All characters, save Feather, are the copyrighted work of 
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permision purely for 
entertainment value.  In other words, I ain't selling, you 
ain't buying, and everyone is happy right?  That having been 
said, let us proceed with the third chapter of A Feather in the 
Wind.

_______________________________________________________________
        
        
                     A Feather in the Wind
        
        
                          Chapter 3 

        As the sun set upon the horizon, Feather sat next to an 
unconscious Ryouga.  She leaned back, enjoying the simple 
beauty of the sunset.   Eventually, Ryouga regained 
consciousness again, and they set out to find their goal, the 
Tendo Dojo.  
        "We're in the right town," Ryouga said as they started 
out, "if our luck holds, we will be standing on the Tendo's 
doorstep before nightfall."
        "What makes you say that?  I'm not sure exactly of where 
we are." 
        "You see that school?"  Ryouga pointed at Furinkan High, 
when Feather nodded he continued, "That's the school Akane goes 
to.  The path between that school and the Tendo dojo is marked 
by signs of battle"  He rubbed the back of his head "I don't 
hold back whenever I fight Ranma, and he has other enemies that 
attack him on a regular basis as well.  Ranma has a tendency to 
leave them imbedded in walls, so all we have to do is follow 
the damage and we can't lose!"  Ryouga looked impressed with 
himself.  Feather snorted and crossed her arms.
        "And how, pray tell, do we decide which way to go from 
the gate?"  Feather asked, with just a touch of sarcasm in her 
voice.  Ryouga made a guttural noise and jerked forward a 
little.  He looked sheepishly over at Feather and put his hand 
to the back of his head.
        "I guess we'll flip a coin, we'll have a fifty fifty shot 
anyways"  Feathers face started to turn red with anger, then 
suddenly she laughed.  Ryouga started to laugh with her as they 
headed towards the front gates to the school.  Neither of them 
noticed a black-cloaked man following them.  The man spoke 
briefly into a walkie-talkie, and turned to continue his 
surveillance.  A small embroidered patch of a viper encircling 
a blade could be seen on his shirt.
        When Ryouga and Feather reached the gate, they stopped 
and flipped a coin.  They turned to the left and started to 
run.  After only running for a few minuets, they saw what 
looked like a body print in a wall.  Ryouga grinned hugely.  
"Judging by the shape of that hole, Mousse decided to attack 
Ranma today." Feather was panting when she replied.
        "How do you know it was today?"
        "Simple, with all the fights going on, construction 
companies have gotten real efficient.  The holes from today's 
fight will be filled in by morning."  And as if to prove 
Ryouga's point, a pick-up pulled up to the hole and two men 
jumped out.  One of them started to gather the pieces of the 
wall, while the other started to mix concrete.  Feather gaped 
at how quickly and quietly they worked.
        "That's amazing!"  She gasped out.  She was hurting from 
her fight with Cologne, but she didn't want to admit it to 
Ryouga.  But her muscles complained constantly about their use, 
and her breath was getting short.  Suddenly she tripped, and it 
looked to her like she was going to smash headfirst into a 
pole.  She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable 
contact.... but it never came.  She opened her eyes and looked 
around.  Ryouga, without even breaking stride, had picked her 
up and was still running.  She was so out of breath, that she 
wasn't even able to thank him, so instead, she just wrapped her 
arms around his neck, and relaxed.
        "I knew it!"  Ryouga shouted as he turned a corner, 
following some broken chains.  Up ahead was the Dojo, and the 
gates were open with Mr. Tendo sweeping in front.  At Ryouga's 
shout, Mr. Tendo looked their way, and Feather waved to him.  
He waited for the teenagers to stop in front of him to speak.
        "Well now, Hello Ryouga, I'm glad to see you made it 
back.  Looks like you and Feather had a good time on your 
little trip"  Mr. Tendo said as Ryouga put Feather back on her 
feet.  Mr. Tendo turned and called into the house, "Kasumi!  We 
have guests for dinner!"
        "Yes Father!"  Was Kasumi's only response.  
        "I hope we're not to much of a bother.." Feather started 
to say, but was interrupted by Mr. Tendo putting an arm around 
her shoulders and leading them in.
        "Nonsense!  We really want to know more about you, and 
now that you're here, you can tell us"  He grinned hugely, 
"We've been worried about you since that night, the only one 
who wasn't was Ranma.  He kept saying that there was no way 
Ryouga was going to let you get hurt.  I'm glad to see that his 
faith in his friend was well placed"  Mr. Tendo was practically 
blabbering as he led them into the dining room.  Nabiki was 
sitting there reading a stock report.  She looked up as they 
entered the room.
        "Well well well, look what daddy found!"  She smiled a 
little, "Don't you too just look so cute together."  Feather 
blushed, and Ryouga looked fairly uncomfortable as they sat 
down at the table.  "Don't spare me the details, tell me what 
happened"  Feather gently punched Ryouga in the arm.  He looked 
startled for a second, hen he started to talk.
        "After Feather had passed out, I carried her as I ran 
from those reporters.  She didn't wake up again until a day 
later.  By then, I was outside Osaka.  After she woke up, I 
loaned her my spare clothes, and we walked into the city...."  
Ryouga continued relating their tale as the rest of the Tendos 
and the Saotomes listened intently.  When he was finished, 
Ranma smirked a bit.
        "What did I tell you?"  Ranma grinned at Akane, "Like I 
said, he's just too pig headed to have let anything happen to 
her," Ryouga glared at him for a second, but subsided when he 
realized that this was just Ranma's way of complimenting him.  
Ranma looked at Feather, "So, Ryouga's started to train you 
huh?"  Feather nodded and Ranma grinned.  "How good have you 
gotten?"
        "Ranma!"  Akane glared at him, "She's only been training 
for a month!  Don't be too harsh on her, even if Ryouga is a 
great teacher."  She thought back to when Ryouga had trained 
her for the rhythmic gymnastics tournament, and more recently, 
helping to train her for her rematch with Natsume and Kanumi.  
