Chapter Nine: Mousse to the Rescue?
The waves rose higher as the intrepid group of rescuers finally observed the tower for the first time. It loomed over them stretching into the sky, seeming to go on forever.Genma and Soun however cowered away from it, as if it was something to be feared.
"So that's where Ranma and Akane are?" Ukyo replied as the wind began to pick up.
Ryoga looked back over his shoulder as Genma and Soun shook.
"I'd say by the looks of those two that we're right on the money," he said pointing back.
"My goodness" Cologne replied shaking her head, "What a magnificent structure."
"I never heard about a tower on a beach," Shampoo said afterward as Kuno and Kodachi looked at each other quizzically.
"Nor have I" Mousse agreed adjusting his glasses.
"That is no ordinary tower" Cologne frowned.
"Cologne is right" Happosai nodded, "That tower is surrounded bya great aura."
"An aura?" Ukyo questioned.
"That means," Ryoga said leaning on his left knee slightly, "That it won't be easy to get into will it?"
"Precisely" Cologne nodded, "And from what I can tell there is only one way in."
"What's that great grandmother?" Shampoo asked curiously.
"Up there" the old woman pointed up at the only window at the very top of the tower.
"Huh. It's a window" Ryoga said surprised.
"And there is only one."
"Oh great" Ukyo sighed, "There's no front door. How are we supposed to get up to that window?"
"I bet those two know how to get in" Happosai replied hopping forward and eyeing his two disciples, "Don't you boys?"
"Oh please master" Soun cried, "Please have mercy."
"Yes don't make us go back into that awful place," Genma begged.
"Hmm" Happosai scoffed, "It's because of you two that Ranma and Akane are in that awful place to begin with. Those poor young things. All alone without their Happy" he began to tear up.
"I think they'll survive" Ukyo rolled her eyes.
"Knowing Ranma" Ryoga agreed, "I think he would prefer it that way."
"I don't think so" Mousse spoke up, "Personally."
"What?" Ryoga spun around, "What are you talking about Mousse?"
"You have to remember Ryoga, he's in his girl form right now" Mousse smirked at him, "Therefore the only one she is expecting to come and rescue her is you" he began to laugh as Ryoga blushed bright red.
A splash of water came Mousse's way and in the next instant he was a quacking duck, unaware that Shampoo had splashed him with some nearby ocean water.
"Shut up you stupid Mousse" Shampoo said with a angry frown on her face, "Don't say such things" then her eyes lit up, "Aya. Shampoo come up with best way to find out if Akane and Ranma all right."
"What do you mean Shampoo?" Cologne replied.
"Mousse can fly up there," she pointed at the window.
"Oh yea" Ryoga said scoffing, "Let's send Mousse up there. He'll come back with so much information" he said sarcastically, "About how he bumped into things. He won't even know when he found Ranma and Akane," he added as Mousse quacked irritated at him.
"Right" Ukyo replied, "And I suppose if we sent you in there it would be better? In your case you would never come back" Ryoga lowered his head as Mousse secretly laughed at him in his head, "But Shampoo does have a point. The duck can fly. Therefore he can get up to that window better than us, especially since it's all the way across this small bit of water on that large rock."
"I guess" Ryoga nodded, "And if he doesn't find them, I'm sure that Ranma and Akane will know it's him."
"Exactly" Ukyo nodded back with a smile.
"Hear that Mousse" Shampoo replied picking him up by the neck, "This is your chance to impress Shampoo. Go and find Ranma" she threw him up into the sky and he began to fly towards the window.
"Do you think he'll come back?" Ryoga replied as they watched him fly closer to the tower and the sun began to set.
"We can only hope" Ukyo said sadly.
"Have you all noticed" Cologne suddenly replied, "Happy is nowhere to be seen."
"Oh no" Ukyo shook her head.
"Where did the old letch go?" Ryoga added.
"My guess is he is already gone to the tower" Cologne said pointing at the spot where Genma and Soun were moments ago, "And he's taken those two with him."
"That's just great" Ukyo shook her head in disbelief.
"Well" Ryoga sighed, "There's not much we can do until Mousse returns I'm afraid."
