Good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster. This was never more apparent than when her brother-in-law returned home later that night, placed his medicine bag on the table, kissed his wife on the cheek, and immediately inquired, "Is the rumor I heard true?"

Apparently, at the palace and in the city, everyone was talking about Prince Kuno's impending union with the beautiful "angelic knight," the girl he couldn't stop raving about.

It was infuriating and disgusting.

But it also made her decision that much easier. Although her sister had wanted her to wait until morning—"It's not safe for a young girl to be traveling all alone at night, Akane!"—Akane couldn't put off leaving another second.

"I'll be careful and I'll be in touch soon. I promise!"

"We'll hold you to it," Nabiki told her while Tofu comforted his very emotional, very pregnant wife.

So under the veil of night, with the blessings of her family and all their love, Akane bravely bid farewell to their cozy little cottage and stepped past the threshold into the cold, biting wind outside.

She didn't have much. Just a sack full of clothes, her trusty sword strapped to her side, a secret stash of coin, and her family's precious heirloom tucked safely beneath her tunic.

But at least she was leaving with her dignity.

That would have to be enough.

. . .

Akane hadn't bothered with a map.

After years of being on the run, she'd grown accustomed to traveling without one. Maps sparked questions, unwanted attention, and were too easy to track. She was better off without one.

What she hadn't planned on, however, was having no plan whatsoever.

Whenever they'd left in a hurry before, someone had been calling the shots. And it wasn't her. Tofu's parents would lead them to safety, to a distant family member, or to some sympathizer who would kindly help them hide.

But this time, Akane's only plan had been to get as far from Clarines as possible. And fast.

Avoiding other people along the way had been a no-brainer.

It wasn't because she was afraid of others, not at all. Akane was certain she could take care of herself just fine when it came to a fight. No, it was the curious on-lookers, busy-bodies, and shameless gossipers she was trying to avoid.

Her family had learned they were powerless against that kind of attack—nothing was more dangerous than loose tongues.

So more out of habit than anything else, Akane's body would instantly tense whenever she detected the sound of horses or wagons, and she'd leave the well-worn path for the tree line. Whenever she sensed another presence too late, she'd bow her head, grip her sword tighter, and avoid eye contact as she tried her best to look unfriendly and unapproachable.

It was exhausting, constantly being on guard. Having no one she could trust.

Without her sisters, it wasn't quite the adventure Akane remembered. It had made those first few days on the backroads stressful, tiring, lonely, and wet.

Despite the coin burning a hole in her pocket, she hadn't wanted to risk an inn while still in Clarines. Instead, she'd been forced to seek refuge in abandoned huts, barns, and beneath bridges whenever the rain became too much to bear.

Then, two days into her journey, Akane began avoiding the roads altogether.

Instead, she found herself following the twisting, overgrown paths that took her even deeper into the heart of the woods while continuing west. The bugs weren't too terrible, and she knew what berries, plants, and mushrooms were edible, thanks to Tofu and Kasumi. The creeks and streams provided all the freshwater she could use to drink and clean, and all sorts of fish she could catch if she had a mind to.

(She didn't. She failed every time she tried).

Being in the forest was almost like being home. It was quiet and peaceful, and the treacherous terrain and wild animals allowed for a bit of unexpected training which was nice. It kept her mind and body sharp. And finally, slowly, she was able to relax again. Just a bit.

In a lot of ways, it reminded her of those first few months when she had trained with Master Saffron. The training had been grueling, but she'd never forgotten that empowering sense of purpose . . . of letting her mind go blank, her heart hardening as her sword sliced cleanly through the air.

But remembering was exhausting too.

Akane was so wrapped up in her memories and watching her step in the increasing darkness, that she almost missed the large crumbling wall in front of her until she almost walked straight into it!

Looking up, she was mere inches from the rough-hewn stone. "Way to go, dummy," she breathed, berating herself. "You were almost taken out by a wall."

Some knight she'd be!

Taking a step back, Akane finally took the time to check her surroundings.

It seemed the latest path she'd found had taken her into a small clearing. To the right, half hidden by a giant towering oak was a dark house that looked surprisingly well-kept, despite appearing in the middle of nowhere.

"How strange," Akane observed as she cautiously moved towards it.

No one appeared to be home. But after a glance through the windows, it was clear someone must live there—it looked tidy. The fact that she could see inside at all was proof that it was well cared for. If it was abandoned, all the windows would've been covered in grime or dust.

But Akane had no intention of breaking into a place, no matter how empty it looked.

Which meant another night beneath the stars.

She was tired of walking, and this was as good a place as any to set up for the night.

The house might not be abandoned, but it didn't look like anyone would be returning anytime soon, and staying close by afforded a little more protection from the wind and wild animals than some old tree trunk deep in the forest.

