare room card to get back in.  The Desk Manager
handed her a message, which once she read, produced a frown.  It
stated that Akane and Nodoka had left, and were on their way back
to Nerima.
	Shoving the note in her pocket, she trudged to the elevator.
	Once she changed, she made her way to the baths and soaked
away her woes, deciding that it was time for her to leave as well.
Her entire trip and all the effort that had gone into it was wasted
now, and she saw no reason to stick around.
        She couldn't help but wonder what it was about this Yoriko
that warranted such extreme measures to keep her secrets, and made
a note to keep her ears open, albeit discreetly.  She figured that if
she tried to actively pursue it, she'd likely end up in a landfill
somewhere.
	Once back in her room, she re-packed her bags and called
to the desk for a porter again, this time watching him approach
from down the hall.  Convinced he was safe, she let him take her
bags and headed down to the lobby.  Her car was already on its
way, so all she had to do was pay her bill and leave.
	Upon arriving at the desk, she was pleasantly surprised to
discover that her bill had already been paid, and in cash.
Shrugging, she moved to a lobby chair and sat down, waiting for
her car.




	"You're starting *more* nights?  You're always tired when
you get home from those..." Yoriko fretted, affecting a frown.
        "Hai...  Not for too much longer, though...  I'm gonna take
that teaching job.   Now that all the crap is basically over with,
I really want to do it," Miyoko noted, smiling.
        "Yattai!" Yoriko squealed, grabbing Miyoko's arm excitedly.
"I'm so happy for you!" she gushed, almost bouncing around the
redhead.  "I know you'll be great at it, and you're doing what you
should be doing!  This is wonderful, Miyoko-chan!"
        "Hai...  I'm already excited about it, too.  I'm going there
after you go to work to get things started."
        "Great!!  Now I'll *have* to take you shopping...!" Yoriko
smiled, clapping her hands together and wringing them deviously.
        "Okay, okay...  Just let me get the job first, ne?" Miyoko
teased, laughing at her girlfriend's antics.
        "No problem..." Yoriko asserted, stepping in front of Miyoko
and walking backwards. "I figure you'll take the place over in a
year, anyway." she intoned, winking.  "So I'm going to start
planning right...  OOF!" she exclaimed, suddenly being knocked
toward Miyoko.
        "Ano...  Gomen...  ACK!" Nabiki shrieked, realizing who she
had just nailed with the hotel door.  Miyoko's reaction was
lightning fast.  She caught Yoriko, set her down, then was up and
straight into Nabiki's face.
        "Give me one reason why I shouldn't *hand* you that black
hole you call a heart...!" she snarled, her eyes literally flashing
lightning.
        Nabiki gasped, sputtered, then abruptly -- fainted.  Miyoko
growled.  "Always find a way out, eh, bitch?"  she glowered,
letting Nabiki's limp form fall to the ground.




        "Oh, man...  Not again..." Nabiki groaned as she rubbed her
eyes and sat up.
        "What..?" Miyoko asked sharply, rising from her chair and
walking over to Nabiki.
        "Never mind...  Aie!" she abruptly yelped, catching sight of
Yoriko sitting nearby.  Quickly, she jumped to her feet and started
bowing profusely.  "Gomen nasai, Naganato-sama...  I meant you no
harm...  I was only trying to help my sister...!  Please, forgive
me for my actions, and I assure you it will never happen again," she
blurted, bowing even more.  "I have a habit of getting overzealous,
and forgetting myself," she added nervously, then turned and faced
Miyoko.  "And I apologize to you as well, Miyoko-san...  I should
never have disturbed you.  Please accept my humblest regrets and
be assured I will not bother you again...  In fact, I'll even give
you a tip.  Fix your ID; before someone else finds out it's no
good," she babbled, excitedly.
	Looking around quickly, she abruptly turned her wide-eyed
face back to Miyoko.  "How do I get to my car...?" she asked,
worriedly.
        "Downstairs..." Miyoko answered numbly, more than a little
freaked by Nabiki's actions.
        "Domo!  I'm leaving now...  And I won't be back.  Sayonara,
and I hope you two have a wonderful life...!" she smiled quickly,
then literally raced out the door.
        Miyoko, upon watching Nabiki's hasty departure, turned and
looked at Yoriko, too flabbergasted for words.  Yoriko could only
shrug and shake her head, equally overwhelmed.
        After a moment, Miyoko shook her head and began to walk
around the living room.
	"Aha!  I figured it out!  I know exactly what that was all
about!" she exclaimed suddenly, snapping her fingers and looking
at Yoriko seriously.
        Yoriko stifled a gasp, then started fidgeting with her
blouse cuff nervously.  "Ano...  What do you mean, Miyoko-chan?"
she asked, trying to keep her voice even.
	"Someone got to her!  She must have pissed someone off
enough that they fought back, and scared the daylights out of
her...!  I don't think I could have scared her that much...  So it
*must* have been someone powerful that she tried to scam or
something.  I *love* it!!  I wish I knew who it was so I could
shake their hand!" she exclaimed, clapping and laughing out loud.
"This means she's off our backs, Yoriko-chan...  For good!" she
added, grabbing Yoriko's hands and pulling her out of her chair.
        As Yoriko sank into the ensuing hug, she breathed a quiet
sigh of relief...  And happiness.
        Suddenly, life looked wonderful again.




	"So they all left, ne?"  Ryouga asked as he helped clear a
table.
        "You bet, sugar...  Nodoka stopped in and said good-bye, and
she tells me that Akane just packed up and left this morning with
her son.  Didn't even say good-bye," Ukyou noted, shaking her head.
"I get the feeling this probably ain't over yet..." she sighed,
wiping the table.
        "Maaa...  She could have made it so easy...  What *is* her
problem?" he asked, moving the bus cart to the next table.
        "I have *no* idea.  I imagine Miyoko must be upset...  She
was sure that her idea was the best for everyone...  And I think it
was too."
        "Well, I guess we'll find out sooner or later...  News has
a way of traveling..." he smirked, stacking some plates.
	"Hey, bud... I have girls that I'm paying to do that job...
Why don't you grab a seat so they can?" Ukyou abruptly smirked,
setting her hands on her hips.
        "Iya...  You gave me a room, and fed me all this time...
I owe you for that, fair and square," he responded, lifting the
plates into the cart's top bin.
        "You don't owe me a thing, Ryouga-kun...  Go sit down.
You're making me feel like a slave driver," she chided, flashing
a grin.
	"Hai, Hai..." he finally acquiesced, shaking his head as
he walked to a window booth and sat heavily.
	Ukyou nodded approvingly, then went on about her business,
cleaning off the rest of the tables and choreographing the staff
through their duties.
	Ryouga, becoming quickly bored with the static scene out
the window, turned in his seat and watched Ukyou intently, noticing
how happy she was as she kidded with her girls and cleared away
the lunch rush.
	He also began to notice, moreso than he had before, that
she had a charming, attractive nature about her that affected even
the people she employed.  Every girl in the place was always
genuinely smiling, which made for a pleasant, comfortable
atmosphere.  He could see why people liked to come to her shop,
and usually stuck around for a while.
	He also began to notice that she had a nice body, kept
trim from her active life and birdlike eating habits, which, given
her occupation, were unexpected.
	In short, he was finally admitting to himself that he
liked her...  A lot.
	At that moment, she happened to glance over at him, and
seeing that he was looking at her, she broke out in a wide,
pleasant smile.  Noticing that, Ryouga made up his mind.
	Sliding from the booth, he walked casually to the kitchen,
tapping Ukyou on the shoulder and asking her to join him with a
gesture.  She set down her cloth and followed, curiosity all over
her face.
	"What's up, sugar... ? she asked, wiping her hands on her
apron.
        "I would like to know...  If you'd let someone else cook
for you," he began, working up the nerve to ask the rest of his
question.
	Ukyou lowered an eyebrow.  "What are you suggesting,
Ryouga-kun?" she inquired, fighting a creeping smile.
        "I...  Would like to take you on a date," he blurted,
smiling sheepishly and skritching the back of his head.
	Ukyou couldn't hold it back any longer.  "Finally!" she
gushed, glomping a huge hug around him, nearly knocking him to
the floor.
        "Ano...  I guess this means 'yes'?" he stammered,
recovering from the glomp.
	"It means I'd be delighted!" she responded, smiling
brightly.



	Kuno swung his chair to face Sasuke, a disapproving frown
darkening his features.
	"What do you mean, 'Phase Two' had to be aborted?  What
possible reason could there be for such an incomprehensible
situation?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
        "Gomen, Tatewaki-dono...  She was not in her room when they
came back to 'convince' her, and the desk indicated she had been
picked up earlier.  She was away overnight, and when they returned
for a second attempt, she was booked out and had gone home," he
explained, nervously.
	Kuno sighed.  "I see..." he responded, rubbing his chin.
"At least we succeeded in removing all of her ill-gotten gains...
that should suffice for the moment.  Away, Sasuke...  I must
ponder..." he instructed, still frowning.
	"Hai, Tatawaki-dono," he bowed, then turned and left,
still wondering why he hadn't been blasted for the failure.
Deciding he should just take it, he quickly exited the office.
	"It would appear, dear sister, that we are not alone in
our desire to see Tendou Nabiki stopped," he mused aloud, as a
figure emerged from the shadows of the room.
        "I concur, dear brother...  It will be an interesting thing
to watch..." Kodachi smiled, wickedly.
	"And perhaps, to celebrate..." Kuno added, smiling every
bit as wickedly.



=========================================================
END - Secrets V1P7                    A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com






From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


Secrets: Volume Two Part One
----------------------------------------------------------------



	The tall, western man rose from his seat and paced the
room, his face bearing an expression of exasperation.  "You
honestly expect me to believe this is possible?"  he asked to
the room at large.
	"Hai.  We have been following the situation from the
beginning, as you had originally stipulated, sir.  We believe
this represents your best chance for success," one of the many
other men seated at the long table reiterated, firmly.
        "That's fine for you...  It's not your name that's on the
line here.  Gentlemen, this situation could make a laughing
stock of my Company and my family...  I do *not* take it lightly!"
the man indicated, turning to lean forward on the table.
	"Sir, given the circumstances..."
	"I'm aware of the circumstances...!" he snapped, glaring
back at the speaker.  "You realize that in order for your 'idea'
to work, I now have to go crawling back to her and ask her to
'forgive and forget' just to do *me* a favour?  How likely do
you think that scenario is?" he stated, angrily.  "Christ, I
can't even look her in the eye...!"
	"We could always use 'influence'...." a voice from the
back suggested, hesitantly.
        "Influence...  Have you forgotten who we're talking about
here?" he growled, rising and pacing once more.  "That's no
damned good.  I want scenarios, gentlemen...  Workable, practical
*amicable* scenarios before I'll even consider opening this up.
It was closed two years ago, and until I see something acceptable,
it still is!" he asserted, casting a scathing look over the room.
	"Sir, you must realize that this will take twenty years
to produce the desired result, and any attempt is still a
fifty-fifty gamble...  Time is critically short...!"
	The man stopped his pacing and turned back toward the last
speaker.  "Don't you think I'm aware of that...?" he stated, flatly.
"I'm reminded of it every damned day," he added, lowering his head.
"This meeting is over, gentlemen...  I don't want to hear anything
further until my criteria is met," he abruptly announced, then
turned and left the room.
	



	Akane turned and eyed Nodoka narrowly.  "I'm not
interested, Nodoka-sama...  I've already told you that a hundred
times," she stated, setting her hands on the sides of the sink.
	Nodoka frowned.  "Are you ever going to let her see him
again?" she asked, pointedly.
        "I...  Can't.  Every time I think of the life he's leading
now..." she began, only to be interrupted by Nodoka clearing her
throat.
        "*She* is leading now...  Akane-chan, you yourself said you
didn't care about her choices...  All you wanted, in the end, was
for your son to have a father.  Have you changed your mind?" she
redirected, flatly.
	"No!  But I can't stomach the thought of him and that...
That...  Hentai *bimbo* he's rutting with...!  That's the 'choice'
I don't like...  And I don't want it anywhere near my son!" she
spat, her face reddening.
	"I see..." Nodoka sighed, shaking her head.  "Akane-chan,
that is a truly sad statement...  I hope you realize that by feeling
that way, you're the one dooming your son to a life without
knowing his father," she indicated, eyeing Akane levelly.
        "No!  He is!  He could have stayed here...  Even if we
didn't end up married, he would have been around for his son!"
she shot back, angrily.  "And he'd still be a man!" she choked,
abruptly breaking into heavy sobs.
        "No, Akane-chan...  That would not have happened," Nodoka
asserted, firmly.  "From everything I've heard, he hated his life
for many years...  I honestly believe this was inevitable, in one
form or another.  We were lucky to find him...  He could easily
have gone to the mainland, or even to a western country, and
disappeared entirely," she continued, her tone becoming angrier.
"You, of all people, have in your hands the only means by which
he is willing to remain connected to any of us, and you are about
to throw it away.  If you let that happen because of your
prejudice, then he *will* be gone...  And so far gone that we
will never see him again, in either of his forms!" she finally
snapped, rising to her feet and clenching her fists.  "Is that
what you want, Akane?"
	Akane, rocked back by Nodoka's outburst, shook her head
vehemently.  "No!  I want him to be a father to his son...!  But
*not* with her around!" she shot back though her sobs.
	Nodoka glared angrily at her for a few eternal seconds,
then lowered her head and sighed resignedly.  "Then there is
nothing more to say," she remarked quietly, rising back to her
full height.  "It is time to walk Kei home from school...  We will
be back shortly,"  she added tightly, then bowed and left the
kitchen.
	Akane watched her go with tears still streaming down her
cheeks, then as she heard the outer door slide closed, balled up
her fists and pounded the sides of the sink.
	"Damn you, Ranma!!" she shouted, then hung her head and
cried even harder, her tears dripping steadily into the dishwater.
"Why are you still torturing me...?"




	Miyoko moaned softly as she sat in her favorite chair, her
head tilted back and eyes closed while Yoriko meticulously brushed
out her long red tresses.
        "Nee, Miyoko-chan...  You falling asleep on me again?"
Yoriko abruptly jibed, tapping on the top of her head.
        "Iya...  Just thinking...  It's been six weeks...  And not
a word," she responded, sighing.
        "You mean about your son...  Hai, I was wondering, too...
Especially after everything that happened," she agreed, gathering
another lock of hair.
	"I hate to say it Yori-chan, but I miss him.  I only got to
see him for a few minutes, but I can remember it like he just left.
Kuso, I knew this would happen..." she grumbled, sadly.
        "Ano...  Do you want to try calling her...?" Yoriko
suggested, hesitantly.
	"No way!  If I do that, I'm giving her the power.  She'll
have to contact me now...  I made her an offer, now it's up to her
to counter me, or decide to accept it.  But, it looks like she's
not going to do either one...  And that's the sad part."
        "Gomen ne, Miyoko-chan...  I wish there was something I
could do..."
        "I know, Yori-chan...  But like I said, it's all in her
court now," she sighed again, shaking her head slightly.
        "Hai...  It's okay, I'm sure somehow it will work out... "
Yoriko assured, honestly hoping it would.
        "I do too...  This has been bugging me *way* too much.  I
dunno if it's my parental instincts or maybe my curse starting to
mess with my head, but I've been thinking a lot about kids lately.
More than I ever have.  I keep seeing the parents at the School
with theirs, and it's...  Well, it's been making me think weird
things," Miyoko related, frowning.
	Yoriko, eyes softening as she listened to her girlfriend
speak, rested her hand on the woman's shoulder.  "Ano...  Like
what, Miyoko-chan...?" she asked, slightly leadingly.
        "I dunno how to explain it...  When I see a young baby...
I just get this urge to go ask if I can hold it...  When I see
little girls, I want to teach them how to fix their hair...  And
I even found myself wanting to show a ten year old boy how to
carry himself," she admitted, sheepishly.  "Hell, it's been
going on for about the last year...  Seeing my son has just made
it worse," she added, puffing.
	Yoriko broke out in a wide smile, then dropped her other
hand on Miyoko's other shoulder, patting it a few times.  "I know 
what your problem is, Miyoko-chan...  But I never would have
figured *you'd* have it..." she snickered, nodding knowingly.
"You're more girl than you think..." she added, seemingly quite
amused.
	"What are you laughing about, Yori-chan?  I'm serious,
here... " Miyoko snapped, becoming slightly miffed.
	"G-Gomen, Miyoko-chan... " she replied, stepping around
and squatting in front of Miyoko, taking her hands.  "It's your
'biological clock'...  You know...  The 'nesting instinct'," she
smiled, nodding again.  "Every woman gets it, especially if
they're childless," she noted, the smile on her face taking on a
strange appearance.
        The statement staggered Miyoko.  "Ano...  You mean...  I
want to have kids?!?" she gasped, raising a hand to her mouth.
"Masaka... "
        "Hai...  Sure sounds like it," Yoriko nodded, almost
excitedly. "And I think it's so neat...!" she added, leaning up
and hugging Miyoko affectionately.
        "Yeah...  Real neat," Miyoko groaned, rolling her eyes.




        "Ano...  I'll get it...  I'm over here, anyway..."  Ryouga
called back to the assistant chef, as he turned and opened the
pot rack doors.  "Hmm...  Big pot, big pot...  Kuso!" he suddenly
exclaimed, the sight that had greeted him staggering him back a
step.
        "What...?" Ukyou gasped, dashing over to the gasping
Ryouga.
	"Look!" he replied, pointing to an object innocently
hanging in the racks.
        "Shimata...  How did that get there...?" Ukyou asked aloud,
reaching into the rack and withdrawing the Kaisuifuu.
        "Maa...  That startled me..." Ryouga puffed, holding his
chest.  "I thought Akane took it back," he added, wiping his
forehead.
        "The staff musta put it in here...  We probably left it in
the kitchen that night..." Ukyou mused, looking the object over.
"Say, what are you so freaked out for...?  This thing only
*unlocks* the curses, right?" she blinked, noting his condition.
        "Eto...  You'd have to be cursed to understand..." he
replied, regaining his composure.
        "Well, don't worry...  I'll put this in my office so it's
not near you or any water, deal?" she smiled, leaning up and
kissing his cheek quickly.
        "Arigato...  I'd appreciate that," he smiled, patting her
backside as she turned to walk away.
	"Oi..!  Not in front of the staff...!" she flushed,
shooting him a look.
	"Hai, hai..." he smiled, watching her go.  He had to
admit, he was still surprised at how close he and Ukyou had
become in only a short time.  He still slept in his own room,
although rarely alone of late, and she tried to insist that he
not show affection while she was working, but behind the scenes,
it was as if they'd been dating for years.
	Still smiling, he fished out the pot he was looking for
and carried it over to the stove, then made his way back to
Ukyou's office.  He stepped through the door just in time to
catch her on her way back out, and used the excuse to entrap
her in a hug.
        "Ohhh...  What's this, sugar...?  Trying to seduce the
boss...?" she smiled luridly, raising her arms to his shoulders
and draping them over his neck.
        "No...  You just made me want more than that little
peck..." he grinned, burying her lips in a deep, passionate kiss.
	When it finally broke, Ukyou nestled her head into his
broad chest and sighed exasperatedly.  "You always do this to me
when I'm working..." she pouted, thumping her hand on his chest
weakly.
        "Heh...  Just reminding you what's waiting for you when
you're done," he quipped, grinning.
        'Mmmm...  Trust me, sugar...  I know," she groaned, pulling
him into another kiss.
	Once Ukyou had extricated herself from what promised to
escalate into something harder to say no to, she made her way
back into the kitchen and started mixing up more dough for the
coming day's breakfast crowd.  As she worked away, Ryouga wandered
up to her and stood a respectable distance away.
        "Finding that thing made me wonder...  Heard anything
yet?" he asked, moving to pass her another sack of flour.
        "Iya...  Not a word.  You know Miyoko's been in a few
times, but hasn't said boo, and nobody's bothered calling here,"
she sighed, exasperatedly.  "Makes me wonder what happened..."
she added, glancing back at him.
        "Hai...  After all that, too... " he noted, thinking for
a moment then shaking his head.  "All I can guess is that Akane
changed her mind...  Nothing else adds up," he ventured, shrugging.
        "Hah...  Not likely.  Akane forget something like that...?
No, I figure she's just planning her next move.  We'll see more
fireworks over this yet..." she responded, frowning.  "I just
wish that sweet little kid wasn't in the middle of it all..." she
sighed, smacking the dough in her hands.
        "Well, it's her own fault...  She could have settled it
all that night, but chose not to."
        "Yeah...  She never was the type to do things the easy
way," she smirked, resignedly.  "Well, enough about that...  Feel
like refilling the trays?  Most of the girls are already gone..."
she redirected, shooting him her famous kawaii eyes.
        "Hai...  Coming up!" he bowed sharply, then smirked and
headed to the store room.




	The tall man groaned as he reached into his pocket for
his ringing phone, shooting his company a quick 'excuse me' look.
        "Hai..." he answered tersely, his face rapidly darkening
as he listened to the caller.  "I told you already...  Not until
*all* of the conditions are met.  What...?  How...?  You'd better
be right, or the first thing that falls apart will be your
career...!" he snapped, quietly.  "Get me anything and everything
you have...  And don't make *any* moves until I clear it.
Tomorrow, ten am.  Oyasumi," he concluded, slapping the phone
closed.
	As he slid the device back in his pocket, he allowed
himself a thin smile.  For the first time in two long, painful
years, the future looked promising.




	Miyoko worked through her morning warm-ups in the center
of the mats as per usual, but her mind was not on her form for
once.  All she could think about was Yoriko's remarks from the
night before, and how they had hit home.
	She did want a child -- only she couldn't be entirely
sure why.  Over the years since she had locked her curse, she
had noticed that her emotions, actions, mannerisms and even her
thoughts had slowly become more feminine, which she had assumed
was a side effect of so much time in her cursed form.  She had
come to accept the occurrence, simply because she had chosen to
live her life as a woman, and no longer felt she needed to assert
her manhood.
	This development, however, was completely unexpected,
and she wasn't sure she was ready to deal with it.  Especially
not the idea of ever becoming pregnant; that whole concept sent
a shudder down her back.
	Casting a quick glance at the wall clock to change the
subject in her mind, she noted that it was time to finish off
and hit the showers, her first class due in half an hour.  Changing
to her finishing moves, she soon settled to her final stance and
held it utterly motionless for two full minutes, then relaxed back
to both feet and bowed to the motto.
	She was startled by the raucous round of applause that
burst out from the crowd along the far end of the floor, and
immediately flushed embarrassedly, but at the same time was a bit
irritated -- she knew she hadn't done her best, and didn't like
them applauding shoddy work.
	"Well, since you're all here, I take it you would like some
extra kata today...?" she asked, turning to the awed group and
setting her hands on her hips.
	Within a second, the crowd had disappeared.  Smirking to
herself, she turned and strode off to the showers.




        "All of the information is in the file, sir...  Including
our proposed scenario as discussed," the young exec indicated,
flipping the pages as he spoke.
	"I see.  What makes you think this approach will work?"
he responded, evenly.
	"Given the fact that she personally may not desire contact,
we felt that using 'the back door', as it were, to begin any
discussion may prove to be the best course," the exec explained,
pointing to a picture.  "There seems to be a *very* strong
relationship, and they have both exhibited tendencies to look out
for the other.  Using the right presentation may in fact do half
the work for us," he continued, smiling.
        "Granted...  And in a perfect world perhaps.  Has she been
checked into...  Thoroughly?  We can *not* afford having this turn
into a scandal."
	"Yes.  The surveillance reports are in the dossier, and
there is still ongoing monitoring.  We sincerely believe that she
is above reproach, despite the recent 'discourse' over her history.
There is only one minor skeleton, which is being rectified as we
speak...  It's all in the notes."
        "That's encouraging...  How much do you think she knows...?"
	"It would appear that she knows nothing.  Our conditions
at the time were quite specific, and it appears they have been
adhered to."
	"I expected as much," the tall man noted, his voice
unusually quiet.  "That could complicate matters considerably."
        "We do not believe so...  She kept her true history hidden
as well, and her 'revelation' was, to say the least, a good deal
more shocking," the exec insisted, turning another page.  "It was
only the fact that the 'relationship' weathered that storm that
made this attempt possible."
        "Hmmm... " the tall man nodded, then rose and moved
behind his chair.  Crossing his arms behind his back, he gazed
out the large window before him for a few moments, then lowered
his head briefly.  Abruptly, he raised it and turned to face the
assemblage once more.
	"Gentlemen, I am going to give tacit approval to this
project, mainly because I have no choice.  An opportunity exists,
and we have to act upon it.  But, I remind you all at the cost of
your careers, this *must* be handled quietly and amicably.  They
must cooperate fully and voluntarily, or you are to abort and
destroy the evidence.  Do we understand each other?"  he stated
adamantly, watching the faces before him nodding.  "Very Good.
I want running progress reports on my private Email starting
immediately, and *no* outside contracts for any part of it.  This
stays in our back yard.  Good Day, Gentlemen...  And good luck,"
he concluded, then turned back to face the windows once more.
	Behind him, the others quickly filed out and closed the
door, leaving him alone with his thoughts.  Turning back toward
his desk, he flipped open the cover of the dossier and regarded
the photograph clipped to the top of the first page.   It
featured two women, a blonde and a redhead, walking together on
a Kyoto street.  They looked happy, content -- and literally
emanated familiar affection.
	Lifting the picture up, he couldn't help but grimace.
	"The biggest mistake I ever made..." he frowned, and
tossed the picture back on his desk.




	Miyoko sang happily to herself as she folded the last of
the laundry, pleased that job was done before Yoriko got home.
That meant that they could get out early enough to hit the strip
before they caught 'Titanic' in the mall.
	Walking to her closet, she was about to pick out
something nice to wear when she heard her phone indicating
someone at the security door.  Smirking, she made her way over to
it, thinking that Yoriko must have forgotten her keys again.
	"Hai?" she responded, a hint of teasing sarcasm in her
voice.
        "Takara Miyoko?" an unfamiliar voice asked, pleasantly.
	"Hai.  Who is this, please?" she responded, listening
intently to the staticky voice.
        "I have a matter of importance to discuss with you...  It
concerns Naganato Yoriko.  May I come in?" the voice responded,
again pleasantly.
	Miyoko frowned.  This didn't sound good.  "Who is this,
please?" she asked again, her tone indicating her displeasure.
        "I...  Do not wish to identify myself in such a public
location...  May I be allowed to present my credentials in person?"
the voice replied, sounding slightly pleading.
	"No, you may not.  Until I know who you are, and what
this is all about, I have nothing more to say," she stated
adamantly, then let go of the talk bar and raced to her door.
Sliding on her shoes, she bolted down the hallway and leapt out
the window, hoping to catch the owner of the voice by surprise.
	Arriving outside the entryway, she was stunned to discover
that there was absolutely nobody around.
        "Miyoko-chan!  What are you doing out here?" Yoriko asked,
walking up to the frowning woman, taking note of the fact that she
was still wearing her robe.
        "Something weird just happened, Yori-chan...  Let's get
back upstairs, and I'll tell you all about it," Miyoko replied
evenly, still frowning.  Yoriko bit her lip.




	The tall man set down the papers in his hand, pulled off
his glasses and massaged his eyes, then set the glasses on his
desk and yawned loudly.  Glancing at his watch, he noted his wife
should finally be home, and reached into his pocket for his phone.
	Dialing the number, he sighed heavily and set the unit to
his ear.  After a few agonizingly long rings, the subdued voice of
his wife answered.
        "Ano...  It's me.  I miss you, too, Mika-chan," he began,
smiling.  "Hai.  Business has been very good today.  I'm coming
home soon, but I wanted to call you and let you know about
something that happened today.  Hai.  We found her," he stated,
then held the phone away from his ear to avoid the scream.




        Yoriko blinked.  "About...  Me?" she gasped, looking back
at Miyoko questioningly.
        "Hai...  Said it was important, and wanted to speak to me.
Knew my name, too," she responded, her expression darkening.  "I'll
just bet it's that damned Nabiki again...  She just can't take a
hint," she glowered, her fist clenching.
	"You think...?  What could she want with me...?" Yoriko
replied, starting to wring her hands nervously.
        "Like I said before...  She's trying to break us up,
Yori-chan...  But don't worry.  It'll take a hell of a lot more than
anything she can pull to ever change how I feel about you," Miyoko
smiled, noticing that she seemed to be scaring Yoriko.
	Yoriko looked back at her for a moment, her sea-green eyes
filling with tears.  "I wish they'd just leave us alone!!" she
suddenly cried, leaping to her feet and running into the bedroom.
	Miyoko, totally shaken by the reaction, sat on the couch
blinking until she realized what had just happened.  Jumping up,
she headed after Yoriko worriedly.
	In the bedroom, she found her girlfriend face-down on the
bed, her head under the two pillows she had crammed against it.
She was also crying so hard her small body literally shuddered
from the sobs.
	Moving gently to the side of the bed, Miyoko stretched out
beside Yoriko and laid her arm over the girl's shoulders.  Yoriko
responded by rolling to face her, then nestling against her chest,
sniffling.
        "Ano...  Gomen, Miyoko-chan...  I didn't mean...  To worry
you..." she sobbed, clenching the fabric of her girlfriend's robe.
"I was just...  So sure we were done with this..." she continued,
starting to cry again.
        "Yori-chan...  It doesn't matter.  They can pull whatever
crap they want, it won't make a damned bit of difference to me.
I love you...  And there isn't a force on this planet that will
ever change that," she assured, hugging the shaking girl to her.
	Yoriko didn't respond other than to try to nestle in
closer.  Miyoko could feel the girl's tears hot against her
breasts, which threatened to bring them to her own eyes.
        "Yori-chan...  Shhh...  It's okay.  I'll put a stop to
this if I have to charge them with harassment...  I don't ever want
you to cry over this again," she promised, stroking the back of
Yoriko's head gently.
        "I know...  I'm sorry, Miyoko-chan...  I'm sorry..." she
sniffed, trying to clear her voice.  "It just...  Hit me the wrong
way.  We've been so happy...  *I've* been so happy...  I just hate
to think that it's going to start all over again..." she stated,
wiping at her eyes.
        "Feh...  Never worry about that.  First thing tomorrow,
I'll put a stop to it, I promise.  I'll protect you, Yori-chan...
I always have, and I always will," Miyoko assured her earnestly,
tightening her hug.  "No matter what it takes," she added,
kissing the girl's forehead.
        "Ano...  I love you, Miyoko-chan... " Yoriko breathed,
pulling Miyoko's robe tighter to her.  "Arigato gozaimashite...
For just being you."




	Miyoko's eyes flew open, a sudden feeling of dread waking
her from her fitful sleep.  As she tried to sort it out, she
noticed that Yoriko wasn't nestled against her side as she normally
would be.  Reaching out, she gasped as she discovered the girl
wasn't even in the bed.
	Flinging off the blankets, she grabbed for her robe and
threw it over her shoulders, then rolled out of the bed quickly.
Heading for the living room, she worried that Yoriko may have done
something silly, especially after their conversations earlier.
	As she crossed the empty livingroom and headed for the
kitchen, she was suddenly shuddered by a cool breeze wafting
through the room.
	Turning, she noticed that the patio doors were open, and in
the dim light, could just make out a figure leaning against the
railing on the balcony.  Walking over to the doors, she bit her
lip as she saw Yoriko looking out over the lights of the city, a
deep sadness marring her pretty face.
	"Yori-chan...?  What's wrong...?" she ventured gently,
knowing that it must be something major for it to affect the girl
in such a manner.
        "Oh...  Miyoko-chan...  Gomen...  I didn't mean to wake
you..." she replied apologetically, turning to face the redhead.
"I couldn't sleep, so I came out...  To get some air," she
flustered, nervously.
	Miyoko sighed, then frowned slightly.  "Tell me what it
is, Yori-chan...  Are you still upset about that guy today?" she
deflected gently, stepping up and fixing Yoriko's bedhead.
        "Ano...  Hai.  That scared me, Miyoko-chan..." she
acknowledged, lowering her face and sighing sadly.
        "Baka ne...  I told you already.  I'll take care of it...
One way or another, she'll never bother us again," Miyoko smiled,
pulling the girl into a hug.
        Yoriko puffed a humourless laugh.  "Iya, Miyoko-chan...
I'm pretty sure it's not her," she sighed, stepping back from the
hug and turning toward the Kyoto skyline once more.
	"Nani?  If it's not Nabiki, then who else would it be...?"
the redhead countered, eyebrows raised.
	Yoriko looked back at her sadly, then sighed resignedly.
Drawing her hands together in front of her, she began to toy with
her ring as she gathered her thoughts, then appeared to set herself.
	"Miyoko-chan... " she began, her eyes beginning to shimmer.
"You're not the only one who has a past..." she stated, quietly.




=========================================================
END - Secrets V2P1		A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva.


