Ranma: Lost Love

Ranma looked up at the ceiling and groaned. It was not familiar, but then, he 
was feeling a bit out of sorts. He started to sit up, if the sun was shining, he 
ought to get started, perhaps do some training.

Ranma slumped down again. What was the point? Why bother getting up? He 
had no reason to move anywhere. Ranma closed his eyes and though of other 
times. He was thinking of the fun he had playing in the snow when cold water 
crashed onto him. He felt the change hit him then opened an eye and looked 
up.

"Come on, Ranma! You don't want to be late for school!"

"School?"

"Yes school. Better get moving otherwise we'll be late again."

Akane looked down at Ranma and frowned. His father had let him out of 
training this morning since he collapsed for no reason last night. Perhaps he 
was still sick or something. "Move it, Ranma. Take a bath and come 
downstairs. I'll pack your bag and we might still make it."

Ranma struggled to sit up. Swaying slightly he rose and walked out the door. 
He felt so weak. Perhaps he should eat breakfast. Perhaps he should have 
eaten last night. Stopping in the doorway he looked around. Behind him his 
bag was being packed. People took good care of him. "Um Thanks"

Just then he saw his father come out of the bathroom, at least it should be the 
bathroom, he was still a bit wet. I will not cry, not now. I'm up, I'm moving. 
I'm even going to school. "Hey, Pops." 

"Good morning, boy! I hope you appreciate your sleep. I was worried about 
you." Ranma walked over and gave his father a big hug. Genma simply 
looked stunned and was too shocked to resist.

"I wanted to say thanks, Pop. I'm I'm feeling much better now. Honestly." 
Ranma moved off to the bathroom to wash and return to normal. Akane and 
Genma simply stared at each other. Ranma saying thank you? Ranma being 
nice to his father? Ranma obviously wasn't feeling well yet.

Ranma came down to breakfast and looked at all the people gathered there. "I 
hope this is the right uniform, it was the only one I could find."

Every just looked stunned. It was Kasumi which finally spoke up. "It's fine, 
Ranma. You look perfect."

Everyone else just exchanged glances and looked nervously at Ranma. 
Ranma slowly ate, picking at only as small amount of his meal. He had barely 
started by the time Genma had inhaled his breakfast. By the time Akane 
grabbed Ranma and pulled him out the door screaming "AH!! We're late! It's 
all your fault, Ranma!" his food was all gone, but that was just Genma 
helping himself to the undefended plate.

They were walking past the canal when Akane finally decided to say 
something. Even she could see that something was worrying him. He hung his 
head and dragged his feet. He wasn't on the fence. He hadn't even insulted her 
once.

"Ranma Ranma Are you OK, Ranma?"

Ranma walked on slowly. Not even acknowledging her question for a while. 
Eventually he looked at her and smiled slightly. No, only his mouth smiled. 
The smile went no where near his eyes. "No. But its very kind of you to ask."

Akane stopped in her tracks. That was not the answer she expected. Ranma 
the strong, Ranma the tough, he never had anything wrong. And he had not 
even tried to evade the question. Jogging along she caught up with him. 
Perhaps if she baited him a bit it might help to spur the life back into him. 
"Don't be such a girl, Ranma. Has big, tough, Ranma got a problem to hard 
for him?"

Ranma looked at her briefly, fire flickering briefly in his eyes, but the fire 
died quickly. "Yes. I I don't want to talk about it now. So, please, just don't 
ask."

That was more like the Ranma she knew. Proud and independent. Perhaps he 
was just worried about the test today. She didn't think wearing a uniform 
would make Miss Hinako any kinder, but she figured it was worth a try. 
Maybe she could try and reassure him with a few quick study hints. "Don't 
worry about the test, Ranma. I'll help you study before we get there. Go on, 
ask me any question you want help with."

Ranma looked at he closely. She really was quite pretty when she smiled like 
that, and he felt another pain in his stomach at the thought. "OK. I really 
appreciate you helping me like this. Who are you?"

It took a couple of seconds for the question to sink in, and when it did, she 
grabbed her biggest hammer and smashed him into the air. "Ranma no baka!"

