Ranma ½ doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the great Rumiko Takahashi, if I did own do you think I'd be here right now?
-/-
"What's your name?" the young man asked.
"Kimiko," was the girl's simple reply.
"No last name?" He received a shake of the head from the girl. "Well Kimiko, I'm – "
"I know who you are," she interrupted. "Everyone knows who you are. You're the Fire Lord, Soun Tendo."
"And everyone knows who you are too. You're that famous thief." He thought for a moment. "Strange name for a thief."
Kimiko ignored that last remark. "I've become famous?"
"Yes you have," he stuck a crystallized comb in her long curly hair. "No wonder you steal, these treasures suit you perfectly."
She took the comb out of her hair and studied the ruby Phoenix.
"What is this place?" Soun asked, changing the subject.
The breeze lifted her hair to fly behind her; she tucked a strand behind her ear. A look of peacefulness over came her features as she stared longingly at the clearing they were standing in. "My paradise."
Soun awoke from his dream by a knock and found that he was not standing in a clearing with a girl and instead lying in bed alone. Another knock sounded and he groggily pulled himself out of bed. He popped his sore muscles that were rearranged from sleepy on them. Another irritated knock came. He sighed and opened the door to find a tired and upset servant on the other side.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you Soun-Sama but your youngest is here with guests."
Surprise sparked Soun's dull and tired eyes. "What? Where is she?"
"They're waiting in the guest wing."
"Alright, I'll be there in a moment." He shut the door, not waiting for a response, and got dressed in his muddy green training gi.
The halls were bustling with activity, people were on their guard ever since the kidnapping and everyone was thinking up strategies to get their Lord back. Soun truly missed her and he blamed himself for not being careful enough. Someone should always be watching the Light Lord at all times.
He turned to corner to the guest wings and one of the walls was blasted into splinters. Soun froze and so did everyone else in the hallway. The dust settled slightly and you could see the silhouette of a boy and a fireball cut through the smoke.
"Ranma! You take that back!"
"Why? It's the truth!"
"Will both of you calm down?" Four yellow and black striped bandanas flew through the air, separating the boy and girl silhouette who were wrestling with each other.
"Look what you three did!" Another voice rang through the air and a gust of wind cleared away all the smoke revealing that four teenagers who were the cause of the trouble.
Three of the four looked familiar but Soun knew one of them. "Akane!"
She turned to see who had called her name. "Soun?" she scanned him up and down. "I was actually hoping not to run in with you. I thought you would have already got up, ate your breakfast, took your medicine, and went back to bed for the rest of the day just to start that exciting process all over again."
Everyone cringed at the rude remark but Soun. "Akane, that is no way to treat your father."
Akane's battle aura flickered and Ranma, Ukyou and Ryouga slowly backed away. "Father? I don't think I have a father. Yeah, he died three years ago when he left his fifteen-year-old daughter to be with his two eldest daughters because he decided he loved them more than me. He thought that I had grown up as much as I could, that I was an adult. So he left behind a fifteen year old with no family."
"Then why did you come here?" he asked.
"Why do you think? Where's Hinako?"
"Mother." Soun corrected.
"No, my mother also died when my father decided he was done with her. I'm not going to call Hinako my mother because she isn't. If you're not going to tell me where she is I'll find her myself. " Akane walked past him and bumped shoulders with him.
Ukyou followed after her and Ryouga and Ranma moved to walk after them but a pair of hands stopped them. The turned and saw pissed off servants holding out brooms to the two of them. They got the message and grimly started to clean up the mess they made.
"Hey Akane, wait up!" Ukyou called, trotting to catch up with her long strides. Akane stopped and turned around to let Ukyou catch up with her.
"What do you want?"
Ukyou stopped; she didn't really know why she followed her. "Um, w-where you going?" Not the smartest thing to say.
Akane stared at her strangely. "What kind of answer is that?"
"I don't know," Ukyou said helplessly. Akane rolled her eyes and turned to walk away but Ukyou stopped her by placing her hand over her shoulder. "I don't know what to say to you anymore. It's been so long and you alienated yourself from everyone. You've changed. You're not the Akane I've learned to love as a friend and as a person."
Akane searched Ukyou's eyes. "Lovely speech but you must be thinking of a different Akane, because people change." She shrugged her hand off her shoulder and stalked off.
Ukyou stared at her retreating back. She wanted to run after her and she wanted to yell some sense into her, but she couldn't move her legs. So all she could was watch her as her hair swayed from side to side.
