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Episode 3 of the Alternate Timeline Series:

Episode 1: Murphy's Law
Episode 2: Battle Chess

Episode 3: Double Trouble v0.1

By Andy Searls

Characters are creations of Rumiko Takahashi

"spoken lines" - Japanese
<spoken lines> - Chinese
*thoughts*
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Chapter 4 - Black and White
Ryoga soaked in the furo, lazily petting the black piglet that sat on the
edge of the tub.  He scratched behind P-Chan's ear.  P-Chan grunted in
pleasure.  Ryoga stared blankly into space.  "What am I going to do?"

P-Chan blinked at Ryoga and bweed a reply.

Ryoga looked at P-Chan.  "Well, that's easy for you to say.  You can stay
here as Akane's pet without a problem.  I just can't stay here and live off
them, but I can't get a job and expect to find my way there and back again."
Ryoga and P-Chan sighed together.  Ryoga resumed stroking behind P-Chan's
ears.  "You know, I thought that being cured would solve all my problems.
Now it looks like my cursed form is the one that has it easy."  P-Chan
looked to Ryoga with wet eyes and grunted sadly.

At the far corner of the house was a knock at the front door.  Nabiki jumped
from her seat at the table.  "I'll get it, Kasumi."

Kasumi, who was about to stand up, relaxed back down and sipped her tea.
"Thank you."

Nabiki walked down the hall and slid open the door.  "I was right," she said
to Ranma.  "I just knew you would be by here sooner or later."

Ranma stood in the doorway, blinking.  "What dya mean, Nabiki?  I've visited
Akane here before."

Nabiki peered down her nose at Ranma.  "You have some explaining to do,
mister.  I don't take kindly to being lied to.  Neither does Akane."

Ranma was speechless.  He was used to not being able to explain, but he had
never been accused of outright lying before.  He finally found his voice.
"Wha... what... why... um, huh?"

"Come with me."  Nabiki led Ranma around the side of the house to the door
to the tea room, pointing to the rock path that led to the pond.  "Wait
here."  Nabiki disappeared into the house.  Ranma could hear her walk down
the hall and knock on the door near the end.  Her muffled voice drifted
across the house.  "Hey, are you about done in there?  There's someone here
to see you two."  Ranma heard a voice reply, but he couldn't make out who it
was or what they said.  Nabiki, apparently satisfied, walked back to the tea
room and sat down beside Kasumi at the table.  The two girls sipped their
tea quietly without looking up at Ranma.

Ranma shivered from his spot on the rock path.  *What the heck is going on?*

After a couple minutes, he heard the door down the hall open and close.
Footsteps approached from the far side of the tea room.  Ranma's jaw dropped
as he saw Ryoga carry P-Chan around the corner and sit down at the table,
facing away from Ranma.  Kasumi quietly handed Ryoga a bowl of rice.  Nabiki
leveled a predatory gaze in Ranma's direction.  "Well, Ranma?"

Ryoga turned around, noticing Ranma. "Oh, hi Ranma.  How's it going?"

Ranma stared at Ryoga.  "Ry... Ryoga.  What are you doing here?"

Ryoga smiled.  "I found P-Chan.  I thought Akane might be looking for him."

"You... you thought Akane..."

Ryoga stood up and carried P-Chan over to the rock path.  P-Chan growled at
Ranma.  "She needs someone who will take care of her and make her happy, not
someone who hurts her feelings by cheating on her and telling her lies."

Ranma's fists shook at his sides.  He trembled with anger, and a growl rose
out of his throat.  "Ryoga, after what I did for you, you do this?"

"I consider us even," Ryoga said smugly.  "What I did here was for Akane's
sake."

Ranma dropped into a stance.  "Well, then, put the pig down, Ryoga.  It's
time for a re-match."

Akane walked into the tea room and looked at the two young men standing
outside.  "What's going on?"

Ranma didn't take his eyes of Ryoga, but spoke to Akane.  "I wanna talk to
you, Akane, but Ryoga and I have a score to settle first."

"But Ranma," Akane pleaded, carrying P-Chan back into the tea room.  "The
last time you fought Ryoga, you got hurt."

Ranma's anger continued to build.  "Aw, Ryoga only beat me once.  I've
fought him since then, and he didn't beat me."

"That fight wasn't finished," Ryoga yelled, "and you know it!"

"Ryoga," Akane scolded.  "Don't pick on those weaker than you."