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


Secrets:  Volume Two Part Two
-----------------------------------------------------------------



	Miyoko's face contorted in confusion.  "What do you mean?
I know you had some kind of problem with an ex-boyfriend... " she
trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening.  "Masaka...!  Is he trying
to get you back or something...?" she abruptly gasped, her face
instantly darkening.
	"Iya..." Yoriko sighed, shaking her head.  "I wish it was
something that simple," she remarked, exasperatedly.  "It's far,
far worse than that," she added ominously, turning to the railing
and grasping it with both hands, then hanging her head.  "I guess
the best place to start is the beginning... " she stated, turning
and facing Miyoko with a profound sadness literally etched in her
features.  "Miyoko-chan...  I am not Naganato Yoriko.  My real
name...  Is Christine White," she stated, then paused.  "You might
recognize the family name..." she added at length, watching Miyoko's
eyes.
        Miyoko's face fell.  "White....  As in...  White
Consolidated Industries?  The outfit that has that 'city' for an
office building...?" she stammered, incredulously.
	"H-Hai..." Yoriko replied, lowering her eyes.  "Eric Jessop
White...  The founder and current CEO...  Is my father," she
explained, her eyes still lowered.  "He's American.  He came to
Japan 30 years ago on a vacation, and ended up marrying my mother.
After that, he moved his business here.  I was born 4 years later,
right here in Kyoto."
	"Masaka..." Miyoko breathed, her mind spinning.  "Then
how...  Why...?" she attempted, but couldn't get her brain to focus
on one question long enough to ask it.
	Yoriko noted her reaction, and sighed heavily.  "My father
hates me...  Hates what I am, and what I mean," she continued, the
merest hint of a waver detectable in her voice.  "Two years ago,
when my father tried to marry me off, he found out about my...
'true preference'," she explained, shooting a remorseful glance
at Miyoko.  "He almost had a stroke, thinking his Company would be
ruined and his reputation destroyed if anyone found out.  And, he
was horrified to think that his only child was, as he put it,
'screwed up'," she added, a sniff finally sneaking out.  "He had
wanted a son to carry on the name and the business, but because my
mom couldn't have any more kids, he ended up without an heir and
without a successor...  And blamed me for all of it.  That's when
he decided to disown me...  He had my name changed, and all of my
history destroyed...  'Christine White' disappeared, and then
someone named 'Naganato Yoriko' just appeared," she started to
sob, unable to hold back the pain any longer.  "He made sure he
erased his 'mistake'..." she added, breaking down completely.
	Miyoko's heart melted.  Without any further thought, she
stepped forward and took the bawling girl in her arms, holding
her tight to her chest.  Yoriko immediately clenched her robe
and buried her face in the fabric.
        "Oh, Miyoko...  I'm...  So sorry....  So...  Sorry..." she
attempted, barely able to speak.
        "It's okay...  It's okay...  I'm here..." was all Miyoko
could manage, her thoughts torn between heartfelt sympathy and
angry disbelief.
	For some indeterminable length of time, Miyoko continued
to hold the girl, letting her cry as long as she felt the need.
Yoriko, however, soon forced herself to stop and tried to speak
again, her tale not yet complete.
	"They forced me..." Yoriko abruptly sniffed, not moving
from Miyoko's embrace.  "They forced me to start a new life...
Forced me to keep quiet about my old identity, saying they would
be watching everything I did...  And they have.  That's why that
Nabiki person...  Was so scared of me," she added, wiping
ineffectually at her eyes.  "*They* scared her off.  I couldn't
tell you because I was afraid...  Afraid that if I did, I'd lose
the only person who's ever loved me...  For *me*.  The only
person...  Who *wanted* me in her home...  And in her *life*!  I
was afraid that they'd see you as a threat and take you from
me...  And I'd rather die than ever lose you, Miyoko-chan..."
she gasped between her suppressed sobs, her voice becoming
strained and thin from the effort.
        "Don't even say that...  Yori-chan, I don't care who your
father is...  I don't care what he thinks...  As far as I'm
concerned, nothing's changed.  I love you...  And I always will,"
Miyoko assured her, gently but firmly.
	Even as she was speaking her words of encouragement,
however, her anger was seething like the lava under Mount Fuji.
As she had said, she didn't care who Yoriko's father was.  The
indescribable bastard had hurt her -- hurt her in ways that had
obviously scarred her for life.  In that moment, as she held the
still sobbing girl in her arms, she resolved that somehow, some
way, he *was* going to pay.
	Half an hour later, Miyoko handed the still-sniffing
Yoriko a glass of water then leaned back against the front of
the sink, huffing disgustedly.  "Maaa, I can't believe he'd treat
you like that...  It's sick, Yori-chan..." she spat, her face still
dark.
        "Hai...  It tore my heart out, Miyoko-chan...  He never
paid any attention to me all my life, but I still loved him; he
was my Dad.  But, when he caught me with my girlfriend when I was
supposed to be dating a guy he set me up with...  It got a *lot*
worse," she sniffed, pausing to take a long drink.  "He treated
me like a disease...  A contagious one.  He isolated me, then
destroyed me...  And his company has enough power and money behind
it to do it, too," she added, her voice showing a tinge of
bitterness.
        "Well, he better not try anything now...  Or I swear,
it'll be the last thing he ever does," Miyoko growled, her eyes
flashing angrily.
	Yoriko gasped at her girlfriend's reaction, quickly
rising from the table and walking up to her worriedly.  "No,
Miyoko-chan...  They're too strong, and have too many
connections...  I know;  I tried to fight what they did to me, but
it only made matters worse," she cried, her eyes shimmering with
fear.
	Miyoko frowned even more deeply that she already was,
then took Yoriko by the hand.  Wordlessly, she led her into the
bathroom and flicked on the light.  Moving the confused girl
before the mirror, she pointed to her reflection.
	"You see that...?  Those are the two most beautiful eyes
I've ever seen...  But when I look at them now, all I see is fear.
I hate him for that, Yori-chan...  And there's no way in *hell*
I'm going to let him do anything else to you...  No matter what I
have to do," she stated, angrily.
	Yoriko, despite worrying that Miyoko was going to do
something dangerous, turned and hugged the redhead tightly.  Her
words were exactly the ones she had needed to hear.




	Nodoka sat quietly in her living room, thumbing idly
through a magazine as she sipped her tea.  Her thoughts, however,
were not on the book.  She was deeply concerned that Akane was
going to repeat her past mistake, and there was no way she was
going to let that happen.
        Problem was, she had no idea how to go about it.
	She knew she could try forcing Akane to cooperate, but
she realized that she would likely end up losing contact with
her grandson over it, which was something she couldn't stand
the thought of.
	Sighing, she knew she'd have to think long and hard
over it, unaccustomed as she was to being manipulative and
devious.  She knew there were people around her that
specialized in such things, but she really didn't want to resort
to asking them for help.  This was a matter best handled quietly,
she felt, as involving others would only complicate it.
	Closing her magazine, she huffed exasperatedly.  This
was going to be a more difficult issue to resolve than she thought.




	Miyoko sighed contentedly as she luxuriated under the
shower, having had a great day with her classes despite being
tired from her interrupted sleep.  As she toweled off and trotted
back to the changeroom, she only hoped the rest of the day would
go as well.
	Dressing quickly, she grabbed her purse and beelined for
the doorway, wanting to get home before Yoriko.  With the state
the girl had been in, Miyoko wanted to ease her mind by being
there when she arrived, just in case.
	Heading down the street toward the train, she noticed a
black Mercedes parked a short distance away, and found her hackles
rising.  She figured it was exactly the type of vehicle the people
Yoriko mentioned would use, and not wanting to be caught off-guard,
she watched it warily.  As she walked closer to it, she noted
that the windows were blacked out, which really set her on alert.
	Ahead of her, two men suddenly stepped out of a small cafe
and started to walk toward her, and she noticed that they were
attempting to look harmless.  Eyes narrowing, she prepared herself.
	The two men continued toward her steadily, their eyes
concealed behind their dark glasses and unreadable.  Her suspicions
were confirmed as they stopped about four feet from her and simply
 stood in her path.
	"Miss Takara...?" one of them ventured, smiling disarmingly.
	"Hai.  Who wants to know?" she responded, subtly taking a
stance.
        "We are...  Friends of Naganato Yoriko.  We would like to
speak to you about her, if we may," he stated, still smiling.
	Miyoko frowned.  "You got a death wish, pal?" she snarled,
evenly.
        The man's face fell.  "Ahh...  We do not wish you or Miss
Naganato any harm...  But there is something we must discuss with
you...  It concerns her future," he stammered, sweat beading on
his forehead.
	Miyoko growled, anger instantly washing over her face.
"The only future you better be worried about is your own, buddy...
Especially if you don't get the hell out of my way," she snarled,
clenching her fists.
        "Ahh...  Miss Takara...  Th-This is an important matter..."
the man stammered, becoming increasingly nervous, but still
standing his ground.
	In a blur, Miyoko made her reply.  When she stopped
moving a heartbeat later, her foot was millimeters from the
second man's face, and her fist was an equivalent distance from
the first's eyes.  Glaring up into the first man's glasses, she
almost smiled.  "You were saying...?"
        "A-Ano...  S-Sorry to disturb you..." he gulped, both he
and his partner freezing in place, afraid to even breathe.
	Miyoko settled back to her feet, straightened her dress,
then handed them both back their belts, each rolled neatly.  "I
figure you better pull those up..." she smirked, then
reshouldered her purse and strode off toward the station, now
almost late for her train.
	Finally arriving home, she looked around quickly to see
if Yoriko had arrived, and when she discovered that she hadn't,
quickly changed and plunked herself in front of the TV, wanting
things to look as normal as possible.  She had already decided
she wasn't going to tell Yoriko about her little meeting,
despite the fact that it worried her deeply.
	She didn't know why the men wanted to talk to her so
badly, but she was certain it had to do with Yoriko's fear of
them breaking up their relationship.
	Face darkening, she vowed that she wasn't going to give
them the chance.  After Yoriko had stood by her, she was going
to stand by Yoriko -- to the bitter end, if necessary.  In her
opinion, Yoriko had suffered enough for one lifetime.




	After supper, the girls landed in front of the TV, taking
in a movie that Yoriko had brought home.  Miyoko sat on the couch
with Yoriko between her legs on the carpet in front of her, which
positioned her perfectly for Miyoko to brush out her shimmering
blonde hair.
	Yoriko soaked up the attention hungrily, actually pouting
when Miyoko finished the job and stretched out on the couch to
relax.
        "Hey...  Don't tell me you're done..." she complained,
turning to pout into her girlfriend's face.
        "Hai...  I am.  If I brush it any more, you'll be bald...!"
Miyoko admonished, running her fingers through the blonde wave.
"And then you'd look funny," she smirked, tossing a lock across
Yoriko's face.
	"But what a way to go..." Yoriko sighed, flopping back
against the couch and doing her best "Gone with the Wind" pose.
	"Baka ne... " Miyoko snickered, tapping the top of the
girl's head with her foot.  "So how was work today...?  You never
said anything at supper..."
        "I know...  I was just so happy to get home and find
everything okay," Yoriko responded, fidgeting with her sleeve.
"I worried all afternoon that they'd bug you again," she added,
sadly.
        "Don't fret...  I'd just introduce 'em to the hospital if
they bother us again," Miyoko smirked, taking a couple of quick
punches at the air.
        Yoriko's eyes widened.  "Sugoi...  That was fast,
Miyoko-chan...." she gasped, unable to even see her girlfriend's
hands move.
	Miyoko smiled wickedly.  "You want to see fast...?" she
intoned, just before leaning forward and handing Yoriko her bra.
        "Aiy...!" Yoriko shrieked, her face flushing beet red
as she checked her chest through her blouse.  "How did you...?"
she sputtered, covering her now unrestrained chest with one arm
and taking the garment back with the other.
	"It's a modification on a technique I learned years
ago...  Comes in handy for things now and then," she grinned,
smugly.
        "That's evil...!" Yoriko protested, half-seriously.
"If you weren't a nice person..." she added, leaving the sentence
dangle purposely.
        "Yeah...  Then there'd be no telling what nasty things I
could do to a sweet little girl like you, ne?" Miyoko countered,
affecting her best evil grin and psycho eyes as she leaned
forward menacingly.
	"But then all I have to do is pull out my secret weapon...
The dreaded 'cute kiss'!" Yoriko giggled, lifting up to kiss the
tip of Miyoko's nose.  Miyoko lost it, followed immediately by
Yoriko.
	When they regained their composure, Yoriko slipped up
onto the couch and stretched out beside Miyoko, deliberately
positioning herself low enough that she could nestle into the
redhead's chest comfortably.  Upon doing exactly that, she sighed
deeply and smiled contentedly.  "Miyoko-chan...  I love you..."
she breathed, happily.  "I feel so safe like this..." she added,
her smile widening.
        "I love you, too, Yori-chan...  And I think those are the
sweetest words you could ever say to me..." Miyoko responded
softly, closing her arms around the girl snugly.
	



	The next morning, upon extricating herself from Yoriko's
lingering good-bye hug, Miyoko headed toward the train station,
wondering what to expect from the day.  She hoped she had made
her point with her 'pursuers', and wouldn't see them again, but
her hopes were dashed as she rounded the corner onto the main
street and spotted another black Mercedes.
	Glancing down at her attire, a mid-thigh skirt and flowing
full-sleeve blouse, she sighed resignedly.  She wasn't exactly
dressed for what she had in mind, but if they so much as looked at
her, she was going to give them a lesson in surveillance they'd
never forget.
	Squaring herself, she strode right past the car, noting
that it was blacked out just like the last one she had seen.  As
she passed it, she heard its doors open and prepared for her
response.  Slowing her pace deliberately, she stopped at the lights
and waited demurely, listening to the footfalls behind her.  When
they came within four feet of her back, she spun around, smiled
sweetly, and waved at the two men happily.
	"Ja-ne!" she sang, then sprung straight up into the air
and landed on the rooftop above her.  A few leaps later, she hid
behind a stack on a large building and waited for her company to
arrive.  As the car cruised by slowly with people hanging out all
four windows, she somersaulted into a roll and plummeted the three
storeys to the street, landing gently behind the car.  Making sure
they saw her, she stuck out her tongue and pulled an eyelid down,
then darted into an alleyway.
	 When the reversing car screeched to a halt outside the
alley, she took to the air again right over their heads, rolling
into a tuck to cover her assets, then hit the street on the far
side of the stopped car.  Without looking back, she bounced up
toward a building across the street, using its awning to
springboard herself onto its roof.
	From there, she headed for her train, despite knowing
they'd likely be waiting there, too.  Sure enough, as she
descended toward the platform, another Mercedes sat within view
of the boarding point.  Grinning, she angled toward the station
house, ricocheted off its roof and landed noiselessly on the top
of the train.  Flattening, she slid to the opposite side of the
car and found an open window, then snaked her way into it,
landing in the center aisle just in time to pay for her ticket.
	Moving to a platform-side seat, she looked out at the
car, slid down her window and waved happily at it as the train
pulled away from the platform.
	Later, as her train jerked to a stop, she scoped the
area for another car, and was relieved to note there wasn't one.
That, however, didn't lull her one bit.  She figured they knew
where she worked, and given their surprising persistence so far,
anticipated another run-in before she arrived.
	Heading up the last street before the School, she
discovered she had guessed right -- only this time, there were
two casually-dressed men sitting on a bench, trying to look
innocuous.  Striding right past them, she waited until they
proved their intent, then sprang up into a backward roll, landing
right behind them.  As they reacted to her sudden move, she
grabbed their belts and tied them together before either man
knew what hit him.
	"Leave us alone...!" she growled, then simply walked past
them and headed into the School.  Once inside, however, she had
to fight to keep from laughing.
	



	"What do you mean, there's been no progress?!?  You've
had twenty-four hours!" Eric White growled in disbelief, his eyes
wide.  "I don't care what your excuses are...  If you don't make
contact and get the ball rolling by Friday, then it's a scrub, do
you hear me?  No!  I wasn't so sure this was a great idea, and
you're beginning to prove me right.  Friday or not at all,"  he
snapped, slamming the phone onto its cradle.
	Scrolling back through the series of Emails he had been
poring over before making the call, he frowned deeply.  His team
was being made a mockery of, and he was beginning to worry that
now that some contact had been made, the risk of the whole thing
blowing up in his face was becoming even more real.  As well, he
had already told his wife, having been considerably more confident
about the outcome.
	Finally, he shut off his screen and rose from his chair,
walking to the back of his office to peer out the large windows
thoughtfully.
	After a few silent minutes, he sighed heavily.  "I should
have adopted..." he groaned aloud, pulling off his glasses and
rubbing his eyes.
	



	Rising from her dismissal bow to her class, Miyoko was
surprised to see Atsuko, the girl from the reception desk,
frantically trying to get her attention.  Nodding an
acknowledgment, she strode across the mats to meet her, wondering
what all the fuss was about.
        "Miyoko-Sensei...!  There is someone here to see you...
They look important...!" the flustered girl babbled excitedly,
pointing toward the outer office.
        Miyoko's face went hard.  "Okay...  Now what?" she
responded, confusing the receptionist.
        "They did not say.  They simply asked for you, and said it
was urgent, Miyoko-Sensei," the girl reiterated, clutching her
headset cable.
        "Hm," she grunted, then headed for the office.   She was
not surprised to find two men, dressed in 'power suits', simply
sitting in the waiting room chairs waiting for her arrival.  Once
she stepped in, however, both of them rose and bowed.
	"Miss Takara...?" one of them asked, immediately removing
his dark glasses and smiling.
        "Atsuko-chan...  Could you excuse us for a few minutes?"
Miyoko abruptly asked, shooting the girl a look.
	"Hai, Miyoko-Sensei," she bowed quickly, and left the room
immediately.
        "So...  Do I have to ask what you want?" Miyoko asked,
regarding her 'guests' levelly.
	"We are still trying to speak to you about Naganato Yoriko,
Miss Takara...  If you wish, we can set up a meeting at a time and
place of your choosing...?" the man indicated, in a well-practiced,
non-threatening manner.
	Anger flashed across Miyoko's face, and as it did, she
reached down and tightened her gi belt.  "I'll make this real easy
for you...  I'm not interested!!  All we want...  Is to be left
alone.  And if you guys don't stop bothering us, someone is going
to get hurt...!" she growled, angrily.
        "Miss Takara...  We are not trying to cause anyone harm...
In fact, this could be very much to your..."
	"Leave.  Now," she snarled, taking a single step forward.
	The two men frowned, then started for the door.  "We must
talk to you...  And soon," the first reiterated, flipping a
business card at her.  "Call us," he stated, then left as Miyoko
snatched it from the air and flashed him a look.
	She huffed as she watched them leave, then glanced at the
card.  All it contained was a phone number and a name.
	"And if you think I'm ever gonna call *you* bastards..."
she grumbled, crumpling the card and jamming it in her pocket.
Walking to the rear door, she popped it open and told Atsuko to
come in, and left orders that she was not to be disturbed unless
it was by a girl named Yoriko.
        Next, she set a course for the staff lunchroom, badly in
need of a good stiff tea.
	Heading home after her day finally ended, Miyoko was so
'on edge' that her shoulders started to feel tight.  She studied
every street, checked every corner and every shop, wanting to
avoid any contact with those 'men' she encountered earlier.  Their
attempts were getting wearisome, and she had already decided
that she'd had enough.
	As she stepped onto her train, she inspected every face
carefully, noting with mild surprise that there were no suspicious
ones.  Even at her stop, and all the way back to her home block,
there were no questionable cars or people.
	For a fleeting second, she thought they may have gotten the
hint at long last, but her heart sank as she rounded the last
corner and saw one of the dreaded black cars.
	Instantly, her anger boiled over.  Setting herself, she
strode up the street toward the car and awaited their reaction.
Almost predictably, four men got out and lined up alongside the
car, awaiting her arrival.
	As she neared, one of them pasted on a smile and stepped
toward her.  She stopped and glared death at him.
        "Miss Takara...  I *must* speak to you about Yoriko..." he
began, but didn't get to finish.
	Stepping right up to him, Miyoko's eyes narrowed to thin
slits.  "I warned you," she growled, then faster than the eye
could follow, launched the man at his cohorts, taking out two of
them in one swing.  She then sprang over in front of the fourth,
who surprised her by taking a shaky stance.  Miyoko looked at
him for a second, then rolled her eyes.  Stepping out of her own
stance, she regarded him disappointedly.
        "No, No, No...  Not like that... !" she frowned, looking
him over.  "Kuso...  Let me show you," she snapped, walking up and
correcting his arms and body position.  "See...  You were too far
back...  Remember:  You have to be able to direct the force through,
and you sure as hell can't do it like this," she indicated,
affectedly imitating his non-corrected stance.  "Now, if you do
it like this..." she continued, correcting her position. "You can
hit better...  See?" she added, unloading a shot to his chest
that left him gasping on the ground.  "And I barely touched you.
It's all in the stance, buddy...  Remember that," she stated,
glaring at him.
	His breathless response surprised her.  "H-Hai, Sen-sei..."
he choked, just before his head rolled to the side.
	Dusting herself off, she stepped over to the barely
conscious first man and grabbed his shirt.  Pulling him up, she
glared angrily into his face.
	"You guys have pushed me about as much as I'm gonna put up
with...  If I *ever* see any of you again...  Whoever it is
damned-well better have an up-to-date Will," she growled, and
dropped him to the ground.




	The young exec frowned, then set the phone back down.
"Well...  It didn't work.  Keiji and his team are in the hospital.
It looks like we're at the point of no return, gentlemen,"  he
stated, flatly.
	"Then we withdraw...?" another asked, tossing a file on
the table.
        "No...  You and Moriatsu are dismissed.  You may leave,"
the young exec replied, sadly.
        "Ano...  Why, Sir...?" the stunned man asked, blinking.
        "Plausible Deniability.  Go," the exec stated,
indicating the door.  As the two men gratefully left, he turned
to the remaining one and eyed him resignedly.  "You realize what
this means, don't you?" he asked, allowing his hand to drop onto
the table.
	"Hai.  I do.  All the way or no way," he nodded, quietly.
	"One chance.  And above all, be gentle.  Identify
yourselves and say who it's from.  We do *not* want to intimidate
here...  Only get co-operation.  Are we clear on this?"
	"Hai.  Understood," the second nodded sharply.
	"Good.  Tomorrow?"
        "Iya...  Perhaps the day after...  It's still too soon."
	"Agreed.  Anything you need?"
	"No, sir.  I am prepared."
	"Good.  Leave by the rear entry, and I will see you here
in 48 hours.  Good Luck," the exec stated, and watched as the other
man left the room.  Once alone, he leaned back in his chair and
sighed heavily.  "I hope this works... " he moaned, lowering his
shaking head.
	



	Akane gazed out at the koi pond as she finished her
cigarette, flinging the butt into a prearranged can a few feet
away.  She was glad Nodoka had gone home, as she was becoming very
tired of the woman's expectant gaze following her everywhere, and
her still liberally sprinkled suggestions about contacting 'Miyoko'.
	Making matters worse was the fact that Nodoka had now
apparently enlisted Kasumi's help, and if there was anyone who
could get on her nerves in a heartbeat, it was 'Miss Wonderful'.
She had already endured her older sister's subtle variety of
suggestion for enough years to become quite tired of it, and in
fact, that was why they barely spoke these days.
	As well, Kasumi couldn't seem to resist a well-placed
needle about her lifestyle whenever they did speak, which also made
Akane tend to avoid her as much as possible.  That preference,
however, didn't preclude Kasumi coming over on her unannounced
'drop ins', and adding her two cents about the issue of the day.
	Overall, the entire scenario was becoming irritating.  
	Unbeknownst to any of the supposedly well-intentioned
'advisors' she seemed to have, she had actually reconsidered going
along with 'Miyoko's' plan, just for the sake of harmony, if
nothing else.  The only thing she still couldn't get past, no
matter how hard she tried, was the thought of 'the girlfriend'
being in the picture.  And Akane knew full well that she would
be, given how much they seemed to be in love.
	The entire concept turned her stomach; and seemed
inescapable.
	Suddenly, she actually found herself wishing she could do
exactly what Ranma did, and just pack up and leave the crap behind.
	"Boy, wouldn't that be nice..." she said aloud, albeit
quietly.



        "Anybody home in there...?" Miyoko asked jokingly, rapping
on the top of Yoriko's head.  The girl had been quietly nestled
against her side as they lay on the couch, but Miyoko could tell she
hadn't been watching the movie.
        "Ano...  Gomen, Miyoko-chan.  I was just thinking about my
mother..." Yoriko stammered, raising her gaze toward the redhead.
        "Your mother...?  Why...  Was she in on this too?" Miyoko
responded, blinking.
        "Iya, iya...  I got along very well with her...  She was the
only real parent I had growing up," Yori noted, emphatically.  "I
was very close to her; we talked a lot...  Did things together...
She was there for me," she added, her eyes widening as she spoke.
"I was just wondering...  What she was told about my...
Disappearance," she explained, her demeanor abruptly changing.
"I'm a lot like her, Miyoko-chan...  I'm sure it must have...
Devastated her," she noted, her voice going quiet as she lowered
her face.
	Miyoko frowned sympathetically.  "She's your father's
wife...  I'm sure he concocted something," she noted, dryly.
        Yoriko nodded slowly.  "I'm sure he did too...  I just
hope...  He didn't break her heart," she almost whispered, her
concern twinging Miyoko's heartstrings, but at the same time
making her nervous.  Yoriko would worry herself sick over something
like this, so she knew she had to distract or at least ease her
mind somehow -- and do it quickly.
        "Yori-chan...  How did your father treat her?  Did he...
Love her?" she asked, hoping for the best.
        "Hai...  Very much.  I used to love seeing them together...
You could almost feel the affection between them," she responded,
wistfully.
	Miyoko almost sighed out loud.  "Then I'm sure he broke it
to her gently.  If he cared that much...  And your mother is
anything like you, then he would've had to," she stated, smiling
confidently.  "Probably told her he got you a top-secret job in
the U.S. or something..." she added, winking.
	Yoriko looked up at her again, considering the statement.
"Hai...  That would make sense... " she acquiesced, thoughtfully.
        "I'd be willing to bet on it," Miyoko assured her, leaning
down and kissing her forehead.  "So don't fret...  It'll give you
lines," she chided, grabbing the corners of her own eyes and
wrinkling the skin for effect.
	Yoriko, much to Miyoko's relief, smiled at the bit, then
sighed heavily.  "Gomen, Miyoko-chan...  I've just been thinking a
lot about this lately, and sometimes it gets to me," she smiled
weakly, leaning her head back against Miyoko's side.
        "I know...  It's okay, Yori-chan.  I understand," she
responded gently, patting her girlfriend's rear.
	Yoriko nestled her face a little closer into Miyoko's side
in response, and tightened her grip on the front of her
girlfriend's robe.  "I know you do...  That's one of the reasons I
love you so much," she whispered, a serene smile settling on her
visage.



===========================================================
END - Secrets V2P2                   A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


Secrets: Volume Two Part Three
----------------------------------------------------------------



	Yoriko looked up at the clock, wishing it would move just
a little faster.  The last fifteen minutes of her shift were
always the longest, even more so of late.  She hated being away
from Miyoko, always feeling a little lost and empty without her
nearby.  
        Sighing, she turned to carry a bag of fries out to the
fryers, only to hear her name being called urgently over the
skyphone.  Reaching down and pushing the talk button, she responded
tiredly.
	"Hai...!"
        "Yoriko-Sensei...  We have someone complaining up here..."
an equally tired voice stated, quickly.
	"I'll be right up..." she groaned, hefting the bag again
and shaking her head.  13 minutes to go.
	Finally, the blessed hour arrived, and she happily flipped
off the skyphone and hung it on its rack.  Grabbing her coat from
her locker, she breezed toward the back door, waving happily at the
girls who had just started their shifts.
	Just as she was about to open it, one of them called out to
her.  "Yoriko-Sensei...  Someone out here wants to see you...!" she
called, indicating the lobby.
	"Hai!" she replied, her heart skipping a beat.  She hoped
it was Miyoko, come to walk her home.
	Smiling brightly, she headed out into the lobby and looked
around, surprised not to see Miyoko or anyone else she recognized.
Shrugging, she was about to walk away when a man stepped into her
path.
	"Naganato Yoriko?  Or should I say, Christine White?" the
man asked, smiling.
	Yoriko gasped in horror, her worst nightmare suddenly
exploding in her face.  Staggering back, she yelped as she bumped
into another man that had appeared behind her.
        "No...  Please..." she begged pitifully, her eyes starting
tear up as she shrank away from them.
	"Gomen, Miss White, but your father has requested your
presence..." the first man began, but that was more than enough
for Yoriko.   With a barely legible whimper, she collapsed to the
floor.




        Miyoko shuddered.  A deep, down to the soul kind of
shudder, accompanied by a powerful feeling of panic.
	"Yoriko..." she gasped, her heart starting to pound.
Without a second's hesitation, she threw on her shoes and dashed
out the door, heading straight for the hall window.  She prayed
her intuition was wrong as she bounced from rooftop to rooftop,
but somehow, she had the sinking feeling that she already knew what
she'd find when she arrived at Yoriko's restaurant.
	Landing in front of the main doors, she straightened her
skirt and walked in, heading right to the counter.
        "Oi...  Is Naganato Yoriko still here?" she asked one of
the girls, crossing her fingers.
        "Ano... No.  I think she left already...  Just a minute,"
the girl responded, reaching up for her skyphone mike.
"Nikko-Sensei...  Is Yoriko still here?  Iya...  A girl.  Hai.  Hai.
Arigato," she finally said, then turned to Miyoko again.
	"Those men that came to pick her up said they were taking
her home... " the girl began, then noticed she was talking to
herself.
	Miyoko stood on the roof of the restaurant, trying to calm
herself enough to think.  She hadn't wanted to even entertain the
thought, but now, she had no choice.  Those bastards that had been
chasing after her had decided to pick on an easier target, and had
kidnapped Yoriko.  And only the Kami knew what they would do to
her.
	Turning, she looked across town at the huge complex that
was White Consolidated Industries World Headquarters, and scowled
angrily.  She had an appointment.




        "No, Mika-chan...  I haven't heard anything further.  I
know, but things have not gone as we expected.  Don't worry...
I'll let call you as soon as I know something.  Yes, I'm sure she's
safe and healthy.  I'll be home in an hour...  Ja," Eric smiled,
trying to sound happy despite his disappointment in his 'people's'
progress.
	Slipping his phone back in his pocket, he stepped into the
elevator and leaned back against the rear wall, tired from a week
of worry and business.  He couldn't wait until tomorrow ended, as,
if his people still hadn't managed to begin the 'negotiations', he
was going to call the whole thing off.  Better that than risk a
public scandal over a two-year old mistake.
	Finally, he stepped off on his floor and trudged to his
office, anticipating a pile of disappointing Emails on his
computer.  As he passed his receptionist's empty desk, he glanced
at her security monitors and sighed, figuring he was probably the
only person still left in the entire complex.  Given that it was
just after seven p.m., that didn't surprise him.  Few of his
employees stayed past six, since their day officially ended at
five.
	Pulling his remote out, he beeped open his door and
stepped through, only turning on the lights over his desk.  He
then beeped open the large curtains over his windows, preferring
that they be wide open while he was in the office.
	Satisfied, he slid behind his desk and activated his
computer, intending to check his mail and then pack up to go home.
	As he started clicking his way through the 30 some-odd
messages that awaited him, he didn't notice the figure walking
toward his desk.  In fact, until that figure stood directly in
front of him and cleared her throat, he was completely unaware of
her presence.
	Startled, he looked up and almost had a heart attack.
"You...!" he yelped, his face draining.
        "Hai...  Takara Miyoko desu...  The *last* person you're
ever gonna see, you miserable sonovabitch..." she growled evenly,
walking around his desk and right up to his chair.  "I should take
you *apart* for what you've already done to Yoriko...  But now..."
she continued, grabbing his shirtfront and pulling him from his
chair.  "I'm not going to be so fucking polite!!" she yelled,
launching him over his desk into the middle of the room.
	Leaping after him, she grabbed his arm and wrenched it
around behind him in a painful control hold, then snarled into his
ear.  "What have you done with her?!?  Talk!!" she commanded,
tightening her hold.
        "I...  I...  Don't know...  What you mean..!!" he gasped,
still recovering from his shock.
	"Bullshit!!  Your goons grabbed her out of her restaurant
today and dragged her off somewhere...  And I want her released;
NOW!!" Miyoko responded, adjusting her grip to convince him to
cooperate.
        "Auuggh!!  I didn't....  Uhnn!  I didn't know...!" he
gasped, feeling his arm starting to separate from its socket.
	"What the hell kind of idiot do you think I am?!?
Listen, asshole...  You either tell me where she is, right *now*,
or I'm gonna feed you this arm!!" she retorted, leaning around to
get a look in his eyes.
        "I...  Don't...  Have...  Her....!" he gasped, fearfully.
Miyoko studied his eyes for a long second, then threw him to the
floor.
        "I guess you don't...  But I'll bet you know who does,
don't you..." she growled, angrily.
	Eric only picked himself up painfully, clutching at his
almost dislocated shoulder.  Miyoko expected him to be glaring
daggers at her, but instead he looked...  Defeated.  She was
actually disappointed, since that meant he wasn't going to give
her an excuse.
	Eric slowly squared himself around on the floor, ending
up sitting cross-legged in front of Miyoko, still holding his
shoulder.  After a few moments to catch his breath, he finally
tried to speak.  "I did not...  Order her held.  If she was
taken...  Then someone acted on their own," he gasped between
breaths, wincing occasionally.
	"And you expect me to believe you had nothing to do with
it?"  Miyoko shot back, contemptuously.  "You...  The guy that
*destroyed* her in the first place?" she snapped, clenching her
fists.
	"I didn't say that!" he suddenly shouted, surprising her
a bit.  "I did have something to do with the plan behind it, but
my orders were clear...  She was not to be contacted, and they
were only to go through you," he indicated, flatly.  "I knew she'd
never agree outright, but I thought that there was at least a
chance if we could get you to agree, and convince her,"  he
added, lowering his face.
	"What the hell are you talking about?  If this is some
kind of crap you're trying to pull, I'll let you in on something,
pal; Security ain't coming.  Most of 'em are sleeping, and the
others have been watching a tape for the last while...  So it's
just you...  And me," she emphasized, leaning into his face.  "So
cut the crap and tell me where she is...  While you still can,"
she added menacingly.
	Eric hung his head exasperatedly.  "You have no idea, do
you?" he puffed, looking back up at her sadly.  "I thought you
already knew," he added, shaking his head.
	"There's only two things I know.  Yoriko was taken, and
you're ultimately responsible...  To me, that adds up to one
result; I kill you,"  Miyoko replied, fast becoming tired of the
verbal tennis.  Stepping forward, she again grabbed his shirt,
only this time she lined her fist up on his face.
"One chance... " she noted, her face impassive.
        Eric panicked.  "All right!!  All Right!!  I'll tell you
everything!!" he yelled, his eyes riveted on Miyoko's deadly fist.
	"No more shit?" she stipulated, glaring into his eyes.
        "No, no...  God, no..." he gasped, starting to shake.
        "Smart boy...  I see how you made it to the penthouse,"
she smirked, dropping him to the carpet.  "Now start talking... "
she glowered, stepping back and sitting against his desk.
        "Okay...  Okay... " he gasped, again pulling himself up.
"This whole thing...  Came about because of you," he began,
squaring himself again.  "More accurately, you made it possible
for me to correct the biggest mistake of my life," he explained,
lowering his eyes.
        "And just how do you figure that?" Miyoko sneered,
crossing her arms.
	"I'll get to that.  A little over two years ago, I
discovered Christine's 'preference'...  I didn't handle it well.
I panicked...  You know how scandal can destroy a person or a
company in this country; I figured if anyone else found out, I'd
lose everything I've worked for over the past thirty years.
And...  I also found out...  I... have a problem with
homosexuality," he admitted, shamefully.  "That all combined to
make me do some things I hate myself for...  And I was quite
certain that Christine would never forgive me for," he continued,
drawing a deep breath.
        "Well, you got *that* right, pal...  She's petrified of
you.  She can't even *try* to enjoy the life you forced her to
live, for fear of doing something to piss off your goon squad!"
Miyoko snapped, shaking her head disgustedly.
        "I know...  I've kept tabs on her since she 'left'," he
admitted, sadly.  "That's how I found out about you...  And how
I thought I had a second chance.  You see, since Christine isn't
interested in men, I thought that I'd never have an heir.  But,
then you come into the picture; a *man* who's living as a
woman...  And not just some cross-dressing freak, either.  And
making the picture even better is how she loves you,"  he
continued, shuddering at his own words.  "It was thought that
if you were convinced of the situation, then you would be able
to father an heir with her...  In short, you were my last chance
to have a family to pass my business down to," he concluded,
quietly.
        Miyoko huffed angrily.  "You indescribable bastard...
I can't believe you'd have the nerve to think she'd even
*consider* something like that!!  And there'd be no way in hell
that I'd ever even think of asking her to!!  You destroyed her...
Took her entire *life* away from her; forced her to become
someone else just because you were afraid of some bad press!!
She lives in fear every day of her life because of you, and you
want her to just forget that and come save your empire for you?!?
Dream on, pal...  It ain't happenin'!!" Miyoko snarled, using
every ounce of strength she possessed to keep from spreading him
all over the office.
        "That's putting it politely," Eric responded, shaking
his head.
	Miyoko huffed.  "Right now, remorse ain't gonna help ya.
I want you to find her...  And let her go right *now*.  And then I
want you to tell her, *face to face*, that you're never going to
bother her again.  Because if you ever do, I'll see to it that
your life becomes as much a hell as you made hers!!" she snarled,
walking up and grabbing his shirt again.  This time however, she
simply yanked him to his feet.
	Both stunned and relieved that she didn't hit him again,
Eric sighed and nodded.  "Let's go out to the Security Consoles...
This entire complex is covered by cameras...  If she's in it, we'll
find her," he stated, resignedly.
        "Good...  Just don't try pulling anything if you want to
make it home for supper," she glowered, the flash in her eyes
sending a shudder down his back.
        "No...  That's all over with, I assure you.  This has
already gotten way out of hand," he stated, emphatically.
        "You got *that* right, smart boy.  Find her...  Now...!" she
growled, jerking her head toward the doors.
	At the array of screens and camera controls in the Console
room, they methodically checked all of the offices of the parties
involved, and came up empty.  Next, Eric checked through the board
rooms, then the storage facilities.  With only twelve screens and
almost three hundred cameras, it took a long time to cover them all,
which only served to make Eric nervous and Miyoko angry.
	Finally, as Miyoko's patience was wearing thin, she caught
something as a screen flashed by.  "Stop!  Back up one camera...  I
thought I saw something...!!" she gasped, tightening her grip on his
shoulder so much he grunted in pain.
	Sure enough, the hazy gray image on the screen revealed a
familiar head of hair atop a certain uniform.  Miyoko smiled
despite her anger, relieved that she looked okay, even though she
was curled up in an almost fetal position on a couch; and seemed
to be crying.
	Abruptly, Miyoko's face darkened.  "So, how does it feel to
see your daughter...  Your *only* daughter...  Being held like a
caged animal?  That's how she's been living for the past two
years...  All because of you," she intoned, frowning angrily.
        "You don't need to remind me...  I see her every time I look
at her mother," he almost whispered, his voice cracking.
	"Then why didn't you put a stop to this sooner?  You know,
she still loves you...  Even though you shit all over her.  Far as
I'm concerned, you don't deserve her...  You never did," she
snarled, disgustedly.  "If this was how you were gonna treat your
kids, somebody should've neutered you a long time ago," she added,
icily.
	Eric didn't reply.  He couldn't.
	Growling, Miyoko looked over the monitors to see what room
Yoriko was in.  "Where is that...  And what's the fastest way to
get there?"




