Chapter Seven

Phoenix

You love me, and I'll be damned if I'm just gonna sit here and watch as Shampoo tries to make you marry her when I haven't said it back yet.

She'd been so confident. Ever since the incident on Mount Phoenix, she knew about the truth. Ranma loved her. He'd said so; hell, he'd screamed it to the heavens, as if to plead to the gods to bring her back. She knew he loved her; he was just too damn shy and stubborn to admit he'd said so.

She'd been so sure of it. As she made her way to the Amazon village, she had imagined all kinds of scenarios in which they would admit their feelings out loud at last.

Golly, Akane, thanks for saving me!

For you, Ranma, it was a joy! Now we can go back to Japan and live happily ever after!

Or even:

I love you, Ranma! More than anyone else in the entire universe! I can't let you marry Shampoo; I want to be the one you marry!

Really, Akane? Well, that's awfully convenient, because as it turns out I love you, too!

How wonderful! Oh, I'm so happy!

Shall we elope?

Oh, yes! Lets!

Needless to say, Akane had always had quite the imagination. Her fantasies were not only embarrassing, but a far, far cry from the truth. She knew no such thing would ever occur between them, unless they were extremely high on some sort of drug, or a freaky love spell. Either way, she'd thought she'd be confident when that day finally came. She thought, no matter how Ranma came up with the courage to say it, she would be able to say 'I love you, too' right back, as easy as breathing.

At the moment, however, the metaphor was absolute bullshit, because she couldn't breathe at all, and was finding it extremely difficult to do so.

She stood rooted in place, her arms still wrapped absently around his neck. She knew her face resembled the colour of a dragon fruit by this point, and she was also aware that they'd been standing there, motionless and still in the other's embrace, for a good four minutes now. If she didn't speak up, he as going to think she was rejecting him.

He looked calm enough; his expression hadn't faltered too much. The only things that gave away his nervousness were his pink-tinged cheeks and pleading blue eyes. She didn't know why it was so hard to get the words out. Damn Ranma, catching her by surprise like that; how very like him; how Ranma-esque—foiling her plans with surprise kisses and even more surprising confessions, when she least expected to get them.

She had to say something. She'd been waiting for this so long, and she needed to say something. So why couldn't she speak, dammit!

Ranma smiled, and pulled away, and Akane's arms slid off of his shoulders and fell limply to her sides.

"But, of course," he muttered. "You knew that already."

Then he walked over to the door, and left the room, leaving Akane standing in the middle of the room. Then she snapped out of it, and frowned. What the hell? Why did he just walk out on her like that, after finally telling her he loved her? Akane shook her head in frustration, and went over to get her neglected bag, which still sat on the bed, opened and clothes half-pulled out of it.

She dressed slowly, mechanically, still feeling completely in shock about the crazy events of that morning. She had no clue what to say to Ranma the next time she saw him. After all, she hadn't told him back yet. Maybe it didn't matter, though, if she said it or not.

He'd told her he knew that she knew, but that didn't mean he knew she felt the same way back. Is that why he left so suddenly; because of her silence? Was that soft, sweet smile simply hiding the pain? Did he walk out so he could be alone to vent out his frustrations?

Akane bit her lip as tons of thoughts swirled through her mind like they were being tossed about in a blender. Maybe she'd really hurt his feeling; broken his heart, even, by saying nothing. Did he mistake her look of bewilderment for horror? Heart racing, an lip sore from being chewed viciously, Akane hurried out of the room to look for him. If her thoughts were right, she had to set him straight. Akane came face-to-face with Lufa in the hall. Her thin, beaded braids had been let down from their ponytail, and mingled with the dreadlocks.

"Good morning, Akane." Lufa said calmly. "How are you?"

"I-I'm good." Akane stammered. Seeing this woman made her feel embarrassed now, instead of that flare of envy she'd always felt. How could have thought Ranma loved her? How could she have been so stupid?

"I heard you two," Lufa said, her voice turning a bit grim. "You were fighting. I saw Ranma walking out a moment ago. He said he was going for a walk; he seemed okay enough but he could just be a great actor. Are you two okay?"

Akane looked down at her feet. "You heard that, huh? I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I'm awfully curious as to what you were fighting about, though. You both were close to shrieking. Do you argue a lot?"

