Disclaimer: n. disclaim v. deny, disown, repudiate, abandon renounce, reject, abjure. (Reference from Times-Chamber Super-Mini English Thesaurus) Super-mini -_-U, the oxford minidictionary was much smaller.

Title: Lost Memories

Summary: A boy with a forgotten past unexpectedly arrived and came to live together with the Tendo and Saotome family. How will he affect their lives? And how will they affect his life? How will his past affect them when it came to light? A Ranma and Akane pairing.

Volume 02

Chapter 07: A new life

Chapter 08: Missing element

Chapter 09: Wavering trust

Chapter 10: Reminiscence

Chapter 11: Reforging the bonds

Chapter 12: Broken souls

Chapter 07: A new life

Scene: Kasumi's room, Sunday morning,

Rukawa: (Open eyes) (Stretches body) (Thinking) Morning already… Felt like I had only a few hours of sleep. (Stretches again) (Turns and sees an empty neat bed) (Thinking) Kasumi-san is already up.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room with the porch and courtyard in view,

Genma: Hiyeak! (Kicks out at Ranma)

Ranma: (Blocks the kick with his hand and kicks back at Genma)

Genma: (Dodges and initiates a jump kick)

Ranma: (Evades with ease) (Thinking confidently) Hn. Oyaji is so slow.

Soun: (Reading newspaper at the head of the table)

Akane: (Sitting at the side of the table next to Soun, waiting for breakfast)

Nabiki: (Enters the room and promptly sits next to Akane)

Rukawa: Ohayo mina-san. [Good morning everyone] (Watches Genma and Ranma sparring at the courtyard near the koi pond) (Sits down at the other side of table that faces Nabiki)

Akane: Ohayo Rukawa-kun.

Soun&Nabiki: (Nods in acknowledgement)

Kasumi: (Walks in with a tray of dishes and serves the dishes on the table) (Calls out) Ranma-kun, Saotome oji-sama, asagohan desu yo. [Breakfast is ready]

Ranma: (Turns to Kasumi) Alright Kasumi, arigato.

Genma: (Thinking) Hah! An opening! So careless! (Jumps up towards Ranma and with his right foot targeted at Ranma abdomen) (Yells) Yaaahh hekk!

Ranma: Huh? (Turns around) Oof! (Sails in mid-air)

Genma: (Dashes and jumps towards Ranma, sending a punch)

Ranma: Ouch! (Lands into the koi pond)

#Splash.#

Kasumi: Ara. (Covers her mouth with her hand) Maybe Ranma-kun would like some hot water. (Walks back to the kitchen)

Genma: You getting sloppy boy! Need more training! (Thinking) Don't worry my boy. As a good father, I will train you during breakfast by stealing your food. (Madly) Mahahaha! (Walks back into the house, hands on his hips)

Onna-Ranma: (Sitting in the koi pond) Teme oyaji! You cheated! I was busy replying to Kasumi!

Genma: A good martial artist always attacks his opponent's weakness and carelessness, boy! (Sits down at side of table next to Soun)

Soun: The path of a true martial artist is fraught with perils, Ranma-kun.

Onna-Ranma: (Walks into the house, dripping wet) Grr… Ku'so. (Sits between Genma and Rukawa) (Thinking) There ain't any perils against oyaji. He only used dirty tricks and cheats to defeat me.

Rukawa: …

Akane&Nabiki: (Bored)

Kasumi: (Enters the living room holding a kettle in one hand) (Pours the hot water over onna-Ranma)

Rukawa: (Thinking) What a transformation. Split-second.

Ranma: Arigato Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Smiles) You are welcome, Ranma-kun. (Sits at the other end of the table facing Soun and serves out bowls of rice to everyone)

Everyone: Itadakimasu.

Genma: (Thinking) Hyak hyak (Shoves his chopsticks at Ranma's bowl)

Ranma: (Thinking) Ku'so oyaji. I'll show you this time! (Intercepts the attacking chopsticks and counterattacks)

Genma: (Thinking) Ack!

Ranma: (Quickly grabs the stolen pickle off Genma's bowl and pops into mouth)

Genma: (Thinking) Ku'so! I will get you for that Ranma! (Makes another raid on Ranma's bowl)

Ranma: (Thinking) Not so fast oyaji. (Proceeds to protect his food)

Others: …

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, porch and courtyard, half an hour later,

Kasumi: (Thinking) Ara, I will need someone to follow me and help me carry the bags of groceries or else I have to make a second trip. (Sees Ranma and Akane having a one-sided sparring session at the courtyard and Rukawa sitting on the porch watching)

Rukawa: (Noticing Kasumi's presence) Is there something you need Kasumi-san?

Kasumi: Ara, I want to ask Ranma-kun if he mind following me on my grocery shopping.

Rukawa: Oh. He's busy with Akane. (Thinking) Heh Ranma let me help you spend more time with Akane (Grins and speaks) Let me come with you, Kasumi-san. We wouldn't want to disturb Ranma and Akane erm peaceful moments do we?

Kasumi: Ano, I wouldn't want to trouble you, Rukawa-kun, especially since you're injured and all.

Rukawa: Nah I'll be fine don't worry. I had you taking good care of me yesterday remember. (Grins suggestively)

Kasumi: Ara ara. (Blushes)

Rukawa: Okay is…

#BOOM!#

Ranma: (Flies off to another part of Nerima, spinning in circles through the sky) ...Kuneeee!

Akane: (Scowling) Jerk. Hmph. (Shake out her clenched fists angrily)

Rukawa: ...Set then. (Sweatdrops) So much for peaceful moments together huh.

Kasumi: (Disapprovingly) Akane-chan.

Akane: He asked for it, literally, oneechan.

Kasumi: (Sigh) Iku wa yo, Rukawa-kun. [Let's get going]

Rukawa: Okay.

Akane: Where are you guys going?

Kasumi: Grocery shopping, Akane-chan.

Akane: I see. (Switches on the television and plops down on a cushion)

Kasumi: Ittekimasu Akane. Take care. (Walks out of the house)

Rukawa: Ittekimasu Akane-san. (Follows Kasumi out)

Akane: Itterasshai.

Nabiki: (Climbs down the stairs and enters the kitchen) (Exits the kitchen and enters the living room with a packet of potato chips) Akane where's oneechan. I didn't see her in the kitchen. (Sits down near Akane munching crackers)

Akane: She went out shopping with Rukawa-kun.

Nabiki: (Raises an eyebrow) Oh. Interesting.

Akane: Huh?

Nabiki: Nothing Akane.

Akane: Tell me.

Nabiki: For a small fee, Akane. (Grins)

Akane: Oneechan!

Nabiki: Okay, okay Akane. It's just that oneechan had been taking care of Rukawa-kun, had him sleeping in her room and now having him going out with her to buy groceries. I am just wondering what's up.

Akane: Heh. It can't be Nabiki. Tofu-sensei and Kasumi oneechan is perfect for each other. He really loves oneechan.

Nabiki: (Shrugs) Anyway you know oneechan. Most likely there's a "good" reason for it.

Akane: Heh?

Nabiki: Remember that egg-catcher man, Yasukichi. We all thought she was interested in him because after meeting him, she suddenly was in such a good mood and smiles a lot.

Akane: Sou da yo. [That's right] (Sweatdrops) Later we found that actually she was happy because she managed to decide what to cook for tomorrow.

Nabiki: Exactly. (Thinking) Whatever it is, I'm still gonna find out what exactly going on between oneechan and Rukawa-kun.

------

Chapter 08: Missing element

Scene: Sakura Street Shopping District, an hour later,

Kasumi: I will have that please. (Points to a 5kg packet of rice)

Shopkeeper: Hai.

Rukawa: (Looks at the plastic bags of food he is carrying) Goodness Kasumi-san, aren't all these a bit excessive for a weekly grocery shopping?

Kasumi: Mā Rukawa-kun, Saotome oji-sama and Ranma-kun are big eaters, ne?

Rukawa: Yeah… And fast too. (Receives and carries the newly bought rice)

Kasumi: (Nods) We are done. Let's go Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Sure. (Notices a voluptuous purple haired girl in tight blue Chinese clothes riding a bike)

Shampoo: (Stops cycling) Nihao nice girl.

Kasumi: Hello Shampoo-chan.

Rukawa: (Thinking) Shampoo? Oh Ranma's Amazon fiancée.

Shampoo: Nice girl know where Ranma is? Shampoo, ask violent girl but she no say where.

Kasumi: I don't know Shampoo-chan. Ranma-kun and Akane had a fight again.

Shampoo: Aiyah! Poor Ranma! Shampoo go find and take care him.

Kasumi: (Smiles)

Shampoo: (Thinking) Who is this bandaged boy acting familiar with Kasumi? (Begins to speak) Who this is? (Pointing towards Rukawa)

Kasumi: This is Rukawa-kun, our houseguest.

Shampoo: Nihao. Watashi wa Shampoo.

