Ranma 1/2 is property and creation of Rumiko Takahashi, and whoever else... I have NO money, so PLEASE don't sue me! Now, on with the story.

Regane placed his sword back into its sheath, watching the unconscious girl at his feet intently. No woman had ever made a fool of him and lived to tell about it! He couldn't believe the girl had had the nerve to throw cookies at him, the things had been as hard as rocks! He resisted the strong urge to have his way with her, and then kill her slowly, and painfully. A scowl quickly appeared on his face. He knew that both of those choices were not an option. Kyatan would never allow the girl to be harmed. Not, when she was being saved for the prince.

"REGANE WHERE ARE YOU?" a voice yelled impatiently, interrupting his train of thought.

Regane sighed inwardly, realizing he'd have to answer Kyatan sooner or later. "I'm over here in the clearing. I found the girl."

"Good." Kyatan replied, as he stepped out from behind a thicket of bushes, to stand before him. "Pick her up, and lets get out of here. I'm sure her family or friends will be looking for her."

Regane nodded reluctantly, picking up Akane's still form in his arms, as he carried her out of the clearing.

Kyatan grabbed a small whistle from around his neck, anxious to call a meeting. He hated the outdoors and nature, and wanted desperately to get back to the safety and luxury of the castle. Taking the whistle firmly in his right hand, he took a deep breathe, and blew into it.

A loud, piercing sound echoed throughout the forest, causing a flock of birds to fly out of a nearby tree, in fright. Men slowly emerged from the thick forest, following the loud screeching noise that emanated from the whistle.

Soon a small group had formed around Kyatan, as he waited patiently for everyone to appear. When everyone was present, he took a deep breath and began to speak. "Men, we have the girl."

At those few words some of the men sighed in disappointment. Most of them had secretly hoped that they would be the ones to find her, since the one that found the girl had the right to carry her back to the palace with Kyatan. Others nodded their heads in an affirmative gesture.

"Regane and I are heading back to the palace. I want the rest of you to stay here and make sure we're not followed. If anyone shows up looking for the girl, kill them." At those words Kyatan briefly looked around the small group, observing their reactions. Satisfied that there were no complaints, he concluded his speech. "You have your orders, proceed."

Cheers broke out among the men, as they began to spread out. Some climbed high into the trees while others decided to stay close to the ground, surveying the surrounding area.

Taking one last careful look around, Kyatan's eyes came to rest once more on the girl. He greedily ran his eyes over her body, happily noting her nice figure. His eyes lingered briefly, on the girls full, pink lips. Then, traveled down to her chest, where his gaze came to rest on her round, firm breasts. *The prince is one lucky man.* he thought to himself enviously. *Maybe I can persuade his highness to give her to me, when he's finished with her.*

Kyatan fixed his gaze firmly on the path that led to the palace, trying to put the girl out of his mind. The sooner they got to the castle, the sooner he would be able to make his fantasies a reality.

Kyatan quickened his pace.

Ranma stood on the outskirts of the forest, contemplating whether or not he should go in. He didn't think Akane would be dumb enough to go into a forest at night by herself, but... then again...

With that last thought Ranma entered the forest.

Regane shifted the girl uncomfortably in his arms, trying unsuccessfully to lessen the weight. It wasn't that the girl was heavy, it was just that they had been walking for a long time, and his arms were getting tired. Not, that he would admit it. Admitting something as petty as that, would be a sign of weakness. NONE of the prince's guards could be thought of as weak.

Regane sighed in relief as he saw the top of the castle come into view. The peak of the tower, jutting out of the trees.

"Almost there." he announced to Kyatan, as he shifted the girl once more, in his arms, glad at the thought of finally getting rid of her. *Almost there.*

Kyatan's face shone in anticipation, his thoughts much the same, only for an entirely different reason.

Ryoga wandered the dark forest of Resanyo, his pack loaded down with his supplies, and souvenirs. He had been trying to find the Tendou dojo for a week now, but kept getting lost. He had tried asking for directions a couple of times, but gave up after they had burst out laughing in his face, when he told them where he was going.

Sighing in frustration, Ryoga sat down hard on the ground, removing the pack off his shoulders, as he began to search through it.

