(il)legal stuff.
 I stole all these characters from more creative heads than mine, such
as Rumiko Takahashi, and Izumi Matsumoto. Catch me if you can!  Just
Joking, please don't hurt me, I'm a poor student, I really don't mean
any harm!

                                        Other Eyes Chapter 3

    As Madoka watched, the panda shrank under the flow of water, as if
boiling away at it's touch.  In the panda's place was an older balding
man, wearing a white gi.  Madoka's thoughts stopped making any sense for
a while.

    Akane walked back over to Madoka, and sat down next too her, as
Madoka continued to stare at the man, as if waiting for him to
disappear.  She didn't say anything for a few minutes to let Madoka
think.  Madoka's thoughts danced wildly in her head as she tried to get
an idea of what had just taken place.  Many wild theories played through
her brain as she tried to rationalize what she had just seen.

    Finally Akane spoke up.  "It's a very tragic story, of cursed spring
in China, Shonmaoneechuan, 'Spring of Drowned Panda' there very tragic
story of panda that drown in spring 1200 year ago, now all who fall in
spring take body of panda."

    Madoka almost laughed at Akane's ridiculous Chinese accent,  but all
that came out of her mouth was, "Huh?"

    Akane nodded slowly.  "I see your taking this well.  Ok, you see
there is this place in China, called Jusenkyou.  It's in a valley,
located in the Qinghai provence in the Bayankala Range, Mt. Quanjing
region.  There are over 100 springs there, all cursed.  In each one
something drowned, and now, if you fall in one of these springs you take
on the body of whatever drowned there.  Hot water will reverse the
transformation, but only until the next time your splashed with cold
water."

    Madoka looked at Akane for a long moment after she had finished
speaking, then slowly shook her head.  "Wow.  I, it's so, so
incredible."  She shook her head again and looked back at the two men
still calmly playing Shogi.  "I can hardly deny what I saw, but it's
almost impossible to believe..."  She gestured at the two men.  "Could I
see it again?"

    Akane laughed, more in relief that Madoka was apparently handling
the bizarre revelation fairly well, than in humor.   She answer Madoka's
query.  "Oh, I'm not sure how Mr. Saotome would like it if I just walked
up and splashed him."  At Madoka's disappointed look, Akane added.
"Maybe later, ok?"

    Madoka was still reeling from the whole idea, and just said, "I
guess."  She looked at Akane again, and something occurred to her. "Say,
how do you know him?"

    Akane groaned softly, not eager to tell Madoka the rest of the
story.  She started,  "Oh, he's an old friend of fathers, like I said
earlier.  They trained together before I was born."

    Madoka nodded,  "And he went and trained in China and fell in one of
these pools?  Why has he come here today?"

    Akane groaned louder, and gritted her teeth,  finally she said.
"Ah... I guess,"  Madoka's look was inquisitive now.  <Everyone else
knows about it anyway.>  "Oh, alright, I suppose I should tell you, my
father and his old friend made a stupid promise before I was born"  She
frowned again, still hesitating.  <I hate this, I really hate this whole
thing.>

    Madoka realized, <This promise is what is really bothering Akane,
not Mr. Saotome's curse, she seems to almost enjoy that.>  She waited
patiently as Akane's frown deepened.  "You don't have to tell me if it
bothers you this much Akane."  Akane shook her head and mumbled
something Madoka couldn't quite make out.  Madoka wasn't sure if she had
heard it correctly.  "What did they say? They promised what?"

    Akane looked at Madoka, a angry expression still dominating her
features, almost overriding her embarrassment for the moment.  "They
promised that when their children grew up, they would marry, and so join
their two schools of martial arts."

    Madoka blinked, quiet as she tried to take this in.  She finally
said.  "Oh.  I'm so sorry Akane, this must be difficult for you."  She
looked dazed.  "So, this promise, I assume Mr. Saotome has a son then?"

