Healing Disease by Mazena

A Fan-Fiction piece based on and inspired by characters owned by 
Rumiko Takahashi.

Day 1.

It was a beautiful morning in Nerima, snow falling slowly on the 
ground. The Tendo dojo was still pretty quiet. The only voices came
from kitchen, Kasumi was preparing breakfest. Soun was relaxing
the quiet bath knowing that in an hour there wouldnt a silence.
Ranma and Genma vould propably start fighting during breakfest
as usual, which was quite noisy.

Akane opened her eyes and yawned lighty. She pulled her legs off the
bed and sat on the edge. <Wonder what the time is...> thought Akane
and stared out the window. <How beautiful morning. Good that we don't
have school today.> She started changing her clothes. After one more
minute she stepped out of her room.

***

Ranma woke up, when he felt something hairy landing on his chest.
It was pandas arm. <Damn pops.> Thought Ranma and pushed his father
away. He streched his arms and slowly got up. <Man it's cold in 
here...> He hugged himself to keep warm. He opened his closet and 
took a blue shirt from there which was identical to his normal red 
shirt. He pulled his pants on and felt a little warmer. <Ofcourse
we must live in the coldest room of the whole house... Though we are
freeloading.> Ranma slide the door open and stepped into the 
corridor.

Ranma and Akane came out of their rooms in the same time. <Ranma>
<Akane> They stared eachother for a while. Ranma opened his mouth
to say something but close it and just lifted his arm. Akane smiled
a little. Akane stapped down the stairs Ranma following right behind
her. "Oh, good morning." said Kasumi while setting the table. "The
breakfest is almost ready." Ranma and Akane sat by the table. Kasumi
handed ricebowls to them. <Thank you> thought Akane. <Thank you> 
thought Ranma. Genma came down the stairs in his panda form. Kasumi
handed him a ricebowl too. Genma growled, which was propably a thank
you. Soon everybody were at the table eating breakfest. "Cold 
morning, eh Saotome-kun?" asked Soun. [Nah, I have a thick fur] (the
sign) <What's wrong with her today?> thought Ranma, watching her 
whith the corner of his eye. <She's more quiet than usual.> <What's
whith him?> thought Akane, watching him whith the corner of her eye.
<He hasn't insulted me once today.> Ranma and Akane both opened their
mouths to say something. Soon both looked rather confused. "Hey, 
what's wrong whith you two?" asked Nabiki leaning closer to them.
Ranma and Akane looked like they were shouting, but there was no 
voice. Soon they stopped and sitted still eyes wide open. "Th...
They can't talk?" asked Soun still looking very calm. "Oh my." Said
Kasumi. [I understand how ya fell, boy.] read in Genmas sign. <Stupid
pops...> thought Ranma and kicked his father to the pond. He started
to shout something at him, but soon remembered that he had no voice.
<Baka...> thought Akane watching Ranmas fruitless efforts trying
to mock his farther. "I don't that neither of you should go to school
today. Go and see Dr. Tofu. He might have a clue what's going on."
said Soun and put empy bowl of rice on the table "Kasumi, would you
call Dr. Tofu and tell him that Ranma and Akane will be there in a 
few?" "Um, dad?" interrupted Nabiki. "Maybe I should call him...
Kasumi is pretty busy whith her dishes and all." "That's ok, Nabiki."
said Kasumi. "I'll wash the dishes after I have called Tofu." <Oh 
boy... Now there is a little chance that Tofu will understand
what's going on.> said Nabiki and sighed.

Few minutes later Ranma and Akane were on their way to see Dr. Tofu.
Of course they were both quiet, not that they would have had anything
to say. Ranma jumped down from the fence and started walking by 
Akane. <Hmm..> thought Akane. <Hehe... Since she can't shout at 
me...> thought Ranma and started making faces at her. <Yeah, Ranma.
Really mature.> After a while she couldn't stand it anymore. Ranma
saw the giant mallet coming out of nowhere just before it hit him.
<Oww... Uncute tomboy!> <Serves him right!> After that Ranma behaved
himself, but still kept walking beside Akane. Akane had put the 
mallet away, but kept it close because Ranma was acting weird.

"Hmm... This is completely new to me. So, neither of you haven't
ate anything weird or done something out of ordinary?" asked Dr. 
Tofu. Akane and Ranma shook their heads. "OK. To be perfectly
honest, I don't know how you two can be cured or if you can be cured
in the first place, but don't give up on hope yet." Ranma stood up 
looking very upset. He wrote something on a piece of paper he found
on Tofu's table. [What? I have to stay like this for the rest of my 
life?] <Ranma no baka... He doesn't think at all how I may feel.>
thought Akane. "Well, let me think about this for a while. Go home,
maybe it wears off in time. Tomorrow you could be back to normal.
Anyway, both of you should skip from school untill you are cured."

While walking back Tofu's words kept repeating in Ranma's head: 
"...if you can be cured in the first place..." He sighed. <He looks
really gloomy...> thought Akane. Akane laid her hand on Ranmas 
shoulder. Ranma turned his head and tried to smile cheerfully,
but only making a sad looking grin, which made Akane feel even more
sorry for him.

