Dreamwalk With Me

A Ranma Nibun no Ichi FanFic by Anansi42

Disclaimer - This is a story based on characters created, owned and copyrighted by Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan Publishing, VIZ Communications, his Holiness the Pope, Kitty Film, Fuji TV and other associated parties.  I'm only borrowing them for a bit without permission.  This story is written expressly for entertainment purposes.

Day Three

------

It was a very early part of the morning when a ringing phone roused Cologne from sleep.

It is a good thing that I only need a little sleep.  I have certainly been getting no more than a little for the last few days.

"Shampoo?"  There was no response.

-Sigh-

One guess to where she went.

Cologne made her way to the phone downstairs.  When she picked up the receiver, Dr. Tofu's voice was on the other end of the line.

"Elder Cologne?  Something has happened with Ranma and Shampoo."

Give the lady a prize.  "Is Shampoo still there?"

"I'm at the clinic; but I'm told that Shampoo is still in Ranma's hospital room, being placed into the second bed.  She is unconscious, like Ranma."

Cologne thought for a moment, "Is she… dreaming?"

"Sato-sensei hasn't set up a monitor yet, Elder.  Do we have your permission?"

"Yes.  I believe that Shampoo may have found something and tried to use it to treat Ranma.  Has she done so?"

"Sato-sensei says it looks as if she tried to administer something; but collapsed before she could give it to him."

Cologne breathed a sigh of relief at that.  "I will need an hour or two to double-check what Shampoo intended to do; but I'll be there as soon as I can."

She hung up the phone and turned to the table Shampoo had been using for study.  It was still covered with books and scrolls but also held a few vials and pouches.

I think I know what Shampoo tried to do, and why.  I just hope her enthusiasm hasn't caused more damage.

------

Ukyo had not enjoyed a restful sleep when she reluctantly opened her eyes on the new day.

Get up?

No.  That's too much work.

Mmm… sleep… good.

It took at least a full minute before she realized that someone downstairs was calling for her.

A woman's voice?  Konatsu, that better not be you again.  There are times that just creeps me out.

"Saotome Ukyo!  Breakfast!"

Ukyo was still bleary-eyed, but managed to sit up as those words began to register.

Huh?  Sao-whosits?

But those questions quickly took a back seat to her next one.

What happened to my futon?

Instead of her accustomed thick futon, she was in a large, soft bed.  She cast an eye around the room, looking for her robe.  She found it and put it on before the next question hit her.

Where the hell am I?

The room she was in was completely unfamiliar, as was the hall outside the bedroom door.

"Come on, sleepyhead!  Breakfast is ready!"

Ukyo took a couple of wrong turns finding her way downstairs.  One of them was to the bath where she saw two toothbrushes; one was definitely hers.

Oh well, I'll need to use this anyway.  She brushed her teeth to kill the awful taste in her mouth.

A quick search revealed her familiar hairbrush, which she used to deal with the unruly mass of hair she faced in the mirror.  Still lost, but now more presentable, Ukyo found her way downstairs.

Who's voice was that?

As she approached the kitchen, Ukyo caught a glimpse of reddish hair as the woman who had called her downstairs worked at something on the stove.

Is that Ranchan?  Looks a little bit like him err… her, but her hair is a bit darker.  She also seems a bit taller.

The woman turned around, ready to make her third, and louder, call to breakfast.  Seeing Ukyo in the room, she gasped.

"Ukyo-chan, you surprised me!  I was sure you'd have to be kicked out of bed this morning!"

Ukyo also gasped.  Still, she managed to mold her expression into a mask of calm, control, and (in the stoic fashion of a martial artist) extreme bewilderment.

And just who in all the hells are you?

The answer seemed to tickle the back of her mind.

Oh, yeah… that's right.

"Mom?"

The mystery woman smiled, "Who else?  We've got a busy day today, so we need to get started if we're going to have everything ready for tonight."

"Tonight?"

"The grand opening party!  Ranma's been looking forward to it for a week!"

The grand opening party for what?

Oh, the new Nekohanten.

"I don't know about celebrating more competition… Mom."

"What competition, Ukyo-chan?  We're all one big family!  Besides, Xian Pu hosted the opening parties for all six of your franchise openings.  I'd say it's your turn now that there's a third Nekohanten opening up."

Ukyo was so stunned that she almost fell over.  Seven locations?  Wow!

"You're right, Mom, I guess it is my turn.  Will Ranchan meet us here or at Ucchan's?"

"We'll meet your brother at Ucchan's at two.  Then both of us will finish preparing for the party while Ranma will go on to the Nekohanten to bring Xian Pu later."

Brother?  When the hell did that happen?  Oh yeah, it was my choice.  Why did I choose THAT?  Well, I'm sure it'll come to me.

"You mean she won't cook that first night?"

"Not this time.  She said she had an announcement for all of us and didn't want to wait to share it."

"She wouldn't just say what it was?"

"No, said she wanted everyone together before she'd tell anyone."

The two women sat down to breakfast and went over the plans for the party.  As they talked, Ukyo wondered about the foggy weather.  It wasn't thick; but the fog made it hard to see the sky or sun.  I hope the weather doesn't turn on us tonight.

------

Downstairs at Ucchan's, the phone began to ring.  Upstairs on her futon, Ukyo never heard it.

------

Tofu hung up the phone, his face betraying a worried expression.  I hope that Ukyo-san is just spending the night out.

He had been trying to call Ukyo and Akane since speaking with Sato-sensei to set up monitors on Shampoo; but so far had only been able to contact Akane, who agreed to meet him at the hospital even given the early morning hour.

After another unsuccessful attempt to call Ukyo, Tofu got ready to leave.

I'd better get going if I'm going to meet Akane at the hospital.  I can also try to contact Ukyo-san when I get there.

On the brisk walk to the hospital, Tofu had a thought.

Why would Cologne ask about Shampoo dreaming?  Cologne definitely knows something, but what?

------

At the hospital Tofu met up with Akane, who had run the distance from home.  Together, they entered Ranma's room, where they found Sato poring over EEG charts.

"Sato-sensei, how are both patients?"

Sato just handed Tofu a stack of readouts, "Have a look at those and tell me, Tofu-sensei.  I just can't understand it."

Akane was confused, "Both patients?  Who else is sick?"

"I wouldn't call either of them sick, miss."  Sato replied, pulling a curtain that separating Ranma's room into two parts.  "I don't know what I'd call their condition, but it isn't 'sick'."

The drawn curtain revealed Shampoo, unconscious, on the other bed.

"Shampoo!"

"She came here last night and collapsed.  We've tried waking her; but haven't had any more success than with Ranma."

"What happened to her?"

"We don't know, Akane-chan.  She brought something with her, something she tried to give to Ranma; but didn't before she passed out."

"Was she trying to poison him?"

"We don't think so, miss." Sato replied.  "The lab still hasn't identified what she brought; but it doesn't seem to be a poison."

