Disclaimer: I don't own the Ranma 1/2 casts but I do own the fanfic. This fanfic is a little dark and it's serious, contain violence and blood shed. If you can't handle that, please do NOT read this. Please don't say I didn't warn ya! ^_^ Okay, peoples, this is it, the last part of Night Owl! I hope you all will enjoy this! ^_^ Night Owl Part Five By: Silver Star Nabiki Tendo stood at the edge of the hole, eyes unblinking, frozen in shock. Her sister, her little sister whom she vowed to protect a long time ago, was gone. Disappeared right before her eyes. And she couldn't do a damn thing about it. Sounds came from behind her. The unmistakable wail sounded, breaking her out of the shocked state she was in. "WAAAAAAAAAA!! MY LITTLE GIRL IS GONE!!!!" Soun wailed, fat teardrops raining down upon the debris littered floor. Nabiki spun around, her face contorted in anger and self-hatred. Anger because her little sister's gone, and self-hatred because she couldn't stop it. "SHUT UP!!" she screamed, cold eyes filled with pain and rage met those of her father's. "Just shut up, Daddy! Your wailing won't bring Akane back! For once, can't you do something OTHER than just cry about it!" Soun Tendo was never scared of his middle daughter. Kasumi, yes because she seemed more as the head of the household than him, and Akane because she knows Martial Arts, and can actually give him a good beating even though he's her elder. He was never afraid of his middle daughter, because she rarely have any authorities within this house, though to tell the truth, she was really the one who held the house together with her mercenary ways. But this time, he was truly scared. Kasumi stood behind Genma and Soun. Her eyes were empty of life, but she didn't seem to be in shock. Soun's eyes met those of his eldest daughter's and with a start, he realized that Nabiki was right. His wailing won't solve anything, except bring more trouble, and that was the last thing they need. Nabiki turned her gaze to the slightly cowering man in a white gi and glasses. "And you! It's all your fault!" she screamed, pointing at Genma. "Trouble follows you Saotome's EVERYWHERE YOU GO! If you weren't here, then my little sister would be safely sleeping in her room! Damn you, Saotome! Damn you!" She ran out of the destroyed room and sped down the stairs to the yard. she chanted almost feverishly within her mind. Difficult to believe as it is, Nabiki Tendo truly loved her family, and despite all that she had done in the past 2 years, she never meant to hurt her little sister. She had never told anyone this, but she was responsible for their mother's death. Indirectly, perhaps, but she was responsible all the same. If only she hadn't made her mother go buy that dress for her! Then she wouldn't be on that bus, and when that bus crashed, her mother wouldn't have died! It was her fault. It was all her fault, yet, she never told anyone. The guilt had been eating her up from the inside for years. She tried to help when her older sister began to take over the job of their mother, but she wasn't cut out to be a housewife. She felt so guilty. She wanted to help, she wanted to make up for what she had done, but she can never do anything right, no matter how hard she tried. She couldn't help her older sister, but her younger sister was a different matter. Nabiki was 7 when she made the promise, that she will protect Akane, no matter what. As the years went by, Akane became more and more beautiful with a startling resemblance to their mother. It was only expected that she attracted so many admirers when she gets into High School. Nabiki was jealous, yes, but she never did forget her promise. When Kuno began to chase Akane, Nabiki starts to sell pictures of her younger sister smashing bricks to him. It was the only way she knew to earn money and help her family. After their mother died, Soun stopped teaching, and the family savings dwindled to nearly nothing. She knew Akane would probably be furious, furious and embarrassed, but she made sure that it wouldn't hurt her. When Kuno made that idiotic speech, Nabiki couldn't have been more furious in her life. Her DARE that idiot made a claim like that!! Especially if it's about Akane! She wouldn't let him, so she set out to make his life at Furinkan High as miserable as possible. It worked. Well, sort of. The attacks did start, and no one ever did backed down, even in the face of being put into the hospital every morning. However, she also did make Kuno's life miserable. She fed him wrong information and