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?
-/-
Mousse walked through the dead foliage that was shelled by a thick layer of ice and caked with snow. "I know I left my glasses around here somewhere." It was difficult to tell where he had lost them. Everything seemed to be the same color and shape in the Ice Clan. The glasses being white didn't help any either.
While he continued his effortless search he heard a faint squeak a little ways off. With his vision bad his other senses were heightened. He followed the sound, watching his feet as he went. The sound became clearer and he distinguished it as a pig's squeal. But he recognized that sound; it wasn't just any squeal, it was Ryouga's.
He found the piglet and some girl that was lying face down in a clearing that resembled an ice rink. Mousse blinked a few times, trying to clear his blurry vision so he could make out the girl's features. The piglet tugged at the girl's sleeve, unable to move her.
Mousse slowly walked over to the two, sure not to trip over anything. The piglet's noises were muffled by the mouthful of fabric. The animal obviously was trying to talk to Mousse, but how was he supposed to know what it was saying? He didn't speak pig.
It was obvious to Ryouga that Mousse didn't know what he was talking about. Ryouga rolled his eyes and gestured helplessly to Akane. Mousse scratched his head and felt cool metal touch his fingertips. He realized those were his glasses and blushed at how silly he was. He slipped the glasses on the bridge of his nose and adjusted them to fit.
The girl was clearer but he still couldn't see her face. He rolled her over and finally recognized her as Akane, the Fire Lord. The girl he met when he was younger when they visited the Fire Clan. The girl that Mikado stole her first kiss from. Without a second thought he put Ryouga on his head and scooped Akane his arms. He almost dropped her from the weight of the heavy clothes and long hair.
Mousse got down on his knees and set Akane back down. Ryouga hopped down from his head and looked up at him pathetically. "Yeah, like you could to any better." The blind warrior snapped at Ryouga who rolled his eyes. Mousse tried again and slung the girl over his shoulder. Much better.
He put Ryouga back on his head and took off to the Ice Clan.
The Hut
Ranma jumped back and unconsciously wiped his mouth. The friction between the two girls was so intense and electric that if you stepped between them you would be nothing but dust.
"What you doing with my Ranma, spatula girl?" Shampoo said, unstrapping her bomburi's.
Ukyou slowly withdrew her spatula from the sling on her back. "Yours? He is not yours."
Shampoo scoffed at her. "Shampoo heir to Ice Clan, Ranma heir to Water Clan. It only natural that we be married."
Ukyou growled low in her throat. "Well, that's not fair to him. We should let him choose!"
"You right." Shampoo tossed her weapons aside and scampered over to the frozen Ranma. She threw herself at Ranma and rubbed her curvy body against his. "You want Shampoo as fiancé, no? Shampoo sexy and can cook."
"Hey!" Ukyou tugged at Shampoo's collar. She sat next to him and leaned into him. "Ranma, we've been friends ever since we were little. You want me don't you? I can cook, I can speak correct Japanese," Ukyou shot Shampoo a look. "And don't you want someone cute but not so much of a . . .?" Ukyou struggled for the right word. "Hussy?"
"Shampoo no hussy!"
"Yes you are!"
"Least Shampoo no have spatula on back! Since when you have interest in Ranma?"
Ukyou stuttered. She looked at Ranma who sat intrigued, almost amused, in this conversation. "Well, um . . . y-you see . . . oh."
Cologne shot through the animal flap of the hut. Her cheeks were flushed at worry painted her face. "You three, come quick."
"What is it?" Ranma asked, getting to his feet.
"It's Akane, something has happened."
Ukyou and Ranma exchanged frantic looks and ran out. It wasn't hard to find where Akane was. A large circle of people gathered outside in the cold, different disputes on how she deserved this and how she was just an innocent girl.
Ranma pushed through the crowd and saw Akane lying in the center. Ryouga, as a pig, and Mousse kneeled next to her, trying to restrain her. She flailed her arms and legs, her back arched and if she kept this up she would hurt herself and other around her. She yelled and screamed in pain of the unknown.
Ranma's mind traveled back to the time when his father got drunk on a daily basis and abused his mother. Ranma was just a little kid at the time and he couldn't do anything but close his eyes and wait for morning where his father would give them the same speech. He couldn't do anything else really.
"I'm so sorry, I promise I will change. I don't know what came over me but I'm ashamed of my actions."