"Indeed not," Cologne's voice cut in, surprising them all, "I believe Shampoo was attempting to administer an antidote."

Tofu looked at the matriarch with curiosity, "An antidote to what?"

Cologne's face, as controlled as she kept it, still betrayed a bit of embarrassment, "To the ch'i-infused tea that Ranma drank three days ago."

Akane immediately flashed into anger.  "I KNEW it!  You poisoned him!  What now, you old crone?  You'll blackmail us to have Ranma give up his freedom to get a cure?"

"No, child.  Blackmail was never part of the plan."

"I don't believe you!"

"Believe whatever you wish.  The tea was only supposed to let Ranma experience some of Shampoo's dreams and, in that way, become better favored to Shampoo's position.  I do not know what went wrong to cause our current problem; but I am here to try to correct it."

"You mean correct your mind control."

"Ranma is too stubborn for mind control to work properly.  I should know, Ms. Tendo:  I've already tried it."

Dr. Tofu broke in with a question, "Elder, if the tea is responsible why didn't you tell me this two days ago?"

"I didn't believe that we were responsible because the tea should not have had this effect.  The people who drank the tea should have had normal sleep and waking habits, and only had their dreams affected by the person controlling the dreamscape."

"Which would have been Shampoo in this case?"

"If all had gone well, yes, Doctor," she replied to the befuddled neurologist.  "Things are not going well, so I cannot guarantee that Shampoo is in charge of the dream."

"How is that important?  Why not just try something to wake them both up?"

"Because, child, Shampoo and Son-in-law are not the only ones to have drunk the tea.  You and Ms. Kuonji also had some."

"WHAT?  I've been poisoned too?"

"As I've said, the tea is not a poison, but does make the person… susceptible to another's dreams."

"So Ukyo and I have been susceptible to Shampoo's dreams as well?"

"Only if she had wanted you to be.  If not, you would have had a dreamless sleep for about a week."

"Well, that didn't quite work.  Yesterday I had a dream, a vivid one, with Ranma."

"When was this, Akane-chan?"

"In the morning just before Cologne and Shampoo showed up at the hospital, Tofu-sensei."

Both Tofu and Cologne nodded at this.

"Shampoo was not asleep, so the dreamscape should not have been accessible."

"But Ranma was, Elder, and it was during that time that Ranma had a bout of peak brain activity."

"So Son-in-Law may be controlling the dream?  I wonder how he did it."

"I'm less concerned with who may be controlling it than I am in how to stop it."  Dr. Sato turned from studying the EEG charts.  "Cologne-san, do you have a way to break them out of this induced sleep?"

"The tea that Shampoo brought with her is supposed to be the antidote.  When given to persons who are in the dreamscape but don't control it, it neutralizes the ch'i essence of the original tea, allowing them to be more 'themselves' and letting them come out of the induced dream while they sleep.  It will have no effect on the one controlling the dream."

"So it won't work on Ranma?"

"This dreamscape was not set up 'normally', so I do not know.  In a normal situation when the controlling person is alone in the dreamscape they should sleep and wake as usual.  Certainly while Shampoo was preparing the dreamscape her sleep patterns were unaffected.  We should try to wake Shampoo to learn more."

"Can you do that safely?"

"It should be possible through the use of pressure points.  It would only be a temporary measure and reversible if there is a problem."

"Could we just keep everyone awake until the effects of the tea are gone?"

"Assuming that we could wake Ranma and aside from the fact that it would take almost a week for the effects of the tea to dissipate on their own, Akane, Ranma's ch'i has already been drained to a very low level.  I am doubtful that Ranma's remaining ch'i will sustain him while we wait for the tea's effects to dissipate.  We must do something to correct the situation, and we must do it soon."

"What can we do, Elder?"

"I'll need to administer the antidote to Ms. Kuonji and Ms. Tendo.  The same antidote may work on Shampoo and Son-in-Law; but I won't know for certain until I speak with Shampoo."

"What will you need?"

"First, I'll need a few minutes to get things ready."

"Do you need any hospital supplies?"

"Just a teapot and hot water, Dr. Sato.  I have everything else I'll need."

------

Tofu accepted a phone call as Cologne finished preparing the tea.  He turned aside to address the group.

"Ukyo's also fallen victim to the tea."

Cologne nodded, "I feared as much.  At least I can be reasonably sure that Ms. Kuonji is not the person controlling the dreamscape, so we can administer this antidote to her as soon as she arrives and she'll be fine."

"Will it be safe to administer that to Shampoo and Ranma?"

"I believe so; but I will not do so until Ms. Kuonji can be brought here."  Cologne pressed her fingers to several nerve junctions on Shampoo's body.  "Until then, this should wake Shampoo temporarily and allow her to fill any gaps in my theory."

Cologne turned to Dr. Tofu.  "How long until Ms. Kuonji can be here?"

"It was Konatsu who called, and considering the high regard he shows toward Ukyo-san I imagine that he will bring her here in less than ten minutes, even if he has to carry her here himself."

"Then I can finish bringing Shampoo around."  As Cologne applied pressure to a few more of Shampoo's nerve junctions, the young Amazon started to open her eyes.

Alarms suddenly sounded from Shampoo and Ranma's monitors.

"What the hell?"

Tofu and Sato dashed to check on Ranma as Cologne closely watched her granddaughter.  Shampoo was already waking, though disoriented; but Ranma was going into convulsions.

Soon, two nurses entered in response to the alarms:  Sato quickly waved them over to help him with Ranma.  One nurse began strapping him to the bed while the other ran to the hall for a 'crash cart', a collection of commonly used drugs and tools for the ward.

By the time the second nurse had returned with the cart and two aides, Ranma had been strapped into place; but his strength and the sheer ferocity of his convulsions were threatening to rip the restraints from their mountings.  Suddenly, one arm broke free of the restraints and slammed a nurse against a wall before she could get out of the way.  Dr. Sato was knocked to the floor by the force of the nurse's passage.

Tofu ducked through Ranma's flailing arm before his hands blurred as he applied pressure to several nerve centers, temporarily freezing Ranma into place.  He then lifted Dr. Sato from the floor and pointed him in Ranma's direction.

Sato blinked for a moment, but quickly re-established control of himself.  "Nurse!  10cc Valium.  Stat."  The filled syringe was quickly placed into his hand.  With Ranma still frozen in Tofu's shiatsu restraint, Sato was able to find a femoral vein and inject the drug.  Almost at once, Ranma's body slacked against the remaining restraints and his breathing slowed to almost normal.

Less than half a minute had passed.

Sato and Tofu each took a breath to relax before turning to look at Shampoo, who was speaking quietly with Cologne.

When Sato approached Shampoo's bed, Cologne forcefully knocked him back with her walking staff.

"No, Doctor!  I have to speak with her a moment more, then she must be put back to sleep!"  Sato was angry, but remained quiet as Cologne returned to speaking with her granddaughter.  "Tell me again, child, what happened that night."

