HeyHi Peoples!
LizMUN aka Evil Kasumi here!

Well, after being abandoned for a whole month by my Muse, I finally 
persuaded her back to work.. (It seems that she has a thing for 
Salt-and-Vinager Chips!  Brain Food!)
Anywhoos.. So Here I be, bringing to ye.. Sibling rivalry.. not 
chapter three.
But Chapter four.  Will there be more? Will Ryouga score? Man, my 
head's sore. 

Sorry.
C&C will be printed and framed! Including the flames! I love feedback! 
Even if you think I should go dunk myself in Spring of Drowned Purple 
Dinosaur for writting this fic! Okays? Enjoy!

~*^Shameless Plug!^*~ 
If, per chance, you have missed any previous chapters, they can be 
found in my place:
"The Lost Gallery"
http://rivendell.fortunecity.com/unreal/483/ranma

Hasta Luego!

Evil Kasumi 
*~"She's really a very sweet girl.  She's just a violent maniac!"~* 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sibling Rivalry

Chapter 4
Manic Depression

	Ryouga blinked.  He hadn't seen anything that resembled grass 
or a clustered area of wood for the past hour!  What he did see were 
people busting in and out of little shops, haggling with the clerks 
for a discount.  Well, he did have other things in his mind, maybe he 
just overlooked the forest.  Nothing new.  Ryouga sighed.  Least he 
was far away from the main source of his problem.  
	"Hehe.. Well, Well. Back from your journey, Ryouga?"
	Ryouga turned and screamed in horror.  He had just come face 
to face with what looked like a long-decayed corp..*WACK*
	((::Author gets wacked in the head by large staff::))
	Cologne just glares at the sky.
	"Who you calling a decayed corpse?" Cologne then closes her 
eyes and shakes her head.  Mumbling something about disrespectful 
authors.
	Ryouga eases his hyperventilation, and looks back up to see 
Cologne grinning at him.  He shuddered.  That look was worse than what 
he first saw. He glares at the Old Ghoul.
	"You? What are you doing in Kobe?"
	*BONK*
	"This isn't Kobe!"
	"OW! HEY!.... Wait! You mean.. I'M STILL IN NERIMA?? 
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH....." *CLUNK*
	Cologne pulls back her staff after impaling it onto Ryouga's 
thick head.  Amazingly, it didn't crack. (Cane or head.. you decide.) 
 She looks back up from the tip of her cane, back down to the 
unconscious form of Ryouga, and sighs.  She could leave him out there, 
but then, maybe she could use the boy for a plan to get Son-in-Law.  
After all, the boy did survive the mixture of potions and Akane 
Tendo's cooking.  Maybe he won't be much of a useless idiot after all.

And what of Son-in-Law?

