This story is based heavily on events and situations
from the preceeding ones, which are available on my
Web Site:

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

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

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


Destiny, Truth and Fate - Part 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------


	Akiko woke slowly the next morning, her mind still
troubled by the events of the previous day.  In the air hung the
smell of miso soup, and she could hear noises coming from the
kitchen downstairs.  Realizing what that meant, she smiled happily
and shook her head, wondering what would prompt him to do such a
thing.
        Sliding off the bed, she opened her wardrobe and reached
for her housecoat, as per usual.  Abruptly, she stopped, noticing
her collection of kimonos at the far end of the unit.  Smiling,
she picked one out and slipped it on.
	As she stood before the full-length mirror on the back of
her bedroom door, she wondered what he would think when he saw her
in this.  She hadn't worn one since she last lived in Japan, and
it felt good to be in it again.
	Taking one last look to be sure everything was in place
and proper, she happily headed down to the kitchen.


	Natako worked intently, preparing a very special breakfast
for Akiko.  He chose a traditional Japanese fare, hoping that it
would impress her, and help her to forgive him for what had
happened the day before.  In the process, he found that he really
liked cooking, and discovered that he could do some pretty fancy
knife work to top it all off.  As if to prove it to himself, he
rinsed a fresh tomato, and tossed it into the air.  Spinning the
knife like a drumstick between his fingers, he swung in on it,
slicing it into neat wedges, each landing in a perfect circle on
the previously prepared bed of lettuce.  Next, he sliced a carrot
into perfectly even medallions with ease, and flipped them up into
the wok with a sweep of the knife blade.
	Behind him, Akiko appeared in the doorway, and stood
quietly watching the show.
	"Ohaio, Akiko-chan"  Natako greeted, without turning
around.
	"Ohaio, Natako-kun.  This looks great, and smells even
better.  Nice work."  she observed, happily.
	"Domo.  I thought I owed it to you, especially after
yesterday."  he replied, turning to face her.  As soon as he saw
her standing demurely in the doorway, dressed in her kimono, he
felt his knees go.
        "You look... beautiful." he breathed, totally in awe of
the vision before him.  His heart felt like it was going to jump
right out of his chest, and the knife he held slipped slowly
from his hand, embedding itself in the floor inches from his
foot.  She was absolutely gorgeous, and he couldn't stop staring
at her.  Akiko had to giggle in response.
	"What's wrong?" she asked cheerily.
        "Not a thing... in fact, things couldn't be better.  You
look fantastic, Akiko-chan… what's the occasion?"  he asked,
trying to regain his composure.  This was not what he expected
at all, and it had really thrown him.
	"I smelled the miso from upstairs, and thought that I
should follow suit.  Do you like it?"
	"I love it." he responded, smiling warmly.  Reaching for
her hand, he took it gently, and walked her to her seat.  Once he
had her seated, he turned back to his cooking, quickly finishing
the last details, then joining Akiko at the table.
	He watched nervously as she tried the soup, hoping that
he got it right.  Her satisfied smile told him he had.
	"You have quite a talent for this.  I'm not near this
good."  Akiko stated, taking another sip.
        "I don't know why... I just did it, not really sure if I
could.  But, after yesterday, I wanted to do something nice for
you.  This seemed the perfect idea."
	"After yesterday?  If you mean what happened outside the
store, don't worry.  You did nothing wrong.  It was me.  I wasn't
expecting it, and it caught me off guard."  she explained, hoping
that he wouldn't push the issue.  She wasn't yet ready to bare her
soul, thinking that she had to be more certain of her own feelings.
"And I have to apologize for being so rude last night.  I went
upstairs to calm down, and fell asleep.  I never meant to leave
you alone in a strange house."  she continued, bowing her head
slightly.
	Relief washed over Natako like a flood, and he sighed
audibly.  "You're not mad at me?  I was sure I had ruined..."  he
stopped abruptly, realizing what he was about to say.  "...our
friendship."  he continued, haltingly.
	"Hm?"  Akiko replied, catching the slip despite his
efforts.  "No need to worry.  I have a feeling we'll always be...
friends."  she stated, looking him in the eyes.
	"Uhn."  Natako agreed, picking up his soup and drawing a
big sip.


