Ranma: Motherhood

Chapter Three: A Ghost Story

    Dr. Tofu met the young man at the door. He wasn't too sure about this, but Dr. Kyniogi was one of his oldest friends. If he said this young Gaijin could help, then the least he could do was give him a chance. "Please come in, Mr. Matthews. Dr. Kyniogi speaks very highly of you."

    The young replied in surprisingly good Japanese, "Thank you, doctor. I hope I can help you somehow. From what Dr. Kyniogi told me, this seems to be something that could be better handled by the police and a rape councilor."

    Tofu offered the boy a seat and took one himself. "Ordinarily I'd agree with you. In this case, I don't think having Ranma go to counseling would be very therapeutic just yet. There are some unique circumstances involved here."

    Matthews nodded. "I was made to understand that. Maybe if you explained the 'unique' circumstances and I can see what I can do."

    Tofu smiled, liking this stranger despite his misgivings. If he were a con artist, he was a good one. "Okay, Mr. Matthews, I will..." Before he could continue, Matthews raised a hand. "Dr. Ono, I still think of my father as 'Mr. Matthews'. Why don't you call me Alex?"

    Tofu paused, "Would that be appropriate. Technically..."

    Alex smiled. "'Under normal circumstances'..." He tilted his head to make his point. "I think things will go more smoothly if we keep this as informal as possible. I work better that way."

    Tofu nodded. "Very well, Alex. What I'm going to tell you is to be considered confidential and shouldn't be repeated."

    "Of course."

    Collecting his thoughts, Tofu began. "All right, have you ever heard of a place called Jusenkyo?" To Tofu's surprise, Alex nodded again.

    "Training Ground of Accused Springs. I have a friend who visited there with his father a few years ago." Alex spoke matter-of-factly, as if it were something he took for granted.

    Sarcastically, Tofu asked. "Which one did your friend fall into?"

    Straight-faced, Alex replied evenly. "Spring of drowned tiger."

    Tofu sat stunned. "You're joking...how did you find out?"

    Alex smiled at the memory. "I dunked him in the swimming pool at school." He chuckled lightly. "Boy, was I surprised. All in all, he took it well." Becoming more serious, Alex leaned forward in his seat. "I take it your victim is also cursed?" Tofu, still speechless could only nod. "I see, so what does she turn into?"

    Tofu cleared his throat. "That's the crux of the problem. Ranma is normally a young man. He fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl..."

    Alex's eyes grew large. "You don't mean?" Tofu again nodded. "Oh my God. How's he taking it?"

    Tofu frowned. "From all that I've heard so far, not well. He's basically locked himself in his room and only comes out to bathe and eat. His fiancé is trying to help him but..."

    Alex looked thoughtful. "I can see that this does present a problem. Have you tried to change him back?"

    "Yes," Tofu reached to pull out some records. "For some reason, something has blocked his transformation. I had thought it might be in part caused by his pregnancy."

    The American's head snapped up at that. "He's pregnant?" Closing his eyes, he muttered in English. "{Oh, this is just getting better and better. Gabe, I'm gonna kick your ass later.}" Returning to Japanese he asked. "I take it you want me to meet this Ranma of yours?"

    Tofu looked at Alex. "I'm not sure. I don't know enough about you..."

    Alex seemed to turn inward for a moment then came to a decision. "Maybe I can ease your mind then. The reason why Dr. Kyniogi recommended me was that he knows that I am a Guardian."

    Tofu looked confused. "A guardian of what?"

    "Quite a bit, actually," Alex smiled again. "That was my first question when I was recruited a few years ago. Slowly but surely, I'm finding those answers." Seeing Tofu's perplexed look, Alex elaborated further.

    "A Guardian is a...I don't know exactly how to word this...a troubleshooter for the universe. We have access to immense power and have ways to see things most others cannot."

    Tofu's face showed his disbelief. "Who selected you?"

    Alex smiled. "The Archangel Gabriel. Technically, I'm on a mission for God." Noting Tofu's look Alex added. "Believe me, I know how this sounds. Don't go getting out the straight-jacket just yet."

    Tofu looked at Alex with concern. "I'm not taking some kind of missionary into the Tendo home so you can convert Ranma to your religion."

