A Ranma 1/2 alternate universe series. Genma and Soun didn't train under Happosai at the same time, hence the arrangement with the Tendos wasn't made. What happens when Ranma and Akane meet later? 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: The first four chapters of this story were written by Michael Noakes and can be found at

http://www.oocities.org/Tokyo/Subway/9701/fanfiction.htm

This is an unofficial continuation of it with Michael's permission. He plans to maybe continue the story himself at a later date in a different fashion.

     Akane looked at her new friend with skepticism. "You don't have to lie to me; it's not you I'm mad at. I can see it in your face - you know Ranma!"

     Ranma looked away. Should he tell? This was his chance, but Akane had said she was mad at Ranma - it was quite likely she'd reject him totally when she found out his secret. He sighed; better half a friend than none at all. "He's my - um - cousin. Yeah. My pop wanted me to be just as good as Ranma, so we went through similar training."

     Akane nodded. "I knew it!" She put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't hold it against you. You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your relatives. Believe me! I know what you're going through." Thoughts of Nabiki floated through her mind. "Cheer up! Now that you're back home, you can always make up for what you missed out on."

     Ranma smiled tentatively and sighed inwardly. Oh well, it wasn't like he was looking for a girlfriend anyway. No matter what his mom thought, his first priority was finding a cure. "Um, thanks Akane. I've not had many real friends before... too much time spent on the road I guess."

     Akane smiled brilliantly. "Well, I'll see you at school tomorrow." She frowned at that. "Say, why aren't you in our class?"

     Ranma thought desperately. "Uh - Ranma and I don't get along! We asked for separate classes."

     Akane nodded soberly. "Now that I can understand. I just wish you'd wound up in my class instead of that jerk."

     Ranma tried to slip quietly to the bathroom. Turning the last corner, he found his mother waiting by the door. He laughed nervously. "Hi Mom! Nice night, huh?"

     Nodoka looked over her currently female son. "Genma told me your were at a girl's house for dinner. Does she know about your curse?"

     Ranma rubbed the back of his head. "Uh..."

     Nodoka shook her head. "You are definitely a 'Man Among Men.' Now I've got to make you into a decent human being." She sighed. "Genma really made my part of your training much more difficult by neglecting certain aspects of your life." She made a mental note to give Genma an extra week on his diet as punishment. "Ranma, it's only going to get worse the longer you keep her in the dark. Promise me you'll tell her soon."

     Ranma dropped his head, dejected. "But, she'll hate me for sure! You know how few friends I've had - I don't want to lose another."

     Nodoka smiled sympathetically. "Is it really so bad? If she can't accept you for who you are, is she really your friend?"

     The red-haired girl shook her head in exasperation. "It's just that she and Ranma got off to a bad start. She really hates him. I don't know what to do. Anytime things got bad, me and Pop would just move on to the next place."

     Nodoka bristled slightly. Maybe she should extend Genma's diet an extra two weeks. "You can't run from your problems anymore, Ranma. We'll talk about it later tonight; this can be one of our lessons." She stepped aside to let the girl enter the bathroom so she could change back.

     Genma looked over the boy as he entered the room. "Have a good time, daughter?"

     Ranma vanished, then reappeared right in Genma's face. "It's not like that! I was just tryin' to keep them from finding out about my curse! It's all your fault in the first place!"

     Genma took a step back, then looked around for his wife. "Never mind that, boy! What is important is, did you bring me any left-overs?!"

     Ranma caught him under the chin with a snap-kick that embedded the over-weight martial artist in the wall. "You don't ever quit, do you?!" He stomped out of the house and into the back yard to do his evening workout.

     The first thing Nodoka had done when the pair returned from their ten-year training trip was to put her husband on a strict diet. Not that Ranma blamed her; every kilo his pop had gained had been at Ranma's expense. He growled slightly as he moved through a kata.

     Genma peeled himself off the wall and came out to watch his son. He nodded absently at the boy; he had improved tremendously over the last few years. He truly was at the top of his form. It was time to teach him the family secret techniques.

     He cleared his throat to get Ranma's attention. "So boy, you said over the phone that this girl had a dojo at her place?"

     Ranma replied while continuing the kata. "Yeah. She's pretty good, too." He smirked as he moved around the yard. "Not anywhere near as good as me, of course. But, get this; their school is Anything Goes, too!"

     Genma's eyes widened, then went inward as he thought about it. "Well, I suppose it's possible. The Master probably found another student after I escap... uh, graduated. Maybe I should go check it out tomorrow." Right about lunch time, he was thinking to himself. If he had to choke down another salad for lunch tomorrow, he'd go insane.

     Ranma waited a short distance from the school gates. He tried to keep in mind what his mom told him the previous evening.

