DANGER… DRAMA…..… DARKER
Magnesium. Zinc. Ginkgo.
Such was the treatment decided by the hospital specialist.
And that's what Ranma and Akane were going to purchase in a drugstore that afternoon… although the first one mentioned was pretty dubious about the whole thing.
"Honestly, I'm not sure it will work. Sure, it might seem "a step higher" than the natural medicine prescribed by Dr. Tofu and Cologne, but I'm not convinced. And what if it fails as well ? What will I do ? Who can I turn to ?"
She sighed, knowing he was right after all. Because it was an official treatment that was prescribed by a hospital didn't imply it would be efficient. And what if not, as he asked ?
"I understand you, Ranma. And I do hope that this new attempt will be successful. But if it isn't, well… as the doctor suggested…"
His eyes grew wide.
"Surgery ?! Forget it ! No one's gonna open my head ! Not on my watch !"
They arrived at the drugstore and made their way inside.
" I know you don't want it, and neither do I, but if there's no o-"
"No, Akane ! I can't stand the idea of someone cutting open my skull ! It's creepy as hell !"
Some customers turned around, surprised by that sudden exclamation.
He realized that and lowered his voice :
"Don't you find it creepy, uh ?"
"Of course I do. But I'd prefer to give it a chance, if all else fails, rather than seeing you forget everything, even the most basic things ! I would find it creepier if you didn't remember your name, or anybody else's name, or forgot how to speak, write, communicate. And if the only way to avoid such a terrible fate is resorting to opening your skull and trying to fix your brain directly, then… I'd do anything, rather than letting you turn into an empty head, with no memories at all !"
Her arguments were so pertinent that he didn't know what to reply.
-/-
As they were heading home, they happened to be passing by the Nekohanten, and Cologne happened to be outside, taking a brief moment to smoke her pipe next to the door.
When she spotted the couple, she greeted them and invited them inside :
"Do me a favour and accept a little soup. It will soon start raining and a soup is just what you need during a rainfall. And it's on the house."
Ranma smiled.
"Ah, okay. Thank you then… uh…"
"…Cologne." completed Akane.
The old woman looked intently at the forgetful boy but didn't make any remark.
Yet when she brought the 2 bowls of soup…
"Tell me, after you've eaten, do you mind coming into the kitchen ? I have to prepare dishes for the customers, so I can't remain here to discuss, but if you stay with me in the kitchen, we can have a little talk…"
Akane briefly glanced at Ranma, guessing what that "little talk" would be about, but she merely nodded, while he remained silent.
No sooner were they in the kitchen with Cologne that Shampoo came back from a delivery and was delighted to see her "official fiancé" (…or so she imagined it).
"Haiya, Ranma ! And hello Akane. I happy to see you, Ranma, but I very worried for you. Great Grandmother said you forget things. I do not understand why. What happening ?"
"I… uh… I don't understand it myself… I don't know the reason why. But my brain seems to have problems. Dark areas."
"Really ?" asked Cologne, whose eyes had opened wide.
Ranma explained them, the best he could, his hospital "visit", and the results of the MRI scan, Akane completing the inevitably missing parts of his summary.
"I can see that it's only worsening. I'm very concerned about you, Son-in-law, and Shampoo is even more than I am !"
The boy's look went blank.
"Shampoo ?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes, Ranma. Shampoo. Your friend." Akane clarified, pointing at the purple-haired girl.
He turned to her, somewhat confused.
"You are… Shampoo ? My friend ?"
"You forget about me…" she managed to say in a trembling voice… before bursting into tears.
"But, uh… Shampoo… It's… it's not my fault… I didn't want to forget you… it's because of my trouble… that memory disorder… I forget always more and more… I'm sorry…"
She looked at him through her tears, then grabbed his hand into hers.
"I sad that you forget so much. Sad and worried. Because you also forget people who love you. And if you forget more and more, you say, then maybe you do not remember family or friends one day… very sad for you… I hope I can help, but I do not know how I help you…"
Cologne gently put her hand on the back of her great granddaughter.
"Shampoo, I'm afraid that now, only science can possibly do something for him…" She turned to the embarrassed boy. "I don't know if the treatment they planned for you will work, Son-in-law, but I do hope it will have a positive effect on you and stop the worsening of your disorder. And possibly improve your actual condition. But Shampoo and me will always be there for you, and we will pray for you."
