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Insert Standard Copyright Disclaimer.
< The characters used in this work of Fiction are not owned by me.

 Ranma 1/2 and all associated chracters, trademarks and situations
 are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, Fuji and Viz - Used
 here without permission. >

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[Ranma 1/2]:     Mirror, Mirror.

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Prologue: Warped Reflections.

    Ranma gasped as her head broke the surface of the pool. Feeling
_very_ different in certain places, she looked down, opening her gi
as she did so. Upon seeing her breasts she screamed in shock, anger and
uncountable other emotions.
    Somewhere nearby a panda decided that maybe it wouldn't be a
waste of time to actually listen to their guide next time. It watched
as the girl rose out of the pool like an avenging angel. If there was a
next time, it hastily amended.

---Shimmer---

    "We must run Mr Customers" The Guide screamed, grabbing the nearest
hand and starting off.
    "Why?" asked the red headed girl, whose hand it was.
    "You is just getting the Kiss of DEATH."

---Shimmer---

    "RANMA! Prepare to die!"

~~~Ripple~~~

    "Cure?" The guide sounded shocked, hadn't they already asked
about this? He answered without thinking. "If anywhere has cure for
curse sirs, is either Amazon village, or..." Catching himself before he
made an even greater mistake, he continued "No, is only Amazon
village." The guide shook his head. "Sirs, as we now have death over
heads, is pointless going back, yes?"
    "No. Back we go." Ranma stated as Ryouga nodded in agreement.

~~~Ripple~~~

    The Amazon strong room was stocked to the rafters with ancient
scrolls, glowing gems, drying herbs and various other things reeking of
 magic. The three searching through the scrolls were careful not to
damage anything that might be useful later on.
    "You found it?" Ranma's eyes flashed with his triumphant whisper,
he would be willing to pay the price, that was a forgone conclusion.
    The panda nodded as it gestured at the scroll in it's paws. The
guide nodded reluctantly when asked if that was what it actually
said. He looked frantic. "Sirs we should be getting out of here. Very
bad if Amazons catch us in here."

~~~Ripple~~~

    The Amazon kill squad looked up as deep male, then high female,
screams of pain echoed through the night. Excellent, they could now
find and execute the intruders with ease. The six women silently
signalled to each other, and left in a direct line to the sound. They'd
teach the outsiders to steal from the Joketetzu.

~~~Ripple~~~

    "What the HELL just happened! I feel so strange, I see so many...
feel so much" the voice seemed strange, neither distinctly male nor
female, but rather echoing both timbre at once. It asked another
question, both tones matching the other perfectly, "What do you mean
this wasn't exactly what was supposed ... "
    Another set of screams echoed through the night, these tinged
with terror.

///Crack\\\

The next morning a second party of trackers came upon the first, who
were still bandaging themselves; licking their wounds.
    "What happened here?" The leader of the second squad, a heavily
muscled woman holding an ornate sword at the ready, asked. This party
should not be the ones with the wounds.
    "The red headed bitch that defeated Shampoo was here. She is indeed
a very good fighter."
    The leader glanced around at several others, who appeared to be
mouthing "Ai ren" over and over to themselves. "What of them?"
    "They were defeated by an outsider Male. Black hair, white Gi. I
did not see this person. Only the Red-head wearing a white Gi." She
shrugged, to suggest that they'd imagined the male any further
would imply dishonour.
    "Did they kiss this Male? Or you the Woman?"
    "No." She hung her head in shame. "They were too good."

***Shatter***

Chapter One: Here's Ranma!

Soun Tendou slowly turned the post card over. The front showed a
picture of some furry animal native to China. Obviously not
important, but the back, ah the back, contained the words that he'd
so long waited to hear. There, in black and white, were the kanji
that marked the start of a brand new dawn for both of the Tendou and
Saotome families.
    A frown crossed his brow fleetingly, as he looked at the writing,
so crude, almost as if the hand that had written them was not used to
holding a pen, or was writing in a great hurry. Ahh Saotome, how
dedicated you are to our art, not wanting to take any time out from
Ranma's training. My old friend, our families will be united.
    Written against the card was a brief sentence.
    Hi. Bringing Ranma from China. Saotome.
    "Ranma is coming. Here. Oh How I've waited for this day!"
starting to cry tears of happiness, Soun thought to himself, "Well I
guess I should tell the girls."

