I'm giving you a break from the Ranma 1/2 stories. Here is the frist three pages of a story I was working on before Harry Potter became so popular:

 

THUMP!! THUMP!! THUMP!!

The pounding on my door matches the pounding in my head.

“ROC?!” yells a man on the other side of my door, “ARE YOU AWAKE, BOY?!”

Rock? Who’s rock? OH! That’s me! My name’s Roc!

“Yes, Sir! I’ll be right out!”

“As soon as you’re washed and dressed, start your chores!” my Master shouts. His footsteps fade away.

Throwing back the bedclothes, I set my feet on the cold stone floor. For as many times as there have been mornings since I arrived here, I wish I was an Adept. They at least are allowed to have woven rugs in their rooms. I guess I should feel lucky that Master York takes so few students, otherwise I’d have to share my quarters. On the night stand is a pitcher of water and basin. Off comes my nightshirt, and I grab a rag that seems smaller every time I use it, I dip it into the water poured into the basin. If the water was any colder, I’d have to thaw it out before I could use it. Goosebumps rise on my skin with each pass. Once I am done, I rinse the rag with fresh water from the pitcher, wring it out and hang it up to dry. I then open the armoire and try to decide what to wear. It’s not hard, I only have a few clothes heavy enough to keep me warm on days like this. Thick leggings under wool pants, a linen shirt and a wool vest, followed by my leather shoes with wool felt padding inside them. I HATE WOOL!

I open the door to my room and take the basin of wash water to the jakes. When I’m finished using the jakes, I dump the water into the grate to rinse it out. I return the basin to my room and take the pitcher to the cistern to fill it back up. I then return the pitcher to my room and fetch the buckets I will need to top off the cistern. From what I saw, I guess that I’ll need to make at least four trips. Pausing to grab my cloak and mittens, I make my way down to the tower door. At the door I find my Master waiting for me.

“It’s about time, Roc.” he says, “We can’t start your lessons until you’ve finished your chores.”

“Yes, Sir.” I nod my head and duck out the door. The snow of the week before is gone, but the ground is still frozen. The path leading down to the well is slippery in spots. I can see other apprentices at the well fetching water and talking. Water vapor from their breaths quickly disappear in the crisp air. The girl apprentices usually carry only one bucket, but have to make more trips to the well. Boy apprentices, like myself are carrying two. Churl, the Blacksmith’s apprentice, shows off his strength by carrying four. Short wooden handles allow him to carry two with each hand. It might impress the girls, but I can tell he’s really struggling to get all those buckets back to his Master’s forge. A girl from one of the other towers sets her bucket down next to mine as we wait for our turn to draw from the well.

“Goodmorning, Roc.” she says. She stands and smiles as she rubs her mittened hands together.

“Goodmorning, Melia.” I say and ask, “Is this your first trip down to the well today?”

“Third.” she says, “You should learn to get up earlier. I could hear Master York yelling all the way out here.”

“Even if I had gotten up an hour before the sun,” I say as a joke, “I think he would have yelled anyway. How’s Mistress Illia?”

“Old.” she says, “There’s talk that one of the Adepts will be taking over for her soon. Miss Tila does most of the teaching now. If Mistress Illia and the others agree, Miss Tila will become the new Mistress of our tower.”

“Mistress Illia and my Master have known each other for a long time.” I say, “Her passing will be hard on him.”

“That may be why he’s being so hard on you.” she says.

“I wish there was something that I could do about it,” I say, “but old age is not like an injury or a broken bone.”

“You’re telling me?” she asks, “I’m the one who’s studying to be a healer. You’re right though, even Mistress Illia says that nothing can be done. She says that I should learn how to take care of those who can be cured, not those who can’t.”

“Aren’t you also studying with Mistress Isa?” I ask.

She nods, “Mistress Illia arranged it. She said I had enough talent to learn more than one craft. Mistress Isa is teaching me to cast illusions. I can already make the air seem to change color. How about you?”

“Master York is still trying to get me past lifting anything heavier than a feather with my talent alone.” I say, “If I can get past that, he says I can learn to lift anything.”

“Maybe you can learn to lift a bucket from a well.” sneers a male apprentice standing behind us, “Some of us have chores to do.”

“Goodmorning Filo,” answers Melia, “have you stolen anything today?”

“The day’s just beginning,” he says with a grin, “and Master Veron won’t let me admit it even if I did. Besides, neither of you have anything worth stealing.”

“In that case,” says Melia, “you can give me back my comb.”

“Comb?” asks Filo, trying to act innocent, “What comb?”

“The one you have hidden in your sleeve.” she says with her hand palm up.

Sheepishly, Filo retrieves the comb and gives it back to Melia. “Master Veron warned me not to steal anything from a healer, or even someone training to be one.

She asks, “Didn’t he warn you that even healers in training like me can sense anyone coming that close to us?”

“Well, yeah,” he says, “but I didn’t believe him.”

I lower the well’s bucket down and wait for it to fill. Bringing it back up, I turn and pour it into Melia’s.

She curtsies and smiles at me, “Thank-you, Mister Roc.” Laughing, she stands with the bucket in her hand and steps lightly towards her Mistress’ tower.

As I lower the bucket down the well again, Filo asks, “Why did you do that? Is there something going on between you two?”

“C’mon, give me a break.” I say as I retrieve the bucket and fill the first of mine, “She and I are from the same village. They tested us on the same day and brought us here.”

“You two were lucky.” he says, “I wasn’t tested, I was caught.”

“Learning to be a thief without a Master?” I say, “That’s dangerous.”

“You can say that again.” he says as he rubs his mittens together, “It was either come here or lose a hand.”

Filling the second of my buckets, I let Filo take his turn at the well. As I walk back to my Master’s tower, I look at the other towers and buildings that make up my new home. It’s real name is Hamlet-In-Thuese, though some call it H.I.T., Heroes-In-Training, or Higher Institute of Thievery. Apart from the Blacksmith and a few others, most Masters live in towers. After three more trips, the cistern is full and I make my way to the wood pile to bring in enough wood for two days. My Master always wants two days of wood inside the tower in case it is too harsh outside to get more. Once the wood is stacked, a short walk to Mistress Hannah’s place is enough to fetch two days worth of food for the tower. Putting the food in the larder completes my morning chores and my Master’s Adept, Aerlo, places a hot plate of food on the table for me. I fill my mug with milk from a stoneware pitcher and set myself down to eat breakfast.

“You’d better hurry up and eat, Roc.” he says, “Master York is already in the study.”

“Yes, Mister Aerlo.” I say and dig in. The food is plain but hot. Buckwheat meal, honeyed biscuits, and a thick slice of ham.

“The next time you go to Mistress Hannah’s,” says Aerlo, “don’t forget to bring back some eggs.”

“I didn’t know we were out.” I say between bites.

“We had enough for the Master’s and my breakfasts,” he says, “but not yours.”

That’s fine with me, eggs are not my most favorite of foods.

 

The Master’s study is on the top floor of the tower. It’s circular wall is lined with books, both old and new. My Master is sitting at a large writing table and is copying an old book onto new pages to replace the ones that are falling apart. Light, from a narrow, slit type window, is bounced from the wall and into the room. A smoky, oil lamp gives still more light for the task. The glass chimney is blackened, but I don’t dare clean it. The Master uses the soot residue to help make the ink that he is writing with. He cleans the nib of the pen and sets it down.

“Come here, Roc.” he says. I walk over to the table and stand before him. “How well do you know your letters?” he asks.

“I know the entire Thurish Alphabet, Master.” I say. Thurish is the most common written language in the five lands that cover the plains.

“Do you now?” he says and turns the old book to me. His finger points to a faded line of old script,  “Your eyes are younger than mine are. Can you read this line?”

I look closely at it. The old dried ink is flaky and missing in spots, but I can make it out.

“‘Therein lies the Cairn of the Hero of the West. Let no man approach lest he be sorely cursed by the spirits who protect it.’”

My Master writes the line down as I read it. I look up from the book.

“Who is the ‘Hero of the West’, Master?” I ask.

“How well do you know your History, Roc?” he asks in return.

“Not very well.” I admit, “I know only a few of the old stories, but they are about my home town of Ashe.”

My Master leans back in his chair, signaling the start of a lesson.

“The history of this land goes far back.” he begins, “Long before your home town was even built. Six hundred and fifty years ago, the King of a land to the west of us, had six sons. He sent five of his sons east to settle the great plain we now live in. They founded the five Duchies we know today. His edlest son, Urgon, settled his people in the western part of this plain. While the next two younger sons, Norge and Swerd, took their peoples north and south, the last two, Aras and Juras pushed on further and split the eastern plain. You can probably guess what we call where they settled today. Urgon settled in what is now Urgoland. Norge founded Norgeland, Swerd and his people lived in Swerdland. Then you have Arasland and Jurasland. Your home town of Ashe, as you know, is inside the borders of Urgoland.

“Theuse wasn’t even called that then. It was just a place where all of the borders met like the spokes joining at the hub of a wheel. Twice a year, after planting and harvest, they would have a festival here. Any disputes or issues would be brought up before all of the gathered Dukes and justice or titles would be handed out. Things went on peacefully for about three hundred and twenty years. It was about that time that a barbarian race further to the east, found a few passes through our eastern mountains and began to raid our smaller villages.

“The Dukes of Arasland and Jurasland built outposts at the mouth of these passes. Any raiding parties that came through the passes were soon found and destroyed. A few years later, a large force came out of the passes and burned down the outposts. It moved west and spread out over the plain. Thinking that the armies of the Eastern Dukes were the only fighting men on this plain, they forged ahead and ran into the combined armies of the three remaining Dukes and what was left of the men under the command of the Eastern Dukes that had fled to the north and south.

“As all of our men were fighting the first force of barbarians, a second horde came down from the passes. This second horde was different. With it, came those who could use magic. The spells they cast could not be met, because no one on this plain knew any magic at all. As our remaining armies were driven west, village after village was burned and pillaged. It was only when a new army appeared, led by the Hero of the West, that the barbarians were driven back because this new army had spell casters of it’s own. One by one, the barbarian’s spell casters were hunted down and killed. Without them, the war was soon over and few barbarians made it back to the mountains. It was during the last battle that six of the barbarian spell casters ambushed the Hero of the West and killed him before they were destroyed. A cairn was raised in his honor and spells were cast to guard it.”

My eyes blink as my Master finishes the story. “But Master,” I ask, “why is he called the ‘Hero of the West’? What was his name?”

“That, my boy is a good question.” my Master answers, “As far as I can find out, no one knew his name. To his troops, he was just their commander. To the people, he was the Hero of the West. After his death, many of his troops stayed behind to help rebuild the duchies while others returned to the kingdom of the west. Some of those who stayed, knew how to cast spells and settled here in Hamlet-in-Theuse and built some of the towers that still stand today. Here they began to teach anyone they could find that might have the talent for casting spells. They established the system of Masters, Adepts, and Students that we have now. Some are born with a talent for casting spells, others have different talents, for fighting, or metalwork, or healing, or even thievery. It is our task as Masters to bring out these talents in those that we test. You yourself tested very highly, which is why I am so surprised at the slow progress you’ve made since you arrived here. With your talent, you should be able to learn almost anything, and yet you are still trying to lift more than a simple feather.”

