The Spring Of Drowned Thief

Secrets Revealed and a New Rival

Akane had woken up, but kept her eyes closed, but even with them closed, she knew it was dark in her room. It was nighttime, and she’d slept all day. The soft blowing of wind out side was the only sound entering her mind. Just a gentle sound telling her that all the activity of the day was done. The bed was warm and inviting, and kept asking her to stay there. She accepted the invitation and curled up to the small body next to her. She wrapped her hands around Ranma, and found her a little cold to the touch, so she snuggled in close to share her warmth. She rubbed her chin on the smaller girl’s baldhead, and…. ‘Wait…. Bald? Since when has she been so thin too?’ Akane opened her eyes and found herself wrapped up with a bony figure with bony fingers wrapped around hers. She did the first thing that came to mind….

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

The family sat at the dinner table, with Kasumi getting ready to go wake up Akane when she was frozen in her steps by the scream. Ranma looked up and after a moment snapped her fingers and said, “Oh yeah! That’s where I left Betty! I guess we can stop looking for her, Ryouga.” The family including Ryouga fell flat on their faces.


Earlier that day: Ranma had stirred while it was still light out, and pulled herself out of bed. She used the walls of the house to support herself, but she was cut short on her travels when she arrived at the staircase. She was going to call for Kasumi, but Ryouga was closer, when he popped out of the dust closet below.

Ryouga smiled with victory and shouted. “FREE AT LAST!”

Ranma clapped, which caused a sudden redness to over take Ryouga, and she asked him for help down the stairs. Once at the bottom, Ranma detached herself from Ryouga’s helping arm and asked him to follow her to the dojo. Ryouga was curious, and soon followed with an ever-watching eye on Ranma. Once inside she motioned for Ryouga to close the door, and leaned up against the wall for support.

“What is this about Ranma?” She sighed and rolled her eyes a little.

“Look… I’m sorry about earlier today, in the bathroom. I didn’t mean to call you a pervert. We haven’t known each other long, but I know your intentions are good, and always have been. So forgive me, will ya?”

Ryouga scratched his head a little and took a deep breath. “I guess so. Just don’t make fun of me any more. I haven’t had a lot of the respect I deserve in my life…”

“I’ll keep that in mine. So you forgive me?”

Ryouga looked down and dragged out his sentence. “Yeah. I guess so.”

Ranma smiled immediately and opened her arms. “That’s the way! Now give me a hug there big guy!” Ryouga jumped back.

“N-No! Guys don’t hug other guys!”

Ranma pointed at her breasts. “Do guys have these? Now get over here and hug me damnit.” She started moving towards Ryouga.

“No! Get away from me! I don’t want to hug you!” Ryouga was avoiding Ranma, but not trying to make any real break for the door. He may have been lost, but we aren’t certain.

“C’mon! We’re buds now! Just a friendly hug! It’s not half as bad as you think! It’ll be a big manly hug!”

“H-How can you say that! Look at you! I’d prefer a handshake! You’re being creepy!”

Ranma smiled again and put out her hand out. “Fine! A hand shake then.”

Ryouga glared at Ranma and soon he put out his hand slowly. “O-ok. But a hand shake is all you’ll get out me!”

Ranma developed an evil grin and yelled, “SUCKER!” as she leapt at him with unknown strength.


Kasumi was busy in the kitchen, humming her hums, when she peered out the window. “Oh, my!”

Ranma was latched onto Ryouga’s back yelling, “You’re my best friend in the whole wide world!” As much as Ryouga was trying to look mad, he had a faint smile on his face as he screamed for Ranma to get off, and destroyed every thing in the back yard in general. After passing by the front door Ranma was suddenly halted and off of Ryouga’s back, She looked up to see who had caught her.

“Hiya, Doctor Tofu. Bringing my meds I hope.” The good doctor raised an eyebrow and look Ranma square in the eye.

“Now Ranma, what did I tell you? You are supposed to be resting, not horsing around.” Ranma bowed her head a little.

