Ranma 1/2 are Rumiko Takahashi's. Hopefully, she'll forgive us for what
we're doing.

Here's part 2. Comments are welcome and desired. If you want to flame,
light the fire! (We just stocked up on marshmallows.)

Ranma vs. Ranma! 
The Battle For Akane's Soul
By She-Hulk and Kahm (brobinso@neocomm.net)
----------------------------

Part 2

	"What a Haul! What a Haul!", Happosai cried, as he leaped from rooftop to
rooftop. Silk lingerie flapped over the edges of the bag he carried on his
shoulder and the outraged cries of many women could be heard faintly in the
distance. Swiftly, he slid down a drain pipe and ran towards a cluster of
street vendors. 

	Jumping on top of a stack of pots, Happosai drew out his pipe and struck
one of the awning poles of a bun stand. While the poor vendor was
struggling to free himself, Happosai relieved him of a rather large stack
of buns. "Charge it to the Tendo Dojo!" And, laughing wildly, he ran on.

	Ranma left Dr. Tofu's in considerably better condition when he'd arrived.
"Stupid girl!" he grumbled, rotating his neck again as he walked towards
home. "So I wouldn't try her rice balls. Do I look suicidal?" An old lady
stared at him as he walked past, continuing to mumble. "When is she going
to realize that she can't cook and give everyone a break?"

	Just then, Ranma detected faint cries of distress. He scanned the horizon
and spotted Happosai racing down the street. Approximately thirty women
were in pursuit.  "Now what's the old pervert done? And do I want to know?"
The questions were rhetorical. Ranma was already running. He quickly caught
up with, then passed the irate women. Happosai glanced back and saw Ranma.

	"Ranma, my boy! Time for some training!" So saying he dived into the open
door of a small shop. Ranma followed, vaguely noticing the shop's name: Ye
Olde Cursed Antique Shoppe.

	Inside Ranma slid to a halt. Happosai was nowhere to be seen. The
shopkeeper stepped forward.

	"Ah! Welcome sir! Welcome to Cursed Antique Shoppe. Each piece has verryy
tragic story! Sir would like guided tour? See here? Verrryy tragic lamp,
given to a young girl by her betrothed, who was then eaten by dragon, one
thousand five hundred year ago! You like?"

	Ranma stared at the man. 'Where'd he go?'

	"Who sir?", the shopkeeper looked puzzled.

	'The old man! Bag over his shoulder? Laughing like a nut house reject?"
Ranma began to search the shop. The multitude of furniture and items was
covered in a thick layer of dust. An hour went by. Coughing and sneezing,
his eyes watering, Ranma had just about given up. He had looked in pots,
chests, drawers, vases, rolled rugs and even in a sarcophagus. Which still
held it's original contents.
 
	The shopkeeper had been at his side the whole time, chattering like mad.
This had this curse and that had that curse and Don't Open That One! All of
which Ranma had ignored. But enough was enough. He turned to leave. Then he
heard it. A sneeze from one of the baskets he'd already checked. Spinning
around, he saw Happosai hop out and run toward the store's back room. With
a quick grin, Ranma followed.

	"No! Sirs! Is bad to go in back room!." The shopkeeper raced after them,
screaming, "Verryy Verryy Cursed items in back! Verryy Bad! You come back!"

	The room was, if possible, even more cluttered than the front. Happosai
spotted an open window and headed for it. As Ranma closed in, Happosai
leaped on to a tall, covered piece of furniture and whirled to goad him.
"You'll never catch me, boy!" Then he jumped through the window. The
covering fell and an elaborately carved mirror was revealed.

	Ranma didn't notice his reflection in the mirror as he ran past, didn't
hear the shopkeeper cry out a warning and he didn't see the eyes of his
reflection.

	Ranma moved through the vacant lot quickly, his mind focused on his goal.
The small flowers that had managed to bloom in this barren refuge were
crushed by his unmindful tread. Where was she? A sudden gust of wind
brought a trill of laughter and a shower of black rose petals. Kodachi.
Ranma smiled, but it was cold. She would know.

