After Dr. Tofu left the room, Akane turned to Ranma with a frown on her face. "Baka!" She yelled. "You don't even know what it is you'd have to do and yet you go ahead and agree to it!"
Ranma stopped his pacing and glared at his fiancée, "I don't care, this is my fault and I'm going to fix it! So you can just stop trying to convince me otherwise because I'm not backing down!"
Akane crossed her arms and blew out her breath in frustration, "why are you sooooo stubborn?"
Ranma looked at her unbelievably and muttered, "look who's talking…"
Before the argument could escalate further, Dr. Tofu walked back into the examination room.
"Well, Doc? Did you call the old ghoul? What'd she say?" Ranma demanded, leaning against the wall.
Pushing up his glasses the doctor turned to Ranma, "Yes and we're all to meet at the Nekohanten tomorrow at 9 am. In the meantime, you should go home and get as much rest as you can because you're going to need it." He looked pointedly at Akane. "There are a few things I need to do before tomorrow. Feel free to stay awhile but I'm off!"
With that the doctor gave Akane a hug and Patted Ranma on the back in reassurance before exiting the room.
Akane slipped off of the bed, standing with her hands clenched into fists on her hips, glaring at Ranma. He just glared right back at her.
"What Akane?" He barked as he pushed himself off the wall, marching over and coming to a halt close enough to her that she had to tilt her chin up to see his face.
"What do you mean 'What'? You are not going on some stupid trip! I can figure another way to take care of this, get a second opinion or something. You're not l-leaving me behind again! Not like last time…" She trailed off, her chin starting to wobble. Firming her lips, she turned away and walked out of the room.
"Stubborn." Was all Ranma said as he watched his fiancée through narrowed eyes. You don't get a say in this, Akane. This time, I'm going to keep you safe. He thought as he picked up his pace and went after her.
Later that night
She was so far ahead of him already, he really needed to pick up his pace if he was going to catch her but every step he took he seemed to fall behind even more. "A-Akane! Wait up! " He called but she didn't seem to hear him. Ranma pumped his arms and legs as fast as he could, trying to reach her.
"Ranma?"
Pulled to a halt, he turned to his left and saw Ukyo grabbing onto his arm and Shampoo plastered to his right side, holding him in place.
"Ranma honey, she doesn't need you anymore. Why don't you just come home with me and I'll make you your favorite dessert? " Ukyo said gently, tugging on him.
"Spatula girl right, Airen. Akane no need you anymore, come home with me and Shampoo will make you happy. Wo ai ni." Shampoo purred, rubbing herself against him.
Startled he looked at the two girls, "What do you mean she doesn't need me anymore? She always needs me! I'm her fiancé, I keep her safe!" He asked incredulously.
Ukyo looked at him her face scrunching up into a cruel mask.
"But Ranma, you killed her. Don't you remember?" Ukyo spit out.
"I see with my own two eyes. Airen, run sword through kitchen destroyers heart." Shampoo smugly stated.
Ranma shook them both off of him, stumbling backwards and holding out his hand as if to ward the girls off. "Killed her? Killed Akane? I wouldn't ever! I, I l-love her!"
He turned around again to chase after Akane but came up against a solid form. Looking up he saw Ryoga's disgusted face staring back at him.
"Love her? Ha! Look at what you've done, Ranma. LOOK. AT. WHAT. YOU'VE. DONE. Her blood is on your hands!" Punctuating each word with a shove, Ranma fell to his knees and looked down at his blood-soaked hands holding a katana. Laying next to him was his best friend, the love of his life.
"A-Akane? NO! NO NO NO NO…"
Ranma shot up into a sitting position on his bed, panting, trying to draw enough breath into his lungs. His eyes looking around wildly, searching for any truth to the nightmare he just had. It was just a dream, she's not dead, I didn't kill her. Yet. That last thought passed through his mind quickly before he could shake his head. Maybe I'll just go check on her, make sure she's ok.
Sneaking out of the room, he quickly and softly padded down the hall to Akane's room. Just one look and I'll go back, he thought. Easing her door open, he slipped inside and gently closed it behind him.
Turning around he made his way over to her bed, kneeling beside it. Akane's brow was furrowed and her face was scrunched up as if in pain. The sheets were twisted around her, as if she couldn't find a comfortable position. Ranma, careful not to wake her, gently unwound the blanket from around her and drapped it over her. He lifted his hand nervously, feeling an uncontrollable need to just touch her. To reassure himself that she was real. He let his hand rest on her forehead, feeling the heat under his fingertips.
Whispering softly to her he said, "It'll be ok, Akane. On my honor as a martial artist and as a man, I will fix this. I won't let anything harm you."
Ranma sat back on his heels and sighed. Lifting himself quietly, he stood up and slipped out of her room with a whisper.
Akane's brow smoothed out and a small smile graced her lips. She fell into a peaceful, quiet night's sleep, ready for the next day's events.
