NEW S PREAD
"You're up early…"
Ranma jumped and swiftly turned around…
…to find the Bandana Boy sitting on the edge of the roof.
"Jeez, Man, don't sneak behind people like that ! I'm no chicken, alright, but you almost scared me there !"
"I thought you'd hear me coming, no matter how stealthy I was. I know you have a sensitive ear…" pleaded Ryoga.
"Well no, I didn't. Or maybe I was too deep in my thoughts that I couldn't hear you…"
The piglet-boy didn't add anything for a short while, then :
"You must have been pretty thoughtful to miss any sound I'd make… What's on your mind, mmmmh ?"
Just like previously, the pigtailed teenager decided to keep it secret and give a fake reason instead… because he didn't feel like confiding about his recent issues, even if he had begun getting along better with Ryoga.
"Well, brooding over that curse of mine, that makes me turn into a girl each time I'm in contact with cold water. But I can't really complain when I think about you… coz you have it worse !"
The brown-eyed boy smiled.
"Thanks, Ranma. I appreciate. But I've learned to live with it, you know. I had to, no matter how difficult it has been… yet I wish I could find a cure to that jinx !"
"I hear you, Ryoga. I've got used to my female form, but many months before, I definitely would have travelled back to China if I had been given the opportunity. Yes, if had had the necessary time and money for that, I would have returned to… to…uh…"
The small smile vanished from Ryoga's lips.
"…to those hot springs where we got those bloody curses, you know !" finished his fellow martial artist.
The Lost Boy raised an eyebrow.
"Those hot springs" ? He doesn't remember the name or what ?!
"Jusenkyo, you mean ?" he asked.
"Uh ?"
"You mentioned hot springs… you meant the Jusenkyo springs, right ?"
Ranma was silent for a few seconds.
"Yeah, pretty much. I wasn't sure about the name anymore. I rarely use it, after all…"
"Sure, but that's still strange you'd forget the name of the place where you got a lifelong curse that radically changed your existence…" remarked Ryoga. "And… you said hot springs, didn't you ? But Ranma… Jusenkyo was a site of cold springs, not hot ones !"
The young Saotome furrowed his brow.
"I said… hot springs ?"
The young Hibiki frowned… then nodded.
"Are you sure ?" insisted the absent-minded one.
What the hell is wrong with him ?!
"Yes, I am. But perhaps you were a bit distracted when you mentioned Jusenkyo… or rather, "the springs", as you said. Perhaps thinking about your curse again."
"Yeah, probably. There's a lot on my mind lately, so… this sometimes confuses me and makes me say wrong things. Nothing to worry about."
Ryoga didn't reply, then finally briefly sighed.
"If you say so…"
"Dude, there's no reason to feel concerned or puzzled. I'm okay, just… distracted, sometimes. Or maybe a bit tired. No biggie, really."
"Alright, alright. It's just that your mistakes about Jusenkyo surprised me. That's all. But if you say you're okay…"
"I am !" repeated Ranma, with a convincing smile.
But who was he trying to convince, in fact ? Ryoga or… himself ?
-/-
On the evening of the same day, it was the turn of the Eternal Wanderer to be lost in thought, in the garden.
He was lying in the grass and looking at the clouds… but without seeing them.
His mind was set on a somewhat worrisome matter and the beauty of the evening sky had no real grasp on him.
He was so absorbed in his reflections that he failed to notice the return of the fiancés.
It wasn't until Akane came into the garden, to relax a bit by the pond and admire the gorgeous sky, and that she called his name, that he realized they were home from school.
"Everything alright ?" she inquired, seeing him motionless, staring up (she didn't think that he was into admiring the setting sun or such, so his distant gaze obviously had another origin…).
"Yes" he replied automatically, as humans often replied they're fine… when they're not.
But after taking a look at a somewhat perplexed Akane (Why do I feel that he actually isn't ok…?), he sighed and decided that he owed her the truth… all the more since the reason of his concern was tightly related to her.