twist them in ways that Kuno's simple mind could never grasp. It wasn't long before he was so confused that he became an even worse idiot than before. Tatewaki Kuno, the "Shooting Star" of Furinkan High, became the laughing stock of the whole school. Nabiki also tried to stop the morning battles, but soon she realized that it's actually good for her little sister. Infuriating, yes, but the morning battles actually allows Akane to let out her frustration and anger, not to mention going against the male population of Furinkan High gave her quite a decent workout. For a while, everything is just as it should be. Then, the two SAOTOMES came along, and their lives were torn up, turned upside down, then put back together with pieces missing. Nabiki thought bitterly. Nabiki didn't want to push Ranma onto Akane, but there's really no other choice. She can't push someone like Ranma onto Kasumi; she had already done too much for the family as it is. As for herself, well, ever since that first scream from Akane about a 'pervert' in the bathroom, she had developed an almost kind of hate for Ranma. Not just for disrupting their lives without a forewarning, but also because of all the trouble that followed him. Trouble that somehow always endangered Akane's life. It was really an act of desperation, now that she thought about it. She was desperate to not get engaged to someone like Ranma, so she did what her instinct told her, which was to push Ranma onto Akane. Her taking pictures of Ranma in girl form and then selling them to Kuno was almost like revenge. Revenge for disrupting her life, revenge for freeloading her family and further thinning their income, and revenge for always hurting or endangering Akane's life. Nabiki's hate did lessen each time Ranma risked his life for Akane, but she held onto the cold mask of indifference. After all, can't let anyone know that "The Ice Queen" is melting now, can we? But the cracked and rapidly melting Mask of Ice was freezing into a whole once again. How can Ranma let Akane just disappear like that? It's his fault. It's gotta be. Everything was his fault before, so why not blame this on him, too? It's not gonna make too much difference now anyway; Akane was gone. With a broken sob, she burst out onto the moonlit yard. Ranma's head raised, and for a split second, their eyes met. Nabiki saw the pain and the self-hatred, emotions so much like the ones she was feeling now. And she understood in her heart if not in her mind, that Ranma will do anything, even giving up his life, for Akane to be back alive and well again. And then, the spell was broken. Nabiki's eyes widened as Ranma's eyes closed and his body slumped forward. A bright flash of light filled her vision, and she stumbled back, eyes closed against the piercing attack, arms up in an attempt at blocking the hurtful rays. When she opened her eyes again, Ranma Saotome was no where to be found. <><><><><><> /The Past.../ "Huh? What?" Ranma asked, looking around in confusion, yet, seeing nothing. The voice was just there. Then, images appeared and Ranma was silenced. ~ "It's another girl, Tendo-san," the midwife said, smiling widely as she handed the small bundle to the tiredly looking and sweat covered woman half sitting, half laying on the bed. "Another beautiful little girl. You must very so very proud to have three such beautiful daughters. ~ ~ Hiroko Tendo smiled softly, holding the bundle close to her. "Yes, I am very proud to be the mother of these three girls," she said, smiling down at the chubby face of her third daughter. Yet, a trace of sadness could be seen in her eyes. ~ ~ "Would you like me to call your husband in?" the midwife asked, slightly confused by the sadness, yet unwilling to nose into someone else's business. ~ ~ "Yes, please," Hiroko replied, looking up from the child she had just given birth to. ~ ~ The midwife opened the door to the room and walked out. A man with shoulder length black hair stopped pacing in the other room and looked up, excitement could be seen clearly on his face. ~ ~ "How is she? Hiroko, I mean, and the child, too. Are they alright? Is it a girl or a boy? Can I see them?" the man asked anxiously. The midwife smiled to herself in amusement. It never failed to amaze her how some man can be so excited by the prospect of having a child. A three years old little girl stood by the man's legs, peering up in curiosity at all the excitement. A one year-old baby suddenly cried out in her cradle. ~ ~ "Tendo-san, please calm down. Your wife is fine, and so is your new