Lost wanderings

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½.

….

Akane trudged to shore, her ankle chains slowing her down. More than once she tripped and almost face-planted in the sand. Not far from the beach was a road that looped toward the tree line. She made her way toward the road. Upon reaching the road she sat down, the salt and sand clinging to her skin uncomfortably. The sun was warm and Akane had to bask in it a few minutes to calm her raging thoughts. First things first, the ankle chains had to go, the sooner the better.

Now able to better examine her ankle chains, she found the metal coated in rust. Hoping this meant the metal was weakened, Akane looked around her for some large rocks. Unable to locate any on the beach she turned her attention toward the road. Akane tried to remember whether the right or the left led to the nearby fishing town. Mentally shrugging she stumbled her way to the left, her walk impeded due to the chains. When she was farther from the shore she managed to find rocks and successfully smashed the chain connecting her ankles in two. The cuffs still chaffed her ankles, but at least she could walk again. She would have to find some way to remove the cuffs later.

Akane continued down the road, convinced the village was just a little farther. As she walked exhaustion and hunger crept up on her. She found herself seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, only for nothing to be there.

She did not know how long she had walked when she saw the fellow traveler coming toward her. "Sir!" she yelled as she picked up her pace and jogged toward him. Akane felt a smile curling her lips, help was here at last.

The man jerked his head up, his hands on the cart he pulled slipping. Upon seeing Akane his eyes visibly widened and his breathing increased. Hastily he tightened his grip on his cart, bowed his head so his hat hid his face and continued forward.

"Sir!" Akane called again when she reached his side, but the nervous merchant averted his face and continued on. She stood still mystified and hurt at his behavior.

Akane stared after the merchant for quite a while after he left. She must look frightful to gain such a reaction. Akane grimaced, she certainly felt grimy, her clothes, skin and hair caked in salt, mud and sand sticking to her from the knees down. As soon as she had shelter and a hot meal, she resolved to take a nice long bath.

When the sun began to set and clouds started to move in Akane finally acknowledged that she had chosen the wrong direction. Exhausted, hungry and discouraged she sat down on the side of the road to ponder her next action. The bushes behind her shook far more than the slight breeze could account for. Standing up she watched them wearily.

"Is anyone there?" Akane asked, half expecting to scare whatever small critter rustled the bushes moments ago.

The bushes stood still, the woods were silent except for the growing wind that spoke of rain. Akane felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She stared into the growing darkness feeling strongly that she was being watched.

Making up her mind, Akane turned swiftly toward the road, and with a burst of adrenaline started to run. As she ran she felt the change come. Fur sprouted from her skin, she stumbled onto all fours as her limbs reshaped themselves, a tail sprouted from the end of her spine, and her canines grew. She didn't know when she stopped running any more than why she changed back into a shisa in the first place. She only knew that when she looked up, panting, fully shisa again, she saw a startled looking blindfolded woman. Her unnaturally pale, sickly features, long claws, and rancid stench identifying her as another shadow sprite, and the woman's coiled stance suggesting she was just about to pounce.

Akane blinked, the shadow sprite looked just as surprised as she felt. Her opponent recovered quickly, and hissed loudly at the shisa, before sprinting away to disappear in the shadows. After shaking her head, Akane took another look at her surroundings. This time she identified the cause of the rustling bushes and her heart leapt to her throat. Two ogres hid amongst the trees not ten feet from her, and another one was approaching from another side.

Akane let out a rumbling growl and the ogres retreated. So that was what she had noticed following her. A second thought sent her shaking, was this how Tofu was killed? The paralyzing tumble of emotions kept her shaking on the side of the road. What would have happened to her if she had not changed into a shisa? What was she supposed to do now, alone, cold, hungry, lost and in a body she did not recognize as her own?

