Chapter Four: Bumps and Incense Pots

Dr. Tofu examined Ranma's entire body as he sat on the stool in his office. Akane stood by watching Ranma's expression, as it seemed he was even more confused then she was.

"Hmm?" Dr. Tofu replied, "Well there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the rest of your body."

"Nope just the bump on his head" Akane said back.

"Mhm" Dr. Tofu nodded feeling the top of his head, "I can see that. And how did you get this bump again Ranma?" he asked Ranma as he removed his hands from his scalp.

"I. I think I hit a fence" Ranma replied still a bit uncertain.

"A fence huh? Akane how about you explain to me what has been going on lately?"

"Sure" she nodded and began to tell Dr. Tofu all about Ranma's strange behavior from the first three nights he couldn't sleep to the automatic transformations into a girl.

"And the weird part is" Akane finished, "When Ranma is a girl, he's completely different. He remembers nothing of being a guy and he talks all sweet-like, just like a little girl."

"I see. Well let me take a look at his transformation for myself" Dr. Tofu replied picking up a small glass of cold water from his table.

"I was hoping you'd say that doctor" Akane said clasping her hands together appreciatively.

"Ranma, hold still for a moment" Dr. Tofu told him holding the cup over his head.

"Huh?" he blinked as he poured the contents of the cup onto him, "What are you, Ahh!" she squealed, "That's cold" she replied in her sweet voice, "Oh dear. I'm all wet again" she held up her hands and examined her wet clothes.

"Hmm?" Dr. Tofu said surprised, "Again?"

"Where am I?" she said gazing around her, "Oh Akane" she replied with a smile when she saw her, "Where are we?"

"We're at Dr. Tofu's clinic" Akane explained, "You remember the chiropractor in town?"

"Chiropractor?" Ranma thought as she stared at the Doctor confused, "Um. I don't think I've ever met him before."

"Huh?" Akane and Dr. Tofu looked at each other.

"Oh well it doesn't matter" she bowed her head, "It is a pleasure to meet you Dr. Tofu. I'm Ranma Saotome."

"I don't believe it" Dr. Tofu said stunned.

"I told you" Akane replied, "This is the way it's been for two weeks."

"You do have a lovely clinic doctor" Ranma said standing from the stool and gazing around her with a smile.

"Uh thank you" Dr. Tofu nodded, "Please take your time in looking around. Akane" he said in a soft voice and she moved closer to hear, "If he's like this when he's a girl how is he when he's a boy?"

"He's like himself" Akane replied, "The only thing is he never remembers turning into a girl. All he remembers is what happened the last time he was a guy."

"Give me an example" Dr. Tofu said.

"Oh what charming paintings" Ranma replied as Akane sighed.

"Well like he'll go to bed as a guy and wake up as a girl right?"

"Mhm."

"Then he goes all day as a girl. Just like that" she pointed, "And then the next time he's a guy all he remembers is going to sleep. He doesn't even remember waking up."

"I see. Well that is baffling" Dr. Tofu said scratching his head.

"And when he's a girl he has no memory of really being a guy and he seems to forget every guy he's ever met. Like you and Ryoga. Even Kuno."

"What about his father?"

"No" Akane shook her head, "He remembers him and my father. It's just so weird."

"I see" he repeated, "Ranma."

"Yes Dr. Tofu" she replied sweetly.

"You mentioned earlier about being wet before with cold water."

"It seems to be happening a lot lately" Ranma nodded, "It all started like a week and a half ago."

"Really. Why don't you tell me about it."

"I found myself sitting in the river. I'm not sure how I got there."

"Huh?"

"The river?" Akane thought.

"And what did you do afterwards?" Dr. Tofu asked.

"Well I just climbed out of it. And eventually dried off. That's really it."

"Oh okay. Well thank you Ranma" she nodded and returned to the paintings she had been looking at and Dr. Tofu turned back to Akane with a concerned expression," Well Akane" Dr. Tofu" said sadly, "I'm afraid I've never seen anything like this before. I'm at a loss."

"I see. Well thanks anyway doctor. If anything I'm glad that we were able to get Ranma's bump checked out at least. We're on our way to the Cat Café now."

"How come?"

"I figured if you couldn't help us that maybe Shampoo's great grandmother might know something. After all she knows all sorts of weird stuff."

"That's a good idea Akane" Dr. Tofu nodded with a smile, "I'll keep looking just the same. If I find anything I'll give you a call."

"Thank you very much doctor" she smiled back, "Ranma!" she called.

"Should I change him back?" Dr. Tofu asked.

"Oh no. That's okay. I'll take him just like that. It's probably better that she sees the transformation at first hand."

"You're probably right" Dr. Tofu agreed as Ranma came over, "Well Ranma you look after yourself. And take care of that bump."

"Okay doctor" Ranma nodded as she took Akane's arm.