Very uncomfortable after realizing he had hurt Shampoo's feelings, Ranma managed to utter some thanks, hoping something would work for him… treatment, prayers, whatever.
Akane, watching him with sadness, didn't hope any less for him.
-/-
As they exited the restaurant, the Tendo daughter opened the umbrella she had been carrying around that day, but the Saotome son, who hadn't been cautious enough and hadn't realized it was now rainy, exposed himself to the raindrops and turned into the Saotome daughter.
"You should have waited for me to open the umbrella, under the cover of the awning !" she half-scolded him… hum, her.
"I don't mind, really, It's only a light rainfall, not a downpour, so I'll be okay… You can keep the umbrella to yourself." retorted the redhead.
They walked quickly under the droplets, Akane preceding Ranma, but the intensity of the rain increased, forcing them to go faster. The pigtailed girl turned down her friend's proposal to share the umbrella, claiming that she was fine walking under the rain.
At some point, Akane asked Ranma if she could drop by at the bakery, to buy some bread. The red-haired one said she would wait outside, under the awning, and so the black-haired one left her waiting outside.
But you never know… you really never know…
A young boy ran past Ranma, and as he was turning the right corner, something fell out of his jacket pocket.
She immediately took off and grabbed the item, a kind of small purse, then resumed running after him.
"Hey !" she screamed. "Hey boy !"
Alas, he didn't turn around and kept on racing, taking the left crosswalk to reach another street.
Ranma hurried as much as she could, screaming out two more "Hey !"
But since it wasn't working, she decided to try something else : "Hey you, boy with black jacket and white pants !"
That got him ! He suddenly interrupted his race and turned around… to see a red-haired teenager, slightly older than him, closing in, breathless and waving something in her right hand.
"You… dropped that… from your… pocket…" she panted once she had reached him.
"Oh ! Thank you very much ! And sorry for making you run after me !"
"It's ok… but keep… that purse… inside…your jacket… okay ?"
After he had left, she made a U-turn and came back to the crossroads behind, catching her breath as she did so.
Once she was there, standing in front of the crosswalk that both had just used... she looked to the right, then ahead, then to the left.
Damn ! Where did I come from again ?!
She carefully looked at each of the 3 directions again, wondering where she should go, when…
"Have you lost your way ?"
The smooth voice made her turn her head to the left, where she saw a teenager with half-long black hair, holding an umbrella and observing her with interest.
"Yeah, kind of. I'm not sure where I came from. Maybe I used that crosswalk, right ahead, but… I can't remember."
"Well, maybe I could help you find your way. I don't have anything to do right now, so…"
She observed him carefully.
"Do we know each other ? Are we friends ? I'm sorry, but I can't remember if I've already met you before or not…"
He smiled, and in the back of his head, something smiled even wider : that cute little hottie was lost, yup, and probably not only physically. Perhaps she was retarded or stuff… which would make things all the more simple and easy. If he played it cunningly enough, that red-haired beauty would be trapped in no time.
"Well… we used to be friends, yes… but I hadn't seen you in a long time, actually… you don't remember me, really ?" he deceitfully asked her.
She furrowed her brows, desperately trying to shake up her faltering memory.
"No… sorry… I don't… what's your name again ?"
Thinking quickly, he randomly threw : "Hasashi. Oh, by the way, I see you're all wet… So how about coming to my place, so I can lend you some dry clothes ? I live two blocks away, so we'll do quick."
While, deep inside his evil mind, he knew that he would take all his time with her, oh yes he would…
She bit her lip, clearly unsure.
"Well, I… I don't know… You have female clothes at your place ?"
"Hum… my ex left some of her stuff at my place, so yes, I do. Wanna borrow some ?"
She bit harder, sensing that something wasn't quite right.
"That's nice of you, Hasashi. Really. But… I'm not sure that I –"
"Ranma-chan ?"
The redhead and the stranger both looked to the right.
Nabiki was standing there, under her umbrella, her eyes switching from her friend to that mysterious man by her side… and imperceptibly narrowing as they stared at him.
"Oh, hello… Natiki !"
"It's Nabiki, actually. What are you doing here, Ranma-chan ? Why isn't Akane with you ? She's supposed to take care of you !"
That lit a light up there, in the redhead's head.