    Akane's tone was bitter.  "Yes, and a couple of days ago, father got
a postcard from his old friend, saying he was bringing his son, Ranma
Saotome, from China."  Only instead of Mr. Saotome and his son showing
up, we get a giant panda on our doorstep, carrying a red headed girl!
You can imagine our surprise when she introduces her self as Ranma.
Daddy then faints when he realizes that Ranma is a girl, and Nabiki was
really rude to her.  I decided that someone should give her a break, and
asked her if she wanted to go to the dojo to spar, since she had
supposedly been training.  I even asked her if she'd like to be
friends."  Akane paused then but her face was angry, all scrunched up,
and Madoka decided not to ask any questions yet. Soon enough Akane
continued her story. "So we spar, and she make me look really slow.  She
dodged every attack I threw easily, but never attacked me in return,
until I lost my cool, and accidentally put my fist through the wall."
She pointed to the spot, and Madoka could see that the wall had indeed
been newly patched in that area.  "Then she just tapped me in the back
of the head with her finger."

    Akane was working herself up, and Madoka was a bit alarmed at how
angry Akane was starting to look.  She had an idea where this story was
headed though, even if the idea was incredible.  "So this girl, where is
she now?"  Akane glared at Madoka, her face red and breathing hard.

    She seemed to realize that she was acting out the memory a little
too strongly, and forced herself to calm down.  "Sorry Madoka, it just
gets to me when I think about it."  She looked at the ground for a bit
before continuing, still clenching her fist at the memory, but not as
angry as before.  "Then I went to join her in the bath afterwards, and,
and..."  She seemed to deflate then, her hands unclenching as she
sighed, before her face hardened again.  "And that pervert, he was,"

    Madoka gasped, "No way!"  She looked at Akane, eyes wide.  "She
really was Mr. Saotome's son?  He was, wasn't he, he fell into a pool
like his father, only a pool of drowned woman, or something?"

    Akane was a bit surprised.  <Madoka sure figured that out quick.>
She nodded, and her friends eyes grew wider.  <I guess it was pretty
obvious, the way I set it up.>

    Madoka was thinking too.  <It's true then, I have to see this
again.>  She looked at Akane, then stood up.  "Akane, I want to see it
again.  It's just so crazy, but I want to believe you."

    Akane nodded, and walked over to the corner or the dojo, where a
couple of fire buckets sat.  "Why not, he deserves it for thinking up
this stupid marriage idea."

    She handed the bucket to Madoka, and the they walked out to the koi
pond.  As Madoka dunked the bucket, Akane looked on, and when she walked
over to dump it on Mr. Saotome's head, she just smiled.  <He deserves a
lot more then that for what he did.  My life is ruined, thanks to him.>

    Madoka watched the transformation, amazed all over again, but she
was starting to feel a little angry at the two men as well.  <It's
obvious that Akane is the one they chose to marry this Ranma character.
It's ridiculous, an arranged marriage in this day and age.>  When Mr.
Saotome looked up at her and flipped over a sign with 'What did I do?'
on it, Madoka just glared at him coldly, and turned on her heel without
answering.  She walked back over too Akane, and the two girls went
together back to the dojo.  Madoka asked Akane then carefully.  "How did
you end up as.. As the daughter to marry this Ranma."

    Akane growled, "My loving sisters chose me.  Why do you think I
haven't talked this over with them?  They said I was the perfect choice,
since I don't like boys."  She said the last bit in a fair imitation of
Nabiki.

    Madoka shook her head.  "I can hardly believe it all.  How could
your father go through with such a promise?"

    Akane sat down and cradled her head in her hands.  "I don't know,
honor I suppose.  He doesn't see any reason not to honor their stupid
promise, and now I have to marry that pervert."

    Madoka put her arm across Akane's shoulders, and sat next to her.
"So you have a fiancee now."  She tried to think of something to cheer
Akane up.  "So, besides being a pervert, what's this Ranma like?"

    Akane looked at Madoka then and smiled just slightly.  "I'm glad I
can talk to you about this.  Why don't we go up to my room, and talk, I
don't really feel much like sparing today anyway."

    Later, in Akane's room, Madoka asked her.  "So where is this fiancee
of yours?"