	The exec looked across at Yoriko worriedly.  He hadn't
expected her to fall apart, and wasn't prepared to deal with it.
Sighing frustratedly, he tried again.
        "All we want to do is talk to your girlfriend...  But she
refuses to let us.  The only reason we have brought you here is to
ask you to talk to her...  Get her to let us speak to her," he
reiterated, as gently as possible.
	Yoriko didn't respond.  In fact, she no longer even
acknowledged his presence.  She continued to stare wide-eyed at the
floor, her breathing slightly rapid and shallow.
        "Go get her a glass of water...  I'm getting worried," he
ordered, looking over at his cohort.
        "I think you may have to take her to a hospital...  She
looks like she's lost it..." he observed, heading toward the door.
        "Don't say that...  Things are already bad enough," the exec
replied, dropping his head to his hands.
	Shaking his head, the other man stepped through the door
and started for the lunchroom, only to come face to face with a
furious redhead.  A heartbeat later, he was unconscious and
sprawled against a wall at the other end of the long hallway.
	Miyoko then burst through the door and leapt toward Yoriko
before the exec knew what had happened.  "Yori-chan...  Yori-chan!
It's me...  Miyoko!" she blurted, taking the girl by her shoulders
and lifting her up to look into her vacant eyes.  When she didn't
respond, Miyoko lost it.
	The exec, meantime, had recovered his senses well enough
to grab for a handgun out of his top drawer, but as he brought it
up and out, Miyoko was already in the air.  She slapped aside the
weapon and followed through with punch that sent him crashing into
the side wall, then pounced on him and yanked him out of his chair.
Setting him on his feet, she started at his gut and unloaded a
vicious barrage, followed by an aerial spin-kick that blew him
through the door and into the hall, where he came to a stop at
Eric White's feet.
        "Oh...  By the way...  You're fired," he smirked, stepping
over the unconscious man and looking into the room.  What he saw
tore his heart out of his chest.
	Miyoko sat with Yoriko on the couch, hugging the shattered
girl to her tightly.  Yoriko, having been snapped out of her shock
by the noise of the fight, clung to the redhead like a frightened
child, shaking and crying with tears of happiness at being safe in
Miyoko's arms.  He was utterly amazed at the tender concern the
redhead showed, and how his daughter responded to it.
	What struck him even more was how devastated Yoriko was.
Even to him, it was apparent that the redhead had actually
understated how much the situation had affected her, and the
reality of it hit him like a brick between the eyes.
	He personally had remained at arm's length from the entire
process, a fact he now regretted painfully.  Face falling, he
stepped back out into the hallway quietly, not wanting to
interfere in the events unfolding before him.  His head lowered
as he realized he didn't have any place in them.
	


	
	Akane stood in the hallway, hands on her hips and a miffed
expression on her face.  It was Kei's bedtime, and he was sitting
in the family room with his back to her, seemingly ignoring her
repeated requests to get into the bath.
	What perturbed her most was that these little 'incidents'
had been occurring with greater frequency of late, and the School
had even called to mention it.  Akane actually caught herself
wondering if there wasn't a reason for it, especially given her own
'condition'.
	Finally, she walked up behind him and touched his shoulder,
almost yelping out loud as she felt him shuddering ever so slightly.
A heartbeat later, however, he turned and looked up at her with his
cherubic little smile firmly in place.  "Hai, Kaasan?" he asked,
expectantly.
        "Ano...  Kei-chan...  It's bath time...  Go jump in," she
replied distractedly, wondering what was going on.
	"Hai!" he sang, leaping to his feet and racing up the
hallway.
	Frowning worriedly, Akane decided it was time to make him
a Doctor's appointment.  This was too strange to just ignore.
	All through his bath and up until she put him to bed, she
watched him carefully, but noticed absolutely nothing out of the
ordinary.  He was alert, responsive, laughing and joking as per
usual, even spending a little time telling her about his day.  In
short, she began to wonder if she hadn't been seeing things.
	Later, as she settled on the laundry porch to sip at her
tea and watch the sunset, she began to wonder if Nodoka had ever
noticed anything odd, and picked up the cordless from beside her.
        "Konbanwa, Nodoka-sama...  It's Akane.  I had something
funny happen tonight, and I wondered if you...  Hai.  Exactly
like that.  Just once; tonight.  Masaka...!  Why didn't you mention
this to me sooner?  No, I felt him 'shuddering' tonight, and he
didn't seem to notice me touch him until a few seconds later.  Iya;
this is the first time.  He's been 'on another planet' before,
but...  Hai.  I do,  I'm making him an appointment tomorrow.
Right...  See you then.  Ja," she concluded, her brow furrowing
darkly.  It was apparent now that something was amiss with Kei,
and she could already feel the tightness in her chest.
	He was her entire world, and it scared the hell out of her
to think that something might be wrong with him.  He'd had his
share of childhood bumps, bruises, and sicknesses, but this,
something told her, was far more than some flu bug.
	Drawing her knees up to her chest, she sighed worriedly
as she set her chin on them.  It was going to be a very long night.




        Yoriko shook her head vehemently.  "No, Miyoko-chan...  I
just want to go home...  I don't want to face him...  I don't even
want to see him...!" she pleaded, clutching her girlfriend's arm.
        "Yori-chan...  You have to.  This nightmare will never be
over for you if you don't," Miyoko insisted, pulling her into
another hug.  "Like I said...  We had a 'chat' about all of
this...  Trust me, he's not going to do anything mean...  I won't
let him," she smiled knowingly, stepping back and nodding.
        "Okay...  I guess," she replied hesitantly, trusting
Miyoko's smile.
	"I guess I should be glad to hear that..." Eric remarked,
stepping into the room.
        Yoriko gasped and jumped behind Miyoko, clutching her
arm tightly and glaring fearfully at him.  His face fell.
"Masaka..." he sighed, lowering his gaze.
        "See...?  This is what you've done to her...  Proud of
yourself?" Miyoko needled, crossly.
        "No...  I'm not.  In fact, I think it was the stupidest
thing I ever did," he replied, still not raising his gaze.
	"No arguments outta me... " the redhead quipped, frowning.
        "Christine...  I want to tell you...  That I'm sorry.  I
was a idiot.  I did some unbelievably horrid things to you, and all
because...  I was a coward," he began, then fell silent, his eyes
still lowered.
	Miyoko blinked as she noticed Yoriko's grip loosen on her
arm after a few moments, then fall away completely.  Wordlessly,
Yoriko stepped around her and walked up to Eric, standing before
him silently.  Just as he noticed and started to raise his face
slightly, she wound up and absolutely smashed him one across the
face, nearly knocking him from his feet.
	Miyoko winced at the impact, then smiled proudly.  The
girl was learning.
	As Eric staggered from the strike, Yoriko collapsed to her
knees and broke down in tears, the emotion of the moment
overwhelming her already stressed composure.  Miyoko moved to her
quickly, wrapping an arm over her shoulders gently.
	Eric looked down on the scene in shock, his hand covering
the reddening handprint on his face.  Miyoko looked back up at him
darkly, then smirked.  "Don't tell me you're surprised...  Shit, I
figure you got off lucky," she remarked, returning her attention
to Yoriko.  "C'mon, Yori-chan...  It's time to go home," she urged
gently, rising to help the still-sobbing girl to her feet.
	"H-Hai..." she sniffed, clinging to Miyoko's side once
more.  Even so, she still managed to shoot Eric a glare.
        "Ahh...  Let me get you a car..." he stammered, but Miyoko
silenced him with a look.  "Save it.  I think she's had quite
enough from you," she growled, levelly.
        "I...  Understand," he acquiesced sadly, then turned to let
them by.  As Miyoko passed in front of him, she deftly removed a
business card from his pocket, hoping he didn't notice.
	As he watched them make their way to the elevator, he
sighed sadly and rubbed his face, realizing he had indeed 'gotten
off lucky'.  But exactly how lucky was a matter of conjecture.
His daughter had still walked out, and shot him a dirty look on
top of it.
	Back in his office, he walked to his desk slowly, then
sat behind it and turned his computer off.  All he could think
about was a sentence spoken by Miyoko in the heat of their
'discussions':  "Then why didn't you put a stop to this sooner?
You know, she still loves you...  Even though you shit all over her.
Far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve her...  You never did."
	He huffed disgustedly.  As much as he hated to admit it,
she had been right.  He didn't deserve her, especially if she did
still love him.  Glancing at the file folder up on the corner of
his desk, he grabbed it and pulled it toward him, wincing from the
pain the movement caused his shoulder.
	Flipping the file open to the first page, he lifted out
and held up the picture he had looked at a few days earlier,
staring at the brightly smiling blonde-haired girl, noting again
how much she looked like her mother.
	Face abruptly darkening, he reached into his pocket,
flipped open his cell phone and frowned as it dialed.
        "It's me.  Scrub everything.  You heard me...  Everything.
All of the surveillance, all activity concerned.  Hai.  Immediately.
And I want you to bring me all the data that's been collected...
Every bit of it.  Now would be a good time.  Fine...  Bring me what
you have, and get the rest to me by tomorrow, five p.m.  See you in
fifteen, in my office," he stated tiredly, and closed the phone.
	Turning his attention back to the picture, he looked at it
for a few more minutes, noticing again the affection present
between the two women in it.  Sighing heavily, he made up his mind
and started up his computer.  He needed to make a few changes to
his schedule.



==========================================================
END - Secrets V2P3                     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume Two Part Four
----------------------------------------------------------------


	Miyoko hugged her pillow snugly and moaned softly as she
settled in, looking forward to her first good night's sleep in a
few days.  Yoriko lay beside her, already nestled snugly against
her back and apparently asleep.
	It had been a rough couple of days, particularly for
Yoriko.  Her experiences had left her so shaken she had actually
missed work, something unprecedented in all the time Miyoko had
known her.  In fact, the entire situation seemed, for a time, to
have thrown her back to almost the same frightened, defeated state
she had been in when Miyoko first met her.
	Worried for her, Miyoko had also booked off a couple of
days, staying by her girlfriend's side to help her cope with her
shock.  Now, however, Yoriko finally seemed to be shaking it off
and getting back to her new self again, despite the fact that they
hadn't really discussed any of what had transpired.
	Yawning, Miyoko could feel herself starting to drift out,
at least until Yoriko moved her arm up and placed a hand on her
shoulder.
	"Miyoko-chan...?" she asked, quietly.
        "Haaaaiii....?" Miyoko replied, sleepily.
	"Why did my father want to talk to you?" she asked, her
tone indicating that the question had apparently been bothering
her.
	Miyoko rolled on her back before answering, which prompted
Yoriko to settle her head on the redhead's shoulder, her forehead
just at Miyoko's jawline.
        "Ano...  He had some baka idea," she responded, stretching
as much as she could without moving Yoriko.  "He knows all about my
curse, and figured since I could turn into a man, you'd be willing
to have a baby with me.  Figured it'd get him an heir," she
explained sarcastically, wrapping an arm around Yoriko's shoulders.
        Yoriko gasped quietly, trying to conceal it.  "He...  Really
said that?" she responded, unable to hide the shock in her voice.
        "Hai...  Can you believe it?  I was so blown away I had to
fight to keep from letting him know *exactly* what I thought of
it," she grumbled, dourly.
        "Ahh...  What...  Did you say?" Yoriko prodded, nervously.
	"Not as much as I should have, by any means, but I let him
know that I didn't think you'd even consider it.  And I told him
I'd never ask it of you.  Has a lot of damned nerve, I figure,"
she stated, frowning.  "Trying to get you to save his butt after
what he did to you," she added, yawning again.
        "Hai..." Yoriko replied, her voice again fading.
        "Ano...  You okay, Yori-chan?" Miyoko abruptly asked,
noticing her reaction.
	"Hai.  I'm fine.  I was just wondering, that's all," she
deflected casually, nestling in and resting her hand on Miyoko's
breast.
        "Okay...  As long as you're sure," she replied warily,
getting the annoying feeling that she wasn't.
	After waiting a few seconds to see if anything more was
forthcoming, she found she couldn't resist her body's rather
insistent demands for sleep, and yawned yet again.  "You're sure
you're okay...?" she asked again, looking over at the snuggled
blonde head on her shoulder.
        "Hai...  No problem," she grinned, looking in fact better
than she had sounded a few minutes ago.  "Okay then.  Oyasumi,
Yori-chan...  Suki da yo," Miyoko smiled, kissing the girl's
forehead.  Within a few moments, she was snoozing away contentedly.
	Yoriko, meantime, slowly opened her eyes and sighed,
knowing she wouldn't be getting much sleep this night.




        "Not you, too...?" Akane groaned, shaking her head at the
surprised Amazon.
        "Not me what?" Shampoo blinked, unsure of what Akane was
upset about.
	"Trying to get me to call 'Miyoko'.  Nodoka and Kasumi
have been on me steady about that, and if you're planning on doing
the same, then there's the door," she replied, her face darkening.
	"Iya!  I only hadn't heard what happened since you came
back from Kyoto...  I wanted to know if you fixed it up..." Shampoo
protested, shaking her purple mane vigorously.
	Akane studied her large eyes for a moment, then sighed and
dropped her shoulders.  "Gomen, Shampoo...  I've been under a lot
of stress lately," she muttered, rising from the table and starting
to pace around.
        "That's okay...  So how did it go?" the Amazon pressed, her
curiosity getting to her even more in view of Akane's reaction.
        "It didn't.  He doesn't want to be Kei's father...  He wants
to be 'Auntie Miyoko' instead.  And I don't want his fluffy little
hentai 'girlfriend' anywhere near my son," Akane grumbled, her face
darkening.  "I just packed Kei up and got the hell out of there...
I'd heard enough," she added, shooting Shampoo a look.
        "Aiyah...  That seems strange.  He loves children," Shampoo
blinked, cocking her head as she considered the situation.  "There
must have been a reason..."
        "Yeah...  He had lots of reasons, but I think it was just
to keep from...  Kuso...!  Just a minute..." she snapped, heading
over to where she had left the now ringing cordless.
        "Yes, this is Tendou Akane...  Chikusho!!  What happened?!?!
Which one?!?  Maaa...  I'll be right there!" she suddenly shrieked,
hanging up the phone and tossing it at the stunned Amazon as she
raced out the side door.
	"What happened??" Shampoo called, having started after her.
She stopped as she saw Akane reappear from the Dojo, walking her
motorcycle.
        "Kei's in the hospital...  He had some kind of seizure at
School!"  Akane yelled back as she wedged on her helmet.  "Close
up for me!" she added quickly, firing up the bike and patching the
rear end around.  "Call Nodoka...  Tell her I'll call when I find
out how he is!" she indicated, then vanished in a cloud of blue
smoke.
	Shampoo jacked her jaw back into place and dashed back
into the house, instantly calling Nodoka to fill her in.  Just as
she was about to leave, she stopped in her tracks and looked over
at the phone again.  Nodding sharply, she kicked her shoes off
and went back over to it.  Dialing the operator, she cleared her
throat.
	"May I please have the number for the 'Happy Spatula' in
Kyoto?  Yes, I'll hold."
	



        "Masaka..." Ukyou gasped as she slowly hung up the phone.
	"What...?" Ryouga prodded, noticing her face draining.
        "Something happened to Ra - Miyoko's son...  He took some
kind of seizure in school, and was rushed to the hospital..." she
responded, worriedly.  "That was Shampoo...  She wanted to make
sure Miyoko knew," she added, looking back at Ryouga searchingly.
	He frowned back at her.  "What was the name of that School
she teaches at?" he responded, picking up the phone book.




	Miyoko lowered an eyebrow at Atsuko, who was waving
frantically at her through the glass of the classroom door.  She
was midway through a demonstration of the form she was about to
teach, and didn't appreciate the interruption.
	Ignoring the highly animated girl, she forced her
concentration back into the form, only to have Atsuko finally come
right in the room after her.
	Miyoko heard her come in and stopped in mid-form, holding
the pose as she glared at the nervous girl.  "This had better be
important, Atsuko-chan..." she indicated ominously, reminding
Atsuko that disturbing an instructor in mid-class was nigh-on
unforgivable.
        "Hai, Miyoko-Sensei...  It is.  It concerns your family,"
the girl blurted, quickly.
        Miyoko erked.  "My...  Family?" she gasped, slowly settling
back to both feet.
	"Hai, hai!  They said it was urgent!" she added, nodding
emphatically.
        "Masaka...  Class, fifteenth kata.  Begin," she ordered,
as the class groaned at the 53 forms in it.
        "Takara Miyoko desu...  Ryouga!?!?  What the hell...?
Sonova...!  Is he...?  Kuso.  Okay...  Okay...  Thanks, buddy...
Ja," she gasped, hanging up the phone slowly.
        "Is...  Everything okay, Miyoko-Sensei?" Atsuko finally
asked, after waiting a few seconds for Miyoko to say something.
        "Ano...  Iya.  I have to go...  Atsuko-chan, I need you to
make a phone call for me, and then tell my class to finish their
kata and go home.  There's been an emergency, and I have to leave
for a while," she explained, numbly.
        "Ano...  Hai, Miyoko-Sensei.  How long will you be
gone...?" the wide-eyed girl asked as she reached for her phone.
        "I...  Don't know," she replied, worriedly.
	Striding back into the outer office after showering and
changing, Miyoko actually startled Atsuko, who was just getting
off the phone.  "Did you get hold of Yoriko?"  she asked, checking
to see that she got her skirt on the right way around.
        "Hai, Miyoko-Sensei...  She said she'd be right here,"
the gasping girl replied, waving a hand before her face.
	"Nani?  How would she...?" she began, but was interrupted
by the arrival of a taxi right outside the School, which dropped
off a very worried looking Yoriko.  The girl headed straight in
the door, her face immediately brightening as soon as she saw
Miyoko.
        "Miyoko-chan...  What happened?  What did they tell you?"
she blurted, breathlessly.
        "Ano...  Not much...  I just know he had some kind of
seizure, and he's in the hospital in Nerima.  The school called
Akane, and Shampoo relayed the message," she responded quickly,
then regarded Yoriko questioningly.  "Why did you come...?  I only
asked Atsuko to tell you I had to go...  I didn't expect you to
leave work, especially after already booking a couple days..."
she finally asked, regarding her questioningly.
        "I wanted to go with you...  To be there for you," she
responded quietly, touching her arm gently.
	Miyoko looked back at her for a second, then smiled.  "Baka
ne...  Arigato," she quipped, winking.  "Well, that only leaves
one problem...  How do we get there?  The train takes forever, and
we don't have a car..." she mused, frowning.
	Yoriko went silent for a moment, then looked at Miyoko
nervously.  "Ano...  Let's go home and pack, Miyoko-chan...  Just
in case we have to spend a few days there..." she put forward,
looking at Miyoko proddingly.
	Miyoko looked back at her questioningly, then caught the
hint.  "Hai...  Might as well.  I'll let you know what's happening
as soon as I can, Atsuko-chan..." she redirected, flashing the
girl a thin smile.
        "Good luck...  I hope everything is okay..." Atsuko
responded, waving as the girls stepped out the door.
	"What have you got in mind, Yori-chan?" Miyoko immediately
asked, as they tried to flag down a taxi.
        "I was thinking...  There's someone who owes me something,"
she replied, quietly.
	"I hope you don't mean... " Miyoko almost gasped, blinking. 
        "Hai.  I could...  Call him," she suggested, almost
cringing.
	Miyoko remained speechless for a moment, then sighed
resignedly.  "Kuso.  Well...  It's up to you, Yori-chan...  I'd
sooner walk, but we ain't got that kinda time," she grumbled,
shaking her head.  "I'm surprised you'd even suggest that..." she
added, looking back at Yoriko questioningly again.
	Yoriko lowered her head for a moment, then stepped up close
to Miyoko and held her arm.  "I'd do anything to make sure you were
there for your son..." she stated, flashing a small smile and
squeezing Miyoko's arm.
	Miyoko could only smile appreciatively.  "You never cease
to amaze me, Yori-chan...  Are you really sure about this, though?
He could think you've forgiven him because of it..." she noted, her
smile fading.
        Yoriko only shook her head.  "Iya...  I'll make sure he
knows better," she countered, solemnly.
	After they had arrived home, Yoriko took the cordless and
called a number she knew off by heart, and told Miyoko to go and
pack.  Miyoko agreed, but left the bedroom door open a crack anyway.
        "Ano...  Hello, Father," Yoriko began, her eyes downcast.
"No...  I'm not calling about that.  I...  Will, but not right now.
Hai...  I know.  I miss her too..." she continued, her voice
cracking slightly.  Miyoko, listening at the door, had to swallow
the lump in her throat.
        "Father...  I must...  Put that aside," she continued,
sniffing and steadying herself.  "I am calling you...  Only because
Miyoko-chan has a family emergency.  Hai.  In Nerima Ward.  Her
son was rushed to hospital with some kind of seizures.  We have
no way to get there, and Miyoko-chan is very worried about him,"
she indicated, forcing her voice calm.  "I wanted to...  To...  Ask
for a car to take her there.  Hai...  I know my license is gone, but
I don't care...  This is too urgent," she responded, her face
darkening slightly.  She listened quietly for several seconds,
then brightened slightly.  "Arigato...  For helping Miyoko-chan.
A little bit...  Ja," she concluded, then sighed, wiped her eyes
and slumped onto the couch.  "Miy-o-ko-chan...  I did it...!" she
called out, her voice far from happy.
        "Ano...  Did he give you any hassle...?  Make you promise
anything?" she asked, noting Yori's drained face.
        "Iya...  He tried though...  Wanted me to meet him
somewhere for a 'talk'," she frowned, sadly.  "I'm...  Not ready for
that yet, Miyoko-chan," she added, quietly.
	Miyoko walked up and kneeled in front of her, then took the
girl's hands in hers.  "Yori-chan...  I don't want you to do this if
you're uncomfortable with it...  We can find another way," she
offered earnestly, feeling bad about not just having vetoed the
idea earlier.
        Yoriko just shook her head.  "It's okay...  You're worth
it," she smiled, running her fingers through Miyoko's hair.
	"Domo arigato, Yori-chan..." Miyoko bowed, reverently.  "I
can't tell you how much I appreciate this...  And I'll make it up
to you; somehow," she promised, adamantly.
        "Iya, Miyoko-chan...  I'm still trying to repay you," she
responded, shaking her head.




	Within fifteen minutes, a black Mercedes limo had picked the
girls up, and was on its way to White Consolidated Industries.
Miyoko looked over at Yoriko, who sat quietly on the sumptuous seat
with her hands meshed in her lap, quietly gazing out at the street.
	"Yori-chan...?  Why are we going to the office?" she
finally asked, wondering why they weren't just heading for the
highway.
        "Ano...  He said to leave it up to him, and he'd get us
something that would get us there quick..." she replied, quietly.
	A few minutes and a long elevator ride later, Miyoko gasped
as the elevator doors parted to reveal a 10 passenger Bell JetRanger
helicopter warming up on the rooftop helipad.
        "Chikusho...!  He wasn't kidding, was he?!?" she yelled
above the noise as the ground crew ushered them toward the chopper.
Once they were belted in and their gear stowed, the chopper wasted
no time in taking off, sweeping a fast arc out over the city and
heading directly for Nerima Ward.
        "Masaka...  You had no idea about this, Yori-chan?"  Miyoko
gasped, flabbergasted at the entire affair.
	"I didn't.  I actually asked for the use of a car to drive
there...  This was all his idea," she replied, somewhat overwhelmed
herself.
        "Kuso...  He doesn't do things half-way, does he?  Well, at
least we can take the train home after..." she noted, only to be
greeted by Yoriko shaking her head.
        "Iya...  This will come back for us.  The ground crew said
it's already arranged," she replied, sheepishly.
	Miyoko frowned as she nodded, hoping their good fortune
wouldn't end up coming back to haunt them.




	Their arrival in Nerima was to say the least, a spectacle.
The Pilots located the correct hospital and guided the big bird
onto the facility's backyard helipad, the massive craft taking up
virtually all of the available space.
	It seemed as if every person that heard or saw the approach
had crowded around the pad, wondering what all the fuss was about.
Miyoko didn't stop to explain as she and Yoriko dashed into the
building, too worried about her son to even think about it.
	Once inside, Miyoko guided Yoriko through the maze of halls
expertly, soon coming to the main floor desk.
        "Tendou Kei...  Where is he right now?" she asked the duty
nurse, urgency strong through her voice.
        "Ara...  He is in room 1223, first floor, to your..." she
began, but Miyoko cut her off.
	"Got it!" she smirked, then lit off down the hallway,
dragging the bewildered Yoriko behind.
        "Miyoko-chan...? How do you know this place so well?  Did
you work here?" she asked breathlessly, trying to keep up to her
girlfriend.
        "Iya...  I used to spend a lot of time in here...
Recovering, mostly," she shot back, making a face.  A few seconds
later, they arrived outside the indicated room.  Miyoko stopped,
straightened her blouse, then turned to Yoriko with concern on her
face.  "Yori-chan...  If she's in there... " she began, but Yoriko
just shook her head and touched Miyoko's lips to close them.
        "I know...  I'm ready for it," she assured, tipping her
head toward the door.  "Get in there," she smirked, flashing a smile.
	Taking a deep breath, Miyoko pushed open the door.  Akane's
reaction was predictable.
	"You!?  What the hell are you doing here?!?" she snarled,
glaring at the frowning redhead.  Before Miyoko could even think of
answering however, Akane suddenly exploded.  "NO!!  Get *her* the
hell out of here!!" she screamed, angrily.
        "Hey!  She's with me, and I'm stayin'!!" Miyoko growled,
taking a stance.
        "Iya, iya...!" Yoriko interjected, waving her hands
frantically.  "I'll leave...  I...  Should arrange for a room..."
she offered, then quickly bowed.  "Gomen...  I didn't mean to upset
you..." she apologized quickly, turning and ducking out the door.
	Despite her efforts to cover it, Miyoko could see how upset
the outburst had made Yoriko, and turned around to glare at Akane
menacingly.  "Don't you *ever* do that again... " she snarled, her
eyes and tone leaving no room for doubt.
	"Then just keep that fluffy little hentai away from me, and
I won't have to," she snarled back, noting with a slight
satisfaction how rage flashed through Miyoko's sapphire blues.
	Out in the hall, Yoriko managed about three steps from the
door before slumping against the wall, burying her face in her hands
and breaking out in tears.
	Back in the room, Miyoko valiantly resisted the building
urge to wipe the smug smirk off of Akane's face, and stepped around
her to check on her son.  He was sleeping peacefully, and looked
absolutely none the worse for the wear.  No casts, no bandages, no
IV, and no electronics.  She couldn't see anything that would
indicate as severe a problem as she had thought there was.
	Akane noticed her consternation, and huffed indignantly.
"He took some kind of seizure in class today...  Scared the hell
out of his teacher and the Principal.  But, by the time they got
him here, he was right back to normal.  Absolutely nothing wrong,"
she explained, shaking her head.
        "What did the Doc say...?" Miyoko countered, glancing back
at her.
        "He doesn't know yet...  That's why we're still here.  He
wants to run tests, since they didn't see any of the seizure," she
noted, turning and walking away from the bed.  "Scared the hell out
of me when they called...  And that reminds me; how did you find
out?" she abruptly asked, turning to face Miyoko questioningly.
        "I got a call at work...  Evidently someone thinks I should
be told about things like this," she shot back, glad to get a jibe
in.
	Akane opened her mouth to respond in kind, but they were
disturbed by the sudden arrival of the Doctor.  He glanced at the
two of them in turn, then walked up to Akane and cleared his throat.
	"We are still not sure what caused his episode, Miss
Tendou...  We have a few theories, but we can't be specific until
we can do some other tests," he indicated, clinically.
        "Can you...  At least tell me your theories?" she responded,
nervously.
	The Doctor sighed.  "We suspect Epilepsy.  Based on your
description of his prior behaviors, and the description of his
episode at school, it would seem the most logical conclusion.
Unfortunately, we have nothing more to go on as of yet.  Once the
remaining tests are completed, we will know more," he stated,
frowning slightly.
	"Masaka..." the two women responded in stereo, both of
their faces draining.  The Doctor noticed Miyoko's reaction, and
looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.
        "Are you a relative?" he asked, regarding her
questioningly.
        "Hai...  I'm his...  Aunt Miyoko.  He's my brother's son,"
she recovered quickly, bowing.
        "I see...  That explains the resemblance.  Well, we won't
know more until tomorrow, so you may as well go home.  Miss Tendou,
I can arrange a cot if you'd like," he indicated, turning back
toward Akane.
	"Thank you, Doctor.  I would like that very much," she
responded, shooting a smug glance at Miyoko as she bowed politely.
        "Done, then.  He should awaken shortly...  The medications
were only short term.  If you need anything, please contact my
office," he smiled, then bowed and left the room.
        "Kuso...  Epilepsy..." Miyoko choked, momentarily losing
her composure.  Looking over at the child's reposing form, she
fought back sudden tears that grew out of the knot forming in her
gut.  "Poor kid...  Must be from *your* side of the family," she
recovered, stepping toward Kei's bed quietly, then leaning her arms
on the siderail and looking down at him remorsefully.
        "Shut up, Ranma...  Until I hear it from the doctor
officially, I'm not accepting that.  Even if it is, they can
control it now...  Right?"  Akane retorted, her voice becoming a
bit nervous despite her bluster.
        Miyoko puffed out an exasperated breath.  "Hai...  Depends
on how bad.  What kind of seizure did he take?  And the name's
Miyoko, by the way..." she responded, looking up at Akane as she
fixed the sleeping child's hair.
        "Nani?  What *kind*?!?  How the hell should I know?" she
snapped, defensively.
	Miyoko only shot her a glare.  "You better learn.
Epileptics have two main kinds...  'Grand Mal' and 'Petit Mal'.
The first one is the really violent kind...  Thrashing, kicking,
shuddering...  They can even swallow their tongues if you're not
ready for it.  The other is sorta like a trance they go into...
They 'blank out' for a few seconds, even into minutes.  They
sometimes feel like they're vibrating, too..." she indicated
seriously, as Akane's jaw dropped.
	"He's done both, then..." she gasped, stunned at the
descriptions.  "Ano...  How would you know, anyway?" she added,
blinking.
        "I met someone who had it while I was on the road...  He
used to take 'Grand Mals' when he got off his medications.
Damned gruesome sight..." she explained, shuddering at the memory.
"Scared the crap out of me when it happened the first time..."
	Akane had heard enough.  Stepping back, she sank into a
chair and shook her head.  "Kei-chan..." she breathed, her eyes
starting to tear up.
	Just at that moment, the door opened slowly to admit
Nodoka, who promptly gasped as she spotted Miyoko.  "Ano...
Miyoko-chan?" she asked, taking a second look.
	"Hai, okaasan.  I got a call telling me about this, and
came as fast as I could.  Did you see Yoriko in the hallway?"
she bowed quickly, wanting to get out of the room before the
waterworks started...  And before she felt any worse.
        "Iya, Miyoko-chan...  She wasn't there.  I just came in...
Perhaps I missed her," she responded, smiling.
        "Okay...  I'll go look for her.  I think Akane needs
someone to talk to...  Other than me," she winked, stepping toward
the door.
        "Hai...  It's nice to see you...  I hope we can talk before
you have to go home..." Nodoka suggested, reaching over and
touching the redhead's shoulder.
        "Hai...  I'd like that," she smiled quickly, then bowed
and took her leave.
	She managed to catch up to Yoriko in the waiting room,
where she found her standing before the windows, arms crossed and
staring at nothing.  She could tell, even from across the room,
that she was still shaken.  Quietly, she walked up behind her and
snaked her arms around her waist, nestling into her affectionately.
        "Ah...!  Miyoko-chan...!" Yoriko gasped, then relaxed
into the embrace.
        "Gomen nasai, Yori-chan...  I didn't expect her to go off
like that.  Are you okay...?" she asked softly, kissing her
cheek from behind.
        "Hai...  I'm okay...  She just...  Startled me.  How's your
son?"
        "He's sedated...  And...  They think he's an Epileptic,"
she responded, sadly.  "He's fine now...  The seizure passed and
he came right back," she added, the relief in her voice unable
to hide how worried and scared she actually was.
        "Oh, Miyoko-chan...  I'm so sorry...  He doesn't deserve
that..." Yoriko gasped, turning in Miyoko's arms and hugging
her back.  "That's awful for him..."
        "Hai...  It sure as hell is.  I just hope that if he is,
they can control it.  I knew a guy once that was, and he was so
bad he couldn't ride a bike," she noted, her voice so quiet it was
barely above a whisper.  Yoriko swore she heard a waver in it, but
didn't mention it, only hugging the redhead a bit tighter.
	They remained in their embrace for several minutes,
neither saying a word.  Finally, Miyoko turned her head, looked
deep into Yoriko's eyes and smiled.  "Thank you...  For being
here," she whispered, leaning forward and kissing her lovingly.