Light danced across her face, kissing her gently awake. Stretching, Akane sat up and smiled at the restful night's sleep she hadn't had in what felt like forever. Throwing the blanket off of her, she swung her legs off the bed and padded over to the closet. Tossing a pale blue tank top and soft white skirt onto her bed, she began to undress, her thinking about what may or may not happen later that morning. I know I need help but does it really have to be Cologne that gives it to me? Dr. Tofu may trust her but I don't. She may hold the key to saving my life but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I just. I just don't want Ranma to get hurt. I just want things to be normal again. She snorted, as if they ever were…
Akane turned her thoughts away from her current problems and slowly made her way down the stairs to the living room. Her eyes searching for Ranma, finding him waiting for her by the door.
Acknowledging her with a slight nod, he reached for the door. "You ready?" He asked, knowing the answer before she opened her mouth.
"As ready as I'll ever be…" She said, giving him a lopsided smile. Making his stomach flip over, like her smiles always did.
"Yea ok, well, do you need help walking or anything? I can carry you…" Ranma trailed off.
"No, I'm fine. Surprisingly, I slept well last night and I have a little energy today" She replied, walking around him and out the door.
"Now come on before you wake everyone up and we have to explain all of this." Akane headed off in the direction of the Nekohanten.
Ranma felt his face turning red, wondering if he might be the reason she slept so well. Shaking his head, he quickly shut the door behind him and took off after her.
"Airen!" That was all the warning Ranma had before a certain purple-haired amazon glomped onto his body.
"You come take Shampoo on date, yes? We make sweet, sweet love after, yes?" Shampoo purred to him, sliding her curvy body up and down his arm.
Ranma stood frozen for a second with a deer-in-headlights look upon his face before he pushed her off of him.
"I ain't your 'Airen' and I certainly ain't doin' that with you!" Ranma grumbled. Scooting himself behind Akane, almost using her as a shield.
Akane rolled her eyes at her cowering fiance, "Honestly, Ranma." She said, sounding only slightly annoyed.
"Shampoo, is Cologne here? We were supposed to meet today with Dr. Tofu...? " Akane positioned herself into the amazon's line of sight.
Shampoo huffed, sliding her eyes up and down Akane's form before making a disdainful sneer. Opening her mouth, she was about to give her opinion of said form before Ranma, sensing where this was about to go, stepped in front of Akane and pinned Shampoo with a steely glare.
"Shampoo, go get Cologne." He growled, his aura starting to glow a faint red.
Surprised, Akane touched his hand, "Ranma?" She questioningly asked.
Shampoo was shocked into silence by Ranma's threatening behavior and ran back into the Nekohanten to fetch her grandmother.
Ranma, looked down at Akane and gave her a small smile, relaxing his stance once again, as if nothing had happened.
"Well good morning, Ranma and Akane!" Dr. Tofu strolled up to the pair, his arms full of books.
"Has Cologne come out yet?" He asked, ignoring the tension in the air.
"Good morning, Dr. Tofu!" Akane replied, smiling at the good doctor. "As a matter of fact, Shampoo just went to get her."
Speak of the devil and she will appear, Ranma thought as the person in question appeared in the doorway.
"Ah, Dr. Tofu, Akane and Son-in-law. Come in, come in. No need to stand outside all day." Cologne gestured for the group to follow behind her and sit down at one of the tables.
"Shampoo! Bring our guests some tea." Cologne stated, before seating herself at the head of the table.
"Yes great-grandmother!" Shampoo skipped off in the direction of the kitchen to do as she was told.
As everyone was seated and had their tea, Dr. Tofu sat back, adjusting his glasses with the tip of his finger. "Now then, I believe we need to let Ranma and Akane in on what we discussed over the phone."
Cologne balanced on her staff, regarding the young pair with solemn eyes. "Girl, come over here and let me see for myself the damage done to your ki."
Hesitating at first, Akane slowly stood and made her way around to Cologne's outstretched hand. Ranma tensed himself on the edge of his seat, ready to spring into action. Dr. Tofu laid a calming hand on the young man's shoulder, as the old ghoul closed the distance between herself and Akane. Grabbing her hand, Cologne closed her eyes and concentrated on Akane's ki.
Gasping, Cologne let go of Akane's hand after about a minute and looked sharply at Dr. Tofu, her mouth slightly open before she snapped it shut. Ranma caught the look and narrowed his eyes, "What is it? What happened?" He demanded, his gaze bouncing back and forth between Dr. Tofu and Cologne's eyes, accusingly.
Akane looked worriedly at Ranma before switching her gaze down to her hands that were glowing slightly red.
"Akane, have a seat again, I have seen all I needed to see." Cologne dismissed the young woman and settled back onto her staff.
"Old ghoul, if you don't tell me just what the HELL is going on here…!" Ranma's muscles bunched, ready to let his fists do the talking if that's what it took to get an answer.
"Calm down, Son-in-law. I have not harmed the child. I merely looked to see how badly the situation really is." Turning to Dr. Tofu she said, "It is as you said it is. Her body cannot control her damaged ki and it is engulfing her soul in fire."
