Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½

Misunderstandings

Chapter Two

At first, she wasn't aware of where – or who, for that matter – she was. It was painful to breathe, blink, exist. She moaned softly, mustering enough strength to pull herself upright into a seated position. "Ouch." She muttered, her hand suddenly resting on her pounding head as she exhausted herself to simply glance around at her surroundings and determine what exactly was happening.

It was at that moment she realized she was reclined on a hospital bed, white sheets neatly enveloping her body. She blinked slowly, her eyes scanning the area for some type of familiarity that she's been there before. Windows. The bed she was lying on. Betty. She eyed the skeleton, recognizing it instantly as Tofu's "assistant" who he often confused it with Akane whenever Kasumi was near. So, she was at Tofu's, she concluded finally.

But why?

She threw her feet over the side of the bed and as it dangled for a moment, she suddenly remembered fainting while eavesdropping over Ranma and Ryoga's conversation. Presuming it was them who brought her here, she ignored the growing pain in her calves as she gently placed her feet on the cold floor. She swayed then, losing control of her balance as she desperately reached for the handlebars before stumbling back on the bed.

"Is no use."

Propping herself on her elbows, Akane was more than shocked to be face-to-face with Shampoo and Ukyo trailing not so far behind her. With newfound determination, Akane attempted to stand once more with success, holding the handlebars to support her wavering body. "Hey, guys," she smiled slightly, appreciative that her two rivals decided to visit her while she was sick. Despite the frighteningly cold atmosphere, she felt kinda, well, warm. "How long you've been there?"

"Hey, sugar," Ukyo replied, giving her a slight wave. "We haven't been here too long."

"Is true," Shampoo agreed, smiling brightly. "Shampoo came because I hear Akane sick."

"Thanks," Akane responded, plopping back down on her bed defeatedly. "Do you know what happened to me? I mean, all I can remember is passing out. But, uh, did Dr. Tofu get to treat me?"

"Akane's family is out eating. No one know Shampoo and Ukyo came because we come through window," she pointed at the open window to prove her point.

"So, that's why it was cold," Akane realized. "No reason to be so secretive about seeing me, you guys. You should have just knocked and I would have let you in."

"Can you stand? I mean the painkillers Tofu gave you must have you exhausted, hon."

"It's actually more than exhausted. It takes me forever to form a single thought, as if I'm engraving it on stone or something. Every inch of my body aches and I can barely stand, you know?" She let out a small laugh. "Sorry. You guys don't want to hear this. Shampoo, you said my family was out eating. How long have they been gone?"

"Akane mean Ranma?"

"Wha– no! I couldn't care less about where that pervert is!"

Ukyo and Shampoo smiled, lacing both Akane's hands in their own. They already rehearsed this a thousand times after watching and re-watching a segment on how friends are suppose to act. "Akane, Shampoo is thinking you should end engagement with Ranma so Ukyo and Shampoo can work out mess through fists, yes?"

"You're wasting your time, sugar!" Ukyo added with emphasis. "You always drone on and on about how you hate being engaged to Ranma, after all. Lucky for you we're giving you the chance to get out of it!"

Akane instantly caught on to the situation. Everyone in her family went out to eat and she was stuck alone with these two, and she doubted Shampoo was going to just go home if she were to politely decline their offer. Despite these facts, a fire burned in her chest at the thought of them taking advantage of her while in this condition. If they thought she was going to simply take it, boy were they wrong! "What are you two talking about?" Akane snapped, glaring at both of them. "Ranma and I are none of your business, thank you very much. So, if you would be as kind to leave, I would love to rest some more."

"Is no like Akane have choice," Shampoo responded, her smile turning darker as she spoke.

"What do you mean?" Akane's gaze bounced between the two girls and it finally occurred to her that she truly was at a disadvantage. "What are you planning Shampoo? You don't possibly think you can kill me."

"We aren't going to kill her!" Ukyo intervened, grabbing Shampoo's wrist, who angrily shook away from her grasp. "You said we were just going to break her and Ranma up. I won't let her die, Shampoo."

Shampoo glared at the okonomiyaki chef before fixing her gaze on Akane, who was now on both of her feet. "Is no use," Shampoo repeated, watching Akane fall back on the bed with amusement. "Shampoo already put sacred Chinese Amazon potion. Akane feel weak, yes?"