<What?> screamed Akane in her head. "Well, your condition could be 
contageous, so we are going for a little trip." said Soun. Ranma 
handed him a piece of paper. [When are you going to be back?] "Um...
Maybe in six days or so." said Soun and started to get a little 
scared when he saw a blue aura emitting from Akane. "B... But you two
will be fine alone. Won't you?" Now Akane handed him a note. [I have
to stay whith that pervert for six days?!] "Eh... Now, now Akane."
Ranma gave Akane a note too. [Don't worry, I wouldn't want to do 
anything whith an uncute tomboy like you anyway.] [Oh yeah?] [Of 
course not! Geez, do actually think that I like you that much?!]
<Ranma no...> Akane had her mallet in her hand again. <BAKA!> Ranma
flew trough the roof. <Kawaikunee! Iroke ga nee!> shouted Ranma in 
his mind. Fortunately he didn't fly far and soon got back to the 
dojo. Everyone were at the gate, except Akane. "Well son, we'll be 
off now. Take care of Akane." said Soun. "See ya." said Nabiki.
"Bye bye Ranma." said Kasumi. [See you later son!] Ranma gave Soun
another note [Where's Happosai?] "Don't worry about him. He's in 
France because he heard that they opened the largest lingerie shop
in the world in Paris."

<I can't believe them...> thought Ranma on his way back inside.
<Leaving me whith that violent girl at a time like this...> Once he 
got inside, he saw Akane walking down the stairs. They stared at each
other for a while. <Akane...> <...> Akane turned around and 
disappeared into her room. <Kawaikunee...>

Ranma looked at the clock. It was 9.00 PM and Akane hadn't come out
of her room since the others left. <What could it be this time?>
wondered Ranma. <She started it after all...> He thinked about it a 
few minutes. <Well, if we're gonna be alone for six days, I might
as well as make peace whith her.> He got up and started walking
towards the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs he tried to listen
what Akane was doing, but the whole house was completely quiet. He 
started walking again and stopped at Akanes door. Still quiet. He 
knocked on the door. No answer. <Oh yeah... We can't speak.> He 
opened the door slowly and looked in. The lights were out, so he 
could hardly see in there. Something flew direcly in his face. There
was a loud noise when one of Akanes weights dropped on the floor,
leaving a red mark on Ranmas face. He opened his eyes again and saw
Akane sitting on her bed leaning on the wall. He watched at her face.
<What?> Ranma thought. <Tears?> Ranma wrote something on the paper
and stepped in to the room looking at his feet. Now he felt himself
miserable. He walked to her bed and left a note on it. He walked
out as quietly as possible.

Ranma went into his room still feeling bad. <Maybe I went too far...
I never wanted to hurt her.> he sighed. <I never want to hurt anyones
feelings. That's why I always put up whith Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi.
I always feel terrible after hurting someones feelings... Why does
it feel ten times worse when I hurt her feelings?! She cried...>
Ranma was angry at himself. He hit himself on his cheek, just like
when he thought Akane was dead in Jusenkyo. He hit his other cheek
too. <I'm a half-girl, but still I can't understand them... Maybe
it would help if I would think before I say (write) anything.
Maybe. I hope she wont be mad at me tomorrow.> He laid on his futon,
but stayed awake for an hour before falling in to sleep.

***

Akane sitted on her bed. <Ranma no baka... Baka, baka, baka, baka,
baka!> She felt how her tears went down her cheeks. She didn't wipe
them off. She didn't feel like it. She wanted to cry. <I guess he 
doesn't love me after all. Baka. Why do I put up whith him?> She knew
the reason, but didn't want to think about it. <Why should he love
me after all? He has more cute fiancée's than me...> She heard Ranmas
footsteps behind her door. <Baka.> Ranma knocked on her door. <Baka.
I don't want to see you!> The door started to open. Akane grabbed
the first thing she could get and waited to see him. Ranmas head 
popped behind the door. <BAKA!> Akane threw the item at him and saw
that it was her training weight. She saw Ranmas head disappearing.
Soon he stepped in. Akane looked in another direction. <I swear that
if he comes too close, I'll kill him.> But Ranma stopped at the edge
of her bed and left something on it. <Baka! Go away...> After that
Ranma walked away. Akane heard him going back to his room.

Time passed as Akane was trying to think up the most horrible ways
for Ranma to die. Suddenly she remembered that Ranma had left 
something on his bed. She looked at it. It was a note. <Feh... Like
I'm going to read it.> Suddenly Akane heard a loud thump from Ranmas
room, soon followed by another one. <What's he doing? Baka...>
Akane sitted in the silence for a while. She couldn't get the note
out of her mind. Eventually she picked it up and opened it. She 
started reading it. Some parts of it were erased several times. [ 
Akane. I want you to know that I didn't mean what I said. Sorry,
I didn't think what I was saying. I hope you can forgive me, but I 
understand if you can't. I think that it can be a good thing that I 
can't talk, so I can think before saying anything to you. (the next
sentence was erased and rewritten many times) And I lied when I said
you were uncute or sexless... Akane, you really are cute.

Ranma ] She read the last part many times. She felt another tear 
escaping her eye, but it wasn't because she was sad. <He thinks I'm
cute!> Akane smiled at the note. <Wonder what Ranma is doing right
now?> Suddenly her eyes widened. <What were the voices she had 
heard?... RANMA!> She ran to Ranmas room and found him sleeping.
<Thank god he's just sleeping> she thought and saw the bruises on his
cheeks. <What? Where did those come from?> Then she remembered
the voices again. <H... He... He hit himself?> She smiled lightly,
sat next to Ranmas head and swept his hairs aside to see his closed
eyes. <Oh Ranma...> Akane rose quietly and walked to the corridor.
She took one more glance at his fiancé before closing the door. 
Healing Disease by Mazena

A Fan-Fiction piece based on and inspired by characters owned by 
Rumiko Takahashi.

