Chapter Twenty-One: Fake Surrender
Akane blinked fast as she took in what Ranma just said. Ukyo and the others minus Kuno and Kodachi listened in just as perplexed.
"Get ourselves captured again?" Akane repeated.
"Mhm" Ranma repeated quite sure of herself.
"But Ranma" Ryoga began, "What good would that do? You'd only be making things worse."
"Not necessarily" Ranma shook her head, "It's the best plan that I have come up with so far."
"Uh" Ukyo smiled a little as she looked at Ryoga who had a very confused expression on his face, "Walk us through it Ranma honey."
"It's simple" Ranma replied, "We play on this guy's ego. It's obvious that he thinks he's the best at everything. So we use that to our advantage."
"I don't understand Ranma" Akane shook her head.
"If we go back to the room and turn ourselves in Akane" Ranma continued, "And admit that we can't find our way out of here, he'll think he's won. That way his guard will be down."
"That's true" Ukyo nodded as Happosai and Cologne along with their fathers moved in closer to listen to Ranma's plan while Shampoo and Mousse continued their argument with the siblings.
"And" Ranma said with a finish, "That gives us an advantage to ask questions if we need to."
"What questions?" Akane asked.
"I got them all figured out."
"But Ranma" Genma replied, "Its dangerous going back to him. He's very powerful."
"I am aware of that pop. But he won't hurt me and Akane so long as we cooperate with him" she said as she crossed her arms.
"And the rest of us?" Cologne questioned.
"I'm sure we can convince him to leave you alone if we go back" Ranma said, "However" she looked at Soun and Genma as Akane nodded when she looked toward her.
"Yea, you're right" Akane agreed.
"Uh" Soun replied a bit worried, "However what?"
"We have to convince him that we're still mad at you two. That we still believe his version of the story."
"Oh. Won't he hurt us then?"
"No" Akane shook her head, "He won't. You're fathers after all. He knows we care about you deep down."
"I still don't understand how this is supposed to work?" Cologne replied as Ukyo and Ryoga nodded in agreement.
"How what work?" Shampoo asked finally coming over with Mousse since they had knocked out the Kuno siblings once more.
"Ranma and Akane are planning on turning themselves in" Happosai said with a frown, "I simply won't allow it" he crossed his arms.
"Grandfather Happosai?" Akane replied as he attached himself to her leg.
"Sorry you old letch" Ranma frowned removing him brusqly, "But you have no choice, "Old Ghoul. Shampoo. Mousse. I need you to take care of him" she handed him over to Mousse.
"I don't wanna! I don't wanna! I don't wanna!" Happosai whined as the three of them held him down.
"Don't you worry about a thing son-in-law" Cologne nodded, "We'll keep him here."
"Thanks" Ranma smiled and then turned to the others, "Ryoga, Ukyo. I'm counting on the two of you to look after things while Akane and I are away."
"No problem" Ryoga nodded.
"We'll handle things from here," Ukyo added.
"Okay. Akane" Ranma turned to her companion, "Let's go" she held out her hand to the still slightly confused girl.
"Okay" she nodded taking her hand.
"Ranma" Genma stopped the two in their tracks, "Be careful son."
"Yes" Soun nodded with tears in his eyes, "Look after my dear Akane."
"Don't worry Mr. Tendo" Ranma nodded with a smile, "Pop. I won't let you down," she said before the two of them dashed off in the direction of the mysterious room once more.
"It's all up to them now," Ryoga whispered as the whines of Happosai continued behind them.
"I guess so" Ukyo nodded, "But I have got a feeling that it is far from over."
(Next Scene)
For several hours Ranma and Akane retraced their steps throughout the tower. They found the field of flowers and managed to avoid the scent by walking around it, since it seemed like the incense was concentrated in the center of the field. They arrived at the rocky area where they had first seen Ryoga and Ukyo again. Finally they came upon the cavern with hot water pouring from the waterfall.
"Careful Ranma" Akane replied seriously since Ranma had told her his entire plan by this point, "Don't step in it."
"Don't worry. I have to be a girl right now after all" Ranma nodded jumping from each stone avoiding the water, "I'll be careful."
They located the crack on the other side and crawled through ending back in the garden outside the mysterious door.
"I guess we found our way back," Akane said.
"Looks like it" Ranma agreed after straightening her back.
"Ranma are you sure about this?" she said back worried.
"It's the only way Akane" Ranma said with a nod.
"But what if he turns you into the sweet girl."
"He won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm turning myself in. If I agree to what he asks of us he will have no need to turn me into that girl."
"But."
"Come on Akane" Ranma replied moving towards the door, "We have work to do."
Akane reluctantly followed her and waited as Ranma opened the large door. They stepped inside and noticed that they were once again in the blank paged room they had been only a day ago.
"Looks like we're back" Akane said with a sigh.
"Mhm" Ranma frowned, "And everything disappeared again."
"What do we do?"
"Start wishing. That's when everything appeared and he came into the picture remember."
