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Pei Pa blushed when she saw Ranma smiled at her. She replied shyly, "Yes, I suppose so."

What shall I do? Am I going to be stuck with this kind of lifestyle for the rest of my life? Do I have to pretend to be Akane-chan for the rest of my life? Pei Pa was worried.

There you have it the next chapter. I would like to thank all my reviewers for reviewing. Hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

Escape

"Pei Pa-hime, your bath is ready." A knock was heard on the door.

"Hai." Akane made her way towards the door and opened it. She saw three maids bowing to her. Three of them led her down the hallway covered with regal red carpet, with carvings of trimmed gold stars and moons at the sides of majestic red carpet.

As they were on their way to the bathroom, Akane looked around with amazement.

She saw fine portraits hung on the wall. There was one portrait that caught her attention. She stopped, standing in front of the portrait. She went towards the portrait, bringing her hand to it. The portrait was of a man standing tall and bold. A helmet was between his arm and the side of his body. His left hand was holding onto the handle of the katana that was hung onto the strap on his waist.

One of the maids went towards Akane, "Pei Pa-hime?"

Akane turned to her as she pointed her finger at the portrait, "Who is this?"

The maid was dumbstruck with Akane's question. Had she forgotten who he is? Yesterday must have hit her hard. She replied Akane shakily, "He…was…your…lov…I mean the general." The maid faced down, dare to not to take a glimpse at her. It was as if she had said something wrong.

Akane was perplexed by the maid's reaction. Akane shook her head and just decided to ask her in a smooth, sweet tone. Not even a tint of anger in her tone as she asked the maid kindly, "Who exactly is this general."

The maid was incredulous with Akane's tone. The maid decided to face up to her but replied her in a timid soft tone, "He's the general of" Her sentences broke off when another maid went towards the both of them and bowed at Akane,

"Sorry to disturb Pei Pa-hime but you have to have your bath now, time is running low. You have other activities to be done." Akane nodded, "Hai."

They came to a stop when they reached a large door made from fine, dark, burly teaks. The maids led her in as four other maids pushes the large door for Akane. As Akane step foot into the bathroom, it was the most exquisite bathroom she has ever seen. There in front of her, she saw a big round bathtub structured on the floor of the bathroom made of milky porcelain in the center of the bathroom. The wall was decorated with ocean ornaments that made Akane felt like she was under the sea. She took in the wonderful smell. A smell that was almost alike the breezy wave of the sea.

A maid reached out for Akane's rob and was about to slide it down till a hand came to hers. Akane faces back giving a fake laugh, "I'll do it myself." Akane pulled her robe back to its original state, "Could you all leave me alone?" she asked sweetly.

The maids dared not to defy. So they bowed and brisk walked gently out of the room. Akane faced back to see the door closing behind her. She let out a sigh of relief. She walked towards the bathtub and brought herself in the sitting position where she sat on her right thigh. Her left hand gripped on the side of the bathtub as she gently brought her body in front a bit as she skimed her fingers across the steamy water. "Well I do sort of stink from yesterday, I'll just sink myself into this bathtub then I'll confront the majesty later. I don't want to confront them smelling like some 100 year old tofu." Akane got up, removed her robe and sunk herself into the soothing warm bathtub. I wonder how my family and Ranma are doing…


"Oh joy! Lucky me." Cheered Happosai as he scampered down the hallway with a pink brassier strap slacking on his finger along with a big black bag on his back as a mob of girl students holding brooms and mops chasing after him, "Come back here you thief!" roared some of the girls.

Ranma and Pei Pa turned to their left to see Happosai running towards their way. Ranma scoffed, "That old geezer never seems to know when to quit."

Pei Pa was surprised and at the same time she was aggravated with Happosai's act. He's holding a bra? How uncivilized!

Ranma went in the middle of the hallway to block Happosai from escaping. Ranma clenched both of his fists together. He waited for Happosai to come closer.

Happosai just didn't bother Ranma but instead he just gave a contented expression, "Ah, Ranma how nice to see you here."

Ranma ignored him, "You aren't getting away again, you old geezer." Ranma exclaimed as he swung his fist towards Happosai, "You aren't getting away this time!"

Happosai dodged and jumped right over Ranma's head as he kicked Ranma's head causing Ranma to jolt back a little. "Why you! Come back here you old geezer!" roared Ranma as he went after Happosai.

Happosai looked back and showed out his tongue, "You can never get me! You're too…" Happosai was interrupted when a hard object hit him on his head. He was sent slithering forward, dropping the brassieres that he had in his bag to fall out and were scattered everywhere. The girls crowded around him. Some started stomping hard on him while others use their mops and brooms to hit him. After the hitting scene, the girls picked up their stuff, left Happosai badly injured and scoffed, "Take that you pervert!"

Ranma and Pei Pa went right in front of Happosai. "Ha! Take that you old geezer!" mocked Ranma.

Happosai got onto a sitting pose and brought his hand on the bump on his head, "I… I just…just…" tears flooded Happosai eyes.

"Aw… Ranma… Stop mocking him already." Ranma looked at Pei Pa surprisingly. Pei Pa took out her hand to help Happosai out, "Here… Let me help you up." Pei Pa smiled sweetly at Happosai.

Ranma looked at Pei Pa in astonishment, "What on earth are you doing Akane?" Pei Pa turned to Ranma, "I feel bad for him… After all, I suppose he has learnt his lesson." Ranma sneered, "He will never learn!"

