[Revised] [Authors Foreword Rant.]

Thanks to those of you that offered C&C on this the first time around, I
appreciate it. Anything that doesn't kill makes stronger, ne?

Anyway, just so that you don't have to read the whole thing to find out
what's changed here it is:

Spelling, grammar and some sentence structure changed. - No not the
whole thing just a few things here and there that I could have said
better have been changed, no real reason to re-read here (this doesn't
mean that there are no errors left, only that there are less than last
time ^_~)...

New Paragraph added - Ranma went straight to his room from the furo in
the original, without finding out where it was first... Heh, this was my
fault, I deleted this paragraph before I sent it, (I didn't like where
it was in the story) and then forgot to put it back in... *rubs
back-of-head in embarrassment*

Alternate Ending added - Yep, this is the main reason that I'm
re-releasing it, the original ending... well... sucked. In a BIG way. So
I re-wrote it and am now letting it out... (I think it could still use a
little work, but at least now it fits more with Ranma's character.)

****

NOTE: the new ending has a _very_ small lime scent, but nothing overt.

****

Ta to those that pre-read the alternate ending:
Cherry Tiger,
Siao Hua,
Sigurd,
The Eternal Lost Lurker.

As a passing comment, I'd like to add that the re-release now has
absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that Chapter 2 has also been
released at the same time... *whistles innocently* Nothing at all... I
swear! *grin*

Anyway, on with the show. (again)


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

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

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

[Ranma 1/2]:     Mirror, Mirror.

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

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, as he
grabbed the nearest hand and started 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 whispered as his eyes flashed with
triumph. 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
Joketsuzoku.

~~~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?" asked leader of the second squad, a
heavily muscled woman holding an ornate sword at the ready. 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 however did not see this person. Only the red head was 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 far 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!"
The card bent and folded slightly as Soun almost mangled it in
his joy.
     Starting to cry tears of happiness, Soun thought to himself
"Well I guess I should tell the girls."

     "WHAT! FIANCEE?!?"
     "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 announced grandly, clasping 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." said
Kasumi as she 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!"
     The girl 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, he
shouted "I still think this whole thing sucks."
     Dodging one blow and then another "Picking my fiancee for me,"
the boy grabbed a paw as it flew past his face "without even
asking!"
    The boy snarled angrily 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 fiancee
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
yelled 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. Moving
forward, Akane frowned as she asked aloud "Who's that?" She
looked to the figure held by the panda, who was moving from time to
time, almost involuntarily. She placed her hands on her hips
"And why is there a panda in our house?"
     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 she scratched 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, okay." 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.
     "Okay, 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? Okay 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?

Ranma entered the living room, staring at the two men "playing" Go.
Shaking his head as he realised both were using "Anything Goes Go"
style he walked over to his father.
     "Pop? where's our stuff?"
     His father grunted, and turned to him. "Upstairs of course, in
our room." Ranma smiled as Soun gently placed another piece on the
board.
     "Upstairs? ... In our room?" Ranma stopped, the old man wasn't
usually this quick to make things permanent, this was serious.
     "Yep, upstairs. Tendou, which one was it? First to the
left?" Genma waited until his old friend turned in thought for a
second then dropped another piece onto the board as well.
     "Yes, first to the left, Ranma." Soun nodded, affirming it
to himself.
     As Ranma nodded his thanks and headed out of the room, Genma
looked over the now half full Go board. Nodding as he saw that he
was ahead, he asked the other man, "So Tendou, are you going to
have first turn, or will I?"

     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 onto one of the futons. 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."
     "Oh no, you don't have to leave on my account. In fact I'd
prefer it if you didn't." Akane smiled suddenly, completely missing
the embarrassed look on Ranko's face. She waved aside the red
heads protests and insistence of leaving. "While you're in there,
you can wash my back, while I wash yours. I love a good back rub,
don't you?" She almost purred out. It was great to have friends
to do this sort of thing with.
     Ranko, still looking flustered, sat back down and turned to
look at the wall. "Uh, yeah. Love those back rubs."
     A gentle ripple ran through the water as Akane stepped in.
Seeing the smaller girl was already facing the other way, she
started rubbing across her shoulders. "So, how long have you been
training?"
     "Since I could walk." Ranko's shoulders relaxed. A good back
rub is like that. "I've been training seriously since I was five.
Pop an' me have been on the road since then." The two girls sat
in silence for a few minutes as Akane's hands roamed over Ranko's
back.
     Akane sighed then said, "Okay, my turn." She turned from Ranko
and lent against the side of the tub. "I've been training on and
off for the past ten years," frowning a bit she continued,
"obviously I'm not as good as you..." Akane declined to acknowledge
Ranma. "but I'm one of the best around here." Ranko stared at
Akane's back, refusing to think about certain things. She
tentatively applied pressure to the top of Akane's shoulders. Akane
soon realised that Ranko was rubbing the tops of her shoulders,
and was not thinking of going lower anytime soon.
     "Hey slacker! Move down more! I can't reach down there
either!" She relaxed even more as she felt the hands move down to
her shoulder blades. "More, go down more."
     Sighing as they rubbed the small of her back, she grinned,
suddenly mischievious. "If you go down any further, I'll either
kill you or I'll..." she didn't finish the sentence as a violent
splash interupted her.
     Turning in shock she found that Ranko had collapsed
backwards into the bath. "MY GOD! RANKO!"

     Ranma's face took on a silly grin as a single drop of blood
from his nose onto the futon.

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

[Authors Rant.]

Hah! I put it at the start this time... *shuffles feet* um... Well I
suppose I should put _something_ here, shouldn't I? ... After all I
can't just end the story and leave it at that... Can I?

Hmmmm...

Hmmmm...

Well, I'm planning on 10 chapters... *smiles hesitantly*

Uhh, my writing style still hasn't changed, so thoughts still appear
sometimes as almost narrative comments...

Hmmmm... *scratches head*

Next time I'm sticking with the Rant at the end...

Laters,
    Mike.