Eloping
By JoPa-kun
I don't own Ranma, or any of its chast. They belong to someone else. Really. I swear.
This is a continuation of sorts. I will try not to let the characters get to much out of character, but then again I'm lazy. I tried more to bring the story on paper, then spending time developing characters.
chapter 3 Truth
The sun had long ago risen, when Nabiki fell out of her hammock. 'I hate ships. I *really* hate them. I should have told Kuno, and made him pay for plane tickets, or something.' She thought, as she got up. She quickly got dressed, and walked on deck. She looked in the direction they were travelling. Just under the Horizon, she could make out the first signs of Land. China.
A young couple approached the townhall. She was wearing a new white dress, a blue scarf wrapped around her hips, and white gloves covered her hands and lower arms. He was wearing his normal attire, only instead of a red Chinese shirt, he was wearing a white one, Dragons embroidered on it.
Ranma looked at the building in front of them, he would always remember it, it wasn't exactly what he wanted it to be, but it didn't matter.
"Getting second thoughts?", he tore his gaze of the building, and looked at the young woman beside him, who had asked. He flashed her a good hearted smile.
"No. Not now, not ever."
"Good." Akane responded. They walked in towards the Town hall, and opened the front doors.
"Hello, Akane-chan." Akane spun around.
"K-Kasumi? A-Auntie?" she gasped.
"Yo, mom, Kasumi. I take it you took the little hint."
"Why yes, Ranma. Thank you for leaving it. I wouldn't want to miss my sisters wedding."
"And I wouldn't like my sons wedding."
"You knew, they were coming?" Akane turned an accusing glare at Ranma.
"Hm. I thought ya wanted'em here, so I left'em an Invitation. You do want'em here, don't ya? If not, they aint coming in."
"No. No. I want them there, I was just startled to seem them here. I had the strange thought that eloping is without anybody knowing." She muttered the last sentence.
Ranma, and the other two women shared a laugh. A dry old voice cackled. Ranma sobered up spontaneously and took a defensive pose.
"Ok, Old ghoul. I know ya're there. So come on out." Akane blinked in confusion, she hadn't heard the cackle, and to her surprise, the Amazon elder hopped out behind Kasumi's back.
"I ain't coming back. I'm marrying Akane, and that's final. You better not interfere."
The older woman unsuccessfully tried to suppress another wave of laughter.
"My My aren't we overprotective." She looked at Ranma again and sobered up.
"May it be as it is. I'm not here to stop anything, Ranma. I want to be there when you finally get tamed." She cackled at her private joke, "I have grown fond of you, over the years. It would sadden me to miss your wedding."
Ranma flicked his eyes from Kasumi and his mother to the old ghoul. Ranma grunted, his face still mirroring his disapproval. He reluctantly dropped his arms to his side, but his body was still tensed to attack, he was walking on his toes, so he could be fast if he had to, his eyes never left the AmaZon, and being careful to keep himself between Akane and her.
This didn't go unnoticed by Cologne. She smiled inwardly.
"Oh. And I think you'll need these." Kasumi said handing the young couple, something wrapped in paper. Akane unpacked it, and found to stamps in it.
"Our Hankos?" she looked at her sister and smiled. "Thank You. I think they'll be useful."
"Then I think it's time we go in." Nodoka said, putting her arms around the young couple's shoulders, and dragged them in.
In a Restaurant downtown, Akane and Ranma joined hands to cut the small cake Kasumi had bought. They served themselves a piece, and then proceeded feeding each other. The other three women waited for them and then accepted a piece of cake each.
A ship, sailing the yellow Sea , was making its last preparations to land in Quingdao.
Nabiki sat at the front of the ship staring ahead, without really seeing what was before her. Something was nagging at her, she just couldn't put her finger on it. It was like Spider-mans Spider Senses, or Ranma's Danger Sense, and she had her own. She bit her lower lip. Something was wrong and she would find out what.
"Greetings Nabiki Tendo-san." Nabiki startled out of her thoughts shrieked. She turned around and breathed heavily.
"Mousse never do that again." She said panting.
