Chapter Seventeen: P'Chan's Secret Almost Revealed

Once more Ryoga found himself in the position of carrying Ranma in his female form. After Ranma had collapsed he frantically tried to revive her before resigning himself to at least get her out of the open area.

"There's no way that you can fight him in this condition" Ryoga replied aloud as he lay her down on the ground in what appeared to be a large forest.

"Hmm?" Ranma stirred a little.

"Ranma?" Ryoga placed a hand on her shoulder, "Ranma."

She opened her eyes slowly and saw him staring back at her in concern. Her eyebrows rose happily as he sighed in relief.

"Oh good. You're all right" he commented.

"Ryoga" she replied slowly, "Oh thank goodness" she exclaimed sitting up and wrapping her arms around the startled boy, "I'm so happy you're here Ryoga. I've missed you so much. I've been so scared."

"What are you talking about?" Ryoga stammered his cheeks turning slightly pink.

"I've been trapped in this awful place praying that you would come to my rescue," she cried refusing to let go.

"Oh no" Ryoga thought, "He's reverted back. What am I going to do now?" he paused, "Uh" he began, "I was lucky to find you."

"I'm so glad."

"Ranma, we really shouldn't stay here" he gently pulled her off his shoulders, "We should find Akane and the others."

"Oh yes. Akane. She's here somewhere too. I hope she's all right."

"I'm sure she is fine. She's with Ukyo after all."

"She is?" Ranma said puzzled, "Oh you must have found her first?" she replied as they stood up.

"Uh yes" he nodded, "We did."

"Okay then" she nodded, "Let's go Ryoga" she took him by the arm and held on tightly.

"Uh sure" he gulped and they began to move through the forest.

"You know you are incredibly brave to come all this way to save me Ryoga" she said as they walked.

"Oh" he chuckled nervously with his free hand behind his head, "It was nothing."

"Mmm" she smiled sweetly as she clung to him both of them unaware of the rushing water heading towards them.

"Huh?" Ryoga looked back over his shoulder as he heard the strange noise, "Oh no" he gasped as he saw the water aimed directly at them.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile elsewhere in the forest Shampoo and Mousse had met up with Kuno and his sister Kodachi who were both thoroughly agitated by the turning of events that they complained the entire time. Shampoo sighed as they heard the water and they all jumped out of the way before they were hit with the rushing waves. As they all landed on dry ground they saw a little black pig squeal as he rushed past with the water. Shampoo scratched her head as she turned to her farsighted companion.

"Mousse. Wasn't that Ryoga?" she replied.

"I believe it was" he nodded adjusting his glasses.

"I wonder where he come from?"

"I don't know" Mousse shrugged as from behind them Kuno shouted.

"Pigtailed girl!" he exclaimed leaping into action and heading in the direction that the water had just come from.

"Brother dear!" Kodachi called as she chased after him, "Wait for me!"

"Huh?" Shampoo and Mousse blinked.

Nearby on the dry ground dripping with water Ranma lay unconscious once more. Kuno rushed to her side as Mousse and Shampoo ran over to join the siblings.

(Next Scene)

At the same time P'Chan or Ryoga was running frantically looking for any sign of hot water. He ran past Akane and Ukyo unknowingly, startling them both as the blur of black and yellow passed quickly.

"Wait. Was that?" Akane began.

"Uh" Ukyo stood up nervously, "I'm sure it was nothing Akane. I'll go take a look just in case. You wait right here okay?" she ran from the area.

"Okay" Akane said a bit confused as she turned back to the fire and poked atit with a stick.

Ukyo finally found Ryoga, the little black pig running around in a little pit that he had somehow gotten stuck in. She climbed over the logs, squatted, and smiled with a sigh making him look up.

"Good grief sugar" she replied, "What happened to you?"

The little pig squealed indignantly.

"All right. All right. There is no need to be so upset. I know of a place where we can get some hot water" she picked him up, climbed back over the logs, and carried him close to her chest making him blush a little.

She carried him a little further till they came to a spring overflowing with hot water.