"I was with her… Akane… and she went to…" Frowning. "…the bakery, I think. And then I saw that boy running, and he lost his… his wallet, I think… and I brought him back to him… and then… and then I couldn't find my way back to… to… Akane… and that's when I met… uh… Hayashi, right ?"
She looked at him, waiting for him to confirm that this was correct.
"Hasashi, in fact…" he replied cautiously, glancing over at Nabiki, who was still observing him carefully.
"He said we used to be friends… although I can't remember it… and he offered to lend me some dry clothes… he has some of his ex's clothes back at his place, two or three blocks away from here… he offered to take me there and lend me some clothes, but… I don't know… I suddenly got shivers… as if I was afraid… but that must be because of the rain, no ? There's no reason I would get afraid… right ?"
Nabiki had intently listened to all she had been told, and both from that summary and from the uneasiness showing in the man's behaviour, she drew the correct conclusions.
Looking at the petite girl, she grabbed her hand in hers and gazed firmly at her.
"Ranma-chan, you must NEVER ever go with a stranger, no matter what he tells you. Because, you see…" Her severe stare shifted from her to him. "…there are some VERY evil men who try to hurt young girls who are on their own."
He felt that he had to say something. Anything.
"Look, I wasn't trying t-"
"Listen, you sick bastard : if you don't move your ass away from here right now, I'll scream so loud that all the people around will look at us. I'll scream out the words 'help' and 'it's a rapist', and you can be sure that several people will come to our aid. And I'll tell them what you just tried to do. So, are you sure you wanna stay around ?"
As she finished speaking, Nabiki frowned in the most menacing way at "Hasashi", who understood that he had lost that one, and after threateningly staring at her, turned to hurry away, past the corner.
After keeping her eyes on said corner for a few seconds, Nabiki directed her attention at the potential victim by her side.
"Everything alright, Ranma-chan ? He didn't… touch you or anything, right ?" she asked her.
"No no. But you said some men hurt girls who are alone… I think I already heard of this before… but I cannot recall in what way they hurt them…"
"It's better not to remember !" warned the bobcut teen. "Can you possibly remember where you came from ? Or where Akane could be ?"
"I'm… I'm not sure…Maybe I came from the opposite… I think I stepped over some crosswalk, so it could be this one here, and I could have come from that street ahead…"
The brunette nodded.
"Ok, let's give it a try. Here, come with me."
Keeping the hand of the pigtailed teen in hers, Nabiki crossed the street and, after hesitating, continued straight ahead.
And just as they were about to reach the next corner, they saw a girl emerge from the right street, calling out "RANMA ! RANMA !"
"Akane ! We're here !"
Hearing her name, the third daughter spotted the second one, who was holding the lost girl by the hand.
"Nabiki ! Ranma !"
She ran over to them and her eyes immediately threw daggers at the confused blue eyes opposite.
"Ranma, where did you go ? You were supposed to wait for me in front of the bakery ! I was worried sick ! What happened ?"
But her sister put a soft yet also firm hand on her shoulder.
"Please don't scream at her. It was a combination of factors that brought her here. And I saved her from a pretty bad danger, so you shouldn't be harsh to her. She needs to be comforted and treated well… all the more since she could have been treated so bad. I'll explain you later, but for now, please be gentle with Ranma-chan. She deserves it."
Akane's look switched to the still confused redhead, then back to her sister, and nodded.
What was about to happen before I found them ? A pretty bad danger, she said… Oh Ranma, my poor Ranma… what will become of you if you don't pay attention ?
And as if things hadn't gone so wrong already, the headache returned under the red hair, sharper than ever…
-/-
Instead of telling the person to come in, Akane got up from her bed and went to open the door… to find a certain small girl standing there.
"Ranma ? Something wrong ?"
"No… but can I have a word with you ?"
"I was talking to Nabiki, but if you want to talk to me in private, I can - "
"No, it's fine : actually, it would be even better if she remained there, so I can speak to both of you !"
The brunette let the redhead in, and the latter headed for the bed, where the second Tendo sister was already seated.
"Hey, Ranma-chan ! Still keeping your female self, I see… but why not ? Uh…is everything alright ?"
"Sure… mmmmh… Na… Nabiki ?"
The addressed one couldn't help showing her joy.
"You actually still do remember my name ? I'm impressed. I thought you wouldn't… or would utter it wrong. But I'm relieved and delighted to see you got it right."