"Actually… no. I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother you with that, but I can't be dishonest to you. And maybe you're also concerned about it, so… here it is : I have the impression that Ranma is behaving unlike himself lately. I just came back and haven't seen him for long, alright, but still… he seems sidetracked and forgets stuff, or remembers it wrong. I wonder what's distracting him lately…"
"Did something happen today, between you two ? What did he say that set you thinking about his behaviour ?" she asked, crouching close to him.
"Well, as you probably remember from yesterday's events, he seemed to have a slight difficulty with my name, and almost forgot his fish, which he never does. And this morning, he didn't remember the name of the Jusenkyo springs, and called them instead "hot springs"… which is wrong, by the way, since they're cold springs. And when I pointed it out to him, he asked me if I was sure he had ever said that… like he hadn't really paid attention to what he had uttered. That's 4 or 5 mishaps already, and they really surprised me and made me wonder what was wrong with him."
He was observing her and noticed she was gulping.
"Ryoga… I didn't intend to tell you just yet, as I haven't even told the family… although Kasumi and Nabiki also witnessed his absent-mindedness in a recent issue regarding errands. But after what you have told me… I guess I can't remain silent about it any longer. I'll tell you everything, and then I'll have to also tell the rest of the family."
Akane quickly glanced at the house, to see if Ranma was around, but no sign of him. The whole family was gathered in the living room, the two fathers playing shogi (for a change…) and the two other sisters… looking at Ryoga and her, wondering what they were talking about and why their younger sis' had turned around to glance at them.
She faced the thoughtful boy, a cunning expression on her features.
"Actually, I have a better idea… to inform you all at the same time !"
-/-
"Ranma ?" Kasumi called out from the kitchen entrance.
He was soon in front of her.
"Would you please bring this homemade dinner box to Dr. Tofu ? I'm a bit busy right now, so I would appreciate if you could do me that favour."
"To Dr. Tofu…" he repeated mechanically, making it seem like he was pondering about that name (and who knows, perhaps he really was…..).
"Yes." She fixed her gaze on him, somewhat doubtful. "You remember who… hum… where his practice is, don't you ?"
She immediately regretted saying that, dreading he would be upset by what it implied… but he merely stared back at her.
"Yeah, it's… two blocks away from here, on the… on the right corner, eh ?" he tentatively answered.
Kasumi inwardly sighed.
"Yes, that's right. I'm glad you still remember it." He gave her a look, so she hurriedly added : "And thank you so much, dear Ranma !"
He didn't reply immediately, making her vaguely uneasy, but soon mouthed a "no problem" before taking off.
She released her breath and, after a short wait, to make sure he wasn't coming back for something, she made her way upstairs and entered Akane's room.
The whole family was assembled there, with Ryoga in a corner.
Kasumi closed the door, took a spot on the bed, next to Nabiki, and focused on Akane, who was installed in her desk chair.
"How did he act when you told him to go to Dr. Tofu's ?" the third daughter asked the first one.
"He repeated the doctor's name, as if he was trying to recall who he was or where he lived, I'm not sure. And when I asked him if he remembered the way, he hesitated on the side of the road where the practice was located… but he then picked the correct side."
Akane nodded.
"He hasn't forgotten everything, which is encouraging. Yet that's still worrying. I will now tell you about the various incidents that took place the past 3 weeks…"
She quickly exposed the different events, wasting no time, as Ranma could be back anytime.
And they naturally all hung onto her every word, wide-eyed, hardly believing what they were told… and yet knowing full well that Akane had absolutely no reason to make up any of those weird situations.
To say that they were astounded would still be some euphemism.
Once she was through with her explanations…
"Why didn't you inform us sooner, Akane ?" questioned Soun.
"Well, at first, I thought he was just distracted, maybe due to some lack of sleep, or something he was getting concerned about… I assumed it wouldn't last, that's why I didn't judge it necessary to tell anyone. But now… after all these issues… you had to be informed. He's not acting normally, even for someone who might be tired or preoccupied."
"He isn't his usual self, that's for sure…" admitted Nabiki. "But what gets him that sidetracked ? Any idea ?"
Her brown eyes first set on Akane, but as the latter wasn't replying, she gave a circular around, at the fathers, Ryoga and finally Kasumi.
