Ranma Tales ½: Chapter 8- Training Week

Part 1: The Photos

The morning started as usual for Ranma and Akane, as well as the rest of the Tendo's. The only exceptions to the norm was a slightly nervous Nabiki who left early for school. Akane briefly asked Ranma if he knew what was up with her sister, but Ranma replied that he didn't really know. Which was a sort of white lie, since he could definitely guess a bit about why she looked worried and left early.

Even the walk to school was fairly usual for them. Ranma had wanted to start Akane's balance training, but that would have to wait until after Akane got some new clothes. He kinda doubted she'd want to accidentally show the world her panties...

Kuno didn't even show up that morning. By this point both Ranma and Akane were expecting the worst to happen any moment. After all things were just a bit to good for either of them... But the day went on until classes were out, which being a Saturday was only a half day anyways.

Then the moment finally came. As the left the school talking about the shopping trip they were about to go on, they saw Kuno waiting for them outside. With dual groans at the dumb kendoists appearance, they wait for him to start his speech for today. They didn't have to wait all that long.

"Ah! The fair Akane Tendo! If only you were free of this vile engagement and let me love you as I know you wish to!" was Kuno's cry of greeting. Then he turns to Ranma and says "I have learned that not only do you ensnare the fair Akane Tendo, but you keep news of the beautiful red headed angel from me as well! I will free my loves from your evil clutches!" With the last he charges Ranma and Akane jumps out of the way.

Ranma just hops above Kuno's bokken blow and plants his foot on Kuno's forehead. Kicking himself away and into a backwards somersault to land a dozen feet away. As Ranma lands however he notices some small pieces of paper, or something much like that, fall out of Kuno's outfit. Ranma wonders "I wonder what those are? Maybe I should go find out."

Dodging Kuno's over eager attacks Ranma circles back to where the pieces of paper, that he can know tell are photos, fell to the ground. Ignoring yet another slash from Kuno's bokken Ranma picks up the photos and takes a look, Seeming to not care at all about the violent kendoists attacks as they just barely miss him. Finally Ranma gets annoyed and moving quicker than the eye can follow he knocks Kuno's legs out from under him. Once Kuno is down he kicks Kuno in the head sending him sprawling a dozen yards away. Kuno decides to rest a moment before continuing his attack, or in other words he finds he can't get up and so decides to wait till Nabiki comes to carry him off yet again.

Ranma looks through the photos and takes out a selection of them as Akane comes over. "What were you looking at Ranma? I was starting to worry you weren't paying enough attention to Kuno and he might hurt you!"

Ranma shrugs "Not to much chance of that, but he dropped these photos when I rebounded off his head." He hands a stack to Akane who pales.

Akane then yells "Why do you have a bunch of pictures of me?"

Ranma shrugs and says "Ask Kuno, if I wanted a picture of you I'd ask you to give me a normal one. I wouldn't sneak around taking pictures... Heck I don't even own a camera... I don't think Kuno took them either, so he must have gotten them from someone else."

Akane thinks about it for awhile and realizes while she doesn't know the answer, she knows someone good at getting those kinds of answers. She looks over at Nabiki who is trying to gather up the defeated kendoist.

"Nabiki, would you know why Kuno has pictures of me?" Akane asks sweetly.

Nabiki shrugs "He's got lots of money and a desire to use that money to buy almost random pictures. Do the math."

Akane asks "Well could you find out for me who his supplier is?"

Nabiki sighs "I could pretend and take money to 'search' for this supplier. I could outright lie to you about who it is. I won't though. I sold the pictures to Kuno."

Akane just freezes, she doesn't even blink for about half a minute. Then in an anguished voice she says "How could you do that to me Nabiki? I'm your sister!"

Nabiki shrugs and looks down "That may be, but I have to get money somehow. The money pays for your food, your clothes, everything in the end."

Akane looks shocked and rather horrified at the thoughts going through her mind. "Their has to be other ways to make money than to do that! The worst thing is that you used me like a pawn. It wasn't even something I had a decision on. Don't I mean anything to you except a way to make money!" Akane chokes back a sob and tears run down her eyes. The last thing she says is "How could you?" and then still in tears she runs out through the front gates of the school.