Akane laughed a little. "Ask anyone! Ask the whole Nerima district, in fact! Ranma and I are always arguing, sometimes about the stupidest little things. My sister tells me we're more like an old married couple than two engaged teens." Akane shook her head suddenly, and her face turned sad. "We've...never fought like that before, though. I mean, we've gotten into some pretty bad arguments, and we can ignore each other for days before swallowing our pride and making up... but this time...it was the worst fight we've ever had."

"Would you like me to go and talk to him?" Lufa asked.

"Oh! We made up, don't worry!" Akane laughed again. "It was the most horrible fight we've had, but it was the quickest fight we've ever made up from! How ironic..."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I thought I heard my name mentioned during your fight..." Lufa went on.

Akane blushed. "I was upset because I thought Ranma had fallen in love with you." Akane mumbled meekly.

Lufa stared at her wide-eyed for a moment, then burst out into hysterical laughter that made Akane blush harder.

"Oh, that's rich!" Lufa hooted. "H-how in the world would you c-come up with something like that? Ha, ha...that kid's so nuts about you that even a blind man could see it!"

"I-I know," Akane said softly. "He...he just told me so."

"J-just now?" Lufa giggled, out of breath. "T-took him long enough."

She took a few deep breaths, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I've got the hiccups now," Lufa chuckled. "Thanks for that, hun. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."

"No problem," Akane said slowly. "So, Ranma left?"

Lufa nodded. "Yup. I was talking to Mr. Ong at the front desk, and Ranma came in. I told him good morning, he said it back, then said he was going out for some fresh air. He seemed pretty happy—it was nice to see that kid smile for a change. I mean, really smile. I haven't known him long, but I know a fake smile when I see one, and even when he laughed at something I said, it looked forced. When I saw him earlier, though, I knew that smile was for real."

Akane smiled.

"Anyways," Lufa continued. "Mousse tells me we're heading for Jusenkyo."

"That right!" Akane cried. "I forgot all about that!"

They would cure Ranma and Mousse's curses, then head home to Nerima. Akane couldn't think of a better happy ending.

"I gotta go find Ranma and tell him!" Akane beamed, rushing past Lufa towards the front entrance.

"Good morning, miss!" Mr. Ong exclaimed when Akane dashed into the front foyer. "Ah, if you looking for that boy with the pigtail, he go left into market!"

"Thank you!" Akane shouted over her shoulder as she ran out the door.

She turned left and ran for the market. It was easy to spot; it was dead ahead and the colours of fruit and shop curtains and roofs made it stand out. It was still early, and the sun had barely risen, so the air was cool. Luckily, the market was very empty since it was so early, and Akane easily made out the black-clad, pigtailed figure a small distance away.

"Ranma!" Akane shouted when she knew he was in earshot. Instantly, Ranma stopped and looked around, looking surprised to see Akane running towards him.

"Akane, what—" he began.

"We're going to Jusenkyo!" Akane cried, cutting him off. "So we can cure you and Mousse!"

Ranma's eyes widened, then he smiled. "I never even thought about Jusenkyo." he laughed.

"You're going to be cured!" Akane exclaimed, grinning ear-to-ear. Brimming with joy, she threw her arms around Ranma's neck. "Oh, Ranma, I'm so happy for you!"

"M-me too," Ranma mumbled, blushing. He tried to ignore the stares from market-goers, but that was a bit difficult. He didn't understand Chinese that well, but snickers and giggles sounded the same in any language. "U-um, d-do you wanna maybe go someplace...um...more private?"

Akane pulled away, looking around at the villagers, and she too went pink. "Uh, s-sure." she mumbled.


Ranma and Akane walked into the small bit of forest that sat on the right side of Red Dragon. They stopped once they reached a small opening in the trees, where there was a tiny pond with a large rock beside it's edge. They sat on top of the rock, watching the still, murky water that moved when it shivered with a cool breeze wafting through the trees.

"Ranma?" Akane asked. It was the first time either had spoken since they'd hurried from the market full of sniggering, amused villagers.

"Hm?" Ranma replied.

"About earlier..." Akane mumbled. "Did I...hurt your feelings?"

At this, Ranma looked at her, and quirked an eyebrow. "Hurt my feelings?" he echoed.