------

Three nights ago

Back at the Nekohanten, Shampoo was so excited by having the plan in motion that she was having trouble falling asleep.  Cologne, fully aware of Shampoo's plan, had allowed her to skip the chores of cleaning the kitchen and dining area of the restaurant for the express purpose of allowing her an early start at sleep.  Her anticipation was wasting this opportunity and she knew it.

It's important that I fall asleep soon.  I'll have to get everything ready.

Will this work?  Will it really work?

Hibachan agreed that it should work. 

It should let Ranma know my wants, my hopes, and my dreams. 

He will come to understand my desires, and so may share them. 

I won't even have to chase him.  In time he will come to me.

The waiting will be the hardest part.

I hate waiting, but I must wait.  I must be patient and allow this to work.

It is like the time before a battle and cannot be rushed.

That does not make the waiting easier.

Still too excited to sleep, Shampoo rose from bed to meditate.

I must at least calm myself.  Relax so that I can rest easily.

It took a while, but the calm of meditation did finally come.  After a few hours, she was at last able to return to bed and sleep.

------

When Shampoo had finished her story Cologne applied gentle pressure to her sleep centers, sending the young Amazon back to slumber.  As suddenly as they began, the monitor alarms cut off.

Cologne sat in place as the others looked at her expectantly.

"Well?" asked Sato, "What is going on?"

"First, can you show me both Shampoo and Ranma's readouts?"

Sato looked confused but agreed.  He laid out the readings from both patients across the crash cart and they all looked at the section covering the past few minutes.

"They look the same."

"More than that, Tofu-sensei, they're identical."

"You're right, Sato-sensei; but what does that mean?"

"It means, Doctors, that the dream is being controlled by both Ranma and Shampoo."

"But how is that possible?"

"I can only hazard a guess that it had to do with the night the dreaming began."

"I agree, Dr. Tofu.  I, too, cannot say with certainty what happened; but I can guess."

"So what do you think happened?"

"Shampoo took several days to set up the basic framework of the dreamscape, Dr. Sato.  Each night for over a week, she would drink a cup of the original tea and meditate to focus her mind before sleeping.  This was done in order to set up a foundation for the dream:  place, time, and so forth.  The days of preparation also allowed to Shampoo to give the dream a… well, I suppose the best word would be 'intention' - setting up rules about Ranma's relationship with her in the dream and just who would be admitted to it."

"Just who would be admitted?"

"Remember, Dr. Sato, that four people drank the tea.  Shampoo's prior preparation should only have allowed Ranma into the dream and no one else."

"But Akane-chan said she was in a dream with Ranma."

"That's right!  I was!"

"Yes, Dr. Tofu; but the first night after Ranma drank the tea, Shampoo did not get to sleep until very late."

"How is that important, Cologne-san?"

"It's important, Ms. Tendo, because if Shampoo had fallen asleep first, as was planned, she would have been there to act as a 'safety net' for Ranma when he joined the dream.  Her presence would also have screened out you or Ms. Kuonji from entering the dream world.

"Out of curiosity, Akane-chan, when did you fall asleep that night?"

Akane was a little embarrassed to say, but "I didn't actually fall asleep until very late, Tofu-sensei.  I had just gotten a new manga and wanted to finish reading it all."

"And Ranma, Akane-san; when did he get to sleep?"

"I'm not sure, Sato-sensei.  I lost track of him while the family was watching television that evening."

"So it's likely that he got to sleep early."

"I guess so, yes."

Cologne nodded in thought, "So when Son-in-Law went to sleep, assuming he did so early, he entered an unfinished dreamscape that was still malleable to a person's thoughts."

"So why are Ranma and Shampoo together in the dream?"

"Because, Ms. Tendo, Son-in-Law may have finished the dreamscape but my granddaughter set up most of its basic structure beforehand.  There was little doubt Ranma would be with Shampoo in the dream.  I am surprised that you could enter the dream at all, regardless of Shampoo's presence in the dreamscape at the time; but I suppose that would be Son-in-Law's doing."

"It was Ranma who let me in the dream?"

"Yes.  His feelings are torn between you, Shampoo, and Ms. Kuonji, and that fact allowed you entry to the dream; but Shampoo's preparation for the dream meant that your role in the dream would be secondary, not romantically involved with Ranma's life.  For the period that Shampoo was asleep, you were unable to enter the dream at all, at least at first."

"But how does that explain the role I had when I was there?"

"Akane-chan, what was your role in the dreamscape?"

"I was… married to Ryoga and had a son, though I didn't meet him.  Also, I learned while I was dreaming that Ryoga had a Jusenkyo curse like Ranma has; but it turns him into--"

"A piglet." Cologne finished for her.

"You KNEW?"

"Of course.  I am surprised that you didn't."

"Well, it's not like Ryoga told me; but Ranma didn't either!"

"Ranma did know about the Hibiki boy's curse; but probably didn't tell you as the result of a promise."

"But still…"

"You know how stubborn Ranma can get if he gives his word, Akane-chan.  I'm sure that he regretted that promise very much; but his sense of honor would not let him break it."

"Well… I guess."

"Promises of honor aside, how do we get Ranma and Shampoo out of the 'dreamscape'?"

"First, Dr. Sato, we'll have to wait until Ms. Kuonji can be brought here.  Then some of the antidote tea can be given to her and Ms. Tendo.  After that, I am not sure what to do to bring Ranma and Shampoo out of the dream."

"So even after Ukyo and I leave the dreamscape, Ranma and Shampoo would still be trapped."

"Unless I can think of a way to save them… yes, I'm afraid so."

"There's nothing we can do?"

"Not that I can think of.  If Ranma and Shampoo don't want to come out of the dream, they'll likely remain stuck there for the rest of their lives."

"That's horrible!  To be like that for years…"

"Not years, Akane, less than a day."

"What?"

Dr. Tofu passed a hand near both hospital beds, "Cologne is correct, Akane-chan.  Their ki is rapidly running out."

"But…"

"Akane, when their ch'i runs out, they'll either die outright or be left incurably comatose, a sort of living death."  Cologne signed and suddenly looked every day of her 300-plus years, "And as of yet I cannot think of a way to stop it."

------

When Konatsu brought Ukyo to the hospital, Drs. Tofu and Sato were ready and brought her to the room adjoining Ranma and Shampoo's.  The rooms were divided by a retractable barrier that was quickly stored into the main wall, out of sight, making one large room for the three young people.

A fourth bed was readied for Akane.

"But why do I need to stay here?  I'm not sick."

"No, but you did drink the tea.  We'd like to be able to monitor you while you sleep to be sure that you're leaving the dreamscape."

"But…"

"Please, Akane-chan.  We need to be able to make sure that nothing interferes with the dreamscape when we try to bring Shampoo and Ranma out of it."

