Chapter Fifteen: More Revelations

Ryoga's jaw almost dropped to the floor as she closed the door behind her and stood in front of him.

"U.. Ukyo" he stammered, sliding a little back, "What are you doing?"

"Oh come now Ryoga don't be shy" she said coyly, "After all we have spent a few nights together already."

"But we're not close like that" he stood up his eyes wide, "We're just friends."

"Well I was kind of hoping we could be more than friends" she moved forward slightly with a sly grin.

"More than friends?" Ryoga repeated scared as he backed against the wall.

"Mhm. I never really noticed it before Ryoga but you are kind of cute."

"Cute? Me?" he gulped but then he immediately thought as she was only two feet in front of him, "Wait a second. She's behaving just like" and then he looked back.

"I want you Ryoga" Ukyo replied pinning him against the wall, "I want you right now."

"You know what" Ryoga moved her hands from him and walked behind her nervously, "Ukyo as much as Iam enjoying you coming onto me like this" he said out loud but then he said to himself, "What am I saying?" he paused, "But I really think it's not a good idea. I mean we haven't even gone on a date yet."

"Date?" she stopped, "Oh you're right. How silly of me. We have to go on a date first."

"Uh huh" he nodded but then did a double take, "Huh?" he looked at her quizzically, "What?"

"A date just like you said."

"A date?" he sweat dropped.

"We can go tomorrow. It's perfect."

Ryoga chuckled nervously as he nodded his head slightly. "Sure. Why not" he answered.

"Okay then" she opened the door and nodded happily, "It's a date. I'll see you tomorrow Ryoga sweetie" she walked outside as he rushed over to the door.

"Okay. Goodnight!" he shut the door abruptly and then put a hand to his forehead, "What the hell just happened?" he muttered, "Ranma. I need to talk to Ranma."

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile Ukyo opened her eyes sleepily and gazed at her new surroundings. She sat straight up wide-eyed. "Huh? What this place? And why does my head hurt?" she said as she felt the back of it.

Suddenly from in front of her she heard some shuffling and went reaching for her spatula, which wasn't there since she had removed it earlier.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Ukyo!"

"Huh?"

Shampoo appeared from the shadows with a happy smile. "Shampoo never so happy to see Spatula girl" she exclaimed.

"Shampoo?"

"Not only Shampoo" Shampoo grinned taking someone's hand from the darkness and leading her into the light, "See?"

"Akane?" Ukyo blinked her eyes surprised.

"Ukyo" Akane thought relieved, "Finally. Someone who understands Japanese."

(Next Scene)

Ryoga ran as fast as he could to the Tendo dojo, which oddly enough he didn't get lost this time. He stopped in front of the gate and took a deep breath. "I hope Ranma can help me" he said out loud, "I have exactly eight hours until my date with Ukyo" he replied with a grimace as he looked down at his watch, before entering in.

He walked to the front door and knocked. Kasumi came to answer it.

"Why hello Ryoga" she smiled, "Can I help you?"

"Uh yes. I'm kind of looking for Ranma. Is he here?"

"Why yes. He's in the dojo. Shall I go and get him for you?"

"No. No" Ryoga shook his head; "I'll go to him myself" he walked past her after he thanked her.

"Those two are such good friends" she smiled again as she closed the door and walked back into the kitchen.

Ryoga walked to the dojo where he found Ranma sitting in front of the altar that was on the wall.

"Ranma!" he called in but Ranma didn't answer, "Hey Ranma" he said as he moved forward, "I need to talk to you about" but he stopped when he noticed that Ranma didn't even turn his head, "Ranma?" he leaned closer to his face.

Ranma turned his head slightly. His face was very pale and his eyes looked dull and didn't contain the same spirit that they usually did.

"Hi there Ryoga" Ranma replied in a lack luster voice.

"What happened to you? You look terrible" Ryoga said in a voice of shock.

"What are you talking about?"

Ryoga waved his hand in front of Ranma's face. "Ranma your eyes aren't even blinking."

"Oh so you noticed that."

"Ranma why are you just sitting here?"

"I'm practicing."

"Practicing what?"

"My wedding speech."

Ryoga's eyes became wide as Ranma once more turned from him and faced the wall. Ryoga shook his head as he asked the next question.

"Your what?" he asked again.

"My wedding speech" Ranma repeated, "Akane and I are getting married you know."

"You're what!" Ryoga practically shouted.

"Sure. It's all settled. We're getting married this weekend. On Saturday. Nabiki's handling it I think."

"You got to be out of your mind!" Ryoga yelled taking him by the shoulders and shaking him, "Don't youremember? That's not Akane! That's not Akane!"

"Of course it is Ryoga. Don't be silly" Ranma managed to grin but his eyes were still complacent, "Who else would she be?" he said standing up, since Ryoga had dropped his hands from his shoulders.

"Well. I. Ranma are you serious?"

"Sure. I love Akane."

"Huh?" Ryoga frowned and thought; "Now I know there is something wrong here. Ranma would never say that out loud."

"Oh yea. Wasn't there something you wanted to tell me Ryoga?" Ranma looked at him quizzically.

"Uh you know what" Ryoga said stepping away, "I can't really recall what it was I wanted to say" he glanced down at his watch on purpose, "Oh will you look at the time. I have seven and a half hours leftuntil my date with Ukyo.So I'd better get going to get ready."

