Author's Note: Second Chappie! I'm so happy! It's only been like a day and I already have six reviews. I'm posting this next Friday so you'll be reading by then. Thank you for pointing out that they are in fact not 'hot' springs. I'm a little rusty on the series. I just sorta assumed that they were hot. Sorry and thanks for the corrections!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma and friends. Just like I said in Chapter One!

Chapter 2

Bubbles fizzed on the top as Ranma watched impatiently. A cobalt-haired figure rose to the surface. Ranma did not wait to see Akane's face as she pulled her out of the water. She lay Akane face down on the ground. Ranma stared at her for a second before gently nudging her.

"Akane?" Ranma asked poking her with a tree branch. Akane twitched.

" Ugh…" A deep voice groaned.

(Uh-oh.) Ranma thought. Akane pushed herself to a sitting position. She covered her face with her hands to wipe the wetness out of her skin.

" Are you okay Akane?" Ranma asked peering at her hands. Her nose was about 2 inches away from Akane's face. She uncovered her face and looked at Ranma. Ranma peered into the face of a handsome young boy that looked slightly like the Akane he once knew. "Ah!" Ranma exclaimed. She hopped up on the boulder and then the pole.

" Ranma, what is wrong with you? Honestly!" Akane shouted after her. Ranma, now on top of the high pole and shaking, pointed at the water. Akane, confused, looked at her and then turned to the water. She crawled gently to the water's surface and glanced at her reflection. What she saw was horrid.

" Ah! What happened to my beautiful face?!" Akane screamed bouncing to her feet. Her finger's traced the outline of her face. " I'm dreaming, I must be dreaming!" Ranma jumped off the pole and landed next to Akane. She clapped her hand on her shoulder. Akane looked at Ranma through her tears nervously. Ranma's serious face let loose the laughter she was holding inside. She clutched at her sides to keep from keeling over.

" You look…*laugh*…. like a…*laugh* cross dresser!" She laughed falling to her knees. There was so much truth in her statement that it was scary. Akane was now a slightly taller young man with a too short blue clean-cut school dress on. Akane frowned and punched Ranma in disgust. Ranma went flying across the springs and hit the ground. " When did you get so strong you stupid tomboy?! Have you've been working out?!" She shouted angrily from across the springs. Akane looked down at her masculine hands.

(This body…) She thought. She turned her hands over and over before looking back up at Ranma who was rubbing her head.

" Akane, Ranma! Dinner Time!" Kasumi shouted from the tour guide hut. She looked at Ranma nervously.

" What am I gonna do?!" She exclaimed and shook Ranma's shoulders. Ranma held up her hand to settle Akane down.

" Switch clothes with me first." Ranma said.

" P-Pervert!" Akane yelled and slapped Ranma in the face.

" You don't want to walk to dinner with a dress in that form do you?!" She exclaimed. " My clothes will fit you for now." Ranma said unbuttoning her shirt.

" F-Fine! Don't watch me!" Akane said blushing furiously. She turned around.

" Why would I want to watch a guy undress?" Ranma yelled agitated. The conversation fell silent as they switched clothes. Making sure both were finished they faced each other. Akane was still slightly blushing as she looked down at her feet. " I must admit, Akane, you make a better boy than a girl." Ranma said. Akane punched at him and missed. " C'mon we're going to be late for dinner." She said catching Akane's wrist and dragging her to the hut. They walked in to see their family already eating. They looked up at them surprised by the figure next to Ranma.

" Where's Akane?" Kasumi asked.

" How would I know where that stupid tomboy is?" Ranma said plopping down next to Nabiki. Akane gave her a nasty look.

" She makes a better boy than you do." She muttered.

" And who are you?" Akane's father asked. She looked hopelessly down at Ranma for help.

" This guy is a friend from school. His name is Aka-"

" Akahito." Akane said quickly. " You can call me Aka for short."

" She" Ranma said quickly looking at Akane, "HE is eating dinner with us." Ranma said stuffing his face with rice. The family gazed at 'Aka' before returning back to their food. Akane bashfully sat down next to Ranma and picked up her chopsticks.

