The first part of this is the same, just spell-checked.  New stuff at the 
bottom.

			TWILIGHT EXISTENCE
			by Scott K. Jamison
(Note:  Ranma 1/2 and the related characters created by Rumiko Takahashi, 
no infringement intended.)

				Prologue

	My first clear memory is of Jyuusenkyo.  In fact, you could say I 
was born there, bursting out of a watery womb, a scream coming from my 
lips as I breathed air for the first time.
	Ranma would tell me to cut the poetic crap.
	I hauled myself out of the pool, looking around the valley.  It 
seemed familiar, though I didn't remember being here before.  I shivered 
in the chill morning air.  How had I fallen in there?  I couldn't 
remember.  
	There was a man in a funny-looking uniform shouting in what I 
guessed was Chinese, and some broken Japanese.  Something about tragedy 
and drowning and curses.  Well, yes it would have been tragic if I 
drowned. There was a giant panda chewing on bamboo nearby.  The strange man 
went over to it, and tried to nudge it to walk.  He asked me to help.  
	Not too sure about this, was it a tame panda?  I walked over.  
About halfway there, I had to readjust my wet clothes.  They were awfully 
big on me, and looked like boy's attire.  What was I doing in them?  Come 
to think of it, who was I?  I must have amnesia from the fall, I 
surmised. 
	Either the panda was tame, or it took a liking to me, because it 
nuzzled my face and let me lead it to a hut the uniformed man indicated 
to us.  His speech still didn't make much sense, he was saying something 
about hot water as he set a kettle on to boil.
	As soon as it started steaming, he poured it out on the panda.  
To my utter shock and amazement, the animal shrank and changed into a 
bald middleaged fellow I was sure I'd seen somewhere before.  
	"You see, hot water change to normal.  Now you, young sir."  He 
began pouring the water over me. 
	I blacked out, just as the words "young sir" were registering. 
	When I woke up, the scene had changed.  We were in some Chinese 
village, at least the panda and I were.  The uniformed man was gone.  It 
was raining.  I still had on the same oversized clothes.
	I found a roofed clearing and led the panda in.  Then I 
remembered what hot water had done before.  I managed to wave down a 
passing woman who had a little Japanese, and asked for hot water.  She 
brought some by, and a couple of steamed buns, for which I thanked her.  
I wondered why I was in China if I didn't speak any Chinese. 
	I ate a bun, and poured the hot water on the panda.  It changed 
into the man I'd seen.  Still a bit of a shock.  Somehow, he was pulling 
on clothes, a white martial arts outfit and a bandanna, as well as 
glasses.  To this day, I have not figured out where his clothes come from 
and he won't tell me.
	"Ranma!  Thank heavens!  Now your turn!"  He grabbed for the water.
	"Oh, no, I'm not blacking out again, thank you.  Who's Ranma?  
And who are you?"
	"Ranma Saotome!  Don't you recognize your own father?  The Guide 
warned me, but I didn't believe him!  What a tragedy has befallen my 
son!"  
	So my name was Ranma Saotome.  A boy's name, surely?  And this 
man, Genma, claimed to be my father.  But surely he hadn't said "son"?  
	"Um, Mr. Saotome...Father...don't you mean 'daughter'?  After 
all, I *am* a girl."  I opened my shirt just a bit, to emphasize my 
point.  Not too far, though.  I have my modesty. 
	He stiffened in shock, and looked as though he were about to 
cry.  Then he began to explain.  
	According to him, I'd been born a boy, this "Ranma", and we were 
martial artists on a training journey.  We'd come to this place, 
Jyuusenkyo, the Valley of Cursed Springs, and I'd insisted on sparring 
right there.  In the process, we'd pushed each other into pools that 
things had drowned in a long time ago.  Now whoever fell in took on the 
form and mind of the original victim.  He'd fallen into the Spring of 
Drowned Panda, and I'd fallen into one where a girl had died. 
	Well, that did explain a lot, and I had seen him turn back from a 
panda with my own eyes.  But there were a couple of holes in his story.  
	"But if I have the mind of the girl that drowned, why don't I 
have any of her memories?" 
	"I don't know.  But perhaps it's for the best.  I will still make 
a manly man of you yet, Ranma!"
	That sounded like a truly horrible idea.  I didn't want to be any 
kind of a man!  I was so shocked I didn't realize he'd got hold of the 
hot water.