"My apologies Tendo-san." He said sitting down beside of Nabiki.
"Nabiki is fine, Mousse. What do you need?"
"Why what I need? Maybe I can do something for you."
"And what would that be?"
"You seem disturbed, maybe you need somebody to listen. That is one thing I can do for you."
"Thank you Mousse, but no thank you. I just have a feeling of, I don't know, foreboding, maybe."
They sat in silence for a few moments, before Mousse continued.
"I too have a feeling, that something is wrong here. Why should Ranma run back to China? The springs are still flooded, and everything Chinese only brought misery to his life."
Nabiki blinked. The Amazon boy was right that didn't make sense.
"Why run to China to get married? If you elope, you want to get married asap. So you run to the next townhall, or city." She continued. Mousse nodded and added.
"And Ranma is not stupid his father told him well how to run and hide. And yet, It was almost easy to follow him. Two girls, one of them a redhead talking about their engagement, and insulting and smashing each other, are easy to track. And then he made reservations per telephone, to book a passage, using his fathers own fable for anagrams. I mean Karno and Enaka Donte, are pretty unusual Names, why do that?"
"He wanted us to find his 'trail'. He's leading us astray. He never left Japan, did he?" Her eyes grew wide, as the reason for her uneasiness became obvious.
Mousse only nodded.
"Grr. I will, I will kill him, but first I'll need to find him."
"Why are you so mad Nabiki? After all they are most probably already wed, and the fiancée mess is over. Your life will return to somewhat normal. You should be happy. Without his fiancées around damages to your house will be drastically reduced, and your wallet should thrive."
"True. But." She tried to tell him why she was so mad, yet honestly she was actually happy for her sister and Ranma, she had no reason to be angry. 'He didn't really challenge you, to a contest of minds' she told herself, 'He just did what he had to'.
Mousse looked at her, and saw that again she was lost in thought, so he stood up and resumed his work.
"But Daddy. They never left Japan. It was all a setup. It's best we just go home and wait for them."
"No, I have to find them. Eloping is not an option, at least if they have not informed me before hand."
"So you say you want them married at all cost, but not if they have not your permission. Dad listen to yourself, that sounds almost as bad as Mr Saotome."
"Hey." The part time Panda said indignantly.
"And you might as well go home; they are most probably already wed. My advise for you is go home, and promise your wife to have a western wedding, as soon as they come back. Westerns some time do that, get married per law first, and then have a Christian wedding afterwards to appease their family."
The Panda looked thoughtful.
"Either that or face your wife's wrath."
The three of them left with the next boat headed towards Japan. Mousse, Shampoo and Ukyo headed towards Jusenkyo. The two girls weren't convinced from Mousse' and Nabiki's arguments and followed their original plan, Mousse tagged along. He wanted, no needed to protect Shampoo and he still had to bring her back to elder Cologne.
"So what will you do with your wedding band?" Cologne asked Ranma.
"Huh? What am I supposed to do? I'll wear it, of course." Ranma and his wife looked at Cologne quizzically.
"Won't it fall of once you change?"
"." was Ranma's intelligent response to this.
"We could put it on a necklace, or braid it into his hair or something like that." The newest addition to the Saotome registry, Akane, answered.
"I may have another solution to that." She pulled a sealed plastic cup out of her sleeve.
"This", she said," is some uncursed Jusenkyo spring water, Mousse brought home from his last trip."
"And how is that supposed to help me? We can't curse the Ring to become smaller, it's not alive or anything." Ranma said impatiently.
"Well, Ranma the cursed water interacts not with life, but with life force, once enough life force, Qui, Chi whatever you call it, is transferred from what fell into the spring to the water, the water becomes cursed."
The couple just stared at her.
"We find a ring that fits your girlside. You transfer a lot of Ch into it, we dump it in here", she shook the cup for emphasis, "wait until the Chi dissipates then you transfer a lot of Chi into the ring you got now, and tata one cursed ring."
"And that's supposed to work?" Ranma asked.
