Chapter 12 - Goodbye China!

"Ranma, you fool ..." she thought to herself and went back to the hut. In the meantime it was getting light again.The rain subsided and the birds started chirping. The three of them were at noon

ready to go. They took the forest path they came from. After three days they reached the city again. "The path didn't seem that long to me last time." said Ryoga. Ranma was a little annoyed. "We would have been faster if you hadn't shown us this" shortcut "that would have gone 200 meters downhill. You can be glad you didn't fall!" Ryoga felt embarrassed. "Well, uh ... it rained the last time ... I wasn't that sure of my way either ..." Ranma hit Ryoga with his fist. "We almost died because of you!" exclaimed Ranma. He wanted to go back again. Akane got in the way. "Ranma! What's the matter with you?" she asked. Ranma left the question unanswered and turned her back on Ryoga. "We should go to the hotel now and make our way home tomorrow." he said. "What's the matter with him?" Ryoga asked, wiping off the blood.Akane shrugged. "I don't know ..." The next morning they made their way to the airport. There was complete silence on the way to the airport. "Ranma. What about you?" Akane broke the silence. Ranma slowed but did not stop. "What's going on?" asked Ranma and went on. When they got to the airport they bought their tickets and crouched in the waiting room. "The machine starts at 10:45 am!" said Akane. "We're finally going home again." Akane thought as she got on the plane.

Chapter 13 - Abandoned Houses

Akane stormed off the plane when it finally landed in Japan. "Home at last!" she exclaimed overjoyed. Ranma and Ryoga followed. She went into the hall and went to the nearest food stand. "How I missed that!" she said. Ranma shrugged. He leaned over to Ryoga and whispered, "She acts like she hasn't been here for decades."Ryoga agreed. After she had eaten she wanted to go home. They took a taxi and drove off. When they arrived Akane stormed out of the taxi and ran into the house." Dad! Kasumi! She called. She ran into the kitchen. "Where are you?" She called. They looked outside, upstairs, but no trace of them. In the meantime Ranma and Ryoga had entered the house. "Where are everyone ? "asked Ranma. Akane was at a loss." It seems like they haven't been there for a while. The groceries ran out a week ago. "Reported Ryoga. They combed the whole house for a lead. After a while they gave up the search." We go to Kuno! "Suggested Ranma." He may know where you are. "They left the dojo and went on their way. Ranma knocked on the door. For a while he did not move." The door is not locked, "he said and entered the house." Kuno? Is there anyone here? "Shouted Ranma." Something's wrong here, "said Ryoga." Where is everyone?"" That's strange, "said Akane." Then what is wrong with the others? "Asked Ranma and ran out of the house." We're going to shampoo! "He called back to the two of them. He ran up the street in the direction of the Cat Cafe When he arrived he saw a few people standing in front of the restaurant. “What's going on here?” He asked one of the passers-by. “The restaurant has been closed for 11 days. The owners have also disappeared. Nobody knows where they are, "said one of them." This is really strange now, "said Ranma.

Chapter 14 -

The three returned helplessly. "Ukyo is gone too." said Ryoga. "And what do we do now? Asked Akane." We're going to the police! "Decided Ranma. At the station they asked an officer." I'm sorry. We are not aware of any missing persons in the area, "said the officer. Ranma got angry and hit the table." Now listen! Our family has disappeared! Likewise friends and acquaintances! And they say no one is missing !? "exclaimed Ranma, horrified.The policeman tried to calm Ranma down and asked the three of them to sit down. "I just said that there were no reports of missing persons. Please give the people you are missing." said the official. "We only arrived here this morning. We stayed in China for a while. When we came back, however, the house was empty. Shampoo and Cologne disappeared 11 days ago. The others probably too." Ranma gave the officer all the information. "It is very strange that so many people disappear at once." said the officer as he looked through the whole list again. "And what should we do now?" Akane asked the officer. The officer got up. "We'll check that and then notify you. That's all we can do at the moment." he said and they said goodbye. "Let's go back. We'll see again tomorrow morning." said Ranma. Ryoga then turned onto a side street. Ranma noticed this and ran after him. "Where are you going, Ryoga?" Ranma called after him.Finally he caught up with him. "I want to go home." "But you can stay overnight with us." Ranma invited him. Ryoga shook his head. "I'm a hundred percent man again now. I can't ..." he said and walked on. Ranma stood there perplexed. "Well then! We'll meet tomorrow!" Ranma returned to Akane.