	The next time I woke up, I was wet again, this seemed to be what 
brought me out, and was walking with the uniformed man (the Guide) and 
the panda towards another village.  The Guide said Joketsuzoku was known 
for its many female warriors.  I didn't like the sound of that.  Combat 
was so unfeminine!
	We stopped to watch some of the women in a tournament.  It looked 
very dangerous.  A purple-haired girl seemed to be winning.  I pitied 
her.  No man would want to marry such a violent woman!  Unfortunately, I 
lost track of the panda, and soon found him gobbling up the feast that 
had been spread for the winner.  I was a little amazed he was eating the 
meat too, I thought pandas were vegetarians...
	The purple-haired girl, her name sounded like Shampoo, was very 
angry.  She barely accepted my apology, and it took most of Father's 
money to pay for the meal.  Of course once it was bought, I had some 
too.  The Guide suggested we wait until outside the village before 
changing Father back.
	He was very angry at what I'd done.
	"You fool!  You should have challenged her in the tournament, 
since the winner got the food."
	"Challenged her?  Father, I don't know any martial arts.  I 
would've gotten creamed!"  
	"...'Don't know any martial arts?'  But surely..."  He grinned 
and swung at me.  I backflipped out of the way.  I was very surprised.  
Apparently my reflexes were quite good. 
	"So you haven't forgotten everything.  Let's see you on the 
offensive.   Attack me!"
	"What?"
	"Attack me!  Make a fist and swing!"
	"I can't do that.  Fighting is unladylike."
	"AAHHGG!  My son has become a wimp!"
	"I'm not your son!  I'm a girl!  Can't you accept that?"
	It seems he couldn't, as I was hit with hot water and blacked out 
again. 
	This time, we were in a coastal city, and many different 
languages reached my ears.  It was my first time in a big city, and I 
drank everything in wide-eyed.  We passed through the market, and I saw 
one vendor had beautiful dresses for sale.  I looked down at the wet baggy 
martial arts outfit I was wearing and sighed.
	"Father," for he was in human form this time, "could you buy me a 
dress?  I need something else to wear."
	He nearly choked on the mango he was eating.  "Ranma!  What would 
you want a dress for?"
	"I want to look pretty for a change.  This outfit is so ugly!" 
	"Ranma, I know it's hard to believe, but after waking up from 
being a panda a few times, I know that you do not want to put yourself 
in an embarrassing  position.  Suppose that I did buy you that dress.  
Then you got splashed with hot water and returned to being a boy.  
You'd die of embarrassment!"
	He did have a point there.  If a girl wears boys' clothes, she's 
making a fashion statement.  If a boy wears girls' clothes, everyone 
thinks he's a pervert.  I tried to hide my disappointment.
	"Besides, we don't have any money for new clothes."
	Maybe so, but I promised myself one day I would wear a pretty 
dress and makeup and jewelry, so there!
	Then he told me we were going back to Japan, to visit his old 
friend Tendou, who had a martial arts dojo.  He mumbled something about 
having an engagement there. 
	He must have poured hot water on me while I slept, because the 
next thing I knew, we were in Tokyo, the Nerima part, and it was 
raining.  Father had turned into a panda again, but I had a map in my 
hand, and soon figured out we were only a few blocks from the Tendou 
home.  I pulled him along as best I could. 
	It was a nice big house, surrounded by an actual lawn, and there 
was a training hall on the grounds.  I hoped the Tendous would be the 
forgiving sort.
	Apparently the Tendous were expecting us, because as soon as I 
raised my voice to panda-Father to try and get him through a door, they 
scrambled out to see us.  
	They were:  A man about my father's age, with long hair and a 
thick mustache, in a greenish gi; A very grown-up looking young woman 
in an apron, and her hair in a ponytail, who looked very feminine (I 
liked her already); A slightly younger girl with short hair, in jeans, 
who looked a little sharp-featured; and a long-haired girl in a white 
gi (great, a tomboy.)  They all looked very surprised. 
	"Father, do you know who this is?" asked the eldest.  Mr. Tendou 
(I guessed) shook his head. 
	"Sure, shorty here and a giant panda just happened to wander in 
off the street.  Happens all the time." sniped the short-haired one.  
The tomboy just looked angry.     
