Chapter Text
Apparently that was all the reassurance the other martial artist needed. Because it only took a few moments after that for her head to loll on his shoulder and her breaths to slip into a deep and even slumber. Mousse exchanged a worried look with Ryouga. He had never seen Saotome like this before. It was honestly quite frightening. He couldn’t imagine what the other boy must be feeling, especially being so much closer to Ranma than he or even frankly Shampoo was. The three of them sat together in silence. Unsure of what to say or how to speak to one another in order to break it. Ryouga honestly doesn’t know how long they waited for any sign of the others. He knows the sun has long since set and it is beginning to get chilly. Mousse had been wary about starting a fire in fear of attracting the monster to their location but after seeing Ranma shiver for the upteenth time he decides that it most likely is too distractedly engaged in combat to notice their fire.
At some point in the night the two martial artists who are awake agree to take shifts, with Mousse volunteering to take first watch. By the time it’s Ryouga’s turn the first rays of dawn are appearing over the mountains, turning the sky beautiful shades of pink and violet. Stars still danced in the deep indigo of the higher sky. For some reason he wanted to show Ranma the beauty of it but as he looked down at her peaceful expression he found he couldn’t, in good conscience, disturb her. His eyes traveled back to the mountain pass that was only a few hundred feet away from them. Complete with a Torii painted a deep red. It was through this shadow of the Torii he saw two figures approaching. Both leaning on each other. His first instinct had him tightening his grip around Ranma’s arm but then sunlight poured onto their forms and a battered, bruised but very much alive Akane and Shampoo stumbled toward their campsite.
“Akane-san! Shampoo!”
Remarkably his shout didn’t stir Ranma but it did stir Mousse who, when he saw Shampoo, squawked, and made a beeline for her. Ryouga caught a glimpse of the salvant he had lent to him for Ranma’s wounds clutched in his hand. Shampoo waved him away, looking a little perturbed,
“I fine.” she grunted, “Where’s Airen?”
“Over here.” Ryouga called.
Shampoo predictably bolted toward him. What he hadn’t expected was for her to drag Akane with her. Nor how gently she set the girl down next to him. Ryouga couldn’t help the flush that crawled across his face as Akane leaned heavily against him. She breathed out in a huff,
“How is she?”
Ryouga shook his head minutely,
“Just sleeping right now. She was…hurt pretty bad.”
Akane grimaced,
“Shampoo mentioned that.”
She traced a finger across a bruise that marred one of Ranma’s cheeks. The martial artist mumbled something in her sleep and pressed the offending cheek into Ryouga’s shoulder, who instinctively held her closer. Akane raised a brow then gave Ryouga a sly smile,
“Something I need to know?”
He blushed heavily,
“I-uh, I mean..it’s just-”
Akane laughed, cutting him off,
“Relax, Ryouga, I’m just teasing.”
The teen scowled slightly but goodnaturedly. His eyes went to Ranma and he carefully placed a hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her.
“Ranma, Ranma. They’re back.”
It took a moment of prodding but finally Ranma stirred against him. She blinked her eyes open and they quickly found Akane’s concerned gaze. She let out a soft gasp. A hand coming up to cup her fiancee’s cheek.
“Akane…?”
The smaller woman smiled, covering Ranma’s hand with her own,
“I’m here, Ranma.”
All the breath in Ranma’s body left her in a whoosh as if she’d been holding it in. She rested her forehead against Akane’s, tears bubbling up behind her eyes.
“Thank god…thank god. I was so worried. I thought-”
Akane shushed her, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek,
“I’m right here…I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” her warm brown eyes found Ryouga’s, “Thank you for taking care of her.”
“Of course.” he all but whispered in response.
Shampoo huffed slightly from her position next to the tree. Ryouga almost feels guilty for forgetting she was standing there. Almost. Mousse is hovering worriedly to the side but not approaching. The Amazonian warrior looks down at Akane and Ryoga swears there's a begrudging respect there that wasn’t there before.
“Let go back to Furinkan. Grandma can make Airen better.”
“Or…and this is just a suggestion,” Akane said dryly, “We take her to a hospital.”
Shampoo scowled,
“How we explain wounds!”
“Car.” was Akane’s simple answer.
Mousse looked absolutely flabbergasted by Akane’s backtalk. Ranma was shaking in his arms and it took him a moment to realize she was giggling. A smile quirked his lips upward in response. Carefully gathering the redhead in his arms and standing up,
“Well, if Ranma is laughing I think she feels ok enough to move.”
“Airen!” Shampoo pouted.
Ranma snickered, gasping for breath,
“S-sorry, Shampoo. Ow. C-can’t help it.”
Akane actually preened a little at that before going to Ryouga and Ranma’s side, massaging her thumb into her shoulder.
“Try to stay calm, Ranma. You’ll only make yourself hurt worse.”
Her fiance nodded. Fighting to regulate her breathing and calm herself before she got into another laughing fit. Luckily the rest of the trip back to Furinkan was uneventful. With pauses only to let Ranma rest and to apply more of that solvent. By the time they got to the hospital she was asleep again, hand loosely threaded through Akane’s. Shampoo paced slightly, worried as she stared up at the building. Akane smiled kindly at her,
“We can take it from here. Thank you so much Shampoo…I don’t know what we would have done without you and Mousse today.”
Shampoo actually flushed a little at that and nodded. She grabbed Mousse’s hand and was either unaware or ignored how his face exploded with blush. Ryouga could swear he saw steam coming off his head.
“We go back to Grandma’s now. Come check on Airen later.”
Akane nodded,
“See you then.”
And just like they were gone. Speeding over the rooftops. Akane looked at Ryouga, eyes watering,
“And thank you…I…I don’t want to think-” her breath hitched.
Ryouga knocked against her,
“Hey…it’s ok. I-I would never let anything happen to her.”
Akane smiled at him, head coming to rest against his shoulder. He felt himself stiffen for a moment before he relaxed, placing his chin on her head.
“Stay with us? In the hospital?” she ventured, “I’m sure Ranma would like to see you when she wakes up.”
And who was he to ever refuse Akane anything? Ryouga merely gave her a small smile and nodded. Together, they walked into the hospital. Hearts lighter and something new on the horizon. Perhaps for all three of them.