[A/N] This story continues from the point that 'Healing Disease,
Day 1' ended.

Day 2.

Ranma slowly opened his eyes. It was early in the morning. <Man, I 
feel like I haven't slept at all.> He glanced at the bed next to his.
<What? Pop's already up? Wait... He's never this early.> Suddenly
he remembered everything what happened yesterday, him and Akane 
becoming mute, having a fight and the rest of the family leaving.
<Aww... I hope she isn't too mad at me anymore.>

Ranma got up and putted his clothes on. He felt somewhat dizzy. 
<What's wrong with me?> He stumbled his way to the bathroom. As he 
started to brush his teeth, he looked in the mirror and saw a big 
bruise on his forehead. He touched it and winced as he felt pain 
shooting trough his head. <No wonder I'm not feeling very well.>
He was glad to see that his cheeks werent swollen anymore. He spat
the toothpaste in the sink and washed his face.

Ranma headed for the stairs. He looked at the door with a wooden
duck hanging on it. Ranma pressed his head on the door and tried to 
listen if she was awake. Nothing. <Well, I gues she's still asleep.>
While walking down the stairs he smelled something. <Breakfest!>
His face got a bit brighter. <Wait a sec...> He saw Akane sitting
by the table. <Kasumi isn't home, so AKANE must have COOKED!!>
Ranma backed a few steps. <She must be really pissed to punish me 
like this...>

Akane picked up a sign. [Morning, Ranma!] She smiled a little

Ranma waved at her. Ranma swallowed hard, gathered his courage and 
sat next to Akane. <I can't blew this one... Not after what I did 
yesterday.> He looked at the food on the table. <Hmm.. This actually
doesn't look too bad.>

Akane smiled at him and passed him his plate. [There ya go. I'm sure
I got it right this time.]

Ranma swallowed again. He could feel sweatdrops running down his 
face. He couldn't move the inevitable much longer.

Akane had another sign. [Hey... What's taking so long? Taste it 
already.] <If he's gonna run away, I'm sure he's going to..>

Ranma took his chopsticks and his hands trembled a little. [Nothing's
wrong. I just didn't expect a decent breakfest this morning.]
<This is going to turn bad soon>

Akane nodded her eyes closed. She took his plate too. [I know it's
good this time, I tasted it before serving it.]

<Huh?> Ranma glanced at Akane. <Well, here goes nothing.> He stuffed
some food in his mouth and expected the worst. He blinked. The food
tasted normal. No. It tasted good. He started stuffing his face.

Akane smiled at him and blushed slightly. <He likes it! He really
likes it!> She watched contently as Ranma ate her food.

[Thanks Akane! The breakfest was perfect.] Ranma smiled at her. He 
saw Akane's eyes get wet. [What's wrong Akane?]

Akane was just so happy that Ranma liked her cookings. She hugged
Ranma who was speechless in more ways than one. When Akane pulled
herself back he saw Ranma staring at her.

[Akane, when did your cooking skills improve that much?]

[This morning.] Akane raised another sign. [I've been up since five
and cooking since then.]

<She's been up for three hours?> Ranma stared Akane. <For... For me?>

[So...] Ranma raised yet another sign. [You're not mad at me anymore?
About what I said.]

Akane shook her head and started eating her breakfest. Ranma got up 
and decided to take a bath. Once he slipped in to the tub, he started
thinking about Akane and the breakfest. <Man, who would've 
thought...> He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. <Akane's
breakfest was as good as Kasumi's. No...> Actually it was better,
when he knew it was specially made for him. <And when she smiled...>
He pictured Akane in his mind. <Could it be that... She isn't...>
When he awoke from his thoughts he noticed that he had been in the 
bath quite long.

******************

Ranma walked around the house, wondering where Akane was. The house
was completely silent. <Huh?> Ranma heard a subdued thump. <Sounds
like she's in the dojo.> His thoughts were confirmed as the voices
became louder as he walked towards the dojo. He peepep in. Akane was
wearing her gi and was doing a kata. Ranma leaned on the doorframe
and watched Akane's training. <Yep... Now, I'm sure that she really
isn't.>

Akane was doing a flying kick when she noticed Ranma at the door.
She stopped her kata and turned at Ranma. [How long have you been 
standing there?]

[Long enough.] Ranma started walking towards Akane.

Akane became tense when she saw Ranma coming to him. <What's he up to
now?> She couldn't help smiling as seeing Ranma made her remember
the letter he gave her.

Ranma looked at Akane as she smiled. All doubts washed away from his
mind. <Now I'm sure.> [Akane... I need to tell you something]
He blushed a bit and sat down.

Akane sat in front of him. <I wonder what this is about...> She saw
Ranma's blushing. <Could it be?> Akane felt that she was blushing
too. Ranma's hand shook a little, when he wrote something on the 
sign.

[Remember the letter I gave you last night?]

Akane nodded.

Ranma flipped the sign. [I said that you were cute...] Akane blushed
even more (if possible).

They were interrupted by girl who crashed trough the door with her 
cycle. "Nihao Ranma!" Shampoo jumped off the cycle and glomped Ranma.
Shampoo pulled back a little. "Why you say nothing? Ranma not happy
see Shampoo?"