    Alex laughed at that. "Good, I don't do that anyway. Guardians are chosen from all faiths, doctor. We don't go out to convert anyone. Actually, we like to keep a low profile." Alex looked concerned once more. "Technically, Dr. Kyniogi shouldn't have told you about me. Seeing your situation, though, I have to admit that he had good cause to send me here."

    "I'm having a hard time believing this, Alex." Tofu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps with some proof..."

    "This from the man who asked me point blank about Jusenkyo?" Alex chuckled at Tofu's discomfort. "Okay, a small demonstration." Alex closed his eyes.

    "Alex, what are you..." Tofu's eyes grew wide as he watched Alex in his chair slowly rise off the floor and hover about three feet in the air. Behind him, Betty began to dance around seemingly under her own power.

    The young man opened his eyes and smiled. "Will this do?"

    Tofu walked around the floating chair. "How are you doing this?"

    Alex shrugged. "This is nothing, I'm not even close to needing to use the big reserve that I can access. Just call it a Guardian thing, it makes it a bit easier to accept."

    He watched the doctor gape for a few minutes more. "So, satisfied?" When Tofu nodded, Alex eased the chair back down to the floor. "Now you understand that I have to ask you not to go blabbing about this to the papers or anything..."

    Tofu shook his head in wonder. "I didn't believe you at first. Do you think anyone would believe me?"

    "There are some who would and that would make my job much more difficult." Alex stood and stretched. "Guardians hate publicity. So, shall we get going?"

    Dr. Tofu turned to the phone. "I need to call ahead first."

    "YOU'RE WHAT?!?"

    Akane had thought bringing Ranma to Ucchan's would help him forget his problems for a while. Now she wasn't so sure. They had timed their visit to be a time when business would be slow. Getting Ranma out of the house had been the hardest part up to this point.

    "Ukkyo, keep it down! We don't want the whole neighborhood to hear!" Akane glanced at Ranma. To her annoyance, he was starting to withdraw once more.

    Ukkyo quickly collected herself. "Sorry, Akane." She directed her attention toward Ranma once more. "But, Ranma-honey, you're the strongest one I know. How could something like this happen?"

    Ranma shrugged. "I guess I wasn't strong enough." He poked at the okonomiyaki in dejection. Ranma sighed. "This is even worse than when the freak used that moxibustion thing on me. There was a cure for that."

    "So you're unable to change back, ever?" Ukkyo asked. Ranma remained silent.

    Akane spoke instead. "We just don't know. Dr. Tofu is trying to find some answers but..." Akane shook her head and sighed. "I'm almost to the point of going over and asking Cologne for help. That's how desperate we are."

    Ukkyo could only nod. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Ranma had hardly moved from that spot since he got there. "Yeah, I can believe it. Then again, if anyone knows how to handle this, Cologne would be the one. Just don't turn your back on her."

    She was about to say more when Tatewaki Kuno entered the shop. He surveyed the room as if he owned the place, which set Ukkyo on edge. "Oh, I am truly blessed three of the most beautiful of women in the world all here in one place." He sauntered over to the table and tried to take a seat. To his dismay, none of the girls would move an inch. 'Alas,' he thought, 'they are all in awe of my manly presence.'

    Ranma broke the silence. "Let's go, Akane." He tried to work his way past Akane.

    Kuno's eyes lit up. "My Pig-tailed Goddess!" He eyed Ranma hungrily. "My love wants to move closer to bask in the wonder that is Kuno!" He began to laugh insanely.

    Ukkyo and Akane both rose as Ranma scooted out of the booth. He didn't make eye contact with Kuno and tried to move toward the door. Kuno intercepted him and tried to glom on. "My Love!" He cried as he latched on.

    For the first time in days, Ranma's eyes came alive. His face contorted in a grimace as he knocked Kuno's arms away. He then turned on the amorous swordsman. "Take your hands off me!" Ranma began to pummel Kuno viscously. "Don't you EVER touch a woman like that! EVER!" He knocked Kuno to the floor. Not letting up, Ranma jumped atop him. He wasn't using any of his more powerful moves, but his punches were all being felt. Kuno had raised his arms to try and block some of those punches.

