Chapter Nineteen: Hearing Dad's Side of the Story

Before leaving the rocky area Ranma and Akane came upon the pool with hot water once more. Ranma shook his head a bit angrily.

"Not much good if we have nothing to put it in," he replied.

"Ranma" Akane got his attention.

"Hmm?"

"Look" she pointed.

Sitting close to the pool by a pile of medium sized rocks was a large empty bottle. Ranma and Akane walked over cautiously to it before he picked it up.

"It's just like the room we were in before," he said.

"Mhm."

"I didn't think it did thisin the rest of the tower. Oh well. This helps us a lot."

"I'll say" she nodded as they walked back over to the water, "It's large enough to hold a whole lot of hot water."

"Yea. And from what Ryoga told me, my old man happens to be in his panda form."

"Do you think we're going to find them Ranma?"

"Oh you bet we're going to find them" he said crossly as he filled up the bottle, "We have to. They both have some explaining to do."

"That's true. But maybe there's more to the story then we've heard so far."

"Maybe" he nodded, "But I doubt it" he added topping the bottle with the cap, "Come on Akane" he took her hand as he carried the bottle in the other, "Not only do we have to find them, but the old freak and the old ghoul as well."

She nodded and then the two of them headed out of the rocky area and into another unknown part of the tower.

(Next Scene)

Ranma and Akane stared in awe at the height of the ceiling of the room they were now standing in. All around them were cylinder poles that were holding up the ceiling. The floor was covered with marble and there were many balconies that had seemed to have no entrance.

"What a very strange place" Ranma said scratching the back of his head.

"I'll say," Akane nodded, "Hey Ranma" she patted his shoulder, "Look up there."

"Where?" he asked leaning in closer to glimpse what she was pointing at.

"Those two poles in the distance that are standing five feet apart. Do you see what I see?"

"There's someone at the top of those things" Ranma said squinting.

"Do you think it could be?" she began catching her breath.

"It might" he nodded grabbing her hand, "Come on!" they ran fast towards the poles.

Sure enough as they reached the poles and looked up they confirmed their suspicions. Tied close to the top of each pole were Soun and Genma who was back in his human form. Their arms were stretched around and from what they could tell they both were unconscious.

"It is them" Akane breathed, "Dad!" she called.

"Hey pop!" Ranma shouted, "Old man! Wake up!"

"Dad!" Akane yelled, "Wake up!"

Soun's head raised and his eyes fluttered open at the sound of her voice.

"Akane?"

"Dad!"

He looked down and saw the two of them below looking up with worried expressions on their faces.

"Akane. Ranma. Saotome!" he called to his friend on the other pole.

"Mmm" Genma mumbled.

"Saotome wake up! Ranma and Akane are here."

"Ranma" Genma opened his eyes slowly, "Tendo."

"Look down!" Soun insisted.

Genma obeyed and saw his son staring back at him.

"Ranma!" he exclaimed.

"Hang on pop!" Ranma shouted, "I'll get you down."

"But Ranma" Akane said, "How are we going to do it? We don't have a ladder or anything."

"Mmm" Ranma looked around him, "There's got to be something. Oh wait. We're forgetting."

"Hmm?"

"Let's wish for something to help us."

"Good idea" she nodded, "Let's do it together" she took his hand much to the astonishment of both fathers.

A few seconds later a ladder appeared on either side of the two poles. Ranma and Akane smiled and then ran over to each ladder to climb up to their fathers. Ranma was the first to reach Genma and began to untie the ropes.

"Oh Ranma my boy. I am so happy to see you" Genma replied.

"Yea, yea, yea. Wish I could say the same pop" he added angrily.

"What do you mean?"

"We'll talk about that once I get you out of here" he said so finally that Genma shut his mouth and Ranma continued to release his father.

On the other pole Akane had successfully untied Soun and they were both climbing down. Ranma undid the last of Genma's ropes and then the two of them climbed down the pole. When they were all back on the ground, Akane once more returned to Ranma's side.

"Oh thank you son" Soun replied to Ranma as Genma joined him readjusting his glasses, "For saving us and protecting Akane."

"You did well my boy" Genma added, "But what's with you two?" he asked.

"Hmm?" they both looked at him.

"Why are you holding hands?"

"Uh. Wait a minute" Ranma shook his head, "I think we're the ones who should be asking the questions here pop."

"I have no idea what you're talking about" Genma shook his own head in denial.

"Don't play dumb with me old man" Ranma said angrily.

"Uh Saotome" Tendo moved closer to his friend, "I think they're angry with us."

"You think right dad" Akane nodded with a frown, "You two have a lot of explaining to do and right now."

"What she said," Ranma agreed crossing his arms.

"Well Saotome" Soun nodded slowly, "I guess we have no choice."

"Yes" Genma agreed with a nod, "That we don't Tendo. It's time we told them the whole story."

(Next Scene)

A couple of moments later they were all sitting down outside the unusual room. Ranma sat next to Akane as Soun began their story.

"It all happened about two months ago. Your father and I were traveling once more to gain Martial arts experience. But we were due to return. However as fate would have it, we ran out of food and funds" Ranma and Akane looked at each other with a roll of their eyes, "So when we arrived back in this part of Japan we were practically starving. We couldn't make it back to the dojo. There was no way."

