Progeny
By Jeffrey Vasquez

Disclaimer:

Based on the series Sailor Moon. All characters copyrighted by
Naoko
Takeuchi, Toei Animation, and Kodansha.

The characters of Ranma ½ are the express property of the most
benevolent queen of comedy, her Highness, the revered Rumiko
Takahashi and Shogokukan. I am in no way claiming, or even
pretending
to own these characters.

The rest belong to me.

Author's Notes:

For purposes of continuity, I have modified Nodoka Saotome's
character
to better suit the story.  She has spent the last ten years
training in the
study of the sword and spear.  Other changes will be evident as
the story
progresses.

*********
Chapter 3

Ami ignored the nasty cut on the palm of her hand as she watched
Ranma's body shrink and redistribute its mass.  His chest filled
out and
his hair changed from raven black to a flaming red.  The strong
features of
his face softened and his powerful hands thinned out, becoming
small, and
graceful.  A buxom, young woman stood where a boy had been a
moment
ago.  Stunned couldn't begin to describe what she was feeling.

". . . fascinating."  She couldn't think of anything else to say.
Ranma
simply stood and placed the pitcher and the glass on the table.

It was all that the cursed martial artist could do, not to
shatter the fragile
glass.  She reigned in her anger when she heard Ami's reaction to
the
change.  Looking down at the kneeling girl, a crooked smile
worked
its way onto her face.  She noticed the cut on Ami's palm, and
immediately went into action.  One hand immediately cinched the
tie on
her pants, making it easier to maneuver.  While the other ripped
a part of
her now oversized, sleeve off.

She carefully brushed the remaining glass from Ami's skin,
careful to
avoid aggravating the wound further and then lifted the
astonished girl
to her feet.  Piloting her easily over to the sink, Ranma-chan
carefully
removed a large sliver of glass from the cut.

Luckily the gash wasn't too deep, holding only two more pieces
of
glass on the surface of the wound.  She was glad that she wouldn'
t have to
dig anything out.  She wasn't a very good surgeon, a fact that
her father
could attest to.  She remembered one incident with a Chinese
farmer, two
chickens and Genma's butt full of buckshot.  It brought a slight
smile to
her lips as she turned the faucet on and allowed the water to
warm a little.
It wouldn't trigger the curse, but would be enough to keep the
pain down
as she rinsed the wound clean.

Ami was amazed at the change that had come over the young man...
girl...
person before her.  The predatory grace that Ranma had displayed
before
became more fluid - if that was possible.  The little red head
reminded
Ami of a ballet dancer, or perhaps a deer.  It was an unnatural
grace, more
beautiful than threatening.  Ranma pushed her hand under the
water,
causing Ami to wince and suck in her breath.

"Sorry."  Her voice was a higher pitch than her male form.
Fascinating.
"Hold still now, this is going to sting."  Ranma motioned for her
to look at
the sink.

Ami complied, prying her attention away from her new friend.  The
water
stung her again, but not as bad as before.  She focused on the
small hands
holding hers, to blot out the pain.  They were, petite, and very
elegant.
Almost as if they had been sculpted from marble.  She could feel
their
deceptive strength as they held her hand steady beneath the tepid
water.

"May I ask you a question, Ranma?"

Ranma looked at her, and then shrugged.  "Go ahead."  The redhead
started mentally preparing herself to relate a very long and
painful story.

"Are you a boy that turns into a girl, or is it the other way
around?"
Ranma looked at Ami's blushing face in surprise again.

"Huh, I haven't had to answer that one in a while," she answered.
She
assessed Ami's reaction carefully, but wasn't prepared for the
relief that
washed over the other girl's features.  She tried her best to
push aside the
hidden meaning behind the look and proceeded to dress Ami's cut.
"Next
question."

"Pardon?"  Ami asked, confused.
"Don't worry I don't mind.  I know you're curious, so go ahead
and ask."

"I wouldn't want to pry, Ranma."

The redhead snorted in a very un-ladylike manner.

"Ami-chan, it's bound to come out sometime or another.  I'd just
as soon
you heard it from me than some rumor mill."  Ranma returned his,
um,
her attention to the make-shift bandage, and so missed Ami's deep
blush.

**He just called me 'Ami-chan'!**  A flock of butterflies started
squirming in her stomach.  She thought a moment before complying.

"What does it feel like?" She couldn't hide her eagerness.

Ranma looked thoughtful for a moment.  "You know the feeling you
get
when you foot falls asleep and you try to walk on it?"  Ami
nodded.
"Well, that's what it feels like when the water hits.  Then -"
the small
red head gyrated her hands dramatically in a churning motion.  "-
it's
like everything's swapping places."

"What happens to all the excess mass?"  Her question drew a
confused
look from Ranma.  "I mean, what happens to all the extra weight?
You
don't look like you weigh the same as when you're a boy."

Ranma laughed.  "You know I don't know.  But it's a great diet
program."
Ami chuckled a bit before Ranma continued.  "I lose about seventy
pounds with the change, and I've noticed that I'm much faster.
It's an
even trade I suppose: strength and weight, for speed and quicker
reflexes."
She shrugged. "Next."

A calm stillness settled between the two, as Ranma continued to
wrap her
hand gently.  There was one question that Ami wanted an answer to
more
than anything, but she wasn't sure if she should.  Ranma had been
very
forthright with his answers, but she didn't want to embarrass
him, er... her.

"Could you tell me who Akane is?"  Ranma winced visibly under the
question, as if it were a physical blow.  "I'm sorry Ranma.  That
was a
stupid thing to ask.  I didn't realize . . . ."  Ranma looked up
at her and
smiled.  It was a tired smile that aged her pretty face.

"It's okay Ami-chan."  Ranma finished tying off the wrap, and
then
motioned for Ami to sit down at the table.  She turned away from
her new
friend and opened the hot water tap as high as it would go.
"Just let me
change back, okay?"  Ami nodded mutely and made her way to the
table,
but did not sit down.  "Could ya toss me that glass?"

She complied with the other girl's request, but the glass fell
short of it's
intended target.  She was amazed again as Ranma demonstrated her
speed and agility.  A foot shot out and caught the glass in mid
spin, only to
fling it high in the air.

It hung suspended for an instant, twirling madly in the air and
then
plummeted toward the tiled floor.  Before it could join its
sibling,
Ranma- chan stretched out her finger and caught it, balancing it
easily on
the glass' lip.  Ami wanted to applaud, but opted to whistle
instead.
Ranma-chan bowed elaborately, flourishing her free hand.