        "I'm still not that great,"  Feather said softly, "But 
Shampoo's great-grandmother said I had potential,"  Feather 
brightened at this.  "She did say something about how my form 
didn't seem to be coming naturally to me, though."  Feather 
looked thoughtful, as did Ranma and Ryouga. Suddenly Ranma 
snapped his fingers.
        "Of course!  Feather, show me the stances that Ryouga 
first taught you..."  Feather stood and demonstrated.  Ranma 
nodded, "Yeah, those stances are well suited to someone who 
uses a lot of strength in every strike. What may work better 
for you would be..."  Ranma stood and showed Feather a slightly 
different stance, showing her to roll forward on her toes a 
little, and flex her knees just a bit differently.  "There, is 
that a lot easier?" he asked as Feather tried the stance he had 
just demonstrated for her.
        "Wow!  This feels a whole lot more natural!"  Feather 
exclaimed.  Ryouga looked at Ranma with a hateful glare.  Ranma 
noticed this and started to sweat.
        "Not that the stance Ryouga taught you was bad,"  Ranma 
stammered out, "It's just that he didn't seem to realize that 
you are a lot lighter.  You should still be able to execute the 
same moves form that stance, just try and do them a little 
faster.  You may be surprised at the results!"  Ranma sat down, 
and Ryouga leaned next to him to whisper.
        "How did you know that stance was going to work better 
for her?"  He practically hissed into Ranma's ear.
        "Simple,"  Ranma replied, "I have to use a different 
stance when I'm a girl 'cus my balance is different.  Even 
Akane could've told you that that stance pulls a girl off 
balance."  Ryouga looked stupefied.
        "How come I didn't run into that kind of problem whenever 
I help to train Akane?"  Ryouga asked.
        "She already knew her stances stupid."
        "What did you call me?"  Ryouga started to steam at the 
casual way Ranma insulted him.
        "What are you two whispering about?"  Akane asked as she 
leaned towards them, curious.  
        "n nnothing Akane!"  Ryouga stammered, abruptly sitting 
up straight.  Ryouga continued to look excessively nervous 
while Akane was looking his way.
        "What's the matter P-chan?  Can't admit you learned 
something from me?"  Ranma taunted.  He backed up a little when 
Ryouga bared his teeth and then lunged for him.
        "You're dead Saotome!" he yelled as he threw Ranma out 
into the yard.
        "Cut it out both of you!"  Akane practically yelled as 
she scrambled to get up and separate the two "friends". Akane 
was about to rush into the melee, when the two suddenly stopped 
fighting, and just stood looking at each other.  Confused, 
Akane went to stand next to Ryouga.
        "What happened?"  She asked him. When Ryouga didn't 
answer, Akane looked at him in concern.  She noticed that he 
was staring rather intently, but not in hatred at Ranma. She 
followed his gaze and smiled a little.  At the far side of the 
lawn, Feather had been standing, watching the fight with a 
faint look of disapproval.  Akane walked quickly over to 
Feather.  When she got close, she could see a bit of a tear 
forming in the corner of the red-heads eye.  "Come on Feather, 
you look like you need some rest," Akane said, gently trying to 
guide the girl inside.
        "But Ranma and Ryouga," Feather started to say, but was 
interrupted by Akane.
        "Neither of them will admit it, but they're good friends.  
I think they fight like this to keep their edge.  They are both 
really proud, and had started out as rivals,"  Akane smiled at 
the shorter girl, "But with everything they have been through, 
they have become friends, and they seem to show it to each 
other by demonstrating his skill... on each other."  Feather 
giggled at Akane's viewpoint.  Especially since she heard the 
battle restart after they had left.  
        "My interfering has also become part of the game they 
play.  I try to stop them, and it spurs them on even more."  
she giggled at that. "Come on Feather, you can tell me about 
your wings while they work out..."  Akane didn't notice Feather 
getting very nervous. 
        ::It's not like I don't want to tell her,:: Feather 
thought, ::But I can't remember anything before last year!::  
Feather continued to think about how she would get around 
telling Akane about her past, unawares of the man watching the 
dojo from the tree.
        A while later, Ranma and Ryouga were sitting in the dojo, 
utterly exhausted, and both a bit bruised.  Their clothes were 
torn, and each felt pain in their ribs as they tried to breath.
        " It's not over yet Saotome!"  Ryouga stood, albeit 
unsteadily.
        " that's right, pig boy!"  Ranma also stood, and he 
was grinning widely, "We haven't gotten each other wet yet!"
        "Ha! You're not getting me this time Ranma!"  Ryouga 
grinned as he hefted a fire pail.  Ranma grinned and revealed a 
water pistol.  The air between them was thick with the tension, 
and neither of them moved.  A single bead of sweat fell off of 
Ranma's chin, as he suddenly raised the water gun and squeezed 
the trigger.  Seeing the motion, Ryouga hurled the contents of 
the bucket at Ranma, and did his best to dodge the thin stream 
of water Ranma was sending his way.  With a loud splash, a pig 
and a girl looked at each other from different sides of the 
dojo, then the girl collapsed laughing, while P-chan did a 
piggish equivalent.
        Only a few seconds later, they were both young men again, 
thanks to a steaming kettle, thoughtfully left behind by the 
eldest of the Tendo sisters.  
        "Whoo!  I haven't had that much fun since, oh, I'd say 
that little trip to Togenkyo!"  Ranma laughed out.  Ryouga 
merely grinned as he squeezed out his shirt.  "Practicing with 
Feather sure has improved you since the last time pig-boy!"
        "Heh, and I suppose that you don't think that not being 
able to fight for almost a month didn't hurt your abilities?  
You've gotten soft Ranma!  Your chestnut fist was slower than 
usual!"  Ryouga beamed at Ranma.
        "Hah yourself Ryouga!"  Ranma replied, still grinning ear 
to ear, "Your baksai tenketsu took a whole second to work, and 
even then the rock barely shattered.  What's wrong?  Lose your 
focus?  Maybe you left it with your sense of direction!"  
Ryouga glared at Ranma, who returned the look.  After a few 
seconds of mock anger, they both collapsed laughing again.