    Akane shook her head.  "Oh, I think he's out with a couple guys from
our class, doing 'guy' stuff."

    Madoka chuckled a bit at that.  "Guy stuff huh?  So tell me, what is
he like?  Besides turning into a girl and being a pervert I mean."  <I
can't believe I'm having this conversation.>

    Akane grinned at Madoka's expression, but she did begin to tell her
about Ranma.  "Well, he's handsome enough I guess (she blushed slightly
at saying that.)  "But he's such a macho idiot, and he's a complete
pervert.  He even had the nerve to say that he had a better body then me
as a girl!"

    Madoka blinked.  <That was stupid all right.>  She said cautiously,
"So what did you do?"

    Akane looked decidedly sheepish at the question, but answered it
anyway.  "I, um, hit him with the dining room table."

    Madoka's eyes bulged out for a while.  <I know Akane has a temper,
but that takes the cake, this must really be bothering her.>  Finally
she said, "Well, I guess he deserved that.  You say he's out with your
classmates from school?  I guess he goes to your school now?"

    Akane nodded.  Then she began to tell Madoka about their first two
days at school together.  She was warming up to the story after a bit,
"And then he said, "This is no place to fight" and jumped out the
window.  Kuno followed him, before he realized that it was the third
floor!  They landed in the pool, luckily."

    Madoka took this in, and blinked a few times.  "You said the third
floor right?"

    Akane nodded.  "Yes.  It is hard to believe, but Ranma is almost as
good a martial artist as he thinks he is.  I've seen him do some
incredible things in the past few days."

    Madoka nodded.  "I can't wait to meet him.  So, they fell into the
pool.  Wait, then didn't Ranma change?  You said cold water.."

    Akane nodded.  "Yes, but the class didn't see him long enough to
figure it out, and Kuno's too thick to understand what really happened.
Anyway, I went to the teachers lounge to get a kettle for Ranma."  Akane
continued the story, and Madoka found herself accepting the idea of the
curse.  The whole thing was too complex to be made up.  She laughed when
Akane told her of Kuno's declaration of love for 'the pigtailed one' and
Akane joined her.  "I guess it is pretty funny."

    Madoka was still laughing, tears streaming down her cheeks.  "He He,
I'm sorry Akane, but that's hysterical.  Kuno still has no idea who his
pigtailed girl is?"

    Akane shook her head.

    Madoka laughed again.  "That's just perfect."  She looked at Akane.
"Well, at least those guys won't attack you again at school."

    Akane nodded.  "That's true"  She recounted Ranma's next fight with
Kuno, and frowned again as she remembered it.

    Madoka frowned a bit herself when she heard it.  "Your own sister?
Nabiki went too far, selling pictures of you."

    Akane sighed, her anger at Nabiki having faded pretty quick.  "I
guess, but that's just Nabiki for you, I don't really understand why,
but it doesn't bother me that much.  She is my sister after all."

    As Akane related the weeks events, Madoka reflected on her
descriptions of Ranma.  <The guy seems to be pretty macho, but I think
Akane overreacted a bit to some of the things he said.  She's probably
feeling like she's lost control of her life, and is taking it out on
this guy.>  As Akane described their various visits to Dr. Tofu, for
Ranma's injuries (Mostly from Akane)  Madoka noted that Akane still had
a crush on the doctor, even realizing that the man was hopelessly in
love with Kasumi. <Oh Akane, I wish you'd just give up on him.>

    It seemed like a sort time, but by the time Akane had finished,
Madoka realized she would have to hurry to catch her train.  "I'm sorry
I couldn't meet this Ranma today.  I'll see you next week, ok?"

    Akane nodded.  "I'll see you then.  Maybe even get Ranma to hang
around for a bit."  <Like that pervert would listen to me.>  She waved
to Madoka as she left.  <Guess I could ask him.>

**********************************************************

    Wednesday, Madoka called the Tendo's to cancel the session.  "I'm
sorry Akane, but I'm not going to be able to make it."

