Before I began this Chapter, I just have one thing to say...GO BUCS! YAY! WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT!!!!! SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!!! (and on our first try too.) Lynch and Alscott are total babes! *sigh* Of course by the time I get this chapter out you guys'll be like "The Bucs won the super bowl? omg that is sooo two weeks ago..."

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma. Kinda obvious, ne?

Chapter 9

Akane glared angrily at Cane. The two of them were walking through dense early morning fog on their way to God-knows-where to go through rigorous training at Cane's whim. Which wouldn't be so bad if Cane hadn't woken Akane up before everyone else to start on the trip without even saying goodbye!

Akane tried to readjust the straps that were cutting into her arms from the heavy bundle she was carrying. She was holding not only her things, but Cane's as well. The older women had Ranma tied around her back, and across her shoulders was the long wrap bundle that had previously been sitting on Ranma's hands. Akane knew the others had joked about Cane taking Ranma with her wherever she went, she didn't know they were serious.

"We could've at least stayed for breakfast." muttered Akane.

"No." Was Cane's only answer.

"But that's stupid! Won't everyone be disappointed if they get up and we're not there? What about the kids? I mean, won't Patto be disappointed if her Aunt she hasn't seen in ages leaves without talking to her?"

"I did talk to Patto, last night. You do realize that by the time you decided to come to the party it had already been in full swing for at least four hours. By that time everyone knew my plans for today." Cane turned her head to glance over her shoulder at the younger girl. "S'not my fault you decided to spend the day in the shrine instead of with family."

Akane said nothing. She continued to glare at the heartless older woman. "What's wrong with you? Don't you have feelings? What about the Amazon's? You just gonna up and leave them for a couple of months, with out any leadership?"

"The Amazon's are big girls. They can take care of themselves, and have been for thousands of years. Besides Shampoo is my second she'll take care of things till I get back."

"So...You and Shampoo are pretty good friends, huh." Akane couldn't keep the wistfulness out of her voice.

"We're sisters." Murmured Cane affectionately. "Ukyo too. A couple of years after I struck out on my own I met up with the girls ready to extract vengeance for the thorough butt whippin' they had given me. Only what I hadn't prepared for is the fact they both had been training as hard as me..." Cane chuckled. "Aw man, ya shoulda saw us. Three dangerous women with murder in our eyes, standing in a empty parking lot of a broken down mall. humph. Talk about clash of the titans."

Akane couldn't help but smile. "What happened?"

"A fight happened, Akane. A big, nasty, no-holds-bar, violent, messy, cat fight..." Cane shook her head. "We musta fought for a couple of hours before we ended up in a heap of tangle limps, stray hairs and blood. Since none of us could move we just lay there too exhausted to do anything else. We sorta...bonded...in a way, and from then on swore to always be there for each other."

Akane studied the ground as she walked through the forest. "Can I ask you something?"

Cane frowned for a second. Before nodding stiffly. "Shoot."

"What's with the name Cane? Why did you rename yourself?"

Cane cleared her throat. She seemed uncomfortable for some reason. "Uh...well...ya see its like this. After the girls sent me to the hospital, the first time, I decided that Akane Tendo died the day Ranma Saotome did, at least that's how I felt on the inside. So I decided to create a new persona, so I...*shrug*...I took the A in my name out and switched the K to a C, and wallah Cane is born."

Akane stared at her nonplussed. "You're joking right?"

Cane was suddenly on the defensive. "Okay. I'd like to see how creative you are drugged up on a kilo of morphine!"

Akane gave an unlady-like snort. "Ranma's right. I'm an idiot."

Cane growled and as she passed a low hanging branch pulled it taunt and let it go causing it to slingshot at the unsuspecting youth. Cane grinned at the sound of the younger girls yelp of pain. "Oops. Maybe you should watch were you're goin', huh?"

Akane rubbed her aching face while grumbling a few uncomplimentary words about her 'Master'.

An hour later Akane sighed with relief when they stopped at a running river to rest and eat. "I'm so hungry I could eat anything!" she exclaimed.

"That's good to hear." Said Cane as she pulled some items from the packs. "Because from now on we're gonna eat nothin' but your cooking. Just a little technique I like to call 'survival under the most extreme of conditions.' This technique did wonders for me, there isn't a poison on the earth that I can't tolerate." Cane chuckled. "Strengthens your stomach lining as well, makes it harder for a punch to hurt your abdomen."