"I discovered this place when I was searching for firewood" she told him as his eyes became wide, "In you go" she put him in gently.

"Hey Ukyo!" Akane appeared just as Ryoga's head was coming up from under water.

Ukyo rapidly placed her hand on top of his head and pushed him down just in time.

"Hey there Akane" she chuckled nervously as Ryoga slightly stunned tried to hold his breath.

"What are you doing?" Akane eyed her curiously.

"I uh. I just found this spring filled with hot water. I was thinking maybe we could use it."

"That's a great idea. But how do we carry it?"

"Oh. Well I got some water bottles back at the campsite. You go get them and I'll wait here."

"Okay" Akane repeated still a little bit confused.

As soon as she was out of sight Ukyo removed her hand. Ryoga came up spluttering and spitting out water.

"Sorry about that Ryoga honey" she said a bit worried.

"Oh that's all right" he nodded coughing, "I would have absolutely died if Akane had seen me just now."

"Mhm. Where are your clothes anyway?" she asked turning around as he climbed out.

"They're back there somewhere," he pointed behind her shivering a little, "They flowed down along with me and the water."

"All right. You wait here and I'll go get them and bring them back. Then you can tell me what happened to you and Ranma."

"Okay" Ryoga nodded and walked behind a large rockas she departed.

He smiled softly to himself as he thought about how sweet Ukyo was being. Soon she returned and handed him back his clothes.

"Here you go Ryoga."

"Thanks Ukyo. I owe you one" he pulled on his pants as he stood behind the rock.

Then he came back out to put on his shirt. Ukyo handed him his shoes just as Akane returned with the bottles.

"Okay Ukyo" Akane replied, "I've got them."

"Oh Akane!" Ukyo said loudly as she pushed Ryoga back behind the rock still holding his shirt, "Well done."

"What was that?"

"Uh what?" Ukyo replied playing dumb.

"I thought I saw" Akane scratched her head, "Maybe I'm going crazy."

"Yea. It's a possibility. I mean" Ukyo said, "This place can make you think you've seen a lot of things."

"That is true" Akane nodded as she began to fill up the bottles.

Ukyo glanced over her shoulder briefly and saw that Ryoga was dressing into his shirt as fast as he could. She nonchalantly picked up his shoes and tossed them to him. He caught them easily and ducked back down just as Akane capped the second bottle.

"All right Ukyo" Akane replied, "I'm finished."

"Okay. Uh. Then why don't you go back to the campfire?"

"Ukyo" Akane sighed, "Is there something going on?"

"No, no. Of course not" Ukyo shook her head, "You just need some rest. I'm sure Ranma would want you to" she added.

"Well now that you mention it" Akane nodded with a yawn, "I am a little tired."

"Good. You go on back and lie down" she pushed her forward gently.

"Okay. But what about you?"

"I'm right behind you sugar" Ukyo reassured her with a smile.

"All right" Akane nodded again raising her left eyebrow slowly as she left.

Ukyo waited till she was out of earshot and then turned completely around sighing in relief.

"Pss. Ryoga. Are you okay?"

"Yea" he nodded coming out completely dressed.

"Sorry again."

"That's okay."

"So tell me quickly. What happened? Where's Ranma honey?"

"We got separated. I think that creep sent some water after us. That's how we lost sight of each other. I have to get back and find him though. He's in his sweet girl form again."

"Oh no. Ranma's completely helpless in that form."

"I know. That's why I got to go back."

"Okay. I'll stay here and distract Akane. You go rescue Ranma."

"All right" he nodded preparing to depart.

"Oh and Ryoga."

"Huh?" he stopped and looked back.

"Be careful," she added, "And good luck!"

"Thanks" his eyes softened as she smiled and left the area.

He smiled himself and then ran back in the direction of the forest to rescue Ranma, determined more than ever to retrieve her.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay here's the first chapter of the week! See you all tomorrow for the next!

Next Chapter:

Chapter Eighteen: Heart to Heart

The whole gang minus Happosai, Cologne, Soun, and Genma reunite. But more than just seeing each other again will press Ranma to do something he has been longing to do. See what happens next time!