Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response I have recieved so
far.. here's chapter one. chapter two is being written as we speak..
ideas and the like would be welcome :)


Before I start.. the standard copyrights.. Ranma 1/2 is done by Rumiko
Takahashi. In no way shape or form am I challenging her right to the
people contained here in. 

This is my 2nd fanfic.. the first, entitled "Ranma 1/2 Shadows of
Darkness and Light" is still being worked on.. albeit very slowly..
the first two chapters are available at
http://members.tripod.com/~SirFozzie/shadows.txt

Chapter One: "Ranma Saotome, Street Fighter"


	Ranma looked up from his breakfast, eyes widening at his
father's words.. "You want me to join WHAT??"

	"I want you to join the Street Fighter Circuit. In past
times.. the heirs of the Saotome Anything Goes School of Martial-Arts
tested themselves by seeking out the masters of other disciplines and
meeting them in battle. That's where several of the techniques in the
school were taken from." Genma replied, face set in stone.. "And now..
with fighters the world around.. the Street Fighter tour has taken
hold.. I want you to spend at least 12 months on the tour.. before you
return."

	Ranma didn't mind the traveling.. he had done plenty of that
with Genma on various training trips in the past.. now that he thought
of it.. it wouldn't be so bad.. sure.. he'd miss all his friends.. but
the prospect of at least a year of peace.. no Shampoo latching on to
him at every opportunity.. no crazy plots from Kodachi.. he'd miss
Uc-chan.. no Akane... That settled it.

	"Well.. since you've left me no choice in the matter.. I guess
I'll get ready. When do you want me to start off.." Ranma, thinking to
himself.. "Man oh man.. a year without that baka smashing me.. or
worrse yet.., trying to feed me! It'll be heaven..  plus I'll get to
train on the road.." His sense of "heaven" was quickly smashed by
Genma's next few words..

	"You *won't be leaving.. at least not alone.. Mr. Tendo and I
decided it would be best if Akane went with you on this trip. She
needs the work just as much as you do..." It's safe to say that Ranma
wasn't expecting this.. his jaw suddenly dropped.. and his eyes bugged
out of his head. 

	"You WHAT? YOU WANT ME TO GO ARROUND FIGHTING WITH THAT MACHO
KAWAIKUNE TOMBOY FOLLOWING ME AROUND? THAT MACHO CHICK? NOT TO MENTION
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SHE ACTUALLY TRIED TO COOK!!!" Ranma screamed at
Genma.. the proberbial "uh-oh" drop of sweat appearing on Genma's
forehead... but not because of his son's rant.... Ranma froze.. and
slowly turned around.. only to hear the three words he dreaded most..

	"RANMA NO BAKA!" followed by a wooden mallet swinging
upwards.. connecting him underneath the chin and sending him flying
through the roof...

	Akane was still shaking.. she had only caught the last few
words of Ranma's rant. She turned to Genma.. who seemed to visibly
shrink away from the angry Akane. "Now.. what brought this on?"

(Shot changes to an outside view of the Tendo Dojo.. a Ranma shaped
hole in the ceiling.. there's silence for a few seconds.. then the
roof literally blows off due to Akane yelling
"W--H--A--T?????????????????", thankfully the roof landed back on top
of the dojo. if only it could have ended up right side up, instead of
the top pointing inwards..)

(The scene changes to the Nerima Stadium.. where an interested crowd
of about a thousand watches on..)

	"It seems pretty simple.." Ranma thought to himself...Although
the fights were taking place in a ring, which would restrict his
movement somewhat.. the fighters he had seen so far, while decent..
would be no match for him.. (or so his overblown ego tried to convince
him)..

	He had drawn the third fight out of six... and was competing
against someone named Jenakaya.. whose style was listed as Capioera.
Ranma scratched his head.. trying to remember the lessons that Genma
gave him a while ago on different styles... but the only thing that
came into his mind was that Capioera was a style that used several
dance moves. "Heh.. when I get in there.. there won't be any dancing."

	Since the fight was local.. he had trained at the Dojo.. Akane
still wasn't happy with the way she had been railroaded into this..
she tried to protest.. saying she couldn't afford to miss a year of
school... that she didn't want to go fight.. finally Soun just told
her that she was going.. and she would have to uphold the honor of the
Tendo school of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Everyone in the house had
avoided Akane since then.

	Just then the second fight ended... the Sanbo fighter had
finished off his smaller, faster opponent with a devestating
Suplex/Throw combo... "Well here goes.. my first fight.. and my first
win!" Ranma thought.. stretching out the last few kinks.. as he waited
for the medics to revive the Wu Shu fighter and just check him over to
make sure he's ok.. then he walked to the ring.. he could dimly here
Genma, Ukyou, and the others let out a cheer..