Akane stared warily at the cooking utensils the older women was placing before her. "You're evil."

Cane smirked. "I know."

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Dr. Hob smiled at the drunken mini pervert before him. "Would you like some more sake, my dear?"

"Why sure!" said the little old man excitedly, his cheeks bright red. Then under his breath murmured. "but cut out this 'my dear' nonsense. wouldn't want one of those beauties yonder ta get the wrong idea, if you know what I mean."

"Of course." Dr. Hob raised an arm to get the waiters attention. "Two more please!" he turned back to man before him. "Now, Happosai. In your honest opinion, who would you say is the most skilled martial artist around these parts?"

"Ha! Why that's simple! Ranma Saotome, my pupil. No one can beat him ...*hic* 'specially if he's fightin' for his luv...," the perverted old man's eyes became glossy and dilated as he stared off into space. A vision of Ranma's said love danced teasingly in his head. "...my darlin' little Akaneee..." He began to drool.

Dr. Hob frowned at the daydreaming martial arts master. "Really, Happosai," He said in a scoffing tone. "all masters claim their students are the best, but I want to know who's infamous. Who puts all the rest to shame? Who dominates in all battles?"

Happosai became angry. "Ranma is the best. If its got 'martial arts' in the name not only can he learn it in an instant, he also can beat anyone even if its their technique! If Ranma can't beat'ca no one can!" With that said, the little man took a big swig out of his sake.

Dr. Hob placed a finger on his chin. "Interesting."

"Whelp!" Exclaimed the pervert jumping to his feet on the table, while tying a bandanna around his head and under his nose. He adjusted an empty bag over his shoulder. "Better be on my way! High school girls' gym shorts wait for no man! Ho Ho Ho Ho...!" And with one last wave, the pervert disappeared from the bar.

Dr. Hob was too lost to his thoughts to notice the little man's exit. "Ranma Saotome, eh?" He chuckled maliciously, reaching in his pocket he placed the money on the table for the tab. He smiled as he left, already making plans for the ill fated end of Nermia's young hero and his so called 'love'.

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

"Geez, Shampoo! How do ya lose a seven year old girl that's supposed to be under your supervision!?" Ranma yelled down at the woman in front of him, driving the bike he was hitching a ride on.

Shampoo, insulted, tossed his answer back at him. "Shampoo no know! Maybe same way Ranma lose seventeen year old girl under supervision! Is too too careless!!"

Ranma pouted for a second before muttering. "Touche'."

The two of them rode around the neighborhood hollering Akane's name in hopes she would hear them and yell back, but thus far they hadn't seen hide nor hair of her.

After a few hours of futile searching Ranma began to become extremely worried. "Where can that idiot tomboy be?!"

"..."

Ranma took Shampoo's silence as nonchalance towards what he saw as a dire situation. "DAMMIT! I never should've let her go with you! This must be a dream for you. Heck, maybe ya didn't accidentally lose her at all!" Ranma was unprepared for the bike to come to a sudden violent halt, so he ended up getting thrown to the hard cement ground. He groaned as he slowly made his way to his hands and knees.

"Ranma!" barked the Amazon desolately.

He looked up at her surprised to see tears in her eyes. He suddenly felt like a heel, but was still too upset over Akane-chan's disappearance to really care all that much.

Her bottom lip trembled. "You really think so little of Shampoo? That Shampoo hurt defenseless little girl for own profit?"

Ranma hung his head. "..."

"Shampoo is no monster!" she yelled at him. "Ranma go to Hell! Shampoo find Akane on own!" with that she pedaled away, ready to start her own search.

'Great.' thought Ranma, angry with himself. 'Sure Shampoo can be annoying at times, but she's still a friend! I really put my foot in it that time.' He sat on the ground crosslegged and rested his chin in his hand. 'I'll worry about her later, right now I need to figure out where Akane-chan's at...if I were her, and I didn't know anyone where would I go?' He pondered that for a few moments before the answer hit him like a ton of bricks. 'Mousse! Of course!' He couldn't suppress all the jealous feelings rising at that realization. 'What's so great about him anyway!? I'm cuter, smarter, a better martial artist and all around good guy! She's crazy not to fall for me! humph! She's gotta be in denial or somethin'!'

Ranma jumped up and ran in the direction of the Cat Cafe. 'Now all I got to do is figure out how I'll punisher her for this...hmmm...tar and feathered would be nice.'

