Disclaimers: I do not own Ranma ½
Chapter Four: The Bad Boy Wolves
"Who are The Bad Boy Wolves?" Ranma asked, blinking his eyes in confusion.
"They're the local gang," Kentaro said in disgust. "They like to terrorize the locals. Play tricks; stuff that kids like to do. But lately their tricks have been getting worst."
"How so?" Ranma looked between the two.
"They've started to steal… vandalize buildings, burn things, and other stuff," Megumi listed, ticking them off her fingers.
"So what makes you believe that they did it?" Ranma questioned, leaning forward.
"They left this behind," Megumi stated, lifting up a yellow bandanna, with a black seal that said 'BBW' on it. "It's their trademark."
"Do you know anything about the gang?"
"Well, we know that the leader likes to call himself The Great Forest Wolf."
Everyone's head turned, hearing a clatter behind them. There stood Akane in the bedroom doorway. She had on a shocked expression, and on the floor by her foot was a chipped cup.
"Something wrong Akane?" Ranma gave her a worried look. Freaked by her paling face.
"N-no," Akane stuttered, picking up the cup. "Just surprised… to see you… looking so healthy after that… um… incident," Akane tried to convince them.
"Well yup, I'm all right… you should learn fast that I'm a quick healer and it's going to take more than a beam to take me out," Ranma said, a little too cocky. "Come on over and have a seat," he said, gesturing to the empty chair next to him. Akane nodded her head and came over.
"So what are we talking about?" She asked as she took a seat.
"Just the fire. We have a suspect… the culprits are The Bad Boy Wolves," Ranma explained. Again, everyone was surprised by Akane's reaction. She took in a quick intake of breath and her eyes widened. "Are you positive that nothing is wrong?"
"Of course… so it's someone called The Bad Boy Wolves huh? Well… at least everyone… got out safely," Akane pointed out. Suddenly the tension in the room grew, and Megumi started to have tears gathering in her eyes, while Kentaro took on a furious look, his hand clenching around the cup, making it on the brink of breaking. "What… did I say something wrong?" Akane got an anxious look as she glanced between everyone. She was somewhat relieved to see that Ranma was just as confused to their reactions as she was.
"Everyone may have gotten out safe… but my son's life is still in danger," Kentaro growled through his clenched teeth.
"I don't understand… how is he still in danger?" Akane was even more confused, and she gave a little yelp at the glare Kentaro sent her.
"He won't be waking up for a while," Megumi whispered in a hushed tone. "We can't tell Sayuri though, for she thinks that he's just sleeping."
"What do you mean he won't be waking up?" Ranma asked, fear striking him.
"Well… the doctor said that he inhaled a lot of smoke and he was passed out for quite some time that his treatment didn't work," she explained solemnly. "But he knows of this antidote and we can pick it up tomorrow. He said that if Katsu were to take the antidote, then everything shall be all right," Megumi added on a brighter note.
"Well then, everything will be all right, so let's take off those gloomy expressions!" Ranma joked, trying to lighten the mood. He received weak smiles, and that was good enough for him. "Let's eat, I'm starving! I haven't eaten anything since that old man made me drink that crud!" He exclaimed, grabbing random food and stuffing it into his mouth. Everyone just stared wide-eyed at him.
"Oh my… you eating like that is such a compliment to my cooking!" Megumi laughed, getting into the spirit. She began to grab some food for herself.
Soon everyone was eating and laughing, with the news from before unknown to their mind for the moment. But it was not forgotten, no… as soon as Ranma and Akane stepped into the room they were to share, they brought the subject back up.
"I think, that we should go into town tomorrow and find out a little more about these Bad Boy Wolves and their leader," Ranma commented. His head whipped around as he heard a clatter. Again he was met with a strange reaction from Akane, who this time had dropped her staff. "Are you okay Akane? You've been acting weird ever since you woke up… since you heard that gang name. Does Bad Boy Wolves mean anything to you?"
"N-n-no," Akane chuckled nervously. "Just a little worn out."
"But you've slept all afternoon!" Ranma exclaimed incredulously.
