Erased By Kyokukou Disclaimer : I don't own the characters from Ranma 1/2 only the characters that I write myself . So please don't sue me ! But if you try to use my characters .....there will be ...unpleasant consequences if I find out . Do not repost or reprint this without my permission , however if you do ASK there is a good chance I will let you . " Memory is not just the imprint of the past time upon us ; it is the keeper of what is meaningful for our deepest hopes and fears ." -Rollo May I woke up like I normally do , well I guess it's normal for me . I looked up at the ceiling , it was normal , everything was normal . Now I know from somewhere that it's normal to sometimes not know where you are or anything when you first wake up . It happens , doesn't it ? So I wasn't too worried at first when I sat up and looked about , and couldn't recognize a damn thing . Not the room , not the furniture , and especially not the Panda snoring in the futon next to me . I just got up , stretched , and waited for my brain to tell me all about it . Only it just shrugged at me . I shook my head . It told me to stop that . " Oh shit ." I breathed . Great , I don't even recognize my own voice . " You awake yet ?" A annoyed female voice said before sliding the door open . I made a surprised noise at her entrance . She looked at me curiously and quirked an eyebrow . Honestly she was a beauty , a knockout . Short brow hair , smooth features that curved perfectly , and eyes that shone with a piercing intellect that set off warning klaxons in my mind for some reason . Before I knew it my body had respond to the klaxons , I fell into what I guessed was a fighting stance . " Real funny ," She snorted at me , unconcerned . " like I could fight you ?" She shook her head before looking out the door and down what I guessed was a hall . " He's fine ," She called to someone . " I told you so ." The reply was too faint for me to make out properly . The girl just shook her head and glanced back at me . " You're lucky there's no school today . Well , breakfast is just about ready so be down after you get the Hairball up ." With a chuckle she exited . I eased out of my stance and proceeded to look very befuddled . * Alright , take this logically .* I thought . * Where am I ?* No answer . * Fine . Who is the Panda ?* No idea whatsoever . * Okay ...Who was the girl ?* Zip . * What did I do yesterday then ?* Yes , we have no bananas . * This officially sucks .* I smacked my head and sat down . Why couldn't I remember anything ? Naturally this was rapidly putting me in a bad mood . I was working a good fit of frustration up real quick . I couldn't even recall what my last test was over , who my teacher was , what my flipping birthday was . Every request to my memory for info came back 'returned to sender' . Damn , damn , damn ! Hitting the floor and shouting was looking real good up until the point where Panda woke up while I was raising my fist for a little physical therapy . I froze . I didn't know this animal , I hoped it knew me . Pandas are rather large and have claws that can do some damage . " GROWPH ." It growphed at me . " Uh , morning ." I waved back timidly . For some reason I got the distinct impression that it was smug at my fearful response . I guess it was the nod of approval it gave me before walking out the door . " What a sec ." I said aloud . " Do Pandas walk on their hind legs ?" Apparently so , I concluded . My stomach growled at me before I could return to my futile mental ravings . That girl had told me to be down for breakfast . So I guess that I was invited . Anyhow , I was striking out on my own . That girl knew me , maybe she could help . Was she my sister ? Cousin ? Friend ? Girlfriend ? My stomach growling once more at me stopped any further mental questioning . I stood and tried to follow the path the Panda had taken . It lead me to a living room . The table was fully set for six , with five already there . I took the whole room in at a glance . At one end a man I guessed to be in his late thirties sat . He had long black hair and a well cut mustache . By his bearing and build I guessed he was a martial artist , well the gi he wore kinda helped too . On the opposite side of the table the Panda sat , eating greedily . On the right side of the table sat that girl I had met earlier today . Beside her sat another beauty , this one I guessed to be twenty at the least . She was stunning , with a gentle air about her that almost caressed your mood , brightening it . Opposite her sat a girl I guessed to be around sixteen , but her clothes and bearing suggested younger . She had short black hair and a soft heart shaped face that would magnify any emotion it expressed . Currently it was expressing great annoyance . Of course said great annoyance happened to be directed at me . " You had me worried , Baka !" The youngest barked at me . Just great . " Um.." I replied intelligently . " Just