So if you must go

Know that I'll be missing you, wishing you closer

So let's make the most of these

Moments together, we'll never forget

And it's breaking my heart 'cause I know

That tomorrow you'll be miles away

And I catch myself wanting so much more

Tonight

Come Closer

"Come A Little Closer" by Brandy

"Shinosuke, something's bothering me," Akane told the back of his head, as they trekked down a sullen path. The sun fluttered through the trees and made quite a magnificent sight for her. She tried to memorize the scene in her memory; she could use all the good memories that could be found. She stared off, letting the sun graze her face softly, and breathed in happily.

She was careful not to jump, afraid to wake the sleeping bundle in her backpack. It was covered in fur and totally adored her. After they left where the caves had been, he had followed them until Akane resigned and picked him up, plopped him in her bag, and felt his cool nose breath in and out on her neck.

"What's the matter, Akane?" He seemed a bit worried.

She smiled.

"Well, you had the original map with you when you found me and asked me to help, right?" She began, questioning him inquisitively. She had been doing this for days; she was trying to condition his memory, and it had been working well.

"Yeah," he agreed, turning back to grin widely at her; his big brown eyes gleaming.

"Well," she continued, walking a bit slower to accommodate his pace, "how did you get your hands on it? I mean, if your grandfather was kidnapped, and a man dropped it, how would he know to put Nerima on the map, and guide you from there?"

He stopped for a second, puzzled, "I don't know, maybe grandfather wrote it."

Akane nodded, "That's what I was thinking, but if indeed he did, how did he know his destination?"

He shrugged, "Lucky guess?"

She smiled and yawned, "Can we stop for a second, I'm feeling a bit tired."

"Of course," he nodded adorably.

They both sat on the sun drenched dirt path, small bushes on either side. Akane plopped her bag next to his on one side of the road carefully. The bundle inside yawned and went back to sleep.

"So, what's next on the map?" He asked, making conversation.

Akane lay back and stared up at the sky, "Well, we're gonna hit a town in about a day, but there's a picture of a leaf or something before it. The writing below has been scratched out, but I suppose it's the next check point."

Shinosuke nodded nobly, "If grandfather did know where he was to be taken," he supposed earnestly, "then there is a better chance these people will keep him alive. They might know, and need him for something."

"Oh I hope so," Akane nodded, "but, what would they want your grandfather for?"

Shinosuke shrugged and lay down next to Akane, "What are you thinking about?"

"I was just asking out of interest," she defended.

He laughed kindly, "No, I mean in general; you seem to have your mind on something else."

Akane turned away, staring at the dirt bed she lay on, "I don't know what you mean . . ."

The scene had been going on in her head, ever since they parted ways with Ranma and his crew:

"Well I lied 'bout that. I can say it; just nobody's made me wanna. Before this that is; you're the one for me," he had said.

She hadn't realized that was the way things were, but it was obvious.

Shinboy squirmed closer on his back. They were both staring up at the clouds together; 'Get yourself together Akane, you should be the happiest girl in the world!' And yet, she couldn't help feeling something was missing.

"Come on, I know something's bothering you, what is it?"

Akane squinted, staring forward to the sky, "Well, I feel a bit guilty. . ."

"About what," he questioned amazed, propping himself up onone shoulder, "you couldn't have done anything wrong."

Akane turned and stared at his face. He was entirely serious, and she hated that.

"I make mistakes y'know, everybody does," she told him, tears brimming, "and I'm mean about it."

He came up right beside her, and pulled her into his arms, "No," he whispered into her hair, "you're flawless. You make everything seem so . . . well," he smirked, "memorable."

She laughed, choking back tears, "To you."

He pulled her up to face level, and stared right into her eyes, "Do you love me, Akane?"

Her heart stopped; how could he just ask something like that? The silence was deafening and she broke it, "Shinosuke," she started, "I . . ."

"Could you learn to?" He asked urgently.

She contemplated it, "Yes, I suppose."

"Great."

He grinned. He was amazing. She felt the whole inside her grow.

"So, where are we off to now?" Ukyo asked brightly, serving up piping hot okonomiyaki to her hungry co-adventurers.

"Well," Ranma said, stuffing food into his mouth, swallowing, and then continuing, "we gotta get to some town or somethin'; see?"

