The story of Ranma Nibunnoichi and the characters are the sole possession 
of the respected copyright holders, and was all created by the brilliant 
shojo 
manga artist Rumiko Takahashi.
    I would like to thank my friends Bryan and Ryan for introducing me to my 
first and favorite anime, Ranma Nibunnoichi.  I would also like to thank all 
the 
random AOL otaku who roleplay and/or emote in chatrooms.  I don't remember 
all 
of your names, but I know many of you dubbed me "Neko," Shampoo's twin 
sister, 
whom this fan-fic is written about.


Here Comes Neko!
A Ranma Nibunnoichi Fan Fiction
By Luna Hinomura
http://fly.to/Luna's

Chapter 2: Sibling Rivalry

    Remembering the unhappy events of her past, Neko stared at her feet and 
gently stroked the soft green grasses of the slight hill she and Mousse were 
sitting on.  As always, the drainage ditch was full of water, the same water 
she'd fallen into earlier this morning.  But now, it was so peaceful here, no 
prejudice, no hatred...  Sometimes it seemed to her that she was getting a 
lot 
of that.  Always had, and probably always will.  But if she averted her eyes, 
looked down at her feet, no one could accuse her of pretending she was 
something 
she wasn't.  No one would punish her for looking down at someone higher than 
she.

    Mousse was different, though.  She found a kindred spirit in Mousse.  He 
had suffered the same pain she had in Joketsuzoku, but he was a male and she 
was 
practically treated like a male by her Great-grandmother and sister.  What 
she 
wouldn't give to know what a true family was like.  But Mousse, Mousse was 
the 
closest friend she had.  Back in their village, no one dared interfere with 
Cologne, the Matriarch of Joketsuzoku.  Because of that, no one wished to 
befriend her, for fear of facing her Great-grandmother's wrath.

    She turned to the myopic boy sitting on her right.  The expression on his 
face made her wonder if he was thinking of the same things she was, if he 
truly 
understood the hell she lived in.

    No...

    Probably not...

    "Neko never tell.  Great-grandmother not know.  Shampoo not know.  Mousse 
no have to marry Neko, no worry," she said.

    "I-- that's good...  Arigato," Mousse stuttered.  Neko sighed.  "Why do 
you sigh, Neko?"

    She struggled to find the correct words in Japanese, but was unable to.  
She began speaking in Mandarin again, knowing Mousse would understand.

    "I wish my family wouldn't keep pushing me away."

    "That's not true, Neko.  They don't do that," Mousse said reluctantly in 
their native Mandarin as well, realizing his words were all a lie.

    "Mousse, you don't have to cheer me up."  She looked back at the cold 
waters of the ditch.  "You've seen for yourself what they're like."

    Mousse didn't say anything.  He knew all too well what Cologne and 
Shampoo 
were like when they wanted to keep someone out.

    "Shampoo always like that," Neko said, reverting back to Japanese.  
"Gomenasai, Mousse -- Neko need learn Japanese if want live here.  It hard 
learning on my own."

    "Would it help if I tutored you?  I had to learn Japanese on my own as 
well.  I know Shampoo is smart, but I don't know why she refuses to learn 
it."  
He exhaled loudly through his nose and raised his glasses high on his 
forehead.  
"I wish she would let me teach her."

    "Shampoo never tell you?" Neko asked, looking deep into his eyes.  She 
liked it when Mousse didn't wear his glasses, because she had always thought 
his 
blue-green eyes were beautiful.  She wanted Mousse to marry Shampoo because 
she 
felt Shampoo deserved Mousse.  Long ago, when they were still children, 
Shampoo 
had been different, had been very caring to her.  It was so far back that she 
doubted if Shampoo would remember any of it, but Neko was not one to forget 
people's kindness.  From her point of view, kindness was so rare that she 
valued 
it as one might value baubles, gems, or other jewelry.

    "Tell me what?" Mousse said, looking back at the pink blur he knew to be 
Neko.

    "Shampoo know Japanese very well.  She only speak like this to fool 
enemy.  
Maybe she think you stupid, so she talk like this to make fun of you.  
Because 
she like power."

    "What power, Neko?  Are you sure she knows Japanese?"

    "She have power over you, Mousse.  She speak like that so you want teach 
her.  But she know that you no understand that she already know Japanese.  So 
she think you stupid.  *That* how she make fun of you.  She manipulate you.  
She 
very good at it."