“Sorry, Doc… I had to give back Ryouga’s wallet some how…”

The doctor shook his head, “Please think of less active ways of doing so next time. You need your rest.”

She kept her head bowed, and said, “Yes, sir…”

The doctor nodded his head, adjusted his glasses, and smiled. “Good, now that, that’s settled, may I ask where Betty is?”

Ranma didn’t miss a beat and reached behind her and pulled out an arm. “H-hey! Where’s the rest of her?” Ranma exclaimed. She reached back and started ruffling through SOMETHING. “Err, sorry doc… I must have dropped her some where, but I’ll look around for her and have her back to you unharmed by tomorrow…”

The doctor nodded his head, “Well, ok… At least I know she’s in good hands with you. Now lets go inside and talk to Kasumi…” Hearts filled his eyes and his glasses fogged up as he made a direct beeline towards the kitchen while holding onto Ranma.

She screamed…


A little later, after Kasumi left to go to the pharmacy for Ranma’s meds, Ranma, Ryouga, and Tofu, were sitting in the living room in silence, while Tofu popped Ranma back into place.

“Doc, I gotta say. I never knew I could wrap my legs around my head four times and still walk…”

The doctor bowed his head a little and answered Ranma. “Err… Sorry about that… I don’t know what came over me. I swear that’s never happened before.”

Ryouga looked on in awe. “That was… weird…”

A few pops and cracks later, Ranma was almost feeling better, as she took some painkillers. “Hey doc. I got a favor to ask.”

The doctor gave an all ears look. “How can I help?”

“I need you to take some of my blood, and have it tested. I want you to take two samples. One sample from my male body and another one from my female body. I need to know if there’s a difference in them.”

The doctor raised his chin a little and gave it some thought. “I guess we could do that, but why do you need to do that?”

Ranma looked away shyly trying to hide some thing. “Just a theory I have. I’m just curious actually.”

The doctor thought for a few moments and gave the ok. “Sure. I’ll have you come by my clinic tomorrow. Is that ok?”

Ranma nodded happily. “Yup!”

Tofu quickly pointed at Ryouga. “I don’t want him walking there on his own, so help him there, ok?”

Ryouga only answered with a nod and a determined look. Tofu got up and straightened himself out. “I better get going. Please find Betty, for me Ranma.”

Ranma saluted the doctor and yelled, “YES SIR!” She passed a look towards Ryouga, “You gonna help me?”

Ryouga didn’t know who Betty was but it seemed important. “Um, sure.”

Ranma looked up with a giant smile and said, “Piggy-back ride! Pick me up!”

Ryouga shook his head and knelt down. “I’m starting to wonder if you ARE actually a girl… How come I feel like I missed a joke a few seconds ago?”

Ranma shook her head and hit Ryouga lightly. “Be nice! I’m an injured man. Now lets start looking.”

The doctor adjusted his glasses and watched the two go off searching. “So full of energy…”


After a good solid hour of looking for Betty, the two started getting bored. Ranma leaned closer to Ryouga’s ear. “This isn’t working out man… Are you as bored as me right now?”

Ryouga kept a lazy look in his eyes, “Yup… This Betty isn’t anywhere. Are you sure she’d even be here?”

Ranma looked thoughtful for a second. “Hmm, might not be, but I’m tired of thinking right now. Let’s go get some thing to eat.”

Ryouga shook his head. “Don’t have any money.”

“Don’t worry about it. I got some. Let’s go, I’ll lead.”

Ryouga nodded, “Ok, where too?”


The two found them selves in an ice cream parlor. Ryouga was having some thing simple, while Ranma was going over the menu. ‘I’ve always wondered what a fruit parfait was… Better try them all just to be sure…’

Ryouga found himself staring. “A-are you really going to eat all that!? It’s so much!”

Ranma just nodded and became a humanoid vacuum. Between various mouth fills, Ranma kept up her commentary. “You can, mmm, have some if you, KIWII! Like. Don’t be shy!”

Ryouga just shook his head and changed the subject. “Err. No thanks, why are you a girl any ways? You seemed determined not to change back right now.”