-/-
"Hinako!" Akane shouted, she slammed the tall wooden doors open with a big bang. It startled all the workers and that over dressed doll sitting on her sister's throne. Akane crossed her arms and cocked her eyebrow at the woman. "I knew I would find you here." Hinako was a disgusting sight to see with her slutty Chinese dress with large slits on both sides all the way to her hip. Makeup covered her face in layers, making her look like a clown, and a pearl crown sat on her brow.
Akane shook her head sadly. "You're pathetic."
"What do you want bitch?" she asked snidely.
Akane smiled at the rude remark, taking it with pride. "Language Hinako, remember who the adult is supposed to be," Akane put a finger to her chin in mock thought. "Oh wait, not you."
"I don't have time for you." Hinako waved her hand like she was shooing away a pesky fly.
"But you have time to sit on your lazy ass?"
Hinako scowled at her. "Cute, if you just came to insult me than leave."
"Actually I came to use the Mirror." Akane said, suddenly serious.
Too easy. "Why? All you're going to see is an ugly face staring back at you."
Akane mock laughed and even wiped away a fake tear. "You're so funny, but I'm serious."
"Is it important that you use it?" Hinako asked in a sugar-toned voice that would make your teeth rot out just listening to her.
"Yes."
"Too bad."
Akane didn't look shocked by this, it seemed that she was expecting this. She sent her a death glare before turning to leave. Hinako knew she won the battle but she didn't win the war.
Dark Place
He stared at the hourglass picture as Akane lied her head down on her pillow and fell into a deep slumber in an instant. "Such a pretty face." He caressed the glass. He tore his eyes from the image and looked down at the male kunoichi kneeling in front of him, his hands manacled behind his back.
"Konatsu, I have a task for you."
Konatsu's eyes slid over to the image of the sleeping Akane and understood. "You kidnapped me from my Clan so I can send dreams to your enemy?" he asked. He had to force himself not to laugh.
"Not just any dreams, I want you to send her dreams that will show her I am in power and always one step ahead of her." His eyes locked onto her image once more. "To show her I am watching her always."
"Alright, so what dreams do you want me to send her?"
Light Clan
Akane stood in the center of a demolished shrine. The wind blew through her long locks; playing with her and pushing her to the direction it wanted her to go. She listened, feeling jetty, and practically ran with the wind.
She giggled and ignored the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes shined with happiness but she had no pupils, just voids of chocolate.
The wind quit pushing her when she stopped in front of a mirror that was not destroyed with the shrine. Its frame was a golden bronze and vines that had squeezed through the crack in the ground wrapped its way up the frame.
She stared at her reflection in delight; she hadn't seen herself this happy in a long time. But her reflection started to morph and change in front of her. Her straight hair bounced with curls, her look of joy changed to an emotionless face and her eyes changed to a look of forlornness.
She touched her hair to find it was still straight. She raised her hand and her reflection followed. She placed her hand on its smooth surface and her reflections hand pressed against her, intertwining their fingers, like the mirror wasn't even there.
The smallest of smiles crossed the reflections lips but her eyes remained the same. A panicked feeling welled up in Akane and she became aware of the knot in her stomach. She tried to pull her hand away but her reflection had a hard grip and wouldn't let go, she just held on tighter – to the point of pain
"What will they think of you?" Akane shook her head, still struggling to free her hand.
"You can't hide it forever. You can't hide who you are and you can't hide the truth."
Akane used her other hand to tug at her wrist and finally pulled it free, she fell back a few steps from the force of it. "Leave me alone!" She felt a breeze on the back of her neck and her eyes were a blank void.
She raised her hand and felt the fringe of where her hair was cut. She looked down and in the reflections hand was her long hair.
"You can't hide it."
She backed up one step, then another, and then she had turned around and took of into a sprint in the other direction. The playful wind turned rough and tore at her. She felt the ground crumble and it collapsed under her feet. She fell and reached for anything to grab onto and gripped the edge tightly.
She looked under her and saw a fiery pit of hell waiting for her.
She heard the sound of footsteps and relief flooded her heart but then it sunk when she stared up at her worst nightmare.
"This is my game."
He stomped on her hands and she fell with a loud scream.
Akane bolted up in bed with a scream and toppled off, bumping her head. "Ow." She rubbed the sore spot where she was hit.
She looked around the room and sighed in relief. It was just a dream. She wasn't falling into hell, she was safe. But for how long?
-/-
"Finally done." Ranma said in joy at being free from the hawk like gaze of those servants.
"We wouldn't be done so quickly if it wasn't for Ukyou. Speaking of which, did she seem upset to you?" Ryouga asked with concern.
