Apologies for my long absence. The last months of absence I have been in mourning and still am.
I have lost the most dear person in my life. It still saddens me every day.
I know that my dear one is no longer in pain but I miss the presence that calmed me down inside and gave me a feeling of safety.
Nevertheless, it is time to live again and the fact that Ranma has been re-released as an anime has done me good and also given me the
motivation to pick up writing again.
I made this chapter a bit longer than usual for my return.
Enjoy!
Finally. They had arrived. The Saotome and Tendo family were at the famous Doll Inn with Cologne, Shampoo, Mouse, Ryoga and Ukyo.
Happosai had sent them on a tour somewhere in Brazil for 2 weeks. That old pervert was going to enjoy himself.
At this moment the ladies were relaxing in the hot springs.
The same goes for the men except Ranma. He said he would be a bit late, that he had to greet someone first.
No one in the family understood except Akane.
The day that chaos broke out with Kuno and the photo had been pure hell.
The class had all asked questions if Ranma and Akane had more "girl" action, much to the frustration of Ranma and Akane.
Once home, Nabiki was punished by handing in the money earned from the photos and Genma and Kasumi decided to go to the doll in to relax.
Ranma would definitely relax. He really needed that but there was something more important at the moment.
Ranma stood before the doll praying. He had placed a beautiful flower next to her instead of food.
He foresaw that his father would eat it. Ranma did not want to anger the doll again.
Ranma opened his eyes and saw Akane standing next to him who had just come up from her bow and looked at Ranma.
"Shall we take a walk, Ranma?" Akane asked and Ranma looked deep into her eyes and saw that it was still Akane.
"Yes, that's fine." Ranma said and together they walked towards the exit towards the forest.
"Is everyone still in the onsen?" Ranma asked as they walked.
"Yes. Cologne started talking about Kasumi's skin. That she used to have such beautiful skin. I didn't feel like having such conversations." Akane said.
"I understand. Cologne talked to me too. The transfer for my happiness can be tough. No idea what awaits me." Ranma said and Akane stopped walking.
'' Akane?''
'' No matter how hard it gets... I'll be there for you...Ranma...'' Akane said with a small smile.
''I feel so refreshed. These water sources are really good for your health.'' Nodoka said.
''Shampoo skin smooth and soft again.'' Shampoo said happily.
''My muscles are in top condition again.'' Ryoga said as he squeezed his bicep.
They all walked to the shared living room but didn't find Ranma and Akane there but a staff member who told them that dinner would arrive an hour later.
''Did you happen to see a girl with short hair and a boy with a braid?'' Kasumi asked and the staff member nodded.
''Yes, they went outside. They were talking about the doll of this inn and memories.'' the staff member said.
''Then we know enough. Thank you.'' Kasumi said and turned around. She sat down next to her father.
''That doll had caused something back then. I understand that Ranma and Akane want to talk about it together.'' Nabiki said.
Cologne followed the conversation. She had heard something like that from Shampoo. Cologne had seen the doll sitting in the hallway with the flower Ranma had bought during the trip here. The flower was for the doll to show respect. Clever of Ranma.
''Lady Cologne, Kiima-san is coming tomorrow morning. Does my son need to do something before the transfer is made?'' Nodoka asked worriedly.
''I still have to inform him about something but that will be fine. Just make sure your husband controls himself with the sake.'' Cologne said and Nodoka quickly shot to Genma and Soun who were both starting to get red cheeks.
Cologne looked around and saw that the group was busy playing a game. She turned around when she heard her granddaughter.
''Great-Grandmother, where you go?''
'' A walk, I need fresh air for tomorrow.''
And with that, Cologne left the room in search of Ranma.
"What is it, Ranma?" Akane asks when she sees Ranma thinking.
"I wonder what percentage of my happiness I'll get back and how many of those sessions I'll need." Ranma replied with a look in Akane's eyes that Akane didn't like.
" Ranma, is something bothering you?" Akane asked and Ranma looked at her.