Akane stopped her movements and huffed for breath. She was bathed in her own sweat and looked pale and clammy. Ranma traveled over to Mousse. "Hey, what happened?"
Mousse adjusted his glasses, the sign of nervousness. "I don't know. I was carrying her back and she just started kicking around and screaming. I had to drop her or I would be beaten to death."
"Well, she seemed stable now. Let's take her back to the hut." Ranma scooped her in his arms and in a blur he was gone.
Ranma lay Akane down in the animal furred bed. He combed back her sweat soaked bangs that plastered her face. She burned under his touch but he couldn't tell if that was just natural or a fever.
'How could this have happened to you Akane? What's going on?'
Later that night ~
Akane woke with a dizzy head and a feeling of stickiness coating her through her clothes. She stared up at the ceiling; afraid if she moved her head in any way she would retch. She tried to swallow the slick lump that was stuck in the middle of her throat. It was either swallow it or throw it up. She was hot from the quilt that lay over her; her natural body heat didn't help much.
She felt relief when an icy breeze came in and cooled the sweat that coated her like another blanket. But the relief didn't last long, her aura blazed with the fever that proved to be a shell around her.
She felt her aura clash with another and slowly turned her head to the right. Her eyes' widened when she saw Ranma leaning against the wall, fast asleep. She had to admire the way his muscles were relaxed and he was off his guard. It made her feel more safe than when he was always so tense. She couldn't tell if he was feigning sleep and waiting for her to awaken or if he was truly asleep.
When the wave of dizziness passed Akane she crawled over to Ranma and patted him on the knee. All he did was roll his head to the side, a line of drool running down his chin. Akane made a face and crawled back over to the bed. She thought back to how she had gotten here. What had happened?
It came back piece-by-piece and tried to remember when this has happened before. She was five and thought it was a nightmare. She went to her father's room and got into bed with him. He woke up and asked what happened and she told him her dream. Soun explained to Akane everything and how Hinako was not her real mother.
That is when she first started to hate him. It wasn't because of what he did to her birth mother, though that had a lot to do with it. It was because of the way he treated Kimiko now, even after death.
After a few more of these occurrences Akane became used to it. And when the dreams became more frequent Akane realized that they weren't dreams . . . they were memories.
Akane realized that a small piece of Kimiko lingered inside of her. That was when a small part of her started to hate her mother. She robbed her of her childhood and youth. That's a thief for you. But she couldn't help but love her.
Akane's eyes wondered over to her bag that sat in the corner. They were full of her mother's sins. Akane's eyes glazed over with a greedy lust for treasure and she had to stamp it down. She knew it was Kimiko's thief side coming out. She didn't like the feeling of someone else living inside of her. It made her feel . . . dirty.
She hadn't had those dreams for at least two years now. Why the sudden onslaught?
Akane got on her feet and checked her pack to see if everything was there, including her normal gi.
"I have to get out of here," Akane whispered. She looked over her shoulder at Ranma who was lightly snoring now.
Akane peaked her head out of the hut door to see if anyone was out there to see her. She ran through the heavy snowfall, preventing her from leaving. The fall made the snow on the ground build up to her mid shin. But as she became more annoyed her heated aura flared and made it easier to move.
Even when the rows of huts were out of view she never slowed her run. She had to make her way to the border. "Next stop: Earth Clan."
Morning ~
Ranma awoke when his head hit the floor of the hut. How did he get from his sitting position to lying on his side? He got to his feet and saw that Akane was no longer in bed. He shrugged, it was either she was better and went to get breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, Ranma's stomach grumbled and he walked to Cologne's hut.
He opened the flap and everyone ate a simple meal that consisted of smoked eel, rice, pickles, miso soup, and tea. He took his place and saw one plate was left untouched.
"Hey, where's Akane?" Ranma asked Mousse.
"Oh, I thought she was still asleep, I was about to take breakfast to her." Mousse continued his eating, figuring nothing was wrong.
"When I woke up this morning she was gone!" Ranma burst to his feet, knocking his food around him.
"Ranma, there is no need to over react." Ukyou got up to try and calm him down.
"Yes there is." All heads snapped to Cologne's whose wide eyes were wider than usual. "She is far to weak, we must split up and find her!"