"That's great Ryoga. Congratulations."

"You're not mad at me Ranma?" Ryoga's left eyebrow rose questionly.

"No. Why would I be mad at you silly."

"Silly again?" Ryoga thought, "Well then I'll be on my way" he moved towards the door.

"See you later Ryoga!" Ranma called as he once more sat back down, his back to the other boy.

"Bye!" Ryoga called back as he turned completely and departed, grimaced, and shook his head as he left the Tendo's home, "Something's definitely wrong here. Either that wasn't Ranma or he's under some kind of spell. Mousse!" he suddenly cried out since the other startled him outside near the gate.

"Hey there Hibiki" he smiled as his glasses slid down his face.

"What are you doing here?" Ryoga grumbled, "Besides scaring the crap out of me?"

"I kind of need to talk to you. Do you got a minute?" Mousse asked insistently.

Ryoga stared at him and nodded his head slowly.

(Next Scene)

Ukyo leaned down to read what Akane had scribbled in the sand.

"Well what it say Ukyo?" Shampoo asked.

"Uh. If I'm reading it correctly, it says Ranma is in danger. Is that right Akane?"

Akane nodded gratefully.

"Ranma in danger! What kind of danger?" Shampoo demanded taking Akane by her clothes, "Speak Akane!" she shook her, "Tell Shampoo!"

"Hey! Hey cut it out Amazon queen" Ukyo stopped her, "The girl can't talk you know. Sorry about that Akane" she said as she pulled Shampoo's hands away, "Is that all you can tell us?"

"Oh Shampoo's right" Akane thought, "What can I do? If only I could talk. Ranma" she closed her eyes as some tears dropped from them and slid down her cheeks, "How can I help you if I can't say anything?"

"Akane honey" Ukyo replied sadly when she saw her face.

"She crying" Shampoo said.

"Ranma help me" Akane thought, "Somehow. Help."

Back home in the dojo Ranma suddenly looked up and blinked his eyes. He stood up and felt his face. The tears were falling steadily down his cheek.

"Akane" he said slowly.

Meanwhile as he said her name Akane suddenly gasped and began to cough, holding onto her chest.

"Akane!" Ukyo shouted.

"Ukyo" Akane muttered softly holding onto her throat.

"She talk!" Shampoo exclaimed, "Shampoo so happy!"

"Akane are you okay?" Ukyo asked as she patted her back in concern.

"I'm fine" Akane nodded with a smile, "I got my voice back. I'm not sure how" she said in a slight whisper as if her throat was sore.

"Not time to think about that right now sugar" Ukyo replied, "You have to tell us what's going on?"

"Right" Akane nodded again as the other two sat down to listen to her, "Well I can tell you what I know."

Ukyo and Shampoo nodded as she began.

"It all started the day after Ranma saved me from Saffron's spell. We were standing at."

"The springs" Ukyo filled in interrupting.

"Huh? How did you know about that?"

"Ranma told me about that. Well that and something about a weird woman."

"Ranma remembers that?" Akane asked surprised.

"Yes but not really anything else."

"Well he wouldn't remember that much of it. But even the fact that he remembers a little is a good thing."

"Well Ranma has been worried about you."

"Huh?"

"Yes Akane" Shampoo added, "Ranma look for you everywhere."

"He has?"

"Yea for the past few weeks he's been looking for you" Ukyo replied, "He knew all along that the girl that was pretending to be you, wasn't you. Well he didn't at first. But he certainly noticed the change and didn't like it."

"Ranma" Akane said gently.

"And now that Shampoo and Ukyo are missing" Shampoo replied, "He probably looking for us too."

"Yea" Ukyo nodded a bit doubtful, "More than likely. Continue Akane."

"Oh right. Well wewere standing at Jusenkyo and then suddenly this white light surrounded us and I lost his hand, which I had grabbed onto before. I called out his name and when the light cleared, I was holding Ranma's hand again. Well at least who I thought was Ranma."

"But Akane" Shampoo began to protest, "Shampoo was there the whole time. Ranma was with you."

"That wasn't Ranma Shampoo" Akane shook her head.

"Of course not" Ukyo agreed, "I knew it was a duplicate when Ranma told us the story and Ryoga mentioned him not being gone also. And also because he said that he was in a strange place with some strange woman" she said slowly.

"Yea" Akane nodded bitterly, "The woman who is behind all of this. Kiana."

(Next Scene)

Ranma blinked his eyes slightly as Akane came into the dojo. "Ranma" she said slowly.

"What happened?" he replied feeling his face once more, "Why do I feel sad?"

Akane frowned as she walked over and took him into her arms. "It's okay," she said as she embraced him and her eyes glowed yellow once more, "You don't have to be sad anymore. Once we're together. I'll make you so happy."

"Yes" his eyes became placid again as he leaned his head on her shoulder, "Happy."

"I'm running out of time" she thought, "I think it's about time for the last part of my plan. And for that I will need the little schemer" she grinned menacingly.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! If this is late, it's because the server is down! So sorry!

Next Chapter: Abduction

The final act of Kiana's plan comes into play. What will become of Akane and the other girls? How will Ryoga and Mousse sidestep the new overanamous Ukyo and the sweet Shampoo? Find out next time!