I have to give much much thanks to everyone for their c&c on my story.  i've 
realized quickly that i still have a long way to go with my writing skills, 
and i hope everyone will bear with me.

Anyway, fixed up the prologue a little, and added Chapters 1 and 2, which i 
feel a lot more confident about.  Please enjoy!


Just Another Day
A Ranma � fanfic by Dragonboy

Disclaimer:  Most of these characters don�t belong to me; though I wish I 
could take credit for them.  They belong to the amazingly brilliant Rumiko 
Takahashi and whoever she sold the rights to, except for the ones that I 
made up.  I also made up the names for Ryoga�s parents and Ukyo�s father.  
There are also several cameos from other manga, anime and video games in 
this story.  I�ll try to have all of their respective owners by the end of 
the story.  Now, without further ado�Please enjoy!


Prologue--Same Thing Only Different

A boy stood outside the outer walls of the Furinkan High School.  The gentle 
breeze of the autumn air caused his long silvery hair and long white cape to 
billow out behind him.  He was dressed in a green sleeveless vest with gold 
trim, white pants with a gold belt, green boots and green wristbands.

Several kids were walking past, staring at him and muttering between 
themselves.  No one knew who he was, but one thing they knew for sure: 
anyone who looked and dressed the way he did had to be a martial artist, a 
fact that made the male students grumble.

The boy barely noticed them.  His emerald-green eyes slowly scanned the 
school grounds as he felt the aura in the air around him.  So far he was 
disappointed, only one person, a shaggy-haired boy who was swinging around a 
wooden sword, was giving out any battle aura, and it wasn�t even very much.

What a waste of time, the boy thought.

Sighing, the boy gave a last fleeting look at the school, then turned around 
to leave-

POW!

-and was knocked flat on his back.

As he lay on the ground letting his eyes readjust, a girl knelt down beside 
him.

�Ranma, you idiot!  Why don�t you watch where you�re going?�  the girl 
shouted.  Then she turned to the boy.  �Are you alright?�

The boy took a moment to study the girl.  Short dark hair, beautiful eyes, 
and most importantly, an aura about her that nearly matched the boy with the 
wooden sword.

�Yes, thank you.�  Then the boy sat up and started looking around for the 
one who ran him down.  He saw him instantly; a slightly muscular boy with 
black pants, a red Chinese shirt and a long pigtail.  Ranma, the girl had 
called him, was being confronted by the wooden-sword boy.

�Sorry about Ranma, he�s a total jerk sometimes!�  the girl told him.

The boy�s face gave no indication as to whether or not he agreed.  �Would 
that Ranma happen to be a friend of yours, miss?�

The girl looked surprised, then frowned.  �Well, we�re kind of engaged, 
but��

�Well then,� The boy said.  �I shall apologize to you now, ma�am, for having 
to kill him.�

�Wha?�  Was all the girl got out before the silver-haired boy jumped up and 
ran toward Ranma, leaving her behind.  The boy named Ranma had defeated the 
wooden-wielding boy by the time the silver-haired boy reached him.

�Turn and face your executioner, coward!�

Ranma looked around in confusion.  �You talking to me?�

�Of course!  You think you can sneak-attack Ginami Ryujin like that without 
a reprisal?�

Ranma scratched his head awkwardly.  �Oh yeah, sorry about that.  I didn�t 
see you there and I was in a hurry and-�

�No excuses!�  Ginami interrupted.  �Feel my wrath, Ran-OOF!�

Ginami�s speech was cut off when a bicycle suddenly dropped onto his head 
and knocked him to the ground again.

�Nihao, Ranma.�  A purple-haired girl on the bike said.

�Hey Shampoo.�  Ranma said.

�Ranma, you come and date with Shampoo now, yes?�  The girl asked.

�Sorry Shampoo, but I have school right now.�  Ranma said in a voice that 
subtly said �I wouldn�t do it even if I didn�t have school�.

Ginami, still under Shampoo�s bike, was little impressed.  With a growl, he 
stood up and flung the bike away, taking great satisfaction in hearing it 
smash into the stone wall.

�Aiya, you break Shampoo�s bike!  Shampoo make mean boy pay for that!�

Ginami casually brushed himself off and swept his hair back over his 
shoulder before acknowledging Shampoo�s statement.

�I suggest you feel grateful that I took my aggression out on your bike 
rather than you, Amazon woman.  But if you�re that eager to get your life 
shortened, I�ll be happy to fight you when I�m done with this coward.�  he 
said as he gestured towards Ranma.