"Thank you.  You're too kind."

Ami giggled, and watched raptly as Ranma-chan filled the glass
with the
hot water.  When she deemed it full enough, she shut off the tap
and
emptied it over her head.

The change was no less amazing than before.  Limbs elongated, and
the
chest sculpted itself accordingly.  Feminine charm traded itself
for
handsome, rugged masculinity.  It was a magic that Ami was
familiar with
and yet was completely foreign to her.  She must have been
staring,
because the now male Ranma began to pat himself down.

"What?  Did my clothes rip again?"

Ami smiled and shook her head.  "No. I just find it fascinating."
She
turned her gaze from Ranma as he adjusted his pants again.  "I'm
sorry.
It's rude of me to stare."  Ranma shrugged as sat across from
her.  The
table top suddenly became very interesting to its occupants.

"I'm used to it."  He looked uncomfortable for a moment before
turning
his attention back to her.  He explored her face intently,
probing for what
she didn't know.  His scrutiny seemed to last forever, and was
beginning
to make her feel self conscious.  The room's temperature seemed
to raise
a few degrees as well.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked.  Ranma simply shook his
head.

"You look so much like her.  I mean you coulda been her twin
sister.  So
close, and yet so different.  Kinda like night and day."

"So who was she?  A girlfriend?"  Ranma's laugh was bitter, but
not
grating.

"Naw, fiancée."

"Fiancée?  Pardon me for saying this, but don't you think that
you're a bit
young for that?"  Ranma laughed again.

"I told Pops the exact same thing when he arranged the whole
deal.  He
didn't seem to think so."  Ami looked at the boy across from her
with
sympathy.

"An arranged marriage.  Doesn't sound very romantic."

Ranma shrugged his shoulders.

"I ain't much into romance.  It was an honor thing.  Marry a
daughter
from the Tendo clan to join the two schools."  Ami's interest
perked at the
mention of school.

"Schools?"

"Yeah the Musabetsu Kakutou Ryuu; the Tendo and Saotome schools
of
Indiscriminate Grappling.  Though I don't much care for the name.
I'm
kinda partial to Any Thing Goes Martial Arts."  Ami quirked her
brow at
the name, but didn't say anything about it.

"So you're a martial artist?"  The question didn't phase him.

"Yeah."  There was no blustering pride in his statement.  It was
just a fact.
It's what and who he was.  There was a shocked outcry from the
living
room that turned both of their heads.

Ami held up her good hand to forestall him.  "Hold that thought."

She stood and poked her head out the kitchen door.  Her mother
sat facing
the kitchen, and the image that painted her face was filled with
disbelief
and rage.  Ami wondered what could have happened to cause her mom
to
get upset.

"I can't believe that!"  Her voice quivered with cold anger.  Her
mom only
got like this when she talked about Daddy and Ritsuko.  "A pit of
cats!
What an idiot!"  Nodoka nodded sadly from her position next to
Yuri.  As
much as Ami wanted to hear this conversation too, she was
committed to
Ranma.  She cleared her throat to get their attention.

Nodoka raised her head.  "Is anything wrong Ami-chan?"  Yuri
looked up
at her daughter as well.

"Is Ranma all right?  We thought we heard a crash."

"We're fine, mother.  I broke a glass and cut myself a little,
but it's
nothing serious. I'll finish taking care of it later."  She
smiled to reassure
her mother.  "We heard someone cry out, and I thought I'd better
check on
you."

Nodoka smiled at Ami's concern.  "No dear. We are fine.  Go back
and
entertain Ranma."  Ami looked at her mother, who made quick,
shooing
gestures in her direction.  Ami smiled again and returned to the
table.
Ranma had replaced the broken glasses with fresh ones and cleaned
up the
broken glass as best as he could.

"Everything okay?"  He asked.  Ami nodded as she sipped her
water.
Ranma toyed with his glass for a moment before Ami picked up from
where she left off.

"So," she began hesitantly.  "Was Akane a martial artist too?"
This
question made him pause, as if by answering it would be painful.
When
he spoke it was in a whisper.

"Yeah.  She practiced the Art." Ami reached across the table and
placed
her good hand over one of his.  It seemed so tiny and fragile
next to his.

"I'm sorry Ranma.  If this is too much, you don't have to
continue."  He
straightened himself and took a deep breath.

"No.  I'll be okay."  It had been too long.  It needed to come
out, and Ami
listened good.  He just wished that it didn't hurt so much.

Ami seemed to read his thoughts.

"It hurts, doesn't it?"  Ranma nodded.  "Did she leave you?"
Ranma's
gaze shot up, startling her.  She could see the war within him,
and the
vulnerability.  When he started laughing, she didn't know what to
say.
"I'm sorry, but what's so funny?"

"She left me plenty of times."  Memories of all the fights,
swelled in his
heart filling him with warmth and regret.  He sobered quickly,
and the
laughter completely died altogether.  "But the last time she
left, she didn't
just leave me."

The deadness in his eyes, combined with so many other minute
clues,
caused Ami's heart to break.  Her hand covered her mouth, and her
eyes
filled with genuine sympathy.
"Oh, Ranma I'm so sorry."  The words sounded so hollow to her
ears. Yet
what more could she say?  A sense of deja vu washed over her and
a
memory from her previous life surfaced.

********
Moon Kingdom

She had returned to the Crystal Palace after spending several
weeks away
on diplomatic embassies to various nations on Terra and Mercury.
She
couldn't wait to see Aramas again and spend some quality time
with her
lover.

She entered her quarters, and quickly bathed.  A change of
clothes was
donned and the search for Aramas commenced.  It was a fruitless
effort,
she could find him nowhere.  Not on the battlements, nor in the
practice
yard where he spent the majority of his time.  None of his
lieutenants had
seen him since the day before.  She was disappointed, but it was
not
unusual for him to be absent, either on an errand for the Queen
or
performing some other duty away from the castle.

Mercury could wait for him to return.  She left word with the
commander
of the watch, and set off for the gardens.  A nice stroll would
clear the
cobwebs from her mind before she retired to the library.

Her passage through the garden was, for the most part,
uninterrupted.  But,
as she was passing a secluded alcove she heard someone weeping.
To be
distressed on such a beautiful day was simply criminal.  She had
to do
something to lift this person's spirits.  Her gaze fell on the
lush flower
beds and she immediately set about gathering a colorful bouquet
of
flowers. Each was specially selected for its bright hue and
fragrance.