sit down and eat ." She jerked her head away from my direction . Not knowing anything else to do I headed for the place set next to the youngest girl . I tried not to meet anyone's eyes as I ate . For some reason my appetite was thrice that of anyone sitting there , except the Panda . Unconsciously not wanting to be rude to strangers I only took as much as the man with the gi and mustache was eating . This earned me was odd looks from the others present . So I slowed down a notch , and made an effort not to let them know I had noticed their scrutiny . Despite my efforts not to eat too much and to be polite by the time the meal was over everyone was staring at me , even the Panda . What the hell did I do wrong ? " Are you feeling well ?" The eldest girl asked me sweetly . I wanted to melt , but the other stares kept that under control for me . " Hai ." I nodded politely . " Better tell Ono-sensei that he has a lost of appetite ." The girl I had met first said aloud . " Yeah ," The girl next to me agreed before addressing me . " you normally eat like a pig ." A dozen witty retorts sprang to mind . But I shoved them aside quickly . Where the hell had that reaction come from ? " Gomen ." I apologized to the youngest . The stares turned to shocked gaping . Oh , wonderful . What now ? " Now I know something has to be wrong ." The youngest looked at me with mild accusation . * I guess this is a good a time as any .* I thought . Before anyone could say anything more I calmly stood , and walked a few strides away from the table before turning and addressing them all . " I've wanted to ask you something for a while now ." I looked at each one in turn , even the Panda for some odd reason . " Well , what ?" The youngest asked impatiently . I quickly obliged her . " Who are you people ?" It got so quiet I could have sworn I heard their hearts beating . That is until everyone started talking at once . Out of the garble I could only make out a few words . " -BAKA-" "-ta be kidding-" "-h my-" "-Growph!-" "-my poor dea-" "-BAKA-" To my great surprise the woman with the long hair held her hand up and everyone fell silent . " Do you know what your name is ?" She asked me in her dulcet voice . " Sure , it's..." I nearly fell over in horror . Up until now I hadn't thought of my name , who does ? " Do you remember who your father is or why you don't like cold water ?" She continued gravely . I could only shake my head no numbly . " Where is this ?" She asked . " Japan ." I found myself replying . I snapped my head up in hope . " Where in Japan ?" She continued . " In Tokyo ." I responded confidently . " Which section ?" She pressed . " In-" Abruptly , there were no more answers . She thought for a moment before asking another question . " I'm going to say a name . I want you to tell me if it's familiar , and if it's not what's your first gut feeling about it . Is that alright ?" I nodded . " Genma ." " Doesn't ring a bell ." I blinked at her . " But I guess I feel a bit scared about it ?" My own feeling about a simple name puzzles me . She only nodded before continuing . " Ryouga ." " Don't know him ." " Any feeling ?" She pressed . " Nope ." She looked slightly confused at that answer , but continued nonetheless . " Nabiki ." " Nothing on either ." " Shampoo ." " Nani ? I thought you were doing names ?" What's with the hair care product ? " Never mind that ." She shook her head . " Ukyo ." " Nothing , but I feel good about that name ." For some reason the youngest girl seems a bit miffed about that answer . " Kodachi ." " Zippo ." " Soun ." " Nope ." " Kasumi ." " Still nothing ." Now that made her a bit sad . " Akane ." " Nothing yet ." Now the youngest got mad at that . " What the hell do you mean 'NOTHING YET' you BAKA ?!" " Is that your name ?" I ask her with some fear as to her reaction . Well founded fear . " YES YOU BAKA !" She promptly hurled a few dishes and such my way . For some reason I was able to dodge them all . " Akane , please ," The young woman asked the girl named Akane . " I need to see just how much of his memory is gone ." The younger girl seemed placated by her elder's words . " Alright , Kuno ." " Nothing ." " Happosai ." " Nothing ." " Nodoka ." " Still nothing ." " Ono ." " Gomen , nothing ." I shook my head in frustration . " I don't remember anything !" I stand and look at them all . " Who am I ? You guys know me , right ?" " Hai ." She seemed to be the spokesperson for the group . I suppose it was because she was the only one who appeared to still be in their right mind . " Well what is my name at least ?" I know I'm snapping , but it's only to keep the pleading from my voice . " Saotome Ranma ." She answered , motioning for me to sit by her . I complied . Feeling odd that the name was familiar , but gave me no instinctual reaction like a few of the others did . " You are a incredible martial artist , the heir to Musubetsu Kakuto Ryuu . You are sixteen and by a