Part 2: Rahzar

The next day Akane was thankful to find herself in her own room. She couldn't remember if she had come herself or if Ranma had brought her, but either way she was happy. Her clothes had been neatly piled on the floor beside her bed. She had felt an urge to clean herself and got up, dressed herself and went for a shower. When she was finished she went into the kitchen. Everyone was there waiting for her. They spoke and laughed. She took one step into the kitchen and everyone faced her.

"Good morning, Akane," Kasumi greeted her. "Your breakfast is on the table beside Ranma." She gave Akane a warm smile and winked. Her sister had thought that she and Ranma were still fighting. It was obvious that she was still trying to get them to talk, but she had no idea what had happened the night before. She couldn't even look at Ranma without feeling like she needed a shower. She felt as if she had made a mistake. She looked into Ranma's eyes and still they weren't his. He looked at her differently and she wasn't sure if she liked it.

He began licking his lips slowly and circled his tongue around them. And then he gave her a sexy smile. She didn't feel clean anymore. She felt so . . . dirty.

"I need to get to school. I'm not hungry. See you all later." She quickly ran out the door.

"I better be on my way too," Ranma announced and chased after Akane.

When he had caught up, he hugged her from behind. She pulled away from him. "What is it, Akane? Don't want me touching you." He scoffed. "You weren't complaining last night." Akane swung around and slapped him hard in the face.

"Shut up, Ranma!" she yelled. She watched as Ranma shook his head.

"OW, AKANE!" he shouted. "What the hell was that for?!"

"Oh please! Don't act like you don't know, Ranma. Stop with your crap already!"

"I'm serious! Why doesn't anyone believe me when I tell them I didn't do shit!"

"Because you're not a good liar, Ranma. Do you actually expect someone to believe you didn't do something if they already saw you doing it?!" she argued.

"I'm tired of this! From you especially! You're always accusing me of something I didn't do!" He began to walk away from her. He roughly placed his hands in his pockets. Akane had noticed the look in Ranma's eyes. They looked like his own again and he looked as if he really meant what he was saying.

"Well, ok I'm sorry, but I want you to apologize," she said.

"Apology not excepted. I'm not going to apologize to you, so forget it. I'm still mad at you for the first accusation," he replied.

Akane was stunned. He had forgiven her last night before they made love.

"But you forgave me last night right before we-"

"Last night? I didn't forgive you. I told you to leave my room twice and I can't remember if you did or not." With a sarcastic, mocking voice he continued, "But oh, ok. I forgave you last night right before we what?" He stopped walking and he turned to face her. Akane stopped before him. She said nothing. She was a little hurt by this. "And you call me a liar," he said as he turned to walk off again. He shook his head and walked on ahead. Akane began after him.

"How can you forget, Ranma? We both - "

"Stop lying to me! I know we did nothing last night except talk. I yelled at you to leave my room before - " he cut himself off.

"Before what?" she asked.

"Nothing. You wouldn't believe me." He walked away. "Anyway, I don't remember much." What could Ranma be hiding from her? And how could he forget about last night?

Jerk, she thought and walked behind him with her head down.

When she looked up Ranma was talking to Shampoo and she was all over him! Again! How could he? That ass! After what they had gone through the night before. Just then Ranma had leaned forward to kiss Shampoo. She was all googly-eyed. Their lips parted and their eyes shut and they kissed. Akane couldn't take it anymore. Why was he acting like this? It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair! She stomped toward them and hit the back of Ranma's head. His eyes quickly opened and he looked down at Shampoo. Her eyes sparkled as she opened them and then he realized that their lips were touching.

"How could you, Ranma?! You're such a jerk! After what we did last night!" Akane yelled.

"What you two do last night? You wish something happened!" Shampoo shouted back as she pulled away from Ranma. Her eyes turned cold as she looked at Akane.

"Stay out of this, Shampoo!" Akane argued. "And you, Ranma! See if I ever forgive you for kissing this . . . uhh!!"

Ranma looked up. Kissing Shampoo? "I did what?!" he shouted.

"Don't play dumb again!" Akane shouted.

"Yeah, Ranma! You and me kiss!" Shampoo said.

Akane just couldn't understand him. She loved him, but yet she hated him at the same time. Could such a thing be possible? She didn't care. But before she could say more to Ranma someone had appeared in a tree close by. Slowly two other figures which didn't look human appeared. Akane had noticed them watching them from the corner of her eye and she knew Ranma and Shampoo had noticed it too. She too had stopped talking.

"Greetings, Ranma. Akane. Shampoo," a man's voice said from the trees. "I hope you don't mind. Sasami here want's to take Shampoo from you. "

"Take her," Akane said simply.