Ranma waits for it to close, but it stays open. He goes through it and follows a passage that leads back to the street. He goes over to the spot where he fell in. No sign of the trap door can be found. The door to the passage he came out of, closes and seals itself shut.

Instead of going into the Cat Cafe, Ranma returns to the Dojo. He eats lunch with the others, but seeing his mood, they leave him alone. After lunch, he is walking to the training hall when an arrow with a message attached to it, plants itself into a nearby wood beam. Akane walks up as he takes it down.

“What is that?” she asks.

“Air mail.” replies Ranma. He opens the note and reads. It’s a note from Shampoo. It tells him that she may have a way to send Dye back to China, but she needs Ranma’s help with her plan. She asks Ranma to meet her at an old abandoned stone building that afternoon.

“Ranma, are you going?” asks Akane after he shows her the note.

“Akane, if it’ll get Dye off my neck, I’ll listen to anything right now.” he says.

“Just be careful, it could be another trap.” she says.

“It should be all right, Akane.” says Ranma, “When I dropped in on her this morning, Dye said she might have to kill me soon, but she wasn’t going to do it today.”

Ranma makes his way to the building. The entire structure looks as though it could fall in on itself at any time. Cautiously, he enters the front door. As he walks by it, the door falls off it’s hinges and just misses him. Ranma leaps to the center of the floor and looks for other possible traps.

“Shampoo?” he calls out. The floor below him gives way.

Ranma lands on his feet and looks up at the hole in the floor above. There looking down at him is Dye.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to kill me today.” he says.

“Every girl has the right to change her mind.” says Dye.

“Another Amazon law?” asks Ranma.

“I let you go the last time.” she says, “This time, you won’t get away. I am going to bring this building down on your head!” She begins to kick at the floor above Ranma, knocking more stones loose. The building starts to shake. The stones under her feet give way and Dye loses her footing.

“AAAAAAHH!!” she cries as she falls.

Avoiding the falling stones, Ranma leaps up and catches her. He makes it to what’s left of the floor above and out of the front door, as the building collapses. With Dye still in his arms, Ranma turns around and they both watch the building turn into rubble. When the dust settles, Dye buries her face in his neck and begins to cry. Ranma realizes, that for all her talk of being an Amazon warrior, Dye is still a little girl.

When her crying stops, Dye says, “Put me down.”

Ranma says, “Not until you promise to stop trying to kill me.”

“I promise.” she says.

“I said, I won’t let you go until you...” Ranma stops, “What did you say?”

“After all I’ve done to you, you saved me.” she says. “I now owe you my life. An Amazon always repays her debts. I won’t try to kill you anymore.”

Ranma sets her on her feet, “You won’t try to get me to marry Shampoo either?”

“I never wanted you to marry Shampoo in the first place.” Dye says, she straightens her clothes and smiles at him, “If you won’t marry my sister, how about me?”

“I’m sorry, but...” he stammers.

“Yes I know.” she says, “You have two fiancees you don’t know what to do with. Why would you need another?”

“Something like that.” Ranma says. He is surprised by her change in attitude.

“Well,” says Dye, “anyway, this was my last chance to get rid of you. Clef will be here in the morning and we go back to China tomorrow.” Dye faces him and bows, “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you. Please forgive me.”

Confused, Ranma returns the bow, “Uh, sure.” He thinks for a moment, “How did you get that note from Shampoo?”

Dye says, “She wrote it for me. I told her that if I captured you, I would bring you back to the Cat Cafe. She didn’t know that I knew about you and your girl side. She thought I was still trying to make sure you married her. She and Great-grandmother had a plan to talk you into faking your girl-half’s death, then you would pretend to marry Shampoo, so that I could be sent home.”

“Pretend to marry?” he says.

“Yes, except,” she says, “it wasn’t going to be a pretend ceremony. If you went through with it, you and Shampoo would have been married for real.”

“Why that old GHOUL!!” he says, shaking with rage, “She just doesn’t give up!”

“That’s why I wanted to kill you.” she says, “I was afraid they might talk you into it.”

“What are you going to do now?” he asks.

“I’ll tell them the truth.” Dye says, “That you saved my life. They’ll understand that I won’t be chasing after you anymore.”

“What about Mousse?” Ranma asks.

“Don’t worry about him.” she says, “He’s still weak from what your Miss Hinako did yesterday. I’ll make sure he won’t cause any trouble. I’d like to make it up to you. Would you and Akane join us for dinner tonight?”

Ranma can’t think of any reason to refuse, finally, he says, “Okay.”

 

At dinner that evening, Cologne and Shampoo seem unusually quiet. Dye keeps the conversation going by asking Ranma and Akane about Japanese culture and customs. She also keeps a check on Mousse. Every time he seems to want to start trouble, Dye breaks in and steers the topic elsewhere. Usually by flattering Mousse and his magic, or his fighting techniques. Finally, Mousse gives up and tries to enjoy her attentions. When dinner is over, they gather in the family room.

“Dye,” says Cologne, “it is time you were in bed, young lady. You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow.”

“Great-grandmother,” she says, trying to stall, “it’s too early. Can Mousse tell me a story before I go?”

Cologne reluctantly agrees, “Only one.”

“Yahoo!” she says and jumps on Mousse, knocking him into a chair and lands on his lap. The others join them. After everyone is settled, Mousse tells her, his favorite bedtime story, a story told to him when he was very young, ‘The Farmer and The Dragon’.

“Long ago,” he starts, “there was a peasant Farmer deep in the hills of western China. His fields were plentiful and helped to feed the nearby village, but he needed more water to grow more crops. One day he was following a small trickle of water coming down from the side of a hill. If he could find the source of this water, maybe he could increase the flow. He followed the water to a low cave. He had to crawl on his hands and knees just to get inside it. He lit a lamp and followed the cave back into the hill. As he crawled, he could feel the air flow into and out of the cave. The air going in was cool, but, the air going out was hot, moist and smelled bad. Finally, the cave was tall enough that he could stand up. At his feet, the water led him on, and around a corner, he saw it. A huge, green, Dragon. The Dragon was asleep and laying across the mouth of a big cavern. On the other side, the Farmer could see the water being held back by the sleeping Dragon.”

“What did he do?” yawns a sleepy Dye. Cologne is smiling. Shampoo, Ranma, and Akane also seem to want to know what happens next.

Mousse continues, “The Farmer had to find a way to get the water. He thought he could wake the Dragon, but the Dragon might become angry and kill him. If he tried to kill the Dragon, he might only wound it, making it even more angry. It would kill him and maybe, attack the village. The Farmer decided it was best to let the Dragon sleep, but he still needed the water. As the Dragon slept, it’s breathing was slow and regular. The Farmer could see that with each breath, the water escaping under the Dragon would slowly increase and then almost stop. He thought that he might dig a tunnel under the Dragon to let more water out, but the cave floor was too hard. He then thought that if he poked it, the Dragon might move, but then, he might wake up. He also had to be careful, if the Dragon did move or rolled over, the water might be released all at once and flush him out of the cave.”

As Mousse recalls one possible way that the farmer might get more water to flow after another, he gives a reason that each one might not work. Throughout his story, Mousse’s voice has been slow and measured, almost hypnotic. Eventually, it has it’s desired effect. Mousse looks down at his sleeping charge, picks her up, and carries her to bed. After he tucks her in and closes the door, he returns to the others.

Ranma can’t stand it any longer and whispers, “Well, did the Farmer get the water?”

Mousse looks at Akane and Shampoo, they also seem eager to know the answer.

With a sheepish grin he says, “I don’t know.”

“What?!” the three ask, then cover their mouths, hoping that they did not wake Dye.

Mousse says, “I could never stay awake long enough to hear the end of the story.”

 

In the morning, Clef arrives with his copies. Later, Cologne, Shampoo, Mousse, Ranma and Akane escort Dye and Clef to the boarding area for their return trip to China. As they say their good-byes, Dye walks over to Mousse, and motions for him to bend down so she can whisper something to him.

Just loud enough for him and Shampoo to hear, she says, “Don’t worry Mousse, if my sister won’t marry you, then I will.” she grabs his shirt and pulls him in for a long kiss.

The others are surprised at this display, but no one is as surprised as Shampoo.

When Dye releases him, Mousse slowly stands and looks as if he is in shock. Dye turns to her sister and smiles.

Shampoo gets angry, then smiles. She turns Mousse to her, pulls him in, gives him a full embrace and an even longer, harder kiss. Dye pretends to look surprised, but gives Ranma a wink. When Shampoo finally lets go, Mousse collapses to the ground. Shampoo turns to her sister and says, “You see, that how it done.”

Now showing anger, Dye grabs the arm of the monk and drags him aboard the ship.

Shampoo finds a bucket of water and splashes Mousse. He turns into a duck, but he is still passed out. Even in duck-form, it looks as though he is smiling. Shampoo picks him up and carries him home.

 

Fade out.

The next day, boy-type Ranma is once again on his way to the Cat Cafe for advice. Just outside, Ranma falls through a trap door. With a thud he hits the floor below.

“Ow.” he says as he rubs the back of his head and looks around. It is pitch black after the trap door closes. In one corner, a torch lights up.

“Looks like I finally got you alone, Ranma.” says Dye as the torch shows her face. “Down here, we will not be interrupted.”

“What? You’re not calling me ‘boy-Ranma’ this time?” he says.

“I’m not stupid.” she says as she puts the torch into a socket on the wall, “I’ve known for some time that you and she were the same person.”

“Then why have you been trying to kill my girl-half?” he asks.

“To understand that, you have to understand Amazon laws.” she says.

“You mean that business about killing the girls and marrying the guys?” asks Ranma.

“Exactly.” says Dye, “Do you know why our village has survived all these centuries?”

Ranma thinks for a while, “Your village is made up of very strong women warriors.”

“Yes,” says Dye, “and every Amazon girl is taught these laws from the time she can read: If an outsider defeats an Amazon woman and that outsider is a woman, then the Amazon must give the ‘Kiss of Death’ and kill her without delay. However, if that outsider is a man, she must marry him.”

“Yes, I know,” says Ranma, “I’ve heard this before.”

“But,” asks Dye, “do you know the reasons behind these laws?”

“Not really. Okay, what are the reasons behind these laws?” he asks.

Dye sits cross legged on the ground and looks at Ranma as if she is about to give a lesson to a student, “If a man is strong enough to defeat an Amazon woman, and, if he were to marry that Amazon woman, they would have children that would be stronger and better equipped to defend our village. If, on the other hand, a woman is strong enough to defeat an Amazon woman, any children she might have, could grow up to be strong enough to become a threat to our village.”

Ranma blinks in surprise, “I never thought of it that way.”

“Our own Grandfather was an outsider.” she says.

“Yours and Shampoo’s?” asks Ranma.

“Yes,” says Dye, “he was a great Martial Artist. He traveled from village to village, challenging anyone to a match. No matter who he faced, he always won. When he came to our village, he called upon our greatest warrior to face him. Our Grandmother answered that challenge. At first he refused to fight a woman. He was told that if he did not fight her, he must forfeit the match and he would be killed according to Amazon law.”