"You're right Ryoga" Ukyo nodded as they both stared at the tower with Kuno, Kodachi, Shampoo, and Cologne, "Let's justbepatient and wait."
"Oh Ranma darling" Kodachi replied with her hands clasped together, "I come anon my love."
"Akane Tendo. Pig tailed girl" Kuno whispered in the wind as he clutched onto his wooden sword, "I swear on my life my loves I shall rescue you."
Ryoga and Ukyo looked at each other and rolled their eyes once more in unison.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile Happosai riding, was making Genma as a panda swim across the small area of water while Soun struggled behind him swimming.
"But master" Soun said trying to not get the salt water in his mouth, "Why did you insist we come with you?"
"Because you little ingrates" Happosai replied angrily, "It's your fault that your children are in this predicament. You should be the ones responsible for rescuing them."
Genma growled a little afraid.
"Stop bellyaching you big baby" Happosai said to the panda, "And keep swimming. We're nearly there. I'll get up to the top of that tower if it kills me."
(Next Scene)
At the same time up in the mysterious room Ranma opened her eyes slowly and lifted herself from the bed. She yawned a little and looked on the other side where Akane was still sleeping soundly.
"That sure hit the spot" she replied standing up from the bed and walking over to the window, "Hmm" she said as she opened it and stared out at the sun that was nearly set, "Looks like it's almost nightfall. Huh?" she blinked at an object that was heading in her direction, "Is that something in the sunlight?"
Then she suddenly took a step back as a white object zoomed into the room, knocking her completely to the floor.
"Ahh!" she screamed awakening Akane, "What the heck is that?"
"Ranma?" Akane said rubbing her eyes, "What's wrong?"
The white object hit the floor and Ranma cautiously moved toward it.
"Something came through the window" she replied.
"What is it?" Akane said becoming alert and climbing out of the bed.
"I don't know" Ranma felt the object and it all at once came to life quacking at her, "Wait a second" she frowned, "I recognize those glasses. Mousse?" the duck quacked even more, "It's him all right. How did you get here?" she asked the angry bird.
"We're not going to understand him like that" Akane replied.
"Good idea. Let's put him in the bathtub" Ranma said grabbing the quacking animal by the neck and walking over to the tub, throwing him in.
All at once Mousse's head appeared out of the tub and he gasped as he took a breath of fresh air.
"Huh" Ranma frowned even more, "Funny enough it works for him and not for me."
"I told you Ranma" Akane said, "The spell is on you, not anyone else."
"You're probably right" Ranma nodded and then looked at Mousse once more, "So duck boy what brings you here?" she asked.
"Uh Ranma?" he blinked.
Ranma sighed and picked up his glasses off the floor.
"Put your glasses on you moron" Ranma replied handing them to him which he at once put on his face.
"I see you're back to your old rude self" he blinked through his glasses and saw her red hair, "Well sort of."
Ranma frowned again as Akane leaned forward since they were both kneeling by the tub.
"Mousse what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm not the only one here" he replied, "Shampoo and her grandmother, and the old man. Even Ryoga. We all came to find you guys."
"Really?" Ranma said surprised.
"You all came to rescue us?" Akane added.
"Yes but I was the only one who could get up here" Mousse gloated happily.
"That's because you're a duck" Ranma scoffed, "So the old freak's down there huh?"
"Not to mention your fathers" Mousse replied with a nod, "They're the ones who's behind all this."
"Huh?" Akane said.
"I knew pop had something to do with this" Ranma clenched his fist.
"But what did they do?" Akane asked.
"Well they" Mousse began but Ranma quieted him, "What is it?"
"Somebody's coming" Ranma replied seriously standing to her feet and blocking Akane as Mousse sank lower into the water.
The door suddenly opened and in strode someone Akane recognized at once. So much so that she too sprung to her feet.
"It's. It's you," she said with wide eyes.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! The letter will finally be revealed in the next chapter I promise. See you later!
Next Chapter: A Not-so Surprising Revelation
Akane and Ranma finally meet their mysterious kidnapper and discover the contents of the letter as well as something they never hoped to see again. Find out what happens next time!
