Disclaimer: You know the drill it’s all not mine and I’m not pretending it does.

Thanks too all you reviewers out there.

Chapter 9 – Ryugenzawa Interlude

Akane was in the kitchen making curry. She slowly and surely put the ingredients together and added only a few items to make it taste better. When she was done she actually tasted it herself. Hmm that’s not too bad. Akane tasted it again. It’s almost normal. I made a good Curry dish! Akane jumped with excitement and brought the dish out to the dining area.

“Here I made some Curry.” Akane called as she walked into the dining area with the bowl.

Akane walked around in the dining room and didn’t see anyone. Soun, Genma, and Ranma were hiding beneath the table, but Soun and Genma pushed Ranma forward and said, “Go ahead Ranma eat Akane’s Curry. Show her what a good fiancé you are.”

Ranma resisted, but he was shoved out anyway. Akane saw Ranma exit from under the table without seeing her father or Genma and offered the dish to Ranma who turned up his nose and said, “No way! Come on you know that stuff is toxic I don’t want to die you know!”

Akane became angry and malleted Ranma out the door and stormed off, giving Soun and Genma the ability to flee from the dish and her sight at their leisure. Not long after that Akane was sitting down by herself fuming a bit while she munched on a small bowl of her Curry dish. A program about a giant monster in the small rural town of Ryugenzawa was airing and Nabiki and Kasumi walk in the door.

Kasumi saw the Television and said, “Oh Akane do you remember? We went on a family trip to the Ryugenzawa health center when you were very small.”

Nabiki sipped on a soda and said, “Oh that, I wish we hadn’t gone. Akane got lost.”

“Oh yes, that’s right she got lost in the forest and there was such a big uproar.”

As the two sisters spoke Akane remembered being a little girl and running from a large and frightening monster. She remembered being saved and given a whistle, then there was a gap in her memory and she was running some more while calling for her parents. She stepped away from the table thinking, So that was real. I had a dream just like it last night, but I thought I was imagining things. Maybe I was wrong and the dream I had last night was about something real, but why did I dream about it just last night.

Suddenly the phone rang and Akane answered it. On the line was a person asking for the Tendo Dojo’s help with the problems in Ryugenzawa. Akane accepted the job and early the next morning she searched her room and found exactly what she was looking for. It was a small whistle that she remembered being given. She knew that it was from the boy who saved her as a child. She took the whistle and her backpack and then left a note saying, “I’m going to Ryugenzawa Don’t worry.”

That same morning Kasumi woke up and found the letter. She ran in and showed it to Soun. Soun cried and screamed Akane’s name. Nabiki watched the scene and thought to herself, This could be a great opportunity to get Ranma out of Neko-Chan’s hair for awhile. “Ranma-Kun can’t you think of a reason for Akane leaving like that?”

“No, not really.”

Nabiki started walking back to the Kitchen saying, “Hmm, then I didn’t hear that you ran away from her cooking last night? Akane didn’t end up hitting you and being angry about it at all?”

Ranma became upset and said, “Hey come on I always run away from that stuff. It’s lethal.”

Nabiki was in the kitchen and saw Kasumi standing over the pot with a strange look on her face. “Hey sis is that Akane’s curry?”

Kasumi came out of her stupor and said, “Yes, it is. Try it Nabiki and see if I’m imagining things.”

Nabiki took a sip and then smiled with glee. I can’t believe it, but this will work perfectly. She took the pot out to the dining room and said, “Hey, Saotome I think you need to try this.”

Ranma, Soun and Genma all took out some spoons and tried the dish. They were all immensely surprised by the fact that it was mostly normal. Soun suddenly grabbed Ranma and screamed in Ranma’s face, “Why didn’t you eat it boy?”

“Oh come on! You and pops were hiding under the table with me. Why didn’t either of you eat it?”

Nabiki casually said, “I wonder, do you think Akane was trying hard to make it for Ranma?”

Soun became even angrier and said, “Ranma, you will go after Akane and apologize. Once you have done that you will immediately bring her home. The forest of Ryugenzawa is no place for a lost little girl.”

“Oh come on what could happen, none of that giant monster stuff can possibly be true, besides what kind of idiot leaves home because of a stupid thing like this?”

Soun’s demon head technique started up and Ranma cowered in the corner. “Alright, Alright I’m going, I’m going.”

Ranma packed his bag and left immediately. While he was walking away Nabiki went to the phone and smiled, Now to make just a bit of money on this little plan. Nabiki dialed the phone and someone on the other end picked it up. “Hello, yes Shampoo it’s me. I have some information I’m willing to sell to you.”