Ranma came in close to him. “Do you really want people to see a couple of guys at a dating spot eating ice cream and giving piggyback rides?”

Ryouga let that sink in and he found himself starting to get worried. “W-what are you talking about!? W-w-why are we hear Ranma!?”

Ranma raised an eyebrow, “We’re here to eat ice cream Ryouga. This is in fact an ice cream parlor, where ice cream is served. On top of that, I’ve always wanted to try these, but they are way to girly for a guy to eat. So hence I’m a chick right now.”

Ryouga was suspicious now. “Are you sure those are the only reasons… You’ve been acting weird…”

Ranma was taking a deep breath getting ready to answer, when suddenly and quite abruptly, the wall behind Ranma collapsed, with a voice behind it. “WHERE YOU ARE RANMA! I KILL!”


After the dust settled, Ryouga saw a purple haired girl with a pair of mean looking, yet colorful maces. She was looking around the rubble and debris until she pointed at Ryouga. “You! Where Ranma at!”

Ryouga didn’t know what to say, or do, so he pointed his thumb behind him. The enraged beauty screamed and smashed her way out and ran down the street. Ranma popped out of a fridge that made its way into the wreckage. Ryouga raised an eyebrow and ask. “So who’s your girlfriend? She seems kind of mad at you.”

Ranma’s eye twitched a little. “She’s not my girlfriend… She’s a deranged lunatic, bent on killing me.”

Ryouga crossed his arms and spoke again. “Yes, I figured that much out. Want to tell me about it. Next time I’ll actually tell her where you are.”

Ranma started getting on Ryouga’s back. “I’ll tell ya on the way home…”

The owner stopped them at the door. “WHO’S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS DAMAGE!?”

Ranma casually pulled out a chequebook labeled ‘Kuno’ and gave the owner a blank cheque. “Do what you need to do. Let’s go Ryouga.”


On the way home Ranma explained the things that went on after he got his curse and what went on in the Amazon village. Ranma beat Shampoo in a fight and won the first place prize, which her and her father ate. Then he told Ryouga about the Kiss of Death, and how Shampoo has been tracking him across China and Japan, hell bent on killing her. Ryouga had to rise a bit of an eyebrow at this point.

“Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You ate the prize thinking it was a buffet, and after she challenged you to it, you won, and now she’s hunting you down, over food?”

Ranma shrugged her shoulders, “Seems like it doesn’t it? But they are a backwater county, and have some pretty old traditions and rules. I think the rule she’s following right now is, ‘If a woman from outside the village defeats some one within the community, then the defeated must seek out and kill the other woman in order to regain her pride and place in the village.’ I think its something like that…”

Ryouga stopped and thought for a minute. He looked back to the redhead on his back. “Wait, you’re a guy right? What are rules for that one?”

It was Ranma’s turn to start thinking. “Ya know… I’m not quite sure… And now that I think about it, I don’t think she knows that I’m actually a guy…” Her eyes became wide and a wicked grin crossed her face. “RYOUGA! You’re some kind of genius, you know that!?”

Like the genius Ryouga was, he answered, “Huh?”

“She’s never seen me as a guy! I can hide out in the open and she won’t know a thing. Quick! Let’s get some hot water.”

The two made their way home, with a now male Ranma on Ryouga’s back. “I can’t believe I never thought of this!”

Ryouga stayed silent for the most part, but he couldn’t help but worry. “Are you sure this’ll work? You do look a bit the same in both forms. She might think that you’re related or some thing.”

Ranma pat him on the back a little, and pointed down the street. “You worry too much. Look over there. I think I see her. What better time then now to test this out? Right?”

Ryouga shook his head. “I got a bad feeling about this. I’m just warning you now though. If she starts coming after us, I’m dropping you and you’re on your own.”

Ranma twitched a little. “That’s cold and cruel…”

Ryouga smiled up at him. “No one said that life wa-“

“I KILL!!!”

The two screamed like little schoolgirls and shielded themselves with warding signs. “Oops. Shampoo sorry. Thought you some one else.” And she walked off from the two cowards.