“What happened?” he asks.

“From what I’ve been told,” she says, “the match lasted over an hour with neither side giving ground nor quarter. Finally, Grandfather performed a series of moves that got through our Grandmother’s defenses and she was knocked unconscious for three seconds, but that was long enough. After he was declared the winner, our Grandmother announced her love for him. When the Amazon laws were explained to him, he agreed to marry Grandmother, not just because of our laws, but because during the match he had grown to admire and respect her abilities as a fighter, and because he had fallen in love with her.” Dye looks at him and asks, “Now do you see why I have to kill you?”

“What!?” he asks.

“If I don’t kill you,” she asks, “how is my sister going to marry Mousse?”

“What!?” he repeats.

“You said that before.” she says, “I know you don’t want to marry my sister, but until you are dead, or Mousse defeats you, my sister can’t marry Mousse. You don’t understand do you? Mousse would be an excellent husband for my sister, if it wasn’t for one thing.”

“Me?” asks Ranma.

“Mousse was right. You really do have a big ego, don’t you?” Dye asks, “No. His eyesight. Even with glasses he is almost blind. If Mousse could see well without his glasses, then Shampoo might forget all about you. Even if it goes against Amazon law, I think she would marry him anyway. However, if Mousse defeated you, or you were dead, then she might be allowed marry him.”

“Shampoo is not going to marry Mousse.” says Ranma, “You’ve seen the way she treats him.”

“She has to!” says Dye angrily, “If she treated him any other way, she would go crazy!” Dye calms herself down, “You forget, I’m her sister. I’ve grown up watching her cry herself to sleep because she can’t marry someone who is not perfect. Amazon laws can be so cruel sometimes.”

“Couldn’t Mousse have surgery to correct his eyesight?” asks Ranma.

“No.” says Dye, “That would not be allowed. If his eyesight were restored, it must be through natural means. Mousse is in love with my sister and she is in love with him. I will not let you take Shampoo away from him.”

“He can have her,” says Ranma, “I’ve already got two fiancees I don’t know what to do with. Like you said, I never wanted to marry Shampoo. It was your laws that started all of this.”

Dye says, “It does not matter what you or I want. Unless something happens, our laws must be obeyed. You will marry my sister, or you will die.” She stands up and opens a secret door, “Think about what I have said. I may have to kill you soon, but not today.” she walks through the door.

Following Akane’s advice, Ranma stays on the Dojo grounds. As he walks by a tree, his feet suddenly leave the ground and he is soon hanging upside down. As he looks around, he sees Dye looking at him from the tree. She leaps to the ground and stares at him in the face.

“I have you now, boy-Ranma.” she says.

“Nice to see you too, Dye.” he says, “Could you let me down?”

“Where is the girl-Ranma?” she says as she becomes angry.

“Sorry,” he says, “I haven’t seen her.”

Dye shows more anger, “When are you going to marry my sister?!” she demands.

“Ranma!” calls Akane, “Where are you!”

Dye gets even angrier and disappears over the Dojo wall.

“Akane!” Ranma calls. Akane turns a corner.

“What are you doing up there?” she asks.

“Just hangin’ around.” he says.

“Who did this to you?” she says as she unties the knot.

“Shampoo’s sister.” he says. The knot comes free and he falls to the ground, “OW!”

“Sorry.” says Akane, “I guess she now knows that you’re boy-Ranma at least.”

“Yeah,” he says as he gets his legs free, “but she doesn’t know who girl-Ranma is.”

“What are you going to do if she finds out that you’re girl-Ranma too?” asks Akane.

“I hope she doesn’t. The way she and Mousse were talking,” he says, “they’re going to try to kill my girl side before trying to get me to marry Shampoo. If I can just avoid cold water, they won’t be able to find her, and that may buy us some time.”

“I talked with Shampoo a little while ago,” she says, “she said Dye’s favorite attack is to use traps on her enemies.”

“Now you tell me.” he says, holding up the rope, “Doesn’t sound very sporting.”

“Sporting? Shampoo’s been chasing you for how long?” she asks, “She’s pulled some pretty underhanded tricks herself. Besides, you’ve seen how small Dye is. Someone her size can’t rely on a direct attack. She has to make sure her opponent is helpless before she goes in to finish them off.”

“Thanks, Akane,” he says, “I really needed to hear that. Since she’s only trying to kill my girl side, I should be okay as long as I don’t change.”

“Ranma,” says Akane, “it doesn’t matter which half she kills, because both halves will be dead.”

Ranma thinks for a while, “Maybe I should go to the cafe and talk to Shampoo. She might have some ideas on how to handle her sister.”

“Do you think that’s safe, Ranma?” asks Akane.

“I wasn’t very safe here.” he says, “Out there, at least I’ll be a moving target.”

Ranma leaves the Dojo to go to the Cat Cafe.

 

Ranma is caught out in the open when the rain starts, turning him into a girl. He runs to the shelter of an alleyway.

“Just great.” he says, “All I need now is...”

“GIRL-TYPE RANMA PREPARE TO DIE!!” says Mousse as he begins his attack. Knives and weighted chain fly from his hands and make their way to Ranma.

Ranma avoids the attack and looks for a way to escape. Looking up, he sees a net descending on him from above. He leaps over and behind Mousse and kicks him so that he is under the net. Ranma lands on his feet and watches as Dye climbs down to help Mousse get free of her net so that they can go after Ranma once more. Unwilling to wait, Ranma runs away.

Girl-Ranma makes it to the cafe.

Shampoo sees him, “Ranma! You ready to marry Shampoo?”

He says, “No, I am not. I just want to know if you have any ideas on how I can handle your sister.”

Shampoo thinks for a while, “Shampoo not have any ideas now. If Shampoo get ideas, Shampoo let you know.”

“Thanks, Shampoo.” he says and not wanting to stay in one place for any length of time, he leaves.

Cologne comes up to Shampoo.

Shampoo turns to her and asks, “Shampoo do okay, Great-grandmother?”

Cologne says, “You did just fine Shampoo. Now, if Mousse and Dye can get him desperate enough, he might listen to our plan that will send Dye home.”

 

The next day, girl-type Ranma and Miss Hinako, in her little girl form, are walking on the school grounds. She appears to be giving him a lecture he does not want to hear.

“Mr. Saotome,” she says, “these interruptions during class must stop. Classrooms are for learning, not for fighting. The School budget can not afford to constantly repair the damage caused by students, who have no respect for School property.”

Girl-Ranma tries to defend himself, “It was Kuno who...” Miss Hinako cuts him off.

“It makes no difference who starts it. All fighting on School grounds must stop. The only reason I’ve been lenient with you so far, is that you agreed to let me keep my ability to use the ‘Happo Five Yen Satsu’ in exchange for my promise to use it more wisely in the future. But I will not tolerate fighting on School grounds. The next time I...” Miss Hinako stops and begins to look around.

Girl-Ranma stops and looks at her, “What’s wrong?”

She looks at him, “I sense fighting spirit.”

“It’s not me.” he says afraid that she might turn on him again.

“It’s coming from over there.” she says and points to some nearby bushes.

“Girl-type Ranma, prepare to die!” yells Mousse as he leaps from the bushes. Knives flash in his hands. Dye, twirling a bolo, is close behind him. They close in on Ranma and Miss Hinako.

“Two juvenile delinquents! They must be punished!” she says. Miss Hinako steps in front of Ranma and draws a circle with her Five Yen coin, “Yoiko-no-taiso step 1. Happo Five Yen Satsu.” Miss Hinako is a teacher at the High School. Normally, a young girl, she was trained by Happosai in the use of any round object with a hole in the center, like a 5 yen coin. Her training allows her to use the coin to drain the battle auras of her opponents.

Dye, who was behind Mousse, looks on in horror as his battle aura is drained. Miss Hinako absorbs his fighting spirit and grows into an adult woman. Recovering from her shock, Dye grabs Mousse, now much lighter due to the loss of his aura, pulls him back into the bushes, and disappears.

Little Dye can no longer keep silent, “Where are the boy- and girl-Ranmas?!” As she says this, she looks menacingly at Ranma and Akane.

Cologne heads of any answer, “That, will have to wait until we get you back to the cafe! The very idea! Coming all the way to Japan to help your sister kill or marry someone! I don’t know what your parents were thinking of when they let you come here. And YOU! Using a Holy man to get you here!”

During this scolding, Dye’s eyes fill with water and she begins to pout.

“Stop that, Dye!” says Cologne, “It might work on Shampoo or your parents, but it hasn’t worked on me since you were four years old.”

As if by magic, the pout and the tears disappear at the same time.

Cologne and the others take Dye back to the Cat Cafe.

 

On arrival at the cafe, Mousse receives an even more enthusiastic greeting than her sister. Dye sees him, “MOUSSE!!” she leaps at him as he turns and sends them both to the floor. Mousse, already dazed, is flooded with questions, “How are you, Mousse? Did you miss me? Did you help Shampoo kill girl-Ranma? What’s taking so long? Can I help? Why hasn’t she married boy-Ranma yet? Can you show me some magic now?”

Cologne clears her throat, “AHEM!” Dye cringes at the sound and lets Mousse get up. “I’m sorry Great-grandmother.” she says.

Mousse rises to one knee so that his head is level with hers and adjusts his thick glasses, “That’s okay, Dye. I’m fine. I did miss you. And I certainly could use your help in getting rid of the female-Ranma.”

“Where is she?” says Dye as her joy turns to anger, “We’ll get her for sure.”

Mousse turns his head to look at Ranma and Akane, “Oh, she’s pretty close by.”

Ranma and Akane can tell that he is looking at the space between them, as if he knows they are there, but not which one is Ranma.

“Good.” says Dye, “After we kill girl-Ranma. I’ll help Shampoo get boy-Ranma to marry her.”

Mousse smiles, “Yes, but only after we get rid of girl-type Ranma. First, how about some magic?” He fans out a card deck. Dye gleefully picks one, memorizes it, and puts it back in the deck. Mousse shuffles the deck, tosses the cards into the air, and throws a knife. The knife skewers a card and ends up in a wood beam not far from Ranma’s head. Mousse pulls the knife out and asks Dye if the card is the same one that she pulled from the deck.

Clapping her hands, she says, “Yes!” and asks for another trick.

Ranma looks at Akane and says, “That was close.”

Akane reaches over to the beam and pulls out some of Ranma’s hairs, “A little too close if you ask me.” Akane grabs Ranma’s arm and says, “Well, this is obviously a family matter. We’ll be leaving now.” She drags Ranma out of the door before he can say anything else.

Halfway down the street, Ranma tries to get his arm back, but Akane won’t let go.

“Shut up!” she says, “For your own good, just shut up for now!” and continues to drag him until they are several blocks away. She pulls him around a corner and throws him against a wall. “Now!” she says angrily, “Look at what you’ve gotten yourself into!”

“Me?!” he asks, “Why didn’t we tell her who I was and that I am not marrying Shampoo?”