With her labor done, she returned to the alcove.  One of the
great trees of
Jupiter towered over the clearing, offering ample shade to any
who
desired.  Only one figure dominated the area, and he was dressed
in a
very familiar uniform.

"Aramas?"  The man before her flinched in recognition of her
voice. His
back straightened stubbornly, and to her surprise he launched
himself high
into the tree.  Mercury tried to track his break neck pace
through the
branches, but she quickly lost sight of him as he vaulted into
the higher
branches.  Her brow knitted in irritation, and she tossed the
flowers to the
ground.

**Fine.  If he wants to play Hide and Seek, I will indulge him.**
Heaven
help the poor man if she caught him too.

She hoped that this really was a game, because the whole
situation set her
teeth on edge.  Aramas never cried.  It was unbecoming of a man
and a
warrior, or so he claimed.

A sudden black blur brought her attention back to the chase.  She
watched
in admiration as  lover flew from the great tree and into the
branches of
another.  Mercury gave chase, and soon had all but caught up to
him.

It was a mark of pride to her, that Aramas could pace all of the
Senshi
stride for stride without the aid of magic.  He was "all natural"
as Venus
had once said, and he was all hers.  Uranus had bested him once
in a
foot race. It had been her forty fifth rematch, and the look on
Aramas'
face was enough to tell Mercury why her fellow Senshi had won.

Another blur to her right brought her out of her trance.  With an
incredible
display of agility, Aramas wove in and out of the trees like a
gazelle
evading a lioness.  And to a certain degree he was; no one could
shake
Senshi Mercury once they had piqued her interest.  That went
double for
the man that held her heart.

A worried smile decorated her face as she increased her speed.
She
couldn't understand why he was running from her, but she wasn't
about to
let him slip her grasp until she found out.  She called out his
name, but her
only answer was the warm breeze passing her ears.

She was getting desperate and more than a little upset.  She
needed to
slow him down, or at least stop him long enough to get some
answers
from his stubborn hide.  The power quickly built within her and
begged to
be released.  It was sweet and intoxicating at the same time,
singing
through her whole being like a surging wave.  She gathered it to
her
lovingly, giving it form in her mind's eye, and then she gave it
voice.

"Shabon Spray!"  Her voice echoed throughout the garden, enhanced
now
by the fog of bubbles  that formed at her command.  She slowed
her
pursuit to avoid injuring herself, but Aramas barreled forward
unmindful
or uncaring of the danger.  There was a loud "CRACK!" somewhere
in
front of her and to the left followed by a soft "Whuff!" as
something fell
to the turf.

With a wave of her hand the mist disappeared, revealing an
injured
Aramas clutching his head and cursing loudly at the base of a
nearby tree.

"By Saturn's rings, woman!  Why do you insist on badgering me!"

Mercury descended from the branches of the trees agilely,
settling not far
from her love. "Because I love you too much for my own good."
Her
voice was warm despite the cool look that marred her face.

"Did you brain me because you love me then?"  He called over his
shoulder to her in a dry, humorless tone.

"No."  Mercury said in a tone that mimicked his.  "I 'brained'
you because
you were acting like a child, instead of the man I fell in love
with."  She
closed the distance between them, and wrapped her arms around him
from
behind; her head rested atop his own.  His cropped braid rested
against her
chest.

"An apt description."  He said morosely.

"Really Aramas.  What darkens your mood so?"

"An old wound my Lady.  A very old wound."  His voice echoed the
despair that he relived.

"Care to talk about it?"  He didn't respond readily, and soon,
the only
sounds that could be heard were the rustling leaves above them.
Terra
stood high above them, moving slowly in its daily track.  She
sighed and
settled in behind her love.

She rested her chin over his right shoulder, and leaned her head
against
his.  "Old wounds fester, dear Aramas.  They poison the soul
until all that
remains is a black void.  Or so I'm told."  She tried to jest,
but the playful
mirth in her voice was met by tears.  Great, heaving, soul
wrenching tears.
She could do nothing, but hold him.

"I killed her."  He whispered.  Mercury's head whipped up to
stare at his
back.

"What?"  Her throat constricted, cutting off her voice until it
was only a
whisper.

"I said I killed her."  His voice was dead.

"Who?"  There was real fear behind the worried question.  Not
fear for
herself, but rather fear for her love.  A thousand questions
began to
surface in her mind. **Was it an accident or by design?  How long
ago
had it happened?  What do I need to do to protect him?**

"Reia.  My first love."  The words tumbled from his lips
hesitantly at first,
but soon the dam broke and all was laid out before Mercury.
The patrol he had led had returned too late to stop a group of
marauding
bandits.  Many people in the township had died.  The bandit chief
had
taken his young love hostage to guarantee his safe passage.

Aramas challenged him, quickly freeing Reia from the bandit.  The
chief fell to his blade easily, but when Aramas turned to check
on his love,
he saw the archer.   He raced the arrow that the archer loosed,
and in a
burst of inhuman speed, nearly beat it.  The shaft pierced her
heart,
spraying his face with her blood.  She held on long enough to
proclaim her
love for him one last time, before passing into the next world.

"She died in my arms Isis.  She died because I wasn't fast
enough."  He
turned into her embrace and buried his head against her neck.

Mercury held him close, letting him cry in her arms. The tears
helped in
the healing, and she vowed that what they didn't heal - she
would.  She
lifted his head up to meet her gaze, and she lost herself in his
stormy, grey
blue eyes.

*******

Ami watched as Ranma lifted his face to meet her gaze and she
lost
herself in his stormy, grey blue eyes.  The memory of Aramas'
face was
crystal clear in her mind as she looked at Ranma.  She compared
them
mercilessly looking for any hint of change.  Ranma's face was
younger,
but the eyes didn't lie, they were the same.  She shook her head
to clear it.

**It's just a coincidence.  I'm projecting him into my
memories.** She
tried to convince herself, but the evidence in her heart told
her otherwise.

Ranma took her bewildered look and her silence as an invitation
to stop.
He was grateful for a moment to gather himself.  The pain was
still very
acute, and he wasn't sure how much he wanted to tell Ami yet.  It
was
enough that she knew that Akane had died.  He didn't have to tell
her
how she died, or his failure to save her.

