Akane felt someone shake her. Someone with strong arms. She slowly opened her eyes and saw to her surprise..
"Akane" Ranma replied, "Wake up."
"Ranma?" she said as she sat up astonished at the sight of him.
"Mhm" he nodded.
"But how did you?"
"Change back?" he grinned crossing his arms as his dark hair fell slightly over her eyes, "I guess that guy wasn't as careful as he thought. I found a fountain just outside the door that was pouring hot water and the best part when I jumped in, I changed back."
"How?"
"I don't know. I think it had something to do with my wish."
"Your wish?"
"Mhm. Do you remember earlier? When we were looking for a way out, how every time we wanted something it would appear?"
"Yes Ranma, but what about the bathtub. It ran hot water but you didn't change."
"That's because I didn't wish for it to change."
"Huh?"
"I unconsciously wished for the bath but I didn't wish for it to change me back."
"But you did. I remember."
"No. It was an afterthought. The bath appeared after I wished for the tub. When I concentrated really hard on turning back into a guy, the fountain appeared just as I left the room. I walked over to it, closed my eyes and prayed that it would work. Then I hopped in. The next thing I know, I was back. So I came back in here, put my clothes back on, and woke you up."
"This is great Ranma" Akane smiled, "And it's almost morning too."
"Right. So get dressed Akane. We're getting out of here right now."
"Okay. But how?" she stopped as she walked over to her skirt and top, "I don't suppose you found the front door?"
"Nope. But I did find a way that so we could find it" he shook his head walking over to the door, "Hurry up."
"Okay" she nodded putting on her clothes fast and joining him, "But what could possibly lead us to the front door?"
"You'll see" he smiled taking her hand and opening the door once more, "Come on" he lead the way out.
(Next Scene)
Outside Akane saw the fountain and a whole bunch of beautiful flowers.
"What is it? A garden?"
"I don't know" Ranma shook his head, "But the fountain did lead me to the answer."
"What?" she asked as he let go of her hand.
"Well I wanted to know where the water was coming from. So I followed it" he lead her around the fountain, "The sound of it I mean, and found this" he pointed to an odd crack in the wall.
"Oh. Does it lead into another room?" she asked surprised.
"I don't really know. But let's find out."
"Okay" she nodded taking his hand once more as he pulled her into the dark hole leaving the fountain and the mysterious room behind them.
(Next Scene)
Once inside Ranma and Akane found themselves in a very dark cavern where the water was flowing from crevices at the top of the rocks turning them into waterfalls. Ranma felt the water with his hand and smiled.
"It's all hot water," he said with a grin.
"So no matter if you fall in it."
"I won't change back" he finished.
"Mhm" she nodded as he jumped into the hot water that was forming a lake just a little kid jumping in puddles.
"Oh Ranma" she smiled making him look back over his shoulder.
"Hmm?" he replied curiously.
"I'm so glad that you're back to normal."
"What do you mean?"
"It was weird for awhile there. You being sweet and well tampered."
"Hey!"
"You got to admit that you're not really like that."
"All right" he grumbled.
"And to be honest" she replied, "I wouldn't want you that way anyway."
"Huh?"
"I like you just the way you are" she said looking slightly away at the waterfall.
"Akane" he replied slowly.
"Hmm?" she looked at him directly.
"Thanks" he smiled softly, "Here give me your hand. I'll help you across" he climbed onto a rock and held his hand out.
"Okay" she nodded placing her hand in his and jumping across to the next rock.
"Watch your step. It's a bit slippery on these rocks."
"All right" she nodded, "Where do you suppose we are?" she asked glancing around the monstrous cavern.
"I don't know. But it sure is bright in here."
"Look Ranma!" she pointed at the tiny lights that were flying around them, "Fire flies."
"Yea" he nodded, "That sure helps. It's easier to see now."
"Mhm. Whoa!" she began to slip.
"Akane look out!" he took her hand and then they both fell into the lake.
"Uh man. You're so clumsy."
"Well excuse me," she said angrily, "I didn't mean to fall."
