Escaping the Inescapable (Re-Written)

by Studdevil

Ranma's Plan and Ryoga's Fear (part 2)

"I think I've got a plan to get out" Ranma stated to the entire room. "But Ryoga 'aint gonna like it..."

"Ranma think of plan already? You too too smart!" The amazon screamed from the other side of the room.

The Tendo girl glared across the room. "What is it Ranma?" She asked.

"Well, um... I need to talk to the pig first." Ranma tried to sound innocent.

Silence.

The girl cocked her head to the side. "P-chan...?" She asked questioningly.

"Yeah." The Ranma repeated. "I need to talk to him." Akane looked at him strangely and shrugged.

"Whatever. Go see Ranma P-chan..." Akane said in disappointment.

The pig squealed and slowly plodded over to the now standing girl, leaving small footprints in the dirty stone floor.

The red-haired girl reached down and grabbed the little pig by the head. "Listen Ryoga" Ranma whispered, "I've got a plan but you need to cooperate."

The small piglet nodded it's head in acknowledgment. Akane rolled her eyes.

Still speaking quietly enough so only the pig heard him, Ranma told him the plan he had formed in his mind. The pig's eyes shot open wide.

"Ow! Stupid pig! Ya don't hafta bite! That's the only way!" The pig shook it's head rapidly with tears flying from it's eyes.

Akane rose. "What did you do to him Ranma! Come here P-chan.." The small pig looked over behind him, then back at Ranma. His head sunk.

"She's gonna find out sooner or later. Mighta's well be now." Ranma encourages. "It's the only way to save us all. Do you want us all to die down here in this hell hole?"

Akane jumped up and slid in between the two. "Stop it! Ranma! Find out what! P-chan can't talk!"

"As far as you know.." Ranma mumbled under his breath. The pig shed a few tears then slowly squeezed out of the metal cage.

"Where's P-chan going?" Akane demanded. She watched along with the other people occupying the room.

"I'm sorry Ryoga.. But it has to be you... Shampoo can't do this..."

The pig gave one last look at his beloved then continued to the middle of the circular room. He looked at the lantern that sat on the ground. He wondered how long that thing had been burning. The oil hadn't been changed in a while so he should probably hurry.

"Here pig." Ranma said as he threw some wooden boards from the crates next to the now bawling pig. Slowly, the small pig pushed his nose against the cold wooden chips of the crate and formed a small circle of wood.

"Looks good Ryoga.. Just finish it up.."

"Ranma..? What is P-chan doing?" Her eyes glinted curiosity. Ranma didn't answer. She kept her eyes on the black pig. "Ranma!"

"Shh! Just watch." The girl said as she turned her head back to watch the small pig, who was staring back at him.

"Oh.. Here ya go." Ranma reached back into the crate and pulled out one of the jars that had managed to survive the blow of his fist. He slowly pushed the jar through the strong bars, making sure it would not break and rolled it across the hard ground to the small pig.

The pile of wood was a good two feet away from the small jail that was holding Ranma and Akane. The pig had trouble seeing what he was doing because of the tears that were pouring from his eyes and blurring his vision. There were now small puddles forming on the dirt ground below him. The boy turned pig was doing his job as slowly as he possibly could. He wanted to savor the taste of Akane's love for a few more minutes. Over behind him was a girl who cared for him. But she didn't see him as him, but as a pig. As a pet. That alone, and how much he wanted to see her safe, was the only thing that kept the poor boy going.

The small oinker pushed his small, moist nose up against the rather large, glass jar filled with water and pushed it towards the few chunks of wood. It now rested in the center of the ring of wood.

Akane couldn't take it anymore. She had to know what was going on. "Ranma." She put a nice voice on. "Please tell me what P-chan is doing." She said it in her sweetest voice.

"Trust me Akane. You wouldn't believe me if I told you." "I wonder how she'll take it... I think Ryoga will be glad those bars are between him and Akane. Still... I just can't help feeling sorry for him."

The pig, still crying his heart out while gaining sympathetic looks from Akane, headed towards the lamp. It was a basket shape, with a handle connecting to each side held a candle that was fed by a flask of oil.

To everyone else still locked in the cages, the candle was merely for light. To Ranma it was there ticket out of there. To Ryoga it was pain, depression, and misery. Ryoga had two choices. He could knock the candle out and save everyone, but have Akane find out about him. Or he could refuse and watch everyone and his beloved die in front of him. He naturally had to go with saving them. In another day, everybody would be close to death. They had been deprived of food and water for so long. The water was now no longer a problem, but they all felt like heaving from lack of food.

