Author´s Note: This story is based on characters of the Ranma 1/2 universe, a creation and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 6: In Search
Akane ran.
By the time they had arrived at the Nekohanten, they had found the Chinese Restaurant deserted. Quickly, Ranma had suggested that they splitted up so that they had a better chance to find Shampoo as soon as possible.
Akane's first idea where to go was (as always when she needed help) Dr. Tofu's. It had been rather instinct to turn in the direction of his office after they'd parted than anything else.
Of course did she know that there was only a tiny glimmer of hope that Shampoo might have consulted the docter, for she felt so miserable - but if the young Amazon wasn't there, Akane would try to persuade Dr. Tofu to join them and help searching Shampoo at any rate. Perhaps, he would even be able to tell what was going on in Shampoo - and who knew, maybe he would even be able to bring the tiniest flicker of light into the deep dark in which they were still groping around.
While she dashed along the people-empty sidestreets of Nerima, Akane was thinking hard about the sudden uncharacteristical actions her purple-haired rival had taken lately.
The question which crossed her already swirling mind over and over again in the process was: Why?
Why did she run away from them when she evidently needed help? Why didn't she just accept their justified concern instead? Didn't she understand that they were - well - her friends?
She'd addressed them when she'd been threatened by enemies of hers before, hadn't she?
But then, Akane remembered, Ranma had been involved and he had been as much in danger as Shampoo...
This led Akane to another way to consider the used-to-be vivid and enthusiastic girl's thinking.
Was it... Akane's eyebrows creased slightly into a pensive frown. Was it maybe because this was a different case to her now? Because this time, it affected her alone?
Maybe she'd merely wanted to warn them at that time when they had to fight the Chinese twins. Because she had felt guilty at having Ranma dragged into her business.
Maybe this time, it was different because Shampoo just didn't know how to deal with the current situation; didn't know neither the cause of her unusual exhaustion nor how to cure it.
Was she scared?
'Damn! What's wrong with you, Shampoo?' Akane thought angrily, the feeling of dizziness gone and immediately replaced by an increasing throbbing in her head. Either she had misjudged Shampoo's character or running away was just not like her.
When she approached the doctor's office, the thoughts kept swirling madly in her mind until her head actually hurt.
Before she entered, though, Akane took on a more confident expression and told herself 'Shampoo is strong. She will never let herself intimidate by some unknown kind of danger, but face it like the determined fighter she is.' Nevertheless, two words nagged in the back of her mind, almost successing in making her sceptical: 'Will she?'. Unlike usually, when she appreciated the interference of that sensual part of her mind, she waved them away at once. She had to trust in Shampoo. The girl she knew would just not do something rash and stupid now, regardless how hopeless she might feel in the moment.
Since she had not knocked on the door, there was a rather surprised look on the handsome doctor's face as she burst in, drawing quick breaths.
"Akane! Did something happen?" Dr. Tofu asked.
"Doctor Tofu - sorry - I didn't mean to..." She trailed off, resting her right hand on the door-frame to support her rocking body.
But Akane hadn't stopped speaking because her lungs needed a pause.
Her face imitated the expression of the one Dr. Tofu was wearing when she spotted the person sitting opposite him.
"Cologne!?"
She returned the woman's stare. "What are you doing here?" There was no sharp edge in her voice, rather growing confusion.
"Oh, Akane," the Amazon replied - strangely enough, in an odd gentle tone which seemed very unfamiliar to Akane, coming from the old ghoul. "I'm afraid my obstinate great-granddaughter was in a - shall we say - alarming condition this morning again. Consequently, I decided to take the doctor's advice and came to his office to see whether his investigations on the matter were succesfull."
Akane nodded. She should have known that Cologne - unlike Mousse's supposition - hadn't gone to Funabashi early to receive the new ramen supplies. Of course, Cologne would have informed Shampoo about such a journey, but Mousse obviously wasn't too sure she had even considered to let HIM know as well. After all, the fellow member of the Amazon tribe used to 'forget' he was there, too, and when she remembered, Cologne always treated him like a good-for-nothing servant who wasn't worth being told about the ambitious projects of an Amazon woman.
"How can I help you, Akane?" Dr. Tofu repeated, smiling now, but still looking concerned.
"Doctor, Mousse came by and told us that Shampoo has fainted again -"
Cologne's eyes widened. "Doctor," she said and stood up, facing Akane. Dr. Tofu did likewise and answered her unfinished question. "Of course. I'm on the way."
"-no, Doctor, she's not at the Nekohanten; we were already there," Akane continued.
"Indeed?" Dr. Tofu asked pensively, obviously waiting for more information.
His regular patient nodded swiftly, gesturing her impatience. "We parted to go looking for her in the surroundings. The meeting point will be at the Tendo's if someone found her - or if it's useless."
"It won't be," the doctor said at once and strode over to the coat-hook next to the entrance door to seize his jacket. The two women followed close behind. "We will find her."
And together, they went outside into the chilly, growing darkness of the approaching night.