"Well… if you say so, Tofu-sensei."

"Just a moment.  With Ranma and Shampoo locked together in the dreamscape, how will we get them out?"

"When Ms. Kuonji and Ms. Tendo leave the dream, they should--"

"But Shampoo and Ranma are creating the dreamscape together, Elder.  Won't they keep each other in the dream world."

"Yes, that is true.  So long as they wish to be there, they'll both remain in the dreamscape."

"Could we convince them to leave?"

"How could we do that?"

"I could!  I can enter the dream and convince them."

"You may be able to do that, Akane-chan; but let's wait until Ms. Kuonji is brought round before deciding."

Cologne was next to Ukyo's bed, administering a cup of the antidote tea.

"Elder!  We may need her for entering the dream!"

"I've tried a pressure point approach; but it didn't work.  This is the only other way."

"Why wouldn't a pressure point work with her when it worked with Shampoo?"

"Perhaps, Dr. Sato, Ms. Kuonji's mind has been completely assimilated into the dream."

"Meaning that Shampoo's hasn't?"

"Or Ranma's for that matter?  I do not know.  I suspect that Ranma and Shampoo's dreams -- their goals -- don't completely mesh with each other, so when the two of them are together in the dreamscape there is some friction."

"But they seemed to be getting along fine in the dream, Cologne-san.  I didn't notice any friction."

"And you wouldn't, Ms. Tendo.  The rules of the dreamscape would not allow that.  What has probably happened is that the dreams that don't coincide cause… feedback to Ranma and Shampoo.  Their dreams are in conflict on some level of the subconscious, and that conflict takes energy to resolve."

"That would explain why their brain activity is higher when they're both asleep!"

"I believe so, Dr. Sato.  It encourages me that Ranma and Shampoo will likely come out of the dreamscape when they choose to do so.  The dreams that don't coincide should help drive this."  Cologne turned to look at Akane, "It's up to you to make them choose to leave."

------

Akane was sitting up in bed, Drs. Sato and Tofu attaching electrode wires to her head, while Cologne was trying to prepare her to enter the dreamscape.

"But why do I need to be prepared for this?"

"You have to be on guard not to succumb to the dream."

"Is that a danger?  I've already been there before."

"Yes, but this time Shampoo will be in the dream with you.  The question is what she will do when she notices your presence:  will she fight you or not?  Will she attempt to subvert you or not?"

"Fight me?  In a dream?"

"You won't face any physical harm; but I can't guarantee that you won't feel pain if she resists you."

"Why would she resist me?"

"Because you'll be doing things that don't fit your role as set in the dreamscape.  You'll be taking a more important position than that role seems to allow."

"How can I fight back?"

"I'll try to send you to the dream with an active mind."

"Huh?"

"Lucid dreaming," explained Dr. Sato.  "You'll have some control over what you do while you're in there."

"Oh."

"Remember that none of what you'll see is real.  That also means that you can seem to do things you ordinarily couldn't.  Just be careful."

"If I can do anything there, why should I be careful?"

"Two reasons.  First, since you won't be fitting neatly into the dream any more you'll start using your own ch'i reserves to stay there.  Second, your presence will cause an even greater drain on Ranma and Shampoo's ch'i; partly as they work to accommodate you into the dream but also to resist what you'll try to do."

"But I'll be stronger than they are--"

"And if you exhaust their ch'i you could irreparably harm them."

Akane nodded, "I'll be careful."

Cologne gave her a serious look, "You'll need to be."

Akane turned her head to face Dr. Sato, "Is Ukyo alright?"

"She's not completely out of the dreamscape yet, but her brain activity no longer mirrors that of the others.  She should wake up soon."

"Lay back, child."

Akane reclined on the bed, "I hope this works."

"So do I." Cologne replied as she pressed Akane's sleep points.

------

When Akane next opened her eyes, she was walking with Ryoga, a toddler in her arms.

Well, now I can say I've seen Kaneda.  I guess he's sort of a cute kid… if you don't mind the fangs.

Akane kept quiet a moment, hoping that this Ryoga might drop a hint to where they were going; then she remembered (or the dream reminded her) that this Ryoga was just as lost as the real one.  She wracked her brain, hoping for a clue to their destination.

Ah, yes.  Ucchan's.

Turning at the next corner, Akane decided she might as well speak to the dreamscape's Ryoga.  He wouldn't know how they were getting to their destination but might know something else.

"Ryoga?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you looking forward to tonight?"

"Huh?  Oh, yeah.  Ranma, Xian Pu, and Ukyo always set a good table.  Besides, Ranma said that Xian Pu had an announcement for everyone tonight and we shouldn't miss it."

"Did he tell you anything about it?"

"No.  Said that Xian Pu hadn't told him anything yet, either.  I guess we'll all find out tonight."

"I wonder what it could be."

"Who knows?"

Kaneda was starting to squirm in her arms, so Akane set him down to walk for a bit.  He seemingly set out in several directions at once, but was kept in check by the retractable leash attached to his harness.

"I wish you wouldn't hook that thing on him, Akane."

"It's hard enough chasing after one of you.  I really should get one of these for you, too."  Akane teased.

"No!  I'll be good!"  Ryoga smiled back.

"Just don't get lost and wind up in the women's restroom again."

"I apologized for that."

"You got off easy that time because the woman who splashed you with water fainted.  You might not be so lucky again."

"Just stay near me.  I should be alright."

"You had better be, or you'll get to see the mallet I've been hiding these last few years."

------

"Elder, Akane-chan's brainwaves are beginning to match those of Ranma and Shampoo."

Cologne nodded, "All we can do now is wait."

"How will we know if she's successful?"

"From what Shampoo told me of the dream and what Akane could remember, subjective time seems to be faster in the dreamscape.  If Ranma and Shampoo's condition doesn't change in half an hour, I'll wake Akane and see what has happened."

"Why didn't you give her the antidote tea?"

"The antidote begins to work as soon as a person sleeps, Dr. Tofu.  If Akane had taken the antidote we would have had one chance, perhaps two, to get Shampoo and Ranma out."

"You don't think Akane will succeed the first time?"

"Dr. Sato, the difficulty Tendo Akane will have to face is that one of the people she's trying to save will actively resist her while the other will, at the very least, probably not help her.  I'm not counting on Akane's powers of persuasion so much as on her compassion and her determination:  the girl's willfulness is not always an asset, but this time her stubbornness works to our advantage.  She should be able to convince Son-in-Law and my great-granddaughter to leave the dreamscape; but I would frankly be astonished if she were able to do it on her first attempt.  I had hoped that Ms. Kuonji would be of some help; but her susceptibility to the dream world makes her unsuitable to return."

"What if Akane-chan is only able to convince one of them to leave?"

"If we're lucky, nothing; but I doubt that fortune will be on our side in this.  If only Ranma leaves, the dreamscape will likely become a barren wasteland with Shampoo's mind trapped within.  If only Shampoo leaves, the dreamscape will crumble and Ranma's mind will be lost to madness."