Akane nodded. "Well, I never...said anything. Then you walked out. I thought I'd upset you because I didn't...you know...say it back."

"My feelings weren't hurt," Ranma replied, shaking his head. "I just figured you were too shocked ta say anythin', that's all. Sorry if I surprised ya; it was the...heat of the moment, I guess...and I couldn't think of what ta say." He laughed, and he looked apologetic. "To be honest, it was more to shut ya up than anythin' else. So I could get up the courage ta tell ya what I did."

Akane frowned at this, and Ranma smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

"So, our very first kiss," Akane said slowly. "That didn't involve you thinking you were a cat, or...using duct tape...our first real kiss, and you only did it to 'shut me up'." Akane looked away, and clenched her fists. "That's just fabulous."

"Aw, Akane, don't get mad." Ranma said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'll admit that was my intention at first, but...then I realized... I liked it. Then it wasn't about shuttin' ya up...it was...just kissin' ya...finally bein' able to."

Slowly, Akane looked back at him. He smiled at her, and she knew he was being sincere. Akane let a smile of her own appear on her face, which made Ranma's grow bigger.

"Ranma," she sighed. "I love you, too, baka."

She grabbed his face and pulled him close, crushing her lips on his. Ranma wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling them together as close as was humanly possible. Keeping their lips sealed together, they twisted around until they faced each other on the rock, sitting on the rock with one leg on each side. Akane brought her hands from his face and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. They stayed that way for a long time, until their lungs begged for air. They broke apart with a unison gasp, their faces flushed and lips bruised.

"Now that," Akane whispered. "Is what I call a first real first kiss."

Ranma chuckled, pulling away and swinging his leg back over the rock, Akane following suit.

"That's fer sur—whoa!" Ranma yelped, as he slipped off the rock and fell right into the pond. Ultimately, Akane burst out laughing.

A familiar shock of red hair flew out from the water like a burst of flame, followed by a drenched and coughing, and female, Ranma. She glared cerulean daggers at Akane, who was holding her stomach with hysterical giggles.

"Dammit," Ranma grumbled, her voice much higher now. "The sooner we get ta Jusenkyo, the better."


Meanwhile, in the valley of Jusenkyo, where burble thousands of cursed springs, sat a small house with smoke rising from the chimney. It was small, and showing it's age from the vines growing up one side of the house and by the door. Above the small door, was a sign that simply said the word GUIDE in Chinese.

Inside, the Jusenkyo Guide (known only as Guide by his 'customers') and his young daughter Plum, sat at the old table, sipping from tea. A pot of miso soup sat on the stove, bubbling softly. The Guide got up and got two bowls from the cupboard under the sink, and poured the soup into the bowls. He set the bowls in front of his daughter and himself.

"Thank you, Papa." Plum said in Mandarin, taking the bowl and having a sip. Plum set the bowl down, and looked out the window and frowned.

"What's wrong, Plum? Burn your tongue?" Guide asked, also in his native tongue.

"I hear something," Plum replied. "Coming from outside."

"I don't hear anything," Guide said, looking out the window. "It's probably just your imagination."

"No. I really hear something." Plum argued. She got up off the chair and headed for the door.

"Plum, come and sit down and have your soup. It's probably just a wild animal." Guide protested.

Plum ignored her father, and opened the door and went outside, looking around. Looking upwards, she gasped.

"Papa! Come look!" Plum cried.

Guide got up and hurried to the door, surprised at his daughter's sudden exclamation.

"What's wrong? What did you see?" Guide asked, stepping outside to stand beside Plum, who was pointing one small finger to the sky.

"Look!" she said. "Is that who I think it is?"

Guide followed his daughter's finger, looking to the heavens. His eyes widened, and he, too, gasped in surprise. Something was flying high above them, several yards away. At first glance, they could be mistaken for large birds, but Guide knew exactly what was up there, even when they were almost specks in the overcast sky.

"Aiya!" Guide exclaimed. "It's the Phoenix People of Ho'o Peak!"


"Never gonna be a gi-i-irl a-gain, never gonna be a gi-i-irl a-gain." Ranma sang happily to herself, kicking her legs to and fro on the bed.

