Ukyou woke up the next morning on New Years Eve, her mind troubled by her dreams. She couldn't remember any specifics but she had vague recollections that Ryouga, Ranma and Akane had haunted her during the night.
'Doesn't surprise me. They're the only ones I've seen and thought about in the past few days.' Ukyou put her hand over her eyes trying to remember what it was she had dreamed about. It was something important and yet she couldn't quite grasp the memory of it.
Her hand came off her eyes as a moment later the door flew open and banged against the wall. Startled, Ukyou sat up in her futon and stared at the sight of Ranma standing in the doorway.
"Hey Akane..have you seen Ryou-er I mean P-chan this morning?" Ranma glanced at Akane's bed but she was gone. His eyes came down to see Ukyou on the floor in a guest futon. And what she was wearing… or perhaps not wearing. Ukyou had gone to sleep in one of the guest robes since her clothes had to be dry. The robe had become loosened during the night and when Ukyou had sat straight up he could see..
Ukyou looked down the moment she saw Ranma staring at somewhere other than her face. She shrieked, "GET OUT!" She picked up a pillow and threw it at Ranma hitting him square in the face. She grabbed the edges of the robe holding them closed, her face lighting up in a blush.
"I'm sorry! I didn't look!"
That was a lie and both of them knew it but Ukyou settled for throwing another pillow and yelling "Get out!" one more time.
Ranma closed the door, a soft thump from the other side telling of the pillow smack the door had taken in his place. Nabiki had opened her door and stuck her head into the hall smirking at him. "Trying another early morning visit with Akane?" she teased, "You're too late Ranma. Ryouga took her out hours ago for a walk."
Ranma stared at Nabiki. "He did?" What was the lost boy up to?
--
"Ryouga, isn't this a little far?" Akane furrowed her brow as she glanced over at him. He had knocked softly on her door first thing this morning and requested that she go on a walk with him. He had muttered the words, "I have to tell you something important," but in the few hours she'd been walking with him, he had yet to say to her what was so important.
Ryouga glanced up from staring at the sidewalk. In the few minutes they'd been walking together he was trying to work up the nerve to tell her about P-chan. Everytime he wanted to utter the words, "I'm your pet pig" they got caught in his throat and he couldn't do it. When Akane's words intruded into his thoughts he did glance around. "Where are we?" Ryouga frowned, "We just left the dojo a few minutes ago."
"That was nearly two hours ago Ryouga," Akane glanced back. Luckily they were still in Nerima but they were gaining on the fringes of the city. "We walked in five circles and now you seem to be taking us out of town. Are you ever going to tell me what it is you had to tell me?"
Rather than letting Ryouga continue leading them to certain lost wilderness, Akane stopped and reached out to touch his arm. He turned to her and his brown eyes were so full of emotions. She could see he was scared of saying whatever it was to her. Akane knew what he was going to say. She knew Ryouga still liked her. He was working up the courage to tell her about it. She would have to let him down gently. She just didn't feel the same way. She loved Ranma and they were going to be married. She could feel his ring on her finger.
"It's okay Ryouga. You can tell me what it is. No matter what I'll understand," She looked up into his eyes.
What he said next, Akane wasn't sure she heard at first. He said it so fast, her brows drew together in confusion. "You're in big debt?" Needless to say, his state of finances was not what she expected him to talk about.
"No," Ryouga shook his head. He had to take a deep breath as he repeated, "I'm a pig and your pet." Saying it again was worse than the first time. The first time Akane hadn't heard him. The second time saying it slower, seemed more torturous than the first.
"Are you feeling okay Ryouga?" Akane reached up to touch his brow to feel for a fever but he jerked his head away.
"I'm fine Akane," Ryouga assured her. Stepping back slightly he said, "I'm trying to say to you that I'm P-chan. We're the same. He is me and I am him."
"But that's ridiculous," Akane scoffed, "If you were P-chan then you'd have to turn into a little pig and how do you…" her voice trailed off. The realizations of what Ryouga was saying along with the implications hit her. "Jusenkyo?" her eyes stared at Ryouga but she was looking through him.
"Yes," Ryouga didn't deny it.
Akane thought back. It made sense. P-chan showed up usually when Ryouga disappeared. P-chan. Cute little P-chan. She had kissed his forehead, kissed his nose, rubbed his tummy and made a fun pet of him. She had slept with him in her bed lying next to her on the pillow or under the covers. And it was Ryouga. Ryouga all the time, had been..
Ryouga watched as Akane's eyes lost the thoughtful look as she tried to piece together the puzzle. The fires of anger slowly lighted her dark eyes and it was heating up into an explosive fury.
'I deserve whatever she gives me.' That was his last thought before the Mallet of Doom, usually reserved only for Ranma, suddenly appeared in Akane's hand.