My sister keeps trying to get me to read Fruit's Basket spoilers so she can complain about what's happening in them. I keep refusing because I already ruined the Akito is actually a girl thing because I let her tell me the spoiler. Brrr! Even then I didn't believe it until I saw it myself. Is that freaky or what? …Now I'm giving away spoilers! Oh well I guess you don't HAVE to read this next part where I say AkitoXShigure 4ever!
WHERE AM I NOW?
"These maps are defective." Iikiba groaned.
Iikiba's journey had started out well. By morning he was in Fukushima, to the north of Nerima. His plan was to go to the tip of Hokkaido and train by the raging seas. But by the end of the day he was in Kyoto, to the south west of Nerima! He kept having to ask directions because he couldn't keep up with where he was, and then he realized he hadn't packed any food so he had to scrape up enough change from his clothes pockets to buy a hamburger. After that Iikiba lost complete track of where he was. All he could do was wonder around the countryside because he couldn't seem to find any cities, no matter how many times someone gave him directions. He was getting hungry again so he tried to pull some rice out of a rice patty, only to get chased off by its angry tender and his dogs. So now Iikiba was walking through a dense forest, tired, dirty, hungry, and trying to make heads or tails of this map.
"So route 98 goes to San Francisco?" He said to himself while holding a map of the north western hemisphere sideways. Of course he didn't realize this.
Just then a small panda stepped onto the path in front of him. It stopped and stared at him intently for a second then continued on its way.
"A panda? What the heck is a panda doing running wild?" Iikiba ran after the baby panda and quickly caught it. It squirmed around as he held it up to get a better look. It made a funny wailing sound and nibbled at his finger playfully. Iikiba couldn't help but smile a little, it was pretty cute. "Did you escape from a zoo or something?"
The little panda made the wailing sound again and continued to gnaw on his thumb. "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to take you back." Iikiba decided. "You probably miss your-"
Iikiba turned around and came face to face with an enraged giant panda. It was hunch backed and had one eye that was larger than the other with a red pupil. And Iikiba could have sworn it was foaming at the mouth. "Mother."
The giant panda roared ferociously, a sound that shook the forest. Iikiba turned and ran the other way as fast as he could. The panda tore after him, not looking at all like the gentle giant everyone made them out to be.
The baby panda wailed again. He had to get rid of it or he would be torn to shreds! So he set the little panda down as quickly as he could, slowing down just enough for the mother to take a bite out of the air where he had been a second before. The giant panda roared again and continued to chase after him.
"You stupid panda! You're supposed to stay with the baby!" Iikiba yelled back at it as he continued to run. This only seemed to make the panda angrier. It made a lunge for him and Iikiba jumped up out of the way, landing on a tree branch. "Ha! Can't get me up here you stupid panda!"
The deranged panda growled and circled the tree like a dog waiting for a cat. "Forget it! Pandas can't climb trees!" He yelled at it. The panda stood up on it's hind legs and grabbed hold of the tree then slowly started to pull itself up the trunk. Iikiba stared. "Or maybe they can."
The panda climbed up to Iikiba's branch and growled at him from the trunk. "Fine! If that's how you want it, bring it on!" Iikiba took a fighting stance. The panda began to lumber out onto the limb, which suddenly seemed much less stable.
"Wait! Stop!" Iikiba yelled and waved his arms. Of course the panda didn't understand him. There was a loud CRACK and Iikiba and the panda fell to the forest floor.
The panda stood up out of the leaves and shook it's head. It looked around for it's prey. "Gotcha!" Iikiba grabbed the panda in a headlock from behind. The panda went mad. It roared and bit at the air and jumped up and down like a bucking bronco, trying to throw him off.
"H-Hey stop! You stupid- AAAAAHHHHH!" The panda took off running straight through the forest like a lunatic. The trees seemed to jump out of the way as they sped past them. Iikiba held on for dear life as the panda gained speed. He looked up and had just enough time to see the river. SPLASH!