daughter. Your wife requested you to see her." ~ ~ Soun Tendo smiled in relieve, then rushed over to the cradle in the corner of the room to pick up the one year-old baby to sooth her. "Kasumi- chan, would you like to see your new little sister?" he asked, turning back to the three years old little girl. The little girl nodded excitedly, finally realizing that she's gonna have ANOTHER little sister to take care of. ~ ~ The midwife opened the door for Soun, the one year-old girl still in his arms, and Kasumi who followed behind him. Immediately, he rushed toward the futon in the corner of the inner room. ~ ~ "Hiroko-chan, are you alright?" Soun asked worriedly, dropping to one knee at the side of the bed. He carefully put the one year-old Nabiki on the side of the bed, making sure that she won't fall off, and grabbed a chair from the other corner to sit on. "Come here, Kasumi," he said, hauling the older girl onto his lap so she could see her mother and the bundle in her mother's arms. ~ ~ "Yes, I'm alright, Soun. You don't have to worry any more," she replied, looking up. "And here's your new daughter," she said. She pulled back the cover and Soun smiled as he saw the chubby little face of the baby. She gurgled in delight as she saw the man's face looming over hers. Soun picked up Nabiki from the side of the bed and grabbed Kasumi as well, to show them the face of their new sister. ~ ~ "She's so small," Kasumi gasped in delight as she reached out a hand to touch the small fingers of the baby. Nabiki just stared at the baby for a moment then a bright smile bloomed across the one year-old's face. "What's her name, Mama?" ~ ~ Hiroko looked at the baby in her arms and her smile dimmed a little. She looked up and into the eyes of her beloved husband. "Soun, this is my last child. I can have no more and I have yet given you an heir..." Hiroko trailed off, a tinge of sadness in her voice. She dropped her eyes, not willing to see the disappointment in the eyes of the man she loved. "I'm sorry." ~ ~ "You will be sorry of nothing," Soun said softly, still smiling. "I don't care if I don't have a son. I'm proud to have three such beautiful daughters." He chuckled as the baby grabbed his index finger. Hiroko looked up, slightly surprised by the answer, then smiled in relief. ~ ~ "What will we name her, Soun?" Hiroko asked, watching her husband playing with the little baby. ~ ~ "Hmm, I don't know," Soun replied. He turned to Kasumi who was watching the little baby closely. "What do you think, Kasumi-chan? What should we name her?" ~ ~ Kasumi stared at the flushed face of her new little sister, watched as the baby started screaming when no one was playing with her any more. "Akane," she replied, smiling and reaching out a hand to shush the baby. ~ ~ Soun laughed, realizing why his oldest daughter chose the name. "Yes, Akane is a fitting name for a girl with so much fire in her," he replied. "So Akane it is." ~ The images ended and Ranma took a step back. Or at least he thought he took a step back. He wasn't even sure if he was standing or not. "That was the Past...Akane's past," he whispered aloud absently, mind still reeling from the knowledge. /It is not the end,/ the whisper from before said softly. /Watch. There is more./ ~ "Papa?" the little girl with short bluish-black hair asked, looking up to the anguished face of her father. "Papa, what's wrong? Where's Mama?" ~ ~ Soun Tendo looked down to see his youngest daughter staring up at him with large curious eyes. And he felt his control slipping again, feeling the tears threatening to come out. "She's gone, Akane. She won't ever come back again. They took her away to a place far away from here." ~ ~ The young Akane's face took on a stubborn and angered look. "Why did they take Mama away?! Why didn't you stop them, Papa?! Why?! I want Mama back!" ~ ~ "I'm sorry, Akane, I'm so sorry," Soun whispered, hugging his youngest daughter close to him, feeling the tears rolled down his cheeks again. "But she won't ever come back. I'm so, so sorry." ~ ~ "NO!!" Akane screamed, struggling out of her father's embrace and running out the room, running as if she was trying to catch up to something or someone. "No! She'll come back! She always does! Don't go, Mama! DON'T!!!" ~ "That- that was when Akane's mother died..." Ranma said. For a moment, he felt the same pain as the time when he was taken away from his mother to go on the ten-year training trip. It was a familiar pain, yet it was stronger and more alien to him. Akane's mother had died. For him, at least his mother was still alive. /Yes, and that was ten years ago,/ the voice said, tinged with sadness. /She was only a child, a six years old child.../ ~ The six year-old Akane Tendo tripped and fell, sprawling across the cold and unyielding earth. She curled up into a tight little ball, whimpering as her hands came up covered with blood from the abrupt and violent fall. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, not caring that she was wiping blood all over her clothes. She was cold. So very cold. ~ ~ "Mama..." she whispered, tears trailing down her cheeks and then falling, only to be whipped away by the cold wind. "Why did you go...? Why did you leave us like this? Why? WHY?!" But the answer did not come and she only cried harder. ~ Ranma felt the tears fall but he did not try to wipe it away or hide it. He have no need to and he have no desire to. So much pain. He wanted to go up to the little girl and hug her, reassure her that she will never be alone and that her mother will always be with her, but he knew he couldn't. /That was the Past...Ranma Saotome. The Past of the girl you know as Akane Tendo./ The voice paused, as if contemplating. Then, /And this, this is her future as of now./ Ranma sucked in his breath and his eyes widened in disbelieve and denial. It was the graveyard, and a funeral was taking place. The funeral of Akane Tendo. ~ Soun Tendo stood before the headstone of the freshly dug grave, staring silently at the words carved upon it. Kasumi stood to his right, tears rolling down her normally serene and happy face. Dr. Tofu stood slightly behind her, his arm around her in comfort. Nabiki stood on Soun's left, eyes empty and emotionless. No one was there to comfort her and she wanted none. She had promised that she'll keep her little sister safe, and she had failed that. She deserves no one. ~ ~ Ukyo, Shampoo, Mousse, and Ryoga stood to the side, each had an expression of disbelief and sadness on their faces. Every one of them were strong, but none had actually witnessed the devastation of death. At least, not to someone so close to them. ~ ~ Cologne and Happosai stood further away. They were saddened by Akane's death, but they were not shocked, nor were they filled with grief. They had lived far too long and had seen way too many deaths for this one to affect them, even if the one who had died had been closer to them than any of the other victims of Death. ~ ~ Kuno and Kodachi stood surprisingly silent. For once in their lives, they had come out of their illusionary world. ~ ~ Ranma Saotome stood alone and silent behind everyone else, eyes shadowed behind black bangs, yet tears could be seen falling down toward the ground. "Akane..." he whispered so softly that no one heard him. "I'm so sorry..." ~ "STOP!" Ranma screamed, screwing his eyes shut tightly to keep out the images played out before him. "Stop it! I don't want to see this! I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS!!!" He fell to his knees, eyes shut and tears falling down toward the nothingness beneath him. He did not notice. All he saw was the image of the gravestone, carved with Akane's name and the date of birth and death. He was crying. He was truly crying for the first time in ten years. /You, Ranma Saotome, had seen the Past and the Future of this young woman named Akane Tendo. You care for her deeply, and I know. Don't try to hide it any more. It will only hurt you, and ultimately, her as well. You cannot change the past, Ranma. But you can make her happy. You can change the future./ Ranma felt a presence joining him and he looked up to see a form, familiar, yet so alien at the same time. He could barely make out the features of the unknown person, but somehow, he knew. "You." "Yes, me," Hiroko Tendo said softly and sadly. Her beautiful flower patterned kimono fluttered around her softly even though there was no wind. Her long dark hair was pinned up in an intricate and complicated style. The familiar warm brown eyes looked down at him in sadness. "Don't let her die like this, Ranma. Don't let her die a meaningless death." "How...?" Ranma asked, voice soft and filled with despair. "Look." Hiroko raised a slender hand and pointed to something behind him. Ranma stood up and slowly turned around, afraid of what he might see, yet, afraid of not seeing it. A bright blue light flashed, blinding him momentarily, then it winked out, leaving Ranma blinking to adjust. His eyes widened slightly as they finally adjust to the darkness once again and he let out a strangled