The sky startled her out of her gloomy thoughts. As raindrops began to hit she shook herself and got up. Akane Tendo did not give up, and she would not let her situation get her down. She noticed the cuffs around her ankles were looser now with only her hock joint preventing them from falling off. After some wiggling, Akane slid the cuffs off entirely. Taking this as further encouragement, she raised her face to the sky and growled; if the Gods wanted to bring her down she would fight them until the very end.

Re-energized she continued down the road where she sensed a slight pull, away from the sea. Akane knew not what she would find, but was determined to overcome any obstacle that stood in her way.

….

Ranma stood dazed, watching the surreal scene in front of him. In very little time the Godling organized a travelling cart and secured a team of horses. What delayed their imminent departure were the servers who were supposed to be so devoted to their deity. The men bowed and simpered at the Godling's feet begging to join the party as proper guards and entourage. They protested the Godling's wish for Arata Hashira (a lowly apprentice) to be the only server, or indeed human companion, to accompany Him. Ryoga, the Amazons and the rest of the servers were to remain behind and guard the Temple-Palace. The other travelers, Ranma and Tofu, the servers did to not have a problem with, mainly because they seemed not to know what to make of the shisa, and Ranma was not sure if any of them could even see Tofu.

Even more astounding was that the puppet was not losing His temper with them. The puppet kept repeating how the servers alone were trust-worthy enough to keep His Temple-Palace safe and how His travelling party needed to stay small. Ryoga and Shampoo were complicating things by assuring the servers that they would go with the Godling, only the Godling kept telling Ryoga and Shampoo that they needed to stay as well. Mousse just stood back and observed the situation.

Tofu drifted over beside Ranma. "They certainly are stubborn. I never realized how difficult having worshipers could be."

Nabiki, on Ranma's other side, snorted and continued to watch morosely around her.

They watched as the puppet finally started to make progress when some of His servers decided that defending the home of a God was a worthy assignment. Arata and Kasumi stepped around the chaos carrying the last of the supplies. Ranma decided he had enough of the drama and followed them out. He was glad he no longer was forced to freeze in front of any of these people. Tofu trailed in his wake.

Kasumi was handing the supplies to Arata as he loaded them in the cart. The apprentice thanked her for her help. She turned toward the shisa and the guardian as they approached, her eyes drifted toward the later "Tofu…"

Tofu cleared his throat, "Kasumi…" he gestured to the side and the two walked off, speaking softly to each other.

Having no other distraction, Ranma jumped on the back of the chart. Arata jumped violently; nearly knocking the supplies off that he just placed on the cart.

"S-shisa! W-what do you want?"

Ranma cocked an eyebrow back at the young man. If he didn't feel so unsettled and anxious to go search for Akane, he probably would have had some fun with Arata's discomfort. Instead, tired of being called 'shisa' all the time, he introduced himself.

"Ranma…" Arata looked puzzled, "isn't that the name of…" he gestured vaguely toward the Temple.

Ranma scowled, "The Great One stole my body, and then turned me into a shisa along with Akane."

Arata's eyes widened, "Akane Tendo? She didn't die? She was the other shisa?" A joyous grin grew on his face. "The Great One really is merciful!"

When Ranma seemed unimpressed with the apprentice's reasoning the young man leaned in eagerly, "I had always wanted to devote my life to serving The Great One and helping others. Last month when Akane was sacrificed I was torn, how could the God I trusted and loved cause two other people to die meaninglessly? My superiors told me again and again it was for a greater purpose, but how was that still all right? But now, I know! You and Akane are both alive and well, saved by The Great One!"

Ranma found he had no response to him. He did not agree, but he didn't entirely disagree with Arata either. Ranma looked out toward the gate, wishing they were on the move already searching for Akane.

….

….

Happy Holidays.

It might have been a year since this was last updated, but fear not, it is not abandoned. Just don't hold your breath waiting for the next chapter.

I decided to change the genre from Supernatural/Romance to Supernatural/Adventure because the adventure is driving the plot more than the romance.