A Different Life Written by: Gyran All right everyone. This is my first attempt to write a Ranma 1/2 fanfic. I don't know how well it's going to turn out so please bear with me. This is an alternate universe fic; I believe that is the correct term. I am not certain whether to tell you what changes I made or to just start writing and let you see what I'm coming up with. Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated. For now though I'm just going to let you, the readers see what changes I have made for yourselves. Please send comments and advice to rplanas@pacbell.net. I'll read any responses that come in, but I'm going to ignore any flames I receive since this is my first attempt. Now we come to the usual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am not making any profit off of this story so please don't sue me. I'm but a poor student. Any characters that I make up belong to me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if you do, please ask permission first and give credit their creator, namely me. Okay, here goes nothing! Part One: The Saotomes Move In Japan. Tokyo. It was evening. The sky was lit with flashes of lightning and the resounding thunder echoed throughout the area. Somewhere below the storm was a house. It was a simple two-story house with white painted walls and a black slate roof. Inside the house were three occupants. Two of them were talking; the third was in his bedroom. Genma Saotome and his wife Nodoka were having a discussion. Actually it was more an argument if one were to listen more closely. The topic of the discussion/argument was eavesdropping from his bedroom door. Little four-year-old Ranma was old enough to understand that his parents were talking about him. Kneeling down on the floor, he left his room and crawled over to the balcony that overlooked the first floor of the Saotome home. Peering over the edge, he could see a light coming from the kitchen. He listened intently as his parents continued their "discussion". "I said no, Genma! Ranma is much to young for you to be taking him on some ridiculous training trip!" Nodoka Saotome was, to put it mildly, pissed off. "Now, now Nodoka," Genma Saotome said in an attempt to calm his irritated wife. "Ranma is old enough to begin training. After all, he is the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. He must be properly trained if he is going to carry on the School." "I have no problem with his being trained, Genma. However, I believe that he can be trained just as well at home as he can away from it." "But Nodoka, dear, I've been planning on taking the boy on this trip ever since he was born. Taking the boy on this trip will expand his horizons and allow him to grow as a martial artist. He will learn from me as well as others that we encounter on this journey. This trip is the best way to make Ranma into the best martial artist he can be." "I see reasoning in your arguments Genma, but I still say he is too young. Perhaps next year, or the year after, but I am not going to allow you to take a child of only four years out on a ten year journey." Her voice took on a steel edge as she continued. "You will not be taking Ranma on this trip any time soon Genma." Genma Saotome winced and nodded his assent. "Very well Nodoka, perhaps next year. But for now, I will begin training Ranma here at home." Ranma returned to his bedroom quietly. He had no desire to go anywhere at the moment. He was glad his mother stopped his father from going on this journey. Perhaps next year he would be up to it, but not now. **** Later that night, when all in the Saotome home were sound asleep, an accident occurred. The thunderstorm had worsened as the night went on, the lightning becoming more violent and more frequent. Then, in the middle of the night, a lightning bolt struck the first floor of the Saotome home. The house was on fire. At first it was not noticeable to most of its occupants. Genma was a heavy sleeper, and Nodoka was not able to hear the strike over the snoring of her husband. Little Ranma, on the other hand, heard the lightning strike quite clearly and woke up. He didn't understand what was going on, so he got out of bed and walked from his room. Outside his bedroom was a catastrophe. Looking down to the first floor he could see furniture was ablaze and giving off tremendous amounts of heat. Ranma gave a frightened shout and ran to his parents' bedroom. He quickly jumped up on top of Genma to wake him up, which he did with a start. "Blast it boy! What do you think you're doing!?" "Fire, Pop! House on fire!" As soon as Genma heard those words, he was up in a flash. Nodoka, now awake, held on to Ranma and grabbed a long package that was always at her side. Genma grabbed a traveling pack he had prepared for his family in cases of "emergency". The fire had spread and was even now starting to blaze towards the bedroom. Genma quickly shouldered the pack and opened the window. It was a good fifteen-foot drop to the ground. Genma thought as fast as he could and grabbed Nodoka and Ranma before jumping out. With a light landing Genma set Nodoka down and they ran for it, Genma still holding on to Ranma. Once they had reached a safe distance, the family turned around and watched. Fire trucks were now arriving on the scene, but it was too late. The house was a total loss. Genma, still carrying Ranma, put his arm around his wife as she began to weep. "What will we do now, Genma?" "I'm not sure. I have the 'emergency' pack here." (Emergency being anytime Genma gets into serious trouble) "There is enough money to get us a room at a hotel for a few nights, food for a few days, plus a few changes of clothes for us. After that, I don't know." They continued to watch as the firemen put out the fire that had consumed their home. They were later questioned and then put up for the night in a nearby hotel. Ranma was silent throughout the whole ordeal. **** "So what are we going to do, Genma?" A few days later, the Saotomes still did not have any idea of where to go. Their money supply was dwindling and they had only enough for one more night at the hotel. "Well, there is only one option I can think of, but..." "But what?" "I was thinking we could ask Soun Tendou if he could put us up." "Soun? But his wife just..." "I know. That is why I am reluctant to ask for his assistance. My old friend is going through a hard time right now. I do not wish to impose on him during this period. But we may have no choice, Nodoka." Genma looked around their hotel room. It had only one bed, a nightstand with a lamp and phone, and a bathroom. In the corner was a small table with two chairs where Nodoka and Genma sat. "You're right Genma. This may be the only way." "I don't wanna!" Ranma had been lying on the bed, listening to his parents' conversation. "I don't wanna go to this Tendou! I wanna go home!" Nodoka immediately walked over, picked up her son, and hugged him to her. "I'm sorry, Ranma," she said in a comforting voice, "but our home is gone now. We have to find a new one." "NO! I WANNA GO HOME!" "Ranma my boy," Genma began, "we don't have a home right now. My friend Soun will help us to find another one." "But I don't wanna new one pop. I want our old one." "I know son," said Genma, hugging his wife and child. "I know." "Perhaps you'd better call Soun now, Genma." "Perhaps you are right, Nodoka." Genma walked over to the phone to place a call. **** Soun Tendou was in tears. He had just received a call from his old friend, Genma Saotome. Genma had informed him of his recent misfortune that had caused Soun's bout of weeping. Ever since his wife died a few months ago, it did not take very much to send Soun Tendou into tears. Now, however, his grief was for his friend, and Soun was only too happy to take the Saotome family into his home. They were set to arrive the next day, he had much to prepare. "Kasumi! Nabiki! Akane!" Seven-year-old Kasumi, five-year-old Nabiki, and four-year-old Akane ran into the room. "Yes father?" "Yes daddy?" "Yes daddy?" "Girls, I have some important news to tell you. We are going to have some friends of mine stay here with us at the dojo." "Who?" "Who?" "Who?" Soun smiled at his little girls. "They are the Saotomes. Genma Saotome is a very good friend of mine. He, his wife Nodoka, and their son Ranma will be staying with us." "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" "Because, girls, the Saotomes have lost their home. It caught on fire and burned down. So my friend Genma, his wife Nodoka, and their little boy, Ranma, need somewhere to live now." "Oh." "Oh." "Oh." "So we must get one of the extra rooms ready for them to stay in, alright?" "Okay," said all three at once. Then, one father and three daughters went to prepare a room for the Saotomes. **** The next morning, the Saotomes arrived at the Tendou Training Hall. Ranma was looking at the gate skeptically. "This is where we're going to live now? It looks boring." "Just wait, Ranma," said Genma. "The Tendou Training Hall is a great place. You'll like it here. You'll see. We'll even be able to start your training in a real dojo." "Don't worry, Ranma," Nodoka said calmly. "It will all work out. You'll even have some other children to play with." "I will? Who?" "Mr. Tendou has three daughters, Ranma," answered Genma. "Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane. Akane is your age I believe." "Ugh. Girls? You want me to play with girls?" "And what's wrong with girls Ranma?" Nodoka did not sound happy. "Aw Mom. Girls are...you know...girls. They're so...umm...well..." Ranma faltered as his mother's eyes narrowed. "Uh, nothin' I guess." Genma chuckled. "Don't worry my boy. I'm sure you and the girls are going to get along just fine." "If you say so pop." Ranma sighed. Genma pushed the gate open and entered, Nodoka and Ranma following him. Inside was beautiful. There was green grass and a koi pond. Beyond the pond was the house that was connected to the dojo by a covered walkway. Ranma stared in wonder. "Wow. This place is cool." Ranma couldn't believe his eyes. This place was a lot nicer than his old home. *Maybe,* he thought, *maybe this place ain't gonna be so bad after all.* "Told you so, my boy." Then Genma shouted, "Tendou! We're here!" "Genma!" Nodoka said with shock. "You don't just shout out that we're here!" "Ah, don't worry, Nodoka. Soun wouldn't have me greet him any other way." "Saotome! My friend!" The Saotomes turned towards the house to see a man emerging followed by three little girls. Ranma picked up a sudden case of shyness and scrambled to hide behind his parents. As the man and the girls approached, Ranma poked his head around his father's legs to get a look at the people he was going to be living with. He saw a girl who was a few years older than him. She had brown hair that went a bit past her shoulders and kind brown eyes. The next girl looked to be only a little older than he was. Her brown hair came to just above her neck and her brown eyes had a mischievous look in them. But it was the last one who really caught his eye. Her hair, instead of brown like her sisters, was black. It was cropped short and made her look almost boyish. Her eyes, brown like her sisters, were welcoming and friendly. He then noticed that they were examining him as intently as he was examining them. He quickly ducked back behind his parents. "Ah Tendou. It is good to see you again, my old friend." "It has been quite some time, Saotome. And Nodoka, you are as lovely as ever." "Why thank you Soun. I'm glad to see you once again as well." "Now, where is your son? Where's Ranma?" "Ranma?" Genma looked behind him and found Ranma still attempting to hide. "Come now my boy. Say hello to Mr. Tendou." Ranma slowly peeked his head around his father again. He looked up to see Mr. Tendou looking down at him smiling. Ranma gave a hesitant smile in return. "Hello Mr. Tendou." "It's nice to meet you at last, Ranma. I hope you like staying here." "I hope I like it here too, Mr. Tendou. Umm...so far it looks nice." Ranma, still peeking around his father, gave the area another look. "It's an awfully big home." Soun chuckled. "Yes, it is rather, isn't it? Now Ranma, these three girls are my daughters." Ranma ducked back behind his father again and slowly peeked his eyes around. Mr. Tendou was smiling at him again. "Come now Ranma. It's all right. They won't bite." Ranma slowly stepped out in front of Mr. Tendou as he presented his daughters to him. "This here is Kasumi." The oldest stepped forward and said, "hello Ranma." Ranma gave her a nervous smile and a little wave hello. The next daughter stepped forward as Mr. Tendou said, "and this one is Nabiki." "Hi Ranma," said Nabiki with a smirk on her young face. Ranma ducked his head and replied, "h-h-hi." "And this last one is Akane." Akane stepped forward slowly, a bit unsure about the boy in front of her. She stood in front of Ranma, waiting for him to raise his head before saying anything. After a while, when he had made no move to look at her she began to get angry. "Hey! Are you gonna look at me or not!?" Startled Ranma raised his head to look at the girl in front of him. Her eyes were flashing with anger and she looked like she was about to hit him. He quickly looked down again. Kasumi looked at bit shocked at Akane's words while Nabiki snickered. Mr. Tendou kneeled down next to Akane and put his hands on her shoulders. "Now, now Akane," Mr. Tendou chided his daughter. "Ranma is just a little shy, and he needs some time to adjust. So don't get angry at him, alright?" "Okay daddy." She turned back to Ranma. "Hi, I'm Akane." Her voice had turned friendly. Ranma raise his head back up and found her smiling at him. He returned her smile, a bit unsure. "I'm Ranma." "You wanna be friends?" Ranma was startled at the offer. A second ago this girl was about to smack him upside the head. Now she wanted to be friends. He was a bit confused so all he could think of to say was, "uh...sure?" "Okay girls," Mr. Tendou was speaking again. "These two here are Ranma's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Saotome." The three girls looked up at Ranma's parents. "Hello. Nice to meet you," the three of them greeted. "Why don't you girls show Ranma around while I talk to the Saotomes?" "Yes father." "Yes daddy." "Yes daddy." "Go along with them now Ranma. Don't worry, we'll see you in a little bit." Nodoka was waving Ranma along to follow the Tendou girls. "Uh...okay mom." And with that, Ranma followed the girls as they began showed him around the Tendou Training Hall. He looked back once to see his parents in deep discussion with Mr. Tendou. He sighed and continued walking around his new home. **** Well that's the end of the first part. Not much really happened here I suppose. I just wanted to get everything set up. Once again let me know what you think, but no flames. If I get any, I'll ignore them 'cause I'm merely a beginner when it comes to writing Ranma fanfiction. But any advice would help. E-mail rplanas@pacbell.net. Thanks again. A Different Life Written by: Gyran Now we come to the usual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am not making any profit off of this story so please don't sue me. I'm but a poor student. Any characters that I make up belong to me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if you do, please ask permission first and give credit to their creator, namely me. On with the show! Part Two: Adjustments Ranma could not sleep. It was not just because his father's snoring was louder than thunder, but also it was the fact that he was in a new home for the very first time. As he lay in the futon that was set up for him, Ranma merely stared up at the ceiling listening to the snoring of his father and wondering what he was going to do now. *Maybe I can sleep downstairs.* He thought back to his tour of the house. *There was a sofa in the living room that I can use.* Making a decision Ranma got up and grabbed his blanket and pillow. He slowly made his way to the door and crept out of the room. He went down the hallway and then down the steps into the living room. When he got there he received a shock. The sofa he was planning to sleep in was already occupied. Akane Tendou was sound asleep on said sofa. Ranma was startled to see her out in the living room instead of her own bedroom. Recovering, he slowly walked towards her with a curious look on his face. He never really hung around girls before. Actually, in his four years of life, he hadn't been around many people at all. Sure, when his mother took him out to play at the park he would play with the boys, but not for very long and never with the same group. He never bothered with the girls. All the boys told him that girls don't play with boys, so Ranma didn't even bother to talk to a girl much less play with one. Hence his curiosity about Akane Tendou. During the tour of the Tendou home Ranma did not say much, if anything at all. He would merely nod or shake his head at the Tendou girls' questions, sometimes even saying 'yes' or 'no' but nothing more until the end of the tour when the eldest, Kasumi, asked him, "so what do you think?" To which he responded, "it's nice." So Ranma did not really get to know any of the girls at that time, but he wanted to. He really did. Unfortunately he could not seem to find the right words to say to any of them. As he approached Akane he thought about what he could say...and still came up empty. In the end, Ranma decided to just set himself up on the opposite end of the sofa since it was more than large enough to provide room for the two four-year-olds. Ranma still could not get to sleep though. He tossed and turned for a bit and tried to fall asleep, but it was no use. He sat up and leaned up against the sofa's arm and stared at the girl sleeping on the other end. *How does she do it?* thought the disgruntled boy. *I wonder why she's even down here?* He drew his knees up to his chin and continued to watch the sleeping girl. He began to get chilly so he drew his blanket around himself like a cloak and continued his staring. The longer he stared at Akane, the more he felt more relaxed. It started to feel a bit more like home the more he stared. Soon his eyelids became heavy and he had to fight to keep them open. Eventually he fell asleep, head on his knees and his arms clutching his blanket around himself. **** Akane automatically awoke an hour before dawn. She had been sleeping in the living room for quite a while now that she could wake up with enough time to return to her room before anyone else woke up. She yawned and stretched out her arms. She grabbed her pillow and blanket and was about to head upstairs when she noticed that she had company. Startled she stared at Ranma sleeping across from her. *What's he doing down here?* she wondered. She continued to stare at him not certain about what she should do. She decided to nudge him a bit with her foot. Ranma gave a little twitch and kept on sleeping. *Boy, he's really deep into his sleeping.* Akane giggled as Ranma began to snore softly. *I wonder if I should wake him up.* Before she could ponder the dilemma any further, Akane's decision was made for her as Ranma snorted a bit and woke up. He rubbed his eyes to clear them and found himself staring into another pair of eyes. Akane was giggling again. "Good morning," she whispered to Ranma. "Uh...g-g-good m-m-morning." Ranma was flustered. "Umm...did you...uh...sleep okay?" Akane nodded. "How about you?" "I c-couldn't sleep in the b-bedroom. My pop's snoring is pretty loud. I guess I wasn't used to s-s-sleeping there either." "Oh." Akane felt sorry for Ranma. He had to get used to a new home after losing his old one. *But at least he still has his mother! He hasn't had to deal with a loss like that!* Akane started to get angry. She still had not gotten over the death of her mother, so she lashed out at the nearest target...Ranma. "Well at least you haven't had to get used to not having your mother!" Akane whispered harshly her eyes flashing with rage. Ranma was taken aback. He didn't know what to say. All he could manage was a brief stutter. "I-I-I..." He saw Akane's eyes narrow and he panicked. "I'm sorry! I d-didn't know!" He scooted back against the sofa arm trying to keep distance between him and Akane. Akane, meanwhile, was trying to get her anger under control. *What's wrong with me? It isn't like it's his fault.* She looked back to Ranma who was crammed against the sofa's arm, knees to his chest and his head bent down. He was visibly shaking. *I gotta get a hold of myself.* Ranma was trying hard to get back in control. *I gotta stop crying. What would pops say? Boys don't cry!* But it was to no avail. The tears started pouring forth, the tears he had not shed before, even moments after his home was reduced to cinders. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and he looked up. Akane was there in front of him, her own tears streaming down uncontrolled. "I'm sorry," she said. Ranma was speechless for a moment. Then he clung to her in a hug even as she hugged him back, both of them in tears. After a few moments they separated and continued to look at each other. Ranma gave a watery chuckle. "I g-guess I needed that. I haven't cried like that in...uh..." he broke off, a confused look on his face. "Actually, I don't r-remember crying like that at all b-before." Akane giggled wiping her eyes. "Yeah, I guess I needed that too. I'm sorry I got mad at you. It's just that I miss my mother." Her face grew sad once more. "It's okay," Ranma said. "I guess we should get back to our r-rooms now." "Yeah. Before anyone wakes up and catches us." Together, the two four-year-olds gathered their things and began climbing the stairs. "So...uh...how come you s-sleep downstairs instead of in your room." Ranma had been dying to know what Akane was doing in the living room. "Oh. Ever since my mother died I've taken to sleeping down there. That's the room she and I would play in. I guess I just sleep there so I don't forget her." "Oh...." Ranma was sorry that he had asked. The two walked down the hall and came to the room Ranma was supposed to be sharing with his parents. They stopped and looked at each other. "Well...uh...I guess this is where I go." Ranma didn't want to go in however. He just knew he wouldn't be able to get to sleep in there. *But I have to, there's no where else.* "Umm..." he ducked his head. "I guess I'll see you l-later." "Yeah." Akane gave Ranma a smile and started walking to her room. When she got there she was about to go in when she noticed Ranma was still in the hall. He was standing in front of the bedroom door, just staring at it. She sighed and walked back to him. "Hey Ranma." Ranma, startled, looked up to see Akane was back. "Umm...what is it A-Akane?" "Do you wanna stay in my room. My bed is big enough for the both of us." (Get it outta your heads you perverts. They're four-year-olds becoming friends, alright? You sickos. ;P ) Ranma looked even more startled. "Are you s-sure, Akane?" "Yeah, why not? C'mon." So the two of them went over to Akane's room. Ranma noticed a little wooden duck on the door with writing that he assumed was Akane's name on it as they entered. Inside there was Akane's bed that had a few stuffed animals. There was a small desk in the corner that had some pieces of paper and crayons scattered on it. In front of the desk was a window looking out into the yard. Ranma could see the koi pond very well from there. It was a nice room. "So...uh...what do you think." Akane was nervous. She was hoping Ranma would like her room. "It's great. It's a lot better than my room. Umm..." Ranma's face fell. "I mean my o-old room." Akane looked at Ranma with a sad expression. "C'mon," she said finally. "Let's get some sleep before they come to wake us tomorrow." "Yeah." So the two of them climbed into the bed and went back to sleep. **** "RANMA!!!!!" Ranma and Akane were jolted awake. Bleary eyed they looked around wondering what woke them. "RANMA!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!!" "That's my pops." Ranma was confused. "What's he yelling for you about?" Akane was just as confused as her roommate. "I dunno. Think we should g-go check?" "I guess so." So the two made their way out of bed and out the bedroom. Earlier that morning, Genma and Nodoka awoke to find that their son was gone. They ransacked the room trying to see if he was hiding in there. He wasn't. They woke Soun and looked around downstairs in the kitchen and living room. He wasn't there either. Soon they began to panic, calling out Ranma's name, fearing the worst had happened. Maybe he was hurt. Maybe he ran away. Maybe he was kidnapped by some secret cult to be raised as a secret weapon so that their organization could take over the world! Well, maybe not that, but they were still worried. Ranma and Akane reached the first floor of the Tendou home and found Kasumi and Nabiki had beaten them there. "What's going on?" Akane asked her sisters. "We don't know, we just got here." Nabiki was looking outside at the yard. "We just woke up and heard Dad and the Saotomes yelling for Ranma." The three Tendou girls all turned to look at Ranma who merely scratched his head and shrugged. He decided to go and ask what the fuss was about. He walked out onto the deck and found his parents and Mr. Tendou running around still calling out Ranma's name. "Uh...Mom? Pop? What's goin' o..." Ranma never finished his sentence. All of a sudden he was tackled by his two parents and nearly hugged to death. "Ranma! Where were you? We were so worried." His mother was practically in tears. "Yes, boy, where did you go!?" Genma's tone was mixture of anger and relief. "We've spent most of the morning looking for you. Well? Let's have it! Where were you!?" "Uh...well I was just...umm...in Akane's room and..." "Akane's room! What were you doing in there!?" His parents looked shocked. "Well, I couldn't get to sleep last night and so I went out of the room and..." "And he found me in the bathroom!" Akane jumped into the conversation in a rush. "Yeah, he found me in the bathroom and he told me he couldn't sleep. I told him he could stay in my room if he wanted." "Err...yeah." Ranma was getting the idea that Akane wanted to keep her sleeping habits a secret. "So I said okay and we shared her bed." Soun had heard the whole story and was looking as bewildered as the Saotomes. "Well then, son. Were you able to sleep well in Akane's room?" "Yes Mr. Tendou. I didn't have any trouble getting to sleep in there." "Alright then. I guess you and Akane can share her room for now. Is that alright with you, Akane?" "Sure dad! I don't mind." Akane thought it'd be neat to share her room with someone else. "Saotome, Nodoka, is it all right with you two?" Nodoka looked hesitant but Genma acknowledged that it would be fine. "So, how does that sound to you, Ranma?" Ranma was elated. Not only would he be able to get some sleep, he would be able to spend more time with his new friend. "It's sounds great Mr. Tendou!" "Then it's settled. For now, you and Akane will share a room. Now I have to get Kasumi and Nabiki ready for school and make their lunches." "Oh please, let me do that Soun." Nodoka looked eager to help out. "Very well, Nodoka. I'll get the girls ready and you can make the lunches. I'm sure the girls will like your cooking better than my own." "Good. Genma, come and help me in the kitchen." "But Nodoka, I was just about to..." "Yes, I know what you were about to do, and it isn't going to keep you from helping me. Understand?" "Yes dear." With that, Genma followed Nodoka to the kitchen while Soun took Kasumi and Nabiki upstairs to prepare for school. Ranma and Akane were left on the deck. "I guess we're staying together now." Akane smiled at Ranma. "Yeah, I guess s-so." Ranma smiled back. "So uh..." Ranma's voice went into a whisper. "How come you d-didn't want anyone to know you're s-sleeping downstairs?" Akane slumped a little and sat down on the deck. Ranma sat down next to her as she answered. "I don't want them to know because I don't want them to stop me from doing it. I'm afraid if they make me stop, I'm gonna forget all about my mother." She began to sniffle a bit. "You're not gonna tell are you?" Ranma put his arm around Akane's shoulders. "I won't tell anybody A-Akane, if that's what you want." Akane looked at Ranma and smiled. "Thanks Ranma." Ranma smiled back. "No problem