    "WHAT! FIANCE?!?"
    "Yes," Soun tried to reply calmly, "the son of a very good friend
of mine. His name is Ranma Saotome." The gentle pitter patter of rain
was the only sound heard for a moment, as each of the three girls in
front of him digested this piece of information.
    "If one of you girls would marry him, and continue what I've
started with this training hall, then the Tendou and Saotome legacy
would continue." Soun clasped his hands about the post card, as
though around a cross or other holy object.
    "Dad! Don't we have some say in who we're to marry?" Akane
pounded the tabletop as she spoke, trying to emphasise her point.
    "Akane's right Father, we've never even met Ranma." Kasumi nodded
in agreement.
    Soun smiled, if that was the only problem... "Easily fixed."

In the street people watched as a panda chased a young red headed
girl through the water logged streets. Dressed in a red shirt, loose
black pants, holding a pair of slightly oversized black shoes and a
huge backpack the girl ran ahead of the Panda, who was obviously trying
to catch her.
    It lunged at her, missing only because of a jump on her behalf.
    "Yo!" she yelled, discarding her backpack and shoes, "Cut that
out!" She retaliated with a flying kick to the face. To the amazement
of the onlookers the 900-pound giant panda went flying backwards.
That girl had some serious strength.
    The panda stood and looked back at a black haired boy, who had
obviously arrived while the people were watching it fly backward,
that stood near where the girl had been. Where was the girl? Some
asked, others shrugged, intent on the ongoing battle.
    Spitting, the panda fell into a fighting stance.
    "Your move" the boy was quietly confident as the panda attacked,
peddling backwards, looking for an opening, the boy shouted, "I still
think this whole thing sucks," he dodged one blow and then another,
"picking my fiance for me." The boy grabbed the paw as it came past his
face, "Without even asking." He yelled as he toted and threw the
panda, using it's own momentum to flip it into a sign.
    Flipping his pigtail out of the way, the boy bit off. "We... No.
I am going back to China. This time I'll find a cure that works! Suck
on that Old Man." His arrogant stance changed as he turned to someone
in the crowd. Standing from a lotus position, the person from the crowd
grasped his hand and then they turned to leave. They both bent down,
the boy shouldered the Backpack and picked up the shoes that the girl
had dropped.
    They were walking away as the panda picked up the sign that it
had flattened and struck both of them across the back of their heads.
Both collapsed.
    Picking the bodies up, and slinging one over each shoulder, the
panda growled at the curious crowd, who suddenly found better things to
do, and set off towards the Tendou dojo

    Soun turned to the girls, "Ranma and his Father have been on a
decade long training trip. Recently they crossed into," a brief
glance at the back of the postcard, "China." Nodding to himself and
thinking of how vigorously Genma must be training the lad, Soun
almost missed Nabiki's surprised exclamation.
    "China! Wow!" Almost. Gears turned in Soun's head, gears that led
eventually to the conclusion that Nabiki was already interested in
the boy because of how much he'd travelled, or for some reason
anyway. Silently praising the Kami, Soun mentally exclaimed "Genma,
soon our two lines will be joined!" Happily seeing the married couple
already in his head, he laughed out loud.
    "What sort of a guy is this Ranma." That from Kasumi, oh child
how you disappoint your father.
    "No idea." the serious reply came.
    "'No idea'?" a sarcastic rejoinder came from Nabiki's direction.
    Of course not, "I've never met him."
    A stunned silence fell, encompassing the girls, while their
father happily contemplated all possible outcomes to the fiance
situation. Anyway it came out, he was a winner.