Rukawa: Ohayo Xian Pu-san. Eh. Shampoo-san. Xian Pu-san. (Thinking) Shampoo-san? Xian Pu-san?

Shampoo: (Widens eyes) You call Shampoo correct name.

Rukawa: Huh? (Thinking) Which is her name? I thought I heard her said Xian Pu.

Shampoo: (Grins) Shampoo thinks polite boy good for nice girl.

Rukawa: (Blinks) Huh?

Kasumi: (Blushes) (Lays a hand on her cheek) Ara ara Shampoo-chan. Masaka. [Not at all]

Shampoo: Zai jian. (Cycles on her bike away)

Rukawa: Polite boy? Nice girl? Good?

Kasumi: Shampoo-chan always gives nicknames for people. She refers to you as polite boy.

Rukawa: Sou ka na. (Grins) I guess polite boy is a better nick than bandaged boy huh.

Kasumi: (Smiles)

Rukawa: Then polite boy good for nice girl. You mean she…

Kasumi: (Nods her head smiling shyly)

Rukawa: (Face reddens) (Mouths an 'Oh')

Kasumi: Let's go Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Okay.

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room,

Kasumi's voice: (Giggling) Ne Rukawa-kun, don't be so bad.

Rukawa's voice: Come on. It can't be that bad.

Nabiki: Hey Akane. Oneechan seems different lately.

Akane: You already mentioned that before Nabiki-neechan. (Eyes glue to the television)

Nabiki: She is giggling.

Akane: So? Everyone giggles. (Eyes glue to the television)

Nabiki: (Thinking) Akane's so dense. Something's up. (Approaches Kasumi and Rukawa in the kitchen)

Rukawa: (Taking out the newly-bought items out of the plastic bags, passing to Kasumi)

Kasumi: (Receiving the items from Rukawa and keeps the items in their respective places in the kitchen cabinet)

Nabiki: How was the shopping trip, oneechan?

Kasumi: (Smiles) (Remembering)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Sakura Street Shopping District, in front of a Kanzaki's Clothing shop display window,

Rukawa: (Notices Kasumi looking at a particular dress on a mannequin showcased at the shop window as they were walking back home) Feel like buying it Kasumi-san?

Kasumi: Just imagining how it will look on me Rukawa-kun. (Thinking) I still find it as exquisite as ever since I first laid my eyes on it.

Rukawa: Eh? Imagine? Let's go in and try, test, wear it and see how it will fit on you.

Kasumi: Ara Rukawa-kun. I am not going to buy it.

Rukawa: Eh why not? You don't like it? (Thinking) The way she looks at it, I could have sworn she loves it.

Kasumi: Our family finances are not all that good at the moment. (Thinking) Since ever. The house is forever requiring repairs. (Begins to speak) New clothes are not much of a necessity.

Rukawa: Come on let's go in and put it on you to see how it looks and then we tell them we will think about it. (Grins)

Kasumi: Ara Rukawa-kun that is not very nice.

Rukawa: Come on don't be so prim and proper. The least you can do is to try it on. (Half drags Kasumi into the store despite her protests)

Scene: Inside Kanzaki's Clothing, later,

Kasumi: (Comes out of the changing cubicle) (Smiling) What do you think Rukawa-kun? (Turns around 360º)

Rukawa: (Sees Kasumi wearing the sleeveless creamy white summer dress with a floral pattern along with frills at the shoulders with the décolletage displaying out her neck and hollow of her throat and the skirt ending just after her knees) You…Er…Is…Look…Wow! (Thinking) Kasumi looks really stunning. Actually she is attractive regardless of the clothes she wears. I hardly think that any beautiful dresses in the world can overcome her natural beauty.

Kasumi: My, Rukawa-kun. How very eloquent of you. (Thinking) The dress is loose and comfortable with light, soft fabric. It would undoubtedly be practical to have it when the 'harsh' summer heat arrived. (Sigh) I wish I could buy it but… My family comes first even though it has been ages since I last had a new dress.

Rukawa: Eh heh heh. (Scratches the back of his head)

Saleswoman: Well doesn't your girlfriend look pretty in it? Why don't you buy it for her?

Rukawa: Huh oh. Eh I think we will think about it first. After all there are other clothes shops to visit right.

Kasumi: Hai. (Goes into the changing cubicle)

Saleswoman: Your girlfriend loves that dress.

Rukawa: (Face reddens) I can see that.

Saleswoman: Come on buy it for her.

Rukawa: … (Thinking) She is persuasive.

Saleswoman: Come on. Buy it for her. Your aijin [Dear] really loves it.

Rukawa: … (Sweating) (Thinking) Aijin? I have no money even if I want to…

Saleswoman: And she looks really gorgeous in it don't you think so.

Rukawa: I know I know. She looks gorgeous in anything.

Kasumi: (Comes out of the changing cubicle holding the dress in her arms) (Smiling)

Rukawa: (Takes the dress from Kasumi and furtively noting the size before handing it back to the saleswoman) Arigato gozai masu.

Kasumi: (Slightly embarrassed) Arigato gozai masu. (Bows slightly)

Rukawa: (Scoots Kasumi out of the shop edgily)

Kasumi: (Giggles) (Thinking) Rukawa-kun looks so comical when he gets nervous. (Giggles) (Recalls Rukawa's conversation with the saleswoman) He thinks I'm beautiful. (Smiles)

Saleswoman: (Bewildered) (Mutters) What was that all about?

Scene: Outside Kanzaki's Clothing,

Rukawa: (Thinking) Why did I take note of what size that dress is? (Notices Kasumi still giggling) (Begins to speak) What are you giggling about Kasumi-san?

Kasumi: Nothing Rukawa-kun you were just amusing.

Rukawa: Amusing?

Kasumi: Never mind Rukawa-kun. It is nothing. Anyway, it was a particularly nice feeling to wear something new and see how it looks on me. But still the behavior was unacceptable and is wrong to do what we did just now, Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Hehe. Is not really like you never intend to buy it. You want it but can't afford. Nothing wrong with that.

Kasumi: Date… [But…] It is still improper Rukawa-kun. (A/N: Date pronounced as Da Te. Used when you disagree with something. Protest against a decision. Something like that. A cute form of "but" when females used it in their speech)

Rukawa: (Sticks out a tongue at Kasumi) Heh but you still did it too didn't you. We are both improper now.

Kasumi: (Giggles at Rukawa's silliness) Someone dragged me in you know. (Thinking) He seems so childish.

Rukawa: (Grins) I don't know. (Runs forward carrying his bag of groceries) Catch me and maybe I might remember who did that.

Kasumi: Ara Rukawa-kun. (Increases her pace slightly) Matte.

(End of flashback sequence)

Kasumi: (Thinking) That was the most mischievous thing I have ever done. If I could call it mischievous. The behavior was rather unacceptable. I would have never dared to try it on if I did not intend to buy anything at all. But then... It does feel kind of fun. Fun? Well it was pretty childish and silly. Scuttling into the shop and after putting it on, scampering out like little kids. It is quite exhilarating for me. (Recalling her childhood) (Sigh) I never did any childish or silly things during my adolescence years that I could recall of after oka-san left us. I grew up. (Looks at Nabiki) (Begins to speak) It was pretty much as per normal, Nabiki-chan.

Nabiki: Okay oneechan. (Thinking) You can't fool me oneechan.

Chapter 09: Wavering trust

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room,

Rukawa: (Approaches Akane) Hi Akane-san. Ranma not back yet?

Akane: (Sitting down on a cushion) (Heatedly) Hn, he is probably with his cute fiancée or that Amazon bimbo.

Rukawa: (Sits next to Akane) Akane-san don't you think you should trust him as your fiancé that he will always stay by your side no matter what. Don't you trust him that far?

Akane: (On the verge of tears) No. (Runs to confide herself in her room)

Rukawa: (Thinking) Uh oh. I was just trying to start a conversation. (Follows Akane to her room) (Enters the room) You er wanna talk about it? Why you don't trust Ranma? He cares deeply for you though (Scratches head) he doesn't really show it that well.

Akane: (Sitting down on her chair looking out the window silently)

Rukawa: Come on Akane-san you can tell me.

Akane: (Switches her gaze to Rukawa) Ranma lied to me, Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: Huh?

Akane: (Sniffing) Ranma lied when I first met him. He never did tell the truth about himself. He never revealed his curse when we first met. I thought he was a girl at that time. He never mentioned he was cursed until I accidentally came upon him in the bathroom.

Rukawa: May-maybe he thought it wasn't a good time to tell you about it yet. (Thinking) I wonder how they both met.

Akane: (Sadly) Do you know how painful it felt to be lied to? To felt betrayed. I befriended him. I trusted him. But he wasn't completely honest to me. I-I... How agonizing it was when I found about his curse and knowing that he never did inform me when we were both alone in the dojo. It felt like he did not trust me. How all the more distressing it was when Ranma insulted me further and never did apologize and ask for forgiveness later on.