"Yes, but performing magic drains quite a bit of your strength… and those two complicated spells I did this afternoon weren't a piece of cake to do you know," Akane snapped. Trying to regain her composure.
"Oh yeah… about that…" Ranma commented, scratching the tip of his nose. "Guess the old man was right about you being able to help me," he said a little nervously.
"I doubt he was right… you wouldn't have needed my help if you had used your pea-sized brain and thought before acting so recklessly," Akane muttered under her breath, but Ranma still heard.
"Well, shy didn't you sue that water spell faster, instead of waiting to hear that I was hurt?" Ranma retorted. "I mean what were you trying to do… just let those poor kids die?" He spat out viscously.
"No, but I didn't think of the spell until I heard the little girl's scream," Akane whispered. "But everyone is all right."
"Weren't you listening? Their son won't be waking up!"
"Until he gets medicine," Akane thoughtfully pointed out.
"Why… never mind… I don't have time to argue, I'm tired," Ranma yawned. "Listen I'm going to town tomorrow morning… are you coming or not?" Ranma asked, lying a futon on the floor. He crawled under the blanket and tried to doze off.
"I'm coming," Akane murmured after quite some time, though by the looks of it, it would seem Ranma hadn't heard, for he had fallen asleep. "Good night Ranma," she whispered with a smiled, going under the covers of the bed, after blowing out the candle. As she moved so that it was Ranma facing her back, Akane missed the smirk that made its way onto his face.
"Are you okay Ranma? I pray that you are… this is all my fault." A female voice sounded throughout Ranma's head. The voice sounded so familiar. "If I hadn't of pushed you, then you wouldn't be in this mess." The voice sounded so close; yet seemed so far away.
"Don't blame yourself Kasumi." This time the voice belonged to a male.
"But it is my fault." Ranma realized that this was indeed Kasumi.
'What is Kasumi blaming herself for?' Ranma thought. Ranma tried to call out to her, but his voice wouldn't come. 'What's wrong? What happened to my voice?!' Ranma shouted in his mind.
"Kasumi! Tofu!" Another male voice shouted. "Where is he?!"
"Calm down Ryouga," Kasumi tried to soothe him.
'Ryouga!'
A young pigtailed martial artist eyes shot open as he woke after an un-restful slumber. He moved into a sitting position as beads of sweat trickled down his face. He was breathing rather heavily, trying to breathe in air.
"Ranma, are you okay?" Akane's sleepy voice asked. She too moved into an upright position, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Ha… ha… ha… y-yeah… I'll be fine. Just a bad dream," he gasped.
"Ah, was big strong Ranma afraid of a little dream?" Akane asked in a baby voice.
"It's not that… it's just that… I heard my family's voice… they seemed so close, like they were in the grasp of my hand. But… they were so far… I couldn't talk to them or see them… all I saw or heard was them talking. My fiancée's sister was blaming herself for something, while the Doc tried to clam her and the last thing I heard was my best friend's voice," Ranma explained, calming himself down a bit.
Akane didn't know why, but when she heard that Ranma had a wife to be, she felt an aching in her heart. 'Why does my heart hurt… I mean… sure he's cute, and all and I was somewhat attracted to him when I first laid eyes on him… but I already love someone. So my heart shouldn't hurt… right?' Akane thought, in a daze. "Really?" Akane said the only thing that came to her to prove she was listening.
"Yes…" Ranma whispered. 'Though I wish I could've heard Akane.'
"So… um… what's your fiancée like?" Akane tried to bring up a conversation.
"Well… she's…" But Ranma was cut short before he could begin, by a small knock on the door. "Yes?"
"Breakfast is ready Mister Ranma," Sayuri's child like voice called through the door.
"Thank you!" Ranma called back. Ranma stretched a little before rising up.
"Aren't you going to tell me about her?" Akane asked curiously, hanging off the bed.
"Later, I'm hungry," and Ranma's stomach showed its agreement by growling loudly. Ranma walked to the door, and turned back to Akane after opening the door. "Aren't you coming?" the look of concern that Ranma gave her, melted away the hurt in her heart.
"Ye-yeah," Akane said scrambling off the bed. Ranma just chuckled as he opened the door.
