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Ranma 1/2     : A Demon's Delight
Chapter Three : The Unknown 
Theme Song    : Soundgarden - Superunknown - Track 5 - SuperUnknown


... Ranma was finally within arms reach of Akane when she began to slow.  His 
chest was pounding, partially from the run, but more-so from his fears about 
what HE had caused to happen only a few moments earlier.  Akane came to a stop 
at the corner of a building, which she used for support.  Ranma stopped beside 
her.  She was panting wildly, fresh tears dripped off of her face as she 
turned to Ranma.
"I-I..."  Akane's phrase was cut off as she drew large amounts of air to her 
lungs.
Ranma gently placed his hand on Akane's left shoulder.  "I'm sorry Akane..."  
Akane's breath was beginning to slow somewhat.  "What happened back there 
was... my fault.  Forgive me."
Akane wiped some of the tears from her face, which was now rose colored on and 
around her cheeks.  "I... I didn't know!"  She broke back into tears as she 
continued, "I didn't know it could do that, and now... and now..."  She closed 
her eyes and attempted to suppress the waves of emotion screaming to be 
expressed.  "I've killed him!"  She exclaimed as she began to collapse.  Ranma 
grasped her firmly, and pulled her to him.  He spoke softly into her ear. 
"Listen to me Akane.  What happened was my fault.  I wanted to find out what 
you had learned, so I decided to-"
"That doesn't matter!  Akane stepped back so she could see Ranma's face.  Her 
legs were shaky, but she was able to stand now.  Ranma was obviously concerned 
for her, something which set off more triggers within her mind.  "If I had-If 
you hadn't moved out of the way- I... I... Apsu... I hit him!  And now 
he's..."  Akane was interrupted by Ranma pulling her close to him.  She didn't 
resist.  She held him tightly, like a lifeline, as the flow of tears 
continued.
Ranma held onto Akane.  He couldn't think of anything else to do.  Minutes 
passed with Akane sobbing as Ranma provided support that she desperately 
needed.  Akane's crying slowed as she ran out of energy to continue.  She held 
onto Ranma more loosely now.
"What am I going to do?"  Akane asked softly.
Ranma stepped back, and looked at Akane.  He had to help her.  "The first 
thing we're going to do is to go home, Akane.  You need some rest, and I need 
time to think.  After you're ready we are going to work on your control over 
that technique.  I don't know what else we can do."
"But, what about Apsu?  Can't we-"  Ranma interrupted her softly, cutting her 
off before she could break back into tears.
"Apsu will be just fine.  When we see him again-which should be soon-I will 
talk to him.  Everything will be fine, Akane, everything.  I promise."  Ranma 
hoped he wasn't lying.
"Okay..."  Akane wiped as many of the tears from her face as she could, 
increasing the redness dominate on her cheeks.  She then began walking in the 
direction of the Tendo Dojo.  Ranma walked closely beside her.  They walked 
silently until they reached the doorstep of the dojo.
"Be in the training room in 45 minutes if you can, okay Akane?"  Ranma said, 
being as polite as possible.
Akane turned to Ranma.  He had a serious and caring face, so much unlike what 
she was used to seeing on him.  Was it that something bad always had to happen 
before he could be nice to her?  Akane dismissed the thought and entered the 
dojo, then solemnly walked up the stairs.
Ranma watched to make sure Akane was okay as she walked up the stairs.  As 
Akane entered her room Ranma sat down near the breakfast table.  He saw no 
signs of Kasumi or Mr. Tendo as he crossed his legs and closed his eyes.  With 
no light, and no sounds other than the occasional chirp of a bird, Ranma began 
to do something he wished he had done a long time ago...
He began to think.
He could hear Akane's door opening, and footsteps heading in the direction of 
the bathroom.  Ranma decided that his outlook on Akane had to change.  During 
small periods during their relationship, usually just after something bad 
happened to Akane, he would be nice to her.  It seemed to come naturally to 
him then.  Normal situations were a completely different story, however.  His 
carelessness and simple lack of ability to show Akane the respect that he knew 
she deserved had caused a disaster... and now he also had Apsu to worry about. 
 If he wasn't okay, Akane would never forgive herself.  If he didn't come 
back, the police would undoubtedly get involved, making a bad situation even 
worse.
[...]

Akane slipped off her uniform as the bath continued to fill with warm water.  