	The next morning, Miyoko and Yoriko sat next to each other
in the waiting room, anxiously awaiting the results of the testing.
Miyoko had finally spoken to Kei when she first arrived, and was
pleased to find him in great spirits and chattering away as if
nothing was wrong.
	He remembered her from their brief few minutes in the
restaurant, and immediately started interrogating her about his
father.  She deflected the issue as best she could, but when she
glanced at Akane, her glare indicated her thoughts on the
matter -- and the fact that she'd be hearing about them before
long.
	Akane had also seen Yoriko again, but this time all that
was exchanged was a withering glare.  Miyoko had made sure she was
on hand, ensuring that her feelings were also made known.  Later,
Yoriko, feeling extremely guilty about the tension being created
in what was a serious family matter, actually asked Miyoko if she
should either stay in the hotel room, or even go back home to keep
things peaceful.
	Miyoko would have none of it.  She was adamant that Yoriko
remain at her side, indicating she wasn't about to let Akane run
her life.  Her response lifted Yoriko's spirits, but didn't make
her feel any better about the entire affair.
	Nodoka stayed with Akane, also sensing the tension and
trying her best to keep Akane from any further outbursts.
	After what felt like an eternity, the Doctor walked in
and asked for all members of the family to meet in the waiting
room.  Miyoko had a feeling she knew what was coming, and so did
Akane.
	"Our tests have determined that it is indeed Epilepsy, but
that is about all we can conclude.  More determination will be
needed to ascertain a course of action, and we simply do not have
the expertise or the proper equipment.  I'm going to have to
recommend that he be sent to a better facility, after which we can
continue to monitor him," he stated, as gently as possible.
	The responses were predictable.  Akane started to cry,
Miyoko went silent, and Nodoka was shocked.  Yoriko, seeing the
look on Miyoko's face, immediately moved closer to her and tried
to comfort her, while Akane turned to Nodoka.
	As the Doctor looked on sadly, he was about to mention that
he was open for questions when he was paged to the front desk.  As
he took his leave, Nodoka and Akane went back to Kei's room, while
Miyoko sank back into the couch in the waiting room, Yoriko still
at her side.
        "Yori-chan...  I've cursed my son!!" she abruptly cried out,
then buried her face in Yoriko's shoulder and broke down crying.
        "Iya, Miyoko-chan...  Don't say that!  It's nothing you
did... " Yoriko protested, her heart sinking at her girlfriend's
words.  Miyoko however, wasn't listening.
        "I did...  I'm cursed...  I'm...  Flawed somehow...  And
now...  And now I've passed it on to him...!" she sobbed, unable
to stop her tears.  Yoriko, fearing she was watching Miyoko crack,
did the only thing she could think of.
        "Miyoko-chan...  Look at me..." she commanded, lifting the
redhead away from her.  When Miyoko raised her tear-soaked eyes,
Yoriko hauled off and slapped her right across the face.  "NO!!
You are *NOT* flawed!!  You had *nothing* to do with what happened
to him!!" she yelled, glaring at her girlfriend so intensely that
she started to cry.  "I *won't* have you blaming yourself!!" she
added, her sea-green eyes flashing.  "You...  Are the most
wonderful, selfless, loving person I know...  I won't let you
destroy yourself over guilt...!" she started to sob, grabbing
Miyoko's hands and squeezing them tightly.
	Miyoko stopped crying instantly, the stinging impact
snapping her back to reality.  As she took in Yoriko's words, she
looked at her sobbing girlfriend for several moments...  Then
sniffed and wiped her eyes.
        "Thanks, Yori-chan...  I guess...  I needed that," she
finally remarked quietly, lowering her face.  "Gomen...  I didn't
mean to lose it like that..." she sniffed again, raising her
reddened eyes briefly.
	"Why, Miyoko-chan...?  Why would you blame yourself for
this...?" Yoriko blurted, still somewhat worked up.
        "Ano...  I...  I've always worried...  That if I had
children, they'd be affected by this damned curse somehow.  When
they suggested Epilepsy; it added up.  My screwed-up physiology
screwed *his* up..." she breathed, painfully.
        "No...  That's not true...  Your curse has nothing to do
with it...  I'd bet my life on it...!" Yoriko urged, her eyes
locking into Miyoko's.  "You'll see...  Wait till those other
Doctors see him...  They'll tell you that...!" she added
insistently, her tone edging on panic.
	Miyoko went to respond, but when she saw the worried,
frightened look in Yoriko's eyes, she clamped her mouth shut and
lowered her eyes.  A second later, she raised them again, a smirk
splashed across her visage.  "How am I supposed to feel sorry for
myself if you keep looking at me like that?" she asked, bluntly.
	Yoriko blinked for a few seconds, then sniffed and dove
into her arms, hugging her as tightly as she could.  Miyoko
sniffed again, returning the hug gratefully.  "Yori-chan...  I
don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come...  I swear
you must be psychic," she breathed, appreciatively.
        "Iya...  Not psychic...  Just in love," Yoriko replied,
tightening her hug.
	The two stayed in their embrace until their tears dried,
Miyoko more than a little embarrassed about her wellspring eyes.
As she dug the last tissue out of her purse, she dabbed her face
and looked over at Yoriko thoughtfully.
	Yoriko noticed almost immediately, and worried that
something was still bothering her.
        "Ano...  What is it, Miyoko-chan?" she asked, taking
Miyoko's hand.
        "Yori-chan...  Something just occurred to me.  Remember
when we were in the Happy Spatula...  And I caught Akane's mallet?"
she asked, looking into her eyes.  Yoriko nodded, although she
had no clue where Miyoko was heading.  "Good.  And do you remember
me telling you why I could?"  Again, Yoriko nodded, her confusion
deepening.
        Miyoko smiled.  "Yori-chan...  *Nobody* hits me if I don't
let them...  Yet you just did.  Why do you think that happened...?"
she asked, her face softening.
	Yoriko was about to ask when Miyoko's point suddenly jumped
up and bit her.  "You mean...  Because you love me...?" she asked,
breaking out in a bright smile.
        "Hai...  But not just *because*...  I think it also
shows -- how much," Miyoko breathed, reaching out and touching
Yoriko's face gently.  "Only one thing bothers me..." she noted,
moving her jaw around exploratively.  "Did you have to hit me so
hard...?" she asked, smirking.




	A short while later, Miyoko decided to go see Kei, still
very worried about how he was faring.
	Yoriko opted to wait where she was, and was the only one in
the waiting room when the Doctor returned, a strange look on his
face.  She redirected him to Kei's room, then sat chewing her lip,
wondering what was going on.
	Akane and Nodoka were still hugging each other when Miyoko
entered the room, while Kei was watching them nervously from his
bed.  Miyoko nodded to the adults as she passed, but headed
straight for her son's bed.
        "How ya doin', Kei-chan?" she asked brightly, noting the
smile that crossed the youngster's face.
        "I'm okay...  What's wrong with Mom?" he asked, his large
eyes full of concern.
	Just as Miyoko was going to try to answer him, the Doctor
walked through the door, the strange look still on his face.  He
wasted no time in getting to the point.
	"I was just on the phone with the Hospital Administrator.
It seems that through some series of fortuitous occurrences, Japan's
foremost specialist in Epilepsy is on his way here...  To see your
son.  His arrival is confirmed for 4:00pm this afternoon.  He's
being backed up by a portable diagnostic facility, which is also
enroute.  I can't tell you how good this is...  Your son is in the
best possible hands,"  he announced, proudly.  "I just wish I
knew how it happened," he added, scratching his head as he turned
to leave.
	Akane, Nodoka and Miyoko all looked at each other in
surprise, until Akane's eyes narrowed.  "This is *your* doing...
First, I hear you were the one in that helicopter, then the best
Doctor in the country just *happens* to come to see *your* son?
What the hell are you doing...?  Trying to prove me unfit now?!?"
she abruptly snarled, getting to her feet and clenching her fists.
        Miyoko was stunned.  "Get a grip, Baka...  I don't know
anything about this..." she protested, but Akane was implacable.
        "Bullshit!!  I'm warning you, if you try *anything* like
that, so help me, I'll take you out!!" she shouted, glancing at
Kei as she chose her words.
        Miyoko threw her hands in the air.  "Masaka...  Let me know
when you're back on Earth, Akane...  Maybe then you'll see how much
of an idiot you're being," she snapped, turning back toward Kei
and smiling at him.  "Seeya, buddy...  I have to go...  Let me know
how things go, ne?" she winked, then leaned over and kissed his
forehead.  "Ja Ne!" she smiled again, then turned and walked for
the door.
        Nodoka was now on her feet and calming Akane, which spared
Miyoko the parting shot she had been anticipating.
	Nodding to Nodoka and rolling her eyes at Akane, she
slipped out the door and promptly scowled angrily.  Contrary to
what she had just said, she had a pretty good idea why the
Specialist was coming, and wasn't sure she liked it.
	Rounding the corner to enter the waiting room, she was
greeted by Yoriko racing into her arms, a concerned look on her
face.
	"Miyoko-chan!  What is it...?  Did the Doctor say
something bad?" she fretted, clutching at Miyoko's blouse.
        "Ano...  Iya.  He said that the best Specialist in Japan is
coming to see my son...  Only *he* didn't refer Kei to anyone.  It
came to him as a surprise..." she noted, eyeing Yoriko suspiciously.
        Yoriko gasped.  "Ano...  I didn't...  I swear it!!" she
panicked, stepping back and waving her arms.  Miyoko studied her
eyes for a moment, then sighed.
        "Damn...  I was hoping it was your idea...  Cause if it
wasn't..." she trailed off, shaking her head.
        "Oh no...  You think my father did it on his own?" she
gasped, her eyes widening.
	"Hai.  The only thing that bothers me is his motive..."
Miyoko replied, her face darkening.
	"His motive?"
        "Hai...  Either he feels guilty, or he wants me to *owe*
him...  And if it turns out that he did send this Doctor, and his
motive *is* to make me to owe him one...  Well, let's just say that
what I owe him won't be pleasant," she glowered, darkly.



==========================================================
END - Secrets V2P4                     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>


For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.



Secrets: Volume Two Part Five
-----------------------------------------------------------------



	The Specialist stood in the middle of the room, his face
suitably clinical as he flipped through his papers.  He glanced
up as Akane finally arrived, then watched with a raised eyebrow
as she quickly sat beside Nodoka.
        "My findings are fairly straightforward...  Miss Tendou,
your son suffers from Grand Mal Epilepsy.  Our results from the
electroencephalogram, combined with both your and the EMT's
descriptions of his seizure activity have confirmed it," he began,
consulting his notes once more.  "We have consulted with your
Family Physician, who has some experience in following such cases,
and prescribed a course of Phenacemide for your son.  That is a
drug which he must continue to take, *as prescribed*, without fail.
It will help control his seizures, if not prevent them entirely,
but he *must* stay on it for it to be effective.  You will have to
attend some counseling sessions to learn the proper interventions
for him as well," he concluded, raising his gaze to her shocked
face.
        "Ano... 'Interventions'...?  What does that mean?" she
responded, nervously.
	"It describes what you, as his caregiver, must do in case
he has a seizure.  He could very easily injure himself, or worse,
if he is not properly handled during an episode.  This applies to
anyone in whose care you leave him as well," he replied, casting
a gaze around the room.
        "Doctor...  Why...  Is this happening?  What caused it?"
Miyoko abruptly asked, actually still somewhat fearful of the
answer.
        "We're not entirely certain...  We, as a medical community,
believe it results from a chemical imbalance in the brain, and may
or may not be triggered by some kind of outside stimulus," he
responded, lowering his glasses and peering over the top of them.
        "What does that mean...?" Akane shuddered, becoming even
more fearful.
	The Doctor tried smiling assuredly.  "Do you recall the
recent case of several hundred children having seizures while
watching a show on television?  That was a classic case of an
'outside stimulus'.  The majority of them were not even truly
Epileptic, but the show triggered a seizure anyway, since they
had just the 'right' type of chemical makeup in their brains.
They may never have another in their lives, unless the conditions
are right.  Your son, however, is Epileptic, and subject to
seizures set off by anything from loud sounds to emotional
distress...  He could even have an episode completely at random,
which is what makes him different," he explained, keeping his
voice gentle.
	"Masaka..." Akane gasped, her face whitening as she slumped
into a chair.  "My poor baby..." she breathed, sniffing.
        "There's no need to assume the worst, Miss Tendou...  If
your son is kept on his medications, and all those around him know
how to handle a seizure, he can live a perfectly normal life...
Which includes driving.  It's far from debilitating if handled
correctly," he smiled, walking up to her and placing a hand on
her shoulder.  "We have a few more readings to take, but we should
be finished in about an hour or so...  Then we will want to see
everyone who will require it for training," he turned and
announced, then bowed politely.  "We will page you over the
hospital system," he added, then took his leave.
	Miyoko sighed sadly as he departed, then cast a curious
glance at Akane.  She looked completely overwhelmed and shocked,
and until she noticed Miyoko looking at her and scowled, Miyoko
actually felt sorry for her.
	Akane, meantime, after seeing the look she was getting,
abruptly rose and turned to Nodoka.  "I'm going back to his
room...  Coming?" she asked, her voice edged with defiance.
	Nodoka flashed a glance at Miyoko, then nodded an
affirmative.  As they departed, Miyoko couldn't help but express
her exasperation.  "Damned hardass..." she spat, shaking her head
sadly.
        "Ano...  Miyoko-chan...  Was that as bad...  As it sounded?"
Yoriko abruptly piped up, touching Miyoko's knee and looking at
her worriedly.
        "Iya...  He just gave her the 'big picture'.  He'll be fine
as long as he stays on the drugs.  I'm glad, actually...  He coulda
been one of those that don't respond well..." she trailed off, not
wanting to even entertain the thought.
	"So he's going to be okay?" she brightened, clasping her
hands together.
	Miyoko smiled.  "From what I heard, yeah.  Akane's going
to have her hands full, but he'll be fine," she smiled weakly,
actually very relieved herself.
        "I'm so happy for you...  And him," she gushed, wrapping
Miyoko in a hug.
        "Yeah...  So am I , Yori-chan...  I'm gonna want to see him
again before we can leave though...  I want him to know I'm gonna
be around...  Even though I don't live here," she responded,
smiling.  "And I'm gonna have to talk to the Dragon Lady, too...
We need to get something cleared up," she added, her face
sobering again.




	Miyoko pushed open the room door and looked in, expecting
find at least Akane within.  To her surprise, her son was laying
in his bed sound asleep, and no one else was in the room.  Smiling,
she moved to the side of his bed and looked in on him, her face
softening.
	"I'm so damned glad you're gonna be okay..." she whispered,
her smile widening as he smacked his lips in his sleep.
	He was a gorgeous little boy, bearing the same unruly
black hair that she had in her other form.  His face looked
similar as well, except for the Tendou chin.  Reaching in and
adjusting his blankets, she felt her heart twinge at the thought
of having to leave him again.
        "Masaka...  It would be so easy...  If I could just tell
you," she whispered, smiling sadly as she fixed his hair.
	"Tell me what, Auntie...?" a drowsy voice asked, followed
by a pair of very bright eyes looking back up at her.  Miyoko erked.
        "Ano...  Tell you that...  That I..." she stammered, but
was interrupted by Akane and Nodoka returning to the room.
        "What the hell are *you* doing in here?" Akane snapped,
dashing over and glaring at Miyoko across the bed.
	"What's your problem, Akane?  All I was doing was talking
to him!  I *do* have that right, you know...!" Miyoko retorted,
matching Akane's glare.
	"Forget it!  You gave *that* up along with your rightful
gender, you baka hentai!" Akane shot back, furiously.  "As long
as you stay like...  Like *that*, you have no right to be here at
all!!  Especially not with that little plaything of yours following
you around like a puppy on a leash!" she added, her eyes flashing
like she was preparing for battle.
	Miyoko tensed for an attack, her sapphire blues alive with
rage...  Then just as suddenly, she relaxed.  Casting a sad glance
at the gaping Kei, she sighed and turned back toward Akane.
"Figures...  You attack when I can't fight back.  What the hell
ever happened to your honor, Akane?  Did it dry up and die along
with your heart?" she countered calmly, still taking a subtle
defensive stance just in case.
        "My honor...?  What about yours!?!  I wasn't the one who...
Augghhh!!" she raged, only to be stopped by a well placed pressure
point from of all people, Nodoka.
        "I think Kei-chan has heard quite enough...  If you two
wish to continue this 'conversation', I suggest you do it
elsewhere..." she advised, glaring into each of their eyes in turn.
	Miyoko cracked her knuckles.  "Whaddya say, Akane...?  Care
to step outside?" she taunted, eyeing her expectantly.
	Akane swallowed hard.  "No, I don't.  I've said what I have
to say...  I don't need to repeat it," she glowered, rubbing her
neck.  "Consider it a permanent condition...  It's that way or no
way...  And if I have to, I'll get a court order," she added, her
bravado slowly returning.
        "Kuso, Akane...  Why?  Why do you have to be so damned
difficult?!?  This could have been so simple...!" Miyoko blurted,
her exasperation getting the better of her.
        "Simple for you...  *Perfect*...  For you!  But what about
Kei?  What about what he loses out on?" she countered, angrily.
	"Oh, shit...!  I'm not gonna get into this again with
you... I already said my piece on that,  and you know damned well
it would be true...  And you also know damned well you wouldn't be
able to handle it!!  I was trying to do you a goddamned favour,
Akane...  But I guess I wasted my effort!!" she finally yelled,
storming toward the door.  As she yanked the heavy door open as
easily as she would a paper slider, she turned and glared back at
Akane.  "I'll be back when you're ready to *discuss* this...!" she
snarled, then disappeared out the door.
        "Don't do me any more damned *favours*, you...  You... Baka
Hentai!!" Akane shouted after her, angrily.  "I *never* want to
see you again!!" she added, glaring at the closed door until she
dropped to her knees and broke out in tears.
	Nodoka, still standing where she was, only shook her head
sadly.  Her worst fears had just been realized, and she could feel
her heart sinking.  She knew that in all likelihood, she had just
seen the last of her only child, and if that turned out to be the
case, she knew she would never be able to forgive Akane.  Quietly,
she prayed that 'Miyoko' wasn't thinking the same thing.




	Miyoko was nowhere to be found.  Yoriko had gone looking
for her through the hospital when she hadn't returned after an
hour, but had been unable to locate her.
	Now back in the waiting room, she toyed with her ring
worriedly as she prayed for her girlfriend's return.  Deep inside,
she could somehow tell something was wrong, even without the fact
that Miyoko wasn't around.
	Abruptly, she heard footsteps in the hallway, which at
first excited her...  Until she realized that since she could hear
them, then it wasn't Miyoko.
	Much to her surprise, it was Nodoka who entered the
waiting room, breaking into a genuine smile as she walked toward
her.
        Yoriko rose quickly and bowed respectfully, then simply
stood demurely and waited for Nodoka to speak to her.
        "Konnichiwa, Naganato-san...  I came to see if Miyoko was
here...  She left the room after only few minutes," she stated,
walking up and bowing politely.
	Yoriko couldn't help but gasp.  "I haven't seen her...
Since she left to go there," she said, raising a hand to her
gaping mouth.
        "Not to worry...  She...  Tends to want to be alone when
things really upset her," Nodoka smiled, assuringly.  "And I'm
afraid Akane did."
	Yoriko's eyes widened.  "Oh, no..."
	"Hai.  They had a fight, which was indisputably Akane's
fault, but what resulted may have hurt Miyoko deeply.  I came
looking for her to see if she was all right...  And to see if she
still wants to have any contact...  With me," Nodoka sighed,
lowering her gaze for a moment.
        Now, Yoriko was worried.  "May I ask...  What happened?"
	Nodoka sighed, then lowered her eyes.  "We had best sit
down... " she suggested, gesturing for Yoriko to do so.  Once
they were seated, Nodoka set herself.  "Akane...  Has a problem
with Miyoko's lifestyle..." she began, only to pause as she noted
Yoriko's pained expression.
        "She has a problem...  With me," Yoriko sighed, sadly.
"She's homophobic...  And perhaps even a little jealous of me,"
she continued, frowning.  "I was afraid... That she might forbid
Miyoko from seeing her son over it...  And I assume that is what
happened?"
	Nodoka nodded sadly.  Yoriko sighed again, then lowered her
face.  "I am sorry...  I never meant to cause so much trouble in
the family..." she began, but was interrupted by Nodoka touching
her leg.
        "No, Naganato-san...  You have nothing to apologize for.
This problem began long before you met Miyoko, and is rooted in far
more than just a quarrel over feelings," she assured, smiling
gently.  "It has now reached a point where I do not believe it will
ever be resolved.  There is too much...  Baggage," she admitted, her
voice softening.  Slowly, her expression changed from one of regret
to one of hope, making Yoriko wonder what was on her mind.
        Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Nodoka then looked
straight into her eyes and answered her question.  "Please...  Take
good care of my child...  My 'daughter'," she began, surprising
Yoriko completely.  "I have not had much of a chance to get to know
you, but it is apparent that Miyoko loves you.  She would willingly
give up everything to remain at your side.  To me, that speaks
volumes of your character, for she is not one to make such choices
rashly," she continued, as Yoriko's cheeks flushed embarrassedly.
"She is a good person, and as such deserves someone who will be
good to her.  I believe...  You are that person," she concluded,
smiling and patting Yoriko's hand.
	Yoriko, cheeks still flushed, also broke out in a smile.
Rising to her feet, she bowed deeply to Nodoka, then stood before
her demurely.  Her eyes had begun to shimmer, and she hoped she
would be able say her piece before starting to cry.
	"Se Nodoka, I am deeply honoured that you approve of me...
I had worried...  Given 'everything', that you might not.  I love
Miyoko...  And I know, beyond any question, that she loves me.  I
have tried to be good to her, as she has been so wonderful to
me...  In fact, she gave me back my life," she smiled with a sniff,
remembering the day they met.  "I cannot imagine living that life
without her as a part of it, which is why your acceptance of me
means so much.  Domo arigato gozaimashite, Saotome Nodoka-sama.
I will do my best...  To make her as happy as she has made me,"
she finally bowed, rising with a look on her face somewhere
between ecstatic happiness and bursting out in tears.
	Nodoka, herself now on the verge of tears, rose and hugged
the sniffing girl happily.
	Just as she was about to sit back down and start some
pleasant conversation, the sound of someone clearing her throat
caught their attention.  "Now that...  Is a Kodak Moment," Miyoko
smirked, walking up and wrapping a hug around both women.  "And
after what I just went through, it was the best damned thing I've
ever seen," she added softly, slipping each woman a kiss on the
cheek.  "Thanks, Mom...  I heard you two talking from the hall...
You have no idea how much this means to me...  And it means a lot
more than even I thought it did," she smiled, looking up at
Nodoka with an expression on her face that actually made the
woman gasp.
	All Nodoka could do was wrap the redhead in a huge hug,
one that seemed to express all the emotions that she had missed
sharing over the years.  By the time it was done, they were both
crying.  Yoriko, her heart feeling like it wanted to explode,
stepped up and hugged them both.
        "Oh, now isn't this sweet...  Looks like the friggin' Joy
Luck Club in here..." a certain hateful voice abruptly sneered.
        "Akane?" Nodoka blurted, annoyed at her remark.
        "Hai...  I wondered where you went...  Looks like I found
out...!" she snapped, eyes narrowing.  "You turning against me
now, too?"
        "I'm not 'for' or 'against' either of you...  And I don't
believe I should have to be," Nodoka responded, controlling herself.
        "Well, if you approve of...  *This*, then I don't want you
around me!" she snarled, then turned and stomped back to her son's
room.
	All three women sighed and slumped their shoulders.  Nodoka
shook her head sadly, then stepped back from the group and bowed.
"I will...  Try to speak to her...  Although she seems as if she's
in a particularly foul mood today," she indicated, frowning.
"Everything's setting her off..." she added her voice trailing off
as she thought of a possible reason.
        "Yeah...  Even with what's happened to Kei-chan, it seems a
bit much...  I still don't get it," Miyoko puffed, shaking her head.
        "I'll call you, Miyoko-chan...  If...  You want me to,"
Nodoka explored, looking over at the now smirking redhead hopefully.
	"Nice one..." Miyoko commented, shooting a glance at the
smiling Yoriko.  Give me a pen and your daytimer...  I'll give you
my address and my number.  Just *don't* give it out...  To anyone,"
she cautioned, firmly.
	As she took the book back from Miyoko, Nodoka couldn't
resist one more hug, then stepped back and looked Miyoko over from
head to toe.  Abruptly, she frowned.  "That's not the proper way
for a young lady to stand, Miyoko-chan...  Feet together, back
straight, and hands over one another in front of you," she
remarked, winking.
	Miyoko was speechless.  Yoriko had to fight to keep from
laughing out loud.
	"Well, when in Rome, Miyoko-chan..." Nodoka smirked, then
bowed and smiled.  Just in case I don't see you...  I'll call you
in a few days.  Ja Ne!" she waved, then made her way off to the
hallway.
	Miyoko looked over at Yoriko as she shook off her shock,
then smirked as she noticed how Yori was sniggering under her
hands.  "Real damned funny..." she commented, rolling her eyes.
        "Ano...  Now I see where you get it...!" Yoriko stated, then
broke out laughing.
	"Ha, ha..." Miyoko mocked, sticking out her tongue, which
only made Yoriko laugh even harder.  Finally, however, she managed
to settle herself, then invited Miyoko to join her on the bench.
        "Ano...  I hear from your mother that you had a fight with
Akane...?" she opened, taking Miyoko's hand.
	Miyoko sighed resignedly as she leaned forward, resting her
elbows on her knees.  "Hai...  That we did.  She basically told me
that if I came near them again, she'd swear out a complaint.  I
guess...  That answers my question, ne?" she stated, sadly.  "It's
all over.  I could fight it, but the results wouldn't be worth it.
Kei would end up hating me in the end, anyway," she added, solemnly.
"I have a feeling...  That's why my mom came to talk to you.  She
saw the whole thing," she added, turning and looking up at Yoriko.
        "When you didn't come back right away...  I thought
something might have happened.  I've been afraid that she would do
this...  Because of me," Yoriko indicated, fretting.
	Miyoko huffed.  "No, it's far more than that," she remarked,
her face darkening.  "She does have a problem with you...
And *us*...  But she also has a problem with life in general.
Masaka...  It seems like a hundred years ago now; the time that
Akane and I got along well enough to have conceived a child...
Even though we *were* both drunk.  Now...  Now it's like we're
strangers.  I don't know her any more...  And I don't want to,"
she indicated, shaking her head.  "And it's pretty damned obvious
she feels the same way," she added, resignedly.
	"Gomen ne... " Yoriko breathed sadly, able to see in
Miyoko's sapphire blues how much the situation was hurting her.
        "Huh...  Who'd have ever thought it'd turn out like this,
ne, Yori-chan?" she abruptly smirked, exasperation thick through
her voice.   Abruptly, she turned and looked at Yoriko with an
expression the girl couldn't make any sense of...  Until Miyoko
spoke.  "Let's get out of here, Yori-chan...  There's nothing
left for me here," she stated, flatly.
	



	The flight home felt incredibly long to Yoriko, who spent
most of it simply watching Miyoko stare out the windows of the
chopper, and occasionally sigh.  As the craft settled to its
landing in Kyoto, Miyoko did finally turn toward her, pat her knee
and smile weakly.
        "Home sweet home, ne Yori-chan?" she smirked, popping open
her belts.  As she went to rise from her seat, Yoriko grabbed her
arm.
        "Miyoko-chan...  Are you...  Okay with all this?" she asked,
firmly.
	Miyoko looked at her for a second, then frowned.  "No, I'm
not...  You went through all this..." she began, indicating the
helicopter, "And it turned out to be a waste.  I feel terrible
about that... " she indicated, lowering her gaze.
        "Iya, Miyoko-chan...  At least now you know...  Your son
will be all right, and you know where you stand in his life...  And
what Akane's plans are.  It was well worth it," Yoriko countered,
earnestly.
	Miyoko looked back at her for a moment, then smiled weakly.
"Hai, Yori-chan...  I guess...  But I wish things had gone a bit
differently...  Both for me and my son.  Although...  When you
think about it, this *is* the way I always wanted it, ne?" she
responded, resignedly.
	Yoriko wasn't quite sure what to make of that response, but
didn't get a chance to discuss it.  As soon as they cleared the
helipad, they were met by a group of four women waiting by the
elevator doors.
	Instantly, Miyoko's eyes narrowed.  "What the hell is
this...?" she growled quietly, leaning toward Yoriko.
        "Ano...  I have no idea, Miyoko-chan..." she responded,
nervously.
	As the girls walked closer, the group fanned out to each
side, simultaneously bowing to them.  "Miss Naganato, Miss
Takara...  We have been asked to meet you and escourt you to the
Gallery, where you are to be treated to the meal of your choice,
compliments of Eric White," one of them stepped forward and
announced, smiling brightly.
	The two girls looked at each other blinking for a few
seconds, then Miyoko finally spoke.  "Well...  You knew something
was coming.  Are you ready...?  If not, we can just leave," she
asked, gently.
        "Ano...  What do you think I should do, Miyoko-chan...?"
she asked in return, apparently shaken.
        "Like I said...  It's up to you, Yori-chan...  If you're not
ready, say so, and I'll get you out of here," the redhead responded
evenly, taking a good, close look around the area.
	Yoriko bit her knuckle.  Miyoko prepared herself.
        "Let's do it," Yoriko abruptly announced, determinedly.
        "Are you sure...?" Miyoko responded, smiling despite her
concerns.
	"Hai.  I want to get this over with," she replied with a
sharp nod, her face set.
	Miyoko smiled even more broadly.  "I was hoping you'd say
that..." she winked, resting a hand on the girl's shoulder.
	Yoriko also smiled, albeit slightly timidly.  "I can do it
if you're with me..." she indicated quietly, placing her hand on
top of Miyoko's.  "I...  Want us to have our life back,
Miyoko-chan...  I'm tired of dealing with this..." she added, her
eyes serious.
	Miyoko nodded, then leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"I'm so proud of you...!  Let's get 'em," she stated, then kissed
her near her ear.  Turning toward the other patiently waiting women,
she smiled politely.  "Please...  Show us in," she stated, bowing
quickly.
	Upon being led to one of the best tables in the
establishment, Yoriko noticed that the Helicopter had made quite
the mess of their hair, and suggested a trip to the powder room to
get fixed up.
	After quick check with her compact mirror, Miyoko agreed
readily.  As they rose to go, Miyoko grabbed her purse, but Yoriko
left hers and insisted Miyoko do the same.
	Confused, Miyoko did as she asked, but wondered why until
they stepped in the room.  When they finally did, her eyes almost
fell out of her head.  In the amazingly large room, there was a
staff of manicurists, cosmetologists, hair stylists and masseuses
all waiting to serve them.
	Yoriko noticed Miyoko's reaction and giggled at her.  "This
is the Executive one...  It has everything we need," she indicated
happily, showing Miyoko to a styling chair.
	"No kidding..." Miyoko whistled, somewhat overwhelmed.  The
facility was better appointed than the best Salon she had ever been
to, and probably staffed more people.  "This is incredible,
Yori-chan... " she remarked, smiling.
        "Hai.  Go ahead...  Indulge yourself, Miyoko-chan...  You
deserve it after the last couple of days..." Yoriko encouraged,
excitedly.
        Miyoko abruptly lowered an eyebrow.  "Waitaminnit...  You
set me up, didn't you?" she smirked, accusatorily.
	Yoriko giggled happily and broke out in a big smile.
"Hai...  When they said the 'Gallery', I remembered this...  I
thought I'd accept the offer just to get you in here," she
explained, proudly.  "When in Rome, ne, Miyoko-chan?" she added,
winking.
	"Baka ne..." Miyoko puffed, taking a weak slap at her.
Yoriko just giggled even more.
	An hour later, sporting perfect coifs and fresh
manicure/pedicures, the girls returned to their table, and were
immediately greeted by the Maitre'd.
	"I see you have returned, and I must say, you both look
wonderful," he smiled, paying particular attention to Miyoko.
"Would you like something from the bar, or are you ready to order
an aperitif?" he continued, pulling out his order padd.
        "Iya...  We need a little time, please...  But we'll have a
Pekoe each, lemon and sugar on the side," Yoriko responded,
smiling politely.
	"Very good.  I will return shortly," he smiled, casting a
quick glance back at Miyoko as he punched in the request and went
on his way.
        "Oooohhhh...  I think he likes you, Miyoko-chan...!"
Yoriko snickered, covering her widening grin.
	Miyoko smirked.  "You're enjoying this, aren't you...?"
she snarked, fighting down a grin of her own.
        "Ano...  A girl can't be too careful...  Too many rich men
around here...!" Yoriko almost blurted, having too much trouble
trying to keep from laughing.
        "Ha, ha...  Just you wait, girl...  I'll get y..." Miyoko
began, but was interrupted by the sudden wail of a baby a few
tables over.  Turning, she caught sight of a very flustered woman,
looking like she might be a young exec or admin, trying desperately
to assemble a bottle quickly.  Without a second thought, she rose
from the table.  "Poor thing..." she breathed, heading straight
for the child and standing beside its hanging chair.
	The child's mother looked up with exasperated panic on her
face, to which Miyoko only smiled pleasantly.  "May I hold her?"
she asked gently, to which the frazzled mom nodded rapidly.
	Nodding her acknowledgment, Miyoko stepped around and
smiled at the baby, who looked to be about six months old.  As soon
as the baby made eye contact, its piercing wail broke.  "That's a
good girl... " Miyoko soothed, reaching in and lifting the baby to
her.  "Come here, sweetheart...  You don't have to make such a fuss
now, do you...?" she continued gently, wiping the child's tears
away with her finger.  Within a few more moments, Miyoko had the
child cooing and giggling contentedly while her mother finished
getting her lunch ready.
	The other patrons of the restaurant, Yoriko included,
stared in awe at the scene.  The child's mother also looked on in
gape-mouthed amazement, her head shaking slowly.
        "Ano...  She doesn't like strangers..." was all the rattled
woman could manage.
        "Well, thankfully, she likes me...  Don't you, honey?" she
teased, eliciting yet another giggle from the child.  "Are you all
set, Mommy?"  she tossed over, catching the affirmative nod out of
the corner of her eye.  "Okay, sweetie...  You be a good girl for
Mommy now, and let's not have any more tears, ne?" she admonished,
then winked at the baby and handed her to her grateful mom.
        "Arigato gozaimashite...  I just started here today, and
haven't arranged daycare yet...  My daughter is upset by the
changes..." she rattled off, still quite unnerved by the entire
situation.
	Miyoko just smiled and bowed.  "She's a beautiful little
girl...  She'll feel better soon.  Thank you for letting me hold
her," she responded, then waved at the baby and headed back to
Yoriko.
        "Ano...  Miyoko-chan...  How did you do that?!?" Yoriko
gushed, unable to contain herself even until Miyoko got back in
her seat.
	Miyoko blinked.  "Do what...?  I just held her while her
mom got it together...  Wasn't she a doll...?" she responded,
smiling again.
	"All you did was pick her up, and she settled right down...
I've never seen anyone do that before...  Especially to a strange
baby..." Yoriko reiterated, still wide-eyed.
        "I don't know...  I've always been able to...  At least for
the last few years.  Never had a reason to before that," she
replied, off-handedly.  "It's no big deal..." she added, looking
around for a waiter.
        "Huh...  No big deal...?  Every mom I know of would give
her right arm to be able to quiet a baby like that...  You should
be running a Daycare, not teaching Martial Arts...!" Yoriko smirked,
shaking her head.
        Miyoko shot her a cynical look.  "Feh...  Could you see *me*
surrounded by five-year-olds??  I don't have the patience for
that...!" she dismissed, rolling her eyes.
        "Ano...  See it?  After seeing you do that, I'd recommend
it!" Yoriko smiled, nodding emphatically.
        "Heh...  I almost answered an ad for a Daycare Assistant
when I first got here, but figured I'd go crazy after a week...
Still think I would," she responded, dismissing the thought with a
wave of her arm.  "You see our 'gracious host' anywhere...?  I'm
getting hungry," she redirected, looking around again.
        "Ano...  Hai!  There he is, and it looks like he has our
teas... " Yoriko noted, pointing him out.  "What are you having...?"
        "I think...  I'm going to have an American-Style steak.
I've never been able to afford one, so I figure I'll get one now.
What about you...?" she indicated, smiling smugly.
        "I think I'll just have a Caesar...  They're really good
here."
	"That's it??  Just a salad?  Yori-chan, this is your chance
to try something exotic if you want...  Don't waste it," Miyoko
insisted, surprised at her girlfriend's reticence.
        "I'm not...  You haven't seen the Caesars here..." she
winked in response, then leaned over the table.  "Besides, I have
to watch my figure..." she added, emphatically.
        "Ano...  Nevermind.  I'll watch your figure...  You eat,"
Miyoko grinned, wagging her eyebrows.
        "Excuse me...  Sorry I took so long, but I was stopped on
my way back to your table..." the voice of the Maitre'd abruptly
indicated, cheating Yoriko out of her saucy response.  "It seems as
though the young woman at that table insists on paying for your
tea...  And has asked me to once again express her gratitude for
your kind assistance," he continued, smiling.  Leaning a little
closer, he whispered toward Miyoko.  "She happens to be the
daughter of the Company's Managing Director...  You've made a very
good friend," he indicated, shooting her a look.
	"A-arigato..." Miyoko stammered, caught between laughing at
his attempt to impress her, and the fact that she was living with
the CEO's daughter.  Yoriko quickly covered her mouth and began to
turn red.
        "Well then, have you come to a decision?" he smiled
knowingly, rising to his full height.
	"Hai.  Please assure her I appreciate her generosity, and
I'll have an American-Style 16 ounce sirloin steak, with all the
trimmings, well-done please," Miyoko stated, still fighting to
maintain her face.
	"I'll have the deluxe Caesar, with the 'Taste of Italy'
sides, please," Yoriko followed, shooting a teasing look at Miyoko.
        "And I'll have the steak as well, extra mushrooms," a
familiar voice indicated, drawing gasps from everyone at the table,
including the Maitre'd.
	Miyoko looked up at their 'guest' and frowned.  "Oh,
wonderful..." she breathed, sighing.