    Ranma didn't care. "Listen you stupid ASS! I AM RANMA SAOTOME! THE ONLY RANMA SAOTOME! I AM NOT YOU PIG-TAILED GODDESS! I NEVER WILL BE! DO YOU GET ME! DO YOU?!?"

    Akane and Ukkyo had to drag Ranma off of Kuno. He sat there in shock for several long minutes. Ranma glared at him from across the room while Akane and Ukkyo kept him from attacking Kuno once more.

    Ukkyo looked over at Akane. "Well, that went well." Akane wanted to glare at Ukkyo, but the okonomiyaki chef's smile was too infectious.

    Akane nodded to the fallen fool. "I suppose we'll have to tell him. Think he can be trusted not to blab it all over school?"

    Ukkyo shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe we can make him swear an oath or something." She nodded at the seething Ranma. "At least he brought Ramna out of his shell for a bit. That's something, at least."

    Akane looked sad. "Yeah, but it won't last. We need answers."

    It took quite a while to make Kuno understand. By the time he finally figured out the curse and that Ranma was the pig-tailed girl, both Akane and Ucchan wanted to help Ranma pummel the idiot.

    When his brain finally accepted reality. He looked at Ranma with loathing. "To think, I have diverted my attentions from the lovely Akane Tendo because you have been tempting me with this harridan's guise." Ranma was about to pounce when Ukkyo smacked Kuno upside the head with her spatula. Kuno turned to the chef and said calmly. "That hurt, you know."

    Ukkyo brandished her spatula. "It's gonna hurt a lot more if you don't shut up and listen! I've lost half a day's business trying to get this through your thick skull, so just deal with it!"

    Kuno sulked a bit after that. He kept looking at Ranma never the less. "Why does Saotome torment me by remaining in that form. You say hot water changes him back, then by all means, let him change back!"

    Ranma balled up his fists. "Listen you jerk! If I could I would. If I weren't pregnant..." He caught herself, but the damage was already done.

    Kuno looked pole axed. He stared at Ranma in a new light. "How did this occur?"

    Ranma looked away uncomfortably. "It just did, okay? Let's just leave it at that."

    Kuno was about to say something more when Sasuke burst into the room. "Master Kuno! Master Kuno! I'm so glad that I found you. I've found Mistress Kodachi!"

    Kuno assumed an aristocratic air. "So my insane sibling has been located. What machinations has she been involved with this time."

    Sasuke looked extremely uncomfortable. "Master Kuno, you don't understand. The mistress has been taken to a hospital. She's been attacked!" The short ninja now seemed older. "When I found her, she had been left in an alley. She was badly beaten and...I think perhaps her virtue has been assailed as well."

    The last brought everyone to a halt. They looked at Sasuke in horror. Ranma was the one who voiced their dread. "Oh, God. Not again."

    Kuno looked at Ranma and the others, his façade was only a memory. "Sit, Saotome. We have much to discuss."

    It was getting dark when Akane and Ranma finally arrived home. Ranma was still withdrawn, but having heard of the assault on Kodachi, he felt not so alone. There had to be a reason why someone was attacking female martial artists. Kodachi, as scary as she was, was no slouch when it came to a fight. Whoever had done this to her had to be very good...or had to have some other edge. Now all they had to do was figure out which.

    Ukkyo had left with Kuno to check on Kodachi at the hospital. Ranma had suggested that Kuno walk Ukkyo home tonight from the hospital. She had balked initially, but when Akane and Ranma confronted her with the facts, she finally agreed. They had decided to go to the Nekohanten tomorrow to warn Shampoo and see if Cologne knew of anyone who would strike out in this fashion.

    As they entered the house, the sounds of conversation drifted toward them from the dining room. Kasumi met them in the hall.

    "Oh, good. You're back, we were beginning to worry." She gestured toward the dining room. "Dinner is almost ready and Dr. Tofu has brought someone he thinks can help us find out more about your condition."

    Ranma looked skeptical. "What, is the freak or the ghoul in there? What's it gonna cost me this time?"

    Akane squeezed his arm. "Ranma, be nice..."

