C. Cowboy: Howdy! I'm glad you like it so far! If your wondering about the song I got the title, the song is gonna go in this chapter. I'll warn ya a few characters will be a bit OOC, but I thank it works out ok.  R&R I'd like to thank Angelstars for all the help she's given me with this chapter, all the flashbacks are from her, Thanks Angel ^_~

Note: (song) [flash backs]

Chapter 2: Unlikely Helpers

"Ranma you need to eat something." Kasumi said worriedly but Ranma didn't even respond, he just continued to stare at the plate setting in front of him. His eyes glazed over and body slumped showing nothing but signs of surrender and defeat. Ranma stood up and started toward the door.

 "Son where are you going? You're not going to go do something crazy like rescue Akane, are you? Genma asked stressing the last part as a hint.

 "No. Why should I?" Ranma responded barely above a whisper. Genma watched him go and then turned to Soun and they both shook their heads. 

"Who needs her?" Ranma said kicking a small rock. "She can't cook a ham sandwich, incredibly uncute, mean, violent, pretty, …huh?" Ranma then began to slap the side of his head, "Pretty? You're just not thinking straight!" he let out a sigh and went back on his pity trip.

 "What the hell is your problem Saotome?" Ranma asked himself looking up to the sky. "So what if she's gone? Not like you're going to miss her. All she ever did was yell at you, put you down, hit you with her mallet, and always came running when you needed her… damn it I'm doing it again!" he yelled running his hand through his jet-black hair. "Look at yourself Ranma, you're arguing with yourself." He mumbled with a sad chuckle.

"Akane…" Ranma sighed leaning up against a tree. He looked down toward the koi pond, just staring at his reflection, and reached down splashing his arm with the chilly water.

"At least I don't have to worry about becoming a girl anymore." He said trying to cheer himself up, but didn't come close. He looked down again and instead of seeing himself he saw a very pretty young girl with long dark hair smiling happily at him, "I'm Akane, you wanna be friends?" Ranma blinked while shaking his head and looked again but all he could see was his own reflection staring back.

(You gave me time, when no one gave me time of day.)

Then it hit him like a ton of bricks; Ranma would never see Akane's smile again. Rage and self-hatred began to build up as he turned toward the tree and began using it for a punching post.

(You looked deep inside while the rest of the world looked away.)

[Ranma continued to stare at Akane as she went through the third slab of concrete. She turned and faced Ranma. Her hair was shorter now that Kasumi had trimmed it back more; Ranma jumped down and took a quick swing at her, which she easily dogged. Ranma smiled, "Akane, don't you ever get tired of getting angry all the time?"]
 

(You smiled at me, when there were just frowns everywhere.)

[Akane screwed up her face, "I like being angry!" she huffed back at him.
 
"Well that's too bad" Ranma continued,

Akane huffed once more, "Why is that!"

 Ranma smiled, "'Cause you're really cute when you smile." He stated, causing Akane to fall and lose her balance.]

 (You gave me love, when nobody gave me a prayer.)

"I'm not going to miss her. I'm not going to miss her." He ordered himself as he hit harder and harder, bringing a little more pain with each punch. Each second of pain in his fist was also every second he wasn't feeling pain in his heart, and he wanted more relief from his pain-filled heart.

[Ranma couldn't believe what that jerk Mikado had done, and in front of Akane also. He shook the memory out of his mind once more when he heard Akane enter the dojo…

"To let yourself get kissed so easily! You haven't trained enough!" She closed her eyes, and pulled the back of another band-aid from the first aid box. "You leave yourself open way to much…"]

(That's why I call you lover, That's why I call you friend!)

"Stop it Ranma you're not going to miss her."

[She was cut off as Ranma quickly under handed her smoothly so that she kneeled back and lent on his crossed legs, their faces barley apart.
"HEY!" Akane suddenly screeched, causing both young martial artists to turn and blush.

"D-don't get the wrong idea! It's not like I was gonna kiss you or anything." Ranma stuttered throwing his hands up in defense.]

