Disclaimer: Alas, Ranma-sama doth not dwell among those items which I do call mine own.

Author's Note: Wow! I have reviews! I'm so excited! I'm really glad you guys like the story so far. I hope I keep living up to your expectations. If it gets too sappy or too OOC or anything, let me know and I'll see what I can do. It's so hard to tell when you're writing these things how it comes off to others. Especially since I've read it, like, five times now, so I'm getting super critical.

    In response to people's comments, don't worry, the roof thing will be explained later on (btw, Cat H, do you remember the name of that story you mentioned? It sounds interesting). Also, I promise I won't leave this fic unfinished. I hate it when people do that. I will do my best to update frequently, but I only have about half the story typed on my computer, and I suck at typing, so it takes forever. But the more reviews I get, the more energy I get, so maybe that will help.

    As promised this chapter is longer. In fact it's probably a bit longer than most will be, but I couldn't find a good stopping point any earlier, so this is what I ended up with. It should explain the story further.

    Okay, I'll shut up now. Here's the story!

Fortune's Fool

Chapter 2

On the evening of the third day, Ranma sat, as always, by her bedside, her hand clutched in both of his. His eyes were hollow, his face drawn from worry and lack of sleep. He knew the doctors were worried, that she should have awakened by now. He could tell by the look in their eyes when they came to check on her, although they tried to reassure him. But after three days of this, with no change, even he had begun to doubt that she would recover.

"Akane," he whispered, "Please come back to me. I need you. Without you I..." he trailed off. Even when she couldn't hear him it was difficult for him to put his feelings into words. Words had never been his strong suit.

Ranma heaved a sigh and stood, turning to gaze out of the window. The sun was just disappearing over the horizon, the clouds reflecting its last fiery rays in brilliant hues of orange, pink, and purple.

Suddenly, every one of his senses perked up as he heard Akane stirring. He rushed back to her bedside, relief washing over him as her eyes fluttered open.

"Akane, are you all right?"

Her eyes came to rest on him and she fixed him with a blank stare. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, sitting up, "A bit stiff maybe, and I've got one hell of a headache but..." she frowned slightly at his intent gaze and haggard appearance, "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

'What the hell is she...' The bottom dropped out of his stomach. 'Oh my god,' he thought, 'She doesn't recognize me! That blow to the head must have affected her memory.'

Pulling himself together, he answered somewhat croakily, "Yes. My name is Ranma Saotome. I'm your fia-uh, your friend," he finished a bit awkwardly. Somehow he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth just yet. It would probably only make her uncomfortable and lead to a lot of difficult questions.

Just then, a doctor entered the room. "Ah, Miss Tendo, glad to see you're awake! I must admit you had us worried there for a while. How do you feel?"

"Fine, pretty much, except...I-I can't seem to remember what happened to me, or anything else for that matter."

"Hmm," the doctor's face took on a worried expression, "Sounds like you have some form of amnesia."

"A-amnesia?" she questioned, nervously, unconsciously drawing a bit closer to Ranma.

"Yes. But I wouldn't worry too much about it yet. These things are often temporary. I'll have to run some tests."

"But you can help her, can't you?" asked Ranma, and Akane thought she detected a slightly desperate note in his determinedly even tone. Once again she noticed the circles under his eyes and the strain in his face. She wondered why this man was so very intent on her well-being. He had said he was a friend, but she sensed that there was something else; something he wasn't telling her. He looked as though he hadn't slept in a week.

"We'll do the best we can, I assure you. Call me if you need anything," He excused himself and left the room, leaving them alone once again.

Ranma looked slightly uncomfortable. Akane took pity on him and said, "No offense or anything, but you look terrible. You really should get some sleep."

"Yeah, I guess so," he replied, rising and turning to leave somewhat reluctantly. At the door he paused, debating whether to say something else, but finally just added, "Take care of yourself, and call me if...if you need anything. The doctor will know where to reach me."

"Okay, thanks...Ranma was it?"

"Yeah, Ranma," he confirmed as he was leaving, and she smiled kindly at him. Outside her closed door, he ran a hand through his hair and whispered to himself, "your fiance."

* * *

Over the next few days they kept her at the hospital for observation. Her waking hours were filled with tests and visits from friends and relatives, none of whom she remembered. It was difficult for her to see the recognition in their faces and be unable to return it. And on top of that, she was beginning to get the feeling they were keeping something from her. It drove her nuts.

But most difficult and confusing were her nights. They were filled with dreams of disjointed images and impressions in no particular order, yet somehow she seemed to feel they were memories; shadows of a very real past -- her past.