Ranma arrived at the train platform and was met by Shampoo. The purple tressed warrior seemed somewhat reserved and was not glomping or hugging him. “Yo, Shampoo what are you doing here?”

Shampoo was having difficulty controlling herself, but remembered her great grandmother’s guidance. So she held still and said, “I come to help Ranma-kun in his quest to save Akane from monsters of Ryugenzawa.”

Ranma smirked and said, “Not you too? I mean come on really, there just ain’t no monsters it’s just tales and stuff. You don’t need to come with me, I’ll be just fine.”

Shampoo examined Ranma and said, “Shampoo think ai..Ranma is being stubborn. Perhaps Ranma should remember difficult time he had with teacher Hinako and allow Shampoo to come with him?”

Ranma blushed and decided not to talk about it. He sat there in silence until the train came. Ranma sat there looking at the train for a moment more and realized that the whole time that he had been waiting Shampoo had not made any moves towards him. So, he got up and started to board the train, looking at Shampoo he said, “Look Shampoo you can come. Just uh some rules: no hugging, airen, or any of that okay?”

Shampoo barely controlled herself and nodded. I hope that my great grandmother’s new plan will work. She said that tribe sister Ranma advised her of it, so it must be the best plan possible, but still it seems so strange that Ranma wouldn’t want to be hugged and cuddled by me.

The two walked into the train and the train left the station. Some time later they arrived in Ryugenzawa.

The next day Akane was attacked by a gigantic platypus in the forest. She screamed in surprise and ran away. The creature continued after her, but it fell to the ground suddenly, defeated by a strange teenager with a broom. “You shouldn’t be here. The forest is filled with dangerous animals and traps.”

As if in demonstration the strange black haired boy took a few steps towards Akane and tripped right into a trap. He fell into a hole and was knocked unconscious by a number of rocks that fell from the trees above. Akane went to him and picked him up. As she does, she thinks, The boy who saved me back then. Is this him? As she held him in her arms she thought, It must be. This must be the boy who saved me all those years ago.

Akane walked some more and remembered a path. She took the boy to a small house and knocked on the door. Just like last time. He saved me and I brought him here. No one answered and so Akane opened the door herself. Once she was inside the boy woke up and Akane sees an old man lying on a mat and sleeping. “You live alone with your grandfather in the middle of this kind of forest?”

The boy looks at the old man and says, “Yes, it’s just the two of us, but my grandfather doesn’t have much time left.” He then changes the topic and says, “I’m grateful that you brought me home, but this is no place for weak girls to be in.”

“Wait! What in the world are those monsters and why are you in a place like this?”

The white haired old man with a long mustache and beard wakes up suddenly and looks at the young boy. He stares at him and then looks at Akane and says, “Shinnosuke lad; why don’t you make some tea for our visitor.”

The tall boy with short cut black hair looked confused for a moment and his grandfather sat fully up in bed with a sigh. “The tea things are on the second shelf on the right and the hot water is boiling on a kettle over there. Goodness lad with your horrible memory I should label everything around here.”

Shinnosuke started preparing the tea and his grandfather lay back down. “The day is already gone miss, you can stay here for the night, but you should leave in the morning.”

“But..”

“Miss the monsters in this forest aren’t the type that an amateur can defeat in a day or two. Since long ago I’ve been fighting the creatures and Shinnosuke has been helping ever since he could lift a broom. We’re the guardians of this forest.”

Shinnosuke brought the tea and his Grandfather said, “Shin boy why don’t you go catch something for dinner.” The young man listened to his grandfather grabbed a net and left the house.

Akane followed after him and held out the little horn whistle she brought said, “Wait Shinnosuke Do you remember this? When I was a child you gave it to me.”

Shinnosuke looked at it and said, “Never seen it before. You must have mistaken me for someone else.” With that Shinnosuke walked off.

Meanwhile Shampoo and Ranma were in the forest of Ryugenzawa and saw a gigantic squirrel flying over head. The two ducked down to avoid the creature and Ranma looked at Shampoo. The purple haired girl was smiling a secret smile and he said, “All right, you don’t have to say it. I admit that you were right about giant animals being here Shampoo.”

Shampoo declined to say anything, smiled at Ranma and continued to implement her grandmother’s plan. “We look for Akane and find her quick yes? She not be able to handle such big animals by her self no?”

Ranma nodded and the two walked through the forest coming upon many different giant animals and even defeating one or two that become troublesome. As they were walking they ran into a tall black haired boy carrying a broom. Ranma approached him and said, “Hey have you seen a girl around here?”