Happosai sobbed, wiping off his tears, "Akane…"

Pei Pa shrieked as soon as she discovered Happosai caressing her boobs, "Oh Akane… You're too kind."

Pei Pa bawled, "Let go of me you pervert!" She got hold of Happosai and striked him out of the window with her school bag. She panted and tried to relief herself from all the commotion. Seriously… And here I thought he had actually learnt a lesson.


"Pei Pa? Pei Pa?" a girl with a worried tone calling out for her was heard by Akane.

In an instant Akane covered her private parts as soon as she opened her eyes to see a girl in front of her. Akane told her off, "Don't you ever learn to knock?"

The girl was taken aback, "Excuse me? I was just worried about you."

Akane was astounded to see the girl's way of speaking to the princess. "Is that how you always speak to a princess?"

"Pei Pa. You must really have a rough night. I know you are crossed about the escape thing… that it didn't work out the way it should have. I'm sorry alright? You don't have to act like you don't know me. It hurts you know?" said the girl in a poignant tone.

Akane observed the girl clearly. She was about Akane's age or probably more than a year older than her. Akane could see that she was quite a daring and brave girl. She had hazel eyes slightly smaller than Akane's, sharp nose and rosy slim lips. She had bangs that were till her eyebrows. Her hair was a brownish-black wavy hair which was let down instead of being tied up. Her hair length was till about her elbows. The girl wasn't dressed like any maid that Akane came across. She must be a higher post. The girl was dressed in fine silk milky kimono with wild red flowers printed on it.

Akane saw the girl leaving her with a sigh, "I'll talk to you later. You'd better get dress. I feel weird talking to you in your undressed state." Akane looked down to herself and blushed. Oh yeah. I have been scrutinizing her so much that I have forgotten that I was nude. As Akane got out of the bathtub, she was staggered when five maids crowded around her with bathroom accessories in their hands. She quickly covered her private parts.

The maids lowered their heads and raised the things on their hands a little higher, "Pei Pa- hime. Your bathrobe."

Akane gave a small smile, "Thanks."

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"Pei Pa.It's me Mitaki." Akane heard a very familiar voice of the girl. She was calling from outside Pei Pa's bedroom while knocking on the door.

"Come in."

The door slid open gently and came in a girl who was from before, "Pei Pa… you are not acting like your original self. What is the matter with you?"

Akane hesitated, "I'm … just… not…" She couldn't finish her sentences when Mitaki spoke up again, "Don't tell me the guards hit you hard on the head and you forgot you very own best friend?" a worried expression came to Mitaki's face.

Akane shook her head, "No… it's not that…" she was interrupted once more. "Then tell me Pei Pa why are you acting like you don't know me anymore?"

Akane was getting a bit irritated with Mitaki's act towards her. How Mitaki wasn't patient enough to hear Akane out. Akane stood up and once and for all she wanted to make things clear, "Look… I want to tell you the truth." Akane could see Mitaki was about to open her mouth to say something but Akane shut her up with her palm in front of Mitaki's face. "Listen… please. It's really important."

Mitaki nodded, "Alright."

"It's like this I'm not Pei Pa. I'm not the princess I'm pretending as. I'm just an ordinary Japanese girl leading a normal life. A life as a Japanese teenage girl. I'm not trying to imposture this Pei Pa princess, but it so happens that I met up with her and I got myself into this mess and I have to get out of it. So I need your help, please. Bring me to the fair king and queen so that I could explain to them and tell them that I am not their beloved fair daughter."

Akane could see Mitaki's face growing redder. Akane was perplexed with Mitaki's expression. Suddenly Mitaki burst out laughing, "You really got me there Pei Pa. And here I actually thought that you were not Pei Pa. You know you really are good in making up stories. Besides why do you need help it's not like you are in a prison or something."

"You really thought that I made the whole thing up?"

Mitaki nodded seriously, "Yep. You just want to try and escape from the palace again. Don't you?"

Akane was getting annoyed, "No! I want to get back my normal life. I told you I'm not Pei Pa. I am not suited being a princess. Pei Pa is out there pretending to be me while I have to pretend as her."

Mitaki was taken aback. What is she mad about all sudden? "So what you are saying right now is true? If you are not Pei Pa, then who are you?" asked Mitaki in a serious tone.

"I'm Tendo Akane."

Mitaki chuckled out of the blues, not the shy chuckles but a disbelieving chuckle.. She sounded serious about it. If she really isn't Pei Pa then where can she be?

Akane gave a worried expression, "So please… please bring me to the king and queen of this castle. I have to be honest with them. I mean no harm to Pei Pa. I just want back my normal life. That's all I ask for."

Mitaki looked down and bit her lips. She then turned up to Akane, "Don't. You can not tell the king and queen."

Akane replied with a surprising and concerned tone, "Why not?"

"It's because they might think that you kidnap Pei Pa just to get a ransom from them. You wouldn't stand a chance." Akane was getting more worried then before. A question suddenly popped into her mind, "Hey Mitaki why didn't you doubt me then?"

"It's just that you and Pei Pa look so alike. I trust Pei Pa a lot and your face has a very promising look too. So I'll trust you. And yes Akane I shall help you out and get Pei Pa back here, where she would be safe and protected."


Sorry for the late update. I hope I can update as soon as possible. Anyway do Enjoy!