Ranma frowned.  �Ya know, I think you�re kinda blowing this whole thing out 
of proportion.  But if you want a fight, that�s fine with me.  Just try to 
last a little longer than Kuno did.�

A large crowd of students started gathering around to watch the impending 
fight.  Akane sighed in frustration.  �Why does he always have to cause 
trouble?�

Ranma and Ginami both took fighting stances, but neither moved to attack.  
After about ten seconds of staring at each other,  Ginami smirked.  �Feel 
free to start us off, coward.�

�Quit calling me a coward!�  Ranma leaped at Ginami and swung at him.  
Ginami spun past the punch and was behind Ranma before anyone could see it.  
A quick kick to the back sent Ranma sprawling onto the ground.

Ginami smirked.  �By the way, I�ll thank you to not insult me by comparing 
my strength with that amateur swordsman ever again.�

Ranma got back to his feet and brushed the dirt off his face.  �So you�re 
good.  That�s fine, because I�ve been looking for someone who could give me 
a decent workout.�

Ginami smiled menacingly.  �If you want a workout, I�ll work your arms out 
of their sockets.�

Ginami and Ranma charged each other, but at the last second, just as Ranma 
threw another punch, Ginami pulled his cape in front of him and Ranma 
punched it instead of him.  There was a loud �clang� and Ranma cried out in 
pain and began rubbing his injured hand.

�What happened?� Akane gasped.

�Aiya!� Shampoo shouted.

�What the heck is that thing made of?� Ranma demanded.

Ginami grinned smugly and flung his cape dramatically to the side.  
�Tempered dragon skin.  Light and flexible to the wearer, hard as steel to 
anyone else.  Sorry you had to find out the hard way, coward.�

�How is Ranma supposed to beat him if he can�t get through that cape?�  
Akane wondered out loud.

Ranma quickly shot back at Ginami.  But when Ginami pulled the cape up 
again, Ranma grabbed onto it and started to swing him around.  When he let 
go, Ginami flew across the schoolyard.  Several kids scattered out of the 
way, but Akane didn�t move in time and Ginami crashed into her and they both 
tumbled to the ground, with him ending up on top of her.

�Akane!�  Ranma shouted.

Ginami shook his head and tried to climb to his feet.  �Are you alright, 
Miss�Akane, was it?�

Akane held her head wearily.  �Y-yeah, I�m-�

�You scum!�  Ginami heard someone shout behind him.  He turned around 
expecting it to be Ranma, but instead saw a boy with a yellow and black 
bandanna carrying a backpack and an umbrella.

�How dare you try to take advantage of Akane Tendo like that?  And in public 
no less!�

Ginami was amazed, not by the sudden appearance of the boy or his ridiculous 
accusation, but of the amount of aura he was releasing.

Well, Ginami thought, maybe the rumors about this place were true after all.

�Wait, Ryoga, you�ve got the wrong idea!�  Akane exclaimed as she tried to 
get back up.

�Don�t try to defend him, Akane.  I know what I saw.  This pervert forced 
himself on you.  Well, if Ranma isn�t man enough to do something about it, 
then I will.�  Ryoga dropped his pack and raised his umbrella.  But before 
he could lunge at Ginami, Ranma pounded him on the head.

�Stay out of our fight, P-Chan.�

Ryoga punched him back, �Who are you calling P-Chan, sissy boy?�

The two continued to pound and insult each other while Ginami watched on in 
anger.

�Now he ignores me?  I won�t tolerate these insults any further!�

The silver-haired warrior�s eyes flashed red and he lunged forward and 
kicked the unsuspecting Ryoga with so much force that he flew through the 
air and smashed through the stone wall.  Ranma stared in stunned silence.

�This humiliation will not continue!�  Ginami shouted.  �Now fight me 
Ranma!�

Akane ran to help Ryoga as Ranma and Ginami resumed their fight.  Ginami 
threw punch after punch, but Ranma used his superhuman speed to dodge them.  
But every time Ranma tried to attack Ginami would block with his cape.

Suddenly, just as Ginami was aiming a kick for Ranma�s face, half a dozen 
ropes and chains flew out and wrapped around his body, pulling him 
ungracefully to the ground.

�Someone is about to die a very slow and painful death!�  he muttered as he 
twisted himself around to see who was attacking him this time.

Finally he saw that the chains were coming from a boy wearing a white robe 
with very large sleeves.

The boy laughed.  �Today Ranma, is the day I defeat you and win back my 
darling Shampoo!�

�Mousse, you moron!  He looks nothing like me!�  Ranma shouted.

Ginami was about to obliterate the boy, when Shampoo poured a bucket of 
water on him and turned him into a duck.

�You bother Ranma no more, Mousse.  Get brain and go back to China.�  The 
duck-boy quacked angrily until Shampoo slammed the bucket on his head.