Akane." **** Later on that day Genma and Soun were in deep discussion. They were sitting in a corner making plans that may or may not make some people very happy. "It's perfect, Tendou. Ranma and Akane are getting along so very well." "I agree, Saotome. By engaging them to each other, Ranma and Akane will unite our two schools. The Anything Goes School of Martial Arts will continue even stronger with those two as our heirs." "You two had better not do anything rash." The two men flinched and looked up to find Nodoka glaring down at them. "Now Nodoka dear..." "Don't start, Genma!" "Yes dear." "I will not have you two engaging those little ones until they are ready to make their own decision about it. Do I make myself clear?" "But Nodoka, have you seen Ranma? Look at him!" Genma pointed out to the yard where Ranma and Akane were chasing each other around, laughing all the while. "See? I have never seen Ranma so happy with anyone. Even with those boys he would play with in the park. Have you?" Nodoka watched her son. Very soon the tears welled up in her eyes. Genma was right, amazingly enough. Her son was happier than she had ever seen him. She had never seen him like that before. It was a wonderful sight. Turning back to the men she said, "very well. I will approve of the engagement when you have explained it to Ranma and Akane and they have agreed to it. If they do not agree to it then it is their decision." "Yes dear." "Yes Nodoka." The two men watched her as she left wondering how they were ever going to explain to their children. **** That afternoon, Genma and Soun took Ranma and Akane into the living room and sat them down on the sofa. Nodoka was watching close by, which made the two men rather nervous. "You wanted to talk to us Mr. Tendou?" "Yes we did Ranma, Akane." "Why?" Akane wanted to go out and play some more with Ranma before it got too dark. "Err, because we wanted to ask you something, something very important." "C'mon pop, hurry up. We wanna go play." Genma sighed. "Very well Ranma, my boy. We wanted to know how you and Akane would feel about being engaged." "Engaged?" Akane and Ranma looked at each other with a confused look on their faces. "What d'ya mean engaged, dad?" "Akane, to be engaged to each other means that one day you two will be married." "Married? What's that?" Ranma had never heard the term before. "Just like your mother and me, Ranma." Ranma was still confused. "You mean me and Akane have to argue all the time?" Soun choked back a laugh as Nodoka and Genma glared at him. "No Ranma." Mr. Tendou began to explain. "Being married means that you two will uh..." he just wasn't sure *how* to explain. "Well, it means that you two will share your lives with each other." Akane and Ranma looked at each other again. They didn't seem to find anything wrong with that. "I guess that's okay. Is that okay with you Ranma?" "I guess so. We can get not engaged later, right?" "Yeah, we can do that, right dad?" "Of course you can, dears," Nodoka answered before the two men could. "Okay. I guess we're engaged now Akane." "Okay. Can we go play now?" "Go right ahead, dears." Akane and Ranma ran out the door and continued playing while the three adults watched them. Ranma and Akane began to run around again, having fun and laughing together. **** Days passed in a flash. Ranma began his martial arts training with his father while Akane began her training with her own father. Genma and Soun taught both of them the basics of how to stand and how to fall. They moved on to basic defense and attacks. However, Genma began teaching Ranma how to leap into the air and then moved on to how to attack in the air. Soun, on the other hand, began to teach Akane how to focus her strength into powerful attacks. In-between training Akane and Ranma would spend time with each other. Kasumi and Nabiki joined them after they returned home from school. Ranma and Akane listened as the two older children told stories about their day. Nabiki would always have the funniest ones about her classmate who would bring his wooden sword to school to try and impress everybody. Unfortunately the boy would always end up in the nurse's office after he hit himself in the head. The days flashed by again and soon Akane and Ranma were on their way to their first day at school. (I do not know how the Japanese school system works so I have to rely on how the western school system works. So I'm starting off with kindergarten and working my way from there. I'm also going to assume school starts and 8:30 and ends at 3:00. No offense to anyone intended.) They were going to be attending the same school as Kasumi and Nabiki. So, after Akane and Ranma returned to their room early in the morning, they were unable to go back to sleep. They sat up and looked over all the new stuff they had received from their parents. There were backpacks, pencils, paper, and a couple of binders for them. There were their school uniforms, which Ranma disliked from the start. Soon the sun was coming up and the two of them started getting ready, both looking forward to start the day. When Nodoka came to wake them up they were both set and ready to go. "You know you don't leave for another couple of hours don't you?" Nodoka asked with an amused expression. "We know, Auntie," Akane replied. "But we were too excited to sleep any longer." "When's breakfast mom?" Ranma was a heavy eater for a five-year-old boy. "It's almost ready Ranma. I was expecting you two to need time to get ready. I'll go and finish it right now while you two gather your things together, alright?" "Yes mom." Nodoka left the room, woke up Nabiki and Kasumi, and then returned to the kitchen to finish making breakfast. Ranma and Akane gathered their things and crammed them into their backpacks. Then they hoisted them onto their shoulders and went downstairs. They ate their breakfast that was laid out for them. After a while Nabiki and Kasumi joined them and began eating as well. After they were done, Nodoka brought out their lunches. "Alright, here you go. Ranma this one is yours." She handed Ranma a larger package than the others. He blushed at how much bigger it was and muttered a thank you. "Are you all finished? Then you'd best be off." Nodoka was rushing them off on their way. "Good-bye kids! Have fun!" Soun was in tears as he waved to his departing children and Ranma. "Good luck Ranma! Don't disappoint me boy!" Genma was his usual self as well. Ranma and Akane looked back and waved goodbye to their parents. Then they followed Kasumi and Nabiki to school. **** Akane stomped into the house that afternoon. She had an angry expression on her face and tears in her eyes. Ranma came running in after her. "Akane! Wait!" "No! I'm not talking to you, Ranma! Leave me alone!" "But Akane..." He didn't get farther than that as she slammed their bedroom door on him. He slumped and walked back downstairs to the stares of the parents. "What did you do, Ranma?!" Nodoka did not look very happy. "What did you do to my little girl, Ranma?!" Soun was in tears. "What happened boy?!" Genma had a stern expression on his face. "It wasn't *my* fault!" Ranma began to explain what had happened. **** The school day had gone great. Ranma and Akane were having a good time, but the best part of the day was PE. Ranma and Akane were clearly the best in the class when it came to athletics. However, the third best in the class did not like being third best, especially behind a girl. He did not mind losing to Ranma; Ranma was a boy. But to lose to Akane was something he could not take. At the end of the day, the boy decided to make his feelings known, and deal with Akane Tendou. "You there! Akane Tendou!" Akane turned around from where she was walking with Ranma and her sisters. She and Ranma were excited to tell their parents about their first day at school and wanted to get home fast. "Yes? I'm Akane." She looked at the boy who had called out her name. He had black hair and black eyes and was dressed in a school uniform. She recognized him as the boy who came in behind her and Ranma after running a lap for PE. "Oh! I remember you. You were the boy who came after Ranma and me in PE. You were really good you know?" "Shut up!" Akane was taken aback. "What? What did I..." "I said shut up! You made a fool out of me today, Akane Tendou! I won't be beaten by a girl, you hear me!? I, Hiro Nasake, am gonna teach you a lesson right now!" And with those words, Hiro charged Akane. Akane immediately took a defensive stance. Hiro was a bit bigger than she was, but she was confident she could take him. He was almost upon her, his fist held back in preparation for a punch. She was ready to block when someone stepped in front of her. It was Ranma. He stood calmly as Hiro threw his punch. Ranma deftly blocked and countered with a punch of his own. Hiro went down immediately, his left eye was already beginning to swell up. Ranma smirked down upon the boy who sat up groggily. "Never mess with Akane. You got that, Hiro? You do and you have to deal with me." Ranma turned back to Akane with a grin on his face. His grin faded as he saw the look on Akane's face. She was angry, very angry. "Ranma! How could you do that to me!?" "What?" Ranma was confused. All he did was defend her from that Hiro goon. "He was mine! I could have taken him easy! Why did you have to get in the way!?" "Akane! He's bigger than you are! I didn't want you getting hurt!" "He's bigger than you too, Ranma! Why did you...how could you...?" Akane could not find the words as tears started to form in her eyes. With no warning, she turned and started running towards home. "Akane! Akane come back!" Ranma ran after her. Kasumi and Nabiki looked at each other and started after them at a slower pace. They didn't want to be there when Ranma had to explain to the adults. **** "Then we got home and she ran upstairs. That's it." The three parents looked at each other, none of them knowing what to say. Finally, Soun looked at Ranma and asked, "So you defended my daughter from this Hiro boy, Ranma?" Ranma nodded. "And why did you do that, Ranma?" "Well, Mr. Tendou," Ranma gulped a little as Soun stared at him. "I just didn't want her to get hurt." "Oh happy, happy day!" Soun had fresh tears coursing from his eyes. "Ranma cares so much for my baby girl!" Ranma was crushed as Mr. Tendou gave him a fierce hug. His parents were smiling at him. "But Ranma." His father spoke to him with a serious look. "You shouldn't have gotten in Akane's way. She's been training like you have. She would have been able to take care of herself." "I guess so," said Ranma who was scuffing his shoe on the floor. "But I couldn't help it. Hiro looked like he was going to kill her!" "Even so Ranma, try to let her fight her own battles from now on, okay?" "Okay pop." **** That night Ranma asked if it was okay if he slept in the living room for the evening. He explained that he didn't want to upset Akane more by being around her when she was still angry. Mr. Tendou and his parents agreed. So Ranma sat on the couch waiting for Akane to come down like she always did. When she did enter the living room she still had an angry look on her face. Ranma attempted a half smile and waved at her. She ignored him and set up on the other side of the sofa. Ranma winced at how she was treating him. "A-Akane." She ignored him. "Akane. I'm sorry." Akane turned to look at him. He had one of the saddest expressions on his face that she had ever seen. She looked away and sighed. She couldn't stay angry with him. In fact she had missed spending time with him even though they were only apart for a few hours. She looked back at him and smiled. Ranma couldn't believe it. She was smiling at him. He began to smile back and was unaware when her pillow hit him square in the face. He pulled the pillow away and glared at her as she giggled. Then she scooted over to his side and gave him a hug, which he returned. Then she bopped him on the head. "Don't do that to me again." Ranma looked uncomfortable. "I'll try not to Akane, b-but I want you to know that I'm g-g-going to protect you no matter w-what." Akane looked a little miffed, but at the same time, flattered. It was nice to know that he cared so much about her. She cared about him too. "Alright, Ranma." The two of them hugged each other again and went to sleep. **** The next day, in the afternoon, Akane came stomping into the house, angry...again. "He did it again!" And she ran upstairs as Ranma walked in with a dejected look on his face. The adults were looking at him again. "I couldn't help it!" **** The days flashed by once more. Akane would stomp home everyday, angry with Ranma while he walked in looking depressed. The days turned into months and soon Genma was watching Ranma's skill carefully. He was approaching a decision he had been considering for some time now. Ranma was ready, he felt. So he decided to have a talk with his wife. "Nodoka, it is time." "Time for what, Genma?" She was deliberately avoiding his gaze. "You know what for, dear. It has been a year. Ranma's skill is growing. He needs to go on this journey to grow even better, even faster." Nodoka sighed. She knew this was coming. She saw it growing in her husband for weeks now. Every time she saw him watching Ranma, she could see the eager gleam in his eyes. She had told him a year or two. Apparently he was too eager to wait one more year. She had to admit, though, Ranma's skill was growing. He was going to need to go out in the world to become even better. Reluctantly she nodded. "But you are going to be the one who has to tell him." Genma winced a little, but then he, too, nodded. **** "NO! I won't go!" Ranma wasn't taking the news well at all. "Now you listen here, boy, this trip will be good for you. Going on this journey will make you the best martial artist you can possibly be. Don't you want to be a great martial artist?" Ranma considered his father's words. He knew he was good for his age, but from what his father said, he could be even better. Did he want to be a great martial artist? He liked it well enough, and he felt great when he practiced. Maybe he should consider going. "How long is this going to last, pop?" "I...I don't know Ranma. Probably years. It will take as long as it takes." Ranma was definitely having doubts now. He didn't want to be gone a long time. Although, now that he thought about it, he hadn't been getting along with Akane lately. He remembered her words from the other day. "Don't talk to me Ranma! Why can't you just leave me alone!?" Maybe this trip was what they needed. Some time apart would be good. "Alright pop, I'll go. When do we leave?" "That's the spirit, my boy! We'll leave this weekend. We need to inform your school that you'll be gone for a while. We also need to get some things together. So this Saturday, boy, you and I are going on a journey that will change your life forever!" **** Akane was furious. Day after day Ranma kept fighting her battles for her and it was pissing her off. *Why can't he just let me fight for myself? Why does he always have to be in the way?* Akane, sitting on her and Ranma's bed, stared at the wall, trying to understand. *I know he worries about me, but he shouldn't have to fight for me every single day!* Feeling the frustration building Akane lay down and thought some more. *Sometimes I wish that he wasn't around. Then when I think about what it would be like without him I...* She couldn't even finish the thought. It was too painful to think about. But then the pain became very real that Thursday. "What do you mean he's leaving!?" Soun had gathered his daughters to tell them the news about Ranma leaving with his father. Akane was not taking it well. "Now Akane, Ranma's father decided that Ranma needed to go on this trip to improve his martial arts abilities. Ranma was reluctant to go, but decided in the end that his father knew what was best." "But, he can't go! He just can't! What am I going to do without him!?" Akane was frantic and her heart was aching with pain. She knew she couldn't stop Ranma from leaving, and the helplessness was killing her. Kasumi and Nabiki watched in silence not knowing what to say. They would miss Ranma a great deal, but there was nothing they could do about it. Akane thought about what she had said to Ranma the other day; how she told him to leave her alone. Now he was going to leave her alone for a very long time. Tears welled up in her eyes and she ran to her room and collapsed on the bed crying with guilt and heartache. **** Saturday. Early in the morning. Ranma and his father were almost ready. Their things were packed and they were dressed for the road. The only thing left to do was the goodbyes. Ranma knew they weren't going to be pretty. He and his father walked out to the path that led out of the Tendou Training Hall. At the gate were standing his mother, Mr. Tendou, Kasumi, and Nabiki. Akane was nowhere in sight. He felt a stab in his heart that he quickly shunted aside. *What did I expect? She wanted me to leave her alone after all.* He went up to Kasumi and Nabiki first. They both gave him a hug goodbye. "Bye Ranma. We'll miss you." "I'll miss you guys too, Kasumi." "See ya Ranma." "See ya Nabiki." Then Ranma moved on to Mr. Tendou. "Well then Ranma, I expect that you'll be a fine martial artist when you return." There were tears falling from Mr. Tendou's eyes. Ranma realized he was going to miss those tears. "I hope so Mr. Tendou." He gave Mr. Tendou a hug and moved on to his mother. Ranma didn't know what to say. His mother was an important foundation in his life. How was he going to get by without her? "Well, my son, I have been dreading this day for such a long time now." There were tears in Nodoka's eyes as she gazed at her son. "I will miss you so much!" She grabbed her son and gave him a fierce hug and a kiss on the forehead. "You take care of yourself, you hear me?" Ranma nodded. Nodoka then turned her attention to her husband. "You'd better take care of our son, Genma." "I will Nodoka." "And...take care of yourself as well?" Genma smiled and hugged his wife. "I always do." He gave her a kiss goodbye and then turned to Ranma. "Well, boy? Are you ready to go?" Ranma was staring back at the house, hoping for one last goodbye, but there was no sign of it coming out. He sighed, turned to his father, and nodded. Genma pushed open the gate and began walking. Ranma hugged his mother one last time and turned to follow his father out. "WAIT! RANMA! WAIT!" Ranma spun around and felt his heart leap as he saw Akane running out of the house. He dropped his pack and met her halfway. Akane stood facing him, eyes glistening. "I...I'm gonna miss you, Ranma." "I...I'll m-miss you too, Akane." "Will you write me?" "Every chance I g-get. I'll n-need my pop to h-help me, but I'll write to you." "Good. I don't want you forgetting about me." Akane gave him a teary smile. "I'll never forget about you, Akane." Then he gave her a hug, which she returned. When he pulled away she held his right cheek and gave him a kiss on his left one. Then she took his hand and pressed something into it. "Goodbye Ranma." Ranma, eyes wide with astonishment could only say, "Goodbye Akane." Then he turned back towards the gate where he saw everyone there was now crying. He picked up his pack, shouldered it and joined his father outside the gate. He turned back one last time and waved to everyone who waved back. He turned towards the road he and his father were taking and began walking the first steps of his journey. Every-so-often his left hand would move up to touch his cheek as he stared at the lock of black hair, tied with a yellow ribbon, in his right. **** End Part Two: Well, that's it for this chapter. Hope you liked it. I really hope it was better than the first chapter. Once again, please send questions and comments to rplanas@pacbell.net. No flames please 'cause I won't pay them any attention. Thanks. Gyran A Different Life Written by: Gyran Here's the disclaimer you are all used to seeing: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am not making any profit off of this story so please don't sue me. I'm but a poor student. Any characters that I make up belong to me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if you do, please ask permission first and give credit to their creator, namely me. Part Three Section One: Here's...Ranma? It was a cold, rainy morning in Nerima. The streets were slick with rainfall and the sky was a depressing grey. There were people on the street rushing around trying to avoid the rain. In the middle of their bustle, they noticed someone coming down the street. Two someones actually, coming their way. One appeared to be rather small while the other extremely large. They walked side by side at an even pace, as if they did not want to go any farther. As the figures got closer, the people discovered that it was a short, redheaded girl, and a panda walking on its hind legs. Both had packs on their backs and depressed looks on their faces. The crowd of people stared as the two walked by them. Never had they seen such an unusual sight. The two just walked on by without a word and not looking at anyone. Their focus was on the road ahead, a road they seemed reluctant to follow. After passing the crowd the girl turned to the panda and spoke. "You know, pop, this is really getting kind of embarrassing. Everywhere we go, everyone is stopping to stare at us." The panda whipped out a sign that read, *I know. But there's no help for it, boy.* The sign twirled and then said, *The rain was unavoidable.* The redhead sighed. "I guess so pop. But do we really have to go through with this? What's mom gonna say? What about..." The girl's voice trailed off as she flinched, as if in pain. She did not have to finish the sentence. The panda knew what the girl was thinking of. She had been thinking about it for over ten years now. The panda sighed and patted the girl on the shoulder, nearly knocking her down. "Hey! Watch it old man! Don't try to be all sensitive! It's your fault we're in this mess in the first place!" The panda growled and swung at the girl who deftly dodged. "You're not gonna get me that easy, pop!" The girl began to launch attacks at the panda who evaded most of them and blocked the rest. And so the two continued their journey down the street towards the Tendou Training Hall, fighting all the way. **** Soun Tendou put down the postcard with a picture of a panda on it. He was crying and smiling at the same time. "At last!" He burst out with joyous laughter. "At last they're coming home! I must tell the others!" He jumped up from where he was sitting and rushed to gather everyone up. "Nodoka! Kasumi! Nabiki! Akane!" He ran towards the kitchen. "Nodoka!" "Yes Soun?" He quickly told her the news and asked her to wait in the living room for a meeting. Then he ran upstairs to tell the girls. He found Kasumi studying her medical books. Nabiki was looking over her "special" books. Akane wasn't in her room. After telling the two older ones that he was calling a meeting, he headed for the dojo. There he saw Akane dressed in her gi, focusing on some stone blocks. With a loud yell, Akane swung her arm up then down, splitting the blocks with her hand. She stood up straight with a sigh of contentment. "Akane." Akane looked up to see her father watching her. "Hi dad! What's up?" "We're having a meeting in the living room, Akane. Please come and join us. It's very important." "Alright dad. Give me a few minutes to clean up and change. I'll be there in a bit." And she rushed off to the bathroom. **** Soun Tendou looked at his daughters and Nodoka. Nodoka had a big smile on her face and tears in her eyes. The eyes of his daughters were filled with curiosity as to what the meeting was about. So he began to tell them. "Everyone, I just received a postcard this morning. It seems some very important people will be joining us this afternoon." He did not say any more than that. The three daughters looked at each other. Kasumi and Nabiki had smiles on their faces. Akane was puzzled, she still did not know what was going on, so, after no confirmation was coming, she asked her father. "So who are they dad?" Soun smiled at his daughter as tears came to his eyes. "Genma Saotome and his son, Ranma." Akane's eyes widened in shock. "He...he's back!? Ranma's coming home!?" Immediately her eyes filled with tears and she began to smile with happiness. *He's back! He's come back! Just like he always said he would!* Akane got to her feet and hugged her father tightly. "I've got to get ready. He'll be here soon right?" Soun continued to smile. "Yes Akane. So you'd best be going." With that, Akane rushed upstairs to get ready to see Ranma again. The four remaining in the living room smiled at each other. Then Nodoka looked to Kasumi. "Would you mind helping me in the kitchen, Kasumi?" Kasumi's eyes brightened. "I would love to, Auntie." So the two of them went to prepare a meal to welcome the travelers. **** The redheaded girl and the panda stood before the gates of the Tendou Training Hall. It had been many years since they had walked out these gates, but now they had returned. Too bad they didn't look happy about it. "Do we *really* have to do this, pop?" The panda growled and nodded. The redhead sighed and pulled the gates open. She walked in, followed immediately by the panda. As she looked around, her mind was flooded with memories of long ago. Memories of the house, the dojo, and the people that lived there; a certain girl in particular. The rain had ceased a little while ago and the sun was shining bright. The sky was filled with puffy white clouds against a deep blue sky. It was a rather beautiful day. The redhead sighed again and proceeded to walk to the house, the panda still behind her. They approached the door and slid it open. Immediately they heard activity inside. Soon five people were rushing to the door to greet their guests. **** Akane heard the door open first. Her head snapped towards it as she rose to her feet. She had been nervous all day. She called to the others and told them that it was time. The four others quickly rushed to her side and they all made their way to the door eagerly. When they got there, all of them received the shock of their life. After all, it isn't everyday that a pigtailed redheaded girl, dressed in Chinese clothing, walks into your home with a giant panda. **** Ranma-chan saw them all hurrying towards her and her father. She saw Mr. Tendou, Kasumi, Nabiki, and her mother. But her eyes focused on the one in front. Akane. Her hair was still the same as it was ten years ago, short and lovely. She had grown as beautiful as he had imagined in the ten years they were apart. She was dressed in a red dress with a white blouse and looked absolutely, positively cute. Ranma-chan could not help it. As soon as she saw Akane, she leaped forward and gave her a fierce hug. "Akane! I can't believe it's you!" Then Ranma-chan felt a stab through her heart as Akane asked, "who are you? Where's Ranma?" Ranma-chan let go of Akane, dropped her arms to her side and stepped back with her head down. She whispered something, and then, without warning, Ranma-chan turned and ran from the house. **** Akane was in shock as she saw, instead of Ranma and his father, a pigtailed girl and a giant panda. She noticed the pigtailed girl look at everyone in turn. When her stare reached her, Akane noticed that the girl's eyes widened. Without warning, the pigtailed girl latched on to her in a strong hug saying, "Akane! I can't believe it's you!" Akane did not know what to do. She was still in shock. She had been expecting to see Ranma, so the first words out of her mouth were, "who are you? Where's Ranma?" She felt the pigtailed girl stiffen up and let her go. Then the girl stepped back. Akane heard her whisper something that sounded like, "I am Ranma." Then she ran from the house. Akane did not know what to do. She stared after the girl and looked at her family. They all had shocked looks on their faces. Knowing that the panda would not be able to give her answers, Akane ran after the girl, her thoughts in a jumble. *She said 'she' was Ranma. But how can that be? The look in her eyes before she ran off...it was like I'd hit her. I have to go talk to her.