Disclaimers: I do NOT own Ranma 1/2 ::sob::. I may add in a few of me own characters later on, though, and those I will own. However, Ranma is MINE, as in he is supposed to come around and ask me out any day now, as soon as he gets out of those manga novels/anime t.v. shows he's confined to. Then I get to take Akane's place.

This is going to be an extremely short chapter. The whole fic may become a short chapter story. Be sure to review!

"Akane!"

The dark-haired girl looked up, sweat running down her face from her extensive exercises. Gasping slightly, she brushed a strand of short hair away from her forehead and looked down at the pile of chunks that used to be solid bricks, lying on the floor of the Tendo family dojo.

"Yeah, Kasumi?" she asked, running into the kitchen.

"Ranma's missing...would you go out and look for him?" the eldest Tendo girl asked, stirring whatever was in a pot on the stove.

Kasumi had barely finished her sentence when a familiar black pig ran in, squealing in alarm.

"P-chan!" Akane cried, sweeping the pig up in her arms and holding him tight to her chest. The little pig squealed frantically, protesting her embrace for the first time.

Akane held P-chan out at arm's length to peer at him carefully. "Is there something wrong?" she asked, as if the pig could give her an answer. Setting him down, she furrowed her brow suddenly. She gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth.

"Ranma took P-chan out with him – I think he's trying to tell me something – is Ranma okay?" she asked the creature. In reply, it ran out the door with Akane following, crying "P-chan!" Running as fast as its little legs could carry it, the pig scurried around corners and along streets until Akane lost track of where they were. Then she saw Ranma!" she cried. He lay in his male form, eyes closed, on the cold ground in an alley, blood running down his face.

Akane ran to his side, fear pounding in her heart. "Ra...ranma!" She shook him fiercely, tears forming in her eyes. "Wake up, you jerk!"

P-chan tugged at her sleeve suddenly. "WHAT?" Akane screamed. The pig walked over to an overturned container of fries, and Akane realized that the blood seemed a bit chunky...

"Ketchup?" Tentatively, she dipped her finger in the red stuff and, grimacing, licked it. She lay her head down on Ranma's chest and heard a steady heartbeat. He was only unconscious.

Akane began to turn red. "Ranma, you jerk!" she cried as she slapped him.

"Wha...huh?" he mumbled. Groaning, he sat up and looked straight into Akane's tear-streaked face. "What's wrong?"

"I thought you were dead, idiot!"

Ranma wiped his face. "Ugh, ketchup. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm alive and fit!" He sprang up to a standing position.

"Why do you have ketchup all over your face?" Akane said, still angry.

"'Cuz the packet exploded in my face."

"Why were you on the ground?"

"'Cuz..." Ranma scratched his head suddenly. "I don't remember."

Akane's eyes narrowed to little slits. "You don't remember?"

Ranma looked confused. "No..."

P-chan jumped into Akane's arms. "Well, you ought to thank P-chan, or else I wouldn't have found you."

Ranma cocked his head and said airily, "Oh, thanks, P-chan."

P-chan bit Ranma's hand in reply.