	Tatewaki Kuno had dreamed of this day many times.  Sometimes, 
in his dreams, the sorcerer would pull out one of his tricks and would 
run away like a coward with Akane and the Pig-tailed girl in tow.  Not 
today! 
	"DIE DEMON SAOTOME!"
	"NOOOOOO!!"
	Graceful and swiftly did Kuno begin to descend his bokken onto 
Saotome, but oddly, it came to a abrupt interruption.  He felt a yank, 
and was immediately thrown from his position, onto a wall, causing him 
to loose consciousness.
	"Brother! I won't let you harm my Ranma-Darling!"
	Ranma opens his once clenched eyes, and utters the first 
intelligible thing that came to mind:
	"... URK?"
	Of all people, Kodachi was the one to save him?  Gawds he felt 
nauseous.
	"Alas, my love! I shall be the one who will graciously tend to 
your wounds.  That wicked boy shall pay for what he's done to my 
love!"
	Ranma gulped, and began to scramble up, but was pushed back 
down as Kodachi glomped onto him. 
	"Oh Ranma darling! Take unto these lips which rightfully 
belong to you, so that you may know my love."
	"Hey.. wait.. I.. HELP!" Ranma could just stare in horror as 
Kodachi closed her eyes, and began descending down to kiss Ranma. He 
turns away, but her cold hands jerk his head back facing her own.  All 
he could do now, was try to swallow his lips.  A pointless act, but he 
thought it was useful.  He felt her warm breath, smelled the mint of 
her toothpaste, and could briefly feel the smoothness of her lips 
brush against his puckered up mouth before he suddenly felt the weight 
of her body lift from his own.
	"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Akane yanks Kodachi's 
ponytail, causing her to be thrown ungracefully beside Ranma, who took 
the opportunity to scramble back upwards.
	"You.... YOU... YOU Wicked Shrew! This is not over yet, Akane 
Tendo!" Her glare quickly turns to a look of adoration as she glances 
over to Ranma, who was still trembling from the experience. "Fear not, 
my love! I shall return, then we shall continue where we had left off! 
OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOO!" Kodachi twirled her ribbon, which expelled 
black rose petals out of thin air. (Probably from Petal-space. ::gets 
wacked::)) After distracting her on-lookers, she hops over the wall, 
and prances away, laughing maniacally. 
	Akane clenches her fist at Kodachi's departing form, visions 
of pounding Kodachi into a pound of mush, danced within her head. 
	"Ranma honey, how many fingers am I holding up?"
	"Uh... Two and a half?"
	"*Sigh*  Come'on Ranma-hon, maybe some Okonomiyaki well help 
ya get better!" Ukyou begins pulling Ranma toward the street when 
suddenly she was yanked back.
	"No! We take Ai-ren to Great Grandmother! She help Ranma get 
better!" Shampoo clenches her hand onto Ranma's own, and begins 
pulling in the opposite direction.
	Ukyou pulls back, causing them both to jerk back. "But my 
place is closer!" She spoke through clenched teeth.
	Shampoo looks up and glares at Ukyou eye-to-eye. Electricity 
clashing as they gave each other deathly glares. 
	"Uh.. girls?"
	"BUTT OUT!" Both turned at Ranma, and glared at him.. then 
turned back and resumed their staring match.
	Of course, Ranma would have "Butted-out", but his hands were 
being crushed by the two girls who were oblivious that he even 
existed.  After much straining, he managed to free himself of their 
vice-like grips. Fanning his hands, trying to resume the circulation 
that was cut off earlier, he looks around.  Akane was missing.  He 
looks down further, and see's her walking back to the Dojo.  Ranma 
glances back, and see's that Ukyou and Shampoo had pulled out their 
weapons, still giving each other paralyzing glares.  Ranma knew it was 
time to exit.  He runs up to catch up to Akane.
	Akane could hear Ranma running after her, but she didn't care. 
 She sighed quietly as she sensed him jumping from the concrete, onto 
the chain-linked fence.  Did she repulse him enough that he did not 
want to be seen next to her?
	"Akane? I... uh... well... you know..."
	"I'm not speaking to you!"
	"What I do now? That thing with Kodachi.. It wasn't my fault! 
 Geez! What's your problem?"
	"What's _MY_ Problem? What's _YOUR_ problem? What were you 
thinking back there! The nerve of you picking on Ryouga!  Hasn't he 
been through a lot already?"
	"You think I asked for this?  I don't see anyone asking my 
opinion about all this! ::mumbles:: And to think I was going to 
apologize...uncute tomboy..."
	".......Well?"
	"Huh?"
	"Well?"
	"Well What?"
	"Bakka! Well, what IS your opinion."
	"Oh... uh... well.. I don't know."
	Akane facefaulted, but quickly retaliates.
	"I don't know why I bother!" She shakes her head, and stomps 
faster, leaving Ranma to run in order to catch up.
	
	Back in the lot...

