Hiya!
	Gee, feel like forever since I've posted anything.  Guess that's 
what happens when you're busy, a slow writer... and, quite simply, lazy.  At 
least I've found a title (as sad as it may be...)  And I've decided to keep 
at this thing... I was quite surprised by the amount of feedback I received.
	As always, C&C welcome.  Even the really nasty ones 
telling me to commit unspeakable deeds upon myself (like, I dunno, 
locking myself in my room and listening to dance remixes of Alanis songs.)

	-Mike
***
                              YAAH! Ranma
                 (Yet Another Alternate History)

by
Michael Noakes

Chapter Three
Where's Ranma?  Ranko vs. Kuno!

     "Fancy meeting you here..." said Ranko.
     Akane looked up at the girl sitting precariously in the
tree.  The redhead looked just the same as when they'd first met
- soaking wet, bangs plastered to her face, dripping pigtail
draped around her neck.  She had her pants off and was currently
giving them a thorough wringing out.  "Ranko?  What are you
_doing_ up there?" Akane asked, thinking to herself, And how did
you get _up_ there?
     Ranko scowled.  "Trust me, I ain't up here 'cus I wanna be."
     "Yeah, but _why_ are..." Akane started, then stopped.  It
was stupid, yelling up at her friend like this.  "Listen, Ranko,
can you come down?  I feel kinda silly talking to you up there." 
She eyed the distance between the ground and her friend's branch
- it was a good twenty to thirty feet.  "You need any help?"
     "Not really." answered Ranko, and dropped herself off the
branch.  Akane's breath caught in her throat, first in shock and
fear, then in amazement, as Ranko easy caught herself on a lower
branch, twisted off of it, and landed effortlessly a few feet
away.  The girl casually flicked her pigtail over her shoulder
and reached out with one hand; a moment later, her pants
fluttered down into her waiting grasp.  She flashed a small grin. 
"I think I can manage."
     "Wow..." Akane breathed.  "That... that was pretty good!"
     Ranko shrugged.  "Eh."  She glanced around, then looked back
towards the school towering just beyond the top of the trees. 
"So why're you out here, Akane?  Lookin' for someone?"  She ended
with the slightest of smiles on her lips.
     Akane nodded, suddenly feeling slightly worried.  Ranma
seemed to have disappeared!  He might be a jerk, and insulting,
but it was, in a way, indirectly her fault that he'd been in that
fight with Kuno; if he was hurt, she felt it was her duty to at
least check in on him.  But where was he?  "This guy at school
got into a fight, and I feel a bit responsible.  He ran this way,
but I can't find him."  It suddenly occurred to her that Ranko,
from her perch up in the tree, might have seen something, and she
turned to ask her if she had, but instead found herself asking a
different question.  "Ranko, why are you wearing boxers?"
     The redhead was snapping her pants out before her, shaking
out the last droplets of water.  She paused momentarily to
answer.  "What else would I be wearing?" she asked quizzically.
     "Well...panties, of course!  You _are_ a girl, aren't you?"
she said, and gave a small giggle.
     "Panties" muttered the girl, and, oddly enough, Ranko looked
slightly disgusted for a moment.  Then she glanced down at
herself.  She blushed.  "Oh... yeah.  Panties.  Of course.  Ah...
got lots of 'em, really... Aheh heh..." she stammered.  "But, ah,
they were all, um, dirty this morning."  She quickly pulled on
her pants, turning away from Akane for a moment as she hopped
into them.  "But, uh, yeah, I'm a girl alright!  You betcha!"
     What an odd girl, thought Akane.  And she still hasn't told
me what she was doing up in that tree all wet.  I thought she'd
gone back home...  Ranko turned back to her, still looking a bit
flushed, and Akane went to ask her what she was doing here, when
a loud voice interrupted them.
     "Wither Ranma Saotome?!" bellowed an all too familiar voice. 
Akane sighed, turning towards its source.  Striding across the
school yard with bokken held low was Kuno, hand raised to shield
his eyes from the sun.  He was obviously in 'hunting-mode', and
his path was taking him in their general direction.
     "Ranma?  Is that who you were looking for?" asked Ranko,
looking over Akane's shoulder.
     Akane nodded.  "Yeah."  She glanced at her friend.  "Did you
see him?"
     "I'm not sure... " answered Ranko with a slight grin.  "I
was cutting through the bush when some guy came tearing by -
almost ran me over!  I was so surprised I jumped up into a
tree... which is where you found me."
     "That was probably him, then..."  She turned back to the
approaching kendoist.  "Well, might as well get this over with." 
