Ranma felt the slight breeze on her cheek as she opened her eyes slowly and lifted her head.
"Huh?" she said out loud, "Where am I?" she glanced to her left and saw the other girl lying next to her, "Akane? Akane wake up" she replied shaking her gently.
"What?" Akane opened her eyes and saw her staring back at her, "Ranma?"
"Yo" Ranma waved, "You okay?"
"Yea" Akane nodded sitting up, "What happened?"
"I don't know. Couldn't tell you" Ranma shook her head.
"Wait a minute" Akane suddenly interrupted making Ranma back up a bit, "Did you just say yo?"
"Yea" Ranma nodded, "I always say yo."
"Ranma?" she blinked looking at her directly in the eye.
"Uh huh."
"You're back."
"Back? What do you mean back?"
"I mean you're you, instead of that sweet girl."
"Uh of course. What are you talking about?"
"Ranma don't you remember?"
"Remember what?"
"The whole past two weeks?"
"Um" Ranma thought with a serious look on her face, "No" she suddenly realized, "I guess I don't" she frowned quizically.
"Well" Akane said, "I guess I'd better catch you up then" she cleared her throat.
"Huh?"
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile at the Tendo dojo Genma and Soun were tied up in front of the others as they began their interrogation.
"Now then" Ukyo said, "Why don't the two of you tell us what you've done?"
They sweat dropped again as the others listened.
"Your very lives depend on your answers" Kuno threatened.
"I'll handle this Samurai boy" Ukyo retorted, "So? Where are Ranma and Akane? Where did they disappear to?"
"Uh" Genma began gulping, "I tell you we have no idea."
"That's right" Soun nodded, "They just disappeared right before our very eyes."
"Hmm" Happosai scoffed, "Something tells me that you two have done something really bad this time."
"But master" Soun pleaded.
"Please believe us we didn't do anything" Genma added.
"Mhm" Ryoga shook his head as he crossed his arms, "Like we could believe that."
"Shampoo agree" Shampoo spoke as Mousse nodded, "They not telling entire truth."
"All right I've had enough of this stalling" Ukyo replied stepping forward and take Genma by the shirt, "All right old man start talking, or they will start the punishment of this little interrogation" she indicated the others who were growing impatient.
"Uh" Genma's sweat began to pour from his forehead, "Tendo."
"Don't look at me Saotome. You're on your own. It's every man for himself."
"Thanks a lot" Genma quivered as Nabiki appeared in the doorway.
"You know" Nabiki said coming over, "I could probably tell you what's going on" she replied sitting down.
"What?" Ukyo said in surprise dropping Genma's shirt.
"You could?" Ryoga replied looking at her while Cologne just shook her head.
"Nabiki" Soun complained.
"It's really all rather simple."
"Well tell us" Ukyo insisted.
"What happened to Ranma?" Shampoo asked.
"Yes Nabiki Tendo" Kuno added, "Don't keep us in suspense. Where is Akane Tendo and the pig-tailed girl?"
"It's just that my memory is not very clear" Nabiki shook her head.
"Oh here we go" Ukyo rolled her eyes.
"Oh yea" Ryoga nodded in unison, "Should have known there would be a motive."
"A motive? This is my sister we're talking about. I only care about her welfare. Don't you Kuno baby?" she asked turning to him.
"Well of course" Kuno nodded completely oblivious to what was happening.
"And you'd do practically anything to find out the information to where she is located wouldn't you?"
"Naturally" he nodded, "I would give my very soul" he said dramatically holding up his wooden sword.
"That's not necessary" Nabiki shook her head, "But I could give you the information for say about ten thousand yen" she held up her hand.
"Sold" Kuno nodded and handed her the money, which she promptly placed down her shirt.
"Well now that you've gotten what you want Nabiki" Ukyo replied, "Will you tell us what we want to know?"
"Of course. It all started with the letter."
"Letter?" they all looked at each other.
"What letter?" Shampoo asked.
"Yes I'm quite interested in that myself" Cologne replied leaning forward as Nabiki looked over at her sister.
"Oh right" Kasumi nodded, "I had almost forgotten" she pulled the envelope out of the pocket of her apron and Soun and Genma immediately became terrified, "Father and Mr. Saotome received this letter earlier this evening and that's when they insisted on locking Akane and Ranma up in her room."
"They locked them up together?" Ryoga said in disbelief.