She was covered in now-evaporating sweat, and needed to relax badly.  She 
tossed her uniform into a clothing hamper, and looked at her martial arts 
dogi, which she would be wearing shortly when training with Ranma.  She 
stepped into the bath, and slowly sank into a relaxing position while warm 
water creeped over her.  She cut the water off when the bath was full and 
relaxed, closing off her thoughts, and focusing on normal life.  She ducked 
her head below water for a few seconds, soaking it.  She then grabbed a 
washcloth and lathered it with soap. She gently rubbed her face down before 
rinsing the soap off.  She sighed, her gaze locked on the ceiling.  Ranma had 
said that what happened to Apsu was his fault when it really wasn't.  Akane 
took comfort in the knowledge that Ranma was trying to help her.  An image of 
Apsu appeared in her mind, not of the one she had seen today, but one of him a 
little over a year younger, smiling happily after a sparring match which Akane 
had watched.  Akane began to smile until another image of him flashed in her 
mind, of him asking her "What?" just before the Sugoiken had taken effect.  
She hoped desperately that Apsu was okay, and that he would come back so that 
she could apologize...  She took a bottle of shampoo and squeezed a small 
amount into her palm, and rubbed it into her hair, creating a large lather 
which drizzled onto her face occasionally...
[...]

Ranma stood, his stomach growled violently despite him having had lunch a 
little less than an hour ago.  He walked into the kitchen and opened the 
fridge.  He looked inside, only to be disappointed by a lack of food.  There 
was, however, some iced tea in a two quart container.  Ranma took the tea and 
prepared a glass, adding a few extra spoonfuls of sugar to give him an energy 
boost.  He downed the glass in a single drink, the sudden introduction of 
sugar into his body giving him a slight dizzy feeling.  He then began a 
process of filling the glass, and downing it faster than he had filled it.  
After he had drank the entire container he walked into the training room of 
the Dojo.  He could hear Akane walking down the stairs, so he turned to face 
the entrance.
Akane walked into the training/sparring room of the dojo.  Ranma was standing 
in the center of the room, and motioned for her to come closer.  She walked to 
Ranma, thinking about how he intended to help her control a technique that he 
didn't know.  When she was only a few feet away, Ranma began to speak.
"Before I can help you with your technique, I need to know how you learned it, 
what it is supposed to do, and how you use it."  His tone was even, like that 
of a seasoned instructor.
Akane thought back to her training with Happosai.  "Happosai taught me the 
Sugoiken.  He said that it focuses anger into a punch.  When he taught me, he 
acted like a complete pervert and made a fool of me when I couldn't use it.  
Just when I was about to give up, I felt the power...  It was almost like 
something in my body suddenly clicked, and I could use it."  She hoped her 
explanation had been clear enough.
Ranma thought about what Akane was saying.  His face changed drastically as 
Akane told him about Happosai's training methods, he would pay dearly for 
teaching Akane a technique when he knew that she wouldn't be able to control 
it.  Being based on anger must have been what made it so powerful when it hit 
Apsu, and why Akane didn't build a battle aura like she usually did.  He only 
needed one more piece of information,  "What do you do when you want to use 
the technique?"
Akane thought back to the two times she had used Sugoiken.  "I just channel my 
anger into my fist, at least, that's how I imagine it before I use it."
Ranma nodded his head.  Akane had been channeling all of her anger into the 
attack, which was making each strike extremely powerful.  Controlling the 
level of anger used should give Akane more control over the attack, so...
"I know what's wrong," Ranma said, "When you've seen me using a special 
attack, have you noticed that it isn't always at full force?"
Akane nodded.
Ranma continued, "When you used this "Sugoiken" technique, you used it at the 
maximum level you could at the time, didn't you?"
Akane looked at her right hand, the one she had used in the attack when she 
began to realize what Ranma was talking about. "Yes..."
Ranma smiled, "All you have to do is control your emotions when you use it, 
and you will be fine,"  He looked around the room.  "I've got it.  I'm going 
to throw attacks at you.  I will start off slow, then build speed as time 
passes.  When I get to a speed you're comfortable with, start to counter 
attack."
Akane nodded, "Okay..." 
Ranma assumed a combat stance. "Begin!"  He stepped forward, and threw a punch 
with his right hand.  Akane snapped her left forearm at Ranma's, knocking it 
aside.  She saw his left foot leave the ground as he executed a roundhouse.  
