Chapter Fourteen: Reunited for a Brief Moment

Meanwhile on the other side of the tower the bewildered girl was searching for her companion frantically. Since he had been thrown in the water, Akane had searched for Ranma for over a half hour with no sign of him whatsoever. She bit her lip as she held back the tears and continued her search unfaltering in giving up on locating her fiancée and resolved to find him if it was the last thing she'd do.

At the same time far on the other side of the rushing water the red head sat up and scratched the back of her head quizzically as she gazed around her. She was surrounded by at least athousand of the most beautiful flowers she had ever laid eyes on. They were in all shades of colors including green which was strange indeed.

"Huh?" she replied aloud, "Where am I? Last thing I remember was standing in the streets of Nerima with Akane and then" her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to concentrate, "I find myself in a field filled with" she smelled the air, "Wait" she stopped herself as she stood up, "This smells familiar. They smell just like that wonderful incense that I bought. But where is Akane?" she asked the air as still confused she made her way through the field of sweet smelling flowers stumbling a little as she tried to regain her senses unaware that close by someone familiar was also walking.

(Next Scene)

Shampoo and Mousse had discovered their location only seconds after awakening from the large attack they had felt only moments before. Now they too were walking amongst Ranma's flowers although strangely enough they couldn't smell them. Shampoo was in front and quite irritated that she was once again stuck with the clueless boy.

"Why Shampoo always get stuck with you?" she muttered under her breath as she trudged.

"It must be destiny my darling" Mousse replied his eyes glowing behind his glasses.

"Whatever" she shrugged, "Where are we?"

"I don't know," he said stopping in his tracks, "All I see are flowers."

"Flowers that have no smell" Shampoo agreed also stopping, "I have never heard of a flower of no smell."

"Me neither" he nodded, "All flowers have a scent of some kind. But then again this is a very strange place."

"No kidding" Shampoo started walking again, "Come Mousse. Let's go find great grandmother and the others. And then we find Ranma and Akane."

"Whatever you say my precious Shampoo" he smiled and then moved forward and bumped into a large tree that she had just walked around.

"Aya" she rolled her eyes as she continued to walk.

"I'll be right with you," he mumbled into the tree.

(Next Scene)

Not far from the flower field still walking down a blank corridor Ukyo and Ryoga continued with their research.

"This place is so big" Ryoga replied slightly tired from all their walking, "How are we ever going to find them?"

"Don't tell me that you are tired Hibiki" Ukyo said teasing him, "After all the walking you normally do?"

"I'm not tired" he scoffed, "I just want a sign that we're going in the right direction."

"I'm afraid we won't know that for a while sugar" she sighed, "Unless we" she stopped, "Wait a minute."

"What is it?" he asked stopping next to her.

"Do you hear that?"

"It's water" Ryoga's eyebrows rose, "Water in a tower?"

"It sounds like a waterfall" she commented.

"Yea. Let's go see where it is" he moved forward.

"Good idea Ryoga but uh" she stopped him by the arm; "I think the sound is coming from this direction," she pointed to the left.

"Oh" he grinned sheepishly and chuckled with his hand behind his head, "I knew that" he moved in the direction that she was pointing.

"Sure you did" she smiled and shook her head as she followed him into the dark cavern.

Once inside they saw the waterfall falling from the rocks and the small lake that surrounded them amongst the rocks.

"Hey Ryoga" she replied tapping his shoulder, "You did bring those small water bottles of yours didn't you?"

"Yea I did. They're in my pocket. Why?"

"Well we might need the water to drink if we're going to be walking for a long time."

"Good idea" he nodded pulling the small bottle out of his pocket, "I'll fill it up from the waterfall" he leaned forward and a drop of water dropped onto his wrist, "Ouch!"

"What is it?" Ukyo asked curiously.

"Wait a second" he frowned as he felt the water with his hand, "I don't believe it."

"What?"

"It's hot water."

"No way" she shook her head.

"It is. Feel it" he insisted.

She felt the water and then she too was astonished as she took a step back.

"Unbelievable. It is hot. Well I guess we can't use it then."

"No. We can" he nodded with a slight smile.

"What do you mean?"

"Suppose we come across some cold water and I fall in. We'll need it then. And Ranma will definitely need it. Especially if he is in his girl form."

"Good idea Ryoga" Ukyo smiled finally understanding, "Well let's get some. And if we come across some cold water we'll get it with the other bottle."