Ranma looked up at Ryouga’s back. “You DID drop me! You bastard!”

Ryouga looked hurt and then angry. “I’m not fighting YOUR battles!”

Ranma crossed his arms and started pouting. “I’m an injured man, and this isn’t fair!”

Ryouga crossed his arms and got that smug look on his face. “Well, no one said life wa-“

SPLASH!

With a feminine hand, Ranma pointed Ryouga’s attention towards the little old lady watering her sidewalk. “Ryouga, this here is Prune. You will learn to hate her while you live in this town.”

Ryouga nodded with an angry look and said, “Bwee!”

Unfortunately for Ranma her voice was like a whistle to a dog and Shampoo shot around the corner holding a rather large, and rather sharp sword. “RANMA! I KILL!”


Kasumi was out side tending to laundry when she decided to take a short brake a look out into the street. “Oh, my!”

What Kasumi saw, was a very small piglet dragging a screaming redhead by the back of her shirt, followed by an enraged young girl with purple hair and a claymore screaming various things in foreign a language. This was followed by the sound of concrete breaking and random dust clouds shooting up over the horizon, with the screaming of innocent civilians. Kasumi decided it was best to go back to laundry, and start thinking about dinner.

Soun decided to take a warm soothing, relaxing bath and forget all of his worries for the time being. He draped the cloth over his eyes and started thinking of the old days with his best friend and their training trips. The constant fun, all the old jokes, running away from the master even seemed like a great memory. Unfortunately for him, he was in such deep thought that he didn’t hear the deafening crashing behind him and he reacted too late when the wall behind him collapsed along with a sudden appearance of two new people bathing with him, whistling, pretending nothing was amiss. He was caught off guard again when a sudden purple haired girl shot in and grabbed him by the head. “WHERE RED HAIR DEVIL GIRL!?” Before Soun could even answer, he and the purple haired girl were bombarded by various soups, and personal hygiene products with Ranma and Ryouga both shrieking.

“EEEEK! PERVERT! GET OUT!” Ranma screamed, while Ryouga did his best to follow suit. Shampoo was surprised by the reaction, but she found a suitable shield in the form of a dumfounded man that she had by the hair. After her shield had developed extensive damage, she dropped it and made a new opening in the doorway that already existed. When she was gone Ryouga started working quickly by fashioning a couple pairs of boxers out of his many bandanas.

Ranma slipped his on and asked. “How many bandanas are you wearing?”

Ryouga shrugged his shoulders and started moving. “Not sure. Let go.”

The two made their way downstairs as Soun started crying in his now demolished bathroom. Sniff ‘Just like how we were Soatome….’

And then Soun filled the bathtub again. “WAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”


Ranma was limping behind Ryouga as fast as he could, while Ryouga tried to find a safe place, while Shampoo prowled the house. Ryouga led them to the kitchen, where Kasumi worked away at tonight’s dinner. She was startled when some one tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped a little and turned around with a hand on her chest. “Oh, my! You scared me….”

What Kasumi saw when she turned around were a couple of studs in cheetah print underwear standing tall with their big masculine arms crossed over their big masculine chests. After a careful and thorough examination she blushed a little with a smile and looked away. “OH, MY!”

Ryouga looked at her with pleading eyes. “Kasumi! We need to hide! Do you know any where we can go until Shampoo is gone!?”

Kasumi peeled her eyes off of Ranma’s butt and said, “Umm. Try Nabiki’s room. She has quite the security system in there…”

Ryouga brightened up a little, and hugged Kasumi quickly, “Thanks! Ranma lets go. Show me the way!”

They left the room stealthily and Kasumi did her best to gather herself. Devious smiles creped up her face as she went back to work. “Oh, my! Such a strong boy!”

Ranma was soon on Ryouga’s back and leading the way, while sneaking through the house and up to Nabiki’s room. They got up the stairs, with out a sound, and continued in silence. Suddenly there was a loud bursting sound, which set off Ryouga into a running fit, and he ducked into the closest convenient door, which was luckily Nabiki’s.

