(Music Fades in)

(Credits start)

"Jump In" (Ranma's Theme)

Opening Theme for
An Ending To All Our Days

I looked into your eyes,
That first time we met,
I was wondering what you thought,
You were wondering too, I bet.

I never thought I could love you,
You never thought you'd love me,
We're finally together-

Jump on in,
Say that I'm the only one,
Jump on in - to my love.
Jump on in,
Our lives have just begun,
Jump on in - to our love.

We see the world through together eyes,
Together we face what comes ahead,
I'll never forget what you shared,
And I'll never forget what you said.

The way you smile lights my heart,
You speak my name and it's the world,
You make me so happy-

Jump on in,
Tell me I'm the only one,
Jump on in - to my love.
Jump on in,
Our lives have just begun,
Jump on in - to our love.

(Guitar solo)

The way you smile lights my heart,
You speak my name and it's the world,
You make me so happy-

Jump on in,
Say that I'm the only one,
Jump on in - to my love
Jump on in,
Our lives have just begun,
Jump on in - to our love.

(Repeat Chorus)

(Fade)

(Title Fades in)

Akane awoke with the birds chirping lightly outside. The haze covering her mind slowly lifted to the point where she could start to remember parts of her experience. There was Ranma not returning, which still weighed heavily on her. But something else, something more immediate, if she could only-

"Sukido!" She said aloud, sitting up.

It was still her room. How did she get here? The curtains were closed and a patch of sunlight stole into the room. She realized that because of all the times she's punted Ranma through that window, her curtains must not close properly. It was bright outside, but still early. Her clock told her that. She looked down at herself. She was wearing her pajamas. How did she get these on? It was summer so she didn't have to worry about getting up for school, but many questions came through her mind at the same time. She wondered where Ranma was and if he was okay. There was a knock at the door.

"C-Come in," She said.

It was Nodoka. Akane smiled. Nodoka had been so wonderful. She had been treating her and her sisters just like family, even though Ranma and her had not been married officially yet.

"How are you feeling dear?" She asked.

"Uh-Okay I guess. How did I end up here?"

"You don't remember?" Nodoka asked.

Akane shook her head.

"Sukido brought you back. He and Nabiki were so worried. He stayed up for part of the night making sure you were okay."

"He did?"

"Yes dear. In fact, Nabiki is very lucky to have him as her boyfriend. He's so helpful. Come down to breakfast and help him in the kitchen. Ukyou is over this morning as well-you gave her quite a scare last night," Nodoka said.

"Last night?" Akane asked.

Then she remembered. The part that was missing. Ryouga.

"Oh- That.." She said, pulling her knees to her chest.

Nodoka opened the door and walked in. She smoothed her kimono and sat on the edge of the bed. Akane knew that she wanted to talk, but somehow she couldn't tell her mother-in-law just exactly how painful it really was. Having her there was comforting at least.

"Tell me about it dear..."

The tone of voice, or perhaps it was the gentle look of the mother that Akane rarely knew. Whichever it was, it affected Akane and she knew she couldn't hold the emotions back.

"It's just that...I mean Ryouga..." Akane began to sniffle, "Oh Auntie-"

Akane broke down and began to cry. She couldn't seem to stop. She felt so silly, but Nodoka sat closer and held her close. Nodoka rocked her, not knowing quite what else to do. She wondered what could have happened to affect her like this.

"That's all right dear," She said quietly.

Akane's tears slowed and she pulled back from Nodoka. She calmed and thought about where to begin and tried to breathe deeply. Retelling the whole story would be hard, but at least this way she might be able to make some sense out of it herself.

The day wore on slowly. Nabiki and Sukido had left early, out on a shopping trip. They would be back for dinner, but probably not for lunch. Mr.Saotome and Father were no longer out looking for Happosai, they said he'd found him, but had lost him and generally given up. They were out at their game of Shogi as usual. Akane had left to see a movie with her friends, but said she'd be home for dinner. Ranma was still not home yet.

Kasumi looked around the house. She felt somewhat desperate. What would she do if she had nothing to clean. Or fix, or mend or anything? Nodoka found her in the laundry room trying to fold clothes.

"Kasumi dear, don't do that," She said, "You know what Dr.Tofu said. No movement for at least two weeks with the current cast."