"Exactly" he agreed and leaned forward once more to fill the bottle with the hot liquid, "There" he capped it, "Now to find some cold water" he added as Ukyo stood down in the lake, "What's wrong?"

"It's all hot Ryoga" Ukyo said, "Even down here."

"You're kidding" he replied as he jumped down the rocks and joined her.

"Mnm."

"I wonder if Ranma and Akane found this place," he thought aloud.

"It sure would be nice if they did" Ukyo replied.

"Yea" he nodded, "Then Ranma can defend her better" he stood up straight, "I can almost hear her now."

"Wait a minute Ryoga" Ukyo suddenly said standing up from the water where she had been squatting, "That sounds just like."

"Ranma!" the voice echoed off the walls.

"Akane!" they both exclaimed at the same time and then ran towards the voice in the other cavern.

(Next Scene)

"Ranma!" Akane called out, "Ranma where are you?"

"Akane!" she heard the calls from behind her and spun around surprised as Ukyo and Ryoga ran towards her.

"Ryoga?" she spoke softly as they stopped in front of them, "Ukyo?"

"We found you finally," Ukyo said catching her breath.

"Are you all right?" Ryoga asked with a worried expression.

"I'm fine. But what are you doing here?"

"Well" Ukyo stood up straight, "We've come to help you."

"We managed to get into the tower" Ryoga concluded, "Well rather he let us in."

"Kinnosuke did?" she asked suspicious.

"Yea. We knew it was an obvious trap but" Ukyo replied, "We felt that it was the only way we could get to you and Ranma. By the way" she looked around her, "Where is Ranma honey?"

"I don't know" Akane lowered her head sadly.

"What?" Ryoga said.

"About a half hour agowe got separated" Akane replied somberly, "In that room over there" she pointed where they had just come from.

"The cavern with the hot water?" Ryoga asked.

"Mhm. Ranma managed to change back into his guy form and we were doing okay until Kinnosuke showed up again."

"What did he do?" Ukyo asked her with a frown.

"We were standing on the rocks, contemplating on which way to go next and in the next instant he sent this enormous wall of water toward Ranma and knocked him into the lake below. He disappeared beneath the rushing waves and I couldn't see him."

"But Ranma can swim" Ryoga said surprised.

"I know. But I couldn't find him" she lowered her head again still trying to hold back the tears that Ryoga could clearly see in her eyes now.

"Don't worry Akane honey" Ukyo replied putting her arm around the shaking girl, "We'll find Ranma and when we do hopefully we can find the others and get out of here."

"The others?"

"Yea" Ryoga nodded, "Shampoo and Mousse. Kuno and his crazy sister. The old man and woman. Even your fathers are here," he added somberly.

"You all came to rescue us?" Akane asked surprised.

"Mhm" Ukyo nodded, "Of course. Now let's go find Ranma."

"Okay" Akane nodded back and the three of them made their way down the pathway of the lake in search of their missing companion.

(Next Scene)

A few seconds later they were surrounded with the same flowers that Ranma had been only moments before. Akane looked around her as Ryoga and Ukyo sniffed the air quizzically.

"Has anyone else noticed?" he began.

"That these flowers have no scent whatsoever?" Ukyo finished as she scratched her head.

"It's just like that incense that Ranma was" Akane started to say but then stopped when she realized, "What if it is?"

"What?" Ukyo said.

"Ranma!" Akane shouted running forward, "Ranma where are you!"

"Akane wait!" Ukyo said dashing after her with a bewildered Ryoga right behind her.

"Ranma!" she cried out, "Ranma please answer me!"

Suddenly she stopped for she could see clearly in the flowers a red head lying face down in them. Her heart skipped a beat as she ran over to the figure.

"Ranma" she held the girl's head in her hand, "Ranma wake up" she stroked her cheek gently.

Ranma's eyes fluttered open slightly and she looked up into the other girl's worried face. She smiled sweetly.

"Akane?"

"Ranma."

"Thank goodness. I found you. I thought I was all alone."

"Ranma what happened to you?"

"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked as Ryoga and Ukyo arrived and looked at each other.

"Don't you remember?"

"Remember what?" Ranma said with a confused look.

"Oh no" Akane shook her head angrily, "He changed you back."

"Back?"

"Akane" Ukyo interrupted, "Maybe we can help."

"What?" she looked back at the two of them, "How can you help?"