Everyone was given there specific location to search and set off. Ukyou went with Ryouga and Shampoo went with Mousse, just in case.
"Akane!" Ryouga yelled in the cold springs.
"Akane where are you?" Ukyou yelled.
In the ice clearing surrounded by the frozen foliage Mousse and Shampoo yelled Akane's name over and over.
On the ice cliff Ranma stood there with his arms crossed. He chided himself for letting her slip away. Where could she have gone? They had traveled to over half the clans now for no apparent reason. What could her destination be? He knew she must have been gone to Earth Clan next.
It was about a day and a half day's journey, but you never knew. Cologne told him that Akane wasn't as fast as him but when being pursued could travel like the devil was on her heel.
"Saotome?"
Ranma turned and saw Mikado walking up to him. "What do you want?"
"To cancel the match," At Ranma's confused expression he continued. "I heard about Akane so we don't have to fight. I now realize that it stupid to make Akane a prize. She is far too independent for that."
Ranma narrowed his eyes at him, not sure if he should trust him or not.
"Do you agree?" Mikado spoke up.
Ranma just nodded his head slowly, as if not understanding it all. Mikado sighed in relief. "I'm so glad," He began to walk away and over his shoulder said, "We will be fighting in another battle soon."
Ranma's head snapped up and raced after Mikado. "Wait!"
Mikado turned a corner and when Ranma followed him he was gone.
Dark Place
"I'm so sorry, I have failed you." Mikado kneeled before the Shadow Lord; his head hung low in shame.
Azusa skipped around merrily and Mikado chided her to stop. "Stupid player! Shadow man want us to let Akane go ahead."
The Shadow Lord chuckled and intertwined his fingers. "Azusa is right Mikado, but it was unwise to tell Ranma of the battle." He picked up the two glass chess pieces that resembled the two. "Now, get back to sleep." The two dissipated to dust and floated into the pieces. Inside the clear glass black ashes swirled.
"I knew it was bad idea to make these two pieces." He stared at the hourglass that had Akane running like the wind. He gave her a mock salute and said, "May your mothers speed be with you."
He felt laughter bubble in his chest and, again, his laughs echoed in the empty halls.
Ice Clan
Ranma walked into the hut and saw everyone's disappointed looks; obviously no one had found her. That means she must have ran to the Earth Clan.
"Okay, we're not going to sit around and mope," Everyone looked at Ranma strangely. "We're following Akane."
"You know where she went?" Ukyou asked.
"The Earth Clan," Ryouga whispered, realizing the obvious.
"Yep," Ranma nodded enthusiastically
"Ranma," Cologne said. "Akane doesn't like being pursued, it's in her blood. She will never stop moving until she feels that she is safe. You must find her quickly before anything happens to her."
The traveling group, that was down to three, nodded and Ryouga slipped on his traveling pack. "Well, we're burning daylight. Lets go."
The three traveled all day and didn't stop until they were out of the dangerous weather of the Ice Clan. It would be suicide to sleep out in the open, you might never wake up. Now they were in an area where there was a little more green, but there was still some snow and a small layer of ice.
They usually didn't need to make a fire; Akane was always with them to warm them. Ukyou sniffled and wiped her eyes' with the back of her hand. "I hope she's okay, what do you think could be happening right now?" No one responded; lost in their own thoughts. She looked at Ranma who stared at the moon. "I'm sorry for what I did Ranma, I don't know what came over me."
Ranma looked surprised by that. "You don't have to worry about that." Ukyou perked up at this, maybe he felt the same way towards her. "It just surprised me is all. It didn't ruin our friendship if that's what your worried about." Ukyou's face fell and even Ryouga looked at him strangely.
"Good to know." Ukyou said disappointedly.
Same night ~
Akane willed her feet to move. She couldn't stop; she felt someone's eagerness to find her. They couldn't reach her; she won't let them reach her. Her body swayed from exhaustion and lack of food and water.
She kicked up dirt from the path and old cottages on either side of the road, being made from stone to wood, they were more spaced out than in the Ice Clan; vines grew up the walls. Farmland stretched on for miles, golden wheat swayed, and little gardens sat quaintly in the backyards of homes. Lush grass and flowers were perfectly attended to. Baskets sat in front of houses by pots filled with different things. Wooden, make shift gates separated everyone's private land.