The boy looked at Ranma as if he had two heads and said, “Isn’t that one right next to you?”

Ranma smacked his forehead and said, “No, I mean a different girl. One with black hair who can’t fight so good.”

“Nope, sorry I haven’t seen one.”

Ranma said, “Thanks anyway. Come on Shampoo we’ll have to look somewhere else.” The two jumped into the trees and were gone even as Shinnosuke said, “You should leave this place there are traps all over.”

Moments after that Shinnosuke stumbled into one of his own traps. Rocks dropped on his head and knocked him unconscious again. Still, he woke up later and was able to catch some fish and bring them back to his house. Akane saw him arrive and he said, “Oh hello miss. You shouldn’t be here; the monsters in this forest are very dangerous. It’s too late to leave now though, so how about I make a hot bath for you and you can leave in the morning.”

Akane stared at the boy and said, “Don’t you remember me?”

“No, should I?” Shinnosuke walked outside and prepared a bath. When he was done he came back in and said, “Miss the bath is ready if you like.”

Akane took Shinnosuke up on his offer and sat in the hot bath outside wondering about the boy. Could I have really mistaken him for someone else? No, he must have been the boy and yet he can’t remember. Then again he didn’t even seem to remember that I was here. Is he really the boy who saved me?

With that thought Akane stepped out of the bath and came face to face with a naked Shinnosuke. The boy seemed surprised and stammered, “S..Sory!”

Akane slapped him in the face and he ran back to the house. “I forgot you were in there. I’m sorry!” As he ran off Akane saw a set of scars on his back and she remembered that the boy who saved her long ago had received wounds just like them. She knew for sure that he was definitely the boy who had saved her life.

That night in the forest Ranma and Shampoo took turns warning each other about various traps in the forest as it became darker. Finally it was so dark that neither of them saw a trap and the Saotome boy was knocked out by the falling rocks. Shampoo was able to wake him and said, “Ranma, we is not noticing too, too stupid traps that are around here. Shampoo think it time to make camp, yes?”

Ranma said, “Sorry Shampoo, you’re right. It’s getting to dark now. Why don’t we make camp for the night?”

It was morning again and Ranma and Shampoo came to a small house in a clearing in the woods. The two approach a window and see Akane serving breakfast to Shinnosuke and his grandfather. The two wince as they watch the men dig into the breakfast and then they almost face fault when the two men cheer and tell Akane that it is the greatest meal they have ever had. Both Ranma and Shampoo stare in horror as Shinnosuke asks for seconds.

As Shinnosuke eats his second helping Ranma says, “Hey Shampoo isn’t that the guy from yesterday?”

“Yes, he tell us that he no see Akane and yet there she is. Either he lie or have worst memory in world.”

Suddenly the ground started to rumble and Shinnosuke got up and started out the door. Akane stopped him by saying, “Wait Shinnosuke!”

The boy waited and she handed him his shoes and a broom. “You forgot these,”

Shinnosuke took the items and stared into Akane’s eyes with a deep longing. “Akane, if it’s okay will you make dinner too?”

Akane sat mesmerized by the look and then finally she said, “It’s okay if I stay then?”

“Yes.”

Then Shinnosuke ran off into the forest. “Come back soon!” Akane called after him.

Without thinking Ranma rushed to her and said, “Hey!”

Akane looked at him and said, “Ranma what are you doing in a place like this?”

Ranma was angered and outraged as he said, “I was just going to say the same thing about you.”

Ranma’s anger came to a halt when Akane’s eyes twitched with her own anger and outrage. She pointed at Shampoo and said, “What is she doing here!”

Ranma stared back at an almost impassive Shampoo and said, “She’s uh... she’s here to help because there are a lot of giant animals here. She thought that maybe I could use some help finding you…”

Akane hmphed and said, “Well I’m here to fight the overgrown animals too Ranma.”

“Oh come on an uncoordinated chick like you? Come on Akane you should go home to Tokyo and let real martial artists deal with this.”

“Like who! Shampoo?”

“Yeah she’s a Chinese Amazon with years of experience you’re just not in the same league. Let her or that guy with the broom deal with this. You just don’t have any place here and you know it.”

Akane didn’t even hit Ranma she just stormed off angrily. “I’ll show you Ranma. I’ll prove that I’m a martial artist and I’ll do it with people who appreciate me and my cooking. Just you wait.”

Ranma watches her leave and looks on sadly saying, “Aw man, what’s wrong with me.”

Shampoo comes close and says, “You is doing the right thing Ranma. You giving very good advice. Is not you fault that Akane no listen to it.”