So Akane removed her large cloak and spread it across the grass by the wall adjacent to the house, joking, "Thanks for the hospitality." Sitting down, she leaned against the stone behind her with a low, contented sigh.

And holding tightly to her sword, allowed her eyes to drift shut.

. . .

It felt like she'd barely closed her eyes when the sound of shouting awakened her.

Blinking and bleary-eyed, Akane glanced around the clearing, surprised to see sunlight streaming through the trees, the night had vanished completely. Just how long had she been asleep?! Before she could ponder the question, she heard it again, distinctly now—the sound of people yelling back and forth from the other side of the wall.

"I said, wait up, you jerk!"

"Why don't you make me?"

"Argh! You stupid, spoiled jackass!"

Surprised to hear the voices coming closer, Akane scrambled to her feet and took a step back, staring hard at the wall as she tried to pinpoint their exact location.

Before long, she heard movement from above, and tilting her head, saw a boy with dark hair and a pigtail jumping over the stone structure, his bright blue eyes wide with surprise as they met hers mid-leap. With no time to react or cry out, he plowed right into her, knocking her to the ground as they rolled several feet across the grass, and finally settled, his body draped across her own.

Winded and dazed, Akane lay there with her heart racing, trying to catch her breath—and her bearings. Eventually, the boy began to lift himself, and Akane blinked up at him, her face flushing as she realized just how close they were. Too close.

"S-sorry," he stuttered, his face a similar shade.

"Then get off," she growled, pushing him away.

The stranger jumped to his feet, just in time for the rest of his group to come jogging into view. Though Akane couldn't help but notice they hadn't bothered with such a ridiculous shortcut. They came around the crumbling portion of the wall like normal people.

There were only two of them, a boy and a girl, dressed in elaborate brown and green tunics and carrying swords.

Still, on the ground, Akane grappled for the sword she'd dropped during her sleep.

Had Kuno managed to track her down already?

Luckily, the boy with a pigtail put those fears to rest. Rather than order her capture, he turned to address them, his hand flying up as though to ward off any questions. "Before you say a thing, yes, I'm fine," he told them, and then glancing at Akane said with an easy grin, "Luckily, this girl broke my fall."

His male companion, a boy wearing a yellow black-speckled bandana, glanced suspiciously at Akane, giving her a quick appraisal. "Uh huh, SURE you are, Ranma," he said, sarcasm dripping from his lips like honey.

But Akane felt her breath catch at the familiar name, and then silently berated herself. Lots of boys are named Ranma, dummy, she reminded herself. Especially if she was close to Wistalia.

Then, for some reason, the strange boy grabbed Ranma's head in his hands and began to tilt it back and forth with an almost alarming urgency. "Are you sure you're alright? No bumps or scrapes? What about a concussion? I know! Quick—tell me your name!"

"You just said his name, you jackass," said the girl as she hit him over the head with the blunt edge of her sword. "And stop that already! You'll give the poor guy whiplash!"

"Jeez," said Ranma, shoving him away. "Don't be an idiot, Ryoga. I said I'm fine."

"Likely story," Ryoga replied as he pointed towards Akane. "Then tell me! Does that look like a girl to you, Ranma? Huh?!"

Akane frowned, not quite sure how to take that.

Sure, she'd intentionally disguised herself this way—she'd even borrowed some of Tofu's old clothes to better complete the look.

But having her femininity questioned so bluntly and rudely still stung.

"Of course she does," Ranma answered, rolling his eyes. "Unlike you, I can recognize a girl when I see one." At that slight, their female companion started chuckling and Ryoga's face flushed an unnatural shade of red.

"T-that's not fair, Ranma! Ukyo doesn't count. Anyone could've made that mistake!"

Once again, the armed female smacked him with her sword. "Thanks a ton, you ass," she muttered, and at that moment, Akane felt a kinship with the other girl.

"NO! Ukyo, I-I didn't mean—" Tongue-tied and only digging himself in deeper, he narrowed his eyes and turned back towards the other boy. "Ranma! This is all YOUR fault!"

"Hey, man. Don't go taking your idiocy out on me."

"You stupid lying jerk! You're lucky I'm so busy keeping you alive, Ranma, otherwise I'd KILL you!"

"Good luck," he replied with a snicker. "You'd have to find me first, and we all know how fantastic you are with that. So go on, buddy. I'll be cheerin' for ya!"

Ryoga, stone-faced, went right for his sword.

Akane sighed, her patience spent.

Stepping between the two, she loudly cleared her throat and addressed the hot-headed Ryoga first. "Sorry, but I really am a girl," she acknowledged, hoping to put a stop to this before they managed to draw blood. Her cover had already been blown, anyway—there was no way she could fool that Ranma-boy now, not when he'd been intimately pressed against her chest before.