    Kasumi smiled through the exchange. "Actually, I've never seen him before. He's about your age though." She led the way into the dining room where Dr. Tofu waited with the rest of the family and the young American who he introduced as Alex Matthews. Genma was in rare form.

    "I still don't see how this boy can undo this damage. When do we get the old Ranma back?" Genma sat with his arms crossed in his 'I know more about this than everyone' stance. "I still think that some strenuous training is all the boy needs."

    Alex let out a loud snort. "Yeah, right. Now why don't you answer me this, sir? How can you sit on your rear end like that with your head stuck so far up it?"

    Soun and Nabiki spat out what they were drinking, Akane and Kasumi looked shocked, and Ranma...actually cracked a real smile for the first time in a week and a half.

    Ranma couldn't help chuckle. "Looks like he's got ya pegged there, Pop!"

    Genma glared at Ranma. "Quiet boy! I'll deal with you in a minute." He rounded on Alex who sat calmly drinking his tea. "As for you, I don't have to sit here and be insulted..."

    Alex grinned. "Yeah, I know, you can be insulted anywhere." Suddenly, the boy rose to his feet and faced Genma. "Listen, pal! I'm not here to stroke your ego. I'm here for your son..." He glanced at Ranma briefly. "...Or daughter, as the case may be. Anyway, if you can figure out that not every problem can be solved with your fists, then you can be part of the solution." Truly angry now, Alex finished by poking Genma in the chest. "If not, then get the hell out of my way!"

    Genma's face held a dangerous look. "Oh really?" In a fluid motion, Genma had caught Alex's wrist and threw the Gaijin out the door and into the koi pond. Alex came up sputtering. Alex was far from happy as he squished his way back to the house.

    Ranma was equally irate. "Are you out of your mind, old man? He came here to help and you're throwing him into the pond!" Ranma grabbed his father's gi and promptly tossed him into the pond, with the usual results.

    Nabiki looked at Ranma. "Good one, Ranma. Now how are you going to explain this?"

    Alex was close enough to hear this. "Don't worry about it, Miss Tendo. I've seen something like it before." As he neared the house he examined his soaking wet clothes. "Hmmm, I can't very well come in like this."

    Kasumi was walking toward the kitchen. "I think I can find a robe for you to wear while I take care of your clothes."

    Alex smiled and waved her to a stop. "That won't be necessary, Kasumi. I have a neat little trick to handle this." There seemed to be a flicker of light near his eyes and then his clothes were perfectly dry once more. "There, all better." Winking at Nabiki, he added. "I really hate wet underwear." He turned to Genma-panda as he waddled up. "Let's see you do that."

    Genma-panda held up a sign. What it said actually made Nabiki blush.

    Ranma walked over to Alex, totally ignoring his father. "Neat trick. How long have you been able to channel your ki like that?"

    Alex looked at Dr. Tofu before answering. "Uh, a while." He quickly changed the subject. "I understand you can't change back to a man."

    Ranma kept his face neutral. "Yeah, I really want to know why that is."

    "Okay, let's go inside and find out." Alex walked back in and sat at the table.

    Ranma followed uncomfortably. "Just that simple, huh?"

    Tofu and Alex exchanged glances once more. "I really hope so." As Kasumi walked past with a kettle for Genma, Alex relieved her of it. "First, I need for you to try and change back again right now." He handed the kettle to Ranma.

    Ranma looked even more skeptical. "It won't work. I took a hot bath this morning with no results."

    Alex smiled. "Humor me. I'm just a silly Gaijin after all." As Ranma poured the hot water over his head, Alex's eyes got large. "Okay, I didn't expect this."

    Visible only to Alex, a ghostly form hovered over Ranma as he poured the water over himself. In appearance, the ghost strongly resembled Ranma's girl form, right down to the red hair. Just as the water ran out, the ghost noticed Alex's observation. Just before she faded from sight, she smiled at him.

    Slowly, Alex became aware of those around him once more. Akane was gently shaking his shoulder. "Are you all right? What did you see?" Alex was still a bit dazed. "It was a girl." Slowly he shook off the last of his disorientation. "There was a spirit hovering over Ranma when he tried to change back." He turned to Kasumi. "Let's get some more hot water. I want to see what happens when we change the panda back into a jackass."

