Notes: Hey Wow, more update! I want to get my co-writer up to speed so here I am updating for you all too!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer is on the first chapter. It's a good one, you should read it.
Chapter 20 – Hay and Straw
Akane jogged the sidewalk, along the side of fence. She scowled at Ranma, who was a step or two ahead, but running the top of the fence. She smiled inwardly every morning, as Ranma played out the irony on their way to school.
For once, the pair would be early to school if they continued to go straight to school. A dog whine interrupted that thought and pierced the peace of the neighborhood.
"Stay here, Akane. I'll go check it out." Ranma commanded and started to hop to the rooftops.
Akane mimicked his words, disgusted. Seriously, she considered staying there, but the house with the woman with the hose was a block up. Akane decided she didn't want to be that close to someone that careless with water. She started to make her own way up to the rooftops. It would be better to be with Ranma if they ran into cold water. She heard rumors of other dogs that looked like her cursed form in the area, if she got changed she didn't want Ranma confusing her with a common animal.
Once Akane reached Ranma's rooftop, he was looking over an edge to the street below. They were a couple of buildings away from their path. She cautiously looked over the side of the building.
A group of teenagers, about 5 of them were trying to coax an animal from its makeshift shelter of boxes. A couple of them had styrofoam cups of water in their hands. Akane grew angry, upset that her peers were torturing some poor animal with water of all things!
Ranma looked over at Akane, blinked and warned, "Wait Akane."
Akane glared. "Why aren't you already do there doing something! You usually are!" She whispered angrily.
"Because, that dog looks like your cursed form." He looked back at the street, not willing to look at her as he mentioned her curse. Akane noticed he did that every time he had to make some reference to it.
A girl, from their school's cheerleading squad leaned down, closer to the ground. "Come on Akane! We want to help! You don't want us all to be late for school!"
"They think it's me." Akane was surprised. A group of her peers would do this for her? Try to coax out and get hot water for her? "Hey guys! I'm fine!" Akane shouted to get their attention and waved her arms.
They looked up at her, surprised. Surprise quickly switched to horror, as Akane's foot slipped. Her arms flailed to recapture some balance but she couldn't. She managed to catch herself on the edge of the gutter, facing the building.
The gutter was clogged some where and it was still full with cold enough water to change Akane. It teased her fingers and she tried to keep her hands still so her grip wouldn't get wet. Akane made a quick mental note to ask Ranma if he noticed a difference in the speed of the change with the temperature of the water.
"Hang on Akane!" Ranma shouted.
"No, don't!" Akane shouted back. She began planning a fall with style. If she could kick off here and bounce off the other building, then reach the edge of the Dumpster, she could jump down there and be fine.
Ranma joining her on the gutter interrupted her thoughts.
"Baka! The gutter!" Akane yelled, but it was too late. Their weight twisted the gutter and poured over the two of them. Akane barked as her paws lost the grip her human hands once had. Ranma-chan caught her in the air and rode the gutter to the ground.
The teens praised Ranma praised him for his quick thinking and save. Akane just growled discontent. She would've been fine and not in her cursed form!
Ranma-chan asked for their cups of water. He dumped one on Akane and one on himself. Luckily, Akane's clothing was still intact. She blushed and turned her back on them as she made sure dress still covered everything correctly.
"Akane, are you ok?" Ranma asked.
"I was fine before Ranma." Akane coldly replied and turned around to glare at him.
Ranma sighed. "Aw man, what did I do now?"
"Hey!" the cheerleader exclaimed, "where did the other dog go?"
The box the other dog was hiding in, was empty now.
"I don't know, but we gotta hurry if we are going to get to school on time!" one of the others mentioned.
Ukyou ran down the street, dodging between people's feet. That was too close! She panted, letting her tongue loll from her mouth. Now, I'll be late to school! Damn, I wish… Damn, I'm so over my head one wish wouldn't cover it! I could go to school late. I could call in, only I've missed so much already. The last thing I need is a delayed graduation and summer school. Guess I'll just have to say I overslept. It would explain my wet hair after the shower I need to take now. At least it's a Friday.
That weekend, on Sunday night, Ukyou asked Konatsu and Ryoga if they minded a planning session for the restaurant after closing. Konatsu agreed quickly, a little taken back that Ukyou was ready to plan Ranma's curing. Ryoga was flattered and agreed. He felt awkward and honored that Ukyou wanted his opinion about her restaurant.