Ranma grimaces as he watches Akane run off. He glances back at Nabiki sitting on the ground next to Kuno. He stares at her and says "It's still not to late. She's mad now, but you can still mend this. You can still make amends and be sisters, but this has to stop." He then turns around and runs after Akane.

To Nabiki it seems as if her looked into her very soul, searching for any shred of humanity she still had after her insane pursuit of money at all costs. Still sitting on the ground she then does something she hasn't done in a very long time.

Part 2: Shopping as Training

Ranma catches up to Akane in the park. Akane's sitting on a bench still crying and he walks over to stand by her. She doesn't look up so he sits down next to her. She sniffles and rubs her hands over her face. Ranma considers for a moments and then his arms around Akane. She bursts into tears again against his shoulder.

Slowly Akane works it out of her system as Ranma holds her. After awhile she asks in a pained voice "Why? Why would she do that?" Her eyes never looked up as she spoke.

Ranma sighs and says "I think she thought it was necessary. I'm not going to try to defend her because I don't think I can. I'm going to try my hardest to understand her though. I'm also going to try really hard to make sure you don't hate her for this."

Akane looks up at Ranma with her bloodshot eyes still full of pain and asks "Why can't I hate her? She used me!"

Ranma nods "She did yes. But I can't believe she could do that without hurting herself in the process. I saw the look in her eyes when you left. I think for the first time in a long time, you made her doubt. Doubt whether the end justifies the means. Doubt about whether any price is to high. I don't see her as the type to enjoy that particular emotion."

Akane says "If it hurt her so much why did she do it?"

Ranma sighs and says "If I read her right, and remember I've only known her a few days now, then she has long thought that whatever it cost she had to be the provider. Even if it meant hurting people she loved, they would and should forgive her if it provided the money they needed to live. In fact when you confronted her she said something similar. She also said something along those lines last night during a little talk we had."

Akane frowns getting a little angry at Ranma "When and why were you talking to Nabiki last night?"

Ranma smiles slightly "It seems she decided to take a few pictures of me while I slept. She didn't realize I woke up till it was way to late though." He hands Akane another selection of pictures. "These also came out of Kuno's pocket when the others did. When I confronted her she told me that since I didn't help pay for the expenses she'd do what she had to for the money it cost for me to stay. I'm shortening it a lot, but that was the gist."

Akane looks at the pictures and says "Yuck! I really don't want to know what Kuno wanted these for!" Then she frowns and adds "I didn't mean it as yuck at you, I meant it as yuck at Kuno wanting to think of things like that with a another guy even if he has a girls body... Err... You know what I mean right?"

Ranma grins ands says "Sure, I understand." Then he shudders "I think I know more than I want about what Kuno planned to do with those though. I get ill just thinking about Kuno with those pictures of my female side."

Akane nods wrinkling her nose. Ranma asks "Feeling up to buying some new clothes now?"

Akane smiles and says "I hope you have a lot of money available on that card, I may need to buy a lot to fell better."

Ranma smiles and says "I'm sure it has enough." He turns her around and helps her stand, though he leaves his arm around her waist when he's done. "Come on let's do some shopping! But first let me find a place to change..."

Soon Ranma finds a bathroom that he can change in. Ranma comes back out and twines her arm around Akane's as she drags the other girl off. Not long after that the Nerima shopping district surrounds them.

First they look at jackets. Eventually settling on a trio of leather jackets. One was a short black leather jacket. The second was a long dark leather duster. The third was a bomber style jacket, cut in a classic airman style. The last was one Ranma decided Akane should wear right now, so they kept it with them. The rest they had sent to the dojo.

The second store was all fitness clothes: leotards, shorts, tshirts, sweat pants, and everything in between. Ranma convinced Akane to discard her school uniform into a bag and wear a pair of new sweats and a tshirt that said 'Take a picture it lasts longer' on it. Akane tried very hard to get out of wearing it, but she didn't win this battle. Over top went the new bomber jacket from the last store, though the front stayed open as it was to warm to zip it up. Everything else they bought got shipped home.

After this they wondered through a bunch of various stores that didn't really have anything to do with their mission today. Shops of all types including one jewelry store where Akane ended up finding a pair of cute earrings, that were shaped like small red roses made of crystal, which Ranma bought for her. They also visit another clothing store wear Akane buys a pair of leather pants she puts on instead of the sweats. The finally ending up visiting the ice cream parlor where Ranma flirted with the clerk till they both got a couple extra scoops of ice cream. Akane mostly thought Ranma's act was funny and enjoyed the extra ice cream.

