Stoner 3:17 Presents

	Double or Nothing

	A "Ranma 1/2" Fanfiction Series

	Written by Jeremy Mullin (stoner317@hotmail.com)

	"Ranma 1/2" characters and situations created by Rumiko 
Takahashi.  All rights reserved, used without permission.  Please don't 
sue, I have no money.

	PART 7: Enter the Eternal Lost... Pervert?!

     Ranma turned and looked at Kasumi in surprise.  "I got a letter in 
the mail?  From Ryoga Hibiki?!"
     "That's right," Kasumi said with a smile as she handed him the 
letter.  "It's so nice that you two are such good friends, isn't it?"
     "Yeah, all my friends want to fight me over bread," he grumbled in 
reply as he tore open the envelope and pulled the letter out to read it.
     "So... what does he say?" Akane asked cautiously.  She had a good 
idea of the answer, and was a little afraid of it.  If Ryoga were to meet 
Ranma now, he would most likely have the advantage and use every bit 
of it.
     Ranma didn't reply at first as he read the letter, then again before he 
frowned in annoyance.  "I don't believe this!  He wants to challenge me 
to a fight!"
     "What's the matter, Ranma?" Nabiki asked with a smirk.  "Afraid 
he'll beat you?"
     "No, I can't get what he needs to fight me for," Ranma replied.  
"Like it's my fault his life isn't going good.  Other than the bread, which 
wasn't that good to begin with, anyway, I've never done anything to 
him."
     Ranko looked over at her brother with a smile.  "Well, c'mon.  I 
mean, you should know about Ryoga, right?"
     Ranma frowned and nodded.  "Oh, yeah.  I know all about him."
     Ranko's smile fell as she heard this.  She suddenly had a bad feeling 
of what could happen should Ryoga show up for the fight.
     Akane observed the interaction between the twins, trying to figure 
out what was the cause of the sudden tension between them.  Unable to 
figure it out, she gave up and instead looked over Ranma's shoulder at 
the letter.  She frowned a little bit as she read it herself.  "Um, Ranma?  
This challenge was set for two days ago."
     Ranma snorted.  "That's probably when he found the mailbox to 
mail this thing.  That guy couldn't find a trashcan he was standing right 
next to without getting lost.  I'll bet you right now he's stopped by some 
road somewhere and asking..."

     "Excuse me, sir, but could you tell me where the Tendo Dojo or 
Furinkan High School is?"
     The farmer stared confusingly at the haggard-looking young man 
with the bandanna and heavy backpack who had stopped him on his 
way to the market, asking for directions.  "Didn't I just see you five 
minutes ago, boy?"
     His cow let out a "moo" in response.

		*		*		*

     (One week later...)

     Ryoga Hibiki trudged his way down the street, a scowl on his face.  
He was quite a sight, slightly dirty from all of his back roads traveling 
and bent over from the weight of his pack and the present he was 
bringing for Akane.  He ignored the people who quickly moved out of 
the way to avoid him, some even hustling their children out of the way 
a little more quickly than others.  He had other things to worry about 
than what other people thought of him.
     A week.  It had taken him a whole week to find his way back to 
Tokyo.  And the whole time, he kept going in the wrong direction, no 
thanks to people who couldn't give good directions.  Not that he was 
any better at following them, but those people could have at least been 
a bit more helpful.
     But it would all pay off in the end.  Oh, yes.  As soon as he found 
the Tendo Dojo, and Ranma, they would settle things once and for all.  
He would have his revenge, and Ranma would be lying broken at his 
feet.
     And Akane...  Akane...  The very thought of the girl brought a warm 
feeling to his heart.  Her smiling image entered his mind, bringing him 
a rare moment of peace...
     One that was shattered when someone accidentally collided with 
him, sending him flat on his back to the ground.  To add insult to 
injury, he was practically run over as a pair of running feet impacted on 
his body, the final step sending his face into the sidewalk.
     "Whoops!  Sorry, buddy, but I'm in a hurry!"
     Ryoga growled as he began to pick himself up.  Stupid pedestrians.  
Why couldn't they watch where they were going, instead of always 
causing accidents because they were "in a hurry"?  If that had been 
Ranma, Ryoga would show that girl the meaning of the word "sorry".
     Wait a minute...  A sudden thought entered Ryoga's head.  He had 
only gotten a quick glimpse, but didn't that girl have red hair?  He 
quickly turned to where the girl was headed away from him, and, sure 
enough, she had red hair.
     Which was tied into a long pig-tail that went straight down her back.
     A nasty grin spread across Ryoga's face.  Perhaps this was his lucky 
day after all...
     Having a rare moment where his sense of direction *didn't* fail him, 
he ran down the street, following his target.  Once he got close enough, 
he drew his umbrella from its place on the top of his pack, and leapt 
into the air.
     "RANMA!  PREPARE TO DIE!!!"
     The girl stopped in her tracks as she heard the battle, then turned 
around and looked up.  Unfortunately for Ryoga, this allowed her to 
quickly leap out of the way as he came crashing down onto the 
sidewalk, smashing a small crater into the spot where she had been 
standing.  After the dust settled down, he stood to his feet and faced off 
against his long-time rival.
     "So, Ranma, long time, no see."  An evil grin was spread across 
Ryoga's face as he noticed that Ranma-chan actually had a worried 
look on her face.  He was getting luckier and luckier by the minute.
     And her response made his day even more.  "Er, I'm, uh, sorry, 
mister," she stammered, "but I think you have me confused with 
someone else."
     Ryoga frowned and snorted.  "Yeah, right.  You think I'm stupid or 
something, Ranma?  If you think that disguise is going to fool me, 
you're nuts.  All that outfit and hairstyle does is make you look more 
like a girl."  He put emphasis on the last word, almost as though he 
were sneering it out.
     Now it was Ranma-chan's turn to frown as she *glared* at Ryoga 
with a fury that was almost on par with Akane's.  And Ryoga had seen 
it enough times to know what that was like.  "Listen, pal, I'm warning 
you..."
     "Ooooh, I'm scared," Ryoga sneered mockingly.  He then got 
serious.  "But I'm tired of standing around and talking.  Let's finish this.  
NOW!"
     With that, he lunged forward to attack, swinging his umbrella at 
Ranma-chan, who dodged easily.  Cursing himself for forgetting that 
Ranma was faster in female form, he continued his pursuit as the girl 
tried to get away.  He wasn't about to let that happen, and he was able 
to catch up and continue his attack.  Or try to, anyway, since Ranma-
chan was able to dodge each swipe, thrust, and stab with ease.
     "Hold still, damn you!" he snarled in frustration.  What made it even 
worse was that she wasn't fighting back, only dodging his attacks.  Not 
that he minded, but he at least was expecting something more of a fight.
     "What?  And let you hit me?" Ranma-chan gasped as she leaned 
away from a jab aimed for her face.  "No thanks!"
     "That's the idea!" Ryoga shouted back and he continued.  It went on 
like that for awhile, Ryoga attacking and Ranma dodging, even as they 
rushed through a crowd of people who ignored the combatants.  They 
finally stopped when they came to a wall that Ryoga cornered Ranma 
at.  His grin returned as he approached her with his umbrella pointing 
straight at her, her back pressed against the wall.
     "Here's where it ends, Ranma.  After all this time, I'll finally have 
my revenge.  And I can say I did it without having you lay one hand on 
me."
     Through her gasping for breath, Ranma-chan had a slight grin on her 
face.  This, of course, made Ryoga a little miffed.  His rival's cockiness 
never seemed to end, even in defeat.
     "This ain't over, yet, pal" she gasped out.  "And you know what?  I 
can still win without even having to throw a single punch at you."
     Ryoga just about had to hold his breath to keep from bursting out 
laughing.  "Oh, really?  And just how do you plan to do that?"
     Ranma-chan's grin spread further as she replied, "I didn't want to do 
this, but you've left me no choice.  Saotome Anything-Goes Attack, 
Maken Dokoku Ha (1), revised..."  She then took a deep breath, and...
     "EEEEK!!!  HELP! THIS GUY'S ATTACKING ME AND GOING 
TO DO UNSPEAKABLE THINGS TO ME!  HELLLP!!!"
     This, of course, drew the attention of every bystander in the area, 
who suddenly gathered around a surprised Ryoga in a typical mob-type 
fashion.  Martial artist battles were one thing.  Attacks on innocent 
young girls, however, where another.  Especially when the girl was as 
cute as Ranma-chan.
     "You hear that?  He attacked that girl!"
     "The fiend!"
     "I always knew those martial artists were trouble!"
     "And he's cute, too!  Why's it always the cute ones?!"
     "GET 'IM!"
     Ryoga suddenly became very worried.  "No!  Wait!  I--"  He didn't 
get much further chance to explain as the crowd came down on him, 
dispensing the proper justice upon him.

