Chapter One: The Illness

It had been three nights of this Ranma Saotome thought as he awoke once again in a cold sweat. He felt his forehead and he felt kind of warm. He looked over to his right where his father Genma Saotome usually slept and noticed that he was no longer there. He glanced briefly at the window and noticed that the morning sun was shining through so he then looked at the clock and jumped up immediately.

"Oh man!" he shouted, "I'm running late!"

He quickly dashed down to the bathroom to take a quick bath and then entered into the sitting room where his fiancée Akane Tendo and her older sister Nabiki were just finishing up breakfast. He sat down and rapidly gulped down his meal as Akane stared at him in confusion.

"Ranma? This is the third day in a row you've been late like this" she replied.

"So sue me," he said putting his bowl down, "Come on we're gonna be late for school."

"Since when are you in such a hurry?" she scoffed.

"Come on!" he insisted dashing to the door, "I am not going to get caught by that nutcase of a principal of ours again" he hopped into his shoes as she arrived at the front door and then ran out the door, "I'm going on ahead!" he shouted as he ran.

"Ranma!" she yelled back, "Wait!" she ran after him as Nabiki took her time to put on her shoes.

"Poor Ranma" Nabiki said out loud, "The principal isn't here this week. No need to rush then," she added as she walked out the door.

(Next Scene)

Akane ran as fast as she could to catch up with Ranma, but it wasn't exactly hard since before she knew it she had, because Ranma had slowed down quite suddenly and was moving at a snails pace.

"Ranma" she stopped and looked at him directly as he moved, "Why are you moving so slowly? You were in such a hurry to get out the door this morning after all."

"Huh?" he looked back at her and she could see the dark circles under his eyes.

"Ranma?" she replied quizzically, "What's wrong? You don't look so good."

"Huh?" he repeated, "Oh it's probably because I didn't sleep very well again."

"Isn't this like the third night in a row?" she asked as they walked.

"Fourth. But who's keeping count?" he replied with a loud yawn, "Come on Akane. Let's go" he moved forward.

"But Ranma" she hesitated.

"I'm fine. Come on" he said back irritated a bit as they finally arrived at the gates of Furinkan High.

"Say what you want Ranma" Akane thought as they entered the building, "You're not fine."

(Next Scene)

During class Akane watched Ranma with deep concern. Around lunchtime he was asleep with his head on his desk. Ukyo Kuonji, Ranma's other fiancée and childhood friend walked up to Akane to talk to her about his condition.

"Hey Akane" Ukyo replied, "What's up with Ranma honey?"

"I don't know" Akane shook her head, "He's been like this all week. He says he hasn't been sleeping."

"Huh? Maybe he just needs a nap."

"I don't know Ukyo. He's even been missing practice and you know how much he likes to do that."

"Yea" Ukyo nodded, "To Ranma martial arts is everything."

"Exactly."

"Well I'm sure it's not something to be that worried about. Hey maybe he's sick" Ukyo suggested.

"Sick?"

"Yea. When someone is that tired all the time they've usually got a cold something."

"Hey maybe you're right" Akane nodded a bit worried, "I'll ask him later. Thanks Ukyo."

"No problem sugar" Ukyo nodded with a smile as she sat down and Akane and she began their lunches while Ranma continued to doze restlessly at his desk.

(Next Scene)

As they walked home from school Akane watched Ranma even more closely. Then she turned to him as he yawned loudly once more.

"Hey Ranma. Can I ask you a question?"

"What's up?"

"Do you have a fever?"

"Why do you ask me that?"

"Well you're acting like you're sick or something."

"Please I don't have a fever" he insisted, "I'm fine."

"No you're not" she replied a bit angrily, "Why won't you let me feel to see for sure."

"I said I'm fine!" he snapped moving away from her outstretched hand, "I don't need your help."

"Fine!" she snapped back, "If that's the way you want it. I was only worried about you."

"Whatever" he moved past her, "I'm heading home" he ran ahead leaving Akane speechless about his behavior.

"It's not like him to get so mad about touching his forehead" she thought, "Never mind" she replied in a huff, "He's just being stubborn. Fine. Leave me behind. See if I care" she moved slowly up the sidewalk knowing fully well she cared more than she led on.

(Next Scene)

When she arrived home Kasumi her eldest sister greeted her at the door.

"Welcome home Akane" she replied.

"Thanks Kasumi" Akane nodded with a smile as she slipped off her shoes.

"I'm surprised you didn't come home with Ranma."