	"Pardon me," asked Mr. Tendou, "but who are you?"
	"I'm Ranma Saotome.  Sorry about this."
	"Ranma!  At last you've come!"
	He hugged me really really hard, then pulled back all of a 
sudden.  He looked at me again, more carefully this time.
	The short-haired girl poked me in the breast.  "Dad, Ranma's a 
girl." 
	He collapsed.  
	"Actually, I'd like to be called 'Ranko" instead.  Yes, I'm a 
girl, so you can stop poking me, um, what's your name?"
	"Nabiki Tendou.  This here's my sister Kasumi, the one doing 
first aid on Dad; and she's Akane."  She slid an arm around my shoulder.  
	"Father's trying to marry us to a *girl*?" asked Akane.
	I stopped cold.  Then "engagement" didn't mean "appointment", it 
meant... 
	"We need to have a discussion.  Do you have any hot water handy?" 
	As soon as I got him out of panda form, Genma Saotome was going 
to explain why he'd ruined my life! 

			Part One

	I helped Akane and Kasumi move their father to a more comfortable 
position while Nabiki was fetching the water I asked for.  ("Hot water?" 
I heard her mumble.  "Is someone pregnant?")  He was stirring now, but it 
was pretty obvious he was still in shock.
	"Ranm--Ranko, where's your father?  Daddy said you both were 
coming." asked Akane. 
	"You'll see him in a minute or two," I replied truthfully. 
	Nabiki brought in the kettle.  I thanked her and poured the 
steaming water over the panda, who once again became Genma Saotome.  The 
Tendou sisters gave gasps of surprise, and I couldn't resist a triumphant 
"tah-dah!"  
	"Ranma, did we make it to the Tendou house?"
	"Yes, Father.  Now would you explain what the big idea is about 
engaging me to another girl?  Well?" 
	Mr. Tendou sat up.  "Yes, Saotome, do explain.  You quite 
specifically told me you had a son."  He didn't look too happy. 
	"Ranma *is* my son!  He's under a curse, here, I'll show you."  
He made a grab for the kettle, but I danced back, keeping it out of reach.
	"Oh no you don't!  You're not putting me to sleep again!"
	"Sleep?  Curse?  Will one of you please explain?"  Mr. Tendou 
looked terribly confused. 
	"If he pours hot water on me, I black out."
 	"It's the curse!  Cold water makes my son think he's a girl." 
	"Darn good impression of one too." quipped Nabiki. 
	"I don't *think* I'm a girl, I *am* one!  And I'm tired of you 
acting like I'm some sort of embarrassment!"  Tears started coming, I was 
so angry. 
	"Don't cry Ranko, it's going to be all right." said Kasumi, 
pulling me towards her, not quite hugging me.
	"Ranko?"  Father looked stunned. 
	"Ranma's too much a boy's name.  Ranko's what I want to be 
called." 
	"I won't have it!" he roared, and managed to get the kettle away 
from me.  I cowered as the hot splashing sent me away.
	I woke up in a pond behind the Tendou house, sopping wet as 
usual.  I was really beginning to hate this.  It was dark out now.  As I 
walked back to the house, Father came sailing past me into the pond, 
where he turned into a panda again. 
	I was still angry with him, so I kept on walking.
	Akane stood in the doorway, breathing heavily.  She looked at me, 
eyes filled with rage and pity. 
	"Your father is a jerk!  My father is a jerk!  And Ranma is an 
especially BIG jerk!"  She spun on her heel and went upstairs. 
	Mr. Tendou was back on his feet, but still looked a bit shaky.  
"Sorry about that, Ranma, she's very high-spirited girl.  But I'm sure 
you two will be very happy together."  He went out to the yard.  
	"Um...what did I miss?"
	"We met Ranma, the boy version that is," answered Nabiki, "and 
found out about Jyuusenkyo and what it did to you folks.  Pretty scary 
stuff.  Then Dad decided that we should go ahead with the engagement 
anyway." 
	"What `engagement anyway'?" 
	"Oh, that's right, you don't remember.  It seems that Uncle 
Saotome and our father were students together and became very good 
friends.  They made a vow that their children would get married to join 
the families." Kasumi explained. 
	"But I'm a--"
	"Well, actually, Ranma didn't seem to like the idea much either, 
but then there was some hooha about `family honor'.  So Akane got picked 
to be the lucky girl."