"Did you ever wonder why Mousse can keep his weapons and Glasses on when he's a Duck? As a duck his head is smaller then one of my fists, smaller then one side of his glasses, and the weapons are not only smaller, but they are slightly different to complement his style off fighting. Did you ever wonder, why Neko-Shampoo has Hair ornaments the size of her Thumb, but as girl they are the size of her fist?"
"You mean.?"
"Yes. Mousse has made about fifteen miniature springs using that method. It took him days to build up enough Chi for it to work, but know he can curse two things a day. And he made one especially for Shampoo, because she would always fall over from the extra weight as cat, so she would usually take them of, and hence loose them."
"Whose Idea was it to make these?"
"Mousse'. He had the original Idea, but he couldn't get it to work, so he asked for my help, after a lot of experimenting, we found out how to do it, quite simple actually."
"So Mousse made some for himself, Shampoo, and probably Ryoga, and never told me about it?" but before he could ramble on, Akane interrupted him.
"What are you talking about, Ranma? Ryoga isn't cursed."
"So do you want it to curse your wedding bands?" The Amazon interrupted before the
"Er, well." Ranma was happy for the change of subject.
"It does sound like a good idea, but I don't know cursing the wedding bands, wouldn't that be like cursing our, marriage?" Helooked from the Amazon to Akane, "What do you think, Akane?"
"I think your right. And I believe that Mousse' eyesight is getting worse, could it be because of his cursed glasses. Shampoo also seems to become." she stopped herself before insulting the Amazons Great-Granddaughter .
".more and more single minded" The old woman finished for her smiling slightly. "Yes that really is so. The cursed equipment will effect the bearer in rather negative ways. I'm glad you could pass this test without suffering, unlike Mousse and Shampoo."
"It is true? If I had.we would.our would." Ranma said staring at Cologne, indicating himself and his wife, unable to reply in an intelligent.
"Yes Akane seems rather observant in such matters, doesn't she?"
"Why thank you." Akane answered the elder. Unlike her Akane didn't notice Ranma mouthing the words 'Yeah right. Can you say P-chan'.
"Well if you will not accept that as a wedding gift. How about I tell her about Ryoga's curse?" The elder offered. She really owed them a lot and putting out something that might darken their relationship was th least she could do.
"Er." was his intelligent reply.
"What are you talking about? Ryoga isn't cursed." Akane was getting rather angry, she just couldn't understand why they were implying that poor Ryoga was cursed.
"But He is. I promise Ryoga is cursed." Ranma stared at her in Horror.
"If Ryoga was cursed, he and Ranma would've told me. Isn't it so, Ranma?" she turned to look at him.
"Er.No I couldn't made me promise.tried to tell ya, but ya never caught on."
"Calm there Young one," Cologne said putting her hand on Akane's shoulder, and silencing Ranma with the other.
When she had both their attention, she continued, "He couldn't tell you dear. The way the Hibiki boy told me, Ranma is more or less responsible for his curse. Well that is what he believes anyway; everybody with common sense wouldn't, but alas. Therefore, when Ranma found out, Ryoga made Ranma promise not to tell anybody, especially you. That was before Ranma found out Ryoga's true intentions, before Hibiki dishonoured that agreement."
"Why especially from me? What does he turn into?"
"Would you like some Ice Cream, Dear?", before Akane could Answer, she turned to Ranma and gave him a small wad of Yen. "I believe you know your wifes preferences, I'd just like a Ice Coffe, help yourself." Ranma glanced from Cologne to his wife, when she didn't oppose he left.
"So dear, maybe I can help you understand what Ranma has tried telling you for months now."
"Why don't you just tell me?"
"And rob you of the feeling of figuring it out yourself? I don' think so. And I believe this way you will believe me if I tell you Ranma was trying to tell you."
Akane nodded slowly. Ryoga the one guy from the lot she thought resembled something normal, was hiding somewhat from her, he was cursed.
"So we know Characteristics, stay after the form has changed. Like Shampoo's graze and her affinity towards Ranma. Like Mousse bad eyesight and his hidden weapon technique, his hatred against Ranma, his love for Shampoo. Like Ranma's Ego, his speed agility and insecurities, his Pigtail, and his 'Man among Men' behaviour. So what characteristics does Ryoga have?"