“Think about it, Ranma.” she says, “Dye wants your girl-half dead, Mousse knows you’re both one and the same, and Shampoo wants to marry you. If you came right out and said that you won’t marry Shampoo, no matter what, the three of them and Cologne would have made sure you never left that cafe alive. You are not going to make me a widow before I’m even married. You got that?”

Ranma is taken aback with this last statement as Akane continues.

“Ranma,” she says, “if she were our age, it wouldn’t be a problem. You could defend yourself as a girl, or I could help you. As young as she is, for now it might be better just to avoid her, until we find out what she may do if she got to you. If it were Mousse alone, you could beat him, but there’s no telling what ideas she might put into his head.”

 

At the cafe, Dye and Mousse are putting together a plan to kill girl-Ranma.

“Mousse,” she asks, “where do we find this girl-Ranma?”

Mousse looks around, but Cologne and Shampoo are in the kitchen out of earshot.

He says, “That boy, who was just here, is the boy-type Ranma. If anyone knows where to find her, he does. I’ll show you where to find him. If you can get him to tell you where to find her, I’ll help you get rid of her. If we can get rid of girl-type Ranma, then we won’t have any trouble with boy-type Ranma.”

Dye nods and says, “Good, we can kill two birds with one stone.”

“Exactly.” says Mousse. The smile on his face, says it all.

Cologne and Shampoo talk in the kitchen as Dye and Mousse plot their strategy for tracking down and getting rid of girl-type Ranma.

Shampoo asks, “Why we no tell Dye, girl-type Ranma and boy-type Ranma is same?”

Cologne makes sure Dye and Mousse can’t hear them, and says, “If those two can keep Ranma off balance enough, he might be willing to listen to a way to send Dye home.”

Shampoo asks, “How we do that?”

Cologne says, “I have an idea, but we can’t let Mousse or Dye know what we’re doing.”

Cologne explains the plan to Shampoo, as the details are laid out, Shampoo’s eyes go wider and wider. When Cologne finishes, Shampoo laughs to herself and says, “Ranma, you is all mine.”

Ranma and Akane are eating at the Cat Cafe, when Shampoo receives a letter. As she reads it, the blood drains from her face. Her hands begin to shake. Ranma and Akane notice this and become concerned.

Akane asks Ranma, “I wonder what’s in that letter?”

Ranma says, “Whatever it is, it can’t be very good news.”

Shampoo finishes the letter, then she collapses to the floor yelling, “HIYA!!”

Cologne comes over and says, “Shampoo! What is it? What’s wrong?”

Shampoo hands Cologne the letter and she reads it. Her face turns as pale as Shampoo’s.

Cologne says, “Your sister?”

Ranma and Akane both ask, “Sister?”

Shampoo nods her head and says, “Yes, she Dye.”

They both misunderstand. Akane says, “Oh, Shampoo, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Shampoo looks at them funny, but Cologne explains, “Not D. I. E. as in dead, D. Y. E. as in hair coloring. That is her name. Dye.”

Ranma asks, “Then why are you both so upset?”

Shampoo says, “She coming to Japan.”

Akane asks, “What’s wrong with that?”

Cologne says, “She says, she is coming to Japan to help her sister kill girl-type Ranma and make sure boy-type Ranma marries her.”

Ranma says, “What?! Didn’t we go through this already?”

Cologne says, “This time it’s her actual sister coming here to Japan. Apparently she doesn’t know you and your girl half are the same.”

Shampoo pleads with him, “Ranma, you marry Shampoo now! You marry Shampoo, we send sister home! Shampoo no want sister here!”

Akane demands, “WHAT?! Are you crazy?!”

Shampoo looks at her and says, “Shampoo not crazy! Dye crazy!”

Cologne says, “Future Son-in-law, I don’t envy you. Once our little Dye gets here, you are going to need all of your skills just to survive. Of course, if you marry Shampoo, we can send Dye home and everyone will be happy.”

Ranma asks, “Happy?!”

Akane says, “Don’t fall for it, Ranma. They’re just trying to scare you.”

Cologne says, “Scare him? This terror of a child has given her parents, Shampoo, and me more trouble than any child I have known in all of my three hundred years. Since the day she could walk, she has taken upon herself the task of turning everyone’s life upside down.”

According to the letter, Dye will be arriving by ship the next day.

“Future Son-in-law,” says Cologne, “I think it would be wise if you and Akane were to join Shampoo and I when we go to the dock to pick up Dye, so you can see just what you are up against.” Somehow, Cologne’s tone makes it seem more than a suggestion.

 

At the dock, Cologne, Shampoo, Akane, and Ranma stand there waiting for the passengers to disembark. Among the passengers is an unusual sight, a Bhuddist monk with a young girl. The girl scans the crowd as if looking for someone. As her eyes meet those of Cologne’s and Shampoo’s, she lets out a squeal of delight and drags the priest behind her to them.

“Great-grandmother!” she cries, “Shampoo!”

Ranma and Akane were expecting someone close to Shampoo’s age, but what they see is a little girl nine or ten years old. As they near, the girl breaks her grip on the monk and rushes to embrace Shampoo, nearly knocking her down. After they collide, the questions come fast and furious, “Where is she? Have you killed her yet? I want to help! Did you marry him? Where’s Mousse?”

Shampoo is overwhelmed and Cologne takes over.

“Dye!” she says in a raised voice that demands attention.

Dye stops, releases Shampoo, then turns and bows to Cologne, “I’m sorry, Great-grandmother. Are you well today?”

“That’s better.” says Cologne, “Yes, I am well. Are you going to introduce your friend to us, or do we have to guess?”

The monk comes forward as Dye introduces him, “This is Clef, he was on his way to Japan when he passed through our village. When we found out where he was going, it didn’t take long for Mother and Father to agree to let him bring me here to see you.”

“The child is most persuasive.” says Clef

“Yes,” says Cologne, “we know. What brings you to Japan, young man?” She says this even though the monk looks to be about fifty years old.

“In the last hundred years,” he explains, “many of our records have been lost due to some, misfortune. I have come to visit my Brothers here in Japan to try to obtain copies of what has been, misplaced. Many records were brought here for safekeeping.”

Cologne understands the monk’s reluctance to mention the purges during the Cultural Revolution and other man-made disasters, “Yes, many misfortunes have befallen our country in the past.”

“All of those records were brought here a hundred years ago?” asks Ranma, “Someone must have known what was going to happen.”

Clef corrects Ranma, “Many of those records have been here in Japan for over one thousand years.” Ranma’s eyes open wide in surprise.

“Are there any records in particular that you are interested in?” asks Cologne.

The priest nods, “Apart from our normal teachings, we like to keep birth and death notices of all important peoples. For example, in your own village, we have the birth announcement of a very important woman who was born over three hundred years ago, but we can find no record of her death.”

“I wonder why?” says Ranma.

The monk continues, “There even seems to have been several women over the past three centuries that have shared that same name.”

“Yes,” says Cologne, “I can see that there are indeed holes in your records.”

“Over three hundred?” says Ranma. Then he asks, “How old would she be, if she were alive today?”

“Never mind that!” says Cologne, “Well, young man, I wish you luck in finding your missing records.”

The monk makes his good-byes and goes on his way.

 

At dinner, Arumi is once again unhappy with Ranma and the fathers. This time, Akane tries to feed Arumi strained fruits and vegetables, but as much, if not more, food goes on Arumi and Akane, as goes in Arumi’s mouth. After dinner Ranma and Genma go practice while Akane takes Arumi down the hall to the bathroom.

Soon Ranma is wet again. “Pop,” he asks, “don’t you ever get tired of throwing me in this pond?” Genma can’t answer because, he too, is wet by now. Ranma goes inside.

“Oh, Ranma,” says Kasumi, “Akane’s giving Arumi her bath now, could you give her a hand?” Ranma goes down the hall.

In the bathroom, Akane has Arumi in a wash tub giving her a bath. Ranma walks in. Arumi sees him, smiles and slaps the water. Ranma smiles, goes over to the faucet, pours a bucket of hot water and dumps it on his head. Arumi looks up, sees him, and begins to cry.

“What did you do, Ranma?” asks Akane.

“I just poured hot water on me, Akane.” He thinks a moment. He returns to the faucet, this time he dumps cold water on himself. Arumi looks at him and stops crying, soon she is smiling again.

Akane sees this and takes Arumi out of the tub, wraps a towel around her, and hands her to Ranma, “Hold her a minute, Ranma.” she says and goes over to the faucet.

As Ranma and Arumi look at each other, Akane first pours hot water on Ranma, then cold. As he turns into a boy, Arumi stops smiling, looks puzzled, then begins to cry. When he goes back to a girl, Arumi does the opposite, her crying stops, she looks puzzled, then smiles.

“I guess she just doesn’t like boys, Ranma.” says Akane.

“We’ll see about that.” says Ranma, “Just the hot water this time, Akane.”

Akane pours the hot water.

Arumi stops smiling, looks puzzled, then smiles again.

“That’s better,” he says to Arumi, “we can’t have two girls in this house who hate boys.”

Akane takes Arumi from Ranma, sets her down and throws Ranma out of the window.

“She’ll learn.” she says.

 

This time, after night falls, Ranma, not in girl form, takes his turn with Arumi. Nabiki tries to bribe him, so she won’t have to take over when it’s her turn.

Her final offer; Free hot water for a month. Ranma refuses.

 

The next day, Arumi’s mother, Mrs. Katai, comes to pick up her daughter. They all follow her out to the gate.

“Thank-you, Kasumi, for taking care of my daughter.” she says, “I hope she wasn’t too much trouble?”

“No trouble at all.” says Kasumi, “Ranma and Akane were a big help.”

Mrs. Katai looks at Ranma, who is saying good-bye to Arumi, “I am surprised to hear that. With my husband gone so much on business, she’s gotten used to having just women around her. She always puts up a fuss when a man is around.”

“I think we’ve broken her of that Mrs. Katai.” says Ranma.

Soun Tendo bends down to say farewell. Arumi starts to cry. So does Soun.

Ranma says, “Maybe not.”

They all wave as Mrs. Katai takes Arumi out of the Dojo gate.

Akane goes to the training hall while Ranma and his father begin to practice outside. The others go into the house. Ranma avoids the water this time, but Genma isn’t so lucky and soon Ranma is fighting against a panda. As the workout progresses, Ranma gets hot and when they take a break, he decides it’s not a bad idea to cool off in the pond. After a while he goes inside. Genma is enjoying a hot bath, so Ranma pours himself a bucket of hot water and dumping it on his head, he changes back into a boy. When he is dry again, he heads upstairs. Kasumi is coming out of the kitchen.

“Ranma, would you please get Akane?” she asks, “Lunch is almost ready. She’s in the training hall.”

“Okay, Kasumi.” he says and goes to the training hall.

Inside, he finds Akane sitting with her back against a wall, eyes closed, “I guess she didn’t get much sleep last night.”

