Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the wonderful Romiko 
Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in North America). This work is 
strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of fans. No copyright infringement is intended.



Part 2: Just Friends?
By RJ


	It was just slowing down at Ucchans’s when North and South came home from
school, along with Kohana and Takeo following behind them.
"Mom we’re home!"  North yelled.
Ukyo appeared from the kitchen drying her hands.  Her hair was pinned up in a
bun and shown the slight signs of aging, but she still had a youthful glow about
her.  Her face lighten up when she saw her visitors.
"Hi Aunt Ukyo."  Kohana and Takeo said together.
"Come here and give me a hug, the both of you."  Ukyo happily said drawing the
two Saotome’s into a big bear hug.
"Let me guess, someone was in a fight and you all are hungry?"
"You know us so well." Takeo stated.
"Well I should, I’ve known you for your whole life."  She replied.

"So who was fighting?  And dare I ask who won."
"It was Kohana and that guy Kentaro."
"That guy again.  Didn’t you two take care of him already last week?"  She
asked.
"Yea, but something was different this time when we fought him.  He beat us
both."  South said.
Ukyo gave them both a look of "what!"
"We know, we know.  How did that freak ever beat us?  But he did, he even beat
Perfume."
"Ummm?"  Ukyo began to think
"What are thinking Aunty?"  Takeo asked.
"He might be under the influence of some kind of enhancing substance."
"That may explain a lot."  North said.
"Yea he seems different from before.  South finished his  brother’s statement.
"Well no biggy, I got him good, both times."  Kohana proudly stated after
shoving a mouthful of okonomiyaki  in her face.
"Oh man!  We better get home sis."  Takeo said looking at the clock on the wall.
"Ummm, oh your right.  Thanks for the eats, Aunty."
"No problem, anytime."
Kohana bounced out of the stool following her brother.
"Later guys."  She waved.
"Hey Kohana, wait!"  North yelled after her.
"Hmm?"  She said stopping  right out side the door, letting it close behind him. 
Takeo stopped down the street.  "Come on sis!"
"You go on, I’ll be there in a sec."  She yelled to him.
"Okay!"
She turned around and to see what North wanted.
"Yea, umm, Kohana, tomorrow night they’re having a Jet Lee Jr. double showing
down at the multiplex, I was wondering if you wanted to go."
"Really!  Is South going too?"
"Ummm, no he has a huge test to study for, so it’ll just be just me and you.  
You don’t mind do you?"
"Naw, of course not.  Okay, well then I’ll see you tomorrow." She smiled and
turned around to go home.
North smiled and sighed leaning up against the glass window of his mother’s
shop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

