Hey folks. This is my first time posting something to the FFML and just so
you know, I'm terrified. I have only seen about six episodes of the Ranma 1/2
anime and read none of the manga so most of what I know about the series comes
from reading a lot of fanfiction and related web pages. This being so, please
forgive me if some of the characters are a little OOC. I tried to do my best
with what I know.

   I'de also like to appologize for a few things in the story. First of all,
I'm not sure if Ranma would really call Dr. Tofu 'Doc'. The reason I had him
do so is because I don't yet feel comfortable using 'sensei' or other japanese
words. I just don't think I know enough about them yet to be able to use them
correctly and 'Doc' just seemed to fit for Ranma. Of course I stuck in a
few... What Ranma story would be complete without a few exclamations of
'Baka!' by Akane as she mallets her poor fiancee through the roof? :) Another
small thing is that I assumed that Kasumi's room is upstairs and I'm not sure
if it really is. If it's not, someone please let me know so that I can fix
that.

   I'de hoped, when I started this, that Ranma being split from his cursed
form was an original idea. After reading 'Double Trouble' (which, by the way,
I thought was really cool :) a few days ago I had to give up the hope that
I'de be the first one to write about it. Well, at least this one is a LOT
different, except for the split thing. It's darker for one.

   Well, enough babbling. Here's the story. Keep in mind that I'm a beginner
so if this thing sucks tell me nicely, otherwise I might get discouraged and
kill myself or something. :)
   
   

   Okay, this is my very first attempt at a fanfic so that would make this my
first attempt at writing a disclaimer as well. Let me see, how do these things
usually go... Ranma 1/2 and all it's colorful cast are property of Rumiko
Takahashi. This story is purely for entertainment and is in no way intended
for profit. There that should do it. Simple, but it says what's needed. At
least I hope it does...

   

Divided We Stand

  a Ranma 1/2 fanfiction

   
   It was a chilly night in late Autumn and Nerima was quiet for once. No
martial-artists leapt across the rooftops battling for the hand of one lady or
another, no chi blasts lit up the night sky, the buildings in the surrounding
area were pretty much intact, and there was not a single battle-cry to be
heard anywhere in the immediate vicinity. A welcome respite, although no one
was really sure if it would last. Most just tried to enjoy it while it did.

   The neighborhood had seen more than it's fair share of martial-arts mayhem
ever since the boy called Ranma Saotome had arrived in town. It just so
happened that Akane, the fiancee his father and hers had practically forced on
him, was the most sought-after girl in town and not a week went by that some
insanely powerful martial-artist, demented kendoist, or bumbling magician
didn't try to steal her from Ranma somehow. Not that he even wanted her to
begin with.

   Then, as if that weren't enough, enemies from his days on the road with his
father had begun to show up. Soon, some of these enemies had decided that
instead of killing Ranma they'd much rather marry him. From the way they
pursued him though, it was often hard to distinguish between the ones that
were trying to murder him and the ones that were trying to force upon him
their own twisted versions of wedded bliss. Between Akane's pursuers, Ranma's
pursuers, and all the destruction they caused, Nerima had almost gotten used
to the constant, almost daily battles. Many, though not all, of the conflicts
seemed to stem somehow from the ongoing war between Ranma himself and his
unwilling fiancee. Therefore, when Ranma had finally decided that he did not
hate Akane things had started to cool down a lot and some semblance of
normality had returned. When he decided that he actually might kinda-sorta-
maybe even *like* her just a little bit, the town held it's breath. They knew
what was coming. When he officially proposed to her the chaos returned... with
a vengeance.

   An all-out fight to the finish broke out, involving nearly all of the
people who were either romantically interested in Ranma or Akane, or wanted to
kill Ranma for one reason or another. No one really knew who was on whos side,
which fists were aimed where, or what the suitors thought they would
accomplish by pounding everyone flat. It was pure mayhem, but after nearly a
month it ended. Ranma came out on top, as he always seemed to, and either
drove away; made peace with; or even, in the case of a certain thick-headed
wanderer by the name of Ryoga Hibiki, made friends with nearly all of his
enemies (And in Hibiki's case this was quite an accomplishment as he had a
grudge against Ranma *and* was after Akane). Afterwards, peace had returned
once more and the weary Nerimites hoped that this time it was here to stay.

   Now, a few weeks after the war (and no one dared call it anything less than
a war) had ended, Ranma sought to banish one of his last remaining miseries.
His Jusenkyo curse.
   
