The following morning Ranma once more quietly snuck out of the house and met Ryoga by the main gate. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Good morning Ryoga" he replied groggily.
Ryoga stared at him with a raise of his eyebrows. "Ranma you look terrible."
"Thanks a lot" Ranma grumbled, "I didn't get a wink of sleep last night, thanks to that Akane imposter."
"So" Ryoga said, "Where exactly are we going this morning?"
"First we are going to Ucchan's" Ranma replied as they began walking, "I need to find out if her offer still stands."
"What offer?"
"You'll see when we get there," Ranma said.
When they arrived they both walked into the restaurant where they found Ukyo behind the counter preparing for the day. She looked up as they came in and her face lit up with surprised confusion.
"Ranma honey" she replied, "I didn't think I would see you this soon."
"I know" he nodded, "Listen Ukyo. I wanted to apologize."
"Apologize? For what?"
"For what I said yesterday. I was stressed about the Akane situation and I kind of took it out on you and Shampoo. So I'm sorry."
"Oh it's all right Ranma" Ukyo shook her head in relief, "I'm sure we sort of deserved some of that anger anyway. So what's up? I see you're still in your guy form."
"Yea" Ranma agreed with a nod, "And I'll tell you why. But first I have a question for you. Is that offer you made yesterday still available? You know the one about helping me find out what happened to Akane?"
"Of course."
"Great. Then I need you to do a big favor for me" he smiled, "Can you close down your restaurant down for a couple of hours?"
"I don't see why not? Why?"
"I need you to meet me," Ranma said pulling out a slip of paper, "Outside of town at this place. Can you do it?"
"Sure" she nodded taking the paper carefully and with a curious look in her eyes, "But what's this all about Ranma?"
"You'll see when you get there" he replied, "It's juts outside of town so I guess Ryoga and I will see you there about one o'clock."
"Okay" she smiled, "I'll be there."
"Thanks" he grinned back, "I got to get going. See you then. Let's go Ryoga."
Ryoga nodded and followed him out of Ukyo's restaurant. Ukyo glanced down at the small paper and read the directions.
"This really is just out of town. I wonder what Ranma wants to talk to me about? And why he can't do it here?"
Outside Ranma took a deep breath and turned to the left. "Next stop" he said, "The Cat Café."
(Next Scene)
Ranma led Ryoga through the crowded streets where several people were out shopping for different things. Finally they arrived at the Nekohatten, where Ranma entered with Ryoga right behind him still thoroughly confused himself about Ranma's plan.
"So what are we doing here Ranma?" Ryoga asked frustrated.
"You'll see. Yo Shampoo! You here!"
From out of the back the Amazon girl came out wearing her working apron. "Welcome to the" she began but stopped when she saw the boy, "Ranma?"
"Hey Shampoo" he smiled.
"Oh Ranma!" she shouted gleefully jumping into his arms, "Shampoo so happy you come see Shampoo!"
"Yea. Okay" Ranma winced still from the pain in his shoulders, "Shampoo do you think that you could tone it down for a bit" he asked pulling her off him.
"Okay Ranma" she agreed, "Shampoo just so happy that you man again."
"Yea. Well my plan kind of backfired" he sighed.
"Hmm?"
"Listen Shampoo. First of all I came here today to apologize for yesterday. I was upset about Akane and I took my frustration out on you and Ukyo. So I'm sorry."
"Oh Ranma" she sighed happily.
"What's this" Mousse said suddenly appearing from behind the two boys, after having come back from a delivery, "You got angry with my Shampoo" he raised his fist as he dropped the delivery box, "Ranma Saotome!"
Shampoo casually threw a bucket of water at him, Ranma and Ryoga ducking out of the way, and turning him into a furious quacking duck. "Stop that at once you stupid Mousse" she said angrily, "You know bother Ranma" then she turned to Ranma once more, "Now what you say?" she smiled sweetly.
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It okay Ranma" she nodded, "Shampoo forgive you. Is there anything else?"
"Yes actually" he said with a nod, "Shampoo do you still want to help me with the Akane problem?"
"Sure Ranma" she nodded again as Mousse quacked near Ryoga, who knocked him out with a small punch.