Ranma scowled.  "That's it!  I'll show you who's weak!"  He took a step,
putting Ryoga within reach.  "Kachu tenshin amaguriken!"  Ranma's hands
became a blur.  Ryoga blocked a number of the punches, but a good number of
them got through.  Ranma put most of his power into hitting the same spot in
Ryoga's stomach as quickly as he could.  Ryoga was sliding backwards from
the force of Ranma's blows, but he didn't appear to be getting hurt.  The
three Tendo women watched as Ranma forced Ryoga back against the wall beside
the door to the tea room.  He pounded Ryoga another twenty times or so for
good measure before throwing a roundhouse kick to Ryoga's head.  Ryoga
cart-wheeled across the doorway from the force of the kick.

Akane blinked at Ranma's attack.  She had forgotten what he had learned in
Joketsuzoku since Ryoga's triumph over him.

Nabiki turned to Kasumi.  Kasumi smiled back.  "Two batches."

Nabiki didn't flinch.  "Two batches and half a batch uncooked dough."

Ryoga stood up, holding his stomach.  "Nice try, Ranma.  Cologne's training
has made me invincible."  He jumped back to Ranma.  "Bakusai tenketsu!"

Ranma caught Ryoga's hand mere centimeters from his chest.  He stretched his
leg vertically, connecting with Ryoga's chin on the way up.  Ryoga was sent
skyward by the blow.

Kasumi turned her cup of tea casually.  "Two batches, uncooked dough, and a
bar of chocolate."

Ryoga landed in the pond and jumped out.  He paused a moment as he realized
he didn't change, then jumped into the air, kicking at Ranma's head.  Ranma
blocked the blow, the force sending him back on the rock path.  Ryoga
landed, spun, and threw his fist at Ranma's chest.  He connected, and Ranma
flew back and landed in the pond.

Nabiki watched with interest.  "Special dark chocolate."

All three women stared in shock as Ranma jumped out of the pond, unchanged.
Ryoga threw another bakusai tenketsu punch to Ranma's head and connected.
Ranma watched in horror as Ryoga's outstretched finger hit him between the
eyes.  He batted Ryoga's hand away and waited to see what it would feel like
to have his head explode at the breaking point.  The both of them stood,
waiting, for a few seconds.  Nothing happened.

*I hit his breaking point,* Ryoga thought.  *Why didn't it work?*  He
blinked, and Ranma leapt into the air.  Ryoga jumped up to meet him with his
foot.  Ranma twisted and caught Ryoga's foot.  Ranma tucked, sending both of
them tumbling.  He twisted Ryoga's leg and stood on his back.  Ryoga landed
on his stomach, Ranma standing on top of him.  Ranma put his hands on his
knees and peeked at Ryoga's face.  Out cold.

Nabiki snapped her chopsticks in her rice bowl.  Kasumi smiled at her
younger sister before getting up and walking into the kitchen.  Nabiki
grumbled something unintelligible.

P-Chan shrieked pure rage as Ranma stepped off Ryoga.  The piglet launched
himself out of Akane's arms, aiming for Ranma's head.  Ranma snatched P-Chan
out of the air by his collar.  The piglet flailed helplessly as Ranma held
him at arm's length.  Ranma triumphantly stepped into the house, holding
P-Chan up to Akane.  "I will explain only after you get this waishou buta
out of my sight."

Akane was impressed with Ranma's quick victory as well a curious.  She took
the piglet and ran upstairs.  She quickly came back, empty handed.

Nabiki, however, was less than enthused.  "Ok, Ranma, you said you had an
explanation.  Out with it."

Ranma sat down at the table.  Kasumi returned with a small tray.  "Ranma,
please have some rice and tea," she said sweetly, placing the tray down in
front of him.

Ranma gratefully took a sip of tea.  "Thanks, Kasumi."  He took a couple
quick mouthfuls of rice before turning back to Akane.  "Akane, I said it
before, and I stand by my word.  P-Chan and Ryoga are the same person."

Nabiki kept her voice level.  "Call it intuition.  Either that, or the fact
that Ryoga's unconscious just outside the door and P-Chan is squealing
angrily in Akane's bedroom.  Either way, I find your accusation hard to
believe."

Ranma sighed.  "Look, I found this cure.  A spell called Hanasu Tataru.  It
was supposed to cure me of my curse.  Instead, it split me into two separate
but equal parts.  Except that the other me is a girl."

Akane folded her arms and nodded towards the pond.  "Ok, we can see that
you're not cursed, but what does that have to do with Ryoga?"