Hurrying down the alleyways, Dr. Tofu addressed Akane. "Why did Mousse come over to you and left Shampoo behind alone?"
"He said that she didn't regain consciousness, despite his efforts to shake her awake."
"I understand... But then, why didn't he take her with him?" he pressed.
"I don't know..." Akane responded, now puzzled herself. "I suppose he just didn't think she would awake while he was away."
"Hm," Dr. Tofu said with a nod before he turned his head to face Cologne on his other side.
"You have been about to tell me what exactly you saw in Shampoo's chi this morning when Akane has arrived, Cologne," he remembered the old Amazon who had been quiet since they had set off, apparently lost in thoughts.
"Oh" She snapped out of her reverie and spoke then in an even tone. "Yes, Doctor," she began slowly. "Well, it was the same strange lump I have discovered last week - but much clearer."
Dr. Tofu sighed, but remained silent.
"I hoped, Doctor, that you have a particular suspect by now. Do you have any idea what might cause those fainting fits yet?"
Another sigh followed. "I am sorry. My investigations have produced nothing so far," he admitted.
Akane, who was slightly astonished of Dr. Tofu's fitness, began panting again. She took it that the conversation was over and - like the others - turned her head to glance in each alley they passed, hoping to catch sight of a swift movement, followed by a blur, the color of a certain violet...
There was a soft knock on the door.
Kuno looked up.
Who would want to see him at such a late hour? He certainly didn't expect someone, and his sister was gone half an hour ago...
But in spite of his confusion and mild anxiety, Kuno straightened up and approached the door.
"Who is there?"
His voice sounded unnaturally loud as it broke the silence and echoed against the immense walls of the large training hall.
No answer.
The fact, however, only confirmed his uneasiness and thus made him feel no better as he reached the door and, hesitantly, opened it, his bokken still in his left hand - just in case.
He blinked once, then stuck his head out into the hall, looking right and left.
It was empty.
'So,' Kuno thought angrily, one eyebrow twitching. 'Someone makes fun of Tatewaki Kuno.'
"Show yourself!" he roared along the deserted corridor to no one in particular. "Only cowards hide!"
His eyes full with determination, he clutched the bokken with both hands and pushed the door wide open with a violent kick so that it would hit the wall hard. The act would no doubt ensure a frightening entrance.
Kuno prepared himself for the big bang.
Instead, though, there was a soft, muffled noise.
Confused, he stepped into the hall and took a look behind the door.
His eyebrows raised, he reached down for the paper ball that lay on the floor and unfolded it.
Now, his curiosity was definitively aroused.
Kuno threw the small stone which had been wrapped up in the ball out of the window and smoothed out the message.
He skimmed through the first line -
And gasped.
"How do you feel?" Kasumi asked, handing her patient a new-filled cup of tea.
"Much better. Thank you for your hospitality," answered Kodachi who took the offer with a grateful smile.
"You're welcome. You can stay as long as you please. Now, rest some time. No one will disturb you here. When you are hungry, don't hesitate to join us at the breakfast table tomorrow morning."
With that, the eldest Tendou daughter stood up from where she had knelt beside Kodachi's futon and turned to leave the guest room.
Kodachi looked after her until she had vanished through the door, then sighed and sipped the warming drink.
She felt sated and warm- in a word: good. For the first time in the last few days, she could tell that she felt good. Maybe she could really get some sleep this time. Because Kodachi felt so exhausted that she couldn't imagine having had rest at all the last week.
After that dinner, Kodachi had no doubt that Kasumi really was an excellent cook. 'The better for me,' she thought, 'That naive girl Akane who impudently calls herself Ranma's fianc? will never live up to his wishes and desires. Some day, my darling will come to realize too that I am the only one who has the qualifications to become his rightful wi-'
"'Come'"
At once, the gymnast snapped out of her reverie. Where had the voice come from?
Frantically, she looked from one corner of the room to the other.
But there was no one to be seen.
Strange. She could have sworn she had heard -
"'Follow me'"
The twisting, nervous sensation in her gut told her that something was completely wrong.
She had never heard such a voice before. It sounded bemused, friendly and somehow... tempting.
Kodachi just wasn't able to make out where it came from.
"'There is a place'"
It seemed to echo in her head as though it was magnified by a microphone.
"'You can be with Ranma'"
Why did she feel so light-hearted all of a sudden?
"'Follow me. I will lead you to a place where you can be at Ranma's side'"
The soft, echoing whisper fogged her mind. She felt numb; as though her thoughts were being drained.
"'Come with me!'"
And without knowing what she was doing, Kodachi threw back the blanket.
End of Part 6
Author's note: I'm back again! After all, the show must go on! Sorry, but I'm afraid I won't be able to update regularly because this school year is going to be particularly stressful. That, however, doesn't mean I don't get a lot of fun out of writing this fanfic anymore - don't worry. Just check every now and then in case I have updated a new chapter. And please, don't forget to review.
As you might have noticed, English is not my first language. So please, show me the mistakes and I'll fix them! Thanks!
Thank you for stopping by and reading my story!
Until next time,
Jenny