Ami did her best to bury the feelings that she had for Aramas,
and was
only partially successful.  Love and concern welled from the past
and
fought to seize control of the young woman.  She looked into his
eyes
again and saw the guilt there.  It was growing like a cancer,
consuming the
young man.  She had to do something.  So she latched onto the
first thing
that formed in her mind and went with it.

"It wasn't your fault!"  She blurted out, only to close her eyes
again in
embarrassment.
"Excuse me?"  Ranma asked confused.

Ami sighed in resignation. **You've stuck your foot in it now
Ami.
Better come up with something quick.**  She thought bitterly.

"Uh. . . um, . . . .  What I mean to say is that you shouldn't
beat yourself
up over this."  She wanted to find a rock to hide under.
Forever.  **Lame
Ami, really lame!**

They sat in an awkward silence for a few moments more, before
Nodoka entered the kitchen, saving Ami from her embarrassment.

"Excuse me Ami-chan, but it is getting late and Ranma-kun and I
need to
get home." Ami nodded and stood.  Nodoka saw that Ranma's shirt
was
damp, and noted the missing sleeve. "Ranma, what happened to your
shirt?"  Ami smiled sheepishly and quickly answered on Ranma's
behalf.

"I'm afraid that it was my fault Auntie."  She shrugged and held
up her
doctored hand.  "Ranma used his shirt to bind my hand."

"Another display of chivalry."  Yuri's voice floated in from
behind
Nodoka as she pushed her way into the kitchen.  "Ami, this
gallant knight
has shown you great favor today.  I dare say that we need to
reward him!"
Ami groaned and let her face drop into her good hand.

Yuriko maneuvered over and began inspecting Ami's injury.   "This
is a very good wrap Ranma."  She said approvingly, and without
missing a
beat pressed forward with her original topic.  "How about dinner
tomorrow night?"  Ami shook her head at her mother's forwardness.

"You have the late shift at the hospital tomorrow night mother."
Ami
grumbled audibly.  "And you're speaking at engagements on
Thursday
and Friday, and cousin Mai's birthday is on Saturday." Yuri
closed her
eyes and took a deep breath.  Ami was painfully thorough
sometimes, a
trait that she must have picked up from her father.  The doctor's
face
looked thoughtful for a moment, before breaking into a big smile.

"You're right.  I guess we'll have to postpone it until Sunday
then."  She
smiled happily. Ami groaned again.

Nodoka stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Ami's
shoulder.  "All in good time Yuri-chan.  Besides I think that
Ami-chan
could repay Ranma in other ways."  Ranma looked worriedly at his
mother.  Her ideas of payment were often very extreme.  Yuri
looked
intrigued.
"Oh?"  Mother and daughter echoed each other eerily.

"Yes.  Since Ranma will be attending Juuban high school, I was
hoping
that she might escort him to school."  Ami accepted the
invitation without
hesitation, causing her mother to smile.  "The many trophies in
the living
room, note that Ami-chan is an accomplished scholar."

Ranma groaned and mirrored Ami's earlier action, by placing his
face in
his hand.  He knew that he was going to regret this.

"Due to Ranma's heavy training regime, his studies have suffered.
It
would be in his best interests if he had a competent tutor to
bring him up
to date on what he has missed.  I was hoping that you might know
someone who could fill this role."

Yuri's face lit up.  **Nodoka!  I never thought that you had it
in
you!**

Ami smiled genuinely.

"I think that I can recommend someone, Auntie." She looked at
Ranma's
handsome face and sad eyes. One word reverberated in her mind, in
care
of her libido.  **Me me me me me me me!**

Inside, Ranma was panicking and looking for the nearest exit.

********
Nerima

Nabiki enjoyed many things in life.  Some were saintly, while
others were
less so, but the one thing that was beyond a doubt her favorite,
was ice
cream.  And not just any ice cream either.  It had to be a
special blend that
could only be had in one shop in the entire world.  Luckily for
her it was
about four blocks from her house.

Nobody could make a Triple Fudge Cosmic Wangoo like Tanoshii-san.
And she considered herself a connoisseur when it came to such
things.
She only indulged herself once a month, or during moments of deep
depression, but that was enough.

There was a history behind the Wangoo, that began two days after
her mother
had died.  Tanoshii-san had just opened the ice cream parlor the
week before,
and while business had been brisk, he had taken his time to
succor two little girls
that had just lost their mother.  Akane had gone hog wild when
Tanoshii-san told
her that she could make her own sundae, putting so much chocolate
ice cream in
a bowl, that the poor man must have thought that the pair were
going to eat him
out of business.

He still made it though, happy to see smiles replace the deadness
in their puffy little
eyes.  Akane had built the foundation for the dish, but Nabiki
had been the one that
had taken the dish to its cosmic level.  Brownies and chocolate
sprinkles, maraschino
cherries and real whipped cream... nothing was spared.  It was a
masterpiece of
caffinated proportions!  She and Akane had been bouncing off the
walls all the way
home.

The whole experience had made the two forget for a time that they
had lost someone
special, drowning their sorrows in a mountain of ice cream.  It
had taken three months
to come up with the perfect name for the dish, and surprisingly
enough, it had been
Kasumi who christened it.

In the years to come, the three daughters would come to the shop
on the anniversary of
Mommy's death and remember happy thoughts about growing up
together.  It was their
private way of healing; and Tanoshii-san, bless his old heart,
never charged them.

"Mind if I join you?"

Speak of the devil.  Nabiki smiled and looked up into a kindly,
elderly gentleman's face.

"Not at all."  He sat down across from her, a special Wangoo of
his own in front of him.

"How are you feeling today Nabiki-chan?"  He asked as he scooped
a large amount of
strawberry ice cream into his mouth.  Somehow, as if by magic,
the clean shaven man
before her had come by a pink moustache.

She couldn't help the smile that blossomed on her face, knowing
full well that the older
gentleman's antics were intentional.  "I'm okay Oji-san.  Holding
up better than I
expected.  How about you?"

"I'm sitting in the presence of an elegant young woman, eating a
Cosmic Wangoo.  It's
almost an epiphany."

"Almost?"  She asked.  "What could be better than this?"

He smiled mischievously at her and winked.  "Grandkids."

Nabiki wadded up a napkin and threw at him.  He never changed.
First it was Kasumi,
then Akane when Tanoshii-san found out about Ranma, and now it
seemed he had again
shifted his sights to her.