As if on cue, Akane's body collapsed, her chest rising and falling heavily as her limbs suddenly became stiff. "What are you... doing?" She asked helplessly, Shampoo's figure moving toward her.

"Well, since Shampoo erase Akane's memory after, I tell you what we do. Shampoo is going to control you body and end engagement with Ranma. Then, Shampoo going to erase your memory and give you new memories showing Ranma ending engagement with you. Then Shampoo and Ukyo fight and whoever wins get Airen."

Akane caught the reluctance and hesitation in Ukyo's eyes before pouncing on her small window of opportunity. "Ukyo, do you really think this is how you want to win Ranma?" She rasped, her voice beginning to fade. "You know honor, Ukyo. Please, don't– don't do this. Please, Ukyo."

"I love Ranma more than I care for honor, Akane," she responded as nonchalant as possible. "Besides, Akane, I promise you won't even remember a thing. She's going to erase your memory of ever loving Ranma."

"I don't–"she began, but suddenly her throat became unusually dry which made it harder for her to speak. Her body felt heavy, which she assumed was another effect of this Chinese potion Shampoo slipped into her system. No matter how weak, she couldn't just give up. No matter what she had to stall until Ranma and the others returned. "Ukyo, what will you do when Ranma finds out what you did?"

"He won't, Akane," she countered angrily, trying to convince herself more than Akane. "Shampoo let's just do this before the others return."

"I won't... forgive you... for... this," Akane breathed, tears welling at the corner of her eyes at how weak and defenseless she was during all this. "Never."

"Shampoo okay with that," Shampoo replied honestly as she began to heat up the incense. "Okay, Ukyo. This incense make Akane unconscious, Shampoo then breathe it in so Shampoo become unconscious too. Ukyo put this–" Shampoo paused in her speech to reveal a miniature bottle. "Into Shampoo and Akane mouth. Then Shampoo and Akane switch bodies. Hide Shampoo body after. You understand?"

Ukyo nodded. "Let's just... let's just get this over with."

The minute Shampoo lay her body next to hers, Akane attempted to strike the girl with the remaining strength she had left. Unfortunately, Shampoo had always been stronger than Akane and this condition only made it that much easier for Shampoo to punch her square in the face, knocking her unconscious almost instantly.

Ukyo observed until Shampoo was unconscious before taking the small bottle and pouring a drop of its contents into each girls mouth. "Where does she get this stuff?" Ukyo mumbled to herself, tying Shampoo's body firmly and placing duck tape over the girls mouth. Slowly Akane, now in Shampoo's body, eyes fluttered open and she frantically glanced around the room. Ukyo glanced at Akane's body where Shampoo was now in and saw the girl rise from her seating position and grin at Ukyo. "Okay, looks like it was a success."

"I feel sick," Shampoo complained, sitting on the hospital bed.

"Well, technically you did that to yourself," Ukyo responded, throwing Shampoo's body over her shoulder and glanced at Shampoo who was gazing disgustedly at Akane's figure. "I'm going to leave before the others come back. How will you return to your original body?"

"After the incense has worn off we'll immediately switch places. When that time comes I'll return here and erase Akane's memory, after she breaks her engagement with Ranma."

"Do you want me to put you in bed? You do have Akane's sickness."

The girl shook her head. "I can at least get myself into bed."

"Sh-Shampoo! Your English is really good!"

"Well when I switched bodies with Akane I gained all of her skills and talents– not that she has much of those. I suggest you be careful as well since Akane has gained my strength, Ukyo."

Muffled screams were heard from Akane and Ukyo nodded, tightening her grasp on Shampoo's body. "Remember that you're Akane, Shampoo. If you don't stay in character Ranchan will know somethings up." With that last piece of advice Ukyo jumped out of the window and left the rest up to her.

Shampoo watched the brunette disappear from her sight and felt a smile form on her face. Finally, she was going to get her biggest obstacle out of the way! Defeating Ukyo and Kodachi would be the easy part and then Airen would be all hers. There would be no one else to interfere!

She sighed contentedly, all that was left now to do was wait.

-XxX-

"Ranma? Earth to Ranma!"

Ranma snapped out of his thoughts and was met with the middle daughter Tendo gazing impatiently at him. "Ah, my bad. What?"

