A Ranma 1/2 alternate universe mini-series. Genma and Ranma go to China after Ukyo's father files charges against Genma for running off with his yatai. A PG rating for language and situations.

This story and a few others can be found on my web page at
http://www.oocities.org/jlfenton65/
jlfenton65@yahoo.com

Ranma 1/2 is a trademark of Viz Communications, Inc. and was created by Rumiko Takahashi.
This story is of my own derivation and is not intended for commercial purposes, so please don't sue me.

Author's Notes: Ranma is always referred to in the masculine because he believes himself to be male regardless of his body. You'll just have to keep an eye out for all the references to which form he is currently in. Ranma will also be quite a bit more comfortable with his girl form. He has spent the last ten years with it, and the last couple of months in it nearly all the time.

Last Chapter: In chapter one, Jiro Kuonji decided to file theft charges against Genma when he ran off with his yatai. Genma and Ranma were forced to go to China early where Ranma ends up with his Jusenkyo curse. However, since Ranma is only six, no one realized he had it, especially once Ranma takes to dyeing his hair so that it is black in both forms. After the Cat-Fist training, Genma is chased from China by the angered Amazons. Returning to Japan, Genma and Ranma continue their training trip. When puberty hits Ranma, he can no longer hide his 'condition.' Genma, fearing his wife's reaction, forces Ranma into insane levels of ki training in an effort to hide his condition. Genma believes the Amazons to be responsible for his son's condition, so when Ranma is strong enough, he takes him back to China to confront them. Ranma remembers the Amazons as the only ones to ever show him kindness and sides with them over his father. Genma is punished with a Jusenkyo curse and locked in a cell. Ranma hides his condition from the Amazons and is adopted by the tribe; he trains with Shampoo under Cologne. Eventually, Cologne brings up the subject of Ranma marrying one of the village men. Ranma is understandably upset; he leaves the village with his father under the pretext of seeking his real mother.

     A young girl and panda walked along the streets of Nerima. This was only moderately unusual, so most folks only took minor notice of the pair. After all, the girl, while beautiful, was pretty much like most any other girl walking along the streets that day. The one attracting the attention was the panda, especially when it seemed to be conversing with the girl.

     The girl took note of the latest sign the panda held.

     'Shouldn't you change back now?'

     She shook her head. "If I change now, I'll just get splashed between here and your friend's dojo. I'd rather wait 'til we're there." She gave the panda a funny look. It noticed and flipped the sign around.

     'What?'

     "It still surprises me that you actually have a friend left, Pop; 'specially one with property."

     It pulled out another sign. 'Very funny, boy. Just remember.' It flipped it around. 'I want him to meet my son, not my daughter.'

     Ranma rolled his eyes. "You're one to talk, old man. You can't keep from goin' panda for more than a few seconds." He gave the panda a hard stare. "Just remember our deal - I make nice to your old friend and you tell me 'bout Mom."

     The panda tried for his best 'you can trust me' look. He noticed Ranma was having none of that and held up a sign as he scratched the back of his head. 'Heh heh heh.'

     Ranma sighed and prayed for restraint. His pop was up to something, and knowing Pop, it was going to be hell on him.

     Soun wept tears of joy as he read the back of the postcard. 'Bringing Ranma from China. Saotome.' He had to tell his family the good news. He hurried to the kitchen.

     "Kasumi?" His eldest turned from the stove. "When you have a moment, I'm calling a family meeting." He left after she acknowledged his request.

     He climbed the stairs to the girls rooms and knocked at his middle girl's door. "Nabiki? Please come down for a family meeting." He moved down to his youngest's room and knocked on the door. "Akane?" Receiving no response, he pushed open the door. The room was empty. "Where is that girl?"

     Nabiki paused behind her father. "I'll go get her, Daddy." She had her camera with her. She went downstairs and out the sliding doors to the dojo; she knew where her little sister would be about now. Sure enough, as she entered the small practice hall, she found her sister preparing to demolish another pile of cinder blocks. She whipped up the camera and shot a few exposures as the girl crushed the pile with a loud yell. "Akane, Daddy has called a family meeting." She looked over her sister, sweaty and covered with cinder block dust. "Is it any wonder the guys all think you're weird?"

     The girl wiped her brow and gave her older sister a bored look. "And what do I care about boys? I'll be in after I clean up here." It wouldn't do to leave a mess in the practice hall. It was her responsibility to keep it clean anyway; she was the heir to the family school, even if her father didn't spend as much time on her training as she thought he should. She was the best in Nerima, so she only complained a little about needing more of his time.

     "FIANCE?!!" Akane about lifted the roof with her shout.

     The girls were seated around the low table, their father kneeling at the head.

     Her father nodded. "Yes. An old friend of mine is coming with his son. We trained together under The Master." The girls shivered as they remembered some of the stories they'd heard. "If one of you girls were to marry his boy and take over the school, the family legacy would be secure."

     Akane was shocked. She'd always thought she would be taking over the family school. Now her father was saying that whoever married this boy would be the heir. It seemed this affected her most directly. She voiced her displeasure. "Don't we get any say in who we marry?" The we of course meaning I.

     Nabiki added her own opinion. "Akane's right, Daddy. How could you engage us to a boy we've never met?" Inside, she started to wonder. Whoever married this boy would inherit the dojo; she had always been slightly jealous that Akane was Daddy's favorite. She had contented herself to causing Akane trouble by stirring up Kuno, who was obsessed with her younger sister. Now, she had a way to slip right past Akane.

     Kasumi tried to steer the conversation. "What do you know about this boy, Daddy?" Maybe it would be better than it sounded.

     Soun thought a moment. "Well, Ranma and his father just got back from China."