Akane smacked a sign in Shampoo's face. [He's mute... So am I.] 
Shampoo looked at Akane, then at Ranma and back to Akane. "What you
violent girl talk about?" Akane just stared at her. "Shampoo still
love airen!" Shampoo yelled and glomped Ranma again. Ranma tried to 
get out of the strong hug. "Why Ranma so quiet?"

[I'm mute you idiot.]

"Why you no hug me back? You like the violent girl more?"

[Who? Me? Why would I like an uncute tomboy like her?] <Oh no... I 
did it again! I blew it.>

[Ranmaaaa...]

A blue aura surrounded Akane as she raised her mallet. Ranma started
to write something quickly, but didn't get to finish it. <Ranma no 
BAKA!> Ranma flew trough the roof and the sign dropped on the floor
unfinished.

"Ayaa... You crazy girl hurt Ranma." Shampoo gasped and began to 
cycle the way Ranma had flown.

Akane put her mallet away breathing heavily. <How could he? I even
made him good breakfest and was kind to him! For what?> She stomped
out of the dojo. She went to bath and threw her gi in to the laundry
basket. <Baka...> She sat in the tub. Something was still bothering
her. <What was he going to say to me while back there...? Propably
just insult me again.> Akane thought, but a part of her disagreed.

**************

<Kawaiikunee!> Ranma flew above Nerima. He looked around where he 
could be landing. <Oh great... Kuno's house.> He crashed trough the
roof.

"Ranma-sama?" Kodachi kneeled next to Ranma. He was still confused
because of landing trough the roof. "Here, drink this. It will make
you feel better." Kodachi stuck a brown bottle in his mouth.

[Stop that! Get off of me!] Soon the sign dropped on the floor as 
Ranma lost his consiousness. The last thing he could hear was 
Kodachi's insane laughter.

**************

When Ranma came to he was  tied up with chains to a chair next to a 
table. <Damn that Kodachi... Who knows how long I have been 
sleeping.> He tried to move, but his body didn't react to his 
commands. <What?> He didn't have to winder for long to realize what
must've happened.

"Hohohohoho..." lauged Kodachi behind him. "I see my sleep- and 
pralyze potion worked out perfectly. I can try the rest of my potions
later. Now I have a special treat for you Ranma-sama."

Ranma was so mad. If he could only have his voice, he would shout
at her. Forcing her to listen, to understand. Moving his body was 
useless. He could only move his head a little and even that took a 
great effort. There was nothing he could do. He just watched in 
horror as Kodachi started feed him.

"There you go Ranma-sama." Kodachi said brightly and stuffed some 
food in Ranma's mouth. "This is my speciality: Flamed salmon á la 
catnip sauce... Hohohohoho. Who would have guessed how well it mixes
with flamed salmon. Ranma-sama? What's wrong?"

Ranma tried to spit as much food out of his mouth as possible.
<CATNIP!> If he wouldn't have been drugged he would have been shaking
heavily. He started hearing something crawling. He heard something
let out a loud meow. He didn't realize it was all in his head. Small
green eyes staring at him in the darkness. Waiting. He knew what the
cats wanted. <Stupid Kodachi! Can't you see the cats? Give the food
to them. Salmon mixed with catnip is irresistible for them!> Kodachi
acted like she didn't even notice the cats.

"Oh, you accidentally spilled the food. No problem Ranma-sama.
Let me help you." Kodachi took a larger part of salmon and (to 
Ranma's horror) stuffed in his mouth, closing it tightly with her 
hands. "Now then... You just have to swallow."

Ranma tasted the catnip in his mouth. He tried to spit it out again.
He couldn't. <What?> Then he saw Kodachi's hands holding his jaw. 
<Kodachi... Please! For once, let me go!!!!> He saw the madness
in Kodachis eyes. Ranma had always known that Kodachi was crazy,
but had ignored it as well as he could. Now it backfired at him. She
sqeezed her fingers on Ranma's nose. He couldn't breathe. "Now, 
Ranma-sama. It's not polite not to eat ones food that has been made
with love. Swallow it and I'll let your nose go.

Ranma was desperate. The noise of cats on grew stronger in his head.
He knew that if he would swallow it, the cats would attack. If He 
would swallow it, it would be inside him and the cats wanted it. He 
remembered being wrapped in all kinds of cat-treats during his 
neko-ken training, but this was different. More and more imaginary
cats stared at him as the noise grew. He wanted the voice to stop.
<What should I do?> He was running out of options as he needed more
air. <I can't believe that Kodachi is doing this to me...> Ranma 
thought as he swallowed.

**************

<Honestly...> Akane was sitting on the couch watching TV. <Its almost
10.00 PM and he still isn't home.> She changed the channel <I bet 
he's at Ukyos place stuffing his face and telling how much cuter she
is or at Nekohanten cuddling with Shampoo.> She tried to be angry
with him, but she was getting worried. <I wonder if he's okay...>
She thought and remembered Shampoo. <Why should I worry about him?!>
Akane went back to her room to change clothes.

Akane (now wearing a gi) entered the dojo. She started doing katas
to work out her anger. Everytime as she puched, kicked or jumped
she shouted in her head <BAKA!>. After the exhausting workout,
she leaned on the wall. <Baka...> She breathed heavily as big 
sweatdrops dropped on the floor. Akane pulled herself up and 
tightened her belt. Akane walked towards the door when she hit 
something with her foot. She looked down and saw the sign that Ranma
was writing before she had malleted him out of the dojo.