(You touched my heart,)

[Akane smugly grinned, "...I--I know that. You wouldn't have the guts to do that, anyway."]

"Stop it Ranma, she wasn't that important." Ranma said hitting harder.

(You touched my soul,)

["KEEP TALKING LIKE THAT AND I MIGHT!" Ranma challenged her.

Akane turned to face him, "OH, YEAH?? GO AHEAD AND TRY IT!!"]

Ranma's blows were beginning to bring blood to his fists.

(And helped me start all over again!)

[They then continued to stare at each other for a moment, calming down. Finally, Ranma spoke up, "O-okay! But close your eyes!"

Akane closed her eyes at the command and Ranma leant in a little, and paused for a few seconds, too scared to kiss her.

 He gulped and muttered an excuse, "Uh...I guess...this is something...you have to do...with someone you like."]

Now Ranma started throwing some kicks into his assault on the tree.

(You gave me love,)

["I...see. So of course you can't do it with me!" Akane replied a little hurt, but angry enough to shout back.

 "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! I just meant...if you don't mind...then I don't...." Ranma faulted shyly looking up into her eyes.]

(When nobody…)

[The two sat in front of the other, their faces inches apart.
"I don't mind…" Akane blushed.]

(Gave me a prayer.)

Bark and cloth from his pants leg began to fly into the air as Ranma continued to pound the tree. "Akane…"

(You gave me laughter, after I cried all my tears.)

[Akane couldn't bare seeing Ranma suffer from his weakened state, she had to help him some way… if Ryoga wouldn't fight him, then SHE would!!!

Ranma threw yet another stone in to the river and grumbled on about Ryoga running off like that 'Ha, so much for Ryoga's help…some friend…' he noticed something in the reflection of the water and sprang into a defense position. "Akane?"]

(You heard my dreams, while the rest of the world closed its ears.)


["FIGHT ME! COME ON COME AT ME RANMA!" she challenged him…

"WHA?? Akane you idiot what do you think you're doing! Ya gonna get hurt!!" he argued back as Akane took a swing at him…her arms where rapped in cloth and on fire all of a sudden the fire ignited and before she knew it her top was on fire. Akane jumped and panicked before sprang head first into the river.

Her top was torn and shredded, but all she could do was muster up an apology, Ranma then threw his top at her, "here"]

(I looked in your eyes)

[Akane you idiot, what where you thinking!!" Ranma yelled at her

Akane stood up, "I was trying to help you!"

"Well I don't need your help, Akane. You only get in the way I never wanted you to come here in the first place!"

"…well if I only ever get in your way…I'll…I'll just go…" she started to run from his hurtful words.]

"She was right." Ranma said tears now stinging his eyes, "I am a jerk, and I was always a jerk. No wonder she left."

(And I found the tenderness there!)

["Akane! Wait! That's not what I meant…" Ranma called out to her, grabbing onto her shoulders… "The reason why I didn't ask you to come here…was because…because you were the only person I didn't want to see me so weak and pathetic!"]

(You gave me love, when nobody gave me a prayer.)

Ranma then stopped and leaned up against the tree, and yet another painful memory flooded his mind…

[The pure strength of Ranma's attack took a whirling tornado up above him…all of a sudden he could hear Akane's voice… "Akane!" 'What how did she get caught up in this??'

"RANMA!" Akane cried out]

(That's why I call you lover, that's why I call you friend!)

["Akane! I'm coming!" Ranma replied getting ready to grab her to safety]

(You touched my heart, and you touched my soul, and helped me start all over again.)

[Akane then reached for the old worn pressure chart that could cure Ranma's weakness…"here…I got this when I noticed grandfather drop it"]

(That's why I'll always love you. That's why I'll always care:)

[Ranma gasped…'she…got the pressure point chart…she did it for me…she got caught up in my attack because of me!']

(You gave me love,)

["Akane! I'm coming…" he repeated, reaching her and pulling her into his arms…'the chart! I have to hang onto it, Akane risked her life for it I can't let it go!']