"It's just an observation" he frowned, "You don't have to get so mad. Man you can be so uncute sometimes" he pulled away from her and hopped back onto the rock taking her hand and pulling her up with him.
"Well I suppose you'd rather be trapped here with Ukyo or Shampoo then" she turned her head away bitterly.
"You just don't get it do you?" he sighed turning his back on her.
"Huh?" she looked at him directly.
"Do you honestly think that I would rather be here with them? Is that what you really think Akane?"
"But Ranma."
"Because you're wrong. You always jump to the wrong conclusions. First of all, Ukyo and I are friends. That's all. I have no intention on marrying her. I don't care what my pop promised."
"Ranma."
"And as for Shampoo, she's the one who's got in her head that I belong to her. All because of that stupid Amazon rule. I don't care what they say, I won't go through with it."
"But I."
"And Kodachi. Well you know how I feel about her? I can't even stomach that girl" he turned around and faced her as he plopped down on the ground, "I don't know why you always think that I am even interested in any of them."
"But I" she knelt down as he frowned.
"Why do you get so jealous? You have no right to be."
"Jealous" she became angry once more, "Yea right. Like I'd ever be jealous of someone like you."
"Akane" he sighed, "Aren't you tired of this? Aren't you tired of fighting all the time? Well I am. I like it better when we get along."
"Well so do I?"
"Then why do we fight?"
"Because you always do stupid and insensitive things. You always say the wrong things too. And allow Shampoo to kiss you."
"I wish I could take that back" he replied softly.
"Huh?"
"But I can't. She's the one who kissed me remember? And as for the other stuff, well it's just the way I am. Akane you have to remember, I have no experience with girls. I have been living with my father all my life. Traveling on the road. Training to become a true martial artist and a man my mother can be proud of. To be honest you are the first experience I have with a girl, cause if you recall I didn't know Ukyo was one, so if I behave the way I do, it's because it's the only way I know how, not that's it any excuse."
"Ranma" her eyes became soft.
"And if it really bothers you that much, then I'm sorry. I used to think you liked arguing with me, but now I see it was really hurtful to you and to me in the long run" he looked up at her as she turned her head away from his eyes, "Akane."
"Hmm?"
"I can't stop them from harassing me. But I can prove it to you that I am not nor will I ever be interested in them."
"How?" she looked up into his eyes.
"Close your eyes."
"What?" she said surprised.
"Just close your eyes" he repeated.
"Okay" she nodded completely closing them.
Ranma took a deep breath and then leaned forward, softly brushing his lips against hers, kissing her lightly and then pulled away, allowing her to open her eyes in complete astonishment.
"What did you do that for?" she asked placing her right hand over her lips.
"That's my proof" he grinned.
"What?"
"I did it because I am in love with you, you tomboy" he smiled even more and her eyes became wide.
Akane looked at him for a brief moment and then fell crying into his outstretched arms.
"And I love you too, you stupid jerk" she mumbled in his shirt, the tears wetting it lightly.
He held onto her for a few minutes, smiled, and then stood up with her in his arms.
"We got to get out of here," he whispered.
"Mhm."
"I don't think so," a loud booming voice said.
"Huh?" Akane said a bit scared as they glanced around.
"That's him" Ranma replied angrily.
"I congratulate you on escaping the room Ranma" Kinnosuke replied, "But you shall not escape this tower."
"Oh yea" he clenched his fists angrily as a rush of water came toward him, "Huh? Ahh!" he screamed as he was thrown into the rushing waters disappearing underneath.
"Ranma!" Akane shouted, "Ranma where are you! Ranma!"
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: That's it for this week! See you all later!
Next Time on The Curse of Jusenkyo
Chapter Thirteen: An Obvious Trap
Ukyo and the others finally manage a way into the tower. But they are about to discover the mysterious of the tower as well as they search for their missing companions. See what happens next time!
And
Chapter Fourteen: Reunited for a Brief Moment
Akane and Ranma back in his sweet girl form meet up back with the others but then are separated again just as fast. Find out all that occurs next time!
