A/N: Hey I have another chapter and really hope ya like it. There's one more after this that's -super- long and that's the finale! Will Ranma and Ryoga get cured? Who will he choose? ^_^ We'll find out! Please R&R I really enjoy reading responses to my work!
----
Akane rises to find Ukyou fixing eggs over a fire and quickly checks the time on her watch. Eight o'clock? She grimaces this was not good. Why was Ukyou going out of her way to stall her? She wasn't as dumb as the chef probably took her for. "Breakfast?"
Her friend smiles over the steaming pan. "I was hungry and figured you were too."
Akane's stomach growls involuntarily. "I guess I am."
"Well this'll fill you right up."
Akane thinks back to the previous night. "You're delaying me on purpose aren't you?"
Ukyou's long hair falls over her face and she hurries to shovel the food onto plates.
"Last night when you asked me if I would do anything for someone I loved, you were really talking about helping out Ranma! What is he doing? Why can't I be there?"
The young chef sighs. "He needed some time alone, so I thought I'd give it to him."
"What??"
"But I also wanted to help you out because I know you care about him." 'This is almost too confusing for myself.' She thinks to herself, still avoiding eye contact.
Akane frowns. "So he confides in you and not me."
"No that isn't it at all." Ukyou looks up sharply. "He hasn't confided in me at all. He dumped me, remember?? I'm just doing this for him, because I care about him. And I wanted to know if your feelings were really true about him."
"True! What do you mean?"
"I mean!" Ukyou puts the plates down. "I mean you should know exactly what you want to say to him or else you'll just confuse things. That's what is wrong with a lot of people these days, they don't know and then mess everything up. You and Ranma fight a lot because there's no communication between you two."
"There is too..." But Akane wasn't sure. 'I know what I feel for him, don't I? Shouldn't I love him? Why else am I going through all of this?'
"Just think it out, okay? I'm sure that's what he's doing."
------
------
Ranma and Ryoga continue traveling late the next morning at a brisk pace after cleaning and splitting the dress between them. Ranma has no problem with his makeshift skirt but Ryoga isn't used to being so 'open' and refuses to let his predicament go lightly. "My legs are cold."
"So are mine."
"What if someone sees me like this?"
Ranma stares at his friend's rags. "Some one -has- seen you like this and you look -fine- for our situation."
Ryoga attempts to cover himself more by holding their pot in front of him. "You don't count. You're a pervert."
"And -you're- not?" Ranma laughs. "Who sleeps with Akane in pig form? At least I have the decency to run away when she's naked or in underwear."
Ryoga refrains from answering. "Do you think those Chinese girls are still mad?"
"Dunno, I really made a mess of their party."
"Do you think they'll come after us?"
"Probably. I am a walking jinx when it comes to women. They blame me for everything."
The fanged boy watches the trail ahead. "Well it normally -is- your fault, despite who causes the situation."
"Look," Ranma's face grows red. "I'd do things differently if I could, but I can't. I have to play the cards I get dealt."
"And we all know you suck at poker." The words slipped from Ryoga's lips before he knew what they were. Up till then he had been enjoying a good bicker, but he had just crossed the line. Ranma's fist caught him in the jaw unexpectedly and he heard and felt an audible crunch of bones ~ not his own. He stumbles to the side, eyes wide as Ranma clutches his own wrist in pain. He had apparently forgotten his injury in the heat of the moment. Still through clenched teeth he manages to get his words out. "I don't want to screw things up, I never do, dammit! You can tell me my whole life is screwed up because of me ~ I know that~ But I'm trying to fix it."
Ryoga stands still watching his friend, unsure of what to say or if he should break the silence between them.
Ranma glances up at the canopy and sighs. "Fuck."
Ryoga looks at him inquiringly.
"I screwed this up too."
"No, this was my fault. -That- is your fault." He says pointing at Ranma's injury. "You really need to fix it."
"Not until we're cured."
"What makes you think we can find the right spring?"
"I dunno. What makes you think we can't?"