* Akane found the girl in the middle of the dojo, sitting down with her knees to her chest, arms on her knees, and head bowed over them. Suddenly, a memory flashed into her mind. Ranma, on the sofa, the first night he was at the dojo. He was sitting in the exact same position and crying. *But...it can't be. Ranma was a 'boy'. I know he was!* And yet, Akane found herself believing that this girl, somehow, was her Ranma. So she approached slowly and put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Ranma?" Ranma-chan's head snapped up and looked into the face of Akane. Her face looked puzzled and worried, but, Ranma-chan noted, still beautiful. "A...Akane?" "Is it you, Ranma?" Akane had both her hands on Ranma-chan's shoulders. "I...y-y-yes. It's me Akane." The familiar stutter and the way her name was said convinced Akane. Only Ranma could ever say her name in such a way that she filled with happiness. She wrapped her arms around Ranma-chan and gave her a hug, one that Ranma-chan desperately needed and returned. They held each other for a while before Akane separated them, a question on her lips. "But, how is it you?" Ranma-chan gave a bitter chuckle and said, "It's a long story Akane. But we'd better get everyone together so that me and pop can explain." She looked at Akane again. "God I've missed you." "I've missed you too Ranma." They hugged once more and made their way back to the house. **** (okay, just to make this clear, I'm going to refer to male Ranma as simply Ranma. Female Ranma I am going to refer to as Ranma-chan. Hopefully this will help to avoid confusion.) By the time Akane and Ranma-chan returned to the house they found that everyone had gone into the dining room and there was a teakettle on the table. The Tendous and Nodoka looked at the two and noticed they were holding hands. Nodoka stood, gave Ranma-chan a hug and said, "Your father asked us to prepare some hot water Ranma." Ranma-chan, looking startled, pulled away and said, "mom, y...you know already? How?" "Your father here, wrote the message on a wooden sign. I can recognize his bad handwriting anywhere." Ranma-chan snorted a laugh and gave her mother a fierce hug. "It's good to see you again, Mom." "I'm glad you are home now, my son," replied Nodoka, tears in her eyes as she returned the hug. Ranma-chan turned back to Akane. "Excuse me a sec, Akane," she said as she let go of Akane's hand and picked up the teakettle. She poured some water out onto herself then onto the panda. The others in the room gasped as a boy replaced the girl and a man replaced the panda. Ranma spoke up first. "Uh, hi everyone. We're home." "Foolish boy! What kind of a thing to say is that!" "Shut up old man! What else are we supposed to say!?" "Genma! What have you done!?" Genma flinched as he faced his wife. She was angry and had a homicidal look in her eye. He got even more worried as she reached for the long, wrapped object that was always with her. "Now, now Nodoka. It wasn't really my fault." "Of course it was you old fool! *You* were the one who insisted on going, even though you didn't speak a word of Chinese!" Ranma glared at his father. "You said it would be good for us. A legendary training ground you said! Ha!" Soun looked at his old friend quickly. "Saotome, you didn't actually..." Genma looked at Soun and nodded. Soun sat back shocked. "The legendary Cursed Springs of Jusenkyou. It's true horror has been shrouded in mystery." "What do you mean *True horror*! You mean you knew that place was dangerous, pop!? You *idiot*!" "Ranma, you sound like a *girl*!" Genma picked up his son and threw him into the koi pond. "Weren't you prepared to give up your life for the sake of the art!?" Ranma-chan emerged from the pond, splashed her father, and planted her fist into the panda's face. "My life *yes*! But not my manhood!" The two of them began to wrestle with each other until Nodoka's voice rang out. "Stop that at once!" The two of them immediately responded to her voice and ceased fighting. They returned to the table and changed back with the teakettle. They went on to explain how the curses worked. Cold water changed them, hot water changed them back. **** Akane had been silent throughout the exchange. She had been staring at Ranma ever since he had changed into a boy. *He...he's really handsome!* She blushed just looking at him. *He said he missed me a lot. I hope he means it, because I don't want to lose him again.* She snapped out of her thoughts as she noticed her sisters looking at her with amused expressions. "What are you looking at!?" she asked them, irritated. "Why Akane," Nabiki smirked, "why on earth are you blushing?" "Yes Akane," Kasumi looked amused herself. "I suppose you're liking what you see?" She giggled as Akane blushed even more. "Hmph!" was all Akane had to say. Kasumi and Nabiki looked at each other and grinned. "Well," Nodoka was saying. "Now that we have the explanations out of the way, why don't we have dinner?" Ranma and Genma's eyes lit up at the mention of dinner. Nodoka and Kasumi went to the kitchen to bring out the food. Soon everyone was seated around the table. Soun was seated at one end and Genma on the other. On Soun's left were Kasumi, Nabiki, and Nodoka. On his right sat Akane and Ranma. They all began to eat. It was in the middle of the meal, that Genma and Ranma began sparring over their food, each of them had hands and chopsticks blurring. "Genma! Ranma! What are you doing!?" Nodoka was not amused. Everyone else was staring as well. "Sorry mom," answered Ranma. "I have to do this or he'll get all my food." "Genma!" "Thanks a lot, boy. You didn't have to put it that way." Genma turned to his wife. "It's a form of training dear. It helps to hone Ranma's reflexes. For every attack I make, he has to block and counter with his own, and vice versa. He's actually become quite good over the years." "Even so Genma, you are home now. You can train his reflexes in other ways than by trying to starve him!" "Yes dear." So dinner continued without further incident. Ranma looked a bit uncomfortable at how quiet it was. He was used to his father taunting him as they battled over each other's plates. He glanced next to him to look at Akane and found that she was looking at him too. They both looked away hurriedly and continued eating. After dinner, Nodoka asked Genma to help her clean up. After hearing a couple of splashes, growling, and a shriek from Nodoka, Kasumi went into the kitchen to help, and out came a disgruntled panda. "Problems pop?" asked Ranma with an evil grin. *Quiet boy!* said the sign that emerged. Genma-panda picked up the teakettle still on the table and poured what was left over himself. Ranma laughed and stood up. Akane stood with him and he looked at her. She looked back and they just stared at each other for a while. "Do you guys mind?" Nabiki was watching the two with an amused look, her cheek resting on the palm of her hand. "There's better places to be staring at each other than the dining room you know." Akane and Ranma both looked down at the same time and mumbled an apology to Nabiki. Nabiki laughed in response. "I...I guess I should put my s-stuff in the room," Ranma told Akane. Akane's eyes widened and she began to blush furiously. "I'm afraid that you can't do that Ranma." Ranma turned to the voice of his mother who emerged from the kitchen. "Huh? What do ya mean, mom?" "I mean, Ranma, that you and Akane are no longer five years old. You will not be sharing the same room anymore." Ranma scratched the back of his head, his facing going red. "Oh. Then where am I supposed to sleep?" "Well, we'll have to set up one of the extra rooms tomorrow. For now you'll have to sleep in the living room." Ranma shot a covert glance at Akane who gave him a slight nod. "Alright mom. I guess I'll go set myself up in the living room then. W-w-would you help m-me Akane?" Akane gave him the cutest smile and nodded. He smiled back and the two of them went to the living room. The others exchanged looks as they cleared the rest of the table. When they finished they all sat down again, smiling. "Just like when they were children, eh Tendou?" "It sure looks like it, Saotome." "It looks like they're a bit more serious now though," Nodoka put in. Nabiki chuckled. "You should have seen them staring at each other, Auntie. It was almost embarrassing." "I just hope they don't take it too far." Kasumi had come back from finishing the dishes in the kitchen with a worried look on her face. "I wouldn't worry, Kasumi." Nodoka had a thoughtful look about her. "They know that they still like each other, very much it seems." Then the sound of "RANMA! YOU *JERK*!" came from the other room followed by a *BAM*. **** Ranma and Akane were setting up some blankets on the sofa, neither of them speaking. There were occasional glances, but nothing more. In minutes Ranma's makeshift bed was set up and he and Akane sat down next to each other. Ranma took Akane's hand and she looked up at him. He was staring at her intently. "A-Akane." "Y...yes Ranma?" "There's been something I've been wanting to s-s-say since I saw you today." Akane's breath caught in her throat. "Y...y...yes?" "Akane, you...you've become a very beautiful girl." Akane's eyes widened. Her eyes sparkled and she leaned her head against Ranma's shoulder. "Oh Ranma...thank you." "It's amazing really," Ranma continued with growing confidence. "I thought that with your martial arts training you might turn out to be some uncute tomboy." Silence. "Uh, Akane?" Ranma noticed a blue aura emanating from the person sitting next to him. He looked over and saw Akane staring at him angrily, her aura glowing brighter by the second. "Akane, what's wrong?" "RANMA! YOU JERK!" All of a sudden a giant mallet appeared in Akane's hand and she brought it down on Ranma's head, *BAM*! The others came running in from the dining room to find Akane standing over Ranma who was twisted and bent on the floor, a hammer on his head. Akane saw everyone staring at her and Ranma, so she did the only think she could think of. She gave a "hmph!" and walked upstairs to her room. Genma walked over to Ranma and pulled the hammer off his head. Ranma groaned and sat up, miraculously still conscious. He saw everyone but Akane staring over him. "Wha...what happened?" Ranma put a hand to his head and winced. "We were just about to ask you that, boy. What did you say to Akane?" Genma looked concerned. "All I said was that she was very beautiful." "Are you sure that was all Ranma?" his mother asked. "Uh, let's see." Ranma scratched his head. "I also said that it was amazing since, with her martial arts training and all, I thought she might be an...uh..." Nodoka's eyes narrowed. "Might be *what* Ranma?" "Err, well, I meant it in the best way. *Really*!" "*What* did you *say*, Ranma?" "Um...anuncutomboy," Ranma mumbled. "What?" Ranma sighed. "An uncute tomboy." "Ranma!" "I wasn't calling her that! I just said that...uh...that she could have been one?" "Go upstairs and apologize to her right now, Ranma!" "Alright, alright. Yeesh! It's not like I called her that. I said she was beautiful didn't I?" Ranma trudged up the stairs to Akane's room. He saw the little wooden duck with Akane's name on it and smiled. He remembered seeing that duck during his first night at the Tendou home. He raised his arm up and knocked on the door. There was no answer. He knocked again. Still no answer. Slowly he opened the door and peeked inside. The room was arranged the way he remembered it. The only real difference was that the objects in it were bigger. A bigger bed, a bigger desk and chair, and a bigger dresser. Akane, however, was not in there. He sighed and continued to look for a few minutes before leaving. "Oh well. She must have gone out to steam a bit. I may as well bathe and go to bed...err sofa...uh..." As he pondered the correct term to use when sleeping on a sofa, Ranma headed for the bathroom and went in. He undressed and opened the door that led to the washing facilities, a towel over his shoulder. He walked in and saw Akane coming out of the furo. She saw him as well. Akane blushed and grabbed for her towel. Quickly she wrapped it around herself and walked towards Ranma as he scrambled to wrap his own towel about himself. He watched as Akane approached him slowly. She got right in front of him and stared him right in the face. "Ranma," she said quietly. Ranma stared at her. Even after she was mussed up from bathing, he was still captivated by her beauty. "Y-y-yes, Akane?" "YOU PERVERT!" And her arm came up and around and her hand slammed across his face. She stormed out of the bathroom and went to her room. A minute later Genma entered and found his son twitching on the floor. He sighed. "Didn't knock, did you boy?" **** That evening, when all had gone to bed, Ranma was still awake, laying down on the sofa. He had a red mark on his cheek. He sighed as he rubbed it. After the events of tonight, he wasn't sure if Akane was coming down or not. But she did. She walked down the stairs slowly, a blanket and pillow in hand. Ranma sat up and watched her as she came around the sofa. She still looked angry. Ranma took a chance and spoke. "Akane." She glared at him. "I'm sorry Akane. I didn't mean to say those things or walk in on you in the bathroom." Akane continued to glare at him as he turned away, depressed. Slowly her expression softened. She could never stay angry at him. She cared about him too much. Ranma felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked to see Akane smiling at him. He smiled back and enfolded her in a hug. "Thanks Akane. I don't want you mad at me the first day I get back." "Hmph. You'd better watch what you say and do then, Ranma," she said in a mock serious tone. Ranma chuckled. "I'll do my best, but you should know I have a tendency to say things before thinking." "Obviously." Akane giggled. "I'm sorry for hitting you, too. I know you didn't mean what you said about being an uncute tomboy. You called me...b-beautiful." She blushed. "No one's really called me that before." "Really?" Ranma was startled. He thought someone would have said it before now. "Well, there are the boys at school, but it doesn't mean much coming from them." Ranma smiled, and Akane smiled back still blushing. "So, uh...how are we gonna do this?" Ranma asked. "I mean, the sofa doesn't seem as big for the two of us now as it did before." Akane blushed even more furiously. "I...I think we can still fit. I know I don't want to sleep on the floor, and I don't want to kick you out of your bed tonight." Soon, Ranma was blushing too. "Uh, how are we gonna fit, Akane?" Akane looked down and said, almost inaudibly, "we'll have to sleep next to each other." Ranma gulped. "Uh...al...alright." Akane's head snapped up and there was an evil look in her eye. "But you'd better not try anything funny, mister!" Ranma chuckled and made room for Akane to lie down. They gathered their blankets over themselves and soon fell asleep, staring into each other's eyes. They did not notice the rest of their family quietly go back upstairs smiling. **** Part Three Section Two: Furinkan High's Newest Student Akane woke up and found herself nose to nose with Ranma. She blushed at how close they had slept to each other. If she leaned in just a little bit she'd be kissing him. But she didn't. She quietly got out of the sofa and grabbed her pillow and blanket. Taking one more glance at her sleeping fiancé she made her way back to her room, a happy smile on her face. **** Ranma was awaken by light glaring into his eyes. Opening them he discovered that the light came from the sun. It was morning. He looked around and noticed that Akane was not there. Suddenly he was hoisted by the scruff of his shirt and thrown into the koi pond. "Time to wake up, Ranma my boy!" And Genma began their morning sparring session. **** Akane was coming back from her morning run. As she approached the Training Hall she heard a yell and sounds of fighting. *What's going on?* She quickly entered through the gate and saw Ranma-chan fighting with Mr. Saotome over the koi pond. The two of them leaped into the air and were a flurry of punches of kicks before landing on opposite sides. Shaking her head Akane walked towards the house as she continued to watch. After a few moments Ranma-chan was knocked into the koi pond. Laughing, Genma shouted, "You're sloppy, Ranma!" He was immediately drenched by a bucket of water, which slammed into his face. "Now who's sloppy, old man!?" Ranma-chan smirked at her panda father. The panda growled as Nodoka came outside. "It's time for breakfast you two!" "Yes mom!" Ranma-chan walked into the house at the same time Akane was getting there. "Morning Akane!" "Morning Ranma!" The two of them sat down at the table as the rest of the family came in and sat down. Soon breakfast was finished. Akane glanced at Ranma-chan. "I have to get ready for school now Ranma." "Uh, okay. But can't I go with you to school?" "Oh! Um, I dunno." The two of them looked at the others. Genma was shocked. *My son 'wants' to go to school?* Nodoka was smiling and Soun was in tears for no apparent reason. "Hey Nabiki, can you arrange it for Ranma to attend Furinkan?" Nabiki looked amused. "Sure Akane. How much are you willing to pay for it, Ranma?" "Nabiki!" Akane had an angry look on her face. Nabiki chuckled. "Alright. No charge this time. I'd best be leaving now, then." With that, Nabiki grabbed her schoolbag, lunch, and walked out the door. Kasumi stood up to leave, too. "I have an exam at the university today," she explained. "See you this afternoon!" She waved and was gone. Akane got up and started going upstairs. "I'm gonna get ready now, Ranma. Don't walk in on me again!" Ranma-chan blushed as Akane ran upstairs to get ready. After a while she shouted that she was done and Ranma-chan went to get ready as well. Soon they were both ready and headed out the door, Akane in her school uniform and Ranma in his red, Chinese shirt and black pants. Almost immediately Ranma leaped up onto a fence and started walking on it. After a while, Akane spoke up. "Why are you doing that?" She looked a bit irritated. "Huh?" Ranma did not understand the question until he saw Akane looking at his feet. "Oh, this? This just helps me train my balance. The first time I started I fell off every few feet." Ranma chuckled. "But that was a long time ago. Now I do it to make sure my balance stays in good condition." They continued to walk towards the school. Akane kept glancing at Ranma, wondering how to ask him for a favor. Soon Ranma noticed Akane's occasional glances and decided to speak up. "You okay, Akane?" Akane looked at him and found him smiling at her encouragingly. She smiled and began to speak. "Ranma? I need to ask you for a favor." "Sure Akane. What d'ya need?" "I need you to stay out of my way when we get to school." "Huh?" Ranma was confused. "You want me to leave you alone at school?" His face fell. "No!" Akane said hurriedly. "That's not it! I just need you to stay out of the way when we get there." Ranma was comforted by Akane's words, but still didn't know what she was talking about. He decided to do as she asked. "Umm, sure Akane. I don't really know what you're talking about, but if you want me to stay out of the way then I will." Akane smiled sweetly at him. "Thanks Ranma." They continued on to school. Ranma was about to comment about how nice a day it was when he was hit by water. Cold water. Looking around Ranma-chan saw an old lady splashing water onto the sidewalk. Some of it had somehow managed to hit her. She sighed. Akane was startled at the change at first, then she too sighed. "Come on Ranma. You can't go to school like that. We'll drop by Doctor Tofu's real quick." "Doctor Tofu?" Akane smiled. "You'll see." **** Ranma-chan looked around the doctor's office when Akane had gone in to find some hot water. The office looked nice and clean, like a doctor's office should look. She noticed the waiting area had a couch and a coffee table piled with magazines. She could see into one room that had a bed with curtains around it. There was another door that Akane went into, and there was a door that Ranma-chan assumed went to the bathroom. The other doors were closed. Then Ranma-chan felt a hand land on her shoulder. Looking at it, she discovered that there was no flesh on the hand. With a yell, Ranma-chan leaped up into the air and grabbed onto an open door. Looking down he saw a man with brown hair and glasses smiling up at her. He was holding a skeleton. "Sorry about that," said the man. "I didn't mean to scare you. This is my skeleton, Betty. I'm Doctor Tofu Ono." Ranma-chan slid from the door and stood before the doctor, staring at him. "You're a doctor? You seem awfully young to be a doctor." Tofu smiled at Ranma-chan. "Yes, I am rather, aren't I? But I was qualified to graduate. And if the university said I was doctor, who am I to argue?" Ranma-chan chuckled. It was at that point that Akane came in with a mug of hot water. "Oh! Hello Doctor Tofu!" "Good Morning Akane. What's that you have there?" "Oh, this is just some hot water for Ranma. Here you go Ranma." She handed Ranma-chan the mug, which was quickly poured. Ranma shook his head a bit and asked, "you got a towel handy, doc?" Tofu's eyes had widened in astonishment, but only for a moment. He looked at Akane. "An interesting friend you have here, Akane. You said his name was Ranma?" "Err...yes doctor." Akane looked embarrassed. Tofu went and got a towel and gave it to Ranma. "Well Ranma, I've heard an awful lot about you. Every time Akane comes in here, with some injury or another, she can't help talking about a letter she's received from you." Ranma looked at Akane who blushed. "Is that so? Well, it's nice to know my letters got here okay. Sorry we can't stay doc, but we're going to be late for school if we don't hurry. It's my first day." "All right then, kids. Drop by anytime." Ranma and Akane rushed from Doctor Tofu's. They had to run if they were going to make it on time for class. As they were running, Ranma decided to satisfy some curiosity about the doctor. "So, the doc's a martial artist, huh?" Akane looked over at him. "Yeah. How did you know?" "The way he snuck up on me. I never even heard him coming." "Yes, he's very good." The school was coming into view and Akane suddenly switched modes. She acquired an angry look and began to speed up. "Akane?" Ranma was worried. "What's wrong?" "Nothing Ranma. Just remember to stay out of it!" "Huh?" But Akane never answered back as she passed through the school gates and was rushed by a horde of boys. Ranma jumped onto the wall that bordered the school and watched as Akane beat the horde into a pulp in under a minute. *Wow. She's really good.* His thoughts were interrupted as Nabiki shouted at him from the third floor of the school. "Hey Ranma! Hurry up or you're gonna be late! I've already set you up!" Ranma shouted back, "yeah! But what about Akane!?" "Don't worry, this happens *every* morning!" Ranma nodded, waved and looked back to Akane who had finished her fight. Akane wiped the sweat from her forehead and muttered something about people not catching a clue. Suddenly her arm shot out to catch a rose that was thrown at her. She groaned. Ranma saw a boy emerge from behind a tree and begin to spout off in some obscure dialect. "An earthlier happy is the rose distilled, than that which withering on the virgin thorn grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness." The boy was holding a bokken and wearing some type of samurai garb. Ranma continued to watch the buffoon spew out some more strange words. "These, weaklings, such a boorish lot truly. They fought for the privilege of your company Akane, if they could manage to defeat you, that is. What fools these mortals be." Akane had a pained expression on her face. "Kunou, do you mind if we skip it today? I'm already running late." "I'm afraid not, oh beauteous Akane." Kunou pointed his bokken at her. "Wilt thou spar with me?" At this point, Ranma was tired of standing aside so he leaped from the wall to stand next to Akane. "Geeze Akane. What was all that about?" Kunou's eyes narrowed and he pointed his bokken at Ranma. "You there! Aren't you being awfully familiar with Akane?" Ranma turned to Kunou and said, "Yeah. So what?" He felt Akane nudge him. "I thought I told you to stay out of this!" she whispered to him. Ranma shrugged. "I just wanted to know what the deal was. He's the one who's talking to me." Kunou was getting angry. "Who do you think you are, foolish whelp!? Tell me how you know Akane!" Ranma smirked and began to speak. "Well, I'm..." but he didn't get to finish. "Wait! Is it not customary to give one's own name first!? Fine then! Mine I shall give!" Ranma just stood there with his mouth open in astonishment. "I am the undefeated captain of this school's kendo club. The rising new star of the high school fencing world. The sound of my voice strikes fear into the heart of my enemies. My peers call me the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!" Kunou raised his bokken into the air as a bolt of lightning flashed to accentuate the words of the Blue Thunder. "I am Tatewaki Kunou." Nabiki and her friends looked puzzled. "Did he just call himself Blue Thunder?" asked one of her friends. "Have you heard of that?" asked the next. "Nope," responded Nabiki. "It's news to me." "Last I heard, he was calling himself the Shooting Star of Furinkan," said another. Nabiki just shrugged and continued to watch. Ranma was at a loss for words. "Uh...well...I...uh...I'm staying at the Tendou Martial Arts Training Hall." Kunou's eyes flashed. "Staying under the same roof as Akane!?" Kunou lunged forward with his bokken and Ranma back-flipped out of the way. As he landed he gave Kunou his own introduction. "I'm Ranma Saotome, of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Consider your challenge accepted." He took a defensive stance and waited for Kunou to charge. It never came. "Ranma Saotome?" Kunou was taken aback. "Thou art Akane Tendou's fiancé?" "Err, yeah." Ranma was puzzled. Why was Kunou stopping? "Akane Tendou hath mentioned thee, but all believed thou didst not exist." "Well I do, so what are you gonna do about it, pal!?" "I will cease my pursuit of Akane Tendou of course." Kunou bowed and walked into school. On the third floor, Nabiki and her friends stared in shock. On the ground both Ranma and Akane's jaws dropped. They looked at each other. "Akane?" "Yes Ranma?" "What the hell just happened?" "I have no idea." Then the bell rang. **** Ranma stood in front of the class as the professor introduced him. He glanced at Akane who was sitting at her desk. She gave him a smile and a wave that said "don't worry." So he tried not to fidget. "Class," began the professor, "this is Ranma Saotome. He is a new student recently returned from China. However, even though he is new, he and Akane Tendou were late! Go get your buckets and stand in the hall you two!" Akane sighed and went with Ranma to stand in the hall. **** "This is all your fault, you know." Akane and Ranma each had a bucket filled with water. They stood against the wall outside of their classroom. "What do you mean *my* fault? You were the one fighting." "Yeah, but I usually manage to finish before class starts. If you hadn't butted in with Kunou, we wouldn't be out here." Ranma sighed. "Alright, I'm sorry. Next time I'll let you pound the guy, how's that?" Akane smiled. "Good." "What was all that about this morning anyway?" Akane grimaced. "It happened at the start of the semester. Kunou made this stupid speech in front of the whole school. He said that if anyone wanted to date me, they would have to defeat me in combat." Ranma stared at her in disbelief. "And those morons believed him?" "Well," explained Akane, "Kunou is the best male fighter in the school. If someone wanted to date me and didn't challenge me first, Kunou would pound them." "Yeesh. So why didn't he try to pound me this morning?" Akane frowned, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I'm not sure. It was really very strange. I mean, Kunou is honorable and all that, so maybe he respects our engagement now that he knows you really do exist." "Why wouldn't he believe I existed in the first place?" With a snort Akane said, "Kunou isn't exactly in the top of his class." "Ah. So maybe all the fights will stop in the morning now that I'm around, huh?" "That would be nice. But then who will I spar with now?" Akane giggled. "Well, there's always me, Akane." "Hmm, I supposed you'll do." "So if I beat you does that mean I get a date?" Akane glared at Ranma who was grinning at her. "No." **** Gym class came around. The boys' class was starting the gymnastics section while the girls started softball. Ranma was performing flips and twists on a bar as the rest of the class looked on. Ranma ended with a perfect landing to the applause of the other boys. He then sat down next to two boys who had introduced themselves in class. One was named Hiroshi, the other Daisuke. "That was great, Ranma." Hiroshi was amazed at Ranma's ability. "Yeah, where'd you learn that stuff?" Daisuke was just as amazed. "I've been training for over ten years, guys. You'd think I'd pick some stuff up wouldn't you?" Ranma gave the two a strange look. Ranma knew some weird people at his old schools before, but these two were weirder than normal. He noticed that they seemed a bit uncomfortable speaking with him. He also took note that they didn't seem to talk to anyone else except each other. Soon Hiroshi and Daisuke started watching the girls gym class playing softball. Ranma saw that they had wistful expressions on their faces, not the leering looks one would normally expect from guys who were staring at girls. As he studied the two some more, he noticed that they were staring at two girls in particular. Yuka and Sayuri, who introduced themselves to Ranma as Akane's friends earlier. Ranma soon began to watch the girls' class as well when he saw Akane playing in the outfield. He still couldn't get over how beautiful she had become. Sure, she was a *bit* of a tomboy, but he wasn't going to mention that if he could help it. He didn't want to get smashed again. Hiroshi and Daisuke, who had stopped staring at the girls, noticed who Ranma was staring at and exchanged looks. "So, Ranma," Hiroshi began a bit hesitantly, "what's the deal with you and Akane?" "Huh?" Ranma was still staring. "Yeah, you know, have you two even kissed or anything?" Daisuke was curious. "What!?" Ranma turned to glare at the two who held up their hands defensively. "We're just wondering, Ranma," Hiroshi continued. "The way you're staring at her, you two must be pretty close." Ranma shrugged uncomfortably. He wasn't used to anybody taking so much interest in his personal life. "We just...uh..." "Uh huh." Daisuke exchanged another look with Hiroshi. They were just curious, but Ranma seemed to be taking it personally. Daisuke decided to let it go. "Alright, Ranma." Ranma blushed and began watching Akane again. She was now up to bat, but he wasn't paying much attention. He was just watching her. So it wasn't really surprising when he didn't notice the softball she hit was coming right at him. And it wasn't surprising that he didn't attempt to dodge or block it. What was surprising was that he didn't react to the pain when the ball slammed into his face. He just continued to stare as Akane rushed up with a worried look. "Hey Ranma," Hiroshi was saying. "Shouldn't you have been able to dodge that or something? I mean, since you're a martial artist and all." He and Daisuke leaned over him with worried looks on their faces. "Ranma! Are you okay?" Akane had gotten there. Hiroshi and Daisuke backed out of the way as she stood in front of Ranma and pulled the ball off his face. The stitches of the ball were imprinted on his face. "I'm sorry. I guess I hit it wrong." He did not answer her. "Hey! Why aren't you saying anything?" She noticed that Ranma had a glassy look in his eyes. Akane waved her hand in front of them but Ranma didn't react. When she tapped him on the forehead he collapsed, unconscious. "Ranma!" **** Ranma awoke to find Dr. Tofu examining his face. "Are you alright, Ranma?" The doctor had a questioning look on his face. "Ugh. What happened doc?" "Apparently you got hit in the face with a softball. It knocked you unconscious. Do you remember how it happened?" Ranma thought back to Gym class. *Let's see. My class was doing the gymnastics stuff, and Akane's class was doing softball. Then Akane went up to bat, and that's the last thing I remember.