Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Now that Akane had something to focus on, the days following her and Ukyo's decision passed with much less pain then the previous ones had. It had been a month since Ranma had left and for the first time Akane felt as if she had a purpose, amazing how much of a difference a plan of action can make. But the plan is only the plan and soon Akane realized that she had no idea where to start looking for Ranma.

Ukyo had noticed this small problem as well of course and their leaving was delayed for several days as they had endless conversations that all went about the same way.

"He might have gone to China," Akane would say.

"If he could have, but Ran-chan doesn't have the money to get there," Ukyo would reply. Then Akane would sit and think for awhile and usually end up saying,

"He could have swam there." But she never sounded really convinced and Ukyo didn't really think it all that possible either. "So he's probably somewhere in Japan." Akane would continue.

"Yeah, that would be my guess," Ukyo would add. Then they would lapse into silence for awhile, each thinking similar thoughts 'Ranma, where are you?' They would then throw out suggestions for another half an hour or so, but would eventually give up, because they really had no idea where Ranma could be, or even where to start looking.

After about a week of this Akane was getting depressed. Her family had been trying their best to cheer her up ever since Ranma had left, but their best helped very little, especially in Soun's case. Soun would burst into tears at the slightest provocation and would even rampage around the house once and awhile with his eerie impression of a snake. Nabiki at first had tried to ignore the anguish seen on her little sister's face on a daily basis, but soon found it impossible.

This is why she was to be found in her room one night pondering over certain possibilities. She sat in front of her desk, staring at the things carefully spread out on it. There were a number of interesting things on her desk; the most interesting of which was a map.

"Why the hell do I have to be so soft-hearted?" Nabiki mumbled to herself, still staring at the map. "Well, it is still a business deal, I mean ever since Ranma's left, my profits have gone down quite a bit. Without Kuno's obsessive purchasing of the female Ranma's pictures…" Nabiki trailed off. "Still to just give it to her for free." Nabiki shuddered the capitalist in her trying to change her mind that had been made up, even if she wasn't ready to admit that quite yet. "She's my sister damn it!" Nabiki sat for a few more minutes, then stood up, grabbed the map, and walked out of her room.

Meanwhile Akane sat on her bed, hugging her knees. She wasn't crying, but she was very close to it. She felt cold all over, there was a piece of her missing and she didn't know where it was. She wanted to get it back, but… Akane's less then pleasant musings were interrupted by a snort outside her door.

"Nabiki?" Akane questioned. Nabiki walked in smiling smugly.

"Yes it's me." Akane felt something begin to boil inside her, in the midst of her obvious unhappiness, here was her own sister smiling!

"Nabiki tell me what you want or get out. I'm in no mood to be mocked tonight." The statement wasn't completely unfounded; the night Ranma had left, Nabiki had teased her without mercy.

"So what are you going to do now huh?" She had asked with a malicious undercurrent in her voice. "Without a fiancé, you might have to just give in and date Kuno or something." It wasn't really a good insult, for Nabiki it was terrible; it wasn't at all up to her usual standards, but part of it can be put down as jealousy. Strange as she found it, Nabiki was jealous that Akane attracted all the guys, and though she rarely even allowed herself to think it, she did have a thing for that idiot Kuno.

Nabiki's grin was forcibly removed from her expression as she walked over to her sister and sat down on the bed. She held the map out to her.

"Here," she said, "I had some of my 'sources' do a little investigating and they heard some stories of a teenager with a pigtail doing impossible martial arts stunts in this remote area outside this tiny town. I thought you might be interested to hear about it."

Nabiki didn't look at her sister, if she had, she would have seen the look of utter amazement that Akane was giving her. For Nabiki to tell her this, without asking for 1000 yen first, it just wasn't something that happened. Akane didn't know exactly what to say, so the words just kind of, tumbled out,

"Uh, thanks Nabiki, I um… well," she suddenly took a good look at the piece of paper that Nabiki was holding out to her. Upon closer examination she gasped and yanked the page out of her hand. "This is, this is…where did you…it's a…"

"A map," Nabiki said coolly. "I told you I had my sources find out where he is. Now go get him back, with him gone, my profit margins are decreasing at an alarming rate. Besides, the quiet is getting rather boring." Nabiki tried to keep her voice normal, but wasn't completely successful. She kept her head carefully turned away from Akane, so that she didn't have to see the emotions playing over her face.

"Thank you Nabiki," Akane's voice was unsteady. "Finally I know where to start, I have to go tell Ukyo!" She jumped up and was gone.