     "Wow, China!" Nabiki thought about it; he was apparently well traveled. Maybe he'd picked up some culture that the local boys sorely lacked. If there was one thing Nabiki agreed with Akane about, it was the lack of depth in the local male population.

     Kasumi pressed a little harder. "Yes, but what is Ranma like?"

     Soun laughed. "No idea."

     His daughters looked at him in shock. "No idea?" They echoed.

     He shook his head. "I've never met the boy."

     Nabiki rolled her eyes as Akane exploded.

     "How could you do that to us?! How do you know this boy isn't some - some pervert?!"

     Everyone else rolled their eyes. They knew how Akane was on that particular subject.

     Soun tried to mollify the girls. "Well, he's on his way here. You'll have a chance to see what he's like yourselves."

     Kasumi went back in the kitchen, Nabiki went back to her room to change, and Akane went back to sulking.

     The panda held out a sign. 'Okay, boy. This is the place. Time to change.'

     Ranma focused his ki. He had been splashed just before they arrived, as he figured he would be. His clothes started to dry and the warming water shifted him back to his male form. He smiled when he realized his father would have to appear as he was. His fur was too heavy for that trick to work for him with the meager ki abilities he possessed. He would need a kettle and some towels.

     Now dry and male, Ranma turned his attention to the place Pop indicated. It was a rather large property surrounded by a large stone boundary wall. The second story of the house showed over the wall. A sign by the front gate proclaimed this the Tendo Dojo, asking challengers to go to the back gate where they could reach the dojo without having to disturb the residents in the house proper.

     He opened the gate and stopped in the entryway, dropping his pack and shoes. He knocked on the door. It was answered by a woman a few years his senior, wearing a nice dress protected by an apron. She was wiping her hands on the apron.

     "May I help you?"

     Ranma gave her an uncertain smile. "I believe we're expected? I'm Ranma Saotome."

     The woman looked over Ranma's shoulder, her eyes widening at the sight of the giant panda. She looked startled, then collected herself. "Please, come this way."

     She led them into the main room. Two younger girls about Ranma's age were seated by a low table. Their father was standing at the head of the table, starting to move his way. He stopped in front of Ranma.

     "You are -?"

     Ranma gave a small bow. "Ranma Saotome."

     The man wrapped him in a big hug. "It's so good of you to come!" He let the boy go and looked over his shoulder. "Uh, did you get your - pet - in China?"

     Ranma laughed at that. "Yeah. My pet could use some hot water." Kasumi moved off to the kitchen.

     Soun gave him a questioning look. "So where is Genma?"

     "Pop'll be along in a moment. He's just - not himself at the moment." He smirked at the panda.

     Kasumi returned with a kettle of hot water and handed it to Ranma. He gave her a small bow, then handed the kettle to the panda. The animal upended it over it's head, the water cascading over it as it changed to a bald man in a baggy old gi. Genma adjusted his gi and glasses, then tied a bandana over his bald head.

     "Soun, my old friend! How good to see you again!" His friend was missing. "Hm?" He looked at the floor where Soun lay unconscious.

     Ranma left his pop watching over his old friend. He knelt by the table with the three girls. The oldest seemed to be completely uninterested, though she made an effort to be a good hostess. Ranma sipped at the cup of tea she provided. The middle girl seemed almost predatory, looking at him in a way he'd only ever seen guys look at his girl form. Despite how nice she looked in a kimono, her expression unnerved him. He turned his attention to the youngest; she kept giving him angry glares. She was unkempt and dirty from a recent workout, still being dressed in a gi. He ignored this as he was used to the condition from all his training. People used to give him a wide berth when he hadn't the chance to bathe for a few days on their training trip. He tried to ignore the glares. Why was she looking at him that way? Maybe she was familiar with his pop? He only ever got glares like that when people assumed he was like his old man.

     "So, I hear you have a dojo?" He tried to make polite conversation.

     The youngest gave him an evil grin. "Yes. Maybe you'd like to spar? I understand you've been training."

     Hm, he'd seen that look, too. It said, 'I'm gonna pound you into mush.' He sighed and nodded. The girl jumped up and stomped out the side door leading to the dojo. Her sister followed. The oldest just smiled and motioned him to follow her sisters.

     He followed the two girls into the dojo, then bowed to the wall shrine and assumed a ready stance. The youngest assumed her own stance as the middle sister gave the signal.

     "Begin!"

     The girl punched at him. He side-stepped the slow punch and struck with his own. The fist caught the girl in the shoulder, spinning her to the floor. Ranma blinked at his quick win.

     Nabiki smiled as Akane slowly got to her feet. She could tell her little sister was smoldering. As Akane assumed a ready stance once again, Nabiki gave the signal.

     This time, Ranma stepped in so fast, neither girl saw him move. A blow to the stomach took away Akane's breath and a second later, a quick leg sweep took her legs out from under her. Ranma backed off.

     Nabiki was almost drooling. Ranma was handsome and made Akane look like a rank amateur. She lost herself in thoughts of what she could do with Ranma and the dojo.

     Akane was almost in tears. What was going on? She was losing! To a boy! She was the best! She couldn't lose... didn't dare lose.

     Ranma noticed her reaction... he had gone too far, totally humiliating the girl in her own dojo; he needed to adjust his level. The girl wasn't anywhere near the level he was used to, and she wouldn't get any better with him just dumping her on her butt every round. He moved back into a ready stance. The girl hesitated, then faced him once more.

     This time he blocked her punch, and the next, then used his leg to block a kick. He tested her defenses with a couple of punches that he figured she should just be able to handle. She blocked them with a shocked look. He raised the level a little more, forcing the girl to move a little quicker and retreat slightly. He tried to treat the girl the way he treated the Amazons he had fought; of course, the Amazons were well above this girl's level.

     Nabiki smirked as she watched the fight. Ranma had clearly dropped the intensity of his attacks, but was still easily pushing Akane around.