"Well Ranma was in his sweet girl form" Nabiki added.
"So what do you two have to say about that?" Happosai replied eyeing their two prisoners with an evil eye.
"I. I plead the fifth!" Soun said.
"I'm with him" Genma nodded.
"Oh really" Ukyo said angrily, "Kasumi can we see the letter?"
"Here you go" she laid it out in front of them and they all began to read silently to themselves.
When they reached the middle of the contents the whole room echoed with their astonished and angry voices.
"WHAT!"
(Next Scene)
"So basically that's it" Akane finished as Ranma stood to her feet and began to gaze around at their non-existent surroundings.
"Uh huh. So it all had to do with some kind of kooky incense pot?"
"Mhm. Shampoo's great grandmother found that out."
"I guess I owe the old ghoul then. And you're right about pop and Mr. Tendo. They did something stupid again" Ranma frowned, "I can just feel it."
"Well what do we do now?" Akane asked getting to her feet.
"I don't know" Ranma shook her head, "The area we're in isn't even there you know. You can't see anything. It's like we're on a blank page."
"I know" Akane nodded, "If only there was a door or something."
"Huh?" Ranma looked to her left, "Akane look there" she pointed.
"Huh?" Akane looked to the left and saw an enormous door that had obviously not been there before, "Where did that come from?" she said astonished.
"I have no idea" Ranma shook her head and moved forward, "But let's see if it leads anywhere" she walked over to the door.
"Be careful Ranma."
"Don't worry Akane" Ranma replied taking the knob in her hand and turning it, "Hey it's open" she opened the door.
"That's a relief" Akane smiled somewhat and joined her at her side as they peered out into the long white hallway, "Look at all the doors. What do we do now?"
"Well we're not going to do much by staying here" Ranma said, "I say we leave this room and go find our way out this crazy place."
"Okay" Akane nodded, "I'm right behind you Ranma," she added as they left the blank room and entered the hallway.
(Next Scene)
They began to walk along the hallway and try each of the doors every few steps. After at least twenty minutes Akane sighed.
"It's no good Ranma. None of these doors are unlocked. And we've been walking a good long time now."
"Yea" Ranma nodded, "But we can't give up. The problem is there are no turns in this place. No other corridors. No stairs. If we could find something that was different then just doors, then we can find out where we are."
"I tell you what I wish we had" Akane replied.
"What's that?" Ranma looked at her quizzically.
"A window."
"Yea" Ranma agreed, "That would tell us where we are."
"Ranma!" Akane suddenly exclaimed.
"What?"
"Look at the end of the hall. Do you see what I see?"
"I don't believe it" Ranma said as they dashed forward, "It's an actual window!"
They ran all the way down till they arrived. Ranma took a step forward.
"Now let's hope it opens."
"Mhm" Akane nodded, "Go for it Ranma."
"Okay" Ranma pushed the window and opened right away giving Ranma a chance to look out, "Uh Akane."
"What is it? What can you see?"
"We're pretty high up."
"Huh?" Akane stepped forward and looked out the window in astonishment, "We are" she nodded, "Does that mean that we're on the top floor right now?"
"We must be" Ranma said with a frown, "However if that were the case wouldn't we have found some kind of stairwell at this point. Or better yet and elevator" she added and then they both heard a familiar dinging sound behind them.
"No way" Akane replied turning, "I don't believe it" she repeated what Ranma said earlier, "It's an elevator."
"Well it's about time we got some good luck" Ranma smiled dashing forward, "Come on Akane!"
"But Ranma" Akane began but just shrugged her shoulders and walked onto the elevator as Ranma examined the buttons on the sidewall.
"Okay. Let's see" Ranma said thinking out loud, "We're probably on the top floor. So what we want to do is go to the bottom floor to find the front door."
"Let's hope this works."
"Mhm. Cross your fingers. Here goes nothing" she pressed the bottom floor button and the door closed.
(Next Scene)
The designs in the sand continued along the narrow path as the two men were pulled still tied and their feet kept trying to dig at the ground. In front of them Ukyo, Shampoo, Ryoga, Happosai, and Cologne walked while behind them Kuno, Mousse, and Kodachi kept an eye on them.
"But I don't understand why we had to come along with you" Soun whined.
"Perfectly simple" Ukyo said, "You two know the way there."
"Yea" Ryoga replied with a frown, "Who better to lead us then the two idiots who started this whole thing in the first place."