"Is that all you can think about Oji-san?"  She said mock
pouting.

He looked chastened, but only for a moment.  "Come now,
Nabiki-chan!"  He protested.
"I need heirs to take over this grand establishment!"  He waved
grandly at the quaint shop
that surrounded them.  The whole thing sounded so familiar, that
Nabiki had to laugh.
And she did; so hard in fact that tears were tumbling down her
cheeks.

"You think that I'm joking?"  The tone of his voice, calm and
wise, drew her from her mirth.

"Not at all Oji-san. It's just," she began, looking around the
parlor.  There was no way that
he was serious.  She would humor him though, she rarely saw him
any more.  "It's just that
you sound like my father."  She shook her head, while
Tanoshii-san simply smiled.

"He sounds like a wise man Nabiki.  Have you thought about taking
up the engagement with
Saotome-san?"  She sighed and scooped another spoonful of
chocolate ice cream into her
mouth.

"More than thought Oji-san.  It's a done deal... sort of."

"Sort of?"  Now it was his turn to be intrigued.  "What's that
mean?"

"I've embraced the idea, but the jury's still out as far as Ranma
's concerned."  She toyed with
one of the maraschino cherries in the rapidly melting Wangoo.

Tanoshii-san patted her wrist and smiled.  "Never fear
Nabiki-chan.  Who could resist a
woman of your charms?"  She had the grace to smirk impishly.

"No one in their right mind."  Both laughed and fell into easy
conversation about simple
chit chat.  Night fell as they reminisced, allowing Nabiki a nice
break from the somber attitude
around her home.

By the time the conversation lost it's steam, Nabiki found
herself closing the shop with the
elderly gentleman.  Night had fallen and a pleasant stroll
through the cool, spring night lay
before her.

"Well Nabiki-chan, I must say that it was nice to have help for a
change."  He arched his
back, making a sour face as he worked his sore muscles.

She graced him with one of her trademarked smirks before poking
him in the belly.  "You
could always hire some more help you know."

"Are you looking for a job?" He asked teasingly.

"For fifty percent of the profits. I'd think about it."

"Ouch!  You mean that you would deprive this old man of his
hard-earned money?
Nabiki!"  His banter was light and in jest, but she knew that he
was serious.

"Of course not Oji-san!  I'm a modern girl with modern needs
though.  Bills to pay,
and a bottomless pit for a fiancée that I'll have to feed.  Not
to mention college!"  She
was about to expound more, when he held up his hands to ward her
off.

"I get the picture!  I get the picture."

Nabiki smiled and kissed his cheek.  "You know, if you really
need me, I might be able
to swing something between classes."

He seemed on the point of protest, but looking into her bright
brown eyes, he decided
against it.  She hid her pain well, but he could see it clearly
enough.  It might just be what
the doctor ordered for a lonely heart.

"Well.."  He tapped his index finger against his lips and
scrutinized her from head to toe.
"I could use someone on Saturday nights.  If Saotome-san can part
with you for a few
hours, I humbly accept the offer."

Nabiki looked out the window for a moment before answering.  "I
don't think that will
be a problem.  We can negotiate terms of service later."
Tanoshii-san winced
appreciatively.

"Be gentle." He said meekly, earning himself a playful punch in
the arm.

"You worry too much Oji-san!  I'm not that bad."

"So you say now."

"Ooooh!  You!"  Tanoshii-san laughed, a full-bellied act that
reminded her of Santa.
She smirked and punched his arm again.  "I've got get home.
Daddy's going to
be worried sick about me."

Tanoshii-san waved for her to wait, as he stumbled over to one of
his refrigerators.
She watched as he dug about for a moment before pulling out a
large sack.

".for <hee hee>. Kasumi-chan. <snicker>.!"

Nabiki could only shake her head.  "You really need to get out
more."

The comment only made him laugh harder.

The pair bowed to each other, one with a little more dignity than
the other, and then
Nabiki was walking home.  She had made the trip, what?  A
thousand times it seemed.
But there was something different in the air tonight.

Something dangerous.

The long shadows cast by street lamps held eyes that watched her
every step, and
whispered softly at her passing.  Her pace quickened as she
entered a particularly
narrow alley that would shave a good ten minutes off of her walk
home.  The night
seemed blacker, while the voices seemed to gather in both volume
and number, while
remaining as indistinct and garbled as before.

She knew that she heard her name whispered, followed by an insane
giggle.  Others
followed until the whole alley was echoing with laughter.

**ohpleaseohpleaseohplease!** Her mind, normally so focused, was
now
experiencing true terror; and Nabiki did the only smart thing
that she could think
of: She ran.

As the exit to the alley opened before her, her heart soared with
relief.  If only she
could make it into the light!  Her legs ached, and her chest was
cold from fear and
the ice cream that Tanoshii-san had given her.

Ten feet from the exit the laughter stopped, and the whispering
began again;
excited and filled with anticipation.

**Oh God!  They're coming for me!**

Seven feet from the exit, she heard movement from above her.
pacing her.

Her lungs burned with the exertion of sprinting, and she flung
the ice cream away from
her to free up her arms. **I'm too young for this damnit!**  She
knew that she should
have kept up her training,  if for no other reason than this very
situation.

Five feet from the safety of the street, she heard the fluttering
of cloth.  It was a familiar
enough sound.  Ranma's clothes had made the sound enough times,
when descending
from the roof of the dojo..

**Oh %^#&!!! They're above me!**

Three feet. she saw a shadow move to block the alley's exit.

Tears of frustration filled her eyes as she pushed herself
harder.  There was no way in
Hell that she was going to let these bastards trap her so easily!
She ducked her head
low and presented her shoulder like a battering ram before her
mad dash.

Two feet. she felt something trip her and then she went tumbling
into the waiting arms
of the shadow before her.  She started to scream even as the
groping arms sought to
hold her.  Reflex kicked in and she began to kick and thrash for
her life, bringing more
than a few grunts from the rock solid man that held her.

She managed to get an arm free, and she put it to good use;
hitting her captor with an
opened palm strike across the jaw, made his head rock backward.

Someone behind her laughed, causing her to struggle more.

"That's enough!"  Nabiki heard a distinctively feminine voice
come from behind her.
"Yoshitsune, let Tendo-san go."  The vice like arms refused to
loosen their hold.

"Awww, come on Hato-chan!  This is just getting' good!  Yoshi-kun
hasn't seen a
girl in eons, and here one just throws herself into his arms!"
Mocking laughter filled
the alley, causing the arms to loosen slightly.