"Oh before I forget" Akane replied as they were exiting, "Kasumi said she was going to be over with your book later."

"Huh?" Dr. Tofu's glasses suddenly became a bit hazy, "Ka Ka Kasumi?"

"Hmm?" Ranma looked at him quizzically as he smiled like an idiot, "Dr. Tofu is something wrong?" she asked.

"Come along Ranma" Akane said pulling her hand, "He always gets that way when Kasumi comes into the picture."

"Oh I see" Ranma nodded as they left the office and Dr. Tofu snapped back into his senses but only briefly because Kasumi arrived moments later to return his book.

(Next Scene)

"Hello" Akane called as they entered the restaurant.

"Is anyone here?" Ranma added as Shampoo the Amazon girl came out of the kitchen.

"Ranma you come to see Shampoo!" she exclaimed running over and preparing to embrace him.

"Hello Shampoo" Ranma said cheerfully, "It's nice to see you again."

"Huh?" she stopped in mid run and stared at the girl before her, "Ranma why you act so funny?"

"Ranma Saotome!" Mousse came flying out of the kitchen, "Get away from her!"

"Huh?" Ranma looked at him quizzically, "Akane" she said turning to the girl at her side, "Who's that?" she asked.

"What?" Mousse also stopped in mid run and stared at Ranma perplexed.

"That's Mousse Ranma" Akane explained, "Remember Mousse?" she emphasized.

"Mousse?" Ranma thought out loud staring at him.

"Yea you're rival!" Mousse shouted.

Ranma chuckled.

"Oh don't be silly. I don't have any rivals. And besides I'm a girl and you're guy there's no way you could possibly be my rival."

"Huh?" Shampoo and Mousse blinked in confusion as they looked at each other, "What going on Akane?" Shampoo asked.

"Yea, why is he acting so strange and talking in that weird voice?" Mousse added.

"That's just it" Akane nodded sadly, "Shampoo do you think we could talk to Cologne for a moment?"

"Great grandmother?" Shampoo replied, "Okay. I go get her" she moved back to the kitchen as Mousse examined Ranma more closely with his glasses.

"Excuse me Mr. Mousse" Ranma said, "Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't you Shampoo's fiancée?"

"Uh" Mousse replied taking a step back, "Totally weird."

A few moments later Cologne appeared and Akane explained to her exactly what she had explained to Dr. Tofu only a half hour ago.

"Hmm?" Cologne said, as she looked at Ranma who was sitting in a chair as everyone stared at her, "Quite mysterious. I've never heard of a person who was cursed by a spring from Jusenkyo having this kind of effect on their body."

"I don't know if it has anything to do with Jusenkyo or not" Akane shook her head, "It's a lot more complicated then that. Ranma's personality is completely altered when he is a girl."

"And when he's a boy?" Shampoo asked.

"He's just exactly like he always is" Akane replied as Shampoo took a kettle and held it over the girl, "Shampoo what do you think you're doing?"

"Shampoo see for herself" she said as she poured the hot water onto the redhead.

"Huh?" she screamed, and then Ranma reappeared once more in his guy form, "That's hot! What did you do that for? Huh?" he looked around him, "Shampoo? Mousse? Old Ghoul? What am I doing here? I thought I was at Dr. Tofu's?"

"We were there Ranma" Akane said, "But we left awhile ago."

"Oh" Ranma's face lowered, "So I forgot again didn't I?"

"Forgot again?" Shampoo asked as she put the kettle down and Mousse crossed his arms.

"Whenever Ranma changes back and forth he has no recollection of when he changed into a girl in the first place. Same when he's a girl. In fact when he's a girl he doesn't recall being a boy at all."

"Oh Ranma" Shampoo said sadly.

"Son-in law" Cologne began, "Akane explained how this all began and she mentioned that you got a bump on your head."

"Yea" Ranma nodded.

"Do you remember how you got the bump?"

"Mmm. Let me think," he replied closing his eyes and crossing his arms, "Um it was about a week and a half ago right before I started not sleeping."

"Uh huh" she nodded, "And how did you get it?" she repeated as they all leaned in closer to listen.

"Let's see. I was walking home all by myself one afternoon because Akane said she was going out with some friends. Next thing I know I felt something strange."

"Strange?" Mousse replied.

"Strange like what Ranma?" Shampoo asked.

"Like a strange a feeling. I looked around me and I felt a breeze coming from some nearby bushes and I think something jumped out at me. I didn't see what. I didn't get a goodlook at it. But whatever it was it was pretty strong and it startled me so much that when it pushed me back I must have hit the fence. That's how I got the bump."

"And what happened after that?" Cologne said.

"I don't know" Ranma shook his head.

"Wait!" Akane suddenly exclaimed, "I just remembered, Ranma mentioned at Dr. Tofu's that around the same time a week and a half ago that he somehow ended up in the river and he didn't know how."

"I did? When did I say that?" Ranma asked.