	Sasuke jumped down from the wall he was earlier perched upon, 
and began to examine his fallen master. Poking him in several places 
he came to a conclusion:  He's going to be out cold for a long time.  
He sighed.  He sits down cross-legged beside his master, and waits 
patiently.  He glances up at the two girls who were still at it with 
each other, then begins to play with a strand of grass below him. 
	His thoughts trailed back to this morning when he was 
"observing" Akane Tendo for his master.  He had overheard the dilemma 
that was just revealed to everyone:  Master Saotome and Master 
Hibiki... Brothers? He had left the Tendo's rooftop right away to tell 
the news to Master Kuno, but along the way, Mistress Kodachi had 
halted him.  She had wanted him to deliver a package to Master 
Saotome. Of course this was when Master Saotome and Master Hibiki 
began to fight. 
	"And to think those two just realized they were brothers.."
	Suddenly, something felt terribly wrong. It didn't feel like 
an ambush.. but rather someone.. or someones were giving him a 
powerful glare. Sasuke looked up and saw that the two girls had 
stopped their bickering, and were giving the ninja questioning looks. 
	"What... did you say?"
	"What ninja boy talking about?"
	A large droplet of sweat appeared behind Sasuke head.  He 
hadn't realized that he had just spoken this new revelation out loud. 
His hand instantaneously shoots up to scratch away the droplet, and he 
begins to laugh nervously.
	"Did I say Brothers? What an absurd thought! Must have been a 
slip of the tongue! How foolish of me! Hehehe... heh."
	Acting wasn't really one of Sasuke's best subjects, unless it 
was for sucking up, which wasn't the case here.  The girls didn't buy 
it.  Instead they were giving him a look that said that if he didn't 
start talking, he'd end up with the same fate as his master over 
there.  
	Sasuke sighed.  May as well. He drew in his breath.. and began 
to tell his story.

	Ukyou, Shampoo and Mousse, who had awoken just in time to hear 
the latter half of the story, ((Along with some of the readers out 
there... or perhaps you're still asleep.. anyway.. on with the fic,)) 
blinked simultaneously at the diminutive ninja. 
	"Maybe crazy girl put too-too much potion in ninja-boy food, 
no?"
	"I swear, by my ninja honor, that I speak the truth." 
	"Ranma Saotome and Ryouga Hibiki, I just don't see the 
similarities."
	Ukyou rose a brow at the bottle-eyed boy.  She opened her 
mouth to say something.. but shut it quickly.  She shook her head.. it 
was just too easy.  Then suddenly, an idea struck her. Without a 
second to loose, she sprinted off toward the Tendo dojo, grinning 
appreciatively.
	"Where Spatula-girl go? We no done with fight!"
	"Oh Shampoo! Alone at last!" *BONK*
	"Stupid Mousse! Must tell Great-Grandmother!  You come?"
	"I'll follow you everywhere, my darling Shampoo!" *Wack*
	"Stop be idiot! Come, we go!"

	Ryouga looked around.  He recognized this place! Yes! Home! 
Somehow he made it back.  How? He didn't care.  He's in his back 
yard... Front yard? Well.. his yard! He looks around again.  Funny, 
where's the large pot he got for his mother?  In fact, most of the 
stuff he had either bought, or recognized seemed to be missing.  The 
plentiful fruit trees that he had once known, were now just young, 
fruitless saplings.  Damn.  This wasn't his home.  And here he thought 
he got it right this time.  He was about to leave, but stopped as he 
sensed someone approaching. 
	A small, brown-haired boy slides open the door to the house 
from behind, and enters the yard.  He looks about six or seven years 
old, and was wearing a traditional white gi.  He is holding hands with 
an older man, somewhat in his thirties, who was also wearing a 
traditional gi, only his looked more worn out.  If one didn't know 
better, one would say that the boy was leading, but that was a silly 
notion.  The two newcomers seem to be oblivious of Ryouga's presence, 
and pass right by him, and head toward the center of the yard.  The 
younger of the two was the first to break the uncomfortable silence.
	"Now Touchan? Can you tell me now?"
	The elder looks around, satisfied with what he sees, although 
still apparently unaware of Ryouga.  He looks back at the boy, who was 
looking up at him with bright, energetic eyes, and nods.  He then gets 
on his knees, and sits upon his heels.  The younger follows the 
elder's example.
	"My son, when your mother visited a week ago, she and I have 
talked about something that's very important to all of us, including 
yourself.  After much debate, we both felt that you are now ready to 
learn the basics of our family's school."
	"But Touchan.. I'm already going to school."
	"Yes, but this "school" is different.  It's the Hibiki School 
of Unorthodox Martial Art Artillery.  You will not only learn the ways 
of the umbrella, and bandanna for combat, but I shall teach you 
something you will never learn anywhere else.  It will not only change 
your life for the better, but it will also change it for the worse."
	The younger boy just blinks at this. The elder, seeing his 
son's confused reaction, looks around him, and picks up a medium-sized 
rock.  He encloses it between his thick callused hands and starts to 
squeeze, crushing the rock into a powder.  The boy's eyes instantly go 
wide with awe.
	"This, my son, is the "Hibiki Family Secret." A curse and a 
blessing.  For us males, it is strength beyond normal men, yet the 
consequences of learning this technique is very tragic.  To learn this 
knowledge, you'll eventually loose your sense of direction." 
	"Is.. um.. is that why you and Kaachan get lost all the time? 
 Cause you both know the Secret?"
	"Yes, Ryouga, your mother learned it after her and I were 
married. She had to since she had now become part of the family."
	"So, why you asking me if I have to do it. I'm a Hibiki, 
right? I gotta do it."
	The elder Hibiki hesitated at this, then smiled appreciatively 
at his son.
	"Are you certain that you wish to learn the secret of the 
Hibiki Clan?  You'll never again find exactly where you wanted to go 
on your first try. It's a big sacrifice."
	"Hai, Tou-san, I want to learn the Hibiki Family Secret and 
become a man, just like you!"