"Well Ryoga just happens to have some hot water on him. We got it when we were back in that cavern."

"Really?" Akane asked with relief on her voice.

"Yes" Ryoga nodded as Ranma looked up at him with adoring eyes, "Uh we can change him back," he said nervously looking away.

"Good. Well for starters. We have to get him out of this field."

"Why Akane?" Ukyo asked.

"Because it's the flowers. The flowers are what trigger Ranma's sudden changes. Do you remember the incense?"

"Uh huh" they nodded.

"It's the same effect. Kinnosuke told us that he was using that incense to change Ranma. And now he is using the flowers to do the same."

"Of course" Ukyo nodded, "It makes perfect sense. Poor Ranma honey" she added as she saw that the girl had passed out once more, "Ryoga you'd better carry him."

"What? Me?"

"You're the guy here" she insisted.

"But I" he stammered as Akane looked at him imploringly, "Okay" he gave in and walked over nervously to the red head and picked her up.

Ranma immediately wrapped her arms unconsciously around his neck and then they moved away from the flower field and back over towards the caverns.

"Ryoga" Ranma whispered making him almost drop the girl in shock.

"Hang on Ranma" she said in a stammer, "We're almost there."

Once they were safely away from the field of flowers Ryoga laid Ranma down on the ground and took out the bottle of hot water. He poured it over the unsuspecting girl who merely winced as it hit her and changed her back into the Ranma Akane had been searching for all along. Akane knelt down and took Ranma's hand as she called out to him softly.

"Ranma" she replied, "Ranma" she said a little louder.

Ranma's eyes fluttered open once again and he looked up into her worried face.

"Akane?" he whispered placing his hand on her cheek, "Is that you?"

"Yes Ranma. I found you."

"Thank goodness" he replied in relief as he tried to sit up, "He didn't take you."

"No. He disappeared some time after he got rid of you."

"I see" Ranma nodded.

"Are you okay Ranma honey?" Ukyo asked making him look up surprised at the other faces that were around him.

"Ukyo? And Ryoga. What are you doing here?"

"We came to rescue you silly" Ukyo giggled, "Along with the others," she added as Ryoga nodded somberly.

"You got into the tower?"

"He let us in."

"Why did he do that?" Ranma asked angrily.

"Who knows" Ukyo shrugged, "But more than likely it was a trap to get us in here."

"Yea" Ranma nodded standing to his feet, "And I'm real sick of his traps and all his damn games."

"Ranma?" Akane looked at him quizzically as the others stared at him directly.

"It's time for me to stop it. Face him head on. The others are in here somewhere too. Fine. We're going to find them. But first we need to find him."

"How do we do that Ranma?" Ryoga asked crossing his arms.

"I'm going after him," Ranma stated.

"What?" Akane replied, "You're crazy."

"No. This time I'm thinking clearly. He hasn't faced me like this yet. And I am wondering is it because he can't?"

"But Ranma honey he's so powerful" Ukyo protested.

"Yea I mean he took all of us out," Ryoga added.

"So what. I'm still going after him."

"Ranma?" Akane walked over to him and he held her in his arms much to Ukyo and Ryoga's surprise.

"I have to get to the bottom of something Akane" he said simply, "And I have to do it myself, I can't have you involved."

"But."

"I'll go with you" Ryoga replied.

"No Ryoga" Ranma shook his head, "I need you to look after Akane and Ukyo."

"I can look after Akane Ranma" Ukyo said, "I have my spatula after all. You need all the help you can get."

"Well in that case. You up for this one Ryoga?" he asked turning to the other guy who was trying his best to keep his composure.

"Sure" he nodded.

"Okay. Akane" he turned to the girl at his side, "You take care of yourself till I come back. And try to locate the others. We're getting out of this tower" he added turning around, "I promise. Let's go Ryoga!" he shouted dashing forward and he and the other boy left the two girls standing in the area of rock formations completely unsure of the outcome of their attempt.

As they ran Ryoga watched Ranma's determined face and shook his head sadly to himself.

"Maybe it's time I face it" he thought, "Maybe it's time I face the reality of it all" he sighed.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay I have two more chapters to get done this weekend hopefully! See you all later!

Next time on Curse of Jusenkyo:

Chapter Fifteen: Ryoga's Decision

Not telling!

And

Chapter Sixteen: Double Team

The fight between Kinnosuke and the two martial artists commences. See what happens in the outcome!