"Nothing special happened to him these days, before I arrived ?" inquired Ryoga.
"No, definitely no. Nothing out of the ordinary. As far as I can recall, at least." Akane told him, before catching the eye of Kasumi, to have her confirm that everything had been normal lately.
"You're right. No peculiar event these past weeks. Isn't it, Nabiki ?" the firstborn said, then turning to the second daughter.
"Nope, not that I can remember. No special event or problem. Unless something happened to him when none of us was around to witness it… That could be the case. The only way to be sure about it would be… to ask Ranma directly. Hopefully he won't get ticked off by that question and agree to share about any issue of his that we might have missed."
The bobcut girl directed her sly gaze at the third Tendo.
"I don't think it would be a good idea to ask him in front of the whole family. It would be best if you could make your little inquiry once you're alone with him, Akane."
"Yeah, I guess so…" replied the female martial artist, nodding. "I can't guarantee he'll share anything, even with me… but I'm the one closest to him, and we've been getting alone pretty good lately, so it makes sense that I do the job. But…"
She cast a look all around her.
"We must all keep an eye on him, and if something more serious happens, if he forgets something really crucial, the one who witnesses it will have to tell us all. We'll find a way to gather once he's absent, and we'll share any important info. Is that ok with you ?"
They all nodded.
"Alright ! Then it's settled !" announced Genma. "Let's all get back down into the living room, before he returns. He would certainly be very suspicious if he found us all gathered in a room, with the door closed…"
"Definitely, Saotome, definitely !" agreed Soun, before they all got up and left the room… but not before Kasumi, who came out first, had carefully listened and, after discreetly getting down, had confirmed them that the coast was clear and that they should quickly take their spots around the table, waiting for the problematic family member…
-/-
As they were walking home that day, with Ranma trying to cheer up a gloomy Akane, the pair ran into another pair… whom they'd gladly have avoided !
"Oh Ranma-sama ! So happy to see you !" squealed the excited "ponytailed" brunette as she ran to the pigtailed boy.
"Uh, please, no, Kodachi ! I…I've got a cold so better not hug me then !" he retorted.
"Oh…" she reluctantly came to a halt, a sorry expression on her now defeated face. "I hope you'll feel well quickly !"
"But what do I see ? Tendo Akane ! Were you looking for me ?" asked Kuno, hurrying to her.
"Hum… I might be contagious from Ranma's cold, so no hug either !" she told him, her hand up to stop him.
"Uh… ok. But I send you kisses from here !" he exclaimed, blowing her kisses from a distance. "And in case you're sick, or will get because of…" He visually threw daggers at his rival. "…you, Saotome Ranma…" His gaze returned to the Tendo daughter. "…well I sure wish you a good recovery and hope for your soonest healing ! So that I can hug you again !"
"Hum, no thanks…" she briefly replied.
"Tell me, Ranma-sama, could we spend some time together after my training, around 18:00 ?" Kodachi dared to ask, right in front of his official fiancé.
He scratched his head.
"Your training ?"
She chuckled.
"My gymnastics training, silly !"
But it still seemed puzzled.
"You have a gymnastics training ?"
Her smile vanished, replaced by a raised eyebrow.
"Well, yes, of course, since I'm a gymnast !"
He slammed his fist in his hand, typical gesture of realization.
"Oh, that's true ! You're a gymnast !"
The mouths of the Kuno siblings opened, then the pair exchanged a dumbstruck look, before resuming their confused staring at that pigtailed teenager acting pretty weird, all of a sudden.
Akane, as for her, felt extremely nervous and uneasy.
He's making a fool of himself now… and if it goes on that way, all our friends and acquaintances will be aware of his problem in no time !
"You're… you're kidding us, right, Ranma-sama ? You've always known I'm a gymnast !"
"Saotome Ranma ! Are you making fun of my sister ?"
"Hum, no, he's just very tired lately… he sleeps pretty bad these days… so he can get kinda sidetracked every now and then… I guess we'd better go home now. Come on, Ranma !"
"Okay, but –"
"NO !"
Akane had screamed, making him jolt and goggle at her.
"I… I mean, no. We really have to get home ! Please !"
