"EQUAL"

(A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic)

>From the Desk of Megane 6.7

This is a work of Fiction.  All Characters and Landmarks, are the 
property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty Films, 
Viz Video, Shonen Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the 
rights.

PART 2

THE TENDO DOJO
11:00 PM	

	The door slowly slid open as Ranma-Chan, followed by 
Genma-Panda, entered their room.  The latter immediately lumbered
towards his futon, intent on catching some sleep....

	"Pop?  Can I talk to ya for a sec?"  Ranma-Chan inquired.

	Genma-Panda gave no indication that he heard her as he 
climbed into his futon and turned away.  Ranma-Chan sighed in 
frustration as she walked over to her father and gave him a swift kick
in the bum.  Genma-Panda yelped in surprise and then a low growl
of warning emitted from him.

	"I wanna sleep too, Pop!  But not until I ask you something!  
We can either fight it out all night or you can just listen to me for a 
minute!"  Ranma-Chan shot back.

	The panda was silent for a long moment and Ranma-Chan 
was about to boot him awake again when he held up a hand written sign
that read *WHAT IS IT?*.

	Ranma-Chan was relieved as she replied.  "Earlier tonight I....ran into
someone who wanted to learn marital arts from me.  I agreed to do it."

	Genma-Panda suddenly sat up and turned to face his daughter, 
looking as surprised as a panda could manage.  He held up two more 
handwritten signs with one sentence scrawled across them.  *YOU WANT
TO TEACH MARTIAL ARTS?*  Then he spun the sign around to reveal
another sentence.  *YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED YOUR OWN TRAINING!* 

	"I know that, Pop.  But I think this person has the potential to be a
great marital artist.  I'm skilled enough that I can train her to go
beyond what any normal Dojo or Sensei could teach her."  Ranma-Chan
argued.

	*HER???*  was the Panda's only reply.

	Ranma-Chan winced.  She knew it would have slipped out sooner
or later, but she had planned on much later.  She decided to plunge
ahead before her father has a chance to object.   "Yeah, Pop.  She's a
girl.  Her name is Mai Sakamoto and I agreed to teach her martial arts
every day after school for 8000 yen a week."  

	The panda seemed to glare at him for a moment before replying, 
via handwritten sign.  *WOMEN AREN'T WORTH THE EFFORT OF TEACHING OUR
ART!*

	"I'm not saying she'll ever be as good as me, Pop.  I'm just saying I
can train her to be better than the average fighter, give her an
edge...."

	*OUT OF THE QUESTION!*  The panda's sign read as he stuck it in his
daughter's face.  He then lay back down on the futon, considering the
matter settled....
	
	Only to be proven wrong as Ranma-Chan kicked him again,
harder this time.  "What's out of the question?!  The fact that I could
probably train her a lot better than you could....?!   Ranma-Chan hotly
retorted, even as she leapt back to avoid the panda's claws swiping at
her.  "If an idiot like you can train ME, I can sure as hell do the same
for Mai!!"  she added.

	The panda, who was exhausted and growing more surly by the 
moment, held up another sign that read.  *IF I SAY YES, WILL YOU SHUT UP
AND LET ME SLEEP?*

	"Yes!"  Ranma-Chan replied, exasperated.

	*FINE.  TRAIN WHOEVER YOU WANT*  

	Genma-Panda returned to the comfort of his futon and fell asleep 
in a matter of seconds.  Ranma-Chan was surprised that her father had 
given in to her so easily, having expected a prolonged battle.  She
decided to count her blessings as she walked over to her own futon. 
Stripping down to her boxers and undershirt, she crawled into her futon
and stared out the window at the stars.

	She wished she could change back into a boy but couldn't risk it
until her mother had left the dojo.  Ranma-Chan could only hope that 
Nodoka would consider his coaching Mai, a manly act.  Likewise, Soun 
was not likely to take the news lightly but then again, Ranma wasn't 
marrying her so why would he complain?  Everyone tended to assume 
the worst about her lately and Ranma-Chan had no idea what she had 
done to earn such a reputation.  Sure, she had three fiancees but he
hadn't agreed to marry any of them....