   Ranma looked around the Tendo dining room at all of the others gathered
there: His father, mother, Mr. Tendo, Akane, Kasumi, Nabiki, Dr. Tofu (Who,
for once, was serious despite Kasumi's presence), and Cologne, all come to
either witness or take part in this long-awaited event. Well, not exactly
long-awaited.

   When Cologne had come from China a few days ago with a spell that would
supposedly cure Ranma's curse it was very unexpected as none of them had
really thought to see her again. After Ranma and Akane had decided to
formalize their engagement and make it official Cologne had, quite
surprisingly, put up no fuss. A few days later the Nekohanten was closed and
Cologne, Shampoo, and Mousse were gone. No one had really expected to hear
from any of them again. Then suddenly, nearly a month later, Cologne had
arrived at the Tendo household unexpectedly, announcing that she had brought a
spell to cure Ranma's curse. Of course no one, least of all Ranma, trusted
her. Cologne was a crafty old witch and the fact that she had not put up any
resistance to Ranma and Akane's newly formalized engagement caused them to
believe that maybe her scheming wasn't through. Who knew what this spell would
do to Ranma? In fact, Ranma still remembered the conversation he'de had with
Cologne in this very room shortly after her arrival.

   "Why should I trust you old hag?" he had asked, glaring at her across the
low table with narrowed eyes. "How do I know this aint some crazy scheme to
somehow drag me off to China and marry Shampoo? How do I know that spell aint
gonna turn me into a zombie or somethin'?"

   Cologne's voice had been incredibly patient as she answered him. "For one
thing Ranma, you'd be useless to me as a zombie. I wanted you for your skill
in the martial arts and zombies don't make good warriors. Even if I released
the spell's hold on you once we reached the village you would doubtless spend
every waking moment trying to escape and even if you didn't succeed you would
be of no more use in a state of rebellion and defiance than you would be as a
zombie. I know you well enough to know that nothing we could do to you would
get you to cooperate. Yes, I could use the formula 110 to erase your memories
but as with mind control, that would only be good as a temporary option. In
short Ranma, I realized that there was nothing I could do that would convince
you to willingly come with me to China and without your willing cooperation I
could never achieve the goals I had planned."

   Ranma crossed his arms and continued to stare at the old woman, not in the
least convinced.

   "That's a nice story but even if it's all true why would you want to help
me get rid of my curse?"
   
   Cologne sighed.
   
   "Ranma, I know how you see me. Despite appearances, I am not evil. A small
frown crossed her face for a moment before she continued. "Everything I ever
did, I did for the good of the Amazon nation. I know that this may not seem a
valid reason to you or any of the others in this household but it holds true.
As I said, there is nothing I can do that will cause you to come with me of
your own free will. The only thing I could hope to accomplish by bringing you
a spell that would harm you or any other is personal revenge. Revenge in
combat is one thing, but hurting you merely because I lost this little game of
ours fair and square would be childish and stupid. It would in no way serve
the Amazons or myself and, obedient as she is to me, I don't believe Shampoo
would ever completely forgive me."

   Cologne stopped speaking for a moment and looked up at Ranma.

   "She still loves you, you know."

   Ranma's harsh and distrustful expression softened a bit and his eyes were
filled with sadness.

   "I know" he whispered, staring over Cologne's head into empty space.

   "I'm sorry" Cologne said, and her voice told Ranma that she meant it. "I
should not have said that but old habits die hard. Those days are passed. You
belong to Akane now. Perhaps you always did."

   "It's alright" Ranma said quietly.

   Cologne sighed again and shook her head.

   "Anyway Ranma, my point is this. Doing you harm in this way would do
nothing to help the Amazons. The reason I brought you the spell is...Well,
it's partly as a peace offering. I want to show you and all of those here that
I wish all bad feelings between us banished. This is the best way I could
think of to do that. Another is that I do respect you Ranma. You are only a
child and often a foolish one at that but you have it inside of you to become
a great man. I wish you to live and be happy. While you could do that even
with your curse, I know how badly you wish to be rid of it. I never knew of
this spell's existence, so when I came upon it deep in my libraries I took it
as a sign from my ancestors. They seemed to say, "Go, and make peace." And so
here I am. If there were still a way that I could convince you to come
willingly to Joketsuzoku I would take it...But there isn't."

   Ranma had closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and looked at Cologne
long and hard. Cologne didn't quite know what to make of this. Ranma was not a
thinker, that was for certain. He had a good heart, and while it was often
clouded with pride it caused him to shine nonetheless. But this appraising
look he was giving her now was something she had never seen before. It did not
make her nervous, she'd seen far too much in her many years of life for
something like this to cause her anxiety. What it did was cause her to think
that maybe he was finally starting to grow up, even if only a little.