"Now."  The one called Hato could have frozen a lit grill with
the frigidity of her voice.

Yoshitsune relinquished his hold on Nabiki only after he helped
her to her feet.  It was
an opening that she exploited to its fullest.  Her knee came up
with a precision that
every woman seems born with, unerringly hitting a very sensitive
spot that dropped the
man to his knees.

She bolted for the street, but felt a hand snag her wrist and
fling her back into the alley
with inhuman strength.  The results were predictable.  Two pair
of hands immediately
grabbed her, pulling her arms out wide, and holding her feet
immobile.

"LET GO OF ME YOU PERVERTED BASTARDS! HEEEEEELP! SOMEONE!
ANYONE!"

A firm hand placed itself over Nabiki's mouth, causing her
screams to become little
more than muffled grunts.  She struggled some more, trying to
free herself to no avail.
A beautiful face entered her vision; timeless in a way that made
Nabiki feel like a little
girl again. The woman's nose was just a tad too large for her
face, but it seemed to
enhance her beauty, rather than detract from it.

"Tendo-san," her voice was soothing, not unlike Kasumi's, but it
held a hidden steel
that brooked no nonsense.  "We are not here to harm you."  The
sincerity in her voice
caused Nabiki to relax.  "My brothers are brutes with a twisted
sense of humor.  I
apologize if they frightened you."

She motioned to the two holding Nabiki, and shrugged.  She
motioned for the pair to
release their captive, and Nabiki found herself free, but trapped
between the chuckling
men behind her and the shrewd woman before her.

"It was a good joke!"  A man's voice sounded from somewhere over
her left shoulder.
"You should have seen your face!"  The man at her right shoulder
snorted and tried to
keep from giggling.  Too bad he wasn't trying hard enough.

Nabiki smirked and nodded her head.  She even chuckled some.
Best to humor her
captives until she could find a weakness to exploit.

She started weighing the situation, and the people around her.
She counted five: the
two immediately behind her, Hato, the recovering Yoshitsune, and
a fat midget that
was eating Kasumi's discarded ice cream.  Their features were all
shrouded by the
dark alley way, but she could tell that they all had fairly large
noses.  Well,
everyone except Yoshitsune.

As the man in question finally righted himself, and stepped into
the light Nabiki's breath
caught in her throat.  He had to have been the single most
handsome man that she had
ever laid eyes on!  Clean-shaven and tall, he had his silky,
black hair cropped short
and tied back into a small pony-tail.

She immediately regretted kicking him in the groin.

He was better looking than Ranma and Tom Selleck combined!

The ice cream thief behind her, snorted sending ice cream
spraying out of his nose.  He
began to hack and cough uncontrollably, while the others looked
at the blushing
Yoshitsune, biting their lips to control their own laughter.
Nabiki didn't really notice this,
her eyes were captivated by the subtle way that the man before
moved.  He wasn't as
graceful as Ranma, but there was a maturity in his step, that
Nabiki couldn't help but
appreciate.

She wondered what it would be like to wrestle with him again.

Laughter erupted from every voice, like a dam breaking under
strain.  Nabiki looked
around at the people as if they were mad, wondering what she had
missed.  The only
one not laughing was Yoshitsune.  His face seemed to glow bright
red.

It was really cute.  He seemed even more vulnerable than Ranma.

The laughing quartet fell to the ground, clutching their sides
against their mirth.  It was
enough to bring Yoshitsune stalking over to her.

**Listen woman!**  Nabiki was shocked to hear a man's voice echo
forcefully in her
mind. **I would appreciate it if you would kindly keep your
perverted thoughts to
yourself!**

The laughter turned to howls.

"You can hear my thoughts?"  Nabiki asked incredulously.  He had
the softest looking
skin, she wondered what it felt like.  And those eyes!  They were
so dark that they
could swallow a woman whole, with out her knowing it.

"Here!"  He said angrily, grabbing Nabiki's hand and bringing it
up to his face.  "This
is what my skin feels like!  Are you satisfied?"

It was soft.

The midget whistled a cat-call, causing his two brethren to
double over more.  Hato
tittered, wiping the tears from her cheeks and trying to stand at
the same time.  Reality
hit Nabiki like a ton of bricks, lighting up her face as much as
Yoshitsune's had.  She
tried to make her mouth work, but nothing came out.

"We don't have time for this."  Yoshitsune grumbled and tapped
the back of Nabiki's
neck.  The last thing that she remembered was falling into his
protective arms. and
being grateful for it.  She knew that she was betraying Ranma,
but strangely, she felt no
guilt in this.

It felt right.

********
Juuban; Tuesday 6:30 a.m.

Nodoka Saotome was a creature of habit.  Every morning she would
rise
with the dawn, wash the sleep from her eyes, and then greet the
day by
performing a few simple (at least by Saotome standards) katas.
Kendo,
the way of the sword, was her preferred focus.  But she also
found
pleasure in the way of the spear.

When she had been but a girl, she had dreamed of being a
Samurai-Ko; a
woman dedicated to the tenants of Bushido.  Unfortunately, there
weren't
many practical uses for Samurai-Ko in modern society.  Strong
mothers
and stronger wives were needed to cultivate honorable men and
women,
and to keep tradition alive.

That didn't mean that she couldn't indulge herself every once in
a while.
And as far as fantasies went, being a Samurai-Ko for ten years
was far
more preferable than being unfaithful to her husband and son.

She had lost herself this morning, in the great battle of the
Hakata Bay.
The Mongol raiders had landed and pushed the defenders back.  The
sound of drums kept beat with the pounding feet of the devils
that sought
to desecrate the sacred soil of her nation.  The smell of the sea
bolstered
her spirit, and she could see that the honorable samurai around
her were in
dire need of encouragement.

A great cry issued from her lips, drawing all eyes to her.  She
raised her
Naginata high above her head, and swore that she would not die
like a dog
cowering beneath a house. A cheer went up around her, giving her
the
support that she needed.  Without further hesitation she threw
herself into
the fray.

Her first opponent fell easily, as did the next three.  The
fourth and the
fifth challenged her, but they too fell to her whirling blade.
Nodoka soon
lost herself to the dance of the bladed spear in her hands.  She
lost count
of the foes that fell before her, but she noted that the battle
was turning.
Reinforcements had arrived, and they were turning back the
invaders!
Victory would soon be theirs.