	As her fiancees came to mind, she wondered what Akane's reaction
to Mai would be.  Anger, probably.  She would call him a pervert and 
accuse him of chasing after Mai....same old story.  Ranma-Chan truly 
wished that Akane thought better of her....

	Ranma-Chan turned from the window, closed her eyes and 
soon fell into a dreamless sleep.


*	*	*


FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOL
3:55 P.M.


	Ranma emerged from his classroom, stretching out lightly.  
A yawn escaped from his mouth as he wondered for the thousandth 
time just what purpose trigonometry had in life anyway.  "Maybe I'll 
meet a master of *Martial Arts Mathmatics* and I'll finally get a chance 
to put this crap to good use...."  Ranma muttered sarcastically to
himself. 

	"Hey Ranma!  Wait for me!"  Akane called out to him as she 
emerged from the classroom and caught up to him.  "What's the hurry?"    
	Ranma winced inwardly.  He wasn't looking forward to leveling with
Akane and had held off on telling her until the last minute, wanting to
avoid her wrath.  "Uh....well, the truth is...."

	"Hey, Ranma!"  

	Ranma spun around and was shocked to see Mai running 
towards him, dressed in a school uniform and looking more excited than 
ever.  She had a gym bag slung over her left shoulder as she exclaimed.
"I've been looking forward to our lesson, all day!"      

	"Uh....Hi, Mai...."  Ranma replied feebly.  

	"Lesson?"  Akane's voice inquired behind him.

	Before Ranma could explain, Mai jumped in.  "I asked Ranma
to teach me his style of Anything-Goes Martial Arts.  I've been training
for a long time but there's only so much you can learn without a coach. 
I've seen what Ranma can do and I want to learn to fight like him, 
because he's the best."

	Ranma was surprised at Mai's high opinion of him while Akane 
was silent for a moment as she seemed to study Mai for a long moment.  
"I see...." was her only reply.

	"By the way, my name is Mai.  Mai Sakamoto."  Mai said as she 
bowed in greeting to her.   	

	"Akane Tendo"  Akane replied as she matched Mai's bow, her
eyes falling on Ranma.  "I'm surprised Ranma didn't mention you 
earlier...."  

	Ranma decided he had better say something.  "Uh....I was kinda
planning to introduce her at the dojo....so everyone could meet her at 
once."  Ranma then assumed a sheepish look as he added.  "I figured it 
would be easier that way...."

	"Akane?"  Mai suddenly exclaimed.  "Oh!  You're one of 
Ranma's fiancees, right?"

	Ranma winced.  Akane never took her gaze off Ranma as she 
replied.  "More or less...."

	"I've heard about you from my classmates.  You and Ranma are
being forced into an arranged marriage, right?"  Mai inquired.

	"Uh, it's starting to get late!"  Ranma suddenly interrupted.  
"Maybe we should get to the Dojo now and...." 
	
	"Hey Ranchan, who's your friend?"

	Ranma looked over his shoulder to see Ukyou standing behind 
him, looking at Mai curiously.  Even worse was the fact that some of the
other students seemed to have noticed the conversation and were
gathering around Akane, Mai and himself.  He had to nip this thing in
the bud before things got out of hand....

	"This is my new student.  Mai Sakamoto.  I'm teaching her martial arts
at the Tendo Dojo and that's all!"  Ranma proclaimed as he made his way
through the crowd, a puzzled Mai following close behind.  Meanwhile
Ukyou walked over to Akane.

	"Did he say student?  I didn't know Ranma wanted to be a 
Sensei...."  Ukyou inquired.

	"I don't know what he thinks he's doing...." Akane replied 
slowly, her gaze never leaving Ranma completely.

	Ukyou noticed Akane's sullen mood.  "Oh, come on, Akane.  
You really don't think Ranchan's interested in her, do you?  Remember 
the last time we thought something like that?  We ended up fighting
Shampoo and each other and Ranchan got caught in the middle?"

	Akane didn't seem to be listening as she watched Ranma and 
Mai fade into the distance.  