    Sounds of violence came from the front gate. "LEGGO Y'OL' FOOL" Two
voices, on top of one another, yelled.
    "Oh, we have visitors" Kasumi rose gracefully from her sitting
position and moved forward at a steady pace. Both her father and Nabiki
moved quickly past, determined to see these mysterious visitors, one
of which would hopefully be Ranma. They ran back, just as fast, pursued
by what appeared to be a Giant Panda, who was holding two helpless
victims it had taken off the street.
    "Hey! Yo! You're scaring them spitless!" The same two voices came
again, followed by a solid two thumps to the back of the panda's
body. It slowed, dumping both of the bodies on the ground. One rose,
while the other lay still. The small red headed figure slowly looked
up, staring into Soun's shocked face.
    "You ... wouldn't be...?" Soun asked haltingly. The Panda, who
had been staring at the ceiling over Soun's head, apparently realised
who he was addressing. Clapping one paw over the Red heads mouth before
she could answer and the other one over her eyes, it kicked the
motionless figure on the ground.
    "Ow Pop, thanks a lot." The black haired other figure rose and said
"Ranma Saotome, Sorry 'bout this..." He bowed slightly, while the
figure in the panda's arms struggled to do the same. The panda kicked
him again. "Ow." The red head stopped.
    "At last you've come!" crying tears of happiness Soun swept Ranma
into a bear hug. "So good of you to come! I've waited so long!"
Finally, our lines can be joined.
    "Wow! he's cute!" Nabiki said, watching from behind Soun's back.
    "What's so big about a boy." Akane wondered to herself, watching
her father go off into a delirious little jig. "Who's that?" She looked
to the figure held by the panda, who was moving from time to time,
almost involuntarily. "And why is there a panda in our house?" deciding
to ask these questions aloud she stepped forward.
    Soun stopped dancing as he too realised that there was a giant
panda sitting in his house, holding a girl hostage. "Oi! Old Man, let
her go." Ranma hit the panda a few times, forcing it to drop it's
hold on the girl. The red head stumbled forward, instinctively reaching
out her hands to Ranma as he reached out to her. A shudder went
through them both as she opened her eyes, then they stood and bowed
together.
    "And who are you miss?" Soun asked, still happy that their family
lines would be joined.
    "I'm..." Both Ranma and the strange girl began, at exactly the same
time. The panda swatted Ranma in the back of the head, hard enough
to send him falling forward, breaking the handhold that they both
shared.
    "Ranm..." the girl continued alone. The panda swatted her.
"Ranko. Ranko Saotome. Pleased to meet'cha." she turned around and
punted the panda out of the hallway into the handy koi pond. "Old
Man, if you hit me again..." She left the threat unfinished, turning to
help Ranma back on his feet, and then resuming a handhold.
    "Damn he's taken," Was the first thought that ran through
Nabiki's mind as she saw them clasp hands. Then she noted with interest
that the hold wasn't so much of a lovers one of intimacy, rather it
was one that implied old comfort. There was no energy flowing between
them she realised; normally you could feel that two people were in love
with each other. Now, while this might not be as obvious to some as to
others, Nabiki made a living off blackmailing people in just these
sorts of situations, and selling pictures to people with a different
sort of 'energy'. There was nothing between these two, she'd Bet on it.
"Maybe she's a relative? A sister?" Musing to herself, Nabiki continued
to watch.
    "Excuse me?" Soun asked. Two heads swivelled in his direction, in
exactly the same motions.
    "Yes?" Two voices, overlaying each other to the point of being one,
responded eerily.
    "Where is your father? My old friend would hardly just leave you
and your... sister? In the hands of this panda."
    "Could I have some hot water? That will help clear it all up."
The red head wasn't echoing his words, she was speaking exactly the
same words at exactly the same time, with exactly the same
intonation. Akane couldn't decide whether or not to be impressed at
their skill, or freaked out.
    Kasumi walked in from the side holding a steaming kettle. "Did
someone ask for hot water?"
    Both of the Saotome teens grinned, that kettle looked fairly hot,
good. Ranma and Ranko reached forward, to get the kettle. Ranma's right
hand was in line with the kettle handle, Ranko's left was off a little
to the side when they both closed. Ranko frowned slightly and moved
her hand over Ranma's, opening it and then closing it over the top.
Walking to the door they called as one, "Pop, get out of the pond." and
then threw the water as they turned back.
    "Growaaaahhhh, You know that it doesn't need to be that hot!!!" A
voice called back to them.
    "Whaaa?" Soun looked confused. "Genma?" He stared at the short,
stocky man in a stained gi wearing glasses (I'm not sure how he manages
to keep the gi or glasses either, must be hidden weapons eh?) who
was walking toward them.
    "Tendo my old friend, how good it is to see you! What do you
think of my Son!!" He clasped Ranma's shoulder and grinned
conspiratorially. Old Friend! Our Lines will be joined! My son and your
daughter!
    Ranma dropped Ranko's hand and bopped his father on the head, she
closed her eyes, while he turned on Genma. "Stop that old man. I
ain't some side of beef ya know." They began a rapid exchange of blows,
one that Genma appeared to be losing. Scooting to the side Genma
pushed Ranko off balance, and waited. Ranma froze as Ranko's eyes
opened and as she steadied herself Genma threw Ranma towards the
pond.
    "You fool!" Ranko hefted Genma after Ranma and then sat quickly
down in a lotus position, once more closing her eyes. Ranma landed in
the pond and almost without looking backhanded his father out of the
air.
    "That was dirty. Ya know that..." Ranma began, his deep voice laced
with anger.
    "Know what son? You have to get used to it sooner or later. An
enemy that just has to attack your sister to make you freeze up like
that will..." Genma called from where he was embedded in the wall.
    "Will take advantage of it? Would ya like me to stop you taking
advantage of us both? The Amazons couldn't stop us, how the hell
could you?" Disdainfully flipping his pigtail back over his shoulder as
Genma paled, he stepped out of the pond.
    "Great, wet clothes, just what I needed ta top this day off."
Sighing he turned to Soun, bowing at the still shocked man, he asked,
"Could I use your furo to clean and change?" Soun nodded wordlessly,
and Nabiki grabbed Ranma's arm. "I'll take you." As they walked off
Akane headed over to the new girl.
    Calling Ranko's name softly, she waited patiently, well almost.
After a minute she reached forward and shook her gently, "Ranko-chan?"