As Ranma approaches from Akane’s right, he sees a pendant on a chain around her neck. The pendant is resting above her left breast. Ranma leans across her to get a look at the pendant with his head sideways. Akane stirs. Ranma turns his head to look at her face. Akane leans forward and their lips meet. Ranma’s eyes open wide, the clasp comes free and the pendant falls to Akane’s lap. Her eyes open wide in surprise, then turn angry when she sees him. Ranma jumps back. Akane sets the pendant down and stands.

“Wait, Akane, I can explain!” he says backing away as Akane advances, fists ready.

“Explain what, Ranma!” she yells, “If you wanted to steal a kiss, why don’t you go find Shampoo or Ukyo!”

“I was just looking at your pendant!” he says, back up against a wall, “Why would I want to kiss an ‘uncute’ girl like you?”

Now livid, Akane leaps at him. As Ranma dodges her, she puts her fist through the wall. Still mad, she turns on him. Akane throws one punch, then another, Ranma catches both of her wrists. Akane tries to pull away.

“This time,” says Ranma, “you’re going to listen.”

“Why,” says Akane through clenched teeth, “should I listen to a pervert like you?”

“Are you afraid to hear the truth?!” he asks. She stops struggling and looks at him.

“What do you know about the truth, Ranma?” she asks and pulls her hands free.

“Every time something like this happens, you always say I’m lying.” he says, “Don’t you ever get tired of being wrong?” He walks over to the pendant and picks it up. He goes on, “You were wearing this. I just came in to get you for lunch, when I saw your pendant. I’ve never seen it before, so I was taking a closer look. You were the one who leaned forward and kissed me.”

“So, you don’t want to kiss me at all. Is that it?” she asks, head lowered.

He takes a deep breath walks over to her and gives her the pendant, “If I ever do kiss you,” he says, “it won’t be by accident.”

At the Cat Cafe, girl-Ranma and Akane enter. Shampoo has her back to the door.

“Hi, Shampoo.” says Ranma.

“Ranma, you come to...HIYA!” Shampoo says turning and stops. Mousse catches her as she faints and the dishes fall to the floor. Cologne is staring at them from the kitchen.

After Shampoo recovers, they tell her about Arumi.

“B-B-Baby-sitting?!” she asks. Arumi smiles at her.

“I’m sorry, Shampoo,” says Ranma, “I didn’t mean to scare you.” and looks at Cologne.

“After three hundred years,” says Cologne, “it’ll take a bigger shock than that to scare me, future Son-in-law,” then she looks at the baby and adds, “but not much.”

Shampoo takes a closer look at the baby. Arumi holds out her arms. Shampoo says, “Nihao.” A traditional Chinese greeting. She lifts Arumi from the stroller and sits at a table. Akane gives her a bottle to feed Arumi.

Cologne says, “Shampoo, some day you’ll make a wonderful mother.”

“There only one way to find out.” she says and they both look at Ranma.

Girl-type Ranma steps back, waving his hands, “Hey, leave me out of this.”

Mousse stands by Shampoo. Mousse is the nearsighted childhood friend of Shampoo and has left China in hopes of reclaiming her. He is also a martial artist who specializes in hidden magic and secret weapons techniques. Like Ranma and Shampoo, he has also fallen into the springs of Jusenkyo. In his case, he turns into a white Peking duck when splashed with cold water. Even as a duck, Mousse can use his magic against his enemies. He turns to look at Arumi. Arumi puts up a fuss. Annoyed, Shampoo takes a glass of water and splashes Mousse. He falls back and changes into a duck. He shakes off the water and flies to a table near Shampoo. Arumi sees him and laughs. Mu-Mu Chan, aka Mousse, puts on an impromptu magic act, much to the delight of little Arumi.

“What a ham.” says Ranma to Akane.

“Don’t you mean, fowl?” she says back.

After her bottle and a change, the latter accomplished with a little coaching from Cologne, Akane leaves with a wide-eyed Ranma pushing the stroller.

“Had enough excitement for one day, Ranma?” asks Akane. Ranma nods and turns the stroller for home. Half-way, they hear a familiar voice.

“PIG-TAILED-GIRL, I...” Ranma swings the stroller in his direction as Kuno comes running into view. Tatewaki Kuno is an upperclassman of Ranma and Akane’s at the highschool that they go to. He remains ignorant of Ranma’s curse. Instead, his previous adoration of Akane, now includes Ranma when he takes on girl form. In this form, Ranma often uses his girlish charms to confuse and defeate the would be suitor.

“Yes, my Darling?” girl-Ranma asks with big, teary eyes.

Kuno screeches to a halt in front of the stroller. As if on cue, Arumi cries. “You’re making our little Arumi cry.” Ranma says, “How dare you abandon us!” and kicks him high into the air.

“Ranma, let’s go.” Akane says. Ranma looks around and sees the crowd staring at them. He casually, but quickly, turns the stroller for home.

Akane says, “You’d better let me take it, Ranma.”

“Oh,” asks Ranma, “do you want people to think this is your baby, Akane?”

“If it wasn’t for that stroller, Ranma,” says Akane angrily, “you’d be on your way to Dr. Tofu’s right now.” Dr. Tofu is a bone specialist and has treated Akane and Ranma in the past. He is also a martial artist. More than once he has needed to treat Ranma because of Akane’s rage being directed at him. As he pushes the stroller, Ranma thinks, Score one more point for having a baby.

Meanwhile, Kuno lands at the feet of Nabiki. “Kuno Baby, you’re pathetic.” she says and turns away.

“Wait, Nabiki Tendo.” he says to his classmate, struggling to his feet, “What can you tell me of the child and the pig-tailed-girl?”

She turns back and asks, “Do you mean my little Niece, Arumi?” She smiles and thinks, Ranma, this one’s on me.

She takes his arm, “Tell you what, Kuno, buy me lunch, and I will tell you all about her and the pig-tailed-girl.” she says and leads him to a restaurant.

Without further excitement, girl-type Ranma and Akane make it home.

After they get back and have lunch, Ranma and Akane do the dishes so Kasumi can put Arumi down for her nap. Akane splashes Ranma with hot water changing him back to a boy. Ranma retaliates and soon there is as much water on each other as on the dishes. Akane laughs and puts a soap bubble beard on Ranma. “Very funny.” he says.

When the dishes are done, Akane goes upstairs to give Kasumi a break. Kasumi comes downstairs to find Ranma at the dining room table, drinking from a cup.

“Oh, Ranma, you’ve changed back again.” she says, “I sometimes wonder if I’m going to have a brother-in-law, or a sister-in-law.” Ranma chokes on his drink. He turns to stare, open mouthed, at her back as Kasumi goes into the kitchen. The comment, no matter how innocently spoken, is uncharacteristic of the eldest of Soun Tendo’s daughters.

After an hour, Nabiki takes over and whispers to Ranma, “Kasumi would like to see you in the kitchen.” Ranma thanks her and goes down to the kitchen.

“How’s Arumi?” Kasumi asks when he enters.

“Sleeping like a baby.” he says. Kasumi smiles and hands Ranma dishes to set the table.

At dinner, Kasumi has Arumi in her stroller and drinking from her bottle. That evening, Arumi is happy, except when Ranma or one of the fathers is near, then she puts up a fuss until they go away. Even Kasumi can’t explain it.

 

After the sun goes down, little Arumi reminds the household that, when you have a baby, you have it all day, and all night long. Since Arumi doesn’t like any of the men, the three girls take turns. It is 2 o’clock in the morning when Akane takes over and not a moment too soon for Nabiki. Near the end of her watch, Nabiki is willing to pay Akane to take over early so she can get some sleep. Akane takes Arumi from Nabiki’s room to her own. She feeds and changes Arumi, then watches as she goes to sleep. Akane takes a pendant out of her pocket, “I still have it.” she says. She puts it on, fastening the chain around her neck.

 

Meanwhile at her home, Shampoo tosses and turns in her sleep, “Ranma marry Shampoo, not Akane.” she says and rolls over. Shampoo is a Chinese girl that Ranma met while he and his father were traveling through China trying to find places to train, only to be led by a guide to Jusenkyo, the training ground of cursed springs. It was here that they each fell into a different spring, triggering the curse that they and now Shampoo and a few others now carry. If she is splashed with cold water, Shampoo changes into a small pink cat. Which is unfortunate in that Ranma is deathly afraid of cats thanks in no small part to the training he has been subjected to by his father. Shampoo, because of an amazon village law that states that she must marry the man who defeats her, has traveled with her Great-grandmother to Japan in hopes of forcing Ranma to marry her and not Akane.

 

Ranma is sound asleep in his room when he feels something warm pressing against his lips. “Good-night Ranma.” he hears. Half-asleep, he turns to the door to see Akane leaving the room. A glint of gold shines from the back of her neck.

“I must be dreaming.” he says and rolls over.

 

The next morning, Ranma and his father workout and once more, Ranma ends up in the pond. Tired of this, he just goes inside, dries off, and changes clothes. In girl form, he goes downstairs to find Akane putting Arumi in her stroller, “Taking Arumi for a walk, Akane?”

“Yes, Ranma.” she says, “Would you like to come along?”

“I don’t know, Akane.” he says. He looks at the baby, Arumi smiles at him, “All right.”

As the three go down the street, passersby smile and comment about the sight of two girls pushing a baby stroller.

Ranma says, “Geez, Akane. From the way everyone’s acting, you’d think one of us was Arumi’s mother.”

Akane asks, “What else are they supposed to think, Ranma? If you saw a young woman with a baby, wouldn’t you think she was the baby’s mother?”

“I guess so.” girl-Ranma smiles and asks, “Akane, do you want to give someone a shock? Let’s take her to Ukyo’s.” Ukyo is a childhood friend of Ranma’s and also claims to be his fiancée. Ukyo manages a restaurant that sell okonomiyakis, a type of Japanese pizza.

Akane almost doubles over to keep from laughing. “That’s cruel, Ranma!” she says, “Let’s do it!” and turns down a corner.

As they enter Ukyo’s restaurant, she sees them. She almost drops her spatula, but she recovers and says, “A-Akane, R-Ran-Chan, looks like you two have been busy.”

They laugh and explain.

“So, you’re just helping Kasumi baby-sit?” she asks.

“That’s right, Ucchan.” says Ranma. ‘Ucchan’ is his childhood nickname for ‘Ukyo’.

Arumi smiles at Ukyo when she kneels down to take a closer look.

“She seems friendly enough.” says Ukyo.

“She is,” says Akane, “except she doesn’t like our fathers or sometimes even Ranma.”

Ukyo looks puzzled, “A girl who doesn’t like Ranma? Maybe she knows something we don’t?”

Girl-Ranma kneels down beside Ukyo to look at Arumi, “You like me now though, don’t you Arumi?”

Arumi looks at him and laughs.

Akane says, “There’s your answer, Ranma.”

Ukyo looks at Akane, “Is she on solid food yet?”

“Not yet, Ukyo.” she says.

“Too bad,” says Ukyo, “I was hoping to gain another customer.” she smiles.

“How is business, Ukyo?” asks girl-Ranma as he stands.

“Actually, it’s pretty good,” she says, standing, “any better and I’ll need to get someone to help me with deliveries.”