"Right. Okay" Akane nodded and closed her eyes the same time Ranma did.
Within moments the room was filled as it once was. The bed, carpets, bath area, and dressing table had all returned. The large packages tied up with ribbons also returned but this time they were stacked together on the sidewall where the table of food also appeared.
"We'll it's all here" Akane replied looking around her, "Where is he?"
A light wind blew around the room and Ranma started to make out a silhouette that had appeared at the front of the door.
"He's come," she whispered with a frown to her companion.
(Next Scene)
Kinnosuke stared back at the two girls a bit surprised to see them. His eyes focused on them as they stared back and then moved even further into the room.
"I'm surprised to see that you're both here" he replied, "In fact I was surprised to see that the magic in this room was working once more. Why have you both come back? And in your girl form no less Ranma?" he added to the redhead.
"Well" Ranma took her cue, "The truth is, Akane and I found our fathers in the tower and they confirmed everything you said" she lowered her eyes angrily, "They told us word for word that they had sold us out to you."
"Needless to say" Akane said just as angrily but with sad eyes, "To find out the truth devastated us. To think our own fathers did that to save themselves. Ranma and I didn't know what to do after that point."
"But didn't you find the rest of your companions as well?" Kinnosuke asked quite surprised.
"Oh we found them all right" Ranma, "In fact they're the reason we came back in the first place."
"I don't understand" Kinnosuke shook his head.
"It's always the same. Whenever Akane and I are together, there is such chaos" Akane nodded, "Whether it's from Kuno or his crazy sister. Shampoo or Mousse. Even Ukyo and Ryoga. None of them want Akane and I to be together."
"So Ranma and I came to a decision" Akane continued convincingly, "There is only one way for us to be together. Even though before we might have been against it, the only way is if we surrender to you. We both will be girls but we can both be together."
"Right" Ranma nodded, "And I. I'd rather us be together this way then no way at all."
"I see" Kinnosuke replied with a grin, "But are you certain Ranma Saotome? I mean you would never be a man again."
"I'm positive" Ranma nodded again, "However I do have" she took Akane's arm, "We have, two conditions if we agree to what you want."
"Yes. I'm listening?"
"One. That I will remain in my girl form but you must allow me to keep my real self."
"What do you mean?" Kinnosuke asked.
"I want Ranma to be Ranma" Akane answered, "Not that sweet girl you try to make. You have to let him stay himself as a girl."
"All right" Kinnosuke nodded, "And your second condition?"
"Our family and friends" Ranma began, "I know they bother us. And right now we're absolutely furious with all of them. But we ask if you please don't harm them."
"Yes please" Akane begged, "Don't hurt them in any way."
"And these are the only conditions you have?"
"That's it" Ranma said as Akane nodded, "You give us those conditions and we will stay here with you forever. After all, it is the only way for Akane and me to be together."
Kinnosuke paused and then looked at them both directly before clearing his throat.
"As per your request about your family and friends, I have no object. I will not harm any of them."
"Oh thank you" Akane replied appreciatively.
"The first condition, however I am a bit concerned though. Ranma, are you really certain this is what you want? I was under the impression that you wanted to be a guy more than anything."
"Well" Ranma nodded somberly, "That was the way it used to be, but I've realized especially in this tower, that my guy form is nothing but trouble. And now the only important thing to me is that Akane and I be together. I don't mind being a girl forever. I know I will lose Akane as my fiancée, but" Ranma sighed, "At least I won't lose her as my companion. I will agree to stay here as a girl as long as you don't change my personality. Other then that I have no objections."
Kinnosuke smiled and then nodded.
"Neither do I. I will grant your request. You both will remain together. The ceremony for our uniting will take place in ten days. I'm sure you're both aware that we have arrived in China now and we're only days away from our destination."
"Okay then" Akane and Ranma nodded, "Ranma and I shall remain in this room until we arrive."
"Very good. Everything you need is here" he replied happily as he smiled even wider, "I have also added some wings outside your door for you to explore your new home. I will see you both later. Good night" he disappeared still smiling.
"Uh" Ranma frowned, "Creep" she huffed.
"Ranma" Akane said slowly.
"Hmm?"
"That stuff you said back then, did you mean all that?"
"What?"
"About your guy form being so much trouble? You sounded so convincing."
"Well Akane" Ranma sighed placing her hands behind her head, "It's not like it's never crossed my mind before."
"Really?"
"Yea, but it was just a brief thought. That's what I thought of when I was just doing that speech just now. Relax Akane" she smiled when she saw her worried expression, "I didn't mean anything I said just now. Not really. You were pretty convincing too."
"Well you said I had to be. So what's the next part of your plan?"
"My next part" Ranma frowned as she sat down on the bed, "Is to find out everything I can about this Kinnosuke."
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! I am finally going to finish Series One today! See you all later for the last chapter!
Next Chapter: A New Discovery
Ranma and Akane explore the new wings of the tower and she finds something that may link Kinnosuke to Jusenkyo. Find out what happens next time!