        "It's good to have you back around Ryouga!  I needed a 
distraction so badly," he rolled his eyes a bit, "Shampoo has 
redoubled her efforts since that night, Kodachi is as crazy as 
ever, and Akane's had to fight off Kuno at almost every street 
corner."  Ryouga grunted a bit at the news.
        "What about Ukyou?"  He asked.
        "That's the funny part Ryouga,"  Ranma scratched his 
head, "Every time she comes over, I think she's going to glomp 
onto me, but instead, she just seems to want to help Akane get 
through what happened.  Of course, she would still bring over a 
'get well' okonomiaki every day.  But like I said, she's just 
been helping to keep Shampoo and Kodachi offa me, and Kuno and 
anyone else offa Akane.  Ever since she came over the day after 
I got shot, she's been like that, even now when my leg is fully 
healed, she's still acting like that."  Ranma shook his head, 
then looked out at the darkening sky.  "It's kinda nice, and 
Akane seems to enjoy having Ukyou as a friend, but what will 
happen if I tell Ukyou that I don't want to marry her..."
        Ranma and Ryouga face-faulted as Genma and Mr. Tendo come 
out of nowhere and crowd around Ranma.
        "Is it true son?"  Mr. Tendo asked, tears in his eyes, 
"You really want to marry my Akane that badly?"  Ranma squirmed 
within their grip.
        "Hey waitaminnit! That ain't what I said!  Who said I 
wanted to marry that un-cute tomboy anyways!"  Ranma yelled as 
he struggled.  Mr. Tendo wailed and grabbed Ranma's shoulders 
while bowing his head.  Genma moved next to his son with his 
fist raised angrily.
        "Is this how you show your gratitude boy?  This marriage 
goes beyond personal wants and desires!"  He yelled in his sons 
ears.  Ryouga stands up, unnoticed.  "It's about carrying on 
the anything goes school of martial arts!"
        "Oh yeah?!?  Well Akane and I think our feeling have an 
awful lot going into this pop!"  Ranma yelled, as Ryouga takes 
a step forward.
        "Put aside your anger!  Akane is such a sweet young girl!  
You should be proud to have her as a fiancee, and you would be 
even more proud to have her as your wife!"  Genma counters, 
knowing his son's true feelings for Akane, and is using them 
against his son.  Ryouga's battle aura flares.
        "She can't cook, she's violent, stubborn as a mule, twice 
as strong!"  Ranma fled behind the cover of the insults.  Out 
of the corner of his eye, Ranma notices a green glare.  
Glancing over, he notices Ryouga is approaching them angrily.
        "Wait Ryouga!"  Ranma starts to panic, since it looked 
like Ryouga was getting ready to do a full shi shi hokkkodan.  
Ryouga seemingly ignores Ranma's shout and charges at them.  
Seeing an uncontrollable Ryouga approaching them rapidly, Genma 
and Mr. Tendo scramble to get out of the way.  Ryouga ignores 
them and he flying tackles Ranma into the yard.  Before Ranma 
could recover, Ryouga had grabbed the back of his shirt and 
jumped over the wall and dragged Ranma down the street.
        "Whoa Ryouga!  Slow down man!" Ranma desperately twists 
around, trying to get Ryouga to release his grip.  Suddenly, 
Ryouga stops and let's go of Ranma's shirt.  They were at the 
bank of the river next to the bridge.  Ranma stood and looked 
at Ryouga.  "Ryouga, what's gotten into you?"  Ryouga looks 
wistfully up at the now dark sky.
        "Ranma, I, I think I'm starting to get over Akane."
        "WHAT?!?!"  Ranma yelled as he face faulted.  Ryouga 
turned and looked at the ground.
        "When your father and Mr. Tendo were talking about you 
marrying Akane, I didn't get the same kind of pain in my heart.  
It was almost as if,"  Ryouga paused as he looked up, "It felt 
more like that happy-sad feeling you get when you see a sister 
or brother married I think."  Ryouga suddenly grabbed Ranma's 
shoulders.  "Be good to Akane Ranma.  I, I don't think I'll be 
getting in your way anymore."  Ranma just looked at Ryouga in 
shock.  Ryouga sighed and sat down.  "Your objections to Akane 
still wound me Ranma, but, they don't infuriate my like they 
used too."  Ranma's mind was still reeling from the 
implications behind Ryouga's words.  Ranma sat down next to 
Ryouga.
        "What made you change your mind?"
        "I think it started when you dragged Akane and Feather 
into my house.  The way Akane looked at you while you were 
passed out, her cry of despair when realized that you were 
badly hurt, the way she was locked in her mind after you were 
taken to the hospital.  She loves you Ranma,"  Ryouga looked 
over at his rival/friend, a sad look on his face, "Don't make 
her wait too long, I might kill you for that."  Ranma started 
to object, but didn't say anything when he saw the expression 
on Ryouga's face.  They sat in silence for a few minuets, then 
Ranma spoke.
        "So, what are you going to do now Ryouga?  If you think 
you're over Akane, are you going to try and find your way 
home?"  Ryouga shrugged.
        "I thought about that, but it's fun watching you squirm 
around your fiancees.  Also, our fights are making us 
stronger."  Ranma nodded.
        "Yeah, like when you figured out the shi-shi hokkudan, I 
figured out the mouko takabisha.  And you seem to be stronger 
and stronger each time we fight.  Your one guy who keeps me on 
my toes!"
        "And someday Ranma, I will defeat you!  But this time, it 
won't be about Akane.  It will be about our skills!"  Ryouga 
took on a determined expression.
        "Hah!  That'll be the day!"  Ranma laughed, "The day you 
defeat me in a fair fight is the day I'll kiss Kuno!"  Ryouga 
gagged at Ranma's remark, but then grinned.
        "I hope you don't take those words to heart Ranma."  
Ranma looked at the stars again.
        "So, you and Feather making plans yet?"  Ranma asked 
nonchalantly.
        "What do you mean, plans?"  Ryouga asked, his heart 
suddenly aching.