Ryoga smirks. "I dunno."
"Maybe we should find out then." Ranma starts marching again.
Ryoga takes the short sprint to catch up and rub his aching jaw. "It'd be nice if we could find some clothes along the way."
"For the last time you look fine." To emphasize Ranma gives him a sturdy whack on the butt with his good hand. "In top fighting condition."
"I'm more worried about the trip home. Do you really want to ride on a plane in -that-?"
The terrain slowly progresses upward in a slope long through the afternoon and into the evening the trees begin to tamper off. The grassy floor becomes a dirt one and above the few trees left a mountain peaks. Encouraged by the sight, Ranma and Ryoga continue well into the night with the sun long at their backs.
"We're getting close." The pigtailed martial artist says surely. "We've made great time."
"But we should stop and get some rest."
"Where? With what blankets?"
"We survived last night."
"Oh hell I'm just making excuses."
Ryoga furrows his brow. "I noticed."
"We're martial artists! Can't we pull an all nighter?"
"Once we get to Jusenkyo you won't want to sleep either. I'm being the responsible one."
The young Saotome crosses his arms. "Fine, but the first one to get up in the morning wakes the oth-"
An arrow buries itself in the dirt by his foot.
"That's not good." Ryoga stares at it.
"No it isn't."
Five amazons materialize out of the dark. Ranma recognizes Rin Shu and Ku Li immediately.
"Men." Rin addresses with distaste. "We're looking for a girl and pig."
Ryoga laughs nervously. "You're the first girls we've seen."
"Yah, we didn't expect to run into -anyone- out here."
Ku Li eyes the cloth around their waists and Ryoga blushes under her gaze.
"Then we will go."
One of her girls retrieves the arrow and as one they disappear into the night.
"Well we know they're still looking for us. You wanted to rest?"
"Er, yes..." Ryoga wasn't sure anymore.
"Okay." the pigtailed boy claps his hands together. "Let's get down and dirty."
"Huh?"
He gestures at the dusty ground.
"Heh."
Jusenkyo. It was very close. Ranma had run further along the mountain pass, enjoying the proximity and cool breeze between his bare legs. This pass was the one he and his father had taken years ago. Not too far ahead was a new -free- life if he could find it. "I'm feeling really uh...what's the word? When you think about smart stuff?"
Ryoga comes up the path behind him. "Intellectual?"
"No, more brainy."
"Philosophical?"
"Yah. Do you feel like that?"
Ryoga shrugs. "That and anxious. How come we never thought of doing this sooner?"
"Ya know I don't know. But we're here now."
"With crazy Amazon girls on our tails no less."
They round another corner laughing and are welcomed by the wondrous sight of the Jusenkyo springs.
"Yes!" Ranma crows triumphantly.
"I forgot how many there were..."
The small bodies of water were so numerous that it gave the effect of being one giant lake with land stretched over it like spider webs.
"So..."
"So..."
Thunder rolls in the distance.
Ranma takes Ryoga's arm in his good hand. "This is going to be a fun challenge."
"How are we going to find the right one?"
"We can try the guide." He points to a small cabin close to the first few springs. "He can help us."
-------
-------
Ukyou shades her eyes and scans the rocky slope ahead of her. It is well lit by the late afternoon sunlight, but she has doubts about how long it will last. Clouds are fast approaching and they look dark and ominous. She was actually surprised they had made such good time. A driver happening by had offered them a ride. Quite humorous really because she had a feeling both Ranma and Ryoga had taken a longer way. 'Boys never ask for directions.'
Close beside her Akane climbs with a passion refusing to rest until she has found her fiancee.
Ukyou watches her from the corner of her eyes, hoping the confused and angry looks that cross her face are the product of heavy thinking. Though the young Tendou had been quiet for some time, she wasn't entirely mad at Ukyou for keeping her in the dark, and that was somewhat of a relief. 'I just hope I'm doing the right thing...' She felt like she had a mission she needed to accomplish to fully accept Ranma's choice, and that it had something to do with helping Akane do the same thing.