Iikiba suddenly couldn't breath and he realized he was under water. He let go the panda and swam to the surface franticly. He broke the surface gasping for air. "That panda is insane!" He coughed.
He looked over and saw the panda on the river bank shaking water off. "Stupid panda!" He yelled at it. Just then he realized the current was carrying him down the river and he could hear the sound of rushing water ahead. He had just enough time to realize it was a waterfall.
"CURSE YOU!" Iikiba yelled as he fell.
BACK IN NERIMA
"I'm sure he's fine." Daichi said. "How much trouble could he have gotten into in three days?"
"I guess you're right." Makoto said. Daichi, Jatsuma and Makoto were now walking home in the early afternoon after school. There were dark clouds hanging overhead that had been threatening a storm all day.
Iikiba had been missing for three days now and it was starting to show in Makoto's attitude. Her usually cheery self was replaced by a much more melancholy version. She had gotten past being angry and was now constantly worrying about him. Where was he now? Was he eating okay? What if he had gotten sick or injured? Daichi had taken it upon himself to try to cheer her up, Jatsuma took another approach.
"Yeah," Jatsuma said. "Who knows what he could have gotten himself into. Plus he's going to be hopelessly lost by now. He might never find his way back."
Daichi glared at him and Makoto looked horrified.
"What?"
"Were you even listening to our conversation?" Daichi asked, annoyed.
"Something about Iikiba being lost forever?"
"That's it! I'm going to find him!" Makoto yelled.
Daichi looked like he was about to say something but Jatsuma interrupted him. "How are you supposed to find him?"
"I…I don't know." Makoto said, almost in tears. "But I've just got to! What if he really does get lost forever?"
"Don't listen to Jatsuma. He's stupid." Daichi said, trying to comfort her.
"Hey!"
"Just give Iikiba some time." Daichi said, ignoring Jatsuma. "Ryoga said it might take a few weeks. So there's no point worrying."
Makoto was quiet for a moment. "I guess." She sniffed.
"Good." Daichi said, relieved. "Come on, we better get going." He said, looking up at the gray clouds. Daichi and Jatsuma started walking up the street and had taken a few steps before they realized Makoto hadn't moved.
"You coming?" Jatsuma asked.
"I…I just want to be alone for a while." Makoto answered. "You guys go on."
"Are you sure Makoto? It looks like it's about to rain." Daichi said.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Makoto turned around and started walking down the street the other way. When she turned the corner Jatsuma looked at Daichi.
"Man, I don't think I've ever seen her so down."
Daichi sighed. "I had hoped some time away from Iikiba would do her some good. But I hate to see her like this."
"Well there's nothing we can do about it until Iikiba comes back."
Just then a roll of thunder sounded overhead and the rain started falling.
"Oh man!" Jatsuma held his school bag over his head and started running.
Daichi ran after him and tripped into a puddle of water. "Wait up!" He yelled as he pulled himself up, but he fell in another puddle.
"Stop fooling around! I'm getting soaked!" Jatsuma grabbed Daichi by the collar and dragged him quickly through the rain.
ELSEWHERE IN NERIMA
Makoto sat under a covered bus stop. The rain fell all around her and a cool wind was blowing. "Maybe I should have just gone home." She sighed. Was Iikiba in the rain somewhere? Alone, without anyone to take care of him? "I wish I knew where he was."
Just then there was a crash of thunder and a flash of lightening illuminated a figure in right in front of her. "AAAHHHH!" Makoto screamed and swung her bag at the figure, knocking him to the ground.
It was then that she recognized him as one of Yuri's fan boys. "Oh! I'm sorry!" She said in a panic.
"So' Kay." The disgruntled fan boy said.
"Good thing I thought to use a stand in." Yuri said and her fan boys nodded in agreement. They too were standing under the bus stop cover.
"Yuri Hibiki? What do you want?" Makoto asked.
"I just couldn't help but overhear and I thought I might be of assistance." Yuri said as she slid out of her carrier.