    Kasumi hid a giggle behind her hand as Genma pulled out another obscene sign.

    Nabiki looked at Dr. Tofu. "An interesting fellow you've found, Tofu-baby." She leaned in closer. "By the way, was it just me, or were his eyes glowing just now?"

    The tests involved both Genma and Ranma. What Alex noticed was that in the case of Genma, the spirit would come and go with the application of cold or hot water. With Ranma, the 'Spirit of Drowned Girl' as Nabiki dubbed her, seemed to be present constantly. It was with the application of hot water that her presence became more pronounced.

    Ranma sat deep in thought. "But why is she doing this?"

    Alex shrugged. He looked tired. "I'm not sure, although I'd guess that your pregnancy is the reason for her continued presence." Alex took a sip of tea before adding. "I do know one thing. She IS the reason you can't change back. There can be no doubt."

    Kasumi, who had patiently provided everything for the experiments, asked, "Isn't there some way to ask her?"

    Alex looked thoughtful. "Maybe, we'd need to keep Ranma exposed to hot water to make the ghost more easily contacted." He tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. "I'm going to need some sleep before I try it. I didn't expect to use so much power today."

    Soun looked at the clock. "I hadn't realized how late it has gotten." To Alex he stated. "I'll have Kasumi make up a bed for you. Do you need to call your parents?"

    "I don't want to put you to any trouble, Mr. Tendo. It shouldn't take me too long to get home from here..." Alex began. Famous last words, soon Alex was overwhelmed with the famous Tendo hospitality.

    Kasumi laid a hand on his arm, "It really is no trouble and I'm certain father is about to insist." She smiled her patented Kasumi smile. "Now, you go and call home while Akane and I get things ready."

    Alex looked at Ranma who shrugged. "When she gets like this. It's better not to argue."

    Nabiki sealed the deal, which of course was her specialty. "Come on, I'll show you where the phone is and you can tell me all about yourself." For some reason, Alex began to sweat profusely as Nabiki led him to the phone.

    Ryoga finally found his way back to the dojo later that night. He had decided to go and try to find out who had attacked Ranma. Sitting around here and watching his rival sulk wasn't really accomplishing anything. Unfortunately, the search had also turned up nothing. The fact he had found his way back here so quickly was one thing that told him that stranger things than normal, even for Nerima, were definitely afoot.

    He quietly entered the dojo and put his pack down in his usual corner. Ryoga smiled as he noticed that Kasumi had left him a plate of food sitting on top of some of his clothes that he had left here. The clothes, naturally, were all clean and neatly folded. Ryoga put the clean clothes into his pack, then sat down and began to eat. All too soon, the food was gone.

    Ryoga was setting the plate on a shelf near the door when he heard someone mutter in the darkness. A quick search found a stranger asleep. Silently, Ryoga moved next to the stranger. His umbrella in hand, he began to shake the stranger roughly.

    Alex woke to shaking. He turned his sleep filled eyes to a youth wearing a bandana and brandishing an umbrella. "Yeah? What do ya want?"

    Ryoga remained wary. "What do you think you're doing here?"

    Alex was annoyed. "I WAS sleeping, you woke me up."

    Ryoga frowned. "That's not what I meant! Why are you here in this dojo?" Ryoga's hand tightened on the umbrella.

    Alex noted Ryoga's stance and readied a few surprises in the event a fight ensued. "I'm a guest of the Tendo's. They wanted me to see if I could help a friend who's also staying here."

    "You're here to help Ranma?" Ryoga noticed that when he mentioned Ranma by name, the stranger seemed to relax a notch. Maybe he really was...

    A sound at the door made both men turn. Silhouetted in the light was a girl wrapped in a blanket. "Ryoga? That you?"

    Ryoga nodded. He stepped over to the girl. "Yeah, I just got in." He noticed the shadows under Ranma's eyes. "Why are you up?"

    Ranma shrugged and moved past Ryoga. "Nightmares. Can't sleep." He walked over and sat next to Alex. "Yo, Alex."

    Ryoga noticed 'Alex's' concern as Ranma slumped against the wall. "You look like hell, Ranma."