"Hmm" Akane scoffed, "Why would I care about that stupid jerk."

"Oh dear did you have another fight?" Kasumi asked worried.

"Not at all" Akane lied, "I'm gonna go get changed" she walked over to the stairs and started to climb them to her room.

"Oh my" Kasumi said, "Well hopefully it won't last."

At dinner that night everyone ate quietly at the table, which was unusual since usually Ranma, and his father would end up fighting by the end of the meal. But the strangest thing and the reason that didn't happen, is that Ranma never showed up for dinner.

"Ah Saotome" Soun Tendo asked his friend as they ate, "Where's Ranma?"

"Still asleep I think" Genma answered through chews.

"Huh?" Akane lowered her chopsticks.

"He's been like that since this afternoon" Kasumi replied, "He went straight to bed when he came home."

"Hmm? How strange" Nabiki said, "Ranma never misses a meal. Do you know what's going on Akane?"

"I don't know" Akane shook her head, "But I guess I better go find out" she stood up quickly and left the room.

"Isn't that cute Saotome" Soun replied gleefully, "She's actually worried about him."

"Mhm. Mhm" Genma nodded, "This could be the start of something great Tendo."

(Next Scene)

Akane approached Ranma's room cautiously with a tray of his dinner.

"I know he told me to leave him alone but" she thought, "It won't hurt for me to give him his dinner. Ranma!" she called, "I'm coming in!"

She opened the door and saw that he was lying on his back; sitting nearby was a small pot of incense that had been used just recently. But Akane ignored it and sat down with the tray.

"Ranma" she shook him gently, "Wake up. I got dinner."

"Mmm" he grumbled his eyes still closed, "No."

"Huh?"

"No" he mumbled, "No don't. Don't. Akane" he began to thrash a bit in his sleep.

She gasped with her hand over her mouth as she leaned in closer.

"Is he dreaming about me?" she thought.

"Akane. Leave. No. No. No! NO!" he sat up straight the sweat once more dripping off his brow and breathing heavily.

"Ranma" she replied, "Calm down it's all right. I'm right here."

"Akane?" he looked at her as he breathed hard.

"Yes. I'm right here."

"It was just a dream," he whispered as she placed her hand on his forehead and gasped slightly, "What are you doing?" he asked.

"You're burning up Ranma" she replied, "I knew you had a fever."

"I do not" he shook his head.

"Yes you do" she insisted, "I can prove it to you. Wait right there" she said as she stood up, "I'll go get the thermometer."

"I can't be sick," he thought, "I don't feel sick."

"Here" Akane replied coming back with the object, "Put it in your mouth and we'll find out who's right."

"I told you. I'm not sick" she stuck the thermometer in his mouth, "Mmm" he grumbled.

"Just humor me would ya?" she said crossing her arms.

A couple moments later she removed it and nodded.

"Just as I thought. Take a look at that" she handed it to him.

"Huh?" he looked at it confused, "I do have a fever. But why? I don't feel sick."

"Just lie back down and I'll have Kasumi make you something since I know you want eat anything I make" she added sarcastically.

"No" he shook his head lying back down.

"But I just said I wasn't going to make it."

"No. I mean I don't want anything. I'm not hungry."

"But Ranma" she replied surprised, "You didn't even eat lunch today."

"I'm serious. I don't want nothing."

"Now I know you're sick. I'll see if I can find you some medicine at least," she said standing back up.

"Akane" he replied softly.

"Hmm?" she looked back over her shoulder before departing.

"I'm cold," he said shaking clutching his blanket even more around him.

"He's shaking all over" she thought worried, "But he was sweating before. I'll see if I can find you another blanket," she promised as she left.

(Next Scene)

"Oh poor Ranma" Kasumi replied when she heard the news, "Are you sure I can't make him something?"

"He says he's not hungry" Akane shook her head.

"My son" Genma said as he sat near Soun close to their shogi board, "For him to skip lunch and dinner he must be sick."

"And unfortunately there's no medicine in the house" Akane replied, "I'll have to run out to the pharmacy and pick something up. The only problem is Ranma has chills and sweats so what do I get."

"Hmm" Kasumi said, "I tell you what, how about I come with you?"

"Would you Kasumi?" Akane replied very happily, "That would help me a lot."

"Of course Akane" she nodded, "Just let me go clean up the kitchen real quickly and we'll go."

"Okay" Akane agreed, "Dad, Mr. Saotome" she replied to the older men who had just started their second game, "You'll look after Ranma till we come back right?"

"Of course we will dear" Soun nodded.