    Outside the bathroom door, as Ranma nodded to something Nabiki
asked, his eyes glazed over. "Umm, excuse me, I really should get in
here and ... begin." Opening the door and closing it almost as fast
behind him, he left a shocked Nabiki standing to one side. He, he...
why? What did I do wrong? Thinking back to her father, she decided that
now would be a really good time to see what he and his "old friend"
could tell her about this situation.

    "Ranko?" The red head's eyes opened.
    "Ya know, interrupting someone when they're meditating isn't very
polite." She stood, looking around.
    "I'm sorry," Akane looked embarrassed, "I just ... wanted to ask
you some things."
    "Yeah? Like?" She obviously wasn't pleased at being interrupted.
    "Oh, um, ah... Well, you know some kenpo, right?" Ranko nodded
impatiently. "Do you want to spar in our dojo? We can talk as easily
there." Akane glanced at their fathers, realising this might not be a
bad idea, anything said here would be noted.
    "Spar?" The smaller girl looked surprised "Um, no, not right..."
    "Of course she does, don't you Ranko?" Genma butted in, "I'm sure
you could use the practice, and with your brother taking a bath,
it'll be perfect Practice for you. For both of you" He smiled at Akane,
but she wasn't sure which "both" he meant.
    "Peachy." The red head returned sarcastically and then nodded, "you
are right though." turning to follow Akane out to the dojo, she
stopped at the next sentence.
    "That's a girl, listen to your father."
    "Old man, you..." Ranko returned and punted Genma back into the Koi
 pond.