------

At Ucchan's, the party was going into high gear.  Most of the old 'Nerima Wrecking Crew' and their families had been invited and were reminiscing old times, some of the better fights, and the strangeness that seemed overwhelming then but was just funny now.

Behind the counter Ukyo and Nodoka were in a good-natured competition to see who could make the most okonomiyaki in fifteen minutes.  Nodoka was doing well but Ukyo was clearly going to win the race; there was just no beating experience.  The party had spilled over to both sides of the counter, with plenty of people behind the dueling cooks offering help or helpful suggestions that were cheerfully accepted (except from the person who had asked for ketchup, he had been dogpiled into submission).

When the Hibikis showed up Akane was quickly drafted for kitchen help, fetching ingredients and dishes (but not cooking, even after years of friendship Ukyo had never quite forgiven Akane for the 'HazMat' incident).  Ryoga wandered a while until Konatsu towed him to a seat at the bar where he could talk to Akane (if he yelled over the din) and look for Ranma and Xian Pu to arrive.

------

Xian Pu fairly danced on the rooftops as she and Ranma made their way to Ucchan's.  She had been a little nervous about leaving the new Nekohanten but it looked like her sisters Lin Lin and Lun Lun could handle things without her.  She was also excited about the announcement she'd give everyone at the party.

If only it weren't so foggy tonight.  A starry night would make the moment perfect.

Ranma was easily keeping up with Xian Pu's roof hopping.  "Not even a hint?"

"Nope!" Xian Pu replied, laughing.

"C'mon!  Please?"

Xian Pu suddenly stopped, surprising Ranma who had to double back.  "I'll tell you; but if you ruin the surprise for everyone else you'll regret it."

"Okay!"  Ranma's face was a mixture of excitement and just a little apprehension.  His eyes grew wide as she whispered into his ear.

"Really?  You're sure!?"

"Without a doubt."

Ranma's face split into a wide grin, "All right!!"  He swept Xian Pu off her feet and whirled about with her in his arms.

"Ranma!  Put me down!"

He just resumed roof hopping to Ucchan's, Xian Pu in his arms, "Not a chance.  If you don't want me to spill the beans we'd better hurry!"

"At least wipe that goofy grin off your face!"

"I'm trying!" but it was clear he wouldn't succeed.

Watching Ranma's face contort, Xian Pu just shook her head and giggled, "You never could play poker!"

Ranma's laughter joined hers as he sped to Ucchan's.

------

When they joined the party, they were surrounded by people clapping and popping confetti.  Nodoka came from behind the counter to embrace Xian Pu.

"Congratulations on the new franchise, Xian Pu!"  Nodoka cast a glance at Ranma, "And on more.  Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" she added quietly.

Xian Pu looked around, guiltily, for a moment, "Who told?"

Nodoka just laughed, "Genma had the same idiotic look when I told him about Ranma."

"Then I should tell everyone before Ranma's poker face does."

Smiling as she looked at her son's face Nodoka replied, "You'd better hurry."

Latching onto Ranma's arm, Xian Pu steered him toward the center of the room.  Someone brought a chair for Xian Pu to stand on and address the crowd.

"Thank you for coming!  As I look at you all I see old friends, some former rivals, students, people who've worked for us and with us:  all family.  You've helped us when we started the dojo and when we expanded the Nekohanten.  Ranma and I both appreciate all the friendship and support you've given us, and also all the delivery orders you made!"

She paused to let the laughter die down.  "Our success is due as much to your support as to anything Ranma or I have done, and we thank you for that."  Everyone clapped appreciatively.

Xian Pu held up a hand to hush the crowd, her other hand found Ranma's.  "You are as an important a part of our lives as family, so I wanted you all to share in the good news--"

"We're pregnant!"  Ranma blurted out, unable to contain himself any longer.

"RANMA!!"  Xian Pu clapped a hand over his mouth, but it was already too late.

"Mmph?!"

Everyone laughed.

Xian Pu stepped down from the chair and turned to look back at Nodoka, "I knew I shouldn't have… told…" She noticed that her Mother-in-law was holding a small sign:  that she'd been holding the sign behind Xian Pu's back while she spoke.

[She's pregnant!] said the sign.

"Mother!"

"What?  I can't show pride in grandchildren?"

Xian Pu just rolled her eyes and, giving up to the moment, joined the rest of the room in laughter.

------

After much food, drink, and congratulations, the party finally wound down.  Akane and Ryoga stayed to help clean up while Nodoka looked after Kaneda ('practice' she called it).  Akane thought it was the least they could do after Ryoga had gotten lost on the way to the pantry and wound up in the women's restroom.

As promised, Mallet-sama staged a comeback; but Akane was a bit out of practice delivering mahogany justice and would up slamming Ryoga through a table in her enthusiasm.  Akane and Xian Pu were putting things away in the kitchen and talking about kids and families.  Ryoga was in the dining area, sweeping up the pieces of a table and chairs.

"So what was it like, Akane, having your first?"

"I could have done without the morning sickness and the delivery; but everything else was great."

"Was Ryoga a big help?"

"Oh yes, at least when he was around.  His getting lost is still a problem at times; but he managed to be around for most the pregnancy, and Kasumi helped the other times."

"It's a shame that no one can keep track of him."

"Oh, I always know where he is these days.  I had him lo-jacked."

"You what?"

"It's a system used in the United States and other countries to find things.  Ryoga's been fitted with a radio that transmits to a satellite.  The satellite tracks his location."

"Isn't that expensive?"

"It would have been, but we're part of a research grant that covered the cost."

"A grant?" asked Nodoka, returning from upstairs.

"Yes.  Tokyo University and MIT are researching something called 'quantum tunneling' or 'wormholes' or some other thing no one else understands and they think Ryoga's… side trips… could give them clues about how that works.  They say it could change the world."

"Well, as long as it keeps tabs on your husband it's a good thing," Nodoka replied.   A soft cry could be heard upstairs, "I swear, that child is fussy tonight!"

"He's still teething a bit and those fangs are pretty rough.  I'll go up."

"Don't worry about it; you just take a break and relax.  If I run into any real problems I'll call for you."  With that Nodoka trundled back upstairs.

"She must be looking forward to babysitting for you, Xian Pu."

"I'll be happy for the help.  Child care in the village was a community affair."

"That must've been nice," Akane replied.  She suddenly shook her head as if to clear away cobwebs.

What the hell am I doing?  I'm supposed to be doing a job, not woolgathering about non-existent kids!

Akane looked back to the Amazon, "Shampoo…"

"Akane?"

"What are you doing here?"

Xian Pu suddenly fixed Akane with a serious look.  "So… you know.  I should have known that you'd be too stubborn to keep quiet."

The sudden change in Shampoo's demeanor was startling; Akane blinked but kept her voice calm, "Yes.  I know that this is only a dream.  It isn't real."