Though Mousse, who was packing up his belongings, shook his head and rolled his eyes, he secretly had a similar tune playing in his head: never gonna be a du-u-uck a-gain, never gonna be a du-u-uck a-gain.

"What a shame. Your girl-form has quite a singing voice." Mousse said. "Here you are just wiping that talent away."

Ranma snorted, very unladylike. "I don't care what kinda talent this body has. I mean, sure, I got free eats once in a while, I could eat ice cream, it was a great disguise..." Ranma trailed off, looking hesitant, then shook it off and puffed out her chest, sticking her thumb cockily at herself. "I'm a man, dammit! This curse is a nuisance, and I gotta get rid of it!"

You're going to miss her when she's gone, Ranma. You just don't know it yet.

"Is purple fine? It'll go with your hair." Mousse teased, pulling out a deep purple robe from his back. Ranma snatched the robe haughtily from his hands.

"Oh, stow it. As if I care." Ranma huffed, pulling the robe over her black tank top. She stood up, and the sleeves went far past her fingers, the bottom of the robe just touching the floor. Mousse laughed.

"You're shorter than me as a guy, so the robes never fit you." he said. "You're puny as a girl, though. You barely come up to my shoulder. You're Tinker Bell."

Ranma whirled around and glared at Mousse. "Don't call me that." she grumbled. "I'll stick bamboo under my finger nails before I'll let someone get away with referring ta me as a Disney fairy."

Mousse sneered. "Oh? Well, what about Princess Peach?" When Ranma made a confused face, Mousse explained. "She's from Nintendo, Ranma. She gets kidnapped all the time."

Ranma frowned. "I am so close to beating you senseless, duck boy."

Mousse waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, let bygones be bygones. Did I mention that colour looks ravishing on you?"

"That's it, you're dead!" Ranma snarled, lunging her tiny frame at Mousse.

"Honestly, Ranma. Can't you get along with anyone?" Akane sighed, walking into the room, looking at Ranma and Mousse, who were now on the floor, with a bored expression. "Oh, is Mousse letting you borrow that robe? That was nice of him. It's such a pretty colour; it really suits you, Ranma."

"Why is everyone saying that?" Ranma cried incredulously, throwing up her hands, completely covered by the robe, the ends flopping limply over her raised hands. She looked like a toddler trying to wear her parent's clothes. The thought made Akane giggle, which made Ranma pout cutely.

"If I trip and fall, it's on yer ass, Mousse." Ranma snapped, trying to walk out of the room with dignity, but was unsuccessful. The long robe made her wary of falling. She felt like she was wearing a super-long loincloth, and she stepped carefully around it as she walked, but it didn't make her look at all graceful.

"Fear not. I'll catch you, princess." Mousse jeered.

"Can it, rubber ducky!" Ranma shouted, slamming the door behind her.

Mousse and Akane laughed. Akane looked at Mousse and smiled.

"Mousse?" she asked.

"Yes?" he replied, looking in her general direction, but not quite meeting her eyes.

"I just wanted to say..." Akane blushed, getting shy suddenly. "Thank you."

"What for?" Mousse asked, confused.

"For...helping me, on this trip." Akane explained. "It's because of you that Ranma and I are together again. So, thank you."

Mousse smiled. "You're very welcome, Akane Tendo. It was my pleasure."

Ranma walked back into the room, Akane's bag on her shoulders.

"Well," she said, grinning. "It's Jusenkyo or bust!"


Towering over the springs of Jusenkyo, stands Ho'o Peak; also known as Mount Phoenix. Inside, was a kingdom of bird men and women. There was a different buzz in the mountain this morning, for the return of an infamous outsider had become known. Jeeves hurried through the corridors of the castle. He was an old man, whose bird-type was owl, seen from the wings protruding from his back. He came up to large double doors, where gaurds, with wings also on their backs, stood holding spears.

"I come bearings an important message," Jeeves said. "About the outsider."

The gaurds nodded. "You may pass." the one on the left muttered.

The gaurds opened the two doors, and Jeeves bowed, then went into the huge room. Before him was a long orange carpet, that traveled up a small set of stairs, where winged women sat, their heads bowed, in two rows on either side.