(When nobody gave me… a prayer…)

Ranma then looked up to the sky as a tear slid down his face, "AKANE! YOU'VE NEVER GOTTEN IN THE WAY! NEVER! AKANE!!!"

Ranma dropped to his knees breathing heavily. "Why Ranma no say when Ranma could?" came a voice from high in the tree, "What?" Ranma spun around to see Shampoo gracefully jump to the ground. Ranma was dreading this, when the other Fiancées would come running after they heard about Akane. He closed his eyes and waited for Shampoo to tackle him but the tackle never came. He opened one of his eyes; Shampoo was setting on the ground looking into the pond sadly.

"Shampoo?" Ranma asked concerned, this was definitely not the Shampoo he's come to know.

 "Why Ranma no go save Akane yet?" Shampoo asked looking up sadly.

 "I'm…not going to go Shampoo… I don't think she wants me to either…" Ranma replied slumping to the ground next to her.

"Ranma stupid." Shampoo bluntly spoke.

"What?" Ranma gasped, slightly stunned.

 "Ranma should go save Akane. Akane wants Ranma to come." Shampoo looked away from his staring eyes, "Ranma…should…chose Akane…"

Ranma continued to look at her not understanding what she meant.

 She turned and looked up at him, "please…Ranma no make Shampoo say over."

Ranma was stunned to see tears in her eyes.

 "Shampoo love Ranma… and Shampoo… try… so hard to make… Ranma happy, but…Shampoo never do." She then let out a sob, "Akane and Ranma fight… but… today when Akane left…Shampoo saw Ranma no like Shampoo ever before… Shampoo realize Akane can make Ranma happy…"

Ranma couldn't believe his ears "Shampoo…"

Wiping away a tear she forced herself to smile, "If Ranma happy then Shampoo happy. Ranma happy what Shampoo care about."

He laid back and sighed, "but you heard her. She chose Jubi, and even kissed him. I've already lost." 

"You blind idiot! I swear you two have to be blind as a bat!" came another voice behind him.

 "Ukyo?" Ranma asked looking up at Ukyo.  Finding comfort Ukyo plopped down beside him, "Ranma Honey, as much as we hate to admit it, you two… are made for each other." She said obviously struggling with those words.

Ukyo looked up at the sky trying to find the right words, "Shampoo and I could fight it out and decide which one of us that would take you for our piece of meat, but…Akane's already got you wrapped around her finger and you don't even know it stupid!"

Shampoo nodded agreeing, "Shampoo no like losing but Shampoo and Spatula Girl want Ranma to be happy. Akane waiting for Ranma! Ranma go to Akane now!" she ordered biting on her lip.

"You're both crazy." Ranma said coldly and got up. Turning his back to them, "and here I thought you were a worthy rival for my Akane's attention!" a third voice sounded.

"Not you too Ryoga?" Ranma sighed, throwing up his arms turning to face the smirking traveling martial artist.

"No, tell you the truth if you'd take my advise… why not pick on one of those two er…lovely… ladies over there. And leave Akane all to me!"

Ranma clenched his fists, "No Bacon Breath! Akane's mine!"

Ryoga smiled, "Mr. Saotome, Mr. Tendo, looks like your plan worked."

Genma and Soun walked out along with Mousse, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Cologne.

"What? What plan?" Ranma asked very confused.

Genma placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't worry my boy, we were just trying to get the fight back in you!"

Ranma looked at Ryoga, "You tricked me!"

Ryoga smiled "yea? So? What you gonna do about it?"

Ranma smirked, "This," he said grabbing Ryoga and tossing him into the pond.

P-Chan then slowly crawled out, and looked up at Kasumi and Nabiki's shocked faces. "Kasumi… Isn't that the same piglet that…always seemed to… WATCH US UNDRESS????"

Kasumi nodded "It…was…Ryoga all the time…" she then smiled at her sister, "Are you hungry? I could go for some bacon right now!"

The small black piglet turned white and dashed off at full speed. Ranma chuckled at his rival and friend, then turned his attention to the sky, "Hang on Akane, I'm on my way."

  To Be Continued…