"I don't know," Ranma said, stopping in the middle of the hall. "She seemed kinda quiet, maybe we should ask her later." He leaned his back against the hall and went toppling backwards, the wall had just opened.
"Woah," Ryouga said in awe, stepping into the opening, ignoring Ranma. "It's a secret study."
"Thank you Ryouga for establishing that." Ranma said sarcastically, pushing himself off the floor.
When Ryouga didn't respond to the jab he stared at his face to see his mouth gaping and his eyes wide and unblinking.
"Ryouga?" Ranma waved a hand in front of his face and knocked on his forehead lightly. "Anyone in there?"
Without looking at him, or changing his facial expression, Ryouga held up a finger to point at something.
Ranma followed his finger and copied Ryouga's dumb expression. Ranma couldn't believe he had missed that giant portrait that hung on the wall. The painting was of a woman with long curly hair that fell past her ankles, a wonderful prideful posture, a friendly smile, and deep chocolate eyes . . . but they looked so sad.
Even though the hair was curly and the eyes were sad there was no question on whom the woman looked like.
"It's Akane." Ranma said in awe.
A low throaty chuckle came from behind the two boys and they spun in surprise, readying their bodies for battle. But whom they found behind them was Soun Tendo.
"You're close." Soun said, walking past them and to the portrait.
"What do you mean?" Ryouga asked.
"She's Kimiko, Akane's mother. She's my free bird, my true love, and the thief of my heart." He stared at the portrait lovingly and with a hint of regret.
"If you loved her so much then why did you kill her?" The three men turned around and saw Akane standing in the doorframe. Her cheeks were flushed with rage and her eyes were full of pure unfiltered hatred.
Two of the three stared in shock while Soun stared her dead in the eye.
"What do you mean Akane?" Ranma asked in a dead serious tone.
When Akane realized what she just said, her hand went to her mouth. She was not about to explain this to Ryouga and Ranma. They would just think worse of her.
Before anyone could ask any more questions she dashed out of the room. Ranma ran after her but when he went out to the hallway she was already gone. He walked back in the room with his shoulder set squarely. "What did she mean by that Soun?" Ranma asked, he was done playing games. He was tired of not knowing things.
Sound smiled and walked past the two boys. He looked over his shoulder. "If I told you that would ruin the fun."
-/-
Akane ran down hall after hall, not even bothering to see where she was going until she ran into someone.
"Akane?" Ukyou asked, concerned. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I need your help. Come with me." She grabbed her by the wrist and dashed down the hall with Ukyou in tow.
She stopped at her guest bedroom and slid it open quickly, then locked it behind them.
"Akane, what's wrong?' Ukyou asked, huffing her breath. Who knew Akane could run that fast.
"We came to the Light Clan because it's easier than traveling days from Clan to Clan. You can be transported to any place you wish by a mystical item known as the Mirror. But that bitch Hinako won't let me use it, so the four of need to sneak in too use it." Akane wasn't even winded.
"So why do you need my help?" Ukyou asked slowly.
"We need to set a diversion in any way possible. By a small kitchen fire, a leak, an earthquake, or some windstorm, I don't know. It's watched over twenty-four/seven so even if we have to start a fight, this is important. We need to leave soon." Akane sounded panicked and agitated.
Ukyou's heart went out to her.
"Well, first, we need to get Ranma and Ryouga to discuss this."
Akane looked wary for a moment but nodded her head, agreeing with her
Later ~
The four crowded in Akane's room, reviewing the plan. Akane tried to avoid eye contact with Ranma was much as possible. "So, Ranma is going to start a small flood in the throne room while Ukyou blows open the windows, scattering papers sending everyone in a frenzy. Simple right?" She received a nod from both of them.
"While everyone is running out Ryouga and I will get the key from Hinako that is usually asleep at that time. You'll meet us at the back of the throne room where there should be a door hidden behind one of the drapes. We unlock the door, get to the mirror, and get the hell out of this place."
Ukyou raised her hand like a schoolgirl. Akane cocked an eyebrow at her. "Why do you want to get out of here?"
"I just don't like this place without its light." They all knew that she was referring to Kasumi when she said the light but they also knew that wasn't the real reason why she wanted to leave.
The four waited in awkward silence for the sun to set and to put their plan into action. And when the light that flooded in through Akane's window began to mellow out into a calming orange they got up to get in position.
Before Akane could leave Ranma grabbed her by the wrist. "Tell me Akane. How did Soun kill Kimiko, your mother?"
Akane didn't look at him and jerked her wrist out of his grasp. "That's none of your business. Get in position." She walked away from him quickly.