"After all what kind of father would I be" Genma said dramatically, "If I didn't help my son out in his hour of need."

"Right" Akane said a bit disbelieving, "Just make sure you don't do anything to tick him off. Or tease him. He really is bad off" she added.

"Hmm" the two of them looked at her as she frowned worriedly and then departed.

"I guess he really is" Soun replied.

"Mhm" Genma nodded, "Check" he placed his piece on the board.

"What?" Soun looked at the board in shock, "Do over!"

"No way" Genma shook his head.

(Next Scene)

With Kasumi's help Akane and she were able to find the right kind of medicine for Ranma's condition. As they arrived back at the Tendo dojo they saw a very familiar person standing at the gate. Ryoga Hibiki, Ranma's rival was panting as he leaned on a stick, his usual pack on his back.

"Hey there Ryoga" Akane replied with a smile.

"Akane" he blushed a little as they approached, "What are you doing out tonight?"

"We went out to get Ranma some medicine," she answered.

"Medicine?" he scratched his head.

"Yea he's really sick. He hasn't eaten all day."

"Hmm? That doesn't like the Ranma I know. He's usually such a bottomless pit."

"I know" Akane agreed, "Why don't you come on in Ryoga. It's starting to get cold. Plus I think Ranma wouldn't mind seeing you."

'Well" Ryoga hesitated, "I was on my way out. But okay" he nodded seeing her cheerful expression and giving in.

The three of them walked in and Kasumi went into the kitchen to begin preparing Ranma's medicine, while Akane and Ryoga walked upstairs to Ranma's room.

"Hey Ranma" she called in, "Ryoga's come to see you."

"Ryoga?" he opened his eyes and turned over, "What did you get lost again?" he scoffed as they sat down.

"This is the thanks I get for coming to visit with you the invalid" Ryoga replied back with a frown.

"I'm not an invalid" Ranma said his eyes weary, "It's called infirmed stupid."

"Whatever" Ryoga crossed his arms angrily.

"I think Kasumi's probably gotten your medicine ready by now Ranma" Akane said interrupting and standing up, "I'll go get it. You don't mind keeping Ranma company do you Ryoga. I would really appreciate it," she added with a smile.

"Well okay" he chuckled nervously with his hand behind his head.

"Great. I'll be right back. Ranma" she warned as she opened the door, "Don't pick a fight. You're in no condition."

"As if I am that stupid" he replied back and she closed the door, "So what are you really doing here Ryoga?" he asked.

"It's not like I really want to be here Ranma" Ryoga said, "But Akane insisted."

"Did she? And as usual you do whatever Akane says."

"Well now that I see you I see she's right" Ryoga looked at him closely, "You look terrible."

"Gee thanks a lot" Ranma said sitting up a bit, "Like I need someone else telling meI look awful."

"Well you do."

"Oh just shut up!" Ranma snapped and then fell back onto his pillow and fell instantly asleep.

"Ranma?" Ryoga looked over at him surprised, "Ranma? Are you awake? He fell asleep" Ryoga thought, "Oh brother" he sighed, "How did I end up doing something like this? Babysitting Saotome?"

A few seconds later Ryoga had dozed off himself and only awoke when he heard Ranma speaking quite loudly.

"Huh? What? What?" he said startled as he woke up and looked once more toward the other boy on the futon.

"No" Ranma replied in his sleep, "Don't do it. Akane. No. No" his voice drifted off.

"Ranma?" Ryoga moved closer but then Ranma sat up straight his eyes face forward making him back off a little frightened, "Ranma. What are you doing?"

But Ranma didn't answer. Instead he picked up the bucket of cold water that always sat near his father's futon and poured it all over himself.

"Ahh!" Ryoga shouted, "Ranma what are you doing that for?" he shouted

"Huh?" Ranma looked towards Ryoga and then she screamed, "AHHHH! Pervert!"

As Akane approached the bedroom once more she saw Ryoga thrown from the room by female Ranma.

"Ryoga!" she shouted running over to him, "Ranma what did you do that for?" she demanded to him, "Ranma?" she saw in the room that the young girl had fallen back to sleep, "That's weird. Ryoga" she shook him, "Ryoga."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: I felt in the mood to start this sequel tonight. Hope you liked the first chapter. Plenty more to come I assure you.

Next Chapter: Can't Change Back into a Guy?

Ranma's strange behavior becomes even weirder as the Tendo household watches him change from a girl and boy more frequently then normal the only difference is his personality is changing as well. See what happens next time!