"That's when we came upon this tower" Genma continued, " It was a strange place we had to admit. Since it was the only building in the area we resigned ourselves to finding some shelter and food before we moved on towards home. We knocked on the door and at first no answer came but then the doors swung open and we walked inside."

(Flashback)

"This place sure is creepy isn't Saotome?" Soun asked his friend as they walked in the empty building.

"You said it Tendo" Genma nodded, "Maybe we'd better take a rein check."

Suddenly from behind them a sharp wind blew and then there was a strange young man standing before them. His piercing blue green eyes took in their appearance and then softened.

"Forgive me gentlemen" he replied, "But it looks like you two need a place to stay and perhaps some refreshment."

(Back)

"Well we couldn't believe our luck. Here we were in this strange place" Genma said, "And there was a charming young man offering to give us the things we needed."

"Yea pop" Ranma nodded, "I've heard this part already. He gave you refreshment and then you two took advantage of him."

"No. No. That's not the way it happened" Soun interrupted.

"Okay dad" Akane replied, "Then how did it happen?"

"Well, he did offer us a place to stay and food to eat. And we accepted, graciously."

"Yes" Genma agreed.

"I'm not hearing the part where you guys willingly offered us up as a sacrifice," Ranma said sarcastically.

"We're getting to that" Soun held up his hand as Ranma crossed his arms, "Just hear us out."

"All right dad" Akane said, "Go ahead."

"Well we accepted his offer. That night we spent in the tower. But the truth is, it was so creepy that all we could think about was getting out of it. He wouldn't even let us share a room. Anyway the next morning we prepared to leave bowing graciously towards him and thanking him for all his hospitality."

"That's not the story we heard" Ranma shook his head, "Kinnosuke said that the two of you were less then grateful for what he had done for you."

"Well he lied" Genma protested, "You got to believe me boy!"

"It sounds just like you pop. You do stuff like that all the time."

"But Ranma" Akane interrupted before Genma could shout his protest once more, "My dad doesn't. Remember. I thought it was strange then too."

"You're right. Okay" Ranma said, "Let's say it did happen the way you said it, why would he say differently?"

"Well he'd want you to hate us" Soun replied.

"To keep us here?"

"Maybe. Who knows. All I know is, is that your father and I were just preparing to leave when he challenged us to a fight."

"Just an out an out challenge like that?"

"That's right" Genma nodded.

"And what did you say?" Akane replied.

"Well we had no choice. He said that if we didn't defeat him we couldn't leave. Right Tendo?"

"Yes absolutely" Soun nodded.

"Okay" Ranma nodded slowly beginning to understand the truth of the whole incident, "So he challenged you and you lost. Then what happened?"

"Well he threatened to imprison and kill us for losing the fight" Soun said.

"And then that was when you offered us?" Akane asked.

"No Akane" Soun shook his head, "You've got it all wrong. We did lose the fight but we never intentionally offered you."

"I don't understand" Ranma shook his head confused.

"Something strange happened. All of a sudden the room filled with this flowery scent and we breathed in thescent."

"Flowery scent?" Akane replied as she and Ranma looked at each other.

"Yes. It filled the room and then Kinnosuke started to ask all these questions about our family. Before I knew it, somehow I had said that I would give him my youngest daughter."

"And I suppose you did the same thing pop?" Ranma asked.

"Well he asked me if I had any daughters. But I told him I didn't" Genma said, "That I only had a son named Ranma and as soon as I said your name a strange look came into his eyes. I ended up telling him everything about you including your transformation and that was when he made me offer you up to him."

"He used the flowery scent to control the two of you and your own personal minds. Ranma" she turned to the boy, "It's just like what he did with you."

"You know what, I think you're right Akane. And if that's the truth of it all, what does he really want with me? And what does he really want with you?"

"I don't know."

"So you believe us then?" Genma asked.

"Well, I have to admit, he was pretty convincing" Ranma replied.

"Yea" Akane nodded, " If you say that is the way it happened, then I believe you dad."

"Oh Akane" he embraced his daughter, "I'm so glad that you're all right."

"Well Ranma" Genma said coming over to his son, "Do you believe me too?"

"Yea old man, I think I do" Ranma admitted with a half smile, "But I also think we need to get out of this place and back to the others. Who knows when he's coming back" he ran forward and took Akane's hand once more.

"Before we go" Soun stopped them, "Is there something going on with you two?"

"We'll explain later" Akane replied after looking at Ranma briefly, "Ranma's right.We need to get back."

"Let's go!" Ranma nodded and then the two of then began to run back in the direction they had come.

"Tendo" Genma took Soun's hands.

'Saotome!" Soun's eyes gleamed with tears.

"I think it's happening at last."

"I do believe you're right Saotome" Soun nodded as they ran after their children, "I do believe you're right" he added happily with a smile.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Three more chapters to go!

Next Time on Curse of Jusenkyo

Chapter Twenty: Coming Up With a Plan

The entire group is reunited and discovers that there is another secret to the mysterious tower. See what next time!

And

Chapter Twenty-One: Fake Surrender

In order to discover Kinnosuke's weakness Akane and Ranma return as prisoners to the mysterious room. Find out what happens next time!