Rukawa: (Thinking) Man, no wonder Akane-san find it hard to believe Ranma. It all seemed to start from the very beginning.

Akane: (Tearful) How can I trust him? My trust over him faltered since the day I found out his curse by chance.

Rukawa: (Thinking) I wonder what's Ranma's side of the story. (Begins to speak) Gomen nasai Akane-san.

Akane: (Shakes her head) (Thinking) Ranma is always complimenting their cooking. How delicious the food they effortlessly made. But never appreciates mine no matter how much effort I took. Ranma flatters them but hardly remarks if I'm pretty. Ranma hardly quarrel with them but look at us. We're quarrelling like there's no tomorrow. Ranma had gone out on dates with them but only once with me. (Sigh) What are the chances of him preferring me to them? He would rather be with his kawaii fiancées who can cook delicious meals for his bottomless pit of a stomach.

Rukawa: (Feeling awkward with Akane's silence) Eh I better leave first Akane-san. I appreciated you telling me all that. (Smiles) Cheer up Akane-san.

Akane: By the way Rukawa-kun…

Rukawa: Nan desu ka, Akane-san? [What is it?]

Akane: Don't tell Ranma okay, please.

Rukawa: Hai. (Nods head) I promise. By the way Akane-san, do bear in mind of the things Ranma had done for you in the past too.

Akane: (Watches Rukawa exiting her room) (Thinking) Ranma had only mentioned loving me on some occasions… Few times and mostly accidental but nevertheless still… He hardly admitted to loving anyone and had never to Shampoo or Ukyo. All the things he had done for me… Rescuing me from Pantyhose Taro, avenging me from the martial art cheerleader Konjo Mariko, ice-skate together with me against Shiratori Azusa and Sanzenin Mikado the golden pair of martial arts figure skating… Even telling off that Sanzenin-san that if he ever touches me he would kill him. (Smiles) And only I can break off his neko mode. That must have count for something. (Smiles happily) Maybe I do have a chance after all.

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, lunch time, the sky starting to get cloudy as it get ready for a downpour,

Nabiki: (Hearing giggles and light laughter in the kitchen) (Thinking) Those two are too close for my comfort. I had never seen Kasumi being that close to anyone before. Che, I sound like I'm jealous.

Akane: (Thinking) Ranma… Doko ga? [Ranma… Where are you?]

Ranma: Tadaima. (Thinking) I'm starving. (Enters the living room and starts towards the table) (Thinking) Here goes. Akane will soon accuse me of visiting Ucchan or Nekohanten all this time.

Akane: O-kaeri. (Thinking) Finally he's back. (Smiles at Ranma)

Nabiki: (Thinking) Maybe I should install a secret microphone on Rukawa or Kasumi. Then I can hear and record whatever they spoke and heard. Nah that's probably overkill. Maybe I'm just overreacting.

Ranma: (Smiles nervously) (Sits down) (Thinking) Akane is freaking me out. She doesn't seem mad or furious. (Begins to speak) Where's oyaji and oji-san?

Nabiki: The Town Council, Neighborhood Watch, called oto-san for a meeting. Saotome oji-san followed oto-san there.

Ranma: Sou ka. [Is that so] (Breathes in deeply) Mmm… What a delicious aroma!

Kasumi: (Enters the living room carrying a tray of dishes)

Rukawa: (Following behind Kasumi, carrying a rice cooker and a stack of empty bowls)

Kasumi: (Smiles) Been waiting long? (Sets the dishes on the table)

Ranma: Not at all Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Collects rice from the rice cooker into each bowl and handing out each bowl to everyone)

Ranma: Itadakimasu. (Starts to gobble his food)

Rukawa: So where have you been Ranma?

Ranma: (With his mouth full) Sleeping on the roof.

Rukawa: Heh.

Ranma: Oyaji snored too much yesterday. I couldn't get enough sleep.

Rukawa: Sou ka. (Notices Nabiki watching intently at him) (Whispers to Ranma) Nabiki-san is starting to creep me out.

Ranma: (Whispers) Hmm? (Stops gobbling and glances at Nabiki) I think she's scheming to rip money off you.

Rukawa: (Whispers) Like I have any.

Ranma: (Whispers) That didn't stop her from making money out of me.

Rukawa: …

Nabiki: (Sweetly) What are you two whispering about Ranma-kun, Rukawa-kun?

Ranma: Eh… Heh heh nothing Nabiki. The weather is nice today. (Starts to sweat profusely)

Rukawa: (Nervously) Yeah.

Nabiki: (Narrows eyes) Is it? (Thinking) They are really bad liars. It is going to rain soon. And Ranma-kun hates rain.

Ranma: (Thinking) Whew that was close.

Rukawa: (Thinking) I think she bought it.

Akane: (Places her empty bowl down on the table) Gochiso sama deshita [Thank you for the meal] (Gets up and leaves the table)

Everyone: (Watch Akane leave)

Kasumi: (Thinking) Ara, is Akane all right? (Begins to speak) Akane-chan, dōshita no? [Is there anything wrong?]

Akane: (Smiles) I'm fine oneechan. (Thinking) I just want to sort out my feelings.

Ranma: (Thinking) What's her problem?

Rukawa: (Thinking) Probably still depressed at Ranma. Partly my fault for bringing it up.

Nabiki: (Thinking) I wonder what Ranma did now.

------

Chapter 10: Reminiscence

Scene: Tendo Dojo, porch and courtyard, after lunch, the sky was overcast and dark clouds visible,

Ranma: (Practising a kata)

Rukawa: Yo, Ranma. (Sees rain drops falling)

Ranma: Hey Rukawa. (Stops his kata and sits down on the porch with Rukawa, getting away from the rain) (Thinking) Darn it! I couldn't even finish my short kata.

Rukawa: Ranma. Care to relate how you meet the Tendo family and Akane-san?

Ranma: Huh? Why do you wanna know?

Rukawa: Curiosity sake?

Ranma: (Shrugs) Okay. Where do I start? (Watches the downpour) Well oyaji and me arrived at the Tendo Dojo on a rainy day last year.

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Tendo Dojo, heavy rain,

Soun&Nabiki: (Excitedly) They are here! (Run out to meet their guests at the door) (See a red-haired girl struggling on a fat panda's shoulder) (Scared) (Thinking) Yikes! What's a dangerous looking panda doing… (Run back to the safety of the house)

Girl: You're scaring them to death oyaji!

Kasumi: (Slightly scared) Oto-san… Is this your… Friend?

Soun: (Nervously) N-no. I don't know either of them at all.

Nabiki: (Sarcastically) Oh, so this panda just decided to visit!

Panda: (Places the girl on the ground)

Soun: You wouldn't be…?

Onna-Ranma: I'm Saotome Ranma. Sumimasen.

Soun: At last you've come. (Hugs Ranma tightly) It's good of you to come, hmm… (Feels something amiss) (Pulls onna-Ranma away from himself and stares at her chest)

Kasumi,Nabiki&Akane: (Follow Soun's line of sight)

Nabiki: Hmm… (Pokes onna-Ranma's chest a couple of times and then squeezes her breast)

Onna-Ranma: (Getting uncomfortable) Ano… Could you stop that?

Nabiki: (Turns to her father) "He" is a girl.

Soun: (Faints)

#Thud.#

Tendo Dojo, living room, later,

Soun: (Lying on a futon with a wet cloth on his head) (Wakes up)

Kasumi: Poor oto-san. He is so disappointed.

Nabiki: This is all your fault, oto-san. Don't you know the difference between a boy and a girl?!

Soun: My friend said he had been blessed with a son.

Nabiki: Excuse me, does this look like a boy to you, huh oto-san?! (Squeezes onna-Ranma's breast) Do you?!

Onna-Ranma: Please, I wish you'd stop that…

Akane: Stop it you two, he… She is our guest. (Turns to face onna-Ranma) I'm Akane. Do you wanna be friends? (Lets out her hand and smiles)

Onna-Ranma: U-umm (Thinking) Friend? Someone want to make friends with me for real? She looks so… (Takes Akane's hand with her own)

Akane: Why don't you come with me? I will show you around.

Onna-Ranma: (Smiles) (Thinking) She's friendly.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, in the dojo,

Akane: (Reaching the dojo) You study Kenpo right?

Onna-Ranma: A little.

Akane: Let's have a little sparring session then, okay?

Onna-Ranma: (Watches Akane quietly)

Akane: It's just for fun. Don't worry I won't hurt you. (Assumes an attacking position)

Onna-Ranma: (Stands still with her hands behind her back) (Thinking) I wonder how good is she.

Akane: (Starts the spar with a jump kick) Hyak!

Onna-Ranma: (Jumps perfectly over Akane) (Thinking) She is rather slow in her movements.

Akane: (Thinking) I miss? (Follow-ups with a punch and kick combo towards onna-Ranma)

Onna-Ranma: (Dodges easily) (Thinking) Yup she is lacking in agility.