He pointed to the town on the map. Ukyo grabbed it and flipped it in front of her, "What about this picture here, Ranma honey, it's a leaf or something."

"Whatever, ignore it, who'd be dumb enough to go after a smudge when it'll take less time to just follow the path?"

Suddenly, something crashed in the shabbily hung, from two trees, tent.

"Ranma! Where's the damn zipper on this thing?"

He laughed, "It's a five-by-seven tent, and you're lost? Ain't that the saddest sight ya ever seen, Ucchan?"

She smirked along with her fiancé, "I've gotta admit; that really is."

She put her hands on her hips and joined Ranma, as they stared at Ryoga try his hardest to get out of the tent.

"Y'know, it's puzzlin'," Ranma noted, sounding quite elite, "how he choose to use the technique of runnin' around in circles."

"Oh yes," Ukyo nodded, mach-snootily, "quite."

At last Ryoga triumphantly ripped through one side of the tent, laughing bizarrely.

"Aha!" He yelled in victory, holding a piece of the tent.

Ranma gave him a slow clap, "Nice goin' genius, now we got no tent."

"Shut up Ranma," Ryoga still grinned, "you're ruining the moment."

Ukyo raised her brow and sighed in defeat, "You're both insane," she muttered, walking back to the little kitchen she had made her self.

"Ranma," Ryoga yelled, "where are we going next?"

"A town," Ranma replied sweetly.

"Excellent, Akane will probably stay there a few days, as should we. We can catch up with them there, and persuade her to come back."

Ranma rolled his eyes, "How?"

Ryoga grinned devilishly, "Oh, I've got an excellent idea."

Ukyo stopped cooking, and turned to listen to his plan. Ranma just lay down on the dirt path they were on, and stared up at the blue sky.

Ryoga pulled out a roll of masking tape.

Ukyo stared deadpanned, "You've got tape?"

He nodded encouragingly, "Not just any tape," he went on. Ukyo waited for him to tell her it was magic, but to her disbelief, he continued and said, "Strong tape!"

"Sweetheart," Ukyo pitied, "lay off the juice."

"What," he seemed quite offended, "are you talking about?"

Ukyo turned to Ranma, shielding her eyes from the rays of sun, "Ranma honey," she turned from Ryoga back to Ranma's figure, "you're fellow testosterone supporter has gone on vacation upstairs; if you get what I mean."

Ryoga tried to explain as Ranma grinned, "No, see, we tape Ranma's mouth shut; the greatest invention in history!"

Ukyo laughed, "That would be pretty smart."

"Exactly," Ryoga remarked brilliantly.

Ranma sneered, trying to get off the topic of anything Akane-related, "Hey Ryoga," his foe turned, while smiling, "wanna spar?"

Akane ruffled the head of the little collection of fuzz she had found so little time ago, but had become so attached to her.

"What's your name?" She mused, "Y'know, everything has a name, even before it's given one. There's this gravitational pull towards an excellent name, and I am gonna find yours!"

"How about Fluffy? Suru? Carl?" Shinosuke tried to help.

"No," she mused, thinking hard, "he needs something that runs away like he does and fast too!"

Shinosuke smirked, "How about Ranma?"

Akane rolled her eyes, but stared as the little puppy seemed to nod eagerly.

She looked on puzzled, "Alright," she said, suspicously eyeing the pup,"Ranma it is."

Shinosuke laughed, "Oh, he's gonna love that!"

Akane turned back to the sky, hugging Ranma closer, "That'd be one thing he loves. . ."

"We're making excellent pace," Ukyo cheered, "we'll be in town by night fall!"

Ranma grunted, and Ryoga smushed Ranma's face, trying to get the item in his hands," C'mon, just one peek!"

"No way Pigboy, y'think we're gonna let ya look at the map, try to get ahead, and then make us go after ya?" Ranma asked darkly.

"Well, sorry Captain Mood-Swings," Ryoga sneered.

"Oh yeah, what's with you bein' so cheerful? Usually you're more depressin' than Akane's cookin'."

He brought her up. He hadn't meant to do that; of course, he never meant to do it. Nobody else seemed to notice.