	"Ladies and Gentlemen.. our third bout of the afternoon is
fought in the Freestyle division. First of all.. he is making his
Street Fighting debut today... he trains here in Nerima at the Tendo
Dojo.. he trains in the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial
Arts... "Ranma Saotome!" Ranma raised one hand acknowledging the
polite applause from the crowd.. and then focused on his oponent who
stood motionless in the opposite corner..

	"Ladies and Gentlemen.. his opponent.. is a Rank 3 Street
Fighter. He comes into today's fight with a Street Fighter Freestyle
record of 8 wins.. 7 by way of knockout.. against only two losses ..
and one draw.. a master of the South American art of
Capioera......Jenakaya!!".. the lanky man raised a hand to acknowledge
the applause from the crowd... Ranma tensed up slightly.. as the
referee called the two men into the center of the ring.. it was about
time.

	"Ok.. gentlemen.. I know you've been briefed on the rules
before today's fight.. but I just want to make sure you got them.
There will be three five minute rounds.. no lethal moves, no biting or
gougin... if in my judgement you are unable to defend yourself
effectively.. I will stop the fight. If you wish to submit.. tap the
mat three times. We have a ringside doctor with the authority to stop
the match if need be." the ref motioned to both men. "Bow.. and
prepare to fight"

	Ranma covered one fist in hhis hand and bowed.. meeting his
opponent's eyes as  Jenakaya twisted his body into a complicated bow..
then the two fighters retreated to their corners.. Ranma's mind was
ablaze with strategies.. attacks and possible counter attacks.. but
one notion had already been destroyed. Capioera wasn't just a "Dance
art" he could see the hidden strength that lay behind how flexible
Jenakaya was.

	"Fighters, ready?" came the call from the referee.. Ranma
nodded slightly.. took a deep breath.. settled his ki as best as he
could.. and assumed a set position. Jenakaya also nodded as he assumed
a unorthodox guard stance.. "BEGIN!" 

	Ranma decided to go for the early knockout suprise.. charging
at Jenakaya .. hoping to suprise him with a round house right at the
beginning.. but the Capioera fighter had other ideas.. in a
sensational move he leaped into the air and bringing himself into a
tight spiral.. cannonballing himself into the suprised Ranma who was
rocked back and knocked down from the force of the blow.. Ranma
blinked a couple of times.. as he kipped up to his feet..

	"Ok.. that didn't work.. what now?" He thought to himself as
he assumed the guard stance again.. circling his opponent warily "He
won't catch me off guard with that move twice..".. tried a spinning
round house.. followed by a jumping side kick that caught the lanky
Capioera fighter in a glancing blow that pushed him against the
ropes.. but before Ranma could follow up and press his advantage.. the
canny fighter used the ropes to bring him back towards Ranma and took
him down with a foot sweep.

	Ranma got back to his feet quickly with a kipup and connected
solidly with a Tenshin-Amaguri-ken.. but the bell rang before he could
attack the dizzy Capioera fighter.. somewhat disappointed in his
performance.. slumped in the corner...  Genma quickly stepped in to
the ring and waved a towel in Ranma's face to cool him off.. then
mopped up the sweat..

	"He's better then I thought he'd be.. faster.. more agile..I
just can't seem to get a solid blow in.." Ranma said..  taking a sip
of Gatorade Genma gave him.. closing his eyes.. preparing for the next
five minutes..

	"Of course not, boy.. this is a whole new level! You have to
be prepared to fight.. to change your whole style based on the way
your opponent fights! This guy.. you gotta  stick in close.. he's too
fast for you to fight him on the outside!" Genma tried to explain.
Ranma opened his eyes and looked straight at his opponent.. "You can
do it this round.. take him out" Genma finished as the warning buzzer
sounded

	Ranma grinned at his father. "No Problem. if he gets near me..
he's going out.."  as the bell for the second round rang....

	Five minutes later.. a bruised, battered Ranma Saotome sat in
his corner again. He hadn't been able to knock his opponent out.. in
fact Jenakaya had time and time again attacked Ranma just after he had
failed to hit.. landing counterattack after counterattack.. Genma was
none too pleased.. but he tried to put on a good face.. "Ok.. you've
gone 10 minutes, just five more now. If it goes the distance.. he'll
probably win it from the judges. You've got to go all out. Knock him
out to win! Forget defense if you want to win..."

	As the bell rang for the third round.. Ranma staggered to his
feet slowly.. "One way or the other.. it won't last this round, Pop"..
then came out to start the final round.