Meanwhile Cologne was standing on a branch of a densely overgrown tree above Ranma and Akane listening in on the conversation, without them being able to notice Cologne.
" Akane... something tells me that I won't be the same after a session like that right away..." Ranma said as he turned his head away from Akane.
" Ooh Ranma, I don't expect that right away... You have to find yourself again..."
Akane grabbed the sleeve of Ranma's shirt which made Ranma look at Akane who was standing close to him.
Cologne looked at Ranma and Akane. Of course she already knew that Shampoo didn't stand a chance but it was always fun to tease Ranma and teach Shampoo about the Chinese magical methods.
" Ranma, I have every confidence that you will be the same again." Akane said with a small smile.
Ranma answered her with a soft look in his eyes and leaned his head on Akane's head which made her react a little surprised.
"You're starting to give more and more affection..." Akane said softly.
"I don't want to lose you..."
Cologne looked up with surprised eyebrows. Ranma's voice had changed, a tone she hadn't heard before.
Sadness, fear and uncertainty. And that last one didn't suit Ranma, he always goes for it.
"I'm staying with you, Ranma. I'm not going anywhere." Akane said.
Cologne's eyes widened for a moment but then her gaze softened.
Ranma and Akane hugged each other with small kisses they gave each other. Cologne thought about her time with her deceased husband.
Cologne slipped away and eventually rejoined the group.
"Great-grandmother Ranma found? Where is he?" Shampoo asked.
"Leave Ranma alone until tomorrow when Kiima comes. He needs all the rest." Cologne said.
"Shampoo sing Airen sleep well." Shampoo said secretly.
"That's not fair! I'll let Ranma sleep well with my special okonomiyaki!" Ukyo shouted indignantly, causing Ryoga to facepalm and Mousse to shake his head.
"What's going on here?"
Akane walked in and saw Ukyo and Shampoo having a verbal altercation and Ryoga and Mousse defeated.
"Where's Ran-chan?" Ukyo asked when she didn't see Ranma anywhere.
"To bed. He wants to be rested for tomorrow." Akane said as she walked to the table for a glass of water.
"What are you doing with Airen?" Shampoo asked.
"We talked. Ranma is very insecure about tomorrow morning and wants us to be there for him." Akane said.
Cologne cleared her throat so everyone looked at her.
"I want to ask everyone to stay calm while Ranma is being treated. Since we can watch, we're going to see personal things about him." Cologne said.
"You mean Ranma's soul is being laid open?" Mousse asked and Cologne nodded.
"We'll see how Ranma feels about his surroundings, his family and the people around him." Cologne said.
Ryoga felt uneasy, knowing that they will see everything about Ranma.
" Do you mean how he lives his life, Elder?" Kasumi asked politely.
" Yes. The truth will be hard, for all of us." Cologne said.
" Ooh Genma, is our Ranma going to get through this?" Nodoka asked and Genma adjusted his glasses.
" Of course Ranma can, I trained him." Genma said confidently.
The next morning everyone was in the forest when Kiima arrived with a small box in her hands.
" Hello. I am Saotome Nodoka. You have come to help my son?" Nodaka asked and Kiima bowed politely.
" Yes. I am Kiima, servant of Lord Saffron. Today I have come to bring Ranma back a 1/3 of his happiness."
" A 1/3? And the rest?" Mousse asked.
"That is still being collected. This part contains the moment that Miss Akane turns into a doll. Ranma already lost a part of himself here." Kiima explained.
Ranma moved uncomfortably. That was already a moment that made him very uncomfortable. What had to happen to get this part back and feel less uncomfortable?
''What does Ranma have to do to make this part his own again?'' Ryoga asked.
''Did you bring everything I asked for?'' Kiima asked and Shampoo pointed to a place where a blanket was on the floor and a water jug with some glasses and a bowl of water.
'' Shampoo set everything up. But why Airen so much water?'' Shampoo asked.
'' The water is for us, to drink. The water in the bowl will show us... how Ranma experienced the moment and how he will fight and overcome his fear.'' Kiima said and everyone looked up in surprise.
