As always, thank you SO much for all of your wonderful reviews. Someone asked what other stories I've got up on fanfic.net so far. The only other one so far is a one-shot fic called "The Trouble With Tomboys". Yes, it is another Ranma one. It is also more of a comedy than this one just for a change of pace. After this fic, I'll have more up. Just keep in mind I'm really busy and trying to concentrate on a million things at one (something that I just was not born to do LOL). So I apologize for taking forever to
update. Think of this as a Christmas present. Yeah, and my Christmas
present is not having to worry about that stupid research paper and
college! Uh, heh, heh. looong story.

Soon I will have more variety in fanfics, and well, more fanfics, too. As I type this story, know that I'm well into writing chapter 9 already.
After chapter nine, I estimate that there are a couple more chapters to this story. Pretty soon, we'll all find out if that nasty Bill jerk will
get what he deserves. Will he? I don't even know yet!

Well, here's another chapter. Actually, not JUST another chapter. Something BIG is happening in this one! Something you've all been waiting for! Y'know, I think I'll just shut up and let you find out by reading it
already. Enjoy and if you could, review and let me know how I did this
chapter, please! ^^

Disclaimer: I'm too lazy to think up anything as cool as Ranma 1/2, and I'm
too tired to think up a disclaimer right now. In other words, I own
nothing!

Chapter 7

*Several Days Later*

Ranma sat out on the living room couch, anxiously fidgeting in his tuxedo as he waited for Akane. 'How do I tell her?' He wondered. He ran the scenario through his head again and again. 'Akane, marry me. . . no., Akane would you please marry me? I will be the best husband I can. . .' Just then, her door opened, interrupting his thoughts, and she stepped out, wearing a pretty purple dress with a pink sash tied I back. It was sleeveless, and she had a see-through cover shirt over it. "Wow, Akane," Ranma said in amazement. "You look. . . beautiful."

"Arigato," she whispered shyly, her cheeks a rosy color.

"Let's get out of here," Ranma said, leading her out of her apartment. They had brought Jina to Beverly's, and were now going on a date before Ranma had to fly back in the morning.

They went and saw a movie, which happened to be an action flick, and then went out to dinner to a fancy Italian restaurant. Akane was only upset about one thing: Ranma had avoided holding her hand or kissing her. Although it was a date, Ranma was making sure it would only stay a date. "Ranma?" She sighed out his name in question.

"Yeah," Ranma said, wiping his face with a napkin. "What is it, Akane?"

"Why won't you hold my hand or anything?" She blurted out. "Do you hate me?"

He looked away. "Akane, I just. . . it's just, I don't think we should be doing this. I mean, I'm going to be leaving tomorrow to go home. We won't see each other that much, and-"

"It's that, isn't it," Akane said. "It all comes back to the fact that your pride won't let you take me back."

"No! I'd take you anyway," Ranma said uncertainly. "But it's not easy knowing that you must have loved someone else. You are so-"

"What? Angry about the fact that I never knew the guy?" Her face twisted into an angry frown, making her look like the much younger Akane of Ranma's past.

"Akane, you almost look like you did years ago when we first met," Ranma chuckled. "It's cute."

Her angry expression faded and Ranma saw the deep sadness and hurt that replaced it. "Ranma, this is not years ago. Love me now, for who I am, PLEASE!" She could tell him. About her weakness. That man was still lurking around among the shadows. And Akane knew one more thing about the man. He was a martial artist. He was good, for he had disabled her within minutes. Possibly, Ranma was even no match for this guy. But if she told Ranma, he would want to go after this man, and possibly get killed in the process. She waited a moment, but decided to go for it. "Ranma, I MUST tell you something, and you must LISTEN to me!"

He leaned forward. "Akane?"

"About Jina's father. I-"

"May I bring you anything else?" A waiter interrupted Akane and brought the check.

Akane shook her head. "No, thank you," she sighed. "Check, please."

"All right. Thank you, and have a nice evening." The waiter left.

"So what was that about, Akane?" Ranma laid the money down on the table.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him with her. "Ranma come with me," she said, nearly dragging him out of the restaurant with her.

"What the hell?" What're ya doing, Akane!?" Ranma protested.

"Do you want to hear this or not?" Akane snapped. Then, she softened her voice. "I give up. I wasn't going to tell you, Ranma, but. . ." She looked away. "Never mind."

"Akane, TELL ME." His voice was so demanding and harsh, it nearly brought Akane to tears.

"I didn't cheat on you, Ranma," she choked out and pulled away from him, running.

"Say WHAT?!" Ranma pursued her. "Then what happened?"

She stopped. "I don't know who Jina's father is."

He took her by the shoulders. "But WHY?"

"He. . . Ranma, I was raped," Akane whispered.