* "Ranma? Are you okay?" asked a small voice coming from the door. Ranma looked to find Akane there, a dejected look on her face and almost in tears. "Akane? What's wrong? Don't worry. I'm fine." Akane rushed into the room and knelt next to Ranma's bed. She took his hand into hers and the tears came out. "I...I'm so s-s-sorry, R-R-Ranma," she wept. "Akane?" Ranma put his other hand over hers. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm okay, really. It only knocked me unconscious. It ain't like I died or nothin'." It was the wrong thing to say as Akane began to wail. "Now Akane," Tofu put his arm around her shoulder, "it's alright. Why don't you take Ranma home now, okay?" Akane sniffed. "Okay Doctor Tofu." Akane got up and helped Ranma stand up. "You sure you're okay to go home, Ranma?" "I'll be fine, Akane. Let's go, okay?" "Okay." "I'll see you later you two." Doctor Tofu waved at them as they headed for home. **** "Ranma? Why is there a softball imprinted into your face?" Akane burst into tears once more as Ranma's mother asked the question. She ran upstairs to her room and slammed the door shut. "What did I say?" Ranma stared up the stairs where Akane had vanished. "I think she's still feeling guilty that she knocked me unconscious with a softball, mom." "Oh dear. Are you alright, Ranma?" "Yeah I'm fine, but I think I'd better talk to Akane." Ranma walked upstairs to Akane's room. He knocked on the door but received no answer. Putting his ear to the door he heard quiet sobbing. He slowly opened the door and walked in. Akane was face down on her bed, crying into her pillow. Ranma came and sat beside her and put his hand on her back. "Hey, Akane? It really is okay you know. I'm not mad or nothin'." Akane turned over and sat up. "You're not? But Ranma, I knocked you unconscious for five hours." "Five hours? What time is it?" Gym had been at 10 that morning. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was almost 3:30 in the afternoon. Ranma was amazed. He didn't think he was out for that long. "That must have been one major hit to knock me out for that long." Akane groaned and put her hands to her face. Ranma mentally kicked himself and put his arms around her. She clung to him as if she would never let him go, but she did eventually. She kept her head down as she spoke. "I'm sorry Ranma. I...I'm such a klutz. I can never do anything right! I..." Akane felt fingers on her chin raise her head up. She found herself looking into Ranma's blue eyes. "Akane. I care about you. No matter what you do, remember that I will always care for you." Akane's eyes widened as Ranma kissed her on the forehead. "Now will you stop blaming yourself about this whole thing? I mean, it was partly my fault for getting distracted in the first place." Akane was still in shock. "D-d-distracted? By w-what?" Ranma blushed. "Err, it's not important. I let my guard down and paid the price for it. Let's just forget it, okay?" "Alright." Ranma got up to leave. As he reached the door, Akane spoke up once more. "Ranma." He turned to look back at her as she smiled at him. "I care for you too." **** Part Three Section Three: Tatewaki Kunou The next morning Ranma and Akane were running late for school...again. They ran as quickly as they could and managed to make it to school and into their class just before the bell rang. They were in such a hurry that neither noticed that Akane wasn't attacked that morning. As they sat down they were a little winded, but at least they had made it on time. Not that it really mattered to Ranma. He was asleep within half an hour of the first lecture. Lunchtime came around and Ranma and Akane decided to sit with each other. They found a shady tree and sat down to eat. They were silent for the most part, only occasionally making comments about the day's lecture and the homework due the next day. It was towards the end of lunch that Kunou approached them. "Ranma Saotome. Pardon this intrusion but I would speak with thee if time permits." Ranma stared up at the kendoist. "Uh, sure Kunou. I'll see you in class Akane." Akane nodded and Ranma got up to follow Kunou who bowed to Akane before leaving. Akane stared after them, curious. "You know, I can find out what they're saying if you'd like, Akane." Akane turned her head and saw Nabiki emerge from around the tree. "Nabiki! What were you doing back there!? You weren't listening in on me and Ranma, were you!?" "What? You mean your extremely boring conversation about homework? Never!" Akane glared at her for a bit before asking, "what do you mean you can find out what they're saying?" "I do have bugs around the school, Akane. They have been placed in areas that people believe to be most private. I have some very interesting recordings on tape." "How much, Nabiki?" "Why Akane! What makes you think I want anything from you?" Akane just stared at her sister. After a little while Nabiki grinned. "Don't worry. This one's on me. I'm just as curious as you are. Kunou hasn't been acting himself. Especially when he said he was giving up on you, just like that." Akane nodded. Kunou *was* acting weird. Maybe they could find out why. "Okay Nabiki, let me know what you find later on today, okay? But don't let Ranma know." "Tch, tch. Hiding things from your betrothed, Akane? I'm shocked." Nabiki laughed and began to walk away when she remembered something. "Hey, didn't you notice that you weren't attacked this morning, Akane?" Akane's eyes widened. She hadn't noticed. Then her eyes narrowed. "Okay Nabiki, what happened?" Nabiki had a strange look on her face. "Well, it seems after you and Ranma left early yesterday Kunou announced that he would not tolerate anyone trying to "date" you anymore. So I guess your morning fights are over." Akane said nothing as Nabiki walked away. She just couldn't think of anything she *could* say. **** That afternoon, Nabiki stormed into Akane's room without knocking. Akane looked up from her desk, startled at the entrance. "Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Nabiki was flailing her arms in the air and cursing under her breath. "What do you mean nothing?" Akane was irritated at the intrusion. "I mean I didn't get *anything* on Ranma's and Kunou's talk. Nothing!" Akane stood up, surprise evident on her face. "But how? You said you had every possible place bugged!" "I know that! So either Kunou is smarter than I gave him credit for, or he is so stupid he talks in places that no one would if they wanted it kept secret. He might have gotten lucky and found such a place when no one was around, but the chances of that would be astronomical at lunch time!" Akane frowned in thought. "I asked Ranma what he and Kunou were talking about when I saw him in class." She sat back down at her desk, thinking. "*And*!?" "Hmm?" "What did he *say*!?" "Oh. He wouldn't tell me. He said I'd find out after a few days anyway, but Kunou needed it to be kept secret." "ARGH!" "Calm down, Nabiki. Screaming about it isn't going to help." Nabiki took a couple of breaths and slowly regained her composure. "Right. You're right. I just need to calm down and think about this." She moved over to Akane's bed and sat down. "Now, yesterday, Kunou gives up on you when he's been pursuing you for over a year, correct?" "Right." "Then today, he needs to meet with Ranma about something, yes?" "Yes." "Ranma said that what they were discussing was going to take place in a few days, right?" "Right." "The only thing I can think of is that Kunou was never really chasing you." "You've *got* to be kidding!" "No, think about it. I've known Kunou for years now. When he focuses on something he doesn't just give it up in a split second. So the only reason he would give up on you so easily would be because he wasn't really going after you. What I can't figure out is what's going to happen in a few days." Akane pondered this. She could not find anything wrong with Nabiki's logic. After all, Nabiki had known Kunou for much longer. In fact, Akane couldn't think of anyone who knew Kunou better than Nabiki. Her eyes widened as it dawned on her. She got a mischievous look on her face as she looked at Nabiki. She was still pounding her brain trying to find the answer that Akane already knew. She chuckled. Nabiki looked up and saw her sister laughing. "What's so funny?" Akane grinned at her. "You are." "What do you mean by that?" "I mean, what does it matter to you what Kunou is up to? I mean, it's only Kunou, right?" "NO! It's not *only* Kunou! It's...it's..." Nabiki ran out of words to say. "It's *what*, Nabiki?" "I...I don't know." Nabiki had a strange look on her face, the same look she had on at lunch that day. "But Kunou acting unlike himself worries me." "But why should *you* be worried?" Akane's eyes were filled with mirth but Nabiki didn't notice. Nabiki sighed. "I guess I shouldn't be. But I am." Nabiki got up and walked to the door. "Could you tell me what the deal is if you find out, Akane? I'll even pay you if you want." Akane nodded. "I'll see you later." And Nabiki walked out, closing the door behind her. Akane sat on her bed, an amused look on her face. *I'm surprised I didn't notice it before. Nabiki always had this strange look on her face every time Kunou approached me for one thing or another. In fact, every time that he 'has' approached me, Nabiki was always nearby.* She snickered. *Hopefully it will work out in the next few days. I wonder what Ranma and Kunou are planning?* She had this sudden feeling of dread. *I hope they don't do something stupid!* **** "Come on Akane! You have to move faster than that!" That evening, Ranma and Akane decided to spar in the dojo. Akane was throwing punches and kicks that Ranma merely dodged around. Akane kept trying but she never even got close to hitting him. It was making her angry. "Grrr! Stop dodging Ranma! At least fight back!" "I can't do that, Akane!" "Why not!?" "Because I don't want to hurt you!" Akane stopped so suddenly that Ranma fell over trying to avoid an attack that never came. "Hey. What's wrong Akane?" "Ranma," she began in a calm voice. "How can I get better if you don't even try to hit me? I'm a martial artist too, you know? If all you're going to do is avoid my attacks, then what's the point of sparring?" She turned and started walking out of the dojo. "Akane! Wait!" Akane kept walking. Ranma ran to catch her. He stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder. "Akane." Akane didn't even turn around. "What do you want, Ranma?" Ranma hesitated. "I...I want to hit you?" Akane turned around. "You do?" "Well, no." Akane started to walk off again. Ranma had to stop her once more. "But, if you want me too, I can try. I just don't want to hurt you Akane." "If I'm going to be a better martial artist, Ranma, I'm going to have to be hurt some of the time. I mean, think about it." Ranma thought back to all the training his father put him through. He couldn't remember a single one that didn't bring about some pain in one form or another. He sighed. "Alright, Akane. I'll fight back. But I ain't going full out against you. Okay?" Akane gave him an unexpected hug. "Thank you Ranma." "Err...yeah, sure." *She's thanking me because I'm going to be hitting her. Now how weird is that?* "Now, let's try that again, shall we?" Akane moved back into the dojo and Ranma followed her. **** Akane limped into the house. Every single part of her hurt. But even so, there was a happy smile on her slightly bruised face. Ranma trudged in behind her looking worried. "Oh my! Akane! What happened to you!?" Kasumi had come in from the kitchen where she was helping Nodoka with dinner. "Oh! Hi Kasumi!" Akane gave her sister a wave and a grin. "Me and Ranma were just sparring. He hit me a lot!" She walked upstairs to clean up. Kasumi looked at Ranma. "Ranma! How could you do that to Akane!?" "But-but-but-but...she asked me to!" Ranma was looking depressed. "She asked you to hit her?" "Well yeah. I didn't want to, but she was so depressed that I wouldn't, so I did." "And that's a good thing, Ranma." Mr. Tendou walked into the room from the porch. "Huh?" "Akane needs more training. I'm afraid I've been a bit lax in teaching her. If you were to spar with her more often, her skill would improve." "But Mr. Tendou, I...I don't like hitting her!" "I understand Ranma. But if Akane is to improve, she must get hit." Ranma sighed. "I guess so." He started walking upstairs to clean up. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he undressed and walked into the bathroom without thinking. "Ranma!" He looked up quickly. "Wha?" There was Akane in the furo. Her back was to him but she had turned her head when the door had opened. "Oh geeze! Sorry Akane!" "I thought I told you not to do that again! And cover yourself for crying out loud!" She was blushing furiously. "Huh? Oh!" Ranma wrapped his towel around himself. Then he took a better look at Akane's back. It was covered with bruises. He winced, imagining what the rest of her must look like. "What are you looking at, pervert!?" He looked back to her still blushing face and saw it start to get even more angry. "Akane. I don't know if I can keep hitting you like I did tonight." Akane's face softened as she realized what Ranma had been staring at. "Ranma. I'm glad you hit me. I'm glad you really sparred with me. It shows that you were taking me seriously about being a martial artist." "But Akane, look what I did to you!" "I know Ranma, but the bruises will heal. I'll just have to learn to block or dodge your attacks so I don't get these bruises, right?" Ranma shrugged unhappily. "I don't know." "Come here, Ranma." "What!? But Akane, you're..." "I'm staying in the furo so it's okay. Just don't let your eyes wander, mister!" "Uh, right." He walked up to her and sat next to the furo. Akane turned and put her hand on Ranma's cheek. "Please Ranma," she said quietly. "Don't stop sparring with me." "But Akane..." "Listen, didn't you say before, that, no matter what I did, you would always care for me?" Her eyes captured his. "Yes," he whispered. "Well, it works both ways you know. I know that you think that hurting me will drive me from you." Ranma shook his head, trying to deny it. "No, don't do that. I know that's what you're thinking. But it's not true Ranma. I care for you. Even if you hurt me when we spar, I don't hold it against you because I know that is the sacrifice I make for my training." Ranma closed his eyes in thought. When he reopened them, Akane was still staring at him. "So, no matter what you do, Ranma, I will always care for you." Ranma nodded, unable to say anything. "Good. Now get out of here so I can finish cleaning up, you pervert." Akane giggled and shoved Ranma towards the door. He got up and made his way over there. He was halfway out when Akane said, "And Ranma, next time you walk in on me I'm gonna smack you!" **** Later that evening, during dinner, Ranma handed a small envelope to Nabiki. "What's this, Ranma?" "I dunno, Nabiki. I just found it in my schoolbag and saw it was addressed to you." Nabiki had a puzzled look on her face as she put the letter into her pocket. "Aren't you gonna read it?" Akane asked. Nabiki shook her head. "Not right now. I'll read it later." **** Nabiki sat at her desk in her room. The letter lay in front of her, still unopened. *Who would be sending me something? It's just too strange.* She picked up the envelope and opened it. Pulling out the letter, she unfolded it and began to read. To: Nabiki Tendou Meet me on the soccer field at sundown on Friday evening. Come alone. That was all it said. No other name, no clue as to who sent the letter. She frowned in thought. *Well, I guess I'll have to meet this person. I just hope they're not gonna try something. Maybe I should bring Ranma and Akane with me? But the letter said come alone.* Nabiki shrugged. *I guess I'll just have to wait a few days to find out then.* It was late, so she decided to get some sleep. It was a long time coming. **** Akane and Ranma sat next to each other on the rocks next to the koi pond. Akane wanted to ask Ranma something. "So what's in that letter you gave to Nabiki, Ranma?" "Huh? How would I know? I just found it." Akane glared at him. "Don't lie to me Ranma. You sounded sincere enough to fool Nabiki, but she doesn't know you as well as I do. I know you got it from Kunou, so what's it say?" Ranma looked around to make sure no one was in earshot. Finding no one he quietly said to Akane, "Kunou wants Nabiki to meet him at sundown on Friday, out on the soccer field." Akane's eyes narrowed. "What for? What is it exactly that you two discussed today?" Ranma smirked. "It seems Kunou boy has had a crush on Nabiki for years. He just never had the nerve to say anything. When you started high school, he started hitting on you to get to Nabiki. He figured that was the only way to let his feelings for her show without her knowing." "So why the sudden change? Why's he meeting with her on Friday?" "Well, since I showed up, he figures it isn't honorable for him to appear to be chasing you anymore." "But, what about that stupid speech he made? About no one being able to date me unless I was beaten." "Oh. He explained that too. He didn't want anyone else to have your...uh...attention, so he figured that since no one could beat you, the fighting thing was the best way. So, you remained available to chase, and Kunou could still spout off his feelings to Nabiki using you." Akane had a dark look on her face. "But-but-but that's so...*stupid*!" "Hey, you said it yourself. Kunou ain't exactly Einstein." A deep sigh came from Akane. "I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid on Friday." "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll be okay. He's an honorable guy after all." Ranma put his arm across Akane's shoulders. He heard her gasp in pain and he quickly removed his arm. "Ah geeze! Sorry Akane." Akane leaned her head on Ranma's shoulder. "Don't worry about it." They watched the stars for a bit before going to bed. **** For the rest of the week, Nabiki was a bundle of nerves. Everywhere she went she examined everyone carefully trying to see if they were watching her. Her paranoia became so bad that her information business went a little down in profits. Finally Friday came around. Nabiki was anxious for the day to end. So anxious, in fact, that she missed her teacher asking her a question. She ended up standing in the hall with a bucket for a while. Soon school was over and she headed home. Even then she was fidgety. She kept looking at the clock waiting for the time to pass and the sun to begin it's descent. Soon it was time. She headed back for school and waited on the soccer field. The sun was setting, casting a fiery red light across the sky. It was a beautiful sight to behold as Nabiki waited. Soon she did not have to wait any longer. From the west, in the glaring light of the setting sun, approached a figure. Nabiki raised her hand to her eyes to see who it was that approached, but the light was too intense. As the figure came closer, it began to speak. "For it so falls out that what we have we prize not the worth whiles we enjoy it. But being lacked and lost, then we rack the value, then we find the virtue the possession would not show us whiles it was ours." Nabiki's eyes narrowed. She knew that voice. She had heard that voice almost every single day for over ten years. It was Kunou. As he got closer she could now define his features. "Nabiki Tendou." "Kunou. What the *hell* is going on?" She was startled as Kunou smiled at her. "I have come to give you a message, Nabiki Tendou. A message that will be received with great pleasure." Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "Well, you're sounding pretty confident." Kunou was right in front of her now. He nodded to her statement. "Confident enough to give you these." He presented her with a bouquet of red roses. He turned and began to walk away as she gaped after him. "Kunou!" Kunou stopped and half turned to hear what Nabiki was saying. "Yes?" "Where's the message you said you were delivering?" Kunou smiled once more. "If you do not yet understand the message I must needs speak it to you." He turned around completely and faced her. "Nabiki Tendou...I love you." And he turned and walked off into the sunset, leaving behind a flustered Nabiki. When he was gone, Nabiki looked at the roses in her hands, a blush coming to her face. They were fresh and beautiful and a deep red. Her eyes glistened as a smile came to her face. She looked to where Kunou disappeared and smiled even wider. "I wonder how I didn't see that coming." **** Okay. That's it for Part Three. Hope it wasn't too long for you. I wanted to get all this out of the way without starting another chapter. Let me know what you think. Email is rplanas@pacbell.net. Questions and comments welcome. Flame are ignored. Thanks again. Gyran A Different Life Written by: Gyran Here's the usual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am not making any profit off of this story so please don't sue me. I'm but a poor student. Any characters that I make up belong to me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if you do, please ask permission first and give credit to their creator, namely me. Thanks. Part Four Section One: The Love Of A Doctor Ranma and Akane were running to school on Monday. They were not really late, they just felt like running that morning. As usual, Akane ran on the ground while Ranma was on a fence. Soon school was in sight. When they were through the gate they saw an unusual sight. Kunou and Nabiki were walking into school holding hands. The other students were also watching, some with looks of shock, others with amusement. Ranma and Akane were part of the shocked group. They stared, mouths open, as Kunou and Nabiki walked into the building, heading for class. "You know, Ranma?" "Hmm?" "Even after knowing what was going to happen last Friday..." "Yes?" "I wasn't really expecting this so soon." "Uh huh." The two of them kept staring as the other students headed for class. After a little while they decided they should get going too. Before they could go in, the rain came down. Ranma-chan had a disgusted look on her face. "Well that's just great. Now what am I supposed to do?" Akane sighed. She was hoping they would be on time for class that day. "Come on Ranma. You can wait in a storage room while I get you some hot water." **** Akane and Ranma were standing in the hall again. They each had a bucket of water and depressed looks on their faces. "Sorry about this, Akane." "It's okay Ranma. It wasn't really your fault." "I know. It was all yours." Akane turned to glare at her grinning fiancé. "Is that so? Well then, perhaps you should spend the rest of the day as a girl!" She held up her bucket of water, threatening to loose its contents on a now freaked out Ranma. "Okay, okay! I was kidding! Kidding!" Akane smiled and lowered her bucket. "That's better." Ranma pouted in a pathetic way. Akane couldn't help giggling. "Hmm, I never noticed punishment to be a laughing matter." Ranma and Akane turned to see Nabiki and Kunou coming their way. They both had a bucket of water. "Nabiki! What are you doing out here?" Nabiki and Kunou blushed. Akane and Ranma both arched an eyebrow at the two. "We...uh...kinda weren't...uh...paying attention in class." Nabiki blushed even more as Ranma and Akane looked amused. Kunou said nothing, just put his back to the wall and began taking his punishment. "So, enough about us," Nabiki said, attempting to change the subject. "What were you giggling about, Akane?" Akane giggled again. "Just this." And she raised her bucket in the direction of her fiancé. "Hey! Cut it out already!" Ranma had both his hands out, still holding his bucket. Akane and Nabiki burst out laughing. Kunou, on the other hand, looked confused. "What behavior is this, Saotome? Art thou afraid of a mere bucket of water?" Ranma glared. "I ain't afraid of...AHH!" Akane held her bucket up again. Nabiki was doubled over laughing. Kunou had a disdainful look on his face. "Thou must needs get over thy fear, Ranma Saotome. Allow me to assist thee." Without warning, Kunou took his bucket and splashed its contents at an unsuspecting Ranma. "Hey! What'd you do that for!?" Kunou, eyes wide, stepped back. "Wha...What manner of sorcery is this?" Ranma-chan looked down at herself. "Aw great. Thanks a lot Kunou." She looked carefully for any roaming professors before she ran off to the bathroom to change. Kunou turned to Nabiki and Akane who had disbelieving looks on their faces. "What is going on, Nabiki? What happened to Saotome." Nabiki sighed. "It's a long story Kunou-chan. It all started when..." **** When Ranma returned, Kunou had been filled in on the details. He had a sympathetic look on his face. "Truly thou art cursed, Ranma Saotome." Ranma snorted. "Yeah, no kidding." "I apologize for mine earlier actions." Ranma waved it away. "Don't worry about it." The four stood silently for a while, waiting out their punishment. It was not long before Akane spoke up again. "So, Nabiki. When are you two going out on a date?" Nabiki's blush returned. "Um, I don't know. I haven't been asked yet." It was Kunou's turn to blush. "Uh...I...uh..." it was the first time anyone had seen Kunou at a loss for words. Akane snickered. "Well, never mind then." But Nabiki wasn't about to let her off that easy. "Oh? What about you and Ranma, Akane? When is *your* big date?" Now the whole group was blushing while Ranma answered Nabiki's question. "I don't know when it'll be. I mean, I beat her when we sparred the other day, and she says she still won't go out with me." Akane elbowed him. Kunou burst out laughing to the surprise of the other three. "An amusing jest, Saotome." "I don't see what's so funny," Ranma said in a mock serious tone. "I still haven't gotten a date out of her no matter how many times I beat her." Kunou laughed even more and Nabiki snickered. Akane glared at all of them. A professor entered the hall and glared at them. "You are supposed to be quiet! If you cannot do that I will come up with a more appropriate punishment for you four!" The four of them quieted down as the professor went back into the classroom. They looked at each other for a second. Then they started laughing again. **** "This is all your fault, Ranma." "*My* fault! Kunou was the one who started laughing!" "If thou had not made thy jest, Saotome, I would not have been amused." "Kunou-chan's right, Ranma." "Well if you hadn't asked the question about a date, *Nabiki*, I wouldn't have made the joke." "Hey! It was *Akane* who asked about a date between me and Kunou-chan." "Hey yeah. It *was* you who mentioned it, Akane!" "So you're saying it's *my* fault, Ranma!?" "Uh...well...yes?" "You jerk!" *BAM!