"Then you should also know that you are not welcome here."  The air around Xian Pu started to crackle with an energy buildup.

Akane's hair began to stand on end and she lifted her hands to ward off the impending attack.  "Shampoo, you don't know what you're doing."

"Wrong.  I'm fighting for my husband."

"He isn't your husband."

"He is here."  Xian Pu raised her hands, a bright glow forming between them.

Akane had to squint against the light, "'Here' isn't real, Shampoo.  It's just a fantasy."

"It's real enough for me."  Shampoo released the energy she'd built in a blindingly bright bolt.

Akane cringed against the pain as she blacked out.

------

When Akane awoke, she was in a hospital bed.  Wow, Shampoo really did a number on me.

"How do you feel?" asked a familiar voice.

"Awful, like I just did ten rounds with Kodachi." she turned to her side.  "Ranma!"

"Well, at least your eyesight is okay," he smiled at her.  "You want to tell me what you said to Xian Pu that set her off?"

"What did she tell you?"

"Nothing.  She won't tell me anything about what happened and would probably be upset if she knew I was here talking to you about it."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because you're my friend and you're hurt.  Ryoga would be here right now but he's sleeping.  Kasumi's been looking after Kaneda."

"How long have I been here?"

"Over a day."

Akane nodded to herself a moment.  "Shampoo attacked me because I told her this was a dream world:  that this wasn't real."

"I don't see why that would make her attack you.  Are you sure there wasn't more?"

"That was basically it."

"But why…"

"Ranma, since when could Shampoo use ki blasts?"

"I didn't know that she could.  She's got the basic skill for it but has preferred hand-to-hand or weapons techniques."

"Where is Ukyo?"

"Still working; but she hasn't acted like her old self since you were brought here.  I guess she's pretty upset."

"Then let me ask you something else.  How are things for you?  Is everything 'good'?"

"Yeah!"

"No offense, but when has that ever happened in your life?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just that:  when in your life has everything gone your way?"

"Well…"

Akane slumped back on her pillow, suddenly dizzy.

"Akane, what's wrong?"

"I'm not sure!  Nothing here is real, so why would anything be wrong?"

"Not real?  Akane, I'm as real as you are." he reached for her hand, only to gasp when his hand passed through hers.

Akane felt herself blacking out again, "Don't worry, I'm real but just visiting…"

------

When Akane opened her eyes again, she was still in a hospital bed.

"How do you feel?" asked a familiar voice.

Akane just sighed, "Cologne."

"I had to wake you when you seemed to be getting stuck in the dream."

"I'm glad you did.  I'm pretty sore from the blast Shampoo gave me."

"Remember that it's not real pain.  What you're feeling is all in your mind; a residual from the dreamscape."

"That doesn't make it hurt any less."

"What happened in there?"

"I confronted Shampoo and she blasted me.  Later I was trying to convince Ranma and I passed out.  Then I was here."  Akane looked toward the other beds, "How is everyone else?"

"No change for Shampoo and Ranma, Miss.  Kuonji-san is awake; but pretty upset," Dr. Sato motioned to the chef, curled into a fetal position on her bed.

"What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing, physically, but something she saw or experienced in the dreamscape really shook her up."

"Did she say anything?"

"Just 'I've lost them again'.  We don't understand it."

"Ranma told me once that she lost her family when she was little."

"Were they in the dream, Ms. Tendo?"

"No, Cologne-san.  From what I saw of Ukyo in the dream, she had been adopted into the Saotome family.  I don't think I saw her old family at all."

"Maybe it was that she lost 'a' family again?"

"That could be, Tofu-sensei."

"Will she be able to help me try to get Ranma and Shampoo?  I don't know if I can take her on alone."

"Miss, she may not be good to help anyone for a while.  She's almost catatonic."

"Ms. Kuonji is almost out of the dreamscape; but part of her mind is… caught.  I suspect that she wants very much to return to the dream and that has split her mind somewhat.  She'll be all right once the dreamscape has collapsed.  Ms. Tendo… Akane, I need for you to try again."

"I don't know what good I'll be.  I was almost overwhelmed by the dream a couple of times."

"I'll give you a weak dose of the antidote tea.  That should help you to remain yourself but will still allow you to join the dreamscape, for a while at least."

"But if I take the tea I'll only have one shot at getting them out, won't I?"

Cologne hesitated a bit, "Yes."

"What if I don't succeed?"

"We won't have time for another attempt.  Your last visit to the dreamscape brought their ch'i levels down to a critical level."

"Then my going back could kill them!"

"If you don't go back, that will kill them."

"…"

"Akane, we have only one more chance to get them out; but we don't even have that without your help.  Will you help save my granddaughter?  Can you help save Ranma?"

Akane looked unsure but still agreed to try.

------

Cologne had prepared a fresh cup of the antidote (the herbs quickly lost potency in water).  She explained the task to Akane again.

"You must get them both to agree to come out of the dream or it won't work."

"But if I get one, won't the other come out automatically?"

"Not with the way the dreamscape appears to have been set up.  To safely get Shampoo and Son-in-Law out of the dream, they must agree to leave together."

"I'm not sure how to do that."

"Try confronting them together, Akane-chan.  Shampoo may avoid powerful attacks like the one she used on you last time if Ranma can see it."

"I'll try, Tofu-sensei."

"Drink this tea.  After you're asleep, I'll give doses of this to Shampoo and Ranma to help them come out of the dream when they choose to."

Akane sipped the tea and made a face, "Ugh!  This is awful!  Why does this tea taste so bad when the other one was so good?"

"Because if the first tea had tasted like this, our plan would have never worked to begin with."

Grimacing, she drank the rest of the cup, "Bleah."

"Don't worry.  You only need to drink the antidote once."

"I just wish I knew how to convince Ranma and Shampoo to wake up."

Cologne considered that a moment, "Try looking for details."

"Details?"

"In my own dreams, I have noticed that things are not as detailed as real life:  there is only as much detail as is needed to satisfy my dreaming mind, not as much as I find in reality."

"I'm not sure I understand."

Cologne gave her a small smile, "Details can be subtle, child; and subtlety is not one of your strong suits."

Akane's angry retort was cut short as Cologne tapped her sleep point.

------

Akane found herself on a Neriman street.  An odd, dense fog was at her back but the way ahead of her seemed clear.

What the hell is that?  This fog certainly wasn't here before.  Or at least it wasn't this dense.

Curious, she put her hand into the fogbank.  She gasped as her hand disappeared in the fog.  Snatching her hand back, Akane could actually see through it for a moment before her hand opaqued and resolidified.

Not wishing to go through the fog, Akane jogged into the clear area ahead of her.  In a park she could see all around town:  Nerima was completely surrounded.  She couldn't see the sun; but was sure that the fog was obscuring it as well.

Where do I go?  I've never been to Ranma and Shampoo's house.

