A Ranma 1/2 alternate universe mini-series. Genma and Soun are captured by the Musk when they seal up Happosai. Only Soun escapes. A PG-13 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.

     Soun looked back at the fortress as he made his way out of the mountains. He hated to leave his old friend, but he couldn't fight the occupants by himself; besides, he had a promise to uphold.

     "Hold on, Genma. I will be back when your son is ready. We will rescue you." He hated to admit it, even to himself, but Genma was always the better of the pair; he seemed to absorb the lessons Happo - The Master gave them like a sponge. Soun never got jealous only because his friend then spent the time necessary sparring with him to be sure he also learned the lessons; well, not too jealous. It had seemed right that Genma be the one to hold back the guards while Soun slipped away - Soun had three little girls waiting for him at home. But that left Ranma; Soun had sworn on the honor of his ancestors to raise the boy to be the greatest martial artist of his generation, then return.

     Damn it! Why did they choose this place to imprison The Master? If they had done it back in Japan, he and Genma would be home already. Instead, he had nearly a three week walk ahead of him, and Genma's wife to face on arrival. He thought briefly of releasing The Master, then shuddered and continued on his way. He wouldn't release The Master; that would make all of this pointless. They didn't travel to the depths of the Chinese wilderness for nothing. It all started as a "normal" training trip with Hap - The Master, but Genma and Soun had come up with a plan: wait until they found a suitable dumping ground, get The Master drunk, then seal his sorry ass up with several sticks of dynamite. They had almost settled on a small cave back in Japan, but decided it was too shallow and too close to home - The Master might dig himself out in only a decade. So they had continued for just over a month, rejecting sites, until out here on the hind-end of creation, they stumbled on a place so perfect, fate must have led them to it.

     Unfortunately, the blast that had sealed in The Master had also drawn the attention of those dwelling in the nearby mountain fortress. Strange men who appeared to be part animal and had great strength. It had been a long, drawn-out battle until their leader unleased a ki attack only The Master could have handled; Soun and Genma could have handled it too - in another twenty years or so. They awoke in the dungeon of the fortress. Their captors ignored them, and neither Soun nor Genma understood Mandarin, so they couldn't even follow their conversations; but, the reactions of their fellow captives and the fact that those taken away never returned convinced the pair to take their chances and try to escape. Given their relative strengths and waiting families, it was understood that if only one of them could get free, it would be Soun. He protested vehemently at first, only agreeing after Genma reminded him of his little girls. How could Kimiko raise his children alone? He finally agreed, swearing his oath to train Genma's boy should his friend fail to win free. Now, he had to make his way home and fulfill that oath.

     King Tuber watched the captives, shackled and chained together, as they were led through the fog shrouded countryside. They were led to a valley of springs, over a hundred pools with bamboo poles stuck in them, then jerked to a stop by one spring in particular. The guards shoved the first man in line into the pool; the chain soon dragged the rest in, one after the other. They laughed as they yanked on the chain to pull the screaming captives, now female, from the pool. King Tuber walked down the line, splashing each woman with a ladle full of water from a bucket he and he alone carried. He stopped as he reached the foreign captive; this one had needed King Tuber to intervene personally to be subdued. It was rare these days that the King had to ever use his ki attacks unless he were fighting the Amazons; this one would be an excellent replacement for the wife he lost to the birth of his son, Herb. He splashed her and continued down the line.

     Soun left the women alone; Kimiko would do a much better job of comforting Nodoka than he could. They had taken care of The Master as their wives had wished, but the price had been steep. He would continue Ranma's training tomorrow after Nodoka and the boy settled in; he and Kimiko had agreed that it would be best if the two moved into the Tendo home until Genma could be rescued. The boy was confused, but that was to be expected as he was only four. Soun knew Genma had already started training the boy, and it showed. Genma had been so proud of his boy; Soun had experienced pangs of jealousy over the son he never had. Well, he effectively had one now, but would not have chosen this way if he had been given the choice. Genma had already started making plans for a training trip; that trip would now never come about as Soun had too many responsibilities to make a trip such as the one his friend had planned. Maybe when his girls and the boy were older, he could afford to take a few weeks for a trip.