On their way back toward the dojo, Akane spots a hair salon. She thinks for a moment and then stops, causing Ranma to stop as well. She than looks at Ranma and says "Did you mean it the other day when you said my hair would look better short?"

Ranma nods "Sure, I wouldn't lie to you."

Akane smiles slightly and says "Come on!" as she pulls Ranma into the salon. Akane goes and gets her hair done, while Ranma waits. Eventually a short haired Akane comes back out. Ranma is actually somewhat stunned. She had thought Akane would look better with short hair, but the Akane he saw now was prettier than he'd expected. Ranma pays for the haircut and they leave.

Akane asks nervously "So what do you think?"

Ranma smile sand says "You look better than I thought you would. Your definitely Kawaii (cute) now, though I thought you were before..."

Akane blushes and glancing around spots one last thing. She asks "Ranma? I want something to remember this day with you. Besides just the clothes that is." she pauses with a smile at her little joke and then adds "I want us to take a few pictures, ok?" She points out a small photo booth.

Ranma smiles "Sure I think I can manage that."

The two head for the booth and after a set of pictures together Akane pushes Ranma out saying "I just want one last picture of just me, hang on." Then after getting the last picture taken she comes out to join Ranma as the pictures come out in their strip. Akane takes most of the pictures, but hands two of them to Ranma. "Here Ranma, I want you to keep these."

Ranma smiles as he sees first a picture of them together each with a arm wrapped around the other smiling as they look forward. The second is a picture of Akane by herself, slightly blushing as she smiles for the camera.

Akane blushes and says "Now you never need to ask me for a picture since you already have some." After a slight pause she adds "I figure you don't have many pictures of the people you've meet before, since I haven't seen any. I decided we needed to correct that, since I never want you to forget me."

Ranma smiles and thanks Akane with a hug. Glancing around Ranma spots one last store she needs to visit. She says "Wait here a sec, Akane." Then she heads into a small jewelry store. A few minutes later she comes back out wearing a silver locket shaped as a yin/yang symbol, which she tucks both pictures into. Now they are ready to go home.

Part 2: Training Day

Ranma and Akane arrive back at the Tendo dojo and Kasumi greets them as they walk into the family room. Kasumi does a double take as she sees Akane and says "Oh My!" Then after taking a good look Kasumi smiles and says "You look very nice with your hair that way Akane. It suits you."

Akane blushes and smiles back at Kasumi. Then she just says "Thanks sis."

Kasumi nods and says "I received a bunch of packages under your name earlier so I put them up in your room." Akane nods and then Kasumi frowns almost imperceptibly "Do you know why Nabiki seemed so upset when she came home by any chance? She locked herself in her room as soon as she got home and won't come out when I ask her to..."

Akane sighs and says "Not exactly no, I think we should leave her alone for a little while, I'm sure she'll be ok later."

Kasumi smiles again "Ok, though dinner is nearly ready so I wish she would come out. H well, I need to finish up dinner." Then she stands and returns to the kitchen.

Soon dinner arrives, though Nabiki doesn't come down. Not long after everyone heads off to whatever tasks they have before they go to bed. Ranma and Akane both find themselves hoping Nabiki is ok before they decided to go to bed.

The next morning finds Akane and Ranma practicing in the dojo. Ranma showing a complicated kata to Akane and then running her through it, correcting any errors. While they work the door slides open and a red eyed Nabiki walks in taking a seat against the dojo wall. She watches as they practice until Ranma calls a halt and they both greet Nabiki.

Nabiki looks at the floor for awhile and then finally says to Akane "I'm sorry. I've done many things I'm not proud of... And in this case at least I've hurt you..."

Akane nods finding it hard to be mad at this Nabiki, though after a moment she does find at least one thing to say "Not just me, but Ranma in this case also. Even if Ranma isn't a sister to you like I am, he is my friend so by hurting him you hurt me as well."

Nabiki frowns and nods "Yes I hurt Ranma to, even if he doesn't tend to show it much... I'm not going to say I'm never going to do this again, but I'll try not to end up hurting either of you again if I can help it..."