"No thanks." Makoto started to walk away.
"Oh!" Yuri said, as if surprised. "I guess you don't want to find Iikiba as much as I had thought."
Makoto was back in a millisecond. "You know where he is?"
"What kind of sister would I be if I didn't?" Yuri snapped her fingers and one of the fan boys handed her a device that looked suspiciously like a gameboy.
"What's that?" Makoto asked earnestly and she snatched it away from Yuri to get a better look. The screen looked like a digital map of Nerima.
"A global tracking device." Yuri said, allowing her to take it. "With that you should be able to find Iikiba no matter where on earth he is."
Makoto looked at Yuri with narrowed eyes. "Where did you get a global tracking device?"
"It was a Christmas present."
"From who?"
Yuri waved her hand passively. "Some admirer or something."
"Actually it was from me." One of the fan boys spoke up.
"That's right, it was from Spear." Yuri said.
"It's Lance."
"Whatever."
"So this will really find Iikiba?" Makoto interrupted.
"Yes. Just hit the zoom-out button until you see a blinking red dot, that's Iikiba." Yuri instructed. Makoto hit the button rapidly until she had a map of all of Japan, with a blinking red dot on the continent next to it.
"HE'S IN CHINA!" Makoto screamed, startling the fan boys. "How the heck did he get to China?"
Yuri shrugged. "I don't have all the answers.'
Makoto looked at Yuri suspiciously. "Why are you helping me? I thought you were happy Iikiba was gone."
Yuri sighed. "The truth is it has been rather dull since he left, quite boring."
Makoto wasn't buying it. This was too nice for Yuri, Makoto thought. But it wouldn't be unlike her to send me on a wild goose chase through China for weeks. On the other hand, what if she's telling the truth and I ignored it?
Makoto looked at the tracking device as if trying to verify Yuri's story. "How did you get a tracker on Iikiba anyway? Couldn't he have lost it?"
"It's unlikely." Yuri said. "I implanted the chip in his right back molar a few years ago."
Makoto just stared at Yuri.
"What? Father has one too."
Makoto thought it would be better not to ask. But that certainly seemed like something Yuri would do. Makoto looked down at the red blinking dot. "Okay."
"It was a simple process really." Yuri continued.
"No, not that! I mean I'll go find Iikiba!"
Yuri smiled. "I knew you would."
Makoto smiled back and looked down at the red dot again. It seemed to fill her with new hope. "That's right! I'll find him!" She grinned widely. "And I'll bring him back home!" It suddenly stopped raining and the clouds overhead began to dissipate, as if changing with Makoto's mood.
Yuri stuck her hand out over the shelter to feel the last of the rain drops. "We have such unpredictable weather this time of year."
"Thank you Yuri! Thank you!" Makoto said happily.
"All I want is your happiness." Yuri said.
"I'll find him and bring him back! I'll go right now!" Makoto turned and ran down the street. "Thanks again Yuri!" Makoto waved goodbye as she ran. Yuri waved back slightly until Makoto was out of sight.
"Wow Yuri that was very…nice." One of her fan boys said.
"Yes, I realized that Iikiba wondering forever was a hallow victory if I couldn't be absolutely sure he was miserable, and what better way than to send Makoto after him to ruin his training? Making Makoto happy seems to be a necessary sacrifice to insure Iikiba's unhappiness."
The fan boys stared at her. "Yeah…nice."
"Come." Yuri said, returning to her carrier. "We're late to pick up Father."
AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE
"I'm telling you! He turned into a pig!" Bill yelled. He held up P-Chan so Ted and Wallis could get a better look. Their clothes were still wet from the rain.
"And I say you're crazy! Plum loco!" Ted yelled.
"Maybe you drank too much coffee today?" Wallis suggested.
"He's the pig I tell you!" Bill shook Ryoga around as if trying to prove his point.
"Bkwee!" Ryoga squealed and tried to bite Bill's finger but couldn't get a good angle to do it.
