Hey!!!!  I DID IT!!!!! (and I was only half a week late too)

This one took a little longer mainly due to my recent and temporary 
complete lack of time.  The next one should be out...ummmmm.........
within a week.  [Author bigsweats]  Yea, that's it...a week.


By the way,
I want
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Just in case you want to know.

[Disclaimer BEGIN]
	I have no rights over Ranma whatsover.  It's all Rumiko 
Tagahashi's.
[Disclaimer END]

--Onto the fic--

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Traveler
Chapter 3

	Nabiki stared into the eyes of the man before her.  Hibiki. 
After all this time, he had finally caught up to her.  It shouldn't have 
been possible, she thought with no little frustration.  He, of all people, 
should never have been able to find her.  How he had located her, 
however, was no longer important.  The simple fact remained, he was 
here and she had to deal with it, and him.
	"What do you want?" her voice was as cold as ice.  She idly 
noted the fact that she had unconsciously shifted into a fighting stance, 
and made a quick tactical assessment of her situation.
	She was in the Tendo front room.  Nine bystanders present.  
First priority would be to draw him away from the others, if there was 
one thing she didn't need, it was more company.  Once that was done it 
would be a simple matter of using the emergency shift on her 
chronometer.  They were still synched, but as long as she could put 
enough distance between them the resulting random spatial placing, 
combined with his natural lack of directional ability would be more 
than enough to forestall this confrontation for quite a while to come.
	He noticed her defensive stance and slowly stood.  Nabiki 
carefully watched his movement, looking for any opening.  He stared at 
her until finally she met his eyes.  He spoke, slowly and distinctly.
	"I didn't know," as his voice penetrated the air she could 
almost believe that the regret in his voice was real.
	"I don't believe you!" Nabiki surprised herself with the 
emotion betrayed in her own voice.  Quickly, she attempted to regain 
her composure knowing that anything less than total control would 
slow her reactions and dull her senses.  She could not afford a 
repetition of her last fight.  One failure of that magnitude was enough 
for a lifetime.
	"I know," he said casting his downward as he replied.  Once 
again, the regret in his voice was almost palpable.  Nabiki snarled, he 
would not fool her so easily.  
"If you know that then you obviously know why," she stated 
accusingly as part of her noted the assembled gathering of Saotomes 
and Tendos who were currently watching the confrontation with a 
mixture of worry and puzzlement.
	"What's goin' on?!" Nabiki didn't react in the least as Ranma 
(the one currently wearing a chronometer matching her own) broke the 
temporary silence.  Her opponent responded once again looking her 
directly into her eyes as he spoke.
	"As I was explaining, I am the analog of your Ryoga from a 
different world.  At one point in my travels I was fortunate enough to 
encounter this young lady," he gave a nod in Nabiki's direction.  "You 
may call me Hibiki," he shifted his gaze to rest once again on her.  His 
eyes were almost begging forgiveness.  In the background she detected 
an almost inaudible "Oh my," coming from Kasumi.  Ranko just stared 
at the three travelers with shock.  
	"And why, exactly, does she look like she wants to kill you?" 
Nabiki's other self asked, seemingly calm.
	"Because," Nabiki began, sounding harsh even to her own 
ears.  "He left me to die."
	"I didn't," his denial was immediate and anguished.  "I was 
told you were dead, I didn't know what-"
	"You could have found out!  You could have at least checked!  
Instead you left me," she realized she was yelling again.
	"Could somebody please explain what's going on!" Ranko 
sounded almost desperate.
	There was a pause.  Seeing that no one was volunteering any 
information Nabiki's analog spoke up.  "He," she pointed at Hibiki, "is 
a universe traveling Ryoga.  She," she gestured at Nabiki, "is a 
different version of me apparently.  Supposedly an old girlfriend who 
now wants to kill him.  And I must assume that you," she nodded to the 
newest Ranma, "must have done something imbecilic, and somehow 
ended up coming along for the ride.  Am I right?" she casually sipped 
her tea as she waited for the girl in the bandanna to respond.
	"Hey!  I didn't do anything except try to help her with her 
pack.  I didn't.," Ranma's denial trailed off as he realized that no one 
seemed to be paying much attention to him.
	"Please, sit down.  Don't fight!  Surely this can be corrected!" 