    "She really knows Japanese, huh?" he said softly.  "What a fool I am."

    "No, Mousse, not only you.  She trick Great-grandmother too.  She trick 
everybody except me.  Neko heard Shampoo speak Japanese before.  Shampoo no 
can 
trick twin sister."

    He chuckled.  "Neko, you surprise me.  Come, let's return.  They might be 
worried, and I'm sure they'll let you stay at the NekoHanten.  After all, the 
females are dominant in the Amazon tribe, and they let me stay there.  So 
they'll have to let you."

    "Hai," she replied, using the new vocabulary words Cologne had taught her.

*   *   *   *   *

    "Ranma, what do you think of Neko?"

    He paused midway through his 56th push-up, muscles rippling beneath his 
silk shirt.  Knowing Akane, he had better choose his words wisely.  One 
Freudian 
slip and her now peaceful countenance would give way to her temper.  Turning 
his 
head to look at her, he saw she was gazing at him intently.

    Was she jealous again?  No...  It couldn't be.  She just wanted to sort 
things out, as much as he wanted.  Exercise, martial arts...  These things 
allowed him to take his mind away.  To concentrate on something else and let 
his 
physical body handle itself, almost like an automaton.  That was when he 
could 
muse about his past experiences, or where his future was headed.

    "What about Neko?" he asked finally, following through with his push-up.  
57, 58, 59...

    "Don't you kinda...  Feel sorry for her?"

    He paused again.  "I don't know."

    "Ranma, you've seen how they treat Mousse.  How Shampoo treats Mousse.  
What if they treat Neko the same way?"

    He hadn't thought of that one.  "Akane, she's Shampoo's sister.  I 
thought 
you hated Shampoo."  60, 61...

    "I don't hate Shampoo, and don't use my own words against me!  I'm just 
worried about Neko, that's all."

    "If you're so worried, why don't you visit them?"  62, 63...

    "We just got back from the NekoHanten, Ranma.  Hey -- that's interesting. 
 
Why did Cologne open a shop called NekoHanten, anyway?  I always thought it 
was 
because Shampoo turns into a cat--" Akane saw Ranma wince.  She continued, 
pretending not to notice "--but maybe she named it after Neko."

    "Yeah, right.  I doubt it, Akane.  Anyway, we don't even know if the old 
bag treats Neko the same way we saw Shampoo treat her."  64, 65, 66...

    "I guess you're right.  Are you hungry?"

    "Now that you mention it, it's almost dinner time," Ranma said, smiling.  
He ended his exercise with the 67th push-up.

    "Let's go eat at the NekoHanten, and see Neko."

    "Won't Kasumi mind?"

    "No, let's just go."

    "What about your dad?  And my oyaji?"

    "We'll ask them for permission," she said, pulling Ranma along by his 
wrist.

    "Hey!  Cut it out!" he cried as she dragged him down the stairs, out the 
back door, and into the Dojo.

    "Dad!" Akane called as soon as they entered.  Soun and Genma were sitting 
on the porch of the Dojo, playing a game of go.  Normally, they played on the 
porch in the house, but they must have decided to play in the Dojo instead, 
perhaps avoiding some confrontations between Akane and Ranma.

    "What is it, Akane?" Soun asked.

    "Ranma and I going to out to eat dinner."

    "Lovely idea, Akane!  I'm so glad you've said 'yes.' " Soun replied.

    "Yes?  Yes to what?"

    "Ah, my ingrate son!  You've finally taken your father's wisdom and 
asked Akane out on a date!  You've developed a great deal of confidence.  But
you really shouldn't go on one looking like that..." Genma said.

    "Dad!  Mr. Saotome!  It's nothing like that!  Why don't you say 
something, Ranma?"

    Ranma-chan took this opportunity to spit out the leaves and grass that 
Akane had piled into her mouth from their wild trek across the yard.  "Hey, 
Akane, did you even see Nabiki was standing in the doorway drinking water 
back 
there?  You've got so much macho strength that you didn't even notice when I 
got 
lighter."  She tightened the sash she used to keep her pants up.  "Thanks a 
lot, 
tomboy."