* "OW! What'd you do that for!?" "Children, children please. Let's not resort to violence now." "I agree with Nabiki!" "You just don't want me to mallet you again!" "That's right!" "Hey! You kids stop your yammering and get back to work! If those aren't clean by the end of the day then all four of you will have detention for a week!" The professor from earlier looked down at them from a third floor window. "Yes Professor!" all four of the answered. "C'mon you guys. We'd better finish cleaning all of these." Ranma picked up another pair of chalkboard erasers and began pounding the chalk out of them. "Yeah. I guess you're right, Ranma. We can say it's your fault later." "Hey!" "Now, now you two. We want to finish this don't we?" "Verily. It would not do for Tatewaki Kunou to receive detention for a week." The four of them looked at the hill of erasers behind them and the small pile they had finished in front of them. They sighed and got back to work. **** The four students were rather tired at the end of school, but they did manage to finish their work. "Ugh. I'm beat." Akane wiped the sweat from her brow. "You said it Akane. I don't think I'll be able to even *look* at an eraser for at least a week." Ranma was brushing chalk of his clothing. "C'mon Kunou-chan. You can walk me home." Nabiki linked her arm with the Blue Thunder. "It would please me greatly to do so, Nabiki." The two of them started walking for the Tendou Training Hall. "See you guys later!" "Bye Akane!" Nabiki waved back to her sister. Ranma looked at Akane. "Can we go now too?" Akane smiled at him. "I suppose so. Would you like to carry my school bag, Ranma?" Ranma was tired, so it was only natural that he wasn't thinking straight. "You've got arms don't ya? Carry it yourself." *BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM!!!!!!!* **** Ranma was twisted up on the hospital bed. He made incoherent sounds and had a glazed look in his eyes. Dr. Tofu had a worried look on his face as he examined Ranma's injuries. Akane sat in a chair next to Ranma, her hands on her lap and her bottom lip between her teeth. "How terrible!" Doctor Tofu was saying. "Look at his injuries. The dislocated joints! The bruises!" He turned to look at Akane. "Who did this to him?" "Uh...well...I...uh..." Ranma stirred a bit and his eyes come into focus briefly. He looked as if he wanted to say something. Doctor Tofu leaned forward to catch his words. "Akane did this," he whispered. "Very violent...uncute even...." He did not get farther than that as Akane's fist met his face again. The doctor turned to face her. "You did this Akane?" Akane's face went red with embarrassment. "Uh..." Doctor Tofu then smiled. "Aha! I knew this damage looked familiar!" He began to laugh. Ranma was not amused. *Yeah sure. Laugh it up why don't ya! He ain't the one who got pulverized by Akane!* Ranma had come to the decision to sulk when Doctor Tofu began fixing his dislocated joints. He then decided that screaming would be a better idea. "AHH! Stop! That hurts!" Doctor Tofu had a startled look on his face. "Really? Where?" Ranma sat up and examined himself. Except for the bruises, all the pain was gone. "Hey! I'm not hurting anymore!" Doctor Tofu smiled and went to the sink to wash up. Akane giggled. "Of course! Doctor Tofu is the best!" Ranma turned to Akane. She suddenly went quite and her hands began twisting each other in her lap. She was staring at them intently, not wanting to look Ranma in the face. Then a third hand joined her two. Startled she looked up. Ranma was still looking at her, a rueful look on his face. "I'm sorry about what I said to you Akane. I wasn't thinking." "Hmph! That was fairly obvious!" Akane was still hurt by what Ranma had said to her. Ranma smiled sheepishly. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, the bruises you gave me still hurt a lot." Akane tried to keep an angry look on her face, but she failed. A giggle escaped her. She put her hand to Ranma's cheek. "You really don't think about what you say, do you?" she said softly. "You're such a jerk." Ranma scratched his head, still smiling. "I guess I don't, you uncute tomboy." Akane's hand tightened over Ranma's cheek. His eyes widened. "Hey! I thought we were just playing around!" Akane laughed and her grip loosened. "I know." Then she poked Ranma on the nose. Ranma pouted and Akane laughed even more. It was then that the door opened and a giant panda walked into the room. "Pop!?" asked an incredulous Ranma. Genma-panda growled and waved at his son. A sign flashed out and said, *Your mother wanted me to get a job. So I applied here.* "What's the matter, pop? Couldn't get anything at the zoo?" Ranma and Akane both snickered as the panda glared and began sweeping up the floor. "This is your father, Ranma?" asked Doctor Tofu. "I must say, I can't see the family resemblance." He started laughing while Ranma explained how his father was also cursed. "I see. Interesting." He pushed up his glasses. "Well, back to business. Let me take a look at that new bruise on your face. I think I have something here that you can put on it to keep it from swelling. He put his hands on Ranma's face and began applying an ointment. Then the door opened again. Akane looked up and gasped. *Oh no!* **** "Good afternoon Kasumi! Running some errands today?" Kasumi smiled at the shopkeeper. "I'm on my way to see Doctor Tofu." The shopkeeper went dead white. "Uh...well...how...err...nice Kasumi. Have fun!" *I'd better spread the word! Everyone had better stay away from Doctor Tofu's! At least until tomorrow at the earliest!* Kasumi smiled and waved. She continued on her way, a book under one arm, and a basket in the other. **** Doctor Tofu looked up as the door opened. He lost it as soon as he saw her. "K-K-K-Kasumi!?" His glasses immediately fogged up. Kasumi smiled as she entered the room. "Hello Doctor Tofu! I came to return the book you lent me. It was very helpful for my exam last week." She set the book down on the counter. If Doctor Tofu knew what she was talking about, he gave no sign of it. With his hands still on either side of Ranma's head, he said, "Well hello there, Kasumi. Fancy meeting you here of all places." Then Ranma gave a yell as he felt his neck being bent ninety degrees to the side. "Oh my! Are you alright Ranma?" Kasumi had her hand to her mouth. "Oh! Do you know Ranma, Kasumi? He's becoming one of my regulars." He turned to look at Akane. "How are you doing Ranma?" Akane was at Ranma's side. He was still in pain and she was trying to get his head back into the correct position. "Doctor Tofu, help him, please!" "What's wrong, Ranma?" he asked Genma-panda, who turned him to face the right way. Ranma screamed, "It hurts!" Doctor Tofu sighed. "Not another injury." He put his hands on Ranma's head once again. He bent it 180 degrees so that it was now going in the other direction. "How's that?" "AAAAHHHHHH!" Kasumi came up behind Tofu and put her hand on his shoulder. "Is he going to be alright, Doctor?" Tofu's eyes widened. He jumped up and tripped over a stool. "He'll be fine, Kasumi," he said from the floor. "That's nice. Oh! Here you go! I almost forgot I made these for you!" Kasumi was holding out the basket she had brought. "A gift for me? How thoughtful. Thank you Kasumi." He stood up, took the basket from her and looked inside. Kasumi smiled mysteriously. Akane helped Ranma to his feet. "C'mon Ranma. You won't be able to get help here for a while." She turned to Kasumi and said, "Me and Ranma have to go now, Kasumi. We'll see you at home." "Alright Akane." Akane walked out with a head-bent Ranma at her side. **** "What was all that about, Akane?" Ranma and Akane were sitting next to each other on the porch of the Tendou home. Ranma's head was still not in place. Akane sighed. "For as long as I can remember, Doctor Tofu has been in love with Kasumi." "No kidding? He must have it bad, the way he was acting." "Yeah. It gets so bad that no one comes to his office if they know Kasumi is there. He just can't function when she's around." "I noticed." Ranma tried to lean his head on his hand, but it was too awkward. He sighed. "So what am I supposed to do about my problem? I can't go to school like this tomorrow!" Akane glanced at Ranma. "Well..." "Well what?" "There might be one way to fix it, but it's probably going to hurt." "Well, let's do it. I'd rather go through the pain of that, rather than showing up to school like this." Akane winced. "Are you sure, Ranma?" "Yes I'm sure! C'mon Akane! Tell me how to fix my head already!" *BAM* "OW! Hey! What'd you do that for! Huh?" Ranma moved his head around. "Hey! You did it! Thanks Akane!" Akane smiled. "So does Kasumi know about the doc's feelings?" Akane shook her head. "Not as far as I know. She always mistakes his actions for joking around." "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Akane." Ranma and Akane looked behind them to see Nabiki and Kunou approaching. "What d'you mean, Nabiki?" "I mean, oh unobservant one, that Kasumi is well aware of the good doctor's feelings. If you watch her carefully when she visits him, you'll notice it." Akane was dumbfounded. "Are you sure, Nabiki? Kasumi doesn't seem to notice that he acts...well...nuts when she's around." Nabiki smirked. "Of course I'm sure. And as I understand it, Kasumi feels the same about him, but she hasn't done anything about it." Ranma scratched his head. "Why not? If she feels the same way, why doesn't she...err...talk to him or something?" Nabiki gave him a 'you're hopeless' look. "Because of the way he acts around her, Ranma. Doctor Tofu has to be able to control himself before he and Kasumi will talk. Because of his condition, he's the one who'll have to make the first move." Kunou nudged Nabiki and motioned towards the gate. Nabiki smiled. "If you'll excuse us, we're going out." Akane and Ranma gave the other two amused glances. "Okay Nabiki." Akane waved as her sister left with Kunou. "Tell Kasumi and Auntie where I went, will you Akane? I won't be back for dinner." "Alright." A few moments passed when they heard a strange sound coming from up the street. Akane sighed and Ranma looked puzzled. "What's that noise?" "C'mon. You might as well see it. I'm sure you'll be seeing it again." Akane got up and walked to the gate of the Training Hall, Ranma was right behind her. When they got there, they heard the noise again. They turned to look. It was Doctor Tofu. He had his skeleton, Betty, on his back and he was running through the streets, laughing, dancing, and swinging Betty around. He ran right past Ranma and Akane who both watched as he turned down another street and disappeared. "Akane?" "Yeah?" "Did I just see that?" "Yes you did, Ranma." "Okay. And why, exactly, was the doc doin' that?" Akane sighed. "He always does that after a visit from Kasumi." "Oh." They stood there for a while, not saying anything. A truck drove by. Eventually Ranma turned to Akane. "You feel up to sparring?" Akane smiled. "Sure! Let's go!" **** Akane limped into the house. Her smile was wide as Ranma walked in behind her. Nodoka noticed the two coming in from the kitchen and spoke up. "Hey you two! How was the sparring session?" Akane grinned. "I'm getting much better Auntie. I don't get hit as much anymore." She limped upstairs to clean up as Ranma went into the kitchen to talk with his mother. "So, Ranma, it seems Akane is improving?" "Yeah, she is. I still have to hold back though. Otherwise she'd be hurt more than she is now. I began working on her speed. She's getting a lot faster, but she still needs work if she wants to avoid getting hit." Ranma had a worried look on his face. A look that his mother noticed. "You still don't like hitting her, do you son?" Ranma sighed. "No, I don't. But if I don't hit her, she gets all depressed. It's weird. She's actually more happy when I do hit her than when I refuse to." Nodoka smiled. "She is rather unique." Her face got serious all of a sudden. She looked around carefully before speaking again. "Ranma, I must speak with you about something important." "Sure mom. What is it?" "I know about your sleeping habits with Akane." Ranma's eyes widened. "Now, don't worry. I just have to know that you two aren't doing anything more than sleeping." "MOM! Of course not! We...uh...we just sleep. That's all." Nodoka relaxed. "Well, good. Just make sure it stays that way. At least for now." "Err...yeah, sure mom." Ranma's face was bright red. "Now, why don't you get cleaned up before dinner?" "Alright." Anything to keep her from asking any more embarrassing questions. Ranma stood to go, then remembered something. "Oh, mom?" "Yes Ranma?" "Nabiki won't be here for dinner. She went out on a date." "A date? With who?" "This guy from school. Tatewaki Kunou." "Ah, the one Nabiki's been pining over for years now?" "You know?" "Ranma, what kind of mother would I be if I didn't notice these kinds of things? Now go on." "Uh, okay." Ranma headed upstairs. He headed for the bathroom and went in. He walked to the inner door and knocked. "Yes?" came a voice from the other side. "Just checking to see if you were still in there, Akane. Let me know when you're done, okay?" "Sure Ranma. And thanks for knocking." "Uh, yeah." Ranma was blushing as he went to his room. **** Late that night, Ranma and Akane were sitting on their sofa. Everyone else had gone to bed, including Nabiki, who said she would answer their questions in the morning. "Umm, Akane?" "What is it, Ranma?" Ranma looked uncomfortable. "My mom kinda talked to me today." Akane was puzzled. "What's wrong with that?" "Well, she said that she knows about our...uh...sleeping arrangements." Akane's eyes went wide. "She *knows*? What'd she say?" Ranma's face was going red. "Uh, she wanted to know if we...uh...what we...uh...do." Akane's face went as red as her fiancé's. "What'd you tell her?" "I just told her we sleep! That's all!" Akane relaxed a bit, but her face was still colored. "So, she didn't have any problems with it?" "No. She just doesn't want us doing anything more than...uh...sleeping." "Well, she doesn't have to worry about that," Akane muttered. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean!?" Akane kept her smile hidden. "I just mean that it's not like I'd want to do *that* with *you*!" "Hmph. Well, it ain't like I'd want to do that with you either, you macho chick!" Akane's eyes narrowed and she turned to slam Ranma but ran into his expression. He was grinning at her. She pouted at him and he chuckled. "Guess you won't try that again, will you tomboy?" Ranma was smirking by now. Akane couldn't help it. She giggled and gave him a hug, which he gladly returned. Then she gave him a peck on the cheek. "C'mon. We better get to sleep. We do have class tomorrow." Akane lay down on the couch as Ranma just sat there, still frozen by the kiss. She eventually bopped him on the head. "Go to *sleep*!" "Uh, right." He lay down next to her. The last thing he heard before falling asleep was the sound of her giggling. **** Part Four Section Two: A Lost Boy And A Chef "This was *not* my fault." "I know. It was my fault this time." "Good, I'm glad we agree." "Hmph." "Come on Akane, if you hadn't forgotten your schoolbag we would've been right on time." "Alright, I know!" "Hey, give me a break! For the first time it ain't my fault! I want to get as much out of this as I can." "Do you want to spend the rest of the day as a girl?" "Err...okay, I'm done." Once again the two of them were standing in the hall with a bucket. Halfway to school that morning, Akane had noticed that she had forgotten her schoolbag. Not wanting her to go back to the house alone, Ranma went with her. Of course they were late. They're punishment was over soon and they returned to class. Not that it mattered. Ranma was bored throughout all the lectures. When the professor showed a film, he didn't even attempt to stay awake. He *tried* to pay attention, but he fell asleep for most of the time. The last class period went by and school was over. Ranma was so glad to get out of there he was being rather exuberant. "Ah! Free at last! At least until tomorrow. And the best part is that we didn't get assigned any homework!" Akane laughed at him. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" Ranma faced her and poked her on the nose. "First I'm gonna race you home!" He started running towards the school gates as she ran after him, both of them laughing. At least until Akane noticed something. "Ranma! Look out!" **** Daisuke was hanging around outside the school gates. School had just gotten out and he was waiting around for Hiroshi, who had to talk to the professor. Leaning against the wall he looked around. Coming from his left was a boy dressed in a yellow, long-sleeved shirt and black pants tied at the cuffs. He had black hair and a yellow and black bandana around his head. He also had a backpack on his back and he was holding a red, bamboo umbrella. As soon as the boy got to him, Daisuke got the crap scared out of him. Without warning the boy grabbed Daisuke by the shirt and raised him off the ground. "Where is Furinkan High School!" shouted the boy. Daisuke was too scared to speak. He had noticed the fangs on the boy and didn't want to get bitten. He just pointed to the plaque next to him. It said "Furinkan High School". The boy smiled as he looked at it. "I made it! I actually made it!" He turned his attention back to Daisuke. "Now! Tell me where Ranma Saotome is!" Daisuke pointed again, this time into the school. The boy released him and ran through the gates crying out Ranma's name. Daisuke collapsed to the ground. "Ugh. I wonder what the hell that was about?" **** "Ranma! Look out!" "Huh?" He looked back to see Akane pointing at the sky. He saw someone coming down fast, right at him. "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die!" Ranma barely got out of the way as a boy with an umbrella smashed into the ground where he just was, creating a small crater. The boy looked up at him smiling. "I found you! I finally found you!" Ranma was startled. "Who are you?" The boy stood up and glared at Ranma. "What do you mean, 'who are you?'? You run out on our duel and you don't even remember me!?" Ranma scratched his head as Akane, Nabiki, Kunou, and a bunch of other students came up behind him. "Hmm. Duel?" The boy's jaw dropped. "Ranma! How dare you forget!" "Ranma. Who is this boy?" Ranma turned to Akane. "Uh, I'm not sure Akane." his voice trailed off. The boy with the bandanna was dumbstruck. "You really don't remember me?" Ranma shook his head. He put a hand to his chin, deep in thought. Suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Ah ha!" "Oh, so now you remember me, Ranma!?" Ranma pointed at the boy. Then his face fell. "Uh, no. I still don't know." "ARGH! I search for you for years and you don't know me!? All those years being lost for no reason!?" Ranma's eyes then lit with recognition. "Lost boy!?" "Hey! Don't call me that!" Akane looked puzzled. "Lost boy? Why are you calling him 'Lost boy', Ranma?" "We went to junior high together. He has the worst sense of direction you'll ever see. That's why I gave him that nickname." "The name's Ryouga Hibiki! Enough of this! Tell me why you ran out on our duel!" Ranma had an angry look on his face now. "Hey! I waited for you for three days, stupid! It ain't my fault you didn't show up!" Akane wasn't sure she heard right. "Three *days*!?" Ryouga ignored her. "I was there on the fourth day, Ranma! You could've waited one more!" "Hey stupid! The lot where we were gonna fight was practically your backyard! You should have been there a lot sooner than that!" "Shut up! You were supposed to take me there first, Ranma!" "Hey! What kind of duel would it had been if your *opponent* took you to the place it was gonna happen?" "Ranma? What was this duel about anyway?" Nabiki was looking on with interest. "Huh? Oh it was about...uh..." Ranma scratched his head. "Actually, I forgot. Do you remember, Ryouga?" Ryouga was red with anger now. "You don't remember that either!? Ranma...!" Ranma wasn't paying him any attention. He was still trying to remember what the fuss was about. Then it came to him. "Oh yeah! Wait here a sec Ryouga." Ranma ran passed Ryouga and out the school gates. Ryouga just stood there not knowing what just happened. Soon Ranma returned with a grocery bag. He reached inside and tossed something at Ryouga. "Here!" Ryouga looked at what Ranma had given him. It was a loaf of curry bread. "What's this?" "Geeze! Okay, I guess one loaf ain't enough." Ranma started pulling out several loaves of bread and tossing them at Ryouga. "You think this is about bread!?" he shouted. Ranma was taken aback. "Uh...yeah." Akane bopped him on the head. "What's the deal with the bread?" Ranma began to explain. "Well, our junior high was an all boys school. The lunchtime crowd was like a battlefield..." **** The cafeteria was packed again, just like it was the day before. Just like it would be tomorrow. Over at the lunch counter, boys were packed in, all of them trying to get something to eat. In the center of the horde stood Ryouga. *Heh* he thought. *This will be a cinch. All I have to do is wait for the lunch lady to toss something into the air.* "Here's the last of the curry bread!!" the lunch lady then shouted. She launched the loaf high into the air. *Here's my chance!* Ryouga took quick note of the bread's trajectory and leaped into the air to intercept it. "It's mine!" he cried out. But it was not to be. All of a sudden, a pair of feet slammed onto the top of Ryouga's head, sending him sprawling to the ground. When he got back up, his bread was in the hands of the new kid in his class. Ryouga never learned his name since he was absent that day, but that didn't stop him from getting pissed. "Curse you!" he shouted at the pigtailed boy. "Who do you think you are!?" Ranma, eating the loaf of curry bread, stared at the fanged boy who was glaring at him. "I'm Ranma Saotome." Ryouga's eyes narrowed. "Ranma Saotome, I Ryouga Hibiki will get my revenge on you for stealing my bread!!!" "Calm down! It's just bread!" **** Akane still didn't understand what the fuss was about. "Okay. So you stole a loaf of bread from him. What's the big deal?" "Well, it wasn't just *one* loaf." Akane's eyes narrowed as Ranma continued to describe how it kept happening over and over again, day after day. "So, everyday it happened. Curry bread, meat bread, seaweed bread, cutlet sandwich, soup bread...wait, there's no such thing. Anyway, Ryouga eventually challenged me to a duel. It was supposed to be in an abandoned lot around the corner from his house. I got there at the time he said, but he wasn't there. So I waited for three days. He never showed up so I left." He was sitting down, absently munching on a piece of bread. Ryouga put down the loaf of bread he had been eating. "That's enough Ranma! It's time to settle this!" Ranma groaned. "Aw, can't we do this later, Ryouga? I'm kinda tired right now." "NO!" He charged at Ranma, his umbrella stretched out like a lance. Ranma leaped, from his sitting position, over Ryouga. The "Lost boy" looked around having lost sight of his enemy. Suddenly a shadow appeared from above him. He looked up to see someone ready to attack. "Ryouga Hibiki, prepare to die!" **** Hiroshi found Daisuke outside the gates. He was sitting on the ground pretty shaken up. "Hey, what happened?" Daisuke was still a little rattled. "Some crazy boy just came by looking for Ranma. He picked me up off the ground and practically threatened to *kill* me!" "Geeze, you okay?" Hiroshi saw Daisuke nod and looked around. "So where'd he go?" "I pointed the way for him and he went into the school." Hiroshi scratched his head. He hadn't noticed anything. It was probably happening on the other side of school. He shrugged and was about to help Daisuke up when he was lifted up of the ground by the back of his shirt. He was turned around in midair and was soon face to face with an amazingly cute girl. She had long, dark brown hair tied back with a white ribbon. Her violet eyes were flashing. "Where's Ryouga Hibiki?" Hiroshi was speechless. A beautiful girl was looking at him; talking to him too! He soon regained the ability to speak after the girl smacked him. "Uh, who's Ryouga Hibiki?" The girl glared at him. "He's a wandering idiot with a yellow and black bandana and fangs." Daisuke looked up at the description. He spoke up so Hiroshi wouldn't be pounded into a pulp. "Uh, he went into the school." He pointed in the direction he had before. The girl put Hiroshi down and ran into the school. Hiroshi dropped to the ground, a dreamy expression on his face. Daisuke had a disgusted look on his face. "Now why couldn't I have been assaulted by *her*?" **** Ryouga dodged out of the way as a giant spatula was embedded into the pavement. Ranma looked on with a confused look. "Uh...why does this look a bit familiar?" Ryouga looked at the one who had attacked him. It was a girl dressed in a rather boyish outfit. She had long, brown hair tied back in a ponytail with a ribbon. There was a bandolier strapped across her front that held mini spatulas. "Who are you!?" The girl glared at him. "I finally caught up with you, you jackass! Do you know how long I've been trying to find you, you idiot!?" Ryouga had no idea what was going on. "I don't even know what you're talking about!" The girl, if possible, got even more angry. "You don't even remember me!? Ryouga, you jerk!" The girl swung her giant spatula at Ryouga who barely managed to get out of the way. Still, the spatula nicked his shirt, ripping a fine line into the sleeve. "Will you calm down you crazy psycho!?" Ranma snorted. "Look who's talking." "Shut up, Ranma!" The girl suddenly lowered her spatula and turned to stare intently at Ranma. "Ranma Saotome?" Ranma backed up quickly. *Aw man. I hope she's not gonna try and kill me too.