- Ranma - loose threads - 
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^

Once I had a choice between food and a friend 
What if it all took a different bend?

What if I choose the friend before the meal?
Would that have been a better deal?
 
Would that I could, 
I don't know if should,
but clearly...
             ...all would be better if I would? 

^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^

-AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Ranma awoke with a start.
She had had a terrible dream, some nut had chased her around
the dojo with a fire-pillar of some sort, she had avoided it easily
up until a few minutes ago when she had gotten really tired.
All she could remember was a white light so bright it hurt her
eyes and ... pain, very intense pain.

She lift her head to quickly scan the room, it was still dark but
she didn't feel like going back to sleep yet.

-I wonder what time it is, she said as she sat up holding her left
hand to her head.

She took another look around the room, something wasn't right.
All her dresses were intact, the room was the same color as before, 
blue because she had been furious even at the mention of
pink, but something still wasn't right.

She took a quick look beneath the bed, yes her diary was still
there, she had objected to the thought at first but as time wore on
and it seemed as though she would spend most of her time in her
female form anyway, she thought what the heck and started to
write in it.

Her female form, that was it, she needed to do more guy things, 
what could she do ( take someone on a date) she quickly discarded 
the idea Shampoo and Kodachi would only wreck it 
( What was it that always cheered her up? )
That was it, she needed a fight, a fight in her boy form.
Yes, that would do it. ( A pity Ryoga isn't here )

Happy with a conclusion in mind she took to bed again.
She heard a sound, quickly her hand shot out and grabbed the
katana with her fingers.

-Hiya mom, she said sleepily.

-Ranko what have I told you about using that language, Nodoka 
  looked at her very angrily, Come its time you trained!

--

Outside on the street a very angry greenklad boy cursed at the
sky.

-DAMN! It's happened again.

He looked around a bit and frowned.

-At least I'm still in Nerima.

He struck a pose that seemed to look like he was ready for a
fight and mumbled something under his breath.
He then quickly spun around facing a certain house and started
walking towards it.

-And just when I had him, he mumbled.

--

Ukyou starred at the mirror, had she really done it?
She decided to take a short walk to find out.

She walked up to the door and hesitated.
She stood still for a while and then began backing up.

-Mm-may- maybe I'll cook some breakfast first.
  Yeah, breakfast that- that's a good idea!

She was in such a hurry to get to her grill that she almost ran
over the little black piglet sleeping on the floor.

--

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
(  A black little pig was happily trotting along a dirt road on its 
 ) hind legs with a red mini-umbrella stuck to the back, some dirt
(  colored clothes and a yellow and black bandana tied around 
 ) its neck. Suddenly the pig stopped and sniffed the air, he 
(  could smell danger very close by, then he was covered 
 ) by a large shadow. 
(  the pig looked up cautiously, it saw a huge face starring down 
 ) at it, IT WAS A GIANT RANMA, he jumped up, opened his 
(  umbrella and whirled it at Ranma. 
 ) Ranma took it with his fingers and used it as a toothpick.
(  Ranma then laughed as he threw the pig in a cell on a giant 
 ) table. The pig looked around an saw two familiar shapes in the 
(  cells adjoining his, in it were Ukyou and Ranko.
 ) He frantically tried to open the cell so he could get to them
(  but in the end he gave up, he was stuck.
 ) Ranma came to his cell and took him by his shirt.
(  - What a coincidence I just happen to be making some
) PORK-soup and now the main ingredient has arrived!
(  He squirmed around in Ranmas grip trying to get free, 
 ) still Ranma managed to put him in the boiling pot. 
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

The floorboards shook violently as Ukyou ran.

-Bweeeee! The piglet sprang up with an indignant look on it's
face. (Hey, there are some that are trying to sleep you know)

(Oh well) he thought (at least I could try and get something to
eat.) He trotted up to his usual bowl in front of the grill and
looked into it, it was empty (The nerve, waking me up and then
not feeding me, some people aren't meant to keep pets).
He picked up his bowl with his teeth and showed it to Ukyou
Who just stared dumbly at him. (Gees to some people you just
have to be blunt) He hoped onto the counter and took a spatula
in his mouth, waving it around like he was making
okonymiakis. (This should make her understand) He spit the
out the spatula and made a sighing sound.

- Bwwwwhhheeeee.