"Good morning!" Megumi's voice greeted happily. Yet again, she was bustling around the kitchen making food for them to eat. "Just grab a chair, breakfast will be ready soon!"
"So Akane and I want to go into town today," Ranma said in between bites of food.
"I hope you two have a good time dears," Megumi smiled.
"Can I come? Can I come?" Sayuri asked eagerly.
"No, I think it would be best for you to stay with your mom and dad," Ranma replied. 'It's just not safe with this 'gang' gong around bugging people."
"But… but… I wanna go!" Sayuri whined, on the verge of tears. Ranma sweat-dropped, unable to say something against her unshed tears.
"Yes, but Ranma and I have some important business to take care of," Akane smirked with a wink.
"Wha…?" Ranma shouted, jumping up. Sayuri just giggled at his reaction.
"Okay," she giggled. "I'll stay home with mama and watch Katsu."
"That reminds me," Megumi said in a far away voice. "Since you're going into town, would you mind stopping by the doctor's clinic and picking up Katsu's medicine?"
"Sure," Ranma replied, still flustered from Akane's comment. "So at the doctor's clinic right?"
"Yes, it's near the center of town, but you should find it fairly easily… h e has a big vat in front of the clinic," Megumi explained.
"Great! Well I'm done and ready to go!" Ranma announced, rising up. Everyone stared at his amazing polished off plate.
"H-how… w-when…" Akane stuttered.
"Come on Akane, I want to get back before dinner," Ranma said, walking to the door.
"Pig," she muttered, getting up herself.
"I heard that," Ranma growled.
"Like I care," Akane growled back.
"You better… or…" Ranma started.
"Or what Ranma?"
"Or I'll…" But before he could finish, Akane hit him upside the head with her staff that was leaning against the doorway. 'Ow! That hurt ya know?!"
"I know, and I believe we've already had this conversation," Akane said in a singsong voice, skipping out of the room.
Ranma growled again, and stomped outside himself. "I'll get you…" He muttered.
"Just try," Akane mumbled herself. Smirking evilly.
The two carefully made their way through the market place, staying close so not to lose each other. They kept throwing looks everywhere, searching for any sign of the clinic. Ranma was sure they were lost when they came to a secluded area and still couldn't find any sign.
"I see it!" Akane suddenly shouted. She pointed to a dingy looking shop with a vat in front of it.
"How do you know that that's the clinic?" Ranma asked, his eyebrows shooting up in curiosity. "Maybe it's just another shop."
"How many other shops do you know that have a sign of the door that says 'Yamazaki's Health Care Clinic,' hm?" Akane asked sarcastically, crossing her arms.
"Um…" Ranma began to sweat under her stare. "Fine, you win, that's it, now let's go," Ranma said in a defeated tone.
"That's what I like to hear," Akane said smugly, walking ahead and through the beaded doors.
"Talk about conceited," Ranma grumbled, walking in after her.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Akane called out, looking around. "Hello? Doctor?"
"Coming… I'm coming," a hoarse voice replied. Soon a short plump old man emerged from a door adjoining the two rooms together. He had wiry gray hair shooting in every direction and a bushy gray mustache with white streaks in it. "Yes, hello… my name is Doctor Yamazaki, but you can call me doctor. How can I help you?" Doctor asked, wringing his hands together.
"Yes… um… we're here to pick some medicine up for a little boy who was in a fire accident yesterday… his name is …" But Akane didn't speak further, for she realized that she didn't remember his name.
"His name is Katsu," Ranma filled in, giving Akane a small smirk. Akane in response just threw him a dirty look saying 'shut up or I'll hurt you.'
"Ah yes, I remember now… poor Katsu," the Doctor murmured in a far away voice.
"Is something wrong Doctor," Akane ventured.
"As a matter of fact, yes… I mean no… I mean yes… well… um…" Doctor was getting nervous and began wringing his hands even more. "It's just that…" But Doctor's voice trailed off.
"Yes Doctor, you can tell us… because we're temporarily staying at the young boy's house. Megumi asked us to pickup the medicine he needed while we were in town," Akane explained.