Akane picked it up. [Im sorry Akane!! It was just an old reflex.
Just once listen to me. I'm not just used to this. I'm not used to 
say that I] Suddenly Akane didn't feel so angry anymore. She hadn't
listened to Ranma. <I wonder how the sign would have ended...>
Akane went to the bathroom again.

Akane took a cold shower. Even the cold water reminded her of Ranma.
<Another thing that Ranma hates to do...> She smiled at the wall,
<He never takes a cold shower after a workout... Too bad. He's 
missing a lot.> Akane lifted her head and let the water run down her
face. <If he just wouldnt have the curse... The life would be much
easier to him> 'You don't make it much easier for him either' said
a small voice in Akane's head.

Akane closed the shower and started to dry herself with a towel.
<Am I really making his life even harder?> She started to put her 
nightgown on. <Sometimes he just asks for a good malleting.>
Akane stepped out of the bathroom. <Why does he always have to be so
insensitive?> She walked up the stairs. <Always making himself clear
that he doesn't want to be engaged to me...> Akane opened her door.
<Never telling me that he cares for me> 'have you ever told him that
you care?' asked the small voice in her head. <Why should I care?>
Akane laid on her bed. <Always hanging all over his other fiancées.>
She closed her eyes. <Why can't he just be nice to me all the time
instead of being a jerk?>

Akane rolled over. She remembered all the times when Ranma had been
really nice to her or protected her from something putting his life
in danger. <Baka...> She clentched her fists. <Baka... I don't care
about him. Just like he doesn't care about me.> Then she saw the sign
in her mind. 'I'm not used to say that I'. Akane rolled on her back.
She stared at the ceiling, waiting, the words in the sign going 
trough her mind. A tear slowly falled on her pillow. <I don't 
care...> she thought, not believing it herself.

**************

Kuno was out in the garde. He was training kendo on a Ranma-dummy.
He shouted loudly as he attacked the dummy, slashing it with his 
wooden sword. In a few seconds it was over, the dummy was on the 
ground in mulriple pieces, Kuno smiled feeling satisfied after 
beating Ranma.

"Feh... Saotome. One day, I, Kuno Tatewaki shall free the 
Pigtailed-goddess and Tendou Akane from your enslavery."

Kuno stopped as he heard the sirens. <Sirens?> He looked up. The 
sirens stopped at the gate.


-End of Day 2

[A/N] Well... I hope you enjoyed this part. Feel free to send me any
comments or complains about the story. Heck, you people might as well
as send me some idead  for my next fic. (Almost anything except 
crossovers or Ryouga/Akane, Ranma/Ukyo(Shampoo), or any else matchups
that differ from the original Ranma ½... Well, maybe Ryouga/Ukyo
wouldnt be that bad.) The e-mail is 'ranma-kun@sunpoint.net'
or 'mazena@sunpoint.net' Either of them will be fine and I check 'em
both nearly every day. And now to work on the 

Healing Disease by Mazena

A Fan-Fiction piece based on and inspired by characters owned by 
Rumiko Takahashi.

[A/N] This story continues from the point that 'Healing Disease,
Day 2' ended.

Day 3.

Akane glanced the digital watch. It was 9.00 AM. She yawned and got
up, now sitting on the edge of her bed. Akane stretched her arms and
let them drop on her lap. She had stayed up long, waiting for Ranma.
Finally she had fallen asleep. <Why didn't he come home? Baka...>
She stood up and headed for the bathroom. <I hope nothing has 
happened to him.> She stopped at the corridor and looked at the door
which lead to Ranma's room. <Maybe he's already home...> Whisfully,
she slid the door open and looked in. The bed was empty, untouched.
Ranma hadn't come home.

Akane sighed and went to brush her teeth. Now she started to really
worry about him. She burshed her teeth roughly and her gums started
to bleed. Akane didn't notice that at all. <I need to go and look for
him...> She put the toothbrush away and went downstairs to make some
breakfest. She prepared it almost as fast as she ate it. She was in a
hurry. <If he's been overnight at Ukyo or Shampoo...> She ran out.

***************

Akane bolted to Ucchans, while Ukyo was just preparing for school.
She looked at raged Akane. "What brings you here Akane?"

Akane raised a sign. [Have you seen Ranma?]

Ukyo shook her head. "What's with the sign? Trying to mimic Mr. 
Saotome?"

[Mute] Akane rushed out leaving confused Ukyo staring at the door.
<What's with her? Mute? Is that why she and Ranma haven't been at 
school? Has Ranma been taking care of Akane?> Ukyo grinned. <Akane
lost Ranma again... That's becoming a habit.> Then her face 
brightened. <Maybe, if I find him first,  I can convince him that I 
would be a much better bride for him.> Ukyo threw her schoolbag
away. School had to wait. Ranma was the first priority.

***************

"Shampoo!" Mousse ran towards Shampoo.

Shampoo hit him with a tray. "Yes, what you want?"

"Oh, Shampoo" said Mousse with somewhat red face. "I wanted to ask if
you wanted to make a delivery with me?"

"Shampoo have better idea. You stay here and clean up, while I make
the delivery! Okay?" Shampoo looked at Mousse, who was looking over
her shoulder. She turned around. Akane was behind her, not looking
very happy and a blue aura was surrounding her. "What wrong with 
Akane?"

[Is Ranma here?]