"You've been staring into space for quite some time."

She was being honest, he realized. Her sister was at the hospital at the moment and all her and family could do was stuff their face in the nearest restaurant. Akane was alone, he thought to himself bitterly. Shouldn't they all be by her side in case she needed something. He debated with himself on whether or not he should tag along to the restaurant, but they all assured him that it would be a quick lunching and Akane would be fine. "Am not," he countered.

Nabiki smiled, narrowing her eyes as she scooted closer to the pigtailed boy. "Oh, Ranma, if you miss my sister so much you can go on ahead. I'm sure one kiss will wake the sleeping beauty."

He blushed, turning his head in the other direction defiantly. "I wasn't even thinking about her," he replied scarfing down his – until then – untouched rice. "Besides, Akane has the strength of a mule so I'm sure she's fine."

"Well, I'm gonna go check on her!" Entered Ryoga, rising from his seated position. "My poor, poor Akane must be feeling so alone. Don't worry, Akane! Ryoga Hibiki will free you from your loneliness!"

"N-now wait a minute!" Ranma protested angrily, jumping up and blocking Ryoga's way. "You're not planning on turning into a pig just so you can sleep with her, are you?"

The cold bucket of water was already being poured on the lost boy, and he let out a strong "Bwee!" before dashing in between the open space of Ranma's legs and making a beeline for the door.

"Why you sneaky little–" Ranma screamed, chasing after the black pig.

-XxX-

Akane desperately attempted to break the ropes tied around her wrists, but Ukyo's firm grasp on her was making it more than difficult. But she couldn't give up now. If Shampoo got away with this than Ranma would– she and Ranma would– their engagement would...

"I guess this cellar can work," Ukyo decided finally, setting her body on the cold tiled floor. She bent down in front of her, and untied the blindfold from her face. "The incense will wear off in thirty minutes, so it's better if you just sit tight, sugar."

Akane glared daggers at the brunette who was reaching into her bad she had stopped to retrieve while dragging her down to this cellar. "What Ukyo doing?" Goodness, hearing her voice sound like that Amazon made her want to vomit then and there.

Ukyo revealed a pair of handcuffs dangling from her hand. "This should definitely keep you still for a half and hour," Ukyo crossed her arms. "Stop staring at me like that. If you were in our shoes you would have done the same thing."

"Akane never do that," she retorted angrily, locking her gaze on the okonomiyaki chef. "Akane let Ranma choose who he marry. Akane never hurt you girls."

Ukyo paused briefly and grimaced. The sheer honesty on Shampoo's face (something which she has never seen before) almost caused her to call off the whole production. But she couldn't. Why should Ranma fall for the girl who never ever tried to fight for his affections? The girl who constantly pounded on him and became jealous over every little thing he did? Akane didn't even have any feminine traits, and Shampoo, Kodachi, and herself were more beautiful than Akane. So why wasn't Ranma vying after their love?

Akane had seen a tiny glint of sincerity in Ukyo's eyes. "Ukyo?"

Ukyo shook her head vigorously, attempting to erase the conversation as if it had never happened. She reached for Akane's hands and the girl instantly began to squirm. "Stay still, will you?"

This was it. Fight or flight, Akane convinced herself. There was still so many things she wanted to say to Ranma. If they erased her memory, who would come and save her? Ranma? No, right now Shampoo was doing everything in her power to assure Ranma she wanted their engagement over. If she managed to pull it off, wouldn't Ranma respect her decision just as he did with Shinnosuke and leave? Then he would never know how she truly felt... that she truly didn't mind their engagement. That she was happiest when Ranma was close to her. How dare they take away that happiness?

With this ounce of anger and determination, Akane became to growl and spread her hands apart until the ropes snapped and she was free. Thankful to at least have Shampoo's strength, Akane grabbed the surprised brunette and hurled her across the room, prepared to sprint out of the door. But the moment she moved, she fell back down to the ground. "Ukyo tie Akane legs!" In mere seconds Ukyo was on her feet once more, unsheathing her large spatula.

"Pity, and here I thought I would cut you a break and go easy on you," Ukyo wielded the weapon dangerously, aiming at Akane who was helplessly on the ground. Thinking quickly, Akane began to roll trying to avoid getting attacked. "Since you have Shampoo's strength, I won't go easy on you."