     ~~~~

     "Remember Ranma, regardless of how she responds, don't say anything other than what I told you."

     "But if I do that, she wins the argument!"

     Nodoka sighed. "In martial arts, there is a winner and there is a loser. Personal relationships aren't like that; if you treat your discussions like a challenge match, one of you will walk away upset. Sometimes, you have to 'lose' an argument to 'win' in a relationship."

     Ranma looked perplexed. "How can you win by losing?"

     "Well, say you wish to have someone help you with your school work. If you get in an argument and go for the 'win,' they are less likely to help you. In fact, they might just give you bad help just to get even with you. But if you allow them to feel they won the argument, they are more likely to give you the help you need. You might feel you lost, but you accomplished the goal you originally set, making it a win."

     ~~~~

     "Don't say anything else. Don't say anything else." Ranma repeated the instructions like a mantra as he watched the figure approach.

     Akane looked at the boy in irritation, dropping into a defensive stance. "So, are you here to challenge me like the rest of the perverts?!"

     Ranma's anger flared, but he kept his mouth shut until the feeling passed. "No. I just want to say I'm s - s - sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you or called you names yesterday." He clamped his mouth shut and started to walk off.

     The girl growled and yelled at his back. "So you think that makes it all better? That we're friends now?!"

     Ranma stopped and spun around, a scathing retort on the tip of his tongue. He bit it back and paused a moment before replying. "Maybe we can't be friends; I just don't want us to be enemies." I got enough of those already, he thought to himself. This time, he managed to walk away. It didn't feel right just leaving it like that, but his mom had to know what she was doing, right?

     Akane watched the boy walk off, confused. Was he the enemy, or not? All of a sudden, she noticed the school courtyard. Well, she at least knew where those boys stood. Clearly in the camp of the enemy. She moved to pummel the perverts. As she finished, she looked around for the biggest pervert, Kuno. She blinked as she saw him fighting Ranma again.

     As Ranma walked across the campus, a figure moved to intercept him.

     Kuno stood before him with his bokken held at ready. "So peasant, are you going to meet my challenge, or run like yesterday?"

     Ranma smiled. This he could handle just fine. Give him a straight challenge any day. "I didn't run then, and I'm not running now. Let's do this, jerk."

     Kuno charged with a yell. Ranma evaded his blade with ease; Kuno had some speed, but was completely predictable. Ranma had been to enough dojos that taught kendo to see that Kuno was using a straight kata. He wondered how the guy ever managed to actually win a match, even against a lesser opponent. Kuno demonstrated.

     "So, the plebeian fool has some minor ability! Witness my greatest attack!" The bokken blurred as Kuno channeled his ki into it to weave a dizzying array of strikes. "Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike!"

     Ranma found himself hard pressed to avoid the blade. His clothes were torn in places and the wall behind him fell in pieces. Ranma managed to get some space between himself and the older boy, grinning maniacally. He hadn't had an opponent this strong in nearly a year.

     Akane could only stare as Kuno attacked. Wow! She thought, looking at the disintegrating wall. Just by the air pressure alone! A cold shiver ran down her back. If Kuno ever attacked her like that, she'd lose! She watched as Ranma zipped inside Kuno's guard. A leg blurred across the upperclassman's body. As Ranma stepped back with a smirk, the older boy toppled forward unconscious. Akane walked over to stand next to Nabiki.

     Nabiki looked over at her stunned sister. "What happened? Did you see it?"

     Akane rolled the boy over; he was covered in bruises the shape of Ranma's foot. "He kicked him!" She shook her head at the display. "Each kick struck a vital point on his body." She remembered that Ranko said she had the same training as Ranma. She'd have to meet the girl after school and get her to train her. She couldn't take the risk that Kuno would quit holding back on her in a challenge.

     Ranma stopped inhaling his lunch as Akane approached. He kept his mouth shut. As his mom said, if you don't know what to say, don't say anything at all.

     Akane frowned at him. She hated having to ask like this, but couldn't think of an alternative. "Have you seen your cousin around? I need to talk to her, but I can't seem to find her anywhere."

     Ranma laughed nervously. "Uh, Ranko! Yeah, she had an errand to run during lunch. I'll let her know you're looking for her." He breathed a sigh as the black-haired girl moved off to sit with her friends. The sigh was of relief mixed with longing, with just a hint of sadness. It was frustrating that the only way he could make friends was in his hated cursed form.

     Elsewhere, a panda walked down the street. It had been Genma, but an old lady flipping water to ward against evil spirits had caught him as he passed. He paused a moment, then continued on toward the Tendo dojo. The reason was purportedly to check out this other master of Anything Goes; the real reason was to see if he could get a free lunch that didn't consist of nothing but leafy vegetables.