"I feel as though a heavy weight has been lifted from me. Sure," Ryoga reasoned, "I still love Akane with every ounce of my heart, but seriously speaking, she's kinda got a thing for this Shinosuke I keep hearing so much about."

Ranma winced inwardly, "yeah, she does, don'tshe?"

"Now Ranma," he said, low enough so only the both of them could hear, "I'm only gonna say this once and then you're gonna forget because I'm going to, alright?"

He nodded.

"Okay, now Akane has always chosen you over anybody else," Ranma tried to protest, but Ryoga punched him in the shoulder before he could say anything, "don't interrupt, it's rude."

Ranma rolled his eyes, huffed, but kept silent.

Ryoga continued, "And the way you guys were going you could've gone on forever; with her still wanting you, and you, subsequently, still wanting her. Except for the untimely entering of Shinosuke. See, he's a catalyst; he's bringing a whole world of change with him, and you're not adapting; like driving a horse carriage instead of a car! So Ranma, get off your high horse, and into the car . . . of love."

Ranma stared back at him darkly for a second, and then burstinto peels oflaughter, crying he was laughing so hard, "The car of love?"

Ukyo's ears shot up and she turned inquisitively, "The what?"

Ranma tried to compose himself and explain, but he was on the ground in hysterics.

"Shut up! Shut up damn you," Ryoga yelled, face red and entirely flustered, "that's it Ranma, PREPARE TO DIE!"

Akane, Shinosuke and their companion trudged on for most of the day, finding little comfort in letting the best hour slip away on a rest stop. Akane apologized for taking so long, but Shinboy shrugged it off, and told her he didn't mind. She sighed, he could be such a sweetie, but then again; when was he not?

Akane studied the map in her hand, "We should be hitting whatever this landmark thingy is pretty soon. Hmm, getting dark, isn't it?"

Shinosuke nodded, a bit ahead of her, "I think this might be it."

Akane looked up from the map into the longest and most beautiful garden she had ever seen, "Oh my . . ."

Words could not explain its beauty; she knew how Kasumi felt when she said it.

There were long rows, neatly irrigated and settled. Leaves tried to hide little berries and oranges on the trees, but they could not suppress the beautiful colors. Akane fell in love, at that instant, with its beauty. The rows seemed to go on forever, passing past the dissipating sunset. Akane hadn't noticed before, just how late it was. SHe couldn't believe they had been gone this long, she seemed to remember about a mile or so back, it was sunny. Then again, all the miles looked the same; it could have been ten thousand miles for all she knew.

"Oh Shinosuke," Akane pleaded, fingering the leaves of a strawberry bush, "can we sleep here tonight, please?"

He laughed and nodded, "Of course Akane, I'll go set up camp."

He left to put up a small tent and sleeping bags; making a fire while Akane explored. She waved goodbye to a sleeping Ranma and set off. She dashed down the rows at erratic speeds, losing her self in the little hedges. She went as far as she could, and didn't look back. Out here, she truly felt far, far away.

After a few more fights they noticed a sign stating "Town of Quaint – 10 miles". Ranma sighed half heartedly and trekked ahead of the other two; his head firmly set to stare at the ground.

They looked to each other knowingly.

"This has got to stop," Ukyo whispered, concerned.

Ryoga nodded, walking at the same pace beside her, "He's got no direction," Ryoga brought Ukyo closer and whispered almost wordlessly, "I practically let him win today to see if he'd get better."

Ukyo sighed. Ryoga felt her breath fall on him, and noticed just how close they were. They paused for a moment, staring at each other.

"C'mon you guys, you're takin' forever," Ranma growled from in front of them.

They threw themselves apart and stared away from each other, Ukyo turning pink. Ryoga stared at the ground with wide eyes, and hurried nearer to Ranma.

He did not need to worry about whether Ukyo would run the same way, but he did all the same; even when he had been walking for a short while with Ranma, he still checked over his shoulder for her from time to time. On one of these turns, Ranma nudged him in the shoulder to get him out of it.

He stared ahead, "So Ryoga, how am I supposed to believe what ya said before?"

They walked side by side, Ukyo more than a few paces behind, farther into the wood. They would soon be out of here. With any luck, they could catch dinner when they got to town.