Besides, she had no interest in witnessing a murder. Especially one as stupid as this.

"Told you so," Ranma taunted, smiling smugly as Ukyo glowered at Ryoga.

"You dolt," she chastised.

"Sorry," Ryoga grumbled, embarrassed, as he shyly toed the ground. "I must've been blinded by the sun earlier. . ."

Akane couldn't help but laugh at his silly defense. "It's-it's alright. No harm done," she assured him with a smile. "But if you still want to kill each other, could one of you tell me where I am first? I've been traveling and I'm afraid I've gotten a bit lost."

"Sure. You're in Wistalia," Ranma told her, gesturing in the direction they'd come from. "About thirty kilometers from the border. The capital's about ten kilometers northeast."

At the news, Akane's eyes positively lit up. "Wistalia? Really?" she asked, and in her excitement, grabbed Ranma's arm. "This isn't Clarines? You're absolutely positive about that?"

"Well, I think I'd know," he replied with a small, knowing smile.

Akane smiled brightly as she quickly released him. All the weight and stress on her shoulders since Mikado had left finally melted away—she wasn't completely safe, not yet, but it was a start!

Why, if the two still wanted to kill each other, she was tempted to help!

"Well. She seems cheery," Ukyo observed, bemused.

"Yeah," Ryoga agreed with a slight blush. "Definitely a girl."

"Thanks again," Akane told them as she cheerfully bent to retrieve her cloak. Shaking off the dirt and grass, she motioned towards the large brick home behind them. "Is that your house?" she thought to ask. "I didn't mean to trespass, but nobody was home and I needed some sleep."

Ranma glanced curiously at the spot she'd been napping and looked like he was biting back the urge to ask her a million questions. "Nah," he said instead. "This place has been abandoned for a long time now. We just come here occasionally to get away from . . . things."

"Oh? What sort of things?" she asked him.

"He means the castl—oof!" Ryoga grunted after being elbowed in the ribs by Ranma.

Recovering quickly, the pigtailed boy smirked and said, "Same as everyone, probably. Family. Work. Noise. The usual."

"I see," said Akane, nodding as she recalled all the times she'd snuck away under Kasumi's watchful gaze.

"Wanna come inside, hon?" Ukyo asked warmly. "It may not look like much, but it's cozy and we've got some food inside we could share. There's no harm in resting for a bit."

Although she was grateful for the offer, Akane couldn't help but hesitate. It was instinctual at this point. She may no longer be in Clarines, but after so many years of being on the run, of constantly looking over her shoulder, she knew better than to let her guard down. All three of them carried swords; for all she knew they could be mercenaries or looters or something.

The smart thing to do was to keep moving. With any luck, she could reach the capital and find a place to stay before nightfall.

But the castle . . .

She'd need to avoid that at all costs.

"I'm going to get going, actually," she told them after securing her cloak and sword. "I've already wasted enough time as it is. But it was nice meeting you all."

"You too," said Ryoga with a casual wave before disappearing around the corner of the house, headed for the front door.

"Alright then. Safe travels," said Ukyo, following after him.

Only Ranma hesitated. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" he asked, sounding concerned. "I mean, the terrain's pretty rough around here, and it's easy to get lost if you don't know the area."

"I'll manage," she assured him as she shouldered her pack. "You said the capital's northeast, right?"

Ranma nodded but met her confidence with a troubled frown.

Akane knew how she must look to him: A dirty waif of a girl who couldn't possibly make it there in one piece. Scrawny and half-starved. And he probably thought she didn't even know how to use the sword she was carrying.

It wasn't the first time Akane had been underestimated. And it wouldn't be the last.

Still, undaunted, she bowed deeply in gratitude for his concern; it was rare to find someone who cared.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she assured him. "Thanks again—Ranma, right?"

He nodded again. "Yeah."

"Thanks, Ranma!" And with a smile and a wave, she turned and skirted around the edge of the broken wall, towards the woods, and into the deeper foliage—in what she hoped was the right direction.

A solid plan was starting to form.

Two days, she told herself. She'd allow herself two days in Wistalia, and that was it.

After days of roughing it, didn't she deserve a nice hot bath and a warm, delicious meal? And once she reached the inn, she'd write to Kasumi and let them know she was safe.

She'd promised, after all.

And when her time was up, she'd head south this time, towards Sentarose or Chardonia where it was safer.

For her. For the Saotomes.

For everyone.

. . .

Ranma watched the girl go, torn about what to do.

He knew this area better than anyone, and there was no way she'd get to the capital blindly traipsing through the woods without a compass.

Or a brain.

He wasn't sure the girl had either. Not if foolishly marching ahead and failing to notice all the poison ivy near that shitty wall was any indication.

So before he knew it, Ranma had started jogging after her while cursing his impressive chivalry; he knew Ryoga and Ukyo would be pissed.