“How about Ryoga?” suggests Akane. Ryoga is a boy that could get lost in a room with only one door. He has also been to Jusenkyo and blames Ranma and his father for the curse that causes him to turn into the little black pot-bellied pig that Akane calls ‘P-Chan’. Akane has yet to discover that her ‘pet’ is actually a boy that would like nothing more than to kill her fiancé and…

At the very mention of the ‘Eternally Lost Boy’, Ranma, Ukyo, and even Arumi turn to look at her. Out voted three-to-one, she says, “Never mind.”

“How about you, Ran-Chan?” asks Ukyo, “You used to work here. I can let you have your old job back.”

“That was only until I could work off the IOUs you had me sign for the training against the Gambling King.” says Ranma. The Gambling King is a man who would cheat at cards and take anything you were foolish enough to bet. Only by training with Ukyo was he able to get back the Tendo Martial Arts Training hall that he had lost in a bet to the Gambling King when he and Ukyo were kids, long before he even met Akane, his future fiancée.

“Yeah, but this time I’ll even pay you?” asks Ukyo.

Thanks, Ukyo, but I think I’ll pass.” he says.

“Well, if you change your mind...” says Ukyo.

“I’ll let you know.” says girl-type Ranma, “See you later.”

They leave Ukyo’s place and continue down the street.

“Where to now, Ranma?” asks Akane.

“How about the Cat Cafe?” he says. The Cat Café is a Chinese restaurant run by Shampoo and her Great-grandmother.

“You want to give Shampoo a heart attack?” asks Akane.

“I was thinking about the old ghoul.” he says referring to Shampoo’s Great-grandmother, a woman who has done her best to get Ranma to promise that he will marry Shampoo according to their amazon village law.

A figure in the shadows watches as they pass. After they turn down a street, he steps into the light. “I know I’ve been away for awhile,” says Ryoga, “but I didn’t think it was that long.” He goes into Ukyo’s place.

“Hi, Sugar.” she says, “Where have you been?”

“I’m not sure, but it was snowing in Northern Hokkaido three days ago.” he says. Hokkaido is the northern most part of Japan.

Smiling, Ukyo shakes her head and pours some batter onto the grill, “You must be hungry then.”

He watches her for a while and asks, “Ukyo, did I miss anything while I was gone?”

“You mean like, Ran-Chan and Akane with a baby?” she asks.

“That might be a good place to start.” he says.

Here is Part I of the second in a series of Ranma 1/2 based Fan-Fiction stories that I wrote years ago.

 

Chapter 2

Of Babies and Pendants

By: Peter A. Gauthier

 

It’s a sunny afternoon and Kasumi is smiling as she enters the Dojo gate with a stroller and a large bag. Her father, Soun Tendo sees her. Smiling at his eldest of three daughters, he says, “Hello, Kasumi.” He looks at the stroller, his eyes go wide and his jaw drops.

Nabiki walks up from behind her father, looks at the stroller and says, “Oh, looks like I’m an Aunt.”

“That’s not funny, Nabiki.” he says to his middle daughter, then asks “What is this, Kasumi?”

“It’s a baby, Father.” says Kasumi in pure innocence. In the stroller is a baby girl that appears to be about eight months old. She seems to be more interested in her own toes than the man and young woman who stand before her.

“Wh-wh-who’s baby is it?” he asks.

“Mrs. Katai’s.” explains Kasumi, “She is one of Dr. Tofu’s patients. Her husband is out of the country right now and she has to go into the hospital for some tests. She asked Dr. Tofu to recommend someone to take care of her daughter. He told her that I would be a good choice to baby-sit Arumi for a few days.”

Nabiki kneels down in front of the stroller to look at the baby, “Hello, Arumi, I’m Nabiki, I’ll be your Aunt for the next few days.” Arumi laughs at her, but Soun Tendo is not amused.

Kasumi takes Arumi inside. Kasumi’s youngest sister, Akane and her fiancé Ranma Saotome see her enter. Both are martial artists and it is planed that they will take over from Akane’s father the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. While Kasumi is nineteen years old and Nabiki is seventeen, both Akane and Ranma are sixteen.

“Oh, it’s a baby!” Akane says and asks her sister, “Kasumi, where did it come from? Can I hold it?”

Kasumi says to her, “Of course you can, Akane. This will be good bridal training.”

Akane winces, but picks up the baby. Kasumi continues, “This is Arumi, she’s Mrs. Katai’s daughter. She needs someone to look after her while her mother is in the hospital for tests.” Arumi smiles at Akane as she studies her face.

Ranma steps up and says to his fiancée, “Better be careful Akane, you might end up wanting one of your own someday.” Arumi looks at Ranma and begins to cry.

Akane says, “Better be careful yourself, Ranma. Here’s another girl that’s not in love with you.” Akane and Ranma’s relationship is strained because their engagement was decided for them and not by them. Despite their continued protests over the arangement, the months that followed have softened their feelings to one another, a little.

Akane goes down the hall with Kasumi, leaving Ranma scratching his head. He goes outside. Akane follows Kasumi into the bathroom and helps her bathe Arumi.

Kasumi sits back and looks at her sister and the baby.

“Akane,” she says, “watching you and Arumi, it reminds me of when I would help our mother take care of you when you were a baby.” Her eyes are moist.

Akane swallows and says, “I miss her too.” They finish the bath and Kasumi takes Arumi as Akane goes upstairs to her room.

 

Ranma is outside practicing with his father, but he is distracted and ends up in the pond. As a result of a curse he and his father acquired in China, they both turn into the form of the person or animal that drowned in the spring that they each fell into, Ranma changes from his normal appearance of a black haired, pig-tailed boy of sixteen, into a red haired pig-tailed girl of sixteen when splashed with cold water. Ranma looks back at his father.

“Ranma, you have to concentrate better than that if you want to carry on the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts.” Genma Saotome says.

Girl-Ranma swings his arms through the water splashing his father. “Who says I want to?” he says to the panda form that his father takes on when he is splashed with cold water. Ranma leaves the pond and enters the Tendo house. He goes down the hall to the bathroom as Kasumi, carrying Arumi, comes from there. Arumi sees Ranma and laughs. Ranma is surprised, “I guess you like me after all eh, Arumi?”

“Ranma,” asks Kasumi, “would you please hold Arumi while I get my bed ready for her nap?” Arumi puts her arms out and Kasumi gives her to Ranma.

“Okay, Kasumi.” he says. He takes Arumi, although he is not sure why she suddenly likes him. He follows Kasumi upstairs and into her bedroom. He looks around. Definitely, Kasumi. he thinks, as he sees how the room is decorated. Kasumi is the most soft-spoken and yet most feminine of the Tendo sisters. It is she who has taken over many of the household duties following the passing of their mother. Kasumi arranges pillows and rolled up blankets on the bed to make a circle. In girl-Ranma’s arms, Arumi yawns. Ranma smiles and puts her into the open space on the bed.

“Thank-you, Ranma.” says Kasumi, “Will you watch her? I have to get dinner ready.”

“No problem Kasumi, but, I could use some hot water.” he says as Arumi falls asleep. It is hot water that restores Ranma and his father into their normal forms.

“I’ll ask Akane to bring you some.” she says and goes down the hall.

Ranma pulls up a chair and watches Arumi sleep. Soon, he is yawning.

 

Akane is in her room searching through a jewelry case. She takes out plastic rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Under it all, she finds a small black velvet box.

“Here it is.” she says and takes it out of the case. She opens the box. Inside is an oval cameo pendant on a thin gold chain. The cameo is in white ivory on a black background with a gold band attaching it to the chain. Akane studies the finely carved cameo and looks at a photograph in a frame on her desk. The two are a close match. Akane holds the pendant up to the photo, “See, Mother,” she says as tears form, “I still have it.” She senses soft footsteps coming to her door. She puts the pendant away and dries her eyes. Akane hears a gentle knock at her door. “Yes, Kasumi,” she asks as her sister opens the door, “what is it?”

Kasumi smiles and says, “Ranma is watching Arumi in my room, could you please take him some hot water?” Akane smiles at her sister and nods.

 

Ranma jumps as Akane comes up behind him, “Looks like you could use a nap too.” she whispers. She pours the hot water on him and hands him a towel.

“I’m okay Akane. She seems to like me now.” he whispers back.

“And just when I thought she had good taste.” she whispers. Smiling, she leaves.

I have about 18 more Ranma 1/2 stories as well as a few that are not related to Ranma. Let me know over at Pibgorn which you would prefer.

Meanwhile...

 

The Critterfolk.

Mankind has often had an uneasy relationship with the animals that dwell in the deep forrests that mark the boundaries of our towns and villages. Each generation must pass down to the next what is known of these unknowable places.

It was late spring. The brush had been cleared to the very edge of the forrest and the fields have been planted. In the evening, we took our ease and gathered 'round the children for the stories that they would hear. Being the grandfather, I was given pride of place. A rocking chair, padded and plump against my weary bones, stood in as my throne. As the children settled in, I lit my pipe and gave each of them a stern stare to quiet them down. A puff of blue smoke put out the match and I gently rocked back in my chair. As the chair rocked to and fro, I began my tale.

"I suppose you young 'uns have heard 'bout the Critterfolk?" I asked.

A few nodded, but the rest shook their heads. I rose up in my chair, turned my head to the side and "P-too!" SPANG! Hit the spitoon that was always by my side. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and glared at my wife lest she complain.

"The Critterfolk," I started, "are the animals of the forrest that can talk as plain as you or I. If'n they be humans turned to animals, or animals that learnt to talk, no one knows. My grampy told me about them when I was your age and I didn't believe him. I'll tell you one thing. I believe him now. Each year, we fight to keep the forrest from taking our land, our fields. Clearing the brush so we can plant each spring is only part of it. The rest of the year, we walk the edge of the forrest. We walk so we can find the places that the Critterfolk are trying to plant new trees beyond the forrest edge. These are not seedlings. We can tell by the animal tracks and disturbed soil that these saplings were planted in the ground that was opened up by a burrowing animal. Someday, the forrest will win. When our fields fail and our village must seek new lands or starve, the Critterfolk will plant new trees. The forrest will swallow our homes and our tiny village will fade from memory."

The battle is fierce as Happosai sends girl-type Ranma flying through the air with each attack, but soon, Ranma is landing blows. Swatting at Happosai like a cat playing with a mouse. Happosai lights and throws a ball, “Happo fire burst!” he says. Ranma paws the ball right back at him and it explodes. Happosai retaliates, but Ranma gets through and in quick succession, he bats Happosai around until the old man lies at Ranma’s feet, too dizzy to put up any fight.

Ukyo and Maxine watch in amazement as Ranma picks up Happosai by the collar with his teeth, carries him over, and sets him down at the feet of Cologne.

“A present? For me?” Cologne asks and scratches girl-type Ranma behind the ears, “Thank-you, Son-in-law. I know just what to do with the old goat.”

“Purr-r-r.” says Ranma.

Maxine turns to Ukyo, “Now is your chance, Ukyo.” she says.

Ukyo nods. Maxine backs off into the trees.

“Ran-chan, here, kitty-kitty.” Ukyo calls nervously.

