Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma ½ or any of its characters

10 days ago…(after Ryoga's ill fated encounter with a boulder)

Ryoga huffed in exasperation. The warm orange hues of sunset had long ago disappeared, replaced by an intermittent moonlight that filtered down through the canopy and speckled the ground in eerie patterns. He was still here though, in this god-forsaken forest, feeling even more lost than usual. He didn't even know how the latter part was possible.

He Looked around again and let out another huff.

Just trees, trees and more trees. He really was beginning to hate trees.

He wasn't usually so bothered about getting lost in a forest. It happened all the time, but not in a place like this. This place gave him the creeps. The giant Redwoods, the only trees that seemed to grow here, created hauntingly empty corridors that seemed to stretch on forever. Each corridor was identical to the next and led to nowhere. And apart from the occasional rustling of leaves, as a wandering wind drifted through the treetops, the forest was still and deathly silent. No crickets, no bats, no birds, no nothing. The whole place seemed unnatural.

A fallen twig snapped loudly under his own foot, seeming like a gunshot in the heavy silence. Startled, he whirled round instinctively, ready for an attack from behind.When he realized there was nothing there he let out a sigh of relief and let his muscles relax. Looking down at his boots and the snapped twig he gave a thoughtful frown. It was probably wise to set up camp now and wait for daybreak, before he started getting paranoid visions of monsters skulking in the shadows. This place would probably look a lot less creepy in daylight.

'Looks likes it gonna be another night alone, just me and the…' He looked skywards only to be reminded the stars were currently unavailable for gazing.

He muttered a curse.

'Guess it's just me then.' He amended in a deflated tone as he shrugged off his backpack.

He turned around to take out his sleeping bag, but something he glimpsed in the corner of his eye caught his attention; a bright yellow speck. He turned back and looked at it straight on, blinking a few times to make sure he was seeing right.

It was very small but it was definitely there. Was it a light? There was no other explanation. But then what was it doing way out here in the middle of the forest?

Thoughts of sleep were quickly forgotten when it dawned on him that this could be a sign of nearby civilisation. Maybe he was closer to the edge of the forest than he had previously thought. This light could be his one-way ticket out of here.

Whilst keeping his eyes firmly on the light he reached behind him for his backpack and pulled the straps back onto his shoulders. Standing up slowly he let out a slow calming breath. He had to be extremely careful not to loose track of the light for even a moment, else he knew he would loose it forever.

He began to walk, each step slow and calculated.

"You can make it," he muttered to himself resolutely.

The light was straight ahead, all he had to do was put one foot in front of the other and he would reach it eventually. Of course it was easier said then done. Even with his first few paces he could feel something inside him trying to subvert his every step, make him place his foot slightly to the right or slightly to the left. It was like an itch that grew in size the longer he kept walking in the right direction. He had to struggle against it with every ounce of willpower he possessed. Perspiration had already begun to collect on his brow as Ryoga waged an internal war.

Twenty minutes later, feeling mentally exhausted, he wiped the stinging sweat from his eyes and found the light had adopted a square shape. It was only a hundred or so yards away now and he could tell for sure that it from a window. He was filled with a sense of euphoria.

He hadn't gotten lost.

A wild grin broke out on his face. He had to fight back the urge to simply start running. It was so close.

But the euphoria didn't last though. How could it?

One blink was all it took. One blink and it was gone.

He stared down the corridor and where once there had been light he saw only an endless darkness. Coming to a complete standstill, he looked about frantically, not wanting to believe what his eyes were telling him. He spun around three hundred and sixty degrees, but no matter the direction in which he looked there was no sign of the window.

He bowed his head and stared dejectedly at the damp decaying leaves strewn across the ground beneath him. Taking slow calming breaths, he tried to reign in his emotions.

He couldn't do it though.

In an instant his face contorted into a mask of rage as he charged forward and drove his fist into a tree, splintering straight through the wood.

He had worked so hard for this; he had been so patient, he had been so careful. All for fucking nothing.

He closed his eyes and screamed, unable to stem the flow of negative emotions as he slammed his fist into the tree again. The tree decided it had enough, and with a creak and a resonating snap, it fell.

More than anything, he was angry with himself. He should have known better. Life had baited him once again, and he had fallen for it hook, line and sinker.

He could just picture Ranma laughing at him now.

He struck out again blindly but this time his fist found nothing but air. Stumbling forward with momentum of his unconnected punch, he fell unceremoniously to his hands and knees. He opened his eyes and looked up and came upon an unexpected sight.

'Huh?'

He was in a small clearing, in the centre of which sat a small white cottage. The clearing was just a little larger than the cottage itself and the cottage had a single window from which it was emitting light. Was this the window he had been chasing? He looked around suspiciously, expecting for the place to disappear at any given moment. He almost didn't believe it was actually here in front of him.