"That's it. I'm calling the Humane Society!" Ted started walking away and Wallis followed.
"Come back you basterds!" Bill yelled.
"I'll take that." Yuri snatched Ryoga away from Bill. "Onward men!" She commanded and the fan boys began to march away with her carrier.
"See! Look!" Bill yelled, pointing at Yuri. "His daughter came to get him! See!" But Ted and Wallis just continued to walk away without looking back.
"Craaazzzy." Ted twirled his finger next to his head and pointed back at Bill.
TENDO TRAINING HALL
"Daichi, did Makoto come home with you?" Akane asked as she walked into the room.
"Hmm?" Daichi, Ranma and Jatsuma were all sitting in front of the TV in the dinning room watching some game show where guys in chicken suites were throwing eggs at each other.
"Makoto. Did she come home with you?" Akane asked again.
Just then one of the chicken guys slipped on an egg and fell. The three boys exploded with laughter. Bells rang to indicate the man had won some kind of prize and all the chicken guys started clucking loudly. Akane glared.
"Daichi!" She yelled.
"I'll do my homework in a minute Mom!"
Akane fumed. She turned and kneeled down next to her husband. "Ranma?"
"Yeah?" He said, still looking at the screen.
Akane took a deep breath. "TURN OFF THE TV!" She yelled over the noise coming from the speaker.
"Alright! Alright! Geez!" Ranma rubbed his ear then grabbed the remote and flipped off the TV.
"Ah! That was my favorite show!" Jatsuma protested.
"I'm worried about Makoto!" Akane said, cutting to the point. "She's been really down since Iikiba left."
Just then Makoto zoomed down the hall past the door to the dinning room. She was going so quickly that she caused wind to blow in her wake.
"She seems fine to me." Ranma said.
"Makoto!" Akane ran into the hall and called after her daughter. "Are you okay honey?"
"Fine Mom!" Makoto yelled from upstairs in her room.
Akane looked back at the rest of her family. "What was that all about?"
Upstairs Makoto was packing as quickly as she could. She shoved clothes and cooking supplies into a pink backpack and grabbed all the money she had. Then she changed into a white skirt, blue t-shirt and tennis shoes in record time. She just had to get out of there before Mom and Dad found out, they would never let her go. She would just leave a note or something.
So she scribbled out a note and left it on her bedside table. "I guess that's everything." Makoto grabbed her backpack and opened the window. But just then the door opened and Jatsuma walked in. Makoto ducked down next to her bed trying to hide her backpack and attire.
"I lost rock-paper-scissors so I have to come check on you." Jatsuma tilted his head to look around the bed. "You going on a trip?"
Makoto stood up stiffly and glared at him. "I'm going to find Iikiba."
"You were serious?" Jatsuma yelled.
"Ssshhh! I don't want Mom and Dad to know!" Makoto whispered.
"This is not a good idea. How are you supposed to find him?"
"I know where he is okay!"
"Where?"
"In China."
"HE'S IN CHINA?" Jatsuma yelled.
"SSSHHH!" Makoto put her finger in front of her lips.
"How the heck did he get to China?"
"I don't know! But the point is that I know where he is! So I'm going to find him!" Makoto turned and climbed onto the window seal.
Jatsuma sighed. "Are you sure you don't want to just get a new boyfriend?"
"I'm sure." Makoto said, glaring at him. "And don't you dare tell them where I'm going!"
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I." Jatsuma said, thinking about how much trouble he would be in if Mom and Dad knew he had let her go.
With that Makoto jumped from her window over the wall surrounding the Tendo Dojo and landed in the street. Jatsuma leaned out the window. "At least try not to get into too much trouble!"
Makoto smiled and waved goodbye. Then she ran on up the street, heading for China.
The chapters are going to start getting shorter after this one. I know for a fact that the next chapter is the shortest in the whole story. ACK! I hate short chapters! They make me feel so…unaccomplished!