“Yeah, but now she’s going to go and do somethin’ stupid.”

Shampoo smiled and said, “That what we here for right Ranma? We here to protect the weak, even if they too, too stupid to know when to quit.”

Ranma looked at the purple haired Amazon and smiled, “You’re right. Thank you, Shampoo.”

“Is no problem Ranma.”

Shampoo and Ranma walk off into the forest and take out a few rampaging creatures. They make camp for the night and Ranma sits out watching the stars. He stares up in the sky and says, “Shampoo, what do you know about my female side? What has happened to her and why is she really so angry with me?”

“You father take her family name away. That make her very mad.”

“I know, but it seems like there’s more to it than that. This girl is kinda’ like me right. Same memories, same feelings and yet she’s holding a grudge against me for something she should remember doing as well. Why is that? I don’t keep grudges like that.”

Shampoo though about it for a moment and said, “Shampoo think that the moment that you separated you very much the same. You have all memories the same and only two differences. She get all of Jyusenkyou curse and all of Neko-Ken curse while you just be yourself. Same memories, but different bodies, then as new experiences and things happen it make you become more and more different with every day.”

Ranma sighed and said, “It is nice to be rid of my curse and I’m real glad that I’m not afraid of cats. Maybe I lost the power of the Neko-Ken, but still I guess I made the wrong decision, hard to admit now, but I did. It hasn’t fixed anything at all and if anything maybe being a guy full time has made things worse between me and Akane. Not to mention giving me a new enemy. For the first time I have someone who hates me for something that I really did do to them and that’s hard to deal with.”

Shampoo smiled and said, “Maybe you could tell her that. Tell Female Ranma that you sorry you made mistake and that you will help her. Maybe she be less angry with you, but then again it no fix everything.”

“Why not?”

Shampoo looked at Ranma and decided to tell him the truth. “She have spirit of male cat now, not human spirit. She have feline instincts and needs same as Shampoo when Shampoo is transformed.”

For a moment Shampoo’s face gained a haunted look as she said, “Shutting those needs down is very difficult Ranma.”

Ranma saw that fear in Shampoo’s face and said, “Shampoo, what do you mean by that?”

The purple haired warrior looked at Ranma and said, “Sorry Ranma, I not ready to tell about this. Is very private and very personal. Too, too difficult to speak about and especially so when using Japanese.”

Without thinking twice Ranma said, “I’m so sorry Shampoo you had to deal with that because of me, because I lied to you.”

“Is Okay Ranma Shampoo forgive you.”

“But, what about her will she ever forgive me?”

Shampoo stared at the sky for a moment and then said, “She is Amazon warrior by rite of Artemis. She is stubborn, proud and powerful. Shampoo think that we share many qualities just like Shampoo and male Ranma do. Is possible that maybe she forgive male Ranma someday. Just like Shampoo do about own curse, but even so she never feel the same way for Ranma as Shampoo does.”

Shampoo’s purple eyes gazed at Ranma with a deep longing. It was a fire in her eyes and it drew Ranma closer and closer to the young Amazon. The moment was broken when they both heard a voice yell out in pain. They rushed off to find the source and they found Shinnosuke fighting a gigantic Platypus.

The boy knocked the creature to the ground with his broom and it seemed to be down for the count. Ranma watched on and said, “Hey Shampoo he’s not half bad.”

“No boy with broom quite good.”

Suddenly the giant platypus wakes up and Shinnosuke faints to the ground and is unable to defend himself. Shampoo and Ranma both act at the same time delivering powerful twin kicks to the giant creature and it stops for good this time.

Ranma takes the boy on his back and says, “I guess we ought to bring him back to his house huh?”

Shampoo just nods and says, “Is good thing we here to help. Shampoo think he need us very much, yes?”

Ranma grunts in agreement and carries the boy off. They arrive at the house and knock on the door.

Before Ranma and Shampoo arrived at the house Shinnosuke’s Grandfather makes a startling discovery, the well outside their house has dried up. Akane says, “What’s so terrible about that?”

The old man sends Shinnosuke to retrieve some water from the next nearest well and while the boy is gone he relates the tale to Akane. Many years ago he was a caretaker of a small zoo, and when the animals escaped the water of life caused them to grow to huge sizes. Since then he and Shinnosuke have protected the area from the animals. But when Shinnosuke saved Akane he was mortally wounded by a large platypus and now repeated soakings from the Water of Life are the only things that have been keeping him alive.