She jumped back, barely evading Ranma's attack as his foot created a breeze 
just in front of her face. "Okay, okay!"  She snapped at Ranma as she faked a 
hammer-strike with her left arm, then thrusted with her right fist.  Ranma 
quickly dodged the attack, then launched a flurry of his own kicks and 
punches, each connecting just as he had planned.
Akane stepped back after the massive barrage of attacks.  Ranma had hit her at 
least seven times in 4 seconds, but the strikes had been very controlled, and 
very light, leaving only a small stinging sensation where he had hit.  Ranma 
relaxed his stance for a moment as he watched Akane.
"That is what I want you to be able to do, Akane.  It is exactly like you and 
your Sugoiken technique, once you learn to control it, it's yours.  If you 
don't learn to control it - imagine each of my strikes being at full strength. 
All you really have to do is control the amount of energy you throw with the 
punch."
Akane understood what Ranma was talking about, it seemed so simple now...      
                                                          Ranma continued, 
"Now, begin!"
Hours passed in that room as Ranma and Akane repeated the same pattern over, 
and over, and over...  Occasionally Akane would become angry and throw an 
actual punch at Ranma, and each time she did Ranma was sure to stop and 
lecture her on control.  The teaching seemed to come naturally to Ranma, and 
sharing his knowledge gave him a sense of satisfaction that was, in some ways, 
new to him.
[...]  6 Days Later
Ranma dodged a massive series of punches thrown by Akane, the training had 
been proceeding exceptionally well, and kept Akane's mind off of Apsu for 
nearly a week.  The trouble was that Akane had nearly mastered her self 
control in sparring matches against Ranma, and once that was over he had 
nothing else to keep her occupied.  Ranma initiated the last section of 
Akane's training, hoping that she had the same control over the technique that 
she had demonstrated in her regular strikes.
"Kacchu Tenshin Amaguriken!"  Ranma extended his index finger on his right 
hand as he continuously connected with the rapid punches.  Each time he 
connected he tapped Akane, as the two had been doing for nearly a week now.  
Akane stepped back, overwhelmed by Ranma's onslaught.
"Just what do you think I am?  A punching bag?"  Akane snapped as Ranma 
stepped toward her and continued attacking.  He began aiming his shots more 
carefully, lightly hitting several pressure points on Akane's body.  Akane's 
legs began to buckle beneath her as she lunged her left fist forward, 
connecting solidly with her index finger on Ranma's face.
Ranma felt the impact of Akane's finger as he once again upped the beat of the 
sparring-In order for Akane to use the Sugoiken he had to be winning the match 
utterly.  He began using both fists as Akane retreated under intense pressure.
"You jerk this isn't training!  How do you expect me to keep up?"  Akane's 
breath was labored as she screamed her frustration, rattling the room.
"Use it Akane!  If you want to have any chance of winning this then use your 
fancy technique!"
A memory flashed across Akane's mind, of Ranma leaping over her as she vainly 
tried to strike at him, then of him saying "Get it over with, use your fancy 
technique!"  Akane frowned.
"Okay Ranma, you baka.  If that's what you want..."
"USE IT ALREADY!"  Ranma commanded loudly and rudely.
Ranma watched as Akane drew back with her left fist.  As it shot forward he 
quickly dodged to his left - only to be hit by Akane's other fist.  He braced 
himself for the impact as a menacing blue field of energy began to form in 
front of him.  It quickly passed through him, and he was knocked back onto a 
wall with tremendous force.  After a few seconds the force dissipated, and 
Ranma collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
"R-Ranma?  You okay?"  Akane ran to him and helped him into a sitting 
position.
"I'm fine."  Ranma said in a dazed tone as his head wobbled from side to side.
Akane watched as Ranma slowly recovered.  It took a full three minutes for 
Ranma to stand.
"Well Aka-"  Ranma stopped speaking as Kasumi entered the room carrying an 
envelope.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted you, but this just arrived for Akane."  Kasumi 
held out the envelope as Akane slowly took it.
"Not at all Kasumi, thanks."  Akane looked at the envelope.  The return 
address was non-existent.
"Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes, so try to finish by then if you 
can," Kasumi said as she turned and slowly walked out of the room.
Akane opened the letter.