* "Who wants to know?" The girl brought the spatula up again and pointed it at Ranma. "Just answer the question!" she shouted. Ranma continued to back up. "Uh, yeah, I'm Ranma Saotome." He flinched waiting for the strike to come. It never did. "Ranchan! I can't believe it's you!" And the girl dropped her spatula and grabbed Ranma in a strong hug. "Ranma!" Akane was furious. "What do you think you're doing!?" Ranma turned his head in every direction possible, his arms waving around. "Akane, I don't know what she's doing! I swear! Hey! Let go already!" The girl released Ranma and stepped back. "Ranchan, it's me. Ukyou." Ranma's eyes widened. "U-Ucchan?" The girl nodded. "Oh my God! I can't believe it!" Then Ranma swept the girl up into his arms and swung her around, both of them laughing. "RANMA!!" Ranma turned to see Akane glowing blue. Nabiki, Kunou, and everyone else in the vicinity had backed away from her. Ranma had only seen her glow once. The last time she was like this, he got pummeled. He quickly put Ukyou down. "Calm down Akane," he said, his arms held in front of him. "It ain't what it looks like, okay?" "Then *tell* me what's going *on*!" "Me and Ucchan met while me and pop were on the training trip. I think we were about six, right Ucchan?" Ukyou nodded. "Well, me, her, and this other kid would play together. We got real close. But just friends, right Ucchan?" "Yep!" answered Ukyou. "You must be Akane, right?" Akane nodded slowly. Without warning Ukyou grabbed her and gave her a big hug. "Ranchan told me sooooo much about you! I can't believe I'm finally getting to meet his betrothed!" Akane slowly returned the hug. "Uh, so he mentioned me to you, did he?" Ukyou released Akane and laughed. "*Mentioned*? Barely five minutes would go by before he would start talking about you. Every other day he would be getting his dad to write you a letter. The other days he would be bringing over a letter that you wrote and getting his dad to read it to us. Sugar, *mentioned* is *not* the word." Ranma and Akane were both blushing by the time Ukyou finished speaking. "Uh, so Ucchan, what are you chasing Ryouga here for?" Ukyou gave Ranma a weird look. "You should know. I mean you were there after all!" Ranma was confused. "There? What are you talking about Ucchan? How do you know Ryouga?" Ukyou was still giving Ranma a strange look. "Ranma, we used to play with him, remember? He was staying with me and my father?" Ranma and Ryouga looked at each other quickly. "*You* were *that* Ryo-chan!?" Ranma asked, incredulous. "*You* were *that* Ranchan!?" Ryouga looked equally shocked. Ukyou looked at the both of them, confused. "Um...so, if you don't remember playing with each other as kids, how do you know each other." The two boys scratched their heads, embarrassed looks on their faces. "Uh...we kinda went to junior high together." Ranma was staring at his shoes, too embarrassed to look up. "Yeah. I kinda want to kill him." Ryouga couldn't look Ukyou in the face either. He had remembered her as soon as her name was mentioned. But he was unable to remember why she was angry with him. Ukyou glared at the both of them. "You two are *both* jackasses! You more than him, Ryouga!" Ryouga's head snapped up. "Hey! Why am I more of a jackass than Ranma!?" "Because at least he didn't *run* from his fiancé! He was forced to leave her! But *you* took off, you jerk!" Ryouga was startled. "Fi-fiancé? Bu-but I don't have a f-f-fiancé!" he stammered. Ukyou's expression darkened and her spatula was in hand again. "You don't have a fiancé!? Argh!!!!!" And she swung her spatula and connected with Ryouga's face. He went flying face first into a nearby tree. She regretted it as soon as she noticed the dent in her spatula. "Great. I guess I swung too hard." "Don't worry Ucchan. I'm sure he's okay." "I was worried about my spatula." "Oh..." **** Back at the Tendou home, everyone was gathered together. Sitting around the dining table was Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, Kunou, Ukyou, and Ryouga. Ryouga was not exactly sitting. Actually he was still unconscious, laying next to Ukyou with a pillow cushioning his head. "Um, so Ucchan, when did you and Ryouga get engaged?" Ukyou elbowed the still form next to her. "We were engaged right before you left, Ranchan. Don't you remember?" Ranma shook his head. "Well my father thought it was neat for two young ones to be engaged at such a young age like you and Akane. So he told us that, when we were old enough, Ryouga and me would get married." She snorted, "Like I'd want to marry this idiot!" Ryouga was elbowed again. Ranma scratched his head. "Uh, okay. But why was Ryouga staying with you again?" Ukyou sighed. "My father found him wandering around one day. Apparently he had gotten lost. My father couldn't just let him wander off by himself so he decided to take care of him. He figured the jackass's parents would come back for him." Ukyou snorted. "If Ryouga inherited his sense of direction from them, then it's no wonder they never came back." Ranma and Akane exchanged looks, as did Nabiki and Kunou. "Umm, so what happened Ucchan?" Ukyou's face got angry. "One day, a couple years later, when we were about eight, me and Ryouga were going for a walk. Actually, it was Ryouga who wanted to go walking, but I had to go with him or else he might have gotten lost. But anyway, we were walking along and I brought up the subject of our engagement. I asked him what he thought about it." She scratched her head. "I mean, we never talked about it. My father just told us one day that we would be married, and that was it. So I brought it up. He never answered me so I turned to look, but he was gone!" Ukyou's eyes began to go red. "The jackass ran off the very moment that the word engagement left my mouth! We were only eight for crying out loud! It shouldn't have scared him like that!" Ukyou was heaving with anger by the time she finished explaining. The others looked worried, afraid she was going to explode. "Uh, Ucchan?" Ukyou turned to look at Ranma. "Isn't it possible that he never heard you? He might have just walked off and got lost." Ukyou's face scrunched up. She scratched her head. "Uh, you know, I never thought of that." Everyone else banged their heads on the table. "So you've been chasing Ryouga for eight years?" Akane couldn't believe that someone would spend half their life searching for someone. "Oh, no! I just started looking for him a few years back." Ukyou was absently stoking Ryouga's hair, running her fingers through the strands. Akane and Nabiki both noticed this and smirked. "I picked up his trail near where we had grown up. Looked at the school records and went on from there. It was a while back when I lost track of him, so I had to give up the search for a while. I was staying in this town on the coast, going to school and working, when I picked up his trail again. This was a couple of weeks back. I guess he ended up in China for some reason." Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, and even Kunou flashed worried looks at each other. Nabiki got up and went into the kitchen quickly. She was back in a few moments, a glass of water in her hand. "What's that for Nabiki?" Ukyou had noticed everyone look at each other when she mentioned China. Nabiki didn't say anything. She poured half the glass onto the sleeping Ryouga. He vanished. "What did you do to him!?" Ukyou was freaking out. "Where is he!?" Ranma sighed and reached into Ryouga's bundle of clothes and pulled out a sleeping black piglet. It had a yellow and black bandana tied around its neck. "Don't worry Ucchan. He's fine, see? He's just turned into a pig, that's all." "That's all!? That's all!? He turned into a pig! How can you be so calm about it!?" Ranma sighed again and grabbed the glass of water from Nabiki. "Because I can change too." He dumped the rest of it onto his own head. Ukyou fainted as Ranma-chan appeared. **** She awoke to see everyone staring at her worriedly. "Are you ok, Ukyou?" Ukyou sat up and found that she was on the sofa in the living room. "Ugh. Yeah. I'm fine Akane." She looked around and saw Ranma-chan holding a still sleeping black pig. "Wha-what's going on? Why are you a girl, Ranchan? And why's Ryouga a pig?" "It's a long story Ucchan. You see, a couple of years ago, my pop decided that we should go to train in China. He heard of some legendary training grounds. It took us a while to find it. It was only several months ago when we did. When we got there..." **** Ranma-chan finished her story up to the point where she and her father returned to the Tendou Training Hall. "And that's pretty much it. Ryouga said he's been trying to find me since me and pop left for China, so I'm guessing he followed us there and wound up at Jusenkyou and fell into a spring." Ukyou was speechless. She just stared between Ranma-chan and the little pig. It was at this point that Ryouga woke up. He sat up and shook himself a bit. He turned to see who was holding him. Finding himself being held by a beautiful redheaded girl, a trickle of blood came out of his nose and he fainted. "That idiot." Ranma-chan was shaking her head. She gave the pig to Akane and went into the kitchen. A minute later Ranma returned with a wet head and Ryouga's clothes in his hands. "Here, let me have him, Akane. I'll go change him back in the bathroom." Akane handed over the pig and Ranma went upstairs to the bathroom. Once he got there he placed Ryouga on the ground and turned on the shower. When it warmed up, Ranma sprayed the pig. Ryouga sat up spluttering. Then he saw Ranma. "Ranma! How dare you!" He sprang at him, but Ranma just threw the lost boy's clothes in his face. "Get dressed pig-boy." Ryouga's eyes widened. "Y-You know?" Ranma nodded. He turned the shower to cold and splashed his head. Ryouga went into shock as he discovered he was naked in the bathroom with a girl. He fainted again. Ranma-chan sighed in disgust and changed back. Then he woke up the idiot. Ryouga sat up again. "Ranma, you just turned into a girl!" "I know that, you idiot. I fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl. You, I assume, fell into the Spring of Drowned Piglet." Ryouga nodded his face growing angry. "Ranma! This is all your fault!" "My fault!? How is it *my* fault!?" "If you hadn't run out on our duel I wouldn't have had to follow you!" "Hey! It ain't my fault you got lost!" "Shut up!" "Will both of you shut up already!!!" Ukyou had walked into the bathroom. Ryouga scrambled to make sure he was covered. "Ukyou! What do you think you're doing walking in like that!?" "Oh be quiet Ryouga. Now you two stop fighting and get downstairs. I want to hear your story, Ryouga. Now move it!" Ranma quickly left the bathroom and went downstairs. Ryouga stayed where he was. Ukyou's eyes flashed. "Well! What are you waiting for!?" Ryouga got mad. "I'm waiting for you to get out so I can get dressed!!!" he shouted. "Or maybe you wanna watch while I do!?!?!?!?" Ukyou blushed. "Uh, right. Sorry." She turned and left. Ryouga dressed and went downstairs. **** "Well, I discovered the direction Ranma and his father were going. I followed as best I could but I...uh...got lost again." Ranma snickered a bit. "I managed to get to China after a while. It took me some time to pick up Ranma's trail again. Eventually I came to a cliff overlooking some pools of water. I was looking down when I heard a loud snapping sound coming from behind me. I got startled and turned around too quickly. I slipped off the cliff and fell into the spring. It was hell I tell you, pure hell!" Ryouga had his eyes closed and hands clenched into fists. "I was discovered by the guide. He changed me back and I asked about Ranma and his father. He told me which way you had gone. I...uh...got lost again." More snickering. "I eventually discovered that you had decided to return to Japan, so I began making my way back." "How did you find out?" Ranma asked. Ryouga winced as he turned to Ranma. "I ran into a couple of...friends...of yours." Ranma went pale. "Did you have any trouble with them? They didn't follow you, did they?" Ryouga hesitated at first, but then slowly shook his head. Ranma sighed in relief. "What are you two talking about!?" Akane demanded to know. "It's nothing, Akane," Ranma said quickly. "Don't worry about it." "Ranma!" Ranma's expression became pleading. "Please, Akane. Don't ask. Maybe I'll tell you someday, but for now, it's better that you not know." Akane's expression turned sulky for a bit before she sighed. "Alright." Ranma let his breath out. He looked back at Ryouga. "Go ahead and finish." "Well," Ryouga continued. "When I returned to Japan, I went back to our old school and discovered that Ranma had already begun attending a school called Furinkan. I began looking for it. That was about a week ago. I found it today." Ryouga ended his story. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing how to react. Ranma spoke up once again and asked a question. "It took you *that* long to find me?" "Shut up! Because of you I've seen hell!" Ranma snorted. "Whatever. If you hadn't been so stubborn and followed me over some stupid loaves of bread, you wouldn't have your problem." "Stop it you two! It's not Ranchan's fault what happened to you Ryouga! You were the one who followed him. So stop blaming him for your mistake!" Ryouga bowed his head after receiving Ukyou's rebuke. "And you still haven't told me why you ran off that day eight years ago. So start talking!" Ryouga gulped and began talking again. "Uh, well...I don't remember too well what happened. It was so long ago and I kinda forgot about you..." He trailed off as Ukyou's face burned with anger. "I can't believe you forgot about me! How...I..." Ukyou couldn't find the words. Her eyes filled with tears and she ran from the house. "Ukyou!" Ryouga called after her, but she did not listen. He got up to follow her but someone's hand held him back. It was Akane. "No Ryouga. Let me go. I think it'd hurt her more to see you right now." Ryouga nodded and sat back down as Akane went after Ukyou. Ranma was glaring at Ryouga. "Nice going moron. Now you went and made her cry." "Shut up Ranma," Ryouga said in a dead voice. He wasn't even in the mood to fight with Ranma. "Well what'd you go and say those things for?" "I...I don't know. I figured it'd be best if I was honest." Ranma gave this some thought. "I suppose so. But couldn't you have said it another way?" Ryouga shrugged. "I couldn't think of anything else. I was trying to explain and it just came out." He went and stood next to a wall. Then he began banging his head against it. Kunou stood then. "Forasmuch as I would enjoy the remainder of this conversation, I must needs depart to my humble abode. Farewell Saotome. Farewell Hibiki." "Later Kunou." Ryouga didn't respond. He just kept banging his head. "I'll walk you out Kunou-chan." Nabiki also stood up and she and Kunou left. **** Akane found Ukyou sitting on a rock, under the tree next to the koi pond. She was staring into the pond, watching the koi swim and jump around. Her tears had not ceased and were falling unhindered down her cheeks. Akane sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. Ukyou turned her head into Akane's shoulder and began sobbing. Akane hugged the weeping girl and said nothing as she cried her eyes out. Soon the sobbing ceased and Ukyou sat up. "Thank you, Akane." Ukyou tried a smile, but failed. "You gonna be okay, Ukyou?" Akane had a concerned look on her face. "I...I think so. I just can't believe he forgot about me. He...I...How could he do that to me? I never once forgot about..." Ukyou paused and took a deep breath. "And to think I spent the last couple of years looking for someone who didn't even remember me. The years before that, spent thinking about someone who had forgotten me. I've been wasting my time." "No. You haven't wasted your time, Ukyou." Akane lifted Ukyou's bowed chin so that she was looking her in the eyes. "What you did was follow your heart, right?" Ukyou hesitated before nodding. "It's never wrong to listen to your heart, Ukyou. It can lead you into trouble at times, but what your heart tells you is never wrong." "I...I guess so. But what am I gonna do now? I couldn't possibly face my father after coming all this way for nothing." Akane bopped Ukyou on the head. "Hey, you don't know it was for nothing. Why don't you stick around? We have plenty of room at the dojo. Maybe you can still salvage something for your effort. Maybe Ryouga isn't a totally lost cause." "I can stay here? You mean it?" Ukyou couldn't believe it. Ukyou had been for traveling for so long, a place to stay sounded wonderful. Akane smiled. "Of course you can stay. You can share my room. How's that sound." Ukyou's answer came in the form of a crushing hug. "Thank you, Akane! Thank you!" "You're welcome. Now, do you want to come back inside? Ryouga still has a story to finish." "I'm not sure I want to hear anymore." "C'mon. At least hear what else he has to say." Ukyou sighed. "Alright. Let's go." **** "Um...well, while we were walking, Ukyou, I wasn't really paying much attention." Ryouga began finishing the story that had just recently returned to his memory. "I kept walking, not noticing that you had stopped. Soon I was lost." "There's a surprise." Ryouga glared at Ranma, but didn't respond to the taunt. "I wandered around for a while trying to find you. I found myself in a small village. Soon I heard voices calling out my name. I turned to look and saw a man and woman hurrying towards me. It was my parents." Everyone listening was a bit startled to hear this. "They said they had been searching for me for years but were about to give up because they couldn't find where they lost me. Anyway, I went with them to our home. It took us a few months to find it, but at least we made it together." Ryouga ignored Ranma's snickering. "So that's where I was. I tried to find you later, Ukyou, but I couldn't. I just kept getting lost. After a few months of trying, I gave up. I began attending school again and, in time, I guess my memories of you faded into the background." He winced as she glared at him. "At least it explains where you went." Ukyou's voice was cold. Ryouga winced again but he continued on. "I went to school as often as I could, but I kept getting lost. The only time I actually went to school consistently was in junior high when..." his voice trailed off. His mind wandered back to an almost forgotten memory. **** "Hey, Ryouga! What are you still doing around here?" Ranma had to stay after school for a little bit to get some help on his math assignment. As he was leaving he found Ryouga standing at the gate of the school looking scared to leave. "Go away, Ranma." Ranma barely heard him, he was so quiet. It was not like the Ryouga he had known for the last week. The Ryouga *he* knew was loud and angry. "What's the matter, Ryouga?" "Nothing. Just leave me alone, please." Ranma was getting *really* worried now. "Come on, Ryouga. You can tell me." Ryouga blew up. "I'm afraid to leave school because I don't know if I'll be able to make it back!!!! Okay!?!? You happy now!?!?!?" "Whoa! Calm down! What do you mean you don't think you'll be able to make it back?" Ryouga sighed. "I...I have a lousy sense of direction, Ranma. I get lost easily. If I leave school and try to get home, I don't know where I'll end up." Ranma looked at the other carefully. After a moment, he determined that Ryouga was serious. "Alright. Wait right here. I'll be right back." "Huh? Where are you going?" But Ranma had already run back into school. He returned moments later with a piece of paper in his hand. "Okay, Ryouga, let's get going." "What are you talking about, Ranma? What's that paper for?" Ranma held up the sheet. "It's directions to your house, stupid. I'm taking you home." "What!?" Ryouga couldn't think of anything more embarrassing. "Ranma! How dare you make a fool out of me!?" Ranma bonked him over the head. "Hey! Let's get going! I still have an assignment to finish after I get back to my own place!" Ryouga reluctantly followed Ranma, who led him home. Whenever Ryouga began to wander off, Ranma yanked him back onto the right path. *Geeze* thought Ranma. *He said a lousy sense of direction, but I didn't think it'd be 'this' bad.* When Ranma yanked on his arm the tenth time, Ryouga got angry. "Ranma! Stop doing that!!" "Well if you would go the right way, I wouldn't have to!!" Ryouga shut up and continued on to his house, following Ranma more closely so he wouldn't be yanked about again. When they got there he mumbled "Thanks" and turned to go inside when Ranma's voice stopped him. "I'll be here in the morning to take you to school! See ya, Lost-Boy!" And he ran off, not giving Ryouga a chance to protest. **** The next morning, Ryouga was prepared to attempt go to school. He gathered all of his things, school supplies as well as survival gear. Then he jumped out of his window. It was the only sure way he knew to get outside without getting lost. Once he hit the ground, he began walking towards the direction he thought the school was in. "Hey! Ryouga!" Ryouga turned around to see Ranma, dressed in his uniform and his school bag over his shoulder, running towards him. "What do you want, Ranma?" Ryouga asked when the pigtailed boy had reached him. "Hey, why didn't you wait for me? I said I'd take you to school." Ryouga's temper flared up. "Look, I don't need you to get me to school, Ranma!!" Ranma held his hands up defensively. "Okay, okay! I was only trying to help. Forget it then." Then he began walking away in a direction different from Ryouga's chosen path. "Where you going?" Ryouga asked. Looking over his shoulder, Ranma replied, "I'm heading for school, where else?" "You're going the wrong way!" Ryouga shouted. "It's this way to school!" Ranma stopped and turned around. "Oh really? Tell me, Ryouga, where's your house at?" Ryouga glared at the other boy. "You think I'm stupid, don't you? My house is over there!" He pointed. Ranma just crossed his arms and jerked his thumb where Ryouga's house really was. Ryouga saw that Ranma was pointing at his house. *If that's my house, what am I pointing at?* He turned to see that he had claimed an abandoned lot as his home. He blushed. When he turned back to Ranma, he found that the other was still waiting with his arms crossed. Ryouga sighed and walked over to him. "Alright," he said. "Let's go." Ranma grinned and began leading the way to school. **** Ryouga had an embarrassed look on his face as the memory faded. He turned to Ranma, who also looked uncomfortable. Akane noticed this and spoke up, and amused look on her face. "You didn't attend school regularly until what, Ryouga?" "Uh...when Ranma would take me to and from school." He could barely be heard, he said it so quietly. He closed his eyes in thought. *What's wrong with me? If it wasn't for Ranma I would have been missing school a lot. It was amazing that I even graduated from elementary school. My grades there were horrible. Thanks to him I was actually doing well in class. I've been an idiot.* He opened his eyes and looked up and found everyone but Ranma staring at him. Ranma wasn't even in the room anymore. "Where'd Ranma go?" Akane pointed outside. Ryouga stood up and said, "excuse me please." He walked out the door and found Ranma sitting on the porch, watching the sky as the sun set. "Hey Ranma." Ranma glanced at Ryouga then looked back to the sky. Ryouga flinched and said, "you mind if I sit down?" Ranma grunted, which Ryouga took for an approval. He sat down next to him and began looking at the sky too. "Nice sunset." Ranma just grunted again. Ryouga sighed. "Look Ranma. I...I..." he couldn't finish. So he tried again, "I...I'm..." Ranma, growing impatient said, "You're *what*, Ryouga?" "I'm sorry! There I said it! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for blaming you for the things that were my own fault! There! You happy now!?" "Yes I am actually." "Huh?" Ryouga looked at Ranma and saw he was grinning. Ryouga glowered and hit him in the arm. "You jerk!" Ranma just chuckled. Soon Ryouga couldn't help it. He began chuckling too. "Seriously though, Ranma. I am sorry. After what you did for me in junior high I shouldn't have been so stupid." His voice became angry. "Even if you did steal my bread everyday!" "Aw c'mon Ryouga! Forget about it, will ya!? For crying out loud! You were weeping over a loaf of bread!" "Hey! I'll have you know those were tears of anger!" Ranma stared at Ryouga in disbelief. Soon he was laughing hysterically. Ryouga continued to glare at him for a while before he joined in the laughter. Akane smiled from the doorway and went back inside the house. **** Dinnertime came around. The table was packed with people and food. "Wow mom! What's with all the food?" "Well Ranma, we do have two new mouths to feed. Plus Ukyou wanted to help out to thank us for letting her stay here." "You're staying with us, Ucchan?" "That's right, Ranchan! At least for now." "That's great! How 'bout you, Ryouga?" "Uh..." Ryouga looked at Ukyou who refused to look back at him. "I don't know, Ranma. I haven't thought about a place to stay." "Then you can stay here!" "Ranchan!" "What's wrong, Ucchan? He doesn't have anywhere else to go. I can't let him go wandering off. It wouldn't be right. Besides, we have plenty of room here. He can share my room. How's that, Ryouga?" Ryouga smiled gratefully. "Thanks Ranma." He stopped smiling as he saw the look on Ukyou's face. "Alright everyone. Let's eat." Kasumi began serving the food. In addition to what she and Nodoka cooked there was also okonomiyaki made by Ukyou. "The okonomiyaki is just like I remember it, Ucchan!" "Thanks Ranchan!" Soun was curious about the two new guests. "So will you two be going to school tomorrow?" Ranma, Ryouga, Akane, and Ukyou exchanged glances. "Uh," Ryouga began, "I don't know. I suppose I should. It's been awhile since I attended classes." Ukyou was a bit hesitant after hearing Ryouga's response. Eventually she replied, "I guess I haven't been to school in a while either." Akane turned to her sister. "Nabiki, could you...you know." Nabiki smirked. "That will be two thousand yen each." "Nabiki!" Nabiki sighed. "Alright, alright! I don't know how you expect me to run a business if I keep doing this kind of thing for free, Akane. I'll set the two up tomorrow morning, okay?" "Thanks Nabiki," said Akane, Ryouga and Ukyou. Nabiki shook her head. *I must be getting soft.* **** *Why does that jackass have to be staying here too!?* Ukyou sat in the bathroom's furo contemplating the events of the last few hours. *Why can't he just go wander off like he always does!? He always manages on his own! Why does he need to stay with the Tendous!?* She sighed. *Nothing I can do about it now. I'll just have to keep away from him as much as possible.