Through the Looking Glass

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by Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr.



A Fanfic inspired by the anime Ranma 1/2 created by Rumiko Takahashi.

Their respective owners copyright all characters.



A project for the Fanfic Mailing List



Started August 8, 1997 10:50 am

Ended August 8, 1997 12:20 pm

Restarted August 9, 1997 6:10 am

Ended August 9, 1997 8:05 am

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I suppose I should have foreseen trouble was just lurking around the corner
when I spotted Ryouga standing underneath the lamppost with what I thought
was a silly grin hanging across his face. My fiancée and I were casually,
in fact romantically been enjoying our stroll towards home. When I finally
was near enough to see him without squinting in the dark, his mood changed.
It was at first turning out into such a wonderful evening. I've finally
taken Akane out to the movies and we haven't fought since we came out of her
house. Now, however, seeing one of my rivals showing an astonished look
while Akane and I were going back to the Tendo dojo, a horrible feeling
crept up my back.

Akane didn't know how I felt about Ryouga. She admired him more as a friend;
least knowing how much Ryouga loved her, which would always make me angry.
His cursed self, in so many instances in the past, has been more attached to
my fiancée than myself. P-chan was Ryouga, and this was his only advantage
over me. So many times I've tempted to finally reveal Ryouga to Akane,
hoping that the instantaneous rage Akane would react would finally put this
guy, this mischievous pig, out of the picture once and for all.

She traded evening greetings to our mutual friend. I was forced to extend
the same. Terribly tempted to call out an insult to spite him, but somehow
the tranquility of the barren street tonight disheartened me. I was however
expecting him to give his best in disrupting our evening. With our past
experience with each other, why should I have reason not to feel animosity
with our meeting this night? So you'd understand why I was surprised when he
just gave back a weak and nervous reply. Something was amiss.

Akane led me away into the darkness, but something didn't feel right. Ryouga
passed up a golden opportunity to disturb the peace the evening brought.
Akane's sudden glance confirmed my suspicion. I thought she too felt
something was wrong with Ryouga. I stopped extending my hand to tell her to
come back with me and talk with him. Though I knew this might not be a good
idea, I insisted that we find out. Ryouga did show uneasiness when he saw us
walk up back to him. He tried to speak first, revealing his confusion to our
return. I wanted Akane do the talking, since I knew I might be jumping into
wrong conclusions, but I instantly noticed a shadow behind Ryouga's own.

Someone was hiding in the darkness. It was a girl, as I barely discerned the
shapely outline in the lightlessness. This stranger has somehow intrigued
me, mostly because my gaze at the shadowy figure was eliciting some harrowed
reaction from Ryouga. He was desperately trying to get rid of us as I noted
from what I overheard with his whispered conversation with my fiancée. But,
the mystery that would soon be revealed kept me there. A tug and pull on my
arm from Akane became undiscerning, as instincts wanted me to find who she
was.

I think I should have followed Ryouga's advice after the moonlight
illuminated the figure I seem only to have noticed. It was another Akane; a
girl standing there was in her same likeness. I almost fell over in shock.
Though at first I thought it was Akari, but Akane's fainting at my hands
confirmed otherwise. I awed at how this woman that Ryouga somehow knew was
exactly like my fiancée, who I was now lifeless and I'm now carrying across
the threshold. Ryouga has some great explaining to do.

The four of us, Ryouga, me and apparently two Akanes, treaded toward the
Tendo dojo. In the confusion I didn't know what to say, only that I
repeatedly asked who this other person was. The one I held in my arms, the
one I've been with the whole evening, was my foremost concern. I couldn't
help compare the two. Although she didn't speak through out the way, this
other Akane was a spitting image. Those lovely eyes, her cute short hair,
and a smile that was worth more than what it meant. I was surprised that the
smile she gave me stirred the same feelings inside of me, as the same
emotions the Akane I knew was the real one, affected in me that same night.

The Tendo household was thrown into chaos the moment we stepped inside.
Soun, Akane's father didn't know what to do. He saw two Akanes; one was
unconscious while another was visibly a disturbing sight. Kasumi, the eldest
daughter, only had exasperation for us. Nabiki on the other hand was a
little bit miffed by the incident. I tried to explain my part, which hardly
revealed anything to clear up this mess. It was up to Ryouga, and what he
has to say, in explaining the two Akanes. At first he tried to cower out,
but a quick punch to his head quickly changed his mind. All eyes and ears
awaited his explanation. What we heard the next few minutes utterly
blackened what already was turning out to be a grim evening.

It turns out; Ryouga made a pact with the devil. Though I'm not surprised
that he would even do such a thing, what he asked for disturbed me more.
Another Akane was evidently the result, but I somehow knew the worst wasn't
yet disclosed. Then he said it, that these two where one and the same
person. The devil didn't create a new Akane. He fashioned it so that the
real Akane was split into two. I found it hard to believe, but recalling our
date proved that something was not completely right with the Akane I've
dated with. Anger filled my mind, and promptly punched the pig till Akane
held me off herself.

It was a mistake. I didn't know everything. As if things weren't complicated
enough, the second Akane confessed to me. It wasn't Ryouga's fault. I
couldn't believe that, who else would think of such a nasty thing to befall
my fiancée. Then she told me that she was partly to blame. I had to sit
down, as I was finding it hard to digest everything that has happened to me,
to Akane, and to the other whom hasn't recovered from the earlier fright.