"Great" he smiled, "I need you" he took another slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her, "To meet me here this afternoon about one o'clock. It's out of town, but do you think you can leave the Cat Café for a couple of hours?"
"I'm sure great-grandmother will let Shampoo go, if Ranma the one asking," she agreed with a smile, "Shampoo come. Mousse can handle customer," she added as the duck lowered his head sadly.
"Okay. I'll see you there. Let's go Ryoga" he replied walking out of the café, "Oh yea I almost forgot" he said pulling a small flask out, walking to a nearby alley, and pouring it on himself.
"Ranma!" Ryoga exclaimed as he saw her, "What are you doing that for?"
"Well it's obvious Ryoga" Ranma said back, "Everyone thinks that Ranma Saotome is still out of town remember? So I have to be Ranko Saotome for the remainder of the day."
"And what am I supposed to do?" Ryoga replied as they walked out of the alley, "Get lost, or meet you at that place?"
"Don't be silly Ryoga" she grinned, "Either way you'll get lost."
"Ranma" he replied through gritted teeth.
"Don't worry you've got the best job of all. And this way you won't get lost" she said with her hands on her hips.
"And what is that?" Ryoga asked afraid of the answer.
"You get to be my escort of the day of course."
"What?" his mouth dropped open, "You mean like your date?"
"Mmm. More like a boyfriend."
"No way" Ryoga shook his head; "There's no way in hell I am going to do that."
"Ryoga may I remind you that you are still on thin ice with me as far as you being a blabbermouth to Ukyo goes?" Ranma said seriously.
"Uh" he stammered, "But there's no way I can do that. I'd rather get lost in the worst possible place then pretend to be your boyfriend."
"Okay" Ranma sighed sadly, "Then I guess you don't want to find the real Akane?"
"Huh?"
"I can just imagine how she is doing right now" Ranma began her sob story, "All alone. No one to comfort her."
Ryoga clenched his fists as Ranma smiled sneakily to herself. "Oh all right" he said gritting his teeth again, "I'll pretend to be your boyfriend, but only for just one day."
"Thank you Ryoga" Ranma grinned taking his arm and thought; "This should keep those jerks from school away from me today."
"I do have one question though" Ryoga replied as they began walking.
"What's that?"
"What if we run into you-know-who?"
"You-know-who?" Ranma looked at Ryoga quizzically.
"You know the one who's obsessed with you and Akane. Mr. Samurai wooden sword."
"Oh!" Ranma exclaimed realizing, "Kuno! No I wouldn't worry about him."
"Why not?"
"Because Kuno isn't in town this weekend" Ranma sighed bitterly, "He sent me and Akane a whole bunch of flowers and a recorded tape telling us how much he knows we are gonna grieve about his absence, and all that garbage."
"Oh" Ryoga raised an eyebrow and thought to himself, "What a freak."
"So you have nothing to worry about," Ranma said patting his arm as they passed by Daisuke and Hiroshi who stared at the strange couple.
"Look at that" Daisuke whispered, "That's Ranma's sister. But who is she with?"
"I think that's that one guy who's always trying to pick a fight with Ranma" Hiroshi answered back.
"Oh man" Daisuke sighed, "Why is it that all the good girls are taken?"
(Next Scene)
When the two of them had finally reached the edge of town they hailed a cab and Ranma gave the driver directions to their destination. As they sat in the cab Ryoga turned to Ranma once more.
"So are you ever gonna tell me where we are going to Ranma?" he asked.
"We're going to meet Ukyo and Shampoo" Ranma answered simply.
"I know that much. But you haven't told me your plan yet? To find Akane?"
"To be honest I don't really have one yet. I wanted to talk to them first."
"Oh" Ryoga leaned angrily against the seat, "He should at least have a plan. He probably does he's just not letting me on it. Maybe he wants to rescue Akane on his own" he thought even more angry but then shook his head, "No then he wouldn't ask for Shampoo's and Ukyo's help. And I suppose he wouldn't ask me along either."
When they arrived in the rural area Ranma paid the cab driver and then led Ryoga across the fields and towards a patch of trees. She found one of the bigger ones and sat down, closing her eyes. Ryoga looked down at her and stared angrily.