"Aha! Found it!" he exclaimed, as he pulled a crumpled map of Nerima, out of his pack and held it triumphantly in his hands. "Now, to see where I got lost at."

Ryoga began to survey the map intently, a determined expression on his face. "Ah! I see. I took a wrong turn at the last forest! I should have gone north-east. Which is... that way." Ryoga replied as he pointed South-west. "I... I think."

Ryoga paused uncertainly, glancing once more at his map. "Wait. north-east is... that way" he replied as he pointed in the wrong direction once again. "Wait, that can't be right." he said to himself confused, anger quickly taking over.

"WHERE THE HELL AM I ANYWAY!!!!"

*This is all Ranma's fault! It's long past time he paid for all the wrongs he's committed against Akane.* Ryoga's angry expression softened at the mere thought of Akane's name. *Oh, Akane. What I wouldn't give to hear your beautiful voice once more. How it pains me to be away from you for so long. Every moment we spend apart my heart yearns to see your sweet, smiling face again. I only wish I could tell you how much... I love you.*

At that moment, a voice interrupted Ryoga's thoughts, causing him to jump up in shock, as the words rang in his ears.

"AKANE, WHERE ARE YOU???!!!!" Ranma yelled in frustration, as he continued to wander around the forest aimlessly.

He had been searching the forest for ten minutes, and still hadn't found any traces of Akane. He was really starting to get worried.

Ranma gasped in surprise, as he spotted a small bag, that was laying on the ground near the base of an old tree. It looked just like the napkin that Akane had wrapped her cookies in.

Ranma's heart stopped beating, as he bent down to pick up the small pouch. A small amount of crushed cookies, dropped out of the bag, forming a small pile at Ranma's feet. Bending down slowly, Ranma picked up the crushed cookies, and watched as they slipped through his fingers. The same thoughts raced through his head.

*Akane's fine... she can take care of herself.*

For some reason Ranma wasn't comforted by those thoughts, especially since he didn't believe them.

Ryoga ran through the forest, following the voice he had heard only moments before. When he burst through a cluster of trees, Ryoga stood in shock as he came face to face with Ranma.

Ranma sat on the ground unmoving, holding a small bag in his hands. Ryoga watched confused, as he began to pick up small handfuls of crumbs, and watch them slip through his fingers. Finally, tired of playing with the smashed cookies, he looked up to see Ryoga staring angrily at him.

"Yo, Ryoga, what are you doing here? Did you get lost again or something?"

"Ranma, PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!" Ryoga yelled, ignoring Ranma's question as he launched himself at him. "It's time you've paid for the crimes you've committed against Akane!"

"Oh man, not now!" Ranma complained angrily. "I don't have time for this right now Ryoga!"

Ranma steadied himself for Ryoga's attack, a small canteen clutched tightly in his left hand. Then, when Ryoga was only a couple feet away, he jumped quickly to the side, and emptied the cold contents of the canteen over Ryoga's head, changing him into P-chan instantly.

P-chan began to squeal angrily, as Ranma picked him up by his neck, and threw him hard against the ground.

"Listen, bacon breath." Ranma began angrily, holding Ryoga by his bandanna. "I have something really important to tell you and I need you to listen. It's about Akane."

P-chan ignored him, as he struggled to get out of Ranma's firm grip, pausing every few seconds to glare angrily at Ranma before he continued struggling again.

"Listen, Ryoga. Akane's missing."

Ryoga stopped his attempts to get free, staring in shock. His eyes grew wider, as the words that Ranma had just said, sunk in.

*Akane's missing?* he thought to himself in disbelief, tears beginning to form in his eyes.

Ryoga never even felt Ranma set him down on the ground, and pour hot water over him, turning him back into a man. A naked man, but a man none the less.

"Here, put these on." Ranma commanded, as he threw Ryoga's clothes at him. "We got some things we gotta discuss."

Ryoga nodded, as he began to get dressed. Completely oblivious, of everyone and everything.

His thoughts were only on Akane.

TO BE CONTINUED

* * what a character is thinking

Author's Notes:

Well, that's it for chapter 2! In chapter three, Akane awakens and meets Prince Kyone, and Ranma and Ryoga team up to find Akane.

Questions, comments, or flames are welcome. See you, in chapter 3!

hope you liked it.