shout. "Akane!" Before him, against the background of endless darkness, was a coffin-like crystal case; a bright, but shadowed blue light pulsed steadily like a heart beating without end. Within that crystal case was the body of Akane Tendo, eyes closed and arms wrapped around her naked form. Her body was curled slightly inward as well as her legs. It looked as if she was just sleeping peacefully, if it wasn't for the blue light that made her skin seem like ice. Ranma reached out a trembling hand, trying to touch her, to see if she was real, but it was stopped by the crystal case. He drew his hand back almost immediately. It was not a case. It was a huge chunk of frozen ice. "This is what was left of her when I found her," Hiroko said from behind him, but he did not turn around. "Her body. An empty husk." Ranma stiffened in shock and his mind battled with what she had said meant. "No, not an empty husk. Rather, a vessel with not enough life force." "A vessel..." Ranma whispered, voice slightly shaking, one hand hovering close to the cold surface of the ice yet not touching. He clenched his hand and drew it down to his side again, turning around slowly with an air of determination. There was an unholy bright light burning in his eyes when they met the familiar brown of Hiroko Tendo's. Hiroko simply stared back, face completely empty of emotion, yet there was a fait but well covered trail of sadness and pain in her eyes. "You said I can help her. You said I can change her future." The older woman gave a curt nod, then walked past him to face the ice case. "Yes, and that was the reason I brought you here. To save her life." Hiroko touched her fingertips to the smooth, cold surface of the ice case, and despite the unmoving expression, a single tear rolled down her cheek. She hastily wiped away that tear but she did not loose contact with the ice case, nor did she turn around to face Ranma. "Or rather sharing your soul, your life force with her. Are you willing to do this, Ranma Saotome, the last descendent of the Saotome Clan? Are you willing to have half of your soul, your _soul_, to reside in this woman's body? To share a bond closer than any lovers, a tie that nothing, not even death, could break? Do you swear to protect her and love her and cherish her for the rest of your life, and beyond? Do you, Ranma?" Hiroko spun around abruptly and stared into the younger man's eyes, telling him without words just how important his answers are. "Are you willing to do all of this just save this young woman's life?" Ranma shifted his eyes to the still form of Akane then back to Hiroko. A spark of fire appeared in his eyes and they gleamed with determination. "Yes, I am willing to do all of that for Akane. Anything for Akane." Hiroko slowly nodded her head, a strange understanding settling inside her mind. His choice had been made and no matter what happens now, in the end it will always be his choice. "Alright, I am ready." Slowly, a soft red glow surrounded the young man's form. Ranma raised his hands up to his face, staring at the red aura, and then brought his hands up to the ice that incased his fiancee. Slowly, almost like in a dream, his hand, then his arm and finally his whole body sank into the blue crystal. The sensation of ice cold liquid assaulted his body and felt his limbs slow down in their movement across the cold space. Cold... Everything so hazy now and his body felt like a great piece of lead. His muscles refused to move, but he was determined. Time slowed down to a crawl. Akane... ~ * < > * ~ So cold. It was so cold. Where am I? Who am I? Why am I here? And where exactly is 'here', anyway? I'm so cold. It was getting colder now, and it felt like I'm being frozen into a solid piece of ice. I think I remember a time when there was warmth. It was so wonderful, then, and I felt so safe in your arms. 'Your arms?' Who are 'you?' I don't remember. An image. A scene. A short black pigtail symbolizing a carefree spirit. A pair of stormy blue eyes floated in the dark black space, staring at me with an intense emotion. A wild black stallion? Ran...ma...? I don't remember. My head hurts so much. The images are scattering and I reached out, wanting them back. I want to feel safe again; I want you back in my life. A light... It felt warm, that light, and it beckoned me toward it. So warm...yet so cold at the same time. My heart felt reluctance but my mind wants the warmth and it pushed me on. A river crossed my path. The water was so dark, so cold. I didn't want to go into the water but the light