Well here's chapter 3. I read back through the last 2 chapters and realized I was spelling Mousse's name wrong, in fact, I got a few other things wrong as well. How embarrassing! That's what I get for trying to write this story without reviewing the magna first(and I still haven't). You guys were so nice not to flame me for it. If you see anything else like misspellings of names and such, please let me know. Thanx for the support.

Chapter 3

Akane stood in front of Cane with her arms crossed, glaring at the older woman. She didn't like her one bit, she couldn't believe they were the same person, she her self wasn't nearly that annoying, for some reason Ranma's voice popped in her head and told her otherwise, she inwardly smack it with a mallet. She was standing in front of the house, which was surrounded with nothing but trees and dirt roads and forest. 'China. Why is Cane living in China?' Akane mused angrily. 'and why is she just standing there. My body already aches from wearing these ridicules clothes.'

"Do you know what I don't like about you?" Cane asked Akane.

Akane just continued to glare, not dignifying that with an answer.

"You're spoilt. You call yourself a martial artist yet you lack discipline. Your conceited and childish, and you expect everyone to fight your battles for you. Namely Ranma."

Akane turned to walk away. "I don't have to listen to this." She took a step and bumped into Cane. She gasped looking behind her where the woman had been standing a moment before. "how did you...?'

Cane ignored her and continued the personal onslaught. "You have a nasty temper which is embarrassing to yourself and those around you. You have never had to suffer for the art and don't understand how Ukyo and Shampoo are so much more advanced then you are. In short, you are a brat."

Akane was now furious "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I have three measly months to make you into something the world has never seen." Cane took a step back and sighed. "And I think I've got a slim chance in Hades of doing so."

"Then why try? I don't want to be trained by you anyhow. I just want to go home, besides what can a cripple teach me?" Akane felt horrible after her statement, and not just because of the blow that sent her clear across the field either. As she picked herself off the ground she knew she had gone too far. "I'm sorry." she whispered.

"I know." said Cane solemnly. She walked over to the downed girl and offered her her hand. "Now lets try that again, this time you might want to try to block."

*******************

Ranma was the first to respond after the initial shock of the unexpected arrival of the seven year old Akane. "Mousse you dummy!" he reached over and grabbed fistfuls of Mousse's shirt, shaking him until his teeth rattled.

Cologne clasped her face in her hands. "Our one chance wasted..."

Shampoo tried to approach the small girl. "Niho, Akane Tendo, Shampoo is friend of family. We visit from China. Akane Mom ask us to watch daughter until back from trip to...ah..." Shampoo tried to think of someplace really far away that would call for a long leave of absence. "Australia. Yes, took Akane's sisters to Australia." Shampoo sweat dropped. 'Geez...That sound stupid even to Shampoo ears. She never going to believe that.'

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to see what the little girls' reaction to the obvious lie would be...

"O.k." she smiled.

Everyone face faulted.

Ranma groaned as he got up. 'Good thing she's as dumb as a stick.' Then he slapped his hand to his forehead. 'Great, now how do I explain her to the Tendos.'

Shampoo grinned with relief at the little girl before introducing the others. She started with the old woman standing next to them. "This is Shampoo Great grandmother Cologne."

"Hello, Great Grandmother." said Akane respectfully.

"Hello, my child." Said Cologne nodding her head to her. She found that she rather liked Akane addressing her as 'Great grandmother'.

"That," said Shampoo jerking a thumb at the blind martial artist behind her. "Is stupid Mousse."

"Hi, Mousse." Akane said shyly. She frowned when the melancholy guy with the glasses failed to respond. She turned back to Shampoo. "He's sad, I think its because you called him stupid."

Shampoo's only response was an uncaring shrug.

Akane slowly walked over to him and grabbed his hand, she looked up at his sad face. Akane hated seeing people who were sad. "What's wrong?"

"None of your business." He muttered.

"Did you lose your best friend? Is that why you're sad? Best friends are important."

Mousse 'harrumphed'.

"Here," she said pulling something out of her back pocket and slipping onto his wrist. "now we're friends forever. See?" She held up her arm.

On it was the ugliest bracelet he had ever seen, she obviously had crafted it herself. A piece of macaroni was fastened to it that said 'Friends'. He then looked at the matching bracelet she had slipped on his wrist, his piece of macaroni said the word 'Best'. A smile touched his lips. "Thank you, Akane Tendo, I'll treasure it always."

She blushed, suddenly feeling shy. "I..."

"Hi," Said a certain pigtailed marital artist, butting in, for some reason it bugged him that Akane was giving Mousse a friendship bracelet. After all, she was his fiance. If anyone was getting that God-awful, ugly bracelet, it should be him.

Akane glared up at the rude boy who had just interrupted her. 'What a jerk.' She put her fists on her hips. "Who are you?"

"I'm Ranma."

"Good." she said. "I want to know the name of the guy I'll be beating up."

