Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is a trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video. I have no ownership to these characters, or names.

Ranma 1/2

Changes: Chapter VI. Nerima's Peaceful Times.

Ah yes, Nerima early morning. It's the only time the city is anywhere near peaceful. Unless of course, your anywhere near the tendo dojo. Nerima's citizens knew all to well that the dojo seemed to be a magnet for just about every kind of weird happening you could imagine.

It had been a week since Ranma left town. Since Ryouga was lost too, Akane didn't have anyone around that she could either talk to, or be mad at. She was having much more violent mood swings, First she was depresed that Ranma left. Then, she was very angry that he left without telling her. Next she was back to being depressed that he was gone. Finally she decided that if he was going to be such a jerk that he couldn't even give her a simple good-bye, she would just have to mallet the pervert mecilessly upon his return. Yes, that's what she'd do, then he'd see, and she'd feel better. Except, she wouldn't feel better, no, it would just make him hate her more. 'Where's Ryouga when I need him?' She thought. 'Ranma has to hate me, otherwise he would've said good-bye.' She became depressed again, and she could only hope that Ranma would forgive her, and they could be friends.

Ranma was having a good trip. No fiancee's, no rivals, no problems. A large part of him did long to be home though. 'Home?' He thought. Ranma never really had a home. He grew up on the road with his father. The first place he could call home was the dojo. It was a nice change to live under a roof, especially with Akane. 'No!' His mind screamed. 'Akane doesn't love you. She made her choice.' Ranma sighed. he had always thought that in the end it would be him and Akane. But, not now, she'd made sure of that! 'Ryouga, you lucky jerk.' His stomach growled. "Beter get some food." He said. As he was digging through his pack, he stopped and looked through his photo album. He'd kept it a secret from everybody, espesially Akane. Ranma knew that she'd call him a pervert and mallet him if she ever saw it. It had pictures of everybody, but more of Akane than anyone else. He looked at his pictures of Akane. 'Man, there ain't nothin perverted about these pictures. They did cost alot though.' His stomach growled at him again. He put away the pictures and dug through his pack some more. "What the?" he said when he came across a package that he didn't pack. He found a letter attatched to it. He opened it up to read it.

Dear Airen,

Since you go on trip, and Shampoo no can go, she sent some ramen with you. Shampoo know she promise no more potion or trick, but this one is both. No is love potion though, is energy potion, it help you train all day. Please forgive Shampoo for sneaking it into pack, but was best way. Dream of Shampoo yes? You remember you promise to come and see her when get back, you no forget!. Shampoo love you always, Ranma, no forget that one either. No stay gone too long okay? Shampoo see you later!

Ranma laughed. 'I don't mind that kinda potion!' Then he realized they was something else in the envelope. His eyes widened when he saw what was in there. There were several pictures of Shampoo, some were in, well, lets say less than modest poses. Ranma had to fight back a Ryouga sized nose-bleed. 'Geez, Shampoo!' He thought. 'Gotta hide these.'

Ryouga was sitting in his usual vacent lot. 'Why? I want to honest with her. I don't want to hide anything from her.' He looked up at the sky and saw her in his mind. 'Oh, Akane, why can't I just tell you the truth? It took me nearly three years to tell you that I love you.' His head slumped. He looked up when he sensed a very strong Ki. 'Hey, it's that scarry looking guy from the other week. Who is he? Wait!'

Flash back

"...It was Shampoo's brother." Ukyo said.

"Brother?" Ryouga asked.

"Yeah, he got into town a week ago."

End Flashback

'So that's gotta be the guy!' Ryouga thought. "Hey, hang on a minute!" He called.

Drake turned to see Ryouga. "What do you want?"

"You're Shampoo's brother, right?"

"Yes, I'm Drake, and your Ryouga."

"How do you know that?"

"My sister told me."

"Oh."

"Now, what did you want?"

"I uh, nothing really, Akane told me you beat Ranma."

"It was a draw."

"She also said you can do the breaking point technique."

"I'm from the Amazon tribe, is it really that surprizing?"

"Guess not." Ryouga pondered this for a few moments.

"So, you gonna tell her?" Drake asked.

"Huh?"

"Akane, does she know about your curse yet?"

"How, how do you know?"

Drake just looked at him. "Ryouga. How does she not know?"