Kasumi nodded, but left with her head down. Nodoka knew how she felt. She had once injured her hand trying to get food away from Genma. She hadn't been able to use the hand for a few days and it had driven her crazy. Poor Kasumi must not be doing very well. The day wore on. Kasumi noted the time and also that Nabiki and Sukido were home. He had started on dinner. Kasumi had to admit, he was quite a good cook. That wasn't the point. It was...well, what was the point? She did have an injury. Perhaps Sukido was right. Kasumi just didn't know. She got up from her perch near the koi pond when she began to smell the food. Maybe she could help do something to alleviate her...boredom.

"Are you sure there's not something I can help with?" Kasumi said from the doorway.

"Nonsense Kasumi. I'm a guest in this house," Sukido said, not looking up from the pot.

He stopped and looked up toward Kasumi. He saw Kasumi standing in the light from the doorway, the one that was still intact that is, and sighed. Panda-kun shuffled in behind her. Sukido raised an eyebrow at him.

"The least I can do is help with a few paltry chores. Take it easy Kasumi. For once, enjoy the freedom this offers." He said quietly.

Kasumi tried to say something, but her protestations stopped in her throat. Only a slight whimper escaped. She looked at her cast, then back to the kitchen, then to her cast again. She felt...sad. These were new feelings to her. Well, perhaps not necessarily NEW, but certainly foreign. She felt her brow wrinkle and she felt the tears well up to her eyes. She knew that if she stood there, both he and Saotome-kun would see her cry. She couldn't take letting her family down like that. She turned and started for the door, only to run into a furry wall. Sukido stopped what he was doing. He started at Kasumi.

"Kasumi, I'm sorry. I know how much your family means to you-" He began.

That was all it took. Kasumi began to cry softly into the fur of Saotome-kun's belly. She got around him and ran off towards the dojo.

"Kasumi! I-" Sukido started, "Damn! Saotome-kun, can you just stir this until I get back."

Panda-kun held up a sign, {Sure!}. Sukido bolted from the kitchen. She ran towards the dojo, but the back stairs were that way as well. Better to check her room first. Then something occurred to him.

"And Saotome-kun?" He said back to the panda, "Try not to get any fur in the soup."

Panda-kun just mumbled something. Sukido searched through the house. Kasumi had not been in her room or the room of either of her sisters, so he finally turned to the dojo. Soft sobbing could be heard from the area of the family shrine. Sukido said a small prayer of warding and looked quietly

Into the room. Kasumi was at the far end of the room in front of the Tendo family shrine. He couldn't tell what she was saying, but it only seemed to make her cry more. Not that it was anything like her father's tears. But to see Kasumi in any form of distress was eerie. Perhaps she knew. Sukido would have to act much faster than he wanted to with this one if she knew.

Better to go a little faster than risk the chance that she'd had a chance to speak about him to anyone. Besides, with Tofu away on business and not due back for a day or two, Sukido could easily take what he needed from this one. He smiled and went to her side.

He straightened the smile from his face and placed a hand on her shoulder. She gently reached her hand up to take his. Sukido was surprised and slightly turned on by how strong physically this one was. Even the little Confused One from the cave was not this strong. If she weren't so...hmmm, good thing she wasn't a threat. Kasumi stood and turned to Sukido.

"I have to ask you a favor and I'm a terrible person for asking it, but-" She stopped, choking back more tears, "Could you please leave?"

"Kasumi-I...no I can't. I promised your sister I'd help-" Sukido tried to explain.

Kasumi started to babble something but it came out incoherent. She couldn't speak through her tears. She started to back away, but her skirt got caught under her foot. He grabbed her shoulders in time to keep her from falling, but she struggled in his grasp, finally pulling her left arm across her body. Sukido was then surprised to see the cast meeting his face. The force of the blow was as unexpected as the strength behind it and he slid to the back wall of the dojo.

"Sukido, oh my." She said quietly.

She wiped the tears from her eyes on her apron and quickly rushed to him. How often she had seen her other sisters do something similar, but she never believed that she could do such a thing. How often had they regretted it before, how she regretted it now. The thought made her tears worse. She knelt before him and bowed there. She wanted him to realize just how sorry she was. It was the least she could do for smacking him with her cast. She also tried to explain.