She felt a presence behind her and whirled the naginata around to
bear.
Before her stood a stripling Mongol, who had apparently lost his
sword
during the battle.  She would toy with him for a time, and then
take him
prisoner.  If her daimyo was feeling generous, he might even let
her keep
him.  She smiled and beaconed the youth forward.

********

Ranma woke feeling odd.  He couldn't hear the loud snores of his
father
in the room, nor could he hear Kasumi making breakfast down in
the
kitchen.  Confusion prompted him to open his eyes to see what was
wrong.

He noted first that the window was in the wrong place.  It should
have
been on his right, not his left.  Second, the futon was too
large.  Sighing he
willed himself to turn his head and take in the rest of the room.
Now
Ranma, being Ranma, isn't normally that fast on the pick up.
Unless
of course, it has something to do with martial arts or a related
topic.

His mind began to slowly document and calculate the facts at
hand.
After a few groggy moments, his brain finally postulated that
this wasn't
the Tendo dojo.  No Tendo dojo, no Kasumi.  No Kasumi, no
heavenly
breakfast.  No heavenly breakfast, meant that Akane would be
cooking
today!

Ranma flew out of his bed and made it half way down the hall
before he
realized where he was.  There was an ache in his stomach at the
memory
of Akane's cooking, and another, more powerful ache in his chest
at the
memory of Akane.

**Geez.  I'd eat Akane's cooking for the rest of my (hopefully
short) life,
if it meant that I could have her back.**  He sighed dejectedly
as he
returned to his room to get ready for his day.  Genma wasn't
around to
spar with him, but that didn't mean that he was going to slack
off.

He pulled a white silk shirt from his closet and donned it,
followed by a
pair of formless navy blue draw string pants.  He walked down the
hallway and entered the bathroom.  Cold water pooled in the basin
of the
sink, and was used to cleanse his face and wake himself up fully.

As the change washed over him, he gripped his pants with one hand
and
turned on the hot water with the other.  A moment passed as the
water
took its time to heat.  The shifting of his, now her body, ended
and she
turned her face to the mirror above the sink.  Her shock of red
hair was in
wild disarray, but that was normal.

Her slate grey eyes drooped tiredly, and that was normal too.
But there
was something that was out of place this morning, and it had
nothing to do
with waking up in her mother's home.

She carefully examined her face again.  The scrutiny took several
moments before she realized what was different.  There were no
bags
under her eyes.  She thought back to her dreams, and discovered
that, for
the first time in a very long while, she had not dreamed of Akane
's death.

She didn't know what to make of that.  One part of her was
extremely
happy that she hadn't had to relive the tragedy and shame over
again.  But
another part felt incredibly guilty.  She should have to relive
that for the
rest of her life.

Another helpless sigh escaped her lips.  Shaking her head, she
reached out
and filled a handy plastic cup with the heated water.  The change
tugged
and pulled her body to its normal, manly proportions as Ranma
restored
the cup to its place next to the sink.  One last look in the
mirror showed a
suitably stoic young man ready to face another hellish day.

By the time Ranma made it to the small dojo behind the house, he
had
determined that his mother was training.  The sounds of her work
out
didn't really come as a surprise to him, he had seen the tail end
of her
morning work outs before.

She had a lot of talent, but the forms she had practiced had
always been
basic, giving him the impression that she hadn't progressed as
far in her as
she could have.  But then again, not many mothers could be very
dedicated to the Art, not and keep their house up and cook and
stuff.  He
admired his mother a great deal, and that she found time to
pursue things
outside of the home made her all the more special.

It had come as a pleasant surprise when he had first discovered
that
she practiced the art of the spear.  It lent her an air of
nobility that he
hadn't associated with his mother.  She had offered to spar with
him, but
he declined politely.  It wasn't right to fight with one's own
mother.

He slid the door of the dojo open and proceeded in.  There was so
much
that he didn't know about this strange, wonderful woman that
loved him
so much.  He was glad that they were going to have the next two
years to
reacquaint themselves.

His train of thought derailed as he watched the whirlwind that
was
Nodoka, dancing through an intricate kata with bo staff.  He
admired her
skill from his place near the door for a few moments, noting
small
discrepancies in her form and holes in her defenses.  He could
tell that
she was way better than Kuno, but then again, that wasn't saying
much.

He was confident that he could take her, but then again, why
would he
ever want to?  This was his mom for crying out loud!  He could
pound
his father into fish paste any day of the week, but the day he
laid a finger
on his mom would be his last!

A few more minutes passed before she stiffened slightly.  Ranma
could
tell that she was aware of his presence.
**Shoot.  I interrupted her.** The thought died as the staff came
to bare,
and the frenzied light in his mother's eyes sent a chill down his
spine.  She
smiled, warmly, and then motioned for him to join her.  Ranma
smiled
weakly.  She motioned to him again, deepening her smile ferally.

Ranma smiled back nervously and then held up his hands to decline
the
invitation.  As he shook his head a cold fire entered Nodoka's
eyes.

********
Saotome Dojo, Juuban

Nodoka watched the boy before her with amusement.  He was
definitely a
brave Mongol, she had to give him that.  It took a rare kind of
courage to
face a superior opponent unarmed as he did.  Rather than take him
as a
slave, she felt that a quick death was a more worthy fate for the
bold
youth.

She motioned for him to engage her, but the upstart declined! How
dare
he insult her honor like that!  She would teach him what it meant
to be a
true warrior!  She waited a moment longer before commencing her
attack.

********

Ranma watched his mother intently, waiting for her to attack.
She wasn't
relenting, and Ranma knew that he had insulted her.  He sighed
heavily
and set himself in a loose ready stance.  This wasn't going to be
one of his
typical sparing sessions, but then again change was good.

It kept the skills sharp, and that is what he needed most right
now. He had
made a vow to Akane's lifeless body that he would perfect his
Art, so that
he would never fail anyone else again.  It was time to start
making good
on that promise.  He just wished that his mother wasn't so dead
set on
this.

Nodoka exploded into motion before him, forcing all of his
attention back
to her.  She was pushing him; testing his defenses.  The staff
danced in
and out of cunning combinations that pressed Ranma back toward
the wall
of the dojo.

She was fast and Ranma could plainly see where he had inherited
that trait
from.  He watched as she clinically herded him into the wall.
Her form
was flawless now, making it difficult for him to slip past her
defenses.
There was no way that he was going to touch his mother, but that
didn't
mean that he was going to let her win.