    Akane slapped Ranma, leaving a red handprint on his left cheek.  "You're 
so selfish!  Thinking about only yourself at a time like this!  We're trying 
to 
go see if they're mistreating Neko."

    "Yeah, well, if you want to leave, I'm ready."

    "Don't you want to boil some water?"

    Ranma ran her fingers through her wet bangs, sending some of the water 
flying.  "Why should I?  If I go as a guy, the people there'll think I'm 
going 
out on a date with an uncute tomboy!  I'd rather go like this than--"

    *BAM*

    "Akane?  Are you sure you want Ranma to go like that?" Soun asked.

    "It's ok, Dad, I'd rather carry 'her' there than walk with 'him.' "  She 
picked up onna-teki Ranma's unconscious body and carried her piggyback style.

    "Ranma!  Don't forget to pop the Big Question!" Genma called.

    Akane grumbled until they were well out of site.

*   *   *   *   *

    "Jeez, Akane, my head hurts."

    "Oh, be quiet, Ranma.  I'm trying to look for Neko."

    "Well, I see Mousse."

    "Where?"

    "He's tied up to that bar stool over there."  Ranma pointed in
Muumuu-chan's direction.  "I wish he'd stop quacking.  It's making my headache
worse."

    "Stop complaining!  Just be a man and take it."

    "You're the last person who should be saying that to me," she replied, 
scowling.

    "Wait!  There's Neko."

    Neko came walking through the door that led from the dining area to the 
living quarters behind the restaurant, clothed in the same attire as Shampoo 
normally wore when she was working, but Neko was wearing shades of blue, 
rather 
than Shampoo's choice of pink.  Though she held a pen and pad for taking 
people's orders, she stared at her feet as she walked and looked downright 
depressed.  When she passed by Cologne, she glanced up at her 
Great-grandmother, 
in hopes of approval. 

    Cologne did nothing, only concentrated harder on her stir-frying.  Neko 
continued walking to their table.

    "They're so alike, and yet, so different," Akane said.

    "Welcome to NekoHanten!  I take your order?" Neko said, sounding rather 
cheerful, despite the obvious emotion that was written on her face.

    "Yo, Neko, how are ya?" Ranma said softly so as not to aggravate her 
headache.

    "Who you are?" Neko said, blinking confusedly at Ranma.

    "That's right," Akane whispered.  "She doesn't know about Jusenkyo."

    "Jusenkyo?" Neko asked.

    "You're not only a bad cook, but you suck at speaking softly, too," Ranma 
said to Akane.  Then he turned to Neko and said lightly, "Oh, it's nothing.  
You 
can just call me Tendo Ranko.  I'm Akane's cousin."

    "You go to Jusenkyo?" Neko said, ignoring Ranma's last sentence.

    "Do *you* know about Jusenkyo?" Akane said.

    "Neko, stop conversing with the customers!  There's more tables to be 
waited on!" Cologne called.  "Shampoo!  Take Neko's place."

    "Hai!" Shampoo said, all too happy to wait on Ranma's table.  
Unfortunately, she was slightly miffed that onna-teki Ranma had shown up 
rather 
than otoko-teki Ranma.  Despite all the time she'd spent with Ranma, she was 
still having problems adjusting to his girl-type.

    Neko turned around and pretended to walk over to the stove.  She glanced 
around.  Cologne took this opportunity to go to the back of the restaurant 
and 
get more supplies to cook with for the customers.  Shampoo was too busy 
paying 
attention to Ranma.  In one quick movement, she untied the rope from Mousse's 
neck and from the barstool, then walked over and pushed him through the door 
into the living area.  She returned to her position at the counter by the 
stove 
almost as soon as Cologne reappeared.

    <That close one,> she thought to herself in Japanese, practicing the 
foreign language even in her mind.  <At least Mousse can change now.  They so 
mean to him...>

    "Bring these jiao zhi over to table ten," Cologne said, throwing twelve 
potstickers at Neko.

    She gasped, and picked up a plate from the counter, barely able to catch 
them all in time.

    "Whoo-hoo!"  "Yeah!"  "All right!"

    The people dining in the NekoHanten cheered as they watched Neko deftly 
poured a thin stream of soy sauce over the potstickers, and softly placed it 
down on the correct table.  The men always loved whenever a new call-girl was 
hired to work there, and they missed seeing the red-haired girl who was 
always 
fighting with Cologne (although that one chick over there resembled her...).  
The night's profits were much higher than the night before.