Akane: (Thinking) Why am I missing her? Is she reading my moves? How come she's not attacking back? I guess she isn't taking me seriously. Okay then, this time… FOR REAL! (Puts in all her power and speed on her punch aiming at onna-Ranma)

Onna-Ranma: (Leaps cleanly over Akane)

Akane: (Connects her fist with the wall)

#Crack.#

The wooden wall splintered upon the impact forming a hole.

Onna-Ranma: (Taps Akane on the back of her head) (Thinking) I win.

Akane: (Turns around and gazes at onna-Ranma in surprise) Wow! You are really good!

Onna-Ranma: You're pretty good yourself too. (Thinking) If you can improve your speed.

Akane: (Smiles) Well I'm just glad you're a girl.

Onna-Ranma: Huh? (Thinking) What does she meant by that?

Akane: It's just that… I'd really hate to lose to a boy.

Onna-Ranma: (Winces) (Thinking miserably) …N-no…You don't mean that… D-do you? My curse… How am I supposed to tell them? And Akane would hate me when I'm just starting to like her…

Akane: Ja. (Goes up to her room)

Onna-Ranma: (Enters the house from the dojo, deep in thought)

Scene: Tendo Dojo, kitchen,

Nabiki: Oneechan. Who is the guy talking to oto-san in the living room?

Kasumi: I have no idea Nabiki.

Nabiki: Hmm…

Kasumi: (Finds onna-Ranma and shows her the guest room) Ranma-chan, since you have been working out with Akane-chan you can take a bath. (Hands out a towel)

Onna-Ranma: Eh… Hai. (Receives the towel) (Goes to the bathroom)

Scene: Tendo Dojo changing room connecting to the bathroom, some time later,

Akane: (Enters the changing room and see Ranma's clothing on the tiled floor) I guess we can both takes our baths together and scrubs each other back.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, furo, meanwhile,

Ranma: (Sigh) (Thinking) They will find out sooner or later. I might as well go out like I am now and get it over with. (Gets out of the furo)

Akane: (Enters the bathroom) Ranma… (Sees a naked boy coming out of the furo) (Froze) (Blinks) (Thinking) What the hell is a boy doing in our house?

Ranma: (Blinks at a nude Akane) (Thinking) Oh shit! I'm in for deep trouble now. Didn't she notice the 'occupied' sign?

Akane: (Notices the boy staring real hard at herself) (Thinking) Calm down. Calm down. (Slides the door back closed) (Puts back on her gi) (Exits the changing room) (Breathes in deeply) (Yells) KYAAAAA! (Runs through the house maniacally and picks up the dining table turning it into a weapon of war in the living room)

Nabiki: Akane, what happened and what is that thing for?

Akane: There is a pervert in the bathroom!

Nabiki: So why didn't you kill him with your bare hands like usual?

Akane: Because I was afraid.

Kasumi: That's odd, I had just sent Ranma-chan to the bathroom.

Male voice: Ano… Sumimasen.

Nabiki: (Sees a dark haired pigtailed boy in Chinese clothes) Anta dare? [Who are you?]

Ranma: I'm Saotome Ranma… Uh… Sumimasen.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, later,

Soun: My daughters, let's go through this one more time. This is my dear old friend…

Genma: Saotome Genma, and this is my son…

Ranma: Ranma desu.

Kasumi: Are you really she, that same girl?

Nabiki: What is going on?

Genma: U-mm, nani kara hanaseba yoi no yara? [U-mm, how can I best explain this?] I know! Hyakh! (Grabs Ranma by the collar and throws him into the koi pond)

#Splash.#

Onna-Ranma: (Emerges out of the pond) Nani shiyagaru! [Why you do that for!]

Nabiki: (Coolly) Ara ara?

Kasumi: (Shocked) Now he is a girl!

Akane: (Upset) (Thinking) Why didn't she… He… Ranma tell me when we were together… Ranma never tell me at all.

Genma: (Approaches the koi pond) I am so ashamed. I cannot bear to see my son like this.

Onna-Ranma: (Shakes in anger) Grr!

Genma: (Tears flowing down his cheeks) (Shaking his clenched fist overdramatically) Ranma, your father… Your father is in such agony!

Onna-Ranma: (Jumps over Genma and kicks him into the koi pond)

#Bam! Splash.#

Genma-panda: (Rises out of the pond)

Kasumi,Nabiki&Akane: (Gapes) (Watches the transformation with disbelief)

Onna-Ranma: Who are you to talk to oyaji! You turn into a panda!

Soun: (Breaks up Genma-panda and onna-Ranma skirmish) Now, now go to the furo and get change back to normal.

Kasumi: What happened to them oto-san? (Thinking) This is so weird.

Soun: A terrifying training that ended in terrible tragedy. I will let them explain as soon as they are out.

Genma: (Appears from the bathroom and sits down) It was two weeks ago while we were traveling to Mt. Quanjing, Bayankala Range in the Qinghai Province of China…

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Jusenkyo, edge of cursed springs,

Guide: Okyaku-sama, koko yo! Densetsu no shugyoujou Jusenkyo… [Honorable guests, here!We come to Legendary Training Ground of Cursed Springs, Jusenkyo…]

Genma: (Sees hundreds of springs with poles sticking out of them) (Put down his camping gear) Are you ready Ranma?

Ranma: (Put down his load) Whatever oyaji. (Gazes through the area) I gotta say this place isn't as impressive as you made it sound like.

Guide: Okyaku-sama, monosuki ne. Taihen kikenna no de, mou dare mo tsukatenai no yo. Kono shujyoujou. [Honorable guest, you're crazy. It's so dangerous. No one uses these grounds now] Is more than one hundred springs here and every one has it's own tragic legend.

Genma: Ranma, follow me! (Jumps up and stabilizes himself on the tip of a pole)

Guide: (Shocked) Ah Okyaku-sama, what you doing?

Genma: I won't go easy on you boy!

Ranma: (Jumps up and balances on the tip of a nearby pole) That's the way I want it oyaji.

Guide: If you fall in, something terrible will happen.

Genma-panda: (Jumps towards Ranma trading blows in mid-air from time to time)

Ranma: (Jumps towards Genma trading blows in mid-air from time to time) (Thinking) A weakness! (Hit Genma down) Gotcha oyaji!

#Splash.#

Guide: Aiyaa!

Ranma: … (Notices Genma is taking too long to emerge out) What's up oyaji, are we done already?

Genma-panda: (Jumps fiercely out of the spring and lands on a bamboo pole) (Assumes an offensive karate stance)

Ranma: (Extremely shocked) ACK! What the hell is that?! (Thinking) A panda with an attacking stance?

Guide: That is Shonmaoniichuan. Very tragic legend of panda that drowned there 2000 years ago. Now who ever fall in spring take body of that panda.

Ranma: WAIT A SECOND! You never said anything about…

Genma-panda: (Notices Ranma is lacking in concentration and knocks Ranma off the pole)

Ranma: Arghh! (Fall into a spring)

#Splash.#

Guide: Aiyaa! Nyannichuan ni ochite shimatta. [Aiyaa! You fell in Nyannichuan] (Approaches the edge of the spring) Nyannichuan wa sen-go-hyaku-nen mae wakai musume ga oboreta to iu, higeki-teki derisetsu ga aru no day yo! [In Nyannichuan 1500 years ago, there very tragic legend of a young girl who drowned there!] Irai soko de oboreta mono, mina… [Ever since then, everyone…] Wakai musume no sugata ni nate shimau noroi-teki izumi! [Who falls in that cursed spring now will take body of a young girl!]

Onna-Ranma: (Emerges out) (Presses her chest in horror) (Opens her shirt and looks down on her chest)

Guide: Hora miro, musume ni nate shimata. [See, you turned into a girl]

Onna-Ranma: ARRGGHHHHHHH!

(End of flashback sequence)

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room,

Soun: The legendary grounds of Jusenkyo. It's true horror has always been a mystery, but now…

Ranma: Whaddya mean "true horror"? (Grabs Genma) You stupid oyaji, what's the idea of dragging me to a place like that?!

Genma: Ranma! (Grabs Ranma's shirt) You sound like a girl! (Hurls Ranma into the koi pond)

#Splash.#

Genma: Were you not prepared to give your life for the sake of the Art?

Onna-Ranma: (Rushes back furiously with a filled pail) Inochi wa suttee mo, otoko osuteru ki wa nakatta wai! [My life yes, my manhood is a different story!] (Splashes Genma with the bucket of water)

Onna-Ranma&Genma: (Fighting on the floor)

Soun: (Grabs a kettle of boiling water) So when dosed with cold water you transform, but when dosed with hot water you return to human form. (Pours the water on Genma)

Genma: (Stops fighting with onna-Ranma) It doesn't need to be that hot.

Soun: You turn into a girl and hot water turn you back into a boy. (Tries to pour water over onna-Ranma)

Onna-Ranma: (Dodges the hot water) Hot water not boiling!