"...you will marry him, and inherit the dojo..." her father's voice echoed in her head..."...you jerk! There's no way I'm marrying a pervert like you!"...came her own voice...and then there was a flash of a golden bandana and a warm body cuddling with her in bed...the sounds of two teenaged boys fighting..."I know he'll come for me," her own voice again, "I believe in him..."..."...my fiancee! Touch her and I'll kill you!"...that voice was so familiar, but who...

She woke with a start in her dark hospital room. 'fiancee...' the word echoed in her mind. 'So that's what everyone's been hiding' she thought, 'I'm engaged, and apparently to someone I hated. Heh, no wonder they didn't tell me. Then again..."...my fiancee! Touch her and I'll kill you!"...' the words drifted through her consciousness, but still the voice was indistinct, almost distorted. A residual wave of affection spread through her at the thought. 'Maybe I did have feelings for him after all. Now all I have to figure out is who...'

Finally, the doctor informed her that she would be allowed to return home, as her physical injuries were completely healed. He suggested, however, that she might wish to seek out further psychiatric aid in recovering her memory.

At first she was pleased that she would be returning home, but that initial reaction was soon overshadowed by a growing fear. What would it be like, living in a house she didn't remember, surrounded by the strangers who knew her? At least at the hospital, she could escape their pained expressions after visiting hours, but at home... 'No,' she told herself forcefully, 'If there's any hope of recovering my memory, I've got to stop hiding. Although everyone seems anxious for me to remember, they keep avoiding telling me anything too specific. I suppose they want me to discover it on my own,' Still, it was frustrating.

In fact, she was quite right. The doctor had informed the Tendos and the Saotomes that the best thing they could do for Akane was to try to treat her normally and surround her with familiar things and activities, but to avoid telling her anything too specific. According to him, her particular type of amnesia caused her memories to retreat to the subconscious level, and therefore the easiest way to reach them was through the language of the subconscious itself; namely, reflex. The familiar surroundings would stimulate her subconscious memories, allowing them to gradually reform in her conscious mind. However, direct information might be misinterpreted, thereby disrupting the process and causing gaps and misconnections, even altering her previous perceptions. In short, it could change her.

So, in accordance with the doctor's instructions, they had all agreed not to reveal to her any more than the simplest details, especially her engagement to Ranma.

That evening, Akane returned home to a warm welcome.

"Akane, dear, we're so glad you're home!" said Kasumi, embracing her sister, "Why don't you just leave your things here by the door and go on inside. Everyone is anxious to see you."

Akane smiled and thanked her, and then proceeded into the dining room, where she saw her family crowded around the table. Her father and sisters had visited her in the hospital, so she recognized them. She also identified the man named Ranma, who'd been with her when she awoke. He'd been back to visit her several times in the hospital, but he always seemed a bit ill at ease, more so than the rest. She supposed it was because they had obviously been close friends, but there was something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. Sitting across from her father was a man in a gi, with a handkerchief covering his bald head. Though she had never seen him, she supposed this must be Genma Saotome, friend of her father. Finally, she noticed standing in a corner, observing quietly, a young man dressed in a yellow top and green pants, his arms folded across his chest, intense green eyes kind, but sharp. He was very handsome. Then her eyes fell upon the yellow and black bandana bound around his head, and all at once impressions like those in her dreams found their way, unbidden, into her conscious mind.

...closeness...cuddling...unconditional affection...trust...strength... cuddling in her -- bed?

She put a hand to her forehead, trying to sort out her confused thoughts, and once again the word 'fiancee...' seemed to float through her mind. Could this be him? Her fiancee?

When she looked up again, she found him staring at her, and the affection in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Hi," he said crossing to stand before her. He looked a bit nervous, "It's me, Ryoga. I'm your...your friend as well. I heard about what happened and I'm so sorry I wasn't there, but..." he trailed off. 'This has to be him,' she thought. It all seemed to fit. She smiled back, and both of them failed to notice as Ranma's jaw tensed, his eyes fixed on the two of them.

She let Ryoga lead her to a seat at the table, and he settled himself next to her. She couldn't explain why, but she felt immediately comfortable with him, as though he were someone she was used to confiding in.

As for Ryoga, he was positively delighted by the attention Akane was paying him. In the past, she'd always been focused on that cretin, Ranma, though not in such a pleasant manner. She kept smiling at him affectionately. Once, they both reached for the salt at the same time, and their hands brushed lightly, causing them both to blush. Whenever Ryoga would say something, she listened intently, and vice versa.