    But Cologne and Shampoo would never admit it.

    Not even to themselves.

*   *   *   *   *

    Ranma and Akane stayed at the restaurant until after everyone had left, 
even near the NekoHanten's closing time.  Neither Cologne nor Shampoo 
objected 
to their presence (well, maybe Akane's...), they tolerated it rather well.  
Neko 
did not mind them being there, but she had no voice in Shampoo and Cologne's 
opinions anyway.  She kept her indifference to herself.

    "Saotome, it is almost time to close the NekoHanten and for us to go to 
sleep.  Unlike you two, we have to work to make a living, and it's very 
tiring.  
I'm going to have to ask you to leave.  Anyway, don't you have school 
tomorrow?"

    "Tomorrow's the weekend, Mousse, lighten up," Ranma-chan replied, waving 
her hand as if she could fan Mousse's words away.

    "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" Cologne said, teasing Mousse.

    "Jealous?  Of Saotome?!  How *dare* you assume that *I* would be jealous, 
you--"

    "Mousse, you have time teach Neko Japanese now?" Neko intervened, trying 
to avoid any confrontations.  She hated the bickering that went on every time 
Cologne or Mousse spoke a word to each other.

    "Why Mousse jealous?  Mousse have *Neko* to chase after now," Shampoo 
laughed, seeing both Mousse's and Neko's faces turn bright red.  "Weakling 
and 
weakling can marry each other, then Shampoo take Ranma."  At the words "take 
Ranma," she deliberately winked coyly at Ranma's table.  Akane glared back.

    Neko glared at her sister as well.  She pulled Mousse to a table near 
Ranma and Akane's and sat him down.  "Mousse teach Neko how to read and write 
Japanese, is ok?" she asked Mousse.

    He nodded.  "Let me get a pen and paper for you, and maybe some books."  
He left the room and headed up the stairs for his bedroom.

    Cologne looked up from where she was wiping the counter.  "My, how your 
sister has changed, Shampoo.  She's much more willing to learn Ranma's 
language 
than you are."

    Shampoo winced, her pride struck by Cologne's words.  In anger, she 
turned 
to her sister to issue a retort.  "That only because Shampoo know Ranma come 
to 
China to marry her.  Is *Ranma* who need to learn Chinese, not *Shampoo* who 
need Japanese."

    "Hey, now, wait a sec--"

    "Aiya!  Ranma, I so happy you agree!" Shampoo said, smiling at Ranma.

    "So, that Ranma?" Neko said from her table, confusion written across her 
face.

    Shampoo reached over and smacked the back of her sister's head.  "Keep 
quiet when no one talk to you," she said, walking over to Cologne.  "Great-
grandmother, need hot water."

    "Here, Shampoo." Cologne said, hopping over to Ranma's table via her 
staff.  A kettle full of hot water hung from the top of it.  She picked up 
the 
kettle and poured the contents over Ranma's head.

    "Thanks, old ghoul," Ranma said, who didn't sound very grateful at all.

    Neko blinked, holding the back of her head where Shampoo had hit her.  
<Hot water on girl make boy?  That mean he *did* go Jusenkyo, just like...>

    "Aiya!  Xie xie, Great-grandmother!" Shampoo exclaimed, thanking Cologne. 
 
She threw her arms around Ranma-kun's neck.

    "Hey, get offa me!  Stop that!  Hey, Shampoo!"

    "Shampoo, stop that!" Akane yelled, picking up her glass, which was more 
than half full of water.  Shampoo only held Ranma closer and tighter.  Then, 
she 
turned to Akane and stuck out her tongue.

    "Be-daaaa!"

    "THAT DOES IT!" Akane screamed, tossing the contents of her drinking 
glass 
over the two.

    "Look out!" Ranma said, ducking while he pushed Shampoo down and out of 
the way of the cold water.  The sudden jolt threw Shampoo off balance, and 
she 
grabbed at the edge of the table.

    "He-hey!" Akane exclaimed before the table came crashing down in front of 
her.  She jumped out of the way, letting Ranma dive down to catch it before 
it 
hit the ground.

    Through all the commotion, no one saw the water continue on its flight 
and 
hit Neko.


End of Chapter 2