* She stood up to grab her towel when the door opened. She turned to see who had entered. Her eyes narrowed and flashed when she saw exactly who it was. **** Ryouga and Ranma had finished sparring. It was an almost even battle. What Ryouga lacked in speed, he more than made up for in strength. However he was unable to best Ranma. Both of them were exhausted and collapsed on the floor against the wall afterwards. "Whew. That was a good match Ryouga." "Yeah. Next time, though, I'm gonna beat you." Ranma smirked. "I'd like to see you try it." Akane walked into the dojo dressed in her gi. "You ready Ranma?" Ranma groaned. "Aw geeze. You still wanna spar tonight, Akane?" Akane grinned evilly. "Why of course! Don't tell me you're not up to it." Ranma winced as he stood up. "You just wanna spar now because you know I'm tired. You might actually be able to hit me when I'm in this condition." Akane's eyes widened as she touched a hand to her cheek. "Why Ranma! You don't think that has anything to do with my wanting to spar, do you?" She took up a stance and Ranma followed suit. "What a thing to say! I would *never* do that!" Ranma's eyes rolled. "Whatever. Let's get this over with." Ryouga, grimacing as he stood, said, "I'm just gonna get cleaned up before bed. I'll see you guys later." Ranma gave a negligent wave. "Yeah, see ya Ryouga." He never took his eyes off Akane. Akane didn't answer. She was determined to score a hit tonight. Ryouga chuckled as he left the dojo. He was not chuckling for long though. He found himself on the sidewalk outside the training hall for some reason. "Argh! Where'd the house go!?" "Oh my! What are you doing out here, Ryouga?" Kasumi had come out to close the gate. Ryouga let out a sigh of relief. "Uh...I was trying to find the house, Kasumi. Umm..." he was scratching his head, an embarrassed blush on his face. "Do you think you could show me to the...uh...bathroom. I wanted to get cleaned up before bed." Kasumi smiled. "Of course. Just follow me, alright?" "Umm, yeah. Thanks." Ryouga made sure to keep Kasumi in sight as she led him back to the house and then to the bathroom. "Here you are." "Thanks again, Kasumi." "You're welcome, Ryouga." Ryouga sighed as he opened the door and found that he was indeed at the bathroom. He went in and undressed. He grabbed a towel from a cabinet. He opened the door to enter, but he realized that it led back out into the hall. Blushing he turned around and walked to the sliding door on the other side. He opened it and walked in. Just in time to see a naked Ukyou emerging from the furo. True to form, he got a bloody nose and fainted. **** The first thing Ryouga saw when he woke up was a look of disgust on Ukyou's face. "Wha...What happened?" Ukyou bopped him on the head. "You walked in on me you jackass." Looking around, Ryouga saw he was lying on the floor of the bathroom. Ukyou was covered in a towel. Looking at himself, he was relieved to see that his own towel had covered him. He got bopped on the head again. "Ow! What!?" "You walk in on me again, you're gonna get worse than a smack on the head, got it?" "Uh, yeah. Sorry. I guess I should have knocked." Ukyou shook her head in disgust and started to leave. She was stopped by Ryouga's voice. "Hey Ukyou?" "What, Ryouga?" She didn't even turn around. "Umm, is it alright with you if I stay here? With the Tendous I mean." She sighed. "Ranma already said you could Ryouga. It doesn't matter what I think." "It does matter. If it isn't okay with you, then I'll leave and find some place else." Ukyou closed her eyes. *That jerk! Why does he have to be all generous!? It's so hard to stay angry at him when he acts all noble! Argh!* "It's fine Ryouga. You can stay. Besides, Ranchan wouldn't forgive me if I kicked you out." *There! Make him think that I'm worried about what Ranchan would think.* She began walking out again but, once again, she was stopped. "But what if Ranma didn't care? Let's say Ranma had no say at all in whether I stay or not. Let's say it was all up to you. Would it be alright?" Ukyou began getting angry. "Ryouga, will you just drop it! Ranma said you can stay and I don't have a problem with it! Okay!? I don't mind! You can stay! There! Can I leave now!?" "Yeah." Ukyou was walking out again. "And Ukyou..." "Argh! What!?" "Thanks. It's been so long since I've had a place to stay." Ukyou heard the door slide closed behind her and heard Ryouga begin to wash up. She sighed and headed for Akane's room. Ryouga turned on the shower and got a blast of cold water. "Bwee!" **** Ranma limped into the house. Akane walked in right behind him looking worried. "Are you sure you're alright, Ranma?" "I said I'm fine, Akane." "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you so hard. I just saw an opening and went for it." "That's good, Akane. Anytime you see an opening you're supposed to take it so long as you're sure it ain't a trick. For all you know I could have been giving you an opening so that I could use it against you. This time, though, I just got sloppy." "You weren't sloppy. You were just tired. I shouldn't have made you spar. It was selfish." She looked miserable. "Aw, come on, Akane. I've been hitting you for days now, it's only fair that you get a shot, right?" He smiled at her and she brightened up a bit. "Now, since I got pummeled, I get to clean up first." She smiled at him. "Okay Ranma." Ranma went upstairs and Akane went into the kitchen to find Nodoka and Kasumi sitting at a small table. They both had smiles on their faces. "So you hit him, huh?" Nodoka filled a glass with water, which Akane accepted gratefully. "Uh, yeah." She blushed. "I hit him kinda hard though." "Oh my! A little eager, Akane?" Kasumi was watching her closely. "Umm...I guess so." She stared into her glass. Then she glared at the other two as they began laughing. **** "Bwee! Bwee!" Ranma entered the bathroom to the sounds of an angry piglet. He sighed when he saw Ryouga trying to turn the knob on the shower to hot. "You're pathetic. You know that?" Ryouga squealed angrily at him. "No, you are. Why didn't you just jump into the furo, moron? It's still hot in there you know." The pig stopped squealing and began to blush. Ranma sighed as Ryouga jumped into the furo and changed back. He emerged with an embarrassed look on his face. "Oops?" **** Ryouga awoke in the middle of the night. He had been having a nightmare about a crazy cook coming after him with a cleaver and a boiling pot of water. Wiping the cold sweat off his forehead he looked to see if he had awaken Ranma. But Ranma wasn't there. Puzzled, he arose from the spare futon he had been using and left the room. He left the door open so that he knew which door to go back into when he went back. Out in the hallway it was quiet, well almost quiet. Mr. Saotome's snores could be heard, but they didn't count. He tiptoed down the hallway to the stairs. He slowly went down to the first floor, trying to make as little noise as possible. He got to the bottom and looked around. Still no noise. He decided to check out the kitchen and began walking towards the living room. He nearly tripped and fell when he ran into something. It was Ukyou. "You jackass!" she whispered. "Watch where you're going!" "Me!?" he whispered back. "What are you doing skulking around on the floor!?" "I was looking for Akane. I woke up and she was gone." "Akane too?" "Huh?" "Well, Ranma isn't in his bed either." "Weird." "So why are you on the floor?" "Because I heard someone's breathing coming from the living room. Listen." Ryouga did and soon picked up the breathing from the next room. In fact, as he listened longer, he could distinguish between two different sets of breathing. "There's two people in there, actually." Ukyou stared hard at him. "You sure?" Ryouga nodded. "Yeah. There's two people alright." "Okay. I'm going to take a closer look." She started moving into the living room, crouched down. "Not by yourself, you're not." Ryouga followed right behind her. They entered and immediately pinpointed the source of the breathing...the sofa. Creeping closer, they got right behind it and stopped there. Slowly, they rose to peek over the top of it. Ranma and Akane were sleeping just like they had been for over a week. They lay next to each other, facing one another, but not really touching. Ryouga and Ukyou's eyes widened and they ducked back behind the sofa. "What are they doing?" "Umm, sleeping?" "I *know* that you jackass! I mean why are they sleeping here? And together, now that I think about it." Ryouga shrugged. "Who knows. It's not any of our business. I'm going back to bed. I'm tired." He slowly left the living room and went up the stairs. Up in the hall he went through the open door, crawled into the extra futon that was set up, and attempted to get some more sleep. He did not get very far. After about a minute he was being nudged, hard. "Wake up, you idiot!" came and angry whisper. "Huh? Wha?" Ryouga opened his eyes and looked into the face of an angry Ukyou. "Aw, what do you want? I'm trying to sleep." "Yeah! I know! In *my* futon!" "Huh?" Ryouga glanced around. He was not in Ranma's room. He immediately sat up. "Wha...where am I?" "You're in *Akane's* room! Go back to Ranma's!" "But I went into the room with the open door! I should be in Ranma's room." "I left the door open too, moron! Now get out!" "Okay, okay! Geeze! You'd think I did it on purpose or something." Ryouga got up and went back into the hallway. Ukyou watched him leave. "Idiot." And she lay down to go to sleep. Looking around Ryouga saw another open door. Walking in he recognized Ranma's room. He lay down on the futon and tried going back to sleep again. *Great. Now she's even more mad at me. It's not as if I wanted to go into the wrong room.* His thoughts went on for a bit before he finally fell asleep. **** He awoke to the smell of breakfast. Opening his eyes he found that he wasn't dreaming. It was early morning, the sun not yet risen. The scent of food was still in the air. He got up and was surprised to find Ranma back in his bed. Deciding to let him sleep, Ryouga left the room and carefully made his way to the kitchen. To his delight, he found it. He also found Ukyou at the stove cooking. She turned with a smile to see who had entered. The smile deflated when she saw who it was. "Oh, you. Morning." She went back to cooking. "Uh, yeah. Good Morning." He took a seat at the small table. He just watched Ukyou as she cooked. She kept glancing at him occasionally, feeling his eyes on her. "Do you want something?" "Well...no, not really. Am I bothering you?" "Yes! Why don't you go set the table, or do something useful!?" Ryouga shrugged and went looking for dishes, glasses, and other necessities. He soon found them and began making trips to the dining area, always keeping the location of the kitchen in mind. Soon the table was set and he went back to watching Ukyou cook. After watching for a while, he spoke up. "Why are you cooking anyway, Ukyou?" "I'm trying to do something useful around here so I don't feel like I'm imposing on the Tendous. Besides, I like to cook." Ryouga smiled. "Yeah, I remember." Ukyou whirled around and faced him, an angry look on her face. "Oh *really*!? I'm surprised, considering how easily you forgot about me!" Ryouga winced. "Look, Ukyou, I..." "No! I don't want to hear it! Just don't talk to me, you got that!?" "Fine!" Ryouga couldn't take it anymore. "I won't talk to you ever again!" "Good!" "Great!" Ryouga stood, went up to Ranma's room and got one of his spare changes of clothes from his pack. Then he marched to the bathroom to get cleaned up. He was so mad that he didn't even get lost on the way. In the kitchen Ukyou tried to hold back her tears. *What am I so upset for? Now that jerk will leave me alone from now on. So I shouldn't be crying, right?* But the tears still fell. **** Okay, Part Four is done. Part Five will be started right after this. Hopefully it will be done in the next couple of days. Let me know what you think. Questions or comments are welcome. Flames will be ignored. E-mail rplanas@pacbell.net. Thanks. Gyran A Different Life Written by: Gyran Here's the usual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, and whoever else has rights to it. I am not making any profit off of this story so please don't sue me. I'm POOR. Any characters that I make up belong to me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if you do, please ask permission first and give credit to their creator, namely me. Thanks. Part Five: Kodachi Kunou It was the weekend. Ranma-chan was walking around with Ryouga. She had an ice-cream cone in her hand, which she was finishing off enthusiastically. Ryouga watched her, amused as he ate his own ice-cream. "I can't believe you went all girly on that ice-cream vendor." "Hey! We got extra scoops didn't we?" "Only after you assured the guy that I was your brother." "Well, he wouldn't have given us the extra if he thought you were my boyfriend. As if I'd go out with *you*." "Hmph. The only thing good about going out with you would be the free food." Ranma-chan stuck her tongue out at him and continued eating. "So what's the deal with you and Ucchan, anyway?" Ryouga stumbled a bit but kept on his feet. "Wha-what do you mean?" Ranma-chan glared at him. "I *mean* every time one of you enters a room that the other is in, the other immediately leaves. The only time that doesn't happen is in class." Ryouga and Ukyou had been attending Furinkan for a few days now. Ryouga had been there everyday so far thanks to everyone keeping an eye on him. Ryouga sighed. "I don't know. She told me to never speak to her again. It's easier not to speak to someone if you don't see them, right?" Ranma-chan looked startled. "She's still mad at you?" "Yeah. I guess the fact that her fiancé forgot about her was a bit upsetting. But how was I supposed to know? I didn't even really know what being engaged meant back then. If I did, I'm sure I wouldn't have forgotten her." He sighed again. "I guess she'll never forgive me." Ranma-chan looked at him sympathetically. "You never know. Just give her some time. She'll forgive you if you..." her voice trailed off as she heard noise coming from an unused lot. "What's going on there?" Ryouga shrugged. "Want to check?" But Ranma-chan was already off. Ryouga had to hurry to catch up with her. It was either that or risk getting lost. When the two reached the lot they found a strange scene. There were three girls faced off against one. "Come now! I thought you three were supposed to ambush me! Whatever is the matter?" A girl, dressed in a school uniform that Ranma-chan didn't recognize was shouting. Then she gave off one of the most annoying laughs ever heard. Ranma-chan then looked to see that the crazy girl was attacking the three others with a gymnastics ribbon. The three had already been knocked down, but the psycho kept whipping them anyway. Ranma-chan had seen enough. "Stop it! You've made your point! Now why don't you leave them alone!" She jumped in front of the snapping ribbon and caught it in one hand. From this position she got a good look at the attacker. She had long black hair with a touch of violet in it. Her eyes, a dark violet matching her hair, were flashing. "How dare you interrupt!" "Hey, they were already knocked down. You didn't have to keep hitting them. Now why don't you leave?" "Who do you think you are, you wicked girl?" She whipped out a gymnastics club and threw it at Ranma-chan. Ranma-chan caught the club and threw it back at the girl who ducked quickly and avoided a knock to the head. "You're quite good," said the gymnast. She suddenly had a black rose in her hand. "I am the flower of St. Hebereke High School. A rising star in gymnastics. I'm Kodachi, The Black Rose." She flung the rose at Ranma-chan and leaped away, laughing her crazy laugh. Ranma-chan snorted and tossed the rose away. "Black Rose. What a joke." She turned to find Ryouga helping the three girls up. He was trying hard control his nose since the three were scantily dressed in leotards. "Are you girls okay?" Ryouga helped the last one onto her feet. All of them were in tears. "We-we're okay." Ranma-chan approached them. "Hey, don't I know you three? You go to Furinkan. Aren't you Akane's friends?" The three nodded tearfully. "Who are you?" one of them asked. "We've never seen you around before." Ranma-chan stuttered around for a bit before saying, "I'm Akane's cousin. I don't think we've met, but I've seen you hanging around with Akane." "Oh." Then the three began to cry some more. Ranma-chan sighed. She didn't know what Akane was gonna say to this. **** "Who did this to you guys!?" Akane and her friends were seated at the dining table. Ranma and Ryouga watched from the door that led outside while Ukyou watched from the door that led to the kitchen. "It was Kodachi, Akane," said one of her friends. "She's been ambushing Furinkan gymnasts for the last few days. The three of us decided to get together and try ambushing her, but it didn't work." "But why has she been doing that?" asked Akane. "Because she was trying to stop us from competing next week. It's the most important event for us gymnasts. The Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics competition. It's between Furinkan and St. Hebereke." Ranma arched an eyebrow. "Martial Arts Gymnastics?" "Yes! All of our gymnasts are out with injuries. Please, Akane! We need you to compete for us!" Akane had a determined look on her face as she told them, "I'll do it! I swear I'll avenge you all!" "Oh thank you, Akane!" Ranma exchanged glances with Ryouga and Ukyou. The glances all said the same thing. "Uh oh." **** "Are you sure about this, Akane? The competition is next week. Will you be able to learn all this stuff by then?" Akane was in the dojo with Ranma and Ryouga. "I'll be fine Ranma. I just need to practice until the competition." She picked up a pair of clubs and twirled them a bit. "See? I can do this." She tossed the clubs into the air and performed a couple of flips. She ended with her arms extended to the sides, hands poised to catch... The clubs fell behind her. "Uh, were you supposed to catch those, Akane?" Akane blushed. "Umm, yeah. Maybe I'll try something else." She picked up the ribbon next. She twirled it around and it ended up wrapped around her. "Umm, I don't think you were supposed to tie yourself up like that, Akane." "I know that!" she shouted. She tried the hoop next. She tried to do a rolling maneuver with it and it broke in half. "Err, Akane, you broke it." "Argh!" Akane couldn't take it anymore. Neither could Ryouga. He was hoping Akane would do better than she had been. He sighed. "You want me to train you, Akane?" Both Ranma and Akane looked at him, surprised. Ranma couldn't believe what he had heard. "You know how to use this stuff, Ryouga?" Ryouga blushed. "Uh, yeah." Ranma smirked. "And how is it you know about Rhythmic Gymnastics, pig-boy?" Ryouga blushed even more. "Uh, I kinda got lost in a really big recreational center once. I walked in on one of the classes." "But how would you know so much after one course?" "Uh, I couldn't find my way out, so I was in the class for a couple of weeks." Ranma burst out laughing. Even Akane couldn't hold back a chuckle. Ryouga didn't know whether to be even more embarrassed or angry so he just kept blushing. "I'd appreciate anything you'd be able to show me, Ryouga." Akane was standing in front of him. Ryouga stood up and grabbed the ribbon. "This is the first tool. Ranma, please stand." Ranma stood up, a suspicious look on his face. His suspicion was well founded as he was slammed into the wall behind him by several snaps of the ribbon. "Hey! That hurt!" Ryouga smirked. "That was for the pig-boy remark." Ranma glared. "Now Akane. You take it and I'll show you how to use it." **** Ukyou watched the lesson from the dojo entrance. She remained in the shadows so that those inside wouldn't notice her. She watched as Ranma was flung into a wall by Ryouga's ribbon. *Ouch! That looked like it hurt.* She saw Ryouga then give the ribbon to Akane. She went red with anger as Ryouga stepped behind Akane. He put one hand on Akane's waist and the other along the arm holding the ribbon. It was completely innocent, but Ukyou was burning up. *That jerk! How dare he!?* Then her thoughts took a U-turn. *Wait a minute. Why should I care what he does? I don't! So it doesn't matter!* But despite her thoughts, Ukyou continued to watch the lesson with an angry glare. **** "Your ribbon technique is really improving, Akane," said Ryouga as he, Ranma, Ukyou and Akane ran to school the next morning. "Thanks Ryouga! And thanks for training me!" "You'll have the ribbon mastered by tonight. Then we'll start on the clubs." "Okay!" Ukyou's expression was dark as they entered the school, remarkably on time. They had almost reached the front doors when a yell descended from above. "Akane Tendou, prepare to die!" Akane leaped out of the way as Kodachi, dressed in her St. Hebereke uniform, smashed a huge mallet into the pavement where Akane had just been. Kodachi just smiled as Akane took a fighting stance. "Well, not bad Miss Tendou. But you'll have to do better than that if you're going to beat me next week." Akane glared. "You must be Kodachi. What do you think you're doing, attacking me like that!?" Kodachi laughed. "Merely sizing up my opponent. That's all. I had heard you would be my competition next week." Then she caught sight of the boys. "My, my, what gorgeous young men!" Both Ranma and Ryouga began to blush. Kodachi went on. "Are either of you two available?" She eyed them with predatory eyes. Ranma shook his head quickly. "No, sorry! I'm not! I'm taken!" he answered as quickly as he could. Kodachi pouted a bit. It didn't last long as she turned to the other male. "Oh well. How about you, my fanged one?" She smiled sweetly at Ryouga. *If I can't have the pigtailed one then the other will do just as well. Both are very handsome.* "Uh...I...uh...well...I...umm..." Ryouga didn't know how to respond. He glanced over at Ukyou, but she was ignoring him. "I...uh..." Kodachi took his hesitancy for a no. "Well then, what is your name?" "Uh...R-R-Ryouga H-H-H-Hibiki." Without warning, Kodachi leapt forward and glomped onto the startled boy. "Oh, Ryouga darling! I've been waiting for someone like you all my life!" Ukyou was fighting to keep under control. *Must not care. Don't care. Ignore it. Just ignore it. It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter.* She was physically beginning to shake with the tension of holding back. But then Kodachi moved in for a kiss. *Ryouga! You idiot! Stop her! What are you doing you jackass! If you let her kiss you, you'll never be rid of her! Not that I care! I just don't want to have to deal with that psycho on a daily basis!* After congratulating herself for coming up with an excuse for being angry, she decided to take steps. Ryouga had stiffened up. He went into sensory overload. As if that wasn't bad enough, Kodachi was face was looming closer, her lips ready for a kiss. He would've managed to faint on his own at that point if the elbow smashing him to the ground hadn't bothered to help him. *BAM!* Kodachi found herself deprived of her man and found herself facing an angry Ukyou. "Whatever is the matter?" "You can't have him!" Ukyou grated at the gymnast. "And who might you be?" "I'm Ukyou Kuonji. And you can't have Ryouga!" "Why not?." "He doesn't want anything to do with you!" "Really? He did not seem to be refusing." "That's because he's an idiot!" "Ukyou Kuonji, why should it matter to you? He already said he was unattached." Ukyou winced. *Great now what?* "He didn't say that!" Kodachi smirked. "Ah, but he didn't say that he *was*, therefore he must be available." Ukyou mentally sighed. It was the only way. "No, he's just too stupid to admit that he has a fiancée!" Kodachi arched an eyebrow. "Fiancée? Ryouga darling, is it true that you have a fiancée?" Ryouga was still knocked out. "See?" said a triumphant Kodachi. "He didn't say that he has a fiancée." "Argh!" cried Ukyou. Then she nudged Ryouga hard with her foot. "Wake up, stupid!" Ryouga groaned from the ground. He sat up rubbing his head which Ukyou promptly smacked. "Answer her, you idiot!" "Huh? What was the question?" "Tell her that you have a fiancée!" Ryouga looked surprised, then happy, then suspicious. Finally he just ended up confused like he always does. "Yeah," he answered scratching his head. "I'm Ukyou's fiancé." Ukyou winced. She hadn't been expecting him to say that. The crowd who had been watching the entire exchange from the beginning began talking amongst themselves. "They're engaged? When did that happen?" "Oh no! Does that mean he's taken already!?" "Drat. Now I won't be able to ask her out." "Why is it that all the new students arrive engaged to someone?" "I wonder if they've done it yet." Kodachi's eyes narrowed with anger. "I see. You're trying to steal my Ryouga darling from me! Very well then. Akane Tendou!" She turned once again to Akane who stood by Ranma, watching. "If you lose the match next week, then Ryouga Hibiki will be mine!" "What!?" exploded three different people. Akane, Ukyou, and Ryouga all had falling jaws. "You can't do that!" yelled Ukyou. Kodachi just laughed. "What's the matter? Afraid your feeble skills cannot defeat my superior ones?" Akane glared. No one insulted her martial arts abilities. "Fine! It's a bet!" "Akane!" shouted Ryouga and Ukyou. "How nice," Kodachi said evilly. "Oh, Ryouga darling, next week you shall be mine!" She leaped away, laughing all the while. Ryouga and Ukyou turned to Akane. "Akane, how could you do that!?" Ukyou asked her. "Don't worry about it! I can beat her!" "But what if you don't!?" "I won't lose! I *can't* lose!" "Be wary of her, Akane Tendou. Mine sister shall not fight fairly." They all turned to see Kunou standing with Nabiki. "Sister!? Kodachi is your sister!?" "That she is, Akane. She is not quite sane in the head, but I love her dearly. Again, be wary of her next week. She will use loopholes to attack you with illegal weapons." His eyes were dead serious. "Beware." Akane nodded gravely and turned to Ryouga. "We're gonna be training every minute we're not in school, got it?" Ryouga gave an affirmative. "There's no *way* I'm gonna lose to her!" **** "Ukyou." Ryouga was attempting to speak with her as they began walking home after school. "What do you want, Ryouga?" "I just wanted to talk to you, if it's okay." "C'mon Akane. Let's go on ahead." Ranma and Akane began walking off towards the Tendou Training Hall, leaving Ryouga and Ukyou alone. "What'd you want to talk about?" Ukyou's voice lacked any kind of emotion as she walked on, Ryouga next to her. "Uh, I just wanted to know...why'd you try to help me with Kodachi this morning? Why did you say that you were my fiancée?" Ukyou's voice then filled with emotion. Anger to be specific. "I didn't say it, you idiot! You did! All you were supposed to say was that you had a fiancée! Not tell the whole school that it was me!" Ryouga winced. "Oh. Sorry." Ukyou just glared at him. "But I still want to know why you even bothered to help me out." She turned her head to face him. "Because if I hadn't said anything, that crazy girl would've hounded you for ages!" "But why should you care?" Ryouga pressed. "I don't! I only did what I had to. If I hadn't done something then the Tendous and the Saotomes would have to deal with that crazy, psycho of a girl every time she came to see you! Frankly, I don't want to be around her that much either!" "I see," Ryouga said, a bit downhearted. "I thought that maybe, well...maybe you had changed your mind about me." Ukyou elbowed him in the side. "I may not like you Ryouga, but I still have my honor as a martial artist to defend the helpless. I did you a favor for crying out loud! If this is how you're going to be about it then maybe next time I'll let her have you!" "Thank you, Ukyou." "Hey! I...huh?" "I said thank you." Ukyou blushed. When she realized what she was doing, she put up an angry face to cover up. "Forget about it." She walked on, staring ahead, her face still angry. After a while he spoke again. "Ukyou?" "What?" He hesitated a bit before continuing. "I was wondering...I mean, if you could...do you think you could help me and Ranma to train Akane? It would be easier if each one of us had our own second." "Second?" "Yeah. They assist the gymnast during the match. I was hoping you'd be Akane's second during practice." Ryouga had such a hopeful expression on his face that Ukyou sighed. *Well, if it's for Akane...