Ranma, on the other hand, grew more and more agitated as the meal wore on. He kept casting sidelong glances down the table at the two of them, scowling at their shameless flirting, but they were too preoccupied with each other to notice. 'Honestly, it's not like her to be so forward...' he paused mid-thought, doubt creeping in, '...or maybe just not with me.' His scowl deepened as his self defense instincts took over, 'That stupid, kawaiikune-- no, that's not true. Dammit, I promised myself I would stop doing that. I'm through lyin' to myself...and to her,' he glanced in her direction, 'But look at the two of them...'

Her laughter brought Ranma back to the present as she touched Ryoga's arm lightly. "Oh, Ryoga," she smiled at him again. Ranma, unable to take it anymore, rose abruptly and strode outside wordlessly, seeking his usual refuge: the roof.

There he sat, staring up at the stars. 'Why?' he thought plaintively, 'Why then? Why did she have to get injured before she could even answer me? Now it looks like she's falling for Ryoga, and I don't even know if that's... I mean, what if that's how she always...' he trailed off, unable to even finish the thought. He tried once again, as he had countless times, to think back to that night, tried to read the expression on her face, the tone of her voice when she'd been about to answer. 'Oh, Ranma, I...' Was it affection? Or was it pity? From the looks of things now, he feared it might be the latter.

After about an hour, once he'd had a chance to calm down a bit, Ranma returned to the dining room. Dinner was over and the others were sitting around talking, but Akane stood off to the side, leaning against the doorframe and gazing out across the lawn. She didn't seem to notice him. 'It must be hard for her, not remembering anything,' he thought. He made a move to go comfort her, but thought better of it.

Just then, "Ranma!" shouted a familiar, high-pitched voice from behind him, and he spun around just in time for Shampoo to throw her arms around his neck, crushing up against him. Almost immediately, he was released as a swift blow to the side of his head sent him crashing into the wall. Slumped on the floor, he looked up to see Akane glaring at him. But...?

Akane frowned and looked at her fist, puzzled, then back at Ranma, who was watching her, almost...hopefully?

"Ohmigod! I'm so sorry! I have no idea why I did that. Are you okay?" she asked, crossing to help him up. At her words Ranma's shoulders seemed to slump a bit, and the hopeful look she thought she'd seen disappeared.

"Yeah, I'm fine. After all, you -- never mind," he replied, "I think I'll go to bed. G'night everybody," And with that, he shuffled off toward the stairs. Shampoo, stunned be Akane's odd behavior, followed.

"Yeah, I think I will too," said Akane after a moment, still a bit shaken by the experience.

* * *

When Ranma entered his room, he was startled to find that Shampoo had followed him.

"Gah! Shampoo, what are you still doing here?!" he exclaimed.

"Why violent girl act so strange after she hit Ranma?" she asked suspiciously.

"If you must know, she has amnesia, okay? She doesn't remember anything...including me," he added, a note of sorrow slipping into his impatient tone, "And the doctor said we're not supposed to tell her anything, so don't go blurting out to her that she's my fiancee or anything like that. She's supposed to figure stuff out on her own. Now go on and get out of here. I gotta get some sleep."

Shampoo nodded and obeyed, barely able to contain her excitement. Now was her chance to steal Ranma for herself! With Akane constantly ignoring him, he was bound to turn to her!

* * *

When Akane reached her room, she closed the door and leaned back against it. 'That was really weird,' she thought. For an instant, just as she'd hit Ranma, it was like, in her mind, the world around her turned upside down. It was as if she had been staring at a window with the shades closed, trying to make sense of the shadows as they passed by. But for an instant, the blinds were thrown open, revealing the outside world, only to be quickly shut once more, leaving her in darkness. Suddenly, she'd known without a doubt that everything she'd figured out so far was somehow...wrong. The only thing that was right was that punch, a crazy, reflex response to seeing that girl glomp Ranma. But as the moment faded, so did that certainty, and she realized how ridiculous it all sounded. Still, it frightened her. It had been so clear...

She took a deep breath to calm herself, and made ready for bed.

* * *

The next morning, Ranma stood in the yard, looking at the damaged dojo. He'd been so preoccupied with worry over Akane that he'd never really gotten around to thinking about how it had happened. What had caused the roof to cave in like that?

He supposed it could have been an accident, as a result of the structure being weakened by repeated battles. However, that seemed unlikely, especially considering the number of people who wanted to kill him or Akane, or both. It was just a little too convenient. Still, would anyone they knew really resort to this?

With a heavy sigh, he turned back toward the house, resolving to give the matter further consideration later on. Right now, he had other things on his mind.

A/N: Ooh, the plot thickens! Please review. Every little bit helps!