"He's gentle, and shy. He has his Umbrella, his backpack, and his Bandana. Oh and he hates Ranma and gets lost a lot."
"HmHm. Do you know somebody or somewhat that carries an umbrella?"
"No" Akane answered after a little reflection.
"A Backpack?"
"No"
"A Bandana"
"No"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Why don't you just tell me?"
"I am telling you, dear but at my pace. So if you want to know, relax and bear with me. So do you know somebody who gets lost a lot or misses for longer periods of time?"
Akane's eyes widened "You, You don't mean Ryoga is ." Cologne nodded.
".Happosai?" Akane finished. Cologne facefaulted.
"No. No. What ever gave you that Idea?"
"Well I have never seen them together, and they both seem to hate Ranma."
Cologne thought about this for a moment. The girl had a point there. "No Ryoga is not Happosai. Talking about hatred against Ranma. Do you know somebody else who hates him?"
"Well yes lots of people, but most of them I only saw once. Except Tarou maybe?" Cologne shook her head.
"OK. Let's try a different approach. What does Ranma say about Ryoga all the time, what does he call him, what does he associate with him."
"He always calls him 'Lost Boy', P-brain, Bacon-butt, or Pork-breath."
"Bacon, and Pork. What does that sound like?"
"A good breakfast?"
"Er. No. I mean what kind of Person, or animal does that sound like?"
"A Pig."
"Do you know any pig's?"
"No only P-chan and Akari's Pigs of Course." Akane got another Idea, "He's the Pet Pig, right? KatsuHiko." Cologne facefaulted, again.
"No, let's talk about your Pet, shall we. Does he like Ranma? What are his Characteristics? How does Ranma behave around him?"
"Well Ranma always teases him, and always calls him Ryoga, He does always tries to protect me from Ranma, even if Ranma hasn't done anything. He is very intelligent, and has the cutest Bandana around his neck." She answered joyfully, before her face dropped. "And He runs away a lot, but he always returns to me."
Cologne pinched the ridge of her nose, and shook her head.
"So Ranma calls Ryoga a Pig, and your Pig Ryoga? Why would he do that?"
"I don't know. Why does he?"
Cologne stared at her intently "You know we are talking about Jusenkyo curses right? The kind that turns people in to Pets, like cats, ducks, and pigs." Akane nodded. Cologne waited before sighing.
"When did you find P-chan, the first time?"
"The night Ryoga attacked Ranma in his sleep."
Cologne waited, and sighed a last time. The Girl was way to dense to figure it out on her own.
"Listen dear Ryoga is P-chan." Akane looked at her and blinked, she started giggling.
"Really Funny Cologne. No what does Ryoga turn in to?"
"I'm dead serious when I say he is P-chan." Akane stared at her.
"Never. Why would he? That is so perverted. So unlike Ryoga. You must be mistaken."
"Then ask Ranma, if I'm lying. And ask yourself if you trust Ranma enough to believe him."
Akane was silent she tried to find proof against it, but nothing came to her mind, but a lot of things could've been explained this way. If it was true, then she was used in one of the most terrible ways possible. She had told him her most inner thoughts, he had watched her undress, and naked. Her Face went pale, and she got angry. She would kill Ryoga and Ranma. Ranma. The last thing Cologne had said echoed in her mind, and then the rest of their conversation, came back to her. He had tried to tell her, he had also made that promise before Ryoga had become her pet. No she couldn't blame Ranma for her own stupidity. She now understood why Cologne had sent him to get Ice Cream. She would've killed him without second thought, but now that she had time to think it somewhat through, she couldn't.
As the first tears formed in her eyes , the door opened, and Ranma came in with a the Ice Cream. Akane immediately flung herself at him and started crying.
Later that day Ranma and Akane said their good byes to Kasumi, Nodoka, and Cologne. They promised to be home late October early November, and set of to walk towards the Hotel room Nodoka had booked for the two for the weekend.