     Unbeknownst to the mob, Ryoga's "victim" had snuck away during 
all the commotion.  Despite the disgust she felt with herself for doing 
that, Ranko couldn't help but grin.  She hated to throw a fight, 
especially in the way that she had, but she grudgingly knew that there 
was no real way that she could've taken on Ryoga.  Besides, the 
opportunity was just too good to pass up.  Sometimes being a girl did 
come in handy.
     Too bad it didn't help her when she was late getting back to 
Ucchan's from her lunch break.

		*		*		*

     Ryoga cursed Ranma again as he trudged his way down the street, 
leaning on to the walking stick for support.  He may have had 
incredible endurance, thanks to both years of endless traveling and the 
Bakusai Tenketsu training with Cologne, but even that wasn't enough 
against a mob of angry people.  At that moment, he was aching in pain 
all over, which was only rivaled by the latest anger he felt for Ranma.
     He didn't know what he hated the most, the fact that Ranma had 
sunk so low to get out of a fight or that he could use his cursed form in 
such ways that Ryoga couldn't.  Best he could do was with girls who 
were suckers for anything that was cute, and sometimes even that was 
too much for him.  Little black pigs weren't of much use for rallying 
entire mobs of people against someone.  And the fact that Ryoga had 
*been* that someone made him hate Ranma even more.
     *Just you wait, Ranma,* he thought to himself as he continued his 
way.  *Soon as I find you as a guy, you won't be so lucky.  Then I'll--*
     "Whoops!  Sorry, buddy," he suddenly heard as he felt someone 
bump into him, almost throwing him off balance and to the ground.  
Ryoga was about to just tell the guy off and go on his way when he saw 
who had bumped into him.
     Ranma.  In male form.  And dressed in Japanese-style clothes with 
his hair in a ponytail rather than a pig one.  And looking at him with the 
same surprise that Ryoga was suddenly feeling.
     The feeling didn't last, though, as a mean pride swelled up in him.  
He also suddenly felt his aches and pains go away.
     "Found you again, Ranma," he sneered as he threw his walking stick 
away.
     "Ryoga Hibiki," Ranma replied, a frown replacing the surprised 
look on his face.  "It's been awhile."
     Ryoga snorted as he reached for his umbrella again.  "Some while.  
It was just about an hour ago.  You must have a short memory."
     "I don't know what you're talking about.  Last time I saw you was 
junior high.  I'd qualify that as a long time."
     Ryoga blinked as he suddenly felt confused.  Something wasn't 
right.  Why was Ranma acting like they hadn't seen each other since 
their old school days?  And then there was the way Ranma was dressed.
     He shook his head.  It was probably just some trick to throw him 
off, just like before.  But still...
     "Look, Ryoga," Ranma began suddenly, startling Ryoga out of his 
reverie.  "I ain't got no beef with you.  You were the one who was late 
for the fight over bread that tasted lousy, anyway.  Anything else you 
*think* I did to you is probably your own stupid fault.  So why don't 
you just do me a favor and get lost."  He grinned at the little pun he 
made.
     Now Ryoga was mad.  Really mad.  He now knew for sure that 
Ranma was toying with him and making fun of him again like usual.  
Bad enough he was acting like they hadn't seen each other in years, but 
to treat their feud like something that could be brushed aside like dust 
on a table?  And to not take responsibility for his actions?
     That would not do.  That would not do, at all.
     "I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play with me, 
Ranma," he growled, "but it won't work this time.  You've done plenty 
to me over the years to make my life a living hell!  And what you did to 
me not too long ago..."  He tightened the grip on his umbrella, almost to 
the point of breaking it in his hand.
     Ranma frowned questionably.  "Huh?  What are you talking about?"
     Ryoga simply glared at Ranma in reply.  "Enough talk!  I'm going to 
settle this once and for all!  DIE, RANMA!!!"
     With that, Ryoga charged forward, his umbrella swinging to strike 
down at Ranma.  Unfortunately, he missed, as the ponytailed boy leapt 
out of the way.  Undaunted, Ryoga continued to rush Ranma, attacking 
with his umbrella while his hated enemy continued to leap and dodge 
about.
     "Dammit, Ryoga!  Cut it out!" Ranma yelled as they continued 
down the streets.  He crossed his arms to block an attempted kick to his 
mid-section.  "Somebody's gonna get hurt if we keep this up!"
     "Yeah!  You!" Ryoga snarled back.  "That's the idea!"
     A bitter growl escaped Ranma's lips as he just barely dodged an 
umbrella-jab to his head.  "What'd I ever do to you, anyway?!"
     "Shut up!  Don't play dumb with me, Ranma!  It won't save you this 
time!  I'll have my revenge for everything you've ever done to me!  And 
to Akane, as well!"  Ryoga brought his umbrella up to it down hammer-
style on Ranma, who shot a kick to Ryoga's chest right through the 
opening.
     "You leave her out of this, pal," Ranma snarled as Ryoga staggered 
back.  "Me and Akane have settled our differences.  Which is more 
than I can say you've ever done."
     Ryoga took several moments to catch his breath, gasping from lack 
of air due to Ranma's kick.  The earlier attack from the mob didn't 
exactly help him, any.  "Akane's too forgiving a person to really stay 
mad at anyone," he smirked.  "Not even an uncaring jerk like you.  One 
of her faults, I hate to admit.
     "But one day," he continued, a dreamy look crossing his face, "one 
day she'll finally see you for what you truly are.  And I'll be there, to 
comfort her in her time of need..."
     He sighed as he began to envision the scene: Akane, her eyes wet 
from crying, staring up at Ryoga with love and affection as he held her 
in his arms, returning her look as he bent down to kiss her...
     "Yeah, right," Ranma snorted, snapping Ryoga out of his daydream.  
"Like Akane'd ever go for a guy like you?  You get lost so much, you'd 
never find your way to the first date, let alone the altar.  And she 
definitely don't go for guys who go around looking for a fight.  Besides, 
don't you already have a girlfriend or something?"
     Ryoga felt something snap.  Literally, since he'd just broken his 
umbrella handle in half, causing the heavy, top part to fall right on his 
foot.  He hardly felt the pain, though, thanks to his training.  And the 
fact that he was becoming very angry.
     "How... dare you..." he said in a low voice, his whole body shaking.  
"After what you did... you dare to bring Akari into this...?  DIE!!!"
     He lunged right at Ranma, catching him off-guard as he rammed his 
head right into the other boy's stomach knocking him to the ground.  He 
then jumped up and landed on Ranma's stomach before he had a 
chance to get up, and then proceeded to pummel Ranma with punches 
into his face, gut, and chest repeatedly, never giving a chance to 
counter or fight back.
     "You!  Won't!  Ruin!  My!  Life!  Ever!  AGAIN!" he said between 
punches.  He drew back his fist for one final blow, but unfortunately, 
that was all Ranma needed to get himself free by throwing an uppercut 
to Ryoga's chin that knocked him off and on to the ground.  Ryoga got 
up just as Ranma launched his own attack, throwing of flurry of 
Amaguriken punches to Ryoga's face and upper body, followed with an 
over-the-shoulder throw by taking hold of his shirt.  Ryoga felt himself 
fly threw the air, then impact with a nearby tree before landing on his 
face to the ground.
     "Alright, Ryoga," Ranma gasped.  "It's over.  Go home and leave me 
alone, already."
     Ryoga, however, chuckled as he got back to his feet.  With a bit of 
difficulty, of course.  "No chance, Ranma.  I'm not through, yet.  You 
haven't seen my new finishing move."  He grinned as he saw Ranma 
fall into a defensive stance, trying to ready himself for whatever was 
coming at him.  Like it would do him any good.
     At least, that was what Ryoga hoped, anyway.
     Shaking all doubt from his mind, Ryoga began to focus his energy, 
focusing his depression, his hate, his rage...  He felt his body surge with 
energy as it flared with battle aura.  "It was a mistake to make me 
upset, Ranma!  Because now... I can unleash my newest, strongest 
technique, yet!  Take this!  SHISHI HOKO-TENKETSU 
FUNKASURU!!!"
     He raised his fist high into the air, all of his ki focused into it, then 
brought it down to strike the ground with all his might.  A quick flash 
of light flared up upon contact, followed by, a second later, a huge 
explosion of bright blue-green ki that erupted from the ground, at the 
same causing a small, but powerful tremor within the surrounding 
radius.  While straining against the explosion to keep himself in place, 
Ryoga looked up to see Ranma struggle to keep his footing through the 
force of the shockwave.  His efforts were futile, though, as the strain, 
coupled by the various chucks of debris that went flying at him, striking 
him in several places.  It was one final, huge chunk of rock that hit him 
square in the face that sent him flying through, bouncing off the ground 
a few times before landing in a nearby stream.
     Though drained from the attack, Ryoga was able to summon enough 
strength to run after his hated rival and finish him off with a final blow.  
In his battle-crazed state of mind, he was even more enjoyed by the fact 
that, thanks to the water from the stream, Ranma was now a girl, and 
would be easier to finish off.  At long last, he would have what was 
his...
     Able to find his way to the stream with no problems, thanks to the 
rush of adrenaline and the knowledge that victory was in his grasp, 
Ryoga leapt into the air just a few feet away to come down on Ranma, 
who was picking him, or rather herself, up.  "Get ready to meet your 
end, Ran--HUH?!"  He was cut off in total surprise as he got a good 
look at Ranma and took notice of one simple fact.
     Though standing soaking wet in the cold stream, Ranma was still a 
guy.
     "Wh-wha-WHAT?!?!" was all Ryoga was able to cry out in 
surprise, not even noticing an angry Ranma leap past him and land a 
kick to his back, sending him straight down to the water.  He didn't 
even take real notice of the fact that he was sinking thanks to the 
weight of his pack, the only thought on his mind being, *How...?*