Ranma turns and comes to her. “Meow?” Girl-type Ranma says while purring, and rubs against Ukyo’s legs. Ukyo kneels down and pets Ranma’s head.

“Ranma!” calls Akane as she enters the clearing. Ranma looks and bounds his way to Akane’s lap. “Purr-r-r” he says as she begins to rub his head and back.

“Good kitty.” she says in a soothing voice, “Nice kitty.” Ranma soon appears to be asleep as he purrs on Akane’s lap.

Ukyo watches as girl-type Ranma calms down. She finds Ranma’s blouse and takes it to Akane. Akane puts it on Ranma. Together Akane and Ukyo, slowly, gently, bring Ranma to his senses.

In the trees, as Maxine watches, she calls out softly, “Hello, Tsubasa, I know you’re in the bushes.”

After a moment, a bush stands up. Tsubasa was hiding in the bushes, literally.

He sheds his bush disguise and walks up to her, “Hello, Maxine.”

Maxine looks at him, the school girl’s uniform he has on, is a little worse for wear.

“You’re not going to run?” she asks.

He shakes his head, “I’m tired.”

“Good.” she says, “So am I.”

“Manx?” asks Tsubasa, “Why are you chasing me?”

She smiles, grabs his shoulders, and kisses him. Tsubasa’s eyes go wide open, then close as tears form. His arms go around her and pull her in.

 

The next day, Ukyo, Ranma, and Akane escort Maxine to the station. When they get there, a young man, with two bags of his own, is waiting for them.

“Hello Maxine.” he says, the soft voice is unmistakable, “Hello Ukyo, Ranma, Akane.”

“Tsubasa?!” the later three say in surprise. No longer in a dress, he is wearing boy’s clothes and sporting shorter hair. Maxine sets her bags down, goes to his side and puts her arm around Tsubasa’s.

“We’re going to Yokohama to meet his parents.” says Maxine. “Then, all of us will go to Nagoya, so they can meet mine.”

“Manx?” asks Ukyo, still not believing it, “You and Tsubasa?”

“Just Maxine from now on, Ukyo.” she says as she takes the clips from her hair, “There is no longer any need for ‘Manx’ to go on the prowl.”

The three wave as the train pulls away from the station.

As the train disappears, Akane says, “I guess that’s all anybody really wants, someone who cares for them and no one else.”

Ranma hears sighs on both sides as Akane and Ukyo lean into him. Soon, each has her arm around one of his. He thinks, Uh-oh. This, could get ugly.

 

Meanwhile, at the Cat Cafe, Happosai is standing on a footstool with his arms outstretched, “This is embarrassing.”

“Hold still, you old fool.” warns Cologne, “A Chinese festival is coming up next week and I need a new dress. You may not be exactly my size, but you’re close enough. I’ll just have to take it in a little here and there.”

“Madam! Are you insinuating that I am fat?!” he says, “OW!!”

“Hold still!” Cologne says, “You’re always stealing women’s garments, I didn’t think you’d mind wearing them.”

 

Fade out.

 

That's all for this chapter. Let me know if you want to see more Ranma 1/2 Fan-Ficts.

The next day finds Ranma at the top of a telephone pole as he watches Maxine walk up a side street, searching for her prey. He sees her come to a stop.

“Three, two, one.” he says counting down. Instead of leaping on a nearby mailbox, she turns around and charges a soda machine that gets up and runs away. At the corner, Tsubasa dumps the machine in Maxine’s path and makes good his escape.

That night, Ranma prepares for bed. He goes to the closet and pulls out a large bedroll.

He unrolls it and Tsubasa pops out. “Tsubasa?! What are you doing here?” he asks and looks around.

“I’m sorry, Ranma.” he says, “Maxine’s resting at Ukyo’s. By now she knows all of my hiding places. I needed to find somewhere to sleep tonight. For some reason she hasn’t come near this Dojo.”

“There is a reason for that.” Ranma says and carefully tells him about how she triggered his fear of cats.

“I understand, Ranma.” he says, “I’m afraid of her too.”

“Look,” says Ranma, “even if you’re afraid of her, sooner or later you’re going to have to face her. At least you can find out why she’s chasing you.”

Genma slides the door open.

“Can I spend the night with you, Ranma?” pleads Tsubasa.

Genma’s eyes open wide on hearing this, “Oh, excuse me.” he says and begins to slide the door closed.

“Pop.” says Ranma, “It’s okay. You remember Tsubasa, don’t you?”

Genma stops and looks more closely at him, “Ah, yes, the boy who dresses like a girl.

For a minute there,” he adds, “I thought you had found another fiancée.”

“Why, how many more have you lined up for me today?!” asks Ranma.

Genma coughs into his hand, “Yes, well.” he says, and slides the door shut.

 

Tsubasa spends the night, but he is gone when Ranma wakes up. Ranma is reminded of the story about the early bird and the worm.

Throughout the day they see Maxine on the prowl. Sooner or later something catches her attention just before it runs away. From a statue in a fountain to an animal mascot of a store handing out free samples.

Akane is walking back to the Dojo with takeout boxes and tea from Ukyo’s restaurant. She passes by trash cans someone has set out for pickup. She sees a large box next to the cans. “Looks like someone got a new stove.” she says.

She hears a loud whisper, “Akane, is that you?”

She looks around, the box has a hole cut out near the top, “Tsubasa, is that you?”

“Yes,” he says, “is Maxine around?”

Akane says, “I just saw her having lunch at Ukyo’s.” She hears a rumble coming from the box, “Have you had lunch yet?”

“I haven’t had time,” he says, “I never know when she’ll show up.”

Akane looks around and sets one of the takeout boxes and teas by the large box. Tsubasa lifts the box and Akane slides them in.

“Thank-you, Akane.” he says as he lowers the box.

“You’re welcome, Tsubasa.” Akane says and smiles. She doesn’t tell him that the food is from Ukyo and that Maxine told Akane where to find him.

When Ranma goes to his room that night, he finds Tsubasa already asleep on a bedroll.

Ranma just shakes his head and prepares for bed.

 

The next morning Ukyo is talking to Maxine before she goes out.

“Only one more day, Manx.” she says.

“Yes.” she says, “Now is the time to get serious.” With that, she pulls from her pocket two hair clips with black velvet triangles on them. After she puts them in her hair, they look just like cat’s ears. With them on, she looks even more feline than before.

She poses and in a cat’s voice says, “Meow” to Ukyo. They both laugh.

“I think I’ll go with you today.” Ukyo says, “Being here in my restaurant, I’ve been missing all the fun.”

“Good,” says Maxine, “I can use you as bait.” She looks at the clock. “We can go now, it’s been about an hour since he left the Tendo Dojo.”

“How do you know that?” asks Ukyo.

“I watched him leave this morning. He spent the last two nights there.” she says.

“Manx, you will make a great detective, someday.” says Ukyo.

“What do you mean, ‘someday’?” she asks, mockingly.

By mid-afternoon, the tag-team of Ukyo and Maxine have flushed Tsubasa from hiding four times.

Ranma, however, has his own problems.

“COME BACK HERE, OLD MAN!!!” calls out a topless girl-type Ranma.

“I don’t think so.” says Happosai as he runs with Ranma’s blouse in his hands and a full bag on his back, “What a haul, what a haul!” as he jumps from rooftop to rooftop. Ranma is in close pursuit.

They pass by Ukyo and Maxine. “What is that all about?” asks Maxine.

“It’s a long story.” says Ukyo and starts to run after Ranma, “We’d better follow them.”

“What about Tsubasa?” asks Maxine as she catches up to Ukyo.

“Right now,” says Ukyo, “he can wait.”

Maxine looks back to see a green plastic turtle, from a store display, following them.

Girl-Ranma and Happosai are now facing each other in a park. Along the way, girl-type Ranma has found a length of cloth and has tied it around his chest.

“Don’t you ever get enough, you old pervert!” shouts girl-type Ranma.

“It’s never enough!” he yells, “Panties, bras, a whole bag full! I might have one that will fit even you, my buxom cutie! Why don’t you try one on for size?”

“You’re never going to see me in a bra, you old letch!” says Ranma.

“You’ve got the figure for it.” says Happosai, “Why not show it off with something lacy?”

“Now you’ve done it!” says Ranma as his anger explodes, “This is the day I pay you back, old man!”

“HA!” he says, “I’ve seen your best. I’m not worried.”

“Son-in-law,” says Cologne nearby, “use your Cat-Fist!”

He looks around, but Shampoo is not there. “There aren’t any cats!” he says.

Shampoo, like Ranma, has fallen in a spring at Jusenkyo. Now, when splashed with cold water, she becomes a small, pink, cat.

“I think I can help.” says Maxine as she lowers herself from a tree. She slinks up to Ranma. Her approach is like a cat stalking a mouse. The ear-like hair clips are folded back. Girl-type Ranma starts to shake.

“Mmrraannmmaarr!” Maxine growls like an angry cat and closes in on him. Ranma is frozen in place by fear. She leaps at him, knocking him to the ground, “HISSS, MMRROOWW!!” she yowls. He is now in full panic and laughing uncontrollably.

Her fingernails dig into his shoulders like claws. She snarls at him, baring her teeth to give him the full effect. His hands close into pawlike fists and completing the change, he begins to, “MMEEOOWW!!” Maxine lets him up. Girl-type Ranma gets on all fours, his back arching and he turns on Happosai.

Ukyo comes out of the back to find girl-type Ranma and Akane sitting at the counter. Ranma is holding a glass of water in both hands because he is still shaky. Akane continues to rub his back with one hand. As she enters, Ranma looks behind Ukyo as if expecting someone else.

“It’s okay, Ran-Chan,” says Ukyo, “she’ll stay up there until you’re gone.”

“Sorry about this, Ukyo.” says Ranma.

“Maxine told me a little about this Cat-Fu,” Ukyo says, “but I still don’t understand it. What could possibly make you so afraid of cats?”

Akane tells Ukyo about the Cat-Fu training, but she has to avoid saying ‘Cat’, because when Ukyo said it, Ranma started to shake again.

“Ranma’s father found a book describing the training. It requires that the trainee be wrapped in fish sausage and dropped in a pit of starving...,” she looks at Ranma who is shaking even more, “Anyway, that is why he is now so afraid of them. If his fear goes beyond a certain point, the only way he can cope with it, is to take on the personality of, what he fears the most. He even fights like one using the Cat-Fist. When he’s like that, no one can beat him in a fight. So far, I seem to be the only one who can calm him down when he’s that way.”

After the explanation and girl-type Ranma is calmed down again, Akane takes him home.

 

Over the next few days Ranma and the others see Maxine looking for Tsubasa and are often surprised when something nearby runs away. Akane is in gym class when she sees Maxine getting in line for the vaulting horse. When it is her turn, instead of preparing to vault, she runs at the horse. It rises up and takes off for the nearest exit. Tsubasa abandons the horse at the door, forcing Maxine to pull it aside so she can get through. When she and Akane make it through the door, Tsubasa is nowhere to be seen. Maxine smiles and springs after a rapidly retreating water fountain.

 

One evening, she returns to Ukyo’s place. With a smile she sits at the counter.

“Having fun?” Ukyo asks.