"Hey Ranma?" Ryouga asked, clamping his hand on his shoulder. "You are going to make the water warm aren't you?"
Ranma flinched, he had forgotten about their curses. "Damn it, I'll try."
-/-
The servants and advisors worked hurriedly, wanting to get their work done fast so they could leave, when suddenly the windows burst open and a large gust of wind scattered the papers all across the room. They jumped and dove trying to catch them all but the wind never ceased, and if they didn't know any better they would have thought the whistle of the wind were giggles.
Water leaked from the ceiling and the windows, which confused them, it wasn't raining outside. The steady drip of water turned into a mini waterfall, flooding the room with water and destroying documents. The water was knee deep.
They all ran for the door and burst it open, the water streaming out into the hall. They ran in different directions looking for help. Which was Ryouga and Akane's sign to move.
They waited in the hall just outside of Hinako's door, trying to look normal. During the frantic activity they slipped into the room and closed it quietly behind them.
They walked in the find Hinako sleeping soundly, her chest rising up and down steadily.
"Do you even know where she hides the key?" Ryouga asked in a whisper.
"All I know is that it's in her room where no one would bother to look." Akane swung the door to Hinako's closet open and she couldn't believe how huge it was. Who needs this much closet?
She pushed through the racks of clothes and found a door hidden behind her thick winter clothes. It was a simple western door with a gilded doorknob. She laid her hand on the knob and a tingle shot up her arm and down her back. She bit her bottom lip and swung the door open. Her eyes widened and her jaw hit the floor. "No way in hell."
"Akane I found it." Ryouga called from the frame of the closet door. Akane quickly slammed the door shut and went to follow Ryouga out of the room.
They treaded through the ankle deep warm water to where Ranma and Ukyou were waiting for them. Ryouga gave Ranma a look of gratitude.
"Got the key?" Ukyou asked.
Ryouga held it up for the two to see with a cheeky grin.
Akane snatched the key from him and pushed back one of the many curtains that lined the walls. "Good job, you found it." Sarcasm dripped from Akane's lips.
She placed the key in the keyhole and it unlocked with a loud clank. They all turned around at once to see if anyone had heard. They held their breath for several beats and then released it when they realized no one was there. The door creaked open on un-oiled hinges. They quickly dashed into the room and shut it closed behind them.
The room was dark and they couldn't see their hands even when they held it up to their faces.
"This is great, how are we going to find the damn thing if we can't see anything Akane?" Ranma asked snidely.
"Easy, if we can't find it with our sight than we'll find it with our touch. We just walk around with our arms outstretched until we find it." Ranma felt Akane's presence leave him and he followed her directions by holding out his arms and walking around blindly.
"Ow, Ryouga that was my foot!"
"Will you watch where you're going?"
"I can't watch anything because I can't see!"
"Will the two of you quit acting like children for once!"
"But he started it!"
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
"Both of you shut up. Do you want someone to hear us?"
"I think I found it."
A bright blue light lit the dark room. Ukyou's hand lay on the cool surface of the mirror and with the new light you could see Ryouga and Ranma trying to wrestle each other to the ground. Akane and Ukyou looked at the two boys strangely.
"So . . ." Ukyou dragged out. "How do we use this thing?"
Akane walked over to stand by her. "Simple, one of us stares at the mirror and imagines the place we want to go." The four exchanged looks. Akane pushed Ukyou to the side lightly and placed her own hand on the mirror.
She zoned in on her reflection and in her mind imagined the place she wanted to go. Her irises disappeared and her reflection was replaced with a picture of white.
"What the hell?" Ryouga asked.
"Its nothing." Ukyou stated.
Ranma looked at it for a moment and then his eyes widened in realization. "No, it's the Ice Clan."
Snow swirled around them and they were encompassed by the whiteness. The mirror disappeared and they were standing in the middle of cold nothingness.
Dark Place
His laughter boomed down the quiet and dead halls. He looked at his chessboard in amusement and moved four pieced forward.
"My, my, that sure was fun." He thought back to their diversion and laughed again. He examined the place of each piece. "She's getting closer, but the amusing part is that she thinks she can checkmate me."
He grabbed two pieces that were on the side and placed the two in front of the four, blocking their way. "It's time to put out a new pawn, Mikado and Azusa."
-/-
A/N: Can I get some praise for updating so fast? Woo-Hoo! Anyway, hope you like it. I tried to lighten the mood by adding some random funniness in there. But I tried to give you guys some more information without being too obvious. Review, but no flames please.