promise made before either of you were born you are to wed one of the Tendo daughters ." I blinked at her . " You gotta be kidding me ." Everyone else nearly flopped to the floor at that reaction . She just nodded at me . " I know it's a bit much to take in , but it's all true . I'm Tendo Kasumi my Father's eldest daughter ." She turned and faced the crowd . " She's Tendo Nabiki the middle daughter at seventeen ." She gestured to the girl I had met first . " You sat next to Akane , she's the youngest , sixteen like you ." " I'm sixteen ." I blink and look down at myself . " I thought sixteen year olds were supposed to be scrawny and awkward ." I had a build like some marble Greek statue . " You have been training since you were six years old ." The young woman named Kasumi smiled at me . " You can do some amazing things . I've seen you leap roofs and punch people through walls ." " NANI ?" I lean back . " I punch people through walls ?" I ask in horror at the image of me pulping someone against ferroconcrete . " What kind of guy am I ?" By now the audience has tumbled to the floor in shock . That only makes me feel worse . I look from the pile of people and a Panda to the young woman before me . " Do I kill people ?" I ask with no small amount of fear . Kami-sama this is not going good . " No , no , no ," She shook her head and placed a delicate hand on my shoulder to comfort me . It did . " you only do things like that to people that both , attack you and can easily survive such ." " Oh ." I'm thankful for the relief the news brings . " You are one of the most honorable people I know ." She gives me a ever-so- gentle squeeze on my shoulder before retracting her hand . " Akane , would you come over here in a bit ?" She called over her shoulder to the pile . " H-hai ." Came the answer from somewhere in the now untangling mess . " Now , when you first arrived Father gave you the choice between the three of us for your future bride . Akane was chosen as your fiancée ." The youngest daughter walked over to us and sat down next to me . Once more I am struck with how vivid any emotion is from her . Looking so demure and embarrassed makes her just as cute as her sisters are beautiful . " I picked you ?" I ask no one in particular . As I look her up and down covertly . I wonder how I could chose between the three of them . " Well not exactly ." The young woman named Kasumi averted her gaze from meeting my eyes directly . " Huh ?" Now what ? " Well , Kasumi and Nabiki volunteered me ." Akane replied for her elder sister , looking away in the same manner . " Why ? Was it because I couldn't decide ?" Nothing was going to be simple , now was it ? " Well , no ." Kasumi sighed , still not meeting my eyes . " She's a martial artist too , and your age , and ..." She trailed off . " So ?" For the first time I feel something akin to annoyance , not anger or frustration , just annoyance . " It was supposed to be my decision , right ?" No one answered me . My annoyance grew . " It was my decision ." I answer myself . " Now how long ago was this ? A month , a week ?" " Almost a year by now ." Akane mumbled . Now I'm the one shocked into silence . But only for a few moments . When I do speak I try to leave all emotion out of it . Out of my decisions , my word choice and tone . " If I let the decision stand for that long then I guess I can't go back on it now , can I ?" Looking around the room I see everyone solemn , but not disagreeing . " So you're saying you don't want me ?" Akane asked in a small , hurt voice . The girl still could not meet my eyes . I chose my words slowly and carefully . " Were we close ?" " I'd like to think we got along ." She replied . " Akane-san , until I regain my memory you're all strangers to me ." I tell her truthfully . " I think you're telling me the truth , but for all I know it's all a lie . I could be Ryouga or Ukyo or Genma or whomever you tell me I am . To tell you the truth I don't see any reason to trust any of you or any reason not to trust you ." I can't think of anything more to say . " So are we engaged or not ?" She fixes me with her best unreadable expression . On her face that only makes her pain and hope clear as distilled water . " If I am who you all say I am then yes ." It's the best noncommittal answer I can come up with . " But , can any of you tell me how I lost my memory ?" " Ono-sensei would be the best to answer that ." The young woman named Kasumi told me . " You and Akane better see him ." * * * We arrived at the clinic after a walk through a neighborhood that was completely unfamiliar to me . The girl named Akane mumbled some comment about me being like Ryouga after the fourth wrong turn I made before letting her lead . I expected the man to be a stranger like the rest and he was . A tall man in his late twenties , thin lens glasses and a quick smile . " How are you feeling today , Ranma ?" He asked before either of us could say anything . Either they were organized in their conspiracy or they were telling the truth . I preferred that it would be the latter . " He's got total amnesia ." The girl told him . " Total ?" He asked me questioningly . " No one looks familiar even . Hell , I couldn't even remember my name ." I answered him truthfully . " What happened to me ?" The doctor walked us into his office after making sure that no patients were waiting . We sat down in chairs and he seemed to be gathering his thoughts . " Nothing at all ?" He asked me without looking . " No one memory or feeling lingering when you woke up ?" " Nothing . I didn't even know enough to be worried until I saw the Panda next to me ." I looked over at my supposed fiancée . " What's the story with letting your pet sleep with a futon ?" " Um...we'll talk about him later ." She gave me a sad smile . Uh oh . That ain't good . " Ranma ," The doctor began finally . " two days ago you were hit with a large dose of a sort of plant poison . It's function was to first numb all of your martial arts reflexes before then paralyzing you for a day ." He pushed his glasses up needlessly . " It was intended by Kuno Kodachi to aid her in kidnapping you . She failed of course . The reason being that during the fight she accidentally gave you three times the dose she intended ." I distinctly did not like the way this was going . " Even she had the sense to abort her mission and seek my aid . I identified a possible antidote to the toxins with her help ." Now the doctor turned grave and looked away from me . I thought I could see shame on his face . " While I was mixing the antidote your extended family showed up , Kasumi included . After she left the room I was sure that everything was still fine ." A tremor took hold of the doctor's words . " Only , this morning I noticed that I was missing some herbs and extracts that I shouldn't have been . I must have mixed them in when she was in the room ." " I don't get it ." I furrow my brow . " What did she do to you ?" " Nothing ." She doctor spat in self-revulsion . " I just lose all focus around her . It's my fault . The mixture that I suppose I made did counteract the toxins , but not in the proper way . The byproduct , a hormone , is the exact opposing chemical as the one used to solidify memory in the brain . In other words it dissolved your memories as it worked the poison out of your system ." After the previous events of the day I wasn't too shocked . " So is there any chance of me regaining anything ? What about me forgetting today or more ?" Though , I was a bit surprised at how calm I sounded . " Now that the poison is gone , you won't lose any more memory . In fact I think you might find remembering things even easier now ." " Less clutter ." I nodded sullenly . " You could look at it that way ." He took his glasses off and rubbed his face like a weary old man . " I'm so sorry Ranma . I had hoped that I was wrong and that I just spilled the missing things somewhere ." " It's done ." I stated . " Any way of getting my memories back ?" " I don't think so . Not with the way they were lost ." He replaced the glasses on his head and looked to the ceiling . " But then again , you might remember everything at any moment . With the fact that we have no idea how much of what I really mixed , or how resistant your system is to it , or even really how human memory works ...there's just too many 'ifs' to say anything except that I have absolutely no idea ." " Kasumi-san questioned me a lot this morning ." I began . " No names really mean anything to me , except that a few give me a gut reaction ." " The ones that he's known for a long time . His father and Ukyo ." The girl added helpfully . " Then there was the fact that I know that we are in Tokyo , but not which area of Tokyo . Does that mean anything ?" " Gomen nasai ." The doctor sighed . " All that means is that his instincts are intact , because they are hardwired into him now , not just stored memory . As for Tokyo ... that does have some possibility ." I felt I should be optimistic , but somehow I wasn't . Instead I said what came to mind . " Or it might mean nothing . I could wake up tomorrow a vegetable just as easily as with full memory ." I stood and gave the doctor a polite bow . " I may not know much , but from what I've heard it wasn't your fault . Don't blame yourself , from what I've been told my life was something I might not want to remember ." " Nani ?" The girl asked me , the doctor only whipped his head about to stare at me . " I've been told that I beat the hell out of people on a regular basis , and the fact that none of you seem really shocked about the situation itself . Like that Kodachi girl attacking me ...you didn't make it sound like an unusual event ." " No , Ranma ." The girl stood and looked at me with intense feeling . " No . Ranma , you love life , you were happy I think ." I look at both of them in turn . I can tell that both