Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is a creation of Rumiko Takahashi's.
Chapter 10
It had been raining for days, and Ranma was sick of it. There was nothing to do but sit around the sorceress' cottage and wait. Someone had found a set of jacks and they had played for a while, but now no one would challenge Ranma and his skills. He currently sat next to the table where Akane was and idly juggled the jacks and ball.
Ryoga had left and probably gotten lost the other day right after he woke; intimidated by all the evil eyes he had received from the women. After the midday meal Rouge had sent Ukyo, Kasumi, and Nabiki out into the rain to tend the garden and work away any boredom. Oddly enough Shampoo had vehemently refused to leave the cottage, and that left the Amazon, the two Jusenkyo victims and the two dolls to inhabit the room.
Shampoo broke the silence from where she sat on the floor, cleaning her sword, "When we have milk, what we do? How cure Mousse?"
Ranma caught the jacks and looked in interest towards the sorceress, awaiting her answer.
Rouge, who had been meditating with her arms crossed over her chest, murmured as if asleep, "Stir the milk three times from east to west while saying the spell of healing. Then dip the subject in the potion for one breath. The subject must then drink a cup of the potion before the Sun disappears."
Thinking about the last part Ranma blurted, "Does that mean the Sun has to be out for the cure to work?"
The sorceress barely nodded.
"How long until milk?" Shampoo inquired as she sheathed her sword and stood up.
"Oh, anytime today or tomorrow Milky should start."
Right after her words the commotion at the door caused Ranma to turn in surprise as a black, wet cow came rushing in followed by Kasumi, Nabiki and Ukyo, their wet cloaks dripping on the floor.
Rouge opened her eyes and looked up at her familiar, "Are you ready to be milked?"
"Moooooo."
Excited Ranma put down the jacks, picked Akane up and rushed over. He noted Shampoo moving similarly out of the corner of his eye. "Alright, so Akane can be cured!?" his face fell as he realized something, "but the Sun's not out."
The sorceress did a handstand and then returned to her feet, "No, but the preparations can be made."
Akane in Ranma's hand waited anxiously as she watched Rouge milk the cow. Judging from the way Ranma was bouncing back and forth, Kasumi rubbing her hands together and the wary gleam in Nabiki's eyes, she wasn't the only one who was impatient for the cure.
After what seemed like ages Rouge stood up with the bowl of milk. As the sorceress placed the bowl on the table she told Ranma and Shampoo to place the two dolls down. While Ranma set her on the table Akane watched Shampoo with Mousse. The blue-haired girl wasn't sure, but she thought she saw Shampoo hesitate before reluctantly placing Mousse down.
Then Ukyo's voice distracted Akane, "What now? How do we cure them?"
"I can prepare the milk, but we can't cure the inflicted until the Sun is out."
Akane watched intently as Rouge then proceeded to chant something as she pulled out a wooden spoon and carefully stirred the milk.
It didn't take the sorceress long to complete her task, "There, that is all for now," Rouge calmly informed her audience.
"Then Amazons no need stay any longer," Akane watched in shock as Shampoo tossed throwing knives around the room, causing everyone to dodge. The purple-haired woman snatched Mousse, her pack and the bowl of milk, pulled a travelling cloak over her form and ran out the door.
Ranma immediately gave chase, following Shampoo's dark cloak into the rain. His Jusenkyo curse instantly was activated, and he shrank as his body morphed and became curvier. Ignoring his form and the discomfort of his now soaking wet clothes Ranma ran into the hazy and slick forest where he had seen Shampoo disappear. He couldn't find her. The trees cast endless dark shadows and a mist was starting to rise.
Despair gripped him. He had lost her. He had lost Akane's cure. Akane was stuck as a doll until the end of her days. He would never again hear her voice or see her smile. All he could do is watch in bitter sweetness as she blinked at him.
In a numb shock Ranma wandered back to the sorceress' cottage. He stated in a dead voice, "I lost her" before collapsing into a chair.
"Is that your cursed form?" Ranma blankly noted Rouge's amused voice referring to his currently female body.
Kasumi walked forward and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "It's alright, Ranma. We can get the milk again tomorrow. Who knows, it might even be sunny then!"
The pigtailed youth sat up, "We can get the milk again tomorrow?"
"Of course," Nabiki pointed out, "cows can give milk daily."
Ranma brightened considerably and then reddened when he realized he already knew that fact. He glanced around the room and noticed almost everyone was watching him with concern, including Akane. The only ones not looking worried were Rouge who was crazy anyway and Ukyo who was eyeing him oddly.