	2:00 am in morning the clock read.  Ukyo was not happy.  She paced back in forth
in bedroom mumbling to herself.
"Will you please come to bed."  Ryoga said lifting his head from his pillow.
"Where is he?"
Ryoga sighed, "He’s fine, North’s a big boy who can take care of himself."
"I know, it just…Oh I don’t know."  She paced again
Ryoga sighed again and sat up and got out of bed.  He walked over to his wife
and stopped her pacing.
"He’s 17, and he’s on a date.  Let him be a teenager."
"That’s what I’m afraid of!  If you RECALL we were only 18 when I got pregnant! 
He is to young."
"Ukyo,"
"No, Ryoga.  The movies have been over since 10 and let’s just say they got
something to eat afterwards, that’s an hour.  Where is he it’s 2:30am?"
If it was just on cue the sounds of the backdoor opening and closing was heard.
"I’ll kill him."  Ukyo stormed down to meet her son.  Ryoga followed.
	North crept as quietly as possible through the kitchen.  He slipped through
swing door and into the dinning room.  Almost home free, when the light suddenly
turned on.
"M…Mom…Dad…hi."  He meekly said.  "Were you guys watching a movie or something?"
"Oh don’t go there."  Ukyo said.  "Would you care to explain yourself."  Ukyo
said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Umm…Umm..uh…"
"Okay let’s start with where have you been?  Your curfew was 12:00 am."
"Well…uh.."
"Spit it out son.  Not only are have you gotten yourself in trouble, but I know
for a fact that Kohana’s curfew is also 12:00.  So you have risked her honor as
well.
"No."
"What?"
"I mean, no, she was home by 11:45."
"There where have you been?"  Ukyo cross examined.
"I…uh…kinda got lost."
"Lost, but you haven’t gotten lost since you were a child."
Ryoga face was no longer stern, but understanding.
"Darling, let’s let this one slide."
*Sign*" Fine, but you could of least called, we would of gotten you."
"I know Mom, I’m sorry."
"Okay get to bed, you got kitchen duty tomorrow."
"Yes, Mom."  North hung his head as he walked passed his parents.  He couldn’t
look at their disappointed faces, but it was worth it.  To have an evening with
Kohana all to himself.  It seems something always got in the way.  Either there
was a fight with someone, they were fighting, or someone would be around acting
as the third wheel, or she ends up going to England and studying aboard.  When
she was away for the year he managed to keep in touch through the brilliant
invention of e-mail.  They were friends, even though he would of like to be
more, but he couldn’t be happier.
	He had a great time with her that night.  They laughed and talked all night,
even through parts of the movie.  However, the  people in front of them didn’t
appreciate that.  When the movie ended, and after they stopped at the local
dinner, he had walked  her home.  He desperately wanted to kiss her, but he
didn’t.  He was to shy.  Then he thought maybe she would stand their waiting to
be kissed, but that didn’t happen.   She happily slapped him on the back, smiled
and said, "See ya around buddy!"  and walked through her gate of her house.  
That’s when he turned around and began walking.  The next thing he didn’t know
where he was.  It took him the next two hours to find his way home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Breakfast!"  Akane yelled out to her two kids and husband.  They were doing
their morning spar, as always, and as  always someone ended up in the koi pond. 
This time it was Takeo.
"Ahh!  I hate falling into that pond!"  He yelled ringing out his shirt, shaking
his now red and black hair.
"You should know better then to try a complex move that you haven’t learned
fully."  Kohana said sitting at the table.
"Yeah, well…."  He couldn’t think of a response so his only defense was what any
younger sibling does, embarrass the older sibling.
"So how was your date with North?"  Takeo said with smirk.
Ranma’s eyes looked up with interest.  Akane placed a dish on the table and
questioned, "I didn’t know your seeing North?"
*Sigh* "I’m not Mom, we just went to see a movie.  It wasn’t a date."  She said
glaring at soon to be dead brother.
"North’s a strong fighter.  Ryoga has trained him well."  Ranma said grabbing a
morsel of food with his chop sticks.
"Yeah he is and so is South.   What does that have to do with anything?  We are
not DATING."
"Whatever dear."  Akane stated adding another dish to the table.
"Ahh!"   Kohana said with frustration.
"Yeah she’s right, she’d rather go out with Kentaro, her blazing fire or
Furinkan High!" Laughed Takeo.
Kohana, on the other hand, didn’t find it to funny.  "That’s it you’re dead!"
"Ah!"  Takeo booked it out of there with pissed off sister chasing him.

*Sigh* "Well I guess I better break it up."  Akane said as she began to get up
from the table.
A hand stopped her, making her sit back down.  "He brought this one on by
himself."   Ranma calmly stated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	Takeo rubbed his upper arm.  It was sore and he was not happy.  He mumbled
something under his breath as he looked at his sister from across the school
yard.
"Hey ya Takeo!"  called out a young Chinese boy.
"Hey Gel.  What’s up?"
"Nothing much."
"Why are you rubbing your arm?"
"Oh Hana and I got into a little tiff this morning."
"May I inquire what it was about?"
Takeo place his one hand on his neck, just like his father does and laughed.  "I
was kidding her about her and North."
"Ah, the older Hibiki, seems he isn’t the only one smitten with your sister."
"What do you mean?"
Gel simply pointed the group of guys to the right of them.  "Listen."  He
instructed.

	"Ah man look at her, she is gorgeous."
	"Yeah, no kidding, she’s got legs that go up to her neck."
	" Remember how easily she kicked Kentaro’s ass?  She has a solid body."
	"I know, you should of seen her in gym class.  Oh man…*drool*"
	"Yea, did you see her in those gym shorts."
	"I would love to get a piece of that ass."

	Takeo fumed, nobody disrespects his sister.  He stormed over to the group of
boys and stood behind the one wanted to "screw her in a uncomfortable place."
"What?  Like in the back of a Volkswagon."¹  One of the boys asked.
Takeo’s battle aura began to blaze.  He tapped the guy on the shoulder so to get
his attention.
"Would you mind repeating that remark?" He asked.
The guy turned around laughing, "Why what’s to you?  You don’t think you have
chance with her, huh kid?"  He laughed some more
That was not the right thing to say.  Takeo’s battle aura exploded, causing the
school yard to stop and look.
"I’m Takeo, her brother."
"Oh shit."  Was the only statement he got out before he felt the impact of
Takeo’s fist.  A TKO!  The others guys around  him decided to jump the attacker,
they figured six to one would destroy him.  They were wrong.  Takeo easily
knocked them all out.
"ANYONE ELSE!"
"Takeo what the hell do you think  your doing?"  Kohana asked walking up to her
enraged brother.
Takeo’s battle aura faded and went back to normal.  "Umm, I was just…"
"Yes?"
"He was defending your honor."  Gel said walking towards her.
"Why would my honor need defending?"
"Oh those guys were making some crude remarks. Personally they deserved it."
Kohana stepped over the bodies of the guys Takeo just knocked out and stood next
to her brother.  With a slight noggie, she smiled and said "Thanks Ta-chan."