Ryoga also stared ahead. The average passerby would think they were talking to themselves, not each other. Ryoga spoke, "I don't have the faintest clue what you're talking about, Ranma."

Ranma stayed staring ahead, "Y'know," he leaned in, "it was about me and Aka-"

Ryoga interrupted with a wave of his hand across Ranma's puzzled face, "Nope, never happened!"

Ranma started to react like he always did when he did not understand something; aggressively, "Listen Pigboy, I'm goin' crazy, but not that crazy yet. So, either remember it, or I'll beat it into ya!"

Ryoga raised an eyebrow, "Oh the poor, poor last hours of a scorned lover."

This made Ranma angry; very angry. He was about to pummel Ryoga into a nearby tree, when he lost his balance on a root and started to fall. He knew he'd catch himself, it was no question, but when he felt Ryoga lift him up by the shoulder he stopped, "Uh . . . thanks, buddy."

Ryoga nodded, just as uncomfortably, "Right, couldn't have you with a broken leg, slowing us all down."

Ranma nodded, suddenly tired, "D'ya think Akane will get mad that I'm still here? I mean, I ain't really what she wants to be trailin' her."

Ryoga stayed silent for a second, pondering. He realized Ranma was being quite out of sorts, confiding in him, and deduced that his bedraggled heart was just too much for him to care anymore, "Why don't you just tell her?"

Ranma guffawed, "Tell her what? I've told her sorta. Jeez, what the hell pleases that damn girl? Whatever, who needs her?"

Ryoga laughed, "Y'know, I don't think she believes you."

Ranma nodded suspiciously, "Why not?"

Ryoga tried to explain, wording things carefully, "Well, when you've told her what you've told her, have you always been in an argument?"

Ranma stared blankly at him "It's me," he rationalized, "and it's Akane."

Ryoga rolled his eyes and checked for Ukyo, "Have you made any excuse for being there; she might think you're tricking her."

Ranma thought for a moment, and then shrugged, "Well, just that I'd never wanna come on my own, and that Pops and her dad made me."

Ryoga stared back in disbelief, "And you don't think that might have a little to do with the fact that she doesn't trust you?"

Ranma shook his head, "What the hell are ya gettin' at?"

Ryoga pressed on, even though it hurt a bit inside. If he wanted Akane to be happy, he had to do something, "You've never told anyone you loved them when you didn't mean it. Hell, I doubt you've even ever told someone that much."

Ranma stayed miffed, "Well, some of us don't like to flaunt it."

Ryoga continued, "So maybe, that is the only thing that will validate it for her."

Ranma stared blankly, "Ryoga," he asked calmly, "are ya tryin' to make this hard?"

He sighed, "Ranma, she needs to hear it. The only thing that is really going to compute in her mind is those three small words."

Ranma stared ahead in horror, 'Y'mean those three big words."

Ryoga smiled secretly, "Maybe," he tried, not quite knowing why, "if you can't say them, then that's not what you actually feel."

Ryoga had his moments of quiet dignity, where he stayed to the sidelines and let things roll. There were times when he let Akane be happy with the man she loved, at the time, and times when he could not bear it; trying feverously to be that man. Either way, he wanted her to be happy. If she was happy with a forgetful dolt, then he would respect that, once it became painfully obvious. He never thought Shinboy had a chance though, so Ranma had always been his target. Something inside of Ryoga, though, could not help it; it was like a child inside him wanted to scream. This was his chance; to put the doubt in Ranma's heart, and get Akane for himself!

Ranma looked to him seriously, then back ahead again. Finally, after a long pause, he deduced, "Maybe."

Akane decided, after a short amount of time, that she was due back. Unfortunately, though, she was lost. The sky was turning darker, and the moon was fully out. There were dark clouds, sometimes blocking the moon, which would soon mean complete darkness. She twirled in circles trying to trace her steps, but to no avail. She shouted out for her companion, but heard no reply.

She looked up to the see the sun slowly fall out of sight and the night being crowded by moonlight. She shrugged off a feeling that made her shudder and checked over her shoulder. Turning back around she decided to walk in one direction, that way, at least she would get out somewhere.

Suddenly, almost silently, Akane felt something go by her. She whizzed around, anticipating an attack. When she turned, nothing was there. She ignored it, but kept a close eye as she continued.