     "Take that you jerk!" Ranma snarled as he watched Ryoga hit the 
water from where he had landed on the shore.  He held his aching ribs 
as he glared down at the water where Ryoga had fallen in.  Bad enough 
the jerk had attacked him while he had been on his way home from 
work, but now he was also soaking wet in addition to the bruises and 
cuts he had received.  How Akane wound up being friends with a guy 
like Ryoga he couldn't figure out.
     A few minutes later, though, Ranma's anger changed to concern 
when Ryoga didn't come back up.  Tough as he was, even the lost boy 
couldn't stay down there for too long.  "Hey, Ryoga!  You comin' back 
up or what?"  When he got no reply of any sort, not even a bunch of 
bubbles breaking the surface, he realized that something was seriously 
wrong and jumped back into the stream after his old classmate.
     A moment later, Ranma came back up with the results of his search: 
Ryoga's clothes, as well as his backpack (which Ranma had to strain to 
carry to shore, since it was so damn heavy).  But no Ryoga.  Not even a 
bandanna or two.
     "Where the heck did he go?" he wondered aloud.  He took a glance 
in the direction the stream was going.  Rather quickly too, he noticed.
     "Aw, man.  I hope that idiot didn't get taken downstream," he 
grumbled, not noticing a little black shape on the shore sneaking away 
from him.