By JoPa-kun
I don't own Ranma, or any of its chast. They belong to someone else. Really. I swear.
This is a continuation of sorts. I will try not to let the characters get to much out of character, but then again I'm lazy. I tried more to bring the story on paper, then spending time developing characters.
chapter 3 Truth
The sun had long ago risen, when Nabiki fell out of her hammock. 'I hate ships. I *really* hate them. I should have told Kuno, and made him pay for plane tickets, or something.' She thought, as she got up. She quickly got dressed, and walked on deck. She looked in the direction they were travelling. Just under the Horizon, she could make out the first signs of Land. China.
A young couple approached the townhall. She was wearing a new white dress, a blue scarf wrapped around her hips, and white gloves covered her hands and lower arms. He was wearing his normal attire, only instead of a red Chinese shirt, he was wearing a white one, Dragons embroidered on it.
Ranma looked at the building in front of them, he would always remember it, it wasn't exactly what he wanted it to be, but it didn't matter.
"Getting second thoughts?", he tore his gaze of the building, and looked at the young woman beside him, who had asked. He flashed her a good hearted smile.
"No. Not now, not ever."
"Good." Akane responded. They walked in towards the Town hall, and opened the front doors.
"Hello, Akane-chan." Akane spun around.
"K-Kasumi? A-Auntie?" she gasped.
"Yo, mom, Kasumi. I take it you took the little hint."
"Why yes, Ranma. Thank you for leaving it. I wouldn't want to miss my sisters wedding."
"And I wouldn't like my sons wedding."
"You knew, they were coming?" Akane turned an accusing glare at Ranma.
"Hm. I thought ya wanted'em here, so I left'em an Invitation. You do want'em here, don't ya? If not, they aint coming in."
"No. No. I want them there, I was just startled to seem them here. I had the strange thought that eloping is without anybody knowing." She muttered the last sentence.
Ranma, and the other two women shared a laugh. A dry old voice cackled. Ranma sobered up spontaneously and took a defensive pose.
"Ok, Old ghoul. I know ya're there. So come on out." Akane blinked in confusion, she hadn't heard the cackle, and to her surprise, the Amazon elder hopped out behind Kasumi's back.
"I ain't coming back. I'm marrying Akane, and that's final. You better not interfere."
The older woman unsuccessfully tried to suppress another wave of laughter.
"My My aren't we overprotective." She looked at Ranma again and sobered up.
"May it be as it is. I'm not here to stop anything, Ranma. I want to be there when you finally get tamed." She cackled at her private joke, "I have grown fond of you, over the years. It would sadden me to miss your wedding."
Ranma flicked his eyes from Kasumi and his mother to the old ghoul. Ranma grunted, his face still mirroring his disapproval. He reluctantly dropped his arms to his side, but his body was still tensed to attack, he was walking on his toes, so he could be fast if he had to, his eyes never left the AmaZon, and being careful to keep himself between Akane and her.
This didn't go unnoticed by Cologne. She smiled inwardly.
"Oh. And I think you'll need these." Kasumi said handing the young couple, something wrapped in paper. Akane unpacked it, and found to stamps in it.
"Our Hankos?" she looked at her sister and smiled. "Thank You. I think they'll be useful."
"Then I think it's time we go in." Nodoka said, putting her arms around the young couple's shoulders, and dragged them in.
In a Restaurant downtown, Akane and Ranma joined hands to cut the small cake Kasumi had bought. They served themselves a piece, and then proceeded feeding each other. The other three women waited for them and then accepted a piece of cake each.
A ship, sailing the yellow Sea , was making its last preparations to land in Quingdao.
Nabiki sat at the front of the ship staring ahead, without really seeing what was before her. Something was nagging at her, she just couldn't put her finger on it. It was like Spider-mans Spider Senses, or Ranma's Danger Sense, and she had her own. She bit her lower lip. Something was wrong and she would find out what.
"Greetings Nabiki Tendo-san." Nabiki startled out of her thoughts shrieked. She turned around and breathed heavily.
"Mousse never do that again." She said panting.