    Ranma managed a small smile. "It's a matching set. I feel like hell." He pulled his blanket around him more tightly. "They had gotten a little better until I found out about Kodachi."

    Ryoga sat next to Ranma. "What happened to Kodachi?"

    Ranma shuddered. He spoke softly. "Same as me. Someone, beat her and...raped her." Ranma closed his eyes to hold back the tears. "I don't know if she's..." He didn't say anything more but placed her hand on her stomach.

    Alex propped himself up next to Ranma on the opposite side of Ryoga. "Another martial artist?" Ranma and Ryoga both nodded. "How good?"

    Ryoga answered. "Very. She's highly skilled in Rhythmic Gymnastics style of martial arts."

    Ranma wiped here eyes. "She cheats, too." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I never thought I'd ever be crying for her. She's made my life miserable for so long..." Ranma swallowed hard. "Why are my emotions so messed up?"

    "The fancy term is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Alex smiled coldly. "Now you know how full of shit those assholes who tell women to sit back and 'enjoy' being raped really are." Alex laid a comforting hand on Ranma's shoulder. "I think that you feel for this Kodachi means that you have a good heart. That's something to be proud of."

    Ranma looked at the floor. "Doesn't seem like much."

    Alex nodded. "True, but in this fight, you need to take every victory where you can. Even the little ones." Alex's voice became more serious. "You're not just going to bounce back from this, Ranma. This fight is going to be a long one."

    Ryoga looked at Alex in surprise. "How do you know all this? You didn't fall into a Jusenkyo spring, did you? Are you really a girl?"

    Alex chuckled. "No, Ryoga. I'm not a girl. My aunt is a nurse and volunteers at a rape crisis center back home. She's shared some things with me, so I've learned quite a bit about what to do..." Alex glared at the house. "...And what not to do."

    Ranma snorted. "You mean my Pop, right?"

    "You realize that your dad is a complete moron, don't you?" Alex said dryly.

    This had the intended effect of making Ranma's smile grow. "Yeah, but he's all I got."

    Alex looked at Ranma curiously. "Your mom's passed away?"

    Ranma sighed and closed his eyes once more. Tears began to run once more. "No. My moron father made a stupid promise to make me into a 'man among men'." Ranma opened his blanket to expose his nightshirt, the curves were evident underneath. "Some 'man' I am. If I let her see me like this, she'll make me and Pop to commit seppuku. No way I can go and see her ever again now..." Ranma began to weep bitterly.

    Ryoga sat helplessly as Alex eased Ranma's head onto his shoulder. In the back of his mind, Alex wondered if he would have done this if Ranma were in his male form. In any event, the point seemed moot, this was what was needed so he would do it. They sat there like that in silence broken only by heart wrenching pleas by Ranma that 'he wanted her Mom'. After a while, Ranma, emotionally spent once more, felt asleep in Alex's arms. He eased him down on the bed he had been using and with Ryoga's help covered him with the blanket. When done, the two men sat on Ryoga's bed watching Ranma.

    Ryoga spoke first. "Sorry about..." He was still unnerved by the sight of Ranma weeping like...well, like a girl. To keep himself from thinking about this, he changed the subject. "I wish there was something to be done about the nightmares."

    Alex looked at Ryoga. To the lost boy's surprise, there seemed to be a slight sparkle in the American's eyes. "I'm handling it. It's a temporary thing at most, but I think I have an idea for a longer term solution." Returning his attention to Ranma once more. "I'll have to talk to Akane about it tomorrow."

    "Talk to me about what?" Akane asked quietly as she entered the dojo. She sat down next to Ryoga. "I woke up and decided to check on Ranma, when he wasn't in his room..." Akane looked at the sleeping girl. "I wanted to make sure he was all right."

    Alex watched Akane for a moment. He nodded toward Ranma. "You love him."

    Akane looked shocked and embarrassed. "What! That insensitive jerk? After all of the things he's said about me? I..." She was brought up short by Alex's amused grin. Then she looked at Ranma sleeping peacefully for the first time in a week. She dropped her head and said in a whisper. "I guess I do..." She looked at Alex sadly. "I don't know why, but the thought of losing him..."