Scanning around, Akane found a phone booth.  Looking through the residence pages for 'Saotome' Akane could see gaps in the phone directory where the ink had just vanished.  Most of the others were indistinct, fuzzy.

I wonder why I didn't notice this before.  Maybe I just didn't care, carried along by the dream?

Several entries erased themselves as she watched.

The dream must be collapsing.  There's not enough ki energy from Ranma and Shampoo to keep it going.

I'd better hurry.

Finding the page she needed, she stared at it a moment in disbelief.

Why am I not surprised?  Well at least I know where this is.

With a definite destination, Akane sprinted through the thinly populated streets.

When she arrived, Akane just shook her head at what she saw:  the Tendo home compound, apparently no different from what she knew.

Well, I guess this is the first place that Ranma thought of as home.  You'd think that at least the dojo sign would be different.

Entering through the front gate Akane made her way to the dojo, where she could hear someone practicing.  Inside she saw Ranma running through one of his advanced katas.  He was incorporating moves she hadn't seen before; but she supposed that he had learned them from Shampoo.

"Ranma."

He continued a moment before breaking practice to look at her.  "Akane!  Hi!  Funny seeing you here."

"I was going to say the same thing.  Where's Shampoo?"

"Out shopping; but she should be back soon.  Did you want to wait for her?"

"Sure, but I also wanted to see you.  Care to spar?"

"What?"

"Spar.  Practice fight."

"I know what it is.  Why do you want to spar?"

"I have something to explain to both you and Shampoo, and I think I can start to convince you if we spar."

"Well, okay.  We've got an extra gi in the house."

"Don't bother."  Akane's clothing shimmered into her familiar yellowed gi.

Ranma's jaw dropped, "How did you do that?"

"This place, this town, the people you've met here, everything is a dream."

"A dream?  Are you back to that?  I thought that you stopped spouting that nonsense a month ago."

"You mean when I vanished before your eyes?"

"You didn't vanish.  You just went kind of… blurry for a moment before coming back into focus."

"That was when I left the dream; but I'm back now and I need to get you and Shampoo out of here."

"This isn't a dream."

"Not a normal one, maybe; but it's still a dream and I'll prove it.  Try to hit me."

"Akane, you know I could never do that."

"Then try to tap me, like that very first spar we had."

Ranma looked doubtful but just said, "Okay."

The two faced each other and bowed, then they began.

Ranma moved in a circle around Akane.  He had never been comfortable fighting with the Tendo girl, but he was also wary of what she might now be capable of doing.  Ranma had never seen that clothing trick before, and it had him a bit concerned.

For Akane this was literally a dream come true.  Ever since the first spar she'd had with Ranma, Akane had felt completely outclassed.  Here in the dreamscape she finally had the upper hand because she knew it was a dream, her abilities were as great as her imagination.  Ranma, though faster than before, was disadvantaged so long as he thought that he was in the real world.

Akane suddenly moved so quickly that even Ranma couldn't follow her.  She stopped right in front of his face for a moment, long enough for him to notice her, and then dashed away before Ranma could counter.

Every lunge, punch, or kick Ranma threw was avoided with an almost insulting ease.  Each time, Akane would just reach in and tap Ranma, even tweak Ranma's nose once or twice, before he could stop her.  Akane was tempted to gloat, but held back from insulting Ranma.

I need to convince him, not antagonize him.

Finally, gasping for breath, Ranma signaled for a stop.  Akane was looking… well, not exactly smug but she had an almost palpable air of satisfaction about her.

"How did you do that?"

"Like I said, this is a dream."

"I'm dreaming?"

"Yes.  You and Shampoo both are dreaming.  You're actually stuck in this dream together."

"Then why can't I do what you just did?"

"Because you didn't know it was a dream.  You thought this was real."

"It just seems like another ki technique."

"When did I ever show promise at ki techniques?  When did you ever see me practice them?"

Ranma didn't have an answer for that.

Akane's clothes shimmered back to a skirt and top.  "Have you ever seen a ki technique that could do that?"

Ranma slowly shook his head.

"Let's find Shampoo.  I need to get both of you out of here."

"You're the one who needs to leave, Tendo."

Akane spun to see Shampoo standing in the dojo entrance, a ball of energy forming in her hand.  "I sent you packing once.  I can do it again."

"You surprised me before.  This time I'm ready."

"We'll see."  Shampoo fired the bolt she'd been holding.

Akane blurred and was suddenly not there.  She appeared beside Shampoo, who also blurred away.

Ranma could hear the rapid strikes and feel gusts of wind as the two women fought around him; but he couldn't see anything.

When did Xian Pu learn to do that?  We haven't kept any techniques secret from each other, at least I haven't.

Why did she call Akane 'Tendo'?  Akane's been a Hibiki for four years… hasn't she?

All a dream?  That would explain Akane's sudden jump in skill.  She's NEVER shown that much speed before, not even the potential for it.

That means that I can…

And Ranma blurred to stand between Akane and Xian Pu.  That one quick burst of speed had him breathing hard; but the two girls hadn't even broken a sweat.

"Enough!" he gasped.  "I'm not sure if this is a dream or not; but something strange is happening here!"

Xian Pu looked at him in shock, but Akane just nodded in agreement.

"You're right about that, Ranma.  You and Shampoo drank a special tea that put you here.  This dreamscape was prepared by Shampoo to persuade you to take her side; but something happened that got you both stuck in this place."

"If Xian Pu prepared the place like you say, then why is it here in Japan?  Why not back in the Amazon village?"

"When Shampoo's little dream world got messed up, a lot of details came from you to fill in the blanks."

"But that doesn't make sense." he turned to look at Xian Pu, "Tell her…"

And he knew.

Years of being together had taught Ranma how to read Xian Pu's mood, her face was an open book to him.  Looking into her eyes now, he knew that Xian Pu was hiding something.  He could guess what it was.

Akane saw Ranma was almost convinced; but needed to be pushed over the edge.

Details.

"Ranma, how is it that you're living in this house?  The Tendo house?"

"Well it's because… well, it just seemed to happen."

"Uh huh.  I bet it must have cost you a bundle."

"Well I… the Amazons chipped in."

"That's an awful lot of chips.  Shampoo, how did the tribe afford that?  Why did they afford it?"

"We sold--"

"A priceless heirloom, part of the Amazon heritage?  For a house?"

"Well…"

"Leaving that for a moment, how did you both get cured?"

"Well, it's really Xian Pu who did it."

"Shampoo?  Where did you find a cure?  What was the cure?"

"Simple.  I just…" she looked around, lost.  "I just went…  I don't know.  I just found a cure, then brought it back and shared it with Ranma."

"But you don't really remember how it happened."

Shampoo now looked defensive, "No.  I… I don't."

"Because it didn't really happen."  Akane turned to look at Ranma, "Your wedding to Shampoo and your… honeymoon.  Tell me about them."