The two wait in silence for Shinnosuke to return. It takes a very long time and Akane starts to feel very guilty about her role in the whole affair. She remembers Shinnosuke saving her and says, “Grandfather isn’t there anything we can do to save Shinnosuke. I swear I’ll do anything!” This time it’s my turn. I’ll save you Shinnosuke I swear it.

As Akane was swearing to save Shinnosuke a knock came to the door and she opened it. Standing there with Shinnosuke on his back and Shampoo beside him is Ranma. Akane’s eyes tear up and she says, “Shinnosuke.”

Ranma puts the boy down and says, “He just uh fell over. I didn’t hit him or nothin.”

Akane completely ignores Ranma and goes to the fallen boy. She puts the boy on a mat and sits next to him with his grandfather on the other side. She takes one of his hands and says, “Shinnosuke are you alright?”

The young boy only moans and Akane says, “Don’t worry Shinnosuke I’ll stay with you. I’ll be right here by your side.”

Shampoo pulls on Ranma’s arm and says, “Come Ranma time to go. We let them be alone together yes?”

Ranma can barely control his anger and yet he follows Shampoo and the two walk off into the night.

Another morning comes and Ranma and Shampoo wake up and break camp. Shampoo goes to get some water from a well and as she dips her canteen in the water is drained away. “Ranma come quick!”

Ranma arrives in time to see the water finish being drained off and says, “What is that?”

“Shampoo not sure Ranma, but maybe it has something to do with broom boy and giant animals yes? Maybe we should ask them today?”

Ranma sighs and stares at Shampoo he sees the sparkle of love in her eyes as she gazes at him and thinks, She’s so pretty and she’s looking at me the same way that Akane was looking at Shinnosuke. Maybe Akane and I aren’t meant to be. Maybe… Ranma stopped that thought and changed gears. Well maybe I should just leave that be for the moment and deal with this other problem first.

“Good Idea Shampoo, let’s see if we can find them.”

The two wander off into the forest and find Ryouga Hibiki in a rock filled trap. Ryouga gets up and brushes himself off saying, “Ranma! What are you doing here and why was Akane holding that boy’s hand?”

Ranma sighs I guess Akane and Shinnosuke must be somewhere around here together. Holding hands and solving this mystery with each other. Ranma shakes his head trying to get the images in his mind to go away and says, “This is the forest of Ryugenzawa and we’re here to help with the giant animals I guess.”

Ryouga finally noticed Shampoo next to Ranma and said, “More like you’re here cheating on Akane!”

Ryouga rushed Ranma, but the pig tailed boy wasn’t in the mood and so he splashed Ryouga with water, grabbed P-chan and tossed him away into the forest. “Come on Shampoo this mystery isn’t solving itself, but I think we might need some help from someone who isn’t a complete moron.” After that comment Ryouga chases after the two in anger, but is quickly lost in the forest.

Shinnosuke, his grandfather and Akane have been going to each of the many Water of Life Springs in the area, but each one they have found has been all dried up. They all sit down for a meal and Akane is about to serve them a personally coked lunch when P-chan arrives. “P-Chan what are you doing here?”

The black pig squeals at her and she smiles and in a very cute voice she says, “Did you miss me boy? Did you? Well, don’t you worry you’re with me now, but you have to be careful of all the giant animals okay?”

P-chan nods and Akane finishes getting lunch out of her pack and feeds everyone there. The three people and one pig eat their lunch and immediately start throwing up. Shinnosuke says, “I’m sorry Akane there must be something wrong with me. I didn’t like your lovely meal.”

Akane thinks that the water of life was what made her cooking good the previous and starts to cry. Shinnosuke touches her shoulder and says, “Don’t cry Akane, I’ll eat all my dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch and dinner. The day after that too, all the time forever. I want to eat your food for the rest of my life.”

Akane stares at the boy as he says, “I love you Akane.”

All Akane can say is Shinnosuke’s name as she sees the pure unadulterated love in the boy’s eyes. He loves me? He hardly knows me and yet look at that, you can’t fake that kind of feeling. Oh Ranma why can’t you look at me like that. Maybe, maybe we’re just not meant to be…

Shinnosuke breaks Akane’s thought process by saying, “Akane do you hate me?”

Akane looks at the boy while holding P-chan in her arms and says, “No, Shinnosuke I don’t hate you.” She adds, “In fact I think I like you a lot.”

P-chan squirms out of Akane’s arms grabs the tea kettle and runs off with it. In the forest he transforms himself into Ryouga and miraculously finds Ranma. He grabs the pig-tailed boy by the shirt and says, “Ranma this is all your fault!”