Ranma had gotten up bright and early the next morning only to find everyone else was asleep. After peeking outside and seeing that the sky was finally free of clouds he decided to go for a walk and stretch his legs. When he came back in the women were just beginning to awaken. Once breakfast was beginning to cook Ranma found himself very restless unable to wait to cure Akane. As a result the pigtailed man was bouncing around endlessly driving everyone else crazy.
"Rouge could you PLEASE go milk your cow so that we can finally have some peace?" Ukyo gritted out while Ranma dodged out of her striking range with the spatula.
The sorceress once again set about collecting the milk, and when that was done, preparing it for the cure. This time when she finished Ranma hovered for a heartbeat, waiting for something else to go wrong.
When nothing happened he asked, "What do we do now?"
"Go into the sunlight," Rouge commanded as she led the way.
Kasumi brought Akane as she, Nabiki and Ranma followed outside. Ukyo stayed behind to watch their breakfast cook.
Once outside the sorceress carefully placed the bowl of milk on the ground and stepped back. "Now place the cursed one in the milk; make sure she is entirely coated in it."
As Ranma watched Kasumi do as she was told he could hear his heart pounding in his chest. An astonished gasp and sputter made Ranma start. Akane, still the size of a doll, had sat up on her own and was gasping for air!
Before he could react the pigtailed youth heard Rouge say, "Now drink all the milk before anything blocks the Sun."
The blue-haired doll quickly complied and busily drank the milk. As she drank her body and clothes began to grow and grow. When Akane finished the last drops from the bowl she was finally back to her normal size and shape; she lifted her head, smiled and laughed in relief.
Despite the sticky milk that coated her and plastered her hair and clothes to her body and despite her sisters and the sorceress standing nearby, when Ranma saw her smile he felt his chest clench and couldn't help but pull her into his arms and hug her.
Of course, after a moment of shock, Akane began to struggle and Ranma's mind finally caught up to what he was doing. He hastily let her go, stared off to the side and tried to pretend nothing happened as his cheeks reddened, doing his best to ignore the amused looks from Akane's sisters before they too pulled their sister into a hug.
Glad to be back in her normal state Akane happily walked back into the cottage after having run, skipped and cart wheeled around the building several times. The joy of being able to move again had almost been too much and after hugging her sisters the blue-haired woman had taken off. After watching her in amusement for a couple laps her sisters and Rouge had returned to the cottage. Oddly Ranma had stayed out the longest to watch her, but for the time being Akane just didn't care. Stepping into the cottage Akane met with a cheery bunch.
"Hey, I heard you were cured." Ukyo smiled to her in greeting.
"Thank you!" and as Ukyo handed her an okonomiyaki she added, "Now I can enjoy your wonderful cooking again!"
"Yeah, you deserve it," Ukyo paused and an odd glint lit her eyes, "just as you deserve this!" The smiling chef walked over to Akane and then slapped her across the face.
Her hand on her stinging cheek, Akane stared in shock at who she had thought was her friend.
"Ukyo!"
"What was that for?!"
"Oh, that's right, you too," the still smiling chef sauntered up to Ranma and smacked him across the face too. "Consider that my revenge against you two. I'll be going now!" With that Ukyo cheerful picked up her pack waved goodbye and left.
Astonished faces watched her go, the blue-haired woman trying to solve the puzzle of what just happened.
"What was that about?" Akane heard Ranma ask.
Later that day the Tendo sisters and Ranma said goodbye to Rouge and took off. Ranma had to admit he was glad to go. Not that Rouge was bad per say, he'd gladly take her instead of Kodachi any day, but the pigtailed man felt he was justified in never wanting to meet another sorceress again. His musing shifted to the young women he was travelling with and the blue-haired one in particular. He smiled remembering the utter joy on her face as she had run off her excitement after being cured.
Akane's voice broke his thoughts, "Well, what now?"
"Now we head home," Nabiki responded.
"I wonder how Father is doing." Kasumi bit her lip.
"I'm sure Dad's fine. Ranma, are you coming with us?" The middle sister glanced slyly at him.
Choosing to ignore her tone he replied, "Yup."
"You really do like Akane, don't you?" Nabiki teased.
As Akane broke out into halfhearted protests Ranma whispered inaudibly beneath his breath, "maybe."
Listening to the sisters' banter as they walked and watching a light breeze ruffle Akane's hair, Ranma thought he might have finally found something worthwhile that he hadn't even realize he was looking for. Grinning, the young man thought of what his life would be like with the Tendos, with Akane, and decided he couldn't wait.