Chapter Eleven: A List and a Disappearance

Ryoga followed Ranma once more through the small town, puzzled as ever to where they were going.

"Uh Ranma."

"Mhm."

"Just one question" he replied, "What does a book shop have to do with Akane?"

"Do you remember this afternoon when Ukyo mentioned places that Akane went that day?"

"Uh huh."

"Well the book shop is one of them. And I know where it is, because I bought the same book too. The same little pink book" Ranma said grimacing.

"You think that book has something to do with it?" Ryoga asked his eyes wide as they turned a corner.

"It's just a hunch right now" Ranma replied with a shrug of her shoulders, "We'll see in a few moments," she pointed, "Because there it is.

The two of them stopped in front of the small store and paused for a moment. Then Ranma took a deep breath and took Ryoga's hand once more.

"Let's go," she whispered.

"I'm still playing the boyfriend bit?" Ryoga said with a frown.

"Of course" Ranma smiled, "You said one day Ryoga. And the day is not over yet.

"Oh boy" Ryoga sighed, "Fine" he spat as he was pulled through the doors of the shop.

Once again the same two clerks approached Ranma. Ryoga took in their appearance, as did Ranma as they both came over.

"Hello there again miss" they grinned but slightly frowned when they saw Ryoga, "Is there something we can help you with?"

"Yes I think there is" Ranma said sweetly, "I was wondering if you had any more of those cute pink books?"

"You want another one?" the tall brunette replied surprised.

"Actually I bought the other one for a friend of mine."

"Oh" they both exclaimed together.

"And my wonderful sweet honey here" she squeezed on Ryoga's arm, "Thought it would be a wonderful thing if I got a copy. Right my sweet?" she turned to Ryoga who was blushing.

"Uh" Ryoga chuckled nervously, "Whatever you want" he said with a nod but thought, "Shoot me now."

"Thank you" Ranma grinned as the blond with the ponytail handed her the book, "Ryoga dear. Pay for the book."

"What?" Ryoga's eyes went wide but Ranma stepped on his foot, "All right" he grumbled, "You really owe me Ranma" he thought as he handed the brown haired clerk the money, "Here."

"Thank you sir" the brunette replied, "Oh and miss one more thing," he added.

"Hmm?" Ranma said curiously turning back to the counter.

"Could you sign this please" the man placed a piece of paper with a list on it in front of her, "The book is becoming so popular that we ask all the girls to sign this sheet now."

"Why?" Ranma asked suspiciously, "I mean," she put on her fake sweet voice again, "I mean why do you do that?"

"So we can send it to the author" he replied simply.

"Oh okay" Ranma agreed signing the name of "Ranko Saotome", "Does the author expect that?"

"No. It's just an added bonus. Part of the job you know. Anyway there is also a place you can sign in the book" he opened up another copy and showed her, "Right here see?"

"Mhm. Well thank you" Ranma nodded, "You both have been very helpful" she faked a smile after having glanced at the names on the list briefly, "Let's go Ryoga" she said taking his arm, "Good bye gentlemen and thanks again" she waved as they departed.

"It was our pleasure!" the brunette called.

"She really is cute" the blond sighed.

"It's no big deal" the brunette said placing his hand on his shoulder, "We'll be seeing her soon enough."

Ranma took Ryoga's hand once more and led him to a nearby alley.

"Ranma? What?" Ryoga started to say but Ranma put a finger to her lips, "What are you doing?" he whispered hoarsely.

"Something's definitely not kosher Ryoga" Ranma said softly, "I happened to glance at that list as I signed it. And do you know whose name I saw on the top of it?"

"Whose?"

"Akane."

(Next Scene)

When Ranma and Ryoga returned back to the Tendo home Ranma quickly showered and then walked back over to the dojo where Ryoga was waiting. Ryoga stood against a wall with his arms crossed as Ranma walked in, his frown becoming even more distinct.

"Okay Ranma. What are you thinking now?" he asked irritated.

"That list."

"Huh? What about it?" Ryoga said as he uncrossed his arms and Ranma began to pace the floor in deep thought.

"It had Akane's name on it."

"So what? You mentioned that before. What's that got to do with anything?"

"Didn't you hear what that salesman said? They just started using that list, but Akane bought that book three months ago."

"So you think that there is more to that list?"

"Yea. I do" Ranma nodded his head fervently, "But us going after that list, isn't going to be enough. We need to keep an eye on Akane as well."

"You mean the fake Akane? How do we do that?"

Ranma thought for a moment and then grinned as he turned to his confused rival, "That's where Shampoo and Ukyocome in."

"Ranma!" Akane called as she came into the dojo, "Ryoga?" she said with a slight raise of the eyebrows, "What are you guys doing in here?"

