Author's Note: I don't have an excuse for not updating yet.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or places from Ranma ½.
Ranma and Akane hid in back of a stumbling bus destined for China. Most of the school sat before them, chatting with each other, plugged in to a CD or radio, or sleeping awkwardly in the stiff carpeted seats. A blanket draped over the two as they hid their holding hands under it. Their family occupied the seats closest to them, Nabiki keeping a steady eye on the two. Ranma had to pretend to be bored by staring out the window just to keep her beady eyes even blinking. Akane was paranoid with this, so he grabbed her hand. She flushed and sank into her seat quietly.
They had been traveling for days and the destination was on the horizon. The trip, at first, had been fresh and exciting. The students bounced from seat to seat as parents and teachers eyed them with worried agitation. As the days passed though, the riled students became stagnant, holing themselves up in the same seats as if they were assigned. Ranma and Akane were popular candidates for conversation, it seemed, for the whole bus. Everyone wanted a play by play of the unseen fight under the ice. Soon after, the attention was stolen by Kuno who bragged about his victory. The couple was only grateful for time alone finally.
"Are you excited about getting back to Jusenkyo?" Akane asked quietly. Her face peeked out over the blanket. She threw a quick, awkward glance up to meet Ranma's eyes momentarily.
"Yeah." He said shortly. He seemed apathetic, but on the inside Ranma was raging with nerves. Again, he was so close to being normal. His skin itched with impatience as he watched the trees blur by outside.
(I won't let anyone stop me this time. I will be cured.) Without a word, Ranma stared down at Akane. She had her headphones on and stared blankly across the aisle. (I won't let you stop me either, Akane. Not again.) He thought and blinked slowly. Resting his head against the headrest, he drifted into a shallow sleep. His grip on Akane's hand loosened with his unconsciousness. Noticing this, she looked up.
(It's not just you, Ranma. I need this too. We both know what it's felt like to be normal. To be light without secrets. I remember not worrying about what other people thought too, to not hide. It hurts to hide, especially from loved ones.)
"I'm heavy." Akane mumbled to herself. She hated thinking about their curses and how it really did play a huge part on their active lives. It was like always stepping on egg shells.
"I didn't want to say anything, but it does look like you've gain some weight." Ranma teased, opening an eye. Akane snapped out of her one person pity party and smacked him behind the head. "What?" He asked, stunned and defensive. She replied with a stern look and pursed lips. In return he scrunched his, hiding the laughter behind his teeth. She knew he was only playing around, but it was his opinion that mattered the most. He turned, the joke dying in his throat, and let the side of his head rest against the seat. His eyes fluttered slowly shut, and this time, Akane was sure he was asleep.
(I wish we didn't have to hide us too.) She finally thought, squeezing his hidden hand, before joining him in his slumber.
Akane woke to a still bus and still air. The vehicle was empty as was the seat next to her.
"Are we there?" She asked herself. Carefully, she pushed the blanket away. Akane stood and picked out a path, her foot grazing stray backpacks and sweatshirts, to the front of the bus and exit. Gazing out of the tinted windows, she saw a few classmates mingling around a small building. They were daring and smoked before the teachers returned or noticed. Akane felt herself relax as she stepped out of the bus into the fresh air.
It was unclear as to where they were, but she noticed the luggage unloaded. Ranma strolled towards her, hands in his pocket. He stopped next to her, caught her eye, and released a tiny smile. Akane shyly leaned into him, giving him an armless hug.
"What's going on?" She murmured before standing straight again.
"Popped tire. They had to unload everything and everyone so they could raise the bus up and change it." He explained, slightly flushed by her proximity. They watched as their classmates rummaged through their own luggage, retrieving fresh clothes. Thinking it was good idea, Akane reached for own bag. Before touching it though, it bounced slightly away from her.
Akane blinked, confused. "My luggage…it…" She started.
"What's up?" Ranma asked, crouching down next to the bag. It was still as the two students observed it. Unsatisfied, he stood straight and released a swift kick to the bag. A sharp squeal bellowed from the carrier.
"I-It spoke!" Akane exclaimed falling backwards on to her behind. Ranma crouched down quickly and unzipped the bag. Three animals flew out of the bag, breathless and weary from travel.