Ranma staggered back as if he had been dealt a deadly blow. "Wh-who. . . WHO DID IT!? I'LL KILL HIM!! I'LL RIP HIM TO PIECES!!!" An aura started glowing around him as his anger rose.

"I don't know his name, Ranma, but he was dangerous," Akane answered, trying at the same time to calm him down. "He may have been even stronger than you."

"Akane, why the HELL didn't you tell me before?! I would've found the damn bastard and BEAT the LIVING shit outta him!" Ranma's fists were clenched at his sides in anger. "If he's that strong, Akane, and he didn't kill you then, he could still be after you NOW! Both you and Jina could be in danger!"

She nodded. "I know, but why hasn't he found me yet?"

"Because you lucked out. Because the dumb-ass's brains were in his. . ."

"RANMA." Akane shook her head at him, stopping him from saying anything else.

"Well, anyway, he must have been looking in all the wrong places for the past five years, but that doesn't change anything. Any minute he could find you, Akane," Ranma said, his tone more serious than she had ever seen him. "Come home, Akane. Come home with me. It's safer there."

"I'm sorry, Ranma, but, I can't." Akane sighed. "This is Jina's home. I can't just leave."

"Agh! You dummy! You pull this shit on me NOW, of ALL times, when legally, I'm supposed to leave tomorrow," Ranma vented. "I have no choice but to stay now."

She glared at him. "Look, if he hasn't found me yet, he won't. And you're going."

"Have you forgotten what happened to your apartment?" Ranma reminded her, folding his arms. "Akane, you have to leave. If you don't want to come home, at least get the hell out of this state. Get away, so it's harder to find you."

It took Akane a few minutes to respond. "Where? San Francisco is my home now, Ranma."

"Akane, why didn't you tell us?" Ranma sighed.

"You weren't going to forgive me if I didn't tell you? You wouldn't take me back," Akane whispered. "the only reason you care now is that I didn't cheat on you."

He took her by the shoulders. "I cared before, and before, I was going to go back to Japan, and buy a ring, just to hold onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, you would take me as your second choice. Akane, I don't care if you were faithful or unfaithful to me! Come home! I want to know if you'll forgive me for taking so long, and if you could ever take me as a husband, and father to Jina."

"It's all so sudden, Ranma," Akane whispered. "Everything. . . It's too much to handle! I don't know what to do anymore!"

"Let's not talk about this for awhile," Ranma suggested. "We have a couple hours left to enjoy." He walked silently beside her. It was a peaceful night.

"What a haul! What a haul!" Well, almost peaceful. Ranma hadn't seen Happosai in so many years he had thought (or hoped) that the old lech kicked the bucket. But such things could never be counted on.

"Whoa! It's the old freak!" A rush of cold water and the usual groping that Happosai delivered awarded Ranma's statement.

Ranma-chan stomped on his head irritably. "For a moment, Old Freak, I actually was glad to see you," she said in a frustrated voice. She clobbered him in the head when he tried burying his face in her chest.

Happosai looked up and saw Akane. "Akane! My, what a bosom!" He leapt for her chest but was stopped by Ranma's foot. "Why're you being so mean?! We haven't seen each other in years!"

"Too soon for me," Ranma muttered.

"You ingrate! This will teach you!" Happosai pulled out a firecracker. "HAPPO FIRE BURST!"

The explosion sent Ranma face-first into the street. "Ugh. . . You. . . DIRTY OLD MAN!" She leapt to her feet.

"Honestly! Shame on you," Akane scolded Happosai. "You haven't changed a bit! Aren't you ashamed?"

He traced his foot in a meek circle on the ground. "I only wanted to have some fun! Is that too much to ask?"

Akane sighed. "Shape up," she chided. "You're in the presence of a lady."

"Yes Ma'am!" Happosai was grinning in an obviously fake polite manner.

"Some things just never change," Ranma sighed. "The old goat's STILL after the ladies."

"As I get older, I feel much younger," Happosai enthused as he groped Ranma's chest.

"Oh," Ranma said, a vein popping out of her forehead. "I'm so. . . HAPPY!" She punted him into the sky.

"Let's go get some hot water, okay?" Akane smiled at Ranma.

She sighed. "But, Akane, what are you going to do? About now, I mean?"

"First, let's get Jina," Akane said. "I think we'll all need a good rest before you leave tomorrow."

"Akane, I sure hope you know what you're doing," Ranma warned. "Avoiding the problem never did anyone any good."

She wondered if Akane was even listening to her. "Ranma, this place may have some hot water." Ranma had no choice but to follow her.

* * *

Bill's car pulled up at Beverly Hawn's residence and daycare. He knew the child was there. Jina, his child. He lifted the flap on the side of his jacket. A small handgun reflected in the moonlight. Then, he re-hid the weapon in his jacket and stepped out of the car, approaching the house.