Ukyou didn't move an inch, (Boy, she is being very dumb this
morning) He jumped to beside the grill and dug his nose into
several spots on an okonymiaki, forming the letters F-O-O-O-D.
He then looked up expectantly at her. (She must understand this
one) 
Ukyou's face was a mask of astonishment mixed with fear.
(What, why is she afraid) he looked down at the okonymiaki (It's
perfectly spelled, foood, what's wrong? Shi* pigs can't write.)
He quickly gobbled up the offending object and instead pointed
towards the twin of his mistake which curiously had a heart in it? ?

Suddenly her looks softened, she picked up his bowl and looked
at it carefully before she put in a few okonymiaki.

-So Ryo-Chan did you have a good nights sleep?

He nodded vigorously and jumped down to eat his well deserved
food. (Wonder why she's acting so weird this morning?)

--

Ranma bowed low before she raised her bokken.
Nodoka did the same.

Their blades met with a ferocious thud.
Then they became a blur as Nodoka attacked and Ranma
parried. Suddenly Ranma vaulted backwards only to be met with
the shaft of her mothers blade two inches from her face.

-Now daughter what have I said about jumping around on the
battlefield?

-No jumping unless you're prepared for an attack from below.
Ranma sighed, no matter how many times she avoided jumping,
she always did it anyway and then she forgot to move he bokken
under her so that she could defend herself properly.

-You will have to do better than this when Genma comes back
with Ranma. Otherwise, Genma will never take you seriously.
YOU WILL BE A WOMAN AMONG WOMEN OR ELSE...

Nodokas voice trailed off and she got a pained look in her eyes.
Ranma winced slightly at the intended speech, she had heard the
same speech from Genma several times when they were on the
road, but as Nodoka always did now he had trailed off at the
important part, about her having to commit seppuku if she
wasn't a MAN AMONG MEN, which is why she had pretended
to be Ranko, her own sister. (Why does my life have to be such
a mess) She thought idly before she raised her bokken to begin
again.

-- 
 
Genma picked up three pieces and placed them on the table
before Soun snapped back to reality.

-My turn yet Genma? he said as he looked down at the table.

-No not yet. Genma replied weighing a piece thoughtfully in his
hands.

For once Genma was winning big time.
Even so, he wasn't very happy, Soun hadn't placed one piece on
the table. Everything that was on the table was placed by
Genma, both black and white.
He took a long look at the table and saw THE SPOT, Soun only
needed to place his piece there and he would win.
While placing his piece on the table on the table purposely
somewhere else than that spot, he said.

-You can't let it get to you!

Genma watched with horror as Soun placed his piece in the
other end of the table and then looked over his shoulder at
Akane who was watching the television.

-Where is Ranma Genma?

A bead of sweat formed on Genmas forehead.
He placed one of Souns pieces in THE SPOT and waited for him 
to notice. 

-Isn't Ukyou supposed to cook today?

Now Genma was starting to be SCARRED!
Soun hadn't done anything normal since Ranma had gone.
He never cried anymore, he never cheated at their shogi game
and he had started sparring in the mornings again!
Of course, he also seemed so distant at times...

-Chinako can you get me a soda, please?

...like now.
He hadn't mentioned his wife's name since she died.
Genma waved his hands in front of Souns face.

-Soun? He snapped his fingers, Soun snap out of it! Ranmas
going to go back this weekend.

-Really? Souns face took on a determined expression. He must
want to see Akane, he whispered. Her room must be cleaned and
She must make dinner and stay out of the bathroom and clean the 
rest of the house and she must train so that they can spar together 
and then... 
Soun face gleamed with excitement as he began explaining all the 
things that had to bee done so that Ranma would take interest in 
Akane

(Now the only thing I have to do is to figure out how to get
Ranma to come over for the weekend.) Genma thought sadly
(And perhaps stay longer than that?) Genmas mood rose slightly at 
the idea.

--

In a bush outside the Saotome residence, Nabiki sat waiting.
It was a lot harder to get pictures of "Ranko" since he had moved 
to his mother's house.

-Tsubasa! You numbskull, all you had to do was get in there and
shot a picture of Ranma as a female.
It doesn't exactly require a rocket scientist, DOES IT?

Oops she had raised her voice a little too high that time.
She sneaked a look atop the leaves of the bush and sighed 
gratefully.
They were still fighting up there.

-But Nabiki... Tsubasa whined.