    Ranma sank bonelessly into the tub, relaxing as he did so.
Letting a sigh go he turned his mind to other matters as his body
soaked.

    Sighing softly Ranko turned to Akane. "Akane? Are you sure about
this?" Holding the back of her head, scratching it softly while looking
slightly embarrassed. "I kinda, um, don't want to fight you."
    "You _do_ study kenpo, don't you?" Akane asked. At Ranko's small
nod she continued "You want to be friends? Well we should have a
small spar, to see where each other's level is. Then, as friends, we'll
help each other get better!" Smiling brightly, Akane delivered the
last line in the utmost confidence that she'd be the one doing the
teaching.
    "Friends? Yeah. Well, ok." Ranko nodded somewhat hesitantly as
Akane slid into a fighting stance. I'll just have to be careful.

    Ranma drifted to the middle of the furo looking slightly pained.
Shaking his head slightly his face took on a look of intense
concentration.

    Ranko made no effort to get into a fighting stance.
    "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Akane said, looking at her
opponent's obvious lack of knowledge. Just one of the things I'll
have to help her with I guess.
    "Ok, if you say so." Ranko still made no effort to change stance.
Her arms stayed by her side, feet firmly together, as she looked over
Akane.
    Fine. "Here I come." Running forward towards what looked like a
completely defenceless opponent, Akane threw a light punch not really
intended to hurt, which Ranko jumped. What the? Ok try this.  Spinning,
Akane followed with a head height sidekick. Ranko spread her legs
apart in midair, causing the kick to miss as well. How did she do that?
Another punch was dodged, this time by a small sidestep. Why isn't she
attacking back? A back thrust kick was ducked, again with no sort of
retaliation. "What's wrong?" Akane snapped, "why aren't you
attacking? Swing at me!" Yet another punch was ducked effortlessly.
    Akane stepped back, breathing hard. "Why am I missing her? Is she
reading my moves?" Akane's brows came together in an intense
semi-frown. "Okay then. This time for Real." Ranko was backed up
against a wall. Nowhere to go. Clenching her fists, Akane ran for
her, determined to hit. Throwing a punch, which could not possibly be
blocked, she watched in amazement as Ranko jumped straight up, out of
the way and flipped all the way over her head. No! Her hand crashed
through the dojo wall. How did she do that?
    She felt a light tap on the back of her head. Ranko's feet
touched the ground. "Bang, you're dead." Grinning, Ranko burst into
laughter. Akane sweatdropped as she removed her fist. Wow, she's really
good. Akane forced a laugh out as well.
    "Ahem" Akane cleared her throat, "you're... pretty good." Smiling
she asked almost casually, "Is your brother as good?"
    "Brother?" said Ranko, looking slightly confused for a second, "Oh.
Uh, no, he's a lot better."
    "Oh." Akane half sighed, looking a little annoyed. Typical, the Boy
is better than she is. What a pain in the ass he must be. "Well
then, I won't be sparring with him then."
    Ranko's face fell. "Why not? I think he'd like it."
    "Because I Hate all boys." Turning Akane walked out of the dojo,
slowly re-adjusting her gi. Behind her Ranko looked crestfallen. A
searching glance was thrown at Akane's departing back and then Ranko
sighed deeply. "I'd really like to as well..."

    Inside the furo, Ranma opened his eyes and looked around. Only a
small amount of water was on the floor. Silently praising the Kami,
he stepped out and started to get dressed.