But oh well.

It was their fault for being so crappy at their jobs. If they hadn't gone ahead without him, this never would have happened.

Luckily, it didn't take him long to catch up with her—veering in the wrong direction, of course.

He spotted her through the brush and saw her stop and glance over her shoulder, staring back at him. But he didn't miss the way her hand went to the hilt of her sword, her smile noticeably strained.

"Yes?" she questioned. "What is it?"

Hoping to put her at ease, Ranma threw his hands up in surrender. "Um, if you still want to reach the capital, it's that way," he informed her, pointing east. Although he couldn't quite hide his smirk.

In the short time she'd been out of his sight, as expected, she'd started drifting west towards the sea.

Her pretty brown eyes widened and she coughed uncomfortably, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Oh! Um, thanks, but I wasn't lost."

"You weren't?"

"Nope," she insisted, lifting her chin. "I thought I heard something, that's all." Face flushing, she quickly turned and headed in the direction he'd pointed her in, her dark cloak billowing behind her. . .

Until it got caught on a low-hanging branch.

Suddenly, the poor girl was yanked back by her captured cloak, a surprised yelp escaping her lips as she flailed backward and fell, her back hitting the ground as leaves rained down all around her.

Ranma couldn't help himself; he burst out laughing.

Equally mortified and furious, the girl—he suddenly really wanted to know her name—scrambled back to her feet and yanked her cloak from off the branch, and in the process, accidentally made the tear grow larger.

She scowled at it, unimpressed.

How could he not laugh?

"It's not that funny, you know," she snapped. And then proceeded to brush the leaves out of her hair, which only made him laugh harder.

"Sorry, sorry," Ranma told her, trying his best to force the chuckles down. He was trying to help her, not give her even more reason to hate him.

"Look, I appreciate the help, but you don't need to keep following me," she told him, telling him in the politest way possible to get lost. "I mean, despite what just happened, I can take care of myself."

"I know that," Ranma replied, even though he didn't fully believe it. "Still, we'll all be heading back to the capital in a few hours anyway, so there's no reason you can't tag along. Plus, not to scare you or anything, but I heard there have been bandits spotted in these woods…"

It wasn't a total lie.

Ranma had just failed to add that he and his entourage were the supposed bandits; a lie they'd purposely spread so they could sneak away in peace. And it had worked. Mostly.

Though apparently not on this girl, because she simply scoffed.

"I'm not afraid of some dumb bandits," she told him, head held high. "If anything, they should be scared of ME."

Ranma almost laughed again—how could he not? But before he could, fate intervened.

One second she was strolling forward confidently, full of swagger and vim, and the next, her foot got caught beneath a large exposed root and she stumbled forward suddenly, arms pinwheeling wildly as she once again fell forward fast.

This time, though, Ranma was quicker to act and caught her around the waist before she could plant herself head-first in the dirt.

"You were saying?" Ranma replied with a smirk.

Even though he couldn't see her expression, he could've sworn he felt her blush. "Anyone can trip," she complained as she pushed away from him and brushed absently at her cloak, trying to feign some semblance of composure.

"So I've noticed, he replied, tongue-in-cheek. "But you're not hurt are you?" Unsure, he glanced at her foot to make sure she hadn't injured it. Again, his mind overflowed with questions.

He'd never met anyone so accident-prone before. Where had she even come from? And how had she made it this far without maiming or impaling herself on a tree?!

"I'm perfectly fine," she muttered, her gaze wandering every which way, as if too embarrassed to look at him again. But then something intriguing must've caught her eye, because they brightened, and she bounded forward, leaving him to stand there like an idiot.

Ranma, wondering if maybe there were bandits after all, or worse, his father or the guards, lurking nearby, ready to drag him back, nervously followed. "What is it?"

She was crouching before some leafy green shrubs.

"Catnip!"

"Huh?" Ranma uttered in disgust. "You get bit by a cat or something?" Because if she had, he wouldn't be surprised; cats were the worst.

"Nonono. The plant," she explained, rolling her eyes as she reached for some. "It's an herb, actually, and great for colds and swelling. It can even help break a fever and stop bleeding."

Reaching down, she tore off the leaves and carefully placed them in her small pack.

"Are you a healer or something?" he asked, leaning over her to get a better view of this special (but stupidly named) plant.

It was surprising—she was surprising.

How could she recognize some weird herb hidden in the middle of the forest, but completely missed the poison ivy when it was right in front of her?

This girl was a mystery.

Or crazy.

"Oh, I'm no healer," she told him, climbing to her feet again. "I know someone who runs an apothecary. So I've been around healers most of my life."

"Well, you know a whole lot more than me," he said, casually crossing his arms behind his head. "If you're not a healer though, what are you?"