Kuno saw a fuming Akane walk into the main gate, and declared his undying 
love. She declared her undying indifference and knocked him flying. Ranma 
arrived late for class and looked around before Miss Hinako put him in his 
seat. Since there was a test that morning there was no talking until the all 
went out to lunch. Ranma looked around and followed Akane down to the 
lunch room; she pointedly ignored him, and he went and sat by himself. 

Ranma was just setting down for a long afternoon of depression when a set of 
sprinklers started, dousing him with water. Ranma-chan sighed and wandered 
over to somewhere sunny and dry. He was just thinking of going back to see 
his father when he saw someone striding through the crowd, straight at him. 
His brow furrowed and he thought. He's familiar. I know I've seen him before. 

Ranma almost had the answer when the newcomer grabbed hold of him and 
stuffed an okonomiyaki into his mouth. Then it struck him. Ucchan! This guy 
was Ucchan! And he saw Ranma as a girl! And by the way he held him, he 
obviously thought he was a girl! 

"BLARG!!! I'm a guy!" Ranma-chan jumped up and pushed a stunned Ukyo 
off her lap. Spitting the okonomiyaki onto the ground, she backed away, 
waving her hands.

"I realise it doesn't look like it, but I'm a guy, honestly. It's me, Ranma. 
Remember, we used to fight at your father's yattai? It's just a curse! I'm a 
guy!"

Ukyo looked on, stunned. What was with Ranma today? She know about his 
curse, he even dropped his lunch! Moving back up to him she agreed with 
what he said. "I know that, Ranma. I don't mind about your curse. I love you 
anyway!"

When she hugged him again, Ranma-chan screamed then bopped her on the 
head. "Ucchan, we were just kids. You were my best friend, but I'M NOT 
GAY! Just stay back!"

Ukyo looked up at her, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "But, but, 
Ranma honey, I know your a guy, don't you like me to hug you when we're 
both girls?"

A stunned Ranma-chan tried to keep backing up and tripped over. 
Flabbergasted she looked up. My god! Under that uniform, he has got breasts! 
Ranma-chan shuddered. He didn't know Ukyo was that way inclined back 
then! "Oh, God. Ucchan. I don't believe you got the operation! After all these 
years I see you, and you're not a guy any more! How could you do that?"

Ukyo removed the battle spatula from her back, "I don't know what game 
your playing, but I've always been a girl!"
<POW!>

When Ranma woke up, everyone had gone back to class. I can't deal with 
this. All these strange people. And Ucchan's had a sex change. I'm going ho 
Well, I'm going back to where I came from.

With a knock Ranma waited at the gate of the Tendo School of Anything 
Goes Martial Arts. Strange really, Anything Goes is what his father taught 
him. He seemed to remember Pops mentioning something about an old friend. 
Perhaps Pops brought him here after A pretty woman opened the gate and 
smiled at him.

"Hello, Ranma-kun. Why are you waiting out here?"

"Ah, Tendo-san Is Pops here?"

The lady shook here head and smiled warmly. "Sorry, he went out to the 
markets. If you're back from school so soon, do you want to lie down for a 
while? You didn't look well this morning."

"Thank you Tendo-san. I won't bother you any more."

The lady walked back inside and he followed her. "Why so formal suddenly, 
Ranma-kun?" 

This stumped Ranma. What else was he supposed to call his host? Placing a 
hand behind his head he looked at the woman then bowed his head. Everyone 
here obviously knew about him, and was just trying to be nice. He must have 
blacked out for longer than he expected, and Pops brought him here to 
recover. Ranma smiled at the consideration, he would have to thank him. 
Their friendship wouldn't heal his wounds, but they were trying so hard to 
look like they cared. "I Just wasn't sure what else to call you. I appreciate 
Pop doing this for me, and I don't want to be a burden. I am Saotome 
Ranma."

The lady smiled happily. "You're such a gentleman today, Ranma. Call me 
Kasumi like you always do. Would you like something to eat before you go to 
bed?"

Ranma shook his head. "No thank you Kasumi-san. I think I'll just go to bed."

He headed up the stairs only to be halted by Kasumi's voice. "Ranma if you're 
not well, should I get Dr Tofu?"