   "Alright" he said. "Let's give this thing a try."

   "There's one more thing" she said, looking Ranma in the eye. "As with all
ancient magic, I can't guarantee that this spell is completely safe. It's
purpose is clear enough, but there is always a risk involved when tapping into
the ancient powers. Are you still certain that you want to do this?"

   "Yeah I'm sure" he answered. "I've had this curse for too long and I aint
gonna live with it for the rest of my life. If this spell can get rid of it
then let's do it."

   That had been yesterday morning. Tonight, Ranma's friends and family were
gathered in the Tendo dining room to witness the cure that Ranma had wanted
for so long. His father, surprisingly, had offered to try it first. Despite
this uncharacteristic show of bravery, Ranma had simply shaken his head. Genma
had looked visibly relieved.

   The preparations and procedures for the spell were surprisingly simple. A
magical symbol was drawn in chalk on the dining room floor (Kasumi didn't much
like this but of course she said nothing), some sort of incense was lit and
allowed to burn to the left and right sides of the symbol, five candles were
lit and placed at various points around it, and a few incantations were spoken
over the whole setup. Last of all a small glass of cold water was placed on
the table, which had been moved aside to make room for the spell.

   Ranma had held Akane's hand as he watched Dr. Tofu and Cologne prepare all
of this. Now he looked over at her and she returned his gaze.

   "Akane if this works..."

   Akane smiled. "I know, I hope it does."

   She continued to look at him for a few moments.

   "Are you scared?"

   Ranma gave her a confident grin. "Me? Scared? Course not."

   Akane rested her head on his shoulder. "Baka" she whispered softly. "Don't
lie to me."

   Ranma put one arm around her and stroked her hair with the other hand.

   "It'll be okay Akane. I promise."

   He continued to hold her, everything fading from his mind but the feel of
her body against his and the scent of her hair until suddenly Cologne's voice
caused him to look to the center of the room where she stood beside the
symbol, staff in hand.

   "It's time Ranma. The sooner we get this over with the sooner you'll be rid
of this curse."

   Ranma nodded and released Akane as he walked toward the symbol. He felt her
hand squeeze his briefly and he did the same before letting go. Akane stepped
back and clasped her hands in front of her, looking on anxiously.

   "Step inside and sit down Ranma" Cologne said, motioning to the symbol with
her staff and causing thin wisps of smoke from the incense to swirl eerily
around it's tip.

   Ranma nodded, stepped into the symbol, and sat down cross legged, his face
expressionless but the apprehension clear in his eyes. He looked around the
room at all the people gathered there and tried his best to give them a
confident smile. Nodoka was visibly worried but said nothing, merely standing
and gazing at her son. She clutched her wrapped sword tightly in both hands as
if for support. Nabiki's face was, as usual, unreadable. She stood beside
Kasumi watching Ranma closely. When she saw him look at her she smiled
slightly and gave him a thumbs up. Kasumi fidgeted with the sash on her apron
and watched with motherly concern. Soun, not surprisingly, looked close to
tears. He appeared to be holding them back though, which was good. One of his
outbursts would not help at all. Akane also appeared to be near tears but she
blinked them back when she saw Ranma looking at her and flashed him one of her
radiant smiles which, despite the obvious tension behind it, was beautiful
nonetheless. It was difficult to tell what Genma was thinking. He was gazing
thoughtfully at his son, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his eyes
hidden behind his glasses. At Ranma's glance he nodded once.

   "Good luck boy" he said. 

   Cologne turned to face Ranma, raised her staff, and said a few words in
Chinese. She then lay her staff at her feet, reached into the folds of her
robe, and drew out a crisp white sheet of paper on which she had copied the
words of the spell, the scroll being too old and too valuable to risk taking
to Japan. She motioned for Dr. Tofu to bring her the glass of water which was
still sitting on the table. He did so, and she placed it on the floor beside
her staff. Then, slowly and carefully, she began to recite the words of the
spell.

   As Cologne read, the entire room help it's breath. The smoke from the
incense slowly began to bend toward Ranma, the thin wisps circling him lazily.
Cologne's voice began to rise gradually and as it did the chalk outline of the
magic symbol on the floor began to glow a soft green color. As Cologne's voice
continued to rise the glow grew brighter. The two gray wisps of smoke suddenly
adjusted course and entered Ranma's ears. Two more rose up from the incense
and after pausing for a moment as if to regard the young man before them,
entered his nose. Another two rose, paused, and drifted toward his mouth.