Jeeves walked up the stairs, and the women bowed at his entry, resting their foreheads on the floor. Infront of Jeeves was a large, slightly sheer curtain, that was a mixture of pale orange and yellow, which shimmered in the light of the room. Behind the curtain was the outline of a majestic throne. Jeeves knelt before the curtain, bowing his head.

"My Lord," he greeted. "I bring you news of the outsider."

"Yes," a voice from behind the curtain said. "You may rise, Jeeves."

Jeeves came slowly to his feet, and watched as the curtain pulled open, revealing the throne, and the figure who sat upon it. The throne was so large, his feet didn't even touch the floor. He nodded slowly at Jeeves, gesturing for him to tell him of the news.

"I sent your best captain, sir, and her two underlings." Jeeves explained. "They have reported they have sighted the outsider with three others, heading for the town of Red Dragon; a very tiny place, my liege, not many have heard of it."

"You say three others were with the outsider? Would it be those other two men and the panda from last time?"

Jeeves shook his head. "No, my Lord. It's the boy with the glasses, and the female with the short hair." Jeeves replied. "There was another, older woman, my Lord. I didn't recognize her."

"The girl with short hair? Ah yes, her name was Akane. It's easy enough to remember when that boy shouted it so many times. She was the girl who turned herself into a doll."

"Aye, my Lord. That is the one." Jeeves nodded.

"Excellent work, Jeeves. See to it that they find them."

"Yes, my Lord. Your wish is my command." Jeeves said, bowing his head.


"Look there, kids." Lufa said. "See those mountains. That'll be Jusenkyo. We're almost there."

The group of four had left Red Dragon, and were heading for the cursed springs of Jusenkyo. After getting some directions from the locals, soon they were heading for the valley full of cursed water, towards Ranma and Mousse's cure.

"Hey Ranma, isn't that mountain there Ho'o Peak?" Akane asked, pointing to one mountain in the distance. Concealed by morning fog, stood Phoenix Mountain, just a bit taller than the rest of the mountains, and more narrow, and if you looked close enough, you could see the tip of the peak was flat, where the Spring of Drowned Birds burbled.

"Yep, that's it all right." Ranma muttered, her voice taking on a tone of icy nostalgia. "Brings back unwanted memories, don't it?"

Akane nodded grimly, staring off into the distance at the mountain.


"Here's the water, Akane!"

Now we can be together again. Please! Open your eyes, Akane!

Ranma clutched to the doll with her wet fingers, as the Jusen water from the Dragon tap shot into the heavens, blinding her as it sprayed into her eyes, keeping her and Akane levitated in the warm air.

Suddenly, the doll grew, until Ranma held a naked, life-size Akane in her arms. On any other occasion, she would have been embarrassed of her fiancée's nudity, but this wasn't any other occasion. This was life or death. Ranma stared at Akane's face, scratched and bruised from their battle, waiting for those beautiful hazel eyes of hers to open and look at him, and smile that smile she loved.

They didn't open. Akane's body lay limp in Ranma's small arms, and Ranma's grin of relief faded when she realized something—something she'd dreaded since the beginning. Something that would indicate in it's cold silence that she, Ranma Saotome, had failed.

Akane wasn't breathing.


As if they knew the image that had been running through each other's head, Ranma and Akane looked at each other at the same time. Ranma held out her tiny hand, and Akane smiled, and took it.

Man, Akane. You're hands are so...small.

Yeah? So what if they are?

Nothing, it's just...I can't believe they're so puny, when they're so tough. It's like a chihuahua that can take down a Great Dane.

Ranma smiled at Akane, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Akane smiled back. She was going to miss her female-version, fairy of a fiancé.

"Stop."

Ranma, Mousse, and Akane came to an abrupt halt at Lufa's order. She stood in front of them, scanning the area.

"What is it, Lufa?" Ranma asked, letting go of Akane's hand and taking a step forward.

"Shh," Lufa whispered. "I hear something. Listen."

Ranma listened too, at first hearing nothing but the wind through the leaves. Then, she heard it. A slow, flapping noise.

"Bird wings?" Ranma said quietly, looking around.

Lufa nodded. "It sounds like an awfully big bird." she muttered.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Akane said under her breath.

Suddenly, Ranma had disappeared, leaving Akane's bag behind, lying on the forest ground. Akane looked up, seeing a flash of purple. It fluttered down and landed on a bush. Ranma's robe.