	The scene fades into a mist, leaving elder Ryouga standing in 
a void.  He closes his eyes, remembering that fateful day.  Was it 
really all worth it?  He would suppose so.  He was a Hibiki. Is a 
Hibiki! It was within his duty for his clan to learn the School, curse 
and all.
	"You were so innocent back then.  Had you known the REAL 
consequences of the Hibiki curse..."
	Ryouga turned around and saw that Auxillio had once again 
appeared out of nowhere.  She was still wearing her school-girl 
outfit, but something was wrong.
	"Heh.. the room's not all white, is that it?" Auxillio smiled. 
She was right, the room wasn't as white as a Clorox-bleach commercial, 
but was dark and formless.  Not that the other room had any form at 
all as well.  "Tell me Ryouga, would you still learn..."
	"Yes." Ryouga cut her off.  He knew what she was going to ask. 
Would he have learned the "secret" knowing now how much pain it had 
brought him, the humiliation he endured?  Of course he would!  It was 
within his honor.  He then turned and glared at Auxillio.  
	"Who are you really? You say you're not an angel, but... what 
are you?  What do you want?"
	Auxillio's bright smile faded, but still adorned her face.
	"Ryouga? Tell me.  Do you still remember a time when you were 
truly happy?  Not when you were with Akane in your cursed form.  
That's just contentment.  I mean really happy! You can't, can you? 
That's what I want.  To give you happiness.  I've watched you for 
longer than you think, and it pained me every time to see you so down, 
berating yourself for your misery.  I'm no goddess, no genie.  I 
cannot grant you wishes.  I can't perform miracles.  I can't just 
*poof* instantly make you giddy! I don't have that power.  What I can 
do, is try to make your life a bit better the best way I know how.  As 
for who I am, I'm just a kindred spirit, that doesn't want you to do 
the same mistakes I have made."
	"A "Kindred spirit"? What do you mean." His anger slowly 
fading to just mild irritation.
	Auxillio looks away, lowering her head.  She then looks down 
at her wrists, clutching one of them tightly. She takes in a deep 
breath, and sighs.
	"You really want to know who I am? All right.. I'll tell you. 
 My name was.. is.. my name is Auxillio Gutierrez, I lived in a little 
town in Sonora, Mexico, half a world away from Japan.  As many 
teenagers my age, I was carefree, and oblivious of the future.  I only 
thought of which party to go, and who to go with.  But my carefree 
life soon ended as my mother started getting ill.  
	"My father had left when I was three, leaving my mother to 
care for my younger brother and I.  Since my mother could not work 
anymore, I would have to.  I quit my school to earn the money for her 
medication and put food on the table.  I lost all my friends, and a 
bit of myself. When my mother died, the girl I had once been, was 
gone.  
	"Then, one day, my Tia offered to take only one of us, since 
she could not afford us both, and thus took David, since he still 
couldn't take care of himself.  I couldn't take care of him.  Loosing 
one's direction is one thing, Ryouga, but loosing everything you had 
is totally different.  It was... it was November of '78, that I 
decided to loose it all.  
	"This here, I don't know whether it's my Heaven or Hell.  I've 
not seen my mother since I arrived, but I know she's here.  I was 
blind to see that life still went on. I could've just picked up myself 
from the ruins, and be strong for my brother. But I wasn't strong. 
	"I was called to you because you seemingly were heading the 
same path I was in.  It doesn't matter how you approached it; walking, 
crawling, skipping.  You still were on that same path.  That is why I 
told you of Ranma.  I thought it would've at least brought a sliver of 
happiness, if not even just a breath of it.  I thought I could at 
least get you off the path for just a moment.  I thought that if I at 
least did that... I could make up for the stuff I did. I thought, if I 
did something right.. I could see my mother again."  She looks away, 
tears already flowing from her lifeless, brown eyes.
	Ryouga looks down, uncomfortable.  He didn't mean to make 
Auxillio relive all that.  He looks up, and is about to apologize, 
when he see's her looking up at him, smiling again.  She holds up a 
hand to stop him, and looks to him, eye-to-eye.   Sure her tears were 
still there, but they made her dark, gloomy eyes now glow bright with 
fire.
	"Ryouga, you are strong. Strength as well as soul.  Yet you 
clearly misunderstood my intentions! Never did I ask you to give up 
being a Hibiki and become a Saotome.  Never! That is clearly up to 
you, although I wouldn't recommend it.  That Genma Saotome isn't 
exactly what I call a model "Dad".. but who am I to judge?  All I did, 
was show you that you don't have to be alone.  He may not be a perfect 
brother, but who wants a perfect brother? Blackmailing isn't quite as 
easy if you have a perfect brother." *winks* "Think about it, all 
right? No need for rushing things.  Now.. it's time for you to wake 
up.  Remember, think about it."
	"Think about it....."