"Wait!" Yelled Nabiki, but Akane was gone. "You could have just used the phone." She just smiled slightly and rolled her eyes. "Love."

* * * * * * * * *

Less then an hour later, we meet our favorite tomboy running alongside our favorite okonomiyaki chef, heavy packs on both of their backs. They were both running in complete silence, for each had their own thoughts they had to deal with. In Akane's head flashed memories of all the times she had attacked Ranma, for the stupidest reasons. 'Oh I hope he doesn't hate me,' she thought. 'But after all the things I've done to him I wouldn't blame him if he did.' Luckily though, more cheerful ones soon replaced these thoughts. The one that kept replaying over and over inside her head was of course that pivotal moment before Ranma had left; that kiss; the one moment that Akane hadn't been worried about the consequences.

The subject of Ukyo's thoughts were basically on the same wavelength as Akane's, except that Ukyo's memory of that moment hadn't been quite as cheering. All she could remember about that day was having been coming over for some reason and having seen the two of them… as she looked over at Akane, she sighed, how much easier it would be if she didn't like Ranma. She was beginning to cherish Akane's friendship, but she still loved Ranma. She loved Ranma, not only because her father had told her to, but because she just did. It was impossible to explain, she didn't necessary want to be in love with Ranma; of all the people she could choose, she had to pick Ranma, the one guy who would never see her in that way. To him she was just a friend. A friend, sometimes that word brought with it a taste of blood. A friend, could she possibly ever care for Ranma as only a friend? She loved him so much, that was the reason that when she saw the two of them… they were kissing. Not only were they kissing, but they looked so happy doing it. Maybe if they hadn't looked as if they had just been dropped into a huge pit of money, given half of Japan, and then been informed that the planet was being re-named in honor of them… maybe things would have turned out different. But something inside of her just… snapped. A little green-eyed creature that was such a part of her suddenly grew and filled her entire body, until all she could see was that Ranma was kissing another girl. This had seemed like the end of the world, there was nothing else she could do the monster whispered to her, she had to attack. So she did.

Ukyo heaved a sigh. Why did everything she do work out wrong? She always started with such good intentions, so why…? Her musing was interrupted when Akane whispered,

"Did you hear that?" Ukyo turned to face her.

"No, what was it?" Akane didn't answer for a minute, she simply listened.

"Guess it was just my imagination." But it hadn't been her imagination at all. It had been Shampoo.

Shampoo had been spying on Akane ever since Ranma had left. She figured that Akane would find a way to him eventually, and when she did, Shampoo was going to be ready. The old crone hopped alongside her granddaughter. She didn't speak, but her mind was unceasingly active.

The girls were getting close to the town that was indicated on the map; they both knew it. They continued to get quieter and quieter and Ukyo began to wonder, not for the first time, why she had come along. She knew that it would only hurt her more, simply looking over at Akane and seeing the anticipation that was in her eyes induced a feeling inside her. It felt like a chill; a chill that would sweep though her entire body, only for a second, and then it would be gone. Why had she come along? She knew the answer, somewhere deep inside, she just didn't want to admit it to herself. She had come to get closure. He loved Akane, she knew that now, and she knew, only too well, that Akane loved him back. She knew that she was completely out of the picture, but she had to be sure, completely sure and hopefully, seeing them together… would give her that. Then, maybe she could finally get over him, finally realize how hopeless her love was and begin the painstaking process of getting over him.

They were close; they entered the town and began to make enquiries of the people there. Had anyone seen a martial artist, he had a pigtail. No? No? No? No one would tell them anything, in a couple of instances, doors were actually slammed in their faces. Akane and Ukyo were perplexed, what was going on? An ancient old lady came out from the shadows.

"They are afraid," she whispered. "They think he is a demon."

"What?" Asked Akane and Ukyo together.

"They have seen him perform moves that no human should be able to do, they have seen him do inhuman stunts and they have heard him, at night, when he cries out."

"He cries out?" Akane's voice was full of fear and concern. "Why?" The old lady looked at her with a critical eye and said,

"You aren't Akane are you?" Akane gasped and took a half step backwards; Ukyo stepped close to the old lady,

"How did you know that?" Her voice was low, but with a definite hint of steel in it. The old lady looked at Ukyo, then turned to Akane, and took her hand.

"In his sleep, he calls out for a girl, always the same one. He calls out for Akane." Akane began to weep silently. The old lady looked at her kindly. "Come my dear, I will take you to him, you should not keep your love waiting." It was all Ukyo could do not to start crying too.