        "I saw how you look at her man.  It's the same look you 
used to give to Akane.  I just figured that since you two were 
out training together for a month, she might also be feeling 
something for you.."
        "If only I was that lucky Ranma."  Ryouga sighed.  "She 
seems to be haunting my dreams now, but, I can't get it 
together enough to ask her out or anything.  When I look in 
those eyes of hers I...."  Ryouga stops, embarrassed.
        "I know what you mean.  I get the same way whenever Akane 
smiles at me.  Not that smile when she's about to clobber me, 
but that smile she has whenever I do the right thing." Ranma 
started to fiddle with the grass.  "But, before I can say 
anything to her, either pops or Mr. Tendo pop out of nowhere, 
and they try to force us."  The grass he's playing with is 
forcefully ripped out of the ground.  "And then we close up 
again.  I get so tired of it all, that I want to grab Akane and 
run for the horizon, maybe getting lost somewhere and then we 
would be able to actually talk without being idiots."  Ryouga 
looked at his friend in sympathy.  Then he stood up.
        "It's late Ranma, you want to lead me back to the dojo?  
I kinda want a warm bed tonight."  As if to punctuate his 
words, the wind started to blow, chilling them both.  Ranma 
stood without a word and led Ryouga down the streets of Nerima.  
When they where about halfway back, Ranma spoke.
        "Hey, does she know?"
        "Know what Ranma?"  Ryouga asked, confused.  Ranma roller 
his eyes.
        "About P-chan.  Does she know that your the pig."  Ryouga 
nodded.
        "She found out about two weeks ago.  She thinks it's 
cute, and doesn't seem to mind at all,"  Ryouga flushed a bit 
at the memory.......

--------------------------Flash Back-------------------------

        They were running alongside a highway, side by side.  A 
recent rainstorm had left puddles alongside the road.  Ryouga 
was dodging the puddles, and encouraging Feather to leap over 
them, rather than go around.
        "Think of it as training.  If you can jump over the 
puddles without landing in any of them, you will have made an 
improvement."  Ryouga demonstrated by jumping over a 
particularly large one with apparent ease.  Feather tried to 
jump over, but when she saw she was going to land a bit short, 
she snapped her wings out and flew to where Ryouga was 
standing.
        "Don't take the easy way out Feather!"  Ryouga chided 
her, "If you don't make the jump, you get wet.  If you make it, 
you stay dry."  Downcast, Feather walked around the puddle, and 
then backed up a few paces to get a running start.  She 
swallowed hard and then started to run.  She jumped right at 
the edge of the puddle, and it looked like she would make it.  
However, she came up about half a foot short, splashing water 
all over the place.
        "Oh Ryouga!  I'm sorry did I get you wet?"  Feather 
looked all over, but the only sign of Ryouga was his pack, and 
some rumpled clothes.  Then something under the clothes started 
to move.  Curious, Feather leaned closer, and was greeted by 
the sight of a small black pig wriggling free of the clothes.
        "How cute!"  She exclaimed as she picked the pig up out 
of Ryouga's clothes.  She hugged it tightly to her chest, and 
was rewarded with a gusher of blood coming from the pig's 
snout.  "Hey!  What's the matter with you pig?  And why do you 
have Ryouga's bandanna.... Bandanna?  Nosebleed?  Ryouga?!?!?"  
Feather looked at the pig again, and it looked like the pig 
nodded ever so slightly.  The pig squealed a little, and rubber 
the side of his head with one hoof.
        "How on earth?"  Feather was confused.  The pig wriggled 
in her arms, trying to get free.  Feather put the pig down and 
kneeled in front of it.  "Well,  are you Ryouga or aren't you?"  
The pig responded by scratching the words  'hot water' in the 
dirt.  
        "You are Ryouga!"  Feather exclaimed, as P-chan nodded 
vigorously.  "And I guess you mean by writing hot water, that 
that's what it takes to turn you back!"  P-chan nodded even 
more vigorously.  Feather frantically dug through Ryouga's 
pack, looking for the 'camping man's helper'(TM) and a pot or 
anything to heat water in.  In short order, she had dug out the 
mini stove, a pot, and had scooped up some rain water to be 
heated.  Not knowing how hot it needed to be, she had boiled 
the water.
        "Here you go!"  She said cheerfully as she tossed the pot 
full of boiling water on Ryouga.
        "OWW!! HOT! HOT! HOT! HOT! HOT!"  Ryouga danced around in 
pain from the scalding water, but avoided the cold water like 
the plague.  Feather blushed as she watched a naked Ryouga 
dance around.  Suddenly Ryouga stopped, and he looked over at 
Feather as he belatedly tried to cover himself.  His face, and 
a good portion of his chest turned red, as he fell face first 
onto the ground.

-----------------------End Flashback-------------------------

        "That was a good one Ryouga!"  Ranma laughed at his 
story.  Ryouga got red faced with his anger.
        "Shut up Ranma!  That isn't something to laugh about!"  
Ryouga yelled.
        "But it's so funny!  I mean you, teaching someone to 
jump, over cold water, knowing that if they fail, you would 
become P-chan!"  Ranma continued to laugh.
        "I said shut up!"  Ryouga retorted with quite a bit of 
anger in his voice  "It ain't funny at all!"
        They continued on to the dojo, Ryouga was still fuming a 
bit, and Ranma was chuckling at him.  The star filled night was 
so peaceful, they felt like nothing could go wrong now.  Kasumi 
greeted them at the gate.
        "Why hello you two."  Kasumi greeted them cheerfully, 
"Your just in time for dinner, why don't you go and freshen up 
a bit."  Kasumi smiled at them, and then went into the kitchen 
to start serving the food.   Feather and the rest of the Tendos 
were already at the table when Ranma and Ryouga sat down.  
Feather was looking distinctly uncomfortable, but as soon as 
Ryouga was in sight, she visibly relaxed.  Akane caught Ranma's 
eye and winked.  Soon, everyone was too busy eating the 
delicious meal set before them to do anything else.  After the 
meal, the two fathers retired to there usual spot to play 
shogi, while Feather offered to help clean up afterwards.  