"Uh we were just practicing" Ranma answered, "I mean we were just starting to. What's up?"

"Dinner is almost ready. Where have you two been all day?" she asked suspiciously.

"We went out," Ryoga answered quite nervously.

"But you two never go out together."

"What he means is" Ranma interrupted, "I found him lost again in the town so I brought him home. We spent most of the afternoon fighting. Right Ryoga?" he nudged him.

"Uh yea" Ryoga nodded still nervous.

"Okay. Are you staying for dinner Ryoga?" she asked crossing her arms.

"Uh sure" he nodded again, "If it's no trouble."

"No it's no trouble" she replied eyeing Ranma angrily, "I'll see you inside" she said walking back to the house.

Ranma nodded to himself and then turned to Ryoga who was sweating quite a bit. "That settles it then."

"Huh?"

"Shampoo and Ukyo have to be the ones to do it" Ranma replied crossing his arms and frowning even more.

(Next Scene)

The next afternoon after another grueling day at school, Ranma, Ukyo, and Ryoga all met up with Shampoo at the Cat Café to discuss their strategy.

"So you think it best that Shampoo and I follow after that fake Akane?" Ukyo said.

"She'll be less suspicious if you two follow her" Ranma nodded, "She's already suspicious enough about Ryoga and me as it is. While you're doing that Ryoga and I will follow another lead."

"What lead?" Shampoo asked.

"Don't worry about that. You just keep your eyes on Akane. I know she's leaving the house this evening for something she has to do with friends. Just before the sun sets. Meanwhile Ryoga" he turned to him, "You and I are going back to that book shop."

"Book shop?" Ukyo and Shampoo thought at the same time, their eyebrows raised questionly.

"Are you sure about this Ranma?" Ryoga replied with a frown.

"Positive" Ranma nodded with a sly grin as he whipped out his bottle of cold water, "Now stand closer to me" he pulled Ryoga closer.

"What? Ahh!" Ryoga screamed as the water splashed on both boys, turning then respectively, into a girl and a squealing angry pig, which was trying to bite Ranma's hand as she held him, "There that's better."

"Ranma honey" Ukyo said, "What do you have to be a girl for?"

"And why you turn Ryoga into pig?" Shampoo added.

"That's not important" Ranma shook her head as she walked over to the entrance, "Just make sure to get to your posts. Remember sunset. We'll meet back at Ukyo's place."

"Got it" Ukyo nodded.

"Okay" Shampoo agreed.

"Let's go P-Chan" Ranma replied walking out of the Nekohatten carrying the angry pig, him squealing, his teeth aimed at the determined girl's arm.

(Next Scene)

Ranma cautiously walked to the shop and back to the alley. Then she put the pig down. "Now listen Ryoga" she said to him, "I know you don't understand my plan yet, but it's gonna work better as P-Chan you see."

P-Chan perked up his ears listening.

"You've got to get that list. I want you to sneak in there and grab it. If I'm right then we're one step closer to finding Akane. Got that P-Chan. Use that back door" she pointed, P-Chan squealing in understanding, "Go and get that list."

P-Chan nodded with another squeal and then scurried off towards the back door and then snuck in quietly, since the door was slightly ajar. In the back storage roomwhere he found himself he could see the two clerks that he and Ranma had encountered. They were putting books onto shelves and as he slyly snuck by them, he happened to hear their conversation.

"How much longer do you think we're gonna have to do this?" the blond asked as P-Chan stopped to listen.

"The Boss didn't say" the brunette shook his head, "But it sure is nice, this place. Lot of cute girls."

"Yea. But I sure do miss Jusenkyo.

"Jusenkyo?" P-Chan squealed quietly in surprise.

"Relax. We won't be here much longer. The list is almost complete. And besides that" the boy grinned menacingly, "The Boss is nearly done with the plan" he picked up the list that P-Chan was aiming for, and placed it into a small drawer close to the ground, "As soon as the Boss has gotten the package we can go back home" he stood up and opened the door.

"Yea" the other one nodded following him back to the front of the store, "And we'll have packages of our own to take back" he laughed evilly as he closed the door.

P-Chan baited his breath as he slowly inched his way to the drawer. The conversation he had overheard was enough to confuse and terrify him, but he pawed at the drawer despite his fear and in a few moments it popped open. Quick as a flash he grabbed the list and ran back into the alleyway out of breath, where Ranma was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Geez Ryoga. What took you so long?"

Ryoga squealed urgently as Ranma snatched the list and pulled out her hot water bottle, "Here" she said as she placed it down on the ground, "You know I can't understand you when you're like that.

P-Chan walked over to it and pulled at the top with his teeth, while Ranma sank to her knees and began to examine the list.