* "Sure, why not? It's not like I have anything better to do." Ryouga smiled. "But don't think that this changes anything, jackass! I'm doing this for Akane!!" Ryouga's smile dropped as he and Ukyou continued on home. **** Over the next week, Akane and Ryouga trained with every minute they had open. Ranma and Ukyou helped out as much as possible, going over moves and techniques. Kunou came to assist by revealing all of Kodachi's hidden traps within her weapons. "Concealed within her clubs are spikes which emerge when a hidden switch is pressed," he began. "She will attempt to catch thee off guard. When that happens, she will activate the spikes and lunge." Akane nodded. "I'll just have to be ready." "The edge of her hoop," continued Kunou, "is razor sharp and can cut through almost anything. When she has the hoop in her hand, thou must not let it get near thee, lest ye be wounded." Akane took note. She thought she would be able to get out of the way well enough now, what with Ranma's training and all. "Her ribbon is able to harden and become as solid as steel. She can break one of thy bones easily with just one strike." Akane winced at that one. She'd better have Ranma step up the lessons a bit. "Finally there are bombs concealed within the gymnastics balls that she throws. She will toss several at once in an attempt to knock thee out." Akane winced again. Dodging explosions was not what she had in mind when she took on this task. "Thanks for you help Kunou. Knowing these tricks will help me prepare for the match." **** The day before the match came. Akane and the others gathered for one more training session. She had mastered all the tools and techniques. She had taken Kunou's warnings into account. She was ready to take on Kodachi. "Alright Akane, this is our last training session. You've learned all that I can teach you. Let's see what you've got!" Akane faced Ryouga. She was wielding a pair of clubs while he twirled a ribbon. "Okay Ryouga, here goes." She leaped to attack, her clubs spinning to deflect the incoming ribbon snaps. She got right up in front of Ryouga and thrust her clubs out at him. Ryouga ducked under Akane's attack and whipped his ribbon up to wind around her arms. Once he ensnared her he flung her towards the wall of the dojo. Startled at first, Akane quickly recovered and landed on the wall feet first. She freed her arms and bounced off the wall, calling for a ball. Ukyou tossed one in her direction. Akane, still in the air, spiked the ball straight down on top of Ryouga. He gave an alarmed shout and just barely managed to move in time. He called for a hoop and Ranma had one in the air in a split second. Ryouga caught it and with a yell, threw it horizontally at Akane as soon as she landed. Akane saw the hoop flying towards her at a furious speed as she landed. There was no time to call for a weapon so, thinking as fast as she could, she bent backwards. She barely made it in time as the hoop flew over her. As it was about to pass her by, Akane threw her arm up. She caught the hoop, quickly straightened and sent it right back to Ryouga. Not expecting Akane to pull that move, Ryouga was unprepared as the hoop sailed right back at him. It hit him in the stomach and drove him back several feet, knocking him down with an "oof!". After laying on the mat for a couple of seconds to get his breath back, he was up in a flash calling for clubs. Ranma tossed him a pair as Akane called for her ribbon. As soon as she got it she was snapping it at Ryouga. Ryouga deflected the ribbon with his clubs and began to move towards Akane. However, he did not anticipate her kicking at the ball from earlier, which had come to a rest at her feet. It came sailing and hit him hard, right between the eyes. It gave an unnaturally loud *SMACK* as it hit and bounced off. Ryouga stood there with a stunned look on his face, his eyes slightly crossed. Then without warning he dropped to the floor, unconscious. Akane, as usual, had kicked with a lot of force. "Ryouga!" Akane ran to his side where he laid out flat on the floor unconscious. Ranma was on his back, laughing his head off. Ukyou came up beside Akane, a worried look on her face. "Ungh," said the now conscious boy as he sat up. "What happened?" Akane blushed. "I...uh...I guess I kicked the ball a little hard." Ranma exploded in fresh gales of laughter. Ryouga smiled. "Good job Akane! I didn't even see it coming!" "You sure you're okay, Ryouga?" He turned to look at Ukyou, who now had a neutral expression on her face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." Without a word, Ukyou went and gathered the tools. Ryouga watched her for a little while before turning back to Akane. "Alright Akane. It looks like you're prepared for the match tomorrow. We'll have one more sparring round and then we'll call it quits for tonight. Okay?" "Okay Ryouga." Akane went and took position again, a ribbon in her hand. Ryouga stood opposite her, also holding a ribbon. When they were both prepared, Ryouga launched an attack. **** It was the morning of the competition. Akane woke up with the sun and began to prepare for the day. With a tired yawn she got up out of bed. Drowsy, she headed over to the bathroom to bathe. She walked in and undressed. Then she grabbed a towel and opened the sliding door. "Akane!" Startled, Akane looked up and saw Ranma in the furo. "Ranma! Sorry! I guess I didn't...I uh..." she was blushing with embarrassment as she covered herself. "I'll just...uh...go now. Tell me when you're finished, okay?" She backed out of the room quickly and left. Ranma shook his head and finished bathing. When he was done, he dressed and then headed over to Akane's room. "Come in!" came the answer to his knock. Ranma opened the door and entered. Akane was lying on her bed, the towel still wrapped around her. When she saw who had entered she sat up. "Oh! Uh, hi Ranma." She began to blush once more. "Are you...um...finished in the bathroom?" Ranma smirked at her. "Yeah, I'm finished. I was interrupted a little while ago when someone walked in on me, but I'm done now. You can go ahead and use it." Akane's blush grew brighter. "Thanks. I'll go do that." She left and Ranma went down to the kitchen. Ukyou was in there, already cleaned up and set to go to the competition. She was helping Nodoka make some breakfast. The two were talking as he entered. "And then," Ukyou was saying, "Ranchan tripped and fell face first into it. He got cake all over himself." Nodoka smiled and laughed. "Hey! That wasn't my fault, and you know it!" Ranma remembered the story Ukyou was telling. It was rather embarrassing. As Nodoka and Ukyou turned to see Ranma standing in the doorway to the kitchen, they laughed even harder. Ranma pouted and sat down at the small table. "Oh come on, Ranchan! *You* were the one who insisted on carrying the whole thing by yourself. Besides," Ukyou grinned at him, "your mom wanted to hear stories about you. I couldn't leave that one out, could I?" Ranma snorted. "It was Ryouga who bet me that I couldn't carry it on my own! I was trying to prove to him that I could!" Ukyou's face fell a bit, but she quickly smiled to cover it up. "Wow. Ryouga was actually right about something." "Hey!" "Well he was! You dropped the cake didn't you?" "He tripped me!" Nodoka just watched the two, shaking her head and smiling. "He did not! He was waiting at the table with me!" "He threw something at my feet!" "Oh get off it, Ranchan! Just admit that you couldn't carry it on your own. You know, I'm not mad about it anymore. It was one of the better birthday gifts I got that year." Ranma grumbled and Ukyou laughed again. She gave him a hug and went back to cooking. "Speaking of Ryouga," Ranma said. "Have you seen him this morning? He wasn't in the room when I woke up." Ukyou's voice suddenly went neutral. "Nope. Haven't seen him." Nodoka gave Ranma a questioning look and he shrugged, not knowing what he could say to Ukyou's reaction. "How about you mom?" he asked her. "Have you seen him?" "No I haven't, Ranma. Have you tried the dojo?" "No, not yet. I'll go check." But Ryouga was no where to be found. Ranma looked all over for him, but couldn't find him. "Where is that idiot? Did he get lost?" Ranma sighed. Ryouga could very well have gotten lost. He didn't know how Akane was gong to take it. **** "He's not *here*!?!?" Akane, apparently, did not take it well at all. "But the match is *today*!!" She buried her face in her hands. "That's just great. The day of the competition and my coach gets lost going to the bathroom!" "Don't worry Akane. Me and Ucchan will still be there, right Ucchan?" "Right! You can manage without Ryouga, Akane. You'll be fine. C'mon. Let's eat and then head out." They sat down for breakfast. Akane fidgeted throughout the whole meal. When they were finished, the three of them were on their way to St. Hebereke High School. The others would be leaving later, in time to see the match. **** "ARGH! Where on Earth am I now!?!?!?" Ryouga was, of course, lost. He had woken up very early that morning to get ready for the competition. Unfortunately he was still drowsy, so he ended up walking out of the house instead of going to the bathroom. Before he realized what he had done, he was hopelessly lost. "Great," he muttered. "This is just perfect. Akane was counting on me being at the match today. I...I have to get to St. Hebereke!" He began to run, stopping frequently to ask someone for directions. Too bad he didn't follow what they said. After a few hours, Ryouga was all set to give up. "I...I can't make it. I've been looking forever. The match will be starting in another hour." He looked up at the sky feeling rather depressed. *I'm sorry for letting you down, Akane.* He leaned back against a wall and hit his head against it. He felt something sharp bite into the back of his head. "Ow! What was that?" Turning he found that he had hit his head on a metal plaque that read "St. Hebereke High School". He stared at it in wonder. Then gave a shout of joy, "I did it! I actually made it!" He laughed a bit hysterically, prompting some passerby's to give him wide berth. He rushed onto the school grounds. *Now* he thought, *all I have to do is find the gym in the next hour and I'm all set.* He began his search. **** Akane, Ranma, and Ukyou walked through the halls of St. Hebereke. They had to admit it was a pretty nice looking school. "Too bad it produces people like Kodachi," commented Ranma. "I'm sure not everyone here is like Kodachi, Ranma," Akane replied. "There might actually be some normal people who go to school here." They continued until they reached the changing room that they would be using. It had a sign on it saying "Challenger's Dressing Room". Ranma opened the door and they walked in to find a very tired Ryouga sitting in a chair, head and arms sprawled on the table in front of him. He was snoring lightly. Ukyou rushed to his side, Ranma and Akane following quickly. "Ryouga! Are you okay?" Ukyou asked in a worried voice. She became aware of Ranma and Akane's amused looks and immediately dropped the worried look. *Oh no! Now what do I do?* She did the only thing she could think of. She got mad and then hit Ryouga on the head. "Hey!" she shouted. "Wake up, jackass!" Ryouga snorted and lifted his head. "Huh? Where am I?" He looked around and saw a pissed off Ukyou, a worried Akane, and an amused Ranma. "Oh, hi guys. Uh...I made it." He gave them a sheepish grin. "Where were you, you idiot! You scared Akane! She thought you weren't going to be here!" "I got lost, okay!?" Ryouga shouted. He wasn't in the mood to hear Ukyou's accusations after the hellish morning he went through. "I'm sorry it happened but at least I made it! So don't yell at me!" "I'll yell if I want to, you dumb jerk!" Ranma and Akane backed away from the two as they started letting out some of the tension that had been between them for the last couple of weeks. "Dammit Ukyou, will you just forget it!?" "Forget that you're a complete moron!? How can I when you keep proving it!?" "You're saying I'm a moron!?" "That's right you pig!" Ryouga heard the damning word and his face burned with fury. "I...I guess I should just..." He didn't know what to say. Without a word he walked towards the door opened it and went through. Ukyou bit her lower lip. *Damn him! Why does he always do this to me?* She began to follow Ryouga but Ranma stopped her. "No Ucchan. Don't." "But Ranchan..." "Trust me, Ukyou," he said quietly. "Ryouga is probably embarrassed enough as it is without you going after him." He was fighting hard to keep from bursting into laughter. Ukyou had a puzzled look on her face. "Ranchan, what are you talking about? Why would Ryouga be embarrassed? And why are you whispering?" "You'll see in a bit." Then he began talking loudly. "Come on Ukyou, Akane. Why don't we get something to drink before the match starts." He began to leave the room. Ukyou gave a puzzled glace at Akane who just smiled at her and motioned her out of the room. It was as Ukyou was leaving that she realized that the door wasn't the one Ryouga had left through. **** The door opened slightly. Ryouga's red face peeked out and found that they all had, indeed, left. He sighed and left the closet that he had accidentally walked into. **** It was time for the match. Akane had gone back to the dressing room to change and to retrieve Ryouga. He stood in Akane's corner, a look of embarrassment still on his face. Akane was in the ring dressed in a green leotard. Kodachi had yet to enter the ring. The stadium was packed with people. St. Hebereke supporters and Furinkan supporters were scattered throughout the whole place. Nabiki and her associates were rushing through the crowd, taking bets on the match. Ranma and Ukyou were sitting with the other Tendous, Ranma's parents, and Kunou. Soon Nabiki returned to her seat as the announcer introduced the contenders. "From Furinkan High School, the challenger, Akane Tendou!" The stadium exploded with cheers as Akane waved to the crowd. "And now, introducing, the young flower of St. Hebereke High School, our champion, Kodachi, the Black Rose, Kunou!!" The stadium went dark and multi-colored spotlights began dancing around. Then a single, bright white spotlight centered on the ceiling as a platform, held up by rope, descended. There was Kodachi, dressed in a white, western style wedding dress. The crowed ooh'd and ahh'd as fireworks began lighting the stadium. Then Kodachi leaped off the platform. She flipped and spun through the air, losing her dress in the process. When she landed, she was dressed in a dark red leotard, the stem of a black rose in her mouth. The crowd exploded with cheers once more. "Remember Miss Tendou," Kodachi addressed her opponent after the noise had died down. "Ryouga darling will be mine if you should lose." Akane's eyes narrowed. "That's fine. But if you lose you have to promise to leave Ryouga alone! Got it!?" Kodachi just laughed. "Very well. Should I lose, I shall abandon my present affection for my darling Ryouga." Then, without warning she attacked, and the match began. Akane dodged Kodachi's first ribbon snap and countered with her own. She kept up her attack, waiting for the right moment. It did not take very long. With a snap of her wrist, Kodachi's ribbon straightened out and became a steel bar. Soon she was wielding it like a sword, hacking and slashing at Akane. *I have you now, Miss Tendou.* Kodachi swung for Akane's head, but Akane ducked under it and snapped her ribbon upward. It snagged Kodachi's steel bar and Akane yanked. Kodachi was flung into the ropes and lost her grip on her weapon. Akane then whipped her ribbon around forcefully and launched it back at her opponent. It knocked into Kodachi's forehead and she was stunned for a brief moment. When she recovered she shot an angry glance at Akane. "You'll pay for that, Akane Tendou. Clubs!" Kodachi's second tossed her a couple of clubs and Kodachi charged once more. Akane tried to hold her at bay with her ribbon, but Kodachi twirled her clubs and knocked the ribbon out of the way. Soon she was right in front of Akane. She did a double thrust with both clubs aimed for Akane's head. Akane quickly dodged to the side, but was unable to escape the spikes that emerged. The spikes cut into her leotard's left shoulder, ripping it and leaving a few bloody streaks behind. **** Ranma clenched his fists when he saw Akane was injured. *C'mon Akane! You can do it!* "Oh my! I hope Akane isn't hurt too bad." Kasumi hand both her hands to her face. "My baby girl is bleeding!" Soun cried as tears came down his cheeks. "Now, now, Tendou. Don't worry. Ryouga, Ranma, and Ukyou trained Akane well. Right, you two?" "You bet, Mr. Saotome," answered Ukyou. "She just better win. I have a lot of money riding on this." "Nabiki!" Kasumi was shocked. "What?" "It is not fitting for thee to say such things, Nabiki-chan," said Kunou with a reproachful look. "Really Nabiki!" said Kasumi, still surprised by her sister. "Hey, I was just saying..." Nodoka gave them a reprimanding look and they fell silent, turning back to the match. "Don't worry Soun," she said to Mr. Tendou. "I'm sure Akane-chan will be just fine." Ranma closed his eyes briefly. *I hope so.* **** *Damn,* thought Ryouga as he observed the match from the corner. *Akane wasn't fast enough.* He looked over a Kodachi and saw what she was about to do. *Oh no!* "Watch out, Akane!" **** Akane clutched at her bleeding shoulder as she leaped away from Kodachi. She took a quick glance at the injury. It wasn't too bad. Shallow cuts, she would still be able to use the arm. But then she heard Ryouga's shout. Looking up, Akane saw Kodachi had begun tossing gymnastic balls. Remembering Kunou's warning, Akane leaped out of the way. The balls exploded on impact. Akane leaped around the ring, frantically dodging the blasts. Soon the explosions ceased and she heard Kodachi laughing. "That was quite entertaining, Akane Tendou. But games are over. Hoop!" Kodachi's second tossed a hoop to her captain. Kodachi caught it and sent it whirling at Akane. Akane eyes widened when she saw what was coming at her. Without thinking about it, Akane desperately leapt over it. The hoop sailed under her and sliced through the floor of the ring. Akane thought she heard muffled shouting, but ignored it as Kodachi, livid with anger, took up clubs once again. Then she heard Ryouga speak up again. "Akane! Here, take these!" A pair of clubs were thrown at her. She caught them and prepared to engage Kodachi, a determined look on her face. "Oh ho! So you think you can take me with clubs, do you Miss Tendou?" Kodachi smirked. "I am the young flower of St. Hebereke," she said haughtily. "A rising star in the gymnastics world. The one called the Black Rose. Very well then. Behold the attack of A Thousand Clubs!" And she rushed forward her right arm extended, blurring with speed. Akane gave a mental thanks to Ranma for training her to be faster. Without hesitation, Akane met Kodachi halfway and began to parry the assault, her arm blurring just as fast, if not faster, than Kodachi's. After a few moments, though, Akane began to tire. She needed to halt the attack and soon. It was getting harder to keep up with Kodachi's attack. Looking quickly to Ryouga, Akane caught his eye and gestured what she wanted and where she wanted it. **** Ryouga got Akane's message and picked up a gymnastics ball. He waited for Akane's signal to throw it. *I hope this works.* He continued to wait, hoping that Akane knew what she was doing. After a moment, she nodded, and Ryouga launched the ball at her feet. **** Akane, still holding off Kodachi's clubs, saw the ball incoming. When the ball reached her feet, she kicked upwards and hard, altering it's course. Kodachi received it in the stomach and was knocked backwards. She lost her concentration and ended up dropping the fifteen clubs she had been using. **** "Is that legal?" asked Kasumi, a puzzled look on her face. "In Kodachi's stadium it is. But Akane was too good for it to work." Ranma had a proud look on his face. *It's a good thing I made her work on her speed. She probably would have been pummeled otherwise.* He watched as Kodachi positioned her clubs and charged Akane again. **** Kodachi snarled. *How did this 'peasant' defeat my attack!?* She growled and charged with her clubs, spikes activated. She thrust out with one, straight towards Akane's chest. Akane crossed her own clubs and caught Kodachi's in an X. Quickly she rolled backwards and pulled Kodachi along. Then she flung her arms backward flinging the startled gymnast out of the ring. Kodachi was sailing through the air. If anyone had gotten a good look at her at that point, they would have noticed that an amused grin had replaced her startled look. She twisted in midair and whistled. Akane was almost knocked off her feet as the entire ring moved to catch the soaring gymnast. Kodachi laughed as she landed. "Don't you know you can't knock me out of the ring, Akane Tendou?" Akane glared and then, putting thumb and forefinger to her lips, she whistled. Once again, the ring moved. "I think the ring is broken Kodachi," Akane said. "But I think I know how to fix it." She pulled her giant hammer out of no where and slammed it repeatedly into the ring floor. The cloth came apart and Akane picked it up. She jumped to one of the corner posts, tearing the flooring away. **** Ranma cheered as Akane tore the floor of the ring away to reveal a score of gymnasts. They scrambled as soon as they were revealed. "Alright Akane! Now remember what I taught you!" *With the floor gone, she has to rely on midair combat.* "What *did* you teach her, boy?" asked Genma, absently munching on some popcorn. "Just a few of the Saotome School's midair attacks, pop." Genma grinned and patted Ranma on the shoulder. "That's my boy." **** Kodachi quickly leapt to a post when Akane ripped the floor away. The only thing left was the ropes and corner posts. *That pest! How dare she do this to the ring of the Black Rose! She will pay!!!* Akane was balanced on the opposite post grinning at her handiwork. *It's a good thing Ranma taught me a few things. From this point it's all midair attacks. Now I just have to see if I can pull it off.* She twirled her clubs and leapt to attack, startling Kodachi with the bold maneuver. But Kodachi didn't hesitate. She flung out her ribbon and lassoed Akane. Then she flung her as hard as she could. **** Ryouga closed his eyes. He couldn't watch. *If Akane touches the ground now, she loses. Then I'm stuck with Kodachi! Argh! Please Akane! Do something!* **** Ranma flinched as Akane was tossed. *Come on Akane! You can do this!* When Akane began to maneuver, he smiled. **** Akane scrambled to get loose from the ribbon. She had to get free before she hit the ground. Unraveling the ribbon quickly, she freed herself and desperately flung the ribbon, handle first, upwards into the metal scaffolding above the stadium. The ribbon wrapped around metal and was secured by the handle. Akane began swinging back and forth. Kodachi was really angry now. "Why won't you just give up!?!?!?" She launched a barrage of clubs at Akane. Akane swung into the barrage. She was hit several times, but she managed to kick out at Kodachi. The gymnast dodged and Akane swung back the other way. "Hey! You can't attack without tools!" Kodachi shrieked as she sent out another mess of clubs. Akane released her grip on the ribbon and landed on the ropes of the ring. The rope bent under her weight and snapped back, launching her back towards Kodachi. *Time to end this!* Kodachi was screeching by this time. "Are you deaf!?!? It's illegal to attack without tools!!!!" "I'll show you tools!" Akane shouted back. *Ranma, I hope you taught me well enough for this to work.* She aimed a kick at the corner post that Kodachi was standing on, her foot lashing out with lightning quick speed and slicing through. At the last second, Akane changed her trajectory and grabbed onto the post as it fell. **** The stadium was hushed. Not a sound escaped as the audience looked on in shock. Kodachi was on the ground. She had a look of disbelief on her face. *I-I lost? B-But how could I l-l-lose?* Akane was trembling. She strained to keep steady as she balanced on the fallen post, perpendicular to the ground. When the announcer finally announced the end of the match, Akane sighed and dropped to the ground, dead tired. The crowd in the stadium went crazy. The whole place erupted with cheering and applause. The Tendous and Saotomes were on their feet along with everyone else. Ranma and Ukyou rushed down to Akane's side. They reached her at the same time as Ryouga. "You did it Akane! You won!" Ryouga was ecstatic. He was saved from Kodachi. Ranma helped Akane to her feet gave her a fierce hug. "You did great, Akane. I'm proud of you." Akane smiled. "Thank you, Ranma. Your training helped out a lot in there." She kissed him on the cheek and he blushed. "Hey! What about me!? I taught you the tools and all." Ryouga was a bit disgruntled at being forgotten. Akane gave him a smile. "I know. Thank you so much, Ryouga." Then she gave him a peck on the cheek also. Ryouga blushed until he caught sight of Ukyou and his face fell. "Uh, Ukyou, I...uh..." She ignored him and turned to Akane. "You did good in there, Sugar. It was a good match." "Thanks, Ukyou." "You there, Ukyou Kuonji." They all turned to see Kodachi approaching. When she had their attention she continued speaking. "I, the young flower of St. Hebereke, the rising star in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Kodachi-The Black Rose-Kunou, have been defeated by Akane Tendou." Tears came to her eyes. "As promised, I will hereby abandon my present affection for my darling Ryouga." She buried her face in one hand and ran from the stadium, weeping. All four, Ranma, Akane, Ryouga, and Ukyou had the same look on their faces. A look of regret. Even after all they had gone through, they felt sorry for the gymnast. Ryouga sighed, which Ukyou noticed. "Don't tell me you wanted to go with her!?!?" Ryouga stared Ukyou in the face wearing a serious expression. "No, I didn't want to go with her, but I can't help feeling bad about the whole situation. She ran out of here crying. If it's one thing I can't stand, it's making a girl cry." Ukyou sighed as well, staring in the direction Kodachi ran off. "I guess I can understand that. I don't enjoy making someone feel bad about themselves." Ryouga heard the apology in her voice and sighed again. "Yeah, I know what you mean." Ukyou gave a slight smile as she heard the acceptance in Ryouga's tone. **** That evening, Ukyou sat on a rock in front of the Tendou's koi pond, contemplating the events of the last day. *Well, we got through it all okay,* she thought to herself. *But what am I supposed to do about Ryouga? No matter how hard I try to deny it and keep him away, I'm finding that my feelings for him are growing.* She leaned her head onto her palm, elbow on knee, in thought. *I want to get close, but I know I can't. It would be too hard to be left alone again. No matter what I want, I can't let anyone get close to me. Not anymore...* She was startled out of her thoughts by someone tossing a bouquet of black roses into her hands. Looking up she found Kodachi standing there in her St. Hebereke uniform. "Kodachi! What are you doing here?" "Miss Kuonji. If you would please deliver those to my darling Ryouga for me?" Ukyou's eyes narrowed. "Hey! What happened to abandoning your affection for him!" Kodachi merely smiled. "Yes, I did abandon my *present* affection for him. So now I've developed an entirely new affection." "What!?" "Farewell, Miss Kuonji. And be warned. Someday I will take Ryouga darling away from you." Then she leapt away, laughing, into the night. Ukyou sat there stunned for a moment. Then she groaned. "Oh no. Everything that we went through, and we still didn't get rid of her." "Ukyou!" came Mrs. Saotome's voice from the house. "It's time for dinner!" "Coming!" Ukyou stood and began walking towards the house holding the roses. "I wonder what Ryouga's gonna say about *this*." She walked into the house to tell everyone about the news. Ryouga's reaction was not very surprising. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" **** Later that evening, Akane and Ranma were sitting on the roof, staring at the stars. Akane was sitting in front of Ranma, leaning back against him, her head resting on his chest and his arms around her. Her left shoulder was wrapped in bandages. "I'm tired." "I can imagine. You did really good today, Akane." Akane snuggled closer to him. "Thanks Ranma. I just hope I don't have to do anything like that again any time soon." Ranma chuckled. "I kinda doubt that anything like that will be coming up. You're in for weeks of boredom." "Good. I could use some good, boring boredom." She turned her attention back to the star lit sky. "It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" "Yeah...beautiful." Akane heard an odd note in his voice and craned her neck up to look at him. She found him staring at her and began blushing. They captured each others eyes; his a liquid blue, hers a dazzling brown. Slowly his hand raised to touch her cheek and his head lowered towards hers. She saw his approach and met him halfway. They closed their eyes, their lips touched and they kissed. Their faces were flushed and their breathing quicker when they parted. Akane had a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face. Ranma was smiling also. Akane snuggled into him again and he wrapped his arms tight around her as they continued watching the stars. **** Okay, that's it for part five. Sorry it took a while. The holidays were killing me. Let me know what you think. rplanas@pacbell.net. Questions and comments are appreciated, flames ignored. I don't know when I'm gonna get the next chapter out, so no promises. I just hope it's soon. Thanks. Gyran