"My apologies Tendo-san." He said sitting down beside of Nabiki.
"Nabiki is fine, Mousse. What do you need?"
"Why what I need? Maybe I can do something for you."
"And what would that be?"
"You seem disturbed, maybe you need somebody to listen. That is one thing I can do for you."
"Thank you Mousse, but no thank you. I just have a feeling of, I don't know, foreboding, maybe."
They sat in silence for a few moments, before Mousse continued.
"I too have a feeling, that something is wrong here. Why should Ranma run back to China? The springs are still flooded, and everything Chinese only brought misery to his life."
Nabiki blinked. The Amazon boy was right that didn't make sense.
"Why run to China to get married? If you elope, you want to get married asap. So you run to the next townhall, or city." She continued. Mousse nodded and added.
"And Ranma is not stupid his father told him well how to run and hide. And yet, It was almost easy to follow him. Two girls, one of them a redhead talking about their engagement, and insulting and smashing each other, are easy to track. And then he made reservations per telephone, to book a passage, using his fathers own fable for anagrams. I mean Karno and Enaka Donte, are pretty unusual Names, why do that?"
"He wanted us to find his 'trail'. He's leading us astray. He never left Japan, did he?" Her eyes grew wide, as the reason for her uneasiness became obvious.
Mousse only nodded.
"Grr. I will, I will kill him, but first I'll need to find him."
"Why are you so mad Nabiki? After all they are most probably already wed, and the fiancée mess is over. Your life will return to somewhat normal. You should be happy. Without his fiancées around damages to your house will be drastically reduced, and your wallet should thrive."
"True. But." She tried to tell him why she was so mad, yet honestly she was actually happy for her sister and Ranma, she had no reason to be angry. 'He didn't really challenge you, to a contest of minds' she told herself, 'He just did what he had to'.
Mousse looked at her, and saw that again she was lost in thought, so he stood up and resumed his work.
"But Daddy. They never left Japan. It was all a setup. It's best we just go home and wait for them."
"No, I have to find them. Eloping is not an option, at least if they have not informed me before hand."
"So you say you want them married at all cost, but not if they have not your permission. Dad listen to yourself, that sounds almost as bad as Mr Saotome."
"Hey." The part time Panda said indignantly.
"And you might as well go home; they are most probably already wed. My advise for you is go home, and promise your wife to have a western wedding, as soon as they come back. Westerns some time do that, get married per law first, and then have a Christian wedding afterwards to appease their family."
The Panda looked thoughtful.
"Either that or face your wife's wrath."
The three of them left with the next boat headed towards Japan. Mousse, Shampoo and Ukyo headed towards Jusenkyo. The two girls weren't convinced from Mousse' and Nabiki's arguments and followed their original plan, Mousse tagged along. He wanted, no needed to protect Shampoo and he still had to bring her back to elder Cologne.
"So what will you do with your wedding band?" Cologne asked Ranma.
"Huh? What am I supposed to do? I'll wear it, of course." Ranma and his wife looked at Cologne quizzically.
"Won't it fall of once you change?"
"." was Ranma's intelligent response to this.
"We could put it on a necklace, or braid it into his hair or something like that." The newest addition to the Saotome registry, Akane, answered.
"I may have another solution to that." She pulled a sealed plastic cup out of her sleeve.
"This", she said," is some uncursed Jusenkyo spring water, Mousse brought home from his last trip."
"And how is that supposed to help me? We can't curse the Ring to become smaller, it's not alive or anything." Ranma said impatiently.
"Well, Ranma the cursed water interacts not with life, but with life force, once enough life force, Qui, Chi whatever you call it, is transferred from what fell into the spring to the water, the water becomes cursed."
The couple just stared at her.
"We find a ring that fits your girlside. You transfer a lot of Ch into it, we dump it in here", she shook the cup for emphasis, "wait until the Chi dissipates then you transfer a lot of Chi into the ring you got now, and tata one cursed ring."
"And that's supposed to work?" Ranma asked.