===========================================================
END - Secrets V2P5                     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com

From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>
Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Secrets - V2P6


For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Secrets: Volume Two Part Six
-----------------------------------------------------------------



	Akane looked out the window she was leaning against,
lowered her head, and sighed tiredly.  "He left?" she asked,
flatly.
        "Hai, Akane...  You got your wish," Nodoka remarked,
disapprovingly.
        "No, I didn't," she shot back, turning her head slightly to
look at the woman.  "I certainly did not get what I wished for..."
she added, her voice going quiet.
	"Well, judging by your last words..."
        "Nodoka...  I'd really rather not get into this right
now...  I feel shitty enough," she moaned, sighing once more.  "And
besides...  Kei has to get back home.  I imagine he's getting hungry
by now," she continued, picking up the already packed bag at her
side.
	"You're going to have to 'get into it' sooner or later,
Akane...  Or today may well be the last time any of us sees her
again," Nodoka stated, ominously.
        Akane smirked.  "I think that's pretty much a given...  And
until 'certain things' change, that's the way I'm assuming it is,"
she remarked, emphatically.
	"Well, at least we agree on that much..." Nodoka noted,
dryly.  "Kei is already in the waiting room, talking to that
Shampoo girl...  Are you ready?" she redirected, resigning herself
to the state of affairs -- at least for the moment.
        "Hai.  Let's get out of this joint...  I need a smoke,"
she responded bitterly, heading for the door.
	When they finally returned to the Tendou home after dropping
Nodoka off, Akane turned a surprisingly exuberant Kei loose on his
toys while she walked to the kitchen to prepare supper.  As she
started to pull out her supplies, she noticed something strange in
the yard outside her window.
	Walking to the side door, she slid it back and stepped out,
only to gasp at the carpet of flowers adorning the yard, and the
kanji laid out on the grass in rose petals.
        It read: "Best Wishes and Good Fortune -- Kuno Tatewake."
	Akane continued to stare at the display for several
minutes...  Then began to smile.


	

	It felt like the cone of silence.  Nobody wanted to speak
first, and the tension was so thick one could lean against it.
Miyoko watched Yoriko carefully, reaching over and placing her hand
on the girl's arm.  Yoriko glanced back at her, flashing a nervous
smile.
        "I'm...  Glad you accepted my invitation," Eric finally
ventured, looking like he had something on his mind.
        "Yori-chan wanted to show me something," Miyoko deflected,
plaintively.
        "I see...  You visited the 'Powder Room'.  We're thinking
of franchising that...  It has proven to be very popular," he
bantered back, the conversation loosening the tension slightly.
        "Hai...  But I can't see you inviting us here to talk about
business..." Miyoko countered, proddingly.
	"You're right.  I didn't.  I wanted to talk to Christine,"
he began, leaning forward in his chair.  Miyoko deliberately
mirrored him.
        "I'm...  Still not sure I want to talk to you..." Yoriko
piped up, edgily.
	"Just say the word, Yori-chan..." Miyoko stated, squeezing
her arm gently.
	Eric sighed resignedly.  "I expected you to feel that way.
I had hoped...  We could settle things, but I'll be happy if you
let me say my piece...  And then I'll just leave it with you."
	Miyoko frowned, but glanced at Yoriko for her reaction
before saying anything.  She was a bit surprised by the thoughtful
look on her girlfriend's face, and decided to hold her epithet
until Yoriko spoke.
        "I'll listen...  But no promises," she responded, quietly.
	Eric smiled slightly.  Miyoko bristled.  "Don't get too
cocky..." she warned, eyeing him levelly.
	Yoriko nodded her agreement.  Eric straightened in his
chair, then looked directly at Yoriko.  "I came here to offer an
olive branch.  The surveillance was stopped the day we last spoke,
and I am prepared to offer you your old life back, so to speak.
Say the word, and in two weeks you'll be yourself again.  I want
to put this behind us, Christine...  Start over...  If that's
possible," he stated, rather directly.
	Yoriko lowered her face, at the same time placing her hand
overtop of Miyoko's.  A moment later, she drew a breath and raised
her gaze to him.  "I...  Don't want my old life," she stated,
surprising the others.  "I want this one..." she continued,
patting Miyoko's hand.
	Eric looked back at her numbly, then anger flashed across
his face briefly.  Miyoko set herself, but a second later his
expression changed.  "I...  Understand; I think," he acquiesced,
disappointedly.
	Yoriko shook her head.  "I don't think you ever could...
And that's why I know I could never be 'Christine' again," she
responded, reaching out to touch his arm.  He reflexively yanked
it back, then realized his mistake -- but it was too late.  Yoriko
had already proven her point.
        She looked back at him levelly.  "Miyoko-chan...  Please
take me home," she stated, starting to rise.
	"Christine, no...!" Eric abruptly gasped, reaching toward
her arm.  Miyoko instantly grabbed his arm and gave it a slight
twist.
        "You're just determined to lose this, aren't you?" she
growled, quietly.
        "No...  Christine...!  Don't leave yet...!" he begged,
ignoring the pain and Miyoko's angry glare.  "I don't want things
to end like this!" he stated, urgently.
	Yoriko's eyes flashed.  "I'm *not* Christine any more,
remember?  My name is Naganato Yoriko...!  That's who I am now...
And from this moment on, that's who I'll always be!" she hissed,
jumping to her feet in an uncharacteristic display of anger.
"And you should have thought of that two years ago...!" she
snapped tearfully, grabbing her purse.  Miyoko immediately rose
with her, and quickly escourted her away from the table.
	Eric could only watch numbly as the two left the
restaurant, neither one looking back.   "Dammit!" he cursed,
angrily.  He had hoped to be able to at least get on speaking
terms with his daughter, knowing things would have been easier
that way.  He only had one ace left to play now, and knew that
if he didn't use it, then time was going to run out for both him
and his company.  Sighing, he pulled out his cell phone.
	"It's me.  Those operations we started...?  Hai, those.
They're a go.  As we discussed," he stated tersely, then closed
the phone.




	Ryouga picked up the order sheets from the desk, and
quickly flipped through them to see if he'd missed anything.
Satisfied all was in order, he rose to take them to the front and
go over them with Ukyou.
	As he stepped around the desk, his gaze caught the
Chisuiton as it sat on the shelf behind the desk.  Smirking, he
walked over to it and picked it up; then gasped.  Setting it down
again, he repeated the act.  The result was the same.  He tried
one more time, just to be sure.  Again, the result was the same.
	When he had last touched it, its potent magic had made his
hand tingle noticeably.  This time, however, there had been no
tingle.  His face abruptly dropped as he realized what that could
mean.
	As his mind dealt with the possibilities, Ukyou came into
the office looking for him.  Seeing him with his back to her, she
walked up behind him and affectionately patted his rear.
	"Whatcha looking at, sugar?  There a problem with the
waybills?" she asked, draping over his shoulder.
        "Ano...  No...  Not with the that.  Uuchan...  Have you
ever noticed a 'tingle' when you touched this thing?" he asked, a
worried expression on his face.
	"Huh...?  Oh..!  You mean the kettle?" she blurted, shaking
her head.  "Iya...  Never.  Why?" she asked, blinking.
        "My hand always did...  Every time I touched it that night.
But I touched it a moment ago...  Several times just to be sure...
And no tingle; none," he explained, his face drained.
        "Ano...  What are you saying...?" she prodded, not sure
what he was getting at.
        "I think...  It may not work anymore..." he stated,
ominously.
	It took Ukyou a second to figure it out, but eventually,
she caught on to what Ryouga was really saying.  "Masaka...  You
mean that if someone's curse is locked...  They can't *ever* unlock
it now...?" she gasped, covering her mouth.
        "Hai.  If it is 'broken'...  He's a woman forever...
Whether he likes it or not," he stated sadly, echoing Ukyou's
unspoken thoughts.  "Uuchan...  We have to find out what happened
to it after we left it in the kitchen...  Maybe then we can 'undo'
whatever it was," he continued, urgently.
        "Ano...  I know!  I still have the schedule from that day
in the files...  I can ask the girls that were on that morning if
any of them remember it!" she exclaimed, heading for the filing
cabinet.
	Half an hour and six calls later, Ukyou was on the phone
with the girl who lost the draw and ended up on dishes.  It turned
out to be her lucky number.
        "You did?  Then what happened to it?  Hai...  Hai...  That's
it, huh?  Nothing else?  Okay...  Arigato, Nikki-chan...  Ja," she
concluded, frowning as she hung up the phone.
        "What happened?" Ryouga prodded, anxiously.
        "She washed it...  In the potwasher.  Heavy soap, and on
High Temperature because she was doing the grease reservoirs, too.
That thing hits around 200 degrees...  D'ya think...?"
        Ryouga frowned deeply.  "I dunno...  Could be...  The
kettle's magic used warm water...  Maybe all that heat...  'Burned
it out'," he speculated, nervously.
        "Masaka...  So...  What do we do now?"
        "I wish I knew...  We can't even test it without locking
someone...  Or telling Miyoko," he noted, shaking his head.
        "Well...  He did decide to lock the curse...  And didn't
bring the kettle back.  Maybe it won't matter," she proposed,
thoughtfully.
	"Hm.  Well, we can only hope.  I know I'd be pretty upset
if I couldn't get out of my cursed form," he stated, frowning again.
	Ukyou smirked.  "It's a bit different in your case, baka.
Tell you what...  There's nothing we can do anyway, so let's just
leave it as is.  I don't figure Miyoko will ever want to see it
again, especially after the last time she did."
        "Hai...  You're probably right," he agreed, glancing back
at it sadly.  Shaking his head, he turned and walked away,
collecting Ukyou as he went.  Inwardly however, he said a silent
prayer for his friend.




	Yoriko remained silent for the entire trip home, long lost
in what seemed like very emotional thoughts.  Miyoko felt for her,
knowing exactly what it was like to decide to turn one's back on
one's past.  She also noticed that even with her girlfriend's
silence, she seemed to be handling the situation far better than
she had the last time she faced her father, and that made Miyoko
quite happy.
	Once they arrived in the apartment, Yoriko stepped out of
her shoes, hung up her purse, slipped off her jacket -- and promptly
hugged Miyoko.
	"I love you..." she breathed, burying her face in Miyoko's
shoulder.
        "Ano...  I love you too, Yori-chan... " she responded,
despite her surprise at the act.
        "Now we can be together...  Without worrying about him,"
she added softly, tightening her hug.  "That's all I want...  That's
all I ever wanted," she continued, happily.
        "Hai...  You made sure of that.  I was proud of you in
there," Miyoko indicated, leaning back a bit to look into Yoriko's
eyes.  "You're tougher than you think," she added, winking.
        "Ano...  No I'm not.  If you hadn't been there...  I
wouldn't have been either.  I'm...  A wimp," she admitted,
sheepishly.
	"Coulda fooled me.  You gave him both barrels...
Especially at the end there."
        "I guess...  It's just...  When he said he wanted to start
over...  I knew he was only covering himself.  I really *don't* want
to be 'Christine' any more...  If I did, I know I would have lost
everything...  Everything that matters.  He'd find a way to break
us up; try to get me to marry or something.  I want to be Yoriko;
I *like* her.  Just like you, she can live the life she wants...
Love who she wants...  And be happy about it," she explained,
smiling.
        "Baka ne...  Sounds like you're reading from *my* script,"
Miyoko smirked, tightening her hug a bit.
	Yoriko responded in kind, a content smile crossing her
face.  "Hai.  I am."




	Miyoko sauntered toward work the next morning, actually
singing to herself once again.  Yoriko was feeling so much better
she sanitized the apartment just for something to do, then the
two of them did something they hadn't done in ages, namely catching
a Sumo match downtown.  Yoriko always seemed to get a major charge
out of them, while Miyoko, despite liking the show, found them tame
compared to her everyday life...  Especially of late.
	When she eventually wandered through the doors, she was
startled as Atsuko immediately rose and bowed to her.
	As she wondered what the girl was up to, she began to sense
that something was very different...  And frowned.




	Yoriko couldn't believe it.  Her Shift Managers, co-workers
and even the Day Manager all bowed respectfully to her as she walked
to her locker.  It was a creepy feeling.  Everyone seemed nervous
around her, and she couldn't understand why; she'd had a shower
before coming in, and her hair was tied up properly.
	Not knowing what else to do, she went about her assigned
duties as per usual, but the treatment continued, eventually getting
on her nerves.  Nobody talked to her like they used to, even those
she counted as her friends.  And when she would speak to someone,
they acted as if they were being addressed by the Kami.
	By the time her first hour had passed, she was feeling like
she wanted to scream.  It was blatantly obvious something was going
on, and she finally cornered one of her friends and buttonholed her.
        "Amii, why are you acting like this?" she blurted,
exasperated at the girl's actions.
        "Ano...  Am I doing something wrong?  Please, Forgive me...
I've never had to work beside the Owner before...!" the girl
panicked, bowing profusely.
        "What?!?" Miyoko blurted, making Atsuko cringe.  "What the
hell are you talking about, Atsuko-chan?"
        "Ano...  Mr. Kanzayaki came in late yesterday and announced
that you bought the School, and that he was retiring to USA
Florida..." the girl explained, nervously.
        Miyoko was stunned.  "Masaka...  That sonova...!" she
growled, storming back to the office area.  Sure enough, her name
was emblazoned on the office normally occupied by the owner.
Cursing under her breath, she stepped into it and gasped.  It was
completely remodeled, including her favorite Chinese decor.
	Just as she was about to scream, the phone on her new desk
started to ring.  Picking it up, she wondered who would be calling
her, then she gasped as it occurred to her who it might be -- and
why.
	"Takara Miyoko desu," she stated, then frowned as she heard
a familiar but panicked voice.  "Ano...  Hai, Yori-chan...  He did
the same thing to me.  I don't know...  Everyone here thinks it was
just me.  Hai...  He covered his tracks well.  Come over here...
Hai.  I'll be waiting," she soothed, Yoriko's obvious panic
worrying her.
	Miyoko walked back out to the reception area and waited for
Yoriko, expecting her to take a cab and arrive in a breathless panic.
	As she peered out looking for her, a silver-gray 340ZX
pulled up to the curb and stopped, and Miyoko gasped as she saw
Yoriko step out and dash for the door.
	"Miyoko-chan... " Yoriko blurted, seeing the redhead standing
by the windows.
        "Ano...  What's that...?" Miyoko asked flatly, pointing to
the car.
        "It was in the parking lot...  It's mine from when I used to
live at home.  The keys...  Were in my new office..." she responded,
her voice trailing off as she began to cry.  Miyoko frowned, then
took Yoriko in her arms and quickly walked her back to the office.
Once inside, she hugged the shocked girl tightly.
        "It's okay, Yori-chan...  We'll just call him and tell him
what he can do with his damned 'bribes'...!" she snarled, angrily.
        "Ano...  No, Miyoko-chan...  That's what he wants us to
do...  Then he'll just try something else...  It's never going to
end...!" Yoriko sobbed, clutching at Miyoko's back.
        "Then...  What are we gonna do...?  We can't just accept
this crap...  It'll look like we're giving in...!" Miyoko protested,
incredulously.
        "I don't know...  I don't know...  Kuso, Miyoko-chan...  Why
won't he leave us ALONE!?!?" Yoriko wailed, dissolving in tears.
	Miyoko couldn't answer her, and could tell it didn't matter
anyway.  Yoriko was stressing out, the situation threatening to
destroy what little strength she had left.  Miyoko simply held
the shaking girl to her, knowing that if things weren't put to
rest soon, Yoriko was likely going to have a nervous breakdown.
	Abruptly, her face darkened.  The thought struck her
that Yoriko's father was trying to get her to buckle by pushing
her until she couldn't fight any longer.  The entire idea was so
sick it literally enraged her to the core of her being -- and
made up her mind.




	Kuno looked over his day's work distantly, his mind
elsewhere.  It had been almost 24 hours since he had left his
calling card for his dearest Akane, and he felt that the time was
perhaps right to follow up.  He hadn't been the recipient of any
nasty phone calls, nor had it been reported to him that she had
thrown a fit on discovering his 'gift'.  These circumstances led
him to conclude that perhaps, the way was at last clear.
	It was Sasuke's reports on the activity at the hospital
that had prompted his actions, having been pleased beyond
description with what seemed to be the death throes of any feelings
between Akane and the 'former' fiend Saotome.  In fact, it appeared
as though it was Akane's wish that there be no further contact.
	A thin smile crossed his face.  How sweet he felt it would
be, to at last have the hand of Tendou Akane, even though it meant
giving deference to Saotome for having stolen her virtue.  That
however, was a small price to pay, if it brought him the honest
affections of the woman he had been enamored of since the day they
first met.
	Turning his plush chair, he gazed upon the visage he so
admired, the only one remaining on his 'Wall of Honour'.  Beside
it was a faded spot, no longer covered by a picture.  Again, he
smiled, his mind briefly toying with images of a life with the
object of his gaze.
	Reaching into his drawer, he picked up his private line.
        "Sasuke...  I am ready to advance the campaign.  Is she at
home?  I see...  To be expected, one would surmise.  What time does
the lad finish his day?  Hmm.  I will be meeting her at the School,
then...  Return at once and have the convertible prepared.  I will
also require tickets for three to the motion picture 'Ants', and
reservations for the same number at my usual dining establishment.
Hai.  I am aware of his condition, Sasuke.  I appreciate the
concern, but it is unwarranted.  You forget Mother...  Begin the
preparations," he concluded, hanging up the phone.
	Kicking back in his chair, he smiled in anticipation of
the evening, or at least of how he hoped it would go.  He was not
vain enough to assume she would simply melt into his arms, so he
knew he must allow her to make the decision on her own.  Her life
had been not unlike his own in many ways, full of trials and
tribulations -- and meddling parents.
	She would be offended, if not enraged if he presumed more
than his place, he knew, so his plan was simple.  If she accepted
his humble invitation, she would be treated to a night of utter
indulgence; no less than she deserved.
	If she declined, he would simply extend the invitation to
a more convenient time -- and hope it eventually came.  Sighing,
he rose from his chair and walked toward the rear entry, knowing
he was not about to get any further work done this day; he simply
had not the concentration.




	She hated to have done it, but there was simply no other
way.  Yoriko had been so distraught and upset that she couldn't
stop crying, and had been clinging to Miyoko for dear life. Miyoko
sighed sadly as she looked down her now sleeping girlfriend's form,
having instructed the staff physician at the School to slip her a
gentle 'Mickey'.  She remained at her side in the infirmary until
she fell asleep, holding her hand tightly.
	The poor girl's nerves were completely shot, and Miyoko
knew that if anything else was to happen, she'd likely end up in
hospital -- and there was no way she was going to let that happen.
Her only problem was figuring out just exactly how she was going
to do it.
	Her opponent couldn't be reasoned with, either with words
or brute force.  He seemed to specialize in using people against
themselves, a technique Miyoko wasn't the most familiar with.  As
well, he had the resources available to do pretty much as he
pleased, which made him extremely dangerous.
	Extricating herself carefully from Yoriko's iron-like grip,
she leaned over and kissed the sleeping girl's forehead gently,
then quietly left the room, leaving instructions that Yoriko was
to be watched carefully.  She then headed to the locker room,
changed, and made her way to the only empty classroom.
	When it came to having to think, she knew there was nothing
better than a good kata.
	Finishing her stretches, she began her routine with a
vengeance, the frustration and anger she felt manifesting itself
in a desire to push her body as hard as she could.  For the first
few sets, that was her overriding desire, but as the forms
progressed, she felt her rhythm come in -- and her mind clear.
The Art could always be counted on.
	She began to run over some possible responses to the threat
facing her loved one, but none seemed to have the appropriate
amount of impact.  She needed something that would either utterly
convince him to leave Yoriko alone, or scare the hell out of
him -- the latter preferred.
	Miyoko knew from experience how powerful a motivator fear
could be, and it was far and away her favorite method of dissuading
a tenacious enemy.  A smirk abruptly crossed her face as she
considered bringing a cat and going to visit him, but, as much as
the thought appealed to her, she knew Yoriko wouldn't be happy if
she killed him.
	She found herself wishing she knew more about her opponent,
thinking that if he had any phobias or such, she could use them to
her advantage.  The only thing she knew of was his obvious
homophobia, but she was having trouble trying to come up with a
practical way to use it.
	As she mused over that and a variety of other equally
fantastic ideas, she almost gasped as a stray memory crept into
her thoughts.  It was just a simple conversation that she and
Yoriko had only a few days ago, but it gave her just the weapon
she needed.
	Smiling wickedly, she shortcutted to the finish of her
kata, bowed to the motto, and almost ran off the mats.  She
needed a phone.
	



	Akane waved at the Sensei as she and Kei left the school,
heading out to the street for the regular walk home.  Taking Kei's
hand in hers, she looked down at him and smiled.
        "Ano...  So how was it having your mom in class with you?"
she teased, happily.
        "You don't fit in my class...  You're too big for the
desks!" Kei responded, emphatically.
        "Iya...  The desks are too small for me.  I'll just have
to ask Sensei for a bigger one," she responded thoughtfully,
knowing she was getting on his case.
        "Iya, iya...  I'm okay, mom...  You don't have to baby-sit
me," he objected, frowning at the thought.
        "Yes I do...  Until your Sensei takes the course, I have
to be there...  Just to make sure you'll be okay.  Nobody else
knows how to help you," Akane reiterated, feeling like she was
repeating her morning speech.
        "But...  That Doctor said if I take my med-sin, I'll be
okay...  Why do you have to be there if I'm okay?" he countered,
his eyes widening.
	Akane almost faltered, catching what he was really
asking.  "Medications always take time to get into your system,
Kei-chan...  It'll be a while before there's enough there to keep
you controlled," she recovered cleanly, and smiled as she noticed
Kei's expression calming.
        "Ano...  Okay, Mom...  You can come to School with me..."
he sighed resignedly, a rather affected pout appearing on his face.
"Only don't keep telling the girls about me, 'K?" he pleaded,
causing Akane to stifle a laugh.
	"Deal, Kei-chan," she announced firmly, despite her smile.
"So, what will we have for supper?" she redirected, trying to give
herself time to regain her composure.
	"I thought I may be of some assistance in that regard, if
you would permit," a smooth, familiar voice suddenly indicated.
        "Ano...  Kuno-san?" Akane blurted, surprised to see him out
of his Estate, especially alone.
	"Hai, fair one.  I thought, in view of the tumultuous few
days you have endured, that it would behoove me to offer you an
evening of relaxation.  I seek no recompense save your company, and
that of your most handsome son," he smiled, remaining at a
respectable distance.
        "I...  I don't know, Kuno-san..." she stammered, torn
between the thought of an evening out and telling him to take a
hike.
	"I had planned only a simple evening of entertainment; a
dinner followed by our attendance at the cinema, to partake of a
performance of the film known ignobly as 'Antz'.  Surely, it
would do you no harm to allow me to treat you to that which you
most richly deserve,"  he insisted, gently.  Kei's response was
instant.
        "Mom...  Did he say we can go see 'Antz'?!?" he gushed,
grabbing her arm.
        "Ano...  Hai. He said..." she stammered again, but Kei had
heard enough.
	"Yattai!  Let's go, Mom!!  That's my favorite movie!!" he
squealed, excitedly.
	Akane flushed embarrasedly, not quite sure what to say.
"A-Ano...  I'm...  Not dressed..." she finally babbled, but Kuno
was not to be dissuaded.
	"If you wish, I shall conduct you to your residence where
you may attire yourself suitably.  However, I should point out
that as you are is more than acceptable.  What is your wish?"
he asked, regarding her expectantly.
	Akane didn't know what to think.  She loved the thought of
an evening out, but couldn't help but be suspicious of Kuno.  She
knew him all to well from his antics of several years ago, and was
hesitant to trust him.  Finally, as her son tugged at her arm, she
came to a decision.
        "Okay, Kuno-san...  That sounds very nice.  We'll go, but
only on the condition that you behave...  And it's strictly
platonic, got it?" she stated, eyeing him levelly.
	Kuno broke into a genuine smile.  "You have done me a great
honour, Tendou Akane.  You have my word that the evening shall be
without incident.  I seek only to give you respite from your
trials," he responded, bowing deeply.
	"For your sake, I hope so... " she affirmed, looking him
in the eye.
	"The proof is in the act.  I do, however, expect you to
allow yourself to enjoy the evening.  That is, after all, the
purpose," he stated, gesturing for her to precede him.  "My car
awaits yonder," he smiled, pleasantly.
        "Are we going, mom?  Are we?" Kei asked insistently,
unable to make any sense of Kuno's words.
	"Hai.  But you have to behave yourself, young man..." she
winked, smiling at him.
	"All right!!" he cheered, hugging his mother's leg.
Rising, he turned to Kuno and smiled.  "Arigato gozaimashite, Mr.
Kuno!" he bowed, happily.
	"You are quite welcome, young Squire," he responded,
bowing.  "A polite young man...  Speaks well of his upbringing,"
he noted, nodding approvingly.  "Then we are away... " he added,
repeating his gesture to Akane and smiling.
	"I guess we are... " Akane remarked, wondering about her
sanity.



==========================================================
END - Secrets V2P6			A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com



From: "Coutuva" <coutuva@vecdev.com>
Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Secrets - V2P7


For this and any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


Secrets: Volume Two Part Seven
----------------------------------------------------------------



	Miyoko paced her new office anxiously, awaiting a certain
phone call.  After a frustrating attempt to find out the
information she was after, she finally resigned herself to the
fact that there were those who were better at such things than
she was.
	A quick call to Ukyou had gotten her Nabiki's hotline
number, and she had hesitantly called and left a message.  She
hated the thought of letting Nabiki help her in any way, but she
figured she could play it off as something the middle Tendou sister
owed her.
	Yoriko was still sleeping peacefully, although she had been
moved to Miyoko's office, and reposed on the plush futon that
occupied the long wall.  Miyoko stopped her pacing to look down at
her girlfriend's soft, attractive face, and wondered how anyone
could be so heartlessly cruel to someone as wonderful and innocent
as her.
	Adjusting Yoriko's collar and straightening her hair
slightly, Miyoko sighed, wishing she could make everything go away,
so she and Yoriko could just live their lives.  She found it
somewhat interesting that until the Nerima crew showed up, their
lives had been blissfully peaceful and satisfying, even with all of
the secrets they had kept from each other.
	She had to wonder if they ever would be again.
	Her musings were abruptly interrupted by her phone ringing,
and she sighed aloud before turning to answer it.
	"Takara Miyoko desu.  Don't sound so surprised, Nabiki...
I figure you owe me a few," she began evenly, wanting to make sure
the ball was in *her* court.  "Okay...  Real simple.  I need the
residence address for Eric Jessop White...  Hai.  That guy.  That's
my business...  Okay...  Give it to me," she instructed, scribbling
it down on her desk blotter.  "Arigato, Nabiki...  That's one to
your credit," she smiled, then tossed aside her pen.  "I can't
chit-chat now...  I've got a business to run.  Ja," she concluded,
smirking at her parting remark.
	Carefully memorizing the address, she noted with dismay
that it was on the far outskirts of the city, meaning she would
need a lot of time.  There was a good chance Yoriko would wake up
while she was out, and she certainly didn't want the girl getting
upset at her absence.
	Thinking hard, she tried to come up with something that
would require her personal attention, but not sound suspicious.
Luckily, it didn't take her long.  There was a piece of training
equipment that had broken down a week ago, and hadn't been looked
into.  It was perfect.
	Scrawling out a note to Yoriko, she folded it carefully and
put it in the girl's blouse.  After scribbling out the address on
her blotter, she kissed Yoriko's forehead and quietly left the room.
	Telling her outer office staff that she was going to see
about the broken machine, she left instructions that Yoriko was to
be properly looked after, and quickly departed.  She had a train to
catch.
	Fifteen minutes later, she stepped off the train and went
in search of her objective, noting that the entire area was composed
of large, opulent houses on spacious lots.  She had to wonder how
the residents managed to acquire so much property.
	She continued along the streets carefully, watching for the
one that would lead her to the address she sought.  Finally, she
found it, and picked up her pace as she headed down it.  According
to the numbers, the house wasn't too far from where she was, which
only made her more anxious.
	When she arrived outside the gates of the massive mansion,
she gasped at its size and extravagance.  Noticing the large sign on
one of the gate pillars, she smirked to herself.  It confirmed she
was standing before the 'White House', making her wonder just how
coincidental that really was.
        As she looked it over, she found it hard to believe that
someone as humble and personable as Yoriko had ever lived in such
a house, as it definitely didn't suit her.
	The house itself sat back almost a half-mile from the
gatehouse at the streetside, with several lush gardens and statues
adorning the landscape.  The structure was definitely an
American-type building, looking oddly out of place amoung the other
houses.
	Noting the proliferation of guards, she continued down the
street a distance, then simply leapt over the 12 foot concrete wall
and into a convenient tree.  It didn't take her long to bounce her
way toward the house, given the number of well placed trees.  She
made a mental note to compliment the landscapers on their planning.
	The house proper was conveniently ringed with trees, spaced
far enough apart and within a good distance to allow for a
window-by-window search of most of the rooms.  Miyoko, between
watching for guards and leaping from one tree to the next, intently
examined each of the several dozen windows on the structure, even
leaping onto the roof to check the fourth-floor rooms.
	Finally, she lit on a mid-floor balcony and carefully
peered into its large windows, then broke out in a wide smile.




	
	Yoriko groaned as she sat up, feeling very tired and stiff
despite her little nap.  As she stretched to work out the kinks,
she noticed that she was alone in Miyoko's office, and immediately
began to fret.  Rising unsteadily, she was about to go looking for
her girlfriend when she felt something in her uniform blouse.
	Pulling out a piece of paper, she frowned as she read the
note.  She didn't like the thought of being away from Miyoko, but
realized that Miyoko probably felt she would have slept longer.
	After a visit to the ensuite bathroom, Yoriko sighed as
she recalled the events of earlier in the day, the thought of
having to face that again saddening her.  In fact, the entire
scenario depressed her, as she realized her father was not going
to quit until he got his male heir, no matter what he had to do
to them.
	She frowned deeply at that, feeling that any hope of having
a quiet, happy life with the woman she loved was vaporizing before
her eyes.
	Fighting back the tears she could feel coming, she sat on
the edge of Miyoko's desk and took a moment to compose herself.  As
she dried her eyes and tried to change her thoughts away from the
depressing direction they were taking, she suddenly gasped.
	A smile spread across her face as she realized she really
could have the life she so desperately wanted -- if everything she
had just thought of worked out right.  Glancing at her watch, she
snatched her purse from the futon and headed out the door, telling
the startled girls in the outer office that she'd be back in a few
minutes.
	Walking straight to her car, she fired it up and grabbed a
handful of gear, launching it away from the curb with complaining
tires.  She wanted to get to her destination and back before Miyoko
returned, not wanting to have her girlfriend worrying about her.
As well, the plan hatching in her mind was going to take a great
amount of willpower to pull off, and she wanted to get it underway
before she chickened out.




	An older Japanese woman sat in her favorite chair, enjoying
the sunshine streaming in through her third-floor windows.  Beside
her on a small table was a stack of Equestrian magazines, and the
room itself bore many touches of the equine world.  Trophies adorned
several shelves along the walls, as did large pictures of women on
horses, either posing or in mid-jump.  One of the pictures featured
two women, one older, both in riding attire, both smiling, and both
holding large trophies.
	Against one wall, an ornate saddle rested on a wooden horse,
and there were smaller touches, such as crops, helmets and gloves
all over the room as decorator pieces.  The woman flipped a page of
the magazine she had in her lap, seemingly well entertained by what
it presented her.
	Abruptly, she looked up as a shadow crossed her magazine,
and gasped quietly as she caught sight of another person in the
room.  The figure, its back to an east-facing window, was backlit
enough to mute its identity in shadow.
	The woman slowly lowered her magazine, about to cry out,
when the figure turned into the light.  It was a young woman, small
in stature, who sported flame-red hair and huge blue eyes.  It was
the look in those eyes that held the older woman's tongue in check,
somehow indicating her 'guest' could be trusted.
        "Masaka...  You look just like her..." the girl gasped,
raising a hand to cover her gaping mouth.
	The older woman gasped again.  She had heard that phrase
enough times in her life to understand what was meant by it, and
even the prospect excited her to no end.  "Ano...  You know my
Christine...?" she blurted, her face falling.
	"Hai. I am Takara Miyoko.  Hajimemashite," she bowed,
respectfully.  For about five seconds, she toyed with being
diplomatic, but decided she didn't have enough time for a great
deal of pleasantries.  Rising, she looked straight into the older
woman's eyes and set herself.
	"Your daughter and I are in love, and up until recently,
we've been very happy.  Over the last little while, there's been
some 'stuff' happening, and I believe you can help me stop it.  I
figure you know her well enough that if I told you it's because
she's being pressured, you'd understand," she stated, evenly.
	The older woman looked back at her for a few moments, then
blinked and sank back in her chair, her face draining.
        "Ano...  Gomen.  I'm...  A little overwhelmed..." she
breathed, waving a hand before her face.
	"Gomen nasai," Miyoko bowed, worried she'd overdone it.
Yoriko had been very accurate when she described the woman as being
much like herself.  "I didn't mean to come on so strong, but when
someone is harming her, I tend to get a little upset," she stated,
apologetically.
        The woman smiled.  "I know...  I wished many times I could
have protected her like that.  I am White Mika, and I'm pleased to
meet you, Miss Takara," she responded, genuinely.  "That was...
Quite an entrance," she added, still waving her hand.
	"I didn't have time to worry about explaining myself to
guards, Mika-san.  I'm too worried about Christine.  All the 'stuff'
that's been happening is going to put her in the hospital if it
isn't stopped...  Soon."
        The woman's face darkened.  "Ano...  My husband said he had
finally found her, and that she would be home soon...  Then, he
said there was a problem.  Does that have anything to do with what
you're talking about?"
        Miyoko nodded sadly.  "Too much.  Ano...  What happened that
made her leave home?  All she's ever told me is that she had a
problem...  And that it was too painful to discuss," Miyoko baited,
wanting to see what the woman knew.
        "There...  Was a disagreement between Christine and her
father over her wedding, after which she ran out of his office and
was never seen again.  My husband told me all about it the night
it happened.  I...  Haven't seen my little girl since then," she
explained, sadly.  "I do not know what was said," she added,
looking up at Miyoko.
	Miyoko frowned, then sighed out loud.  Settling to her
knees in front of the woman, she crossed her hands in her lap,
drew a breath looked up at her sadly.  "I...  Have some things to
tell you...  They're not going to be pleasant, and in fact, I think
they'll make you really angry," she began, solemnly.
	The woman's eyes widened as she raised a hand to her mouth.
"Please...  I want to hear what you have to say... " she breathed,
worriedly.
        "You'll...  Have to trust me on a few details, but I swear
to you that everything I'm gonna tell you is the truth...  Either
as told to me by Christine, or as we've gone through together...
There's a lot to tell," Miyoko indicated, watching the older
woman's eyes for a reaction.
        "Do not worry...  I can see in your eyes and feel in your
voice that you care about my little girl.  I see no reason to
doubt you," the woman assured, squaring herself.
	Miyoko had to smile.  "Arigato gozaimasu," she bowed, her
face softening slightly.  Steeling herself, she prepared to speak,
but couldn't help but feel slightly guilty about the pain she was
about to inflict on such a pleasant, likable woman.
	In that moment, she decided she really hated Eric Jessop
White.




