Well, here it is, my first ever piece of fiction based on any form of
manga
at all. I wrote another piece once, a long time ago based on a universe
of my
own creation, hopefully one day I'l be able to do an epic like that
again.
During the meanwhile, enjoy.

apologies if there is a real Exotica Tours(TM) anywhere.
<<Insert Takahashi disclaimer here>>
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.


  My life all began weird enough, me and pops falling into those cursed
pools at Jusenkyo, but how was I to know just how much weirder things
would get from there? Sure, I was freaked out the first time, and even
the second time, but that was normal now. Even a fiance� who turns into
a cat and a rival who turns into a duck wasn't too weird anymore.

  No, it was this gaijin who came to the dojo one day asking for
directions.

  Kasumi answered the door and let him into the house. He looked kinda
out of place I guess, although he had the same taste of clothes as me,
loose pants and a shirt. I was in boy form at the time and pretty
pleased with myself for remaining that way the whole day. He spoke
briefly to Nabiki and got himself invited to dinner. That should have
set alarm bells ringing.

  "You must be the Ranma Saotome I have heard so much about, ne?"

  "What if I am?"

  That was obviously the wrong thing to say. He picked up his drink and
splashed it over me. Me and my big mouth. I looked down at myself and
sighed. So much for avoiding water.

  "Oh my!" said Kasumi. Akane only grinned slightly.

  "Whaddya do that for?" I screamed at him, angry and surprised at the
same time. The whole school (except for the Kunou's of course) knew
about my curse, but I didn't think I was that famous. Was there no where
my shame was not known?

  "I heard about you through Nabiki," he began, "I heard rumours about
you, but I never believed it for real. Nabiki invited me here and
suggested I see for myself. Now that I know I have a business
proposition."

  "If it's a business proposition, I think Nabiki-chan is the one you
want."

  "Oh, she's already in the plan, but her part comes later. I need your
help to find Jusenkyo."

  "..." said I.

  "Oh no, not for me, I'm quite happy as I am, thank you very much. You
see, I represent a Exotica tours(TM) and it occurred to me that Jusenkyo
would be a great niche market for tourism."

  "..." said I.

  "There are plenty of people in the west who aren't happy as they are,
there are plenty of martial artists too. A destination like Jusenkyo
would be ideal for either of these groups to visit."

  "..." said I.

  "Nabiki here, she's a tough negotiator. We finally agreed on a 50/50
split, with a one time fee for you to act as a guide to find the place,
plus a regular salary I you want to show our guests around the pools or
train the martial artists."

  I finally managed to find some words. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND, YOU
BAKA!!!!!!!!!" I screamed at him. It was bad enough knowing a half dozen
or so people wit curses of some sort, but if people the world over were
getting cursed? And on purpose too?!

  I looked back at my meal, or rather oyaji's meal. Seems the Panda had
already eaten it. I realised now why the sight of eating with a panda
didn't faze the gaijin. I stormed off to the dojo to practise some
katas. Hopefully that would calm me down. 'A good martial artist is
never taken by surprise' I repeated to myslef in my head like a mantra.

  That was the last I ever saw of the gaijin. Seems he eventually
managed to find Jusenkyo on his own - Nabiki was not pleased with me for
ruining that particular business plan; she decided to calculate her
losses and add that to my debt to her.

  The stupid gaijin baka fell into one of the pools himself though,
serves him right for the chaos he caused. Last I heard, he (sometimes
she, she does her own television commericals) was selling holidays to
Jusenkyo with the catchphrase 'you'll come back a new you'.

  The world is in chaos.

  The old Chinese guide is discovering a new use for his services...

  "Ah, very tragic story of eagle that fall in pool and drown nine
hundred years ago. You like jump in here, kyaku-san? Or here, here is
pool of drowned girl, very popular at this time of year. And this here
is..."

  Me, I'm saving up for a ticket. Maybe I can buy a cure for my curse
from Exotica tours(TM).
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Rhialto@easynet.co.uk

C+C welcome. This title is only tentatively 'Curses! Curses!' If you
have a better title, I'm all ears. Especially on characterisation and
stuff like that. Should I carry on with this, or should I get a real
job? (^_^)

+------------------------------------------------+
|Rhialto                                         |
|                                                |
|"I have this little curse, you see..."          |
+------------------------------------------------+
defender of the acrobatic goddess of kowai