"I let Ryoga try the cure with me.  He got split, too."

Akane furrowed her brow.  "You hate Ryoga.  Why would you do that for him?"

"I don't hate Ryoga, at least I didn't.  I hoped that we could be friends
again.  Besides, the spell could handle both of us fine."  Ranma looked down
at the floor.  "And, it was kinda my fault that he got cursed to begin
with."

Nabiki propped her head up on the palm of her hand, her elbow on the table.
"This should be good."

Ranma ignored Nabiki and turned to Akane.  "Remember when he complained
about that stupid bread thing?"  Akane nodded.  "Well, he followed me,
right?"  She nodded again.  "The old man and I went to Jusenkyo _after_
Ryoga started followin' me."

Akane shrugged.  "I don't get it.  How is that your fault?"

"It isn't, but the old man and I were fighting after we fell in.  I rushed
past Ryoga and accidentally knocked him into the spring of drowned piglet."

"That all sounds convenient," Nabiki conceded.  "So, where's your better
half?"

Ranma sighed.  "She stayed at U-Chan's to take care of Ukyo."

Akane blinked.  "What happened to Ukyo?"

"She got some of the magic of the spell.  She don't see so well, now."

Nabiki grunted.  "That all sounds convenient, considering you don't have any
evidence with you."

Akane nodded.  "Yeah.  It's kinda hard to take you for your word when
everything I see says you're wrong."

Ranma clenched his fists.  "Jeez, just come to U-Chan's and see for
yourself, then!"

Akane shook her head.  "Why should I, Ranma?  So that you can string me
along until the next kawaii girl comes up to you and bats her eyes?"

Ranma's face got red.  He stood up and silently walked towards the front
door.  He slid open the door to the tea room, stood silently in front of the
door for a couple seconds, and then closed the door again.  He turned
around.  "I'm not going to leave.  You may not believe me, but I'm not going
to give up."  He looked up at Akane.  "Akane, I chose you over Shampoo,
didn't I?"

"You had to think about it.  What about Kodachi?"

Ranma wrinkled his nose.  "I don't wanna get anywhere near that crazy chick.
I ain't goin' to that rhythmic gymnastics thing next week."  He sighed.
"Look, just come to U-Chan's.  I'll get you some lunch."

Nabiki stood up and faced Ranma.  "I'm coming, too.  I've lost a lot of
dough to you today.  I want to see this double of yours for myself."

  **  **  **

Ranko and Ukyo were in Ranma's bedroom.  Ranko waved vaguely around the
room.  "Well, I don't see why we can't just put another futon in the corner
there."

Ukyo looked at Ranko.  "Are you sure you'd rather sleep in here with him?"

Ranko shrugged her shoulders.  "It'd be like sleeping next to a mirror.  I'd
feel more comfortable than I would sleeping in the same room as you.  No
offence, U-chan, but despite how I look, I still feel like a guy."

Ukyo sighed.  They heard the front door open.  Ranko led Ukyo down the
stairs.  Ranma motioned for Nabiki and Akane sit down at the counter.  Both
young women did double-takes when Ranko stepped down the stairs, holding
Ukyo's arm to guide her.  Ranko stopped behind the counter.  Ukyo blinked
her eyes and squinted at Akane and Nabiki.  "Um, hello..."

Ranko smiled.  "Hi Akane, Nabiki.  I suppose you've heard about that great
cure I found, ne?"

Ukyo smiled blankly.  "Oh, hi Akane.  Is Nabiki one of your sisters?"

Akane nodded.  After a few seconds, Ukyo's smile faded a bit.  "Um, is she?"

Akane blushed.  "Um, yeah."

Nabiki held her hand out.  "Pleased to meet you, Ukyo."

Ukyo bowed.  "Hello, welcome to U-Chan's."

Ranma sighed gratefully.  "Now, do you see?"

Ranko looked at the expression on Akane's face.  She turned to Ranma.  "Uh,
Ranma, could you take care of Ukyo and entertain Nabiki?"  Ranma nodded, and
Akane followed Ranko back into the kitchen.

Ranko fidgeted for a moment while Akane stared.  "It's still me, Akane.
Just... stuck as a girl.  Call me Ranko.  Saves on confusion."

Akane thought for a moment, then sighed and nodded.  "Ok, Ranko.  What is
this about?"

"Akane, Ranma and I were literally the same person up until yesterday
morning."  Ranko sighed.  "I'm just realizing that being stuck as a girl
means that you and I can only ever have a friendship."