He gazed at her, sensing distress… or something similar, in her insistent stare.
They took their leave from the Kuno's, who watch them walk away, an uncertain look on their faces.
-/-
"Niao, Ranma !"
Akane let out an upset sigh while the black-haired boy turned to acknowledge Shampoo's presence, long-purple-haired grinning beauty sitting on a now motionless bike, without any delivery case in hand.
"Oh, hi , Shamp ! What's up ?" he told her with a greeting wave.
"Shamp ?" she incredulously repeated.
He laughed.
"Yeah ! That's your name, have you forgotten ?"
Akane was biting her lip.
Damn ! If others find out, what will become of all this ? People will spread the word around them, and soon, too many people will know about Ranma's problem. I can't let that happen !
"Yeah, that's his new nickname for you, Shampoo ! He decided to call you Shamp instead of Shampoo. It doesn't bother you, eh ?"
The Chinese female eyed the Japanese one in a doubtful way, narrowing her eyes as she noticed the Tendo's nervousness.
Her suspicious expression vanished and was replaced by a smile at her beloved.
"Fiancé Ranma can call me any name he like. I accept it. I accept any thing that come from him." she answered in her "uneven English", batting her eyelashes at him.
Akane gritted her teeth.
"Right, now let's go, Ranma, or we'll be late. It was… nice seeing you, "Shamp", but we gotta go !"
"AH CRAP !"
That scream came from above them, and as the three raised their faces, they saw…
… a green plastic container, that a woman had awkwardly dropped, and that was now falling to them, more precisely "aiming" at Shampoo head !
Ranma leaned forward to push the Chinese away from the impact spot, but the container, which had turned over in its fall, poured its content on both their heads, before ending up on the ground !
Unfortunately for them, it happened to be a watering can, and therefore…
Akane only gave a brief glance at the lady up there on her balcony, screaming out apologies : she was too focused on the red-haired female and purple cat by its side.
She knew all too well what was going to happen…
And as she had finished shaking her head to get rid of the water, and after putting away the wet hair stuck on her forehead, Ranma lowered her gaze and spotted the cat also shaking the water off itself and then looking up at the redhead.
Akane sighed…
…but a few seconds later, her mouth opened wide and she goggled at the scene : Ranma kneeling down and asking Shampoo if she was alright (the redhead at least had NOT forgotten that this purple cat was actually the purple-haired girl) !
And under the totally astonished stare of a disbelieving Akane, the pigtailed female began stroking the cat's head.
But the feline, instead of showing content, also stared at Ranma, wondering how on Earth the gender-switcher could enjoy the presence of a cat… while she had always run away from cats, given her allurophobia !
Akane couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
There's no way she can be comfortable around cats ! How come she…
And then it hit her.
The only possibility was that… the red-haired female had forgotten about her fear of cats !
Coz if she had… if she didn't remember about her allurophobia, then…
… then there's no reason why she would not be able to stroke a cat, enjoy a cat by her side ! Yes, there's no other way ! She must have forgotten it, for sure !
But while this solved one of her beloved's long-time problems, it also indicated that another, more recent problem only worsened !
"Ranma ?"
The wet-haired girl raised her face to her friend…
…who could see the wide smile on her face !
"Do you feel… happy ? I mean… being with this cat ?"
"Oh yes, I do ! I'm just sorry for Shampoo, because her fur is now all wet… but I sure enjoy stroking her !" She turned to the cat again. "Right, Shampoo ?"
The purple cat accepted the caresses, but she felt more perplexed than actually delighted : the pigtailed girl's behaviour was not normal. Unless, of course, if it was the result of a treatment, whose goal had been to cure allurophobia… in which case, it was a success ! But Shampoo really didn't think so.
"Come on, Ranma. Let's get home." said Akane, putting her hand on the shoulder of the shorter girl.
"Okay then." A glance at the cat. "But shouldn't we help her return to her human form ? I can ask someone in that building for some hot water…"
The brunette gave a discreet sigh, then agreed… although slightly reluctantly (after all, Shampoo remained a rival…).
A long day than this one, definitely…
-/-
Knock knock !