Akane nods somewhat "I'd rather hear you'll make sure it never happens again, but I'll take your word on it that you'll try... Right now I'm still not very happy with you though."

Nabiki nods and stands up "I understand that... Well at least I do now... I was just blind for to long about the price I'd pay for what I was doing... I'll make it up to you I swear." Then she walks out of the dojo.

Ranma hugs Akane and says "I hope you feel at least a little better now."

Akane nods "Yeah, I do... It's just going to take awhile..."

Ranma nods and says "Ready for some further training?"

Akane looks at him and says "Ok what's next?"

Ranma replies "Well two things, first you run through that kata again. This time using ki enhancement. Second I teach you the basics of how to use the sealing technique."

They go back to training with the kata for a long while, until Akane can do it just as fast as Ranma would like. Then he begins instructing her on how to do the sealing technique. Including how to gather energy from outside herself, manipulate it with her own internal energies, and then release it as the technique in question. These things as he words it are the basis for almost all the techniques he knows.

This proves rather difficult for Akane and then Ranma realizes what he forgot to mention. "Err... I kinda forgot one thing... Well not exactly, but it's more like I forgot to mention how it effects you directly."

Akane just looks at him and goes "Ok, what did you forget effects me here?"

Ranma replies "Well remember my talk about affinities after the monster attack?" Akane nods and Ranma continues "Well I never told you that you can only draw power outside of yourself through your affinities. In my case I pull power from the air because I have an air affinity. You unless I'm really mistaken have a fire affinity."

Akane frowns and says "I have to figure out how to pull energy from fire? Where am I supposed to find fire?"

Ranma grins slightly "Well, luckily for you anything needed to make fire can give you some energy... Not as much as from an actual fire, but it's less risky. That's of course not your only affinity, but elemental affinities are in a lot of ways easier than others..."

Akane frowns deeper "Ok then why can't I seem to do this?"

Ranma rubs the back of his neck with one hand "Well you see that's sorta what I forgot to mention... While you have a fire affinity, like most people it's locked. The basics can be done regardless of understanding your affinity. The bigger stuff though, which includes sealing, requires free access to your element." He pauses and then says "I do know how to unlock it since sensei was a fire-air hybrid and knew both fire and air techniques, but you may not like how you unlock it... I know I don't like it..."

Akane just stares now "Ok how do you unlock it?"

Ranma sweats "Well you see you kind of have to first start doing a series of mental exercises every night... Which is fairly easy and shouldn't be a problem for you at this point. The second part is harder... See you have to fight someone until you figure out how to finish unlocking the power of the element. A sort of life or death thing... Or at least you have to believe there is risk... Air was simpler in a way, though personally I'd rather not have to do that again..."

Akane just keeps staring for awhile after Ranma stops and says "Ok teach me this exercise... Though I get the feeling your going to be kicking me around to make this work."

Ranma sighs "Yes, that's the general idea. I should be able to spar again starting tomorrow. My hand is basically ok now, but I want to make sure before we start. I'd planned to start sparring again with you anyways, but I have to. Now let me teach you that technique and then we can go back to practicing that kata for the rest of the day..."

Part 3: Unlocking the Spirit of Fire

The next week goes much as the last had with some minor changes. First Ranma teaches Akane how to balance on the fences around Nerima starting with school that Monday morning. By the end he figures she's pretty much got the idea and tells her to do the same thing for her morning runs as balance training and adds they would run to school in the morning on the fences as well.

Akane had also started wearing, more or less normal clothes rather than her school uniform. The teachers ignored it, for reasons unknown. Akane's friends however weren't sure what to make of it. Eventually however they decided to just ignore it, though they did start to wonder why she didn't wear any skirts or dresses and instead always wore pants...

School would include at least once during each day when Kuno would interrupt to proclaim his love for Akane to anyone who would listen and threaten Ranma for both the engagement and keeping info on his 'beloved red headed angel' from him. Though Nabiki stopped selling any information to him or pictures of either of these two people. This didn't sit well with Kuno, but he didn't really have a choice. Instead he had to send his ninja retainer to follow Akane, though he learned really quickly that he could seem to hide his presence well enough once he got within a few dozen feet. So he mostly watched from a distance.