How exactly had he gotten here? He had been standing in front of a tree one moment and the next moment he was in this clearing. Trees didn't just move, and there had been no sign of this place before.

He puzzled over it for all of ten seconds until he realized it was probably just an extension of his ability to get lost. The irony of it was almost enough to make him laugh. Almost.

He got up warily and brushed himself off, picking off the wet leaves that had managed to stick themselves to his person.

Well, this wasn't the town or village he had hoped for but at least it was something. He moved to the door, which was a bit small, not reaching above his shoulders in height, and knocked on its wood grained surface.

After a few long moments the door opened and he was greeted by the sight of a small and wrinkled woman that reminded him of Cologne. Though perhaps this woman was not so small and wrinkled in comparison.

'Why hello there, can I be of assistance?' she asked cheerfully.

'I was wondering if you could tell me which way Tokyo is?'

The woman chuckled in obvious amusement and Ryoga felt more than a little embarrassed. No doubt he was a long, long way from Tokyo.

'I think it's only polite that you tell me your name before you ask something of me.' She chided.

'Oh...uh sorry,' he bowed slightly. 'Ryoga Hibiki'

The woman smiled warmly in response, wrinkling her face even more.

'Marla. Why don't you come in for a bit and I shall tell you where you're Tokyo is' She lingered a moment longer at the doorway and gave him an appraising look before disappearing into the dimly lit house, leaving the door open.

Ryoga chose to ignore the voice in the back of his head that said this was too good to be true and silently thanked the heavens for his good fortune. He ducked his head low and followed her inside, leaving his shoes and backpack by the entrance. Once inside the sparsely decorated hallway, he waited for her invitation to come further into the house, not wanting to impose on her hospitality.

'Well come in then, you're not going to achieve anything by standing there.'

Ryoga made his way slowly into the room the voice had come from. It was a living room of sorts, small and cosy, complete with a log fire and two old wicker chairs sitting in front of the fireplace. And in between the chairs sat a low mahogany table.

The old woman shuffled back into the room through another doorway, carrying a wooden tray laden with what looked like tea and biscuits.

'Take a seat, I've made us some tea'

Ryoga frowned, wondering just how she had produced the tea so quickly.

She gave him a knowing smile, as she put the tray down on the small table

'I was just making some tea for myself when u knocked, but I always make more than enough for two,'

'Oh, I wasn't really planning on staying for long'

'Oh' she responded, her voice heavy with disappointment.

He sighed in resignation.

'But I guess I'm in no big hurry to get anywhere,'

'Splendid!' she clasped her hands together and her expression lifted.

He took a seat opposite her and waited for her to pick up her cup of tea befure he picked up his. He studied the her for a moment as she blew gently into her tea. Her white hair was tied back severely into a bun and she wore simple black dress that looked like it had seen better days. He wondered just how she had come to live out here.

'Do you live here by yourself?'

'I do. Why do you ask?'

'Well, its just…' he trailed off, biting the corner of his lower lip with one of his fangs, unsure of how to phrase what he wanted to say.

'Just?'

'Just,' he paused 'It's not that you can't take care of yourself, but you sure its wise to let strangers into your home?'

'Is there some reason I shouldn't have let you in?' she drew back into her chair and narrowed her eyes at him.

'No!' he said hastily 'you misunderstand I'm not…'

Ryoga didn't finish as she began to chuckle. It quickly dawned on him that he was the butt of another joke.

'I'm only teasing. Thank you for your concern though; I shall consider your advice. It's just hard for me not to jump at the chance for a friendly conversation. I hardly ever get any visitors'

Ryoga sank back into his chair, thankful for not having to deal with an awkward situation.

'I don't suppose you would, living out here' It seemed like such a dark and desolate place for such a nice person to live 'why do you live out here anyway?'

A sad smile graced her face, and Ryoga knew he had asked the wrong question.

'Sorry. It's none of my business,'

She looked at him and sighed.

'It's alright, it's not your fault for asking.' For a while her eyes looked distant and Ryoga wandered if she was going to say anything else. Finally, as the silence grew uncomfortable, she spoke 'I live out here because I have no family left, and I find myself ill at ease with the rest of humanity.'

For a brief moment Ryoga thought he could see the loneliness etched in the features of her face, but even if was there it was quickly covered up by a bright smile.

"Enough of such talk; this is a happy occasion. Why don't you tell me about yourself and your travels?' she asked firmly, as if to banish all gloominess from the room.

'What would you like to know?' asked Ryoga, a little taken aback by the quick change in demeanour.

'What is it you do for a living?'

'Well I don't have a job as such.'

'Oh?'