believes what she says , but both also doubt it . That doubt is all too clear . No doubt about one thing though , today officially sucked . Damn , it was only eleven forty . She had heard about Ranma's incident only an hour after it had happened . She had been at his bedside until she had Ono-sensei's assurances that Ranma was going to be alright . Even then it had taken Akane , Genma , and Soun to drag her back to her place . Yesterday there had been little change aside from Ranma was now able to toss and turn in his sleep instead of laying there limply . But that was enough assurance for her to leave him alone today . That was until she had gotten the news that he was awake . It had only taken her a few moments to close up shop . Thankfully it was a slow time of the morning , right after the breakfast rush was over , so she didn't even have to shoo any customers out . Bandoleer and accompanying weapons with her she leapt across roof to roof to the Tendo's . Only to be informed of his visit to Tofu's clinic . Again she was off . This time she saw him a good distance away . Only he was not alone . Akane was with him , and she had just put her arm around his shoulders ! She went from happy to pissed in about zero point five-zero-six seconds . Which by some odd coincidence was the same amount of time it took her to whip six throwing spatulas out of her bandoleer . Now I have no idea just how close I had been with this girl before . But the fact that she reached up and threw an arm around my shoulders to try to comfort me gave me some idea . So I guess we were to the public displays of affection point . I wish I knew how far along that was . Anyhow I didn't see any reason to stop her . I was the one with the problem , not her . Then I felt something really weird . I thought the little squeaks inside my head this morning were warning klaxons , nope , these had to be the real deal . They just exploded in my head , and before I knew what was happening the world just contradicted itself . Everything was suddenly in slow motion , but I knew I was moving fast . I scooped the girl named Akane in my arms and leapt in the direction the klaxons liked the most . Six distinct ringing clatters sounded from where we had been a few...seconds...half seconds...well , a short time before . I just let my body take over , it seemed to know what it was doing . So I was a bit surprised when it set Akane on her feet when we landed on a fence . It was only more surprising that she both didn't protest and kept her balance with little trouble . My body spun me in mid air during my leap away . I found myself tracking our attacker by sight before I was even consciously aware of her . She sported a bandoleer nearly full of sharp looking spatulas and a HUGE one hung on her back . She looked far from happy , but more annoyed than anything . " I leave you alone for one DAY and look !" She snapped at me as we both landed in the street . I found myself in a stance I assumed was either defensive or offensive . " One dumb day and you're already hanging on her !" My attacker seemed unaware or just unconcerned about my stance . I guess I'm not good enough to be a threat to her . Hell , anyone who could use that HUGE spatula must be strong ! " Kodachi ?" I guess . " Huh ?" The attacker looks about at my words . " Where's the bitch ?!" " That's Ukyo ." Akane answers me helpfully . " Oh , you guys didn't say much about her ." I stand up straight . Time's back to regular tempo so I guess it's safe . " What the hell are you two talking about ?" The girl named Ukyo starts walking over to me . " Isn't Ukyo a guy's name ?" I turn to find Akane already walking up to me as well . " Long story ." The young girl looks a tad embarrassed . " Hold it !" The girl with the huge spatula holds up a hand . " What's going on here ?" She demands an explanation from me . Thankfully the youngest Tendo answers in my stead . " Ranma's lost all his memory . Everything ." She emphasized the last word . " He doesn't recognize you , me or even himself ." " Yeah !" A thought hits me and I smack myself in the forehead . " I haven't seen a mirror yet , what do I look like ?" The girl with the huge spatula just stares at me sadly . Tears begin to well up in her eyes . I forget about mirrors right then and there . " You don't remember me at all ?" She asks . I don't want to piss off the girl with all the sharp and big weapons , now do I ? " Gomen nasai , Ukyo-san . I don't remember anything ." Before I know it she's gathered me up in a tight embrace and is crying into my shoulder . " Don't worry Ran-chan , we'll get your memory back ." Her words are muffled by my shirt . I look over to the youngest Tendo for guidance . She's just looks pissed at Ukyo . I wait until the girl has disengaged herself from me before I say anything . " Ran-chan ?" I ask both of them . " My pet name for you ." Ukyo blushes , wiping the remaining moisture from her face . " We've known each other since we were six ." " Oh ." I respond intelligently . " Um...and we used to do that often ?" I gesture to the throwing spatulas half imbedded in the sidewalk a few meters from us . " Well , yes ." She smiles at me sadly . " You weren't in any danger , and you used to love any chance to practice your skills ." I notice that the Tendo girl seems to have just made a decision about something important . I turn to face her abruptly . " Ranma..." She begins hesitantly . " This will sound really odd .." " Nothing new so far ." I sigh . " What now ?" " Ukyo is also your fiancée ." She admitted . I look from the Tendo girl to the now beaming girl with the huge spatula . Just . Freaking . Great . " Isn't there some kind of one per person limit to fiancées ." I shake my head as I hang it . " Last I checked Shinto didn't include polygamy ." The girl called , Ukyo smirked . " It seems your Father didn't take that into account ." " So I'm some kind of two timer pervert ain't I ?" I snort . " I just woke up today . I never met this Saoto Ranma guy and I already don't like him ." " Saotome ." The youngest Tendo corrected me . " Whatever ." " I think that the fiancée thing is pointless until we can get Ran-chan's memory back ." The girl with the spatulas interjected . " So keep your hands off him . Honestly , taking advantage of him in this state ." The last bit sounded like she meant it jokingly but Akane did not take it that way . " HEY ! He just found out that he may never regain his memory ! I was just trying to comfort him !" " Then what's the idea with letting a stranger put the moves on you ?" Ukyo turned to me . I raise my hands in a placating gesture . " I was told I've been her fiancée for about a year I thought it was her right to put her arm around me if she felt like it ." " Well we've been engaged since we were six !" She was suddenly at my side , one arm around my waist . " So I guess we're even , Akane ." She released me after an affectionate squeeze . " Fine ." My Tendo fiancée snorted before calming once Ukyo removed herself from my personal space . " Um , now what ?" I asked reasonably , one corner of my vision on the girl with the spatulas the other corner on the youngest Tendo daughter . " Don't ask that !" Ukyo suddenly looked afraid . " Why ?" Akane blinked . " You know how things go around here-" " SAOTOME RANMA !" A deep baritone shouted from some distance away . A warning squeak sounded in my mind , telling me to turn around when I felt like it . " What's that guy's problem ?" I asked before turning around to see a tall teen dressed in full keno regalia minus the armor running flat out towards us . Oh yeah , and he had a wooden katana in hand . " He's been out to defeat you since you beat him ." The youngest Tendo daughter informed me . " He's not much of a fighter compared to you ." The girl with the huge spatula added . " But I don't remember ever being in a fight ." I swallow hard , he's getting closer . " I don't remember what to do ." " NANI ?!" Ukyo nearly falls off her feet . " Let me handle this ." The youngest Tendo said before dashing off to meet the charging teen . " She can handle him , right ?" I ask the girl beside me . " She won't even break a sweat on his best day ." The girl assured me . It was true . The teen shouted some lame lines about love before she punted him a few blocks away . She returned to us with a satisfied smile on her face . * * * The three of them walking home had started out well . She had just punted Kuno a few blocks , Ukyo had chased off Kodachi , Ranma was at least more or less comfortable with them fighting for him . THAT made her feel good , for once she was the one protecting him . But it had not lasted . Both Kuno's had found them at once . So had both the Chinese bakas . All had attacked Ranma at once and in different ways . She fought off Kodachi , and Kuno Tatawaki at once while Ukyo had her hands full with the other two . Ranma looked scared as hell , but he dodged everything like normal , nothing really came close . That was until the running battle crossed the path of the old lady . The 'water ninja' Ranma had called her on a few occasions in the past . True to form the old woman caught him full on with a nice spray of cold water . Of course he had not been trying to dodge , no one had told him about his curse yet . She had expected an adverse reaction . However , only in hindsight did she realize that Ranma was still under a huge amount of pressure to deal with the harsh realities of losing his life's experience . Only living a life of battles and weirdness had allowed him to cope in that past . Now he had none of that preparation . He cracked right then and there . The change was extremely rapid , but during the heat of battle time was slowed down enough for her to see his expression turn from fright to utter horror and something she had not expected , physical pain . He , now she , had