The Binding of Ranma Saotome
Chapter 4: Hide Away
Ranma tapped her fingers impatiently on the immaculate white tiles of the bathroom sink. Time moved so slow when you were dying of curiosity. At the same time, she knew there could be only one result… The clock ticked slowly, its surface dented by the multiple impacts of Ranma's head on several occasions. It seemed to be moving more slowly than usual. Maybe she should look now? But she resisted the impulse to sneak a peek. She didn't want to see until the result was definite. Still one more minute to go…
She turned her gaze from the clock to the ceiling, trusting in the fact that clocks always moved faster when you ignored them. Instead, she studied the ceiling. Especially here, in the bathroom, it was patched repeatedly in different types of wood, so it looked more like a rather hard and wooden quilt than any sort of a ceiling. What the hell, at least it was watertight.
She sighed and glanced at the clock. It had stopped moving altogether. This might have something to do with the fact that it was ripped in half, cords delicately dangling through the center. But the clock had been like that since before his fight with Ryouga. It had still worked, so the Tendos hadn't replaced it yet. But it must have stopped somewhere in between the ceiling looking and the sigh.
A loud banging resounded through the tiny room. Ranma looked from the clock to the door, calling out to it in an annoyed voice. "I'm in here!" she told the door sharply.
"I know!" Akane Replied. She must have not realized that Ranma was talking to the door. "You have been in there for half an hour!"
Ranma startled out of the glower that was beginning to form on her face. "Half an hour?" she asked, incredulously. According to the clock it was less than three minutes. The damn thing really was slower than it should be. He glanced over at the test that lay on the counter, the words 'be right out, Akane' half formed on her lips. But she swallowed abruptly at what he saw there. Two blue lines. "I… I'm not sick, I'm…" Akane couldn't hear the next part. The door, was getting its revenge for Akane's earlier pounding by blocking our the important part of the sentence…
"You're what?" Ranma realized that he had been speaking out loud.
"I said I'm a monkeys uncle! Now leave me alone!" And Akane did so, but that last word lodged its self into her mind, dormant for now…
…
Shampoo stopped at the doorstep to Ryouga's house, taking a deep breath before climbing up the rickety wooden steps and ringing the bell. The sound echoed through the house. Somehow the sound told Shampoo that it was empty. That and the faded, falling apart note on the door.
Ryouga,
We are out of milk.
I went to the store.
I will be back in 20 minutes or so.
Love,
Your Mother.
Shampoo glanced across the street, looking in awe at the fact that there was a grocery store standing there in plain view. She sniffed the note. By the smell it was at least two months old… How someone could take two months to go across the street for milk was beyond her. Another note was beside the first, but the writing was too faded and unreadable with age. Maybe something about taking checkers for a walk? The only words that Shampoo could really discern were "Your Father."
Shampoo rang again, hoping that Ryouga had just been sleeping. But as usual, Ryouga was nowhere near his house. She glanced at the map again. Yep, according to the map she had the wrong address. She turned from the house, starting to walk away when she realized that she had already checked the address on the map, and that it was a mall. Also, she recalled the sign that she was just passing under, the one reading "Hibiki" in flowing handwriting. She turned back and gazed at the house, and sighed. Where was that damn fool Ryouga?
…
Ryouga stopped and stared. His house seemed to have grown since he left it. Maybe it was just his imagination? He walked in the front door and looked around. Were his parents having a party? Umm… a party where they were attempting to sell all the guests cheap perfume in the living room? And since when was there a MacDonald's in his house? Oh… the mall. Not his house at all…
He left out the door again, relieved. He really needed some rest now, and the one thing he did not need was a party. A rest and a chance to think over battle strategies for his re-match with Ranma. He fingered the end of the metal staff poking out of his pack idly. The metal was cool and smooth against his fingers.
It seemed to be an ordinary staff. He had tested it on several other men, and they were okay… but if it was ordinary, then why had Ranma… He let the thought fall, unfinished, into the back of his mind as he shoved the staff deeper into his backpack so that the end didn't poke out anymore.
He stopped a man walking along the street, tapping him on the shoulder. The man was very businesslike, wearing a suit and all, and seemed more disgusted than surprised at Ryouga's current state. (Covered in mud and scratches, torn up clothing, pristine bandanna, etc.)