Kasumi gently, but firmly, told her that guests should not have 
to help in the kitchen.  Ranma, Ryouga, Feather, and Akane sat 
around the living room.  Akane was telling the bandanna clad 
duo about what happened around the dojo for the last month.  
Akane carefully omitted about how she was so worried about 
Ranma that she was losing sleep over him.  
        "Feather," Akane asked, "How come you keep avoiding the 
subject when I ask you about your past?"  Akane gazed at the 
suddenly nervous girl.  Feather fidgeted for a few minuets, 
trying to think of a way around that topic.   "Well?"  Akane 
urged gently.  Feather stopped fidgeting, and just bowed her 
head.  Ryouga looked worried as he shook Feather's shoulder.
        "Hey!  You OK?" he asked.  Feather's head snapped up, her 
eyes full of tears.
        "I don't remember okay?!?"  she screeched as she quickly 
stood and left the room.  Outside, a man made a triumphant 
report into his walkie talkie, and he stealthily left.  Inside, 
three young martial artists looked at each other, and then 
dashed after Feather.
        "Wait Feather!"  Ranma called out, "We couldn't have 
known!  Come back here!"  Feather ignored him as she quickly 
threw her shoes on and ran out the door.  "I said come back 
here!"  Ranma and Ryouga gave quick chase, promptly leaving 
Akane behind.  
        "Honestly," Akane grumbled to herself as she started 
walking back to the dojo, "You'd think she would stick around, 
huh?" Akane noticed a figure fleeing the wall near the dojo, 
trying to stay lost in the shadows.  Akane blinked and she 
couldn't see it any more.  "Probably just Happosai up to his 
usual tricks again."  She mumbled as she reentered the dojo.
        Feather ran.  She ran from Ranma, Ryouga, and most 
importantly, she ran from that blank in her memory.  Her tear 
filled eyes clouded her vision, and occasionally, she'd 
stumble, only to try and run longer.  'Further, faster, longer, 
tougher'  her sensei's words haunted her as she ran.  She never 
noticed when her loose shoes came off, until she tried to cross 
some gravel.  She sat down in place and cried.  She tried 
blocking out the rest of the world, locked in her own misery at 
not knowing who she really was.  Try as hard as she might, the 
first thing she remembers clearly is working as a fake angel in 
a carnival side-show.  She originally told them about being 
like that for ten years in hopes that they wouldn't ask any 
more questions about that.  She was wrong.  
        Ranma and Ryouga heard a girl crying ahead of them, and 
they sped up.  When they turned a corner, they were able to see 
Feather, sitting on the ground, crying her eyes out.  Both of 
the young men stopped in their tracks, not sure about what to 
do.  Ranma broke out of brain freeze first and walked up to 
Feather.
        "Hey, come on, stop crying."  He tried to comfort her, 
"We don't care that you don't remember anything, just come on 
back to the dojo OK?"  Ranma looked intently at Feather, and 
she turned on him rather suddenly.
        "You have no idea what's going on do you?" She screamed, 
"I can't remember anything past about a year ago!  I don't even 
know who my parents are!  I'm cursed like this now.  You have 
no idea what it's like to be cursed!  Ryouga maybe, but you 
have no way of knowing how much it hurts to be different, so 
different that people would pay money just to see you for a 
minuet or two.  Or so alone!  You at least still have you're 
parents!  I can't even remember them!"  She punctuates each 
sentence by advancing on Ranma angrily.  Ranma backs away from 
her, then looks over at Ryouga.
        "I guess there's only one way to make her feel a bit 
better about this, eh P-chan?"  Ranma said softly, with a note 
of resignation.
        "Ranma, you don't mean...."  Ryouga started to say, and 
stopped when Ranma nodded.  "I hope your right Ranma."  Ryouga 
looks around for a second, and then picks up a discarded cup.  
It still had some water in it from a previous rainfall.  "Sorry 
about the dirty water Ranma."  Ryouga says simply as he pours 
the water over Ranma's head.  Feather's eyes just about bug out 
of her head, as she watches Ranma change suddenly from a well 
muscled young man, to a much shorter, bouncy red-headed girl.  
        "Wha wha, how, how did you do that?"  Feather's brain 
goes into shock.  Ranma grins a little at that.
        "You know all about Ryouga and you're asking how?  I've 
been cursed, much as he has, and it has made my life difficult.  
I know about what it's like to be used by others for profit.  
There are a few people that have paid money in order to just 
see me for a moment or two. I'm definitely different from 
everyone else, and it's been so long since I've been able to be 
with my mom as her son, it tears me apart every time she comes 
over."  Ranma-chan walks forwards and puts her hands on the 
other girls shoulders.  "I know only too well what it's like to 
be cursed.  As for the memory, you can talk to Akane about 
that, she would understand a lot better than most people."   
Ryouga walked up to the other two, and puts in his piece.
        "You see Feather, we can relate to what you're going 
through.  Both of us have had no choice about some things that 
have happened to us.  Can you imagine waking up on a dinner 
platter?"  Feather looked agape at Ryouga who nodded.  "More 
people than I can count have tried to cook me, but I survive, 
and I learn from it.  You need to be strong, and I think we can 
help."
        "What should I do?"  Feather was still sniffling a bit, 
but allowed the others to start guiding her back to the dojo.  
        "Well, I think Dr. Tofu might like to take a look at 
you,"  Ranma-chan said, "He's dealt with memory problems 
before.  He's great, as long as Kasumi ain't around."  Ranma-
chan shuddered at the thought.
        "What happens when Kasumi is around the doctor?"  Feather 
inquired, curious about Ranma's reaction.  Ranma shrugs a bit.
        "The poor guys so much in love with Kasumi that he goes 
nuts when she's around.  It's dangerous to be near him when 
he's like that."  Ranma-chan said, and they continued walking 
on to the dojo in silence.  When they reached the dojo, they 
saw that Akane was waiting for them at the gate.
        "Sure took you time getting back,"  She commented acidly.  