    Alex let Akane off the hook. "I see." Quickly he caught Akane up about what Ranma had said and the emotional storm that they had weathered in the dojo. "I was wondering, do you know where his mother lives?"

    "Sure, not that far away, really." Akane pulled her robe closer against the night chill. "She comes to visit sometimes." Akane stifled a snicker. "Ranma and Mr. Saotome have to stay in their cursed forms for the duration of her stay. As far as she knows, Ranma and Mr. Saotome are just Ranko and Mr. Panda." She smiled and shook her head. "Nabiki sometimes teases them by saying that she's here when she's really not. Both of them immediately jump into the koi pond to transform."

    Akane paused. She looked at Alex. "Why do you want to know?"

    "I want to visit her."

    Akane's eyes flew open wide. "Are you NUTS!" She grabbed Alex by the collar and dragged him outside so she could raise her voice.

    Ryoga watched Akane drag Alex outside. "She took that better than I thought she would." Ranma continued to sleep peacefully.

    Outside, Akane dropped Alex on the ground and stood over him. "What do you MEAN you want to visit Ranma's mother! If she find out about his curse, she'll make him commit suicide!"

    Alex slowly got to his feet. "Akane, I promise you I will do nothing to endanger Ranma." He touched the wet spot on his shirt. "I didn't get this from standing in the rain." He paused to let Akane get a good look. "Ranma needs his mother. Probably now more than ever."

    Akane shook her head adamantly, "No way! There's an oath that Mr. Saotome..."

    "Ranma told me."

    She looked at him incredulously, "And you still want to go and see her?" Akane began to scowl...a dangerous sign.

    Alex raised his hands defensively. "Akane, at least hear me out before you decide to clobber me. Is that fair enough?"

    She frowned thoughtfully. "This had BETTER be good!"

    Alex walked Akane back to the house and sat with her on the back porch. "It will be, my life depends on it after all." The lack of response from Akane did not encourage him.

    "First off, Mrs. Saotome has a right to know what has happened to Ranma, any oaths not withstanding. Second, well, you've seen Ranma's emotional state. He needs ALL of the emotional support he can get. His father is no prize, that's for sure."

    Akane looked at Alex through heavy lidded eyes. "Ranma's a man, you know."

    Alex gestured toward the dojo. "Not right now, he's not. In reality, Ranma's not going to be a guy for quite some time. That fact is just one that's wearing on him heavily."

    Akane nodded, still frowning. "All right, I'll concede that point."

    Alex nodded. "Thank you. As for the oath, well..." He pointed to Akane. "Would you describe Ranma as a good man?"

    Akane just stared at him in shock. She looked away uncertainly. "I suppose...at least when he's not insulting me or acting like a pervert." She looked at the stars. "He's always come after me when I've needed him." More softly she added. "Even when I didn't think I needed him...he was always there."

    She sighed when she thought about the Christmas just past. "Still, when he let's his guard down..." Despite herself, Akane felt herself smile and blush slightly.

    Alex watched her in silence. Finally he said. "What do you believe she'll think when you tell Mrs. Saotome what you've told me?" Alex touched Akane's hand lightly. "More to the point, should Ranma's curse be any influence on his being a man among men?"

    Akane looked hard at Alex. "I wouldn't...but...I don't know what she would do if she found out about the curse." Her eyes softened. "If she decides..." She took Alex's hand and squeezed.

    "There is one more point to consider." Alex looked a bit uncomfortable now. "Ranma is carrying her first grandchild. That is my final ace-in-the hole if she decides that Ranma must...well, you know." Alex looked at Akane once more. "Do you think that she's that unreasonable?"

    Akane shrugged. "No, most of the time..." Akane reached up to wipe away a tear. "It's like my own mother is still here when Mrs. Saotome comes over. She's gentle and nice...but she always had that katana."

    Alex rubbed his eyes, it was beginning to get late. "Listen Akane, If you don't think that I should do this...I won't." He squeezed her hand once more. "Your call."

    "My call?" Akane looked confused. "But why?"

    "You're Ranma's fiance," he said simply. "You love him, I believe you will make the best decision for him." Alex stood and began to walk back to the dojo. Over his shoulder he said. "Make it a good one."