"P-chan!" Akane exclaimed, happily grabbing her pet pig and hugging him closely. Ranma glared angrily at the pig, it looking satisfied and content. Pouting, he turned his attention to the other animals. A small cat and duck were huffing for breath, crowding the duffle bag they just poured out of.
"Akane." Ranma shortly said, eyes locked to the creatures. Her attention did not waver from the piglet cuddled in her arms. "Hey, Akane." He tried again.
"What?" She replied, on the edge of anger out of irritation alone. Her face snapped up to glare at him. In return, he simply pointed at the two accompanying animals. Her clenched jaw slackened as her brain blanked on what to do next.
"Well isn't this convenient." Ranma sarcastically remarked. Picking up the cat by the tail, he asked it, "What are you doing here Shampoo?" He swung the upside down cat back and forth as it batted at his face playfully. "Maybe Mousse could tell me?" He asked, kicking at the near-sighted duck. It squawked angrily, biting at Ranma's shoe laces.
"We need to find some hot water." Akane decided, rising and dropping P-chan to the ground. Ranma went to stand beside her, "accidentally" stepping on the piglet's foot. Squealing, the pig bit at his ankles. "Be careful Ranma!" Akane scolded. Sulking, Ranma turned and followed her to the bathrooms.
While zipping up his fly, the driver stepped out of the restroom and gave Akane the once over. She grimaced and met his eye. His eyebrows lifted as she stopped and placed her hands her hips.
"What do you want, mister?" She barked, nervously holding her ground.
"That's the men's room." He sniffed. Turning, he continued on to the bus. Bursting with laughter, Ranma sniggered softly at Akane as she embarrassingly stepped in to the men's room, a line of animals following her at her feet. Her face warm, she went to the procession of sinks to splash her face.
"Akane, don't -" He started, but it was too late. Stuck in the habit of recovering from a flush, Akane had voluntarily transformed herself in to a man. Slightly peeved, she bit her lip as she slowly looked up at her fiancé. "Well, this is the men's room." He managed, red faced with fits of laughter.
"Har Har." She sarcastically remarked, twisting the opposite facet. The porcelain sink slowly filled with steaming hot water. "Let's get them back to normal." Akane cupped the hot water and spread it over her bare arms, transforming herself back to her comfortable state. Cautiously, she picked up the cat by the neck. Shampoo hissed warningly in Akane's face before she threw the unfriendly feline into the scalding sink.
The transformation was instant. Shampoo, restored to her full glory, sat boldly naked in the sink. Both the remaining animals burst in to nose bleeds while Ranma uncomfortable turned, his cheeks burning brightly. She smiled smugly, hopping off the sink, and wrapped her arms around his back. Her exposed skin heated Ranma's back making him cough awkwardly.
"Excuse me!" Akane exclaimed. Taking Shampoo by her shoulders, she shoved the unclothed competition in to the nearest stall, shutting the door violently behind her. Mousse screeched, dawdling after her, and ducking under the stall. With a sharp exclamation, Shampoo threw the duck over the top of the stall. Flapping wildly and triumphantly, Mousse landed on the opposite side of the bathroom.
"You better start talking Shampoo." Akane threatened.
"No it you who needs to talk. Why did you turn in to boy? Shampoo not know, but I will ask everyone!" She retaliated. Akane caught her breath. How incredibly stupid of her to transform in front of both Mousse and Shampoo. It seemed her secret would not stay a secret for much longer. In desperation, Akane explained her situation to the cat-girl, confirming her one commonality with her enemy.
"So, we all need this. We get back on bus to Jusenkyo." Shampoo finalized. The couple had no choice, but to agree.
"You're traveling below; back in the bag Shampoo." Akane added dryly. Unlocking the door, Akane splashed the nude before she could make her second appearance. The familiar cat scurried from out from under the stall, shaking furiously to release the dampness from its fur. Mousse and Ryouga quickly followed her out the door, apprehensive of the full sink of water.
Making sure everyone was in the correct form, Akane and Ranma tailed in the parade of animals. They gave each other exasperated looks as they made their way on to the path back to the bus. A flash of anxiety washed over Akane's face. Ranma, noticing this, squeezed her hand quickly, and released it. She managed a smile for his attempt of comfort. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
"Ranma? What's wrong?" Akane asked, turning to look at him. He didn't meet her eye, but continued to stare straight ahead. "What is it?" She tried to see what he was looking at. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she returned her gaze to him. "Well?"
"The bus is gone." He simply said.