	And indeed Ranma's style had changed.. no longer was he
sitting back.. waiting for Jenakaya to attack.. Ranma charged in..
keeping Jenakaya from using his speed and agility advantage.. flailing
away with kicks and punches.. Jenakaya landed punch after punch in
return.. Ranma got the worst of the damage in the exchange.. but
something in him refused to go down.... 

	Finally he saw the advantage he needed.. following up another
Tenshin-Amaguri-Ken by grabbing Jenakaya's shirt in one hand.. and
rolling backwards.. threw Jenakaya..  the Capioera fighter managed to
land on his back safely.. but Ranma was on him like a wild animal..
as Jenakaya staggered to his feet he was met with a jumping snap kick
that bounced him off the ropes.. to fall face first on the mat. The
referee stopped the fight there.. as a spent, bruised Ranma sagged
against the ropes himself..

	"Ladies and Gentlemen.. the winner of this fight, at 2 minutes
and 52 seconds of the final round.. by Knockout.. RANMA SAOTOME!" The
fans cheered.. it was a pretty good fight...

	An hour later.. the cheers were for someone else.. and a bone
tired Ranma found himself being looked over by Dr. Tofu.. who said
that Ranma would have a good set of bruises for a week or so.. but he
came through nicely. back at the Dojo.. Ranma was lying on his futon..
trying to get his body to stop aching.. Genma was on the phone.. Mr.
Tendo was trying to keep all of Ranma's fiancees from attending him ..
and Ranma just enjoyed the peace and quiet until a near silent
presence came to his attention. Turning his head just slightly.. Akane
came into view..

	"Hi." He didn't say much more.. the simple act of talking was
draining right now.. Akane came walking in.. face still a little white
from what she had seen earlier.. "You ok?" she asked softly.. "Hurts..
but I won." was his reply..

	"You know Ranma.. you really have to learn to duck better.."
she tried to put on a brave face and smile.. "Every time he landed
one.. he seemed to land three." Ranma muttered quietly... closing his
eyes... remembering the fight.. trying to see where he went wrong...

	"Do you know why? because he linked his moves together..
seriously Ranma.. it was almost a move of its own.. just it was made
up of two different moves linked together smoothly, Yours were more
powerful.. but until the end.. you were stop and go.. stop and go with
your moves..." Akane tried to explain. She had watched the match with
a keener eye then she would like to admit.. seeing Ranma hurt.. well..
it wasn't a good thing.

	"I'll try to remember that next fight" Ranma said.. then
opening his eye.. nearly bolted up right before the pain reduced him
back to a sitting position..  what he saw shocked him.. Akane.. that
kawaikune.. crying? "Akane.. what's the matter?", he asked.. trying to
keep the suprise out of his voice..

	As if the words had released an internal dam of emotions.. the
words came flooding from Akane. "I don't know how you could go through
with that.. and now I'm supposed to go through with this too? If I
can't even hit you when we fight.. how am I supposed to win a Street
Fighter match?" Ranma's eyes widened. for too long.. Akane had seemed
like a block of marble.. strong, proud and unyielding.. but that pride
had taken a major blow today... she had been scheduled for a fight in
two weeks.. in Osaka..

	"Akane.. it'll work out.. I promise. I'll show you some things
I learned in the ring today.. and I promise.. you'll be ready for your
fight. You're a decent martial artist.. you're the heir to the Tendo
school of Anything-Goes Martial Arts.. and you just need to keep
control of your temper.." The smile he recieved was worth every bruise
on his face and body.. sighing to himself.. he asked himself "Why
can't more times be like this.. she's actually cute when she smiles.."

	"You will train with me.. spar with me Ranma?" Akane asked
quietly. Ranma shook his head slightly.. He didn't like hitting
girls.. but if he could teach Akane how to handle herself in the
ring.. where the rules were a lot different then what she was used
to... then he guessed it was worth it.. "Yeah.. I promise. Just give
me a day or two to recover.. ok?" still smiling.. Akane said ok.. and
quietly took her leave.

	Ranma lay his head back on the futon.. and once again.. ran
over the fight in his head.. smiling.. "She's right.. I was real
jerky.. I gotta work on linking moves together if I want to
continue..." and with that thought.. Ranma fell asleep.. a winner.. in
more ways then one.


End of Chapter One:

Chapter Two: "Akane's First Fight" is in the planning stages right
now.. I might be bringing in more characters from the Ranma 1/2 world
as Street Fighters (Shampoo and Mousse and maybe Ukyou and the Kunos..
would be good bets..) this will be an ongoing saga until I decide it's
not worth writing anymore. and Yes.. the minions of Shadoloo will make
an appearance coming up sometime soon..

Comments, Critiques, MSTings and the like are welcome...