"What?!" Shampoo shouted. Then without a warning one of the figures rushed towards her. She fell on her back and her eyes stayed wide open. Akane could see that Shampoo was clearly fighting for her life. Her body was twitching slightly, but her eyes told of her struggle and then finally she blinked and sat up. She looked at the palms of her hands and smiled. She looked up at Akane.

Suddenly, she was gone. It was almost as if she had just vanished. "What just happened?" Akane demanded. "I'll get her the next time I see her! Did you see the look she gave me?! Uh!" Akane turned around. She now noticed that Ranma was on his knees. "What's wrong?" she asked quickly getting worried for him.

"Just leave me alone!" he shouted. "You won't understand what's happening to me . . . and I can't . . . even . . . begin . . . t-to explain," he said ad he began stuttering. "Just l-leave, A-Akane! Now!" he demanded. She disobeyed. She stayed by him, not wanting to leave. She was going to find out what was going on with him. One way or the other she'd find out.

"Do you actually think I'm gonna listen to you, Jerk!" she yelled as she knelt before him. "I'm staying. I don't care if you like it or not!" And then just as quickly as one, two, three, Ranma was sitting up looking at Akane with a sexy smile.

"So you worry about me? Is that it?" he asked, his voice low and tempting as he inched closer to her, their noses almost touched. Akane blushed and pushed him away.

"Don't joke around like that, you ass. You really had me worried," she said. She crossed her arms over her chest. She looked away. She soon looked back at him and again he was on his knees. His hands on the floor holding him up.

"Ah!" he screamed. "Akane, leave! Before something happens to you. This guy is not to be trusted. Stay AWAY!" Ranma yelled. And then he shook his head. "Sorry about that," he said standing up. He shook his head as if he were trying to take something out. Akane was confused bu this. What game was Ranma playing here? Then out of no where Ranma began to laugh. "I guess you should know now then, huh?"

She felt a mixture of confusion and fear at that moment. Her voice quivered as she spoke, "R-Ranma . . . "

"Woo! He's really fighting for his life in here," Ranma said as he patted his mid-section. "He's stronger than I thought. Maybe I - " And then again Ranma went down on his knees. He held his head as if it hurt. "Get away, Akane! Now!" he warned. Akane crawled toward him.

"Ranma, are you okay?" she asked. Ranma stopped screaming and quickly stood up again.

"Why can't he stop fighting? Like Sasami's person. That Shampoo kid didn't put up much of a fight when Sasmi was finally able to take her body completely," he said to himself.

"Ranma what are you talking about?" Akane asked. Then suddenly, Ranma fell to his knees again. His hands were on the ground holding him up once more and his face was down.

"Akane, I told you to leave! Do it now!"

"Stop it, Ranma!" she yelled. "I know you're still mad at me, but this is no way for you to get your revenge if that's what you want! You're gonna scare me to death doing that! Just stop it! Stop it now!" She ordered.

"This isn't a . . . j-joke, A-Akane! Leave! Now! D-do it!" Ranma shouted. Akane moved toward him again.

"Why are you still mad at me? After what we went through last night!"

"What are y-you t-talking a-about?!"

"Don't act like you don't remember! We slept together! You have to remember. I told you I loved you and you told me you loved me back. Remember?" she asked, her voice getting soft as tears filled her eyes. Ranma quickly looked up at the mention of them sleeping together. He was wide-eyed.

"WHAT?!!" he screamed.

"Yeah. How could you not remember? Ranma, please don't act like this. Please don't. I don't want us to fight. Can't we just stop fighting and stay together peacefully. I love you and I want you and everyone one to know that. I thought you wanted the sa - " she began.

"You love me?!" he shouted. "You don't love me!"

Akane was shocked. She wanted to speak. To say something. To correct him, but Ranma began before she could say a word, "If you loved me then you would've felt something was wrong when you were . . . uh!" He put his hand on his head. "I can't believe what you did! Get away from me! YOU HEAR ME?! AWAY! You disgust me!"

Akane so badly wanted to hit him, but she held back, refusing herself to hit him, but then she began to cry. Tears streamed down her face. "Ranma," she whispered. She reached out to touch him, but he slapped her hand away. She let out a small whimper. She clenched her fists. And still held back the urge to fight. She knew hitting him would only make things worse if things could get worse. She didn't think they could, but she didn't want to take the chance.

"It wasn't me you slept with you slut!" he shouted. "It was Rahzar, Tokka's brother and Sasmi's lover," he explained. Then he screamed out in pain. Something was hurting him. But what?