" So what brings you to Jusenkyo Springs Aka?" Kasumi asked politely and smiled.

" Oh…um…school field trip." Akane stuttered the first thing that came to her mind. Ranma hit herself on the forehead at the stupid reply.

" That's nice." Kasumi replied and returned to her food.

" Hey Ranma, why are you wearing Akane's school uniform?" Nabiki asked. Ranma looked around at his family all of them eager for the answer.

" Uh…don't I like so cute in it? I had to try it on!" Ranma said in a girly voice. A chill ran up everyone's spine at his answer.

" Right…." Nabiki said. She turned the conversation to Akane. " Did you know Ranma has that same outfit. In fact he was wearing it today."

" F-Fancy that." Akane replied. She gulped nervously when Nabiki gave her a suspicious look. She hurriedly stuffed some rice in her mouth to ignore the looks of her sibling.

" Well, it's getting late and I better get AKA back to the school camping grounds." Ranma said grabbing Akane's wrist. Akane gratefully left by Ranma's side.

" C'mon we gotta go find some hot water." She said still dragging her. They crossed the grounds to a vacant area. Ranma grabbed brush and wood. Akane watched him, weary from so much that had happened. She sat down dazed. The fire started slowly as Ranma blew on the sparks. He looked up at Akane from time to time. " Stupid tomboy, it's just a curse. We'll go back and cure you tomorrow. It's too late now and I wouldn't want you falling in the wrong spring. You're deformed enough as it is." He said blowing on the building fire. Akane looked at the crouched over Ranma and frowned. She walked over and stomped on his head.

" I'm going to get the water." She said to Ranma who's head was now underground. She pulled her head out of the dirt and grumbled. Akane did not look back at the disgruntled girl. She was more concerned with herself.

(What if the family finds out? Nabiki probably already did.) She thought and let out a depressed sigh. (Ranma was lucky. Moving to a place where they didn't know him. He came with the curse. I can't let anyone find out about this.) Akane stooped down by a well and grabbed the bucket. She filled it, unemotionally, and looked down at the bottom of the well. Her reflection lied to her as she studied the face looking back at her. The reflection bore a handsome man. His azure eyes were filled with sadness. Akane left the well intolerable to any more of the undesirable sight. She joined Ranma still brushing dirt out of her hair. She was now wearing her normal 'boy' clothes. She snapped the bucket out of Akane's hands and placed it over the fire. The bottom of the tin bucket glowed a faint crimson. Both of them sat, silent, by the fire listening to the cackling of the burning wood. Ranma looked up at Akane to see her crying. She looked around before edging closer to her. Her shoulder nudged Akane's gently.

" It'll be alright." She said quietly. Akane blushed slightly before wiping away her tears. " I-I know how you feel." Ranma stuttered. Akane quickly looked down at the burning coals to hide her scarlet face.

" I think the water is done." She said lifting the bucket off the stand. Ranma took it and poured it over Akane's head. Akane returned to her normal female self. Ranma then poured it over her self and transformed back.

" Here." He said thrusting her school uniform into her hands. He stood up and walked over behind a tree where he leaned. Akane quickly changed and chased after him. She returned his clothes without any verbal thanks. He took them and continued to look into the night sky.

" Ranma…thank you." Akane finally said. She crouched down by his feet and leaned up against the tree.

" For what?" He asked surprised at her kindness. He slid his back down the tree's rough trunk until he was at eye level with her.

" Everything." She whispered. Akane yawned as her eyes tried to stay awake.

" It's too easy to help a weak tomboy like you." He snorted. Ranma ducked quickly expecting a mallet blow to his head. He looked at Akane surprised not to receive a beating at his remark. She had fallen asleep and was now sitting serenely against the tree. " Figures." He muttered. Ranma placed his hands behind his head and looked up once more at the starry sky.

Author's Note: Thanks again for the correction on Jusenkyo Springs. And thank you to all of my reviewers! So happy people are reading this!

Cheiri Blossom