Repositioning her pack so it hung by her hip, she gently stroked the hilt of her sword. "I'm a fighter, actually," she told him proudly and then grinned at him with such joy Ranma felt his breath catch in his throat at the sight. Smugly, she added, "My sword isn't just for show, you know."

Ranma didn't doubt it. If Ukyo and Ranko had taught him anything, it was that girls could be just as dangerous with a blade as men—especially his sister. Ranko may not have been formally trained, but she knew how to land a blow and make it count.

"Huh. So, how good are you?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"Oh, not too bad," she demurred, apparently forgetting all about her earlier boasts. "Though I still have a lot to learn."

Ranma nodded. "Well, sure. That's true for everyone."

"Fair point," she agreed, and then, as if remembering she was alone in the woods with a boy, continued hastily, "Of course, I don't need a sword to defend myself. I can do just as much damage without one!"

Ranma fought back a laugh. He didn't doubt it. If she could do that much damage to herself, he could just imagine how much damage she could do to someone else!

Especially if she was trying.

"So what do you plan to do in the capital anyway? Are you trying out for the knights-guard too, or are you just planning to watch? Just visiting?"

For some reason, his question made her frown.

"I didn't realize that was happening now," she answered slowly, biting her lip. "Will the Prince and Princess be there? How about the Queen?"

Ranma's eyes widened at the question.

"Um. Probably. Why?" He asked, dying from curiosity now. "You a fan?"

"Of course not," she muttered and turned away from him, resuming her breakneck pace in the direction of what she must have assumed was the capital. But as expected, when they finally emerged from the forest five minutes later, she stopped and stared, shocked to find they were right back at the little brick house, right where she'd started.

"Funny. Looks kinda familiar," said Ranma innocently from behind her.

She spun on him. "Why didn't you tell me I was walking in circles?!"

Ranma shrugged, somehow managing to look cheeky and apologetic at the same time. "You didn't ask."

After that, he must have broken her… because for a split second, he thought she was gonna hit him. Instead, she lowered her gaze, and it was like the fight just drained right out of her.

With a tired sigh, the girl tossed her bag and sword to the ground and then collapsed against the rough, crumbling wall.

"Umm," Ranma began uncertainly as he watched her close her eyes and bury her head in her arms and—and was she crying?

Ranma felt a moment of overwhelming panic.

How the hell had that happened?!

"H-hey," he replied, arms hovering in the air before her, too afraid to touch. "It—it's not that bad. I mean, yeah, you did look like a bit of a moron, but it's nothing worth crying over," he told her.

If nothing else, the unintended insult brought life back into the mysterious girl's eyes. She defiantly raised her head to glare at him. "I'm NOT crying," she snapped, even though her eyes were shining with angry, unshed tears that she kept trying to blink away.

"Sorry. My bad," Ranma replied. "You look completely fine and not like a giant liar at all."

"Jerk," she muttered, but with less heat as she buried her head back into the crook of her arms, as if too tired to even argue with him.

"You must be exhausted," Ranma observed as he leaned against the wall beside her, but far enough away that he wasn't crowding her. "You seriously look like you're about to pass out."

He couldn't help but wonder where her earlier pep had gone. Were her energy reserves that depleted?

"It's been a long few days," she said with a frown as she ran a hand through her short dark hair and sighed again.

Ranma was dying to know what had happened. It almost made him miss Ranko—his sister would've pestered and poked, and not given up until she knew the girl's entire life's story.

He didn't think this tomboy would cave to a guy quite so easily.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't try. Trying was the manly thing to do.

"I know it's probably pointless to offer, but you're more than welcome to come inside and take a nap. I know Ryoga looks super suspect, but he doesn't bite. I swear."

"I appreciate it, but I'm fine right here."

"Then can you at least tell me your name?" He asked, hoping to snap her out of whatever funk she was in. "You know mine, you know. It's only fair. . ."

She scoffed and turned her head away.

But that didn't deter him.

"Then let me guess. Is it Azusa? Akari? Maybe Kurumi?"

"Wrong," she muttered, which was a promising start. At least she was responding. So Ranma decided to keep right on guessing.

"April? Asuka? Kodachi?"

"Eww," she protested and visibly shivered at that last name. Which, if she was fleeing from Clarines, made sense.

Had that loon, Kodachi, targeted her somehow?

"Okay. Not named after a Kuno then," he confirmed with a chuckle. "Don't tell me your name's Ranko?"

"Definitely not."

"Okaaay," he trilled, switching gears. Maybe he'd have better luck if he tried to push her buttons; he bet she had many. "Then if you won't tell me, maybe I'll call you 'Tomboy' instead? It's short, simple, and it suits you." He winked. "I think I like it."

At the threat, she scrunched up her nose and looked downright offended. "Fine," she muttered, giving in at last. "If you must know, my name's Akane."