'I mean I don't really need the money, I've been travelling for years and I'm pretty used to just living off the land.' He reached forward and grabbed another ginger biscuit. 'Whenever I do need money though, I take on odd jobs in the places I pass through. You know, fixing fences, digging ditches, tiling roves. Whatever's available really? Guess you could call me a manual labourer.' He said with a wry smile, deciding not to mention the several jobs he'd had recently that involved demolition.

'My, you sound like a very independent young man! Are you going to travel all your life?'

He looked down into his nearly empty cup of tea, feeling a lot of the good cheer leaving him as he thought about his future with the family curse. Most of the time he tried not to think too much about the future.

'Hope not, but it's in my blood to travel. I don't know if I'll ever really be able to settle down'.

'Oh hush! All you need is a nice girl. That'll get you over your wanderlust.'

Ryoga didn't have it in his heart to disagree, she sounded too happy, and so he just looked up and forced a smile.

'You know, when I was young I used to travel quite a bit too.' She said with pride. 'I made my money by fortune telling, but I guess your generation doesn't believe in any of that nonsense.'

Ryoga shrugged his shoulders. 'I haven't dismissed it entirely'

'In that case, would you care to give me your hand? I specialized in reading palms'

Ryoga leaned forward and presented her with his hand, palm face up.

She took it with her worn bony hands and looked at it closely, running her fingers across its creases and bringing it to within centimetres of her face.

She looked at it for a good long while, making Ryoga more and more curious as to what exactly she could see in the disorderly crisscross of lines that ran across his palm. He knew it was probably just another device in the fortune-teller act, but it still worked on him.

'Hmmmm,' she said finally, causing Ryoga to nearly fall out of his chair.

'Five minutes of examination and all she has to say is 'hmmm'' he thought dryly.

'What is it?' he asked, trying to elicit an explanation.

She raised her head and looked him dead in the eyes.

'You are going to lead a miserable life', she told him flatly.

'Huh?' He'd expected to hear something upbeat. After all it wasn't like fortune-tellers to discourage their customers. He had NOT expected to hear THAT.

'And once you reach the end of your miserable life you will die the same way that you lived, alone and unloved,' she added, before giving him a malevolent smile.

Ryoga stood up, knocking his chair over and moving away from her.

'What the hell kind of fortune telling was that?'.

She waved her hand dismissively. 'Oh don't get your panties in a twist'

He continued to stare her down, waiting for an explanation.

She rolled her eyes at him and sighed. 'I just told you how I saw it Ryoga. I could have lied to you and told you you'd have a happy life full of love and justice' she smirked. 'But I figured you deserved the truth'.

'Bullshit! You can't actually tell the future!'

'Sure, if that makes you feel better, you just go ahead and believe that. But ask yourself this; what kind of old lady has tea at' she paused and looked at the wall, causing Ryoga to follow her gaze and spot a clock on the wall' 'one in the morning. Truth be told, I knew you were coming and I was prepared.'

Ryoga stumbled as he backed away further and collided with a shelf on the wall, sending it crashing to the floor with its contents. If she knew he was coming did that mean she really could see the future? If so, that would mean… NO. He didn't believe in this shit! She was playing mind games with him.

"To hell with you and your tricks. I'm leaving," He announced with disdain before whirling around to make his exit.

He sweat-dropped and pointed to the wall, the door was gone.

He turned slowly and looked around the entire room. There were no longer any doorways leading in, or out for that matter. Ryoga got an unpleasant sinking feeling in his gut.

Marla gave him an amused look.

'I'm afraid you won't be leaving for a while dear'.

Ryoga snorted. 'It takes more than that to stop me.'

He turned back to the wall and jabbed his finger against it, using the breakpoint technique. He waited for the explosion of masonry debris that was to follow.

Nothing happened.

He could hear the woman begin to laugh behind him.

Gritting his teeth in determination he jabbed his finger into the wall again. The execution of the move was flawless but the results were the same.

'Tut tut tut, trying to destroy a poor old lady's home, what would your mother say?'

Ryoga roared in frustration and turned round to face his tormentor.

'Just what the hell are you? A witch a demon?'

'Neither'

'Then what?'

She brought her index finger to her lips and tilted her head in mock contemplation

'Hmm, that's a hard one. I guess, if you wanted to call me something, you could call me a forest spirit.' she said with an evil smirk.

All the righteous anger drained out of Ryoga and he gulped. He'd heard too many folk tales during his travels concerning evil forest spirits that subjugated young men to satisfy their wicked desires.

'What do you want with me?' he asked nervously.

She took another sip of her tea as if the whole situation was inconsequential.

'You entered my forest, which means I get to play with you'

Ryoga went deathly pale, his mind gripped by absolute terror. Images of a very wrinkled and very naked Marla, cackling and brandishing a bullwhip, flashed through his mind.