After school Akane and Ranma would spar. Not the easy sparring they'd done before, but an all out ki enhanced brawl that left Akane with more than a few bruises afterward. A nice soak in the furo and in the worst cases a nice massage from Ranma fixed most of that.

At night were the mental exercises to unlock the spirit of fire, ki practice, and often a little time spent thinking about Ranma. She still wasn't ready to admit what she saw in that first vision. She also still couldn't agree to the engagement either. However she did recognize that Ranma did mean a lot more to her than almost anyone she knew. She just wasn't sure what that meant.

Finally on Friday night, what they had both been waiting for occurs. It started like any other sparring match with Akane realizing exactly how many bruises she'd have later. However this time things end a bit differently...

Akane could feel Ranma do a quick ki accelerated lunge behind her, yet again to fast for her to catch up causing yet another potential bruise as his fist landed against her shoulder. It was rather infuriating that she knew he was still holding back and yet she still couldn't match him. It was getting really close though compared to where they'd started the week. Ranma than gets her attention back as his foot comes toward her head in a short snap kick from her left. Gathering her own ki and her determination to just get a good hit in, she spins and moves just far enough to the side for the kick to miss her. Then she fakes a round house kick to the right as he springs back from his snap kick. Ranma moves left to where she wanted him to, as she gathers some ki of her own to suddenly lunges forward right arm back making it look like she's going to end up past him, but instead stopping short and in a quick flash smacks him in the arm.

Unfortunately the now stunned Akane, since it's the first time she ever managed to hit him, Ranma's counter sends her toward the wall because she wasn't paying any attention to it until much much to late. In a moment of absolute mental calm however she realizes what she can do to keep from hitting the wall without hurting herself. She draws on power outside of herself for the first time which ignites a flickering flame around each of her hands as she draws the power into them. Then when they contact the wall she releases the flaming energy into the wall, burning a circle out of it in an instant. She then lands on the ground and comes up in a roll, hands still light by the flames she called to them.

Ranma walks up to the hole in the wall and starts clapping his hands. Which is when Akane finally realizes what she did and lets the energy she gathered fade. Ranma walks through the hole and over to her before saying "You do realize you did just burn a hole through the wall of the dojo right?" Akane nods. "Good just wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't my fault, I hope Nabiki won't charge you to much to fix it..." The last part said with a smirk and a wink.

Akane just growls "Ranma no Baka!"

Ranma just smiles and says "While I was just kidding, we will have to see if she can get that crew out here again... I keep forgetting how fragile the walls are in the dojo... Anyways lets go back inside."

Akane sighs at the thought of explaining a burnt circular hole in the dojo wall to Nabiki and follows Ranma back inside. Ranma draws something out from a cubby hole in the far wall of the dojo and places it in the center of the floor on a cloth he also takes out of the same place.

Akane wonders briefly what he's doing before Ranma speaks "I know this is probably past due and it has nothing to do with putting a hole in the wall, but I talked with your dad and he agreed that you had earned this. You definitely deserve your initial mastery and status as a first dan if you can hit me after all." The last said with a grin.

Akane is sort of stunned, it had been years really since she'd thought about the fact she didn't officially have her black belt after all. Ranma then starts the ceremony to exchange her current belt for her new black belt and accept the obligations of her new status within the school.

Part 4: Midnight Romance

The next day at school just before leaving Sayuri starts talking to Yuka about the rumors of more sightings of the mysterious ghost girl of Furikan. They gather a bit of a crowd as she relates the rumor as handed down by one of Nabiki's assistants. Once she's done there is a murmur from the crowd.

Akane sighs and tells them "How can you believe in that stuff? None of the seven mysteries of Furikan are true!"

Yuka stares at Akane and says "Don't say that! You have to believe in at least one of them!"

Akane sighs again as Ranma walks over. He asks "So what's going on?"

Yuka looks at Ranma and says "Tell Akane here that ghosts are real! She doesn't want to believe in the Furikan ghost girl!"

Ranma smiles and says "Of course she knows they're real. Would be kinda hard to miss..."

Akane stares at Ranma and says "Don't tell me you believe in this Furikan ghost girl crud!"

Ranma shrugs "I haven't seen her, but I know ghosts in general are real in a sense..." Thinking to himself 'I've been attacked by enough of them to prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt'.