		*		*		*

     Akane smiled as she walked around the neighborhood, just enjoying 
the early evening weather.  The evenings had become so much more 
enjoyable now that the weather was finally cooling off, the heat of 
summer finally a thing of the past.  Wanting some time to herself to 
enjoy it, she decided to take a walk, just by herself.  She had thought 
about inviting Ranma or Ranko to join her, but Ranma hadn't come 
home from work yet and Ranko was busy working out in the dojo.  
Again.  Just as well, she figured.  This way, she could enjoy herself 
without having to hear those two bicker constantly.
     She was approaching the Dojo when she heard a familiar snort.  One 
she hadn't heard in quite awhile.  Not since the wedding disaster, in 
fact.  She looked around for the source, and finally found it, a little 
black pig with a yellow bandanna wrapped around his neck, trudging 
around with what appeared to be a scowl on his face.  Even so, Akane 
couldn't help but feel joy at the sight of the little animal.
     "P-chan!" she cried as she rushed over to her pet.  The pig looked up 
at the sound of his name, and immediately brightened up at the sight of 
Akane.  He bounded over to meet her, leaping into her arms and 
squealing happily as he snuggled into her embrace.
     "Oh, P-chan!  Where have you been, you naughty pig?" Akane 
cooed.  "So much has been happened since you were gone."  She then 
took a closer look at the little animal, and her eyes widened as she 
noticed that P-chan looked a little banged up.  It didn't seem like 
anything too serious, just a few bumps and little bruises, but Akane still 
couldn't help but gasp.
     "P-chan, what happened?  Did someone beat you up?"  At the pig's 
nod, she continued, "Well, let's get you home and fix you right up?  
Okay?"  As P-chan replied by snuggled closer to her--right up against 
her bosom, in fact--Akane dashed into the house to give aid to her pet.
     Akane's first stop, after announcing her arrival to whoever was 
home, was to the hall closet to get the first-aid kit so she could patch up 
P-chan's wounds.  On her way there, she passed by the family room, 
where she noticed out of the corner of her eye someone was sitting at 
the low table.  Another quick look saw that he had beaten her to the kit, 
and was using it himself.  Akane's eyes widened when she saw who it 
was.
     "Ranma!" she cried as she dashed over to the low table to kneel 
down next to him.  The scowling boy, already sporting some bandages 
on his arms and face, was applying some anti-septic to a cut on his 
elbow.  Or trying to, anyway.  As she set P-chan down on the table, she 
didn't notice the little pig scowling at Ranma.  "What happened?!"
     "I ran into an old friend," was all Ranma said in reply as he 
continued to try and properly apply the anti-septic.  He let out a growl 
of frustration as he missed and the clear liquid dribbled down his skin.
     Akane sighed and shook her head.  "Here, let me," she said, taking 
the bottle and brush from Ranma.  As she began to apply the anti-
septic, she added in a bitter tone, "I don't suppose you were fighting 
with Ryoga again, were you?"  On the table, P-chan smirked and let out 
a series of squeals that sounded like a sing-song "Now you're gonna get 
it!".
     "Hey, it wasn't my fault!  He started it!" Ranma replied defensively.  
"I was just minding my own business when he came outta no where 
and attacked me.  Stupid jerk didn't even seem to care that he was 
destroying property and could've hurt someone while he was fighting 
me.  Like as long as I got beat up, so what?"
     Akane sighed as she applied a bandage to the cut.  "As much as I 
hate to admit it, you have a point."  Not noticing P-chan's squeal of 
surprise, she added, "He does tend to be pretty straight forward and 
focused about things.  Sometimes I think he can be as stubborn and pig-
headed as you are."
     A smirk spread across Ranma's face.  "Gee, thanks."  Out of the 
corner of his eye, he noticed that P-chan had fallen over on his back, as 
if he had fainted dead away.
     "There.  All done," Akane said as she applied a bandage across the 
bridge of his nose.  She then leaned back and smiled sheepishly.  "So, 
uh, are you sure you're okay?"
     Ranma nodded, moving his arm around in a circular motion to work 
any kinks out.  "Yeah.  Shoulder's still a little sore, but I think I'll live."
     "Well, that's good."  She gave him a warm smile that he returned, 
both of them blushing slightly.
     Unnoticed by either of them, a recovered P-chan watched the two 
with wide eyes.  His gaze shifted back and forth between the two, 
shocked at what was going on.  The way Ranma and Akane were 
talking and looking at each they almost seemed like a...  He couldn't 
finish the thought.  The little pig then began to tense with anger, a tinge 
of red starting to show upon his black fur.  He then dashed off of the 
table and out of the room, still unnoticed by Ranma and Akane.
     "So... how was your day?" Akane asked, trying to strike up some 
kind of conversation.
     Ranma shrugged, only slightly due to his sore shoulder.  "Eh, about 
the usual.  Nothing real excitin' about working at the docks, but it pays 
the bills."  It was then that he noticed that something was missing.  Or 
rather, someone.
     "Hey, where'd the pig go?"
     Akane turned to the now-bare table.  "I don't know.  He was here a 
second ago."  She stood up and called out "P-chan!  P-chan, where are 
you, sweetie?"
     Before Ranma could make a quip of some kind, a scream rang 
throughout the house.
     "EEEEEEK!!!  PERVERT!!!"  A series of loud banging and 
crashing sounds followed.
     "That came from the bathroom!" Akane cried.
     "I think Ranko's in there..." Ranma said absent-mindedly before he 
and Akane dashed to the bathroom, followed by the rest of their 
families.  Upon arrival, they threw the door open and found Ranko, 
buck-naked and covered with soapsuds (conveniently in all the right 
places), repeatedly smashing a stool over a prone male form.
     "Take that!  And that!  And that!  And that!" the red-head yelled 
with each smash of the stool.
     "Ranko!  What happened?!" Akane cried out as she grabbed the 
other girl's arms to stop her.  "You can stop, now!  I think you got 
him!"
     Struggling against Akane, Ranko replied throughout clenched teeth, 
"I was sitting here taking a bath when this... this... PERVERT came up 
out of the tub and tried to grab me!"
     "Well, I'm not sure I approve of how you handled it, but at least you 
did react as a girl should in such situations," Nodoka said sagely.  In 
reply, Ranko turned and gave her mother a scowling look.
     "Oh, my... I wonder how the heck he managed to get in here?" 
Kasumi asked curiously.
     "Perverts have their way, Kasumi," Genma replied sagely, Soun 
nodding in agreement.
     Nabiki turned and smirked at the two older men.  "And of course, 
you would know, right?"  Her smirk widened to an all-out wicked grin 
as she watched the two men squirm sheepishly.
     Ranma shook his head, then turned his gaze back to the prone form 
on the floor.  Taking a good look, he then noticed something unusual 
about his sister's attacker.  A bandanna wrapped around his head.  
Kneeling down next to the boy, he turned him over.  "Well, look who it 
is," he said with a grin.
     Everyone turned their gaze, and a collective gasp rang out.
     "Ryoga?!"