        Later, Natako sat alone on the roof of the deck overlooking
the back yard of Akiko's house.  His mind was awash in thought as
he tried to sort out what had happened that morning.  He had
expected that Akiko would be upset, but she instead dropped a
strong hint that her interest in him was becoming more than
friendly.  Now, he was really confused.
        His reverie was interrupted abruptly by the sound of his
new name being called urgently from below.  Leaning forward a bit,
he peered over the edge of the roof to see Akiko standing in the
yard below, looking up at him curiously.
        "Natako-kun... what are you doing up there?  I thought
you had left."  she asked, obvious relief in her voice.
        "Just taking a moment to think... you know, shake out the
cobwebs."  he replied, leaping off the roof and landing gently
beside her.
        "You had me worried... I really thought you had left the
house, and I was..."  she began, stopping short when he looked at
her with his eyebrows raised.
        "You were what?"  he prodded, suddenly very curious to
hear the answer.
        She felt her cheeks going again as she desperately searched
for a response.  "...worried about you." she added, slowly.
        "Oh."  he answered, giving her an 'it was more than that,
wasn't it?' look.
        Akiko chose to let it slide, not wanting to expand any
further than she already had.  In the back of her mind, she had
been deathly afraid that he had taken off after she dropped her
hint at breakfast.  That thought had scared her so much that she
was literally panicking, and was now having a hard time covering
it.
        Gathering her wits as best she could, she tried to change
the subject.  "I was going to go for a walk to the store... do
you want to come?"
        "Hai... sounds good.  I could use the exercise.  I can
feel a lot of stiffness from spending so much time in the
hospital."  he answered, wondering privately just what she was
so upset about.
        "Okay... let me change, and we can head out."  she
responded, happily.  Turning, she headed back into the house,
with Natako trailing close behind.
        As Akiko headed up the stairs, he went to the kitchen to
get a glass of milk, and was amazed to see that any and all
evidence of his little gesture was gone from the room.  In
fact, the room literally sparkled.  He had to admit, it was
impressive how she had done it in the few minutes he had been on
the roof.  As he stood admiring her work, he heard her coming down
the stairs, and turned to meet her.
        "Ready, Akiko-chan?"  he asked, setting his glass down.
She looked at him with a frown.
        "Please put that in the sink... it will leave a ring."
she stated, pointing at the glass.
        "Oops... Should have known.  Sorry Akiko.  I'll watch it
from now on."  he responded sheepishly, placing the glass in the
sink, and wiping the wet ring up.
        "It's okay... I just can't stand a messy, cluttered
kitchen."  she explained, in an almost conciliatory tone.  "But,
enough of that.  We're wasting a great day."  she smiled,
gesturing toward the door.
        Natako, all too willing to get out of his current
situation, dashed to the door and graciously held it open, a
silly grin on his face.  Giggling, Akiko strode out it.