Soun: (Smiles widely) Your problem isn't so terrible after all. (Points out his index finger towards his sitting daughters) My daughter Kasumi 19, Nabiki 17, and Akane 16. Pick the one you want and she will be your wife.

Ranma: (Blinks) (Thinking) Is oji-san crazy? (Looks at Akane dejectedly) (Thinking) I'm sorry Akane for not telling you my curse earlier.

Kasumi: (Notices Ranma looking at Akane) Ara, he wants Akane. (Pushes Akane in front)

Nabiki: Definitely. (Pushes Akane in front)

Akane: Huh? (Turns to face her sisters) Joudan ja nai wa yo. [Huh, you must be joking] Why would I be…

Nabiki: Well for starters you both study martial arts, and you hate boys.

Kasumi: So you are in luck imoto-chan, he is half girl.

Akane: Anna hentai, o-kotowari yo! [Me marry that pervert, I refused!]

Onna-Ranma: (Startled) Whaddya mean hentai!

Akane: (Stands up, facing onna-Ranma in a heated argument) (Angrily) You looked at my body you letch!

Onna-Ranma: Hold it, you walked in on me!

Akane: It's different when a girl sees a boy!

Soun: (Laughing) See they're already the perfect couple.

Genma: (Laughing) Ha ha ha!

Akane: (Stomps a foot down) We are having a fight here! (Turns to onna-Ranma) The point is, (Turns away) I absolutely refused to marry someone like you!

Onna-Ranma: I refused too! Sayonara! (Thinking) Akane thinks I'm a pervert… I hate this curse! And she makes my blood boil!

Genma: Where are you going boy?

Onna-Ranma: Back to China. I have to find a way to change back for good. This is no time for fiancées. (Turning to Akane) By the way I notice that you took a pretty good look at me too. It's no big deal for me to see a naked girl. I mean I've seen myself plenty of time right? Besides I'm better built to boot than you. Ha ha ha…

Akane: Grr! (Picks up with a single-hand and slams the table on top of onna-Ranma with both hands) (Thinking) The nerve of this hentai!

#BAMM.#

(End of flashback)

Chapter 11: Reforging the bond

Scene: Tendo Dojo, porch, downpour had reduced to a light drizzle,

Ranma: That was one painful blow. (Rubbing his head)

Rukawa: (Slaps his forehead) (Thinking) Man, they both are really pros at insulting each other. I can't believe this.

Ranma: Why do you wanna know about this?

Rukawa: Ano Ranma, think deeper with more insight about your memories. Maybe you will discover why Akane find it hard to believe you all the time.

Ranma: I never did anything wrong at all.

Rukawa: (Shrugs) Maybe some day you will eventually realize it Ranma. Let's hope is not too late.

Ranma: Why don't you just tell me?

Rukawa: I'm sorry but I can't. Beside it is better that you find it out yourself.

Ranma: Okay, okay Rukawa.

Kasumi: (Approaches Ranma and Rukawa) Rukawa-kun, can you help me something?

Rukawa: Hai Kasumi-san. Ja Ranma. (Walks to the kitchen)

Ranma: Ja.

Nabiki: (Comes from nowhere and sits next to Ranma) (Sweetly) Hi Ranma-kun.

Ranma: What is it Nabiki?

Nabiki: Forgotten about the deal?

Ranma: No.

Nabiki: Good. Then go ask her out now. (Thinking) Don't you dare to chicken out now.

Ranma: Not yet.

Nabiki: The great Saotome Ranma is too scared to ask Akane out?

Ranma: I am not scared to ask that tomboy out!

Nabiki: Then go. (Thinking) Jeez men and their egos.

Ranma: (Marches towards Akane's room) (Imagination running wild) (Thinking) Must be concerned for her. She isn't in a cheerful mood… I think.

(Start of an active imagination sequence)

Scene: Akane's room,

Ranma: Hey Akane.

Akane: Hi Ranma.

Ranma: How are you feeling?

Akane: Fine Ranma.

Ranma: Say why don't we go out tomorrow night? Will that cheer you up?

Akane: Nani?

Ranma: A date, Akane.

Akane: Oh Ranma… (Thinking) He is finally asking me out.

Ranma: (Shrugs) Is the best I could think of to cheer you up… (Moves closer to Akane) A-ka-ne.

Akane: (Smiles) Thank you for being concerned Ranma.

Ranma: I ain't being concerned or… (Feeling weak due to Akane beautiful eyes looking through him)

Akane: (Smiles) I know you are Ranma. You don't have to act as if you aren't.

Scene: Akane's room glowed dimmer to suit the current 'romantic' situation,

Ranma: A-Akane…(Stares into Akane's brown eyes and slowly itches his head closer towards Akane's)

Akane: (Stares into Ranma's blue eyes and slowly close her eyes awaiting the…)

(End of an active imagination sequence)

Ranma: Yikes! (Fling his arms wildly)

Nabiki: (Following behind Ranma, stunned) (Thinking) What's the matter with this idiot?

Ranma: (Cross his arms) (Looks on thoughtful) (Thinking) No, no can do. Must change tactic. Act more casual. More C.A.S.U.A.L.

(A/N: Sounds familiar, ne? =P)

(Starts of an active imagination sequence)

Scene: Akane's room,

Ranma: Yo Akane.

Akane: What is it Ranma?

Ranma: You wanna go out for dinner with me tomorrow night?

Akane: (Surprised) Just the two of us?

Ranma: Yeah Akane.

Akane: Why are you suddenly asking me out?

Ranma: Eh? Because…

Akane: You did something behind my back and now you're feeling guilty Ranma?!

Ranma: Chot-chotto Akane. Is nothing like that at all.

Akane: Then?

Ranma: Is ju-just…

Akane: (Impatient) Just what Ranma?

Ranma: (Thinking) Here goes. (Kisses Akane on her lips and withdraw back just as quickly)

Akane: Ranma… (Surprised look on her face)

(End of an active imagination sequence)

Ranma: Ack! (Thinking) No, never! I'll be mallet to death after that. Maybe even before that. Just be normal. NORMAL. Yeah that's right.

Nabiki: (Bored) Baka… Get a move on will ya, Ranma-kun.

Ranma: (Oyakusoku pozu) Eeep Nabiki! When were you behind me?

Nabiki: (Sweatdrops) (Thinking) What's with him anyway.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, second level,

Ranma: (Stops in front of Akane's door) (Thinking) I can hear my heart beating wildly… (Prepares to knock on the door)

Nabiki: Just do it Ranma-kun. I'll be around somewhere out of sight. (Winks at Ranma)

Ranma: … (Thinking) Here goes. (Raises his knuckles)

Akane: (Opens door and stops in surprise) Ranma? What do you want?

Ranma: (Jumps backwards) H-hey Akane. (Twiddles with his index fingers)

Akane: (Thinking) Why is he so nervous all of a sudden? (Begins to speak) Nani yo Ranma?

Ranma: (Stuttering) I-I-I… (Thinking) Get a hold of yourself man!

Akane: Ara?

Ranma: A-Akane… Willyougo-gooutwithmeforadate?

Akane: (Blinks) Can you repeat what you just said Ranma.

Ranma: W-will…

Nabiki: (Thinking) Jeez this guy really needs help. (Approaches Akane and Ranma and speaks) My, my, Ranma-kun. I couldn't help overhearing. (Acting surprise and speaks in a louder voice) You're asking my little sister out?

Akane: Heh… (Looks at Ranma with surprise evident in her eyes) (Thinking) Ranma asking me out… Again?

Ranma: (Getting flustered) I, I… Well the day after tomorrow is a holiday so… I thought… (Twiddles his index fingers) And you…

Akane: (Thinking) He's asking me out again! Yatta! (Giggles cutely and speaks) Yes, Ranma. And Nabiki oneechan…

Ranma: (Blurred look) Huh.

Nabiki: Hmm?

Akane: I hope you're not thinking of selling this piece of information to…

Nabiki: (Acts shocked) Now, now Akane why would I do that to my dear sister and my adorable future brother in law. (Thinking) I'm just planning to tell this piece of info to those gamblers for free. (Grins)

Akane: (Stares at her sister for a moment) And Ranma…

Ranma: Huh. (Looks at her dumbly)

Akane: (Smiles happily) When?

Nabiki: (Smirks) (Thinking) Phase 2 completed. Phase 3 in progress.

****

Chapter 12: Broken souls

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, later,

Soun: Tadaima. (Enters the house with Genma following behind him)

Kasumi: (Bows) (Smiles) Welcome back oto-san. How was your Town Council meeting?

Soun: Just some menial matter and (Nervously) t-the matter of oshishou-sama underwear thieving.

Kasumi: (Continues to smile and nod) Hai. (Thinking) Poor oto-san.

Genma: Where's Ranma, Kasumi-san?

Kasumi: (Smiling) He is with Akane out for a walk, Saotome oji-sama.