     Ranma moved smoothly through the kata as Uncle showed him. Off to one side, Akane fumed as she watched the boy skillfully perform the intricate patterns of motion. Why was it so easy for him? She was a martial artist too! She would show him. - for every hour he practiced, she would practice two!

     Soun tried not to smile as he watched the pair. He never could have pushed his baby girl the way she pushed herself; she was well beyond the level she would have been if not for Ranma. Soun didn't push her or make comparisons - he didn't have to. Akane would watch as Ranma learned another kata, then push herself night and day to learn it as well. He never criticized her for how long she took compared to the boy, but lavished praise on her for keeping up with him. Then they'd see that smile that the entire household lived for; Akane might frown more than smile, especially since Kimiko had passed away two years back, but when she smiled, her mother's image shown like the sun through rain clouds. Even Ranma was effected by that smile; the pair might fight more often than not, they did feel they were in direct competition, but Soun knew the boy would occasionally do something nice just to see that smile. It would be nice if the two eventually settled their differences; it would make the arranged marriage easier later on; neither Soun nor Nodoka had informed their children about that little promise yet. It would be best to wait until they were older; until then, they just tried to make sure the children were at least friends. Soun shuddered to think of what might have happened to his family without Nodoka and Ranma here. Would he have pulled out of his depression? How would his little girls have managed without a mother? Ranma had been surprisingly understanding, probably because of his missing father.

     Sometimes, Soun thought Ranma understood Akane's need for The Art, because he never asked Soun to train him any faster than it took Akane to learn the last lesson. Granted, it did give him a sparring partner at his own level and it gave him another chance to see that smile of hers, but Soun could only hope that it went deeper; it boded well for the future of the dojo. To claim the Marriage Gift Tax Spouse Allowance, the two would have to stay married at least twenty years. He frowned internally; not that the tax was his main concern - he wanted his little girl to be as happy in her marriage as he had been. To that end, he and Nodoka tried to gently guide their children along that path. But, to be honest, the tax was a major concern. With Kimiko's death, the inheritance tax on children's half of the estate had been horrendous; it had absorbed almost all the liquid capital the Tendo estate had remaining. If Soun were to die now, there would be no way his children could pay the tax. Just another reason he couldn't just leave on training trips anymore.

     Soun smiled again as he watched Ranma guide Akane through the latest kata once more. That brought back good memories of the times he and Genma had been in the same position. It had brought the two as close as brothers. He was hoping that it would eventually become more for their two children.

     Soun backed away from Nodoka's katana; she didn't often draw her family sword, but she had it drawn and held in a ready position now.

     She gestured with the scabbard to the two children scampering about on all fours and playing together. "Soun, why are our children acting like cats?" Her tone may have been calm and quiet, but after six years in the same house, he could sense the anger just underneath.

     "It was a technique I got from this book on Martial Arts Training -" He frantically passed the book to her. She had to sheath the sword before accepting the item.

     She flipped through the book, then shoved a page in his face. "Didn't you see the part about it making the trainee insane?! That only an idiot would try it?!"

     He cowered. "I stopped at the part about it being invincible... Ranma needs to be invincible to save his father... I was thinking of Genma!"

     Nodoka glared a little longer, then sighed. "I can perhaps understand training Ranma, but your own daughter?"

     Soun gave a shaky laugh. "You know how competitive the two are - when Akane heard what I was doing, she wrapped herself in fish sausage and jumped in before I could stop her!" He rubbed the back of his head. "Besides, just look at how well they get along in this state."

     Nodoka sighed again as she watched the two rub faces, then settle together in a heap. They drifted off to sleep, purring quietly. This could get embarrassing for the pair in a few years.

     Nabiki acknowledged Akane as she entered the kitchen. "Hey, you and Ranma still going out tonight?"

     Akane nodded. "Yeah. I hope Kuno doesn't bother us again today; Ranma is so much more romantic when we aren't disturbed."

     Nabiki grinned at the far-away look on her sister's face. It was amazing how close those two were given how much they fought. "So, who beat the clueless idiot today?"

     "Well, we flipped for it, but when Kuno landed, he wasn't in any shape to fight."