        "Shimata...!  What the hell was that?" Ryouga blurted as
the sound of shrieking tires echoed through the small shop.  His
face fixed in a scowl, he went to the door to see what had caused
it, only to be met in the doorway by a startled Yoriko.
        "Konnichiwa...  Is Kuonji Ukyou in, please?" Yoriko bowed
nervously, meshing her hands together.
        "Hai...  She's in the back.  Is something wrong,
Yoriko-san?" Ryouga asked, still somewhat surprised by her
presence -- and her demeanor.
        "Ano...  I have a few questions to ask..." she responded
meekly, uncertain of exactly how she was going to ask them.
	"Hey, stranger!  Been *way* too long since I've seen you
in here...  Where's Miyoko?" Ukyou greeted enthusiastically as
she walked up, looking around for her friend.
        "She is...  Out on business.  Kuonji-san, may I speak to
you for a moment in private...?" Yoriko asked, her eyes indicating
her anxiety.
        "Sure, sugar...  C'mon back here where it's quiet," she
gestured, flashing a questioning look at Ryouga.  He could only
shrug.
	Ukyou led Yoriko back to her office and sat her at the desk,
then parked herself on the nearby corner.  "What's up, sugar?  You
look like something's wrong..." she asked, concerned.
        "Iya...  Nothing's...  Wrong.  I came to ask you...  About
Miyoko's curse," Yoriko began, wringing her hands.
        "Hey, relax, honey...  It's okay," Ukyou admonished, unable
to help noticing how nervous the girl was.  "Ryouga-kun, could you
get her a glass of water...  She looks like she's going to do a
face-plant on me, here..." she asked, smirking.
        "Gomen...  I have had...  A very stressful day," Yoriko
deflected, apologetically.  Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm
herself as best her anxious state would let her.
        "Hai...  I can see that...  So, what do you want to know
about her curse?" Ukyou smiled, handing her the water Ryouga had
brought.
        "I..." she began, pausing to take a drink.  "I...  Wanted
to know...  If that object you used to change her back to a man is
still around," she finally managed, only to see Ukyou and Ryouga's
faces both drop.  As she watched them gape back at her, her stomach
started to tighten.  "Ano...  Is...  Something wrong...?" she
ventured, fearfully.
        Ukyou was the first to speak.  "Honey, there's...  Something
we have to tell you..." she began, swallowing hard.





	Akane felt good.  Better than she had in ages.  Her day
seemed brighter, and went by so fast she felt like she just got out
of bed, despite being in the midst of preparing supper.  She was
still on a high from her evening out with Kuno, who had succeeded
in spoiling her rotten all night long.
	Contrary to his past behaviour, he was the perfect gentleman,
treating them to a wonderful dinner and the movie, exactly as he
promised.  Kei was even impressed with him, particularly after he
took the two of them for ice cream after the movie.
	At the end of the evening, he saw Akane to her door, then
simply accepted her thanks for a lovely night out, bowed and left.
	She had to admit, it had felt good to be treated so nicely
by a man, particularly since he insisted on treating her like a
woman.  He had opened doors, pulled out chairs, rose every time she
did, bought her a corsage of carnations; in short, he made her feel
like royalty.
	It was a feeling she liked.
	Looking over at Kei who was happily watching Tenchi, she
recalled how he had said he liked Kuno, even though he talked funny.
In fact, it seemed as though Kei had warmed up to him fairly
quickly, despite never having met him before.
	All in all, Akane was pleased with how things had gone, and
had already decided that if the offer were to come again, she'd take
him up on it.  It had been a lot of fun being spoiled, especially
after everything that had happened the few days previous, and she
found herself looking forward to a second opportunity.
	In the back of her mind however, she still had the nagging
feeling that he was doing it to get on her good side, with the
possible objective of moving in on her.  She wasn't sure she was
ready for that yet, given her two previous strikes -- and Kuno's
own history.  She also knew he had married her sister, but it had
always been apparent that it was a decision motivated, if not
forced, by Nabiki herself.  She had always been good at getting
Kuno to spend money on her; marrying him had only made it official.
	Her face darkened briefly as she recalled the bitter
fighting that ensued, but if anyone could understand such a
situation, it was her.
	Chiding herself for even thinking such things, she went
back and checked her food, noting that it was ready.  As she went
to call Kei to the table, however, she still caught herself
thinking that she would rather be dining out.




	Yoriko simply sat numbly, still blinking. Her already
overstressed mind couldn't deal with this latest blow, leaving
her completely unable to react.  The kettle had been her last
hope of getting her life with Miyoko back to normal, and she had
just had that hope crash and burn before her eyes.
	Ukyou and Ryouga were stunned.  Yoriko had gone from
nervous anticipation to utterly numb in a split second, and she
wasn't reacting to anything they tried.  She wouldn't move,
seemed to be barely breathing, and simply stared straight ahead
with glassy, vacant eyes.
        "Yoriko...  Yoriko...!  C'mon, honey...  Snap out of
it...!" Ukyou repeated, nudging the catatonic girl's shoulder
again.  "It's not that bad...  She wanted to stay a woman,
anyway..." she ventured, anxiously.
	Yoriko's only act was to slump back in her chair like a
dropped rag doll.
	Ukyou gasped as the hand she had just touched the girl's
shoulder with closed around empty air.  "Ryouga...  I think we'd
better call an ambulance...  And Miyoko," she breathed, fearfully.
	Just as Ryouga nodded and reached for the phone, Yoriko
startled both of them with a pitiful attempt at speech.
        "Miyoko-chan..." she blurted shakily, drawing her arms in
across her chest.  "Miyo... ko... chan..." she repeated, then fell
silent.
	Ukyou bit her lip and turned to the equally worried
Ryouga quickly.  "Make the damned call!" she urged, grabbing the
phone book.




	Miyoko frowned as she handed Mika another tissue, the
scene ripping her guts out.  She felt like a pile of processed
hay as she watched the woman crying, knowing that she had probably
just shattered several dearly held ideas.  It hurt her to have done
it, but she consoled herself with the thought that things could
not have continued as they were.
	Her heart aching for Mika, she knelt beside her chair again
and gently touched her arm.
	"Gomen nasai, Mika-chan... " she whispered, even though she
figured it wasn't going to help much.
	Mika, however, surprised her by raising her head and
sniffing back her tears.  Summoning what dignity she had left, she
dabbed her eyes and shook her head.
        "No...  Do not apologize, Takara-san.  I...  have suspected
such things...  For some time.  My husband is a proud man, who does
not accept defeat...  Or failure.   He viewed Christine...  As his
greatest failure as a man.  I regret how he treated her...  And I
regret not having the strength to help her when I knew she was in
trouble," she sniffed, looking at Miyoko with reddened, puffy eyes.
"I did not, however, know of his treatment of her over these past
years.  I feel...  Like I have failed her..." she explained,
breaking down once more.
        "Ano...  Things have gotten worse..." Miyoko stated,
figuring she had best get it over with.  "Right now, Christine is
in my office on the verge of a nervous breakdown...  He used his
'whatever' to buy the restaurant she worked at, and installed her
as the owner.  Did the same thing to me.  Coming after she thought
the situation was behind us, and after everything else she's put up
with through this...  I'm scared that she's going to end up in the
hospital over him and his damned games..." she indicated, her voice
slightly edgy.  "I need *you* to tell him to leave her alone...  He
won't listen to anyone else," she added, urgently.
	Mika raised her tear-soaked face to Miyoko's expectant
gaze -- and shook her head.  "I...  Cannot go against my husband.  I
feel terrible about how he has treated both you and Christine...
But a wife does not tell her husband...  How to conduct himself,"
she sobbed, remorsefully.
	Miyoko lost it.  "I can't believe this...!  Don't you
*care* that your only child is being driven off the deep end by his
bullshit?!?  She told me only the other day how much she missed
you...  How she was so worried about what he had told you about her
disappearance...  *She* gave a damn about you, why the *hell* can't
you give a damn about her?!?  Kuso, I thought *I* had a screwed-up
family!!" she shouted, having to turn away from the woman's face
before she got carried away.
        "I am sorry...  I know I..." Mika began, but Miyoko only
turned back and snarled at her.
        "Save it!!  You two should never have had any children...!
Neither one of you gives a flying damn if she lives or dies...  As
long as 'daddy' gets his heir!!  I've had enough of this shit...
We're getting the hell out of this sick city, and you can tell that
sonovabitch for me that if he so much as looks at her again, I'll
hand him his frigging head!!" she screeched, her aura actually
flaring briefly.
	Mika was speechless.  Her mouth fell open and she slumped
back in her chair, not uttering a sound.  Miyoko huffed disgustedly.
	"Truth hurts, don't it?" she snarled, then turned and
strode to the window.  "I'm sorry I ever met either one of you..."
she added, then opened the window, stepped onto the balcony and
simply leapt off.
	Riding the train back to the city center, Miyoko had to
fight to keep the tears out of her eyes.  It was incomprehensible
to her that even Yoriko's mother had essentially turned her back on
the girl, which spoke volumes about the life she must have led.
Frankly, Miyoko had to wonder how Yoriko had managed to stay sane
as long as she had, when the two people that were supposed to love
and protect her were in fact her worst enemies.
	The trip seemed to take but an instant, Miyoko having been
so wrapped up in her depressing thoughts that she almost missed her
stop.  When she did finally step off the train, she almost ran back
to the School, her worries about Yoriko shifting to the girl's
current state.
	When she rounded the last corner however, her heart sank as
she noticed the car was gone.  Breaking into a run, she dashed in
the door and immediately buttonholed Atsuko.
	"Where did she go...?" she asked anxiously, not even
bothering with any pleasantries.
        "Ano...  Right now, she's at the hospital...  Your friends
called to say she had an 'attack' of some kind, and they called an
ambulance..." the startled girl blurted, nervously.
        "Chikusho...  Which hospital...?"
	"General..." Atsuko stammered, then blinked as she found
herself talking to empty space.  "That girl needs to relax..." she
remarked, shaking her head incredulously.
	Miyoko cursed at the fact that the hospital in question was
at the other end of town, and wished she had chosen to wear a pant
suit instead of a skirt.  That however, paled beside her
gut-wrenching worry over Yoriko's condition.  As she bounded from
rooftop to rooftop as fast as her legs would let her, she couldn't
help but fear the worst.  Images of her beloved Yoriko on
mood-altering drugs came to mind, scaring the hell out of her, and
making her again swear to herself that if nobody else was going to,
she'd make damned sure her father paid for what he did to her.
	Landing in front of the hospital doors, she immediately
raced through them and straight to the Emergency room.  It took
all of five seconds for her to spot Ukyou, standing beside a
curtained bed.
	"Uuchan!!" she called out, dashing over to the bed.  "What
happened...?  Is she gonna be okay?!?" she blurted, moving to the
sleeping Yoriko's side.
        "Ano...  We don't know.  She just kinda went weird on us...
Kept calling for you, but wouldn't respond to anything we did..."
she explained, worriedly.
        "Hai...  The Doc checked her out, gave her a shot and
left...  Said he had to check into something," Ryouga confirmed,
resting his hand on Miyoko's shoulder supportively.
        "Kuso...  She *better* be okay... " Miyoko cursed, taking
the sleeping girl's hand in hers and holding it tightly.
        "Ano...  I don't understand, Miyoko-san...  Why would she
flip out like that...?"  Ukyou broke in, her face bearing an
expression of confusion.
        "It's...  A long story, Uuchan...  Let's just say that
compared to me, *she* had a rough childhood...  And it's come back
to haunt her," Miyoko replied sadly, leaning down to kiss Yoriko's
forehead.  "By the way, why did she go to see you guys...?  I left
a note saying what I was doing..." she abruptly asked, catching
Ukyou by surprise.
        "Ano..." she began, but was interrupted by the arrival of
the Doctor through the curtains.  Silently, she breathed a sigh of
relief.
        "Well, we have her results back...  I conferred with a
specialist from the Psych Department, and it seems as though she's
suffering from mental exhaustion; she's going to need about a good
couple weeks to a month to recover.  She's to be kept away from
any sort of stress, and try to keep her from worrying about
things...  If that's possible," he stated, smirking slightly.
	A unanimous sigh of relief ruffled the curtains as all
present felt their shoulders drop, especially Miyoko.  "That's
great...  Thanks, Doc.  Can she go home now...?" she asked,
hopefully.
        "Soon...  We want to check her pressure when she wakes up.
Are you next of kin...?" the Doctor asked, looking down at her
chart.
        "About as close as she'll ever get...  I'm her room mate,"
Miyoko responded, darkly.  The Doctor raised an eyebrow.  "No
family, then...?" he asked, piquing Miyoko's attention.
        "Ano...  No.  She lost them a while ago...  Why?" she
asked, suspiciously.
	"Just for her records.  Your friends didn't know her
history.  All right then, she'll sleep for about another three
hours, then if her pressure is good and she's cognizant, she
can go home.  Just make sure she's given plenty of rest, and
keep her relaxed.  The next step is some sort of pharmaceutical
control, and that's never a preferable option.  I'll see you in
a few hours, then," he indicated, then flashed a smile and
stepped through the curtains.
	Miyoko frowned deeply, then looked over at Ukyou and
Ryouga.  "By the way...  Thanks for getting her here, guys... I
appreciate it," she bowed, looking down at Yoriko's peaceful face.
        "No problem, Miyoko...  We're just glad things are gonna be
okay," Ukyou smiled, with a seconding nod from Ryouga.  "Ano...
We have to get back to the shop, sugar...  Call us later," she added,
then nudged Ryouga out through the curtains discreetly but quickly.
	Nodding absently at their departure, Miyoko reached over
and gently fixed Yoriko's hair, then let her hand rest on the
girl's forehead.  Her heart ached as she watched the girl breathe,
feeling both sorry for her and angry at her 'parents' for having
done this to her.
	Inwardly, she cursed herself for not having been able to
protect her girlfriend from what had occurred, and silently wished
she could turn back the hands of time; even just two months.
Smirking to herself at the thought, she let her mind drift back over
the tumultuous period, amazed that she wasn't in the next bed over
herself.  It had actually been a rough ride -- even for someone
from Nerima.
	Sighing sadly, she lifted her foot and got a toe-hold on a
nearby chair, dragging it over so that it was beside the bed.  Not
letting go of Yoriko's hand, she sat down beside the bed and
rearranged herself to rest her head on her girlfriend's hand.  This
time, she wasn't going to leave until Yoriko could leave with her.
	As she sat quietly, her mind was racing full speed, trying
to figure out what she was going to do about Yoriko's father.  It
was obvious that she had to do something, or the situation she now
found herself in was going to become the norm rather than the
exception.  So far, however, all she'd garnered from her efforts
was a headache.
	Sighing again, she cast a glance up at Yoriko's face,
noting how peaceful she looked; and then remembered that anyone
would look peaceful after a buttful of Demerol.
	Abruptly, a thought struck her, making her start to grin
wryly.  She found herself wishing that the Jusenkyo Springs were
still around, so she could order up a bucket of 'Spring of
Drowned Ass' for Yoriko's father.  The whole idea struck her as so
funny, she actually started to laugh, albeit quietly.
	Then suddenly, her laughing stopped as her face fell.
"Masaka...  That's it!!" she exclaimed out loud, almost jumping to
her feet.
	She had finally thought of something guaranteed to get
Yoriko's father to back off...  And all she needed was a little
help from a friend.




        ""Morning, sleepyhead...!" Miyoko chimed, rolling open
the blinds on their bedroom window, her smile almost as bright as
the morning sun.
        "Ano...  Miyoko-chan...?  What...  Time is it...?" Yoriko
groaned, sleepily.
        "It's just after ten, Yori-chan...  I figure you've slept
long enough," she smirked, setting the breakfast tray down on the
bed, then sitting beside it.
        "Aiy...!  Ten?  I never sleep that late...!" Yoriko
panicked, flinging the blankets off.
        "Hey, girl...  Relax!  You're on the injured reserve list
now, remember?  Couple weeks at least.  Here...  I made you some
breakfast...  The only thing I want you to worry about is getting
it into you," Miyoko admonished, wagging a finger at the
flabbergasted blonde.
	Yoriko blinked, then broke into a smile.  "You made me
breakfast...?  I'm supposed to do that for you...!" she objected,
albeit weakly.
	"Not!  At least not for a while anyway..." Miyoko winked,
leaning over and kissing her affectionately.  "Mmmm...  Now, I get
to spoil you for a while," she grinned, handing her the TV remote
that was sitting on the breakfast tray.
        "Ano...  You're too much, Miyoko-chan..." Yoriko smirked,
looking up to note the newly relocated television sitting atop
Miyoko's dresser.
        "I just want to make sure you take it easy...  I have to
go out for a while, cause there's some stuff at work that they
need me for..." she pouted affectedly, patting Yoriko's leg.  "So I
won't be able to stay here and watch your every move," she smirked,
eyeing Yoriko evilly.
        "Hunh...  I'm glad you're going out...!  You're worse than
that nurse from last night," Yoriko complained, then started to
laugh.  "I'll be good, Miyoko-chan...  I promise," she assured,
touching Miyoko's cheek.
        "You'd better...  Or I'll have to tie you to that bed,"
Miyoko warned, wagging her eyebrows.
	Yoriko's eyes flashed.  "Well, in that case..." she
smirked, holding up her wrists.
	Miyoko lost it.  "Baka ne..." she laughed, then kissed
Yoriko's cheek and slid off the bed.  "I gotta go before I decide
to take you up on that...  See you soon, Yori-chan...  Remember...
Stay off your feet and rest!"  she called back, heading for
the door.
	"Yes, dear...!" Yoriko called back, sticking her tongue
out.
	Once outside the door, Miyoko's face instantly darkened.
Picking up the pre-placed bag from beside the door, she looked at
it and smiled wickedly.




	Eric White sat at his desk glumly, wondering why he hadn't
heard from Christine about his 'gestures' as of yet.  It had been
over 24 hours since the transactions went through, and he had
anticipated that Miyoko, being the hothead she was, would have been
itching to get hold of him.
	Sighing, he tapped the spacebar on his keyboard to wake up
his monitor, figuring it was about time he checked his messages.
His morning meeting already in the books, he needed to see what
else was on tap.
	As he made it to about his eighth message, he was startled
by a piece of paper falling on top of his keyboard, followed by
the sound of someone clearing their throat.
	His heart fell to the bottom of his gut.
	Slowly, he raised his gaze to meet a certain pair of
sapphire blue eyes, framed by a head of flame red hair.
        "Boo!" Miyoko smirked, amazed by the fact that Eric
actually jumped.
        "Shimata...!  What are *you* doing here!?" he spat
fearfully, leaning back away from her.
        "Keeping a promise," she responded, setting her bag on the
front of his desk.
        "Ano...  What the hell are you talking about...?" he
blinked, glaring at her.
        "Simple, White old man..." she began, taking two large
wooden casks out of the bag and setting them on the desk.  "Let's
see how good your memory is...  You know about my curse, right?
Do you remember how I got it?" she asked, resting her hands on the
desk either side of the casks and leaning forward.
        "Ano...  Something about some 'Cursed Pools'..." he
responded, his face indicating his confusion.
	"Bingo!  Well, guess what I did...?  After that stunt you
pulled yesterday, I figured you didn't believe that I meant what
I said about leaving us alone.  So, I made a few calls, and thanks
to the miracle of overnight shipping, I got some friends in China
to send me a couple of samples of 'Cursed Pool Water'.  This one
is 'Pool of Drowned Little Black Pig', and this one is 'Pool of
Drowned Ass'," she indicated, pointing each one out in turn.
"This is the stuff that does it, pal...  One splash with this,
and you're cursed for life; there's no cure.  All I need to know
is, which one would you like to be...  'Cause before I leave,
you're taking a bath...!" she snarled, glaring across the desk
at him.
	His face paled so much, Miyoko thought he was going to
faint.  "Ano...  You...  Can't be serious..." he gasped, sinking
back into his chair.
	Miyoko looked insulted.  "Oh, really?  Kuso, I hate it
when people doubt my word," she frowned, grabbing the casks and
striding toward the door.  Flinging it open, she looked around for
a moment, then abruptly yelled.
	"Hey...!  You...!  Hai!  Drop that stuff and c'mere for a
minute...  Mr. White needs a hand in here...!" she called out,
gesturing for the person to join her.
        "Ano...  I'm here, I'm... * " a young man responded as he
stepped in the door, only to end up with a face full of water.
Eric White lived up to his name as he watched the young man
instantly change into a small, wet, and extremely angry little
black pig.
        "Okay, piggy-piggy...  Hit the road...!" Miyoko sneered
evilly, kicking the man's clothes back out the door after the pig
darted through.
        "Masaka...  You just...  Cursed him...!" he gasped,
incredulously.
	Miyoko only nodded, smirking evilly as she sauntered back
to the desk.  "Well, pal...  Looks like you don't get a choice any
more... 'Drowned Ass' it is," she smirked, holding up the second
cask and pulling off the top.  "I hope that suit wasn't too
expensive..." she remarked, preparing to toss the contents of the
cask.
        "NO!!  For the love of Pete, NO!!" he yelled, diving out
of his chair and scrambling across the room.
        "Hey, buddy...  I warned you fair and square, but you
didn't listen...  And Yoriko spent last night at the damned
hospital because of it!!  It's time you paid the price, asshole,
and personally, I can't think of a better way!" Miyoko countered
angrily, leaping over the desk and landing mere feet from the
terrified man.  "So, be a man about it and accept your
punishment!!" she continued angrily, winding up for another toss.
        "NO!!  WAIT!!  I'll leave you alone...  I'll forget you
exist!!  Just don't...  Please...  I'm begging you..." he wheedled,
now so horrified that his hands were shaking.
        "Hah!  You bullshitted me once, buddy...  I ain't falling
for it again!" Miyoko hissed, taking a step toward him.
        "Ah...  Ahhh...  I'll put it on paper!!  I swear it!!  Just
stay away from me...!!" he responded, trying to creep further away.
	Miyoko growled at him, looked thoughtful for a moment, then
capped the cask.  "You got two minutes, jerk...!" she snarled, her
eyes flashing angrily.
	Eric nodded furiously, then scrambled back to his desk.
Grabbing his keyboard, he began to type furiously until Miyoko
grabbed his arm.
	"By hand, in pen.  I don't want you saying it's a fake
later... " she intoned, handing him a pen.
	A short while later, she stepped out of his office and
smiled, holding the cask, an envelope, and a newly optimistic
attitude.  Humming happily, she headed down the hallway toward a
prearranged rendezvous.  Just outside the men's room, a small
black pig waited patiently, sitting amidst a pile of clothes.
	Miyoko broke out in a wide smile and extended her hand
for a low paw.  "Thanks, buddy!  It worked like a charm!!" she
exclaimed, happily.




	"Oh, it was sweet!"  Miyoko exclaimed, handing Yoriko a
piece of the celebration cake she had just cut.  "You should have
seen his face when Ryouga here changed...  It was incredible!!  I
wish I would've had a camera!" she gushed, laughing.
	"I can't believe it's real...!" Yoriko gasped, looking up
from the paper she was reading.
        "Believe it, Yori-chan!  It's actually over...  I'm keeping
the School, you get the restaurant...  And you get to keep your car.
Hell, he was so anxious to get me and my 'water' out of there that
he agreed with everything...!" Miyoko grinned, excitedly.  "And the
best part...  I got it all on paper!!"
        "Miyoko-chan, you're incredible...  No wonder I love you so
much!" Yoriko squealed, wrapping a huge hug around the redhead.
        "Hai... 'Nuts' is more like it..." Ukyou chimed in,
shaking her head.  "What if he would have called you on it...?" she
asked, trying the cake.
        "That's why I brought Ryouga...  I figured after he saw
that, someone with his hang-ups would freak...  And he did!" she
responded happily, flashing a pixie grin.
        "Ano...  'Freak' doesn't describe it...  I thought he was
going to have a heart attack...!" Ryouga laughed, remembering his
face.
	"Hai, hai!  I tell you, I had to fight to keep from
laughing...!" Miyoko added, happily.  "But what really makes me
happy...  Is that it's all finished.  He's not going to bother us
any more, and we get to just enjoy each other again, instead of
worrying about what the hell is going to happen next," she
continued, reaching over and pulling Yoriko close to her.  "And
that's all I ever wanted," she smiled, kissing Yoriko's forehead.
	Yoriko nestled into the embrace contentedly, nodding her
approval.  "Me, too," she smiled, winking at Miyoko.
        "Well, I'm happy for you guys...  And I hope you're right.
This place was starting to feel too much like Nerima..." Ukyou
remarked, shaking her head.
        "Don't say that!!" Miyoko and Ryouga both responded,
then looked at each other and laughed.  Ukyou smirked at them,
then joined in.
        "You know something...?  This is weird..." Miyoko
observed a few moments later, her face sobering thoughtfully.
        "Ano...  What's weird, Miyoko-chan?" Yoriko asked, looking
up at her.
        "Heh...  This feeling of not being on edge...  But...  Tell
you the truth, I like it..." she smiled, looking first at Yoriko,
and then at the others.  "I like it a lot," she announced, happily.




==========================================================
END - Secrets V2P7                     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva


Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Note!  This story is based on events and characters from a
previous work, "Secrets".  You should be familiar with that
story, or this one won't make any sense!  To get "Secrets",
or any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Friends and Lovers - Part One             A "Secrets" side story
----------------------------------------------------------------



	Miyoko lowered her sunglasses and looked up at the man
beside her.
	"What part of 'get lost' did you miss, buddy?"
	He grinned.  "I just don't give up that easy.  If I did,
I wouldn't be much of a man, now would I?"
	Miyoko bit her tongue, sized him up with an exaggerated
eye movement, then huffed.  She guessed him to be a university
student, definitely unskilled, and certainly cocky.  Just as she
went to return her gaze to his, she spotted a group of other guys
standing a few yards off, watching as if they expected fireworks.
	Luckily for her persistent 'suitor', she just wasn't in the
mood today.
	"Well, unless you want your buddies there to see you get 
your ass hauled off to jail, then you'd better just walk away 
quietly - before I start screaming 'rape'.  And since I know a lot
of the cops in this town..."
	His smile fled.  He looked at her eyes, glanced at his 
buddies, then at the large number of families walking near them.
	"Uh, sure thing, lady.  Sorry to disturb you."  A quick bow,
and he was gone.
	"Hentai," she spat, then pushed her glasses up and settled
back to her mini-lounge.  It was one of her rare days off, and it
just happened to be the warmest, sunniest day so far.  The last
thing she wanted to do was spend it exerting herself, since she'd
just come off a week of twelve hour shifts.
	Unfortunately, since her arrival just after lunch, she had
been plagued by a steady stream of unwelcome 'suitors'.  It was
rapidly making her wonder why she'd listened to Michi in the first
place; being the only one in the club without a tan wasn't that big
of a deal.
	With a long sigh, she laid her arms alongside her
bikini-clad form and closed her eyes, hoping that she'd be left
alone long enough to actually get some colour.  The mid-Kyoto park
was a nice place, but as she was discovering, it could also be a
very busy one.
	And it took only about fifteen minutes for that theory to
prove itself -- again.
	In the near distance, she heard the sound of her most recent
annoyance's voice, hitting on yet another girl.  This time, however,
he was being more persistent.
	Curious, she opened her eyes and turned her head toward the
sounds, and saw him hovering over a petite blonde-haired girl.  She
was standing with her back to a tree, and looked completely
flustered; as if she had no idea how to deal with what was
happening.
	The guy seemed as if he either didn't notice or didn't care,
and kept up his attempts.  The girl became more and more distraught,
and finally buried her face in her hands and broke down in tears.
	Miyoko pulled up her legs and launched herself to her feet.
	He'd been warned.
	Silently, she walked up behind the guy, who was now trying
to weasel into the girl's graces by sounding sympathetic.  Her
hackles bristled.
	She stopped immediately behind him, and after a moment,
tapped his shoulder.  He jumped, then yelped when he saw who it
was.
	"Hey!  I'm not bothering you!"
	"You're bothering my friend - and that *really* bothers me.
You got two seconds to vanish -- before I hand you what you do your 
thinking with."
	"You?" he laughed, looking her up and down.
	By the time he finished, she handed him his belt, wallet 
and keys.  "Any other stupid questions?"
	He shook his head.  
	"Good.  Now pick up your pants and get the hell out of 
here; before I really get mad."
	She huffed as he stumbled away, then turned her attention 
to the girl.  She was amazed to note that she was still sobbing 
into her hands, and apparently oblivious to the entire scene.
	"It's okay now; he's gone, and he ain't coming back," she
opened, as gently as she could.
	The girl didn't respond.
	"Hey; you okay?" she asked, and leaned a bit closer.  The
girl jumped, then slowly lowered her hands.  Miyoko almost gasped at
the pair of incredible sea-green eyes that seemed to leap out at
her.
	"G-gomen...  I...  Didn't hear you," the girl sniffed,
wiping at her face.
	"Don't worry about it.  I know how it feels," she smiled
back, with a sharp nod.  "You gonna be okay, though?"
	The girl nodded, but it seemed to Miyoko that she did so a
bit quickly.
        "H-hai.  I should be fine now.  Thank you for helping me."
	"Okay; if you say so.  Anybody else bugs you, you just let
me know.  I'm right over there."
	"I-I will.  Thank you again," the girl responded, then
proffered a weak smile.  Even though it was obviously forced,
Miyoko found herself noticing it was a pretty smile - and how it
looked so out of place on the girl's wet face.
	"Shimata; just a minute," she huffed, then strode back to 
her beach bag, pulled out a tissue pack and brought it back over to
the girl.  "Here; looks like you need these more than I do."
	"Oh, no...  You don't need to..." she protested, but Miyoko
cut her off.
	"Yes, I do.  Can't have you walking around here looking
like that.  Just keep 'em, I got lots more," she smiled, then
turned to go back to her lounger again.  "Have a better one, ne?"
	With that, Miyoko walked back to her spot, hoping to avoid
any further protests.  She had the feeling that the girl was
probably raised in a very proper household, based on her timidity
and politeness.  And that, in turn, explained why she'd started to
cry about being hit on.
	"Probably never been face to face with a guy in her life,"
she mused to herself, suppressing the urge to shake her head.
	As she settled back down, she put her glasses back on and
sighed, again hoping she'd be left alone.  It proved once more to
be a futile hope.
	"Ano...  Sumimasen?"
	She reached up and lifted her glasses, then turned to see
the blonde-haired girl standing a few feet away, looking very meek.
	"Hiya -- something wrong?"
	"Uhm...  I... Didn't introduce myself.  My name...  Is
Naganato Yoriko, and I am pleased to meet you.  Please forgive me
for being so rude."
	Miyoko had to smirk, but she tried to make it look like a
smile.  "Don't sweat it.  I'm Takara Miyoko, by the way, and I'm
pleased to meet you, too," she responded, as she sat up.  "You 
feeling any better?"
	"Hai, I am.  The tissues helped a lot."
	"Yeah; well, you kinda looked like you needed 'em.  What
did that bakayarou say to you, anyway?"
	"Uhm...  It...  Wasn't anything he said.  I...  Just...
Had a fight with my boyfriend, and..." she began, her voice fading
to a whisper as she lowered her face.
	Miyoko felt her heart twinge.  "Been there," she huffed,
turning on her seat.  "So what'd he do to you?"
	The girl's head snapped up, revealing two very wide eyes.
"Uh...  No, I...  Don't want to trouble you.  You've already been
more than kind."
        Miyoko shook her head and grinned.  "Too late.  Now you
gotta finish the story."
        The girl opened her mouth, but couldn't seem to get the
words to come out - just as Miyoko expected.  At that, she pulled
a towel from her bag and set it out on the sand.
        "This should keep your pants clean," she stated, then
gestured toward it.
        The girl looked at it, then at her.  Miyoko nodded, then
gestured again.
        She stood her ground a moment longer, then her shoulders
dropped a bit, and she moved to sit.  Miyoko couldn't help but see
the relief wash over her face, despite her attempt to hide it.
        When the girl finally arranged her legs under herself, she
looked up again, only to gasp at the can of pop that Miyoko was
now holding toward her.
        "It's not the coldest, but it helps on a day like this,"
she grinned again, then put it in the girl's hand.
        "No; you don't need to..."
        "Yes, I do.  It's hot, and you're overdressed.  Hell, I'd
be dying in that outfit."
        The girl flushed.  "I...  Am a bit warm.  I thought it was
going to be cooler today."
        "Figured.  Lose the sweater; it's way too hot for that kind
of stuff."
        "But...  My blouse is..."
        "Conservative.  Compared to me, you look like a
schoolteacher."  While she spoke, Miyoko looked down at what there
was of her attire, and smirked.  "Jeese; compared to me, a jogger'd
be well dressed!"
        The girl giggled.  "I think you look very nice," she
stated, as a genuine smile grew on her still-tear-streaked face.
        "Hrmph.  Now you're being too kind," Miyoko puffed, reaching
for her hasty ponytail.  "I never even did my hair today, since it's
my day off.  These little snappy things come in real handy.  Anyway,
get that sweater off; you're making me hot just looking at it."
        "All right..." the girl finally agreed, then slipped it off
quickly.  Miyoko shook her head as she watched her fold it neatly
in her lap.  Out of curiosity, she glanced at the girl's blouse,
and noted only that it was a bit form fitting, and that she couldn't
see anything through it - again, just as she thought.
        "See?  You look fine, and you'll feel better, too," she
smirked, holding up an 'ok' sign.  "So, tell me about yourself; you
from around here?"
        "Hai; but I lived at the other end of the city.  I...  Don't
know this side very well."
        "Then how'd you end up here?"
        The girl wilted.  "I...  Don't know.  I've been walking
around for hours...  And just...  Found myself here."
        "Wow; musta been some fight."
        "It was...  He...  He called me some terrible things - and...
And then he just threw me out - and t-told me...  H-he never wanted
to see me again!" she sobbed, dissolving into a flood of tears.
        "Chikusho.  I'm really sorry, Naganato-san; I didn't
mean to drag all that up," she attempted, resting her hand on the
girl's shuddering shoulder.
        The girl shook her head vehemently.  "Iya; I...  I'm
s-s-sorry, Takara-san - I...  I just don't know what to do; I-I...
I've never had anything like this happen to me...  I don't know what
I'm going to do!"
        "Shhh...  It's okay, Naganato-san; it's okay," Miyoko
soothed, beginning to wonder what she'd gotten herself into.  At
that same moment, she happened to notice the attention they were
attracting.  "Kuso; c'mon, Naganato-san...  We better go for a
walk before this crowd gets any bigger," she urged, rising and
helping the still blubbering girl to her feet.
        After taking a second to gather her effects, she took the
girl's hand and started for the walkway path.  Once they'd left the
small patch of sand and the gawkers behind, she slowed her pace
and let go of the girl's hand.
        "Man; you'd think they'd show a little damned compassion," 
she grumbled, rooting through her bag to find her beach shirt.  It
wasn't until she pulled it out that she noticed she was alone.  
"Naganato-san?  Where...?" she began, only to spot the girl 
standing a few paces behind her, wiping at her face.  Her heart 
sank.  "Uhmm...  Naganato-san?  Did I hurt you?"
	The girl lowered her face for a moment, then began to
fidget with her hands.  "Iya, iya; you...  You've been very sweet;
which is why I should go.  I...  I really don't want to involve you
any further...  In my problems."
	Miyoko had to fight down a disgusted eyeroll.  Despite her
words, it was pretty obvious that the girl really didn't want to be
left alone, and under the circumstances, Miyoko couldn't blame her.
	"Shimata; and here I was thinking about asking you to grab
a bite with me; there's a neat little place right over there," she
frowned, doing her best to look greatly disappointed.  "Sure you
don't want to think it over?"
        The girl looked back as if she was going to protest, but
Miyoko wasn't about to let her.  She knew full well that Kyoto
would eat a naive, innocent kid like her alive - especially at
night.
	She waited until the first hint of a sound came from the
girl's uncertain lips, then instantly cut her off.  "Great!  Let's
go!" she exulted, then grabbed her hand and nearly dragged her
across the street.
	After helping the girl get cleaned up, Miyoko slipped into
her black denim shorts, but as she hadn't expected to be going 
anywhere but the park, she was stuck with her suit-top and shirt.
	She assumed, from the odd looks she got, that her new
friend wasn't used to seeing such 'casual' dress.  It made her 
wonder how the girl would react if she were ever to see the
'uniforms' she wore at work; they weren't any more revealing, but
were definitely meant to be sexy.
	When they arrived at the table Miyoko picked out, it
seemed as if the little conversation they'd so far exchanged had
ground to a halt.  The girl kept her eyes down, other than when
someone would pass the windows of the shop.  And when she did
raise them, Miyoko swore she could see fear.
	After about five minutes, she'd had enough.
	"What gives, Naganato-san?  You look like you're afraid
of your own shadow."
	The girl jumped.  "Iya; it's...  I..."
	"Kuso...  Lemme guess; you're afraid he'll come looking
for you or something, right?"
	The girl's eyes widened for a moment, then she withered.
"He...  He told me not to tell anyone what happened - because he'd
know.  He'd know, and he'd..." she began, only to stop for another
sniff.
	"Feh; that's pure crap, Naganato-san.  It's a control
thing; he figures if he scares the hell out of you, you won't
embarrass him.  If you buy into that load of bull, then you're
letting him win," Miyoko huffed, leaning toward the girl.
	Her eyes widened again.  "Iya...  I'm sure he'll..."
	"No way; he's probably sitting in a bar with his buddies,
telling them all about how he put you in your place.  I see it all
the time at work," she countered, then sighed when she saw the
girl lower her face again.  "Look, Naganato-san; I've been down
this road, and the way I see it, you can either sit here and cry,
or get over it and move on...  I know that ain't easy, but it
beats the hell out of wasting your life over someone who ain't
worth it.  Trust me, I know."
	The girl raised her head as if she was going to protest
further, but when she went to speak, she started to lose it.
	Miyoko had seen enough.
	She moved her chair closer to the defeated-looking girl,
and as she wiped at her face, Miyoko reached out and caught her
hand.
	"You can do it, kiddo...  I'm living proof."
	The girl sniffed, then met Miyoko's gaze with fearful eyes.
"But...  But I don't know how...  I...  Really don't."
	Miyoko smiled.  "You don't need to worry about that.  Since
there ain't no way I'm gonna let that bastard win, I'll help you
any way I can."
	The girl's eyes widened briefly, then slowly, as Miyoko
felt her search her eyes, her face softened - and a hopeful smile
found its way through her tears.  "You...  You will?"
	"You got my word on it.  C'mon...  Lemme buy you a hot
chocolate or something; you look like you could use it."
	Her sodden smile was worth a billion yen.