Genma&Soun: Did you hear that Tendo-kun/Saotome-kun! (Throw a series of small celebration) Our schools will finally be united! (Go off together to make wedding preparations)

Kasumi: Ara ara… They are just taking a walk. (Thinking) I hope oto-san and Saotome oji-sama will not perturb Ranma and Akane when they are just getting closer even if slightly.

(A/N: Kasumi wouldn't tell this right out to them right. In the anime it is shown that she does feel that they both always botch up their attempts but she never really speak it out)

Nabiki: (Sees Soun and Genma doing preparations for some kind of party) What are you guys doing, oto-san?

Rukawa: Preparing a party?

Soun: (Smiling and laughing gaily) Preparing Akane and Ranma wedding, Nabiki-chan, Rukawa-kun.

Rukawa: (Eyes widening) Wedding?!

Nabiki: Nani?! (Thinking) If they both see this, Ranma and Akane will surely and furiously disagree and in the end Ranma with his Saotome put-his-foot-in-the-mouth stupid habit will insult Akane and vice versa which sum up no date equal financial losses in gambling. (Put on a glaring face and begins to speak coolly) Oto-san…

Scene: Tendo Dojo, kitchen, five minutes later,

Kasumi: (Hears furious opening of the sliding front door and footsteps running up the stairs ending with a thud of a door)

Akane: (Rushes to her room and locks the door) (Cries to herself on her bed)

Kasumi: (Peeks out of her kitchen) Ara Akane-chan… (Covers her mouth) (Worriedly) (Thinking) I must go comfort her. (Knocks on door) (Begins to speak) Akane-chan, dōshita no? Please let me in Akane.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room, meanwhile,

Soun: (Crying) Nabiki, you wouldn't do that to your oto-san would you?

Nabiki: (Shows a smile that represents a 'No')

Soun: (Wails) Wah! My own daughter turned against me!

Rukawa: (Thinking) She is scary…

Nabiki: (Rolls her eyes)

Scene: Tendo Dojo, second level,

Akane: (Sobbing) Go away oneechan! I don't want to be disturbed. Leave me alone. I just wanna be alone. (Thinking) Oh Ranma…

Kasumi: Akane, let me in.

Scene: Tendo Dojo, genkan,

Onna-Ranma: (Softly) Tadaima. (Sits near the doorway despondently)

Soun,Genma,Nabiki&Rukawa: (Meet onna-Ranma) (Hear Kasumi pleading to Akane to open her door upstairs) (Thinking) What's going on?

Soun: (Calls out) What happened Kasumi?

Kasumi: (Calls out) Ara, Akane-chan is crying, oto-san.

Soun: (Turns and faces onna-Ranma) How dare you hurt my daughter, Ranma!

Genma: Apologize to your fiancée now, boy!

Nabiki: What did you do now, Ranma-kun?

Rukawa: (Thinking) I thought everything had gone well. Wonder what happened.

Soun: (Climbs up the stairs) (Knocks on the door) Akane, Akane, open the door.

Onna-Ranma: Look it wasn't entirely my fault! Shampoo appeared and… And… (Relating recent incident)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Along the streets,

Akane: (Walking in silence) (Thinking) The silence is getting awkward. Why isn't he speaking at all?

Ranma: (Thinking) Why is Akane so quiet? She asked me to go on a walk with her but…

Akane: The sky is so blue and beautiful even after the rain isn't it, Ranma.

Ranma: Huh? Is it? (Looks up) It looked the same just like everyday.

Akane: (Face-faults) (Thinking) Baka.

Ranma: (Thinking) What is it with the sky anyway? (Looks up again) Nothing interesting at all.

Ranma&Akane: Akane/Ranma.

Akane: (Blushes)

Ranma: (Face getting flushed-up)

Akane: (Stops walking) (Faces Ranma) Nani Ranma?

Ranma: (Stops walking and turns to Akane) Akane, ore wa…

#CRASH! Thud.#

Akane: (Blinks)

Shampoo: (Sitting comfortably on her bike whose front tire was resting on the back head of a face-getting-acquainted-with-the-ground-Ranma) Nihao airen! Shampoo much misses you.

Ranma: (Twitching oyakusoku pozu) Sham-shampoo!

Shampoo: (Glomps Ranma seductively)

Akane: (Face darkens in anger and her body shakes with resentment)

Shampoo: Aiya! Akane here also?

Akane: (Controlling her anger) What do you want Shampoo!?

Shampoo: Ranma take Shampoo out on a date yes? (Glomps onto Ranma tightly) Leave pervert girl. Go with Shampoo more fun.

Akane: (Yelling) Who are you calling a pervert you Amazon bimbo!

Shampoo: (Unfazed)

Ranma: Eh? (Trying to shrug off Shampoo) I'm busy Shampoo.

Shampoo: (Glomps even harder) Aiya! Busy taking Akane out on date?

Ranma: Chotto chotto. (Points to Akane thoughtlessly) Me take that kawaikunee tomboy out? You must be kidding me! I rather… (Thinking) Uh oh what did I just said?

Akane: (Glares at Ranma) (Fists clenched and her body clearly shaking) (Thinking) Ranma… How dare you say that when you asked me out! Is it that mortifying to go out with me?

Shampoo: (Smiles seductively at Ranma) Good then take Shampoo out for date yes.

Ranma: Urm… (Feeling a very scary aura from Akane)

Akane: (Yells out angrily, hurt evident in her voice) Yah I'm just an uncute and sexless with thick thighs and wide hips, built like a brick tomboy for a fiancée! (Slaps Ranma) Why don't you just go and take Shampoo out since she is so much better! (Storms away)

Ranma: (Getting free of Shampoo's grip) Matte yo Akane! (Holds on to her shoulder)

Akane: (Turns around swiftly and splashes a bucket of water over Ranma) In that form! (Rushes off with tears streaming down her cheeks)

Onna-Ranma: … (Stares helplessly at the slowly-disappearing Akane)

Shampoo: Airen we go date now. (Glomps to onna-Ranma) After you change to male form.

Onna-Ranma: Ah Shampoo! (Tries to free herself from the Amazon's vice grip)

(End of flashback sequence)

Onna-Ranma: (Looks apathetically forward) (Thinking) Why did I say that? I shouldn't have say that.

Nabiki: (Roll her eyes) You were perfect.

Genma: (Raised voice) Ranma! If you're a man you will go apologize now!

Soun: (Climbs back down after failing to persuade Akane) (Crying) Waah! Now the schools will never be joined!

Rukawa: (Looks up the staircase then turns to face onna-Ranma) (Thinking) They aren't helping much…

Onna-Ranma: (Getting very, very tense) (Covers her face with her hands) (Thinking) Why, why, why, why, why.

Rukawa: (Put an arm over onna-Ranma's shoulder) Come on, Ranma. (Leads her to the guest-room)

Nabiki: (Thinking) Ranma-kun seems to look worse than before. Sure they quarrel often but this time… Ranma-kun, he looks…

Scene: Tendo Dojo, second level,

Kasumi: Akane-chan. Remember what I said before? In any given situation, each and everyone of us need support from other people. Akane-chan please let me in. Share your sorrows with me. (Knocking tirelessly on the door)

Akane: (Reluctantly unlocks the door) (Sniffing)

Kasumi: (Promptly embraces Akane) (Leads Akane to her bed) Ara Akane… Don't be so sad.

Akane: (Crying uncontrollably on Kasumi's lap) Oneechan…

Kasumi: (Strokes Akane's head gently) (Comforting voice) It will be all right Akane-chan. (Continues to stroke Akane's head) I am here Akane. Isn't it better to cry and hold me at the same time?

Akane: (Tightens her grip around Kasumi's waist) (Sobbing)

Kasumi: (Gently places her forehead in contact with Akane trembling head) (Her heart pained to see Akane in such sorrow) Mā, Mā. Dōshita no? [Now, now what is the matter?]

Scene: Tendo Dojo, guest room,

Onna-Ranma: (Sits down dazedly against the wall)

Rukawa: (Sits down next to her and squeezes her shoulder)

Onna-Ranma: (Glances at Rukawa) (Tears starting to form in her eyes) She hates me Rukawa. (Remembering incident)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Ranma: (Getting free of Shampoo's grip) Matte yo Akane! (Holds on to her shoulder)

Akane: (Turns around swiftly and splashes a bucket of water over Ranma) In that form! (Rushes off back home, tears streaming down her cheeks) (Faintly) 'Atashi wa dai kirai da Ranma! [I really hate you Ranma!] You just made me hate you… You hurt me again.

Onna-Ranma: … (Stares regrettably at the slowly-disappearing Akane, her heart aggrieved) (Thinking) She-she hates me… she hates me… she hates me… hates me… hates me… me… me… I made her hate me.

Shampoo: Ranma we go date now. Shampoo very free. (Glomps to onna-Ranma) After we switched you back.