She stepped out from behind the bush, Ranko a step behind her.
     Kuno noticed them immediately, his face lighting up with joy
at the sight of Akane.  "Ah!  Akane Tendo!  Do you, too, search
for that coward Saotome?"
     "Hey!" exclaimed Ranko.
     "Sorry, sempai." answered Akane.  "But he's gone.  I guess
he took off."
     "Bah!  So he fled, did he?" said Kuno contemptuously. 
"Obviously my reputation precedes me well!"
     "Yeah, it's just a step behind your ego..." muttered Ranko. 
Akane suppressed a giggle; if Kuno heard the girl's comment, he
ignored it.  Instead, he brought his bokken up into a fighting
position.  Akane took a wary step back.
     "I'm not interested in fighting you, Kuno..." she said.
     "Ah, and yet fight we must!  For rumor has it that you were
defeated by Saotome... Vile rumor has it that _I_ was defeated by
Saotome...  It is said that he may now _date_ you!.  That is
unacceptable!  I will _not_ allow it!  But by defeating you, I
reclaim my position as your rightful love!  I _challenge_ you,
Akane Tendo!"  He smiled condescendingly.  "And yet, do not
succumb too quickly, lest too easy victory robs me of its
pleasures.  Although if your desire for me causes you to forfeit,
I will understand all too well."  
     "_What_ desire?"  Akane felt herself getting angry.  When
would this idiot ever learn?  "The only thing I 'desire' is for
you to leave me _alone_!"
     Kuno smiled knowingly, but turned towards Ranko instead of
replying.  "Fair maiden.", he said,  "I would wish no untoward
harm to fall upon you.  One as delicate as you should not adorn
the field of battle - perhaps you should remove yourself some
small distance."
     "He's right, Ranko." echoed Akane.  "I'd hate to see you get
hurt.  It's my fight - don't worry, I'll be ok."  She spared a
glance at her friend.  Her eyes widened as she took in the look
of growing anger etched in Ranko's expression.
     "Thanks, Akane." growled the redhead.  "But I think I'll be
staying."  She took a step towards Kuno.  "Listen, buddy, I've
had just about enough of this crap from you.  You gotta problem
with Ranma, you take it up with him, ok?  Or do you have a thing
for beating up on girls?"
     Kuno turned his patronizing gaze on to Ranko.  "The
challenge I issued was a proper one - but as one not acquainted
with the martial arts, perhaps you are not familiar with the ways
of honor."  He seemed to become disinterested and turned away.
     Ranko snapped.  With uncanny speed, she leapt forward and
grabbed Kuno by the front of his kendo garb.  "I know more about
honor _now_, then you _ever_ will!" she snarled.  "And I won't
have you attacking my friend."  She gave him a rough shove,
sending him stumbling back a few steps.  "So just go away, got
it?  Go track down Ranma... I'm sure he'd _love_ to have a
rematch."
     Kuno quickly regained his feet, seeming unruffled by the
girl's words and action.  "And did you, perchance, see where that
boy in the pigtail went?"
     Ranko shook her head.  "No.  But trust me, I'm sure he's a
lot closer than you think."
     "Hah!" exclaimed the upperclassman.  "And no doubt hiding as
well!  Such a coward!  Running from a fight; hiding from a duel! 
Bah!  He is no man!  HE IS NO MAN!"
     With each word Ranko face flushed a deeper crimson.  "I'm
not gonna stand here and take this!" she said.  She adopted a
fighting stance, eyes narrowing dangerously.  "I can take you
anytime!  Come on!"
     "Heh.  Amusing."  He said, looking rather unperturbed, but
his eyes began to glow with renewed interest.  Akane looked on
with worry; she knew that Ranko was a martial artist - at least,
she _said_ she was - but did she have any idea what she was
getting into by taking on Kuno?  "Well.  Should you win..." Kuno
started to say, but then sprang forward, his bokken a sudden
blur.  "I will allow you to go out with me!" he cried.
     If his attack was quick, Ranko's dodge was even more so. 
"And who's asking..." she yelled back.  "To go out with YOU?" 
And as she sprang over Kuno's swing, she slammed her foot into
his head.
     Kuno staggered back, his bokken slipping from his grip.  He
looked, incredulously, at Ranko for a brief moment, and then he
slumped to the ground with a thud.  Akane watched as Ranko
casually snapped the bokken out of midair with her foot, flipped
it to her hand, and twirled it up and onto her shoulder.  "And
guess what, Kuno?" Ranko said, smirking.  "Ranma Saotome's even
better than me!"
     She turned away, glancing once at the stunned Akane. 
"C'mon, Akane.  Let's get out of here."  Ranko started walking
away.  Akane fell in numbly beside her.
     "Yeah, but what about school..." 