Akane blinked.  "What are you saying?"

Ranko regarded Akane for a moment.  "What happened at your house?"

"Ranma beat up Ryoga."

Ranko shook her head sadly.  "I thought he might find trouble.  That place
has been nothing but trouble for me... us."  She closed her eyes and sighed
before looking at Akane again.  "Why do you think he went over there?"

Akane blinked.  "He wanted to convince us that he wasn't lying about Ryoga
and P-Chan."

"And why would he care about Ryoga and P-Chan?"

Akane shrugged.

"Why do you think he gets jealous of that piglet?  Why did I... we pick you
over Shampoo?"

"Because our parents arranged us to be married.  You want to keep your honor
in the-"

"What did you say?"

"...Because our parents-"

"Because who?"

Akane looked at Ranko a moment.  "Our parents."

"I don't know why people can't remember.  He and I have no parents.  I don't
care what that stupid old man arranged."

Akane shrugged.  "I give up then.  Why?"

Ranko sighed.  "Because when you're not being so stubborn, hot-headed, thick
as a mule, uncute-"

"Get to the point, Ranma," Akane growled between her teeth.

Ranko put her finger up, but decided against correcting Akane.  "The first
time I came to your house, I was a little scared.  I wasn't given the
warmest welcome, either."  She put her hand on Akane's shoulder.  "But you
offered me friendship.  Twice more since then, when I really needed help,
you were there for me.  I don't forget favors like that."

Akane grunted.  "So, that's all it is to you?  A couple of favors?"

Ranko stepped closer to her.  "I don't know, Akane.  Is there more to you
than helping people when they're in need?  I haven't really been able to
find out.  I know that Ranma wants to find out."

Akane folded her arms.  "What about what I want?"

Ranko looked hurt.  "If you don't care about me... or him, then you should
say so.  He will leave you alone if you ask him to.  He may not like it, but
he will."

Akane opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, but no sounds came out.

Ranko sighed.  "Look, if you want to give it a try, you need to listen to
him.  I don't know how many times I've wanted to explain something to you
when you wouldn't even give me a chance.  When you see something you don't
like, whether it's my fault or not, you just lash out at me.  Next time,
count to ten, ok?"

Akane nodded.  "I don't mean to be such an angry person sometimes.  It just
happens."

Ranko folded her arms.  "Would you lash out at Kasumi if it looked like she
did something wrong?"

Akane looked shocked.  "I could never hit my sister."

"Even if she did something to make you angry?"

Akane shook her head.  "She's my sister."

"Then please remember this: I used to be considered 'almost family' not too
long ago.  When I left that house, it was you who came after me.  If that's
still what you want, you need to give him a chance."

Akane looked off into space.  "Ya' know, it was not long ago that Kasumi
asked me never to hit someone out of anger again."  She sighed.  "I think
I've already broken that promise a couple times."

Ranko regarded Akane for a moment.  "Maybe you should decide if that is the
kind of person you want to be."  Ranko paused a second and walked out of the
kitchen.

As she stepped to Ukyo's side, she overheard the last part of Nabiki's
sentence.  "...just lost a bet to you, Ranma, and now I see you were telling
the truth.  I promise not to underestimate you again."

Ranma shuffled uneasily under what appeared to be praise.  Ukyo leaned
against the counter.  "Ya know, you two are welcome to stay for lunch.  On
the house."

"A free lunch?" Akane asked from the doorway to the kitchen.  "Sounds good
to me."

"It's not free," Nabiki complained.  "It's already cost me two and a half
batches worth of chocolate chip cookie dough."

"And some special dark chocolate," Akane cheerfully reminded.  She turned to
Ranma.  "In return, we could invite the three of you to dinner tonight.  On
the house."

Ranma squirmed a bit.  "At your house?"  Akane had to remind herself what
Ranko had just said about their feelings for the Tendo home.  She didn't see
Ranma and Ranko exchange glances, or Ranko's wink.

Ranko put her hand on Ukyo's shoulder.  Ukyo smiled.  "We would love to."

  **  **  **

Akane was cutting the pork while Kasumi handed the dinner plates to Nabiki.
"Now, remember, Nabiki, this is probably our last chance to show Ranma and
Ukyo what Tendo hospitality is really like."

Nabiki took the plates.  "Are you insinuating that _moi_ could be causing
any trouble?