Onna-Ranma: (Recognizing his current situation) Ah Shampoo! No! (Tries to free herself from Shampoo's vice grip)

(End of flashback incident)

Rukawa: (Thinking) Ara? Akane hate him? Maybe he is just too distressed and imagining things.

Onna-Ranma: (Stammering) Sh-she said… Said it softly b-but I heard it. She hates me, me, me.

Rukawa: Cal-calm down, Ranma. (Pats onna-Ranma's back)

Onna-Ranma: (Cover her face with her hands) Akane's right. I'm a baka. I'm a jerk. It's all my fault.

Rukawa: Nobody's perfect, ne? (Places an arm over onna-Ranma's shoulder to comfort her) I go get some hot water 'kay?

Onna-Ranma: Don't bother… It doesn't matter.

Scene: Akane's room,

Nabiki: (Sits down on the bed near Akane) Sorry to hear what happened imoto-chan. (Pats Akane's shoulder)

Akane: (Sobbing) Why oneechan? He asked me out. You saw and heard it don't you oneechan? Then he denied it. Not just denied it. But denied and insulted me at the same time. Am I so unfeminine and repulsive oneechan?

Nabiki: (Shakes her head) (Thinking) Ranma-kun is just being himself Akane.

Kasumi: (Hugs Akane and let her cry on her shoulder, patting her back) (Whispers gently to Akane) Now, now Akane. Calm down. It will be all right. I understand your grief but being angry at Ranma-kun will not solve anything. Just cry out your sorrows. Let it out. I'm here for you. You know that don't you.

Akane: (Whimpers) Kasumi oneechan… (Thinking) Why am I so weak? Kasumi had never cried never need comfort. She is always so strong. Always comforting and taking care of us. Here I am considering myself as a martial artist and I…

Scene: Tendo Dojo, living room,

Soun&Genma: (Sitting down and facing Genma/Soun, a bottle of sake nearby) (Gulps down a cup of sake) (Let out a huge sigh) (Shake head)

------

Scene: Tendo living room, dinner time,

Genma: (Eating from his bowl) (Thinking) Dinner is less delicious tonight.

Soun: (Thinking) Why is it so hard to combine the two schools together?

Onna-Ranma: … (Thinking) Akane…

Rukawa: (Looks at onna-Ranma) (Thinking) He's so dejected.

Nabiki: (Thinking) My money… (Glares at onna-Ranma) Baka. (Looks up at the ceiling) Poor Akane. (Shakes head) I'm getting soft.

Kasumi: (Worried expression on her face) (Thinking) Ara, if only Akane would come down for dinner. Never mind I hope she will eat up the food I bring up later. It is not good to miss a meal.

------

Scene: Kasumi's room, two hours later,

Kasumi: Ano Rukawa-kun, it is better not to remove the cast yet.

Rukawa: I feel fine Kasumi-san. Besides the cast starting to annoy me. Tofu-sensei said is only a hairline fracture. Is probably already healed, Kasumi-san. (Recalling yesterday meeting)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Tofu Clinic,

Tofu: It is very weird.

Akane: What do you mean Tofu-sensei?

Rukawa: Heh?

Tofu: Somehow or other, you are recovering or healing yourself at an incredible speed, Rukawa-kun. Though I wasn't sure if you fractured your ribs but I still did treat you, now you seem to be perfectly fine in your breathing indicating no fractured ribs or punctured lungs. This kind of injury takes months to heal. Furthermore I am pretty sure yesterday you had a fractured arm at least even without x-raying you. Yet now you're suffering only from a hairline fracture. I'm not sure what's going on.

Rukawa: … (Thinking) What's going on with my body?

Akane: (Smiles) Isn't it good now you can recover faster.

Tofu: I will need to check on this. (Thinking) Cologne obā-san may know the answers to this. I must go check with her when I'm free. (Begins to speak) Rukawa-kun, please come again on Monday okay. I want to see your progress.

Rukawa: Hai.

Tofu: (Thinking) I'm pretty sure his healing speed is what saved him from death. I never knew anyone with that kind of healing speed existed.

(End of flashback sequence)

Kasumi: Demo… It's been less than 3 days.

Rukawa: Don't worry. (Removes the cast) (Clenches and unclenches his left fist) (Straightens and bends his left elbow)

Kasumi: Ara.

Rukawa: Never felt better Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Holds and checks his left arm)

Rukawa: See it's fine. (Thinking) She's always caring and thinking of others before herself.

Kasumi: (Smiles) Hai. Your bandages, Rukawa-kun? I think we should change to new ones.

Rukawa: I think I'll just leave it, Kasumi-san. Tomorrow then I will take them off and put on new ones… (Thinking) If required.

Kasumi: Hai. (Gets on her bed)

Rukawa: (Lies on the futon) (His head resting on his hands)

Kasumi: I'm worried about Akane and Ranma-kun.

Rukawa: Well maybe they will patch up soon. (Thinking) I hope.

Kasumi: She seemed more hurt than she was ever before this time Rukawa-kun. (Sigh) I'm very worried for her.

Rukawa: Oh.

Kasumi: How is Ranma-kun?

Rukawa: He's… Depressed 'cause he thinks Akane hates him.

Kasumi: Ara, Akane will never hate Ranma-kun. Angry at yes but hate no.

Rukawa: Ranma said he heard her mentioning it, Kasumi-san. He's blaming himself and hating himself in the process.

Kasumi: Poor Ranma-kun. (Sigh) (Thinking) I hope they will get back together soon. I can't stand to see Akane, Nabiki or Ranma-kun being miserable.

Rukawa: Let's hope all will go well in the future. We can only help them so much. The rest is up to them.

Kasumi: Hai.

Rukawa: Ne Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: Nan dai Rukawa-kun? [What is it Rukawa-kun?]

Rukawa: What about you?

Kasumi: What about me?

Rukawa: I meant… You are worried about your family well being more than yourself. It sounds like family comes first for every single thing. You give your all but doesn't seem to… (Pauses) Keep none for yourself.

Kasumi: (Startled) (Reminisces)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Hospital room, a young Kasumi is sitting next to a hospital bed where a wanly woman, who looks somewhat identical to her except for the short dark blue hair, was lying down.

Kimiko: (Softy) Kasumi-chan you must take care of your sisters, ne.

Kasumi: (Tears flowing down her cheeks) (Trembling voice) I-I will… Oka-san.

Kimiko: (Weakly touches and grazes Kasumi's cheek lovingly, wiping the tears off her cheek) Be strong for them, Kasumi-chan. Oto-san will suffer from his depression I know he will. Our family will need someone to guide them, someone for them to look up to for comfort, for support, for love.

Kasumi: (Clasping to her mother's weak hand)

Kimiko: (Hugs her daughter weakly) They need you Kasumi-chan. They will need to depend on you. Without you they will fall apart. I'm sorry dear that you have to go through all these. Demo…

Kasumi: (Trembling voice) Daijbou oka-san. [It's all right mum] I don't mind at all.

Kimiko: You are always the strongest Kasumi-chan. Akane is still young. I hope she won't be affected much. Nabiki… Nabiki…

Kasumi: (Trying to look strong for her mother) Don't worry oka-san. I will take care of them. I will make sure they are happy and well taken care of. Don't worry.

Kimiko: (Sees sorrow and grief on her daughter face) Genki wo dashite mou nakanaide, ashita ni nareba, subete kawaru wa, genki wo dashite mou nakanaide, atarashi kaze mukatte, smile again…[Cheer up, don't cry any more. When tomorrow comes, everything will change. Cheer up, don't cry any more. Face the new wind and smile again]

Kasumi: (Smiles slightly upon hearing the lyrics of her mother favorite song)

Kimiko: Show and give them strength dear. Smile when troubles come along. Face those plights with a smile and it will be all right. Provide them the confidence to continue with their lives and yours.

Kasumi: (Gives a weak smile) (Thinking) I hope I can.

Kimiko: I love you dear, always. I'll forever be in your heart Kasumi.

Kasumi: I love you too oka-san. (Thinking) I wish you were not going to leave us… I don't want to lose you…

(End of flashback sequence)

Kasumi: (Thinking) Ever since then, I had always smiled to comfort people that everything is all right. Smile to myself to cheer myself up even a little.

Rukawa: (Sensing that Kasumi seems to be in a world of her own) Ne, Kasumi-san…

Kasumi: (Unaware of Rukawa's presence) (Reminiscing)

(Start of flashback sequence)

Scene: Kasumi's room,

Kasumi: (Stares at her reflection on the mirror at the dressing table despondently) (Thinking) Oka-san… I don't what to do. I'm scared. Oto-san, he…

Akane: (Enters with a teddy bear in one arm) Oneechan where is oka-san?

Kasumi: (Turns her head) (Her eyes soften upon seeing Akane) (Gets up from her chair) (Approaches and embraces Akane) Oka-san is going away for a long time, Akane-chan.

Akane: When will she be back oneechan?

Kasumi: She is not coming back Akane.

Akane: Why not oneechan?