Ranma pulls away from Ryouga and says, “I didn’t do nuthin’ P-chan.”

Ryouga attacks, this time trying to pummel Ranma into submission, but the young Saotome evades the blows and fights back. Shampoo sees the commotion and says, “Ranma need assistance?”

“Not this time Shampoo, me and P-chan here need to work this out on our own and maybe, just maybe he’ll start learning not to blame me for everything wrong in his life.”

The fight goes on for a short time until Ryouga gives up and says, “I’m done fighting you Ranma. I’m going to do what I should have done in the beginning. I’m going to go over there and ask Akane if she really does love this Shinnosuke guy.”

Ranma looks at Ryouga and says, “You do that Ryouga, but you heard what she said. She likes him and that pretty much answers the question already doesn’t it?”

“No, I need to hear her say the words Ranma the ones that finish this for good. If you were brave you’d come with me and hear them yourself.”

Ranma is about to say something when Shampoo comes close and says, “Ranma, is best to hear the truth than live with doubts for entire life don’t you think?”

Ranma feels the warmth in that touch and wonders if she will ask him the same question and what his answer would be. “Alright let’s get this over with.”

The three find the camp and run into Shinnosuke’s Grandfather. Shampoo screams in absolute horror and the two young men scream as well. Akane and Shinnosuke come running and they see the old man as well. He was decked out in a wig, makeup and a white frilly dress. He runs away from the entire group says, “This is for the best!”

Shampoo follows after the old man shouting, “Aiyah! Maybe we need to save crazy old man!”

Ranma, Akane, Ryouga, and Shinnosuke follow close behind Shampoo and as they are running after the old man Ranma approaches Akane and says, “Why Akane, why are you leaving me for him?”

Akane can’t say anything, her throat closes up and small tears come to her eyes. She looks away from Ranma and sees Shampoo, her purple hair streams behind her as she easily runs ahead of the group. Suddenly Shinnosuke falls to the ground and Shampoo easily scoops him up and comes back towards Akane and Ranma. She is there next to Ranma with Shinnosuke in her arms and practically glowing with grace, beauty and more. Akane takes Shinnosuke off her hands and stops running. She holds the young boy in her arms and smiles sadly. “I think that maybe I could say the same thing to you Ranma? Would your answer be the same?”

Ranma stares at Akane with confusion obvious on his face. He says, “Fine! If that’s the way it is, then that’s just fine!”

Ranma walks away with tears in his eyes and Akane sits there holding Shinnosuke in her arms and watches Ranma go with tears in her own eyes. Shampoo follows close behind Ranma, but stops for a moment and looks at Akane. Seriousness comes into Shampoo’s violet eyes as she says, “Shampoo think Ranma love Akane, he love her for long time, but Shampoo blind to it. Great grandmother say to come to Ryugenzawa with Ranma and see truth. Well Shampoo come and truth revealed, but then miracle happen. Akane find young boy and break Ranma heart. Shampoo think that Ranma find new happiness now.”

Akane tried to say something to Shampoo, something that would make her understand why she had done what she had just done, but words failed. It’s not true he just doesn’t understand. I…I…

Shinnosuke moaned and his eyes opened. He looked at Akane with love filled eyes and said, “Akane, oh Akane. I’m glad that you are here with me to help. Thank you so much for being with me.”

Akane helped Shinnosuke to his feet he said, “I’m not sure if I have said this, but I love you Akane.”

Akane cried just a little more and said, “You said that already remember?”

“I did?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you crying, please it’s not because of me is it? You don’t hate me do you?”

Akane just sighed and then she put her hand on Shinnosuke’s shoulder and repeated something she had said to him not that long ago, “No, Shinnosuke in fact I think I like you quite a bit.”

Shinnosuke smiled and then the two hear a loud roar and a gigantic reptilian head can be seen above the tree tops. It spits out the dress clad form of Shinnosuke’s grandfather and six other heads follow after it as it starts to rampage through the forest. The two young martial artists head directly towards the creature, but they soon turn tail and run when they see Shinnosuke’s grandfather running towards them screaming in terror.

Shampoo catches up to Ranma and sees him starting to pack a bag. She looks at him sadly and says, “Is Ranma leaving now?”

Ranma sniffs once and says, “Yeah, Shampoo I think I’m done here. I’ve heard just about as much as I want to hear and I’m going back to Nerima. Akane, well Akane can stay here for all I care!”