"No..."

Akanes aura faded a little. [Nevermind...] Akane turned and run 
outside.

"Mousse!" Shampoo said. "You make the delivery and clean place up."

"What? Why can't you clean up while I'm making the delivery?"

"No time. Shampoo must find Ranma before the violent girl." Shampoo
grabbed her cycle and vanished quickly trough the door.

Mousse stood there for a while. "Saotome Ranma, you wretch! Trying
to steal my bride?" Mousse grabbed his cycle.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Cologne. "I don't pay you 
for chasing my son-in-law! Here." she threw Mousse a delivery box.
"Take this to the adress on this card."

"I can't. I have to punish Saotome! He wont get away this time."

"If you don't make that delivery and clean the tables afterwards,
you're going to have to find a new job or go back to China 
emptyhanded."

Mousse grumbled a bit, but took the box and started cycling.

***************

<Where is he?> Akane ran trough Nerima. <Not at Ucchans or 
Nekohanten... Where else could he be?> Kodachi flashed in her mind,
but Ranma wouldnt go there. Akane knew that Ranma hated Kodachi,
so she was not counted. <Maybe I should check some places where he 
goes often...> Akane checked under the bridge, at school and at the
park, but had no results. <Ranma...> She sat on a bench at the park.
She was tired. She had been looking for Ranma for three hours. She 
heard some footsteps heading her way.

"Oo, Tendou Akane!" Akane saw Kuno running towards her. "Of all the
places, here I was to find you. It must be the destiny!"

Before Kuno glomped her, Akane stopped Kuno with her fist. [Why 
aren't you at school, Kuno?] <Oh boy... This is the last thing I need
at the moment.>

"Because I was looking for you and the pigtailed-goddes.
Now, that you are free from his enslavement and I shall let you date
me!" Kuno shouted and tried to hug Akane again, with same results.

<Man, what an idiot...> Akane turned away, when she suddenly realized
what Kuno had said. She grabbed Kuno's shoulder and shook him. [I'm
free from his enslavement? Do you mean Ranma?] Kuno nodded and tried
to hug once more and once again with the same results. Akane shook
him again. [Have you seen Ranma?]

"Let's not talk about that spineless fiend. Do not worry my princess,
thou are safe from him now."

Akane hit him with the sign. [Have you seen him or not?]

"Yes, but do you need to know? Kodachi will be happy with him and 
now! We shall start our date!"

Akane let go of Kuno, who fell on the ground. She started running
towards Kuno estate. <Kodachi! The last place I would have ever 
looked. I hope Ranma's okay... He has been with her all this time.>
She climbed over the fence and knocked on the door. Soon a girl with
black hair wearing a leotard opened the door.

"Why, if it isn't Tendo Akane... What brings you here?"

[Where's Ranma?!]

Kodachi started sobbing.

[What? What's happened? Is something wrong with him?]

Kodachi nodded. "I was feeding him, when something happened and..."
Kodachi stopped talking.

[Where is he now?]

"In... In the hospital."

Akane's face became very pale. <In the hospital? Ranma!> She hurried
out running faster than she had ever ran. <Oh, no... Ranma, hang on.
I'm coming!> She kept running leaving tears behind her.

***************

Ranma swallowed. Kodachi gave him a smile and removed her hands.
Ranma gasped for air and suddenly fell over.

"Ranma-sama?" asked Kodachi leaning over him. Ranma started shaking.
"My paralyzing potion should still effect on you for three more 
hours... Ranma-sama, what's wrong with you?"

Ranma broke the chains, ripping the bindings. Kodachi backed away 
against the wall. Ranma's eyes widened and he started ripping his 
shirt in to shreads. His mouth opened and he let out a scream that
no one could hear. The part of the shirt on his stomach was already
on the floor as shreds, but Ranma kept on scrathing. His stomach
was bright red. Kodachi couldn't stand it anymore. It was too 
horrible to watch Ranma's face twisting with pain. She rushed out of
the room and called an ambulance. The emergency center said that the
ambulance would be there very soon.

The few minutes felt like forever. Kodachi had crouched in a corner
and was rocking herself. She couldn't get Ranma's face off her mind.
She heard someone knowcking heavily on the door. She couldn't move.
She was too afraid. The door was breached and three men wearing
green hospital suits rushed in and ran towards the door that Kodachi
pointed. They all stopped at the door for a while in horror to watch
the twisting boy who was scratching his stomach, which was bleeding
heavily and his face was in pretty bad shape too, having small cuts
all over it.

It required all their strenght to get the boy to the ambulance
and they had to tie him on the stretcher. The boy's silent screams
turned little by little in to sobs. They were all wondering what 
could have possibly happened to him. Mostly they thought he was out
of his mind. When they arrived at the hospital, the boy didn't 
struggle anymore and they untied him. He was carried out and rushed
in the hospital.

***************

[Could you tell me where to find Saotome Ranma?]

The young nurse looked at Akane and seemed to be pondering something.

[Please! This is an emergency! I'm his fiancée.]

"Ok then..." said the nurse, still being quite suspicious about the
girl with signs. "Follow me, please."

Akane followed the nurse around the hospital. They went to the 
elevator and Akane saw the nurse pressing the button number six. <Oh
no... That's where they keep the emergency patients!> The elevators
doors opened and Akane followed the nurse to a corridor in the left.
The nurse stopped. "Go along this corridor. Room 23. He should be 
sleeping... Be sure not to wake him up. He has suffered a lot, so he
has to rest" [Thank you.] Akane kept goign to look for the room 
<...suffered a lot..>.