"Where did Saotome go?" Mousse asked, bewildered.

"What Ranma lacks in strength when he's a girl," Akane said. "He makes up for with insane speed. Look up."

Lufa and Mousse looked up to the sky, seeing a red and black blur peeking through the thick leaves of the top of the trees.

"What in the world is he doing all the way up there?" Lufa asked.

"Kima!" Ranma's staccato yell echoed through the trees. "I knew it!"

"Did he just say Kima?" Mousse said incredulously.

Lufa was off like a shot, jumping up through the trees. Mousse followed close behind.

"They make it look easy." Akane grumbled, envious. "Good thing I always climbed trees as a kid."

Akane climbed up the nearest tree until she reached the very top. She poked her head out of the leaves to see the scene before her. Just several tree tops away were Ranma, Lufa, and Mousse, and standing across from them, hovering in air, was Lady Kima and her underlings Koruma and Masara.

"What do you want?" Ranma spat angrily.

"You can relax." Kima said. "We didn't come here for trouble."

"Then what did you come for?" Mousse asked.

"Lord Saffron asks you for your presence." Kima said. "He's eager to see you, since we became aware of your return to China."

"Saffron wants to see me?" Ranma said, laughing without humour. "It's only been a few months since I beat his so-called 'immortal' ass. He's still gotta be in diapers! He hatched from that egg once the fight was over, remember?"

"How dare you!" Kima yelled, her temper rising at Ranma's words. "You will not speak so filthily of his majesty Lord Saffron!"

"Like hell I'm gonna show 'respect' to some whinin' baby!" Ranma taunted.

"Silence, wretch!" Kima hollered. "Be silent or I will strike you down, despite my Lord's orders!"

"Hold on, what do you mean 'despite his orders'?" Mousse asked. "I mean, surely he of all people wouldn't ask you not to hurt us; and second, how would he make orders when he's only an infant now?"

Kima smiled. "You'll see for yourselves the grand power of our Lord Saffron when we escort you to Ho'o Peak."

"We ain't going anywhere with you bird freaks!" Ranma snapped.

"I suggest you make this easy on us," Kima said. "Don't fuss with the best captain in Lord Saffron's guard."

"Ranma, maybe we should go." Mousse said. "For whatever reason, Saffron asked them not to hurt us. Back then, he would have just let Kima get us by whatever means; she would have attacked us already if she weren't taking his orders."

With a sneer, Kima nodded.

Ranma was watching Mousse, a frown on her face, her eyes empty of trust. Then, she looked back at Kima.

"I don't trust you people," Ranma muttered. "But I guess we may as well go and see what 'his majesty' wants."


Authour's Note:

Another short chapter, but I promise to make Chapter Eight good and long. I usually don't do too much brainstorming when I write my stories; I guess you can say I just pull it out of my ass while I sit in front of the computer and type away. However, several ideas for future chapters have been dancing about in my head like sugar plums... dancing plums you can...read. O.o Anyways, I figured I better jot out my notes onto paper so I don't forget anything. So, I wrote out a pretty gisty (is that a word?) cut-to-the-chase summary of what I'm planning to be the next, at least, three or four chapters. My summary made character designs pop into my head, so, being an artist as well as writer, I drew out Ranma and Akane, with different ensemble ideas for what they wear at Phoenix Mountain. (maybe I'll post 'em on dA at some point...)

Well, Ranma and Akane have now admitted their love for each other (hooray! *dances* :D). However, with me being the mean, nasty little writer I am...well, can be at times...it won't just be sunshine-and-roses for our two little lovebirds! No, no! After all, this is Ranma and Akane we're talkin' about here, folks. xD I'll get on to that in the next chapter (or so). Heh heh heh... *sneers evilly*

And what could be this 'grand power' of Lord Saffron's, hmmm? After all, how can he possibly be giving orders when, technically, he should lying in a crib, giggling at a cute mobile? You'll find out! :D

Stayed tuned for Chapter Eight, everyone! And thanks again for all the wonderful reviews so far! ^^ Keep them coming! :3

- Jadells

(PS: Did anyone else get a kick out of Akane's over-the-top fantasies at the beggining of the chapter? I know I did! xD)