Ryouga and Feather looked sheepish, but Ranma-chan was defiant.
        "So we took a little while, so what?  It's not my fault 
that you're too slow to keep up."  Akane fumed, then she 
grinned maliciously.
        "Is that right, then I guess I won't warn you."  Akane 
entered the house in a huff.
        "Geez, what's her problem?" Ranma-chan muttered as they 
walked inside.  Right as Ranma-chan kicked off her shoes, a 
motherly, and yet frightening voice hailed her.
        "Ranko, it's nice to see you again!"  Ranma's mother, 
Nodoka, walked around the corner.
        "Auntie Saotome!" Ranma-chan tried desperately to keep 
her heart from stopping.  ::So this is what Akane meant about 
warning me..::  "I'm really glad I could see you again!"  
Ranma-chan meant it.  Even if she couldn't reveal her true 
identity to her mother, she still wanted to be as close to her 
as possible. "You missed Ranma again, he went with his father 
on another training trip."
        "Oh, Akane-chan already told me.  I was hoping to catch 
them while Ranma's leg was still healing.  I saw what happened 
on the news, but I was visiting with my parents and couldn't 
just leave.  I was so proud of my son, when the reporters said 
he had taken a bullet to keep Akane-chan from getting hurt."  
Ranma-chan's heart almost broke when she heard that.  Feather 
almost said something, but Ryouga clamped his hand over her 
mouth.  Feather struggled to move his hand, but he was way too 
strong for her.  She even tried biting him, but he showed no 
sign of pain.
        "Ryouga-kun!  I thought you would be training with my 
son.  What are you doing here?"
        "I, um, I have to stay here and help get Feather back on 
her feet, yeah that's it."  Ryouga stammered out nervously.  
Nodoka just nodded, and looked intently at Feather.
        "Aren't you the girl my son rescued a while back?"  
Nodoka leaned forward to look a little closer at Feather.  
Ryouga moved his hand to Feather's shoulder.  Feather spared 
Ryouga a withering glance, but then smiled to Nodoka.  
        "Hi, my name is Feather, it's a pleasure to meet Ranma's 
mother!  You must be so proud to have a son like that!"
        "I am, but sometimes it seems like his father has been 
trying to avoid me.." Nodoka sighed.   "So, have you found your 
parents yet?"
        "It's been so long, I can't even remember them."  Feather 
said softly.  Nodoka looked shocked, then tried to comfort the 
girl.
        "That's awful!  You poor thing..." Nodoka moved and 
embraced the girl, "What do you plan on doing now?"
        "Ryouga has started to train me in martial arts, and 
Ranma said that he wanted to help before he left again.  I was 
thinking about looking for a place to stay for a while, maybe 
start going to school again."  Nodoka nodded at her, "But I 
don't want to go anywhere without Ryouga.  The news may not 
have said anything about it, but Ranma never would have made it 
without his help."  Ryouga blushed and stammered something 
unintelligible when Nodoka gave him a startled look.
        "You helped my son Ryouga?  That was very kind of you."  
Ryouga just rubbed the back of his head self consciously, and 
laughed a bit.
        "He's been keeping an eye on me for the last month now, 
so I feel perfectly safe around him."  Feather giggled, and at 
that sound, both Ranma and Ryouga relaxed.  They knew she 
wasn't going to run off again that night.  
        They all went to sleep shortly after that.  Feather 
bunked with Akane, while Ryouga opted to stay in the same room 
as Mr. Tendo.    The next morning, Feather felt like she had 
been run over by a train.  Her muscles, unused to the amount of 
exercise she did the previous day, were all complaining.  She 
did her best not to complain, but the others noticed quickly.
        "Aren't we a bit sore this morning."  Nabiki remarked as 
she passed Feather in the hallway dressed in her school 
uniform.  Feather just gave Nabiki the look of the long 
suffering, and continued to shuffle towards the breakfast 
table.   Once there, she practically collapsed into her spot at 
the table.
        "Oh my, Feather are you sore this morning?"  Kasumi asked 
as she dished out a portion of food for her.  Feather sighed.  
::So much for trying to hide it from these people.::
        "Yeah, I guess I overdid it yesterday."  Feather began to 
eat, ignoring the morning argument between Akane and Ranma.  
She was in too much personal pain to notice them.
        "Maybe you should have Akane and Ranko drop you off at 
Dr. Tofu's and have him take a look at you."  Kasumi said 
cheerfully.  Nodoka nodded from where she sat.
        "That's a good idea Kasumi, I'd take her there myself, 
but I have to leave again."
        "So soon?  Can't you stay just a bit longer?"  Ranko 
stopped arguing with Akane long enough to look pleadingly at 
her mother.  She ignored the panicked looks a certain panda was 
giving her.
        "I'm sorry Ranko, but I really have to be going.  I'll be 
back again to try and catch Ranma and Genma here."  Ryouga 
looked up from his food.
        "I'll go with you Feather, you don't look like you'd be 
able to keep up with their morning scramble."  Feather looked 
gratefully at Ryouga.
        "Thanks Ryouga, It's always nice to have a friend along."  
Ryouga blushed and fidgeted with his chopsticks, absently 
breaking them.
        After breakfast, they scurried off to Dr. Tofu's, Ryouga 
ended up carrying Feather so that she could keep up.  They 
managed to arrive at Dr. Tofu's office without incident.
        "Good morning Akane, Ranma,"  Dr. Tofu greeted them at 
the door.  "How's your leg this morning Ranma?"
        "Good morning Dr. Tofu, my leg is as good as new, but I 
do need a bit of hot water, and could you see a friend of 
ours?"  Ranma-chan said.
        "Of course Ranma, you better hurry on to school, you 
don't want to be late again this morning."  He advised as he 
handed them a kettle he kept handy for Ranma.  Dr. Tofu looked 
over at Feather and Ryouga.  "Why hello there you two, what can 
I do for you this morning?"  He asked them pleasantly.
        "I think she could use something for sore muscles 
doctor," Ryouga said, "She's not in the same kind of shape 
Ranma and I are in, and she's trying to train just as hard."  
