Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½.

Cure Lost, Love Found:

A Tale of Ranma

Cologne was about to set her plan into action, but was interrupted before she could say anything.

"I want to go first!" Genma ran up to Su-Lin and held her hands within her own.

"You don't know what it's like. Please cure me first." Su-Lin was about to give in to Genma's request, but stopped because the young man with glasses spoke up.

"Actually, I think that it should be ladies first, and while Shampoo is getting cured we can number off." Su-Lin nodded to the boy.

"I like that idea. Now, the water that I used is very potent and it will usually knock someone out for a week or so, but recently there was a case where the boy was up in a day." Ranma jumped in.

"Did this boy turn into a pig?" Su-Lin smiled.

"I don't usually ask what curses each of my customers have but he came into this cave as a little piggy. It was the bandana he was wearing that helped me to realize he was a human."

"Alright! So martial artist like us will only be out for a day! This will be perfect. We'll be back in Nerima in no time! Su-Lin, after pop and I are both up, will you tell him that he mentioned something about going to the Tendo's?" She smiled.

"Do you have someone special waiting for you?" Ranma was about to protest when Genma jumped in.

"Yes, he has a fiancée named Akane waiting for his return!" Ranma knocked his father on the head.

"She is not waiting for me." Ranma stopped, realizing what he had said and wondering if it was true.

---Tendo Dojo---

Akane was looking out her bedroom window. She was trying not to think about the obvious, but how could she not. She looked down at the two tapes sitting side by side on her desk. One was unmarked and the other only had one word on it. Ranma. She wasn't feeling well when he left. She had a slight fever and she was dizzy. About an hour after Ranma had left, Dr. Tofu came over and told Akane that she had an ear infection and with the right medicine she'd be back to normal in no time. I had been exactly one day since Ranma left. Akane got up from the chair and went to her bed. It was moments like these where you realize how many friends you don't have. Usually when Akane had a problem she went to P-Chan if he was around, but he hasn't been by in a while. Other then P-Chan, Akane really didn't tell anyone about her problems, except for Ranma, and that was only because he caused them. She was feeling really alone.

Akane got up from her bad and left her room. Last she heard Kasumi and her father had gone to the market and Nabiki had gone out to do some business. Akane walked around the house, just to make sure no one was there and then she went back upstairs. She went into Ranma's old room and sat down in the middle of the floor. She looked around the room. Sure, Ranma's room never had much personality. Just a couple of futons and some clothes in the closet, but now there was nothing. The tears built up in her eyes once again. She didn't want to feel this way. She didn't want to miss him so much, but she couldn't help it. Akane knew that this behavior wasn't helping. If she kept reminiscing then when he came back she would get so excited. Only to be crushed upon the realization that he wouldn't know her. Akane couldn't take it, so she was going to stop. She had to stop thinking about Ranma. She had to get him out of her head, and the only way to do that was to immerse herself in training. So she left Ranma's room to put on her gi and begin her workout.

Ukyo had a rather slow day. The lunchtime rush had only consisted of 29 customers, the average was 52, but who was counting. She was cleaning her grill when she heard a familiar voice from outside.

"Where am I now?" Ukyo ran out side to talk to Ryoga.

"Ryoga?" The young martial artist looked at the woman. She seemed very nice, but Ryoga didn't recognize her.

"Do I know you?" Ukyo smiled.

"Don't be silly Ryo…" Ukyo just remembered how Ranma found out about the cure.

"Um, don't be silly. You were lost in Okinawa once and I gave you some okinomiyaki." Ryoga looked at the girl and tried to remember.

"I'm sorry. I don't remember you." The girl grabbed Ryoga's arm and pulled Ryoga into her restaurant.

"Well maybe some okinomiyaki will help you remember." When they were inside Ukyo had Ryoga sit down in front of the grill.

"So, what do you want on your okinomiyaki?" Ryoga looked rather sheepish

"Um, I don't really have enough money to be eating at a place like this."

"Don't worry sugar, it's on the house." Ryoga smiled at the woman, but refused the offer.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. It wouldn't be right not to pay you." Ryoga looked really hungry and Ukyo wanted some company so she made Ryoga an offer that he couldn't refuse.

"Well, how about I feed you and then you stay here and help me with the dinner crowd?"

"I…I guess I could do that. Are you sure it's no problem?" Ukyo threw a okinomiyaki at Ryoga.

"No problem at all sugar, now eat up." Ryoga smiled at Ukyo and began eating his pizza. Ukyo went back to cleaning the grill when a thought hit her.

"Hey Ryoga, you know Ranma right?" Ryoga looked up from his food.

"Saotome? Yeah, I know him. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you saw him recently."

"I saw him yesterday. I believe that he has gone to cure his curse."

"You know about that?"

"Of course. It is the only reason I didn't beat him to a pulp. I found out about his curse and told him about a woman I had met while traveling in China."

"Do you still want to beat him up Ryoga?" Ryoga thought for a second.

"No, his curse and the loss of his memories are punishment enough for running away from out man to man battle." Ryoga stood up.

"What would you like me to do?" Ukyo thought about this for a second. She didn't want Ryoga to get lost.

"Well, I guess for starters you could wash the tables. After that, well I'll find something for you to do."

"Thank you miss…"

"Ukyo, just Ukyo. That miss stuff makes me feel old." Ryoga smiled at Ukyo and then Ukyo handed Ryoga a washcloth.

"Thank you Ukyo."

"That's better. Now get to work, the dinner rush starts in a half hour and I want those tables to be spot less!" Ryoga nodded and began to wash the tables. Ukyo watched Ryoga and thought about all the times she used to try to set him up with Akane. Now, it made her laugh. She knew that it never would have worked, who could resist Ranma? But, from this angle, Ryoga looked pretty irresistible as well.

Meanwhile…back in China.

"Are you ready, young lady?"

"Shampoo ready."

AN: I am really truly sorry for the long wait. I had 5 huge projects due one right after another and then I got sick. But this chapter is finished now and I'm not as happy with it as I have been with the other chapters, but it's ok. Um, let's see. I think that the next chapter will be Ranma debating with himself on weather he should get cured or not. Also, someone reviewed asking what Akane had. As I said in this chapter, it was an ear infection and the only reason she had it was so I could have that bedroom scene where Ranma was taping Akane and then the almost kiss thing. Well, I'll get to the next chapter as soon as I can. Please review, thanks. Bye!