Akane lifted her feet as a shield, and Ukyo's spatula sliced through the rope, much to Akane's relief. She had to admit Shampoo's body was agile and allowed her to move around so gracefully Akane couldn't help but be jealous. Pushing those thoughts away she charged Ukyo, who moved her spatula in front of her like an airplane's propeller so Akane moved diagonally toward Ukyo's open ribcage.

"You fell for it!" She cried, releasing her okonomiyaki batter with her free hand that stuck around Akane's body and knocked her to the ground. "You may have Shampoo's skills, but it doesn't matter if you're not capable of using it properly."

Akane growled, even with Shampoo's strength she was defeated so easily? What Ukyo had said was true, even if she had obtained the best martial artist's skills it didn't matter if she couldn't fight competently. Ukyo lifted her spatula right above Akane's face and brought it down with so much force Akane was immediately unconscious.

"...Ranma." Akane murmured, and then everything went silent.

-XxX-

"I said slow down, Ryoga!" Ranma cried, chucking a ball at the black pig that dodged it before turning the corner into Akane's room. "Oh, no you don't, you pervert!"

"...Ranma."

He stopped in his tracks and glanced around the empty hallway. Did he hear someone call his name? Eh, he was probably just paranoid or something. Sprinting into Akane's room, he saw he was too late as Akane was cuddling with Ryoga. Despite being upset, he sat at the edge of Akane's bed and offered her a small, awkward smile. "Hey, how do you feel, tomboy?"

What was he doing? Shampoo thought angrily. When did their insults become cute nicknames? But she remembered she had to stay in character and returned his small smile with an even tinier one herself. "Hi, Ranma. I feel okay, just little lightheaded."

He grinned, and Shampoo's heart began to beat rapidly. "I knew you would be fine. With the strength of a thousand mules, who could–" he shouldn't be insulting her, he realized. Who knew if she was still mad from before? He prepared himself for the upcoming argument but Akane's lips were in a thin line, and her eyes began to well with tears. "A-Akane? Are you okay? Do you want me to get Tofu?"

"I don't want this anymore, Ranma." Shampoo cried, hating herself for causing Ranma worry but knew she would be there to patch up the pain after all of this was done. "Us... this engagement."

"What?"

"I'm in love with someone else," Shampoo said sadly, Ryoga jumping all around in her lap. "I'm sick of all the insults and the fiancees, I just want it to end. I found someone who loved me for me."

"Akane, what are you saying?" Ranma snapped, feeling confused and frantic.

"I don't love you anymore. I found someone else. I-I'm sorry."

This had to be a dream, right? This was his and Akane's relationship, and he liked nothing more in the entire world. They were always bickering and arguing and he was content knowing that it would always be like this. That he would always be her fiance. But how could his world change so quickly? Even if Akane was always down his throat, and she wasn't feminine, and she lacked a lot of skills, he enjoyed her company. Something about her always brought a smile to his face. Even if their relationship had took a negative turn recently, when did she find the time to fall for anyone else? "Who," he asked, his voice shaking. "Who are you in love with?"

"Hi, I'm Yusuke and I'm here to deliver the noodles someone order?"

"Him," Shampoo responded, smiling happily at the unprepared stranger. "I've fallen in love with Yusuke."

The brown-haired delivery boy stared dumbfounded at this girl who he's never seen before. Why was she confessing her love for him so easily as if they knew each other? He could assume this pigtailed man was getting rejected, but what did he have to do with any of this?

Shampoo limped toward his side and linked her arm around Yusuke's and smiled shyly. "I want you all to meet, Yusuke. My new fiance."

Ranma watched as his fiancee embraced this stranger, and watched his world slowly begin to fall apart.

-XxX-

A/N: I'm sorry! I know that I promised to update more and all that stuff, I'm really slow at it right? Don't worry though, I'm almost done with the next "You Want Us To What!" chapter. So expect that soon.

For this, I hope it wasn't too bad and forgive the grammatical errors since I quickly typed this up. Anyways, please review and tell me what you think! I tried to add a little comedy to lighten the rather depressing mood.

Of course this isn't the end of the scene, you'll see more in the next chapter!

Thank you!