        The two walked back to the downtown, mainly since it was
only a few blocks from her house, and began to window-shop in
earnest.  Natako was thoroughly enjoying touring the grocery
stores, almost as if he had never experienced such a great display
of goods.  Akiko, meanwhile, picked out the few things she
wanted, and was ready to head back toward home.  Finally, after
a little polite convincing, Natako gave in.
        As they began the walk home, Natako suggested they detour
by way of the beach, since he wasn't quite ready to go back.  Akiko
agreed, just glad to finally be out of the stores.
        Akiko pointed out a shortcut to the park just ahead of
them, and they cut down the narrow street as soon as they got to
it.  About half a block down, Natako spotted a weathered signboard
hanging from a nondescript old building.  It read 'Kenemaki Dojo'.
        "Akiko!  A Dojo!  Just what I needed right now!"  Natako
exclaimed, leaping into the air.  His trajectory carried him to a
small car, which he bounced from, and ended up landing right in
front of the Dojo's door.
        Akiko just stared, totally shocked by what she had just
witnessed.  He had covered a distance equivalent to two city blocks
in two leaps... and hadn't broken a sweat.
        "Akiko-chan!  C'mon!  I have to check this place out!"
Natako yelled, snapping her out of her trance. "H-Hai!"  she
stammered, running over to him.
        "Looks like nobody's used it for a while..."  Natako
observed,  looking the building over.
        "I used it for a few months just after we arrived here."
Akiko stated, breathless.  "I had to stop when school started
up again."
        "D'ya think anyone's here?" 
        "No idea... "
        "Well, I guess there's only one way..."  Natako stated,
pushing the old door open.  It moved heavily, it's hinges groaning
in complaint.
        "Wow... "  Natako exclaimed, stepping into the dark
structure.  "I guess this town ain't into Martial Arts.  This mat
has an inch of dust on it."
        "Sad...  This was a nice facility once."  Akiko added,
looking around.
        Suddenly, Akiko felt a ripple in the back of her mind.
Natako noticed something as well, jumping in front of her and
setting himself to defend.
        "All right!  Show yourself!"  Natako ordered, staring
into the darkness.
        "You need not fear me, Warrior.  Nor you, Spiritualist.
I come to greet you with open arms."  a very senior voice soothed
from the darkness.
        "Spiritualist?"  Natako repeated, casting a querying
glance at Akiko.
        "I'll explain later.."  she responded, sounding angry.
        "Greetings.  I am Master Kenemaki… this is my Dojo."  an
aged Japanese man stated happily, as he stepped from the dark.
        "Sensei!"  Akiko blurted, stepping up to him with a deep
bow.  Natako lowered his guard, and followed suit.
        "How are you my child... I see the year has done you well.
Do you continue your studies?"
        "Hai, Sensei.  I am nearly done."  Akiko responded, proudly.
        "Ah!  I see you have a friend."  the old man continued,
stepping up to Natako.  Without warning, a staff swung out from
under his robes, straight for Natako's head.  Natako dodged it
easily.
        "Hey!  Is this the way you greet a guest?"  Natako snarled,
jumping back to a set position.
        Akiko gasped, stunned by the attack.
        "You have done well, my child.  He is a great warrior.  So,
tell me, Warrior.  Why do you come here?"  the old man asked,
totally unflapped.
        "I came hoping to train.  I didn't expect to be attacked!"
Natako shot back, angrily.
        "Then train you shall.  If you wish, we can begin now."
The old man answered, flinging a brace of shuriken straight at
Natako.  Natako caught every one and fired them right back.  The
Master deflected them easily with his staff.  After his throw,
Natako leapt into the air, heading right at the Master.  After
deflecting the stars, the Master brought his staff across to
block Natako's attack, but Natako was ready for him.  Catching
the staff in mid swing, he used it to lever himself around, and
deliver a two-footed hammer to the old Master's chest, sending
him crashing through the back wall of the hall.  Natako landed
gracefully, staff in hand, and spun it into a ready position.
Patiently, he waited, staring at the new passage to the back
office.
        "Natako!"  Akiko shouted, finally regaining her voice.
        "Stay back!" Natako ordered.  "This ain't over yet!"
        As he predicted, the old Master flew from the hole,
diving straight at Natako.  Natako dropped, raised the staff in
a faked block, and once the old man had hold of it, he hooked
the staff around, using the Master's inertia to drive him into
the floormat.  Leaping to his feet, he regarded the prostrate
old man cautiously.
        "Sloppy, old man.  I expected better."  he remarked, still
watching his opponent carefully.
        "I concede."  the old man muttered from the floor.  "You
have defeated me."  he continued, rising to a sitting position.
        "Just what exactly was that all about, an