		*		*		*

     His head hurt.  That was very clear to him.  It was also dark out, so 
much so that he couldn't see anything.  How did he get this way?
     "So what should we do with him when he wakes up?"
     "I'm up for tying him up in a barrel and then dumping him in the 
nearest river."
     "That's a little extreme, isn't it?"
     He tried to recall.  He had gone to the bathroom, looking for some 
hot water to change back.  He'd had some business to settle with 
Ranma, not to mention he didn't like the way he and Akane were sitting 
so close together.
     "I'm sure there's a good reason behind all this.  I mean, he's not that 
kind of person."
     "Get a clue, Akane.  We're talking about a guy who picks fights over 
bread.  How well do you think you know him?"
     Those voices he was hearing were starting to get annoying.  He'd 
found the bath, surprisingly without too much trouble, and jumped in 
without hesitation.  One quick change from pig to human later, he stood 
up, ready to charge out and find Ranma.
     Then he noticed a familiar redhead sitting there on a stool, covered 
with soapsuds, staring at him in surprise.  Ranma, in female form.
     How had Ranma gone female and then get to the bath ahead of him?  
Had it taken him longer than he'd thought to find the bath?  He shook 
his head clear of any further stupid questions.  It didn't matter how 
Ranma had gotten ahead of him.  He was there, right in front of him, so 
he wouldn't have to search.
     So, he did the only natural thing to do.
     "Ranma, prepare to die!"
     And as he lunged forward, Ranma did something totally unexpected.
     She screamed.
     "EEEEEEK!!!  PERVERT!!!"
     And that's when the pain began.
     Ryoga decided to open his eyes, to see what was going on.
     And saw several angry, scowling faces staring right at him.
     "YAAHHH!" he cried, scooting around on the futon he was lying on 
as he sat up.  He absent-mindedly took notice that he was dressed, but 
that wasn't the main thing on his mind.  What was was the group that 
was assembled around him in the Tendo living room.  The Tendos were 
looking on with concern, while the Saotomes...  The Saotomes were 
glaring at him with extreme anger on their faces.
     "Ah, the pervert awakes," Ranma-chan said venomously.
     "I hope you have a good explanation for your earlier actions in the 
bathroom, young man," Nodoka immediately declared, her hand 
gripping her sheathed--at the moment, anyway--katana.  To her right 
was Mr. Saotome, in human form and glaring at Ryoga like he was 
going to inflict severe bodily harm on him.  The lost boy couldn't help 
but gulp in slight fear.
     "Gee, Auntie.  I thought you didn't mind that kind of behavior," 
Nabiki quipped.  "After all, doesn't that show how manly someone is?"
     "Not with my daughter, it doesn't," the older woman replied with 
clenched teeth.
     Ryoga didn't really catch all of the reply, instead focusing on 
Ranma-chan.  "I don't have to explain myself to any of you," he 
snapped.  "My business with Ranma is with me and him."
     "Then leave my sister out of it, pal," a familiar voice said from 
behind him as he felt a hand grab the knot in his bandanna and pull his 
head backwards.  "In case you haven't noticed, I'm over here."
     An at-first irritated Ryoga felt shock register through his body as he 
just saw who it was that was bending his head back.  Ranma, still 
sporting some bandages, and glaring at him with a vengeance.  And 
sitting right next to a concerned Akane.
     Ryoga quickly pulled himself free from Ranma's grip, backed away 
in surprise, and began to twist his head back and forth between Ranma 
and Ranma-chan, both on opposite sides of him.  "Huh--?  How--?  
Wha--?"
     "Real conversationalist, isn't he?" Ranma quipped dryly.
     "Leave him alone, Ranma," Akane scolded before turning to Ryoga.  
"Ryoga, I'd like you to meet Ranko, Ranma's twin sister.  She moved in 
with Auntie Saotome over the summer."
     "S-sister?" Ryoga stammered, staring closely at the angry-looking 
red-head.
     "Yeah, that's right," she nodded.  "The one you tried to grab, you 
pervert!"
     Ryoga immediately began to do his other best form of defense, other 
than fight blindly: panic.  "N-no!  I-I mean, I didn't--!  I thought--!"
     "What?  That I was Ranma?" Ranko finished for him in the same 
dry tone that Ranma has used earlier.  At Ryoga's nodded, she added, 
"Well, get into your thick head that I'm... not, okay?  Just be lucky that 
all I did to you was beat you up.  I could've done worse, if you get my 
drift."
     Ryoga nodded, gulping loudly.  He got the idea all too well.  A 
sudden thought then entered into his mind.  "Hey, what about--?"
     "What?  My curse?" Ranma asked.
     Ryoga nodded.  "Yeah.  How will I know if I come across Ranko 
that it'll really be her, and not you playing some kind of trick?"
     "No need to worry about that.  I ain't cursed anymore."
     "W-what?!" Ryoga gasped.  As Ranma demonstrated by pouring a 
glass of water over his head and still remaining male, Ryoga absently 
recalled their earlier fight, when Ranma had fallen into the river and not 
changed.  "But... but how--?"
     "We don't know, Ryoga," Akane replied.  If Ryoga had been paying 
attention, he would've noticed the slight strain in Akane's voice.  "All 
we know is that Ranma was somehow cured over the summer, and that 
he lost his memory of everything after Jusenkyo in the process."
     "R-really?" Ryoga asked, his gaze focusing on Akane.  If Ranma no 
longer had any memory, then that meant...
     "Don't get any funny ideas, pervert," Ranko's bitter voice said 