     Akane blinked at the change. What was he doing? She couldn't touch him in the previous two rounds; now she was matching him blow for blow. He was still getting through every now and then, but she was still standing. He kept tagging her on the left after her left jab, kick combination; she adjusted to cover it. Was that a smile she saw? What was going on? Ranma backed off and halted the match with a slight bow. She backed off with a confused look.

     "That was a good match. You have potential; you just need someone to spar with more."

     "I don't understand. You could have taken me out at any time. You did in the first two rounds."

     "I'm, uh, sorry - about the first couple a rounds." He really did look embarrassed about it. "I guess I'm just used to fightin' at a higher level."

     Nabiki walked over. "Why don't you give us a demonstration of the level you're used to fighting at."

     Ranma looked at Akane, who nodded. The two girls moved to the wall to give him space. He summoned his ki, wrapping it around him. He launched into one of his higher level katas. He moved around the dojo, blurring from one form to the next; individual motions were indistinguishable. There was a slight thump as Nabiki fell over in shock. Both girls stared in awe. There was no way a person could move that fast.

     Akane couldn't blink; if she did, she'd miss something. She would do anything to have his skills. This was what she aspired to, what her father had never delivered in his training. She felt an equal measure of longing and jealousy. He hadn't been showing off in the first two rounds, he'd actually been holding back!

     Nabiki picked herself up off the floor. This was unbelievable! Well, maybe not, considering that they saw a panda turn into a person earlier. She had to find out more, and fast. As Ranma finished his kata, she tried to seem nonchalant. "So, Ranma. Tell us about the panda-man."

     Ranma laughed nervously. "Oh! That. Well, Pop got this curse in China. See, back when I was ten, while trainin' me using a forbidden technique, we kinda stumbled into a Chinese Amazon village. When they found out what Pop had done, they tried to punish him. He escaped and we came back to Japan. We later went back and they managed to hold him long enough to give him the curse."

     "I see." Nabiki said; but Ranma could tell she didn't. "What was this forbidden technique he used that got him in trouble?"

     "He wrapped me up in fish sausage and threw me inna pit full a starving c-c-cats... several times." Both girls stared.

     Nabiki gave him an indecipherable look. "I think they went easy on him."

     Ranma nodded. "I asked them to. It wasn't their first choice."

     Nabiki shook her head. "I wouldn't have been so forgiving. Just what is the deal with this curse?"

     "Cold water changes him into a panda. Hot water changes him back." Ranma thought about this, probably for the first time. His pop's curse sounded very much like his own. So did that mean that the Amazons gave him his curse? No, they didn't know he changed. So maybe it was someone who also knew about the curses; Ko Lon would probably know who they were. But, then he'd have to tell Ko Lon about his curse - and he knew what the Amazons thought of men. He shook his head. All this thinking was giving him a headache.

     Nabiki looked at her sister. Akane still seemed out of it. After the demonstration Ranma put on, she could well believe it. Poor little sister just found herself so outclassed in fighting that she might as well not even be trained. She tried to think of how to work Ranma into what was happening at Furinkan. She'd have to think about it tonight and be ready for tomorrow morning's brawl.

     She gestured back toward the house. "Dinner will be ready soon. We should probably go back inside, and you two need a bath."

     An hour later, everyone was around the table once more. Soun knelt at the head, Genma and Ranma on one side, with the three sisters opposite them. Soun started the formal introductions.

     "This is my old friend Genma Saotome." He gestured to the bald man. "And his son, Ranma." The two bowed to their hosts. Soun gestured to the girls. "These are my daughters. Kasumi is nineteen." He indicated the oldest. "Nabiki, who is seventeen." He moved to the middle girl. "And my youngest, Akane, sixteen." He stopped at the youngest. Ranma noticed how nicely she cleaned up. Soun continued. "Pick one and she'll be your finacée."

     Ranma face-faulted. He stood up shakily and motioned to his father. "Pop, I need to speak to you a sec." The pair stepped out onto the porch. Ranma grabbed Genma by the collar of his gi. "What the hell is that all about?! I left China 'cause I didn't wanna get married!"

     Genma summoned all his dignity. "You left China because you didn't want to marry a guy. This is a marriage to a girl. I thought you liked girls."

     Ranma turned red. "Of course I do! The point is, I'm not ready for marriage, and when I am, I wanna choose who I marry."

     Genma struck a stoic pose. "Ranma, this is about Family Honor." Ranma could hear the capital letters. "Soun and I swore on our families honor to join our two houses in marriage. It is your duty as a Martial Artist to uphold the family honor and marry one of Soun's daughters."

     Ranma stared him down. "And what about my 'condition?' If they're expected to marry me, they need to know about it."

     Genma gave a sharp nod. "All right, but you will do this. There is no way you can see your mother until you are safely married."

     Ranma boggled at this. What's being married got to do with seeing Mom? His suspicions only got stronger. He really needed to find out why his pop was hiding him from Mom.

     The two reentered the house, interrupting an argument that seemed to be almost as intense as his own had been. Ranma was sure the girls wanted this marriage as little as he did. They probably just got the 'Family Honor' speech from their father.

     Genma spoke to Soun. "The boy has agreed." Soun looked ecstatic, while Akane glared at Ranma. Ranma in turn glared at his pop. Genma continued. "But first, there is something we feel you should know. You have seen the curse I am under." They all nodded. "Well, Ranma was afflicted with one as well by the accursed Amazons."

     Ranma retorted angrily. "The Amazons had nothin' to do with my condition!"

     The Tendos looked at the boy in dreaded fascination. Nabiki spoke for them all. "And what exactly do you turn into?"

     Ranma opened his mouth but never got the chance to say anything as his pop grabbed him by the collar and tossed him out of the house into the koi pond beside it.