"All right Ranma" he said in a huff, "Where are we exactly? We were in the cab for quite a long time."
"We're actually pretty close to where you were trying to get to Magellan" she replied cynically, "We're about fifteen minutes away from Hokkaido."
"Really?" he glanced around him and saw a farm not too far from their location, "I guess we are," he said leaning against the tree, "But why are we meeting Shampoo and Ukyo here instead of town?"
"Because I don't want that fake Akane to get wind of our plans, that's why" Ranma sighed, "And I know she would be upset not only for the fact that I am girl right now, but that I am also meeting Shampoo and Ukyo. She might actually break my shoulders for real this time" she rubbed her right shoulder, "If she knew about this."
"If who knew about what?" Ukyo asked as she approached them.
Ranma squinted as she arrived and then stood up with a smile. "Ukyo. I'm glad that you could make it."
"Well I said I would be here Ranma honey" Ukyo grinned back, "So here I am."
"Yoo hoo Ranma!" Shampoo called as she ran over carrying a basket under her arm, "Shampoo here! What you doing here?" she asked surprised with a frown when she saw the other girl.
"I could ask you the same question" Ukyo replied seething.
"Shampoo was invited by Ranma."
"Well so was I."
"Ranma!" they both turned to her, both of them with angry expressions.
"Now calm down you guys. Yes I invited both of you. You both did offer to help me right?"
They looked at each other and then nodded.
"Yea we did" Ukyo replied but then gasped when she saw Ranma grab her shoulder wincing a little, "Ranma honey are you all right?"
"It's no big deal" Ranma shook her head lowering herself to the ground, "It's kind of the reason I asked the both of you here today. Ryoga already saw what happened last night."
Ryoga nodded and then the three of them sat down as well. Shampoo looked at her with sympathetic eyes.
"What did happen Ranma?"
"Well after I left you two yesterday. I went home. Well actually first Ryoga and I had a talk and then I went home, but that's really irrelevant to what I have to say. Anyway, I went home and it was pitch black. There were no lights on in the house, and the only person who was there was actually Akane. Come to find out the rest of the family went out to eat while she had prepared dinner for us."
"You mean just the two of you?" Ukyo's eyebrows rose questionly.
"Yes. But that's not the point. I mean I did think it was weird. But then it got weirder. You see Akane was wearing a low-cut lavender dress, that was way to provocative for the likes of her."
"Wait did you say lavender?" Ukyo asked, "But Akane hates purple."
"I know. That's what I thought was strange too, because I remember at least a couple of months ago that she had dragged me out shopping in my girl form for some reason or another, and I had mentioned purple and she specifically told me that she didn't like it. None of it, it wasn't her color and all that" Ranma paused, "So that was the first strange thing. She lit candles and then she tried to feed me the way Shampoo always does."
"Really? That no sound like Akane" Shampoo frowned, while meanwhile in the basket hiding, Mousse the duck leaned against the side of it to hear more.
"I know. She was really unlike her last night. She was acting sweet and provocative and real sexy I guess would be the word."
"Why that?" Ukyo began to seethe" but Ranma held up her hand.
"Now wait before you jump to conclusions you have to hear what happened after that. You see we began to eat and then she told me that she wanted to talk to me about my decision to become a girl. Now here is the part that will explain the pain in my shoulders. Her voice took on a very serious tone and she told me that I would regret making the choice and then she; it was like she was all over me. Soon before I knew it she had me pinned to the ground and was pushing my shoulders so hard that I was literally screaming out in pain. Right Ryoga?"
He nodded and Ukyo turned to him. "And where were you this whole time Ryoga?"
"I was there, but I was in my other form" Ryoga said blushing a little, "But I saw the whole thing, and then I realized that Ranma was right. Akane wasn't acting like herself."
"Not only that she practically broke my shoulders" Ranma added, "Now you both know that Akane is not that strong. So it was then, when I agreed with her to not go along with my choice, which I realized that I had been right all along, except for one thing. The girl that is living with us right now isn't Akane. But an imposter."