	Later the afternoon, Kohana heard her name being called.  She turned around and
saw South walking towards her.  She smile and waved.  South gladly waved back
picking up speed.
"Hey Kohana, do you…."  before he could finish he tripped over a root  and
stumbled forward, right into Kohana.  South found his face right in between her
breast.  He quickly righted himself, drawing his head back with his eyes wide. 
He began to stutter apologies as blood began to drip form his nose.
"Oh my God, are you all right South?"  Kohana asked as she saw his nose bleed.
"Yeah."  He said putting his back and pinching his nose.
"Here I have tissues."  She said handing him a couple of white sheets from her
bookbag.
"Thanks."
"So what’s going on?"
With his head still back, "I was wondering if you could help me out?"
"With what?"
"I need help with my English class and I figured that since you spent time in
England you would be the best for the job."
"Sure, I’ll help ya, but why not get North to help you?  I thought he was pretty
good at it."
"We tried that, but we never end up studying, usually we end up sparing or
playing video games.  Mom yells at us all the time."
She laughed, "Okay, where do you want to study, your house or mine?"
"Neither, how about the library for no distractions."
"Allrightly then, when?"
"Tomorrow after dinner good?"
"Sure."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	2:15 am Ukyo paced her bedroom again.  Back and forth, back and forth.
"Where is he.   Doesn’t anyone know how to use a phone anymore."
"Hon, come to bed.  I’m sure he’s fine."
Ukyo glared at him, she was not in the mood. Back and forth, back and forth,
seven more times, when the phone rang.  Ukyo went to grab the phone, but Ryoga
beat her to it.
"Hello.  Are you okay?  Where are you?  Okay we will be there as soon as
possible.  Just hang up the phone and sit down, don’t move.  All right, good
bye."

"Where is he?"   Ukyo asked.
"He’s by the zoo."
"The zoo?  But that’s only ten minutes away.
"I know.  I think it’s time we get our sons each a cell phone"

	Ukyo walked along the sidewalk, with her husband besides her.  They approached
the gates of the zoo and saw their son sitting next to the telephone booth.  On
the ground by his feet we a bunch of white petals picked off a flower.  In his
hand he held the same color flower and slowly, if he didn’t have a care in the
world, he picked one of the petals off letting it fall to the ground.  He smiled
as he picked another of the petals and stared at it.
	Ukyo and Ryoga stopped and stared at their son.
"What is he doing?"  Ryoga asked.
"I think he’s daydreaming."
"About what?"
"I don’t know?  What was he doing tonight?"
"I think he had a studying with Kohana."
"Oh, I see."  Ukyo raising one eyebrow.
"What?"
"I think South has a touch of puppy love."
"Would that explain him getting lost.  He was distracted."
"Yes, he was…"Her eyebrow raised again.
"What?"
"North got lost the other night when he and Kohana went to the movies."
"You mean that…?"
"Yup, looks like both our boys have a crush on a certain Saotome."
"This can’t be good."  Ryoga crossed his arms over his chest.
"I wonder if she knows?"
"She probably does, like father like daughter.  Remember how he used to toy with
all you girls hearts."
"Now that’s not fair and you know it.  That was a long time ago, you two long
forgave each other and became close friends.  Don’t spoil it by accusing his
daughter of such things."
Ryoga sighed, "I know, I know, it’s just don’t want to see either of my kids
heart hurt."
Ukyo smiled and hugged Ryoga.  "That’s okay, I know you meant no harm."
Ryoga gently kissed Ukyo’s nose, "Come on let’s get our love sick son."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	Two week later Kohana walked with a couple of her friends through the halls of
the school.  They past a brightly colored poster displaying the time and date of
the upcoming school dance.
"Did you get asked yet, Mima?"  Luanna asked.
"Yes, Morio asked me yesterday.  What about you?"
"No, nobody asked me yet.  Kohana are you going?"
"I don’t know yet."
"Oh come on Kohana, you can always go with Kentaro." Mima joked.
"That is not funny and you know it."
"It was great, I wish I had a camera when you came through those gates and he
raced towards you with three dozen red roses, declaring that you are to be his
date."
"I found it funnier when you throw across the school yard with his roses."
Luanna laughed.
"Ha, ha.  Kentaro is the last person I want to go the dance with."
"Yea, so which of the Hibiki twins are you gonna go with, or are you gonna go
with both?"  Mima asked.
"What are you talking about? I’m just friends with those guys."
The girls stopped walking and looked at Kohana.  "You mean, you don’t know?" 
Mima asked.
"Know what?"
"That both North and South have a HUGE crush on you."  Luanna said.
"I can’t believe it."  Kohana stated leaning up against the wall for support. 
"Yeah, you have been hanging out with them separately for the last two weeks. 
But we were JUST hanging out, not like going on dates or anything.  And just
because I wasn’t hanging out with both of them doesn’t mean anything, it’s
happened that way."
"You haven’t noticed that they been at each others throats for the last week."
"No I haven’t."
"Damn girl, you better make a choice before they kill each other."
"But, I don’t know if I even want to date either of them."
"Are you sure."
"…..I don’t know."
	Kohana was lost in thought.  Both North and South liked her, was that possible? 
It had to be if her to closest friends were telling her, but how come she never
realized it before.
	They continued to walk the hallway when they came to the doors leading outside. 
As they walked through the doors Luanna quietly stated.  "Well you better figure
it out soon."
"Why, what do you mean?"  Kohana asked.
"Take a look."  She said pointing to the flying dirt in the middle of the
schoolyard.