     Nabiki laughed. "Next time, try flipping a coin." She shook her head. "You would think that after a year of being pounded on by the two of you that he'd get the message."

     Ranma snorted as he entered. "Not likely. What he needs is something... or someone to get his mind off of us." He looked pointedly at Nabiki.

     She shook her head. "Huh-uh! Not me, Saotome. Find someone else for that moron to fixate on. I don't like him obsessing over my little sister, but, better you two than me."

     Ranma gave her an exasperated look, then sighed. "Whatcha making for dinner?"

     "Sukiyaki. Won't be as good as Kasumi's, but it'll be much better than Akane's." She smirked and stuck her tongue out at her sister.

     Ranma frowned as Akane fumed. "Now Nabiki, you know Akane's gotten better at cooking lately. Mom was just remarking on it the other evening." He pressed his point. "And I didn't see you turning down dinner the other evening either."

     Nabiki shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. Now get out of here so I can finish up. If you want dinner before you leave for the movies, you shouldn't bother the cook." She turned back to the stove.

     Ranma started from the kitchen, then held out a hand. "Come on, Akane. We need to practice those ki exercises some more."

     Akane glared one last time at Nabiki, then followed Ranma, taking his hand.

     Nabiki smiled as the couple headed for the dojo. She was glad her plan to get the two together using Kuno had worked so well. Nothing like a little competition to get Ranma to admit his feelings, and Akane just needed to see how bad another choice could be to realize Ranma wasn't all that bad. She sighed; the two were so perfect for each other. Now if she could just find her own Mister Right.

     "A training trip?" Akane looked at her father across the low table.

     Soun nodded. "Yes. Both you and Ranma are sixteen now, and you have a few weeks off for the summer break. I have already spoken with Nodoka, and she has agreed that you are both ready for this."

     Ranma looked up hopefully. "You don't think..."

     Soun shook his head. "No. You are not ready for that. You are close to surpassing the level Genma and I had attained when we were captured. That is part of the reason for this trip. But you are definitely not ready to face those brutes." His expression softened as Ranma looked down in depression. Akane noticed and took his hand; he gave her a small smile.

     "Don't be discouraged. That the two of you reached this level at your age makes me proud." The two teens perked up at the praise. "I plan to have you two improve your ki abilities by training at a few temples in China. If we take a train, we may even have time to scout the area around the fortress where your father is being held."

     He noticed Ranma's happy expression, then Nodoka's dark look. "We will not be making any attempt at contact. If I think we are getting too close, we will leave immediately. I will not lose either of you like I did Genma." His expression told them he would brook no arguments on the matter. Both teens nodded reluctantly. "Now go gather your things. We leave first thing in the morning." He watched his children scamper off to prepare. His children... that's how he thought of them: one, his own flesh and blood; the other, the son he never had. If the way the two were getting along now was any indication, he would be his son by law eventually as well. He understood that look Nodoka had given him; he looked her straight in the eyes.

     "You have my word, Nodoka. I will not put our children in any danger beyond their training on this trip. I am looking forward to our grandchildren as much as you are."

     Nodoka smiled for the first time that evening. "Thank you, Soun. I know you will keep your word to me, as you have kept your word to Genma these last twelve years."

     Soun, Ranma, and Akane followed the guide through the mountain valley. They were near the fortress where Genma and Soun had been taken and felt a guide should be hired to prevent any problems. This was a fortuitous decision; the guide Soun had hired knew quite a bit about the Musk, as the beast-men were called, as well as many other places and people of interest in the area. Today, he was leading them to the "Village of Amazon Warriors". Their elders were supposed to have formidable ki abilities; as long as they followed the guide's instructions and avoided trouble, he assured them the Amazons would not be a threat.

     The outer parts of the village seemed deserted. It was only upon reaching the village square that they found the residents. A tournament was being held; fighters would face off on a log suspended in the air. The guide spoke up.

     "You very lucky, Honorable Customers. Is village tournament. Best fighters compete for village title and winner's feast." He gestured at a table laden with food. "You see very good fighters here."

     The four settled on the ground nearby to watch. The fight came down to two women: one was a monster of muscle, taller than Soun and more manly looking too; the other could not have been any older than Ranma and Akane, slender with purple hair pulled into two ponytails held by jade hair ornaments. Surprisingly, the smaller fighter took out the larger easily. Soun pointed this out.