	"She didn't look too happy about it."
	"Oh, she and Ranma got into a fight about some silly thing or 
another, so she threw him out of the house.  And Uncle Saotome for good 
measure.  My, look at him playing with Father and that tire.  He's 
adorable!" 
	"Then let him stay that way for a while." 
	"You don't like your father much, do you, Ranko?" asked Nabiki. 
	I had to think about it for a moment.  I hadn't done much 
thinking, just reacting.  "I guess I don't.  Every time I see him, he's 
trying to get rid of me.  He seems to think I'm some sort of monster 
that's taken over his son." 
	"And how do you feel about Ranma?" asked Kasumi. 
	"I...I don't know what to think of him.  I don't even know what 
he looks like." 
	"Oh.  Well," said Nabiki, "he looks a lot like you, but taller, 
and he's a boy of course.  Same pigtail, but his hair isn't as glossy.  
Could easily pass for your brother.  Next time he's around, I'll take a 
picture for you."
	"Really?  But then I guess he *is* my brother in a way."  I 
shivered as a draft came in. 
	"Oh my.  We should get you out of those wet clothes before you 
catch cold.  A nice hot bath will--"
	"No!  No hot water!"
	"That's right, hot water turns you back into Ranma.  He doesn't 
like blacking out either."
	"Tough.  He had sixteen years of life; I've been awake...umm..." 
I counted up "...less than a whole day!  It's my turn."
	"All right, we'll see about at least getting you dry though."
	Kasumi was a good as her word, drying me off with big fluffy 
towels in the bathroom's changing room.  It felt so good to be dry for a 
change!  I also got my first good look at myself in the mirror.  I was a 
pretty girl, if I do say so myself, with cute features and a busty 
figure.  The pigtail made me look a bit young, but that was okay. 
	Nabiki came in.  "Akane's still sulking in her room and won't 
open her door.  You'd better talk to her, Sis.  So I got one of my 
nightgowns instead.  Remember, Ranko, this is just a loaner.  I'll want 
it back."
	Nabiki's taller than I am, so it was too large for me, dragging 
on the floor.  But still, it was the first nice--and dry--thing I'd ever 
worn.  I twirled around to get the feel of it.  
	"Thanks Nabiki!  It's so pretty!"  I stopped to look at myself in 
the mirror again.  "Do you think boys will like me?"
	"You're gonna knock 'em dead, kid."
	Kasumi just smiled. 
	"I should get a picture of you to show Ranma too" said Nabiki, 
holding up her camera. 
	So I posed, and then she wanted a couple more shots just to make 
sure.  During the fourth pose, I started yawning.
	Kasumi looked at me.  "Why Ranko, you're half-dead on your feet.  
Bedtime for you, young lady." 
	"But I can't be *yawn* sleepy yet!"  I protested.  "I haven't had 
enough time!" 
	"Ranma's been up all day," pointed out Nabiki.  "Apparently it 
carries over."
	"It's not fair.  I want to be awake!" I whined like a small 
child. 
	"Don't worry Ranko.  I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of 
you." 
	Kasumi showed me to a guest room, arranged a futon and blankets, 
and tucked me in, all in what seemed like one fluid motion.  She can be 
very efficient when she wants.
	"I'll look in on you again when I've settled Akane.  Okay?" 
	"Okay."  I wondered if this was what it was like to have a 
mother.  I wondered if I did have a mother.  I'd have to ask in the 
morning.  I suppose Kasumi came back, but I really was tired, and was 
asleep soon.  Doing it naturally was a lot nicer than blacking out. 
	My awakening was the usual rude one, though.
	I was out on the street with Akane, who was wearing a bluish 
dress and carrying a schoolbag.  I had one in my hand too, so I guessed 
it was her school uniform.  I was back in Ranma's red and black outfit, 
wet as usual.  
	"Are we going to school?" I asked, just to make sure. 
	"Of course we--oh, right.  Hi, Ranko.  Yes, Furinkan High.  But 
we'd better stop on the way and get you turned back."
	"Do we have to?  I just woke up."
	"Ranma's the one registered, and it'll be as a boy, so he should 
be the one to arrive, I think."  She giggled.  "You should have heard him 
grousing this morning about waking up in Nabiki's nightgown!  Uncle 
Saotome nearly tore it off of him." 