     Everyone held their breath as they waited to see what surfaced. A shorter, well-endowed girl climbed from the pond, dripping water. Her aura flared as she returned to the house and grabbed Genma by the collar.

     "Excuse us, but me and the panda gotta talk." He dragged his pop from the house and the two starting fighting beside the koi pond. The man took an awful beating before being dunked in the pond. The girl continued her fight with the panda. The residents of the house watched in amazement at the martial arts prowess exhibited by the animal. It was still taking a pounding, but it was amazing none the less.

     Kasumi broke the stunned silence. "Daddy? Why are you friends with them?"

     Soun shook his head sadly. "They weren't always like this. Their trip to China changed them both."

     Nabiki quickly readjusted her decision concerning the engagement. Ranma was still prime material, but as an in-law, not a husband. She met Kasumi's gaze and a moment of brief understanding passed between them.

     When the girl came back dragging an unconscious panda, the two stepped to either side of Akane. Nabiki spoke first. "Akane is perfect for this!"

     This broke Akane out of her shocked state. "What?! Why me?!"

     Kasumi added gently from her side. "Well, you're the martial artist in the family, and the same age. With similar interests and goals, you two are perfect for each other."

     Nabiki couldn't help but add. "And with your problem with boys, he's just what you've been looking for."

     Akane turned red and yelled at her sister. "Just what the hell does that mean?!"

     Soun broke up the argument. "Enough!" He looked at Ranma. "You change back with hot water too?"

     Ranma nodded, then concentrated a moment. One moment, he was a soaked girl, the next he was a dry boy. Everyone blinked. Ranma anticipated their question.

     "I used my ki to dry my clothes and warm the water on me hot enough to change back. I can use it in a similar manner to stay male, but only for about an hour of continuous exposure to cold water. That's how I developed most a my ki. I can also use my ki to cool the water and stay female. That's much easier, so I can do that almost indefinitely."

     Soun blinked, then draped an arm across his shoulders. "Well then, your problem isn't so bad. It is decided - you and Akane are engaged."

     Akane was understandably upset. "What?! I never agreed to this!"

     Soun faced his youngest. "Akane, this is for the best. You are my heir and you are both the same age. The Family Honor rests on one of you marrying Genma's son. Of the three of you girls, you are the best for this. Please, Akane, do this for me."

     She looked him in the eye for a moment, then caved in. "Yes, Daddy." She slumped to a seat at the table. Her sisters looked with a little guilt at their dejected sister, but there really wasn't any other choice in the matter.

     Nabiki awoke to shouts and dull thuds that coincided with a quivering in the house that she hadn't felt since the last earthquake. With a groan, she rolled out of bed and went to her window. Yep, the girl and panda were at it again. Why couldn't they use the dojo like sensible folk? It was on the other side of the house for a reason - namely, so the occupants of the bedrooms wouldn't be disturbed in just this manner. Besides, the koi pond was on this side. She guessed they really didn't care what form they were in while fighting. Just that moment, her question about why they weren't in the dojo was answered - both fighters leapt into the air in a jump that would have taken them through the roof in the practice hall. 'What the hell? How can anyone jump that high?' She blinked. 'Gotta still be asleep.' The pair started exchanging blows in mid-air; the panda took a roundhouse kick that launched it into the pond hard enough to splash water as high as the window Nabiki was standing at. She shrugged and went downstairs. She'd never get back to sleep. Might as well get some coffee and wait for breakfast.

     Nabiki trudged into the kitchen; she watched Kasumi humming about the kitchen awhile, then moved to the coffee pot. She poured a cup and moved off, sitting down at the table beside Akane. She saw the look of jealousy on the girl's face as the pair of martial artists visible through the sliding doors leapt about the yard exchanging blows.

     "Wonder-girl and her amazing magic panda wake you too?"

     Akane frowned at her older sibling. "You know very well that I jog every morning. You're the only one that sleeps in late around here."

     She just sipped her coffee. "Well, I don't think anyone will be sleeping in late anymore with that pair around."

     Kasumi brought in bowls of miso soup. "Aren't they just full of pep this morning? You really should learn to enjoy the mornings more, Nabiki." She went back into the kitchen for the rice and pickles.

     Nabiki set down her coffee cup so she could pick up her bowl of soup. She took a sip from it. "Excellent, as usual." She complimented her older sister as she returned with more bowls. Kasumi smiled and went to the open doors.

     "Ranma! Mr. Saotome! Breakfast is ready."

     Ranma broke off a sequence of combination strikes Nabiki hadn't seen outside a video game. Kasumi stepped neatly to the side as the girl zipped past her to the table. Ranma picked up a pair of chopsticks and neatly started on his breakfast. He just smirked as the panda moved off toward the bathroom to change back. He noticed Nabiki and Akane staring.

     "Somethin' the matter?"

     Akane answered. "Well, considering your upbringing and lack of manners elsewhere, I'm surprised at your table manners."

     Nabiki snorted at the indelicate way her sister had of stating the manner, even if it was accurate.

     Ranma just nodded. "I used to eat like a pig, but got outta the habit at the Amazon village. Pop an me used to fight over meals, but I'm way outta his league now, so he leaves me alone at meals - mostly."

     Akane frowned. "Why are you still a girl?"

     Ranma looked surprised. "Well, it really doesn't matter to me. I just kinda ignore whatever form I happen to be in unless Pop gets to naggin' 'bout what weak little girl I am."

     Akane's complexion darkened. "Weak little girl?!"

     Ranma nodded, oblivious to the other girl's mood. "Yeah. Pop kinda has weird ideas 'bout women. He says they distract from The Art, that they're weak and stupid." He shrugged. "Stuff like that. Been hearin' it all my life. I just learned to ignore him unless it's 'bout martial arts."