“Just like old times.” she says.

“What can I get for you, Manx?” Ukyo asks.

“Ukyo, right now, I could eat two of your excellent pizzas.” she says.

“Are you giving up for the night?” Ukyo asks while mixing the batter.

She nods, “We both need our rest for tomorrow.” she says, “If I wear him down too soon, it won’t be any fun at all.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this.” Ukyo says as she pours the batter, “I haven’t seen Tsubasa since you got here.”

“Wasn’t that the idea?” she asks.

Ukyo nods her head, “How long can you stay?”

“My parents gave me a week,” she says, “that leaves me three more days before I go back.”

“I guess I’d better enjoy this peace while it lasts.” Ukyo says and serves Maxine the first of her Okonomiyakis.

“How are things going with you and Ranma?” she asks before taking a bite.

Ukyo frowns, “No offense Manx, but, Ran-chan’s kind of avoiding me. I think he may be afraid you’ll show up, while he’s with me.”

“I’m sorry, Ukyo.” she says, “I don’t want to come between you two. He must be spending all of his time with Akane, if he’s not with you.”

“Actually, they don’t always get along so well.” Ukyo says and thinks for a bit then says, “Forcing them to spend more time together, may instead drive them apart.”

“Still,” says Maxine between bites, “Akane must be someone special to him.”

“Well,” says Ukyo, “she is his fiancée.”

“That’s not what I mean.” says Maxine, “From what I understand about the Cat-Fu training, it takes someone very special to them to calm them down after they change and become a cat.”

“Someone special to them?” Ukyo thinks, then says, “I wonder if I could calm him down if he becomes a cat?”

“If you can,” she says, “it would mean he cares for you as much as he cares for Akane.”

Ukyo has to think about this for a while.

As Ukyo tells Maxine about Ranma’s curse, girl-type Ranma seems to be making a special effort to keep away from Maxine and watches her nervously. Akane notices this and, as she walks, she begins to put a little distance between her and Ukyo.

“What’s wrong, Ranma?” she whispers to him.

“I don’t know, Akane.” he whispers as he keeps an eye on Maxine, “She makes me nervous for some reason. I’m not a boy dressed like a girl. Right now, I’m a girl dressed like a boy. How did she know I’m not really a girl?”

Akane returns to Ukyo’s side, “Excuse me, Ukyo. Maxine, how did you know that Ranma isn’t normally a girl?” The two look at Akane.

“Didn’t Ukyo tell you?” says Maxine, “I am a master at detecting disguises. Besides, even Tsubasa acted more feminine than your friend over there.” and begins to laugh.

Ukyo and Akane join her. Girl-type Ranma, however, doesn’t think it’s so funny.

He thinks, I can act more feminine than the three of you put together. Then he stops, as if coming to his senses, “What am I thinking?!”

“I don’t know, Ranma.” says Akane, “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing, Akane. Nevermind.” he quickly says. He didn’t realize that he had said anything out loud.

They arrive at the restaurant and pause out front. Maxine looks up and down the street. She stops and stares at a small vendor’s cart near a corner.

“Three, two, one.” she says. Just after she reaches “one”, the vendor’s cart shakes and quickly wheels itself around the corner.

“Right on time.” she says and they go inside. Ranma, who is still acting nervously, is the last to enter.

Ukyo goes behind the counter as the others sit down. She pours drinks of water for them and takes one herself.

Maxine asks, “Where will I be staying?”

Ukyo says, “There is a spare room upstairs, next to mine. It’s all yours.”

“Good,” she says, “after I freshen up, ‘Manx’ goes on the prowl.”

“Why do they call you ‘Manx’?” asks Akane.

“Manx,” says Maxine, “is a breed of cat. My mother always said I was part cat.”

Girl-type Ranma chokes on his water. “That’s it!” he says dropping his glass and backing into a corner.

“Ranma!” says Akane, “What’s wrong?!”

“CAT!” he says, shaking and looking at Maxine. “Get it away from me!” he says as he starts becoming hysterical. His eyes stare wide open at Maxine as the panic spreads throughout his body.

“Ranma, snap out of it!” says Akane as she goes to him. “She is not a cat!”

“What’s wrong with Ran-Chan, Akane?” asks Ukyo.

“It’s his Cat-Fu training,” she says trying to calm him down, hands on his face, “Ranma, has a deep seated fear of cats.”

Maxine stands up, “Ukyo, you’d better show me to my room. Akane, Ranma should calm down after I go upstairs.” She picks up her bags and follows Ukyo through the door that leads to the stairs. Ranma stares at her as she leaves. He is shuddering and his hands are balling up into pawlike fists.

“She’s gone now, Ranma.” says Akane. One hand is on his face the other is rubbing his shoulder. “Calm down.” she says in a soothing voice. Girl-type Ranma’s shudders are slow to ease and his fists tense briefly as they begin to relax.

Upstairs, Ukyo shows Maxine to her room.

“I don’t know what came over Ran-Chan.” Ukyo says, “I’ve never heard of Cat-Fu.”

“As I was growing up,” Maxine says as she unpacks, “I studied cat fighting and hunting techniques. That’s how I was always able to track down Tsubasa so easily. I heard about Cat-Fu and wanted to study it, but my father forbade it. He found out that it had been banned because those who undertook the training could be psychologically damaged. Even to the point of giving them a really serious fear of cats. Just the word ‘CAT’ could cause them to panic. I guess I must remind Ranma of a cat because of my nickname and my training. That must have triggered the reaction we saw downstairs.”

Ukyo thinks about this for a while, “I guess so.” she says, “Well, you get settled and I’ll go check on Ran-Chan.”

“Ukyo.” says Maxine, “Thank-you for asking me to come here.”

Ukyo gives her a quick hug, “You are doing me a favor. I’m glad you could get here so soon. Tsubasa was driving me crazy.”

Smiling, Maxine says, “Don’t worry about him, Ukyo. As long as I’m here, he won’t be bothering you one little bit.”

“Isn’t there some way you could take him with you?” asks Ukyo as a joke.

Still smiling, “I’ll see what I can do.” she says.

Ukyo leaves Maxine to unpack and freshen up.

The next day, they meet Ukyo outside her restaurant.

Akane says, “Hi, Ukyo.”

Ukyo says, “Hi, Akane, Ran-Chan. Shall we go?”

Ranma asks, “Where are we going, Ukyo?”

She smiles and in a clear voice she says, “We’re going to the train station to pick up, MAXINE RYOOSHI!” She then looks up and down the street. Ranma and Akane are puzzled, but do the same. Ukyo points to a trash can on the other side of the street. It is shaking. Litter pops out as Tsubasa, in a dress, stands up.

“MAXINE!!” he screams, “Ukyo, how could you do this to me?!”

“It’s your own fault, Tsubasa!” yells Ukyo.

“If Manx is coming,” he says in a panic, “I’ve got to hide!” He picks up the handles of the trash can and runs up the street. Tsubasa trips, but just as quickly, regains his feet.

“Look at him go.” says Ukyo smiling. After he turns a corner, Ukyo turns to go to the station. Ranma and Akane catch up to her.

“Ukyo,” asks Akane, “who is this Maxine?”

Ukyo says, “She was one of Tsubasa’s ‘playmates’ before her parents moved.” As they walk, she continues, “Maxine’s favorite game is ‘Hide and Seek’ and Tsubasa was always her favorite target. Even when he didn’t want to play, she would chase him down. She was so good, Tsubasa started to wear disguises. That’s when he started dressing like a girl. A simple wig and a dress didn’t fool Maxine for long, so, Tsubasa learned not only how to dress like a girl, he learned to use makeup and perfume, and how to walk, talk and act just like a girl. Even after all that failed and he started to hide in things, not just behind them, he still dressed like a girl. My father used to say that Tsubasa was becoming more feminine than I was. I didn’t care, because I was still trying to become the best Okonomiyaki Chef in the world and build up my martial arts so I could get revenge on Ran-Chan and his father. Two years ago, Maxine and her parents moved to Nagoya. That’s when Tsubasa started to chase after me.”

“Isn’t that when you were going to that all boys school?” asks Akane.

Ukyo nods.

Ranma asks, “Tsubasa knew you were a girl, what about Maxine?”

“She knew right away.” Ukyo says, “She was chasing a girl and as they passed me, she stopped, looked me over and asked me why I was dressed like a boy. Before I could say anything, she ran off. I later found out it was Tsubasa, she was chasing.”

They arrive at the station and Ukyo checks the time tables, “Her train should be here in a few minutes.” she says.

“So,” says Ranma, “she’s coming here to chase Tsubasa all over again?”

“Yes,” says Ukyo, “and the sooner she gets here, the better.”

Ranma sees a water fountain and goes to get a drink. He turns on the water and as he bends down, his hand slips and the cold water splashes him in the face. Akane laughs.

“Ha, Ha.” the, now, girl-type Ranma says sarcastically. Ranma wipes the water from his face.

As a train pulls in, Ukyo says, “This is her train.” They watch as passengers get off.

“Ukyo!” calls out a girl, smiling and carrying two bags.

“There she is!” says Ukyo waving to her, “Maxine!”

Ranma and Akane watch as a girl, with a catlike grace, walks toward them.

“Hi, Ukyo.” she says to her as she walks up. She looks at Akane and Ranma, then to Ukyo, she asks, “Who’s your boyfriend?” Her head motioning to Ranma as she sets her bags down.

“What?” say Ranma and Akane. Ranma looks down to make sure he’s still a girl.

“You may look like a girl, and you have a girl’s scent on you,” she says looking at Ranma, “but everything else tells me, you are a boy.” She looks at Ukyo, “This can’t be Tsubasa?”

“No, he’s not Tsubasa.” Ukyo says and makes the introductions, “Maxine, this is my fiancé, Ranma Saotome and this,” pointing to Akane, “is his fiancée, Akane Tendo.”

“A girl, who is normally a boy,” says Maxine smiling, “and has two fiancées who are both girls? This is one story, I’ve got to hear.”

“Let’s go back to my restaurant and we’ll tell you all about it on the way.” says Ukyo.

Maxine picks up one bag as Ukyo grabs the other. Maxine walks on one side of Ukyo, Akane and Ranma on the other.

“Did you tell Tsubasa,” Maxine asks Ukyo, “that I was coming?”

“Oh,” says Ukyo, “he knows all right.”

“Good.” says Maxine, “I always like to give him a head start.”

“Why is that?” asks Akane.

Maxine looks at Akane, “Right now,” she says, “he’s in a frenzy searching for a place to hide where I won’t find him. Only he doesn’t know how I look right now, so he can’t be sure who he is hiding from. Any girl my age, approaching his hiding spot, could be me and he won’t take the chance of being caught, so he will run instead. By the time we get to the restaurant, he may be so worn out that he will return to a place near Ukyo’s restaurant, so he can see what I look like.”

 

Since the Joe Minotaur detective stories are on hold, I've added a couple of unrelated short stories. I do have a few longer stories and I will be posting a few pages of each until the story is complete. The first entry will be fan-fiction based on a favorite Japanese Manga/Anime; Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi.

Keep watching this space!