"Since Megumi asked… you see… Idon'thavethemedicine!" Doctor rushed out, bowing his head in shame.
"Excuse me, I didn't catch that," Akane leaned forward as if to listen better.
"But I did…" Ranma said in a low tone, his face taking on a grim expression. "You don't have the medicine."
"What?!" Akane shrieked. She began to panic, and her eyes moved wildly around the room, as if to find the medicine. "How can you not have it? You told Megumi you'd have it today. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. What about the little boy? Oh my gosh…" And Akane kept rambling on and on.
"It's just that I'm missing the key ingredient… and I can't go get it… oh this is bad… What…" Soon Doctor was joining Akane in the talking of nonsense.
Ranma went and sat on a chair in what he thought was the waiting room. He propped his elbow on the armrest and laid his chin and cheek against his palm. He stared at the two for quite some time before realizing they weren't going to stop anytime soon.
"Will you two shut up!" Ranma shouted. "Your rambling is getting annoying," he commented, while rolling his eyes for emphasis.
Two reactions met Ranma's interruption. A surprised look and a death glare. The person with the death glare took a tight hold on their staff and whacked in him in the back of the head with it.
"Man Akane! Will you stop that?!" Ranma shouted, rubbing his sore head. "The staff is going to get as annoying as Akane's mallet probably," he muttered under his breath.
"Excuse me?" Akane asked in a too sweet of a tone. "My staff is going to get as annoying as what pray tell?"
"As your mouth," Ranma spat. He inwardly groaned and punched himself. 'First off, why did I have to lie? Then, why'd I have to go and say that? Great job Saotome… old foot in the mouth disease is back I see.'
"You jerk!" Akane yelled. She swung her staff back, then let it fly to make contact with Ranma's abdomen. The force was strong enough to send him flying across the room and into a wall.
"Stupid tomboy," Ranma muttered, picking himself off the ground. He looked up to see the Doctor and Akane giving him surprised looks. "What? Haven't seen someone stand up before?" He snapped.
"That blow should've knocked you out," Akane said in a daze.
"I'm a martial artist, I'm hit harder than that," Ranma explained in a cocky tone. " 'Sides, my fiancée has done worst with her mallet," Ranma added softly, going into a type of trance.
"Ranma… anyone home?" Akane walked up to him and waved a hand in front of his face. The only thing she could tell is that whatever he was thinking about it made him happy, because he had a stupid goofy grin on his face. "Ranma!" Akane shouted, snapping her fingers in front of his eyes.
"Huh…" Ranma looked confusingly at Akane. "What?" Then he turned to the Doctor and remembered something. "This ingredient… what is it? Can we get it for you?" He asked, completely ignoring Akane's concerned look.
"I need a flower… called Ukyo's Tear," the Doctor said.
"Ukyo…" Ranma whispered, going into another daze.
"Ranma!" Akane shouted, tapping his head with her staff.
"Will you stop using my head as target practice for your staff?!" Ranma shouted, once again rubbing his head.
"Will you stop staring off into space? Your mind is crazy, one minute you're normal, the next you're somewhere else. God, remind me to thank my sisters for dumping a lunatic on me!" Akane yelled, throwing her arms in the air in frustration.'
"Akane shut up! I'm not psychotic! Now this Ukyo's Tear… where can I find it?" Ranma turned his attention to the Doctor, again ignoring Akane's facial expression.
"See if I help you," Akane hissed softly so only Ranma could hear.
"Like I care," Ranma muttered back at her. "So Doc, where can I find it? I mean… there is a place to find them… right?" Ranma was getting nervous. He gave the Doctor a wary look.
"Yes, of course they exist…" Doctor briskly said, waving his hand. "It's just that the location of it… well it's in The Wolf Forest… but the forest is…" The Doctor's voice trailed off.
"What's wrong with the forest?" Ranma didn't like the sound of this.
"The forest is now under the control of The Bad Boy Wolves," the Doctor explained. "They're a dangerous bunch of hooligans… destroying things… terrorizing the people… those ruffians… I'd get the flower myself… but every time I get close to the forest, those ruffians attack me," Doctor muttered angrily.
