In his defense, at least he was in Tokyo this time. Yesterday he had been in Bucharest and the day before that, Busan. The previous week, asking for directions to Nerima, Tokyo had led him to Rome, Georgia. Georgia in America, not the country. There were lots of places named Rome in America. It was so confusing. He'd thought Rome was in Italy, but he'd labeled his map in such a way that it was hard to tell. Maybe it was truly in Greece.

So Ryoga, laboring under the burden of an old man with back problems though he was, counted all his multitudinous blessings. He was in the same country as Akane. The same city as Akane. Hopefully the same ward as Akane? He didn't know how many wards Tokyo had. He thought it was 220 but he would have to check with someone.

"Sonny," the grandpa said. "Thank you very much for doing this. I thought I'd die over there on that intersection. Then you showed up."

"No problem, ojii-san," Ryoga grunted. He could fling wild giant boars across the cloudless sky with a flick of his pinky but this grandpa had been absolutely loaded with groceries. He had a granddaughter around Ryoga's age, a granddaughter's boyfriend also around Ryoga's age, a grandson much younger, and a daughter-in-law his mother's age. This Ryoga had found within thirty seconds of piggybacking the old man. Conversation with the elderly was a finely honed skill he had developed after years of getting lost and asking for directions.

"Is Tendo dojo near your house?"

Grandpa stared at him blankly. "Tendo dojo? That weird martial arts dojo here in Nerima? Near Furinkan High School?"

Ryoga's heart beat faster. Finally, he could go and challenge his most hated rival, close to his destination that he was. So close. He could smell Ranma's blood in the air. Ranma had to be close.

"It's on the other side of Nerima, sonny. Near Shirakogawa. But Higurashi shrine is just around the corner. You can't miss it."

For some reason he could not pinpoint, his compass aligned perfectly and his woeful sense of direction righted itself as he could actually tell right from left. A red torii emerged from around the corner. He crossed the threshold in success.

Grandpa clambered down from Ryoga's back, smiling, bowing, and hefting his bulky grocery bags in hand.

"Thank you very much, young man. Please come in and make yourself at home for a bit. You can help my granddaughter come up with excuses for missing school tomorrow. Maybe you could help us move on from injuries and illnesses to simply getting lost!"

Ryoga had no idea what that was supposed to mean.

"What a plan!" Grandpa Higurashi was beaming and rubbing his beard, a eureka moment streaking across his face. "We could tell her friends that she went to Beirut for a short vacation! Just like you!"

Ryoga felt mildly offended. He had not gone for a short vacation. He had suffered beyond words and the poverty of language could not convey the agony in his bones. Tears streamed down his face at his travails. He clenched his fists and gazed soulfully at the sunset.

Ranma! Wait for me! This time for sure you've met your match. I, Hibiki Ryoga will crush you like a walnut. No, an acorn. A senbei cracker! Some crunchy object!

He was much more eloquent in his letters to Akane-san.

"Come on, Ryoga-kun!" Grandpa yelled. "The house is this way. We'll have some tea ready for you!"

The old man shuffled off into the house and at just that moment, Ryoga's borked internal compass went haywire again.

Somehow he had confused the main house with the other buildings within the shrine complex and found himself wandering into a musty room where he was sure tea was not available.

He sighed. Looked like he'd need help getting to the Tendo dojo after all. And he thought he could manage it after escorting this grandpa back home safe and sound. Silly Ryoga.

The room was dark and damp, cobwebbed, with an earthy petrichor smell even though there had been no rain.

He peered into the gloom and found himself staring into a well.

He was so lost.

He leaned against the lip of the well, thinking. He was sure the way out was behind him, but what if it was ahead? Or on the side? Doors confused him. They all looked the same. Even when they were labeled.

What to do?

I hate you, Ranma. He felt justified in thinking this even though to any sane observer, Ranma had nothing to do with him getting lost and winding up in a strange room with a strange well, away from anyone who could have pointed him in the right direction.

Now, should I go left...or right...?

A few drops of cold, icy rain dripped through the slats of the roof and into the room. Grandpa Higurashi had called a carpenter but unfortunately for Ryoga, that carpenter was due only next week.

Rain splashed onto the back of Ryoga's neck and he went down, squealing like the pig he presently was.

He was so lost.

A/N: A little one-shot I wrote a while back that won't leave my head and now I have to write a full-fledged story. :)