Ranma laughed. "In your dreams, shortEEEEEE...!" Ranma yelled as he hopped on one leg clutching his shin where the little had girl kicked him.

Akane used the opportunity to sneak behind him and kick him behind his knee, causing his other leg to collapse. When he fell to her height she punched him in the jaw.

Ranma rubbed the inflicted area with the back of his wrist. "Heh..." He suddenly leaped at her. "COME HERE, YOU LITTLE BRAT! SOMEBODY'S GETTIN' A SPANKIN'!"

Akane dashed away with Ranma in close pursuit.

"Ranma! You no hurt Akane!" Shampoo called following them.

"Son-in-law, what's come over you?" Cologne shook her head disapproving of Ranma's actions.

"Ranma Saotome you fiend!" yelled Mousse as he took out a chain and began twirling it around his head. "How dare you attack a little girl." he began to chase Ranma as well.

Nabiki Tendo chose this exact moment to enter the room/battle scene.

**********

Akane and Cane trained the rest of the afternoon, that is, Akane was Cane's punching bag for the rest of the afternoon. Akane didn't understand how getting punched repeatedly was making her a better martial artist. She was starting to look like one big lumpy bruise. The only rest she got was when Kasumi and the children came with lunch.

Akane collapsed on the checkered red and white picnic blanket that Kasumi had set out. "I'm dying." she informed her.

"Oh my, that's too bad." said Kasumi with a warm smile. "Rice cake?"

Akane groaned as Cane came over and sat down with them. "Gee," she said rolling her eyes. "don't you have a previous lunch engagement in the forest, you know, with all the other gorillas?"

Cane just chuckled. She seemed to be in a rather good mood, apparently beating up on ones self is very therapeutic.

A voice from the trees interrupted their silence. "Hi, Kasumi. Hi, Cane." the voice belonged to a young boy who was accompanied by his parents.

"Hi ya, Koji." Cane called out to him before turning to acknowledge his parents. "Ukyo...Konastu."

Akane's jaw dropped. 'Ukyo...and Konastu?!'

"How are things in the village?" asked Kasumi as she welcomed the newcomers. Koji went over to sit between Ming and Okinawa, he proceeded to give the slightly younger girl a flower, causing both of them to blush. Okinawa crossed his arms over his chest mumbling something about 'cooties'.

"Well...," said Ukyo taking a seat with her husband across from Cane and Kasumi. "business is booming of course, but I swear, if one more Amazon hussy challenges me for Konastu...I don't care if it is your tribe, Cane-honey, next time I won't be so merciful."

At this declaration from his wife, Konastu threw himself onto her lap sobbing. "Oh, Ukyo-sama, you must love me so."

Ukyo sweat dropped. "Um...actually...I'm just tired of fighting everyday."

Akane stared at the sobbing ninja 'Honestly, what do they see in him.'

Cane nodded to Ukyo, "Alright I'll have another talk with the girls, but if you really want to stop their affections I suggest making him a little less subservient. Nothing turns an Amazon on more then a man who knows his place."

Ukyo looked down at her husband who was reverently kissing the edge of her shirt. "Yeah right," she muttered sarcastically. "and while I'm at it I'll cure all illnesses, bring peace throughout the world, and sprout wings and fly."

Her husband suddenly grasped her hand between both of his. "If anyone can do it, you can! Ukyo-sama."

Everyone sweat dropped.

"Ya kinda missed the point, honey." Ukyo said to her husband.

After lunch Ukyo and her family took their leave. Promising to come back tomorrow and check Akane's progress.

Akane and Cane quickly returned back to the field and Akane's torture...er...training continued.

As evening began to fall, Cain studied Akane with appreciation. "You impress me, by now I would have thought you would have run crying to Kasumi about your boo boos..."

"And give into you? Never."

Cane continued despite the interruption. "Perhaps I have under estimated your determination and grit. In any case, you've givin' me new hope. Unfortunately, those things aren't enough if you have no skill. You're as slow as dry mud in July."

Akane sputtered, outraged.

"But don't worry, I'm living proof that you have untold fighting potential." Cane said not the least bit modest.

"Yeah right." muttered Akane. "Your not so impressive."

Cane smiled. "Little girl, I could do things your limited mind couldn't even begin to fathom. I'm undeniably the best in the world, and I've been all over the world to prove it. From China to Africa, America to Russia, everyone knows and fears my name. I've defeated enemies so great it would make Saffron look like a push over." And with that said she flew slowly on her kei, back to the house, leaving a stunned, slack jawed Akane to follow.

**************

Nabiki looked at the insanity all around her, from the looks of it Ranma with the Amazons in tow were chasing a miniature Akane around the room. She shrugged, just another average day at the Tendo Dojo. As the gang made a third pass by her and she sighed, a bit tired of the game they were playing. She reached out and grabbed the little Akane by the back of her overalls. "Really, Akane, what has Ranma done this time?" She asked the child in a bored voice. "Is he the reason your like this? It was the mushrooms wasn't it."