***

     "So this is your place, huh?  Nice..." exclaimed Ranko,
stepping through the large wooden doors set in the outer wall. 
Akane watched in some amusement as her friend looked around the
property, taking in the house and front yard.  She felt a certain
pride - it _was_ a nice house.
     She nodded.  "Yup.  And the dojo's out back."
     "Really?" asked Ranko excitedly.  "Can I see it?"
     "Sure!  Follow me!"  Akane led the way into the house,
feeling uncommonly happy.  It wasn't the first time that she'd
brought a friend home; it _was_ the first time she'd brought a
friend home who'd been immediately interested in seeing the dojo. 
The training hall was easily Akane's favorite part of the house,
but none of her friends understood _why_ - none of them
understood her interest in martial arts.  But Ranko did.
     They were almost immediately greeted upon entering the house
by an older girl with long brown hair, happy eyes, and wearing an
apron.  "Akane!" she said, and turned to Ranko.  "And hello to...
oh my!  You're soaking wet!  Did it rain?"
     Akane giggled, while Ranko flushed in embarrassment.  "No...
she just fell into the canal on our way here.  But I guess it's
her fault for walking on the fence in the first place."  She
finished taking off her shoes and stepped forward.  "Kasumi, this
is Ranko, my new friend from school.  Ranko, this is Kasumi, my
older sister."
     Ranko stopped muttering something about being distracted and
gave a small bow to her host.  "Ah... hello."
     "It's nice to meet you, Ranko." said Kasumi in a pleasant
voice.  "I welcome you to our home."  Then a slightly
disapproving look entered her eyes.  "But we can't have you
running through our house all soaked, can we?"
     "Oh, you don't have to worry about it, sis!  Ranko and I
were just going to go and spar in the dojo - she can wear one of
my gi while her clothes dry."
     Kasumi nodded.  "Ok.  Akane, you go get your friend one;
I'll bring her to the bathroom, so she can change.  No point in
dripping water all over the house!"
     Akane ran upstairs while her sister led Ranko away.  In a
matter of moments she'd torn off her school uniform and slipped
into her gi.  She let out a contented sigh.  Somehow, wearing a
gi just felt so much more... natural.  Comfortable.  She rummaged
through her drawers, quickly pulling out a slightly older and
more worn gi.  It was a bit small for her now, but then again,
Ranko was a little shorter than her as well.  She realized that
she was starting to get a little excited - it had been so long
since she'd sparred with another girl.  Beating up dummies, or
the guys at school (they were pretty much the same thing, she
thought with a smirk), or even practicing with her dad, just
wasn't the same thing.
     As she wrapped the slightly-ragged belt around her waist,
she thought about Ranko.  There was so much she wanted to ask her
- so many things she _wanted_ to ask, but somehow kept getting
distracted from.  She suddenly realized that she didn't even know
her new friend's family name - didn't know where she lived -
didn't know where she came from, or, aside from martial arts,
what her hobbies and interests were.  They'd chatted a bit during
the walk home, but, looking back, it occurred to her that she'd
talked more about herself, and about Furinkan High, and Nerima in
general.  Ranko really hadn't said much, just asked questions. 
Then again, she _was_ new to town.  It only made sense that she'd
be interested in her new school and town.
     Anyway, mused Akane, giving her belt a final tug, that just
means we'll have more to talk about.  Maybe I'll invite her over
this weekend for a sleep over... it'd be a great chance for us to
get to know each other better.  And practice some kempo, of
course...
     Scooping up the other gi, Akane left her room.  As she
headed downstairs, she found her thoughts turning to the _other_
student who had just transferred to her school... Ranma.  Where
had he disappeared to?  Somehow, he didn't seem like the kind of
guy to just run off like that.  Then again, she knew virtually
nothing about him... knew nothing, really, except for the fact
that he studied Anything-Goes.  She frowned as she remembered
that she'd never had a chance to ask him about that.  Tomorrow,
for sure, she would.
     "Is that the gi, Akane?"  Her older sister's voice cut into
her reveries.
     "Huh?  Oh, yes, Kasumi." she replied, handing them over. 
Kasumi quickly passed them over to Ranko in the bathroom.  Akane
heard Ranko's 'thank you', and her friend began to change.  A
moment later she stepped out, handing a bundle of sopping clothes
to Kasumi.  Akane gave Ranko a quick look-over.  "How does it
fit?" she asked.
     Ranko smiled.  "Like a gi, I guess.  Good enough for
sparring, anyway.  Shall we?"
     Akane nodded.  "Follow me!"