     "See? It takes more than just muscle to beat an opponent. It takes skill and training." The two teens rolled their eyes. Trust Soun to point out the obvious... trust Ranma to point that out.

     "Really, Uncle? Gee, next you'll be tellin' us the world is round."

     Akane slammed the boy with an elbow. "Don't be rude, Ranma."

     The two settled in for a good argument, but before they could really get going, the purple haired girl sauntered over. Whatever she said was lost on the pair due to language difficulties. They looked over at the guide.

     "She say, what you outsiders do interfere with Shampoo's victory celebration?"

     Soun spoke to the guide. "Tell her, they seek training and need to meet an elder." The guide spoke to the girl a moment, stopping as the girl and most of the assembled fighters burst into laughter.

     The girl spoke some more as the guide translated. "She say, weak outsiders leave before get hurt. No train outsiders in Amazon Warrior Art."

     Ranma and Akane leaped to their feet. "Hey! Who are you calling weak?!"

     The girl didn't need a translation. The guide translated for her once more. "You wish to challenge Shampoo? Shampoo like to try weak outsider girl."

     Akane punched Ranma in the side to forestall any complaint at being ignored. "Shut-up, Ranma! This is a village of warrior women! It makes sense that I should handle this challenge. Besides, you handled the last three."

     Ranma shut his mouth and nodded. He gave her a little peck on the cheek. "Kick her butt, Kane-chan."

     Akane followed the girl to the challenge log with a wide smile. At last! Her big chance to show Ranma how skilled she was in a real fight, and he was even encouraging her! She leapt onto the log and faced off against the Amazon. Ha! The girl was in for a big surprise; she was good, but unless she was significantly better than in that last fight, she wouldn't be a problem. The Amazon readied her round steel maces, so Akane concentrated, leading her ki to her fists.

     The girls leapt at each other, the Amazon flashing out with a mace, Akane blocking it with a ki-charged fist. The girl looked shocked that Akane could block her strike. Akane smiled and retaliated with a series of punch-kick combos. The Amazon was forced to retreat down the log. Her maces slowed as the match wore on; Akane had no trouble blocking them. She struck one directly, causing the Amazon to release it to avoid numbing her hand. With one of the heavy maces gone, the girl was off balance; Akane struck at the girls unprotected side, then dropped to sweep her feet out from under her. The Amazon flipped backwards to avoid Akane's kick, but found herself up against the end of the log. Trying to keep from falling off the end, she had no chance to block the punch Akane launched. It blasted right into the girl's abdomen, launching her from the log. Akane gave a cry of victory, then hopped from the log. She ran up to Ranma, catching him in a hug.

     "I did it! Did you see?!"

     Ranma swung her around once. "Of course! I was right here. You were great!"

     Their celebration was cut short as the Amazon girl approached. Akane hoped the girl didn't take the loss personally.

     "Um, you fought well." She gave the girl a small bow.

     The other girl said nothing; she walked right up to Akane and planted a kiss on her cheek. Akane turned red as Ranma stared in shock. They both turned to the guide, who was white as a sheet.

     "AIEE!! Is 'Kiss of Death'!! Honorable Customers must flee for lives!!!" The guide left no doubt as to his own decision as he left a cloud of dust behind him.

     Soun took a second to think, then grabbed Akane under one arm and Ranma under the other. He took off after the guide.

     Neither the guide nor Soun glanced behind to check for pursuit; the guide ran and Soun followed. Despite being burdened with two heavy teens, Soun soon passed the heavy-set guide; they came to a split in the trail and Soun followed the path along side the mountain, away from the valley.

     "Not that way, Honorable Sir! That way lead past Jusenkyo!"

     But Soun wasn't listening. Had he heard the guide, it would have meant nothing to him anyway. Unfortunately, as he rounded a turn along the side of the mountain, a young man in scruffy brown pants, a worn yellow shirt, and a bandana stood on the narrow path. With no time to dodge, Soun and the stranger collided. Akane and Ranma were practically launched into the air, clearing several of the small pools at the bottom of the cliff the trail followed. The stranger toppled off the path into the pool directly below, while Soun wound up in the next pool over. The guide finally caught up with the group and stared in shock at the calamity.