Ranma stood abruptly, sending his chair flying backwards. "You said you could help! Then help dammit! Tell me what to do!" Cologne waved her hand for him to sit back down.
"Always a man of action, Son-in-law but do not forget whose help it is you are seeking." She threatened. Watching him slowly fix his chair and sit back down, she continued, "There is much damage done here, my child," She fixed Akane with her gaze, "death awaits you soon if we don't seek out the Mender."
Akane leaned forward, her gaze questioning, "Mender? What is that? Where do we find it?"
Cologne smiled patronizingly, "The question is not 'What' but 'Who'. He is the keeper of all ki. He does not exist in a specific time. He is on a different plane, one that a physical body cannot reach. "
"Then how do I find him, this Mender?" Ranma demanded.
"It is not just YOU who must find him, Son-in-law but Akane is the one who must ask for her restoration. You may go with her on this journey but you will not be able to save her. Only she can save herself. " Cologne pinned Akane with a look, searching for weakness and doubt. Not finding any, she sat back and grinned. "I see child, so you are ready for this then?"
Akane looked over at Ranma, "Are you sure you want to come with me, Ranma? You don't have to."
Ranma just laughed, "Someone's gotta keep your klutzy self out of trouble, Akane," the mirth suddenly leaving his eyes, "I don't want to be in a world, where you don't exist."
Akane sat back in her chair, her eyes wide and mouth opening and closing like a fish. Dr. Tofu hid his smile behind one of his books.
Ranma turned to Cologne and leveled her with his determined gaze.
"Let's do this, old ghoul."
Rising, Cologne beckoned the group to follow her into a back room, where there were two beds laid out next to each other and what seemed like hundreds of candles glowed, giving off the only light in the otherwise dark room.
"Please children, each of you lay down on a bed." Cologne gestured to the beds. Akane glanced over at Dr. Tofu, her eyes asking for his approval. Nodding to her, Akane was about to lift herself onto the bed when two strong arms gripped her waist and gently lifted her onto the cool sheets. She looked up startled into her fiance's stormy blue eyes, her gaze questioning. He gave her a small smile, "You're going to be fine, alright? Just hold on a little longer." Gently squeezing her waist, Ranma turned around and hoisted himself up on his bed.
Akane broke out of her stupor, "Hey Baka, I'm built like a brick, remember? This will be a piece of cake." She grinned at him.
Ranma grinned back at her, opening his mouth for a retort but Cologne interrupted him.
"Lay down and close your eyes," Cologne chided, "concentrate on my voice. When you reach the Nether Plane, remember that there are things that can harm you there just as in the physical world. Seek out the Mender, find the path that points towards the stars, take that until you find what you are looking for. Now hold each other's hands and empty your mind of thought."
The ancient amazon started her incantation, the flames of the candles started to flicker and a gentle breeze entered the room, slightly lifting Akane's hair. The young woman's last thought was of Ranma's stong hand gripping her small one and his thumb stroking her wrist in reassurance.
Then the world went black.
Akane. Hey Akane, wake up... "Go away, let me sleep..." Akane mumbled, turning over in what she thought was her bed.
"HEY! UNCUTE TOMBOY!"
Akane sat up, anger twisting her peaceful features. "Ranma! What is your deal...?" Trailing off, Akane blinked, taking in her surroundings. I'm definitely not in Nerima anymore... She thought.
Ranma sat next to her, his arm propped up on his bent knee, "Mornin' sunshine."
Akane ignored him as she took in the surrounding area.
They were sitting on a glass lake full of stars, no, reflecting the stars. Akane looked up at the endless night sky, stars were strewn across the great expanse, glittering like unshed tears. A gentle breeze played with her hair, tucking strands behind her ear, she looked at Ranma, her eyes wide.
"It's, it's so..." She whispered, at a loss for words.
"Beautiful." Ranma finished for her, he too mesmerized by what was before them.
Standing slowly, he tested the clear glass lake they had been sitting on, for weaknesses. Satisfied it would hold, he shifted to stand in front of Akane, leaning down he held out his hand. Akane placed her hand in his and he pulled her up, placing his other hand on the small of her back, holding her to him for just a moment before releasing her body but still tucking her hand in his.
Akane blushed and fixed her gaze on the glass below their feet. This was simply amazing!
"Amazing isn't it?" Ranma asked, a slight smile on his face as he watched her toe the glass. Tugging her hand, he pointed to the small path that led to a forest, just beyond the lake.
"Ready to see the Wizard, Dorothy?"
Laughing nervously, Akane followed behind Ranma as they made their way across the smooth lake.
Wish I had those ruby slippers right about now, Akane thought to herself, unsure of what lies ahead.
Author's Notes:
Hey guys! So sorry it took longer than expected to get this chapter up. My little guy was sick so that took up most of my time! Thank you for all of the reviews, they really do keep me going!
Here's the low down:
Ranma and Akane are finaaaally starting their journey. The next couple of chapters will definitely be more action packed. I'm hoping to also go deeper into their relationship and get a few things out in the open.
Let me know what you think! Love hearing from everyone!
Til next time!
Reika