Ginami stood up and freed himself from Mousse�s chains.  �I�m growing sick 
and tired of these interruptions.�  He turned back to Ranma.  �Are we going 
to finish this fight or not?�

�Saotome, I fight on!�  Kuno suddenly shouted as he lunged from out of 
nowhere at Ranma.  �Your vile techniques shall never topple the might of the 
great Tatewaki Kuno, Blue Thunder of-�

POW!

He didn�t get to finish before receiving a double kick from both Ranma and 
Ginami, sending him flying into the horizon.

Ginami�s eyes flashed menacingly across the school ground, almost daring 
someone else to interrupt them.  When he believed all was clear, he prepared 
to lunge again when he heard-

�Hold it righ der, brudas!�  A loud voice rang out.  Ginami and Ranma looked 
and saw the school principal, a muscular man with an unusually dark tan.  
�Fight�n on da school grounds is kapu!  Dat�s a demerit an� a head-shavin� 
fo� da both a ya!�

There was approximately 2.7 seconds of silence before Ginami roared in anger 
and kicked the principal with enough velocity to make him catch up, and 
collide in mid-air, with Kuno.

�Ranma, what do you say we try this again another time when there could be 
fewer idiots to get in our way?�

Ranma shrugged.  �Whatever, just name a time.�

�I think�five days should give you enough time to fulfill any lifetime goal 
you may have always wanted to accomplish.  Show up then and maybe I�ll think 
twice about calling you a coward.�

Ranma smiled.  �Fine, five days it is.  Just make sure your sense of 
direction isn�t as bad as Ryoga�s so I don�t have to wait for three weeks.�  
At hearing this, Ryoga ran up and punched Ranma in the head.

Ginami smirked at Ryoga.  �You can still move, huh?  Impressive, the last 
person I kicked that hard is dead.�

Ryoga glared back at Ginami.  �I will avenge Akane Tendo for what you did to 
her.�

Ginami only smiled.  �Don�t worry, your time will come.�  He turned back to 
Ranma.  �Remember, five days until you meet your fate coward.  You�ll learn 
what happens to those who insult a Dragon Master.�  And with a sweep of his 
cape, he walked off.

End of Prologue.


Chapter 1--Discoveries


As the school bell rang and everyone else was walking to class, Ranma, along 
with Ryoga, Akane, Shampoo and Mousse, watched as Ginami Ryujin walked off.  
�That guy has some anger problems.�

Akane scowled at Ranma.  �You don�t suppose running him over had anything to 
do with it, do you?�

Ranma scowled right back.  �Hey, I apologized, didn�t I?�

�Well maybe if you�d watch where you were going-�

Before the tirade that was Ranma and Akane�s usual arguments could commence, 
Ryoga, of all people, interrupted.  �What exactly is a Dragon Master?  I�m 
guessing it�s something more than just a fancy nickname.�

�There is legend in China that tell of Masters of Dragons.  Shampoo not know 
legend so well though.�  She brightened.  �Ranma should come with Shampoo to 
ask great-grandmother.�  She wrapped her arm around Ranma�s and started to 
lead him away.

�Hold it, Ranma!�  Mousse, now back in human form, shouted.  �I came here to 
beat you and win back Shampoo, so you�re not going anywhere until you fight 
me!�

Ranma lazily booted Mousse in the head and he fell to the ground.

�Happy now?�

Shampoo squeezed Ranma tightly.  �Ranma fight for Shampoo again!  Shampoo 
always know Ranma love her!�

�I didn�t do noth-�

Akane casually grabbed a bucket of water from�nowhere apparently, and threw 
the contents on them, instantly turning Ranma into a girl and Shampoo into a 
cat, which in turn caused Ranma-chan to run off screaming with Shampoo 
clinging to her head.

Ryoga watched Ranma with a look of disgust before turning to Akane.  �I 
should be going too, Akane.  I promised Akari I would meet her at 10:00.�  
He took a few steps then stopped and looked back.

�Uh, you wouldn�t happen to know how to get to the park from here, would 
you?� he asked with a light blush.

Akane looked at the school.  Ranma had gone off with Shampoo, the bell had 
already rung, and she really wasn�t in the mood to have her energy drained 
by Miss Hinako for being tardy.

She turned back to Ryoga and smiled.  �Well, why don�t I show you the way?�

Ryoga blushed deeper.  �I, I w-would like t-that v-very much, Akane.  Um, 
here�s t-the note she gave m-me.�  He handed her a crumpled piece of paper.  
Akane saw that it had very detailed directions and that the day to meet was 
two days ago.