In a dazzling display of acrobatics, Ranma launched his body into
a tight
back flip that narrowly avoided the business end of Nodoka's
weapon.
His body quickly unfolded as he came to the wall, and his
powerful legs
bunched as they touched down onto the flat surface.  He flexed
them
unconsciously, propelling himself to the opposite wall.  He
pushed from
the second wall, toward the third, building his speed and
momentum.

Each pass caused Nodoka to stagger, not from blows but from the
dizzying display.  She couldn't believe the agility that this
Mongol had
demonstrated. **He must be a sorcerer.** She thought grimly. It
explained why he didn't carry a weapon.  **Well, there are ways
to deal
with sorcerers.**  There was something nagging at the back of
Nodoka's
mind, but she thoroughly ignored it.

She knew that the blade would be of no use.  Sorcerers were
notorious for
their ability to heal miraculously.  What she needed was to break
his
concentration.  If he couldn't think, he couldn't cast.  The
difficult part
was in reading his pattern.  He moved randomly and used the
terrain to his
advantage.  She smiled as inspiration struck.  He was reluctant
to hit a
woman.  She might not have been able to read the pattern of his
attack,
but she could engage him in another way.

********

Ranma watched in horror as his mother stepped into his trajectory
at the
last instant.  He tried his best to avoid bowling her over, and
in doing
so lined himself up for a blow to the head.

It landed quickly and with a good amount of muscle behind it too.
The
large crack, accompanied by the sharp pain in his head, told him
that he
would be sporting a nice bruise to school today.  His head was
going to
be ringing for a large portion of the morning too.  He silently
thanked
Akane for conditioning his skull to take a good amount of
punishment.  If
she hadn't, that blow might have split his head wide open.

He was surprised to find himself grinning.  The workout had
lifted his
spirits a great deal.  He hadn't moved very fast nor had he
learned any
new technique, it was simply the fact that he had been able to
let loose for
a while.  All of this introspection was giving him a stomachache.

********

Nodoka felt the jarring as her blow struck.  She had never before
felt a
blow strike an opponent.  It was enough to upset her fantasy.
There a few
feet away from her, was her beloved son rubbing vigorously at the
side of
his head.  The grin that was plastered happily across his face
was enough
to tell her that he was going to be okay.

Embarrassment surged within her.  She had lost herself to the
fantasy, and
had hurt her son.  But the look that she received from Ranma
burned some
of the mortification away.  His eyes were filled with a deep
respect that
honored her.

With practiced ease, Ranma flipped himself off of the floor.  He
settled
himself casually, and then with solemn decorum, he bowed deeply
to her
at the waist.  She returned his bow with all the grace that she
could
muster.  The smile on her son's face infected her as she brought
her gaze
back up to meet his.

"That was great Mom!"  He said enthusiastically, rubbing his
head.
Nodoka blushed at his comment, but accepted it with candor.

"Thank you Ranma."  She watched him happily as he seemed to
regain
some of his old swagger.  An idea began to form in her mind that
would
not only help him, but would hopefully bring in some extra money
on the
side.

"No problem.  I mean who woulda thought that my mom could be a
good
fighter?"  Nodoka beamed beneath the praise.  "I always thought
that you
were, . . . you know, like other normal, moms."  The smile
progressively
slid from her face.

"Oh?"  She asked uninterestedly.  There was a gleam in her eye
that, had
Ranma been more observant, would have sent chills of dread down
his
spine.  A false cheerfulness asserted itself as she continued.
"And how is
that?"

"You know, cooking and cleaning all day, watching soap operas and
stuff.
Never doing anything fun."

"Is that all that you think a mother does Ranma?"

"Well, yeah.  Ain't it?" Ranma stood stock still, as Nodoka
loomed before
him.  He fidgeted nervously, not knowing any better.  He smiled
flaccidly
and shrugged.
Nodoka took a deep, measured, breath and released it.  All that
she said in
response to Ranma's prolific insight to the fairer sex was; "I
see."

Ranma released the breath that he'd been holding and relaxed
notably.
For the second time that morning, Nodoka lashed out at her son
with a
devastating blow.  The effect was dramatically humiliating for
the boy.

He flipped up high into the air, as Nodoka's bo swept his feet
out from
underneath him.  He squawked indignantly, and plummeted to the
unforgiving floor of the dojo.  He opened his eyes to find a very
menacing
piece of wood at his throat.  He gulped down a nervous swallow,
and
looked into his mother's disappointed gaze.

"We will begin your re-education tomorrow morning."  There was no
room to hedge, or contend with the woman that brought him into
the
world.  All that he could do was nod his head in acquiescence.
She
removed the staff and held out her hand to her son, who
reluctantly
accepted it.  They both returned to the house and began preparing
breakfast in silence.

********
Juuban, 7:30 a.m.

Ami walked through the small gate of the Saotome compound, and
approached the door.  From somewhere above her she heard Ranma
yelling, followed quickly by a sharp reproach from Nodoka.  The
conversation was suppressed by the house.  The long moment of
silence
that ensued was broken by a scream from Ranma.

"THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL THAT I'M GONNA WEAR THAT IN
SCHOOL!"  Nodoka's voice rose again, but was still muffled by the
meddlesome home. "NO WAY AM I WEARIN' A DRESS TO
SCHOOL! AND THAT'S FINAL!"  A window abruptly opened above
Ami, and the offending garment landed squarely atop her head.

A smirk formed on Ami's lips at the idea of Ranma-kun wearing a
regulation, Juuban High School, girl's uniform to school.  It was
too much
for her to keep locked in, causing her to laugh out loud.  The
sound
attracted the attentions of the feuding parent and child.  Ranma
blushed a
deep crimson and with a violent grumble withdrew his head, back
into the
house.  Nodoka smiled sweetly.

"Please come in and make yourself at home Ami-chan, I will be
right
down. Ranma and I are discussing his wardrobe."  The smile
deepened
mischievously causing Ami to giggle again.  Ranma's mortified cry
resounded throughout the neighborhood.

"MOM!"

"Really Ranma, it's only a dress.  It's not as if you haven't
worn one
before."  Ami heard Nodoka say as she turned back into the room.
Ranma's reply cracked a ceramic planter at the base of the steps.

"MOM!"

Ami shook her head at the poor young man's plight and let herself
into the
house.

********

End Chapter Three