Inspired by when there were two

ALL C&C WELCOME

Ranma 1/2 : Twins Chapter Two
Created by Long Ngo
Started June 7, 1998
Finished June 8, 1998

      Entering the Dojo, Ranma poured a cup of water over his head.  Soon,
where one Ranma stood, there were now two.

      "What did you do that for?" asked Akane.

      "Well I made it a policy never to hit a girl.  It's something I picked
up in China," replied Ranma (red).

      "What?  Don't you think I can defend myself?  I'm a martial artist you
know," shouted Akane in anger.  *The nerve of him to say that.*

      Ranma's (red) voice still calm, "Nothing personal, just a bad
experience."

      "Hey! You better not talk about my fiancee like that," exclaimed Ranma
(blue).

      Staring at Ranma (blue), "Shampoo was too hyper for my own good and
there was no way I was going to marry that overgrown so-called Amazon."
Turning back Akane, "Anyways Akane, you have a better chance of beating him
than me."

      "What does that suppose to mean?" Akane and Ranma (blue) shouted.

      Pointing at Ranma (blue), "He just doesn't want to admit it but he
hasn't been able to hand a single blow on me for the past few months now."

      "Well your punches suck, I hardly fell them." Ranma (blue) retorted.

      "Shall we begin children?" Ranma (red) asked, turning to Nabiki and
winked.

      Getting the hint, Nabiki smiled, "Come on Akane, You wanted to spar with
them, go ahead."      

      "Fine!  After I beat him," pointing at Ranma (blue), "I'll spar with
you," Staring at Ranma (red).

      "Fine, if you beat him.  Ranma, remember, this is not Cologne you are
fighting or Shampoo.  Imagine fighting Linlin and Ranran."

      Ranma (blue) nodded his head in understanding.

      "And this is point fighting, no knockout." Ranma (red) continued.

      "No fair!" Ranma (blue) shouted back.

      "Yeah!" Akane added.

      "Trust me Akane, nothing short of ramming Ranma (blue) with a car will
hurt him." Ranma (red) assured her.

      "Fine!" both Akane and Ranma (blue) agreed.

      "Shampoo and Cologne?"  Nabiki asked?

      "Yeah, funny isn't it.  Everyone we meet at the Chinese Amazon village
had names like that and Shampoo is his fiancee or wife to more exact." Ranma
(red) explained.

      "Wife?  Wow!  So why didn't you marry one of them?" Nabiki asked.

      "Me I prefer someone a little smarter and more reserve,"Ranma repied.

      *Someone smart and a little more reserve?* Nabiki thought, *I might get
to like this Ranma.*

      *Ahem!* "Anytime bro!" Ranma (blue) spoke in an annoyed tone.

	Ranma and Akane were facing each other in the center of the dojo.

	Turning to Ranma (blue), "Better not go easy on me because I'm a girl." Akane
warned."

	Ranma (blue ) just had laughed slightly.  "Don't worry, after living in China
for the past few months, I won't make that mistake.  Besides, if Shampoo ever
found out I let up on an opponent cuz she's a girl, she'll kill me." Ranma
just shook his head, with a smile on his lips.  

	"She's a martial artist?" asked Akane.

	Ranma nodded. "And an Amazon, too."

	Standing next to Nabiki, Ranma (red) knew his role and raised his hand to
signal both combatants to get ready.    

	"Begin!" 

	Akane let out a battle cry and threw a punch at Ranma (blue).  Knowing that
her opponent was better than those boys she fought at school, she did not hold
back as she launched a volley of punches and kicks.  Some of her punches
landed and so did a few of her kicks but Ranma seemed unfazed.  She took a few
hits herself before the last sent her flying across the dojo.  Looking up at
Ranma (blue), she grumply accepted his hand and rose back to her feet.  

	Back to the center of the hall, the two martial artists bowed and waited for
Ranma's (red) signal.

	"Begin!"

	"Begin!"

	"Begin!"

      At the end of their 5 minute sparring match, Ranma (red) and Nabiki
walked up to the two combatants.

      "I'm impressed," Ranma (red) praised Akane.  Looking at Ranma (blue),
"You lost."

      "What?  I knocked her down 7 times and I didn't hit the floor once,"
Ranma (blue) complained.

      "It was a point fight match and Akane got in more hits than you,"
looking at Akane,  "As promised, do you still want to spar?" 

      "Yeah!  Told you I got beat him,"  Akane rubbed it in.

      "If it had been real ..." Ranma (blue) stopped midsentence by the star
from his twin.

      "Anytime you are ready," Ranma (red) replied, his hands behind his back.

      "This should be interesting," Ranma (blue) commented to Nabiki.

      "Why?"

      "My true abilities lie in offense while my brother rely on defense.
Those punches of Akane tickled to tell you the truth.  I was holding back
almost all my power."  

      Returning his attention to the two combant, Ranma (blue) raised his
hand.

      "Begin!"

	Ranma's (red) style was completely different from his twin.  He relied on his
speed and misdirection to beat his opponent. There was a certain randomness to
his actions; he would begin an attack using a certain kata but at the very end
would switch to another. His attacks used misdirection, speed, and agility.
Where he was water and air, his brother was earth and fire.

      Akane was frustrated.  She couldn't land a single blow on Ranma (red)
but on the other hand, she had felt him tag her numberous times.  He wasn't
hitting her, just tapping her.  *Is he reading my moves?*  Seeing that he was
backed into a corner, Akane used every once of energy to make her last punch
go as fast as possible, only to see him vault over her and her fist making a
hole in the dojo.  Feeling a final tap to her shoulder, Akane gave up.

	Nabiki just clapped. "That was... amazing," she finally uttered.

	"You're really good," Akane admitted, her voice a mixture of respect
(grudging), and frustration.