Ranma's celebration was abruptly cut short.

Stupidly, he felt his chest painfully clench, and he had to remind himself that Akane was a very common name too. Hell, they had a maid in the palace named Kasumi, and the old crotchety cook called Nabiki.

But Akane . . . that was an unspoken taboo.

So as his brain and mouth struggled to work in synch again, his companion—Akane, her name was Akane— appeared to sense as much.

Akane stiffened, and for some reason, he saw her reach again for her sword.

"Why? D-do you have a problem with my name?" she asked him.

"N-no. Not at all," Ranma replied, at last, trying and failing to sound normal again. "I just—sorry. My friend's name, it-it was Akane too. . ."

"Oh," she replied softly, the word "was" hanging heavy in the air between them.

It was stupid how hearing her name could still affect him so strongly, but there it was. Eight years later, the guilt and regret still clung to him like a wraith.

Forced to feign nonchalance, Ranma stepped away from the wall and turned back to face her.

Akane, huh?

It suited her. . .

"Right. So, I guess this means we're no longer strangers then, yeah? I mean, you could even say you owe me one since I practically saved your life and all before. . ."

Akane raised an eyebrow. "You did?"

"Uh, yeah? Giant tree root, remember? And if I hadn't gone after you, you may have walked right off a cliff! So, how about rethinking my original offer, hmm? A little sleep won't kill you, you know, and you'll be able to get to the capital quicker if you're well-rested, fed, and following people who know where the heck they're going."

At the mention of food, Akane's eyes visibly lit up.

"Maybe I wouldn't mind a little something to eat," she admitted shyly, rubbing her cheek. "After all, I suppose you owe me from earlier too? From when you knocked me to the ground when you first got here. It's the least you could do."

"That sounds fair," Ranma agreed, fighting back a grin because, for some dumb reason, he found himself reluctant to part with her. "My sister keeps this place plenty well stocked too, so I wouldn't be surprised if Ryoga and Ukyo already have something in the works."

Maybe he should have bribed her with food sooner! The dork gathered up all her stuff immediately—which to be fair, wasn't much—and let him lead her around the side of the house, where his guards had left the door wide open.

Inside, it was warm and comfortable, just like he'd promised.

And it smelled amazing.

"Shee!" Ryoga crowed, his mouth still full of food as he pointed triumphantly at Ranma. "Told yaw he was shtill awive!"

"Huh. What'd ya know," Ukyo replied and then went right back to eating.

"Jeez, thanks for the concern, guys."

"Better dig in before Ryoga finishes it all," Ukyo encouraged as she nodded toward a giant basket sitting on the table. "You too, sugar," she added to Akane.

Ranma didn't need to be told twice.

"Cool, meat buns!" He exclaimed as he grabbed a couple from the basket and started shoving them in his mouth like a man about to starve.

But Akane hadn't moved.

She looked like a statue.

Realizing their guest still hadn't come forward, he glanced over his shoulder, curious to see what was taking her so long. "You waiting for an engraved invitation or something? I thought you said you were hungry?"

"I am, it's just. . ." staring uneasily at the basket, Akane frowned, her eyes fixed on the pink ribbon tied around the handle. "Do you know where these came from?"

Ranma shrugged. Ranko kept this place pretty stocked, and she knew they'd be by. "My sister probably sent them," he answered and then took another bite while reaching for another.

Man, they tasted as good as they smelled!

Ryoga leaned back in his chair, finally full himself. The jerk had probably eaten over half! "Yup. They were on the front porch," he added and then cried out as Ukyo smacked him upside the head. "Hey! What gives?!"

"You never said you found these outside, you moron!" Ukyo snapped, her face red with fury.

Heart pounding irregularly, Ranma immediately began to spit out what he'd already tasted and nervously grasped for his sword. "Nobody would leave something sitting on the porch, you idiot. Everyone that knows about this place has a key!"

"But it HAD to be your sister," Ryoga defended, getting angry himself. "No one else knows we're out here!"

"And that matters?' Ukyo demanded, incredulous. "Anyone could have followed us here, you numbskull!" Before Ryoga could even answer, she hit him upside the head with the hilt of her sword, sputtering, "Were you born stupid or did you just grow that way?!"

As the two of them argued, Ranma noticed Akane moving closer to the table, as if on autopilot. Her gaze was locked on the basket, on the decorative ribbon tied to it. And then she picked it up and turned it over.

"This is mine," she said with a shake of her head. "But it should be at home. I left it at home!"

Ranma immediately jumped into action. This wasn't looking good.

Were the doors locked? Maybe they needed air? As he hurried to a window, he noticed Ryoga and Ukyo rushing to secure the house too.