Again, something in the bushes behind her rustled in the field. This time she knew she heard it and spun around, with a look that could skin a cat.

"Come out and fight me, you monster!"

Akane felt something rest on her shoulder and spun around, flipping that something over. She stared at the lump of blue fabric that lay before her.

Once she recognized him her eyes bulged, "Shinosuke! Oh Shinosuke, I'm so sorry; are you hurt?"

He got up slowly, but surely, rubbing his head all the while, "Fine," he laughed while wincing, "just a little bump from an angel."

Akane smiled. He should yell at her, scold her, any thing but forgive her. Guilt trickled all through her veins, "Shinosuke, I am really, really sorry. I'm such a ditz!"

"Naw, I scared you. It was my fault," he smiled hopefully, waiting for her to show some sign of happiness.

So she smiled for him. She grinned, baring her white teeth, ear to ear, even though she didn't feel happy inside anymore.

He grinned back, "See? All better now; guess that's what I get for looking for you, huh," he stopped rubbing his head at this point, and took his stance close by Akane.

They paused for a moment in complete silence, staring at each other; each one contemplating.

They continued doing this when they heard something move. Akane knew Shinosuke didn't move, and he knew the same of her. They took guard.

Through the bushes something emerged. It seemed to be ten feet tall and five feet wide. Akane looked closer out of curiosity, but was pulled back by Shinosuke just as it roared, and the moon hit it perfectly. Akane gasped in horror, as did Shinosuke. And you would have to if, standing before you, was a ten foot tall, gigantic, angry looking carrot.

"GET OUT OF MY GARDEN," it boomed, clawing at them in a way only carrots could. It had little arms and feet, both as orange as its belly.The vegetable'shuge black eyes glared at them and squinted in emphasis, "GET OUT!"

Akane sighed; she was tired, and had had quite enough of this. Stress had taken over, and she was past exhausted.

"That is what we were trying to do," Akane told it; scolding the poor beast, "Until we were interrupted."

It stopped, stunned for a second, never being talked back to, and all. It managed a meek reply, ". . . get out?"

"Really, must you just stand there, terrorizing poor Shinosuke like that? And if you touched Ranma," she explained, with fury in her eyes, "I'll cook you for dinner."

It took a step back and seemed to question the command.

"And," she pointed out, with much emphasis and honesty, "you won't be tasty!"

At this the gigantic carrot, too confused to do anything else, turned around and skulked back into the distance, bewildered at the anomalous exchange.

Akane cracked her knuckles, yawned, and turned to an astonished Shinosuke, "If you wouldn't mind Shinosuke," she said, "it seems I'd really like to keep going. I doubt it's as late as it looks, and that vegetable looked pretty peeved."

He nodded, the scene still flashing by his eyes.

They hadn't noticed the person following them. Ranma would have been jealous at the silence and agility the follower, turning out to be male, had; had Ranma known he was there. Yet, he had been there, trailing close behind Ryoga and Ranma in the bushes, for quite some time. He chose this moment, after carefully listening to the boys' conversation, as he always did with everyone he met, to come out of hiding.

He ran up about ten feet, and stepped out of the bushes majestically. Carefully sweeping the dust and leaves off himself, he turned to the group, and bowed lower than they had ever seen.

Taking in his appearance Ranma raised a brow, "What in the hell is that thing?"

Him and his partner, a bemused Ryoga, stopped immediately as the man entered. Ukyo had now caught up with the two, and was standing on one end of the trio, next to Ranma, a horrified expression on her face.

"T-t-t-that's a m-m-m," Ukyo pointed a shaky finger and huddled behind Ranma, trying not to convulse.

"I think," Ryoga said knowingly, "it's a mime."

"Don't say that word," Ukyo warned, snarling at it, and holding Ranma's arm, "they are creepy!"

Ryoga laughed, "It's just a mime."

He walked up to it and shook its hand. The mime grinned and pulled him into a full hug; of which Ryoga broke apart, falling back a bit.

Ranma turned from his arm, clutched by his best friend and fiancé, and to the man in the white and black striped shirt and black skin tight pants.

"Hey," Ranma addressed the mime, "why're ya dressed so weird?"