"Did you ever wonder why Mousse can keep his weapons and Glasses on when he's a Duck? As a duck his head is smaller then one of my fists, smaller then one side of his glasses, and the weapons are not only smaller, but they are slightly different to complement his style off fighting. Did you ever wonder, why Neko-Shampoo has Hair ornaments the size of her Thumb, but as girl they are the size of her fist?"
"You mean.?"
"Yes. Mousse has made about fifteen miniature springs using that method. It took him days to build up enough Chi for it to work, but know he can curse two things a day. And he made one especially for Shampoo, because she would always fall over from the extra weight as cat, so she would usually take them of, and hence loose them."
"Whose Idea was it to make these?"
"Mousse'. He had the original Idea, but he couldn't get it to work, so he asked for my help, after a lot of experimenting, we found out how to do it, quite simple actually."
"So Mousse made some for himself, Shampoo, and probably Ryoga, and never told me about it?" but before he could ramble on, Akane interrupted him.
"What are you talking about, Ranma? Ryoga isn't cursed."
"So do you want it to curse your wedding bands?" The Amazon interrupted before the
"Er, well." Ranma was happy for the change of subject.
"It does sound like a good idea, but I don't know cursing the wedding bands, wouldn't that be like cursing our, marriage?" Helooked from the Amazon to Akane, "What do you think, Akane?"
"I think your right. And I believe that Mousse' eyesight is getting worse, could it be because of his cursed glasses. Shampoo also seems to become." she stopped herself before insulting the Amazons Great-Granddaughter .
".more and more single minded" The old woman finished for her smiling slightly. "Yes that really is so. The cursed equipment will effect the bearer in rather negative ways. I'm glad you could pass this test without suffering, unlike Mousse and Shampoo."
"It is true? If I had.we would.our would." Ranma said staring at Cologne, indicating himself and his wife, unable to reply in an intelligent.
"Yes Akane seems rather observant in such matters, doesn't she?"
"Why thank you." Akane answered the elder. Unlike her Akane didn't notice Ranma mouthing the words 'Yeah right. Can you say P-chan'.
"Well if you will not accept that as a wedding gift. How about I tell her about Ryoga's curse?" The elder offered. She really owed them a lot and putting out something that might darken their relationship was th least she could do.
"Er." was his intelligent reply.
"What are you talking about? Ryoga isn't cursed." Akane was getting rather angry, she just couldn't understand why they were implying that poor Ryoga was cursed.
"But He is. I promise Ryoga is cursed." Ranma stared at her in Horror.
"If Ryoga was cursed, he and Ranma would've told me. Isn't it so, Ranma?" she turned to look at him.
"Er.No I couldn't made me promise.tried to tell ya, but ya never caught on."
"Calm there Young one," Cologne said putting her hand on Akane's shoulder, and silencing Ranma with the other.
When she had both their attention, she continued, "He couldn't tell you dear. The way the Hibiki boy told me, Ranma is more or less responsible for his curse. Well that is what he believes anyway; everybody with common sense wouldn't, but alas. Therefore, when Ranma found out, Ryoga made Ranma promise not to tell anybody, especially you. That was before Ranma found out Ryoga's true intentions, before Hibiki dishonoured that agreement."
"Why especially from me? What does he turn into?"
"Would you like some Ice Cream, Dear?", before Akane could Answer, she turned to Ranma and gave him a small wad of Yen. "I believe you know your wifes preferences, I'd just like a Ice Coffe, help yourself." Ranma glanced from Cologne to his wife, when she didn't oppose he left.
"So dear, maybe I can help you understand what Ranma has tried telling you for months now."
"Why don't you just tell me?"
"And rob you of the feeling of figuring it out yourself? I don' think so. And I believe this way you will believe me if I tell you Ranma was trying to tell you."
Akane nodded slowly. Ryoga the one guy from the lot she thought resembled something normal, was hiding somewhat from her, he was cursed.
"So we know Characteristics, stay after the form has changed. Like Shampoo's graze and her affinity towards Ranma. Like Mousse bad eyesight and his hidden weapon technique, his hatred against Ranma, his love for Shampoo. Like Ranma's Ego, his speed agility and insecurities, his Pigtail, and his 'Man among Men' behaviour. So what characteristics does Ryoga have?"