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

Akane-chan walked down the street crying softly. She had only wanted to see the puppy. She should have never jumped from Shampoo's bike. Now she was lost and Shampoo probably didn't love her any more.

Akane scrubbed a tiny fist over her eye. Things were so different in the future. She'll never find her way home! She'll probably have to live on the street now and have only a tiny box for a bed and newspapers for blankets. She wished she would see some one she recognized like Mousse or Shampoo or Nabiki or Kasumi or even that mean old Ranma, but alas she was all alone. Akane-chan threw back her head and wailed. "MOOOMMMIIEEE! WHAAAA!"

Akane had just about given up hope when a gentle hand rested on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, Honey? Where are your parents? Do you need help?" Asked a friendly voice.

Akane sniffled a little before turning to look at the girl behind her. The girl was smiling at her, her face was full of kindness. Akane thought she was very pretty. "I'm lost." Akane whimpered.

"Ohh...poor baby." murmured the pony tailed girl sympathetically. "Come'mere, darlin'." The girl held out her arms to the small child. "Auntie Ukyo will get you something to eat and help you find your family. Okay?"

Akane leapt into Ukyo's arms. "Okay!"

"What's your name, Honey?"

"Akane." Said the little girl shyly.

"That's a lovely name." Ukyo chuckled to herself as she gave the little girl a reassuring hug. 'What a cute kid.'

Ukyo smiled as she entered her restaurant. "This is it." She told the small child in her arms.

Akane-chan looked around then up at Ukyo. "'is a very nice establishment." she said politely.

Ukyo giggled. "Oh it is? is it?" She nuzzled the little girl causing her to giggle as well. Ukyo walked over to the grill and placed the small girl on a stool before moving to the other side. "What'll it be, Honey?"

Akane thought about it for a moment before joyfully giving her her order.

Ukyo grinned as she began to cook it. "Ya know sometin'? I know a girl who orders the exact same thing every time she eats here."

"Really?" asked Akane.

"Yup, has hair just like yours as well."

"Short like mine?" Asked Akane-chan as she ran a hand through her hair.

Ukyo nodded. She placed the plate in front of the little girl, and watched her dive in. "Same eyes too...and nose...and her name is ...Akane as well."

"MmmHmm..." Akane kept eating.

"Come to think of it..." murmured Ukyo. "...ya kinda look just like her."

"That's good." murmured Akane-chan. She was too busy eating to listen to the other girl.

Ukyo placed a finger on her chin as she leaned closer to the little girl to get a better look at her. "...your last name is...Tendo isn't it?"

Akane looked at the girl with sheer panic written on her face. 'Oh No!' she thought. 'How do I explain things to my new friend Ukyo without sounding crazy? Then she'll hate me like Shampoo, and then I won't have any friends!' Akane-chan gulp thinking fast. "Uh...Uh...I am Akane Tendo, because...uh...the other Akane Tendo...is uh...um...My Mother! Yeah! That's why we have the same name she's my mom." Akane slumped in her chair *whew*. 'That was close. Boy, I sure am clever!'

The mini spatula in Ukyo's hand snapped. She stood trembling slightly while staring into space. "Then why haven't I seen you before?"

Akane's head shot up. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "Because...she...is...ashamed of me. yeah! That's right! She keeps me looked up in a damp, dark cellar all the time. I never get to go out or see other people," Akane was now starting to get into the story trying to make it as exciting as possible. "...but one day I decided I would no longer be a prisoner and I tore a up my bed sheets and threw them out the window so I could climb down out of the tower..."

Ukyo frowned puzzled. "I thought you were locked up in the cellar..."

"Uh...I am sometimes...anyway, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was caught, so I shimmied down as quick as possible. You see, If they find me they would BEAT me..."

"They?"

"Yeah! My Mom and my Dad! So I escaped and here I am!"

Ukyo's kei flared about her hot and bright. "And who is your father?"

"Ranma Soatome." Akane lied easily. She looked up at Ukyo with big, teary puppy-dog eyes. "You won't tell will you? They'll beat me somethin' awful!"

Ukyo reached out and hand and placed it on the sweet and innocent little girl's head. "I swear, I'll never let them hurt you ever again!" While silently she thought. 'I'll KILL him!!!'

End of chapter 9.

In case you were wondering, I'm not going to go any further with the lynching thing. It was merely comic relief. (Although I thought about it.) I just figured it would be wondering a little too far from the original story. Anyways the reviews are great, I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!

Oh and Cane name? *sigh* that's really how I came up with it.