    Soun and Genma were sitting in the living room, having just set
up a board of Go. They'd just started to play, well playing for them,
anyway, when Soun's curiosity got the better of him.
    "So Saotome, how did you end up becoming a were-panda? Oh
thankyou Kasumi!" As Genma looked up at Kasumi, Soun quickly swapped
two of Genma's pieces for his. Kasumi handed both men a small glass and
then placed a bottle of Sake next to them. Soun poured, indicating
that Genma should reply.
    "Thankyou indeed Kasumi. Well Tendou, it's a curse. While we were
travelling in China we came upon a famous training ground, Jusenkyo.
And Ranma, being the martial artist that he is, decided that we
should train there. Thankyou Tendou." Genma accepted his glass from
Soun, and then greeted Akane as she came in the door. "Akane, how was
your match with Ranko?" Soun turned to look over his shoulder and Genma
 swapped the two back and placed two more on the side of the board.
    "Oh, it was... great." Akane looked less than pleased.
    "Ranko... won then?" Genma seemed agitated, so much so that Soun
took the opportunity to knock the pieces off the board that Genma had
just put on.
    Akane nodded, and Soun burst into tears. "My poor baby, are you
hurt? Can daddy get you anything?" Genma placed three more pieces on
the board. Akane shook her head and then left the room.
    Soun calmed down immediately, and spoke up "Please continue
Saotome."
    "Well Tendou, this training ground consists of pools of water
with poles of bamboo poking up out of them. The idea is, of course,
to use the poles to get from one side of the ground to the other,
without falling in." Genma's eyes took on a far away look and Soun
immediately placed another two pieces on the board, while knocking
one of Genma's off.
    "Easy, right? And if you do fall, there's plenty of water to fall
into, right? Wrong. We were up there, bouncing from pole to pole,
when a bird landed on the pole that I was jumping to, not wanting to
injure the poor thing, I allowed Ranma to kick me into a pool.
    Ahhh Tendou. What can I say to convey the true horror that I
experienced next?" Genma's eyes teared as he tried to tell his life
long friend exactly the opposite to what actually happened.
    Soun forwent the opportunity to swap more pieces.
    "As I emerged from the pool Ranma was looking on in shock. I was
feeling strange. I immediately exited the pool and looked around for
the guide that was supposed to look after us. The drunken lout was
laughing." Clenching his fists he went into self-righteous mode. "He
thought it was one big joke. We left him there and then." Tears
streamed down his cheeks.
    "So Ranma doesn't have a..." Soun began, while swapping another two
 pieces.
    "Curse? Nope, not a chance. We left straight afterward. Nothing
happened to Ranma." Genma took the two pieces back off the board.
    "I was going to say 'a problem with this?'" Soun deadpanned.
    "Oh." Genma sweatdropped. "No, not at all."
    Nabiki lowered her ear from the small crack in the wall. Hummmmm.
Stakes had just risen, Maybe Ranma didn't have a curse, but where did
Ranko fit into this?

    Outside, on the veranda, Ranko sat facing the birds playing near
the koi pond. A gentle voice called from just inside, "Ranko?"
    Kasumi walked out of the door. Seeing the red head sitting there
she walked up. "Ranko? Ranko! Wouldn't you like to use the Furo?"
Dropping a towel onto the smaller girl's lap, she knelt down behind her
and rubbed her shoulders slowly. No response was elected to anything
said or done.
    "Ranko?" Kasumi's voice took on an edge of concern as she noticed
that Ranko's eyes were closed.
    "Huh? Wha?" Ranko's voice sounded startled. She blinked. Kasumi
stopped massaging.
    "Have you heard anything I've said?" Kasumi admonished gently as
she continued rubbing again. "Your brother just walked out of the
door and I thought you'd like to use the Furo. You're all sweaty from
your work out with Akane."
    "Uh, yeah, I guess that's a good idea." The small girl nodded.
Taking the towel she stood up.
    "Do you want me to show you the way?" Kasumi stood.
    "Nah, it's cool, I'll get there." Ranko walked swiftly towards
the bathroom.
    Nabiki trailed along as the girl that had never been in her house
before negotiated the hallway, went straight to the correct door and
opened it. First time lucky? I think not.

    Ranma moved from where he'd been standing, clutching the door
closed at his back and sank down on the futon. His muscles still
relaxed from the furo, he closed his eyes and appeared to sleep.