The young Amazon comes close to Ranma and slowly puts her arms around him from behind. It is the first hug she has given to Ranma for the entire trip and it is a gentle and non demanding hug. Ranma doesn’t stop her or squirm he just says, “I know I said this already, but I’m sorry Shampoo, I’m sorry for the way I’ve acted towards you and sorry that I never told you the truth. Most of all I am sorry that I don’t love you the way you love me.”

Shampoo let go of Ranma and turned him to face her. “Is okay, Shampoo know that, but Shampoo also know that with time perhaps is chance? Perhaps Ranma can come to love Shampoo now that his heart is free?”

Ranma sighed and thought to himself for a moment, How strange I can admit that I loved Akane and that I still do a little bit, but as I look at Shampoo I can’t tell her that I will never love her. I think maybe I should just be honest with her and when I get back to Nerima I’ll be honest with Ucchan too, I’ll tell them the truth and maybe they can find someone who loves them and can say it to them, just like Akane found Shinnosuke. Ranma finished thinking and said, “I don’t know Shampoo and I can’t give you any guarantees.”

Shampoo nodded and said, “Is okay Shampoo understand and will no rush you or chase you like before. Shampoo realizes that it wrong way to gain love or respect.”

Ranma smiled with gratitude and was about to say more when the ground shook and rumbled. Suddenly they hear screams as Shinnosuke, Akane and Shinnosuke’s Grandfather came running right towards them. They take flight as well and as the huge lizard creature comes closer they find a cave and duck inside it.

As they all try to catch their breath they hear a voice in the back of the cave say, “Where on earth am I now!”

Ranma sighs and says, “Ryouga, I’d have thought you’d be in Hokkaido by now. Why don’t you come on over here and we can ask these nice people what the heck that giant lizard thing was.”

Ryouga makes his way to the group and Shinnosuke’s grandfather starts to explain. He tells them that the creature is called the Yamata no Orochi, and that the magical moss that grows on its body is the source of the Water of Life. The creature has been sleeping for years, but now that the creature is awake it has blocked the tunnels that connect the springs to the source.

Shinnosuke holds Akane’s hand and says, “I think I understand. I know my memory is bad, but I have been having these strange fainting spells ever since the wells dried up haven’t I? Without that moss is it possible that I might die?”

Shinnosuke’s grandfather says nothing and the young boy just looks at Akane and says, “I’m so sorry Akane. I didn’t realize and now, now we won’t get to be together.”

Akane sniffs and says, “Don’t talk like that we’ll figure something out.”

Shinnosuke’s grandfather says, “The dragon is attracted to young beautiful women. I was hoping that I could get close enough to take the moss with my disguise.”

Almost everyone in the cave looked back at him and said, “You thought you looked young and beautiful in that getup!”

The old man just scratched the back of his head and laughed a bit. Akane said, “I’ll be bait for you Shinnosuke, don’t you worry, I can get the moss from it.”

She grabs Shinnosuke’s broom and runs out of the cave before anyone can stop her and Shampoo almost snorts with laughter. “Shampoo go too, make sure that Akane no kill herself.”

The old man hands Ranma, Ryouga and Shinnosuke women’s clothing and they all dress in it and follow behind the Amazon. The dragon spots Shampoo and immediately tries to eat her. Ranma intercedes; knocking two of the heads aside and Shampoo smashes two more insensate with her bonbori. Ryouga adds his power and is able to incapacitate two heads as well. Akane joins the melee and barely avoids the teeth of the seventh head and is able to get on its back. She searches for the moss there while Shinnosuke and his grandfather knock out the head.

The martial artists regroup and Ranma says, “I only count seven heads here. Where is the eighth?”

The ground rumbles and a super gigantic eighth head tears itself from the ground and roars its defiance. It flies into the air dragging the seven other heads behind it. Shampoo says, “Aiyha! Shampoo think old man should have called this tail headed Orochi.”

The dragon flew to the ground and started to attack. Akane was able to avoid an attack and tried to leap onto its head, but the Orochi stuck out its massive tongue and grabbed her with it. Still, she spotted some moss on its head and was able to use Shinnosuke’s broom to swipe some off and then toss the broom to Shinnosuke’s grandfather. The tongue started to go into the creature’s mouth, but Shampoo jumped next to the head and said, “What you no want too, too delicious Chinese food?”

The creature stopped for a moment and tried to snap up Shampoo as well, but when its mouth opened the Chinese girl jumped in and slashed the tongue with a sword. The creature screamed in pain and dropped both girls onto the ground. Ranma and Ryouga immediately jumped onto the angry creature and started to pummel it. Shinnosuke’s Grandfather threw the moss covered broom to Shinnosuke, but instead of using it to cure himself he attacked the giant head with it. Akane and Shampoo joined in the battle as well and the large head started seeming a bit woozy when the 7 head-tails on the other end suddenly woke up and joined the battle.