landed easily . Ranma looked down at herself for only a instant , probably just to confirm what she already knew . Ranma's whole body shook in prelude to her animal scream . That's what it was , no human sound to it at all . Just an animal screaming , high , long and loud enough that her hears were still ringing a minuet after the fact . Ranma had broke into a frenzied flight then . Ranma's memory may be gone but her body was fully intact . Ranma streaked away at a pace she could only wish that she could keep up with . Abandoning the battle she raced after her fiancée . Only in the first few moments did she actually follow Ranma . By the middle of the chase she was only catching glimpses of her fiancée in the distance . Her legs burned , her lungs were dry and her throat cracking . She pursued Ranma faster . Finally Ranma outdistanced her , but she would not lose her fiancée so easily . Slowing a bit she now looked about as she leapt from roof to roof . Where would a roof hopping martial artist feel instinctually safest ? On the highest roof around . She found a building a good three stories taller than those around it . She had to rest for a few moments before she could make the jump . Even then she had to grab on the edge with both hands to make it . Pulling herself onto the roof she found Ranma immediately . The martial artist sat huddled against a air conditioning unit , shaking . Gingerly , she walked over to Ranma . " Ranma ?" She asked . No response . " Ranma ? Ranma ?" On the third try Ranma lifted her head . Tears freely flowed down the once grand marital artist's face . She was at her fiancée's side before she knew it . But she restrained herself from embracing her fiancée yet . She did not know how Ranma might react in her current state . " What the hell am I?" Ranma's voice was so soft and weak that it tore at her heart just to hear it . " You have a curse ." She began slowly . " So does your father . When either of you is splashed with cold water you change into your cursed form . Yours is that of a red head girl ." " I was wondering why Kasumi-san asked me if I knew why I didn't like cold water , now I know ." Still , Ranma's voice shook even at it's whisper volume . " The Panda was your Father in his cursed form ." She explained gently . " So I'm a freak ." Ranma sobbed , pitching her head forward onto her knees with a painful sounding crack . " I'm a freak , half girl . How can you stand the embarrassment of being engaged to a freak ?" She took a deep breath . It had been a long time ago when she had come to terms with the fact that she loved Ranma . A few times she had almost broken down and confessed to him , regardless of his reaction . Now it seemed that this was both the worst time and the best time to tell him . " Because Ranma , I love you ." She said slowly , letting her own head come to rest gently on Ranma's shaking shoulder . " n-nani ?" Came Ranma's almost inaudible reply . " I've loved you for a while Ranma ." She continued . Strange , now that it was out a weight was gone from her . A weight she had not even realized was even there . " The curse doesn't matter to me , really . You're still the same inside in either body . That's who I love ." Ranma was quiet and still for a good ten seconds . She let hope spring into her . Only to be shattered when Ranma's body sobbed deeply . " That's who I've forgotten ." Ranma sobbed . " He's gone ." " No ." She laid a hand on Ranma's head gently and began to stoke her as lightly as she could . " You may not remember him , but you are Ranma . Little things are different , but it's only like you're in a different mood , not a different person . I still love you ." " Everything's so screwed up , Akane-san ." Ranma shuddered . " I wake up with no life , find out I'm some kinda living weapon that gets attacked every damn five minuets . Then I find out I may never remember who I was , ever . Now I found out I'm a girl half the time ...." Slowly Ranma lifted her head and looked at her pleadingly . " Tell me , please Akane , tell me about myself . What did I like ? What did I hate ? What did I love , did I love you ? Did we used to go to the moves ? kiss ? What ?" The questions came pouring out of Ranma as tears began to flow down her cheeks to punctuate each . Now this would be a challenge . How to tell Ranma about himself without the bias in her opinions ? Well , the words would come . Later . As it was she shifted her position slightly . " I'll tell you everything I know about you . As for kissing .." Before she lost her nerve she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Ranma's . Fear lanced through her as she felt no response at first . Until Ranma returned the kiss briefly before breaking it . To her relief and comfort she felt Ranma lay an arm on her shoulders and pull her into a embrace . " Arigato ." Ranma whispered into her ear . This time her fiancée's voice was steady . " Take me home , please ."