Ahead of them somewhere on the mountain the confrontation awaited.
----
Akane rises to find Ukyou fixing eggs over a fire and quickly checks the time on her watch. Eight o'clock? She grimaces this was not good. Why was Ukyou going out of her way to stall her? She wasn't as dumb as the chef probably took her for. "Breakfast?"
Her friend smiles over the steaming pan. "I was hungry and figured you were too."
Akane's stomach growls involuntarily. "I guess I am."
"Well this'll fill you right up."
Akane thinks back to the previous night. "You're delaying me on purpose aren't you?"
Ukyou's long hair falls over her face and she hurries to shovel the food onto plates.
"Last night when you asked me if I would do anything for someone I loved, you were really talking about helping out Ranma! What is he doing? Why can't I be there?"
The young chef sighs. "He needed some time alone, so I thought I'd give it to him."
"What??"
"But I also wanted to help you out because I know you care about him." 'This is almost too confusing for myself.' She thinks to herself, still avoiding eye contact.
Akane frowns. "So he confides in you and not me."
"No that isn't it at all." Ukyou looks up sharply. "He hasn't confided in me at all. He dumped me, remember?? I'm just doing this for him, because I care about him. And I wanted to know if your feelings were really true about him."
"True! What do you mean?"
"I mean!" Ukyou puts the plates down. "I mean you should know exactly what you want to say to him or else you'll just confuse things. That's what is wrong with a lot of people these days, they don't know and then mess everything up. You and Ranma fight a lot because there's no communication between you two."
"There is too..." But Akane wasn't sure. 'I know what I feel for him, don't I? Shouldn't I love him? Why else am I going through all of this?'
"Just think it out, okay? I'm sure that's what he's doing."
------
------
Ranma and Ryoga continue traveling late the next morning at a brisk pace after cleaning and splitting the dress between them. Ranma has no problem with his makeshift skirt but Ryoga isn't used to being so 'open' and refuses to let his predicament go lightly. "My legs are cold."
"So are mine."
"What if someone sees me like this?"
Ranma stares at his friend's rags. "Some one -has- seen you like this and you look -fine- for our situation."
Ryoga attempts to cover himself more by holding their pot in front of him. "You don't count. You're a pervert."
"And -you're- not?" Ranma laughs. "Who sleeps with Akane in pig form? At least I have the decency to run away when she's naked or in underwear."
Ryoga refrains from answering. "Do you think those Chinese girls are still mad?"
"Dunno, I really made a mess of their party."
"Do you think they'll come after us?"
"Probably. I am a walking jinx when it comes to women. They blame me for everything."
The fanged boy watches the trail ahead. "Well it normally -is- your fault, despite who causes the situation."
"Look," Ranma's face grows red. "I'd do things differently if I could, but I can't. I have to play the cards I get dealt."
"And we all know you suck at poker." The words slipped from Ryoga's lips before he knew what they were. Up till then he had been enjoying a good bicker, but he had just crossed the line. Ranma's fist caught him in the jaw unexpectedly and he heard and felt an audible crunch of bones ~ not his own. He stumbles to the side, eyes wide as Ranma clutches his own wrist in pain. He had apparently forgotten his injury in the heat of the moment. Still through clenched teeth he manages to get his words out. "I don't want to screw things up, I never do, dammit! You can tell me my whole life is screwed up because of me ~ I know that~ But I'm trying to fix it."
Ryoga stands still watching his friend, unsure of what to say or if he should break the silence between them.
Ranma glances up at the canopy and sighs. "Fuck."
Ryoga looks at him inquiringly.
"I screwed this up too."
"No, this was my fault. -That- is your fault." He says pointing at Ranma's injury. "You really need to fix it."
"Not until we're cured."
"What makes you think we can find the right spring?"
"I dunno. What makes you think we can't?"
Ryoga smirks. "I dunno."
"Maybe we should find out then." Ranma starts marching again.