     Ranma broke the surface of the pool he landed in; thank goodness there had been water here to break their fall! He climbed out of the pool feeling a little strange, but immediately moved to the pool Akane had landed in to help her out - then to help the other Akane out... WHAT THE HELL!! Two Akanes? Then Ranma noticed that one was naked and turned red to the tips of his toes. The second Akane noticed her state of undress and hid behind the first. Ranma slipped off his shirt and handed it to the girl. She took it with a grateful look that turned to shock. About that time Ranma noticed something... uh, two somethings; things that had no right on a guy - but there they were. The two Akanes spoke as one.

     "Ranma? Is that you?"

     Ranma just screamed.

     The group huddled inside the guide's small hut. The second Akane had changed into an outfit that belonged to the guide's daughter, and Ranma had her - his shirt back. A shaggy black mountain goat sat on the floor; it looked rather silly wearing Soun's gi. The guide had a big pot of water heating.

     Akane, the one on the left of Ranma spoke. "A curse?" She hugged Ranma's arm a little tighter. The Akane on the right looked a little irritated and hugged the arm on her side.

     "Yes. Young Miss fall in 'Spring of Drowned Twins'. Tragic story, very tragic, of twins who drown there seven hundred year ago. Now, when splash with cold water, you split into twins. Young Sir fall in 'Spring of Drowned Girl'. Tragic story, very tragic, of young girl who drown there one thousand five hundred year ago. When splash with cold water, you become girl. Honorable Customer fall in 'Spring of Drown Goat'. Tragic story..." He noticed the glares. "Er, when splash with cold water, he become goat." He finally got to the important part. "When splash with hot water, change back to normal self again."

     The goat bleated. Ranma spoke up. "Uh, I think he's saying, is hot water the cure?" The goat nodded.

     The guide shook his head. "Not cure. When splash with cold water, will assume cursed form once more."

     Both Akane's asked the same question. "Does anyone know a cure?" Ranma went cross-eyed trying to look at both girls at once.

     "Possibly jump into pool for normal form restore it; not know as never happen. Is possible Customers take aspects of both curses." Ranma and the goat shivered. "Amazons live here long time. Possibly elders know."

     Ranma gave a bitter laugh. "The same Amazons that are trying to kill Akane?"

     The guide nodded. "Most difficult dilemma."

     The guide scooped some hot water from the big pot and poured it over the goat. It grew back into the Tendo patriarch, who adjusted his gi. "Well, we need to start home immediately."

     "What?!" Ranma screeched. "What about a cure?"

     He looked over the short, red-headed girl. "We can't afford to have the Amazons catch up with us. We can check into it further when we are safely back home. You wouldn't want to risk them catching Akane out here in the wilderness, would you?" He looked at Ranma pointedly.

     Ranma paled. "No! I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to her... uh... them?"

     One of the Akanes detached herself from Ranma and splashed some of the hot water over herself. She glared at where the other Akane still stood. "Hey! How come she's still here?"

     The other Akane took offense. "What do you mean by that?! You're the duplicate, not me!"

     "No, you are!"

     "No, I'm not! You are!"

     "Then how come I still had my clothes after the split?"

     The guide interrupted the squabbling girls. "Neither girl duplicate. Is same girl in two bodies. Must be together for hot water to change back." He shoved the two girls together and poured the hot water. Everyone looked in slightly sickened amazement as the two girls merged with a startled shriek.

     Ranma tried to uncross her - his eyes. "Well, that was certainly weird."

     Akane gave him a shaky smile. "You should try it from this side." She looked at her regular clothes lying in a pile beside her. "Ha! I knew I was the real me." She looked smug.

     The guide got some more hot water and poured it over the red haired girl. Ranma assumed his male form once more.

     "Yes! I'm back to normal again!" He hugged Akane, then got embarrassed. Akane glared at him a moment, then hugged him back.

     She released the boy, then thought of something. "Hey! Didn't Daddy run into someone on the trail?"

     Soun blinked. "Why yes, that was why we all fell in those pools. I wonder what happened to the boy?"