Smiling down at Kasumi he shook his head. No doctor could cure his pain. 
"No thank you, Kasumi-san. I think it is just Koh Lon sensei's magic making 
me feel a bit weak."

"Oh my." Kasumi blanched at the mention of Cologne. Maybe Ranma had 
been dosed by one of her potions yesterday. Perhaps she could get Akane to 
look into it when she came home.

Akane did come home, home with a vengeance, fuming, she strode up to her 
room, got changed and headed out to the dojo to break things. Shortly after 
Kasumi came out and heard her cursing Ranma.

"Akane. I need to have a word about Ranma."

"Don't even mention that idiot to me! He insults me, he sent Ukyo home 
crying, and now he's hiding from me! That pervert!"

Kasumi frowned slightly. For her this was like jumping up and down and 
screaming: Akane broke of her complaints. "Ranma came home because he 
was sick. He mentioned something about Cologne's magic."

Akane was shocked. Of course! That was why he was acting so strangely! If 
Cologne had her hooks in him, perhaps he couldn't remember her. "GRRRR! 
I go over there and beat it out of her! I bet Shampoo is up to her dirty tricks 
again!"

The slight sound of movement caused their heads to turn. Standing at the 
entrance of the dojo was Ranma. He looked embarrassed to have 
eavesdropped, goes to show he isn't Nibiki. "Sorry, I couldn't help overhear. 
Did you say that Koh Lon sensei and Xian Pu are here in Japan?"

Akane banged her head with her fist. "Of course they're here, baka. Where 
else would they be?"

Ranma scowled at being insulted by a complete stranger. "China?"

Akane threw a broken piece of brick at him which he dodged. "Oh, Mr 
Smarty Pants! They came all this way out here for you, you know!"

Ranma stood stunned, so stunned that the next piece of brick hit him square 
in the head. They care so much that they sent a Matriarch of the Amazons to 
Japan! His heart surged with hope. "Come on, we've go to see them! Now! 
Only Koh Lon sensei will be able to say whether things are OK now!" 

Grabbing Akane's hand he charged out of the dojo only to stop short at the 
gate. "Um Tendo-san Could you lead the way? Please?"

Akane was feeling more baffled. Maybe Cologne's spell had erased all of 
Ranma's memory. Even Cologne's plans failed occasionally. A small spark of 
hope came to life. If he couldn't remember Shampoo, then they would need to 
remove the spell. Ranma would be saved. "Sure, Ranma. Err, does that mean 
you really don't know who I am?"

Ranma smiled at her. "No I'm afraid I don't. I sure I would remember anyone 
as cute as you."

Akane blushed and mumbled something under her breath. Perhaps this new 
Ranma was not too bad after all. "I'm Akane. Come on, their at the Neko-
haten."

Ranma brought up suddenly. "C-c-c-cat Cafe?"

Punching him lightly on the arm, she kept him moving. "Silly, it's just named 
for Shampoo, there are no cats there. So what's the last thing you remember?"

Wow, Pop sure had done a good job getting people to help, she seemed to 
know all about him. "Last thing I remember is going back to China. I needed 
to see if Koh Lon sensei could help. Pop was the only one I had left, and he 
couldn't help. You know, your pronunciation is pretty sloppy: its Koh Lon, 
not Cologne. So how long have I been here?"

Ranma was really disturbed it seemed, so much of his life had apparently 
been edited out just like that! "About six months."

"WHAT?!? I've been unconscious for six MONTHS!"

"No, you idiot! You've just forgotten the last six months."

Ranma felt reassured. The time he could remember was bad enough. Perhaps 
Cologne had tried to give him more time to heal. He was about to thank 
Akane when he saw a familiar mass of purple hair. He changed up and 
engulfed her in a hug, oblivious to the fuming girl he left behind. < Xian Pu! 
I've missed you! I don't believe you came all the way to Japan for me. >

Shampoo was stunned. Husband was speaking Chinese?  < Of course I came. 
I love you. >

Hugging here even tighter, Ranma placed a kiss on the crown of her head. < I 
love you too Xian Pu. Thank you for coming. Mu Tsu!! You came too. >

Its difficult to say who was more surprised. Shampoo had finally heard that 
Ranma loved her (in Chinese no less) and now he had engulfed Mousse in a 
bear hug. < I had to come, Ranma. Shampoo was here. >

This seemed to bring Ranma crashing down to earth again. < Of course. Just 
be sure to tell your wife every day how much you love her, never miss a 
chance. Is Koh Lon sensei inside? >

Mousse and Shampoo stood stunned and watched as Ranma entered the cafe. 
Akane simply stared at them, not having understood a word. From the way 
Shampoo looked, he must have said something to make her happy. "Well, 
when did Ranma learn Chinese?"