Soun spoke, almost in tears.  Hibiki gave a respectful bow to his host 
and sat down.  Ranko quietly made her way to the other Ryoga and 
made a place beside him.  As she leaned against him an obvious blush 
could be seen to appear on the lost boys face.  After a few seconds of 
indecision Ranma sat next to his own analog, both of them looking 
decidedly uncomfortable.  Nabiki didn't move.
	"Please.  We need to clear all this up," Akane spoke up for the 
first time.  Nabiki slowly shifted her gaze to her dimensionally 
removed sister's face.  She wanted to explain it.  To tell her that she 
wouldn't.  That she couldn't.
	"Please?" Akane asked again.  
	Nabiki slowly lower her hands.  She glanced at Akane, and 
back at Hibiki.  Cautiously, deliberately she relaxed her guard.  Then 
almost as if in defiance she strode to the table and sat down.
	"So, from the beginning again.  If you don't mind," Nabiki's 
twin said to the isolated Hibiki at the other side of the table.
	"Very well," he responded with the utmost politeness.  "I am a 
version of your Ryoga," he gave his counterpart an apologetic smile.  It 
was ignored completely as the lost boy was giving one hundred percent 
of his attention to the small girl currently leaning against.  At least, that 
was the most likely reason for the glazed look, which was currently 
dominating his features.  Hibiki sighed, and continued, "I began my 
journey as most do.  By accident." He swallowed nervously and 
glanced Nabiki's direction.  Her face was expressionless, at least, she 
hoped it was, she could not let him see any weakness.
	"Suffice to say I began my travels rather.unprepared," he 
paused again, searching for the words.  "After some time I met Nabiki-
chan."
	"Nabiki," she said without emotion as she meet his eyes with 
her cold glare.  He seemed to plead with her for a second before 
continuing.
	"I met Nabiki.  I stayed in her world for almost a year.  We 
became.",  he searched for the words, "very close.  After a time we 
decided that it would be best if we were to leave, for personal reasons," 
his voice became softer as he finished.
	"My family arranged a marriage.  I was the only eligible 
daughter," Nabiki spoke softly but clearly, her eyes closed.  If the story 
were to be told, it would be told in full.  Hibiki began again.
	"We began traveling from world to world.  We made the 
decision to avoid Nerima, the problems in encountering yourself can 
become.rather extensive," he gave a short glance at his twin not five 
feet from him, then quickly looked away.  "It was a bad idea.  
Eventually we arrived in less friendly world.  We were hunted.," he 
swallowed and began to stare at down at the floor once more, 
"eventually Nabikicha-, Nabiki was captured.  I tried to find her, 
searching for days.  Eventually I was told she had been killed," he 
glanced up at the girl sitting across from him, almost expecting her to 
contradict him.  After a few seconds it was clear she wasn't saying a 
thing he sighed and continued.  "Finally, I decided there was nothing 
left so.I jumped."
	Nabiki spoke, he voice dry, accusing, "It was almost a year 
before I was able to buy my freedom," her voice dropped a level.  "I 
was a sold as a slave," she was shaking, no longer able to meet the 
gazes from around the table.   "If I hadn't thought to save my own 
chronometer I would probably be still trapped in that world."
	"What's a chronometer?" Ranko asked puzzled, trying to 
relieve the sudden chill in the room.
	"A chronometer is the device which allows travel.  Luckily, it 
was sufficiently above the local level of technology and I was able to 
hide it," Nabiki responded matter a faculty.  "I had assumed the others 
had died.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my so-called 
friends had left me for greener pastures.," the bitterness in her voice 
was almost dangerous.  There was almost dead silence.  "I decided to 
return home."
	Hibiki spoke, quietly, "Nabiki, you know there is no way to go 
back."
	"There is!  I will go home," she said far too quickly.  There 
was another silence. 
	Finally Ranma, who had, up to this time, been listening with 
wide eyes, seemed to make a decision.  With deliberate and controlled 
action he reached down to the table, picked up a glass of water, and 
tossed it on his counterpart.  The wet boy stood up, rather angrily.
	"Whatd'ya do that for?" he said as he instinctively shifted into 
fighting stance.  Ranma however simply stared, not moving a muscle.
	"You're.you're.not cursed," a grin broke out on his face.  
"You've been cured!" he began to do a little dance repeating over and 
over his mantra.  "Never gonna be a girl again.  Never gonna be a girl 
again.  Never gonna be."