suddenly as it cut into his thoughts.  "Just because my bro's lost his 
memory doesn't mean you get the right to move in."
     "Ranko, stop it," Akane chastised angrily.  "Ryoga's not a pervert.  
What happened was a misunderstanding."
     Ranko smirked at the other girl.  "Oh, like the time he invited you 
over to his house to see his dog's new puppies?  While his folks weren't 
even home, if I might add?"
     This intensified the glaring in the room, as the Tendos, even 
Kasumi, looked none-too-happy at a now-worried Ryoga.  "Is this true, 
young man?" Soun asked, in a calm manner that was almost scary.
     "Er, well, sort of," Ryoga stammered in reply, starting to laugh 
nervously.  "You see, uh, my parents have the same problems getting 
around that I do, and--"
     "I see," the Tendo patriarch nodded.  Next thing everyone knew, he 
was suddenly a giant, demonic-looking head, eyes glowing intensely 
and his serpentine-like tongue waving around menacingly.  "AND 
JUST WHAT WERE YOU PLANNING TO DO WITH MY 
DAUGHTER, BOY?!" he roared.  Ryoga could only scream in reply, 
and scramble to try and get away.
     "Dad!  Relax!  Nothing happened!  Ryoga's just a friend!" Akane 
cried, trying to calm her father down.  In the back of her mind, 
however, she was starting to question Ryoga's sincerity.
     "No!  Of course not!" Ryoga quickly agreed.  "I'd never do anything 
like that to Akane!"  He couldn't help but wince at her last statement.
     Ranko snorted.  "Funny way to say to someone that you're in love 
with."
     "Quiet you!" Ryoga snarled, lunging towards the red-head.  He was 
stopped, however, but one simple word said by one very important 
voice.
     "Ry-Ryoga...?" Akane gasped, along with the others in the room 
except for Ranma and Ranko.  "You... you're in love with me?"
     Ryoga fell back to his seat, looking downcast as his face flushed red 
with embarrassment.  He gave a simple nod before reaching out to take 
Akane's hands in his own.  He took a deep breath to try and gather the 
courage he needed to say what now had to be said.  There was no 
backing out.
     "Akane Tendo, I-I've been in love with you for almost as long as I 
known you.  Just about everything I've done, I've done it for you, so 
that I could win your heart.  I've tried to tell you before, but either I 
couldn't do it, or *someone* interfered."  He threw a glare to Ranma, 
who returned the gesture.
     Trying to ignore his rival, Ryoga continued.  "Akane, I can't offer 
you much, but I know that I can be faithful and true to you if I try.  
Please... please say you'll be mine."
     "She most certainly will not!" Soun cried, answering for Akane.  
"Akane is already pledged to marry Ranma and carry on the Anything-
Goes School of Martial Arts!  You knew of this, and yet you still 
persued her?!  Why I have--!"
     "Dad, I can handle this," Akane interrupted.  Turning to face Ryoga, 
she added, "Ryoga, I'm flattered that you feel this way about me, and 
I'm sorry I never noticed before.  But... aren't you going out with 
Akari?"
      "Yeah, I thought she was your girlfriend," Ranko sneered.  "Or 
were you planning on dating them both, 'Kuno'?"  The question caused 
everyone to begin frowning at Ryoga again.
     Ryoga, however, let out a deep sigh.  "I'm... I'm no longer involved 
with Akari.  We... we broke up."
     "Gee, I wonder how that happened?" Ranko asked snidely.  "Not 
many women like the idea of their men two-timing them, y'know?"
     "Shut up, you!" Ryoga growled.
     "I'm sorry to hear that, Ryoga," Akane replied.  "But, I'm also sorry 
that I don't feel the same way about you that you do about me.  When I 
said you were a friend, I meant that.  You're a friend, nothing more.  
Besides... there's... already someone that I care about..."  She lowered 
her head at that last statement, her cheeks taking on a slight pinkish tint.
     Everyone stared in surprise at Akane as she said that.  Soun and 
Genma would have begun dancing about the room, but a look from 
Nodoka made them sheepishly remain seated.  Kasumi and Nabiki 
looked at each other curiously, though Nabiki had a rather unhappy 
look on her face.  Ranko took a moment to give a slight glare at Ranma, 
who didn't notice it as he just stared at Akane and Ryoga.
     Ryoga, in fact, was staring down at the floor, looking like the most 
dejected person in the world.  "I've lost Akane...  And Akari..." he said 
in a soft voice.  Everyone began to back away from him nervously as 
he began to start glowing with a blue-green aura.  A look of absolute 
anger and hatred then crossed his face, and he raised his head to glare at 
Ranma.  "I don't have anyone now!  Ranma!  This is all your fault!  
Prepare to DIE!!!"  With that he lunged towards his longtime enemy, 
fist pulled back to attack...
     Only to stop as the point of a katana blade that appeared suddenly 
right in front of his face.  Rather closely, too; another second and it 
would have gone right through Ryoga's head.  He let out an audible 
gulp of relief that he had managed to stop himself in time.
     Keeping her katana before Ryoga while kneeling beside her son 
where she had leapt to, Nodoka said in a stern voice, "Young man, I 
don't know all the details behind your history with my son, but 
whatever grievances you have with him are apparently not his fault."
     "It-it is, too!" Ryoga cried back as he regained some of his courage.  
"He ran out on our man-to-man fight, just like a little coward!"
     "I waited three days for you, you jerk!" Ranma shouted in his own 
defense.  "Not my fault you can't find your own backyard!" (2)