		
*	*	*


	"Mai, there's some things I need to tell you before we go to the
Dojo...."  Ranma began as he and Mai walked up the sidewalk towards Dr.
Tofu's clinic.  "Oh?"  Mai replied, curious as to why they were stopping
here.

	"The truth is....My mother doesn't know I change into a girl.  
It's a long story but the bottom line is, she can't ever find out about
my curse so I have to get some cold water and change first.  For the
first few days, until my mother leaves, I'll have to train you in my
girl form.  I hope you don't mind...."

	Mai blushed slightly as she replied.  "I....don't mind that at all.  In
fact, I'm kind of curious to see what your female form looks like."

	"It's nothing special."  Ranma replied.  "My hair turns red, my 
body shrinks a bit...."  Ranma shrugged.  "I grow breasts."

	 Mai giggled at the image of Ranma with breasts.  Ranma frowned
for a moment but the same image suddenly appeared in his own mind and
he couldn't help but smile at the overall silliness of his situation. 
Then he arrived at the door to the clinic and knocked three times.  A
few moments later, Dr. Tofu opened the door.

	"Oh, hello again, Ranma!"  Dr. Tofu greeted him.  Then he noticed Mai
standing nearby.  "And hello again to you....Mai, was it?"  
	
	"That's me!"  Mai replied cheerfully.  

	"Do you mind if I use the sink, Doc?"  Ranma asked.

	"Not at all."  Dr. Tofu replied as Ranma nodded his thanks and
proceeded towards the sink in question.  He glanced back to see Mai
standing a few feet behind him.  "Here comes Ranma-Chan."  Ranma
announced sardonically as he turned the cold water faucet and dunked his
head under the tap, the icy cold water soaking her head.
	
	A few moments later, Ranma's body underwent a metamorphic 
change to that of a young female.  Then Ranma-Chan turned to face Mai.  
"So, what do you think?"  Ranma-Chan asked, twirling around in a 
circle.

	Mai stared at the girl before her, a look of childlike wonder and
delight evident in her eyes.  "K...Kawaii...."  She whispered.

	"Hmm?"

	Mai quickly snapped out of it, her face blushing a vivid crimson
as she quickly replied.  "I....I just thought you looked cute.  That's
all."

	"Heh.  Being cute has it's advantages....specially when I buy ice
cream...."  Ranma nearly drooled at the thought of a big chocolate
sundae, with a few extra scoops thrown in free of charge by the waiter.
"Of course, it also means getting hit on by jerks like Kuno and
Mikado...."

	"You mean guys actually try to date you?"  Mai exclaimed, 
shocked.  "Don't they know about your....you know?"

	Ranma-Chan shook her head.  "Kuno and Mikado are too stupid to see the
truth and some of the other guys don't care as long as I'm in my girl
form."  

	"Do you like being admired by guys?"

	"WHAT?!  No way!!"  Ranma replied indignantly.  "It'll be a 
cold day in hell before I ever find a guy attractive!  I mean, you would 
never find a girl attractive, right?"

	Mai seemed to hesitate for a moment before replying.  "I....I guess
not....It depends on what you mean by attractive...."

	Ranma frowned.  "Either you find someone attractive or you 
don't...."

	"Well, to be honest, Ranma....Right now, I find your girl form 
attractive.  I think you have a great body and your face is really cute.
If I were interested in girls, I would ask you for a date....but I'm
not."
	
	Ranma-Chan's face flushed slightly at the compliment.  "Well, 
since we're being honest here....I think you're kinda cute too.  If I
weren't already engaged to three women, I would probably ask you for a 
date, but I am."

	"I guess we have something in common then."  Mai remarked
with a grin.  "We both want nothing to do with each other!"

	Ranma-Chan couldn't help giggling.  "Oh well, we'll always
have our lessons.  Speaking of which, we'd better get over to the Dojo.
I wouldn't want you to waste your time and money talking when we could
be sparring...."

	"Oh yes!  Here's an advance for the first week."  Mai said as she
reached into her gym bag and pulled out her wallet.  She withdrew eight
1000 yen bills and handed them over to Ranma-Chan who accepted and 
placed them in her own wallet, once a barren wasteland, now a field of 
dreams.    

