Sparing Partners.
                        (a New Partner.)

 Another day another dojo.

 Well, that's what it seemed like.

 At least now she had some time off.

 Spring had turned to summer and college had let out.
 She now had time do do things that she wanted (well, within reason).
 One of the first things she did was write an neat note.
 The second thing she did was pack a bag.
 The third thing was leave.
 - She deserved some time away from *everything* family, friends and well,
the complications that they seemed to bring.

 Of course "time off" meant that she had to be just as disiplined but now
she had to do it all herself.
She found that no matter what she did the sheduling of years was sunk deep
in her mind. She always (or almost always) woke at the same time and then
she did whatever she had done for years. To break that routine even on the
days when she was to sick to get out of bed felt almost like a sin.
 This time she swore that no matter what she did she would find at least 
ten diferent "new things" to make her happy for each day of her vacation. 
 It didn't matter what they were, how big or how small, as long as they
made her happy.
 So far in the 3 days she had been away from home she had found far more
than thirty. 

 Tokyo Tower was a place she had always wanted to visit and so, after she
had showered and changed in her hotel she headed there.

  Usually she would have gone in middle-school as part of a school trip
but somehow she had missed it. 
 - Oh yes, the time she had her tonsils out.
 
  The sun was shining and it was... well, glorious today.
 Perhaps, she would treat herself to something good to eat - maybe
a something or two. 
An innner voice whispered. "You can't argue with genetics."
 She smiled to herself. 
  Usually that particulair phrase would have annoyed her but she also knew
without that genetics she would never have been stubborn enough to take
this vacation.

  She rode the elavator to the top and looked at the city spread out below
her. 
 Outside, she saw a blimp up amoung the clouds. 
 Not the usual FUJI one she was so accustomed to seeing but yet another
new thing. 
 She smiled at the amusing logo on it's nose but the lettering on the side
half obscured rang no bells.
  "..LAMP" She spelt out sundlessly....no, no idea.

 "I want to see! I want to see!" 

 Her concentration was broken as she noticed a red-haired peering out of
the glass.
 The girl went to and fro gawking at the sights.

 "Honestly." One of her two companions said. "You'd think you'd never
been here.

 "I haven't." the short head-head pouted. 

  "Well, the rest of the world has." Her companion said and looked at
 her other friend for confirmation. "Right?"

 Her friend nodded her head, causing her long hair to shivver like a
fountain.

 "Oh," the red-head said. "And I'm sure you've been here before?"

 The other girl smiled and nodded.

 "Well, maybe I'm just not as cultured as the two of you." She flipped her
head letting her pony-tail crack like a small whip and headed to the
telescopes.

  "Some people." The girl's long haired friend said, but the tone was that
of amusment.
 Her shorter-haired frinednd giggled and nodded.
 "Let's just keep her out of trouble." She said with a laugh.


 She found herself interested in this exchange for some reason  and
followed the pair.
 Soon she watched yet another amusing exchange.

 "I can't SEE anything!" the red-head said plaintively shaking the
telesope. "It's broken."

 "It's not broken." Her short-haired companion said with the patientce of
a mother talking to a child. "You have to put money in. Baka."

  "I don't have any money." the red-head said. "Lend me some huh?"

  "Don't look at us." The shorter haired girl said. "We spent all of our
money buying snacks for you."


 This seemed like the proper moment to intrude -if there ever was one  of
course.
 She coughed politely.
 
  The trio turned.

 She fished in her pocked for a 100 yen coin which she handed the other
girl.

  "Thanks!" The girl beamed and upon getting the coin and after inserting
it in the device began a litany of "oohs" and "ahhs."

 "Thank you." The short haird girl bowed politlely.


  "Don't mention it." she replied with a smile. "It's not a lot and if it
makes someone happy." She bowed in retun.
 After doing a quick bout of telecope viewing herself she noticed the
girls had gone. She went over to the small display of keepsakes and bought
herself a snow-globe before leaving.

 The next day she decided that since she was in the area she should go and
see some old friends of her grandfathers. 
 
       She decided that a) Since she had done this he would be off less of
                       a mind to dwell on the fact that he had "escaped."
                       and
                         b) Since the person had a dojo she might actually
                       get some training in.

  The supposedly simple directions to the place were actually quite
confusing. She finally gave up on public transit and made her way on foot. 
 Strangely enough, once she started walking it seemed ot take no time at
all.

 When she got to the dojo she was welcomed by the owner with great
hospitality and when he heard about how her grandfather was doing he asked
her to spend the niight so as to save her the convouluted trip.
 He suggested that indeed he had plenty of room here and she was more than
welcom to get her things in the morning and stay fo ra few day.
 She gladly accepted.
 Also, to her happyness she was invited to use the dojo to her hearts
content.
 
It was funny she mused as she did yet another practice fall that she had
simply "run away" (if evwen for 2 weeks) and still ended up doing the same
thing's anyway.

 "Hi." A girls voice broke into her train of thought.

 She looked up to see the red-haired girl from earlier in the day.

  "Um..." She began confused.

 "Hey!"
 The girl rcoginzed her as well. 
 "I was told we had a guest practicin'over here but I never woulda guessed
we had already sorta met."

 
    The RedHead offered a hand and pulled her up.

 "I'm Ranma, Ranma Saotome."

 
  "Yawara." She said.



                            ***FIN***


 Well, it's 56 minutes and really isn't much of a story.

 Has anyone actually written a Yawara fic?
 How about a Yawara/Ranma fic? The styles of "gooney" martial arts vrs
judo are at odds and honestly...I just watched up to rp 20 or Yawara
tonight.

 ...oh oh...58.

   I need a title fast.


 Neil
******************

 Okay... cam ein just under the wire with the title...
 Which sounds more like a Ranma/Akane lemon than anything else.

  Well, maybe next time.
     __________________________________________________________________
                             _____________
            Seraphim, the Restless Angel with a (borrowed) sword.
                               ________

         Nene, Ami,
       Girls with glasses. girls with computers. Pink hair. blue hair       
                       _______________________
                 Robyn, Duke of Amber. Agent of Chaos.  
 ***************************************************************************