	Miyoko set down her mug.  "You're kidding me; you have
nothing?"
	Yoriko shook her head.  "I...  Have a little money; but I
didn't get a chance to get anything else.  It all...  Happened too
fast."
	Miyoko couldn't believe her ears.  She'd just been handed
the perfect excuse to give the girl something else to think about.
"Good.  A clean break is the best kind; we'll just take you out
and get you a few things - not much; just enough to hold you over
until we can find you a job."
	"A job?"
	"Yeah; you're going to need one.  I know of a couple places
that might be looking for girls...  If you don't mind slinging
noodles or burgers."
	"But...  I've never had a job.  I wouldn't know what to
do..."
	"Feh; they'll train you.  Those outfits always do.  I
worked at a bunch of 'em when I first got here, and they'll do
until you get some experience.  Then you can move up to something
classier."
	The girl didn't look convinced.  "I still don't know if I
can..."
	Miyoko shook her head.  "Sure you can.  I learned, and
this thing's made of cement," she smirked, rapping on her forehead.
"For someone as bright as you, it'll be a piece of cake."
	The girl blinked.  "Iya...  I'm not that smart..."
	"I don't buy that for a minute.  How far'd you get in
school?"
	"I...  Have a degree in Equestrian Sciences - it's not a
normal degree, though."
	Miyoko huffed.  "See?  I don't know what that means, but I
do know that it says you've been to university.  You're plenty
smart enough; hell, you'd probably take one of those places over
in a year," she grinned, then reached down to retrieve her bag.
"Anyway, enough talk.  Let's go shopping."
	For the second time since they'd met, the girl smiled.





	On the way to the strip, Miyoko detoured around to her
apartment, intent on changing into something more comfortable.
During the trip, she noticed how her new friend seemed to want to
stay right in her footsteps, almost as if afraid to lose sight
of her.
	All in all, the girl's behaviour spoke volumes about her
background and self-esteem, and didn't surprise Miyoko at all.
It was obvious that what she'd been through had been pretty bad;
it had completely stripped away whatever confidence she might have
had.
	As they stepped off the elevator, Miyoko had already
decided she had to do something about that; this Yoriko would never
make it if she didn't get the confidence to take care of herself.
	"Okay, Naganato-san; we're here," she grinned, as she
unlocked her door and gestured the girl through.  "I gotta hit the
girl's room, then go get changed.  If you want a drink or
something, kitchen's through there.  Make yourself at home, and
I'll be right out."
	"Ano...  Thank you, but I'll just wait here, Takara-san."
	"Suit yourself, but it don't bother me.  I trust you," she
countered, then smiled and turned away from the girl's surprised
face.  "Step one," she thought to herself, and headed to the bath
without looking back.
	When she returned a few minutes later, she had to smirk
at what she found.  The girl had indeed gone into the kitchen, but
had done so to wash the few dishes left in the sink.
	"Thanks, but that wasn't quite what I had in mind,
Naganato-san," she chided, shaking her head.
	The girl turned around, and to Miyoko's surprise, grinned.
"You said to make myself at home."
	Miyoko blinked, then smirked.  "Baka."
        The girl giggled, then turned and put away the tea towel.
As she did, Miyoko caught herself thinking how great her giggle
sounded - and how good it felt to hear it.
	She was still smiling as she walked to her closet to pick
out a jacket, knowing the air conditioning in the malls was arctic.
	After a few moments looking through her selection, however,
she discovered that she didn't have any that worked with the jeans
she'd put on.  A frown crossed her face as she realized that since
she hadn't done laundry recently, she didn't have many options
left.
	"Kuso; I have to go change again, Naganato-san.  It'll
only take a sec, but go ahead and check out the TV if you want,"
she puffed, then turned to face the girl.
	She looked surprised.  "You knew I was here?"
	Miyoko nodded.  "Sure; my floor squeaks.  Remote's over on
the couch arm," she stated, then grinned and headed to her room.
	As she closed the door behind her, she wasn't surprised to
hear the girl cross the room, pick up the remote, and then station
herself outside the bedroom.
	And when she stepped back out a few minutes later, the
girl was still there, leaning against the wall and straining to
see the TV.
	"You're gonna hurt your neck doing that," she snickered,
as she did up the last of her bodice ties.
	"Iya; I'm fine..." the girl began, until she turned and
got her first look at the Chinese two-piece pantsuit Miyoko had 
changed into.  Her face fell.  "A-ano..."
	Miyoko erked.  "What?  Does it look that bad?"
	"Iya, iya, Takara-san!  It looks...  Perfect on you," she
breathed, through the hand covering her gaping mouth.  "Are...
Are you from the mainland?"
	"Hell, no; I went there as a kid, and I just got to like
the clothes.  Kuso, don't scare me like that; I haven't worn this
one for a while, and you had me thinking there was a reason why,"
she puffed, with a shake of her head.
	"It's beautiful, Takara-san.  You should wear it more
often," the girl smiled, an unusual tone to her voice as she
admired the form-fitting, short-sleeved teal top and capri-length 
pants.
	Miyoko had to laugh.  "More often?  I wear these all the
time," she chuckled, then turned to walk to the closet again.
	"I can see why..." the girl commented, then seemed to
start.  "Ano...  Takara-san?  May I use your bathroom please?"
	"Sure; it's all yours," Miyoko waved over her shoulder,
still chuckling.  "And by the way; you don't need to ask; it's
there - use it."
	The girl blinked, then smiled politely.  "Arigato; I'll
only be a minute."
	"Take your time, Naganato-san; I ain't in no hurry," she
countered, then smiled as she heard the girl turn and head for
the bath.
	When she heard the door close, she puffed out a long
sigh.
	"Girl, you got a long way to go..."



====================================================================
END - Friends and Lovers - Part One     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Commenst Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


_____________________________________________________________
Catch all my 'Fics at my little house on the Bay!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295/
coutuva@vecdev.com, coutuva@hotmail.com, 
coutuva@altavista.com, coutuva@yahoo.com

"No, we don't broadcast animation live any more... it
puts too much of a strain on the Artist's wrists."

From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Note!  This story is based on events and characters from a
previous work, "Secrets".  You should be familiar with that
story, or this one won't make any sense!  To get "Secrets",
or any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Friends and Lovers - Part Two             A "Secrets" side story
----------------------------------------------------------------



	Miyoko began to wonder if the girl hadn't fallen in.
        A glance at the clock confirmed that at least fifteen
minutes had elapsed since her new friend had gone into the
bathroom, which only made her more curious.
	She was about five seconds away from investigating when
the door finally opened, and out stepped a stranger.
	"Wow; no wonder you were so long," she grinned, surprised 
at the transformation.  In place of the slightly disheveled girl 
she had last seen, there now stood a perfectly coifed and 
attractive young woman.  Her torso-length hair was immaculately 
arranged straight down her back, save for two perfectly equal 
locks that were drawn back from above and slightly ahead of her 
ears.
	And from its enlivened sheen, it was fairly obvious that
the girl had spent most of her time brushing it out.
	"Do you...  Like it?" she asked, looking as if her life
depended on the answer as she meshed her hands before her legs.
	"Hai; you look great, Naganato-san," Miyoko responded, as
she walked over to get a better look.  When she was close enough to
see the back of the girl's head, she wasn't surprised to see the
band locks knitted into an immaculate weave.  "Hell, you're making
me want to go fix this mop," she smirked, running her fingers
through her now unrestrained, shoulder length, dark green tresses.
	"Iya; you have good, strong hair, Takara-san.  It has
enough body for you to wear it however you wish - not like me," the
girl countered, as she reached up and took some in her fingers,
then fanned it out.  "My hair is very, very fine, and the slightest
mistake shows up across the room.  I wish it was as forgiving as
yours."
	Miyoko had to chuckle.  Score one for the pro.
	"Congratulations, Naganato-san.  You must be the only
person I know who can tell someone their hair is a mess, and make
them feel good about it."
        As expected, the girl looked horrified.  "Iya, iya!
That's not what I meant!"
        Miyoko broke up.  "Don't worry; I was only teasing you,
Naganato-san.  Here; slide this on, and let's head out," she
laughed, as she handed the girl a jacket.
        The girl blinked, then frowned.  "That really wasn't funny,
Takara-san," she pouted, as she took the jacket and slipped it on.
        "Well, I thought it was just hilarious - you should have
seen the look on your face."
        As Miyoko continued to laugh, the girl didn't respond - until
the corner of her mouth twitched.  A heartbeat later, a smile fought
its way through, and she tried to hide her straining face.
        Miyoko wasn't about to let that go.  She leaned down, found
the girl's eyes and did a quick impression of the pout.
        The girl lasted all of five seconds before she finally broke
up, and they were still laughing as they stepped into the elevator.





        "Yeah, I guess I don't mind working there; the club's been
pretty good to me since the new guy bought it.  The only thing that
makes me crazy sometimes is that he keeps changing our uniforms.
The old owner was just a pig; he'd sit in the bar and stare at us
all day."
        "That must have been awful...  Couldn't you do anything?"
        "Why?  Sure, it was creepy to have him doing it, but he
never did anything worse.  Plus, I needed the job, the money was
pretty good, and figured if he didn't bug me, I wouldn't bug him.
Besides...  And I know this sounds bad, but...  I'm kinda used to
it.  Been at the club for a couple years now, and it happens all
the time."
        "That doesn't sound bad, Takara-san...  Not the way you
say it."
        "Thanks, but believe me, I could tell you some
stories - then again, you probably know exactly what I mean."
        The girl flushed, then averted her face.  "Hai..."
        "Figured; especially after what happened at the park
today," she grinned back, then, as she turned her gaze forward,
stopped in her tracks.  "Hey; look where we are!  I know the guy
who runs this building!  C'mon, Naganato-san; if he's got anything
open, I might be able to get you a place right now!  This guy
owes me."
        The girl stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide.  "Really?
You mean...  My -- my own apartment?"
        "Yep; well, in this kind of building, your own room is
more like it.  They're small, but they're cheap and usually clean.
Want me to talk to him?"
        Her face sobered.  "I...  I guess you should.  I'm...
Going to need one, I suppose."
        Miyoko wasn't surprised at her reticence.  "Don't worry;
this is a pretty good area, and it's close to the places you might
end up working.  Let me talk to the guy, and see what he says first.
Could even turn out to be a false alarm."
        Despite the uncertainty simmering in her eyes, the girl
nodded.  Miyoko smiled.  "Let's go."
        Miyoko knew that she wouldn't have any trouble convincing
the building manager, since what he 'owed' her was compensation
for how he drooled over her on his regular visits to the club.
The only thing that concerned her was whether or not he had any
units available.
        As it was only about four o'clock in the afternoon, she
knew that she'd likely find him in his office, and walked around
the building to find it.  When she did, she stopped and turned
toward her friend.
        "You wait out here until I talk to him.  He's an okay
guy, but he gets...  'Distracted' real easy.  I'll be back in
about ten minutes," she instructed, then smiled.  "Wish me luck."
        "Hai, Takara-san.  I do," the girl nodded, then stepped
back against the wall.
        Miyoko tossed her a wink, then stepped into the lobby.  It
didn't take her long to find her objective, as he was sitting
alone in the adjacent office - playing a game on a computer.
        "Konnichiwa, Keiji-san.  I was hoping I'd find you here;
mind if I bother you for a minute?" she sang, as she sauntered up
to the desk.
        He almost fainted.  "Ah-Ah-Ano...  T-Takara-chan?"
        Her smile twisted imperceptibly as she fought down the
lurch in her stomach, and put her plan in motion.
        Thankfully, it really didn't take much effort, aside from
slinking herself onto the corner of his desk - and the odd
strategic bend, finger drag or pout.  In fact, he was most
cooperative; not only did he have a unit, but he even forgot where
he put his waiting list.
        She had a feeling that it might have had something to do
with certain coincidence; the kids playing outside the windows were
the ones in the picture on his desk.
        When she had accomplished her 'mission' and stood up to
walk out of the office, she saw her friend standing near the
outside windows, and motioned for her to move back to the entry.
When they met up, Miyoko wasted no time.
        "Good news, Naganato-san!  He has a unit, it's open right
now, and if you don't have enough money, I might be able to get
you a break on your first month - at least until you can get work.
Either way, you can sign the lease right now."
        Her reaction was a far more subdued than Miyoko expected.
        The girl meshed her hands and bowed.  "Arigato,
Takara-san," she stated, her voice sounding almost as sad as it
did when they first met.
        Miyoko huffed into a frown.  "You don't like the place?"
        "Iya, iya; I think it looks all right.  I...  I just..."
        She had to bite her tongue.  "I already told you; don't
worry about it.  At least this will get you a place to sleep, and
once you get work, you'll have the time to look for something
yourself.  I know it ain't the Palace, but you're not gonna get a
better deal."
        The girl seemed to flinch at her words, then school
herself.  "Hai.  I'm sorry, Takara-san.  I didn't mean to seem
ungrateful; of course I will take it."
        "Great!  Let's get you signed up while he's still in a
generous mood," she smiled, despite her confusion.  She could
plainly see that there was hurt in the girl's eyes, but had no
idea what had triggered it.
        The manager already had the forms out on the desk when they
walked in, and after a few quick introductions, the deal was
done - or so Miyoko thought.
        Right after signing the lease, the girl stunned everyone
by pulling out a huge wad of bills, and laying out her first three
months in cash.  And even more surprising was how she did it with
no more concern than if paying for a bowl of ramen.
        It took everything Miyoko had to hold her tongue, but only
until they were safely back out on the street.  "Kuso, I wish I'd
have known you had that much money on you; then I wouldn't have
had to go through that crap!"
        The girl looked stunned.  "What do you mean?"
        "What do I mean?  Look, Keiji there is just like most men;
the only thing he likes more than a cute ass is fresh mint.  Hell,
with your looks, that money and the right smile, you probably
could've bought the damned building."
        "I... I could?"
        "Hai.  I know him from the club; he's the type that turns
into a slobbering hentai when you wiggle the right things - like a
lot of the men that go there.  It gets worse when you combine that
with money - then it seems like they go brain-dead.  All you would
have had to do was walk in there, flash that roll and ask nice; I
had to put on a whole freaking act."
        The girl's astonishment melted into a wide smile, which
she then tried to cover.  "I-I'm sorry, Takara-san.  I had...  No
idea," she sputtered, in an attempt to sound apologetic.  It didn't
quite come off, however, as her smile had been accompanied by an
equal reversal of her mood.
        "It's...  Okay, Naganato-san - I didn't exactly ask,
either," she responded at length, a bit taken aback by the
uncharacteristic reaction.  "By the way - am I missing something
here?"
        The girl shook her head.  "Iya; I was just relieved that
you...  Didn't embarrass yourself."
        She smirked.  "I'm still not too sure about that yet."
        "I saw it; you were sexy, but not in a bad way.  I thought
it looked very...  Real."
        "You did see it?  Kuso; I'm surprised you're even still
talking to me."
        "No, I'm serious; I thought you really liked him."
        Miyoko couldn't respond - she was laughing too hard.





        The difference was amazing.  Within half an hour of their
arrival on the strip, Yoriko had become a different person.
Overall, she smiled more, joked, and even teased on occasion - and
her new mood even rubbed off; Miyoko found that just being
with her made it easy to forget she was actually shopping.  And
she couldn't remember a time when she'd laughed as much.
        As the excursion progressed into one of the malls, it
became obvious again that the girl had never hurt for money, as
she didn't bat an eyelash at dropping 40,000 on an imported spring
dress.  The situation troubled Miyoko for a number of reasons, but
one in particular stood out.
        She was sure the girl had bought it just to please her.  
        Miyoko had seen it in a window, and quipped that it would
look nice against the girl's hair and eyes.  Two minutes later the
girl was trying it on, and as soon as Miyoko told her it looked
very pretty, she was at the till.  She didn't even ask the price,
which left Miyoko shaking her head.
        Afterwards, they hit every remaining store in the mall,
including a fancy little boutique that featured all kinds of girl
stuff, such as manicures, massages, facial packs and mud baths.
It took forever for Miyoko to talk her way out of a session, but
even as they stopped to catch a breather and a drink, her new
friend kept trying - she even offered to buy.
        She finally got the girl to back off by chasing her up the
mallway with a chocolate shake, threatening to give her a mud bath
of the instant variety.
        Toward the end of the evening, as they storehopped their
way along the third level, they  encountered an unexpected bit of
excitement.  Just as they had walked a few stores past a small
music shop, someone ran out its doors, followed a moment later by
the agitated, shouting clerk.
        While the person made a dash for the down escalator and
began to run it, the clerk yelled for someone to stop him, saying
he'd snatched an armload of CDs.  Without a thought, Miyoko handed
off her bags and leapt over the plexiglass railing wall, too
intent to heed her friend's horrified shriek.  Once clear, she
angled her descent to score a perfect two-point at the bottom of
the escalator.
	As the thief shook off his gape and continued toward her,
he'd turned and raised his elbow to jam his way past.  Miyoko
responded by dodging the elbow and following through with a short
shot to his upper back, which sent him face-first to the terrazzo.
	Before he could scramble to his feet, she dropped a knee
on the back of his neck, and wrenched his arm up over his back.
	Within moments, security arrived, and after they'd stopped
laughing at him, thanked her and led him away in cuffs.
	As she stood chuckling and straightening her clothes,
Yoriko came running up to her, her face a picture of utter panic.
She'd found it hard to keep from laughing as the girl checked her
over from head to toe, sure she'd broken a leg or an ankle.  Her
restrained smile had fled quickly, however, when she saw the very
real fear and worry in the girl's eyes.  She instantly felt bad,
realizing her impulsiveness had very nearly undone everything
she was trying to accomplish.
	Several heartfelt apologies and solemn promises later,
Yoriko relaxed, but even so, Miyoko thought she noticed the girl
sticking to her even more closely.
        After a few more shops, Miyoko noticed that it was getting
toward nine p.m., and suggested they start heading back to the
apartment.  She had to work a morning shift, which meant a seven
a.m. start.  The girl agreed readily, saying she was also getting
tired, but her mood seemed to dampen as they made their way back.
	When they arrived at the apartment, Miyoko wasted no time
in helping her clean and get set up, at least well enough for her
to make it through the night.  Thankfully, the job wasn't too big,
given the size of the unit and that it was already relatively
clean.
        As it progressed, however, Miyoko couldn't help but notice
how the girl kept coming up with things she wanted to do, and
usually just as something else was being finished.  It was when
she suggested washing down the walls that Miyoko finally had to
draw the line.
        "Iya, Naganato-san.  I can help you with it later, but not
tonight.  I'm way too bagged to get into that now," she begged off,
noting it was well after ten.
        "Then at least please have a tea and relax, Takara-san.
You haven't done that all day," she responded, looking almost
panicked.
        "Hai.  That actually sounds good; I could use a chamomile
right about now," she relented, the look making her feel guilty.
        The girl's bright, pretty smile came right back.  "Hai, hai!"
        A short while later, the girl had two cups of tea and a tray
of cookies whipped up, and was setting them down beside Miyoko.  She
handed over a cup, then stood up and began to fidget with her hands.
        "Takara-san...  I...  I don't know how to say this, but..."
        Miyoko could just feel what was coming, and quickly cut her
off.  "Then don't.  Because if you say it, I'll have to acknowledge
it, and I don't want that."
        The girl was flabbergasted.  "But... Takara-san..."
        "Iya," she countered, rising to face the girl.  "I like you,
Naganato-san...  I consider you to be my friend, and I don't want
any of that debt and honour crap to ruin that - and I know it can,"
she stated, hoping the girl would just accept it.
        The girl's face melted, and for the longest moment she stood
in silence, her lip trembling and eyes shimmering.  Just as Miyoko
was sure she was going to burst out in tears, she wiped her eyes
and politely cleared her throat.
        "Then...  Then I hope you will at least permit me to thank
you...  For being such a wonderful, caring friend," she sniffed, at
which she opened her arms and stepped forward.  A split second
later, Miyoko found herself wrapped in a huge, emotional hug.
        "Domo arigato gozaimasu," the girl whispered, the waver in
her voice tugging at Miyoko's heartstrings.
        "Shimata," Miyoko smirked, as her arms reflexively closed
over the girl's slender form.  "Leave it to you to find a way, ne
Naganato-san?" she teased, returning the hug with a gentle squeeze.
        As the girl's warm body melted against hers, she was struck
by how well it seemed to fit - despite the fact that they were
almost the same height.
        The girl sniffed, then raised her misty eyes and smiled.
"Yoriko, Takara-san.  Please...  Call me Yoriko."




====================================================================
END - Friends and Lovers - Part Two     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com



_____________________________________________________________
Catch all my 'Fics at my little house on the Bay!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295/
coutuva@vecdev.com, coutuva@hotmail.com, 
coutuva@altavista.com, coutuva@yahoo.com

"No, we don't broadcast animation live any more... it
puts too much of a strain on the Artist's wrists."

From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Note!  This story is based on events and characters from a
previous work, "Secrets".  You should be familiar with that
story, or this one won't make any sense!  To get "Secrets",
or any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Friends and Lovers - Part Three            A "Secrets" side story
-----------------------------------------------------------------



	Miyoko groaned as the shattering sound of the alarm tore
through her slumber, forcing her to face the inevitable.  With
another groan, she reached over and slapped around for the device,
not quite sure where it was.
	When she finally silenced it, she flopped on her back and
slowly opened her eyes, then forced herself to look over at the
clock.
	"Kuso...  Well, it's my own damned fault," she whispered
in a huff, then found the ambition to lift the covers off her nude
form and quietly roll out of the bed.  As she passed the chair it
hung on, she snatched her top and slid it on, then trudged out into
the living room.
	As rough as she felt however, she still had to smile at the
memory of Yoriko, curled up childlike and snoring on the futon at
her apartment.
        She had ended up staying till well after midnight, when in
the middle of a conversation, the girl fell asleep.  They had spent
most of the evening just talking, during which Miyoko had learned
a lot about her new friend.
        From scattered tidbits of the conversation, she discovered
that like herself, Yoriko had been the victim of an arranged
marriage gone wrong.  Her parents, mainly her father, had chosen
her fiancee, and things had gone downhill from there.
        It was a wrenchingly familiar scenario, and it explained a
lot of things.  Yoriko had no coping skills because she'd been
deliberately raised that way; her only destiny, as decided by her
family, was to be a carrot to attract a 'suitable' husband.  What
happened after that didn't matter.
        And what made it seem all the more twisted was who Yoriko
really was -- when she wasn't scared to death or 'observing
protocol'.  Beneath all the baggage, she was in fact a bright,
caring young woman with an infectious, bubbly nature -- and a
heart-stopping smile.
        The entire scenario had sickened Miyoko so much that it
had taken forever for her to get to sleep, even after her walk
home.  The heartache she felt kept threatening to boil over, and
she'd found herself fighting down the urge to look up the girl's
fiancee -- and 'discuss' it with him.
        He was just lucky that she'd decided to respect Yoriko's
choice to not reveal his name.
        When she noticed that the thought was starting to upset
her all over again, she pushed it from her mind and concentrated
on the tasks at hand, especially since she'd already woken up
late.
        After her morning rituals, she grabbed her purse, a clean
blouse for work and a granola bar, then headed out.  She was glad 
she was only covering a half shift to return a favour, since she 
figured the afternoon would be a great chance to take Yoriko out, 
and hopefully find her a job.
        Once she did get to work, her shift seemed drag on
forever, even though it was normally the busiest time of the day.
All throughout, she found herself thinking about Yoriko and her
troubles, and even of how much fun she'd had with her the
previous day.  It had been a long time since she'd done anything
like that, and having Yoriko around had made it just that much
better.
        When she finally did punch the button for the fourth
floor, she tapped her foot at the agonizingly slow pace of the
elevator.  She wanted to get changed and go pick up Yoriko
before the girl made any other plans.
        But, as she discovered, she was already too late.
        As the doors opened and she stepped in to the hall, she
was surprised to find Yoriko sitting in front of her door.
        Even so, she smiled.
        At the same time, Yoriko saw her and jumped to her feet,
breaking out in a smile of her own.
        "Konnichiwa, Miyoko-san!" she chimed, excitedly.
        "Konnichiwa yourself; what's this all about?"
        The girl sobered slightly.  "I...  Just wanted to apologize
for falling asleep on you last night.  That was very rude," she
responded, meshing her hands in front of her and bowing.
        "Feh; I didn't think so.  Tell you the truth, I'm surprised
you lasted as long as you did.  After a day like you had, I figured
you'd have passed out by ten thirty."
        "Iya; it was rude, Miyoko-san, and I promise I'll make it
up to you."
        "Don't worry about it.  I'm not going to report you to
the 'etiquette police'," she smirked back in a teasing tone, then
stuck her key in her door.  "Well, since you're here, you might as
well come in.  I was just going to eat, change, then come and get
you anyway."
        The girl brightened.  "You...  You were?"
        "Yep; I figure this is a great chance to try and find you
work.  There's a bunch of places right around here that might be
looking."
        She didn't expect the excitement she saw in the girl's
sparkling green eyes.
        



        Miyoko stood back and smiled, then moved aside to gesture
to the mirror.
        "See?  I figured that stuff might fit you; and it even
looks good."
        "Hai...  It does fit well - they all did.  But I still
don't feel right about you giving me your clothes, Miyoko-san; I
could just go back to my apartment and get my new dress," Yoriko
protested, her eyes earnest.
        Miyoko shook her head.  "Nope, no good.  We're going out
to try to find you a job, so you gotta look the part.  Otherwise,
they wouldn't take you seriously.  And besides, I don't wear those
skirts much, or those tops either.  You might as well get some
mileage out of 'em until you build up a wardrobe."
        "But...  These are such nice clothes - I'd never forgive
myself if anything happened to them."
        "Don't worry about it; if it helps you get work, it's
worth it.  Anyway, we better get moving if we want to have a
chance at these guys, so I'll let you pick out the stuff you want
to wear; I'm gonna go check the paper.  Oh; bathroom's all yours,
and you can use whatever you need.  About the only thing I don't
have is makeup," Miyoko stickhandled, then grinned and turned for
the door.  "See you in a few minutes."
        As she stepped out of the room, her smile became a relieved
sigh.  The last half-hour had been an exercise in tact and
diplomacy - two things she wasn't particularly good at.  Just
getting her new friend to even try anything had been a major job,
and whether she was going to actually wear any of it was still up
in the air.
        Even so, Miyoko could understand where the girl was coming
from, which was why she wanted to get the 'necessary evils' out of
the way quick.  She figured Yoriko wasn't used to having to accept
'assistance', and every time such a situation came up, it was
another reminder of her problems.
        But she also knew that if she'd just left the girl to her
own devices, the poor thing would never have managed to get ahead.
        As she settled on the couch, she heard the bedroom door
open, and looked up to see Yoriko stick her head out.
        "Miyoko-san...  Would you mind if I used your shower?  My
unit doesn't have one," she asked, tentatively.
        Miyoko groaned to herself, but didn't let it show.  "Go for
it; you know where everything is?"
        The girl nodded.
        "Okay; but if you do need anything, just yell," she
advised, then had an idea; if Yoriko wasn't going to loosen up on
her own, then she'd give her a little 'incentive'.  "Oh; there is 
one thing I better warn you about.  If you use the furo, be careful;
there's something strange about it," she cautioned, putting up a 
frown.
        "Oh?  Is it broken?"
        "I don't think so; but I've noticed that every time I get in
it -- it does something funny to me," she responded, in all 
seriousness.  "I think it's got something to do with how the jets
hit."
	"S-something funny?" Yoriko echoed, her face shading.
	She couldn't believe the reaction she was getting.  "Yeah.  
I get settled in, turn'em on...  And then it happens.  Zonk!  
Sound asleep."
        Yoriko returned a bewildered look - until Miyoko shot her
a cheesy grin.
        "Maaa; you had me worried!  That's not funny, Miyoko-san!"
she shot back with great indignance, but Miyoko could see the smile
in her eyes.
        "Hey; I'm serious!  It's a major pain in the ass; especially
when I got plans!"
        "Ha, ha, ha; serves you right for making jokes like that,"
the girl sniped, then huffed and pulled her head back into the
bedroom.
        Miyoko chuckled to herself at the stifled snickers she
heard from beyond the closed door.




        It turned out to be a frustrating day.  The first four
places they tried were not hiring, and the fifth only managed a
firm maybe.  When they tried a sixth, it was into the early
evening, and the manager had already left.
        Even now, as she stood before the stove stirring their
supper, Miyoko still felt bad about having dragged poor Yoriko all
over the neighbourhood.  She had to admit, however, that the
girl's stamina had surprised her; she hadn't once complained, and
had worn a smile the entire time.
        In fact, the girl seemed to have been enjoying herself, and
hadn't been the least concerned about their lack of results.
        "Miyoko-san?  You already started supper?" Yoriko's voice
abruptly asked, followed by the appearance of the girl at her side.
        "Hai; I don't know about you, but I'm starved.  Noodles
and salad okay?"
	When she turned to Yoriko for a response, she was surprised
to see a pout on the girl's face.  "What's that all about?"
	"I'm hungry too, but I was...  Hoping I could take you out
for supper tonight," she explained, disappointment replacing the
pout.
	"Well, that would've been nice, but I couldn't wait any
longer; I was ready to start chewing on my purse," she deflected,
with a silly grin.  In reality, she was disappointed, but at the
same time glad.  After their unsuccessful day, she didn't want
Yoriko to waste any more money.
	Yoriko chuckled, then smiled.  "So we'll go tomorrow night,"
she countered, as she reached over and picked up the salad bowl.
	Miyoko shook her head.  "I dunno...  I gotta work nights
for the next while.  It goes late, and I'm usually pretty burnt out
by the time I get off."
	Yoriko was undaunted.  "Then I'll owe you one.  Is this
ready?"
	"Hai..." Miyoko began, but Yoriko cut her off.
	"Good; I'll set the table," she grinned, then carried the
bowl away.
	Miyoko watched her go, then smirked.  The girl was catching
on.