She had to keep going. She crossed over a bridge and ahead you could see a homey, traditional Japanese house, gated by a wooden face. A small candlelight came from one of the windows. Other houses sat around the slightly fancier one.
Akane saw the silhouette of a woman and smiled in relief. She was safe for now.
She walked through the gate and up the stone steps. She raised her hand to knock but her body collapsed against the door. The woman from inside started at the sound and shot up. A woman with a friendly face, that was creased with worry, and honey curls opened the door. "Akane," she gasped. "Akari!" The older woman called for her attendant to help her. A younger girl that was about Akane's age came out. Blue highlights striped her wavy brown hair.
The two women looped one of Akane's arms on either of their shoulders and took her into the house, her feet dragging against the ground. "What happened to her, Lady Ayumu?" Akari asked when Akane was on the futon in the guest room.
"I have no idea," Ayumu said, rubbing the bridge of her nose - the sign of her uneasiness. "I found her like this."
Ayumu studied Akane's pale face, she moaned in pain while she slept. "She must have gone days without food."
Akari was surprise by that. "How?" Was the only thing she could say.
"Oh, it's possible," Ayumu thought for a moment. "Well, it was possible for only one person." A look of nostalgia crossed the lady's features.
"I understand Lady Ayumu." Akari bowed her head and left the room.
"My dear friend, what have you done to your own daughter?"
Flashback ~
Ayumu of the age seventeen kneeled in her herb garden. Being left alone to care for herself when her parents died in a hunting accident. She wiped her sweaty brow and rolled up her sleeve. She heard a loud ruckus coming from the main road and knew who it must be – that good for nothing thief that was stealing all the Clan's sacred items. She got up off her knees and brought her basket with her inside her house.
She closed the windows and locked the door, thinking she had nothing to worry about.
"Nice place you got here." Ayumu jumped and twirled around to see a girl her age. She sat nonchalantly on one of her chair with her muddy feet propped up on her table. She bit down on an apple and the loud crunching noise filled the room.
The girl had curly midnight hair that went past her ankles and her delicate face was painted with dirt. Her old baggy black gi with a red trim was worn and her hands were calloused. An old leather satchel was slung over her shoulder. Ayumu knew she has seen this girl before.
Her mind pictured the wanted posters hanging on every available inch of this Clan. "You're the Phoenix Thief!"
The girl flinched and dashed over to Ayumu to cover her mouth with her hand. "I would like it if you not scream that. And I prefer my real name over Phoenix Thief." She let Ayumu speak.
"You have a real name?"
The thief sweat dropped. "Of course I do," She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "It's Kimiko."
Present ~
Ayumu shook her head sadly and put Akane's pack in a corner so she wouldn't have to sleep on it.
She wondered if she still had those treasures. Was she returning them? Did Kimiko ever find use for them?
She remembered her eighteenth birthday; Kimiko went to visit her and their friendship took a turn for the better. Kimiko finally decided to tell her things that were personal. It was then she asked Kimiko why she stole. She told her that her grandpa, the man who raised her, was sick and dying. She had to steal because no one would give her a job. She had to earn money some how and that was the only way.
She then went on about how she met the Fire Lord and showed him her special place. Kimiko was much wiser than Ayumu but very naïve when it came to men. She visited him often in that clearing and lost her purity. Kimiko found that she was with child and didn't know what to do. All she could do was stay with Soun. She was hissed at from other women and Kimiko felt out of her element.
Here she was, a total mess, hadn't taken a bath in God knows when, and was pretending to be some kind of royalty. So Soun wouldn't lose his reputation. Then Genma, oh Genma. He wanted the thief but Soun took her first. Jealousy raged in him and sought revenge. Not caring for love anymore, all he wanted was to have the last laugh.
And a little after the baby was born . . .
Ayumu shook her head to clear her thoughts. It was all in the past. But the past is starting to catch up with the present.
Morning ~
The bright sun flooded into the Akane's room and she pulled the quilt over her head. Someone swiped it away from her and she curled up into a ball when a breeze floated in and made her shiver.
"Time to get up," a friendly familiar voice called.
"Five more minutes," Akane grumbled. She always hated mornings.
A warm breath brushed against her ear and the friendly voice whispers were frantic. "Your pursuers are gaining on you."
She shot up and looked at Ayumu who the familiar voice belonged to. She looked at the petite woman like she was a lion with its mouth wide, ready to eat her.