     "My son is correct," Nodoka agreed with a nod.  "If anyone is at 
fault here, Mr. Hibiki, it is you, for failing to appear on time for the 
challenge.  A challenge that you issued, if I'm not mistaken?"
     Ryoga turned away sheepishly, not wanting to admit that she was 
right.  And no way was he going to try and defy her with that katana 
around.
     Taking Ryoga's lack of response as an affirmative, Nodoka 
continued, "And it is not Ranma's fault that Akane doesn't return your 
feelings of affection the way you want her to.  And whatever caused 
you and her girlfriend to break up is your own fault, not Ranma's.  So 
unless you wish to dishonor yourself and your family further, I suggest 
cease all grievances against my son and declare your feud null.  
Otherwise, certain actions will have to be brought forth.  Agreed?"
     Ryoga hesitated for a long moment, letting out a bitter growl before 
hesitantly replying, "I... hereby cease all actions of transgressions 
against Ranma Saotome.  On my honor as a Hibiki."  He quickly turned 
to give a fierce gaze at Ranma.  "But that doesn't completely end our 
rivalry, Ranma.  I will defeat you one day, and prove who the better 
fighter is."
     With a grin, Ranma nodded in reply.  "So long as it's just you and 
me and everyone else stays out of it, that's fine with me."
     "Good," Nodoka nodded in satisfaction.  She put her katana away, 
then reached behind her and pulled out a tray of cookies.  "Now, then, 
would anyone like some cookies?" she asked in a Kasumi-like manner.
     Everyone promptly face-faulted.
     "That's Mom for you," Ranko groaned with her eyes rolled up.  
Ranma nodded in agreement with her.
     "Thanks, but I think I'll pass," Ryoga responded as he got up.  "I've 
got to go and take care of some... important business."  He grinned as 
he finished.  He not be able to have Akane as himself, but there was 
always P-chan...
     "Hold on, Ryoga," Ranma said suddenly as he also got up.  "I need 
to talk to you before you go.  Privately."  He put emphasis on the last 
word, glaring at everyone else in the room, who tried to look innocent.  
Not waiting for a response, he grabbed Ryoga in a headlock and 
dragged him outside, where he then jumped up to the roof.
     Once they were up there, Ryoga freed himself from Ranma's grip, 
pushing himself away from his rival.  "Alright, Ranma, what is this a-- 
URK!"  He was unable to finish, as Ranma's hand suddenly planted 
itself around his throat in a tight grip.  Normally, he'd be able to break 
away easily, but Ranma's thumb had itself pressed against a certain 
pressure point that made that impossible.  Especially since it was hard 
to breathe.
     With a nasty grin, Ranma said, "Alright, now, let's talk... P-chan."
     Ryoga let out a gulp.  He didn't know why, but for some reason, he 
had a bad feeling about what was going to happen.
     Now glaring at the lost boy, Ranma continued, "Okay, listen up.  I 
may have lost my memory, but thanks to my journal, I know all about 
how you followed me to China and got cursed.  And don't go saying it 
was my fault, because you were the one stupid enough to follow me 
there in the first place.  I also know about how you've been pretending 
to be Akane's pet.  Well, guess what?  That stops here and now.  
Otherwise, Akane's gonna find out just how much of a 'friend' you 
really are.  Got me?"
     With that, Ranma let go of Ryoga, who fell to the roof gasping.  He 
looked up at his longtime enemy with a look of hatred.  "You can't do 
that.  You made a vow not to tell anyone about my curse.  A vow of 
*honor*, remember?"  He almost sneered the keyword, a grin of 
satisfaction crossed his face.
     Ranma, however, was undaunted, as he smirked back.  "I did, huh?  
Gee, too bad I don't remember making that vow."
     "You... you wouldn't dare..." Ryoga tried to counter, but was quickly 
interrupted.
     "Besides, you're one to talk about honor," Ranma continued.  "You 
lied to Akane, pretty much took advantage of her, took advantage of 
my promise, pretended to be something you're not..."  He narrowed his 
eyes as he continued to glare at the lost boy.  "Who do you think's 
going to be in bigger trouble if she finds out?"
     Ryoga let out another gulp.  He hated to admit it, but Ranma was 
right.
     "P-chan disappears tonight, Ryoga," Ranma declared.  "I so much as 
get a glimpse of a walking little piece of bacon, it all comes out.  Now 
let's go."  He jumped off the roof back down onto the porch below, 
with Ryoga right behind him.
     "Oh, you're back," Kasumi said as she saw them come in, looking 
up from where she and the others were enjoying Nodoka's cookies.
     "Get everything straightened out?" Akane asked as Ranma sat down 
next to her, while Ryoga walked over to grab his backpack.  
Unconsciously, she scooted over a bit closer to him, not noticing the 
glare on Ranko's face.
     "I think so," Ranma nodded in response, grabbing himself a cookie 
off the plate and taking a bite.
     "Well, I'd better be going," Ryoga said as he hefted his pack into a 
comfortable position on his back.
     "Are you sure?" Akane asked.  "Why don't you stay for awhile?  I'm 
sure Ranma wouldn't mind putting you up in his room."  Ranma nearly 
choked on his cookie at that.
     Ryoga, however, shook his head.  "Thanks, but no.  I need to go 
clear my head for awhile, if you don't mind.  Good-bye... Akane."
     With that, he walked out of the living room, away from the Tendos 
and the Saotomes.
     "I sure hope he'll be okay," Akane said in a worried tone.
     "He will as soon he gets out of here," Ranko snorted.  "Ryoga, that's 
the closet."