He felt like he might throw up but he managed to draw himself unsteadily into a battle stance. He would not be taken alive.

Marla simply looked up at him and rolled her eyes again.

'Why don't you sit down?' It was more of a command than a question and much to his dismay he found his body decided to obey. He walked back to his chair, righted it and took a seat. His sense of panic reached epic proportions as he realized he had no control whatsoever over the situation.

Marla shook her head and sighed.

'Calm down Ryoga, I have no desire for your body'

Ryoga let out a deep breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. Anything was better than that fate.

Ryoga was about to ask again what she wanted with him, but a hand motion from her silenced him. It felt like his lips were glued tightly together. For a moment he panicked, thinking he wouldn't be able to breathe, but then he remembered he had a nose and felt rather foolish.

'Now Ryoga, down to business. If you behave and answer all my questions honestly, like a good boy, I'll let you go free. I'll even give you a parting gift. If, on the other hand, you try to be difficult, you will never again set foot outside this forest because I'll turn you into a mushroom. Do I make myself clear?'

Ryoga simply nodded.

'Now' she poured herself another cup of tea ' you may not know anything about me, but I know an awful lot about you, so don't you get it into your little head to lie to me'. She finished refilling her cup and looked enquiringly towards him 'Would you like a refill?'

Ryoga shook his head as he stared sullenly at the tea and biscuits. They were probably laced with the potion or spell she had used to gain control of his body. He was way too trusting.

'Suit yourself.'

She took a sip of her tea all the while keeping her eyes locked with his. He felt very uncomfortable under her scrutiny but didn't dare look away. She made another hand gesture and he felt his lips unsealed 'So tell me Ryouga, what makes a real man?'

As he tried to come up with an answer there was really only one word that came to him.

'Honour'

'Bingo' she said in a manner that made him think of a cat that had cornered a mouse.

Why did he have really bad feeling about this?

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Present….

Ranma awoke to the sound of an insistent knocking.

For a few seconds he wondered where the knocking was coming from.

Was it coming from the ceiling?

No, it isn't coming from above.

In fact it was coming from the door to his left, and it was accompanied by Nabiki's slightly irritated voice.

'Ranma?'

'What dya want?' he asked, stifling a yawn.

'Whatever it is you and Ryoga-kun are doing in there,' she said with a suggestive lilt to her voice 'I hope it's worth missing dinner over.'

Ranma then heard her footsteps leading her away.

His not yet fully lucid mind slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Him…Ryoga…dinner…

Dinner!

He sat up quickly. How long had they been in here? The water wasn't even warm anymore.

He looked over at Ryoga who still had his eyes closed and head leaning back against the edge of the furo. He poked Ryoga in the forehead with his index finger, but there was no reaction.

Yep, he's asleep.

Reaching down into the water, he cupped some of the liquid in his hands and splashed it over Ryoga's face.

Ryoga woke up spluttering.

'What's going on?' he asked, sounding rather disgruntled.

'Dinner time, we gotta go'.

Ryoga groaned and sank deeper into the water.

'Can't I just stay here?'

'Nope'.

'But I'm not hungry' he protested.

'Doesn't matter, you still gotta eat something.' Ranma started to lift himself out of the water, but was stopped by Ryoga grabbing his arm.

He turned and looked enquiringly at the lost boy.

Ryoga nodded down at the water.

Ranma followed Ryoga's line of sight and found himself wondering what exactly he was staring at. There was something glowing beneath the surface of the water where his and Ryoga's feet met. It was a pale green and encompassed the area the size of a football.

'What the hell is that?' he muttered to himself as he sank back into the water, temporarily distracted from the prospect of food.

'How am I supposed to know?' Ryoga snapped.

Ranma rolled his eyes at Ryoga and decided to investigate for himself. He moved forward in order to stick his hand in the water. However, as soon as he moved, the glow disappeared.

'Strange,' he mumbled 'it's gone.'

'Move your foot back.'

Ranma looked back at Ryoga and gave him quizzical look.

'Just shut up and do it'

So Ranma did. He slid his foot forward so it was again in contact with Ryoga's, the glow immediately returned.

'What the…' Ranma trailed off, unable to think up a reasonable explanation for what he was seeing. This had never happened before. He looked up to see what Ryoga's reaction was but the other boy was still transfixed, staring intently at the spot in the water.

Ranma's stomach rumbled, and he was again reminded ofwhat they were in danger of missing.

'We can figure this out later' He hurriedly climbed out of the furo.'If we don't get there quick, Pops is gonna eat all the food.'

Ryoga followed Ranma out of the water, albeit at a much slower pace. He sported a look of reluctance as he caught the set of clothes Ranma threw at him.