-Shush, Nabiki raised her finger to his mouth, Just remember
you still owe me. 

-Yes, Nabiki. Tsubasa sighed 

-Do you have that stupid looking teddy bear costume around?

-Yes, but...
Nabiki waved her finger again.
He shut up.

-This will be simple, all you need to do is...

--

*Knock, knock*

(I wonder where they are?)
Noises of fighting filtered out from behind the door.
(Oh my god! Someone is fighting in there.)

*crack*

The door fell of its hinges.

-Hello, anybody there?

(Stupid, I hear fighting and break in the door, and THEN I ask if
anyone's in here)

The fighting noises had stopped.
>From atop the stairs a redheaded girl was looking down.
She looked like she had gone through an extensive workout.

-What is it? She asked.

-Well, I am looking for my backpack, have you seen it?
He blushed and scratched the backside of his neck.

-No, she said briskly and walked away.

He just stood there shocked.
(That's it? Oh well it must be around here somewhere)
He sighed and started looking around quietly.
The fighting noises started again from upstairs.
(I wonder what she's doing?)
It was the last thought he had before he was knocked
unconscious.

--

Kuno was waiting in the schoolyard.
So did most of the male students.
He and his entourage had waited for a whole hour.
Kuno sighed heavily.
School was about to start and his beloved's still had not arrived.

-Oh, this a sad thing when appointments preordained since before
the rise of man can not be kept.
When one cannot wait to give a rose to the ones so loved, then
the world will fall in shambles.
For surely the gods that keep the world in place must have fallen
ill to detain the goddesses that I await. He proclaimed.

He took a last a look at the clock and started to walk inside.
(Maybe I should look for them during lunch) he thought idly,
before going inside.

The huge mob seeing him go were making ready to do the same.
After all, it was not the first time that Akane was sick.

Shortly after they had gone Akane came running, Gosunkugi in
tow. He was almost flapping behind her like a rag doll, only the
speed kept him off the ground as he gripped tightly around her
hand.

-Gos, were late. She screamed.

Gosunkugi didn't reply, he merely pointed at the clock in silence.
A few seconds later the were in through the doors and inside the
classroom before the bell sounded.

They silently seated themselves in their respective seats as fast
as they could.

--

A couple of minutes later Ranma and Ukyou were standing in
the hallway, both in boys uniform and both carrying buckets.

*Phew*

Ukyou wiped the sweat of her forehead.

-I was worried we were going to get drained.

-Nah, came Ranmas response, she wouldn't have hit me even if
she had tried. You, I'm not so sure about.

Ukyou's eyes grew slightly, not enough for Ranma to notice
though. (What did he just say?)

-Are you saying that I can't dodge? Her voice coming into a
growl near the end.

-Not as good as me, he turned his head towards her with a cocky
smile smeared across his face.

*Swoosh*

The bucket she was holding was passing through were his face had 
been, just a little while ago.

-You can't hit me, you can't hit me. Ranma taunted while holding 
out his tongue and making silly faces.

-We'll see, she said and put her buckets down on the floor carefully 
before she began knocking some sense into him.
Ukyou made several swipes at him with her fists but he managed 
to evade them all easily.

Finally Ukyou grabbed one of her buckets and threw one at
him, water first. She then followed up by punching him right in
the face.

*Krutch*

-What the? Her hand was halfway into the wall just above
Ranmas hair.

-Missed me, Ranma held out her tongue again.

--

Gosunkugi was having a having a problem.
Everything he heard came to him slightly unfazed, as if one of
his ears was teen feet away from the other one and he couldn't
figure out which one was closest to his head.
Also whenever he tried to move his head there was a double
picture, as if he saw cross-eyed at something, one picture was
slightly lagged though, moving about one cm after the other.

Needless to say, he was confused and very nauseous.

-GO -Go -os -sun -osu -nku -unk -ku -nk -kug -ugi -i! -gi!

He swiveled his head towards the teacher.
Finding that that the teacher wasn't paying interest to him, he
groaned slightly and let his head fall to the table as the world
ended in a bright white light.

---

AUTHORS NOTES:
I write story.
I be good, yes?
I wanna comment.
You give, yes?
Flames I kill!
If any make money, I KILL!
I be obnoxious, no?

Nie lao.

Duvae@hotmail.com
(Forgive my Shampoo impression)


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