Akane Tendo of the Tendo Dojo,
This is a formal challenge to you.  I have tracked the disappearance of my 
fiancee' to you and intend to make you pay dearly for it.  Meet me at 7:00 PM 
the day you receive this letter two blocks west of your dojo.
Michelle Chang
Akane's mouth slumped open as she read the challenge.  A fiancee??? Since when 
did Apsu have a Fiancee?
"What are you going to do, Akane?"  Ranma said as he finished reading the 
letter over Akane's shoulder.
Akane turned to look at Ranma.  She then looked down at the note.  "I've 
caused her a lot of trouble."
Ranma put his hand on Akane's shoulder.  "Listen, that wasn't your fault, 
we've been over that before.  It's the old freak's fault for teaching you that 
technique without teaching you how to control it, and my fault for pushing you 
to use it."
Akane sighed, "I can't ignore her."
Ranma lifted his hand from Akane's shoulder.  "Listen, when we get to the 
assigned place I'll talk with Apsu's fiancee.  I'll explain what happened and 
if she still wants to challenge you, I will be there in case something 
happens."
Akane smiled meekly, "Thanks, Ranma."
"No problem Akane, no problem..."
[...] One Hour Later
Ranma stood two blocks down the street from the Dojo.  It was night, and being 
January, was rather cold.  There was no traffic, as most of the residents of 
the city were busy keeping warm.
Akane was freezing.  She had skipped dinner because of the challenge, a fact 
her stomach was reminding her of constantly.
"I wish she would hurry up and show."  Akane said, agitated, as she drew her 
arms in closer.
"Be careful for what you wish!"  A female voice shouted as a figure leaped 
from the darkness in front of Akane.  The girl that Akane assumed was Michelle 
was well dressed, in a uniform emblazoned in gold with the words 'Various 
Martial Arts'.  She had black hair, and the same twinkling blue eyes that she 
remembered on Apsu.
Ranma stepped forward, placing himself between Akane and Michelle.  "Listen 
Michelle,-"
"I don't want to hear it!  Get out of my way, I have a fight to take care of!" 
 Michelle was furious, both her face and tone reflected it well.
Akane stepped around Ranma, stopping when she was directly beside him.  "If 
that's how it has to be-Ranma-stay out of our way for a few minutes."
Ranma looked at Akane, considering her chances, then stepped away from the two 
women to allow them a decent fighting area.  "Akane, if things get out of hand 
I will stop this fight."  he said as he walked a short distance away.
Akane did not hear him as she began to speak.  "I'm sorry for what happened to 
Apsu, I didn't mean-"
"Shutup and fight!"  Michelle leaped into the air, flashing out of Akane's 
sight, who assumed a defensive position.  She heard a battlecry from above and 
quickly moved to the side as she was caught in the right shoulder by a flying 
sidekick.  She stumbled back from the force as Michelle backhanded her in the 
face, before punching her in the stomach.  Akane gasped as she leapt back, 
avoiding the follow-up attack.  She was already bleeding from the nose, and 
her stomach felt sick.
"Pathetic."  Michelle stated as she ran up to Akane.  "Is this all you have to 
show for your family?"  A jab followed the statement.
Akane ducked as quickly as she could, barely evading the punch from Michelle.  
She clenched her right fist as tight as she could as she leapt up, slamming 
her fist directly into Michelle's chin.
Michelle stepped back, rubbing her chin.  "I can see you have some skill after 
all.  Well, not like it will help you.  Prepare to feel pain, Akane Tendo."  
With that Michelle ran at Akane, before leaping at her in another flying 
sidekick.
Akane desperately swung her right arm to the side just as Michelle's foot 
entered range.  She hit it with her wrist, deflecting the kick.  In a flash of 
movement Michelle placed her right foot on the ground and used her forward 
momentum to add power to a lunging punch, which connected with the center of 
Akane's chest.
Akane gasped as air evacuated from her lungs.  She stumbled backward, pulling 
Michelle's leg up as hard as she could, which caused Michelle to fall 
backward, landing on her back.
Michelle quickly flipped back to her feet.  "This is where you pay for what 
you have done to me."
Akane stepped back.  Why?  Why couldn't she just explain what had happened and 
get it over?  She felt her mouth, rubbing off a large portion of blood, which 
began to drip from her fingers.
