I do not own Ranma 1/2 nor profit from this fanfiction.
The Cure
by MalletGirlAkane
"Ranma?" Akane's sweet voice jolted him out of his drowsy contemplation of the Nerima skyline. Sitting up, Ranma Saotome, self-proclaimed greatest martial artist in the world, regarded his reluctant fiancée. Akane Tendo's head peaked over the edge of the roof, she was somewhat hesitant to intrude on his private sanctuary, even if it was directly over her room.
He casually waved an invitation and, as she pulled herself up onto the dojo roof and settled down next to him, asked, "What do ya want?"
The blue-haired girl hesitated, taking a long time to find a comfortable position on the uneven roof tiles and tucking her skirt around her knees just so. A light blush rose in her cheeks and Ranma felt his pulse begin to quicken. He would never admit it, even to himself, but she really was beautiful. Looking at her as she searched for words, he could not help but imagine possible reasons for her presence here. Brief daydreams flickered through his mind, most of them either ending in him being smashed into a vaguely liquid-like substance or her proclaiming undying love for him and... well, let's just say he preferred the latter.
At last, she spoke in a slow and hesitant manner. "I was just thinking... about..." Ranma wanted to tell her to spit it out but restrained himself through a massive effort of will, realizing that to do so would not only bring pain upon him but also deny him all chance of ever hearing what it was she had to say. "...about the Spring of Drowned Man."
Completely surprised, Ranma exclaimed, "What?"
"Um... well..." Akane sighed and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Her eyes stared ahead of her, looking distant and nervous. "Ranma, you remember how Pantyhose-Taro threw himself in the Spring of Drowned Octopus?"
Ranma snorted his contempt at the annoying monster, "Yeah, and got all those stupid tentacles on his back. So?"
Akane chewed on her lower lip, "Ranma, I don't want to upset you..."
He rolled his eyes, "Whatever it is, Akane, you might as well spit it out." Oops, so much for a massive effort of will. Then again, that had never been Ranma's strong suit.
Oddly, Akane did not seem upset by this but instead sighed. "Ranma," she said, "He did not turn into an octopus."
"Uh... yeah?"
"He only got part of the curse."
Ranma frowned, puzzled, "What are ya gettin' at?"
"He did not replace his curse, Ranma, he only changed it!"
Slowly the meaning of her words sunk into Ranma's thick skull. "He only added ta his curse..."
Akane nodded and laid a gentle hand on Ranma's shoulder in a futilely comforting gesture.
"And that means... if I went into the Spring of Drowned Man..."
Unwillingly, the girl nodded again.
The people of Nerima were used to many odd sights, sounds and events, but the blood-curdling screams that tore through the town that day would haunt them for many years.