Mousse was the first to recover. "I never knew he did speak Chinese. And 
why is he calling us by our proper names?"

Akane smiled smugly at that. "Apparently Cologne tried to make him forget 
about me, but her spell has failed, because he can't remember the last six 
months at all. And that includes his engagement to Shampoo!"

Before a fight could break out between her and Shampoo, Akane headed into 
the cafe. She wanted to hear want Ranma said to Cologne. Inside the cafe, 
Cologne was perched on her staff, and Ranma was sitting in front of her, as 
though about to receive a lecture. 

"I'm sorry. I have not cast anything on you son-in-law."

At the last three words, Ranma's battle aura flared. "Don't call me that! No 
one calls me that now."

He calmed down a moment and continued. "Not now, Akane-san said it was 
six months ago, so it must have been when I went to you for help. Please tell 
me the truth. Did Cherry's Wishing Stone not work?"

Cologne drew in a harsh breath. The secret of Cherry's Wishing Stone was 
hidden from all but the most respected members of the Amazons. Not even 
Shampoo knew of it's existence. But yet son-in-law did. Interesting. "I don't 
know what your talking about. You only visited our village for a few hours, 
and that was seven months ago, son-in-law."

With a lightning fast strike, Ranma knocked Cologne's staff from under her. 
"I said don't call me that! I hurts too much! And you know damn well I spent 
over a week in the village before you recommended to the council that we use 
the Stone."

Cologne was impressed; that was the most speed she had seen Ranma use. 
Something must really bother him, but she could not guess what. "Believe me, 
so-- Ranma. You only spent hours in our village."

"Oh, really? So where did I get this?" Ranma pulled off his shirt to reveal his 
chest. 

"My tattoo! Where is it? How could it be removed? Did you cast me out? 
What HAPPENED?"

Cologne started where he searched. Certainly it was the place that they 
tattooed warrior males of the Amazons, but she knew Ranma never qualified 
as that. "You never received a tattoo---"

She was talking to empty air. Ranma had run out of the restaurant, tears 
streaming from his eyes. Akane looked baffled for a moment, then ran after 
him, sending killer looks at the puzzled Chinese.

"Son-in-law is acting most strange today great granddaughter."

*	*	*

Akane found him staring into one of the canals. Tears shamelessly fell down 
his face, and sobs racked his body. Gently she placed her hand on his back. 
"It's OK, Ranma. Do you want to tell me what's wrong? Go ahead and cry, 
you'll feel better."

Ranma sniffled and looked at her. "A true man is not afraid to cry. My father 
taught me that. Akane, I think I'm going mad, and I think it's the fault of 
Cherry's Wishing Stone. Cologne told me of it's power, and I think I got 
greedy. I asked for two things, not one. The two things that have hurt so 
much in my life and they they just couldn't be fixed. Instead, I am outcast, 
and my best friends refuse to acknowledge me. Hah! I even found out today 
that one of my best friends when I was young is gay and had a sex change. 
What am I going to do?"

Akane looked at him shocked. Whatever had happened, Ranma obviously 
believed it was true. And then it struck her. He still thought Ukyo was a boy! 
That was rich! Chuckling slightly she explained: "Ranma, Ukyo's a girl. She's 
always been a girl. You just thought she was a boy until you father ran off 
with her Yattai."

"How dare you laugh at my pain! I don't give a damn what Ukyo is! I should 
never have asked for Mum back, it was too much. So go ahead and laugh! 
Your mother never died when you were six!"

Akane stepped back in horror. How dare he say such things? How could he 
be so cruel? Then she realised. Six months ago he didn't know her. He doesn't 
know mother is dead. "I do understand, Ranma. My mother did die when I 
was six. And I don't know what your thinking, but your mother is very much 
alive and here in Nerima. Your father took you training when you were six."