* * *

Beverly yawned as she settled down on the couch. The other children's parents had come, so it was just her and Jina. The girl had fallen asleep minutes ago after a tantrum, which was much unlike the child. Normally, Jina was well behaved. After the tantrum, she must have been pretty tired. Beverly took her eyes away from the child and pressed a button on the remote, turning on the television. Just then, a knock on the door sounded. Expecting it to be Akane, she was surprised to find a man there instead. "Oh. May I help you?"

"Yes," he said. "I'm looking for a little girl named Jina Tendo. Is she here?"

The woman stepped back in alarm. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that," she said, making a move to close the door. "Good night."

He caught the door before it could close. "you don't understand, Ma'am. With all due respect, I'm here for the kid."

"With all due respect, Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Beverly returned stubbornly. She found that he was stronger than she was.

"I can't do that," Bill said to the woman. He pulled the gun out. "Step aside." He forced his way in.

She backed off, and bolted to the other room where Jina slept. She scooped the girl up into her arms and ran out the back way, towards the neighbor's house next door. "Jina, wake up," she whispered frantically to the slumbering child. Just then, Beverly heard a shot being fired, and felt an agonizing explosion of pain erupt in her right leg. She collapsed to the ground, the child in her arms landing headfirst into the hard ground.

* * *

Far away from San Francisco, in Nerima, Ryoga and Ukyo were on a date of their own. Ryoga had taken Ukyo to the Nekohanten, and was fidgeting around nervously in his seat. 'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea,' Ryoga thought to himself. He reached into his pants pocket and unconsciously played with the case that held the ring for Ukyo. "Well, hope the bring the food soon! I'm starved! Heh heh. . ."

"Ryoga-honey, you've been acting really weird tonight." Ukyo frowned curiously at him. "What's going on?"

Shampoo entered with the ramen ordered. "Here we have food. Is it all right?"

"Yes, thanks, Shampoo," Ukyo said.

The Chinese Amazon glanced at Ryoga. "After this food, you be in better spirits. You 'merry,' yes?" She said, trying to drop a hint to Ryoga (since he'd let her in on the plan).

He shook his head. "I should really show you something, Ukyo."

"Yes, show her a good evening, Ryoga," Shampoo urged. "I should go now," she said quickly and left.

"Now I really know something's up, Sugar," Ukyo said suspiciously.

He sighed. "I was hoping this would be easier," he said. 'Thanks a lot, Shampoo,' he thought sarcastically. "Ukyo, would you. . . I mean, could you. . .M-marry. . ." Ryoga's hand was shaking so badly that he dropped the ring on the floor by Ukyo's feet.

She bent over and picked it up. "Ryoga, what's this?"

"Ukyo," Ryoga said softly, taking her hand, "we've been through a lot together." He took the ring from her hand. "We've plotted together, fought alongside each other, bribed each other. . ." He smiled at that, but tears welled up in his eyes when he continued. "We even consoled each other when we realized that our first loves didn't love us. And we survived the Tunnel of Lost Love together." He paused to look into her eyes. "Ukyo, after all that's happened, you're the one I want to marry. No one else. Would you grant that wish? Will you make me the happiest guy on the planet?"

Ukyo couldn't speak. Time slowed as Ryoga knelt beside her and slipped the ring onto her finger. "R-Ryoga. . . You want to marry ME? I had no idea. . ." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Hai! Ryoga-honey, I'll marry you!"

He stood as she did and held her. "I promise to be a worthy husband," he whispered.

"As I'll be a worthy wife," Ukyo returned. "I have a better idea," she suggested impishly to Ryoga. "Let's go back," she took his hand and pulled him with her.

As she returned and found the empty table, Shampoo smiled. "So, they leave Shampoo to clean up. Oh, well, someday they do the same for me." She smiled, thinking of a wedding with Mousse.

"Shampoo?" Her great-grandmother entered. "Are you daydreaming of Ranma again?"

She shook her head violently. "As far as Shampoo concerned, Ranma can marry every girl in Japan!"

"He dishonored you, yes I know, Shampoo. Mousse saved you from further humiliation. I am very proud to have him for a son-in-law."

"Mousse and I will marry," Shampoo said carefully. "And. . . I am glad for that."

Cologne smiled warmly at her great-granddaughter. "So am I, Shampoo, for this time, my son-in-law does not have any other women whom he shows interest in. He is only interested in you, and would gladly die for you."

Her great-granddaughter nodded with a shy smile. "Yes, Great-grandmother," she said. "What you speak is the truth. I never forget the time when he risked his life for me against that too-too stupid birdman." She giggled as she thought of the incident. It had happened near the cursed Togenkyo spring. She and many other women had been taken away as brides for Prince Toma. Mousse had been the one who came for her. Shampoo knew then how much Mousse loved her. And she would never forget it.