'' The water is for us? What do you mean by that?'' Ukyo asked.
Kiima looked at her and then at Ranma. With her eyes Kiima looked right through Ranma which gave him goosebumps.
'' This session can last maybe 4 hours, maybe 3... It's up to Ranma how he can defend himself against his fear.'' Kiima said.
''Oh my, how awful...'' Kasumi said as she put her hand over her mouth.
While everyone started talking and giving their opinions Ranma was silent.
The fact that the session could last so long was really his fault. He looked at Akane. She is alive and Ranma had to remember that and not get lost in his fear.
Then it was the end of the exercise. He took a deep breath and walked towards Kiima.
''I'm ready. Where do I start?'' Ranma asked and Kiima pointed to the blanket.
"'Lay down on it. Elder Cologne will put you under a hypnosis that will bring you back to the moment. While she does that, I will transport your happiness back to you at the right moment.'' Kiima explained and Ranma nodded and lay down on the blanket.
The others sat around Ranma. Akane sat on Ranma's right side and Nodoka on his left.
Cologne and Kiima sat at Ranma's head.
"I'm going to start, Ranma..." Cologne said and raised her hands. Ranma closed his eyes.
After Cologne put Ranma under hypnosis, you saw Ranma's train of thought appear in the bowl of water.
They saw how Ranma fought against Kiima and Saffron to get the Kinjakan and the map in his hands. How Mousse and Ryoga stood by him.
And the moment, when the group found Akane in the middle of the road.
The moment Ranma saw Akane lying on the road, the bowl vibrated and everyone looked up.
''This is a crucial moment for Ranma. Why is that, Kiima?'' asked Cologne.
''Because that is not Akane but me. I had taken the form of Akane.'' Kiima said and Cologne understood what she had heard from the others then.
While everyone saw how the group in the bowl made a plan and how Ranma scolded Akane that all the places where she could be kidnapped had to be Jusenkyo and then Genma scolded her, the bowl kept pulsating softly.
Then the scene changed and they saw Ranma sitting in the bath with the Kinjakan in his hand. And everyone could see into his thoughts...
'' Damn it... Why? Why do they have to take Akane away?... I will never forgive them!''
Suddenly there is a sound and Ranma holds the Kinjakan tighter.
'' Who's there?'' Ranma shouts.
The door opened and slowly a naked Akane appeared, half covered by a towel.
'' I'm not looking! I'm not looking!'' Ryoga shouted half squinting with his eyes closed.
'' You are looking!'' Nabiki shouted. ''That's going to cost you...''
Suddenly the bowl starts to pulse faster which brought the attention back... They saw through Ranma's eyes how he looked at Akane.
'' A-...Akane...''
'' Ranma...''
The vibration of the bowl became louder and then everyone understood what the bowl was doing, it was Ranma's heartbeat and emotions.
'' What is she doing here? My god, she's beautiful...'' Ranma thought as she got closer to him.
Akane sitting next to Ranma started to blush. '' He thinks I'm beautiful?'' she thought.
'' I want to be with you... Ranma...''
'' Uh..uhh...'' Ranma stuttered and quickly jumped out of the bath towards the door. '' Am I dreaming this?'' he wondered.
''What's going on?'' Ranma asked shyly and Akane made a surprised noise.
''I don't know you like that... who does this kind of... stuff... not at all...'' Ranma stammered.
''Ranma...''
Suddenly Ranma felt two arms around him and something very soft against his back. Before he could react Akane said:
''I... I fell into the Jusenkyo...''
The bowl stopped pulsating for a few moments, Ranma was shocked.
Slowly the bowl started vibrating again.
''Everything that ends up in the Jusenkyo changes when it is wetted with cold water...Isn't? You must hate me..'' Akane said in a soft voice.
''Ba... Baka! No matter how you change, I will...'' Ranma said but stopped in his sentence and finished it in his head: ''...always be there for you...''
'' Really...?'' Akane asked with tears in her eyes.