"I've had enough of you."  Akane stated as Michelle stepped forward.  Akane 
quickly adopted a defensive position as Michelle launched another series of 
punches.  She knocked Michelle's right fist aside, and quickly returned the 
attack.  She quickly punched Michelle in the face and the stomach, before 
roaring a battlecry as she lunged forward with her right fist.
Michelle's senses were jarred by the last punch Akane had thrown.  She 
stumbled back, and looked at Akane as another punch landed on her stomach.
Akane's face twisted with anger as blood dripped off of her chin, and dried on 
her hand.
"Sugoiken."
Michelle retreated as the blue wave of energy which signified the Sugoiken 
began to form in front of her.  "No... NO!  NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"  she screamed 
wildly as the blast hit her, knocking her twenty feet down the road.  
Suddenly, as she landed, the screaming ceased.  It was replaced by a quiet 
sob.
Akane closed the distance between herself and Michelle by ten feet.  Ranma ran 
up beside her.
"You okay Akane?" Ranma asked,
Akane quickly nodded as she walked closer to the sobbing Michelle.  "I'm sorry 
Michelle."
Michelle scrambled to her feet.  She was obviously terrified.  "YOU WILL PAY 
FOR THAT!"  Her voice sounded psychotic. She quickly wiped the tears from her 
face as she reached into a pouch hanging from her waist.  Her hands shaking, 
she backed away from Akane.
Michelle retrieved a vial from her pouch.  She gazed into the clear liquid 
contained within the vial, then threw it into the air.  She looked up, keeping 
a close eye on the vial's location as she raised her right hand to aim at it.
Akane watched as a cone of flame erupted from Michelle's hand, striking and 
engulfing the vial for a few seconds.
Michelle caught the glass vial, burning her skin as she crushed it.  Blood 
flowed freely from the now deeply wounded hand.
"Why, hello Akane,"  said Apsu Tetsumi of the Tetsumi School of Various 
Martial Arts.  "I hope you didn't miss me too much."
"A-Apsu?  How - I mean what -" Apsu cut her off
"Explanations will come later.  For now, however, you pay!  This is RE-"
"I don't think so," Ranma said authoritatively as he stepped toward Apsu.  "I 
think you've had more than enough time fighting with girls."
Apsu swatted his hand, dislodging some of the larger shards of glass.  "Is 
that a challenge?"  he asked as he looked Ranma in the eye.
Ranma prepared for combat. "Damned right it is."
Akane watched as Ranma and Apsu entered fierce hand to hand combat.  Her mind 
raced with emotions as much as her body raced with adrenaline when Ranma 
spouted out the words "Kacchu Tenshin Amaguriken!"  The battle seemed to 
become a shadow in her mind when she thought of Apsu and what had happened to 
him... and HOW it happened to him.  He obviously had a curse similar to Ranm-  
Her thoughts were interrupted by an explosive chi blast released by Apsu.  She 
focused on the fight to see Ranma flying toward her.  She ducked, and Ranma 
flew just over her head, roaring in pain.
Apsu smiled as he watched the results of his attack.
"Various Martial Arts Special Attack, Hadoken.  Now let me show you a little 
technique I picked up a few months ago, Psychedelic Striiiiiiiike!!!!!!!"  He 
clasped his hands together and summoned all of his energy, building an aura of 
high-powered chi that grew steadily in strength. "...NOW!"  He thrust both of 
his hands forward, and released the energy.
Ranma brushed off the pain in his body as Apsu clasped his hands together.  
Apsu could use up all of his energy if he wanted to.  It wasn't like he didn't 
have a counter for chi blasts.
"Mouka Takabisha!"
Akane's face paled as nuclear holocaust became imminent.  She looked for 
cover, and spotted a tree only a few meters away from her.  She ran for it as 
night turned to day.
Ranma roared as his blast collided with Apsu's, creating an explosion of light 
which nearly blinded him.  The blasts continued to collide when energy began 
to arc around the focal point of the explosion, striking him with intense 
strength.  As he approached the point of passing out his fuel of confidence 
was depleted, causing the blast to cease abruptly.  One final detonation of 
pure chi erupted as the final parts of the attacks collided violently.
Apsu laughed half-heatedly as he saw Ranma still standing.  He stepped 
forward, and saw Ranma doing the same.  Apsu smiled as he approached 
ever-closer to Ranma.