"Sukido, are you hurt? Please don't you see, I-we don't need your help. Please Sukido please..." She pleaded, even through more tears.

Kasumi looked up as a hand was placed on her shoulder. Sukido was smiling. At this point Kasumi was even more confused by his reaction than by the fact that she could see the lump beginning to protrude from his face. He was smiling, yet in great pain. He was smiling at her. She almost became scared because it was known by all that the Kunos were known for masochism.

And in Kodachi's case, sadism as well.

"I didn't realize how badly the injury affected you. I'm sorry. I can help," He said softly.

No, that's not it, she thought, That's how this whole thing-

"No,no, don't you see-" She began.

"Kasumi. I meant with your arm," He interrupted.

He stood and pulled her to her feet. She didn't really want to face him for fear that she might lose control again. Her legs trembled with the thought. He slid her cast free of the sling and held it between his hands in front of him. She looked at him expectantly and he met her gaze.

"Now..you'll feel a pull and it may hurt a little," He said.

She nodded. Sukido entered what looked like a deep trance. His eyes closed and Kasumi thought she could hear some faint chanting outside. A light started to emanate from his hands. The itching in her arm went away as a warm glow spread into her arm from his hands. It spread up her arm and into her shoulder. She could feel all of the muscles in her arm go slack from the warmth. The light grew a little brighter and the pain left, replaced by a greater heat in the area of the break. A ripping white light burst from his hands and with it a sharp pain at which even Kasumi had to swear. There was also a sickening pop from her arm that came shortly after. As soon as the pain and the sick sound of popping sinew was gone, she opened her eyes again. She saw Sukido still standing, eyes closed, his hands on her - arm? Kasumi noticed the cast a mass of gray powder on the floor.

"Oh my..." She said almost breathlessly.

Sukido came out of his trance at that point and looked at her arm. A smile slowly spread across his face and he looked up to meet her eyes.

"Go ahead, give it a try," He said, straightening.

Kasumi lifted her arm and turned it this way and that, opening and closing her hand experimentally.

"I didn't do this earlier because I thought you wanted a break...no pun intended, of course," He said, brushing the powder from his hands.

She looked back at him, her face alight. He had done this. This boy-no, man-had given her back the one thing that she most wanted without even knowing it. Her freedom. She could now cook and clean and...oh, wait until Tofu-chan finds out. Everything depended on her. She had it back. It had been given back to her. Her mind was once again filled with joy, and she had one person to thank for it. Without warning, she jumped up, her arms around his neck, her lips at his.

"Kasumi!" A voice shouted from the open doorway.

They broke their embrace. Kasumi looked over to see Akane staring at her with a shocked expression on her face. Kasumi then realized what she had done and looked back to Sukido who looked shocked as well.

"Oh my...Well, it looks as though I'll be able to finish dinner. Thank you Kuno-san," she said cheerfully.

Sukido could only nod in reply. Kasumi made her way out, blushing as she passed Akane. Akane looked back to Sukido, who was still standing there, a shocked expression still harbored on his face.

"Do you do that to every woman you try to help?" Akane asked pointedly.

First Nabiki, then me, which I STILL can't believe, She thought, and now Kasumi. What's he trying to do, start his own harem? Well, that WOULD be like a Kuno.

Sukido heard her last comment and shot her an evil glance. He quickly softened it when he noticed her flinch. He almost seemed to enjoy the reaction.

Okay, so he's a Kuno after all, She thought, He almost looked like Kodachi there for a minute.

"Akane, I've been meaning to apologize for last night," He said, coming to her, "I didn't mean to kiss you, well-okay I did MEAN it, but-"

He stopped as she pressed two fingers to his lips. Akane moved in close to him. She pulled his head to her and lightly kissed him. She then wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. His heartbeat was so warm and steady. She lost herself for a minute. So many things had happened since Nabiki brought him home. He had made them all so happy. Almost too good to be true. Akane forced that thought out of her mind as she thought about the rest of the analogy that statement entailed.

"Sukido," She finally muttered, "A woman could easily fall in love with you."

Akane felt tears come to her. She didn't want to leave his embrace, but something deeper told her she had to. She pushed herself to arms length.

"But, I love Ranma. I am glad that you helped me," She said, starting to sniffle, "I think I -I think I needed it."

She turned from him and ran off crying.