Poor Ryoga.  She thought.  �Well, let�s get going.�
**********

Ginami Ryujin walked into the Shrine of the Dragon of Ages, located in one 
of the few remote areas in Tokyo.  His ancestor�s home was a gigantic 
structure that had often been mistaken by locals as an ancient Japanese 
palace.  He walked through the golden doors, through the lavishly decorated 
hallway, and up to the giant golden dragon statue in the center of the 
worship hall and knelt before it.

�Hear my voice, almighty Dragon of Ages.  I, Ginami Ryujin, last of the 
descendants of the Dragon Masters, blessed by your power, have a request.  
Carry my voice that it may reach my father, for I have news of great 
importance.� Ginami waited a moment until a shimmering man arose from the 
statue.  He, like Ginami, had long, silver hair and was wearing a flowing 
white cape.  �Hear me father.�  Ginami spoke again.  �I have met a fighter 
who I believe may be worthy of witnessing my true power.  His name is Ranma 
Saotome.  There are others as well.  All possess great skill, though none as 
promising as Ranma.�

The man frowned.  �You must take great caution, son.  Remember, the fate of 
our entire clan rests on your shoulders now.  You are the last of the Dragon 
Masters.  Your dying would mean the end of our legacy.  And don�t forget, 
reminding the world that the Dragon Masters still reign supreme is only one 
of your priorities.�

Ginami grinned.  �Don�t worry father.  The world will soon learn that the 
Dragon Master�s are still the strongest being in existence.  I will not let 
my family down.�

�Then go, and let your actions speak for you.�  There was a flash of light 
and he disappeared.

Ginami stood up just in time to feel something drop on his back and knock 
him back to his knees.

�Hi, Gin-san!�

Ginami grimaced in pain.  �Ko-chan, what have I told you about doing that?�

The person in question, a green eyed, slivery-blue haired ten year old girl 
wearing a bright pink sundress, giggled while bouncing on the young Dragon 
Master�s back happily.  �Not to?�  She asked innocently.

The girl climbed off Ginami�s back and began skipping circles around him.

Ginami got to his feet, popped his back into place, and turned to the little 
girl in irritation.  �And _why_ do I continue telling you not to do it when 
you just do it anyway?  He asked.

�Because if you didn�t have something to complain you�d be really bored and 
complain about having nothing to complain about?�  Kohana asked sweetly.

Ginami blinked, then grunted in mild amusement.  �Don�t get smart, squirt.�

The girl continued to skip and jump around happily.  �Let�s go play, 
Gin-san!�

Ginami patted the bubbly child on the head.  �Sorry, kiddo.  I still have a 
few things to take care of first.�

The girl stopped skipping and looked at Ginami sadly.

�Don�t look at me like that.�  Ginami pleaded.

Kohana continued to look crushed.

�You know what I�m doing is important for both of us.�

Kohana�s bottom lip started quivering.

�Okay, okay, listen.  When I come back tonight, I�ll bring you something, 
alright?�

The child�s eyes lit up quickly.  �Can you bring me a panda?�

Ginami groaned.  �Now, where in Japan am I suppose to find-�

�A big, fluffy panda with blue fur?�  Kohana continued.

�Panda�s don�t have-�

�And can play a trumpet and ride on a ball and sing karaoke and do the 
Mexican Hat Dance and play football and fly a kite and drive a car and do 
long division and-�

�Ko-chan!  I don�t think a panda like that exists anywhere in Japan �or 
anywhere else for that matter.�

Kohana returned to her upset stage, but only briefly.  �Can you bring me a 
penguin?�

��I�ll do what I can, kid.�
**********

�So old woman, do you know who this Dragon Master kid is?�  Ranma asked 
Shampoo�s great-grandmother, Cologne.

�Indeed.�  The old matriarch replied slowly.  �They were a clan of humans, 
all of whom were descended from a man who was said to have been blessed by 
one of the eight Legendary Dragon�s; the Dragon of Ages.  They had 
incredible strength, speed, and cunning, and were some of the greatest 
martial artists in the world.�

Shampoo gasped.  �They really that strong, grandmother?�

Cologne frowned.  �They _were_.  But the last I heard they were all wiped 
out some years ago. I could be wrong, the Dragon Master�s kept themselves 
secluded from everyone else, unless they were challenging them for 
superiority.�

�Did they ever challenge you?�  Ranma asked.