	"Ranma Darling!", Kodachi called, as she landed gracefully in front of
him. "I've been looking everywhere for you-"

	"Where's Akane?", he interrupted, knocking aside the rose she was trying
to give him.

	"Ranma! I picked that rose for you my darling! Now it's-"

	Ranma reached out and grabbed Kodachi by the throat. Her garbled cry was
cut off as he lifted her off the ground. "Now. Where is Akane Tendo?"

	Kodachi was frozen. The feel of Ranma's fingers as they dug into her
didn't register at first. <This  is Ranma!> Her mind screamed at her. <He
can't possibly be... hurting me?> His fingers dug deeper and she couldn't
breathe. Her chest began to ache. A little voice called from the back of
her mind, growing louder. Fight. Fight. Fight! FIGHT!!!  

	Kodachi moved quickly and pushed Ranma's arm away and up. She brought her
knee up and into his stomach and then back flipped away from him. Ranma
gasped and staggered back a little. Kodachi stared at him, searching the
features of the man she loved. Ranma stared back. Kodachi gasped at the
look in his eyes. Cold. Ranma smiled, "So, the little rose has thorns.
Shall we play then?" 

	Ranma leaped into the air and aimed the force of his kick at Kodachi's
head. She rolled down and forward at the last possible instant and drew out
her ribbon. Ranma's kick shattered the ground and he growled in frustration
as he turned to face her again.

	Kodachi's ribbon swirled around her. She saw the result of his kick and
realized that Ranma was trying to kill her. A wave of fear swamped her.
Ranma was the best. Wasn't that why she'd chosen him? No one could beat
him. No one. Oh God. "R-Ranma, I don't want to hurt you, perhaps we should
leave this for another day?"
 
	Ranma began to walk towards her. Slowly. Patiently. Kodachi began to back
up. He matched her step for step. He was stalking her, she realized, like a
cat stalks a mouse. < If I run I'm dead. If I fight I'll probably die
anyway, but I won't go without a fight. There's no real choice.> She
stopped retreating. < I am Kodachi Kuno! I am the Black Rose!> She drew a
deep breath and attacked. 

	Kodachi laughed wildly and slashed at him with the ribbon. The ribbon
sliced harmlessly through the air where Ranma had been. She whirled and he
was there. To late to dodge. To late to defend. To late to scream. 

	

	The blackness was receding, but not the pain. Kodachi was dying. She knew
this somehow, through the haze of pain, she knew that you couldn't hurt
this much without dying. She tried to open her eyes. Still dark. She closed
her eyes and tried again, this time she was rewarded by a fresh burst of
pain and the fuzzy sight of grass. Was he gone? <Oh God, please let him be
gone!> A shadow moved past her and she tried not to whimper.  The sight of
Ranma's retreating figure was still blurry but getting clearer. He was
walking away! She watched him lean down and pick something up. He turned
back to her and saw her watching him. He smiled. 

	Kodachi did whimper then. Strong arms lifted her almost gently and leaned
her against what she thought was a tree. Numbly aware of her hands being
secured around it she felt him move away. Then she made a mistake. Her
worst yet, in fact. She looked at him again. And saw him lift her ribbon
from where it had fallen. He smiled again. And then Kodachi screamed.
	



	Ranma yawned broadly, as he blocked Akane's kick. "Let me know when you
want to start sparring Akane." She let out a strangled scream and charged
him. Ranma nimbly leaped over her.

	Akane whirled and let loose a flurry of kicks and punches, varying her
attack points. Ranma blocked each, careful not to hurt her. The breath
whooshed out of him as a kick caught him fully in the chest. He fell back,
landing on the ground beside the pond. Akane ran to him. "Ranma! Are you
all right?" She helped him up. "You should have been able to block that
easily. How did I-?"

	Ranma dusted himself off and drew a quick breath. Nothing broken, but
maybe a little bruised. <She's right. Why didn't I see that kick?> "It's no
big deal Akane. I have to let you get in a good hit once in awhile so you
don't give up."

	Akane stared at him. "What?"

	"Of course! If you gave up martial arts then you might spend more time
cooking! At least this keeps you out of the kitchen!"

	The sounds of battle echo once again through the Tendo Dojo.

Elsewhere...