Akane stepped quietly in to the room number 23. There was only one 
patient. A black haired boy. <Ranma!> She stepped next to his bed.
Ranma was asleep. Akane looked at the wounds on his face and felt her
eyes starting to get wet. <What happened to you?> She saw bandages
on his stomach and chest. She stood there, not knowing what to do. 
She sat on a bench next to her fiancé and took his hand in hers.

Ranma's head was turning from side to side and his lips were moving,
as he would have been talking in his sleep. Akane felt Ranma's hand
squeezing her hand slightly. <I think he's having a bad dream...>
She stayed there. Watching over him.

***************

Ranma was sitting next to his father. He looked at him. His father
was so calm, brave and strong. He seemed to have all the answers
and was the one he could rely.

"Ranma, today is a big day, my son." Genma said.

"Why?"

"Today, you shall learn an ultimate martial arts technique neko-ken."

"What is it like, father?"

"You will see soon." Ranma's father took fish sausages from his bag
and tied them on Ranma.

"What are these for?"

"Don't worry. They are just a part of the training..." Genma lifted
his son up, since he couldn't move anymore because of the sausages
wrapped around his body. He started walking towards a trapdoor
on the floor.

"Where are we going?" asked Ranma.

"I'm not going anywhere, boy." Genma said and opened the trapdoor.
"But you are going down there."

"But..." Ranma didn't get to finish, before his father had thrown
him trough the trapdoor in to the darkness.

Ranma looked around. He heard hundreds of tiny paws sweeping th 
floor. He saw the green eyes in the darkness staring at him. 
<Cats...> He tried to move, run, but he couldn't. <and the're hungry>
The cats attacked, everyone wanting their part of the sausages.
Cats ripped the sausages, cutting Ranma's face and chest while at it.
Ranma started to scream. He was scared. "Father!" The noise was 
unbareable. He coudn't raise his voice ower the cats wild meowing.
"Father! Help!" Tiny claws shred his gi and he felt when they digged
in his flesh. He screamed as long as he could, the voice faded soon.
All he could do was wait for the cats to finish.

After the cats had left, Ranma's father came to see him. He was 
shivering and sobbing. Genma grabbed his son. "Ranma! Real men don't
cry! Remember that." It took a while for him to stop it. "Good, boy.
Now, did you learn the technique?" Ranma shook his head. "What?"
<What could have gone wrong? The instructions said to wrap the one 
who wishes to learn the thecnique with something that cats find 
irresistible.> "Well, son. I guess, we have to try it again."

Ranma looked at his father in horror. "No! Please!"

"Ranma be a man! This is no time for you to chicken out." Ranma 
closed his eyes tightly trying not to cry. "Ok, here we go."

Ranma felt something being wrapped around him. He opened his eyes.
It was catnip. He looked up at his father. Genma grinned. "Now, son.
You are ready for a rematch!" He threw his son down the trapdoor.

Ranma shouted "Nooo!" as he flew towards the hungry cats. He was 
already weak from the last attemp. Now, the cats knew that it was 
safe and attacked immediately. Ranma didn't have much left of his gi
anymore and so the claws digged in to his fles more quicker. He 
started to scream again as the pain got him. Suddenly he saw a girl
in front of him. She had a short blue hair and brown eyes. She took
Ranma's hand. Somehow the girls precense made him feel a little 
better and the pain didn't seem so hard. The girl smiled at him.

***************

Akane's heart broke when she watched Ranma struggling in his sleep.
She tightened her grip a little. <I just wish I could talk and calm
him down. Tell him that it's allright and I'm here for him.>

A nurse came in. "Oh..." She said as she saw Akane sitting next to 
Ranma. "I'm sorry to bother, but I have to check him." Akane nodded
and the nurse started doing her checkup.

[What happened to him?] asked Akane as the nurse checked if Ranma
had fever.

"Well..." The nurse seemed a bit uncomfortable. "I'm not really sure
what caused it, but when he was found, he was scrathcing his stomach
and face." she stopped and looked at Akane, who sat there looking
eyes wide open at Ranma. "The weird part is that he didn't seem to 
realize that he was doing it himself and he doesn't know how speak
either."

[He can speak... He's just... Mute at the moment.]

Nurse thought about it for a while and shrugged. <This just keeps
getting weirder and weirder... First this young man and now a girl
who uses signs to communicate> "He seemes to be perfectly okay except
the cuts. He may even get out of here by tomorrow. Don't worry, 
because we found him so quickly the wounds will only leave small 
scars, barely noticeable." Akane nodded at the nurse, who was 
leaving.

<Thank god... You are allright> Akane touched Ranma's hair. She swept
it off his face. Akane held Ranma's hand and waited.

***************

Ryouga was wandering somewhere in Japan. <Akane-san...> He looked
up at the sky. <Rihgt now I'm in Okiwana (...). It's pretty cold in 
here at this time of year. I have bought you some souvenirs,
I'll bring them to you when I return.> Ryouga kept on walking and 
thinking Akane. Ryouga lifted his head. "What!?"

Ryouga was standing in front of Tendo dojo. "How did I get here...?"
he mumbled. <Akane-san, it must the power of love that guided me 
here.> Ryouga stepped trough the gate. <Odd...> He looked around.
<It seemes so quiet and peacefull> He knocked on the front door. No 
answer. He tried to open it, but it was closed. <I guess they aren't
home.> He got in from Akane's window.