    Akane sounded disappointed.  "Really?  That's too bad.  <And Ranma
even said he's not doing anything Saturday.>  What happened?"

    Madoka sounded embarrassed.  "Well, I kind of hurt myself today.
There was this dog, it was out in the middle of traffic, and was about
to be hit by a truck, so I.. Well, the doctor says it'll be a few weeks
before I can practice again."

    Akane gasped slightly.  "Are you alright?"

    Madoka answered, "Yes, it's really not that bad.  I'll see you in a
few weeks OK?"

*****************************************************

    Kyouske Kasgua was worried.  Ayukawa had been injured, and there
were those punk girls looking for her.  <I try to protect her, but she
just thinks I'm being silly.>  He sighed out loud.

    Next to him, Komatsu noticed his friend's distress, and decided to
help him, in the way he knew best.  "Here Kasgua-san, this will cheer
you up!"  Komatsu handed the other boy his special edition of 'Sports
Illustrated, Swimsuit Edition' .  "Just what you need, one look at these
amazing foreign women and you'll forget all about your girl problems!"

    As usual, Kyousuke, sputtered and protested, but Komatsu was
satisfied that he had cheered him up.  <It's hard work being a good
friend.>  His self congratulatory thoughts were put on hold as he
noticed Hatta had gotten hold of the magazine, and was rapidly perusing
it, his face reddening a bit.  "No! Hatta!"  He tried to wrestle the
priceless object away from his friend before the inevitable occurred,
and it was ruined.  Too late, the other boy's nose erupted in a bloody
spurt.  Komatsu sighed.  <Too late.>

    The trio was eating their lunch outside for once, The soccer team
was practicing, and he and Hatta had come to watch the girls cheering by
the sidelines.  "Kasgua, look, your sister is here."

    Kyousuke looked up and realized Komatsu was right.  Kurami was
watching the game from a bench on the opposite side of the field.  <I
wonder what she's watching for?>  He thought.

    As Kyousuke pondered this, a stranger entered the field from the
woods nearby.  The young man in question was wearing an odd outfit, it
was obvious that it wasn't a school uniform.  He was wearing a dusty
yellow shirt, dark pants, tied at the bottom, and a large backpack with
a red bamboo umbrella on top of it.  He looked tired, and was trudging
onto the field, not really looking where he was going.  As he walked out
into the middle of the field, the soccer team's skirmish was heading
right at him.  Someone yelled,  "Hey you!  get out of the way!" ,as the
ball headed right at his head at top speed.  The young man seemed to
notice the ball at the last moment, and almost casually brought up his
arm in a flash, and blocked it away from him.  The force of it knocked
the ball far back into the trees.

    Ryoga looked about at the place he had found himself.  <Is this a
school?  Perhaps I have finally found it!>  As he thought this, he found
himself surrounded by several of the angry soccer players.

    "Hey, you, what do you think your doing, walking onto the field like
that when we're practicing!"  One of the larger guys shouted angrily.

    One of the others joined in, "Yeah, you lost our ball for sure!
Whatcha gonna do about that?"  Several of the others chimed in angrily
as well.

    Ryoga was a bit annoyed as well, but. <I guess I did lose their
ball.>  "Sorry,"  he said shortly.  "Can one of you tell me, is this
Furinkan Highschool?"

    The group turned uglier at that.  "What?  You're from Furinkan?  We
should of known!"

    On the sidelines, Kurami was the only person close enough to hear
this.  She was a bit worried for the young man.  <After they lost so bad
to Furinkan's soccer team last week, they've been pretty upset.>

    The boy's started to harass Ryoga.  "You shouldn't of come here to
disrupt our practice,  You can go find our ball, and leave quickly, or
we'll show you how we feel about your school!"

    Ryoga frowned.  "I can't find it.  If you would just tell me where
to go..."  He broke of as several of the boys looked at each other, and
at him evilly.

    "Oh, we'll tell you where to go, alright."  He looked at his
buddies.  "Right fellas?" They nodded together.  "Right.  Get him!"