"Let's see. Here's Akane's name" she replied, "A bunch of other names. I recognize some of these girls from our school" she said as P-Chan managed to pop the top and slowly pulled the heavy bottle up, and the poured it over himself.

"You could have helped me a little you know," he grumbled as his human form reappeared.

"Put your clothes on" Ranma ordered not even looking up from the paper.

"Thanks a bunch" Ryoga growled and began to get dressed, "What do you make of it?"

"So far it looks perfectly normal. There's about thirteen different names on here, including Akane's. But mine doesn't seem to be here anymore" she frowned.

"Well I think they're planning on adding more to that list."

"What do you mean?" Ranma eyed him as he came over fully dressed.

"I heard something while I was in there Ranma. Something that didn't sound quite good to me."

"What is it?"

"The two clerks we met yesterday were talking about going home. And the weirdest part they mentioned Jusenkyo."

"Jusenkyo?" Ranma's eyebrows rose.

"Mhm. One of them really wanted to back. But the other said that they had to wait because their boss was waiting to receive some sort of package."

"Package?" Ranma scratched the back of her head.

"They also mentioned the list. That it wasn't complete yet."

"I wonder what that means?" Ranma said aloud as she returned to the list, "Wait a minute" she stopped, "There's a name on here that doesn't make sense."

"Whose?"

Ranma held up the list and Ryoga saw in bold black letters on line thirteen the name: SHAMPOO.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile Ukyo and Shampoo had followed Akane from the house all the while bickering amongst themselves. They followed her as she met her friends and they went shopping. The last place they stopped was an octopus puff stand so Ukyo leaned against a pole as she and Shampoo waited for her to continue.

"This is not easy" Ukyo sighed heavily, "Akane seems to be acting normal."

"We must do as Ranma say and follow fake Akane" Shampoo retorted.

"I'm tired Shampoo" Ukyo said angrily, "There has to be something better to do than what we're doing. Besides why did I get stuck with you?"

"Shampoo no want to be with you anymore either Ukyo."

"Fine with me. I say we go our own separate ways."

"Shampoo fine with that! Hmm?" she crossed her arms as Akane began to walk again, "She leaving."

"I'll follow her this way" Ukyo pointed, "You take the other direction. We'll meet in the middle."

"Fine" Shampoo said angrily and stalked off as they both started their own separate pursuits of Akane.

Mousse too had join in the search. Unknown to Shampoo he had followed her all evening at a far distance. As she turned a corner a strange boy, who oddly enough sported a blond ponytail, stopped her.

"What you want?" Shampoo demanded.

"Are you Shampoo?" he asked as Mousse stopped and listened close by.

"Hmm? How you know my name?" she asked suspiciously.

"I have been looking all over town for you. I must say you are much prettier than I thought."

"Get to point" she stamped her foot, "Or Shampoo leave" she moved past him.

"I know what you have been looking for" he replied making her spin around and look at him directly in the eyes, "And I can help you find it" he grinned as he raised his head.

"Huh?" Shampoo blinked as his eyes became red and her world became dark and Mousse rushed forward to help her.

"Shampoo!"

(Next Scene)

Ranma ran quickly throughout the streets towards the Cat Café with Ryoga at her heels. Now the boy was completely baffled. After glancing over the list a couple more times she had suddenly stood up and dashed out of the alley like a mad woman.

"Ranma! What's going on?" he shouted as they ran.

"Just follow me Ryoga. If it's what I think it is we might be too late!" she added dashing into the restaurant where she spotted Cologne, Shampoo's great-grandmother was cooking in the kitchen, "Yo! Old Ghoul!" she called out of breath.

"Son-in-law?" she replied surprised as Ryoga came in and bent over completely exhausted and trying to catch his breath.

"Listen. That book I gave Shampoo. Can I see it?"

"Of course" Cologne nodded picking up the small pink book from the back and handing it to her, "You know Shampoo absolutely loves this book" she replied as she went back into the kitchen.

"Thanks" Ranma replied quickly flipping to the front, "Oh no. It's as I thought," she said with a frown.

"What is Ranma?" Ryoga asked completely frustrated now.

Ranma showed him the page where Shampoo had signed her name.

"But what does it mean?"

"It means that Shampoo is in trouble."

(Next Scene)

In the alley Mousse slightly unconscious, his glasses askew, muttered the same name over and over in a slight whisper as he struggled to move his body.

"Shampoo."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! Four chapters this week. The second one will be out later tonight while the other two will be written on Thursday or Friday so look for them!

Next Chapter: Ukyo's Decision

Quite certain about Shampoo's disappearance Ranma and Ryoga return to Ucchan's only to find out that Ranma's assumption is in fact correct. Now with two girls missing, Ranma plans on getting to the bottom of the list. Meanwhile Ukyo makes a decision, one that could change the lives of two people. Find out what happens next time!