Ryoga takes the short sprint to catch up and rub his aching jaw. "It'd be nice if we could find some clothes along the way."
"For the last time you look fine." To emphasize Ranma gives him a sturdy whack on the butt with his good hand. "In top fighting condition."
"I'm more worried about the trip home. Do you really want to ride on a plane in -that-?"
The terrain slowly progresses upward in a slope long through the afternoon and into the evening the trees begin to tamper off. The grassy floor becomes a dirt one and above the few trees left a mountain peaks. Encouraged by the sight, Ranma and Ryoga continue well into the night with the sun long at their backs.
"We're getting close." The pigtailed martial artist says surely. "We've made great time."
"But we should stop and get some rest."
"Where? With what blankets?"
"We survived last night."
"Oh hell I'm just making excuses."
Ryoga furrows his brow. "I noticed."
"We're martial artists! Can't we pull an all nighter?"
"Once we get to Jusenkyo you won't want to sleep either. I'm being the responsible one."
The young Saotome crosses his arms. "Fine, but the first one to get up in the morning wakes the oth-"
An arrow buries itself in the dirt by his foot.
"That's not good." Ryoga stares at it.
"No it isn't."
Five amazons materialize out of the dark. Ranma recognizes Rin Shu and Ku Li immediately.
"Men." Rin addresses with distaste. "We're looking for a girl and pig."
Ryoga laughs nervously. "You're the first girls we've seen."
"Yah, we didn't expect to run into -anyone- out here."
Ku Li eyes the cloth around their waists and Ryoga blushes under her gaze.
"Then we will go."
One of her girls retrieves the arrow and as one they disappear into the night.
"Well we know they're still looking for us. You wanted to rest?"
"Er, yes..." Ryoga wasn't sure anymore.
"Okay." the pigtailed boy claps his hands together. "Let's get down and dirty."
"Huh?"
He gestures at the dusty ground.
"Heh."
Jusenkyo. It was very close. Ranma had run further along the mountain pass, enjoying the proximity and cool breeze between his bare legs. This pass was the one he and his father had taken years ago. Not too far ahead was a new -free- life if he could find it. "I'm feeling really uh...what's the word? When you think about smart stuff?"
Ryoga comes up the path behind him. "Intellectual?"
"No, more brainy."
"Philosophical?"
"Yah. Do you feel like that?"
Ryoga shrugs. "That and anxious. How come we never thought of doing this sooner?"
"Ya know I don't know. But we're here now."
"With crazy Amazon girls on our tails no less."
They round another corner laughing and are welcomed by the wondrous sight of the Jusenkyo springs.
"Yes!" Ranma crows triumphantly.
"I forgot how many there were..."
The small bodies of water were so numerous that it gave the effect of being one giant lake with land stretched over it like spider webs.
"So..."
"So..."
Thunder rolls in the distance.
Ranma takes Ryoga's arm in his good hand. "This is going to be a fun challenge."
"How are we going to find the right one?"
"We can try the guide." He points to a small cabin close to the first few springs. "He can help us."
-------
-------
Ukyou shades her eyes and scans the rocky slope ahead of her. It is well lit by the late afternoon sunlight, but she has doubts about how long it will last. Clouds are fast approaching and they look dark and ominous. She was actually surprised they had made such good time. A driver happening by had offered them a ride. Quite humorous really because she had a feeling both Ranma and Ryoga had taken a longer way. 'Boys never ask for directions.'
Close beside her Akane climbs with a passion refusing to rest until she has found her fiancee.
Ukyou watches her from the corner of her eyes, hoping the confused and angry looks that cross her face are the product of heavy thinking. Though the young Tendou had been quiet for some time, she wasn't entirely mad at Ukyou for keeping her in the dark, and that was somewhat of a relief. 'I just hope I'm doing the right thing...' She felt like she had a mission she needed to accomplish to fully accept Ranma's choice, and that it had something to do with helping Akane do the same thing.
Ahead of them somewhere on the mountain the confrontation awaited.