	"Ummm, Ranma," Ranko spoke up after exchanging a quick 
glance with the soaked martial artist near her.  
	"Never gonna be a girl-" Ranma continued on oblivious to her.
	"RANMA!!!" she yelled, at the top of her lungs, almost 
deafening everyone at the table.  The sex-changer looked up.
	"What?" he asked grinning.
	"I think there's something you ought to know," Ranko spoke 
slowly.  Ranma's glee began to fade.
	"You mean," he swallowed, "you.you never were cursed," 
he said as if the idea had just occurred to him.  
	"No, we -were- cursed," the other Ranma returned.
	"We?"
	"Just sit down and we'll explain," Akane said, becoming 
slightly annoyed.  Ranma obeyed.
	Nabiki, trying to distract herself from her memories, began to 
pay close attention.  She hadn't had much interaction with this so-
called curse, but it really was amazing.  There was so much one could 
do with it.  Or, better yet, with someone else who had it.
	Nabiki's other spoke, "The -cure- we discovered is a little 
different than you might expect," she smiled, Nabiki recognized that 
smile.  It definitely wasn't a good one.  It was the kind of smile she got 
when she thought about--well.suffice to say it wasn't something she 
would like to see directed her way.  "The fact is, the cure didn't so 
much remove the curse, as split it."
	"Huh?" Ranma replied brilliantly.  Nabiki wondered why 
Ranma was so intent on displaying his stupidity.  Not that she had 
understood what her other meant either, but still, she wouldn't have 
made her ignorance so obvious.
	"It separated the cursed bodies, but left the same mind," 
Ranko spoke up.  For a minute Nabiki couldn't figure out what she 
meant.  Slowly, it dawned on her.  Ranma, amazingly seemed to have 
figured it out a few seconds before she did.  He stared at the small 
redhead for a second.  Then at his counterpart.  Then back at her and up 
to Ryoga, whom she had been, and was still, leaning against rather 
suggestively for the whole of their discussion.
	"You mean.you're me?" he said horror evident in his voice.
	"No, I'm me.  But I used to be Ranma Saotome.  Now," she 
gave him a glare, "I'm not."  Ranma didn't seem to getting it.  Then he 
looked at Ryoga.
	"B-B-But, Ryoga-" he couldn't go on.
	"Me and Ryogo-kun have been dating for almost a year now 
Ranma," she said smiling at the slightly nervous lost boy whom she 
was still leaning against.  
	"But.You're a guy!  Are you some kind of PERVERT?!" he 
was yelling now.  Suddenly Ryoga was on his feet.
	"Ranma, you take that back!" his fists were up and ready.  
Luckily, before he could do any more Ranko stepped up between the 
two.
	"Ranma, I was a guy then.  A long time ago.not any more," 
she spoke calmly carefully.  "And I love Ryoga,"  as she finished 
speaking she grabbed the angry boy next to her and gave him a long, 
very passionate kiss.  Ranma began to gag.  His counterpart, finally 
taking pity on his other self pulled him away.  Nabiki watched them 
leave, still in shock herself.  Things were becoming weirder by the 
minute.  
	Ranko giggled, "That was fun!" Nabiki wasn't sure whether 
she was talking about the kiss or the way Ranma  had reacted to it.  She 
really didn't want to know.  The boy next to her didn't say anything.  
He probably wouldn't be in any condition to do anything for quite a 
while, Nabiki noted, as she recognized the vacant glare on his face as a 
mixture of shock, embarrassment, and pure bliss.  
	"So, now that we've all become so close.  What now?" Nabiki 
asked trying to hide her nervousness in sarcasm.  She realized she had 
lost control of the situation a while ago.  It really wasn't something she 
liked, but she couldn't think of a way she could regain it now.
	"Why don't you stay with us," Kasumi volunteered cheerfully.  
Nabiki simply stared at Hibiki.  He saw her look and sighed.
	"I can't.  I don't think it would be wise," he shot her a rueful 
smile, which she pretended to ignore.
	Nabiki still wasn't sure.  This was a very unusual universe.  
However, she didn't have that much money left and they would need 
someplace to stay.  She really didn't like being anywhere near Him, but 
she really didn't see that she had much of a choice.  Sighing she nodded 
her agreement to a blissful Kasumi.
	"I think we can stay for a few days.I guess," she still wasn't 
happy with this but she really didn't have much choice.
	"That's wonderful!" Kasumi said in a terminally happy voice.  
Nabiki risked a quick glance at the others.  They all seemed relatively 
pleased with the situation.  At least, none of them were showing signs 
of being openly hostile.  The two Ranma's were no longer present, but 
Nabiki didn't think Ranma's unusual sensibilities were much to worry 
about.  If he didn't like it.  Tough!