Akane just rubs her hands into her face at this lack of support by Ranma. Sayuri says suddenly "I know! Let's all come back after nightfall and find the ghost! That will prove it for sure!"

Akane says "Count me out! I don't want to go looking for ghosts all night!"

Yuka pouts "Come on Akane we need you and Ranma in case the ghost does show up! You two are the only ones who could possibly save us from ghosts!" Ranma briefly wonders how she knows they could defeat ghosts and then realizes it's just Yuka's belief that a martial artist like them could beat anything.

So Ranma replies "Sounds like it could be fun. Who is coming?" six of the girls including Yuka and Sayuri raise there hands.

With a growl and the thought 'I'm not gonna let Ranma be alone all night with six girls!' Akane raises her hand as well. The other girls cheer and soon the set the time to come back after dark.

On the way home Akane says to Ranma "I can't believe you agreed to do that! You just want to be alone in the dark with six girls!"

Ranma laughs and says "Uh no, that would be a good way to make myself really nervous not something I'd really enjoy... I agreed because it's part of my obligation... And yours when you walk the path... If there is a spirit there we should do something about it, either disperse it if it's harmful or try to have it pass over completely if it's not."

Akane says "You know this is just a bunch of crap right? There are no ghosts roaming Furikan!"

Ranma shrugs and says "We'll see." Not long after they arrive home and have lunch, then practice some until dinner. Then they work on some homework together.

Finally it's time to head for the school, so they sneak out of the house. Not long after they arrive at the gates where the girls are waiting for them. They help the girls get over the fence and then they head inside the school itself searching for the ghost. Unfortunately for the girls (including Akane) they the very nature of the school at night scares them.

They practically cling to Ranma making him incredibly uncomfortable. Akane was one thing, she was his friend and all it wasn't such a bad thing to comfort her, but six other girls? That was a bit much for even Ranma to handle.

One of the girls takes this opportunity in fright to notice a glowing light from one of the class rooms across the inner courtyard. She of course shouts "Ghost girl!" scaring all the girls as Ranma looks around and asks "Where?" The girls all run screaming away leaving a confused Ranma behind.

Doing the only thing he really can do he walks toward where the glow was coming from. He sees pretty much what he expected to see, a ghostly figure of a girl standing forlornly by the window of the class room with a deep dusty pink glow around her. The girl looks up as he enters and asks "Have you seen my beloved Hiroki? I need to tell him how much I love him. He was supposed to meet me here after his practice session ended, but he never seems to come. Oh how I need to tell him how much I care for him!"

Ranma shakes his head and says "Sorry, I've never meet him. Have you waited a long time?"

The girl shakes her head and says "I'm not sure, I think so... But It's gotten so hard to tell. Oh I must find my beloved Hiroki!"

Ranma nods "If you want I'll walk with you and see if we can't find him. He'd be here by now I'm sure if he knew you were still here."

The girl cries softly "Are you sure? I don't want to miss him if he comes here!"

Ranma nods "Yes, I'm sure. We can walk and you can tell me about your beloved, I'm sure you'd love to be able to talk to someone about him..." He pauses and adds "By the way what's your name? I'm Ranma Saotome."

The girl smiles slightly and says "My name is Yui Horie, pleased to meet you... And I'd love to talk about Hiroki..." Ranma leads her out of the room.

Outside the girls end up by the pool, most lying sprawled on the ground as they pant from their exertion. Only Akane was stills standing and after looking around she asks "Where is Ranma?"

Yuka looks around from the ground and between pants says "I... Don't... Know... I thought.. He was... With you..."

Akane frowns and says "No, I let go of his hand when you all ran out here..."

Sayuri smiles and manages to say "That's so sweet... The lovebirds were holding hands..."

Several of the other girls giggle at this and Akane scowls "It's not like that we're just friends! Father may have forced an engagement on us, but that doesn't mean we plan on marrying each other!"

One of the other girls smirks and says "Face it girl you've got the hots for him pretty bad. We've all seen some of those looks you've given him lately."

More giggles at this than last time. Akane starts to get a bit mad, but some bubbling noises from the pool make them all turn around and stare at the pool. Finally one of the girls spots a bunch of bubbles above a shape in the water, she screams "Ah it's a ghost!" (in fact she's the very same one that said it last time to). All the girls except Akane faint immediately.

