This is the prequel to '...Cats and Dogs,'' and 'Things To Do:'
However, it takes place after both of those stories. Each is part 
of an alternate timeline and as such does not strictly adhere to 
either Manga or Anime canon. C-C and MST-ies are welcomed 
and appreciated either publicly or privately.

Disclaimer: All characters mentioned herein are the property of
Takahashi Rumiko and are used without permission on a solely
non-profit basis. All rights reserved to her.

C&C and MST'ies welcomed and encouraged publicly or privately
at Carlin92@aol.com.

At The Movies

	I love Bruce Lee movies. I can sit and watch em
all day. And with the house empty this weekend, no
family, no fiancees, and no one busting through the
walls to challenge me that's what I'm doing. Yup it's 
just me, the chips and the Bruce Lee marathon on 
Channel 41.
	Since as far back as I can remember, I wanted to
be Bruce Lee. Big surprise, right? I know, me, Saotome
Ranma, Heir to the Saotome School of Anything-Goes
wanting to be a great fighter. Wanting to be a hero.
Thing of it is, it's funny, My life's like something out of the
movies most of the time.
	Hell, the stories of some of the things that have
happened to me would make great stuff. Kirin, Toma,
Herb and the Musk Kingdom. Man, Lee-san never had
it as bad as I do. Fists of Fury is nothing compared
them. I can just see it now, even something like that
movie, The Lost World, about those dinosaurs that come
back to life. Now imagine something about Ryugenzawa,
got a bunch of animals already there, HUGE. Perfect for
an action movie. Any other animals they needed, just give
em a drink of the Water of Life and there they are! Would
be great too, scary as hell.
	For everyone else, of course. Not me, nope. Nothing
scares me you know.
	Except cats, and that isn't even my fault! Stupid Pop's
fault, not mine... tying fish sausage to your kid and throwing
him into an alley filled with cats. Over and over and over...
NO! Damn it! Not gonna think about that! Forget it! Where
was I? Oh yeah. Like I was sayin', about the movie. You
could even put Ryouga in it and call it 'The Real Lost
World', heh!
	I heard Lee-san did his own stunts too and that some
of the stuff on the screen was real. People actually went
after him with chairs and broken beer bottles and stuff.
Him being attacked and all just because people always
wanted to prove they were better than him. They'd be
tough because they beat up the 'Great' Bruce Lee. What
a joke.
	He probably hated it as much as I do. 		
	They just didn't get it. Lee-san wasn't great, wasn't a
great martial artist because he threw the hardest punch
or had the fastest kick. He was a great martial artist
because he understood the art, he respected it. He learned
and then he tried to teach other people about it.
	How it isn't just about learning how to fight, anyone
can do that. It's a lot more than just a bunch of ways to hurt
people. The art taught me how to protect myself sure, and
that's important. But it's not all it taught me.
	A lot of the different forms and techniques I learned
came from people looking at animals. Watching how they
moved. Studying how they did things. The way different parts
of their bodies worked with each other to come together in a
strong, smooth, graceful way. That is the Martial Arts, right
there. It's a way of looking at things, almost a way of
thinking.
	I can almost hear Nabiki laughing at that now. Probably
get a big kick out of it. 'Yeah right, Saotome Ranma, great
philosopher!', she'd say. She does that a lot, makes fun of
things, of me, of all of us really. Always got a joke or a
put-down ready. The way she goes on you'd think she only
cared about money.
	Doesn't fool me though. Not anymore.
	I see the way Nabiki looks at her family and the way
she looks at Her when she's sure no one else is looking.
She's good though. It's not Nabiki's posture and her voice
never gives anything away when she's talking. The only place
I can see it is in her eyes. The eyes don't lie.
	Most of the time Nabiki squints, and looks like she's
sizing everyone up. Like I do when I'm trying to scout my
opponent and figure out how to beat them. Even does it
when she laughs, which  I've never seen anyone do. That's
how she looks at people, except those few times I've ever
seen her surprised. Then her eyes widen, just like anyone
else. Even then, it's less than most other people.
	Except around them.
	When she's with them, Nabiki's eyes open just a little
wider and her face softens just a little bit. Easy to miss, I
sure did for a long time. And I've been trained to notice
these things. It's like she's always carrying something heavy
on her back and when she sees them it's taken away. At
least for a minute anyway.
	Nabiki'd probably just deny it, call me crazy and say I
was imagining it or something. But she doesn't get it, she
isn't a martial artist. Never even seen her in the dojo or
nothin'. Only exercise she gets that I can tell is from those
stupid workout tapes she uses.
	Shame, she'd probably be great at it if she really tried.
Wonder if she ever took any lessons from Mr. Tendo? I could
ask her. No, she'd just laugh and ask why I was interested.
Or worse, she'd try and charge me for the answer.
	Couldn't ask Akane either, that tomboy would think I was
interested in her sister and call me a pervert. Probably hit me
with that stupid mallet of hers too.
	Kasumi'd know, maybe I'll ask her sometime. But not right
now.
	I'm busy watching my movie. I love Bruce Lee movies.

End.