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

   Within the symbol Ranma sat, his eyes closed, his breathing even. When the
smoke had begun to circle him he had definitely felt something. He didn't feel
any magic within himself just yet but the air had somehow begun to seem
charged, as if with electricity. He almost expected to feel a shock on his arm
or leg at any moment.

   And then he felt as if he was being watched.

   He couldn't tell if what was watching him was intelligent or not but he
knew that feeling. As a martial artist he had come to recognize it. Something
was definitely watching him. And it was close.

   Then suddenly he felt a tickling in his ears. At first he thought that he
must be imagining it didn't go away and after a few moments he realized that
something was entering his body through them. He stiffened but remained still.
Although he knew that this was probably just part of the spell he couldn't
help but tense up a little. Then he felt the same thing at his nose. A faint
tickling, and then the feeling of something long, thin, and soft sliding down
it and into his throat. He tried hard to remain calm as whatever it was
continued to do whatever it was doing. And then he felt it at his mouth. His
mouth was closed though, and it couldn't get in. The thing tickled his lips,
then waited. It almost seemed to be knocking, and waiting for permission to
enter. Ranma hesitated; Surely this was only part of the spell. Anyway, the
others had already gone in right? If he didn't let the spell do what it was
supposed to do it might not work. Slowly and reluctantly he opened his mouth
just a crack. Whatever it was entered immediately, moving over his lips and
tongue, and down his throat.

   The wispy tendrils moved about, tickling his insides. He could feel them
all throughout his body now. They were everywhere inside of him, coiling about
and winding themselves through his system. It felt as if spirits were probing
his insides with soft fingers, finding out exactly what was there and what
made him work. It wasn't exactly uncomfortable but Ranma didn't like it one
bit. He had a feeling that these things were preparing to do something and
that whatever that something was, he wasn't going to like it.

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

   Still chanting, Cologne reached for the vial of water at her feet. She
picked it up, raised it slowly, and released it's contents, splashing Ranma
full in the face.

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

   Ranma felt cold water splash him and the wispy fingers suddenly ceased to
be gentle. They stopped their probing and tightened around a hundred different
places inside him, holding his innards in a steely grip. Ranma waited, trying
to keep his breathing even, telling himself that it couldn't last forever.
Whether this thing cured him or killed him it would have to end sometime.

   And then the fingers pulled.

   They pulled in many directions, all outward. Sharp pain coursed through
Ranma's body. He tried to keep his breathing even but it was getting
difficult. The fingers pulled harder and then suddenly doubled in strength.
The pain grew and grew and Ranma suddenly realized that these things, whatever
the hell they were, were trying to pull him apart. So Cologne had lied. She
had been out for revenge after all and now she was going to kill him in front
of his friends and all of his family. Rage and fear surged within him and he
tried to rise but for some reason he couldn't. The pain continued to grow and
the fingers continued to pull and Ranma was losing the ability to think. 

   The strength of the pulling doubled again, and Ranma's eyes shot open. He
opened his mouth and at first nothing would come out. Slowly, a hoarse scream
rose from his throat. He could no longer think. He barely knew who he was. All
he knew was this terrible pain that had become his world. He felt his flesh
being torn but there was nothing he could do. It was too late. The blackness
was rushing up to claim him and he accepted it gratefully. His last thought
before he slipped into oblivion was of a smiling face framed in short blue-
black hair. He tried to scream her name but he didn't know if he succeeded. He
didn't even know what to scream with. His body was being slowly ripped apart.
Despairingly, he plunged into darkness.

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

   Everyone watched nervously as Ranma opened his mouth slightly to allow the
smoke to enter. None of them liked this but no one dared interfere. Cologne's
voice continued to drone on in Chinese and the smoky tendrils pushed
themselves deeper into Ranma's ears, nose, and throat.

   Cologne's voice rose sharply as she picked up the glass of water at her
feet and tossed it on Ranma. He tensed visibly and so did the tendrils. They
were no longer lazy, but taught and looked as if they were pulling. Ranma's
breath was becoming labored and from the sweat beading on his face it was
obvious that he was in pain. Still, no one attempted to interfere. The
tendrils began to pull harder and Ranma was gasping now, his face showing
something bordering on desperation. And then suddenly the wisps doubled their
efforts and Ranma's eyes snapped open. His mouth opened wider and he began to
emit a hoarse choking sound. The sound soon rose into a tortured scream that
was so filled with pain that it barely seemed human. Ranma's body began to
convulse slightly, and then everyone realized with horror that he was not
convulsing, but the tendrils were pulling in short but strong jerks. They were
pulling away from each other and Ranma's body was slowly being torn in two.
Everyone continued to stare, too stunned to act, when suddenly Ranma's scream
took shape.