Her confession didn't make it easier to accept the truth. The whole Akane,
willfully allowing herself to become two persons so that I, her selfish and
uncaring fiancée, which was her own words, would have a perfect evening
without the interventions and jealous interruptions of that swine, Ryouga.
How could she, I cried out knowing that the true Akane would probably be
lost forever. To my greater demise, this was just the beginning. As I
horribly found out, from her own mouthed words, that there were more, more
of her out there.

Enough, I said. I had to remedy the situation. The first thing I had to do
was gather all the rest of her. Unbelievable as it may sound, but more of my
fiancée was loose in Nerima. She confessed that the rest of her was with
our friends, ensuring that they wouldn't have done what they usually do
whenever we try to go on a date. I told my father to keep the two here while
I go get the others. My mind raced with anger even though I perfectly knew
that she only intended for us to be together peacefully. That was stupid!
Never in my wildest dream, would I ever have wanted this to happen. Even for
a night of being together was not worth having more of her running around
town. Worst of it, the other selves weren't just running around, but I
expected her to be fighting those I knew wee more than capable to ruin our
earlier date. I can't figure why I didn't notice it initially. Our date went
too smoothly and in my experience that didn't happen often. My concern now
extended to the other Akanes I knew were at risk. I ran faster to find the
first one with a nerve wrecking thought in my back.

A loud crash of breaking glass as I came near the Nekonhaten confirmed Akane
presence nearby. I immediately saw Shampoo, one of my alleged fiancée,
revving her weapon at Akane. Though roughed up a bit, she held her ground as
I knew she would. There wasn't much explaining to do once I grabbed her and
sped off. I only shouted a brief announcement to Shampoo that I'll explain
everything later. If I ever get to understand why this ever happened to me?

The Akane I dragged out of the Uutchan was less resisting than the previous
one. Ucchan was caught surprised when I suddenly barged into her restaurant
while she was with my fiancée in the kitchen. I didn't bother to observe,
nor did I intend to stay long after excusing Akane from Ukyou. Again, I
offered my second alleged fiancée future explanation to what had just
occurred.

I then saw the third Akane walking out of the Kuno mansion. She too was
surprised that I came to know her whereabouts. I was caught up in my anger
to even let this one know how I knew but I just sternly prompted her to be
with her other selves, no questions asked. Then I heard her cry. I left them
there at the gate and ran inside to save the last. Kodachi had pinned Akane
across a huge tree with her finely whipped ribbons. I jumped in desperately
blocking the flurry of shard of laces Kodachi threw at my fiancée. Stunned
at my sudden appearance, Kuno's sister nevertheless tried to show her
exultation at my arrival. I quickly ignored her and ripped the bonds of
cloth that encased Akane. Without needing to explain, I carried her to
safety. Almost tripping on the lifeless body of Tatewaki himself whom I
noticed sprawled on the ground.

Six Akanes, moored inside the training hall, was such a confusing thing.
Making it worse was her father not able to stop crying, two other real
sisters in shock, and a dejected fiancée, me, not really knowing what to
do. There was only one thing on my mind, wait for the devil to show up and
undo this unholy exploit.

All through the night I kept watch. Even though they each tried their best
to comfort me, one Akane was all I needed. I need only the real one. I
couldn't bear myself listening to their apologies and cries. Even though
seeing them argue and fight with one another was amusing at times. I was
hurt and if only I hadn't been so ignorant of her, Akane wouldn't have
needed to do this.

Kasumi and Nabiki entered the training hall first the next morning. They
brought us some delicious breakfast. Ryouga, who helped me look after the
six sleeping Akanes last night, didn't want to eat. He was ashamed to have
allowed Akane to go through with her current predicament. I had already
forgiven Ryouga, since bearing a grudge would hardly help the situation. I
hadn't noticed at first, but Nabiki pointed the fact that each one, each
Akane was somehow different. The Akane I had dated was sweet, and an
attentive listener. Ucchan's Akane surprised us when she told us she learned
to cook okonomiyaki. Kodachi's and Shampoo's Akane showed off what the real
one had best to offer in martial-arts skills, while Kuno's Akane got the
grunt of Akane's inner brute strength, something I'm so familiar with. The
last one, the first one I uncovered, was Akane's cunning self as she had
elicited Ryouga's help to almost get away with this lunacy. I couldn't help
myself but smile, it wasn't often you could see all of Akane all at once.
Then I told all of her to shut up since I think the evil spirit responsible
for all of this has arrived.

It was evident that he had indeed arrived, as the trap our father has set
sprung into action. Today, Happosai will have to cure Akane, or die. Soun
and my father dragged the old ghoul's trampled body into the training hall
and we all stood in desperate anticipation to squeeze the solution out of
him. He stirred and stood up and perfectly knew what we all wanted.

Hours later I found myself sitting on top the dojo roof. I felt relaxed as I
glanced at Akane's gleaming face leaning on me. We didn't speak, but knew in
an instant that nothing was taking this moment from us. No one would
intrude. Everybody learned his or her lessons. I brought her face up to mine
and we kissed. Oblivious to us was how my father and hers were frantically
running around the dojo. They were running away from two new Happosais,
which they thought they punted out of Nerima, had just happened to crop out
of nowhere after he cured my fiancée.



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