Cologne�s demeanor grew bitter.  �About a hundred and fifty years ago, 
before I became the matriarch, a couple of Dragon Masters came to 
Joketsuzoku and challenged our warriors.  We were�soundly defeated.  The 
matriarch at the time gave them several of our sacred Amazon scrolls in 
exchange for their promise to never return to our village.�

Ranma frowned.  �So who could have destroyed them if they were that 
powerful?�

�It is said that a great warrior destroyed them with the help of a sword 
that had been forged from the fang of the Dragon of Time, who was supposed 
to be the counterpart of the Dragon of Ages.  It was said to be the only 
thing that could kill a Dragon Master.�

Ranma smiled.  �Humph.  Well, I don�t need a sword to beat this guy.  We 
were fighting equally and I wasn�t even trying.�

Cologne shook her head.  �Neither was he, son-in-law.  I can guarantee you 
that if that boy really was a Dragon Master as he claimed, he wasn�t using 
anywhere near his full power.�

�Dragon Masters are very smart fighters, son-in-law.  They like to know who 
they are fighting before they take a real offense against them.  Don�t 
expect him to go so easy on you in a real fight.  Winning is very important 
to them, losing a fight is punishable by being exiled from the clan or being 
put to death.�

Shampoo was looking nervous.  �So Ranma no can win without fang sword?�

Cologne thought for a moment.  �It�s very unlikely, without the sword I 
would put his chances of victory at less than twenty percent.�

Ranma still wasn�t ready to admit that this Ginami Ryujin would be too much 
for him just because he didn�t have a magic sword to beat him with.  �But 
this is a kid, my age.  He can�t be as strong as the other Dragon Masters, 
could he?�

�Age makes no difference to them, son-in-law.  A Dragon Master is born with 
higher power than normal and the ability to grow stronger very quickly.  I 
will have you know that one of the Dragon Master�s that came to our village 
was a fourteen year old boy, but that didn�t stop him from beating one of 
our best fighters.�

The lazy, overconfident look in the young martial artist�s eyes slowly began 
to vanish.  �So where is this sword?� he asked after a long pause.

Cologne staff-walked to the back of the restaurant and returned a few 
moments later with a tattered piece of paper.  �This is a map that shows 
where the warrior left it after slaying the rest of the Dragon Masters.  It 
is in a cave far up in northern Japan.�

Ranma took the map.  �Then I guess I�ll go find this sword just in case your 
hunch is right.�

But Cologne took the map back.  �No son-in-law, you must be here to accept 
the challenge in five days.  If you go to look for the sword you may not 
make it back in time.�  The ancient woman handed the map to Shampoo.  
�Shampoo will find the sword for you.�

�What?  No way!  This is my fight; I should be the one to get it, even if I 
am a little late.�

�If you are late for your fight, the boy is liable to get very angry.  
Remember, a Dragon Master shares a dragon�s terrible temper.�

�But�� Ranma started, looking over at Shampoo.  The Amazon girl could be 
annoying at times with her love potions and drugged food, but Ranma didn�t 
want to see her get hurt.

Cologne interrupted.  �I thank you for your concern for my great- 
granddaughter�s safety, but Shampoo is perfectly capable of handling this on 
her own.�

�No!  She won�t be alone!� a voice behind them shouted.

Everyone turned and saw Mousse standing in the doorway.  �If Shampoo is 
going on this journey, then I shall go with her.�

Shampoo glared at him.  �Shampoo not need any help from you, Mousse.�

But Cologne nodded.  �Very well, Mousse, you will accompany Shampoo on the 
search for the sword.�

Shampoo looked at Cologne like she was insane, but Mousse, not wearing his 
glasses, bowed deeply in front of Ranma.  �Thank you, old mummy.�

Cologne smacked him with her staff.  �Show proper respect, boy.�

Mousse got back up and bowed again.  �Forgive me, you primordial being of 
the underworld.�

That one got him flung into the nearest wall.

�Why you let him go with Shampoo?�  Shampoo demanded.

�Because you are going to need help in finding this sword and getting it 
back in time for son-in-law�s fight.  Besides, there�s always the chance 
that he might fall off a cliff or get eaten by something.�  Cologne said.

If Mousse hadn�t been embedded in the wall, he would have facefaulted.

�Now get going, you two.  The longer you wait here, the more time you lose 
to get back with the sword.�

As they were leaving, Shampoo glomped hard onto Ranma.  �No worry, Airen.  
Shampoo find sword and bring back for you.  Then you no lose to Dragon Boy 
for sure.  It shame though, that you no can go with me instead of stupid 
Mousse.  We go on date for celebrate when return.�

Mousse pulled himself out of the wall and stood up.  �Just to make 
everything clear, Ranma Saotome, I am not doing this for you.  I merely must 
go to protect my darling Shampoo.�

�Mousse, that�s a cat statue.�  Cologne told him.