Ranma shouted, “Everyone split up!”

The two girls and the boys dressed in drag head off in separate directions creating a gigantic tug of war as the heads each tried to chase after the two girls as well as the boys clad in women’s clothing. However, as Akane is running she trips on a root and the gigantic Orochi head is about to eat her when Shampoo sighs and then dives towards the creature pulling off her blouse and saying, “Come on too, too stupid dragon. Shampoo is very tasty!”

The creature and all of its heads stared at the half naked Amazon for a moment and then immediately ignored Akane and headed directly for Shampoo. At that moment Shinnosuke has an attack and Akane heads towards the young boy passing Ranma as he heads directly towards Shampoo. The two shared a single brief look and then went their separate ways.

Akane arrived at Shinnosuke’s side and he smiled at her saying, “I’m sorry Akane. I really do love you.” He slumped back into unconsciousness and Akane started to cry a bit when Shinnosuke’s Grandfather grabbed the broom and ripped the boy’s shirt off. He used the broom to rub the moss into his dying grandson's back causing the scar to vanish.

Shinnosuke awakens and the group heard a commotion in the distance. The old man looked towards the battle and said, “If only we had the whistle of the Horned Mongoose it would subdue the beast.”

Akane remembered the whistle Shinnosuke gave her when she was only a child. She showed it to the old man and he nodded to her with a smile. As Akane started to put the whistle to her lips she heard a dual cry of, “Hiryu Shouten Ha!”

Akane’s first thought was, When did Shampoo learn that technique? Then she smacked herself on the head, Duh, she’s an Amazon. An enormous cyclone appeared in the distance and the gigantic dragon is thrown high into the sky. The winds tore at it and buffeted it and then it fell to the ground with a stupendous crash. The entire forest went silent for a moment and Akane slowly lowered the whistle without blowing it.

The silence continued for a moment and then two voices and laughter could be heard. The laughing and voices came closer and closer as Ranma and Shampoo found their friends. The two were tattered and Shampoo was wearing Ranma’s shirt, but they were obviously hale and hearty. As they approached Ranma looked at the whistle in Akane’s hands and says, “Hey Akane what’s that?”

Akane looked to Ranma and then to the whistle in her hands. She couldn’t seem to say anything when Shinnosuke came over and Akane handed it to him. He looks at it and says, “I remember this. It was a gift to a young girl that I fell in love with a long time ago. It is a part of me that I hoped would be with her forever.”

He holds it out to Akane saying, “Will you take it Akane? Will you agree to be my fiancé?”

Akane looks at Shinnosuke and then she looks at Ranma. The young pig tailed martial artist is no longer dressed in women’s clothing. Instead he is wearing his own pants again and is sporting his black muscle T-shirt; he is a picture of an undefeated warrior. Next to him is a purple haired Amazon wearing his Red silk shirt with wooden tangs. She smiles and her hair streams behind her in the dissipating winds of the massive martial arts maneuver that she helped Ranma to perform. Akane sees the two of them like that and makes her decision. She takes the horn from Shinnosuke saying, “Only if you promise to remember me.”

Shinnosuke smiles and says, “Always Akane. I’ll always remember you.”

“Good then, you better remember to call me, and come by to visit every now and then and…”

Akane continues to talk to Shinnosuke and Ranma sighs with regret. He looks at his purple haired companion and said, “Looks like our work is done here eh Shampoo?”

“Yes, Ranma we go to Nerima and see what future bring…”

Ranma smiled a bit sadly. “Good idea I guess.” He looked around for a moment and added, “By the way did anyone see where Ryouga went?”

Everyone shrugged and Ranma said, “Oh well, I guess he’ll be all right. He’s pretty tough after all.”

Meanwhile, under the massive bulk of the Orochi Ryouga screamed in a muffled voice, “Ranma! This is all your fault!”

Author’s Notes: I suppose I ought to apologize to Rumiko Takahashi, because a lot of this story is from her very decent tale. The major change occurs right when Nabiki decides to tell Shampoo about the trip. That creates an opportunity for Shampoo to be involved and also fills a desperately needed second female role in the story since Ranma Saotome can no longer become Ranma-Chan. As for Ukyou, you’ll find out where she was in the next chapter of The Black Moon Contract. You better believe that it is going to make everything much more complicated…

Changes since last posting: Just a few revisions in the rewrite to fix even more tense shifts that I keep finding in these chapters.