	After the meal and what turned into a good-natured
competitive cleanup, Yoriko surprised her by asking if they could do
some shopping, as she'd found she needed a few more things.
	Miyoko almost begged off, since shopping to her was usually
on par with a root canal, but Yoriko's kawaii-eyed insistence won
out.  Within the hour, they arrived at one of the nearby malls, and
Yoriko again took the lead.
        As on their previous trip, they perused everything from
clothing stores to video shops, during which Miyoko got a rapid,
giggle-punctuated education.  Yoriko took great delight in teaching
her how to accessorize, the importance of coordinating, how to wear
and work a suit, and even the best shade of foundation for her skin
colour.
        She'd had no idea being a girl could be so complicated.
        Even so, Yoriko managed to make it all seem like great fun,
to the point where Miyoko found her cheeks aching from all the
giggling and laughing.
        What surprised her most, however, was how else Yoriko
behaved.  Their first trip had been centered on getting the girl
set up, but this time, without such a purpose, Yoriko's approach
was entirely different.  She seemed to treat the excursion itself
as the more serious function; one that required careful planning
and precise stages.  She did make the purchases she came for, but
did so almost as an afterthought.
        By the time they stopped for a sundae break, Miyoko found
herself wondering if there wasn't a School of Martial Arts Shopping.
	Throughout the latter part of the evening, the 'mission'
settled into a more casual mode, becoming a pleasant walking tour.
As they walked, they talked, and Miyoko was surprised to find that
they had a number of things in common -- including the outdoors,
kids, music, and oddly enough, Sumo.
        When the mall closed and they were forced to call it a
night, Miyoko escourted Yoriko back to her apartment, then helped
her put away her few purchases.  As before, Yoriko insisted on
making them tea, and also as before, she fell asleep in the middle
of a conversation.
        This time, however, she had only lasted about twenty
minutes from the time she sat down.
        Miyoko simply chuckled to herself, not the least bit
surprised by the occurrence.  They'd put in a day that even she
had found tiring.
        Quietly, she rose from her mat and covered the girl up,
then happened to look down into her slumbering face.
        She couldn't help but smile at how sweet and content her
friend looked, which brought a warm sensation to her chest.
        "Oyasumi nasai, Yori-chan," she whispered, then
straightened, checked the stove, and stepped toward the door.  With
one more look back, she snapped off the lights, locked the door,
shoved the key back under and headed home.





	The morning air was clean, crisp and fresh in Miyoko's
lungs as she strode out into the small plot behind her building.
Clad in gi and bare feet, she winced slightly at the moisture in
the grass as she crossed onto it, only to smile as she found her
mark.
	After a few minutes stretching, she turned to the newborn
sun and bowed, then straightened and began her cleansing exercises.
	With her erratic schedule at work, she didn't get to work
out as much as she liked, often having to make do with a rather
vigorous version of Tai Chi.  That, however, didn't compare to the
experience of her full routine, which she now looked forward to
anxiously.
	Her exercises complete, she closed her eyes and calmed
herself, then stepped into her opening stance.  She held it until
she heard a bird call to the morning, and used the cue to explode
into the kata.
	As she progressed through ever more difficult forms,
she smiled as she felt her body and spirit gradually become one,
and her kata take on a life of its own.  Before long, she felt as
if she was merely along for the ride - an incredibly enjoyable
and satisfying ride.
	So engrossed was she that she didn't notice the figure
that had appeared nearby - the one that had rounded the large
building and stopped in its tracks, jaw gaping and hands rising to
cover a flushed face.
	It simply stood at the corner for several minutes, then
finally moved awkwardly toward an adjacent wall.
	Almost an hour later, Miyoko completed the last of her
tenth full kata, and as she settled to the ground, immediately
moved into a cooldown.
	Her wide, ecstatic smile rivaled the well-risen sun as she
reveled in the rush, an experience she hadn't had for several
years.  In the recent past, it always seemed that no matter how
hard she worked, she always fell short; the inner peace and
satisfaction of old simply hadn't been there.
	But today, it was - and she felt positively high.
	Her cooldown finished, she bowed again to the sun, thanking
it silently for giving her such a perfect morning.
	It was as she rose from the bow that she caught sight of
the figure, now approaching her across the grass.
	"Yoriko-san!" she exclaimed, pleasantly surprised to see
her.
	Yoriko walked toward her smiling, but at the same time, her
face bore an odd expression, somewhere between speechless awe and
what seemed an embarrassed flush.
	"Miyoko-san...   That...  Was the most beautiful thing...
I have ever seen," she breathed, her hands clasping before her
chest.
	Miyoko flushed.  "Iya...  I was just practicing,
Yoriko-san; that ain't very pretty," she deflected, but her chest
still filled.
	"No, no, Miyoko-san; it was!  I...  Couldn't stop watching
you," Yoriko countered, her eyes widening slightly.
	"Huh; well, if you thought that was great, then I think
I'm gonna keep you around - you're good for my ego," she chuckled,
teasingly.
	For some reason, the bright, enthusiastic smile that
resulted made her feel even happier.

 


====================================================================
END - Friends and Lovers Part Three     A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com


_____________________________________________________________
Catch all my 'Fics at my little house on the Bay!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295/
coutuva@vecdev.com, coutuva@hotmail.com, 
coutuva@altavista.com, coutuva@yahoo.com

"No, we don't broadcast animation live any more... it
puts too much of a strain on the Artist's wrists."

From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Note!  This story is based on events and characters from a
previous work, "Secrets".  You should be familiar with that
story, or this one won't make any sense!  To get "Secrets",
or any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Friends and Lovers - Part Four            A "Secrets" side story
----------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                
	It was funny how things just happened.
	She was at work, surrounded by rambunctious customers,
her fellow waitresses and the kitchen staff - and she felt lonely.
        A sense of 'something out of place' had been with her for
several days, but it wasn't until this moment - as she stood in
the service alley awaiting her order - that she figured out what
it was.
	She guessed that it had been so hard to fathom because it
was an unaccustomed feeling for her.  She'd spent the better part
of five years keeping to herself, and never felt any desire to
change that.  In fact, she'd found the solitude to be a refreshing,
enjoyable state of affairs, and had even cherished her time alone
at home.
	But as the strange, anxious feeling told her, that was no
longer the case.
	She was very definitely lonely - and even as she confirmed
the thought, she knew the reason why.
        Yoriko wasn't with her.
	The lack of the girl's presence was akin to having a wet
blanket thrown over her day, as it had become, long, difficult and
even tedious.
        Just like the previous six had.
        "Miyoko-chan!  Hey!  Table nine is waiting for that!" the
voice of her co-worker Michi abruptly intruded, startling her back
to reality.
        "Hai, hai...  I'm coming," she blurted back, then sighed,
picked up her orders and glanced up at the clock.
        Half an hour to go - but it she knew it was going to feel
more like eight.
        A short while later, as she was on her way to a table with
a tray full of water glasses, her course took her past the main
foyer.  As she walked by, she caught a movement through the large
glass doors.
        "Yoriko..." she gasped, in an instant both thrilled - and
embarrassed.
        Yoriko looked absolutely radiant; her hair was styled up,
and she was wearing her new dress, complete with a matching clutch
and shoes.  Miyoko, meantime, was in the night-hours version of
her uniform - and wished she wasn't.  This month, their outfits
looked more suited to a new car show than a supper club, with
their bare midriffs, semi-detached tops and skin tone lycra hose.
        Quickly, she turned away and dashed to her table as fast
as her stilettos would let her.
        As she handed out the water, she glanced up to see the
hostess meet, then seat Yoriko, and almost huffed.  To her
chagrin, Yoriko was in her section.
        "Guess I might as well get it over with," she sighed to
herself, yanking out her order unit and heading toward her
friend's table.
        "Konnichiwa, Yoriko-san," she smiled, finding it
surprisingly easy to look pleased.
        Yoriko, who'd been looking at another part of the room,
turned toward her with a smile - that lasted about a quarter-second.
It then fell away into an incredulous gape.
        Miyoko withered.
        "M-Miyoko-san?" Yoriko stammered, as a faint flush appeared
across her nose.
        "H-hai.  I... I guess I should've warned you about my
uniform, huh?" she grimaced, fighting a strong desire to hide under
the table, and save her friend her obvious embarrassment.
        "Iya; it looks great!  I...  I was just surprised to see
you," Yoriko waved off, although her eyes remained glued to the
outfit.
        Miyoko smirked inwardly at the cover.  "Yeah.  Well,
speaking of surprises, I'm...  Kinda surprised to see you here; you
get bored tonight?" she deflected, in an attempt to sound casual.
        "Uh...  Iya; I got some great news today, and couldn't wait
to tell you about it," she responded, in an apparent attempt to
regain her composure.
        "Oh, yeah?  Well, tell you what; I'm outta here in fifteen
minutes.  Can you hang on that long?"
        "Hai!  I can -- as long as it's not a problem.  I can
always come back," Yoriko offered, her voice steadied but face
still shaded.
        Miyoko had to smile.  "Iya; no problem.  I'll meet you here
as soon as I can get away.  Anything you want?"
        "Iya, iya...  You don't need to get me anything, Miyoko-san.
You have other people to look after."
        "Feh; you're in my area, Yoriko-san - I'd have to anyway."
        Yoriko shook her head.  "Don't worry about me, Miyoko-san.
I'm fine," she insisted, smiling her wonderful smile.
        "Okay...  If you insist.  Oh; here - have some water," she
grinned, handing one over and then stepping back.  "By the way,
Yoriko-san...  You look nice today, too," she smiled, then beat a
retreat.
        Unfortunately, when she ducked into the service alley to
compose herself, she found out that her next order was ready - and
groaned.  It was a big order for one of the wide booth tables,
which normally wouldn't have been an issue - except that this one
was well within sight of Yoriko's.
        In short, it meant Yoriko was going to get an even better
view of her backside - whether she wanted to or not.
        "Talk about getting to know someone," she grumbled to
herself, as she hefted the trays on her arms.
        At the table, she flashed a smile to Yoriko, then set down
the trays and started to pass out the orders.  Just as she was
extended across the table to hand one off, she gasped as she felt
two firm pats on her backside.
        A concealed snarl on her lips, she glanced toward the
affected cheek, only to see Michi walking quickly away, snickering
into her hand.
        Thus preoccupied, she didn't hear the thump of Yoriko's
jaw hitting the table.
        A few tables later, when on her way to her last pickup,
she smiled as she noticed Michi at a table near the service alley
entry.  The girl was in the process of taking an order, and hadn't
yet looked up.
        She couldn't believe her luck.
        Not wanting to let the opportunity get away, Miyoko angled
her approach so that she had to pass directly behind Michi to get
to the kitchen.
        And when she did, Michi yelped, flipped the menu she
carried up in front of her chest, and virtually ran for the
changeroom.  Miyoko simply continued into the alley, laughing her
head off.  She was still chuckling even after going to change - but
stopped when she stepped onto the floor and noticed that Yoriko's
table was unoccupied.
        Surprised, she glanced around the room for her, but didn't
see her.  She was about to head for the washroom when she finally
did see her, standing on the street outside the foyer.
        "Kuso; she must have been seriously freaked," she grumbled,
then headed out the door to catch up to her.  She took some
reassurance in the fact that the girl had at least stuck around.
        When she stepped through the doors, however, she was taken
aback at the sadness in her friend's features.
        "Something bugging you, Yoriko-san?" she asked, as she
stepped up to the crestfallen girl.
        "Uh...  Iya, Miyoko-san...  I was just...  Thinking about
something," she dismissed, but Miyoko wasn't satisfied.
        "Thinking about something?" she echoed, her eyebrow
lowering.  "Must have been something pretty depressing," she
prompted, moving around to try to meet her friend's gaze.
        Yoriko nodded slowly, then raised the saddest eyes Miyoko
had seen on her since the day they'd met.  "Hai...  It was...
Very sad."
        Miyoko frowned slightly.  This didn't sound good at all.  
        "I noticed.  Feel like talking about it?"
        Yoriko shook her head, then drew a ragged breath.  "Iya,
Miyoko-san.  It's...  Something very personal.  Please; don't
worry about it."
        She lowered an eyebrow.  "You sure, Yoriko-san?"
        Yoriko nodded quickly.  "Hai."
        "Okay...  If you say so," she acquiesced, deciding to just
let it drop - for now.
        She had something she wanted to clear up.
        Gathering herself, she clutched her purse in both hands and
sank back until her butt was against the wall.  "Uhm...  There is
something I want to talk about, though.  You up for it?"
        The girl jolted.  "A-ano...  What?"
        Miyoko shrank.  "I...  I just wanted to apologize for
embarrassing you like that.  You shouldn't have seen that, and I
feel really bad that you had to."
        To her amazement, Yoriko's face drained.  "Uh...  Seen what,
Miyoko-san?" she finally stammered, which made Miyoko feel like an
even lower grade of dirt.
        "That...  Little 'scene' when I was serving the big table.
I feel awful about it; hell, I actually can't believe you're even
still talking to me."
        Yoriko cleared her throat.  "But...  We're...  Still
friends, aren't we?"
        She had to blink.  "Hai; at least I hope so.  Kuso, I'd hate
to think I lost you over my jerk boss and his hentai uniforms."
        The girl jolted again.  "Huh?  Uniforms?"
        "Hai; I can't blame you for being embarrassed to see me in
that crap.  I looked like a thousand-yen hooker, and hung my ass out
in front of you on top of it all.  You got the best of me at my
worst all in one damned shot."
        Yoriko's blank silence was unsettling, to say the least.
Just as she was about to poke the girl to see if she was still
conscious, Yoriko shook her blonde-maned head.
        "Iya; your...  Uniform isn't that bad, Miyoko-san," she
finally responded, an odd tone to her voice.
        She huffed into a smirk.  "Thanks, Yoriko-san, but you
don't need to be so polite -- I know damned-well what it looks like
on me.  That's why the boss makes us wear 'em - it's like...
Um - did you see the girl that pulled that stunt while I was serving
that table?"
        "Ahh... Stunt?"
        "Huh?  You mean you didn't see her pat my butt while I was
stuck bent over?"
        "I...  I uhm...  I might have..." Yoriko stammered, her face
actually looking flushed.
        She suppressed an urge to shake her head.  "Okay...  Well,
her name's Michi, and her fiancee..."
        "Fiancee?" Yoriko abruptly blurted, her eyes widening.
        "Hai; he comes and picks her up sometimes, and while he's
waiting, he sits there and gapes at us, slobbering all over himself.
Hell, once I even caught them all over each other in the
changeroom - guess he couldn't wait till they got home," she
smirked, shaking her head at the memory.  "I threw the hentai out on
his half-naked ass - felt good, too," she grinned, then noticed that
Yoriko didn't seem to be listening.
        "You mean...  She's engaged?" the girl asked, her face
literally lighting up as her hands clasped in front of her.
        "Uhh...  Yeah.  Has been for three months now," she
confirmed, looking back at the girl like she was from Mars.
        "Really?  Then...  Why did she...  Uhmm...  'Pat' you?"
        She had to laugh.  "Feh; she pulls stuff like that all the
time, trying to get my goat.  It's kinda like a game - she knows
how much I hate that crap.  I got her back though," she grinned,
smugly.  "As usual."
        "Oh; then you...  Oh, never mind," she responded, lighting
up probably the best smile Miyoko had ever seen.  She followed it,
however, by lowering her face and drawing a breath.
        "I'm...  Sorry I walked out on you like that, Miyoko-san;
can I buy you supper to make up for it?"
        "Iya; you got nothing to be sorry for.  It's my fault - like
I said, I really should've warned you.  But supper sounds good - if
you don't mind it being back at my place.  I'm about ready to drop,"
she smiled back, glad that her friend's mood had improved so much.
        Yoriko affected a pout.  "Okay...  But only if you let me
rent us a movie," she countered, firing up her now famous kawaii
eyes.
        She exaggerated a sigh.  "Hai, hai...  But let's get going
while I can still walk."
        Yoriko nodded happily.




        After a well thrown together meal of assorted leftovers,
Miyoko suggested they just leave the dishes and get right into
watching the movie.
        She was a bit surprised when Yoriko agreed readily, but too
tired to bother discussing it.
        First stop after the kitchen was her bedroom, where they
dug through her somewhat limited collection of 'comfy clothes'.
Miyoko quickly found a tank-style knee-length nightshirt, then
excused herself to change, leaving Yoriko to pick out something from
the pile on her bed.
        And pick something she did.
        She wandered out of the bedroom wearing a longer, deep
vee-neck version of what Miyoko herself wore, and it fit her very
well - too well, in fact.  The soft, cottony material seemed to
cling to every curve of the girl's body, and it also made her
surprising lack of a certain undergarment very obvious.
        Miyoko had to shake her head to keep from gaping, as she
abruptly realized that her friend had a very nice body.
        Suddenly, she was glad she happened to be female. 
        Yoriko meantime, excitedly burrowed herself into the
pillows et al that Miyoko had already tossed on the couch.  Miyoko,
chuckling to herself at the antics, dragged an ottoman over and
stationed herself at the opposite end, complete with all of the
required remotes.
        An exchange of smiles and nods later, she raised the
appropriate unit and started the tape.
        Half an hour in, however, it became apparent that Yoriko
had picked a dud.  She was so disenchanted that she suggested they
just stop it, and try the second one out.  Miyoko agreed readily,
as it was the one she really wanted to see, and knew she couldn't
stay awake forever.
        Thus decided, Yoriko offered to make them something to
nibble on, which Miyoko certainly didn't mind.
        While Yoriko padded into the kitchen, she rewound the movie
and changed it, then zipped it through the commercials and promos.
She also turned out some of the lights, finding that they were a bit
too harsh for her liking.  Just as she landed back in her spot,
Yoriko walked into the room, bearing a smile and a tray.  The tray
was full of cookies, and included two big, steaming mugs of hot
chocolate.
        Miyoko almost jumped her.
        As they sat sipping, nibbling and talking, Miyoko happened
to recall something Yoriko had mentioned earlier, and promptly
called her on it.
        "Oh!  One of those places we went to see - the first time, I
think - called me back!  I got the job, and I start next week!" she
announced, with a proud smile.
        "That's great, Yoriko-san!  Way to go!" she exclaimed,
raising her hand for a high-five.
        Yoriko, however, had other ideas.  She set down her mug and
dove in for a celebratory hug - one that left Miyoko with warm
cheeks.  Taken aback, she pretended to be rubbing her eyes.
        Thankfully, Yoriko didn't seem to notice.  "I have to get
trained first, but I'll be working cash once that's done.  They want
me to come in for 7:30 in the morning, and work till noon, so it
isn't full time, but it's like you said; I have to start somewhere,"
she explained, her smile unaffected.
        Miyoko had to smile right back; had this happened two weeks
earlier, she knew Yoriko would have been petrified, not excited.  It
was wonderful to see.
        "I'm really happy for you; I knew you wouldn't have any
trouble."
        "I'm happy, too...  I...  Never would have tried this if it
hadn't been for you, Miyoko-san, and I..." she began, but Miyoko
cut her off by putting a finger over her lips.
        "Remember what I told you?  I don't want to hear it; you got
this job all on your own, Yoriko-san.  You should be proud of that,"
she emphasized, with a smile.
        Yoriko returned a puff, but reached up and took hold of
Miyoko's hand, and held it in hers as she lowered it to her lap.
"But it was you that believed in me."
        She couldn't stop her smile.  "You bet; there's something
there to believe in."
        Yoriko tried to respond, but apparently couldn't find the
words.  Miyoko, fearing a return of the waterworks, went for a
redirect.
	"I think we better start the movie...  I don't know about
you, but I'm gonna doze off in my mug if we don't."
	Yoriko, much to her relief, nodded happily. 
	Thus encouraged, she hit the button and settled back,
while Yoriko squared herself around in the middle of the couch and
sat up, still sipping at the last of her drink.
	As the movie got underway, Miyoko would occasionally look
over at her, mainly to see whether she was still interested in the
tape.  When she would, it seemed that Yoriko knew it, and would
look back and smile.
	And those smiles inevitably brought one to her face.
	Over the next while, however, she became so engrossed in
the flick that when something hit her arm, she actually gasped
aloud.
	When she looked to see what it was, she was surprised to
find Yoriko leaned up against her, and apparently sound asleep.
It looked as if the girl had drifted off while still upright, and
just fallen to the side.
        Chuckling at the sight, she gently shifted around until
Yoriko looked more comfortable, then reached over her back to pull
up the blanket.
        At that moment, Yoriko moaned softly and readjusted
herself, her head nestling against Miyoko's upper chest, and an
arm sliding across her waist.
        Miyoko, caught with her own arm up in the air, had no
choice but to drape it across Yoriko's back.  When she did, she
swore she heard the girl issue a soft, content sigh.
        She smiled despite the heat rising in her face.




====================================================================
END - Friends and Lovers Part Four      A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com




_____________________________________________________________
Catch all my 'Fics at my little house on the Bay!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295/
coutuva@vecdev.com, coutuva@hotmail.com, 
coutuva@altavista.com, coutuva@yahoo.com

"No, we don't broadcast animation live any more... it
puts too much of a strain on the Artist's wrists."

From: Coutuva <coutuva@vecdev.com>

Note!  This story is based on events and characters from a
previous work, "Secrets".  You should be familiar with that
story, or this one won't make any sense!  To get "Secrets",
or any of my other works, visit my Web Site at:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

In this Part, there are a number of Romanji words; I now 
have the definitions for all of them on a page at my site!

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.




Friends and Lovers - Part Five            A "Secrets" side story
----------------------------------------------------------------



	Miyoko sighed heavily as she sank to her chin, the hot,
frothing water of the furo already working its soothing magic.
	She just wished it could do the same for her conscience.
	Something was happening that would have normally been an
event worth celebrating -- but instead, it was making her feel
guilty, dirty -- and incredibly sad.
	After yet another restless, dream-filled night, and the
loneliness of waking to an empty apartment, certain things she'd
unwittingly blinded herself to abruptly became clear.
	When Yoriko wasn't around, she missed her desperately.
When they were together, she felt happy, relaxed, and even complete.
When Yoriko slept at home, she didn't get any sleep.  When Yoriko
stayed over, she slept like a baby.
	Yoriko's sweet face and attractive form filled her dreams
by night, and her thoughts all through her day.
        It had also occurred to her that she'd only once ever felt
such things, but even then, the effect hadn't been nearly as
dramatic.
        The conclusion it all had been drawing her to was stunning,
yet inescapable.
        She was falling in love with her best friend.
        And no matter how she looked at it, the situation had
disaster written all over it.
        She could just imagine Yoriko's reaction to any confession
of her feelings, or even worse, what would happen if she caught on
without one.  History would be guaranteed to repeat itself -- only
this time, it would *hurt*.
        But even more frightening was that it was only one slip
away from happening.
        She was already having trouble covering her flushes and
mindless gapes, and it was becoming harder and harder to keep her
hands to herself.
        Especially on 'movie nights', which had become a regular,
torturous occurrence.
        And what made matters even worse was that Yoriko had made
wonderful progress in the few months since her 'incident'; her
confidence and self-esteem were higher than they'd ever been.  
However, Miyoko knew she was still fragile, and all of her gains 
could be lost in the space of a moment.
        The moment she discovered that the person she seemed to 
look up to so much was a slobbering hentai.
        A sad sigh escaped her as she cursed the merciless
unfairness of fate.  She'd found someone she knew she could spend
the rest of her days with -- had her life only taken a slightly 
different course.
	Now, more than ever, she knew why it was called a curse. 
        As the painful thought bounced around in her head, she
slowly came to realize that there was only one answer; even though
it was absolutely the last thing she wanted to do.
        She had to somehow find the strength to distance herself.
She valued Yoriko's friendship far too much to risk losing it over
some moment of weakness.
	It was the best thing for both of them, and the only way 
out of a situation she knew she couldn't control.
	Thus resolved, she drew a long, heavy sigh, closing her
eyes as she puffed it out.
	It took all of ten seconds for her to burst out in tears.





	"Miyooo-kooo!"
	She gasped at the sound.
	"Mi-yo-ko-san!"
	Yoriko.  She'd come to pick her up, as they'd arranged the
night before.  Suddenly, she regretted having given her friend a key.
	"Miyo-ko!  I know you're here; your purse and shoes are!"
	"Kuso," she cursed, wiping at her face and looking around
for her towel.  Just as she saw it still hanging on the rack, she
heard Yoriko step up to the door - and saw it start to open.
	Short of options, she stayed down and pretended to be asleep,
hoping Yoriko would just yell in at her as per usual.  Then, at
least, she could laugh off her tardiness.
	But the yell never came.  Instead, a muffled sigh did,
followed by the door slowly opening wider.
	She had to fight to keep from smirking at what she expected
would be an attempt at some sort of prank.
	As she listened intently, she heard Yoriko step through the
door, and gently close it behind her.  She heard the soft footfalls
on the tiled floor as Yoriko approached the furo.
	She noticed how the footfalls were stealthy, and also noted
that they were on a direct approach.
	She subtly braced herself.
	The footfalls stopped.
	To her surprise, she heard Yoriko say - or more accurately,
sigh something.
	"Kajin..." it sounded like, which she knew couldn't possibly
be right -- unless she really was asleep, and in the midst of a 
wonderful dream.
	Even as she reran the event to make sure, she heard Yoriko
settle to her knees beside the furo, lean on the side, then remain
still.
	Her heart began to pound, but she wasn't entirely sure why.
	As she tried to sort it out, she was shocked to hear
Yoriko raise an arm, and then even more shocked to sense it moving
near her face.
	It took every ounce of her self-control to not jump when she
felt Yoriko's hand gently graze her cheek - and dwell along her chin.
	A jolt of excitement shot through her; her heart leapt - then
just as suddenly, stopped.
	She didn't dare let herself believe what it seemed was
happening - even though every cell of her being screamed at her to.
	It was just too good to be true; too perfect to be possible.
	Her life just didn't go that well.
	Just then, Yoriko withdrew her hand and sighed again.  A 
moment later, she shifted, and it sounded like she was rising.  Then
she stopped.  A definite tsk of disgust escaped her, followed by the
sound of her landing back on her legs.  Heavily.
	"Ikujinonai..." she puffed, which made Miyoko wonder just
what she had in mind.
	It turned out that she didn't have long to do so.
	She heard Yoriko express something that sounded like a sob,
then rise and lean on the furo.
	Then it happened.
	She sensed something approach her face.
	Then she felt the warmth of Yoriko's exhalation caress her
cheek - just a heartbeat before the girl's soft, luscious lips
hesitantly brushed against her own.
	Her brain shut down.
	Her heart exploded back to life.
	Her hands rose from the water of the furo, and wrapped
themselves around Yoriko's soft, wonderful form.  Her own body rose
and she pulled the girl to her, heedless of the startled reaction.
	And she kissed her right back -- like she'd never kissed 
anyone in her life.
	Within a moment, Yoriko whimpered and returned the
favour -- with every bit as much passion.  Miyoko felt her heart
reach out and literally wrap itself around Yoriko - never to release
her again.
	In that instant, she knew; she'd found her true and destined
soul mate.
	Entirely too soon, the kiss descended into a series of
soft, lingering pecks, leaving them touching at the forehead, and
staring deep into each other's souls.
	Miyoko smiled.
	The smile widened as she saw one spread over Yoriko's face,
accompanied by a pronounced reddish tint across her nose.
	"Miyoko-chan...  I..." she began, her voice just a whisper.
	Miyoko shook her head.  "Iya...  Don't.  I wanted it too;
so badly it hurt," she confessed, raising a hand to run through the
girl's lustrous blonde locks.
	Yoriko sighed into an expression somewhere between laughing
and crying.  "I have since the day we met."
	Miyoko wanted to comment, but somehow, the opening of her
arms replaced the opening of her mouth.  Yoriko sobbed, then melted
into the embrace.
	Miyoko held her close, but when she felt the side of the
furo against her nude stomach, she realized that they could be
even closer.
	"Uhm...  Yori-chan?"
	"H-hai?"
	She smiled.  "This thing is big enough for two, you know."
	Yoriko sniffed, then settled back to her heels and smiled
through her streaming cheeks.
	"I was...  Hoping you'd say that," she breathed, then
reached for the buttons of her damp top.





	It was the same apartment, the same couch, even the same
television.  But somehow, as she sat in her nightshirt flipping
through the channels, everything around her seemed new.
	A smile crossed her face as she watched the similarly-clad
Yoriko puttering in the kitchen, and found herself enjoying the view
even more than usual.  Yoriko herself even seemed different - which 
really didn't surprise her; she was seeing her with new eyes, and 
loved what she saw.
	Even so, she still couldn't believe that it had happened.
	She hadn't been looking for anyone; in fact, she'd
deliberately tried not to, having wanted to avoid even thinking
about it.
	But now that it had, she wasn't going to argue.  With the
way she felt when Yoriko was in her arms, or even just in the same
room, she didn't care about the reasons why.
	"It's ready!" Yoriko sang from the kitchen, as she picked
up a well-loaded platter and turned to carry it in.
	"Hmmm...  That looks great, Yoriko-chan," she smiled, with
a great show of licking her lips.
	Yoriko beamed.  "Domo!  I thought you might be hungry,
since you never got breakfast."
	"Oh boy, am I.  What'cha got here?" she responded,
leaning up to survey the selection.
	"I just threw together a few things; if you don't see
anything you want, I can get it for you."
	"No you won't.  You'll sit that cute little butt of yours
down right here, and help me eat this," she countered, patting the
couch beside her.
	Yoriko giggled.  "You mean you actually need help?"
	"You're going to need help if you keep that up," she
threatened, with an appropriate smirk.
	The giggle became a laugh as Yoriko landed on the couch.
A moment later, however, she was draped over Miyoko's shoulder and
sighing.
	But it wasn't the kind of sigh Miyoko would have expected;
it sounded more like something was bothering her.
        And that made her start imagining the worst.
	"Okay, Yoriko-chan; what's bugging you?" she prodded,
trying not to sound as worried as she was becoming.
	Yoriko fidgeted, then bit her lip.  "Kaimu..."
	She frowned.  "You're having second thoughts, aren't you?"
she puffed, slumping back into the couch.
	To her great relief, Yoriko panicked.  "Iya!  I'm not!
I'd never do that...  I couldn't!"
	"Then what is it?"
	Yoriko looked back at her for a moment, then hung her head.
"I'm too happy," she responded, in a tiny, defeated voice.
	Miyoko almost choked.  "Nanikore?"
	She nodded.  "H-hai.  I...  I feel...  Like the luckiest
girl alive, Miyoko-chan - and it's all because of you," she began,
with an indelicate sniff.  "You're such a wonderful, strong, caring 
person; you've given me so much - made me so happy," she continued, 
her voice beginning to waver as she rubbed at her eyes.  "This has 
been the best few months of my life, and even...  Even if it were to
end right now, I...  I would cherish this time...  For as long as I
lived."
        Miyoko couldn't believe her ears.  "Yoriko-chan...?"
        "Iya; please - let...  Let me say this, Miyoko-chan," she
insisted, her eyes reddened.
        Bewildered, Miyoko could only nod.
        Yoriko flashed a faint, acknowledging smile, then gathered
herself.  The sight tore at Miyoko, as it seemed that whatever was 
coming was taking a lot of effort to get to.
	But get to it, she did.
	"Miyoko-chan...  After...  After everything you've already 
done -- everything...   You've already given me...  It...  It isn't 
fair...  For me to take your heart as well.  You...  Y-you deserve 
so much better," she sniffed, then abruptly covered her eyes and 
broke down in tears.
	Her reaction was instinctive.  "Yoriko-chan, no..." she
gasped, reaching out to the sobbing girl.
	Yoriko twisted away.  "Iya; I can't!  I can't do this to
you!" she cried, then lunged off the couch and ran into the
bathroom.
	Miyoko, completely flabbergasted at the sudden turn of
events, could only sit numbly and try to figure it out.
	Until she heard clothes rustling in the bathroom.
	"Kuso."
        In one leap, she was outside the door.  "Yoriko-chan?  What
the hell are you doing?"
        Silence.
        "Yoriko?"
        "Uh; I...  I'm cleaning up..." came the sodden, unconvincing
response.
	She tried the door; it was locked.
	But not for long.
	"Right about here..." she muttered, then extended her thumb
and placed it on a certain spot near the center of the door.
"Hah!"
	The door popped, then slowly drifted open - to reveal a
stunned Yoriko just stepping into her skirt.  "A-ano...  How...
Did you do that?"
	Miyoko frowned.  "Iya; you first, Yoriko-chan.  Why are
you getting dressed?"
	The skirt dropped, her hands met, and as they wrung in
front of her legs, her head lowered.  "Because...  Because I was
leaving."
	"Forget it.  You're not leaving; not until you tell me
what the hell this is all about."
	Yoriko shuddered, then her hands went to her face and she
sank to a cow-sit, again dissolved in tears.
	Miyoko had seen enough.  Without a word, she walked over
and took her by the shoulders, deadlifted her to her feet and
looked straight into her surprised, puffy face.
	When their eyes met, the pain Miyoko saw caught her breath
in her throat.  It was the same pain she'd seen when they'd first
met.
	The sight went to her heart like a finger-jab.  "Iya; I'm
not letting go.  Not now, not ever," she stated, before she even
knew where the words came from.
	Yoriko's reaction confused her even more.  "I don't *want*
you to!" she cried, just before collapsing against her.




	Silence reigned in the darkened bedroom as Miyoko lay
flat on her back, listening to Yoriko's soft breathing.  It was
a vast improvement over the heart-wrenching sobbing she'd endured
for the past half-hour, and she assumed it meant her girlfriend
had cried herself to sleep.
	Only trouble was, Miyoko still didn't really know what 
was going on.
	With a sigh, she glanced at her clock, and decided she'd
give her another half-hour, then come back and see if she felt
any better.  And then, hopefully, they could talk.
	Thus decided, she looked over at Yoriko's quiet form,
then started to rise from the bed.
	"Miyoko-chan?"
	"Hai?"
	"I'm sorry."
	"Sorry?  Sorry for what?"
	"For acting like a baby...  I was...  I was just scared."
	Miyoko rolled to face her.  She mirrored the move.
"Scared of what?"
	Yoriko sighed.  "Us." 
	"Huh?"
	She sighed again, then lowered her eyes and began to 
fidget with her fingers.  "I...  I was just...  So happy when you
said you wanted me.  It was...  It was my dream come true.  You
wanted me; just for me.  It didn't matter to you that I was a
girl - just like it doesn't matter to me; even though...  I'm...
I'm not a lesbian."
        Miyoko gasped.  "What?  Then...  Why...?" she began, but
Yoriko shrugged.  Even so, she began to wonder if the girl was
psychic.
        "I don't know, Miyoko-chan.  There's just...  Something
about you that makes it feel right," she noted, quietly.  "And what
makes it even better...  Is that I didn't think this was something
I'd ever have - in any form," she breathed, as Miyoko felt a hand
settle on her arm.  "But then...  Then I remembered why," she
stated, her face saddening.
        "And...?" Miyoko urged, not wanting to lose the momentum.
        Yoriko huffed.  "I...  Haven't told you everything about
my family - or my 'fiancee's' family.  They...  They have 'images'
that they'd do anything to protect, and if....  If they found out 
about us, I'm afraid of what they'd do...  To you," she confessed, 
her voice a meek whisper.  "I couldn't stand the thought of you 
being harmed...  Because of me.  I'm...  I'm not worth it, 
Miyoko-chan; I'm not.  You're too beautiful a person to be dragged
down by my baggage!" she blurted out, her eyes glistening in the
dim light.
        Miyoko had to huff.  What Yoriko had said was so typical
of the girl, it only made her appreciate her even more.
        "Even though that's probably the dumbest thing I've ever
heard, I figure it's about the best compliment you could give
me," she smiled, then reached over and placed a hand on her cheek.
"Like it or not, you're stuck with me now...  Ichuunoonna."
        The girl gasped, her face descending into the same
confused mix as in the bath.  "But...  Miyoko-chan..."
        She responded by rolling on top of her and looking deep
into her eyes.
        "Just shut up and kiss me, baka."
        She did.




====================================================================
END - Friends and Lovers                A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com



_____________________________________________________________
Catch all my 'Fics at my little house on the Bay!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295/
coutuva@vecdev.com, coutuva@hotmail.com, 
coutuva@altavista.com, coutuva@yahoo.com

"No, we don't broadcast animation live any more... it
puts too much of a strain on the Artist's wrists."