      "What about me?" Ranma (blue) asked.

      "I beat you!" Akane replied.

      Ranma (red) started to laugh, "That she did, bro.  Wait till I tell
Shampoo."

      "Who is Shampoo?"  Akane asked.

      "Shut up!" shouted Ranma (blue).

       Don't worry, I'll explain later.  Can we use your bath and clean up?"
Ranma (red) asked.

      Seeing no problem, "Sure," answered Nabiki.

* * * * *

      Later that day, the whole gang was sitting down at the dinning room
table.

      "So your problem is not so bad, Ranma.  Let me introduce you to Kasumi,
she is 19, Nabiki is 17 and Akane is 16.  Pick one and she'll be your fiancee.

      "Nani?" Ranma asked.  Turning to Genma, "I thought we agreed to drop
this stupid arrange marriage idea, Oyaji"

      "What are you saying boy!  This is a matter of honor."

      "Oh?"  Picking up a glass of water and pouring it on top of his head,
Ranma started to blur and then two Ranma sat side by side, one with a red
shirt and the other blue.

      "What about Shampoo, Oyaji?" Ranma shouted (blue).  Moments later, Genma
was running for his life from a very angry Ranma.      

      "Please excuse my brother and Tousan, they get excited very easily.  As
for honor, that agreement was between you, Tendou-san and my Tousan and does
not concern neither your daughters and myself and my brother."  Ranma (red)
started to explain.

      Soun was not going to lose the chance of uniting the Saotome and Tendou
clan through marriage.  "You are wrong Ranma.  The agreement was between the
Saotome and Tendou clan.  So the honor of your clan is also on the line here
and not just mine or your father's honor."

      "I do not think any of your daughters would enjoy being my fiancee,
Tendou-san," Ranma was trying really hard to a hole in the agreement.

      "That does not matter, our honor demands that you or your brother be
engaged to one of my daughters."  Soun was jumping for joy on the inside, *I
got him, I got him!!!!*

      "Seeing as how my brother already has a fiancee and they are nearly
practically married that would leave me to be engaged to one of your daughters
is that correct?"

      "Yes!"
   
      Nabiki was surprised at how calmly Ranma was behaving.  *He is not only
handsome but smart as well.  If all else fails, it might not be so bad*
Nabiki had the reputation of being a cold-hearted individual at school that no
one would dare approach her and ask her out and thus she was lonely.

      Kasumi was nervous throughout this exchange.  *He is so young!* Kasumi
thought.  As the conversation continued, *He is not like any of the other
younger men I've meet.  He is quite mature.  It might not be so bad.  He is
also very polite.*

      *I hate boys!* Akane thought, especially a boy that had beat her.

      Standing up, "Excuse me for a second."  Turing around, Ranma sprinted
towards where his brother was beating up Genma, "Oyaji! You're going to die!"

      Soun sighed.  "At least he agreed to the engagement."  *Why else would
he be so mad.*

* * * * *

      The next day, "What?  Why do I have to go to school?" Ranma (blue)
asked.

      "There is more to life than martial arts," Ranma (red) answered.

     "No way!"  Running into the kitchen, Ranma (blue) came out with a kettle
and poured it onto his head.  "You go!" he said before disappearing.

      Sighing, "Ready to go?" Ranma asked Akane and Nabiki.

      "Why do I have to take him to school?" Akane asked.

      "Because he is your fiancee as well," Nabiki answered.

      "I still can't believe you suggested to your father engage me to all
three of you," Ranma exclaimed.

     "This way, you get to know all three of us before picking," Nabiki
answered calmly, *And if we do not get along, then I can back off without
Tousan crying.*

      "What is that behind your back Ranma?" Nabiki asked.

      "A flute," Ranma answered.

      "You know how to play?" Akane asked.

      "No, I just carry it around in the unlikely chance that I run across a
rat, I'll be able to charm it into jumping into the river, " Ranma answered
sarcasticly.

     Nabiki had to laugh at his comment.

     "Baka," Akane muttered.

     "Shall we go ladies?"

      After reaching the front gate, Ranma was impressed by Akane's skill as
she destroyed the male half of the Furinken High.  Suddenly he saw a boy step
into view from behind one fo the trees.  

      "Who arth thou?"  Kunou asked, leveling his bokken at the stranger
standing next to a girl with long black hair in a ponytail.  "To be so familar
with the Tendou Akane."  Before, the stranger could answer, "Tis it not
fitting to annocement thyself before combat?  Very well, I am the Rising Star
of Furinkan High, Tatewaki Kunou, the Blue Thunder, age 17!"

      Handing his bag to Akane, "I am Saotome Ranma ..."  Before Ranma could
complete his introduction, Kunou had charged Ranma.

     Akane was worried about Ranma.  Though she thought that he was a pervert
for looking at her while she was naked, a part of her mind told her that it
was partially her fault as well.  Her fears soon turned to wonder as she saw
Ranma block Kunou's bokken.

      *Not very honorable is he?* Ranma thought.  *The nerve of that poetry
sprouting idiot not let me finish,* his other half spoke.  Ranma's right hand
flashed around to his back and grasped something hard and cold and brought it
up to block Kunou's attack.  Ranma then slammed the end of his flute into
Kunou's mid-section.  Seeing his opponent kneel over, Ranma continued, " And
you have just been beaten by the heirs to the Saotome Musabetsu Kakutou Ryu,
age 16."  Returning the flute to its holder behind his back, Ranma pointed
down at Kunou's forehead just before adding a little pressure to topple his
oppenent.  Looking up at the sky, Ranma was glad he had finish his battle
before it rained.  Ranma walked inside the school building, ignoring the
sudden gossip that eose from the conscious half of Furinken, comprised mainly
of girls.

To be continued