"Come in !" Then, after the newcomer had entered her room : "Hi, Kasumi."
"Akane, it's dinner time. We're waiting for you downstairs."
"Sorry but I'm not hungry tonight."
The firstborn appeared worried.
"It's Ranma, isn't it ?"
The youngest Tendo nodded.
"Did something else happen today, or are you just anxious about his general condition ?"
"Well, while we were getting home…"
"Uh, sisters…?"
Both turned to the door, which had remained ajar, and saw Nabiki standing there.
"Sorry to disturb you, but I felt like it was my "sister duty" to come check on you as well, Akane."
She closed the door and made her way to the bed, where both were sitting, and kneeled by their side.
"I guess you were about to tell something to Kasumi, certainly about Ranma-kun, but… do you mind sharing it with me as well ? I'm also concerned about him…"
"No, of course not. After all, even if he's my fiancé, we're all together in this, and you have the right to know." replied Akane.
She summarized the Kuno siblings and Shampoo incidents, and the sudden disappearance of Ranma's fear of cats made a great impression on the two other sisters.
"He… forgot that he ever was scared to death regarding cats ?! That's crazy !" Nabiki exclaimed, baffled.
"So he has also forgotten that…" Kasumi stated rather than she asked.
"If his memories keep getting "erased", and have to be revived each time, it will become very problematic ! For him mainly, but also for us all !" warned the most clever family member.
"I know, Nabiki, I know. And I think that we must go to Dr. Tofu's. He has to examine Ranma. And if he can't do anything, then we must go to the hospital. They could have a scanner or X-ray of the brain made. A… I can't remember the word… it ends in "-gram", I think…"
"An encephalogram. Or electroencephalogram, I'm not sure which of the two. But one of them, definitely !" her smart sister informed her.
"Poor Ranma…" complained the saddened Kasumi, a hand on her cheek.
Knock knock !
They quickly exchanged looks, wondering who it could be… but having the same idea.
"Come in."
The door opened… on the shortest girl of the whole family.
"I was wondering what the matter was. I came down and saw the table laid for dinner, but only our two fathers there. What's the deal ?"
"Ranma-chan, why didn't you change back to Ranma-kun ?" wondered Nabiki.
"Uh ?
"She wants to know why you didn't change back to a boy, once you got home…" clarified Akane.
"Ah, that…!" She shrugged, like it was only a detail. "Oh, I felt kinda tired when we got here, and like a light headache, you know…so I just wanted to have a short nap before dinner. I'll get a shower after. So, uh… what's wrong here ?"
"Akane didn't feel too good, she said she was tired and wasn't hungry. So we came up here to convince her to eat something. Maybe not much, just a little bit. It's not healthy to sleep with an empty stomach." explained Kasumi.
Ranma nodded.
"And you're right ! Come on, Akane, come with us and have something ! You need to eat, you look pale… or tired, I dunno. Come !"
The short-haired brunette was staring at the cheering pigtailed redhead… and she felt so sorry for her. But of course, she couldn't say anything. Or at least, she didn't want to just yet.
"Ok. I'll come down." Akane conceded, getting up from her bed with some effort, feeling too tired to do it normally…. Physical but also psychological, mental fatigue.
The blue-eyed female smiled at her fiancée and, catching her hand, she led her downstairs.
And all had dinner together, as if nothing… yet with regular though discreet glances at Ranma, but also at Akane, who was unusually pale that evening…
-/-
Damn ! Things are worsening, aren't they ? And now comes the medical perspective… But is there another solution ? How can they find out about Ranma's growing problem of memory, if not by inspecting his brain ?
The chappy title is once again a portemanteau based on the spread of news, namely the news about Ranma. It implies that his problem is getting known from other people, i.e. outside the family circle : Ryoga, Kuno and Kodachi, Shampoo… and perhaps others soon ? And if the word of his issue spreads… what could/will happen then ?
Read on to find out ! And in the mean time, my gratitude to all those of you who have read and reviewed this story so far, and who will in the future ! Your interest and support is very much appreciated and thanked for !
That's about it, I guess.
Take care, be happy… and read you soon (for you as for me) !
Léo