Akane watched from her shielded position as Ranma and Apsu began to pound each 
other apart.  Both of them were weakened from the use of their chi blast 
techniques, and didn't even attempt to dodge or block when the other attacked.
Apsu took another weak shot to the face as he stumbled into Ranma, punching 
him in the stomach in the process.  "Don't you... give up?"  He felt Ranma's 
fist clash with his forehead as he put his weight on his stubborn opponent.
"I don't need to give up, just take a look at yourself!"  Ranma punched down 
on Apsu, striking him in the forehead.  A burning feeling in his legs 
increased drastically as Apsu put his weight on him. His legs immediately 
decided they had worked enough, and collapsed.  Ranma fell to the ground, 
exhausted.  He felt another impact as Apsu landed on top of him.  He pushed 
the almost completely limp Apsu to the side, and tried to rest as much as 
possible while he had the chance.
Apsu rolled onto his back, using the momentum supplied by Ranma.  He was 
exhausted, Warm blood continued to flow out of his hand as he looked over at 
Ranma.  His stomach growled loudly and was easily overheard by Ranma.
"What's your problem?"  Ranma asked, trying to keep Apsu occupied while he 
regained his strength.  He looked at Apsu, who's crystal eyes sparkled.
Apsu felt sick.  His body was screaming for rest, and dying for lack of food.
"I'll make a deal with you, Ranma.  You're much better than I expected, and I 
think I feel a lot better now...  Lets call off this fight for now, and go get 
something to EAT..."
Ranma laughed as loudly as his lungs would allow.  "Why the sudden change?  I 
thought this was a war of vengeance..."
Apsu sat up, and looked at his still bleeding hand.  "As our attacks collided 
I thought of when I broke the vial of water, and thought back to a training 
session I had a little over four months ago.  I had caused more injury to 
myself than you or Akane had, and that was a bad sign.  Do NOT mistake me, I 
am fully angry at Akane and intend to find some form of payment, just not 
combat.  I need time to think, and until that is over I will not act on 
impulse."
"I'm... sorry."  It was Akane's voice.  Apsu turned so that he could see her.  
She still had dry blood on her hand and around her nose.  She was also 
developing bruises on her left cheek, and under her right eye.  Apsu thought 
he could see the glossy trails of recently wiped tears streaming from her 
eyes.
Apsu opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, thinking of what to say.  He 
nodded.
"I know you are, Akane, and THAT is why I was wrong to attack you."  Apsu 
attempted to stand as he spoke but doubled over just as he finished the 
sentence.  He stopped the fall with his hands, aggravating his injuries.
Ranma stood and began brushing off his badly soiled clothes.  He saw Apsu 
attempting, and failing, to stand.  He offered his right hand to Apsu.  
"Peace?"
Apsu looked to Ranma, hand outstretched.  "Peace..."  he said as he grasped 
Ranma's hand.
Ranma pulled up, helping Apsu until he could stand on his own.  He noticed 
that Apsu kept his injured hand near his chest, and was no longer using it.  
"Don't you think you should get that checked out?" he said, pointing to Apsu's 
hand.
"No, all I need is some food.  I'll be fine after I eat."  The sky flashed 
with distant thunder, illuminating a cloud filled sky.
Ranma looked at Akane, "Let's get back to the dojo, all Apsu, or I need is 
cold water in our lives right now."  Just as Akane nodded, sleet and freezing 
rain assaulted the group.  Ranma felt the sensation that accompanied his 
change into his cursed form.
Apsu frowned as the change engulfed him. "Why M..e.. AHHH!"  The now female 
Apsu screamed wildly as she clutched her stomach with her left hand, while 
keeping her right hand tightly on her chest.  She stumbled forward as pure 
pain and terror invaded her soul.
Ranma and Akane watched in amazement as Apsu screamed wildly.  Her eyes began 
to glow a light blue when she stumbled back to the ground.
"Apsu?"  Akane asked, puzzled by his reaction to the curse.
"I--!  Get... OUT!"  In a flash of light, the concrete below Apsu was crushed. 
 More screams.  Akane shivered from the piercing sonic waves.  The screams 
quickly degenerated into muffled cries as Apsu collapsed completely.
"Are... Are you okay?"  Ranma asked, the spontaneous display of pain by Apsu 
was incredible, but it seemed to be more than that.
"Oh god it hurts...  can't..."  Apsu lost consciousness.