	Later that night four teenagers were sitting around a small 
table playing cards.  If one were to observe them one would be forced 
to comment on how very alike these two sets of twins appeared.  That 
is until one of the girls -accidentally- knocked a glass of water on one 
of the boys, who could then be very easily distinguished.
	"You did that on purpose!" the now female Ranma accused 
Nabiki's twin.
	"What are you talking about.  It was a complete accident," the 
girl replied seemingly unfazed by the charge.  Nabiki simply stared.  
She had seen Ranma's transformation once previously, but it was still 
amazing.  The other boy seemed almost gleeful.
	"What're you smiling at," the very annoyed redhead asked the 
boy next to her.  This was too much for the black hared young man 
who suddenly broke out laughing.  The smaller girl watched him for a 
second, then without a word launched a very aggressive attack.  The 
boy defended himself with an amazing degree of skill.  As the battle 
raged throughout the house Nabiki watched with a critical eye trying to 
determine the relative skill of the two combatants.
	"Jeesh!  Usually girls are much faster than that.  Ranko's 
almost twice your speed," male Ranma said dodging three kicks to the 
head followed by five punches.  The girl ignored the taunting and 
simply launched another attack.  Nabiki noted idly that Ranma, the one 
from this universe, seemed to be completely on the defensive.  He 
seemed content to simply dodge and block the numerous attacks that 
the pig-tailed girl was launching at almost inhuman speed.
	"Fight back!" she yelled in frustration.
	The male martial artist grinned, "I don't hit girls."  That was 
enough to send the tiny red-head into what Nabiki labeled berzerker 
mode, all the while yelling, "I'maguyI'maguyI'maguy."  It would 
probably have gotten out of hand at that point if Nabiki's duplicate had 
not at that point decided to take things in hand, so to speak.
	"RANMA!!!" she yelled at a relatively impressive volume.  
The two combatants froze in mid-battle and looked up at her.
	"Straight flush," she said putting her cards onto the table.  
Nabiki realized that in all the fighting she had not been paying attention 
to the game.  The chances of anyone getting a straight flush were 
almost zero, however she had absolutely no way of proving that the 
other girl cheated.  Smiling, her twin sat down once again, and in a 
deceptively sweet voice said, "Another game?  I believe you two owe 
me.oh.ten thousand yen."  Had Nabiki not been paying attention she 
might have missed the wink that her other threw in her direction.  The 
two martial artists suddenly got what she could only describe as a look 
of desperation.
	"Umm.no thanks Nabiki.  Maybe some other time," the male 
Ranma said nervously.
	"Ya, later maybe.  I've got to get to bed you know." the small 
girl next to him seemed equally nervous.  
	"That's right.  We both do.  Big day tomorrow," the two 
scrambled after each other up the stairs.  Nabiki stared at the now much 
richer girl with a sense of awe.
	"You planned that," she said.  It wasn't a question.  
Her counterpart gave her a smile a nod as she raked up her 
winnings.  Nabiki was very glad she dropped out earlier in the round, 
very glad.  Soon the two girls had the table cleared, and were headed 
towards the bedroom.  As soon as they reached it Nabiki opened up her 
bag and began to unpack.  
	"Too bad Ranko and Ryoga are out on their big anniversary 
date.  They would have loved to see that," the other girl said to her as 
she was slipping into bed, laughing.  There was a silence.    Finally she 
spoke again, "Nabiki.what was it like?  As a slave?"   Nabiki fought 
down the emotions threatening to overcome her, she knew she wouldn't 
get away with putting this off, she might as well just give in.  
	"It was terrifying..", a pause.  There was the sound of a dog 
barking in the background.  "But it really wasn't too bad," she knew as 
she spoke her voice was betraying her.  She took a few more deep 
breaths to calm herself.
	"What did they make you do?" the other girl asked quietly 
almost as if afraid to hear the answer.
	"Nothing as bad as your thinking.  I worked as a waitress in a 
restaurant.  We weren't called slaves, we were called bondsmen.  We 
had no papers so we were forced to work until we had earned enough to 
buy our freedom.  We had rights.  A few, but enough.  There are worse 
ways to spend a year of your life," she didn't mention the fear.the fact 
that she had thought the others dead, and her trapped in that backwater 
horror of a world.  They had to be dead.  After all, were they living they 
would have come for her. 
	"We're different you know.  Me and you," Nabiki's 
counterpart continued quietly.   There was silence.
	"Yes," Nabiki responded not knowing what else to say. 
	The two Tendo's lay awake for quite a while after that, though 
neither spoke a word.

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That's it.  Remember...write, write, write, write.

Possibilities 6 should be out by the end of week.  I've actually got half
of it written and I'm not going to work on anything else till it's done so
don't worry.  I'm gonna do it. (Have I ever failed you before--Don't answer!)

Till later.


					Cat
					travis.mcintosh@student.oc.edu