     The guide shook his head. "Not see any other. Possibly drown... tragic story, very tragic. I keep eye out for other boy. This part of job. Many people fall in springs." He shook his head again. "Tragic story, very tragic."

     Akane went over to the sink to clean her face. As she put her hands under the faucet, she split once more with a yelp. The second Akane noticed her lack of clothing and quickly pulled the other in front of her.

     Ranma picked up the other set of clothes from the floor and walked over. "Kane-chan, perhaps it might be best that you stay in your - uh - cursed form? As beautiful as I think you are, if this happens much more, Uncle is gonna force us to get married before we get back home."

     The naked Akane blushed furiously as she took the proffered clothes. The clothed Akane glared at her boyfriend. "Hey! Just who do you think you're flirting with?" She looked ready to kill.

     Ranma backed off. "Uh... you?" He shook his head. "This is confusing."

     The other Akane was clothed once more. Both spoke at once. "What's there to be confused about? I'm the real Akane!" They glared at each other and spoke at once again. "No you aren't! Hey! Stop doing that!" They settled for glaring at each other.

     The guide looked at the girls. "Very hard, but both girl real you. Not copy."

     Both girls looked ready to cry. Ranma noticed and gathered both girls in a comforting hug.

     "This is going to be a little strange for awhile, but we can get through it together."

     Both girls gave him their heart-rending smile and hugged him tight enough to constrict his breathing. Fortunately, they released him before he passed out.

     Soun looked at his children. "Let's head back to our camp. We have to be well away from here before the Amazons come looking."

End Chapter 1

Next time, Nodoka meets the new girls. Kuno meets the new girls... and their fists. Ryoga meets the new girls. Special guest appearance by Ukyo.

Author's Notes: Yes, the guy they ran into on the trail was Ryoga. His story will come out in the next chapter. We will also see Ukyo, even though she and Ranma never met. What? You thought Akane would fall in the 'Spring of Drowned Boy'? Nah... been done too many times. I've only seen one story where Akane falls in the 'Spring of Drowned Twins', and it was nothing like how I'm doing this. I figured with Genma not being there to engage Ranma to various folks, he needs more fiancées, and the quickest way is to duplicate one. Soun certainly wouldn't engage Ranma to anyone else; he and Nodoka are dead set on Ranma and Akane marrying. Both Ranma and Akane are at the same level of fighting ability. This is just slightly below his initial ability in the Ranma canon, mostly because they didn't go on any training trips. However, they have been trained more in ki abilities and have already started to utilize their ki directly in various ways, but no ki blasts yet. Akane needed to be at a higher skill level so she could fight effectively against Shampoo; this also smooths out much of the tension in her relationship with Ranma. If Ranma seems more refined, he has spent his life living in a somewhat more normal environment with his mother and other "family". Soun is also not as big an idiot as Genma, especially with Nodoka there to keep him in line; his only major slip-up was the Cat-Fist training. The part about the taxes is accurate. I was interested, so I checked out a few law sites to see what was the deal with Japanese taxes. Turns out that when a parent dies, 50% of the property goes to the surviving parent, and 50% is divided equally among the children. It used to be that the 50% went to just the oldest son, but that was changed eventually. The other 50% goes to the children on the death of the remaining parent. Each 50% the children get is subject to an inheritance tax, and that tax is 70% of the value of the property; an estate with a house is often as much as $350,000 American for just that 50%! Many Japanese wind up losing the family home on the death of a parent if they can't get a loan to cover the tax. You can see that an estate like the Tendos are supposed to have would have a horrendous tax. Now, there is a way provided to help folks avoid losing the family home other than taking out a loan. The estate can be given to a couple on their marriage; they are then liable for a gift tax on the estate. The gift tax can be as low as 10% for property worth less than 1.5 million yen, and as high as 70% for property worth 100 million yen or more. One spouse can claim a basic deduction from that tax of 600,000 yen, and the other can claim a spouse allowance deduction of 20 million yen. The catch is that the spouse allowance can only be claimed once in the person's life, and they must remain married for at least 20 years. Now see what kind of a burden the Tendos and Saotomes are laying on their children? Ranma and whichever Tendo he married could not get a divorce without losing the Tendo estate.