"Who is Tokka? And Rahzar? And Sasami?" she asked. Ranma's pain-filled screams became louder. The winds seemed to pick up. The skies became dark. Akane looked around noticing the chilling changes. Lightening seemed to rock the sky above. Ranma's screams became louder the more the scenery changed and then his screams stopped. He then slowly stood up as powerful thunder roared throughout the sky. It looked as if it would rain. "What just happened, Ranma?" Akane asked.

Ranma laughed loudly. "It's done! It's complete!" he roared in triumph. He looked down at Akane. "Well, Akane. Remember me? We slept together last night. A lot of passion you have in you," he said. He then laughed. "I'm Rahzar one of the people Ranma was talking about. Ranma is the lucky chosen one."

"Is this a joke?" Akane asked.

Ranma shook his head. "I am Ranma now."

Akane was speechless.

"Don't believe me?" he asked. "Well, then let me explain this to you. It was very easy, really. Tokka had met an old hag out in the woods and she had given him a potion to help me with the 'exchange', if you will," he said simply.

"And the other one? Why didn't she use the potion?" Akane asked.

"Sasami? She did. She had only gained control of Shampoo's body without much struggle because she had caught that Shampoo girl off guard when she entered her body once last time." He smiled devilishly as he extended his arm. "Come with me, Akane," he said, his smile gave away his secret. She pulled away from him and stood up. And just then another person joined them.

"Is this guy bothering you, Akane?" a male voice came from behind her. She turned and smiled once she saw Ryoga's face. He looked down at her and smiled. He then stepped in front of her, protectively. He got into his fight stance.

"Ah, Ryoga, right? Ranma's memories tell me a lot about you. You're not a bad fighter yourself now are you?" the new Ranma asked. "You like Akane don't you?" He had a huge smile on his face. Ryoga could obviously tell he wasn't Ranma as he looked to be.

"And you're Rahzar? Correct?" Ryoga asked. Akane looked at Ryoga. How had he known? And so quickly? She hadn't known that it wasn't Ranma until just a couple of seconds ago. "I'll just ignore your last question, but I'm warning you now. I'm the one who's protecting Akane now."

Akane glared. She didn't need anyone's protection. Why did they do that to her? Both of them! They always thought she needed protection when she didn't she could take care of herself!

"And from the looks of things, Ranma won't be here for a while," Ryoga continued.

"What makes you think you can defeat me?" Rahzar asked.

Suddenly, Akane clenched one of her fists. She was determined to get Ranma back. She had come to realize that it wasn't Ranma that Ryoga was speaking to at the moment. She wanted Ranma back and she wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted. She narrowed her eyes.

"We can and we will!" Akane shouted as she stepped forward. "I don't need Ryoga to protect me. I can protect myself! So just because Ryoga says he's gonna protect me don't believe it! I can fight just as good!"

"Really?" Rahzar said sarcastically. "And then you wonder why Ranma doesn't love you back. You're to full of yourself and you don't let people help you even when you need it. You're too stubborn. Just as he is. Yes, you are a good fighter, but don't make me laugh, Akane. Just as good as Ryoga!" Rahzar began to laugh. His thunderous laugh seemed to shack the earth.

Akane began to wonder. Is that why Ranma hadn't loved her back? She didn't know any more. She had no clue if Ranma had feelings for her anymore. Maybe Rahzar is right? Maybe that's why Ranma doesn't love me, she thought. Does Ranma want me to be one of those dainty little girls who are just to damn weak to protect themselves?

"And how can he have feelings for a girl like you, anyway. Really, I don't even see what Ryoga sees in you." Rahzar laughed again.

"Shut up!" Ryoga shouted as he pounced forward. He had caught Rahzar off guard and successfully punched him in the face, but Rahzar quickly gained his composer and flipped backward to get away from Ryoga the second time. He then used his hands to help him balance. He bent his knees and as soon as Ryoga was close he kicked upward and sent Ryoga flying. He had landed a few feet behind Akane. Akane called to him, but Ryoga ignored her and ran toward Rahzar. He punched, but as quickly and swift as the breeze Rahzar moved. Then he had completely vanished and Ryoga stopped. He stood waiting in his fighting stance, his muscles tensed ready to fight. And then suddenly, from nowhere Rahzar reappeared with a sly smile across his face. He punched Ryoga and laughed as he watched Ryoga slid across the ground.

Ryoga then looked up toward Rahzar who stood a few feet away. He then lay his head on the ground and it hit with a thump. Rahzar laughed again as Akane ran toward Ryoga asking if he was fine. She turned to Rahzar ready to fight herself, but he was no longer there. He had vanished, but his laughter could still be heard. It seemed to linger like the breeze.