Ranma groaned.  �Shampoo already left, you know.�

Mousse looked up, ran to the door, ran into the wall, put his glasses on, 
and ran out to catch up with Shampoo.  Ranma groaned again, and began to 
walk home.
**********

Later�

Ginami walked through Nerima looking for somewhere to eat.  The sun was 
already beginning to set and he hadn�t eaten all day.  He wished he had had 
Kohana cook something before he took off again.  The little girl was liable 
to give a person diabetes from her unfathomable amount of sweetness, but she 
was also the best cook he knew.

As he walked down the road, he came across Ucchan�s Okonomiyaki and went in.

�Welcome to Ucchan�s.�  A very attractive woman in ninja garb greeted him.  
�Please have a seat and Miss Ukyo will be right with you.�  Ginami nodded, 
then sat down and watched as the ninja sped from table to table, cleaning, 
gathering dishes and zipping back to the kitchen.

The girl had talent, he had to admit, though he briefly wondered why a ninja 
would be waiting tables in a restaurant.

When she came back, a young man was with her.

�Thank you, Konatsu.�  The boy said to the ninja.

�It is my pleasure, Miss Ukyo.�  The ninja Konatsu said while bowing to her.

Ginami nearly facefaulted at hearing that the boy was a �Miss�, but 
recovered quickly.

Ukyo turned to Ginami, apparently missing the facefault.  �Welcome to 
Ucchan�s.  What would you like?�

Ginami gave his order and Ukyo fried and served it in a flash.  He took a 
bite.  �This�is delicious!  I�ve never tasted okonomiyaki this good before.� 
  I should get this recipe for Kohana, he thought.

Ukyo beamed happily.

Konatsu looked up from her work.  �Ukyo-sama is the best okonomiyaki cook in 
all of Japan.�  The ninja stated.

Ukyo beamed brighter.  �Well, I have to be a good cook for my future 
husband.� she said modestly.

�You mean you�re engaged.�  Ginami asked as Konatsu quickly went back to 
work.

Ukyo nodded.  �Yep, to Ranchan.�

That name caught his attention for some reason.  �Ran�chan?�  Ginami 
repeated.  �Who is this Ranchan?�

Ukyo got a dreamy look in her eyes.  �Ranma Saotome, the greatest martial 
artist in the world.�  She replied fondly.

Ginami began choking and coughing violently.  Ukyo quickly pulled out her 
giant spatula and hit him across the back with it, sending a chunk of 
okonomiyaki flying across the room, which Konatsu quickly cleaned.

�If�you are Ranma Saotome�s fianc�e, then what is he to Akane Tendo, or that 
Chinese Amazon girl?� he asked as he gasped for breath.

Ukyo lost her smile.  �Well, they�re kind of his fianc�e�s too, I guess.  
But I�m the real one, because we were engaged first.�

The Dragon Master wasn�t sure he had heard right.  �He is�engaged�to all 
three of you?�

�Yeah, pretty much.�

Ginami�s green eyes flashed a fiery red for a brief instant as he stood up 
angrily.  �So�not only is Ranma Saotome a coward, he is also a two-timing 
womanizer!�

�Hey, you can�t talk about my Ranchan like that!�

But Ginami had already run out the door.

�What a creep.�  Then it dawned on her.  �Hey, he left without paying!  Who 
is that guy anyway, Konatsu?  Konatsu?�  Ukyo looked around but Konatsu 
wasn�t there, either.
**********

Ranma Saotome, a low-life scum like you deserves nothing less than a painful 
death!  And I will see to it!  Ginami thought as he streaked across the 
rooftops in pure Nerimian martial arts fashion, so angry that he could 
barely see straight.

Of all the things in this world that he despised, taking advantage of women 
was one of the worst.  It was apparent to him that Ranma Saotome was not 
only leading on at least three different women, but actually had each of 
them believing that she was the one that he really loved.  Ginami�s blood 
was boiling as he thought of all the things he had probably done to them.

Suddenly, a kunai knife flew past him.  He turned around to see the ninja 
girl Konatsu behind him.

�I can�t allow you to disrespect Miss Ukyo like that, sir.  Either you will 
return and apologize for your comments or I will be forced to make you 
apologize.�  She threatened.

Ginami was mildly surprised by the female ninja�s spitfire attitude, but at 
least she had a decent amount of aura around her.

The Dragon Master grinned.  �I�m afraid we have a situation then.  One, I 
make it a policy not to fight with women, especially with women as beautiful 
as you, and two, I don�t believe I have anything to apologize for.�

Konatsu glared.  �Looks can be deceiving.�

�Oh?  How so?�

Konatsu grabbed his kimono and pulled it open, revealing to Ginami a flat, 
muscular chest.

Ginami stared in silence when he realized:  he had just hit on a guy!  He 
shuddered involuntarily.