Thoughts rolled Ukyou's mind about what she should do. Everything seemed so much easier before China, before she fell out of love with Ranma, even before when she hated him for his father's crimes against her family. To counter that thought, Konatsu yelling at her about hiding her curse, the various reactions of Konatsu and Ryoga finding out, and the knowledge that it will only get harder. Ukyou sighed, it was a long work night.
Ukyou closed the restaurant a half an hour earlier. She made sure to add a few yen to her waitress's credit slip tips. She didn't want the early night to hurt them.
Before Ukyou was ready, the restaurant was cleaned, the rest of the staff went home, and water was boiling on the stove for tea.
Ryoga was fidgeting badly, nervous now that there wasn't anything for him to do.
It was when Ryoga nearly upset the salt shaker again when Konatsu asked, "What's your problem tonight?"
Ryoga looked at the calm manager, Konatsu probably had so many restaurant meetings that it didn't faze him anymore. Ryoga leaned over the table. "Do you know why she wants my opinion?"
Konatsu shrugged, "The more people thinking about the solution – the better. We are the only two that know Ukyou's curse and things."
Ryoga sat back, puzzled yet again. "Is her curse causing problems with the restaurant?"
Konatsu looked confused, "Nooo, I think it's affecting her school work more than the restaurant."
"Then why-" Ryoga started to ask.
"Here we go! Hot Tea!" Ukyou unwittingly interrupted. She served the tea and took a seat at the round table Konatsu choose.
"Arigato." The guys chorused.
"Ok," Ukyou sat the teapot away from her and Ryoga. "Other then I should get off my furry butt and do something- does anyone have anything more concrete?"
"OH!" Ryoga exclaimed and then looked dejected into his tea.
Konatsu and Ukyou looked at Ryoga. Ryoga blushed, "Never mind. Hm…just understood something someone told me earlier that's all."
Konatsu sighed and realized what Ryoga was talking about a few minutes ago. He made a note to talk to Ukyou about it, later. "Well, what are you willing to do now?"
"I want to cure Ranma. I'll deal with the results as best I can. Like you said, it's only a matter of time all of Nerima will know my curse."
"When?" Ryoga asked excited.
"Soon, when we have some ideas of how to cure him without mishap."
"What sort of mishap are we talking about? Pour the water over Ranma is easy enough." Konatsu asked confused.
"This isn't the first time, someone has gotten the Spring water for Ranma. And there are a few cursed males in Nerima that rushed head long to their cure. The resulting fights usually wastes the water."
Ryoga looked embarrassed, "Well, it's not like his curse is an animal form!"
Ukyou shook her head. "Even though that I can participate in who's curse is worse now, let's move on."
"So, that's why you kept your trip so quiet." Konatsu remarked.
Ukyou nodded, "If anyone knew, before I left, the whole group of us would've gone again. We would get sidetracked, or it would be plain chaos at the springs, because no one trusts each other enough. And if certain people found out I had the water here, they wouldn't steal enough for just them, they would steal all of it."
"Ok, so it should be a private affair. You could invite him to the restaurant," Konatsu offered.
"Before we open for dinner, ok. And I'll dump the water on him."
"Ukyou, are you sure? If it splashes on you, it will affect your curse."
Ukyou sighed, "I guess it would be too much to hope that I'll just change to a male." At least my grandfather would be happy.
Ryoga smiled ruefully, "Probably not. That would be too convenient. I'll do it, splash is what I want anyway."
Konatsu looked at Ukyou, and took her look as a hint she didn't like that solution either. "I'll do it. If you are sure it's curse of drowned boy. It won't do a thing to me, since I'm male." Ryoga looked taken back again at Konatsu mention of his gender. It was hard to remember, since Konatsu wore his dresses very well.
"The tour guide said it was the spring of drowned boy. And it shouldn't affect you." Ukyou confirmed. "I do have plenty of water to cure others, and you are first priority after Ranma, Ryoga."
Ryoga nodded stiffly. "What about the other fiancées? Aren't they going want to get the water to gain an edge in winning Ranma?"
"Um… I could check with Nabiki. She may know if anyone else is planning any thing."
Konatsu asked, "Do we have money to hire her? She could run interface or a distraction to prevent interruption."
"For this, yes I can do that. Ok, I'll get with Nabiki and set a date. Sometime this week, so I don't have worry over it long."