     Nabiki studied her boiling sister, then addressed the pig-tailed girl. "You don't actually believe any of that, do you?"

     "Nah. I never really thought about it until I learned that I was actually changing into a girl. I knew I wasn't weak or stupid, so I just figured it was just another thing he was wrong about." He smiled. "Good thing Pop was a panda mosta the time we were with the Amazons; saying things like that woulda got him in a lotta trouble. Well, more than he was in already."

     Genma sat at the table opposite his son. "Why are still a girl, boy? You want to be a weak little girl, maybe you should just wear a dress and practice putting on makeup." He failed to see the ire of the youngest Tendo girl, that is, until her fist caught him in the chin, blasting him through the open doors and back into the koi pond.

     Ranma nodded in appreciation. "Nice punch, Akane."

     Akane's anger died at the compliment; she reddened in embarrassment. "Uh, thanks."

     Nabiki watched the panda move back towards the bathroom again. "So, when did you figure out you were changing into a girl? That is, if you don't mind telling us." She nodded to Kasumi as the older girl finally joined them for breakfast.

     Ranma laughed in embarrassment. "Not at all; it's just a little - embarrassing. 'Bout three years ago, I got my first period. I was so shocked at all the blood, I kinda freaked thinkin' I was injured or somethin'. Pop busted into the bathroom, then passed out when he gotta look at me. After he came to, he explained the difference 'tween boys and girls."

     Akane had bit the ends off her chopsticks. Nabiki's coffee cup wobbled until Kasumi took it from her.

     Kasumi looked at the girl in concern. "You get periods, Ranma?"

     Ranma nodded. "If I stay a girl long enough. Happened a couple a times."

     Nabiki recovered enough to snicker. "I can just imagine the panda trying to explain that to you."

     "Oh, he didn't. He just explained that this form was a girl. I had to find the rest out myself."

     Kasumi maintained her concerned look. "Well, we'll just have to remedy that. There's no telling what trouble you could into just from not knowing what it is to be a girl. I'll borrow a couple of books from Dr. Tofu and we can go through them."

     Nabiki tried hard not to laugh. She didn't want to be around when Kasumi had that little conversation with their guest... scratch that, she did want to be around, just outside the room and with her camera ready.

     She stood from the table. "Well, I have to go get ready for school. I need to go in early today, so Akane will show you the way when you're ready." She walked off toward the stairs.

     Ranma looked shocked. "School? Do I haveta go to school?"

     Kasumi gave her a stern look. "Yes, Ranma. You need a decent education. You're already registered at Furinkan, the school Akane and Nabiki attend."

     Ranma shook his head. "But I don't have any supplies." A book bag hit him in the head as Genma reentered the room.

     "You're going to school, boy. And change back to your male form! I won't have anyone thinking my boy is some simpering girl..." He continued to drone on the deficiencies of the female gender.

     Ranma gave Akane a pleading look as the girl stood to pound the elder Saotome. She frowned, then sat with reluctance.

     Akane frowned at Ranma as the boy walked along the top of the fence. Ranma noticed the look.

     "What?"

     "Why are you up there?"

     Ranma thought a moment. "It use to be for balance practice. I ain't needed that in years. Now I just do it 'cause it keeps me outta reach a most splashes."

     Akane gave him a skeptical look. "Come on, you can't tell me that your curse makes you prone to getting splashed. It just seems that way because you notice the effect more. Come down here before people think you're weird."

     Ranma shrugged, then jumped into the air. He did two somersaults with a full twist, landing expertly. Akane scowled at him.

     "Show off!" She blinked. Where the boy had stood, there was now a shorter, black haired girl, water dripping off her face. Akane looked over where an elderly woman went through the morning ritual water cleansing before business started.

     Ranma started down the street with a sigh. "You were saying?"

     Akane watched the girl for a second the hurried after her. "Aren't you going to change back?"

     Ranma shook his head. "Not until we reach the school. I'm less likely to get splashed again that way."

     Akane gave him a look. "Well, when we get there, just keep out of my way. We don't know each other while we're at school."

     Ranma shrugged. "If that's the way you want it."

     Nabiki walked through the gates of Furinkan High School. The athletic clubs were already gathering for the coming fight. Kuno would be around somewhere, waiting until Akane finished with the 'common rabble' as he put it. She found him just outside the building proper.

     "Just the guy I needed to see."

     Tatewaki broke off his conversation with the captain of the baseball team. He frowned at the girl. "Tendo-san. To what do I owe this visit?"

     Nabiki gave him a grin that would have made a shark proud. "You mean, what do you owe me for my visit. I happen to have information about Dear Akane that I believe you will want to hear - say, ten thousand yen?"

     Kuno looked at her with disdain. "And just what could be worth so much, even be it about my beloved?"

     Her grin widened into a smile. "Well, when Akane shows up this morning, she'll be with a boy." She looked at him expectantly. She wasn't disappointed.

     Kuno had an expression that was equal parts shock and anger. He pulled out his wallet and passed Nabiki ten, one thousand yen notes.

     Nabiki made a point of counting the money first. "Yesterday, an old friend of our father returned with his son from a training trip. They decided that he and Akane would be engaged."

     Kuno erupted in rage. "ENGAGED?!!! NEVER!!! I, TATEWAKI KUNO, WILL NEVER PERMIT THIS TRAVESTY!!!"

     Nabiki kept smiling. "Well, Kuno baby, I suggest you challenge the boy. You know, show him who's best for Akane. That is, unless you're giving up on my sister..."

     "NEVER!!! If you will excuse me, Tendo-san, I must get prepared that I might challenge this insolent upstart. No one comes between me and my fierce tigress." He hurried off the change into his kendo outfit.