Once inside and catching his breath Ryouga looked around the room to see Nabiki looking at them from under her manga. She was about to say some thing when she noticed Ranma on Ryouga’s back and then there was a discomforting silence in the air. After a few moments of staring Nabiki asked. “Can I help you…?”

Ryouga started looking around nervously, and with a bit of strain he asked. “Umm. Can you help us hide? We’re uhh. Being stocked by a homicidal girl, hell bent on killing Ranma…”

Nabiki was about to ask for payment but she didn’t know what to do with Ranma in the room. She noticed Ranma trying to avoid eye contact with her, and seemed to be holding on tighter to Ryouga. “Err.. I guess so. Just press the safety lock behind the picture to your left.”

Ryouga pressed the large red button and quickly a metal shutter closed over the door. His eyes bulged a little, but he didn’t want to complain about it. He started making his way over to a chair when he started to notice a few things. The first one was that Nabiki had been giving him odd looks over since he came in. Secondly, Ranma hadn’t said any thing yet. Thirdly, some thing seemed to be poking him in the back, while Ranma’s legs seemed to have suddenly become smoother, and much more pleasant to hold. Ryouga stopped and raised an eyebrow at his evaluation. He flipped Ranma in front of him with quite a bit of ease and examined. He put her down on her feet and stared. “When did that happen…?”

CRACK!

“STOP STARING! I KNOW THEY’RE BIG, BUT THEY AREN’T FOR THE WORLD TO SEE! That explosion out side was a water pipe bursting in the bathroom.”

Ryouga pried the fist out of his face and turned around, bright red and started fiddling with his many bandanas. “Err… Sorry…. Please put this on…”
Ryouga’s hand came behind him to hold out a cheetah print bra.

Ryouga started thinking, “Wait a min. How come I’m not wet?”

Ranma just shrugged. “That will forever be a mystery won’t it… Ranma started putting on the bra and started thinking as well. “The underwear I can understand, but how do you know how to make THIS.”
Ranma moved it around a little bit and added. “Not only that, but it fits perfectly… Ryouga, do you need to tell me some thing…?”

Ryouga turned around with a flash and looking angry. “W-what are you accusing me of now!? I needed jobs while I was on the road you know!? It just so happened that I was a clothes designer at one point!”

This went on for a little while, until Nabiki finally got tired of being ignored. “Could you two stop yelling at each other and tell me what’s going on?”

Ranma stopped immediately and started looking uncomfortable. Ryouga noticed this and decided it was high time to stop as well. Ryouga looked at Ranma quickly. “You want to explain it?”

He was caught of guard when Ranma only answered with a headshake meaning ‘no.’

He gave Ranma a confused look and asked, “What’s wrong?” Ranma just bowed her head a little and started stepping in place nervously. Ryouga finally remember what happened earlier that day. “Oh, yeah… Some thing happened between you two. Want me to step out side for a little bit?”
Nabiki nodded for him to go, but as he turned Ranma grabbed his arm for him to stay. “Err… Are you sure Ranma? I don’t mean to pry in on other people. I don’t have to stay.” Ranma just shook her head again and held onto Ryouga.

Ranma sat Ryouga down beside Nabiki on the bed and pulled up a chair. “This concerns you both…” She pointed towards Nabiki, “You’re probably wondering why I freaked out,” and then she pointed to Ryouga. “and you’re probably wondering why I start fights with you all the time…”

Ryouga and Nabiki both raised they’re heads to each other and then at Ranma. Nabiki spoke before any one could. “I know why you’re mad at me and I understand if you don’t want to speak to me again, but-“ She was talking like it was any old business deal, but Ranma interrupted her with an equal tone.

“I do want to talk to you. I like all of you people. You’re entire family is great to me, and I know you are all putting up with me the best you can. I just want us to be square, that’s all.”

Nabiki nodded, and responded. “I can handle that. Although I think I already know why you had a panic attack. I jumped the gun and didn’t think things out properly.” She pointed a thumb over to Ryouga. “I’m wondering though. Why does this involve him?”