Chapter 15 - "What matters is this here and now."

Akane was already waiting for Ranma. He told her Ryoga was coming tomorrow. "So we'd better go home." he said in conclusion. Akane nodded and walked hand in hand with Ranma. "W ... what are you doing?" asked he. Akane didn't know what he meant. "Why are you holding my hand?" asked he. "But we're ... well ... we're together now, aren't we?" Akane asked him. Then Ranma suddenly turned red in the face. "W-what do you say?" asked Ranma. Akane was amazed at his reluctance and let go of his hand. "What's the matter with you now? You've been so different lately ... I thought you loved me?"Ranma turned away." That's what I thought ... I still think so, but ... uh ... I'm not quite sure about my feelings, "he said to a stunned Akane. She sat down on a nearby bench. Maybe I can help you. "She said. He sat down and looked at the floor embarrassed." I don't think you can help me. It's just that feeling deep inside of me. I feel a second person ... a girl who sees you as a macho woman. And another side that loves you with all my heart. "Said Ranma. Akane's face became sadder. She leaned against him and said:" I didn't know that the feelings of her are so strong. I can't believe that your memories affect the way you feel right now. "Ranma held Akane's arm." Akane, no matter what I thought of you. The only thing that matters is the here and now! "Akane nodded." You're right. "She turned to him and Ranma kissed her.She smiled. "Let's go home. It's getting late." said Ranma and got up. Akane agreed. "You're right. What matters is the here and now!" She also got up and they went back to the dojo.

Chapter 16 - The First Clue

The next morning they were rudely awakened by Ryoga. Ranma went to the door when he heard Ryoga's voice. "So what's going on?" asked Ranma, half asleep. At that moment Akane came down. "Good morning Ryoga. What's wrong?" she asked too. "I saw shampoo! Yesterday, when I was on my way home, I heard voices from a forest. I went in and saw shampoo! But as I got closer, it dissolved into thin air and disappeared. I got the whole." Forest searched but nothing found. ”Ryoga snorted excitedly. Ranma and Akane didn't know what to make of the story. "What forest was that in?" Akane asked. "I ..." Ryoga was interrupted by Ranma. "I bet you have no idea what forest you were in yesterday.I'm right? "Ryoga nodded embarrassed." After this apparition I went to you immediately! "He said." IMMEDIATELY !? "Ranma whispered mockingly to Akane. But she ignored him and asked Ryoga:" Does that mean you didn't sleep? "Ryoga said no." I looked for the exit from the forest, but couldn't find it in the dark. So I stayed in the forest. "He said." It was FULL MOON! "Said Ranma. Ryoga got angry." I didn't see a moon! "He said. Akane calmed them down." I'll make breakfast, "she said. "Yes. Thank you Akane. "Said Ranma. While they were having breakfast the three thought about how to follow the trail." We have to take a closer look at the forest. "Said Ranma." Yes, exactly! Maybe shampoo will show up again! "Akane agreed with Ranma, so they decided to search the woods in the area." There are three woods in the area. We'll start with the closest. "Said Ranma. They took the bus to the outskirts."Is that the forest?" Akane asked. But Ryoga had no idea. "Let's go in." said Ranma.

Chapter 17 - Destiny

They went into the forest and looked around. "I think it's pointless. We're just wasting our time. I searched the whole area yesterday and found nothing." said Ryoga. But Ranma did not listen to him and went even further into the forest. It was getting darker and more eerie. "I've never been this far in the forest. That looks spooky!" said Ranma, astonished. As they went further, they felt more and more uncomfortable. "It's getting darker and darker." noted Ryoga. "We're just imagining it. It's just before noon." said Ranma. Akane saw it differently. "But Ryoga is right. It has been getting darker since we went into this forest." she said. Now Ranma noticed that it was really getting darker. They looked up at the sky. "But that's impossible!" Ryoga exclaimed in amazement. Above their heads they saw a weak source of light through the thick trees."The moon!" Akane called ...

to be continued...