The mime opened his eyes quite wide, mock grief on his face, pointing to his close with remorse. He stretched himself into all sorts of positions, lamenting about his outfit; he never spoke a word.

"Buddy," Ranma warned, "I'm talkin' to ya. Answer, and stop," he stared at his little routine, "flailin'."

Ukyo turned up andlooked into Ranma's eyes, "They don't speak, Ranma." She shuddered and turned away again, not regretting holding onto him and being so close, "they never speak."

Ranma stared quizzically at Ukyo, frightened beyond belief by the mime; some people are afraid of the oddest things!

Ranma sighed, "We don't have time for this, let's get goin'!"

He pulled himself forward, Ukyo in tow, lagging a bit and hiding her face. She didn't want to get near the mime, but she was holding onto Ranma's arm, and he wasn't stopping her; she could not let a chance like that fall through her fingers! Sure, she had given him up, but when the time arose when an opportunity like this flounced along; how could she turn it down?

The mime stepped in front of him, though. Ranma raised a brow in suspicion, but stalked it up to being an accident. He moved around the mime, but it was too fast, and pushed itself in front of him, smiling goofily. Ranma stared back, annoyed, "Listen bud, ya better get outta the way. If ya make me late, and I miss," Ranma tried to push past him the other way but failed again, "where I'm goin' bein' open," he said instead of what he truly did not want to pass up, "there's gonna be big trouble."

Ukyo had shut her eyes and was still staring into his shoulder, "Get away from my fiancé and I," she managed, erupting with disgust and anger, "Or I'll beat your non-speaking head senseless!"

Ranma and Ryoga gaped at the anger in Ukyo's voice. The mime stood still for a second, then morphed himself, through movement, into what seemed to be a scorned lover, giving her an imaginary flower.

She screeched at this, took out her spatula and slammed him hard in the stomach with it, sending him flying many, many miles away. Over the trees and hills, people could see a black and white dot, but heard nothing because, well, mime's just don't talk.

Ranma and Ryoga exchanged glances.

Ryoga smiled, "Ukyo," he almost laughed, "that was kinda creepy."

She put her spatula back, shook herself out, and walked in front of them, "Come on, we wouldn't want to be late!"

The two boys followed, each a little worried about rejecting her order.

Oddly enough, though obvious to anyone who has ever beenside-trackedby a mime before, Akane and Shinosuke arrived in town first. It seems there had been a cloud of darkness on their path, and Akane was right; it had been earlier than they thought.

The town was adorable; little cottages in rows and one long strip, full of shops and services on both sides. It could be summed up into one word: quaint; which it obviously got its name from. The streets were cluttered with little kiosks selling trinkets, and candies.

The sun shone brightly the next morning. Akane and Shinosuke had taken up lodging in a cute little inn called "Dorfam's Inn" if only because it was the first when they walked into town.

This too, happened to Ranma and Co., so they took up lodging only rooms away. In total they had only needed two; letting Ukyo have a room, and Ryoga and Ranma share a two bedded one.

When they all went down to the lobby in the morning, to eat at the adjacent restaurant, Ranma was more than a little surprised to see the other travelers enjoying a meal there too.

He noticed how Akane laughed at Shinosuke's jokes, and how she kept staring out the widow tragically when he focused elsewhere, becoming just as bubbly when Shinosuke's eyes fell upon her again.

He missed her, there was not a bone in his body that did not want to leap over and reach for her, wrap around, and embrace her. Yet, he kept still, the model of all that was centered, and let her go on with her breakfast.

Ryoga and Ukyo had not noticed yet, and called Ranma over.

"Ranma you idiot, come on over and eat," Ryoga called, rolling his eyes and getting back into the conversation he was having with Ukyo.

Ranma was still staring at Akane when his name was called, and her ears perked, leading to her head swiveling behind her, eyes magnetically attracted to his own. Her mouth gaped for a second, and then shut, abruptly. She gained her composure, managed a quick nod, and turned back to Shinosuke.

Ranma, feeling caught and embarrassed, nodded just as curtly, and strode towards his table. Ryoga and Ukyo still hadn't noticed the other pair, too engrossed in conversation, that when Ranma came over unsteadily, they hardly noticed.