    Nabiki walked into the kitchen. "Akane, Ranma's out of the furo."
She neglected to mention that Ranko was already in there; maybe
things would come to light if they were helped along.
    "Thanks Nabiki." Akane turned and walked towards the bathroom,
Nabiki following cautiously.

    Ranko filled the wooden bucket and then poured the water over her
head.
    "Oooh, cold." Shaking what she could from her hair she quickly
walked over to the furo and sat down in it.
    "Aaaah." The red head sighed with relief. Relaxing in the warm
water was so easy. Her body's aches and pains were smoothed away by the
gently rippling water. Rubbing the back of her neck gently, she
promised to have words with her Father about using that sign. Well,
fists anyway.
    "Huuum. What to do now?" She sighed softly. Half of her wanted to
just tell the truth; have it out in the open so that it wouldn't come
back to haunt her later on. The other half, however, was convinced that
anyone that found out would be so disgusted that it wouldn't be
worth it. Staying in the water was about all she was good for at the
moment; her mind refused to offer any convincing arguments either way.

    Akane opened the door to the bathroom, and then slipped inside
holding her towel. Placing the towel on a nearby stand, she took off
her clothes and removed the ribbon from her hair, putting them inside
the basket near the door.
    Once more she picked up the towel and, holding it in front of
her, made her way across to the inner door.

    "Well, I guess sitting around in here ain't gonna help, I should
just get on with it." Standing, Ranko watched as the warm water ran off
her body, down between her breasts, and then placed one leg on the
side of the tub, intending to get out.

    The door opened.

    Akane looked inside at Ranko. Ranko looked straight back at
Akane.
    "Ummm." Ranko desperately wondered if she'd put up the sign.
Probably not. Not that it mattered, just let me get out of here.
"Uhh, Hi Akane, I was just gonna leave. Sorry for not putting up the
sign."
    "Well you should be! What would have happened if I'd been Ranma?
Boys're so perverted. That would have just provided him with an
excuse to come in and watch" Akane moved to the side, somewhat annoyed,
but intending to let Ranko out.
    Ranma? Nothing would have happened, of course. "Well, uh, yeah,
I, uh, guess so." Please don't move the towel Akane. Please, please,
please, please.
    Akane dropped the towel to the bench beside her.
    Ranko's head flew backwards as blood streamed from her nose. As she
 passed out the last thing she heard was "Oh my GOD! Ranko? Ranko?"

    Ranma's face took on a Silly grin as his nose bled profusely onto
the futon.

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

Author's Rant...

Well... What can I say? First released fic of mine... How long can it
last?

I know that there are innumerable Fic's out there that seperate
Ranma/Ranko... *shrugs* I've never seen it put quite this way before,
tho'...

Theres at least one other fic that I've seen called "Mirror, mirror",
but I'd already named this by the time I'd seen it... Whats that I
hear? No mirrors you say? We'll see... *smiles*

I'm a little annoyed with the ending, but can't think of a better way
to get into the next part. I needed Akane to find out about R/R as
obviously left to themselves Ranma & Genma wouldn't tell (or would be
so obtuse about it that it just isn't funny)... However, having a
Ryouga-like reaction to a female body just isn't right... After
all... He's seen "himself" enough times to get used to the idea... An
excuse I could use is that "He's seeing someone other than himself
for the first time" But I just... don't like the ending... *sighs*

Also, I'm sure someone will pick up that sometimes I put thoughts in
""'s and sometimes I leave them as almost narrative comments... Just my
way I'm afriad, I'm pretty sure I won't change it, it's easy enough to
see who's point of veiw it is.

I'd like to thank my prereaders... No wait... I have none... Instead
I'll thank my friends for abandoning me in this hour of need... Oh,
while I'm at it...

Wanted: prereaders, for a relativly new author, need to be
understanding,
encouraging and good at offering valid criticism, but willing to beat
in hours of slackness.

Laters all.
 Mike.