But the buns were already having an effect—beside him, Ukyo stumbled awkwardly as she attempted to block the door with the couch, and even Ryoga, who had finally managed to grasp the situation, seemed to have lost all of his energy. Again, the chair he was trying to lift tumbled to the floor, too heavy for him to hold, and Ukyo had given up halfway while trying to push the giant plush couch across the room.

Instead, she lay sprawled across it, looking half asleep.

"Dammit," Ranma muttered as he leaned against the wall, struggling to open a window and stay conscious himself. But hell, was opening it even a good idea? He couldn't think straight anymore. "My old man's gonna KILL me."

"I'm so sorry," Akane said, staring at him. "Those buns were meant for me. I-I think I was supposed to eat them."

"Don't be stupid," Ranma told her and then slapped his face in an attempt to wake himself up. "Why would anyone be after a tomboy like you?"

Before she could explain, they heard a deafening crash as Ryoga's body hit the hardwood floor, finally out cold. The sound of him snoring softly, however, managed to ease his fears somewhat.

At least he was okay.

For now.

"This is all my fault," Akane said again, as she moved quickly to check Ukyo's pulse; she too had started to snore. "I bet he used one of Kodachi's crazy poisons. They must have tracked me here, or-or maybe they've been following me ever since I left Clarines. . .?!"

"Who tracked you?" Ranma pressed, having no choice but to take her panic seriously. "What are you talking about?"

Had he heard her mention Kodachi?

If that nut was involved, then they'd either sleep for a week or possibly never wake up; her poisons tended to affect people differently.

Ranma knew that from experience.

"Prince Kuno," she said, practically spitting his name. "I never dreamed his men would track me all the way here. I honestly thought he'd lose interest and move on!"

At Kuno's name, Ranma's gut clenched uncomfortably. "That idiot?" he replied, even as he fought to concentrate, to fight off the effects of his poisoning. Yup, sure felt like Kodachi's work all right. "What's that moron got to do with anything?"

"I—"

Before she could say more, the door to the cottage flew open and Mikado Sanzenin, pervert-extraordinaire—came strolling in, dressed in Clarines full military finery, flanked by several of his most trusted lackeys.

Ranma would've recognized that ugly uniform and insignia anywhere.

But rather than focus on Ranma as expected, the pervert sought out Akane, who took an unconscious step back at the force of his gaze.

That's when Ranma remembered he wasn't wearing his insignia or livery; he never did when they traveled incognito. So he doubted Mikado even realized who he was—he'd never seen him up close before.

But thanks to Ranko, he knew exactly who this asshole was.

"Oh dear," said Mikado, addressing Akane, looking only mildly put out. "So you are awake. That is a shame."

"I could say the same about you still breathing," Akane muttered, her hand tightly grasping the hilt of her sword. Seeing her now in her element, Ranma didn't doubt she knew how to use it.

But he also noticed that something was wrong, something was holding her back—he recognized it in the way she hesitated, in the nervous flutter of her fingers, her distracted gaze.

"Still so full of radiance," Mikado praised with an appreciative grin which oddly had Ranma's fists clenching. "I'd expect nothing less from such a lovely little concubine."

"Don't call me that!"

"As you wish." He gave her a fake-ass chivalrous bow and an indulgent smile. "In any case, it appears fate has ensured our paths cross once again, Miss Akane. I am truly humbled by her good grace, as much as your beauty."

"Honestly!" she grumbled. "It wasn't fate that brought you here."

"Well. Perhaps pursuing beautiful girls is also my calling," Mikado mused as he moved towards her. "But for now, I'm afraid you've had your fun. It's time to return home to our liege."

Ranma continued watching quietly.

But even while poisoned and losing energy, it wasn't hard to figure out what was going on.

Kuno and his crazy sister had been hounding his family for years, and judging by his strange taste in women (he still had no idea what he saw in his dumb sister), it was easy to guess what could've driven a stubborn, head-strong girl like Akane to a foreign kingdom.

Hell, he'd trek through several countries to get away from that moron too!

Yet, the tomboy wasn't letting herself be intimidated, no matter how hard the slime-ball tried. "That's not my home," she insisted furiously. "And I swear, if you hurt my family, I'll return the favor tenfold!"

Mikado laughed at the threat, which only seemed to infuriate Akane more.

"My dear," he replied softly, humoring her. "As amusing as your little tirade is, I'm afraid we simply haven't the time. If we're to reach Clarines in time for the ceremony, we must make haste. Our lord has already shown his magnanimity by postponing the ceremony until your return, but I fear his patience can only stretch so far."

Deciding that was his cue, Ranma nodded in the interloper's direction, feigning ignorance (and strength) as he moved closer to his guest. "You know this creep, Akane?" he asked.

"Not by choice," she complained as she angrily unwound the thread of pink silk from around the basket's handle as if determined to reclaim at least that much.