Then he grinned.  �Since you�re a man, I have no problem fighting with you.  
But why don�t I give you another option.  You tell me where I can find the 
home of Ranma Saotome and I�ll let you leave on your own accord.  Should you 
refuse� well, I can tell you with complete certainty that you�re absolutely 
no match for me.�

Konatsu sprang forward.  �We will see.�  Konatsu struck at Ginami, who 
merely stepped to the side and gave a quick jab to Konatsu�s stomach.  
Konatsu crumpled in pain as Ginami laughed.  Konatsu jumped up and kicked 
Ginami in the chin.  Ginami staggered back a step, but quickly recovered and 
knocked Konatsu down again.

Still Konatsu got up and continued his relentless attack.  Ginami finally 
brought up his cape to block Konatsu�s attacks.  As Konatsu rubbed his 
throbbing hands, Ginami spun around and snapped Konatsu in the face with his 
cape.  It had an effect like being snapped with a wet towel.  �A very hard, 
very heavy wet towel.  Konatsu went flying off of the roof and landed hard 
on the street below.  Several people on the streets were gathering around 
now.  Ginami jumped to the ground and watched as Konatsu pulled himself to 
his feet and softly rubbed the giant welt on his feminine face.

�Ready to submit?�  Ginami asked.

�Never!�  The ninja suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.  Ginami frowned 
and looked around, but by now the sun had set and it was getting difficult 
to see anything.

Then, on instinct, he jumped to the side as a shower of shurikens landed in 
the exact spot where he had just been standing.  He then ran forward and 
grabbed Konatsu by the neck as he landed.  With a wicked grin, he hurled the 
ninja through a nearby store window.

The crowd winced in sympathy as Konatsu slowly rose again and climbed back 
through the shattered window.

Ginami swept his hair back with a bored expression on his face.  �I�ll give 
you one more chance.  Where does Ranma Saotome live?�

Konatsu staggered forward.  �You�ll get nothing out of me for the way you 
disrespected Miss Ukyo.�  The ninja pulled out a short sword from his 
kimono.

Ginami looked at the sword and chuckled.  �You know, there is a difference 
between being brave and being stupid.  Is that Ukyo girl really so important 
to you?�

Konatsu brought his sword up.  �Miss Ukyo has shown kindness to me that I 
don�t deserve.  For her, I will fight to the death.�

Ginami laughed.  �How noble, wanting to give your life for a girl who has 
already given her heart to someone else.�

Konatsu staggered like he�d be hit again.

�Well, no matter.�  Ginami continued.  �If it�s death you seek, I�ll be more 
than happy to oblige you!�  So saying, Ginami raised his hands and three 
glowing red orbs appeared above his head.

�Atama-san Ryu No Yurameku!�  Ginami shouted and sent the orbs flying at 
Konatsu.  Konatsu could do nothing but watch in horror as the orbs raced 
toward him.  They struck the ground around him and exploded.

Everyone who had stopped to watch was now running for their lives.  When the 
explosions faded and the smoke cleared, Konatsu lay on the ground, bloodied 
and motionless.

Ginami stood triumphantly with his arms crossed over his chest.  �I warned 
you.  You started something you had no chance of finishing.  I have no pity 
for you.�

Now I still have to find Ranma.  He thought as he ran off.  And when I do, 
he�ll get much worse than that ninja did.
**********

Ryoga Hibiki and Akari Unryu walked down the dimly lit streets of Nerima.  
Akane had led Ryoga to Akari�s meeting place that morning, and after Akari 
forgave Ryoga for not showing up two days ago, being used to it by now, they 
decided to walk to the park.  They spent the rest of the day together.  Now 
that it was getting late, Akari asked Ryoga to escort her home.

�Aren�t the fireflies beautiful, Ryoga-sama?�  She asked him as she stared 
at the many flashing insects flying around them.

�Uh, yeah, r-really beautiful.�  Ryoga stammered.

Akari giggled.  She found it so cute the way Ryoga got all nervous around 
her.  As they continued walking, Akari noticed Ryoga seemed to be deep in 
thought.

�Hey Ryoga, what are you thinking about?  You�ve seemed really distracted 
today.�

Ryoga looked up at the night sky, remembering how hard Ginami Ryujin had 
kicked him that morning, and wondering, if he got the chance, if he could 
really carry out his promise of avenging Akane Tendo�s honor.  He smiled 
casually.  �It�s nothing.  Nothing to worry about.�

Akari smiled and took Ryoga�s hand.  Ryoga blushed bright red but didn�t 
pull his hand away.

Unfortunately, the romantic moment was ruined by a nearby explosion.

�What was that?�  Akari asked.