     Nabiki motioned to her associates. She needed to make sure they understood how this morning's bets were to be placed.

     Akane sighed as they neared the school. She needed to explain a few things to Ranma before they reached the school.

     "When we reach the school, some boys are going to attack me. I can handle it myself, so I don't want you interfering." She awaited the inevitable posturing another boy would do in his place.

     Ranma nodded. "Okay."

     Akane nearly fell over. "What? You're not going to try to interfere? Not try to prove your manhood by protecting the poor little girl?"

     Ranma looked puzzled. "Didn't you just ask me not to? Besides, you seem plenty able to handle most folks. You know, I didn't realize other places followed Amazon practices."

     Now it was Akane's turn to look puzzled. "What do you mean?"

     "Well, the Amazons usually challenge their intended spouses to combat. Sometimes an Amazon might throw a fight if they're in love, but most just tend to wait 'til they're beaten." He gave her an appraising look. "I'd a never figured you to go for that sorta thing."

     Akane bristled. "I don't!! This jerk in Nabiki's class started the whole thing. At the beginning of the year, he tried to get me to date him, but I turned him down flat." She pounded a fist into her hand, leaving Ranma with no doubt as to how she turned the guy down. "The next day, he makes this announcement to the whole school that no one can date me unless they first beat me. I was so embarrassed. Now every morning, about thirty boys from the different athletic clubs try to defeat me." She scowled. "Even the chemistry club tried to beat me once by making some land mines. I've tried to convince them to stop, but Kuno won't allow it. Since he's the best fighter in school, besides me, they go along with whatever he tells them."

     Ranma looked thoughtful. "Well, I guess it really isn't like the Amazons then. Since it ain't, I'll stay outta it unless you're havin' trouble." He noticed the irritated look she sported. "If you run inta trouble, I'll haveta interfere or our folks will get on my case. That makes it my business at that point." He tried to divert her train of thought. "But I can see why so many guys challenge you. You're awful cute when you smile."

     Akane stumbled before catching herself. She looked at the red-headed girl lightly walking next to her. What could she say to that?

     She reddened slightly. "Uh... thanks. Maybe you should change back now?" She tried to turn the tables on the boy. "Unless you plan to attend as a girl. You did say that it was easier to stay a girl than a boy; maybe you should."

     Ranma thought it over. "Well, I could, but I figured you'd have a problem with it."

     She pressed him. "What makes you think that?"

     "Well, we'd probably be in the same phys-ed class. I kinda figured you would have a problem showering afterwards, knowing I'm a guy and all."

     Akane sweated and nodded nervously. "Right... bad idea. Forget I said anything."

     "No problem. It's just that, I've attended as a girl before. It is easier than trying to stay male all day."

     Akane stumbled again. "What?! When did you attend school as a girl?!"

     Ranma didn't notice. "Oh, 'bout a year ago. I wasn't makin' any effort to stay male unless Pop was around. It just makes no difference to me since I've been this way long as I can remember. Problem was, I was attendin' a boy's school at the time. Well, my figure was fillin' out an I couldn't hide it any longer. The school made a big fuss and transferred me to a girl's school. Pop threw a fit! The girls were all really nice, much nicer than the guys at the boy's school." He grimaced. "'Cept this one girl. She was crazy... always runnin' around in a black leotard - and the black flowers!" He shivered. "Hope I never run inta her again."

     Akane could only stare. "Uh, her name wouldn't have been Kodachi, would it?"

     Ranma nodded. "Yeah! That's it. We'd all call her Dachi-chan when we wanted to yank her chain."

     Akane was irritated at how cute she looked with her pig-tail bouncing. She really shouldn't be noticing things like that. "Well, her brother is the jerk making trouble for me at school. He's just as crazy as his sister."

     Ranma groaned. "Well, I better not appear at school as a girl if I can help it. He might recognize me from her description - I'm sure she probably mentioned the 'pig-tailed peasant' to him." At that, he shifted back to male form, the clothes drying around him. He wasn't looking forward to the strain of trying to stay that way. As long as he wasn't in contact with water, it didn't drain any ki, but the strain of keeping his ki ready to use at the levels needed to heat water gave him a headache and left him exhausted after several hours. He'd probably have to spend most of the evening recovering, more than likely in his girl form.

     Akane tried to process all this information. "Wait. You attended a girl's school as a girl? You do - uh - like girls, don't you?"

     Ranma snorted. "Of course! I'm a guy."

     Akane tried to hold her temper. "Doesn't that make you a pervert?! How could you do that to those girls?!"

     Ranma looked clueless. "But, I was a girl at the time. Heck, I'm a girl most a the time. How's it any different than being a boy who like boys and still attendin' a boy's school? I met a few before I got transferred." He reddened. "For that matter, I got asked out more at the girl's school than anywhere else I been."

     Akane's head swam. It was too much. Ranma did have a point; she'd been asked out by a girl at her school who thought she leaned that way after seeing the morning fights. Was that girl a pervert? Was Ranma? Did it matter? She shook her head and tried to get ready for the fight. She couldn't afford to be distracted. She started her mantra as they neared the school gates, concentrating on the fight.

     "I hate boys... I Hate Boys... I HATE BOYS!!!"

     She charged through the gates and plowed into the group of boys waiting there.

     Ranma hopped to the top of the wall to observe the fight. He wasn't really interested in the boys - none of them had any strength or skill to speak of, even the ones wearing a gi. He was interested in the girl who was, at least in name, his fiancée. He watched her ki flow as she took down her opponents. Wow! She was close to manifesting a visible aura; with her level of training, it was astonishing! He shook his head. He'd have to see if he couldn't fix that; the more he saw, the more convinced he was that she could be a real force to reckon with.

     He hopped off the wall as she finished the last opponent. "That was great! Did you realize, you're making unconscious use a your ki while you fight?"