"Never," Ryoga told Ukyo, "has anyone told me they didn't enjoy home cooking more than restaurant food."

Ukyo rolled her eyes and glowered, but not angrily; lightly, "When people go out, which they do a lot, they want a superior meal. That's what they're hoping for, and that's what they get; a superior-to-home-cooked meal!"

Ranma tensed as someone came behind him. He thought it was Akane, and in a wild attempt to make her jealous, started laughing hysterically. The effect he was going for was to make her jealous of the wonderful time he was having, not that he had finally gone mad.

The person, a waitress who looked quite old and kind, jumped back at this sudden show of emotion, "My goodness dearie, you almost gave me a heart attack," she smiled warmly, and whispered so only he could hear, nudging him in the shoulder as she grinned, "but nothin' a little whisky can't cure, eh? Care to join me for a sip, or two, later?"

Ranma gawked for a second at the bizarre proposition the old woman brought forth. He decided he had heard her wrong, "W-w-what?"

The old woman winked, "Playin' hard to get, I see," she said, trying to sound coy, "you seem like a very loving man, are you?"

Ranma turned to Ryoga and Ukyo for help, but they hadn't noticed the woman there, about to ask their orders. He turned back, Akane apparent in the corner of his eye, "Am I what?"

The sheer awkwardness of the situation was turning his cheeks red.

The woman turned and glanced at Akane, "You seem to be spendin' a lot of time starin' in this direction. Could it be," she pried, "that you have a feelin', or two, for this lass?"

The old woman had a dark purple dress on and a green apron, pockets at the front filled with who knows what. She waited inquisitively, while Ranma stared to Akane, and back. Shinosuke was fiddling around with the forks, and Akane was laughing hysterically in some in depth conversation with him, peering over to Ranma for, what seemed to be, his reaction.

"I dunno what you're talkin' about, ya ghoul," he told her, furiously.

The woman put a hand to her chest in shock, "My goodness sonny, ya should watch what you call strangers. Normally," she warned, pointing a finger warily at him, "I'd have your hide for such a comment," she surveyed him again, "but I like you. So, I'll tell you a secret," she leaned in, right next to his ear, "nobody's told her a joke."

Ranma was confused beyond belief, "What?"

The old woman laughed loudly, "She's usin' the tactic you tried before our chat."

Ranma stared for a second, recalling what he did right before they started talking. Then, remembering his bout of laughter, he turned to Akane again. She was staring right at him, their eyes met for a long moment, her cheeks went red, and she turned away embarrassed. In a few seconds, she disappeared all together.

Ranma turned back to the woman, "How did you know . . . that I . . . and she . . . how did . . . I don't know what you're talkin' about."

The woman winked again, making Ranma less uncomfortable and more inquisitive.

He pressed on, "Do you have some special mind reading technique, or something?"

She smiled, "No love, matters of the heart can be quite obvious to everyone else."

Ranma stopped, 'What the hell is she talkin' about? How did she know what I was doing? And why was Akane starin' at me?'

Before he could go on, she coughed loudly, and pulled out a pen and a pad of paper, "Why hello there folks, what can I get you this fine mornin'?"

Ryoga smiled at her, "Yes, I'll have the number three, please."

She nodded, knowingly, and looked to Ukyo, "And you dear, what do you want?"

Ukyo smiled just as brightly, "I'll have the same please; and don't you think restaurant food is better than home cooked food?"

The old woman perched herself on one hip, "Well," she said after a short pause, "I think only a handful of people really find home, and that wouldn't be enough for a fair census, would it?"

This left Ryoga and Ukyo at a loss.She hadn't really answered, but what she said, nullified the question.

She turned to Ranma, "What you'll be wantin' isn't on the menu," she glanced at the other table occupied by Nerimans,"but it is in the restaurant."

He turned to look at Akane and Shinosuke for a quick second, then turned back with a utilitarian expression on his face, "I don't know what your talkin' about; I'll have number two."

A/N: So, I think I'll pick up here for the next chapter. I want to show everyone's reaction to seeing everyone else, not for real plot reasons, or character development, but just for fun! I think I will write a chapter about this size every three or four weeks because I am being attacked by homework, and school is a cesspool of sickness; s,o I am sadly sick. Reviews gladly appreciated!