     They stood opposite of each other, the shiny expanse of the
wooden dojo floor between them.  Akane sized her opponent up. 
Ranko stood relaxed, arms held loosely behind her, almost looking
demurely at the floor.  Akane wasn't fooled.  She'd seen her in
action, briefly, against Kuno.  The speed, and agility, and skill
she'd demonstrated, both in jumping down from the tree and in
defeating the kendoist, proved that she was, indeed, a martial
artist.  And Akane was glad - for once, she could fight without
having to hold back as much, without having to worry about
hurting her opponent.
     "Just for fun, right?" she asked, and flashed a quick smile. 
Ranko nodded, smiling back.  Akane took a moment to gather
herself, to focus on her opponent... and then she attacked.
     She crossed the distance quickly and opened with a simple,
straightforward punch.  Ranko hopped over it.  Akane followed
with a high roundhouse; again, Ranko sprang over it, her face
never losing that calm, innocent look.  Alright, thought Akane,
let's try a little harder.  Stepping in, she unleashed a short
flurry of punches.  The redhead dodged each once, smoothly
twisting aside from each blow at the last moment; when Akane
snapped out another roundhouse, Ranko easily leaned back,
allowing the kick to pass through empty air.
     Akane was getting frustrated.  Why couldn't she hit the
girl?  She was also getting upset.  Why wouldn't Ranko strike
back?  "What's wrong?  Swing at me!" she demanded, hopping back a
step.  Her opponent didn't respond and held the same relaxed
posture.  When Akane moved in again with another set of punches,
Ranko simply leaned from side to side, avoiding each one.
     "Why... Why am I missing her?"  Akane eyed her opponent,
watching for any opening.  There wasn't much point - as far as
she could tell, Ranko entire posture _was_ an opening... all she
did was just stand there!  Yet every strike failed to hit.  "Is
she reading my moves?" she wondered.  She narrowed her eyes. 
Well fine then... this time, for real!
     With a sudden burst of energy, Akane hurtled forward,
smashing her fist towards her partner.  For a second, a brief
moment, she thought that she would actually make contact; and
then, Ranko disappeared.  Before Akane scarcely had time to
wonder where she'd gone to, she felt a light tap on the back of
her head.
     "Gotcha!" spoke a cheerful voice behind her, and she felt
another light tap on the back of her head.  She froze for a
moment, then slowly turned.
     Ranko gave a big smile and laughed.  For a moment, just a
brief moment, Akane felt a little angry, along with a strange
sense of deja vu.  But then, sensing the genuine nature of the
laugh, knowing that nothing nasty was intended by, feeling it's
infectious nature, Akane couldn't help but join in.  And it felt
good.  For once, for the first time in a long time, she felt
totally relaxed.  She may have lost the match, may not have even
come _close_ to tagging her opponent... but it didn't matter.
     For she had lost to a friend.

	End Chapter Three
***

	Dunno when the next one'll come out... school and stuff...
	(BTW, since I'm making most of this up as I go along, suggestions 
and stuff welcome!)

	Later!
	Mike Noakes