"But you don't understand" Genma pleaded digging his feet again, "We had no choice" Mousse pushed him on.
"No choice he say," Shampoo scoffed, "Do you believe this great grandmother?"
"Whatever the cause we will find Ranma and Akane" Cologne replied, " That's what we must focus on now."
"I agree" Ukyo nodded as they walked even faster.
"I still can't believe you two" Happosai said with a furious look on his face, "And you call yourselves my disciples."
Genma and Soun lowered their heads in shame as they all continued the dangerous trek to find Ranma and Akane.
(Next Scene)
When the elevator doors opened up Ranma and Akane immediately ran out to find the entrance but we're disappointed once more.
"Wait a second" Akane replied, "It's another hallway with doors."
"That can't be right" Ranma said scratching her head, "We just came off the eleva.. uh Akane" she stopped.
"What is it?"
"The elevator. It's gone."
"What?" Akane spun around, "You're kidding."
"Uh uh" Ranma shook her head.
"Oh great. Well now what do we do?"
Ranma sighed and then crossed her arms.
"Start trying to open these doors I guess."
"But Ranma that could take forever. I hate to say this but I think we're lost."
"How could we be lost? We don't even know where we are."
"Hold on" Akane suddenly said, "Do you hear that?"
"Hmm" Ranma listened, "It sounds like running water."
"Yea" Akane nodded.
"Maybe it's a hot spring" Ranma replied all at once becoming excited, "And I can turn back into my guy form."
"Yea" Akane repeated.
"Come on Akane" Ranma said taking her hand much to her surprise, "Let's go!" they ran forward to the sound of the water.
But when they arrived at the source they were disappointed once again. Ranma let go once again as they stared at the large structure.
"It's just a fountain" Akane replied bitterly.
"Maybe" Ranma said, "It contains hot water" she ran her hands in it and then shook it off angrily, "Nope. Cold. Well that's just great."
"There's another door," Akane pointed next to the fountain.
"Hmm? That one looks promising" Ranma replied admiring the unique golden designs on it.
"Yea, it's different. Should we try it?"
"What do we got to lose?" Ranma shrugged and then the two of them walked forward, opened the door, and walked in.
(Next Scene)
The door closed behind them all at once when they entered and once again they were disappointed as they looked at each other.
"Ranma" Akane replied gazing at the blank room, "I think we're back where we started."
"No way" Ranma shook her head, "That can't be right" she added as a window appeared in front of them, "Look" she ran over and opened it, "Oh no."
"What's wrong now?"
"I think you're theory about being back where we started was correct."
"What do you mean?"
"Come and see for yourself."
Akane obeyed and looked out the window. Now she could clearly see that they were all the way at the top of a large tower.
"We're still at the top" she shook her head angrily.
"Yes that's true" Ranma nodded, "But we did learn one thing by looking out this window."
"What's that?"
"See for yourself" Ranma repeated pointed down.
Akane looked back out the window and saw the water beneath them and heard the crashing waves.
"We're near the ocean somewhere" she replied taking a step back.
"Mhm. The question is where?" Ranma said closing the window, "I don't know what to do anymore Akane."
"I know. It seems like no matter how far we got we didn't get anywhere."
"And I'm starving" Ranma added beginning to complain, "I'd give anything for something to eat right about now. Hey" Ranma suddenly smelt the air, "Do you smell that?"
"Oh come on. You got to be kidding me?"
"You do smell it don't you?"
"Yes, but how is that possible" Akane said as a large table of food slowly appeared in front of them, "No way."
"Oh wow" Ranma practically drooled, "Look at all that food."
"Wait Ranma" she took her by the arm, "It could be a trap or a mirage."
"If it's a mirage. It's a pretty damn good one" she took a step forward.
"But."
"I'm starving Akane" Ranma pleaded, "I'll be the guinea pig" she volunteered moving even closer to the table, "If it's poison. Then we'll know."
"But."
But Ranma was already at the table and eating the food in the same old-fashioned way that he used to, with no manners whatsoever.
"Oh this is so good" Ranma smiled, "Akane you have got to try this stuff" she insisted.
"Well" Akane hesitated, "If you're sure that it's not poison. I am kind of hungry " she moved closer to the table.
"Well dig in" Ranma said as she finished off some miso soup, "We're gonna need the strength to find our way out of here anyway."
"That's true" Akane nodded, "Okay. I'll try some" she picked up a pair of chopsticks and some rice and began to eat, "This is really good."