    They rushed him in a bunch, and piled into him,  Ryoga went down in
the pileup.  From the sidelines, Kurami growled angrily.  "Those
bullies, that wasn't right."  She continued to watch, controlling her
reaction, if only just.  <I wish I could just help that boy but...>  She
gasped along with the rest of the people on the sidelines as the boys
went flying off Ryoga, who stood and brushed himself off.  Other then a
slight bruise on his cheek, he seemed unharmed.

    Ryoga walked up to the boy who had been so vocal earlier, and lifted
him off the ground by the front of his shirt, one handed.  "I asked you
nicely before, where is Furinkan Highschool."

    "The boy had paled considerably, and weakly pointed in a fair
approximation of the correct direction.  It's in Nerima, over that
way!"  He let out weakly.  Ryoga nodded, and dropped the boy.  Everyone
watched in silence, as he walked off, (In the opposite direction.)

    Kurami watched his back, with glowing eyes.  <He's so strong!>  She
just said. "Wow."  under her breath.

    Meanwhile, Ryoga pulled out his map.  <At least I'm in Tokyo.  If I
keep the buildings in sight, I'll be ok.>  He did so, for several more
hours he circled the area.  Finally he arrived at the front of what
appeared to be another highschool, students were shuffling out as he
watched.

    Madoka was just getting out of class when a pair of girls she
recognized from her class ran up to her.  "Madoka-san,"  One said to
her.  "There's a strange guy asking questions over there."  She pointed
to the front gate.

    Madoka nodded, and walked slowly over to investigate.  <Hmm, they
never talk to me unless they need something.  I wonder if I've made any
friends at this school at all outside Hikaru, Yusaku and Kasgua-kun?>
As she approached the gate, sure enough, a tall black haired boy, in an
unusual outfit was accosting one of her classmates.

    He held the boy with one hand, by the front of his shirt, and
demanded in a loud voice,  "Where is Furinkan Highschool!"  The guy just
shook his head, not having any idea.

    Madoka recognized the name however.  <Isn't that Akane and Nabiki's
school?>  She casually tapped the bandanna's guy on his shoulder.

    He turned to look at her, putting her classmate down as he did so.
"Yes?"

    Madoka was looking at him carefully.  His pants were almost brown
with dust, his leggings worn and a bit tattered.  She pointed at the
nearby train station as she finally looked him in the eyes.  "Nerima's
one district over, to the south."

    The boy smiled a bit at this.  "Oh.  Well thank you.  It's this
way?"  He pointed down the way back towards the school.

    Madoka shook her head.  "No, that way."  She pointed at the train
station again.

    He nodded, then headed off down the street at a right angle to her
arm.  "Right, Thank you."

    Madoka looked at him puzzled.  <Is this guy an idiot?>  She walked
after him, hopping slightly on her crutch.  She caught his arm to stop
him, and he almost pulled her off her feet.  <This guy is strong.>  She
thought, surprised.  "Here, the train station is this way."

    Ryoga let the girl lead him to the train station.  "Oh, this train
goes to Nerima?"  <I'm almost out of money, but if this gets me to
Ranma, It'll be worth it.>

    Madoka nodded.  "That's right.  Just get off the train when the
conductor says you've reached the third Nerima station.  Furinkan is in
that neighborhood, you can ask someone there for exact directions."

    Ryoga nodded, and blushed slightly.  "Um thanks, you've been a big
help."

    Madoka just shook her head.  "Whatever,"  She walked off, still
shaking her head.  <Boy, now that guy was lost.>

    From nearby, Kasgua Kyousuke watched, an uneasy expression on his
face.  <Why was Ayukawa so nice to that guy?  Does she know him?  Maybe
I should follow him... No, I've got to watch Ayukawa until she's
recovered.>


Well, There we go, more foreshadowing and stuff.  (I'll get to some good
stuff soon, promise, this idea just needs a lot of backing to seem
reasonable.)

Liked it?  Hated it? Think X is totally OOC?  Hey, C&C is what I live
for, so mail me about it!