"He's gentle, and shy. He has his Umbrella, his backpack, and his Bandana. Oh and he hates Ranma and gets lost a lot."
"HmHm. Do you know somebody or somewhat that carries an umbrella?"
"No" Akane answered after a little reflection.
"A Backpack?"
"No"
"A Bandana"
"No"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Why don't you just tell me?"
"I am telling you, dear but at my pace. So if you want to know, relax and bear with me. So do you know somebody who gets lost a lot or misses for longer periods of time?"
Akane's eyes widened "You, You don't mean Ryoga is ." Cologne nodded.
".Happosai?" Akane finished. Cologne facefaulted.
"No. No. What ever gave you that Idea?"
"Well I have never seen them together, and they both seem to hate Ranma."
Cologne thought about this for a moment. The girl had a point there. "No Ryoga is not Happosai. Talking about hatred against Ranma. Do you know somebody else who hates him?"
"Well yes lots of people, but most of them I only saw once. Except Tarou maybe?" Cologne shook her head.
"OK. Let's try a different approach. What does Ranma say about Ryoga all the time, what does he call him, what does he associate with him."
"He always calls him 'Lost Boy', P-brain, Bacon-butt, or Pork-breath."
"Bacon, and Pork. What does that sound like?"
"A good breakfast?"
"Er. No. I mean what kind of Person, or animal does that sound like?"
"A Pig."
"Do you know any pig's?"
"No only P-chan and Akari's Pigs of Course." Akane got another Idea, "He's the Pet Pig, right? KatsuHiko." Cologne facefaulted, again.
"No, let's talk about your Pet, shall we. Does he like Ranma? What are his Characteristics? How does Ranma behave around him?"
"Well Ranma always teases him, and always calls him Ryoga, He does always tries to protect me from Ranma, even if Ranma hasn't done anything. He is very intelligent, and has the cutest Bandana around his neck." She answered joyfully, before her face dropped. "And He runs away a lot, but he always returns to me."
Cologne pinched the ridge of her nose, and shook her head.
"So Ranma calls Ryoga a Pig, and your Pig Ryoga? Why would he do that?"
"I don't know. Why does he?"
Cologne stared at her intently "You know we are talking about Jusenkyo curses right? The kind that turns people in to Pets, like cats, ducks, and pigs." Akane nodded. Cologne waited before sighing.
"When did you find P-chan, the first time?"
"The night Ryoga attacked Ranma in his sleep."
Cologne waited, and sighed a last time. The Girl was way to dense to figure it out on her own.
"Listen dear Ryoga is P-chan." Akane looked at her and blinked, she started giggling.
"Really Funny Cologne. No what does Ryoga turn in to?"
"I'm dead serious when I say he is P-chan." Akane stared at her.
"Never. Why would he? That is so perverted. So unlike Ryoga. You must be mistaken."
"Then ask Ranma, if I'm lying. And ask yourself if you trust Ranma enough to believe him."
Akane was silent she tried to find proof against it, but nothing came to her mind, but a lot of things could've been explained this way. If it was true, then she was used in one of the most terrible ways possible. She had told him her most inner thoughts, he had watched her undress, and naked. Her Face went pale, and she got angry. She would kill Ryoga and Ranma. Ranma. The last thing Cologne had said echoed in her mind, and then the rest of their conversation, came back to her. He had tried to tell her, he had also made that promise before Ryoga had become her pet. No she couldn't blame Ranma for her own stupidity. She now understood why Cologne had sent him to get Ice Cream. She would've killed him without second thought, but now that she had time to think it somewhat through, she couldn't.
As the first tears formed in her eyes , the door opened, and Ranma came in with a the Ice Cream. Akane immediately flung herself at him and started crying.
Later that day Ranma and Akane said their good byes to Kasumi, Nodoka, and Cologne. They promised to be home late October early November, and set of to walk towards the Hotel room Nodoka had booked for the two for the weekend.