The small pig pushed his nose against the lamp that was sitting on the floor, and began to push it towards his makeshift campfire. The pig let out a yelp of pain from how hot the lamp was, causing Akane to become more worried for her little piggy.

He sucked up the pain and kept pushing. It took forever. Every moment in the musty, dark room was like a lifetime. He finally reached over to the wooden pieces and the glass jar. He carefully began to tip in over slightly, causing the small candle to slide to the side of the small lantern type object.

The candle continued to slide over to the side, easily because of the roundish shape of the lamp. Then with a small plop, the candle landed beside the mess of splintered twigs and planks of wood.

Ranma looked over at Akane, who was dumbfounded. "She's probably wondering how the stupid pig got so smart." Ranma thought.

She just sat there on her knees, with her knuckles planting firmly onto her skirt covering the tough, dirty ground, staring in awe. The pig had now pushed the candle under a few of the splinters and was watching them slowly engulf in fire.

He smiled at his accomplishment but then thought of how much misery this was going to bring him.

All the times he had snuggled with her, watched her bathe (while trying not to look). Heck, he had even slept with her. A tinge of guilt shot straight through his body. He had to do this for her. To make up for it all. Even if she finds out... She deserves to know.

The fire had now caught on to the other half and was beginning to grow stronger. A few bubbles rose from the bottom of the glass and hurried to the top to where the air was.

The pig had been watching the worried girl the whole time. Never keeping his bulgy white eyes off her. This was, and always had been his worst nightmare.

The bubbles start to increase, rising quicker. "It's good enough now pig." Ranma stated, gaining a mean glare in between tears. 'I'm doing this for them, so why is he being mean to me?' Was something around what the cute little pig was thinking.

"Okay, I'm sorry." Ranma whispered to him, now feeling bad for him.

Meanwhile in the other side of the room:

The amazon girl reached a long slender hand to her eye and picked some crust out of it and flung it across the cage. An incredibly bored expression now shown on her face because of the small fire across from her, left her wondering why she was placed in the same cage as a weird man she barely remembers. She would much prefer to be with her airen. She glanced at the old man she could barely remember. He was snoring. "How he sleep at time like this?" Then, turning her attention to the other side of the jail room. "You done with getting us out plan yet?" The bored girl asked. She glared at everyone as they continued to ignore her.

Back on Ranma's side:

The pig, now not sure how to get the now heated water out from the flames, charged through and pushed it out. He went so quickly that the flames didn't even singe a single hair, but almost knocked the bottle over. He quickly caught his breath and turned around and started to back up and push the hot bottle toward Ranma's reaching hand.

"I can't believe you Ranma!" The Tendo girl half screamed. "You made P-chan do all of that work just so you can be a guy again!"

Ranma, now wet again, but male, turned to face her. "It's not just for me." Which earned him an odd look.

"Who else would it be for Ranma...? The young girl pondered.

Ranma, still holding the warm bottle in his right hand began to speak to her. "Akane. Ya might wanna close your eyes."

The girl cocked her head. "Hell no I'm not closing my eyes. Whatever you're gonna do, do it!"

"Ok, ok! Jeez..." With that Ranma squeezed the open jar through the bars and over the small pig.

The pig, claws clenching the ground and crying, stood still awaiting his fate.

"I'm sorry Ryoga..." He quickly tipped the jar of warm water over the small pig's head as Akane watched in horror as her beloved "P-chan" began to grow. His arms became larger and more muscular. His legs did the same. His chest expanded along with the legs and arms. His head grew and took on more human features. His entire body changed from black to a nice tan instantly.

Now standing before everyone, where a small pig once was, stood a boy. The boy looked down at himself, half ashamed because of Akane, and because he was now naked for all eyes to see. A small blush came up but it was not seen because of the darkness.

All eyes were on Akane. She stared up and down, looking at the boy, not believing what she was seeing. One of the few people she really trusted, or thought she trusted was standing before her now. She tried to say something but it didn't come out.

The boy looked at the ground, determined not to look up at the staring faces. His job still wasn't done. He still needed to get everyone out.

The hard part was done. Now all that's left is the easy part. He sighed a few times and tried to cover up his nakedness. He still refused to look at her.

End of Chapter Five

All flames will be used to light fires to make hot water for sad piggies:)

I thank everyone that has reviewed! The Almighty Hachu, Black Kitsuna , and Rabid Badger. I appreciate you all!

See ya!

Studdevil