<Ah...> Ryouga looked around. <I'm back Akane-san> He stepped in to 
the corridor. <Maybe I should greet her as P-Chan when they return>
He thought about snuggling in Akane's arms and confirmed himself
that it was a good idea. He walked downstairs and to the kitchen.
He splashed some water on him from the sink and turned in to a little
black piglet. Ryouga hid his clothes and decided to wait for Akane's
return in her room. He hopped on the bed and looked at the door, 
waiting for Akane to come in. He didn't know it, but it would be a 
long wait.

***************

Ranma woke up. He opened his eyes slowly. His eyelids felted as they
would weight a ton. He tried to move a bit, but he felt pain 
exploding in his stomach. He dropped back to bed. Now he felt 
something else too, someone was holding his hand. Slowly he raised
his head. Akane sit next to him. Ranma tried to say hello, but when
he realized he couldn't speak he just winked at her. Akane smiled
slightly at him.

Ranma saw the bandages on his body. <What the...> Then he suddenly
remembered what had happened. Kodachi had fed him some catnip or 
salmon... He had seen cats everywhere. Now he realized that it had 
all been in his head. <Danm that Kodachi and her stupid drugs.>

[How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?] Ranma nodded a little.
[Want me to get you something?] Ranma shook his head and smiled at 
her. [What?] Ranma just pressed his head back on the pillow. Akane
stared at him for a while and shrugged, still holding his hand 
firmly. Ranma had a pen and he wrote something on his bandages.
Akane had to twist her a bit to read it.

[Thanks Akane] Akane looked the text and wondered what he had ment.
She was the reason why he had been brought to the hospital in the 
first place. Akane raised a sign. [What for?] Ranma just smiled at 
her. Akane looked at him feeling a bit confused and finally smiled
back at him. Ranma rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.

***************

Akane had been next to Ranma the whole day, only leaving to get 
something to eat and drink. Shampoo and Ukyo had visited the hospital
too. Shampoo had grabbed Ranma in her tight hug, but Akane separated
her, as she saw Ranma wince in pain. Shampoo had tried to hug him 
again, but Ranma had recovered enough to stop her. Shampoo brought
Ranma a bowl of ramen and tried to feed him, but Ranma didn't seem
to be very pleased about it. After an hour Shampoo headed back, 
because she still had lots of deliveries to make.

Ukyo had been overreacting as she saw Ranma in the bed covered in 
bandages. She had cried hysterically over him saying that it will be
allright. When she heard that it really was nothing and Ranma would
be back home by tomorrow, she blushed a little. Ukyo had also brought
Ranma some food, Deluxe okonomiyaki and she tried to feed him. Akane
almost felt sorry for Ranma as she watched the crazy girls trying
to feed unwilling Ranma. Soon Ukyo had to return to Ucchans also and
Ranma and Akane were alone again.

[Whew... I thought they would never leave] Ranma had started using
the signs again.

Akane giggled (it looked pretty weird as there was no voice) [Have
you had enough foor or want me to go get you some?]

Ranma shook his head wildly. [NO! I mean, I'm not hungry.]

<Usually he eats always when he has the chance> thought Akane. <Well,
maybe it's just the hospital.> [Want to tell me what happened to 
you?]

[Nothing really... Just that, my fear of cats took over me.]

[Cats did this to you?]

[No. I imagined everything... Kodachi was making me to eat flamed
salmon with catnip sauce, so I started seeing cats.]

Akane stared at Ranma, who was finding the ceiling very interesting.
<Kodachi... I'm gonna kill her for this.> [Ranma, are you sure you 
don't want anything?]

Ranma shook his head and smiled a little. [No, thanks. You can go 
home and rest.] He raised another sign. [Thanks Akane. Thanks for 
being here with me.]

[It's nothing. You would have done the same thing for me.]

Ranma nodded. [Get some rest, ok?]

Akane waited a while. [I don't want to leave yet...] She blushed.

Ranma smiled at her, somehow the last comment made him feel warm.
<She's definetly not...>

[Ranma?]

Ranma looked at Akane.

[Remember the sign you were writing, before I hit you away? How would
it have ended?]

Now it was Ranma's turn to blush. [Umm...] He looked for escape,
no luck. <Don't chicken out goddamit!> [I'm not used to say that I 
care for someone.]

Neither of them said (wrote) anything. They were both glowing red and
wouldnt look at each others eyes.

***************

Akane refused to go home and she ended up sleeping in the free bed 
next to Ranma's. This night Ranma didn't have nightmares. He dreamed
about an uncute girl, not that it mattered to him.

A certain pig had fallen asleep in Akane's bed. Ryouga dreamed about
him and Akane, how they would get married and how miserable Ranma
would feel.

-end of day 3

[A/N] Well... I hope you enjoyed this part. Feel free to send me any
comments or complains about the story. Heck, you people might as well
as send me some idead  for my next fic. (Almost anything except 
crossovers or Ryouga/Akane, Ranma/Ukyo(Shampoo), or any else matchups
that differ from the original Ranma ½... Well, maybe Ryouga/Ukyo
wouldnt be that bad.) The e-mail is 'ranma-kun@sunpoint.net'
or 'mazena@sunpoint.net' Either of them will be fine and I check 'em
both nearly every day. And now to work on the day