Ranma tried hard; but in the end, "I'm sorry.  I don't remember them."

"Because they didn't happen either, Ranma.  Because all of this," Akane added, sweeping an arm to encompass the diminishing landscape around them, "isn't real.  It's just a dream."

"But everything here… "

"A dream."

"Ryoga, Kaneda, Cologne, Mousse, Nabiki, Kasumi…"

"They're all a part of the dream.  The only people who are real here are you and Shampoo.  I'm real too; but I'm only visiting the dream; I'm not really a part of it."

"Then why don't I sense that this is a dream?  Why is it so real to me?"

"I guess it's because you're creating this dream.  It's just as real as you need it to be."

"But--"

"Speaking of dreams, do either of you remember having any dreams over the past few… years?  Any dreams while you've been married?"

Ranma and Xian Pu thought a while, but in the end they shook their heads.

"I'd say that's because you were already dreaming.  What's the point of dreaming inside a dream?"

Xian Pu looked to Ranma, who met her gaze.  "I'm sorry, Ranma; but she's right."

"Why did you hide this from me?"

"Because for most of this dream I didn't remember that it wasn't real.  I would have stayed ignorant of the dream if Akane hadn't entered the dream… as herself."

"You still should have told me when you learned the truth."

"And what could I have said, 'Sorry, darling, but our life together is a lie'?  You were happy.  I was happy.  So long as I didn't think too much about this being a dream, we could stay happy."

"Xian Pu, how long did you think I could be happy living a lie?"

"I know, but for the very first time we were together and happy!  I wanted that to continue."

"I've been happy here," Ranma agreed, "but I need for that happiness to be real.  I can't live the rest of my life in a dream."

"You don't actually have that much time.  This place is being maintained by your ki and that's running out."

"How is that possible?  The dream shouldn't do that to us unless… oh."

"Right, Shampoo.  Oh.  You weren't there to catch Ranma when he fell asleep, so the dream was set up wrong. And now that your ki is almost used up, the dreamscape is disappearing."

Akane started to fade.  "I don't have a lot of time.  You both need to agree to come out of this dream together or you'll both either die here or be lost forever."

Ranma's face was unreadable, "So what do we do?"

Akane answered, her voice becoming faint with her fading image, "We don't really know.  Cologne and Tofu-sensei think all you need to do is choose to leave.  The dream should then end and you'll wake up."

"Seems too simple."

"Sometimes that's how answers are, baka."  Akane smiled as she faded completely away.

------

Akane woke to see Cologne standing over her.

"Did it work?  Are Ranma and Shampoo awake?"

"Not yet, but I'm told their brain activity is becoming erratic.  I think that they're about to come out of the dreamscape."

"When will we know if it worked?

"If all goes well, their EEG patterns should soon change and they'll wake at some point after that.  Dr. Tofu and I agree that we should let them wake normally, without interference."

"It's a shame you couldn't leave Ranma's sleep and dreams alone to begin with."

"The tea was never intended to have the effect it did, Ms. Tendo.  We only wanted Ranma to gain a greater understanding of Shampoo's position and of her wishes."  Cologne was defensive, but unrepentant.

"And what about Ranma's wishes?  Did you think about that?  Have you ever considered that?"

"Shampoo has, though I admit that I have not.  You may be glad to know, Ms. Tendo, that Ranma's dreams probably formed a great deal of the dreamscape you saw.  I'd say that Shampoo gained a greater appreciation of Ranma than the reverse, though I still hope that Ranma has learned to appreciate our position and needs."

"What will you do?"

"For today, nothing; but only time will tell.  Because of your actions to save my granddaughter I owe you a debt of gratitude, and I fully intend to repay that debt before actively supporting Shampoo's claim again."

"I didn't do what I did for Shampoo, and I don't want anything from you."

"Don't be so hasty, Ms. Tendo.  Ranma's greatest interest is in the martial arts, and he respects those who have skill in those arts."

"I have skill."

"Wrong.  You have trained hard but have not learned much in the way of real skill, still applying brute strength to every problem.  Shampoo has superior skill, and so has a greater measure of respect from Ranma, at least on some level, than he has for you.

"You say you don't want anything from me; but how about something for yourself?  I have taught Ranma certain Amazon techniques; I could teach some to you in gratitude for your actions."

Akane was about to dismiss the offer, but was cut off by Cologne.  "Do not answer now; just think about what you want.  I will speak with you later when you have had time to consider my offer."

Cologne left before Akane could say more.  Akane just stared at the door after the Elder had left:  she had a lot to think about.

------

Ranma reached a hand for where Akane had stood, his mouth quirking into his old half-smile, "Tomboy."

"I'm sorry, Ranma."

"Don't be; you didn't intend any harm."

"But still, I created an awful mess."

"Nah.  If I hadn't been so defensive around you and the others maybe you wouldn't have had to resort to… this."

"I hadn't appreciated what you wanted before bringing you here."

"I didn't really know what I wanted, Xian Pu.  At least being here let me see some of that."

"Ranma," Xian Pu said, pulling him close, "what will happen to us if we leave?"

"I'd say that's more of a 'when' than an 'if'; but I don't know what will happen.  Assuming we make it back safely, I guess things will be like they were before:  you fighting with the other fiancées while I just stick my head in the sand, hoping it will all blow over."

"I hope not.  I'll miss too much of what we've had here."

"So will I."

Shampoo placed a hand on her abdomen.  "We've never seen our child; but I already miss him."

Ranma placed his hand over hers and kissed her cheek, "Or her.  I was kind of looking forward to a daughter, you know.  'Daddy's little girl':  the thought was starting to grow on me."

Shampoo gave a sad smile.  "I'll miss our life here.  Family and friends who weren't as… crazy as before."

"I'll miss us both being cured.  That cat form of yours was really hard for me to take."

"And your female form didn't do much for me, either.  I'll miss running the restaurant, the responsibility."

"Teaching, seeing students as they understand what they've been shown."

"The house, our home together."

"Sparring with you, knowing that I'd finally met an equal who could not only stretch my abilities but also grow with me in skill."

"Knowing that you and I would face each day together, no matter what that day would bring."

"I'll miss your smile in the mornings."

Shampoo's was a wry smile as she sighed, "I'll miss… using pronouns."

They both laughed for a moment at that.

"I'll miss you, beloved wife; even if only in a dream."

"And I'll miss you, beloved husband:  waking or asleep, my Airen."

The house up the block dissolved into nothingness.

"It won't be long now."

"True.  One last kiss?"

"It may not be the last.  It depends on what we remember from our time here and how we act on that."

"You're right; but it won't be the same."

"Then let's make the most of this last moment."

Shampoo sighed again, "I wish we could have taken another moonlit walk in the park."  She held him tight.

Ranma returned her embrace.  "Me too, Shampoo.  In my dreams, at least, maybe we will."

The two kissed as their world dissolved into white.

____