"Look." Said the man, firmly. "If you're one of the stolen characters from the Takahashi case, you will have to make an appointment. This is my coffee break, and I have resolved to not do any work of any sort during my coffee break. So I am sorry, sir, but you will just have to wait..." Ryouga blinked.
"Umm… My creator lost some characters?" The man sighed.
"Yeah, most of the InuYasha ones. I thought you were Kouga for a second there…" Ryouga snorted in a most Kouga-like way.
"I most certainly am not! Anyway, do you happen to know where the Hibiki residence is?" He was a little embarrassed. If this man realized he lived there and still didn't know the way, he would never live it down.
The man looked startled. "Are they having a party or something?" He asked. "I just pointed an incredibly beautiful girl in that direction a few minutes ago!"
Ryouga's heart tried its best to skip a beat. But since it was controlled by his subconscious, it was luckily unsuccessful. A… Akane? He thought. "What did she look like?" He asked.
The man sighed in remembering. "Long, flowing purple hair, big eyes, two buns… way out of my league…" Oh. Shampoo. Ryouga realized.
"Actually, I know her…"
…
Ranma had found a way under the house, and so far no one had found her. She was thankful. How the hell was she going to tell the Tendos? And… How? Her mind buzzed heavily with questions. She wondered idly in the back of her mind what would happen if she were to change back into a guy. The thought was unpleasant. Well, it looked like she was going to have to talk to Dr. Tofu, then…
"Where's Ranma? Dinner's ready." She heard Kasumi say. Well, dinner was something to look forward to. She snuck out of her hiding place and dusted herself off, then went back into the house.
"There you are, Ranma." Said Nabiki. Ranma's money protection sensors were nothing to write home about, but they should have gone off. Lucky for him, Nabiki wasn't up to anything. "Kasumi says dinner's ready." She said. Ranma nodded, and went to the dining room. She looked over the inhabitants. Two pandas he couldn't tell apart, Soun, Kasumi, Akane, and Nabiki behind her. No guest. Good, Ranma didn't quite feel up to anyone else.
They sat down for dinner, and Ranma realized how hungry she was.
"Itadakimasu." Was said all around the table, and Ranma dug in, ignoring everyone else. The food was good, but Kasumi's cooking was always good. Ranma assumed that this was some American dish. It has sausage, bacon, cauliflower, and milk in it. It was a stew, and it was pretty good. It seemed strange to use these, but hey, whatever works.
Eventually, after Ranma finished her second helping, she realized that no one else had even touched their food, aside from Akane, who had some dribbling out of her mouth. Ranma felt six pairs of eyes locked in a stare at the top of her head. She scratched that spot. The eyes didn't leave.
"What?" She asked, taking another bite. Silence filled the room, other than Akane finally realizing her what her gag reflex was telling her. Ranma glared around to room. "What?" She asked again, this time with a bit of frustration in her tone. Shock silence didn't let up. "Look, I'm not gonna ask again. What!" She said. It was Soun who managed to speak first.
"Ranma, Akane cooked tonight…" He said. Ranma stared at him.
"You let her cook twice in one week?" Ranma blurted out. Akane, however, was in no condition to smack her. Soun coughed.
"Ranma, Akane cooked tonight…." He said. Ranma shrugged. "Akane cooked." Soun repeated. Something sunk in inside Ranma's mind.
"Oh my god, Akane cooked!" She said with her face wrinkling in horror. "And…And… It's good!" She yelled, eating some more. Everyone else took an experimental bite of theirs. "What, you don't want any?" Said Ranma.
Akane, who was still conscious, realized something… Her food tasted kinda like feet, only way worse…
…
8:00 AM, or there abouts, not that Ryouga really knew…
Ryouga sighed, coming out of an extra leafy patch in the forest. Hey knew he followed the directions exactly. How did he end up here?
"Ayah, is no good…" Came a voice behind him. He turned half way, and the voice spoke again. "Ryouga helpless!" Said Shampoo. Ryouga smiled.
"Shampoo!" He yelled. The girl stopped and faced him.