     Akane mopped her brow. "Really?"

     He nodded. "Yeah. I think I can show you how to make conscious use of it pretty quick. What with all the ki trainin' I've had, it's pretty obvious that you gotta knack for it yourself. A few a the exercises I learned and a bit a training and you'll probably be able to project your ki like I can."

     She stared at the boy. "You can project your ki?"

     Ranma was interrupted as Kuno came out from behind a tree.

     "So, this is the vile cur who dares call himself fiancé to my fierce and beauteous Akane."

     Kuno's words spread like wildfire around the schoolyard. Boys and girls alike popped up from nowhere.

     "What?! Akane's engaged?!"

     "Akane, we thought you hated boys!"

     Akane looked around frantically. "No! We're not!"

     Ranma was embarrassed. "Our parents arranged it!"

     Kuno bellowed. "SILENCE!" He glared at the gathered students, then returned to Ranma. "You will renounce any association with my beloved and slink back to the slime forthwith." He drew his bokken.

     Ranma looked at Akane. "Is he challenging me?"

     Akane nodded.

     Ranma looked back at the older boy. "I am Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, and I accept your challenge!" He tossed his book bag to Akane.

     Kuno nodded. "Very well. Know that I am Tatewaki Kuno, seventeen, junior class, captain of the Kendo Club, also known as 'The Blue Thunder' of Furinkan High!" He brandished his bokken as a clap of thunder was heard.

     Up on the second floor, Nabiki and her associates watched from a window. One turned to her.

     "Did you know that? I thought he was calling himself 'The Shooting Star'?"

     Nabiki shrugged. "It's news to me. Are you sure you set the odds like I specified?"

     The other girls nodded. One hesitantly spoke up. "I hope you're right about this new boy or we'll be wiped out."

     Nabiki just grinned.

     Down below, Kuno lashed out with his bokken. Ranma easily dodged the stroke. Kuno frowned and continued to strike at the boy. Ranma just kept dodging. Off to one side, Akane frowned and looked at the clock on the school's tower.

     "Quit playing with him Ranma! We'll be late to class!"

     Ranma nodded. It also looked like it would rain at any moment. He dropped his concentration on maintaining his gender and summoned his ki. He was instantly a blur that surrounded Tatewaki. The older boy stood upright a moment, then fell over unconscious. Ranma kept his speed up as he dodged the rain drops that were irregularly falling. Time to get inside. He sped to Akane, picked up his fiancée, then dashed for the building. He set her down just inside the doorway as the rain started to fall in sheets. He returned his concentration back to maintaining his gender. "Whew! Just made it."

     Akane hit him in the back of the head with his book bag. "What the heck did you think you were doing?!"

     Ranma picked up his book bag. He gestured at the rain. "Keeping you from getting soaked?"

     Akane rolled her eyes and stomped off. There was no way she would admit needing his help. It was bad enough Kuno had let out word of their engagement; now he had been seen carrying her. She gritted her teeth. She could hear the comments already.

     Nabiki sat on the teacher's desk in her homeroom. Kuno, awakened by the rain, had changed into a boy's uniform and stood next to her, looking at his forehead in the mirror of her compact. The two kanji characters for idiot were visible as bruises.

     "When did the vile miscreant perpetrate such heinous actions on my person?" He snorted. "He is the true idiot, for the kanji is written thusly!" He made some strokes on the blackboard.

     Nabiki eased off the desk and stood next to him. "No, Kuno baby. It's actually spelled like this." She made her own pair of kanji characters on the blackboard.

     Kuno glared at the shorter girl. "I despise you."

     Nabiki smiled. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

     Ranma stood in front of the class. Akane sat at her desk, glaring at the boy. He sighed.

     The teacher cleared his throat, trying to get the class to come to order. "You might have noticed that we have a new student. Please give him your attention."

     Ranma bowed to the class. "I am Ranma Saotome." He wrote his name in kanji on the blackboard behind him. "I just returned to Nerima from a trip to China. I am currently staying at the Tendo Dojo." There was a sharp intake of breaths at that.

     The teacher cleared his throat again. "There will be time for talking later." He addressed Ranma. "There is an empty seat by the window. You will need to get a school uniform, Mr. Saotome."

     Ranma nodded and moved to the indicated seat. He hadn't opened a book before the first note appeared on his desk. Ranma glanced at the single line.

     'Are you and Akane really engaged?'

     Ranma considered his answer, then wrote. 'Our fathers swore on the family honor to join the families in marriage. Since I am an only child, it fell to me to carry our end. Akane's father decided she would carry their end of the agreement.' He looked it over; it seemed a safe enough answer.

     He hadn't passed back the first note before getting another. He sighed; hopefully, this wouldn't happen all morning. He glanced over at Akane; she was writing an answer to a note herself. He looked back at the note.

     'Are you really a wild horse?'

     He blinked and reread the note. It didn't make any sense; he knew an Amazon who was cursed to become a stallion when splashed, but he didn't think that was what the note was asking.

     'No, I'm pretty sure I'm just a guy.' He folded the note and passed it back.

     A moment later, there was a titter of laughter behind him. He craned his neck trying to ascertain who had sent the note.

     "Mr. Saotome!"

     Ranma returned his attention to the teacher. "Sir?"

     "Are you paying attention, Mr. Saotome?"

     "Uh... no sir."

     The laughter was a little more wide-spread.

     The teacher sighed. "Take the buckets and stand in the hall."

     Ranma followed Akane outside at lunch-time. She sat by one of the trees, then sighed as Ranma sat next to her. It really didn't matter anymore; everyone knew before school even started. She knew a certain sister who would find herself in big trouble after school.

     There was one thing she was curious about. "What was on that note this morning that got you sent to the hall?"