* * *

"I really did have a good time tonight, Ranma," Akane whispered. "Although. . ."

He was driving over so they could pick Jina up. "What?"

"Ranma, if you still thought I cheated on you, you really wouldn't have wanted to marry me," Akane blurted out.

The pigtailed martial artist sighed. "Wrong, Akane. I was planning to ask you tonight, but I was nervous, since I thought that you willingly gave yourself to that bastard. I was worried you only loved him, and not me."

She didn't have time to respond, as she saw police cars parked outside Jina's daycare. "Oh, God. Jina!"

"What the hell is going on here?" Ranma pulled over on the curb.

An officer approached the car. "Excuse me, but are you Miss Akane Tendo?"

"Yes," she answered. "I something wrong?"

"Is Jina your daughter?" The officer asked.

"Yes! Now what's going on?!" Akane wanted to choke the guy to get some answers, but thought better of it and didn't.

The policeman cleared his throat. "I hate to inform you of this, but your daughter is missing, Ma'am," he said. "Her caretaker was shot and is now in critical condition."

"NANI?!" Akane screamed. She leapt out of the car. "WHERE THE HELL IS MY DAUGHTER?! I want answers! You people are supposed to be law enforcers! Do your damned job for once!" She grabbed the cop by the collar of his uniform shirt.

"We-we're doing all we can, Miss," the officer stuttered.

"Akane?" Ranma got out of the car and stood next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "What's going on?" He didn't know what was going on, except for that he knew that it was about Jina, and from the way that Akane was acting, it wasn't good news.

She let go of the officer and turned to face Ranma. "She's gone. Jina. MY Jina. . ."

"What do you mean 'gone'?" Ranma asked. "Is she. . .?""

"NO!" Akane shouted. "Please, don't say it," she pleaded.

He took her by the shoulders. "Calm down, Akane and tell me slowly."

"Jina. . . she's gone. He took her! Oh, God, Ranma he took her away from me!" The grief in the realization that Jina was missing was obviously hitting Akane. She began sobbing uncontrollably.

"Akane. . ." Ranma said softly, pulling her close. He held her against him for a few minutes. Then, he let go of her. He raised his determined eyes to the clouded-over night sky. An aura pulsed around him. "I think I have an idea to where he is."

"R-Ranma?" Akane choked out.

"Forgive me, Akane," he said, and leapt to the roof of the house.

"Ranma! Don't go!" Akane cried out. "This happened over an hour ago! He could be anywhere by now!"

He glared down at her. "And you think those jelly-bellies are gonna do anything about it? I'd be better off searching alone. I'd find her quicker, too."

"Then let me go with you," she pleaded.

His look softened. "I can't. I don't know how strong he is. I can't allow you to get hurt again. If he bested you that easily before, I hate to think of what he can do now. Besides, you should stay here in case they actually do come up with something. And stay with someone. I'm going to your apartment. I have a feeling that he's waiting for you to come back. If he's still after you, that's the first place he'll be."

As he turned to go, Akane called out his name. "Ranma!"

"Yeah?"

"Please, be careful," she pleaded.

"Don't worry," was all he said before he leapt from her view. Ranma knew that Akane would indeed worry.

A thought dawned on him. He didn't tell her that he loved her. Hopefully, he'd get the chance if. . . WHEN he came back. "I told her I loved her before, so she knows," he whispered to himself.

Ranma then focused on his task before him. 'Maybe if the guy first THINKS I'm Akane, then I'll have an easier time getting Jina back,' he thought. He stopped when he saw a sprinkler going off in a neighboring yard. 'It's worth a shot,' Ranma thought as he dropped down in the way of the water.

Moments later, a busty pigtailed redhead was soaring above the rooftops, moving so fast she almost wasn't touching the roofs. She stopped. Akane's apartment complex was in front of her. She saw that a dim light was on in Akane's room through the window. Ranma clenched her fists and growled. HE was there. She knew that he was the one who had broken into Akane's apartment that day that they came back from Japan. "So here you are, you bastard," Ranma growled out. "This is where you get YOURS!"

* * *

Author's note: Well, sorry for the long wait. I definitely wasn't expecting that College English research paper that my evil English teacher threw at me, that's for sure! But I came out of it fine (so far) and had just enough time to type up another chapter of my story. And whaddya know? Just in time for Christmas, too! I'll try to get another chapter up before the break ends, too, but as long as I'm getting bombarded here, I can't promise anything.

Anyways, let me know as always about your feelings on this chapter. Review, e-mail, whatever you please. But please don't flame me. I guess this is where I say see ya next time ^^; Take care, till next time --halliegirl

Arigato- thank you

Hai- yes

Nani- what