	South jumped clear of North’s right kick and counted with his own fists.
"You know that I’m faster then you!"
"You may be faster, but I’m stronger!" North replied as he right fist made
contact with his brother’s face.
"Ha you call that a punch!"
"Well how about this!"

	Kohana watched as the two brothers exchanged hits.  She listened to her two
friends trying to distinguish who was who.  They couldn’t do it.  She laughed
underneath her breath.  There were few people who could really tell them apart. 
For Kohana, it was easy as pie, to her they looked as different.  North would
raise his right eyebrow when puzzled or asking a sarcastic question.  South
would raise she left eyebrow.  Little quarks each one of them had made them into
complete individuals. Not to mention the had different fighting strengths.  A
clear sigh that they were taught by Ryoga and Ukyo.  South’s speed came from
Ukyo, where North’s strength was clearly derived from Ryoga.  When they acted as
a team they were truly a formidable appointee.  Almost impossible to beat.
	Kohana began to drift as she watched the fight.  "Hmmmm…. They are both sweet,
kind, great guys, good looking, great fighters.  North tends to jump to
conclusions to quickly, but will always give a person a chance to explain. 
South is a little absent minded, but sometimes he will remember the littlest
thing that will make a person happy.  …..Sigh……..  I like them both, what should
I do?"

"I say South is beating the crap out of North."  Mima said.
"And I say it’s the other way around."  Luanne replied back.
"Wow they must be ready to kill each other."
"I know, look how they are fighting."

	Her two talking girls snapped Kohana our of her daze.  She looked back over the
Twins and smiled.
"Oh they are just sparing."
"Sparing, they are ready for blood!"  Mima yelled.
Kohana smiled and shook her head no.  "I know fighting, and I know them.  Sure
they aren’t being easy on each other, but they aren’t out for blood."
"Are you sure?"  Luanna asked.
"Trust me."  Kohana smiled and started to walk over to North and South.
"HEY EAST AND WEST!"  She yelled.
"Huh?"  Both of them asked as they continued there holds on each other in the
dirt.
"I said hey, East and West."
"Don’t call us that."  They both replied.
"Oh I’m sorry, but you seem to have half the student body worried that you are
going to kill each other."
"It’s North’s fault."
"No way!  It’s yours!"
"What!"
"You heard me!"
"Guys. Guys. Guys!"
"Huh?" they asked again.
	Kohana sighed as she walked up to her friends.  "What is this really about?"
She was answered by silence.
"Are you going to tell me, or do I have to beat it out of both of you?"
North and South looked at each other, almost afraid to answer.
"Well!"
	The twins began to disentangle from there grips and stood up and began brushing
off the dirt all over themselves.
"Ummm…"
"Yeah…uh."
"I’m not going to ask again."  Kohana said starting to get anger.
"We were trying to see which one…."  North started to say.
"Of us could ask you to the dance."  South said finishing the sentence.

Shocked, she stated, "Oh."
"Yeah."
"Yup."  They both looked down, using one of their feet to push the dirt around
on the ground.

"So who won?"
	The twins looked up at Kohana, almost surprised that she asked.
"Don’t know yet."
"No winner yet."

"Oh, well How about I help make the decision?"
"You will?"  They both said together.

"Yes."  She walked up and stood right in front of the twin boys.  "How about
both of you be my date?"
"Both of us?"
"Yeah, why not? That way everyone is happy."
"But isn’t that a little weird?"  South asked.
"Yeah."  North agreed.

"Look, I was just informed that you both like me, but I don’t really don’t know
if I want to go beyond a friendship yet with either one of you.  This way I can
try to figure it out.  Take it or leave it."

	North and South looked at each other and nodded.  "Take it!"

	Kohana smiled at the two boys, "I’m not promising anything you know."
The two guys nodded and she smiled again, making both their hearts skip a beat.

To be continued…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)  Right from the movie Mallrats.  Such a f*@#ed up movie, but God is it funny.

Author’s note:  There you go, part two done.  See you around, Ja Ne!
  Next chapter: At the Dance.

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