The braided female let out a deep sigh, as Akane proposed her to sit on the bed and took the chair for herself.
"So I guess I'm not a good-for-nothing yet…"mumbled the gender-switcher.
"Don't say that, please ! You're far from that, even if you forget many things. Don't ever doubt about your value, Ranma-chan !"
The Saotome daughter didn't reply… but after a little while, she nodded.
"Anyway… I've come here to apologize for making you worried about me, earlier today." She turned to Akane. "I wanted to tell you at first…" Then to Nabiki. "…but it's a good thing you're here as well, because you were involved in this as well. So, I'm sorry for causing trouble and make you get concerned about me. I meant to help someone but got myself in a bad situation. Thanks for helping me… and sorry again."
Akane and Nabiki looked at each other.
"It's ok, Ranma. You meant good. That's what matters. I was indeed worried for you, but relieved that nothing bad happened to you. So it's fine. No excuses needed here." the Tendo martial artist kindly said.
"Yup. Sister's right : the most important is that you weren't hurt or harmed in any way !" the bobcut girl confirmed.
"I'm angry at myself, because if I had remembered my way back, there wouldn't have been any problem. I wouldn't have appeared lost and that man wouldn't have proposed to help me… with secret motivation in mind. But I still haven't understood what he wanted. Rob me ? Kidnap me and ask for a ransom ?"
Akane licked her lips.
"It's better not to remember about certain dark things of life. It doesn't matter what he wanted : what does matter is that he didn't get it."
"She's right, Ranma-chan. It's better not to recall about that ! You were safe, and that's what you must remember !"
The petite female smiled.
"Alright then. I won't ask anymore. And thanks again for saving me… Nabiki… and thanks for taking care of me so often… Ak… Akiko ?"
The brunette couldn't hide her shock : her beloved had forgotten her name… forgotten the name of the girl who loved him/her and cared for him/her so much…
How couldn't she be shocked… and sad ?
Disappointment invaded her face.
"Sorry ! Sorry ! I… I'm stupid for not remembering your name, after all you've been doing for me… I'll find it… It's… A… Ak… Ak... uh…"
The poor redhead racked her brains for that name… and the poor brunette observed her, her heart sinking as she felt part of her had been deleted from her beloved's mind. Not the most important part, fortunately, but still…
"Akane ?" tried Ranma.
"Oh, Ranma !" exclaimed the relieved one, hugging her love… but staring with some concern at her sister, right behind, who stared back at her, equally preoccupied.
Some memories seemed to remain more persistent, more enduring than others, like the sisters' names, which could still be recalled…
… but both sisters knew that it wouldn't be long before even these would fade away, alas…
-/-
For the third time in about 10 minutes, the red-haired girl turned her head to the left and glanced at the panda sitting next to Soun.
But this time, she also slightly frowned, uncertain about the result of her inner debate.
Kasumi and Nabiki had noticed this.
"Is there something wrong, dear Ranma ?" the firstborn asked.
"Yes, why have you been looking at Genma several times ?" the "middle sister" inquired.
But just as this was uttered, both had an idea about the answer… and began feeling uneasy, realizing that the girl might have forgotten about her father.
Also concerned, Akane, asked : "You remember his name ? Genma ?"
Ranma appeared perplexed.
"Genma ? Nope, never heard of him. But I think that's cool to have a big panda at home ! It's the first time I see a panda in a house rather than out in nature…"
There was silence as all those present processed the info they had just heard… and understood what was wrong with it.
"Hum…" Soun cleared his throat. "The first time, you say ? But you've seen him many times before ! He has always been here !"
The blue eyes opened wide, one eyebrow raised.
"Always ? Really ?"
"Well, he hadn't been in his panda form for a while, so perhaps that's why you don't remember about his transformation…" suggested Akane.
The pigtailed female looked always more and more puzzled.
"His transformation ?!"
"So you don't remember that your father can transform into a panda when splashed with cold water ?" inquired Nabiki.
"My father ? Where is he ?"
As these words were spoken, the massive panda abruptly got up and left the room.
Nobody dared to make any comment or ask any question, wrongly deducing that Genma had been hurt by Ranma's questions.
But no, he simply came back with a kettle of hot water and poured some of the liquid over him, instantly becoming human again.