	"Thanks!"  Ranma-Chan replied as she walked out the door, 
saying good-bye to Dr. Tofu as she did.  Mai did the same and soon they
were on their way to the Tendo Dojo....


*	*	*


	"Saotome, I don't know if this was such a good idea...."

	Genma looked up from the game board to see a concerned look
on Soun's face.  They were both seated out on the porch, enjoying the 
cool evening breeze as they played their daily game of Shogi.  

	"What's to worry about Tendo?  Ranma's finally starting to take our
legacies seriously by teaching another student.  It won't be too long
before he'll be able to teach an entire classroom of students and then
you and I can finally retire for good, knowing our Dojos will be in good
hands."

	Soun nodded reluctantly.  "I'm not saying Ranma doesn't need the
practice or that his teaching the art is a bad thing.  I just question
his choice of a student...."

	Genma chuckled.  "All I know is that she's a girl.  Probably some
overly confident, gushing schoolgirl who's seen one too many kung-fu
films.  I'll bet you she quit within a month after she finds out how
much work is involved...."

	Before Soun could reply, Nabiki suddenly appeared from the 
Dojo.  "Did I just hear someone make a bet?"  She inquired.

	Genma kept his mouth shut but Soun was all too willing to repeat
his friend's boast.  "So, you think Mai is going to flop, huh?"  Nabiki
asked.

	Genma took a moment to adjust his glasses as he replied. "Yes.  I think
my son felt sorry for this poor girl and she won't be able to stand the
pace that Anything-Goes Martial Arts requires from those who practice
it."

	"How much are you willing to bet that she'll last a little longer than
that?"
 
	It was Soun who asked the question.  Genma turned to face his 
friend.  "All right....If Mai doesn't quit her lessons within a month's
time, I'll be Happosai's slave for a week the next time he comes
around."

	"Come now, Saotome.  You know if the master wants either of us to serve
him, we'll have precious little choice.  Let's make this interesting. 
If you lose, you have to eat my portions whenever Akane decides to cook,
for a whole month.  What do you say?"

	Genma bigsweated.  "Uh....I don't know...."

	"What's the matter, Tendo?  Scared I've got you beat?"  Soun 
taunted his friend.  Genma's pride immediately took the offensive as
he blurted out.  "A....All right!  And if *I* win, you have to....have
to....shave off that mustache and get a haircut!"     

	Now it was Soun's turn to bigsweat.  He was proud of his long
mane of hair and his mustache had been with him for ten years, he 
didn't want to lose it.  Still, Genma had challenged him and he could
hardly back down now.  "We're in agreement then?"  

	Genma's reply had no answer.  A moment's hesitation and
then Soun grasped the hand firmly in a handshake, sealing the deal.  
Then Nabiki suddenly spoke up.  "Say, guys, mind if I get a piece of
the action?"

	"Huh?"  Genma and Soun looked up at her.

	"I bet BOTH of you that Mai will go the distance and become
a powerful martial artist just like Ranma.  If I win, both of you have
to do what you said you'd do, PLUS give me 10,000 yen each."

	"And if YOU lose?"  Genma asked, snickering at the thought of
a girl advancing to Ranma's level.

	Nabiki shrugged.  "Pick a punishment."

	Then a wicked smile came over Soun's face.  "Okay, Nabiki.  If 
either of us wins, YOU have to agree to bridal training by Kasumi.  
Cooking, cleaning, baby care, the whole nine yards.  Do we have a bet?"

	"You got it, Daddy."  Nabiki replied as she shook her father's 
hand.  Then she smiled.  

	"What are you smiling at?"  Soun inquired.

	"I was just trying to imagine you without a mustache.  I admit
it will be hard to get used to at first but I'm sure we'll adjust till
it grows back...."

	Nabiki walked back into the Dojo, leaving behind the two 
fathers, both of them looking less confident than before as they hastily
resumed their game....


*	*	*


	"So where are they?"  

	Akane spoke the question aloud as she waited impatiently for the 
two to show up.  She was dressed in her usual yellow gi and had been 
warming up for the past 10 minutes.  Nabiki was watching her sister 
from the sidelines, still amazed at how calmly Akane was taking all
this.  