Ranma was nodding, when she got the question about Ryouga. “He doesn’t know what happened to me. It’s why I always get mad at him over stupid things. I can’t help it.”

Ryouga sat there dumbly not knowing what to say. “Huh? What happened to you?” Ranma nodded her head and started the usual shaking when she tried to start.

Nabiki stopped her, and said. “Allow me, you’ve explained it enough.” She went through the details with Ryouga giving him the horrors on Ranma’s travels and all the dirty dealings. As she went deeper into the story, Ranma became more tightened, with the feeling of being alone, as well, as a serious need of being comforted. Every time Nabiki went in with a new horror, Ryouga just sat there looking blankly, yet taking in all the details. Once she was done Ranma was on the edge of another break down, while Ryouga was feeling sick to his stomach. There was the moment of silence for every one to gather their thoughts. Ryouga had now started thinking.

He looked towards Ranma with hooded eyes. “Ranma… I-I’m sorry…”

She shook her head. “Don’t say that. It had nothing to do with you.”

Ryouga started his own shaking this time. “I did this to you… I dropped you off at that horrible place, and they… they gave you away to some…“

Ranma flicked his head to snap him out of it. “Hey! Bone head! If you didn’t drop me off there, then I would have died. If you had left me in that forest then I would have a beef with you. Don’t think this is your fault for a second. It’s as much your fault to what happened to me, as it is mine. Neither of us had any control over what happened.”

Ryouga shook his head, still looking blankly at the floor. He put his chin in his hands. “I can’t help but feel responsible... How could I let that happen to some one?”

Ranma smiled, leaned in and touched his shoulder. “If you knew what was happening, would you have done every thing in your power to stop it?”

Ryouga shot up instantly with his fist in a ball. “O-of coarse! No one deserves to be treated like that!” He looked at Ranma straight in the eyes as hard as he could. “Not even some one I once hated. I would never let that happen!”

Ranma stood up too and gave his shoulder a hard punch. “See! That’s why I always know you’re content. We’re friends right!?” Ranma held his hand ready to catch Ryouga’s.

Ryouga heard the question and saw the hand, and his response required no thought. They clashed hands and held each other’s fist firm and tight. “Damn straight!”

Ranma gave him an evil glare. “I can’t wait till I’m healed up. I’ve always needed some one strong to spar with. Nothing like friendly competition.”

Ryouga gave a wicked smile and responded. “Ha! I’m no push over, ya know? I can’t wait to prove it to you.”

They both let go and started laughing hysterically. Nabiki took a picture for the scrapbook, and studied her surveillance system. On the other side of the enforced door, there was a man listening in with a wiggling lower lip, a tear of joy in his eye, and a smile of sheer triumph on his face. He thought to himself in silence trying to hold in the tears. ‘Just like us Soatome! You’d be proud to see your boy right now!’ He let the water flow and made his way downstairs towards the kitchen.

“Hey guys. It looks like that person is gone. We can clear out of here now, it’s almost dinner time any ways.”

Ranma and Ryouga looked at each other and were out the door and making their way downstairs. Nabiki followed behind, and once she was down, she looked into the kitchen and asked, “Hey Kasumi. Who’s that helping you?”

Kasumi smiled and pointed to a purple haired girl. “Oh, this is Shampoo. She seems to be one of Ranma’s friends. She said she was sorry about the property damage and offered to help me in the kitchen.”

Nabiki gulped and started backing away slowly. ‘Damn! I knew I should have put cameras in here as well! Better go tell Ranma…’

The family sat at the dinner table, with Kasumi getting ready to go wake up Akane when she was frozen in her steps by a scream coming from Akane’s room. Ranma looked up and after a moment snapped her fingers and said, “Oh yeah! That’s where I left Betty! I guess we can stop looking for her, Ryouga.” The family including Ryouga fell flat on their faces. Shampoo in the kitchen on the other hand, heard an all-too familiar voice and started sorting through the knife drawer with a cold smile on her face.