Akane rolled Apsu onto her back.  "Get him-her-him, oh nevermind!  Get Apsu to 
the dojo!"  She said, fear once again racing through her mind.
Ranma-chan nodded before leaning over to drape Apsu over her shoulders.
[...]  Ten Minutes Later
Fear.  Pain.  Fear.  Images.  Thoughts.
Ranma kept a close watch over Apsu as Kasumi entered the upstairs bedroom with 
a pot of hot water.  
"Here you are, Ranma."  Kasumi said as she sat the pot of water next to Ranma. 
 Akane sat completely silent as she waited for Apsu to do something, anything, 
which would lift her fears.
Fear.  Pain.  Fear.  Ranma.  Thoughts... Ranma?  Apsu fought the cloud of 
sleep and pain, slowly opening her eyes.
"Apsu???"  Akane asked.
"Oh god it hurts... all of the sudden... don't... I need water..."  Apsu's 
words trailed off into drowsiness as she began to fall unconscious again.
Ranma remembered the pot of hot water, and thrust her hand into it, instantly 
reversing the effects of the Jusenkyo curse.  The now fully male Ranma took 
Apsu's left arm and placed it in the water.
Apsu opened his eyes, and sighed.  "That was the worst experience I have ever 
had," he said, with a serious, but frightened face.  "As soon as the change 
hit me, I felt something... Something that I hope I never feel again, then 
everything blacked out except for a massive blast of pure pain..."
Ranma turned to Kasumi, "Could you do us a favor?  We need to get Apsu some 
food, but I'm not letting him out of my sight."
"Why of course Ranma, I'll be right back."  Kasumi smiled as she stood and 
walked to the door.
As Kasumi exited the room Akane looked at Apsu's eyes.  They showed more than 
he was talking about.  He had mentioned a feeling that he hoped never to have 
again.  "Aps', just what was the 'feeling' you were talking about?"
"Fear...  Pure and utter fear..."  His voice was whispery as he trailed off in 
his explanation.
Ranma looked at Akane for a few seconds.  She was staring at Apsu with a look 
of confusion.  Time seemed to slow considerably as the three remained silent, 
awaiting Kasumi's return with food.  Ranma stood and stretched out his 
slightly aching body.  He heard a knock, and opened the door.  Kasumi was 
LOADED with food!  Ranma did not hesitate to take large amounts of food from 
her and place it in a 'eat in 10 seconds' formation on the floor.
"Ranma."  Akane's voice was flat, but menacing.  Ranma turned, his face 
showing his desire to down as much food as possible ASAP.  "That is for Apsu 
you jerk!"
Ranma quickly recovered, "Well it's not like I wasn't going to give him 
some..." he said as he began placing bowls and plates of food next to Apsu.
Apsu sat up and looked at the selection of food near him.  Everything looked 
good to his aching and empty stomach.  He began to quickly annihilate all 
nearby stores of food...
Akane watched as Apsu eliminated nearly 3 complete dinners.  She timed it at 
somewhere near ten seconds as he wiped his mouth clean.
"I feel much better,"  Apsu said as he stood.  He looked at his bleeding hand. 
 He had lost a lot of blood, and that was what had kept him unconscious for 
the past twenty minutes.  He smiled as he summoned a blue aura of energy 
around his hand.
Ranma watched carefully as Apsu began to build chi around his bleeding hand.  
"What are you doing?"  he asked as he prepared to react if needed.
"Don't worry."  Apsu stated plainly as he clasped his hands together.
Ranma bolted up in preparation for a fight as the energy began to flow from 
Apsu's hands, bolts of chi arced to every part of his body just before the 
energy dissipated.
Apsu shook his right hand as the blue field of energy was absorbed into his 
body.  He stretched, testing his joints and muscles to be sure the healing had 
worked correctly.  He looked to Ranma, who was already getting back to his 
eating, then to Akane, who was watching Ranma eat.
"Well, everyone,  I'm back."  Apsu said sarcastically.
"So are you okay now?"  Akane asked, slightly shaken by Apsu's tone.
Apsu began walking to the door,  "I just used up most of the energy that I got 
from that meal, so I am going to find me a restaurant and make it's owner 
rich.  If you two don't mind, I want to talk with you two a bit more, so I'll 
foot the bill if you come."  
He had never seen two people stand so quickly.