Akane on the other hand notices a strange dusty pink glow from the shape in the water and continues staring as it gets closer. Eventually the shape make it's way to the edge of the pool a few feet from Akane. Out of the water comes a ghostly nearly translucent arm which pulls the body of a young man/boy out of the water. He smiles at her and asks "Have you seen my dear Yui? I can't seem to find her to tell her how much I love her and I need to tell her that... I planned on meeting her after practice to finally tell her how much I loved her, but for some reason practice never seems to end and I don't understand why..."

Akane stares her mouth hanging open thinking 'This is a ghost. His spirit can't leave because he loves this girl name Yui. He doesn't realize practice has been over for a long long time. Boy is this ghost stupid.' Finally she manages to close her mouth and then say "Um, no I'm sorry I've never meet this girl your talking about named Yui."

The young man sighs and says "I really need to tell her... I can't bear to live without her..." To which Akane thinks 'You can't live at all ghost boy'. The boy looks at her and asks "Could you do me a favor? I need to see my darling Yui... could you bring her here...?"

Akane thinks about it and starts to say "I don't know where..." She gets interrupted though by a shout of "Hiroki!" as Ranma and a ghostly figure of a girl come up to where they are. They girl runs toward the boy and then stops a short ways away.

The Yui stops and briefly gives an ice stare at Akane and then looks at Hiroki and asks "How is this girl Horoki?"

Hiroki shrugs "I never asked her what her name was... I was trying to get her to find you for me... Yui I have to tell you something..."

Yui looks at Hiroki sadly and then says "Ok, I'm listening."

Hiroki looks nervous and says "Yui I love you with all of my heart and I want to be with you forever."

Yui collapses into Hiroki's ghostly arms and cries "Oh Hiroki I thought you'd never say that to me! I'm the happiest girl ever! I love you to and want to always be with you..."

A soft golden glow forms underneath their feet (which aren't touching the ground). Ranma finally walks up to Akane and puts his arm around her. The ghosts in the meantime continue talking softly to each other, a glowing red string forms on each of their ring fingers linking them together. They briefly look back at Ranma and Akane as the glow gets brighter and they say "You two make a good couple, take care of each other." The glow gets incredibly bright and then the two ghosts disappear.

Ranma and Akane just stand there blushing at the two ghosts parting words.

Author's Notes:

Well thanks again for reading my story. Sorry if these are starting to take longer to come out, but work has gotten in the way of faster releases (I missed a day last week because I was sick, but I wrote a new chapter the same day)... Also so you know (this is especially for The DCG), the fight with Shampoo was... Delayed. I'd planned it that way though to keep them on edge and to motivate the characters to train harder never knowing when she'll strike. Just as a tease the next chapter is titled: Xian Pu's Revenge. It will also mark the first real fight so far in the series as the creature fight earlier was just a teaser for things to come...

Oh btw I hope you don't mind if I omitted the actual belt exchange scene... My own martial arts training with a master consisted of my uncle who taught me the same type of martial arts techniques used by marine special forces units, not so much a true 'style' of it's own. He did use a belt system for competition purposes with his students, and I never went to competitions and so didn't need to worry about it. So I've never actually seen the ceremony myself and probably couldn't describe it, so I leave it to your imagination. In case your wondering my uncle (and martial arts master) was a marine special forces hand to hand instructor before he left the military to spend more time with his family (mostly at least the reason he left two decades ago).

I should also mention that pure chines martial arts don't normally use a belt system or different levels of 'dans'. Both of these are Japanese concepts. The dan system didn't even exist until the 19th century and was designed for Judo if I remember correctly... I'll also make note that a black belt in japan only means you can train students in the basics of the school. Happosai from the original series as a grandmaster of the AG school would be a 10th dan most likely which is rare, but he is 300 years old... Which means he could teach all the hidden secrets of the school.

Lastly you may notice I sort of stole the final section from another anime series (at least I'm pretty sure that's where I got it). I don't really remember which one though... It's the downside to having watched around 300 different anime series'... I just can't keep them all straight beyond the plot... Also I again grabbed some names from an anime series and it's staff, I wonder who will figure out what series they are from... I'm also sure someone will remind me where that scene comes from... ;)