whispered sensuous promises to me. I hesitated. I didn't want to go. The water looked cold to me. So cold. But the whispers of warmth and safety continued. The edge loomed before me and the dark water rushed down the set path without a sound. So silent. So cold. I stepped forward. ~ * < > * ~ Akane... His limbs moved within the cold liquid slowly but steadily. He reached out, but the form of his love was still so far away. Too far away. "Akane..." he whispered out loud, although there was no sound. "Don't leave me, please...I need you..." His arms wrapped themselves around the cold naked form of the girl he loves. And then, there was only darkness. Don't leave me... ~ * < > * ~ I'm drowning. The black depth of the water rushed toward me and I felt the icy coldness of the liquid engulfing me. I wanted to scream. I tried to scream but nothing came out of my mouth. I was frozen in place, feeling helplessness and panic as I sank beneath the cold black depth. Beneath me, within the complete darkness, a young man stood. A cloak of shadows swirled about him, blending in with the surrounding. His pale face and hands were the only thing that could be seen, seeming as if hovering disjointed in the darkness. Long chestnut brown hair flowed slowly against the backdrop of nothingness, loose strands occasionally flowing in front of his face, blocking my vision of him. Amethyst eyes peered up at me in curiosity. In his right hand was a long gleaming silver scythe, the blade curving away from him. I felt utter panic bubbling up from the depth of my being. The young man's free left hand slowly raised, reaching toward me. Death. Death is waiting for me with outstretched hands. I tilted my head and looked up at the rippling surface, at life, at the freedom that I knew exist there. I raised my arms and reached up. My fingertip touched the surface, the boundary between life and death, but it was no use. I continued to sink down toward my demise. 'No...NO!' I screamed, mouth moving yet no sound coming out. This can't be the end. It just can't. Another's hand suddenly plunged down and grabbed mine. I cling to that hand; not knowing whose hand it is, yet desperate to escape Death's clutches. But I'm still sinking and the hand was sinking with me. Powerfully muscled arm followed that hand, then a shoulder, and then a whole entire form sank beneath the surface of the freezing cold water. Black hair tied back into a pigtail. Red shirt hugging muscular frame. Black pants encasing powerful legs. And eyes. Stormy blue eyes filling me with warmth. Familiar. So familiar. Who are you? 'Don't go...please...' Your mouth was moving but no sound came out. Yet, I could hear you. Within my mind, within my heart I hear your voice. 'Don't leave me...I can't live without you...' Your voice was so sad, filled with loneliness. I wanted to chase away the sadness and place a bright smile on your face, as the way it should be. And your eyes...your eyes reflected so many different emotions. Who are you? Why can't I remember? Slowly I drifted into your embrace. Vaguely, I realized that we're not sinking any more but staying in that one place, suspended in time. 'I love you. Please don't leave me...' I stared into your eyes; warmth spreading over my body as your arms wrapped them around me. So beautiful. So warm. So alive. But who are you? You're so familiar to me, yet I have no recollection of you. Who are you? Who?! Panic crowded at the back of my throat, threatening to choke me. I want to know. I must know! Who are you...?! We're sinking again. Sinking downward toward Death's outstretched hand, toward the end of our lives. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wishing to see my own demise. No! I refuse to believe that this is the end; that there's no more to live for any more! Help me...! Help me Ranma!! I froze, eyes snapping open in shock. Ranma. Wild Stallion. Ran...ma... I looked up into your eyes again and recognition filled me. 