Ryouga shrugged.
        "Come on in and I'll take a look at you."  Dr. Tofu 
gestured for them to enter.
        Once inside, Dr. Tofu examined Feather carefully, then 
applied a salve that he said was a muscle relaxant.  He then 
proceeded to give her a massage to help loosen her tense 
muscles.  When he was done with the massage, Feather decided to 
ask him about her memories.
        "Doctor, I need to ask you something."
        "Go ahead,"  He said without looking away from the papers 
he was filling out.
        "I seem to have lost all of my memories starting a year 
ago.  I can clearly remember back to a certain point, but after 
that, it's a huge blank.  Do you think you can help?"  Dr. Tofu 
gestured for her to sit in a chair, and he looked over her 
scalp, as if he could see her memories as objects.  When he was 
done looking at her head, he gazed deeply into her eyes, and 
asked her to follow his finger with her eyes.  Feather's heart 
was pounding in her chest, and she almost screamed just to 
break the awful silence that had crept into the room, when he 
spoke.
        "Someone did something to block your memories.  They 
didn't leave any of the usual tell tale signs, but there is 
definitely something blocking your memory.  Unfortunately, 
unless we can figure out exactly what was done, I am unable to 
reverse it.  All I can do is touch a shiatsu spot that's 
supposed to aid a failing memory."  He gestured for her to 
stand, and then traced his finger along her side so gently, she 
thought she was going to break down laughing.  Then he poked 
his finger into a spot close to the bottom rib.
        "There, that might be able to help.  It won't be apparent 
right away, but things may start coming back to you."  Dr. Tofu 
said gently as he started leading her to the door.
        "Thank you Doctor,"  Feather said as they reached the 
waiting room.  Ryouga was sitting there, absently cracking 
walnuts between his fingers to amuse an old woman who was also 
there.  When Ryouga noticed that they had come out, he stood 
and walked over to Feather.  They continued walking out to the 
sidewalk.
        "You need to take it easy for today, you've strained a 
bit past your limits yesterday.  You should stretch and do your 
katas, that should keep you from getting stiff again.  Try and 
avoid getting into any fights today ok?"  Dr. Tofu said as they 
were starting to walk away.
        "Yes doctor."  Feather said as they made their way down 
the street.  They started walking slowly, and then Feather 
looked around. "Umm Ryouga?"
        "Yeah?"
        "Where are we?"  Feather asked looking around at the 
different stores and vendors that seemed to surround them.
        "What are you asking me for?  How should I know?"  Ryouga 
replied in a bit of a huff.
        "Great, just great.  Lost again, and this time you don't 
have your pack with you."  Ryouga looked around for someone who 
might be able to tell them how to get back to the dojo, when he 
saw a sign.
        "Perfect, now all we need to do is wait till school gets 
out."  Ryouga said with confidence as he strode up to a 
restaurant that appeared to be closed.
        "What makes you so sure of that Ryouga?"  Feather asked 
as she came up to stand next to him.  "This place is locked up 
tight, what makes you think there's someone here that'll help 
us out?"
        "This is Ukyou's restaurant, and she'll be glad to help 
us when she gets out of school."  Ryouga replied, sitting down 
next to the door.
        "But what if someone comes along and tries to bother us?"  
Feather asked worriedly.  Ryouga grinned viscously as he spoke.
        "Then I get to vent a little bit."  Feather looked a bit 
shocked.  "What's wrong?  I'm just a little upset that were 
lost, that's all.  It's not like I'm going to kill anyone."  
Seemingly mollified, Feather sat down next to Ryouga.  She 
leaned her head on Ryouga's shoulder,  and quickly fell asleep.  
Ryouga was vigilant, and did his best not to disturb Feather no 
matter what happened.  The day seemed to drag on for Ryouga, 
and he was starting to feel extremely uncomfortable when he 
noticed something.  The sky had gotten dark, and it was 
starting to look like rain.  Almost in a panic, he stood, 
picked up Feather, and moved them under the awning at the front 
of Ucchans.  He set Feather down next to a mailbox, and he 
leaned against it.
        "If it's not one thing, it's another."  Ryouga grumbled, 
drumming his fingers along the side of the box. "I wonder when 
Ukyou allowed this mailbox to be put here, right in front of 
her door.  Oh well, makes a good leaning post."
        Inside the mailbox, Tsubasa Kuranai was doing his level 
best to avoid revealing himself early.  He was laying in wait 
for his dear, dear Ukyou, and nothing was going to stop him 
this time.  Not even some guy who seemed to be purposely doing 
everything he could to annoy the heck out of him.
        A few minuets later, the rain started to fall, and Ryouga 
was glad that the awning was out.  He continued to drum his 
fingers against the mailbox in irritation at the wait.  
Suddenly losing his patience, Tsubasa popped out of the mailbox 
and confronted the jerk who was annoying him.
        "Now look here you..... uh oh." Tsubasa had started to 
wag a finger at he offender, but then he realized he was facing 
off against Ryouga Hibiki, one of the strongest fighters in 
Nerima.  "Eh, umm.. Hi there Ryouga.  What's up?"  Tsubasa 
giggled a little, fully into his cute girl act now.  Ryouga 
glared at him, and Tsubasa tried his best to look even cuter.  
Ryouga looked down and started to chuckle.
        "Still after Ukyou, Kuranai?"  Ryouga asked, nonchalantly 
tossing the remains of the mailbox away.
        "You know how it is, with unrequited love and all that.  
I take it you wanted me out of my disguise so you could talk to 
me is that it?" Tsubasa hadn't even noticed Feather's happily 
asleep form yet.
        "I need someone to take me back to the Tendo dojo.  I 
have a friend I'm taking care of, and she really needs to get 
back there."  Ryouga gestured at Feather, and when Tsubasa 
started to get all starry eyed, Ryouga menaced him with his 
umbrella.  "Don't even think about it."  He snarled at the 
cross dresser.
        "Don't hurt me!"  Tsubasa cringed a little, then spoke 
"Okay, I'll lead you back to the Tendos, but if I miss seeing 
my dear Ukyou because of you, I'll find a way to make you pay."