   "Akane!!" he screeched, his voice sounding nothing like his own. It was
high and inhuman and reminded one of a car's tires squealing, only much higher
and louder and full of unbelievable pain. It could have been the voice of a
demon.

   Akane suddenly shook her head, finally snapping out of the daze, and leapt
towards the center of the room.

   "Ranma!" she cried.

   She felt a hand catch her arm and turn her around.

   "Akane" Dr. Tofu said, "Don't. We don't know what will happen if you try
and disrupt the spell. Most likely it will take hold of you as well."

   Tears were streaming down Akane's face and she struggled against Tofu's
grip.
   
   "I don't care! It's killing him!"

   "We don't know that" Tofu said, raising his eyes to Ranma for a moment. 

   The boy had stopped screaming but the sight of him was terrible. He was now
visibly stretched, the wisps slowly tearing him in half. There was no blood
though, and bones should have started to snap by now. Whatever this spell was
doing to Ranma may be painful, but it wasn't killing him. Kami-sama, he hoped
it wasn't killing him.

   "What do you mean we don't know that?!" Akane screamed. "Look what it's
doing to him! He'll die if I don't help him! Doctor please, I have to help
him, let me go!"

   Akane was writhing violently now and obviously in no condition to listen to
him, so Tofu gently tapped a point on her neck and she went limp. He turned
her face so that she was looking at him.

   "Listen to me Akane. Whatever this spell is doing to Ranma I don't think
it's killing him. It's causing him a great deal of pain but some spells do
that. Magic is often not a pretty thing. If this thing was killing him there
would be blood by now. You need to stay calm. If I release you will you stay
calm?"

   Akane managed to nod.

   "Good." 
   
   Tofu tapped another point on her neck and Akane stood as she regained her
mobility, then turned to face the symbol. 

   Cologne's chant had risen in volume so that she was almost shouting now.
Ranma was a strange and gruesome sight indeed. He looked as if he were made of
putty and was slowly being stretched. Akane choked back a sob and turned away.

   *If this spell kills Ranma* she thought to herself, *I'll kill that old hag
myself. I don't care if it brings the wrath of the entire Amazon tribe.*

   Most of those in the room had turned away from the sight of Ranma. Only
Genma and Tofu still stared in horror. And then suddenly there was a flash of
greenish light and a loud sharp snap that stung everyone's ears and made them
ring. Cologne's chanting ceased and she had collapsed, apparently unconscious.
The spell was completed.

   Smoke now covered the center of the room. As it began to clear, everyone
knew what they would see. The two mangled pieces of what had once been Ranma.

   But it was nothing of the sort.

   The smoke cleared slowly. The symbol had vanished and two forms could be
seen lying on the floor. Akane was the first to approach them. Fearfully she
whispered, "Ranma?" There was no answer. More smoke cleared and she recognized
the two forms lying there, still and silent. One was Ranma. The other, lying
so close that she was almost touching him, was a familiar read-headed girl.
Ranma's clothes lay scattered in shreds and the two were completely naked, but
that didn't matter at the moment. Akane knelt down beside Ranma and fumbled
for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief as she found it.

   "Is he alright?" Nodoka's voice came to her from across the room.

   "He's alive" she answered, not sure if he qualified as 'alright' at the
moment. She then turned to the girl, staring at her for a few moments in
wonder. She knew this girl well. They all did. It was Ranma's female half. His
cursed form. The second body that he had wanted for so long to be rid of. So
that's how the spell had cured the curse. It had literally torn it from him.
   
   Dr. Tofu approached the girl and kneeled beside her, reaching down to feel
for a pulse.

   "She's alive."

   Akane's eyes widened and she barely heard Kasumi's soft exclamation of  "Oh
my..." as she stared at the doctor in disbelief.

   "Alive? That's impossible...I just checked Ranma's pulse. He's alive so how
can she be? She's just his cursed body..."

   The girl suddenly stirred and groaned.

   "And apparently the body has a soul" Tofu whispered. "Come on, let's get
them both upstairs. Better make the old woman comfortable, I'll have to have a
look at her as well."

   Kasumi rushed to a closet and came back with two blankets. Ranma and the
girl were quickly wrapped in the blankets and carried upstairs. A futon was
brought down for Cologne and she was placed carefully on it, and covered as
she had begun to shiver. It wasn't particularly cold in the house (though the
night outside was a little chilly) but no one knew what else to do.