Chapter 4: A Miracle Cure?
-Just as an editor's note, believe it or not, Inu-Yasha fans, but there is a waterfall named Sango Waterfall. Look here: "http/www.kanko-otakara.jp/webapps/Contribute/Parser.do?codes010890847739016012&prefix02x019MCKI5238zP&lcode02"-
"It's..." Ryoga dragged on. Everyone was in his face waiting for his answer. "It's... It's..."
"WHAT!" Everyone screeched from impatience.
"...Sango Waterfall, in the Hidaka National Forest on Hokkaido."
"Well, that's just great. How are we supposed to get to Hokkaido? Even at a bargain price, and if we leave Kasumi and Nabiki behind, it'll still cost us more than 100000¥ to get there." Akane pointed out.
"Oh, I'm sure I can find the money for you guys..." Nabiki sneakily whispered.
---
"Due to the overbookage of flights today, all Hokkaido flights will be leaving from Gate 7 today. All Hokkaido flights will be leaving from Gate 7 today. Thank you for your participation!" The speaker blared.
"Wow, I've never been on a plane before." Ranma muttered.
"What, you've never been on an airplane in your life?" Akane exclaimed, astonished.
"No, my old man's too cheap for a plane ride." Ranma told her.
"Just try to get along you two. It's a long ride." Soun explained.
---
"Your seat here, ma'am and sirs." The stewardess said, as she ushered Ranma, Ryoga, and Akane to the front of the plane.
"Weird woman, isn't she?" Akane whispered to Ranma when the stewardess walked away.
"Yeah, and look at all the blue hair...and the strange accent..." Ranma added
"NO! It couldn't be!" Ranma and Akane exclaimed as the stewardess pulled off her uniform.
"But is! Me follow Ranma, Ranma finally marry Shampoo! Akane! You die!" Shampoo yelled in soap-opera style, as she opened the door quickly and shoved Akane out.
"AKANE! NO!" Ranma screamed jumping out the door as well. "You still owe me 150¥!"
"No, stop!" Genma, Soun, and Ryoga called, all jumping out the door. They've all gone insane, I know.
"No, now Ranma never marry Shampoo." Shampoo pouted. "Well, better work before Shampoo get in trouble." Shampoo muttered, wrongfully jogging out the door herself.
---
"Mmm... where are we...?" Ranma muttered groggily.
"In Hidaka Forest."
"Huh, who said that?"
"I did!"
"Well, who are you!"
"My name's--"
Akane realized first. "Shinnosuke! What are you doing here!"
"I have no clue. Maybe to gather some herbs?"
"Can we come over to where you're staying?"
"Sure, why not."
---
"So, why are you here, Shinnosuke? Don't you live in the Ryugenzawa Forest?" Akane asked.
"Well, we used to, but I wanted to see you again." Shinnosuke answered. "I thought you said you lived here."
"When did I say I lived in a National Forest!" Akane screeched.
"I'm not sure. By the way, who are your friends there?" Shinnosuke asked absent-mindedly.
"Well you guys, don't you think we should look for the waterfall now?" Ryoga resolved.
"Why do that?" Shampoo, who had ended up following everyone, asked them.
"Shampoo, if you want your answer, go outside." Ryoga grumbled.
"Okay." ... "But where front door?"
"Exactly. The waterfall is our only hope of getting everyone's sense of direction back. So let's go everyone."
---
"Is this it? Have we finally arrived?" Akane wondered, an astonished look on her face.
"Yep, this is Sango Waterfall. Or at least, this booklet says so." Ryoga answered.
"So, how are we supposed to cure ourselves with a waterfall?" Ranma asked, skeptically.
"Well, the booklet says to... Hey, does anyone know where Ukyo is...?" Ryoga asked.
Akane answered, "Yeah, I haven't seen her since... the airport..."
- Back at the Airport -
"Hellooo... where is everyone! Where did you guys go? HELP!" Ukyo had snapped under pressure. Since she had no money, she sat in the sports store eating baseballs and crying about how the clown was coming to get her.
- Back on Topic -
"Anyways, I'm sure she's just fine. The booklet says to sit on the rocks in the middle of the river, slide down 63.597 centimetres, take a nap, sneeze 3 times, pray to Buddha for a good harvest, and then jump off. Perfectly simple!" Ryoga exclaimed, as everyone stood stunned by what they were expected to do.
"I guess... I'll go first!" Akane shouted out. "So, stand here... slide down... down... there. Then take a nap.
- 10 minutes later -
"Ah... then sneeze--" -ACHOO- "--three--" -ACHOO- "--times--" -ACHOO- "--ah, then, pray to Buddha for a good harvest..." -mumblemumblemumble- "...okay. Then... just... JUMP!" -CLUNK-
---
"Akane... Can you hear me?" Ryoga called.
"Uhh... ugh, yes." Akane answered.
"Akane...Akane, how do you feel?"
"I... I feel..."
Author Comments
It's official... you all hate me for this. Cliffhangers are the best though. Well, some of my thoughts so far: Thanks to ALL of you who leave a review. Trust me, nothing excites me more than seeing that magical little e-mail in my inbox that says Review Alert!" I appreciate all of my readers, and much thanks to AnimeLady Noriko, who supported my idea from the very start! Oh, and next Tuesday will be the final chapter, and then Friday will bring an Epilogue to tie everything up. Aww... I can't believe all this has come and gone. Thanks everyone and have a good day!