"When you, were a girl" Akane swallowed.

"I don't remember saying that" Ranma shook his head.

"I'm afraid there's only one way we're really going to know" Cologne replied, "Ranma's going to have to become a girl again. But first Akane have you noticed anything strange about Ranma's room?"

"His room?"

"You said earlier that he goes into the room and comes out in a different form every day correct?"

"Yes. Let me see" she thought, "Something different in Ranma's room. Oh wait!" she replied, "Now that you mention it, there was something unusual in Ranma's room when I looked in the night he was so sick."

"Yes. Go on dear?"

"An incense pot."

"Incense pot?" she replied.

"Incense pot?" Ranma repeated, "No way" he shook his head.

"Son-in law" Cologne said, "You don't remember this pot?"

"Now why would I remember something girly like that? Besides I'm a guy. There's no way I would have that type of junk in my room."

"Nevertheless it's in there Ranma" Akane insisted, "I saw it."

"You must be imagining it," he said closing his eyes and crossing his arms in a defiant manner.

"Shampoo" Cologne said, "The water."

"Okay" Shampoo nodded pouring the cold water on the unsuspecting boy.

"Ahh! That 's cold!" Ranma squealed again and then looked down at her clothes, "Aw" she said, "I'm wet again. Why does this keep happening?"

"Shampoo didn'tbelieve it" Shampoo said stunned, " But now she sees it."

"Ranma" Cologne said turning her head to the young girl.

"Hmm? Oh hello there" she smiled, "What can I do for you dear granny?"

"I just wanted to ask you a simple question my dear" Cologne replied.

"Okay" she nodded, "What can I do for you?"

"Akane mentioned a certain incense pot that she saw in your room, could you tell me about it?"

"Oh you mean the cute little one with the flowers!" she exclaimed with a grin, "I'd love to. I bought that about a week and half ago."

"Huh?" Akane said surprised.

"I think it was the same day that I found myself in the river, yes" Ranma nodded as they all listened stunned, "I had just climbed outwhen I saw this little shop. The river must have washed me down quite a bit. The man who was selling it was really nice and he said it suit me. I thought it was cute the instant I saw it."

"And have you lit it recently?" Cologne asked.

"Actually no. Not once. I really should too because it's such a beautiful fragrance."

"Ranma" Akane interrupted, "Do you remember where this shop was?"

"I think so. I can take you there right now. Why do you want to buy something?" she said cheerfully.

"Well, maybe" Akane nodded uncertain, "Let's go there right now."

"Shampoo go too" Shampoo insisted.

"Where Shampoo goes I go" Mousse replied.

"We'll all go" Cologne said, "Lead the way Ranma."

"Okay" Ranma nodded and stood from her chair heading out the door with the others closely behind her.

(Next Scene)

They all stared at the vacant spot as a piece of newspaper blew around the deserted area.

"That's strange" Ranma replied, "I could have sworn it was right here. Then again" she said, "It was a small shop."

"How small Ranma?" Akane asked.

"Like really small. Not even in a building."

"Like a cart you mean?"

"Yes" Ranma said sadly.

"I see" she nodded.

"I'm sorry Akane, you probably wanted to buy something too didn't you?"

"Oh it's all right" Akane held up her hands, "It's no big deal. Maybe next time."

"I'm sorry to you too Shampoo" Ranma added, "Mr. Mousse, dear granny. For all of you coming all this way for nothing."

"Oh that's all right" Cologne nodded as Shampoo watched her sad reaction with mixed feelings of sadness and confusion themselves.

"But I can make it up to you" Ranma replied.

"Hmm?"

"I want to invite all of you for dinner tonight" she said, "I'll make the best meal you've ever had."

"Well" Cologne hesitated, "I don't know."

"Please I really want to make it up to you" Ranma pleaded, "Of course you're both invited as well" she offered the invitation to Mousse and Shampoo.

"Oh well" Mousse looked at Shampoo.

"How could we refuse" Shampoo said grinned, "If Ranma the one who is asking."

"Wonderful" Ranma replied happily as Akane seethed on the inside at the Amazon, "Well come on then. It's getting late" she moved forward and began to hum as Mousse and Shampoo followed and Cologne lingered back with Akane as they walked.

"Akane dear" Cologne said, "It's probably a good thing I am coming over. Then we can take a look at that incense pot together."

"Yea. And I hope it's the source" Akane replied with a nod, "I'd give anything to have the old Ranma back."

"I know youdodear," Cologne laughed as she hopped along on her stick next to her and the sun began to set.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! I decided to change the title of this chapter because it fits better. Hope you're enjoying it and I will see you later!

Next Chapter: Testing Theories and Group Gatherings

Cologne and Akane seek out the incense pot only to discover there might be a flaw in what they believe. Meanwhile Ukyo joins everyone at the Tendo dojo to discuss what to do about Ranma's strange circumstances. Find out what happens next time!