The redhead goggled at him,
"Son, you don't remember about my name and don't remember either about my panda form. But you do still remember that you have a father… or don't you ?"
She was still puzzled at all this, and observed him like she didn't quite understand all of it.
"Are you… my father ?"
Some gasped, some remained with their mouth agape, some bit their lip, some opened their eyes wide… but none of the people present remained indifferent.
The blue-eyed confused girl turned around as she felt a hand softly laid on her back.
"Ranma, you don't recall Genma ? Your father ? You don't remember about his turning into a panda when he's in contact with cold water, just like you turning from boy to girl in the same situation ? You have really forgotten ?" gently asked Akane, having a hard time believing it.
The redhead stared at that man wearing glasses, opposite her, and frowned, trying to force her memory to dig it up from the depths it had buried that recollection.
"I'm sorry… I…" she began, but before she couldn't add more, her father couldn't take it anymore and let it all out !
"You can't even remember me ! After all those years we've been spending together ! I was by your side since your birth, and now you… you…"
It was his turn to leave his sentence pending, emotions and feelings overwhelming him : anger, disappointment, frustration, shock, sadness, hurt…
He turned around and hurriedly left the living room.
But Ranma couldn't let him leave like that, after those words, in this mood.
She ran after him, screaming : "IT'S NOT MY FAULT… FATHER ! IT'S NOT MY FAULT IF I FORGET SO MUCH ! I'M SUFFERING FROM A DISORDER AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT ! I'M SUFFERING, PERIOD !"
He stopped in his tracks, holding the open door, motionless, his back still to her, whose tears were now slowly rolling down her cheeks, her teeth gritted, ready to take another "blow".
But when he turned around, she could see… they all could see that he was crying as well.
"I know, Ranma. I know you can't do anything about it. I shouldn't have said that. But… it hurts, Son, it hurts terribly for a father to see his child forget about him. Even if it's not voluntary. I'm aware that you suffer, and I regret it… but I also suffer, and me who rarely ever cry, here I am, shedding tears. It's not easy for me as well." A brief silence. "I hope they'll find a way to cure you, somehow… I dearly hope so."
And with that, he went out and closed the door slowly, instead of slamming it, like he first intended to.
The Saotome child was weeping more intensely now, her vision all blurred, her throat very painful.
"It's… so unfair… so fucking… unfair…" she barely managed to say, her throat making it difficult for her to speak.
And whirling around, she ran upstairs, ignoring Akane's calling her, wiping her tears away, and she did slam the door, locking it immediately.
The short-haired brunette hurried to the first floor, ignoring as for her the call of her father, and once in front of Ranma's door, she knocked gently, calling her beloved's name.
"DON'T WANNA TALK !"
"Ranma ! Please ! You need comfort, and I'm here for you !"
Silence.
"Ranma, let me comfort you. I feel so bad for you ! I want to help you !"
"I KNOW, BUT I WANNA BE ALONE FOR NOW !"
Akane hung her head and slowly lowered her raised hand, realizing it would be to no avail.
"Right. But I'll be here for you whenever you want, don't hesitate."
"THANK YOU."
She turned to leave.
"AND SORRY."
It's me who is sorry, Ranma. So very, so terribly sorry for you. If only I could do something… if I could do more… find a solution… feeling helpless for those you love is horrible… horrible.
Akane shuffled her feet to her own room, and closing the door seemed to cost her some real effort… as if she had suddenly grown weak.
And in a sense, she had.
Shortly after, some muffled sobbing could imperceptibly be heard through her door…
-/-
Darker…
I know you feel sorry for our couple. Who wouldn't be, after all ? It's indeed terrible to be helpless when your loved ones are suffering, and you're forced to watch or hear about their ordeal, unable to help in any way. But sometimes, life can be extremely cruel, as we all know…
Sorry for the delay, I've been overloaded at work and it all weighed down on me, thus causing this longer wait. Not my fault, alright, but I still apologize for that lateness. God willing, next update will take less time…
I hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year's Eve, and that you started 2024 harmoniously. Here's sending you all my best wishes for this umpteenth year in mankind's history, with my fingers crossed for better times ahead.
Take good care of you, get well soon if you're sick, enjoy life as much/often as you can, make the most of it, be happy, smile (on your face, but mostly in your heart and mind)… and remain hopeful !
Catch you soon again !
Léo