'Akane...' It's you. It really is you. You came for me, just as you promised you would. I smiled. And with a sharp gasp, we broke the surface. ~ * < > * ~ Death stood still within the darkness, watching as the form of the girl and the young man drifted upward, away from it. It let its pale hand drop to its side once again. Yes, this is the way it should be, Death thought. The girl wasn't supposed to be here now. It was too early for her to arrive here, at the gate between Life and Death. It was curious at first. What had the girl done to make her come here? But it doesn't matter now. She's leaving, back to where she belong in the great scheme of the world. Death tilted its head, wide amethyst eyes peering curiously into the surrounding darkness. Another had entered the Sea of Chaos. A feral grin appeared on Death's face, twisting its delicate features into something unpleasant. It's him. The one Death had been waiting for since the first time they met within that same Sea of Chaos. The demon was elusive, escaping Death's grasp time and again. But not this time. This time, Death is getting what it wants. And it wants the shadowed soul of a demon simply known as Reilion. ~ * < > * ~ She was cold. A cool breeze wrapped itself around her and it's cold tendrils found its way past the tattered remains of her clothes to brush against her skin. She was cold. Her fingers slowly twitched and a soft groan forced its way past her lips. Her body hurt *really* bad. No, 'really bad' are words simply too mild for what she was feeling. It felt as though she had been ran over by a ten thousand pound truck, sent down to hell only to be rejected by the great Lord of Death, then thrown down to boil in the Cauldron of Eternal Pain. Memories began to drift back to her once more. Maybe reality wasn't too far off from that after all. Damn, she was freezing. "Akane?" A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her, chasing the cold away. "Are you awake now?" Another groan sounded, followed by a name she remembered well. "R-Ranma?" Slowly, her eyes opened, but all she saw was dark blurs moving against a diamond-studded sky. It was beautiful. She wondered why she never noticed just how beautiful the night sky is. "Yeah. I'm here." "What happened?" She was tired, so very tired. Her limps refused to move at her command. She couldn't even lift her head. Either her body parts are too hurt to move, or they are as strong and supportive as jellyfish. "I don't know." He sounded tired too. She wondered what had happened to make him so tired. She wondered why she was still alive. "Is Reilion gone?" She hoped she got him with her final blast. She'd rather die along with Reilion than to live and have Reilion alive as well. "I believe so." The stars above seem to be either winking at her, or laughing at her. She couldn't decide which. But they're certainly making her dizzy. "Where are we, Ranma?" "In the park, I think." "Aa." Silence. "Ranma?" "Yeah?" "The night sky is beautiful, isn't it?" There was a slight shifting as he raised his head to look up at the sky. "Aa, it is beautiful." "They're making me dizzy, though." "Then close your eyes and sleep, Akane." His voice was soft and gentle, and she wondered if this is his true self, when he wasn't being pressured all the time. Slowly, she closed her eyes again, and now she saw only darkness behind her eyelid. No more stars to either mock her or praise her anymore. It was so quiet, so unlike the normal days where the air was filled with angry shouts and sounds of destruction. She decided that she liked this quietness, especially when she had him to share it with her. "You came for me." It was simple and clear, and neither needed any clarifying on just what that statement meant. They knew each other too well for that. "Yeah, I did." There was another shifting as he drew her closer into his embrace. She didn't mind. She liked being warm. "Thank you." He did not reply, but the tightening of his arms was all the answer she needed. He would come for her, whenever and wherever. He would always come for her. She smiled. In the distant east, light began to penetrate the night. It chased away the darkness, and along with it, the stars. Dawn was coming. ~ * < > * ~ The End ~ * < > * ~ I'm DONE!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!! ^_____^ So, how is it? Personally, I think this is the best part I've ever done. I especially like the last part, which is done in a newer and better style than my old stuff. And this... *ish in tears* is my first finished multi-chapter work! ALRIGHT!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *starts dancing around, scaring everyone within reach* XD Please, please, PLEASE tell me what you think! My email is at bailuli@hotmail.com and I would LOVE it if I get some comments and suggestions on this! What I really want to know is if the ending is too confusing and if anyone need any clarification on anything. So please, email me! I'd like to thank Aprillyn Darling , and MWhaleK MWhaleK@aol.com for their help in prereading and the such in the process of writing this. http://www.angelfire.com/anime/kei/