"Really?" Ranma stroke his chin if he was intrigued.
"Yeah… but how can I tell Megumi that her son is going to die…?" Doctor said sadly.
"I'll get it," Ranma proclaimed.
"What?!" The Doctor yelled, staring at him like he was crazy.
"I'll get it. It's the duty of a martial artist to protect and help the weak," Ranma declared. "That and the family of Katsu helped me out a lot… I want to help them," Ranma said in a solemn tone.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" the Doctor asked incredulously, though the tone Ranma used made him believe him somewhat.
"Yes, of course… So where's the forest?" Ranma stared directly in Doctor's eyes and the Doctor could see that Ranma was being sincere.
"Follow me," the Doctor said, motioning him while walking into the next room. Ranma just nodded his head as he began to walk. "Just go out this door," Doctor said, pointing out the door. "The flower stem is pure white while the petals are blue and shaped like teardrops."
"Thank you," Ranma said, bowing. He began walking to the door.
"Wait for me!" Akane called out, rushing to him.
"I thought you said you wouldn't help," Ranma said, arching a brow up curiously.
"I changed my mind… I want to help Katsu," Akane explained. 'And make sure you don't get hurt too badly.'
"Right… let's go then," Ranma murmured, opening the door. "We'll be back as soon as we can Doctor!" Ranma called over his shoulder as he and Akane left.
"Do you see any sign of it?" Ranma asked Akane. They had been searching for what seemed like hours. Akane just raised her staff higher, to let the beam of light to expand so they could see more.
"No, how about you?" Akane asked.
"If I did, do you think I'd ask you?" Ranma asked, the sarcasm dripping in every word.
"I guess not," Akane said in a sheepish voice. "But you don't have to be so rude about it," Akane snapped.
"Wait!" Ranma shouted suddenly. "Look there!" He commanded, pointing over at the clearing up ahead. Akane did as directed as her mouth opened in an 'oh' manner.
In the middle of the clearing, was a single plant glowing off a pale bluish light. The flower awed the two as they stared in a daze as the white stem and blue petals, which looked like a teardrop, entranced them.
"There it is," Akane breathed in an awed voice. She moved into the clearing with Ranma right behind. Before she could even go near the flower, Ranma's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Wait," he whispered. "Come out!" He growled, darting his eyes around the surrounding area.
"You're a smart one!" A voice called out. Soon dark figures had them circled.
"Who are you?" Ranma hissed, while moving protectively in front of Akane.
"I'm Jukane! Second in command of The Bad Boy Wolves!" the first voice said. The figure in front of Ranma stepped forward. "Leave our forest now, and we'll let you live!"
"How about you leave now and I won't hurt you," Ranma snapped, looking at the tall, semi-strong looking male in front of him. Ranma's fiery blue eyes connected with his dark black ones.
"Cocky are we?" Jukane smirked. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Men, get them!" Soon the figures all began to advance.
"What now Mister Martial Artist?" Akane hissed under her breath, moving her back against Ranma's.
"We fight!" Ranma shouted, leaping forward, drawing his fist back.
"Fine by me!" Akane yelled in response, slamming her staff into the gut of the nearest man.
"How you holding up Akane?!" Ranma shouted, as he punched his tenth guy out. He never got a response. "Akane?" Ranma turned around just in time to see Akane being pulled into the dark covers of the trees, a hand covering her mouth and an arm wrapped around her waist. "Akane!" Ranma shouted as she disappeared. But before he could go after her, then men jumped him.
IMPORTANT
A/N: From this moment on, all of my fics will be suspended until further notice. For I shall be spending all of my time on the following: The Heart's Solemn Vow, A Journey Through the Mind, Beautiful Soul, Change of Heart, and Nightingale's Voice. So all fics that were not listed will not be updated until these are finished. Sorry to inconvenience anyone. Thanks for all the reviews from all my stories! Sayonara for now! Oh, and someone please tell me what Author Alert list is…. Or some similar name like that. I keep seeing more and more people add me to it, and sadly I have no clue what it is, so I would really appreciate it if someone told me. Sayonara for real this time!