'' Yes.. Of course! What can I say to make you believe me...-''
'' I'm so happy!''
Clang Clatter,Clang!
Akane flew around Ranma who dropped the Kinjakan in fear.
The bowl started vibrating very quickly.
'' Akane... you're so bold!'' Nabiki chuckled while the others didn't know how to act.
'' They're not even married yet...'' Kasumi stammered.
'' That's not me! That's not me! That's Kiima!'' Akane shouted embarrassed and angry at the same time.
Why did they have to see this? It was all about the moment she turned into a doll, wasn't it?
Then they heard Ranma's train of thought again.
" A-akane... t-this is something for our wedding night... damn... you feel so warm and soft..."
Ranma thought this while Akane cuddled with Ranma, who again didn't notice that Akane aka Kiima slowly reached for the Kinjakan.
At that moment Ryoga and Mousse came in and the chaotic situations started again and especially after Akane jumped into the warm bath and changed back to Kiima.
That certain moment the wooden box that was between Cologne and Kiima started to vibrate and Kiima opened the box and a glowing golden sphere slowly rose up. Everyone looked at it. A small thread of gold came loose and hung above Ranma's head.
''What now, Kiima?'' Cologne asked.
''I have no idea...'' Kiima said.
''What do you mean I have no idea? Something has to happen now I think...'' Ryoga said.
Akane looked at the golden thread and then at the bowl and then at Ranma. She had an idea. Where it came from, this idea was incomprehensible but she understood Ranma. He was happy with the moment with her until he was betrayed by Kiima. A part of his soul was then off-guard and so a small fraction of his happiness could be released.
Akane raised her hand and gently touched the thread. It seemed to respond to Akane.
''Return to Ranma. This moment, when you are happy, will come more often.'' she whispered softly.
It seemed to work and the wire flew towards Ranma and disappeared in his forehead.
Ranma sighed deeply and for a moment the image disappeared in the bowl.
''Did it work?'' asked Soun.
''It seems like...'' said Genma.
Then another image appeared in the bowl, it was the fight between Saffron and Ranma.
Ranma who is stuck in the wires and Ryoga and Mousse who think of how to turn off the waterfall.
Then Akane appears who turns off the water and just before Ranma can thank her properly, she disappears out of nowhere and Ranma feels hopelessly lost.
The sphere starts to pulse again but now more powerful and in the bowl how Ryoga tries to get Ranma out of his shock.
'' Akane... Akane...This is my fault...Akane...''
The group hears Ranma's thought. Some people get a lump in their throat when they hear Ranma so defeated.
''It's not your fault... Ranma...''
Everyone looked up and saw Akane talking to the sphere. Cologne made a motion that everyone had to be quiet.
The scene changed and they were in the guide's house where she discovered that Akane had become a doll.
Akane felt bad about it but she kept talking to Ranma while small wires slowly disappeared inside Ranma.
Very slowly until the guide told her that there was a way to save Akane. Akane used that moment to address Ranma.
'' Ranma I'm alive. And you will save me again. Ranma, you are always there for me. I am not angry or disappointed.''
The wires reacted quickly and disappeared inside Ranma until the sphere disappeared.
The tense facial expression that Ranma had the whole time in the session slowly disappeared and slowly began to relax.
The image broke in the bowl and after a very deep sigh Ranma began to breathe softly as if he was sleeping.
'' Did it work?'' Nodoka asked while Cologne and Kiima were observing Ranma.
''I thought Ranma would put up more of a fight in this session.'' Mousse said.
''This...wasn't Ranma's biggest trigger. Ranma's biggest fear is that Akane will never wake up... I guess Ranma will have to give it his all in that session.'' Ryoga said softly.
nodoka gently stroked her son's hair. ''You're so manly...''
''Time will tell... For now, let's let Ranma sleep.'' Cologne said.
Episode 8 and 9 of Ranma was so sweet. I had my doubts about the new version but this version really reflects the manga well.
Only the background music... every time I hear it I have to think of Inuyasha.
Feel free to leave a message about this chapter.