	"Are you okay with him now?  You were pretty upset last night." 
	"Yes, well...it wasn't entirely Ranma's fault.  He's been under a 
lot of strain because of his blackouts and your father's reaction to the 
curse, and then he gets engaged to a girl he doesn't even know!  Add in 
that I don't much like boys and have a bit of a temper...It wasn't a good 
first meeting for either of us." 
	"I guess not.  But are *we* engaged?"
	"I dunno.  I don't think our fathers can legally *force* Ranma 
and me to marry, and I'm pretty sure same-sex marriages are illegal in 
Japan.  So I'd say we weren't engaged, though Daddy and Uncle Saotome 
might have other opinions.  Oh, here's Doctor Tofu's."
	The sign said that Dr. Tofu Ono practiced shiatsu, moxibustion, 
bonesetting and other traditional medical arts.  While Akane asked the 
housekeeper for some hot water, I looked around the office.  I nearly 
jumped out of my skin when a bony hand fell on my shoulder from behind. 
	"Good morning."
	"Yeek!"
	"Oh, did I startle you Miss?  I'm Doctor Tofu and this is my 
skeleton Betty."  He made the skeleton wave hello.  The doctor was a 
friendly-looking man somewhere in his thirties.  He had on an informal 
kimono and wore round glasses.  He smiled so nicely I relaxed again. 
	"May I help you, Miss?" 
	"No thank you, Doctor, I'm just waiting for someone."
	"Yes?  Oh, hello, Akane."
	She'd come out of the kitchen with a kettle.  She lowered her 
eyes a bit. 
	"Good Morning, Doctor."
	"Are you in need of my services today?  Any injuries?" 
	She swayed a bit and kicked one of her feet.  "Um, no, I don't--I 
mean I haven't done anything like that lately.  We just needed some hot 
water." 
	I wasn't sure, but Akane sounded different when she talked to Dr. 
Tofu. 
	"Haha!  Well, I won't keep you then.  Have fun at school."  He 
went into his inner office.
	"This Dr. Tofu..."  I began.
	"Oh, he's the family doctor.  He's been fixing my scrapes and 
bruises since I was little." 
	"You're sweet on him, aren't you?"
	"Oh, just pour the water."
	"Myself?"
	"Ranma will appreciate the gesture, I hope."
	"He'd better."  I lifted the kettle and it was lights out. 
	Lights on, and I was riding the panda in the rain, hanging on for 
dear life.  Akane opened a door, and I steered us in.  It was a small 
outbuilding, I guessed on the school grounds.
	"What in the world? *owch*" as I realized the side of my neck 
hurt.  Felt like a bad bruise. 
	"I guess Ranma underestimated Upperclassman Kunou."
	"Who's he?"
	"His full name is Tatewaki Kunou, but no one ever uses his given 
name.  He's the captain of the kendo team and kind of the big man on 
campus.  He has a big crush on me, unfortunately.  When I turned him down 
for the umpteenth time, he declared no boy could date me unless they 
defeated me in combat first."
	"And they let him get away with that?"
	"Like I said, he's big man on compus, plus he said he's thrash 
anyone who tried to get around it.  And since I'm the only kid in school 
who can take him in a fight..."
	I was right!  A violent tomboy.  Though under the circumstances, 
she had a right to defend herself.
	"So this morning, the boys attacked me as usual, be glad you 
missed it, it was a real mob scene, and I stomped them, same as always.  
Ranma made some flippant remark, then Upperclassman Kunou showed up and 
took offense at Ranma being so `familiar' with me.  Before I knew it, 
they were about to have a duel right there!
	"Just as they got going, the rain started.  I guess your father 
must have followed us to school, and snatched you away just in time."
	"First nice thing he's done for me.  Thanks, Father." I told the 
panda. 
	Akane eyed him.  "Actually, I think he was just afraid people 
would see you."
	She held up another kettle.
	"Rain's stopped for now, so back to boy."
	"Couldn't I just go to school instead of Ranma?"
	"As soon as we brought your father back to normal, he'd object.  
And no, we can't just leave him like that, much as we might like to." 
	"Okay, but this is absolutely the last time today.  The next 
time, I'm not changing!  Off.

	To be continued...

SKJAM!
"I've been cheated, been mistreated, wh-en will ah-I be loved?"