"I want to tell her, but I don't want to hurt her."

"Just tell her already, that way she can get angry, throw her little fit, and hopefully forgive you."

"Hopefully?"

"Come on now, have you ever forgiven Ranma?"

Ryouga looked away.

"I thought so. Anyways, I'll see you around Ryouga."

Ryouga went back to his sitting place and wondered what he should do.

Ucchan's was doing some pretty good buisness. It's amazing how much one can save when they don't give away so much free food to their fiancee. Ukyo laughed at herself. She honestly didn't know just how much she had given him. She gave Drake free food now, well when he'd let her. She tried telling him that she wanted to because Cologne was trying to poison him. But, he insisted that she should let him pay, every now and again he'd accept it though. Ukyo liked having Drake around, he did for her what she had always done for Ranma, he listened to her. Ryouga usually would, but you couldn't depend on him to be around, and Ranma only came by to gripe and snag free food. Ukyo sighed, she would always love Ranma, but after their last conversation she didn't see any point in pining after him anymore.

Shampoo was bored. It wasn't any fun without Ranma around. And she had to go and promise him that she wouldn't hunt him down. It'd only been a week, but it was too long. She remembered when he hugged her back, it'd felt so good to her, to finally have Ranma return some of her affection. She grined evily and wondered if he'd found the pictures. Why shouldn't he have some nice pictures of her? She had plenty of him, of course, she'd spent alot of money to get those from Nabiki. She sighed, she wanted something anything to happen. She wouldn't mind Mousse chasing her right now, but Cologne kept him extremly busy all day. Drake was usually out roaming town. She really wished Cologne would stop putting poisons in his food. She went upstairs to her room and went back to work on a picture of her and Ranma that she had been drawing. She had Ranma and herself sitting cuddled togather on a bench, it was far from finished, but that was okay, she had plenty of time to work on it.

Soun and Genma were sitting at the table at Genma's house. Both seemed to be lost in thought.

"What should we do, Tendo?" Genma asked.

"I don't know, Saotome, I was going to ask you."

"We can't let them get away with this, the boy didn't even fight Ryouga for her love, he just ran away."

"Yes, and my daughter's behavior is inexcusable, the schools must be joined."

Nodoka walked into the room with a large tray of snacks. "Here we go! Lot's of good food to help our minds."

"Thank you dear." Genma stared snaking.

"Ah, thank you Nodoka." Said Soun

"Have you two thought of anything yet?"

"No." they both replied.

"Maybe we're going about this all wrong." Nodoka said.

"What do you mean?" Soun asked.

"Since Akane seems so happy, maybe Nabiki? She's single isn't she?"

"Yes! You're right! I'll ask her tonight." Soun said.

Ranma was deep in thought. His mind was analysing Drake's movements. Drake was fast, real fast. And he was strong too. 'Hmm, he's faster than me, and stronger than Ryouga, how'm I gonna beat this guy?' Ranma thought. 'Not to mention he knows the chestnut fist, and the breaking point. Man, what am I gonna do?'

Ryouga had found his way back to the dojo. 'This is it Hibiki, you're going to tell her.' he walked inside to find Akane. Kasumi was walking through to the kitchen with a bucket of water. When she saw Ryouga she directed him to the living room where Akane and Nabiki were watching T.V. As Akane turned and saw Ryouga, Soun burst into the room to talk with Nabiki. And, as luck would have it, Soun surprized poor Kasumi who accidentaly threw the bucket. Ryouga was just about to start speaking when he felt the water hit him. 'NO!' He thought. 'Not like this! I wanted to tell her.' The four Tendo's leaned over the soaked set of clothes to see what had happened. About that time a soaked piglet emerged.

"P-Chan?" Akane studdered in recognition.

"Oh, my!" Kasumi Exclaimed.

End Chapter 6.

Drakus

Wonderbee31: Well, if she don't know now, she really would be dumber than Kuno. But that's not possible, so...

Wharpt: Oooh, that's a good idea. Not to mention a beautiful question. Um, I believe I may have missed something, what cloaked man?

nonengel: Thanks again! Drake is being a mediator. But there has to be more to it than that. I plan on this story going for quite awhile, so please keep reading.

Kyrtythren: Thank you for reminding me, i'd forgotten, and i couldn't get it to fit right earlier, hope it works here though.