     He paused beside a large compound surrounded by a tall boundary wall. The place must be worth a fortune! He read the sign: Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. For Savage Combat with Owner, Use Rear Gate.

     He entered the front gate and knocked on the door to the entryway. It was answered by a young woman with long brown hair pulled into a ponytail.

     She blinked at the giant panda before speaking. "Oh my! C - can I help you?" She felt silly asking the panda that, but couldn't think of any other way to handle the situation. Even living in Nerima didn't prepare one for answering the door to find a giant panda waiting expectantly. Even the Nerima district zoo didn't have one of the rare creatures. Looking closer, she noticed it seemed to be wearing a gi that was about ten sizes too small for it.

     It held out a sign. 'Can I get some hot water?'

     She blinked again. "I - i - i - it's not a problem. Please wait here." She disappeared back inside the house. Moments later, she returned carrying a kettle.

     The panda accepted the kettle with a bow, then poured it over its head. Genma heard a light thud as he adjusted the gi; he adjusted his glasses and looked at the floor where the young woman lay unconscious. He shrugged; best just to find the master of the dojo. Before he could take a step, a tall man about his own age appeared.

     "Kasumi? Who was at the door?" The man stopped and stared at the scene. His eldest daughter lay on the floor unconscious; a portly man about his own age stood over her. He made the natural connection. His demon-head flared into being above him, angled toward the intruder. "HOW DARE YOU ATTACK MY DAUGHTER!!!!"

     Genma cringed back in terror. Well, that answered one question. The only other person he'd ever seen perform that technique was the Master. This was definitely another of Happosai's students. Well, the Saotomes had their own special techniques. Now it was time to show this man what a real Master of Anything Goes was capable of! He took a deep breath, then launched into the 'Crouch of the Wild Tiger'... he threw himself on the floor and begged for mercy.

     Soun's demon-head blinked out like it hadn't existed. Why, this man was performing the dreaded 'Crouch of the Wild Tiger!' He hadn't seen that since he escap... graduated from the Master's instruction. He noticed Kasumi starting to come around. "Kasumi! Are you all right?! What did he do?!" Soun was crying at a rate that would fill a swimming pool in under an hour.

     Kasumi slowly sat up. "I'm fine Daddy! I - I just fainted." She looked at where their guest was still prostrating himself on the floor. "Really! He didn't do anything! Well, other than changing from a giant panda, that is."

     Soun stopped crying so quick it was if a valve had been closed. "Oh Kasumi! I'm so glad you're okay!" Especially since it was lunch time. Soun hadn't the slightest illusion that he could actually make anything other than a poor rice gruel. "Now, what do you mean he changed from a panda?"

     Kasumi stood with her father's help. "Well, when I answered the door, there was a giant panda here. It asked for some hot water, so I brought the kettle." She gestured to the kettle on the floor. "It poured the kettle over its head and became this person here." She now gestured to Genma.

     Seeing that the danger had passed, Genma jumped to his feet. "She means the curse I received in China while training in The Art. While training at the Legendary Training Ground of Accursed Pools, I got this curse to change to a panda when splashed with cold water. Where lesser men would despair, I carry on!"

     Soun nodded then spoke at the same time as the other man.

     "The path of the true martial artist is ever fraught with peril."

     The two men blinked as they stared at each other, then burst into laughter.

     Soun slapped the other man on the back. "You must have trained under Master Happ... err, the Master in Anything Goes. I would recognize the 'Crouch of the Wild Tiger' anywhere."

     Genma nodded. "Quite so. And I'd recognize the Master's demon-head projection anywhere. I esca - graduated about twenty years ago."

     Soun gave him a knowing grin. "Yes. I - uh - graduated about ten years ago. I think your daughter knows mine. She had dinner here with my youngest, Akane, yesterday evening."

     Genma face-faulted. "Yes... my daughter - Ranko." He muttered under his breath for a moment. He brightened. "Perhaps we can talk about our tortur... err, training over lunch."

     A few hours later, Akane entered the house with her friend Ranko. She called out a greeting.

     "I'm home!"

     Kasumi popped out of the kitchen. "Welcome home Akane." She bowed slightly to Ranko. "Welcome back, Ranko. Your father has been telling the most interesting stories." She didn't notice as Ranma's pig-tail stood straight out from her head.

     "M - m - my pop is here?!"

     Kasumi nodded, oblivious to the girls discomfiture. "Oh my, yes! He came over at lunch time - my but he gave me a shock! You two have had such interesting adventures!"

     Akane glanced back and forth between the two girls. "Really? You'll have to tell me all about it, Ranko." She jerked her head toward the porch. "Come on. I want to meet your dad." She walked off. Ranma followed, pale and sweating buckets.

End Chapter Five