Mikado eyed Ranma with distaste. "This is between the lady and myself, knave," he said, pompous and proud. "I'd suggest staying out of it. Unless you plan on getting hurt."

"Leave him out of this," Akane ordered, only to be stopped by Ranma who had moved in front of her, only slightly swaying on his feet. Jaw clenched, he faced Mikado head-on.

"See those morons over there?" he demanded, gesturing in the general direction of Ryoga and Ukyo. "Those are my friends. Not to mention I ate a few of those poisoned buns myself, so actually, yeah, it IS my business!"

Pulling him back so he was standing behind her again, Akane whispered urgently, "You're not helping, dummy. Just stay quiet and let me handle this!"

If not for the poison, he might have laughed. Instead, it came out as more of an amused growl as he struggled to remain upright. "Sure, why not—I mean, you're doing a bang-up job so far."

"Just what does that mean?"

"I'd listen to the lovely lady," Mikado replied as he put a threatening hand on the hilt of his sword. "I'd hate to end this enchanting evening with bloodshed."

Ranma grinned in amusement. "Oh no, I'm shaking."

"You are shaking," she pointed out, and then hissed in his ear: "Will you quit it, already? He'll do it, you know!"

"Good," he whispered back, though his eyes were trained solely on Mikado. "This asshole's already dead. He just hasn't realized it yet."

Convinced the poison was affecting his brain, Akane sighed in frustration. "Honestly," she muttered as she poked Ranma in the side, right where she knew it would hurt. Like a toppled domino, he fell, and from the floor, glared up at her. "Hey, what'd you do that for?"

Ignoring him, she addressed Mikado again, though this time less abrasively."I know this has to be one of Kodachi's poisons," she said lightly, turning on the charm, just shy of batting her eyes, at him. "So if you give the antidote to my friends, I promise, I'll go with you right now. The easy way," she added.

"You've gotta be kidding," Ranma muttered, repulsed. "Why don't you just throw in your firstborn while you're at it?"

"Can you please pass out already?" she snapped, implying it'd be much easier to protect him if he was unconscious and silent.

"Wonderful! It's a deal," Mikado agreed as he produced a vile from his uniform's pocket. "The antidote's right here. You see, Miss? I'm a man of my word."

Unfortunately for her, she barely made it a step.

"I'll never understand what Kuno sees in a silly, spineless tomboy like you," Ranma announced from the floor, though he was barely able to raise his head. "The King of Clarines must be deaf, dumb, AND blind—just like all his idiot soldiers. Especially that one," he elaborated, nodding towards one of the burly guards by the door.

Akane stopped right in her tracks, her eyes and mouth equally wide. Even the insulted soldier who'd been standing quietly by the door looked ready to tear him apart.

Mikado, however, pulled rank with a look.

"If it's death you desire, I accept," he said, sword once more at the ready.

Akane, too panicked to be angry, once again stepped protectively in front of Ranma. "He's delirious from the poison," she defended desperately, throwing her arms up in a placating gesture. "He doesn't know what he's saying!"

"Yeah I do," he argued.

Akane glowered as if fighting the urge to go for her sword again. But instead, her eye caught the pink ribbon she continued to hold in her hand, and struck by sudden inspiration, she knelt before him with a manic glint in her eye.

Shit. Ranma did not like that look. "Akane—!"

Ignoring his protests and ungrateful looks, she used the piece of silk like a gag and carefully tied it at the back of his head, rendering him blissfully mute.

"There!" She said cheerfully, pointing proudly at her work. "Harmless."

Ranma, devoid of energy and barely clinging to consciousness as it was, did his best impression of a glare.

"Now, the antidote?" she questioned, holding her hand out again.

"In a moment," said Mikado, glowering down at Ranma's prone form. Motioning towards the soldiers, he ordered, "Bring the impudent brat along. He too must answer to Prince Kuno for his crimes."

"W-wait a minute!" Akane protested. "That's not fair! Even if he was rude, insulting, and a jerk . . . that's not a crime! Besides, we're not even in Clarines!"

Mikado acted as though he hadn't heard her.

"Take the others as well," he instructed the soldiers, right before he tossed the small green vial in her direction which she fumbled and barely managed to catch. "You may administer the antidote once we've reached Clarines, but not a minute sooner."

"But—"

He held up a hand to silence her. "Once we've reached the palace and these peasants have been questioned and found innocent, they shall be released. Consider it insurance," he told her, and then turned and walked out the door.

Akane stood in the middle of the warm little cottage, powerless to help as Ukyo and Ryoga were carried out together, on the back of the soldier Ranma had insulted.

Finally, the one in charge of Ranma passed by her too, and despite being tossed over his shoulder, she could see his face clearly, even with the gag on.

And the dummy was grinning.

End of Chapter 2