"Of course not," Kasumi chimed cheerfully.  "You wouldn't want anything to
sabotage Akane's chances with Ranma."

Nabiki nodded silently before carrying the dishes into the tea room.

Soun stepped into the kitchen.  "How is dinner going?"

Kasumi smiled cheerfully.  "Just fine, father.  Akane is helping me."

Her father suppressed a whimper.  He swallowed hard.  "And, we're having
guests?"

Akane pointed a rather large knife at the doorway.  "Relax, Dad, I'm only
cutting stuff."

"And she'll help toss the salad, too," Kasumi added.

Soun relaxed a little.  "I suppose that's ok, as long as she doesn't
actually-"

"Watch it, Dad."

Soun looked again at the large, shiny knife and left the kitchen.

By the time Akane was done tossing the salad, the rest of dinner was ready.
She helped Kasumi put the food out on the table.  The teriyaki pork rested
on a bed of rice.  The shrimp and crab were nestled in lettuce.  Small bowls
of rice and miso soup sat at each place.  The knock at the door came at the
perfect time.

Akane ran down the hall to the front door.  She opened the door for Ukyo,
Ranko, and Ranma.  "Konbanwa. Welcome to the Tendo home."

"Wow," Ranko chirped. "I almost feel underdressed."

"Don't be silly," Akane said cheerfully.  "Come inside and make yourselves
at home."  She led them to the tea room, where Kasumi was putting finishing
touches on the presentation of dinner.

Both Kasumi and Akane smiled at the expressions made upon seeing dinner laid
out before them.  Ranma blurted out a "Wow."

Ranko smiled, eyes wide.  Ukyo stared blankly into space, a polite grin on
her lips.  Ranko turned to Ukyo, holding her arm.  "You should see it,
U-chan.  They've got teriyaki pork, shrimp and crab, rice, and miso soup for
us.  It looks so beautiful."

Ukyo's smile widened.  "I wish I could see it.  I bet it's delicious."

They waited until Soun had entered the room and sat down.  Kasumi, Nabiki,
and Akane sat along one side, then Ranma, Ukyo, and Ranko sat on the other
side.  As they began to eat, Ranma was one of the first to speak.  "Wow,
Kasumi.  It's delicious."

"Thank you, Ranma.  Akane helped."

Soun coughed a bit, but recovered quickly.  Ranma and Ranko stopped and
looked at their plates.  Ukyo, noticing the change in eating noises, tilted
her head.  "What's wrong about Akane cooking?"

All eyes turned to Akane.  No one dared speak.  Ranko smiled as she heard
Akane whispering to herself.  "Ichi, ni, san, shi..."  A few more seconds
later, Akane replied.  "I haven't been exactly the best cook."

Ukyo tasted another sample.  "Well, this pork is delicious."

Ranko snapped her chopsticks, as if she suddenly realized something.  She
looked uneasily at Akane.  "Um, Akane, this pork isn't..."  She couldn't
bring herself to finish.

Akane's eyes went wide.  "Of course not.  Ryoga and P-Chan were gone when we
got back."

Ranko relaxed.  "Of course.  I'm sorry for even thinking it."

Akane smiled.  "Don't worry about it.  Here, have another pair of
chopsticks."  She handed Ranko an extra set.

Nabiki looked over at Ranma.  "What do you think, Ranma?"

Ranma was busy stuffing his face, and took a moment to swallow his food.
"It's great."

Ranko watched Ukyo put her chopsticks down.  "What is it, U-chan?"

Ukyo smiled, picking them up again.  "Nothing."  She began eating again.
Ranko, satisfied for the moment that Ukyo was fine, continued eating as
well.

  **  **  **

"Man, I am stuffed."  Ranma rubbed his stomach as the trio walked back to
U-chan's.

Ukyo smiled.  "You gotta admit that it was nice at the Tendo home this
time."

"I was just waitin' for some disaster to happen."

Ranko frowned and studied Ukyo's expression.  She tugged on Ukyo's arm,
pulling her to a stop.  "U-chan, how do you feel?"

Ukyo smiled.  "I feel fine, Ranko."  They continued walking, Ranko studying
Ukyo as well as guiding her.  She was ready to catch her when Ukyo
collapsed.

===========================
End of chapter 4

C&C welcome at searlsa@jps.net
www.jps.net/searlsa

The final chapter, "Now and Then", coming soon.

-Andy Searls
  graduate, Borg Institute of Technology

If violence is not solving your
problems you're just not using enough of it.
     -Misato

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