(Next Scene)
For a few moments Ukyo and Shampoo sat there stunned until Ukyo spoke up once more.
"But if this hussy of an Akane is an imposter Ranma" she replied, "Then where is the real Akane?"
"That's the very question that Ryoga and I want answered" Ranma said, "But I need both of your help to find her, because I am fresh out of ideas. One thing I know for certain, that imposter who is living as Akane now, isn't the real thing. She's not under a spell either. I am very sure of that."
"Poor Ranma" Shampoo frowned, "Fake Akane must be stopped."
"I agree" Ukyo nodded, "But where do we start? Hmm?" she thought and then turned to the redhead once more, "Ranma honey when was the exact day that Akane started to act strangely."
"Let's see" Ranma thought, "It was about three weeks ago. Do you remember that day at school we had that argument, you know probably one of the last arguments we had?"
"Yes" Ukyo said, "I vaguely recall it. But what did you argue about?"
"You know I really can't remember. But that was the day that Akane started acting completely different. I mean she came home as if we didn't even have the fight. In fact she didn't even recall ever fighting with me."
"Okay. So I guess the best place to start would be to find out where she went that day."
"I've thought about that, and the only place I think she went to was" Ranma's eyes suddenly became wide, "Wait that book."
"What book?" they all asked at once.
"Shampoo do you recall that book I gave you about marriage?"
"Yes Ranma" she grinned, "Shampoo treasure it."
"You gave Shampoo a book on marriage?" Ukyo and Ryoga suddenly became angry.
"It's not what you think" Ranma held up her hands, "Really. Anyway Akane bought the same book that day. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but maybe that book does have a significance after all."
"Well then Ranma honey" Ukyo replied, "I guess that is where we start."
"Yes" Ranma nodded, "Right back at the beginning. Back to three weeks ago" she thought as an idea came into her head, "But I still wonder what that book has to do with anything? I suppose I am going to have to make another trip to that store. And the sooner the better."
(Next Scene)
About an hour later both girls departed to get back to their restaurants. Ranma informed them both that she would meet them the next morning to start searching for Akane. As she and Ryoga walked away from the stop for the bus in town, they didn't notice that two more people were passing by in a very expensive car. As the bus left the car was stopped and Kuno stuck his head out of the window.
"What is the hold up Sasuke?" he asked his ninja.
"I don't know Master Kuno" Sasuke replied but then gasped when he saw Ranma and Ryoga.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. No sir" Sasuke shook his head rigorously but it was already too late, because his master had seen the two of them and was waving furiously trying to get out of the car.
"My Pig-tailed girl!" he shouted, "Out with that friend of Ranma Saotome! Why that fiend!" he seethed as he opened the door, "You scoundrel!" he yelled at Ryoga making them both turn their heads as he charged towards them with his sword.
"Uh oh!" Ranma said quickly grabbing Ryoga's hand, "Come on Ryoga!"
They began running as several people watched them stunned.
"Get back here you villain!" Kuno shouted swinging his sword.
"Ranma!" Ryoga yelled at his companion, "I am never going to forgive you for this!"
"Just hold on Ryoga" Ranma said practically out of breath, "I know how to lose him" she dashed down an alley and then back onto the streets. Soon they had lost sight of him. Ranma stopped and breathed heavily as Ryoga seethed with anger.
"Ranma" he replied angrily, "How dare you put me through this."
"It will all be worth it once we find Akane" Ranma said enthusiastically.
"You mean you got a plan or an idea where she is?" Ryoga asked excitedly.
"I might" Ranma nodded, "But to do that you and I must make one more stop today."
"And that is?"
"A book shop" Ranma answered.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay you guys, here's the next one.
Note One: I have decided since my next Fruits Basket series "Curse Renewed" starts tomorrow that I will write Ranma's "Come back" every other week so, this will be the last chapter for a week. Ranma will continue on the seventeenth of May. See you then, and for the FB fans I will see you tomorrow!
Next Chapter: A List and a Disappearance
Ranma returns once more to the small bookshop where she purchased the little pink book. But there is something sinister behind the store's façade and the mysterious article and it could have to do with another mystery going on in Nerima. See what happens next time!
