Ch. 9: I don't own Ranma 1/2 or its characters...Straight to the point

"How did you know?" The elder Amazon narrowed her gaze. The Slave Pill was a heavily guarded Jozetsuzuko secret…how could that pervert possibly have any knowledge about it…let alone a cure. Happosai began to laugh.

"Come on, Cologne. You know I travelled throughout a lot of China in my handsomer days…Besides, I have a way with women…even the Amazons, hehe." The Amazon once again whacked him with her cane. "Oww! Ok, ok, ok…I stole a scroll during a panty raid! Happy?!" He rubbed his, now notched, head. Cologne continued to stare at the lecherous martial arts master.

"Well it seems you got your information wrong. I did not lie. There is no known cure," she said, matter-of-factly. Happosai shook his head.

"Not a direct cure, no," he said. "But you know as well as I do that there is a way to reverse the effects." Cologne scowled. "And I know for a fact you possess the means to do so…I've seen the tool in your room before. I never recognized what it was until now…but I'm sure it's there."

The two ancient fighters glared at one another in silence for several moments. Finally, Cologne spoke.

"What do I have to do to keep you quiet about this?" Happosai gasped in shock.

"You think you can buy my silence?! You heartless witch! Why, Ranma and Akane are practically family to me! I oughtta…" Out of seemingly nowhere, Cologne dropped a giant wad of silky undergarments in front of Happosai's cage.

"Here's half of Shampoo's panty drawer. Will that do?" The old pervert reached out and grabbed the whole lot.

"….that'll do…"


Ranma Saotome tossed and turned in his sleep. Images kept hurriedly flashing through his unconscious mind. He was standing alone in a darkened room. He glanced all around him, but his eyes could not pierce the darkness. A sound began to ring out of nowhere. It was a deep cackling sort of laughter. It started out small but steadily increased in intensity. It grew so loud that the young martial artist had to cover his ears. Suddenly, the laughter turned into a piercing scream. The shock of the sound sent Ranma to his knees. He glanced up, looking for the originating point of the sound. Squinting, he noticed a small figure begin to steadily fall through from the sky. As it grew closer, he was able to make it out. It was diminutive in stature and looked just like Akane…it was a doll. Then, it started to multiply. More and more dolls fell from the darkness, followed by more and more screams. He tried to reach out for one of the dolls, but despite his best effort it fell through his grasp and hit the floor…As it did so, it shattered into a million pieces. The screams became too intense. He couldn't take it any more…He's supposed to save her…why couldn't he save her…He cowered into an almost fetal position…

Then he woke up.

Ranma jolted out of bed. He could feel the sweat pouring down his forehead as he glanced around his room…Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No laughter…no screams…no dolls…This was the umpteenth time these past few weeks that he'd had one of these nightmares…And it seemed there was only one solution if he was to try to get any sleep tonight. The pig-tailed youth crawled out from under his covers and staggered to the door. He had to make sure she was ok and not in million pieces. When he swung the door open, however, he was met by big surprise.

Akane was standing in the now open doorway, arm stretched out as if about to reach for the knob. In her other hand was a sleeping mat and blanket. If he wasn't so startled, Ranma would've sighed in relief at the knowledge that his fiancée wasn't made of cloth and cotton.

"Akane," he asked. "What are you doing here? Are you ok?" It was hard for him to tell in the dark, but he was fairly sure that she was blushing. She turned her gaze away from his for a moment.

"I…um…c-couldn't sleep…" She quickly made eye contact with him, and then glanced back away. Ranma scratched his head.

"Oh…did…ah…did you have…y'know…a nightmare…or something?" He found it odd that the two of them would've both been awoken by such eerily similar circumstances.

"No," she shifted. "Nothing like that…I…ah…I think it's the pill taking effect…" She kept avoiding his gaze. Ranma shook his head. This pill was quickly becoming a major thorn in their sides. How could she have forgotten?

"What do you mean," he said. "It took effect yesterday morning. You started following my orders, remember?"

"No, I mean…I mean the other part of the pill…The part where I…um…have to stay in close proximity…to you."

The young martial artist's eyes widened. He had almost forgotten about that little quirk.

"Akane, your room's just right down the hall." He rubbed the back of his neck. "That's gotta be close enough…"

"I thought it would be too," she sighed. "But when I tried to go to sleep…I began to get the worst feeling in my stomach. I couldn't breathe, all of the sudden…The room started spinning…My head felt like it was splitting in two." She looked at her fiancé long enough to see the panicked look on his face. "I don't even remember leaving my room and coming here…It's like my body reacted on its own…So here I am…" Ranma's mouth was slightly agape.

"So, what you're…telling me…is…"

Akane nodded.

"….c-can I sleep in here…with you…"

The two teenagers stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Neither of them made eye contact. Finally…Ranma spoke.

"You…ah…can take that corner…if you want." Akane gave a curt nod of acknowledgement, and then started unrolling her mat in the corner. After a few moments, the two managed to get comfortable in their own respective beds. The two continued the awkward silence. After a while…Akane managed a "Good night."…to which Ranma returned….Then, despite their best efforts…Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo drifted off to sleep.