     (1) the "Demon Dog Wail" is a technique that Genma taught to 
Ranma as a counter against Ryoga's Shishi Hokodan.  Basically, it 
involves getting some distance from your opponent and then shouting 
insults.  Ranko "revised" the move a little to get away from Ryoga, and 
it seemed to work.  And while I know that she wouldn't have used it 
that way, if at all, but it was too funny to pass up.
     (2) I'm going with the anime version of Ranma and Ryoga's 
backstory, with the lot they were supposed to be fighting in being 
behind Ryoga's house.  It just seems funnier that way to me.

     Sorry that this took so long in getting out, but ever since I started 
attending University, it's just been harder and harder to write.  Doesn't 
mean I don't try when I can, though.  I'm going to try and set myself up 
a deadline for each of the remaining parts, maybe a new part every six 
weeks.  I'm not making promises, but I'll at least try.  Might be good 
practice for me.
     Well, Ryoga's finally here to make life a little interesting.  I'll 
probably have Ryoga fans jumping on my back for how I treated him, 
but the idea came to me and I couldn't help using it.  Besides, with how 
he jumped Ranko in the bath, you didn't really think Nodoka would let 
him get away with it, did you?  Sure, she may have encouraged Ranma 
to peep to prove his manhood (at Nabiki's suggestion, I hear), but like 
she said, her own daughter is another story.
     The scene with Ryoga and Akane may seem a bit mushy, even by 
my standards.  However, I couldn't think of any other way to have 
Akane let Rygoa down easy after the truth about his feelings for her 
came out, no thanks to Ranko.  The way I did it was the best I could do, 
even borrowing from other fics where similar situations happen, so bear 
with me.
     Why didn't I have Akane find out about P-chan?  Just about every 
continuation fic I've read has had Akane finding out Ryoga's secret in 
some form or another, and I wanted to do something different.  Besides, 
I think it's a lot more interesting with the way Ranma keeps him under 
control.  That scene may seem a little dark, and it may seem a bit OOC 
for Ranma, but try and remember how much he's changed for this story.
     I took Akari out of the picture because, basically, I don't really know 
that much about her other than what I've read in other fanfics.  Besides, 
it gave Ryoga an excuse to hate Ranma and go after Akane again.  As 
for what caused them to break up, I'm keeping that a secret for now, 
but I think you can figure out for yourself what happened.
     Yeah, I know the new attack I gave Ryoga, the Shishi Hoko-
tenketsu Funkasuru or Roaring Lion Point Eruption, combining the 
Shishi Hokodan with the Bakusai Tenketsu, has been done to death.  
But it seemed a lot easier than coming up with a whole new one for 
him.  At least I did it a little differently than other fics have done it, 
making it look like Terry Bogard's "Power Wave".
     In the next part, it's time for the Rhythmic Gymnastics competition 
between Furinkan and St. Bereke's, which means rematch time between 
Ranko and Kodachi.  Can Ranko train enough in a style she's only used 
once?  And what sort of dirty tricks does Kodachi have up her sleeve 
this time?  I'll try to get this one out as soon as I can, but I'm not 
making promises.  Just try and bear with me until then.
     And that's the bottom line...