Kasumi: Akane-chan, oka-san is resting. She…

Akane: (Starting to cry) Is it that I had been a naughty girl and oka-san doesn't love me anymore.

Kasumi: (Comforting Akane) No, no Akane-chan. That's not true. Oka-san may not be here but she still loves you. We can't see her but she is with us, loving us all the time.

Akane: (Crying) Why can't we see her oneechan. I want to see her oneechan. I want to be hug, cuddle and have her lying next to me on my bed accompanying me to sleep. Oneechan, I want oka-san. Where is she?

Kasumi: (Smiles sadly) (Embraces and carries Akane) You have me imoto-chan. You can see me. Let me hug you, cuddle you, love you, accompany you to sleep at night. I am here for you even if oka-san is not around to be with you. (Thinking) I miss you oka-san. I want to see you too. I want to hug you, to hold you. To be loved by you. I want to be comforted. I want someone to tell me that everything will be all right. I want your reassurances. Oh oka-san…

Akane: (Smiles with her tear-stained face) Oneechan. (Hugs her tightly)

Kasumi: (Softly) Remember that oka-san still loves you always. She left because she must. She misses us just as much as we miss her Akane-chan.

Akane: Uhm hm.

Kasumi: (Puts Akane down gently on her bed and lays down next to her) Oyasumi nasai Akane-chan.

Akane: (Holds onto Kasumi's hand) Oyasumi nasai oneechan.

Kasumi: (Looks at the sleeping form of Akane) (A tear forms and flows down) (Thinking) Oto-san… I had never seen you like this before. You had never cried so much. You were such a role model that if I had a husband, I wanted him to be just like you. But after oka-san passed away…You changed in a flash. The man I hold in such high honor vanished. (Tears flowing down freely) Nabiki… Why are you secluding yourself now? You used to hang around with us but now… You shut your heart like locking the door to your room and no one knows what's going on inside. (Strokes Akane's cheek tenderly) Akane-chan… You are so young, so vulnerable. I hope I can substitute oka-san and be like a mother to you. I want you to know that you have someone to count on, someone to comfort you when you are in your darkest hour. Someone who will love you as much as oka-san would. (Wipes her tears) It is heartbreaking to watch my family change and disheartened. I must be strong for them. I promised oka-san. They all need support…

(End of flashback sequence)

(A/N: Her reminiscence was cut off as she sorted out her feelings and think about for herself)

Kasumi: (Thinking) But that includes me… But there was never anyone who supported me. I comfort them all and provide encouragement and receive none. I took the task of managing the household and yes I do receive true joy at keeping my home clean and my family well fed but there wasn't anyone who I could clung onto, someone that I can confide my sorrows and troubles to, who will look after me… I see oto-san… But he needed the comfort more than me and doesn't look like he could comfort anyone. As I look after my family, I'm always smiling to keep people spirits up and mine slightly. I try to help solve Akane's troubles but my own remained unsolved. I feel like I am no longer the person I was before and never will be again. I feel like I have become the wife oto-san had lost when I take care of him all these years and become a mother more than a big sister to Akane and Nabiki-chan. I had taken care of them for so long that… I am scared… That when the time comes when they don't need… When oto-san, Nabiki and Akane can carry on their lives without me, can I live my life without them? Can I survive outside my home?

Rukawa: (Getting slightly worried) (Sits down cross-legged next to Kasumi's bed) Kasumi-san, daijobou ka?

Kasumi: (Thinking) Will there be anyone who will guide me? (Sadness marks across her anxious face) Am I fated to be alone? I don't want to be alone. Nobody had ever think about me. Or worry about me for that matter. No one seems to really notice or truly show that they actually…

Rukawa: (Alarmed over Kasumi's sad expression) Hey hey Kasumi-san, daijobou desu ka? (Shakes Kasumi gently) Kasumi-san. (Thinking) What's wrong with her? Don't scare me eh Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Starting to recognize her surrounding) Ara ara. (Focuses her vision on Rukawa) Rukawa-kun… (Thinking) Ara I was so lost in my thoughts.

Rukawa: (Relieved) You worried me for a good moment there, Kasumi-san.

Kasumi: (Softly) Worried? (Thinking) …Care about me…?

Rukawa: You know… Concerned because you were silent and motionless all of a sudden for some time.

Kasumi: (Thinking) Rukawa-kun, you… (Tears forming in her eyes)

Rukawa: Eh? (Alarmed at the suddenly tearful Kasumi)

Kasumi: (Promptly gets off her bed and hugs Rukawa, who was still sitting down on the floor near the bed, tightly)

Rukawa: Har? (Thinking) …

Kasumi: (Sobbing onto Rukawa's chest) Don't leave me Rukawa-kun…

Rukawa: Kasumi-san?

Kasumi: (Continues to cry) Please. (Thinking) I need someone to hold me… To comfort me… To console me… To tell me everything will be fine… To make me feel secure… I need you.

Rukawa: (Returns the hug) (Thinking) What's wrong with her? What did I said? (Begins to speak) I-I… (Bites his lip) (Thinking) Why is it hard to say it? (Breathes in deeply and breathes out) For her sake. (Begins to speak) I won't leave you Kasumi. (Slowly and cautiously pats Kasumi's back to comfort her) Don't worry. I-I'm here for you okay.

Kasumi: (Hugs Rukawa tighter) (Succumbing to her feelings, her inner emotions) (Continues to cry out her grievances, her troubles, her worries in the form of tears, that had all been accumulated as it was suppressed deep within her during the past eleven years, but never been released simply because there was never anyone around for her) (Sniffs) (Thinking) Ara, my actions are totally unacceptable. Rukawa-kun is after all a stranger… (Pauses) (Holds Rukawa even closer to herself and breathing in deeply) You are here for me to hold on to. Nothing else matters…

Rukawa: … (Pats Kasumi's back periodically) (Thinking) I hope all this will make you feel better Kasumi-san. 'Cause my back starting to ache. It would be worth it if you will be okay.

Kasumi: (Sobbing yet manages to smile slightly as she buries her face into Rukawa's chest) (Thinking) He… Just by being here, returning my hug and patting my back can overcome any lack of comforting words on his part. (Falls asleep)

Rukawa: (Thinking) This is getting uncomfortable… (Looks at the sleeping figure of Kasumi who was sitting on his lap, her side of the body resting on his chest, her head resting near his shoulder, her arms wrapped around him by the waist) I don't have the heart to wake her… I wonder why is she so upset, so… Sad. (Grazes the back of his fingers on Kasumi's cheek) So soft, so smooth, so… (Shakes head) Man, my backache getting real annoying.

------

Scene: Tendo Dojo, guest room,

Genma: (Snoring)

Onna-Ranma: (Tossing and turning on the futon, thinking) Akane… I'm so sorry really sorry truly sorry… I didn't mean any of it. Baka. What are you apologizing here for? Go see Akane and apologize to her. I can't. Damn your pride! Is just that… Arghhhh! (Clutches his head in frustration)

#BAM.#

Onna-Ranma: Itai ja ne ka! [That bloody hurt!] (Clutches his head in pain) Whaddya do that for!

Genma: Shut up boy! People want to sleep. (Throws away the broken signboard)

Onna-Ranma: (Watches her father get back into his futon)

Genma: (Snores)

Onna-Ranma: (Thinking) I better go see Akane. See how she is. (Climbs out of the window and enters through Akane's window) (Sees Akane in a peaceful deep slumber on her bed, her face tear-stained) (Thinking) What have I done… She is so hurt because of me… (Kneels down near Akane's side and holds to Akane's hand) (Speaks in a trembling voice) A-Akane. I-I'm very sorry about what happened today. I didn't mean all that. I-is just that I didn't want Shampoo to know about our date lest she came and spoil it. I know that it is still not good enough and I was wrong, very wrong to-to call you an uncute, sexless tomboy. Ple-please don't hate me. Ple-please forgive me. I can't live knowing that you hate me. Gomen ne, gomen nasai Akane… Akane… Onegai…

Akane: (Tosses slightly in her sleep)

Onna-Ranma: (Close her eyes while still holding Akane's hand) I'm sorry Akane…

----

End.

A/N: Morning people! I sure hope I manage to tell well enough of the going-ons. Why Akane always assumes the worst of Ranma. Why Akane got real hurt at Ranma. And why Kasumi breaks down. I can't explain anything more since everything is already in the dialogues.

Ranma and Akane fight a lot heh, no romance it seems, nevertheless it is still a Ranma Akane pairing don't worry. They will get together not by the standard confession of feelings or any heroic brave deeds by Ranma. As we had watched and read, Ranma saving Akane from death, Ranma shouting he loved her, and still Rumiko-san did not allow them to get together. So what is the thing or event that is needed to occur to actually get them together? Carry on reading and it will be revealed in Volume 9.

The song chorus used during the Kasumi's flashback with her mother is taken from Mou nakanaide (Don't cry any more) for "Ranma 1/2 Nettouhen" opening theme (1991) season 6. Till then adios!