Ranma collapsed against the fence. "She's She's alive? Quick! Take me to 
her maybe the Wishing Stone worked!"

Faced with an almost hysterical Ranma, she reluctantly led him on. On the 
way she explained that because of his curse - and his fathers promise that 
they commit seppuku if he was not a man - that they had not visited his 
mother yet. Ranma was adamant. If his mother was alive, he needed to see 
her. Eventually they arrived at Nodoka's place. Without pause, Ranma 
knocked on the door.

A tall woman with short brown hair answered and looked at him. "Ranma?"

"Mum", was all he said and fell into her arms.

Once inside, Nodoka immediately said she didn't care about the promise his 
father made, she was just glad to see her son again. 

"Oh, Mum, I thought were dead." From there he went on to explain how he 
had watched her die when he was six, and how Genma had taken him across 
Japan, China, and the Middle East teaching him to be a man that his dead 
mother would have been proud of. Her death had made Genma softer, and 
realise the more important things. In Japan they studied under many masters, 
while in the Middle East, he trained in armed combat, and learned the 
meditation and humility of an Indian Priest.

In China, he studied new and specialised techniques. It was here that he had 
been cursed at Jusenkyo. On the way from Jusenkyo, he and his father had 
stopped at the Amazon village. In the year that they were there, he saved 18 
children during a flash flood, and was officially inducted into the tribe.

When the wandered into Russia, he learned snow combat, and the powers of 
the Tibetan monks. And it was in Russia that his wife had died.

"WIFE?"

"Yes, Katarina was a member of their local milita. It was during the recent 
revolution that she was killed. I saw her die in my arms. The blood. So much 
blood. She was shot by a soldier loyal to the old Communists. That was why I 
saw Koh Lon sensei. If anyone could help, she could.
"The Amazons eventually let me use the Wishing Stone. For saving 18 of 
their lives, they felt that I deserved every chance to save the life of the one I 
loved.
"But I wanted to save you too. I wanted to save you from the cancer which 
killed you when I was six. And now I must return to Russia and find 
Katarina."

Sadly, Akane nodded her head. Perhaps the Ranma she loved was gone. This 
man beside her was so alike in many ways, more polished perhaps, but still 
the noble barbarian she loved at heart. But her noble barbarian 
unconditionally loved another, and didn't even know her.

Nodoka smiled. "Ranma, this is the '90s. Ever heard of a telephone?"

Ranma blushed furiously. He had completely forgotten. It took no time at all 
to get an operator to connect them to the Mayor of Katarina's village. 

"No there is no-one of that name."

"Yes, Mr and Mrs Vladich live here."

"No they never had any children."

Ranma collapsed, heartbroken. It was her village, but she didn't exist. He 
couldn't understand. The Wishing Stone brought his mother back why not his 
wife?

Akane spoke softly, "Ranma What did you wish for? Exactly?"

"I'll never forget what I asked. I wished that Katarina hadn't been killed, and 
wouldn't die, and that my mother was still alive."

Akane gasped. She had been around Nibiki too long not to realise the danger 
of poorly worded requests. "Ranma, the Stone worked. The only way she 
could not have been killed, and never die is if she never lived. I'm so sorry 
Ranma."

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Ranma cried for hours, it was as though Katarina had just been killed again. It 
was within his grasp. He could have had her back, but he failed her. Now, all 
his friends were gone, everyone he knew had forgotten him, or knew him as a 
different Ranma.

Late that night, Akane led him home to the Tendo's. Nodoka came with them, 
anxious to see Genma after 10 years. As he walked through the streets, 
Ranma counted his blessings. He had his mother back, kind caring and 
loving. His friends Xian Pu No Shampoo and Mousse were here. His 
father, the kind, caring and wise man who had helped and guided him through 
his life, he was here. Some day, he was sure his lifelong friend Ryoga would 
arrive; sure he kept getting lost, but he had been best man at Ranma's 
wedding, and no better friend existed. 

And beside him walked his new friend, Akane. Not Katarina: no-one was her. 
But Akane cared, and she was beautiful in her own way.