        Ryouga didn't bother responding to that, he merely picked 
up Feather, set his umbrella and waited for Tsubasa do lead him 
onwards.  Tsubasa procured an umbrella from somewhere and began 
to skip around in the rain, leading Ryouga back to the dojo.  
Just as they left, a black cloaked man stepped out of an alley, 
and started to follow them.
        Akane, Ukyou, and Ranma-chan were hurrying to the dojo, 
the rain, having changed Ranma back into a girl, was already 
putting Ranma in a bad mood.  It didn't help much that Kuno had 
accosted him, claiming that he had ensorcelled his pigtailed 
goddess away from him yet again.
        "Why did if hafta rain today?"  Ranma-chan complained.
        "Don't worry about it too much Ran-chan," Ukyou said 
cheerfully, "After all, your mother may still be there right 
now."  Ranma-chan grumbled a bit, but inwardly agreed with his 
friend.
        "Yeah, but I wouldn't have to if it wasn't for that 
stupid promise pop made."  Ranma-chan fell silent after that, 
as they were approaching the dojo.   Once they were inside, 
Ranma-chan noticed an unusually large potted plant that wasn't 
there before.  She smirked to herself and waited for the 
inevitable.  As Ukyou tried to pass the plant, it abruptly 
sprouted arms that hugged her tightly, and Tsubasa's head 
popped out of the plant as well.
        "Oh my dear Ukyou!  I would you hold you like this 
forever!"  he sighed.  Ukyou's face went through several stages 
of surprise, fear, then anger. 
        "Tsubasa."  She said with deceptive calm as she reached 
for her mega-spatula, "Let go of me!!"  Ukyou screamed as she 
slammed Tsubasa into the next town.  Akane whistled as she 
followed Tsubasa's flight.
        "I don't think I've ever seen you hit him so far Ukyou,"  
Akane commented.  Ukyou was still shaking in rage when they 
entered the living room with Ranma-chan and Akane.  They were a 
bit surprised to see that Ryouga was sitting on the floor, with 
Feather resting her head on his lap.  He held a single finger 
up to his lips, and then turned his attention back to the girl 
in his lap.   Ranma ducked into the kitchen for some hot water, 
and when he came back out, Akane was kneeling next to Ryouga.
        "Where's everyone else?"  Akane asked quietly.
        "Genma and Mr. Tendo went out somewhere, Kasumi went 
shopping, Mrs. Saotome left about an hour ago.  I haven't seen 
Nabiki yet."  As he spoke, Feather stirred a little, then 
slowly sat up.  She stretched her arms and yawned, then opened 
her eyes.
        "Oh, good morning you guys"  She said a bit sleepily.  
Akane and Ukyou giggled a little, while Ranma outright laughed.  
"What's so funny?"  She asked.
        "It's afternoon now silly"  Akane said, a hint of 
amusement still in her voice.  She would have said something 
else, but there was a popping noise, and a tranquilizer dart 
hit her, and she collapsed.  Ryouga leapt to his feet as more 
darts flew in.  Feather was struck next, and she keeled over 
again.  Ranma was dodging the darts as he tried to figure out 
who was after them.  Ryouga had pulled his umbrella out to use 
as a shield.  Ukyou tried to block the darts with her spatula, 
but one got past her defenses, and she too collapsed.  Seeing 
that they were getting nowhere fast, Ranma faked getting hit 
with a dart, and fell in such a way that he could quickly get 
up and fight.  Ryouga continued to block them with his umbrella 
for a few seconds, until he realized what Ranma was up to.  A 
moment after Ryouga faked his fall, about ten men in black 
cloaks entered the dojo.  
        "You three grab the girls,"  One of the men spoke, 
gesturing towards the fallen girls, "I want you and you to tie 
the boys up, the boss don't want any boys.  The rest of ya get 
rid of the evidence."  As the men started to move towards the 
fallen girls, Ranma and Ryouga sprang up and attacked.  Ranma 
opened up with an uppercut to the man closest to him, while 
Ryouga threw one of them into the others.  The dart guns were 
out again in a flash, and Ranma was hit with five tranks at 
once.  He shook his head blearily, and proceeded to kick 
another one through a wall.  Ryouga was hit with three, but he 
was in a rage, and the drugs were not affecting him at all.  
        "These guys are monsters!"  One of the men cried, as 
Ryouga grabbed the front of his shirt and threw him out of the 
dojo, ignoring the numerous darts that were sticking in him.  
Ranma was feeling them, but was determined to fight off these 
men.  He felt his heart sink, however, when another twenty of 
the cloaked men entered the dojo, and concentrated on knocking 
out Ryouga.  When Ryouga finally fell to the tranks, they 
turned their attention on Ranma.  During the fight, a few of 
the men were slowly dragging Akane, Ukyou and Feather away.   
Ranma went into a rage, and attacked the men closest to him 
with a ki charged kick, and then turned on another few with the 
kachuu tenshinn amaguriken.  He didn't even bother to call out 
his strikes, he just pulverized anyone who got close to him.  
Unfortunately, the number of tranks in him were starting to 
wear on him, and he couldn't dodge them as well.  Completely 
blinded by the tranks, Ranma grabbed the closest thing to him, 
one of the cloaked men.  The cloth tore as Ranma fell heavily 
to the ground, looking more like a human pin cushion than 
anything else.  His last conscious thought was of Akane, and 
firmly gripped in his hand was a scrap of cloth, emblazoned 
with the sign of the Viper and the Blade...

_____________________End Chapter Three________________________ 

Well, that finishes off another chapter of a Feather in the 
Wind.    My schedule at work is changing drastically right now, 
so it may be more than a month till the next chapter is put 
out.  I only wish I could devote more time to this.  I promise, 
the next chapter will be longer.  Feel free to e-mail me with 
your thoughts and comments.  Criticism is also welcome, and 
even flames are tolerated.  Please E-mail me at 
atarukun@usa.net
Take care, and let the wind blow you good fortune.



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