"That is you, Ryouga?" She asked. "Ah! Shampoo have staff of binding, is okay?" Said Shampoo. Ryouga was confused.
"You mean that metal sick Mousse had?"
"Yes, Metal sick Mousse is have." Said Shampoo. "That is one." She said, holding her hands out. Ryouga glared down at her.
"Why do you want it?" He asked suspiciously. Shampoo smirked.
"Ryouga gives Shampoo Staff, and Shampoo is giving Ryouga Akane!" She said, holding her finger up. "Is deal?"
Ryouga smirked in a manor that copied Shampoo. "Is deal!" He said. "But first, can you lead me to…" He realized he couldn't ask her to lead him to his house. "…The Tendo Dojo?" He asked.
"Ayah… Ryouga is no sense direction? Is that way!" Said Shampoo, leading him. "Shampoo come late at night when Ranma is sleep." She told him. "But Shampoo can lead Ryouga." She said. "First Shampoo fills in…"
…
10:37 PM…
Ranma had been hiding again. She was going to go to Dr. Tofu tomorrow, or the day after… Or maybe the day after that, but sometime soon, she told herself. She heard voices. People walked above her, so she could make out a few words.
"…No, Ranma hasn't been feeling well for a couple of nights now. Is there anything I can do for you, Ryo…?"
Ranma almost tried to stand up, but remembered herself before she did. She slid out from under the house and dusted herself of, entering. She put on a plastic smile and walked in.
"No, I really don't know what's wrong with Ranma," Said Akane. "But to tell the truth, I'm kinda relieved." She chuckled, not noticing Ranma behind her.
"Me too." Said Ryouga." Ranma listened to the conversation. They weren't exactly bad-mouthing her, but they didn't want her around… Her jaw tightened to the point where she could chew metal like tofu, her hands formed fists that might have been so time there was blood, if there were anywhere for it to bleed, and her arms shook slightly with her head bowed. She let out the air she'd been holding sharply, and both people jumped, turning around.
"Oh, Ranma!" Said Akane, choking on whatever she was going to say next.
"I'm going…" Ranma began in a voice so low and threatening that Ryouga had to resist hopping back out of fear. Akane was too shocked to resist. "I'm going…" She said again. "...For a walk!" She screamed indignantly, rather than what they were expecting. With that, she turned on her heel and walked off stiffly.
…
After Akane had recovered from this affect she regained control of her limbs. She'd seen Ranma angry before, and jealous, but never like that… Ryouga's jaw was still clicking. Akane jumped up, snatching her coat and another one for Ranma, something sinking in.
Ranma, you jerk, why the hell do I put up with you! Despite thinking that, she was worried.
There she found Ranma, in from of the fountain, shoulders still shaking, head bowed low.
"Ranma, you're crying!" She said, shocked. She expected that to happen about as much as she expected Kasumi to get mad about Akane saying 'thank you'.
"Am not…" Said Ranma. Akane, forgetting she was worried about Ranma, let her instincts get the best of her.
"Are too!"
"Am not…"
"ARE TOO!" Screamed Akane. She was amazed when Ranma didn't even stir, or try to top her. She was yet more surprised when Ranma leaned on her shoulder.
"Akane, how the hell did this happen?"
I'm dreaming… This is a really weird dream… Akane told herself, while at the same time trying to soothe Ranma. "What happen?" Ranma pulled something out of her pocked and showed it to Akane.
"You're pregnant?" She screamed. Ranma had somehow fallen asleep, and slept through that. Her face was indeed streaked with tears. For one, and Akane assumed it would never happen again, she was a truly humbled Ranma, and she felt really sorry for him.
End Chapter Four"Well, hope you liked this chapter, folks. I know this seems a little weird, and I apologize if this is something that's horribly overdone, but I liked it when I though of it, and I hope you like it almost as much. Any-hoo, I love Reviews, and I'll be starting the next chapter.
Miko-Chan."
"Well, that's one more chapter done. Geesh, this is too long… almost 500 words… I would really love it if all of you guys reviewed! BTW, I did the first half this time…
P.S: Read my other story, too. Look up Shinoru Aki Ameagari and read Icy Skies… if you read Inuyasha as well as Ranma…"