     Ranma paused while eating. "Someone wanted to know if I was a horse." He frowned. "Do you think they meant my curse? But if they knew about it, they should know I become girl, not a horse."

     Akane reddened and stared at her fiancé. He couldn't possibly be that dense... then again, this was also the boy who went to a girl's school once and didn't see the problem. She shook her head; best just to get him off the subject. If he couldn't figure it out, she wasn't about to explain it to him. "Ranma? When the teacher asks if you're paying attention, you say yes."

     Ranma nodded as he went back to his lunch.

     Akane spotted her friends and waved to attract their attention. The two girls walked over and sat on the opposite side of Akane, away from Ranma.

     The girl with shorter, light brown hair addressed Akane. "So, are you going to introduce us to your fiancé?"

     Akane scowled at her. She waved an arm toward the girl. "Ranma, this is one of my friends, Yuka." She gestured to the girl with dark brown hair in a ponytail. "This is another friend of mine, Sayuri. Girls, this is Ranma Saotome, and we're not getting married! Our dads decided that, not me!"

     Yuka looked at Sayuri, then back at Akane. "Do you think he decided to arrange a marriage for you because he thinks you're -"

     Akane jumped to her feet and covered her mouth. "NO!!" She removed her hand and gave Yuka an apologetic look. "We're both the same age and both martial artists. They thought we had more in common than Ranma and either Nabiki or Kasumi."

     Sayuri looked thoughtful. "Well, they do have a point there. You two do seem to be the best match. It also takes care of that problem of you hating boys, too." Akane growled at her friend.

     Ranma watched the interplay with interest while eating.

     Yuka nodded at Sayuri's comments, then turned to Ranma. "Speaking of which, how did you beat Kuno? You were nothing but a blur!"

     Ranma looked smug. "Well, I -"

     "Used Black Magic!" Tatewaki interrupted. "Only magic most foul could have precipitated the conclusion to my challenge!" He pointed his bokken at Ranma. "I challenge you to fight fairly, varlet!"

     Ranma rolled his eyes, then addressed Yuka, pretending Kuno hadn't interrupted. "I used my ki to enhance my speed. Akane here did the same thing when she fought those guys this morning, just not to the same degree."

     Sayuri looked between the martial artists. "Really? Can you demonstrate it for us?"

     Ranma glanced at Akane. "Well..."

     Kuno broke in once more. "If the charming damsels wish a demonstration of ki, the Blue Thunder will be only too happy to oblige."

     Ranma ignored the teen again. He addressed the girls. "Well, first you build your ki in the Lower Dan Tian, as the Chinese call it; it's a spot just below your navel, in the center of your gut. You do this by proper breathin' exercises. You then lead the ki to the limbs through concentration and trainin'; this strengthens and speeds your blows. When you work at it long enough, the ki can actually be strong enough to be visible." He held out his hands, concentrated on leading his ki through his arms, and focused on the point between his hands. A point of light appeared between his hands.

     All three girls were mesmerized. Yuka spoke up tentatively. "What - what can you do with that?"

     Kuno huffed at having the spotlight stolen from him. "Well, a pitiful fool with meager ability such as Saotome can't do anything more than generate an insignificant spark that only astounds the weak of mind."

     The girls turned angry looks on Kuno. Akane set her lunch down so she could pound him into the dirt, but stopped when Ranma spoke.

     "Well, Kuno is right 'bout one thing - you can't do much with a little 'spark' like this. But... with a bit more ki, you can do this!"

     The girls took a step back as the point of light ballooned to the size of a bowling ball. Ranma gave a yell as he shoved his hands forward and projected the ball towards Kuno. The older boy barely had time to blink before the ball of ki struck him; he was carried along by the ki several meters before the ball detonated. The blast scorched the ground over a large area, and threw Kuno across the campus.

     The girls stared wide-eyed at Ranma. All across the courtyard, people stopped and sought out the source of the explosion. Heads appeared at all the windows on the front of the school building.

     Sayuri spoke in a shaky voice. "H-h-h-how can you do that?! It's impossible!"

     Ranma waved it off. "That's nothin'. Akane could generate that much ki with a little trainin'."

     Akane boggled. "Really? When can we start?"

     Ranma smiled. Akane had the same expression Shan Pu had the first time Ko Lon demonstrated the Rising Dragon Ascension. "After dinner soon enough?"

     Akane nodded dumbly.

     Nabiki caught up with Akane and Ranma as they walked home. "Hey guys. What was all the racket at lunch?"

     "Ranma was demonstrating ki projection using Kuno as a target." She smiled happily. "He's going to show me how to do that after dinner."

     Nabiki stared at the pair. Ranma could generate a ki attack strong enough to cause the explosion that had occurred at lunch? And was going to teach it to her little sister? She smiled nervously at Akane. "Uh, sorry about this morning, Akane-chan. I thought if Kuno knew about the engagement, he might leave you alone." She crossed her fingers.

     Akane frowned at her older sister. "You know I don't like you stirring up Kuno. You're lucky I'm in a good mood." She stomped down the street.

     Ranma leaned closer to Nabiki and whispered. "This is a good mood?"

     Nabiki nodded. "She always happy when she's learning a new technique. Speaking of which, why are you waiting until after dinner for the lesson?"

     She yelped and jumped to the side as water cascaded over Ranma's head. The boy shrank and changed into his girl form. Both girls looked up at the window where the water had come from.

     Ranma sighed and rubbed his temples. "I spent all day makin' sure that wouldn't happen at school. 'Tween that and fightin' Kuno, I've gotta headache and I'm exhausted." He continued after Akane down the street. "I won't be ready to show her anything until I've had some rest and food."

     Nabiki stared at the girl. "Good idea," she mumbled.

End Chapter 2

Next chapter, Akane begins training with Ranma.