There was a long silence. Sukido started to chuckle, then he laughed aloud. The pure joy in the irony of it all amused him. He would bring the Confused One's prize to him without ever lifting a finger. Truly this was something worthy of someone less capable. Wasting his powers-

A noise made him stop in the middle of his mental tirade. Someone was there. Perhaps even to have seen the whole episode with Akane and even Kasumi, though he had kept that fairly level. Sukido breathed in and unfolded his chi like a cloak around him, bending the light around him. He melted into the air and moved to the back wall.

"Where did he go?" A rather odd, high voice said from the rafters.

The voice came from a small, ugly looking goblin that jumped down from the rafters.

"First the lovely young Nabiki, then my dear sweet Akane and lastly, even the young and lovely Kasumi has fallen to this demon," He said, looking all around.

The goblin then stopped. He slowly turned and faced where Sukido was hiding and just looked straight at him.

"Come out of there you. I know you're there. Come out and face me," He said.

Sukido laughed inadvertently.

Well, since I've blown my cover, Sukido thought, I might as well face him.

Sukido defolded and stepped into the lit area near the goblin. The goblins face became grim and he set his arms at his side.

"Bending light with chi, interesting, almost scientific use. Much more efficient than my disappearing. Handy. But you can't beat me like that son." The goblin said.

"Don't call me son, old man. And you're no match for me."

"The name's Happosai, sonny. Let's see what ya' got!"

The room filled with the glow of power.

Nabiki sat back down at her desk. She loved the look of old wood. It so reminded her of money. If Daddy ever found out how she came by most of the things in the house...well, the least he would do would be to cry. She had other things on her mind right now though. Nabiki was half scared that her love of Sukido would ultimately distract her from her own "Anything Goes" technique...managing the family account.

Her computer screen flared as the computations showed an unexpected surplus of money this month for the family. She frowned. This wasn't normal. There had to be something missing. She started a double-check when she saw a flash go off from the area of the dojo. A low rumble came seconds later. Earthquake?

The kitchen was back that way as well. Akane?

"Great, and we just fixed the kitchen back to the point we could use it yesterday," She said, disgusted.

She turned back to her computer and resumed her computations. She knew what she was missing now, damage bills.

What a fight! Sukido thought, I've never fought like that!

Sukido was on his hands and knees gasping for breath. Happosai was laying in a crumpled mass near the outside door. A small moan escaped the old goblin. Sukido began to get up, but winced and grabbed his side as a pain shot through him.

"You little bastard! You actually got a hit in!" He said, spitting at Happosai.

That really pissed him off. No one had been able to hit him since he was in grade school. Sukido began to say something else but stopped as a smell reached his nose. It was very pleasant and inviting.

Damn, He thought, Dinner. I almost forgot. Kasumi must be finishing it.

She didn't take. Kasumi was going to be harder than he thought. If she was already in love with Tofu - it might be...Nah-nothing was impossible.

Right now he needed to get rid of the munchkin. Sukido picked up Happosai, powered up his fist and cracked him into the sky. Sukido was surprised to see how aerodynamic Happosai was.

Sukido wandered out, pondering how he could get Kasumi to submit to him.

He already had Nabiki, but he really didn't have Akane all the way yet. He decided to ponder it over dinner. How...how would he get Kasumi...?

He tried to walk without limping into the dining room.

(End Credits Begin)

(Music Begins)

"Forever Yours" (Akane's Theme)

Ending Theme For
An Ending To All Our Days

Tell me lies,
Set me free,
What first could not,
Suddenly can be.

Love you forever,
Lose me today,
Look in my eyes,
And hear me say-

I'll love you forever,
Just hear me say,
I'll love you forever,
To my very last day,
I'll love you forever.

Seeing the future,
Being the past,
What's now is forever,
And forever won't last.

Love you forever,
Lose me today,
Look in my eyes,
And hear me say-

I'll love you forever,
Just hear me say,
I'll love you forever,
To my very last day,
I'll love you forever.

(Instrumental Solo)

To protect me you said,
As you stepped into eternity,
Into my heart forever,
You gave your life for me-

I'll love you forever,
Just hear me say,
I'll love you forever,
In so many ways,
I'll love you forever,
To my very last day,
I'll love you forever.

(Music Fades)