"I want the compass Akane." Ayumu held out her hand to her.
Akane gulped. "You know I can't do that, you are not the Earth Lord."
The older woman eased her tense actions and looked at Akane like she was just a child. "I have been the Earth Lord for two years now Akane."
"Wh-?"
"Ichii died in a mining accident after being mauled by a beast that has plagued the Earth Clan for years. Ryouga was still in training and with the threat of war we haven't held the ceremony."
Akane's heart went out to Ayumu. She had lost her parents when she was young and her one friend died years ago. Her husband died, leaving her a widow and with the burden of taking care of this land. Ryouga was always gone because of his direction problem too. She was always a frail woman and all she had was her handmaiden, Akari. Almost the same situation Akane was in her whole life.
"I'm sorry Ayumu."
"No time for apologies but its time for explanations. I heard that you were traveling with my son and Ranma and Ukyou. Why did you just run off?" Ayumu was always the blunt one that always left people speechless.
"You know why, I can't pull them into this. It's far too dangerous for them."
"And it's not as dangerous for you?" Ayumu countered.
Akane pondered the question. She always said that it was risky for someone else but what about her? Akane shook her head. "I'm more experienced with this."
"I know, I know, you don't have to explain any further. You hold a part of your mother and she is getting very antsy, she wants to be free as much as you do."
"You think I don't know that?" Akane snapped. "It's not like I asked for her to be bound to me. It just happened, I don't know why. I only know one person that does, and one person to get her to where she belongs."
"But he thinks that she belongs in hell rather than the sky."
Akane opened her mouth to speak when a knock came from the front door. "Mother?" Ryouga called.
Akane started to hyperventilate. She got to her feet and went to the window, ready to jump out. "I can't let them get me." A lock of Akane's hair started to bounce with curls and spread.
"Just a moment," Akari called from the main hall.
"Akane, please." Ayumu pleaded. "I'm trying to help you," Ayumu restrained her by clasping both of her hands on her shoulders.
"Master Ryouga," You could practically hear the blush forming on her face. "Come in, you're mother is in the guest room." Poor oblivious Akari.
Ayumu slapped Akane across the face and yelled. "Give me the compass!"
"Mother?" Ryouga's voice was getting closer, followed by the sound of feet dashing to the room.
Akane reached in her pack and as the feet came closer her hair became curlier until her soil brown eyes changed to the color of honey. Akane stopped her frantic search and calmly gave her a golden compass with the pattern of rose vines running along the smooth surface.
Ryouga opened the door and behind him were Ranma and Ukyou. They stared at the morphed Akane who gave them a cheeky smile. Akane looked at Ayumu. "Remind me again why a thief should be returning their stolen treasures."
She waved at them all and winked at Ranma. "See ya." She dashed out the open window and ran through the trees. Ranma was about to follow her when Ayumu placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she warned.
"And why not?" Ranma snapped.
"She hates being pursued. You catch her and she will think that you are going to hurt her and will do whatever she can to get away. Maybe even kill, but I've never seen her do that."
'She is not Akane right now.' But she left that thought unspoken
"Then how do we get to her?" Ukyou asked.
Ayumu smiled. "You wait for her at her next destination."
"But we don't know where she is going." Ryouga said.
"Oh, yes you do. Where is the only place she hasn't been?"
"The Wind Clan." Ukyou and Ranma said together.
"Exactly." Ayumu said.
The trees ~
Akane hummed merrily as she ran through the trees. She got away from her pursuers again. She was good. Something that sparkled in the sun stood out against the green and caught her eye. She stopped for a moment and hopped over to the item. It was a fire opal and a silver snake with purple eyes was wrapped around it possessively.
It was beautiful.
It was extravagant but she couldn't think of any Lord it belonged to. She shrugged and reached to put it in her bag when she saw that it wasn't there. She must have left it at the Earth Clan. She could go back but the people that were pursuing her still resided there. Oh well, when it was safe she would go back.
For now she pinned the brooch on her shirt. She didn't run but just hopped from tree to tree in a playful manner, taking her time. Without the last treasure for the Wind Lord she couldn't go there any way.
Dark Place
"Thank you so much for finding my jewel Akane-Chan." He said. He looked at the manikin of Akane that sat next to him. "I can't wait for you to return it to me, just think of it as a wedding present."