	"Think about it, child. Ryouga is a Saotome.  With that said, 
Ryouga can fulfill the agreement with the Tendo's and Saotomes, 
relieving Son-in-law of his engagement, and thus able to fulfill the 
laws of our tribe!  The boy is already infatuated with the youngest 
Tendo.  If Ryouga fulfills the families' agreement.."
	"Then Shampoo can marry Ranma! Is good-good plan, 
Great-Grandmother! Aiyaa! Lost boy Waking up!"
	Cologne leans over to the seat where Ryouga was 
unceremoniously plopped while in unconscious form.  The lost boy opens 
an eyelid and..
	...........
	Shampoo blinked.  not a soul was responding.  The sounds of 
the people that were chattering outside the Nekkohaten, had 
mysteriously disappeared, leaving only the soft rhythmic sounds of 
their own breaths to entertain their ears.  Mousse adjusted his 
glasses to see if everyone had left him.
	Cologne looks up, approvingly.  Apparently the author had 
learned her lesson.  She nods, and the voices outside resume, bringing 
along the sounds of cars zooming by, and a shout of a poor boy in 
agony. The matriarch of the Amazons looks back down at the Lost Boy, 
who was trembling from shock.. twice in one day may I add.  
	"Get used to it boy.  A future Amazon such as yourself should 
show absolutely no fear."
	At this, Ryouga stood abruptly, causing his chair to tumble 
backwards.  He slams his palms onto the table, causing it to splinter 
and shatter about.  Cologne rewarded the boy's show of strength with a 
knock on the noggin, though, not as hard to induce unconsciousness 
like previously.  
	"FUTURE AMAZON?  What the Hell are you talking about, you Old 
Ghoul?"
	Cologne smirks. (Is there no end to the horror masks she 
wears.. *KLUNK*))
	~~~Slight Intermission as Author regains consciousness~~~
	((Owww... Okay. Okay!  I'll shut up and get on with the 
story.)) ((We Continue...))
	Cologne Smirks.
	"Precisely! If Son-in-Law is to marry my Shampoo, being his 
brother would make you an Amazon be default.  Of course, you will 
still have to prove yourself with the Elders." 
	"What makes you sure that Ranma is going to choose Shampoo?  
That womanizing jerk's still got two other fianc�es to leech off 
from."
	"Not necessarily, my boy.  In fact, you are going to relieve 
him of one of his fianc�es!"
	"I think you've gone senile with your age, Lady!  I'm not 
doing anything for Ranma, so you can just forget it!  I'm leaving."
	Ryouga shoulders his pack, (Don't ask how he found it so 
quickly.. I don't even know,) and starts heading toward the storage 
room.  Cologne shakes her head.
	"My, my.  To think that Ryouga would freely give up a chance 
to marry Akane."
	Cologne blinked for at that moment, Ryouga was sitting on the 
chair he had once been seated, and was glaring down at her. 
	"I'm listening."
	Cologne's grin grew to an outright maniacal smirk.

	"So you see, Mr. Tendo, Ryouga's a Saotome.. right?"
	It was dinner time, and the Tendos, Ranma and Genma Saotome, 
and Ukyou Kounji were all sitting in their respectful places by the 
dinner table.  Well, Ukyou had squeezed herself between Ranma and 