"Mhm" Ranma nodded, "You know what would be even better, if we could have a bath afterwards? Then I could really change back into a guy."
Suddenly near to them they heard water running and slowly before their eyes a large bathtub appeared with hot water flowing.
"I must be dreaming" Akane said about to drop her chopsticks, "How did that happen? Is it really hot water?"
"I don't know" Ranma shook her head as the bubbles began to appear, "But I'm gonna find out" she moved forward and felt the water with her hand, "It is hot" she smiled, "Boy side. Here I come!" she exclaimed jumping into the hot water with her clothes on.
"Ranma!" Akane shouted running forward as Ranma's figure came out of the water, "Didn't look like it worked."
"I don't understand" female Ranma shook her head, "I'm in hot water."
"Maybe this tower doesn't let you turn back into a guy."
"Maybe" Ranma nodded somberly climbing out with her wet clothes.
"Still it would be a waste if we didn't use it."
"You're right" Ranma nodded again, "Let's take a bath right now" but then she saw Akane's astonished expression and held up her hands, "Of course I mean separately, I won't look."
"Well all right" Akane consented, "Since you're already wet, you go first. And I'll pull this curtain" she replied noticing a large pink curtain that seemed to surround the bath, "Around you."
"Good idea" Ranma nodded for a third time.
After Ranma took her bath, Akane climbed in and then climbed out. When she appeared she saw that Ranma was dressed in a very fancy blue kimono.
"Hey Ranma. Where did that come from?"
"It was funny. I didn't want to put on my wet clothes and then suddenly that rack of kimonos appeared," she pointed to the left of her.
"Wow they're so beautiful" Akane fingered a light green one, "Wait a minute Ranma have you noticed anything strange about this place?"
"Hmm?"
"It seems every time we wish for something it appears."
"You're right" Ranma agreed, "When we wanted a way to see where we were, the window appeared."
"And when we were looking for a way down, the elevator appeared when you said elevator."
"Yea. And then there was the food. The bath. The clothes. It seems like we whatever we need seems to appear when we want it to."
"Yea" Akane nodded, "And then it disappears real quickly once we're done with it."
"We can use this to our advantage" Ranma said.
"Hey Ranma. Was that there before?" Ranma pointed behind her as she placed on a pretty yellow kimono.
"Huh?"
Behind them stood a large dressing table with two mirrors. On the table were tons of jewelry and ornate hairpieces.
"Wow" Akane replied in awe as they walked over.
"Look at all this junk."
"It's not junk Ranma. It's beautiful."
"Hey I'm a guy remember. It's junk to me."
Suddenly all around them the room started to come together. Paintings appeared on walls, the floor was suddenly covered with carpet, there was tons of furniture and millions of boxes tied up with ribbons.
"What is all this?" Ranma's mouth about dropped open as she stared.
"It's starting to look just like a room. A bedroom" Akane observed.
"Yea. All that's missing is the, oh spoke to soon" Ranma said as a large bed big enough for the two of them appeared next to the dressing table.
"It's humongous" Akane gasped.
"Yea. But we didn't wish for it. Did we?"
"I don't know. I was thinking I was kind of tired."
"You know that's funny. So am I all of a sudden" Ranma nodded, "It must have been all that walking we did."
"Yea" Akane nodded with a yawn of her own, "I don't know about you but I could use a nap."
"Uh huh" Ranma said through yawns as they each climbed onto the bed on opposite sides of the bed.
"Stay on your side" Akane warned.
"I have no intention on coming on your side" Ranma frowned, "This big bed is so large we each have a big enough side. Besides" she yawned even louder, "Why the heck would I want to sleep with a tomboy anyway" she closed her eyes.
"You're such a jerk Ranma" Akane muttered before she too drifted off to sleep.
Up above them a large pair of teal blue eyes watched them and from his room the mysterious operator of the tower smiled softly to himself.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! This one turned out really long but I am happy with it and I wanted it to be good because this is one of my favorite parts in this whole book so I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Also I know you want to know what's in the letter. Sorry to keep you in suspense but you'll have to go through another chapter till that's revealed. See you all later!
Next Chapter: Mousse to the Rescue?
Ranma and Akane awaken and decide to use their new- found knowledge about the tower to find their way out. Meanwhile their friends arrive near the tower and send the most unlikely of them in to discover the location of the two of them. See what happens next time!