"Mushrooms are yucky." The little girl stated, she looked up at the woman holding her. "Who are you?"

"I?" Nabiki asked incredulously. "Akane I'm surprised at you. How can you forget your own sis..."

"Aunt." Shampoo said quickly interrupting. "Is Akane Aunt Nabiki."

"I'm what?" Asked Nabiki dryly as she glared at the lavender haired Amazon.

"Hey!" exclaimed Akane excitedly. "I have a sister whose name is Nabiki!"

"Do tell." Said Nabiki with a half lidded gaze. Shampoo came over and picked up the now drowsy Akane as Nabiki turned to Ranma. "You have some explaining to do."

"Heh Heh." He put his arm behind his head looking sheepish. "It's a long story..."

Nabiki went over and sat on the couch beside her sister and Shampoo, she crossed her legs and arms. "I have all day."

Ranma gulped, tugging at his collar. In his head he was already trying to calculate how much losing the girls younger sister is going to cost him.

********************

Akane lay in bed and stared at the ceiling, she was too tired to sleep. She had never been so beat (pardon the pun) in her entire life. Every inch of her body ached from either sore muscles or throbbing bumps and bruises. Cane had been a total animal; she repeatedly attacked Akane giving her little chance of protecting herself. The kids hadn't improved things any, they thought that Cane beating up Akane was hilarious and kept yelling out "Stop hitting yourself, Stop hitting yourself." Akane touched her cheek tenderly and winced. 'She didn't have to hit me so hard.'

"Just you wait." She vowed quietly to the empty room. "I'll find a way to escape...That's right, Cane, your cruelty to me ends tomorrow." She nodded, her reserve was firm. Her eyes moved to the window when she saw a flash of candlelight. "What's that?" Sitting up she saw Cane in cloaks sneak towards the forest. "I bet she's sneaking off to kidnap some other poor defenseless girl." Akane stood despite her painfully loud injuries, and wearing nothing but pajamas borrowed from Kasumi, raced out of the house and into the cold night to follow Cane. "You won't cause any more trouble to anyone else as long as Akane Tendo is here to stop you." She raced towards the woods keeping Canes cape in sight.

Akane couldn't believe how deep in the forest Cane was going. She was really starting to get worried. To make matters worse she was having a hard time following the much quicker woman. Until she lost sight of the figure before her entirely. Not knowing what else to do, considering that she was too deep in the forest to turn back, she kept moving forward in the way Cane went. She hugged her self as the bitter cold seemed to sink all the way through her skin to her bones. She began to lose hope until she saw a small structure through the dark trees. She rubbed her eyes not believing what she was seeing. 'What's a nice little place like that doing in the middle of the woods?' She wondered as chills ran up her back with icy, cold feet. 'Its too small to live in.' She knew it was trespassing, but the cold forced her inside.

Akane's jaw dropped at what see saw. Inside kneeling at a platform with a statue of Ranma on it, was Cane. "What are you doing here?" Akane asked accusingly.

"Reflecting." murmured Cane. She never looked away from the Ranma statue she obviously treasured.

Akane studied the statue for a moment, noticing its exquisite beauty. Whoever carved it was incredibly gifted. It was life-sized and made out of a beautiful white and caramel colored marble. He was sitting on his legs Indian style. He had his hands raised before him sadly as if excepting a gift he didn't want, but had no choice to but to take. On his hands lay a very long object that, wrapped up, reminded her of Nadoka's katana, only thicker. It didn't really look like it was supposed to be apart of the sculpture, but like it was added later as an after thought.

Akane's eyes swayed back to Cane who hadn't moved an inch. "What did you do, ya know, to make him leave you?"

Cane finally turned to her, a confused expression on her face. "Leave me?"

"Yeah, with another woman." Akane said hesitantly, as if not wanting to hurt the other woman's feelings. "That's why you want me to train, isn't it? So I can beat her."

Cane turned from the naive girl, her bitter laugh was choked by sobs. "I wish it were that easy."

The was a long silence. Akane stared at Cane for a moment. Her worst fear, the one she'd been desperately trying to deny, surfaced. "He's dead." Her eyes began to burn.

"No, Akane, he's not dead."

"Then what?" she demanded angrily, only she got no answer. After another long silence she sighed looking for something to say. "That's a nice statue of Ranma you got there."

Cane slowly turned to look at her. "This is not a statue of Ranma," she whispered hoarsely. She turned back to the statue, and standing, she sadly placed a hand on its cheek. "This statue..." Tears slipped down her face. "... is Ranma."

Akane gasped with horror.

*************

Well that's the end of chapter 3. What do you think so far? I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can, hopefully quicker then this one. (I had some writers block.) Oh, and if your worried about me finishing, don't. I have this story planned out entirely, so I have every intention of finishing it, good reviews or not. Though good reviews are always welcome :)