	Nabiki had been surprised that her father was willing to let Ranma
teach martial arts to another girl in his Dojo.  She presumed Mr.
Saotome had somehow talked him into it, which really wasn’t that
formidable a feat, considering his gullibility.

	Unlike her father and Mr. Saotome, Nabiki know who Mai Sakamoto was. 
She had recently transferred into Nabiki’s class but Nabiki hadn’t paid
much attention to her until one day.... 


*Flashback*


NABIKI TENDO’S CLASSROOM
4:30 PM	


	“Um, excuse me....”

	Nabiki, who had been putting away her school supplies, looked up 
from her desk.  “Yes?”

	“Hi, my name is Mai Sakamoto.  I’ve heard you mention Ranma 
Saotome’s name and I was wondering if you could tell me a little about
him....”  Mai replied in a quiet voice.

	A smile crept across Nabiki’s face.  “You wouldn’t have been engaged to
him by an older man with glasses, as a child, would you?”

	“What?”  Mai replied, her voice full of surprise.

	The smile faded from Nabiki.  “Just another member of the Saotome fan
club, huh?”  she muttered as she resumed putting her school supplies
away.  “If you want to know about Ranma, it’ll cost you....”  	

	Mai blinked.  Then she frowned and her tone grew hostile as she
replied.  “Cost?  You mean money?  Why should I have to pay to find out
about someone?!”

	Nabiki chuckled.  “Let’s just say I get a lot of requests from girls
like you who want a chance to date him so I decided to make it worth my
while....”

	Mai’s face flushed a bright red.  “I never said I wanted to date him! 
I just wanted....look, just forget it!”  Mai turned away from Nabiki and
stormed out the door of the classroom.  Nabiki stared after her for a
moment and then shrugged.

	“Your loss.”  Nabiki muttered.

	
*End Flashback*


	From that point on, Nabiki had glanced at Mai now and then, wondering
why she had been interested in Ranma, if not for a date.  Now it seemed
all Mai wanted was a chance to train with him.  She had seen Mai in gym
class and knew she was in top shape.  Still it going to be interesting
to see how Mai and Akane would get along, not to mention how capable a
teacher Ranma could be....

	Then Nabiki heard a giggle and turned to see Mai, along with
Ranma-Chan, walk into the Dojo.  Mai was wearing a black gi with two red
serpents spread across it while Ranma-Chan was wearing the same white gi
she had worn during her early sparring days with her father.  Ranma-Chan
seemed surprised to see Akane dressed for sparring.  "You want me to
teach you some techniques too, Akane?"  Ranma remarked.  

	Akane felt her face flush with anger as she retorted.  "I'm a 
capable martial artist, Ranma!  I don't need you to...."

	Ranma-Chan sighed.  "It was a JOKE, Akane.  A joke.  If you
want to join our sparring session, you're welcome to it."  Then 
Ranma-Chan brightened, an idea coming to her.  "Say, why don't you
and I spar a bit and give Mai a demonstration of our skills?"

	"Sounds good to me!"  Akane replied.  In fact, she had been 
looking forward to this for a while.  After Akane had improved her 
skills in order to defeat her so-called lost sisters, Kurumi and
Natsume, she had been eager to challenge Ranma once again and see if she
could hold her own against him.  Of course he had to be a conceited jerk
about it, claiming she wasn't worth his time and she had responded by
knocking him into orbit and convincing herself for the time being that
she didn't need to prove anything to Ranma.     
	 
	Ranma-Chan and Akane took their positions opposite each other.  
Akane assumed a offensive stance, her heart pounding as she prepared 
to attack.  Ranma-Chan took a defensive stance, as she always tended to
do whenever she sparred with Akane, and glanced over at Mai who was
studying the pair intently, noting their stances and preparation. 
"Watch and learn."  Ranma said as he patiently awaited Akane to make the
first move.

		
(Fade to Black)


TO BE CONTINUED....


Thus ends Part 2.  C&C is welcome.

Sincerely,

Megane 6.7