Akane, and was at the moment discussing "business" with Soun. Akane 
was acting like she didn't care, but her face had jealously clearly 
written across her face. (Unlike a certain goddess across in the next 
district, who literally had some words plastered on her face.. but I 
digress..) Ranma and Genma were deeply involved with trying to 
steal... er... obtain their rightful proportions of food, to even pay 
attention.  
	Soun looked cautiously at Ukyou.  He had heard that tone of 
voice before.  In fact, it was an everyday occurrence with his 
daughter Nabiki.  That fact alone, made him a tad uncomfortable.
	"Yes, you are correct.  But what does that have to do with 
anything?"
	"Well as you can see.." Ukyou turned, and held out her hand 
toward Akane, who  at the moment was yelling at Ranma because of some 
comment he made about her looks, and had now thrown him out from his 
seat and into the pond, triggering his curse.  "As you can see.. 
there's no way that those two will even comply with the arrangement 
that you and the Old Man made."
	At this Soun began to wail pathetically.
	"Oh It's True!  All is Lost!  OUR SCHOOLS WILL NEVER BE 
UNITED!!"
	"Whoa, whoa! Stop that! Stop Crying, okay? As I was saying.. 
Ryouga's a Saotome, right? Well.. why not have HIM fulfill the 
arrangement between your families?"
	
	Cut to Nekkohaten:
	"...Therefore relieving Son-in-law of his pending engagement 
to the Tendos, giving you, my boy, a chance to marry Akane instead.  
After this, Ranma can finally fulfill the laws of our Tribe and 
marry..."
	
	Cut back to Tendo Household:
	"... Me!  After all, the Old Man did betroth me to Ranma!  
What do you think, Mr. Tendo?"
	Soun Tendo stroked his mustache in thought.  The idea did have 
merit.  But he had grown fondly of Ranma.  True that the Ryouga boy 
was indeed a Saotome, and did show interest in Akane.  He knew about 
"P-Chan." Oh yes.  Countless time he had seen that black little piglet 
climb into the furo, as he tried to enjoy a nice relaxing hot bath, 
and seen Ryouga emerge out of nowhere.  He and Saotome had kept this 
secret from Akane, in hopes to provoke Ranma.  Make the boy jealous 
enough to reveal his true feelings.  Yes.. perhaps there was hope for 
the School!  And maybe.. Oh just maybe.. he actually keep the dojo in 
one piece! 
	At this tears overflowed Soun's eyes.  He clenches his hands, 
and looks up, as if praising any deity that had overshown his 
household with such good fortune.
	Ukyou smiled at this. She laughed inwardly, and thought to 
herself. 
	"He bought it! Oh Ranma! At last we can finally be wed! Now.. 
what to do about that Amazon Hussy?" 

	Meanwhile.. back at the Nekkohaten:
	Shampoo was extreamly pleased with the turn of events.  She 
sighed dreamily, (Is that a word?) and imagined herself back with her 
tribe, a strong, proud, smilling Ranma at her side.  Ryouga had been 
talked into the plan very easily.  Now.. what to do about that Violent 
Spatula girl?

((To Be Continued..))

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