Ryoga shook his head.  �I don�t know.  Let�s go check.�

They ran down the street and turned the corner, where they spotted a small 
group of people gathering around something. They made their way to the crowd 
and Ryoga squeezed his way to the front.  He gasped in surprise when he saw 
that it was a person lying on the ground.  When he bent down over him, he 
recognized him as Konatsu, the cross-dressing ninja who worked in Ukyo�s 
restaurant.

�Ryoga?�  Akari asked from behind him.  Ryoga didn�t answer, he was to busy 
observing Konatsu�s body, his clothes were torn and he was bleeding 
everywhere.

As Akari got closer, she let out a small gasp.  �Ryoga, who is this?�

�Konatsu Kenzan.�

�My gosh!  He looks like he�s been hit by a car.�

�I think it was worse than that.�

Ryoga turned and grabbed a random person standing next to him.  �Who did 
this?�  He demanded.

The man started to sweat.  �Uh�some freaky guy with silver hair.�

I knew it, the lost boy thought.  �Why were they fighting?�  He asked the 
man.

�I-I don�t know.  I mean, he was talking about someone named Ranma and-�

Ryoga dropped him and turned back to Akari.  �Akari, go to Ucchan�s and tell 
Ukyo what happened.  You need to get him to a hospital, or to Dr. Tofu�s.�

�What about you, Ryoga-sama?�  She asked.

�Don�t worry about me.�  He told her as he ran off into the night.

A few seconds later, Ryoga stopped.  �Oh man, I forgot where the Dojo is.�  
He turned back around to ask Akari, but no one was there.  He looked around 
him and saw that nothing looked familiar.

�Why me?�  He muttered.

**********

An hour later, Ginami was still in search of Ranma Saotome, and he was 
beginning to get frustrated at not having found it yet.  Then to further 
darken his mood, it was starting to rain.

Just when he had decided to go home until morning, he felt a large aura 
coming toward him.  Thinking it had to be Ranma, Ginami quickly hid in the 
shadows and waited.

He didn�t wait long until he heard someone running down the street.  Ginami 
actually noticed that several people seemed to be coming that way.  Through 
the rain and darkness, he couldn�t tell if it was Ranma or not, but decided 
not to miss the opportunity.  Ginami jumped out from his hiding place�

And the blur ran right over him without so much as a pause.

And so did the mob that was chasing it.

Ginami sat up slowly.  �Okay, Ranma or not, that thing dies!�

Ginami sprang up and dashed after his target.  He quickly caught up with the 
mob and with a Martial Arts Super Jump�, leapt over them, and began 
searching the grounds for the thing as he made his descent.

�ACK!�

Ginami blinked.  He appeared to have stepped on his quarry.  Odd though, it 
was far too small to be Ranma, or human for that matter.

Before Ginami could get a good look at who it was, the mob was on it. 
Ginami�s confusion rose when he noticed that the entire mob was made up of 
women.  His first thought was that perhaps all these women had been led on 
by Ranma.  The thought past quickly as one of the girls grabbed a large bag 
that had been slung over the person�s back and they walked off.

Ginami looked down and to his disappointment, saw that it was not Ranma, but 
some sort of small, shriveled up monkey-looking thing.  He cautiously bent 
down and poked the creature on the head.

�And people say living next to radiation plants is harmless.�  He muttered.

Then the thing slowly began to stir and got to his feet.  �Darn you, Ranma.  
How dare you ruin your master�s fun like that?�  He looked up at Ginami.  
�You�re not Ranma!�

Ginami was suddenly smiling.  �Very observant.  Forgive the intrusion, 
Elder.  I thought you were someone else.  Tell me, did I hear you say that 
you were Ranma Saotome�s master?�

�That�s right.  Master Happosai, the creator of the Anything Goes Martial 
Arts style.  Taught Ranma everything he knows, I did.  And how does he repay 
me?  Ruins all the fun I try to have, that�s how!  It�s getting so I can�t 
steal a single bra without him getting in the way anymore.�

�Well, maybe you could help me out.  You see, I have a message I need to 
give to Ranma Saotome, but I don�t know where he lives.  Do you think you 
could tell me?�

Happosai glared defiantly.  �Why should I help you?  You just cost me a 
whole days worth of looting.�

Ginami frowned.  This old man sounded more and more like a teacher of 
Ranma�s with every sentence.  He thought fast.  �Tell you what, you tell me 
where Ranma is, and I�ll make sure he never interferes with any more of your 
�fun�.  Maybe I�ll even introduce you to a girl I know.�

Happosai�s eyes lit up and he got so excited he started bouncing.  �Okay, 
deal.  She�s a young girl right?  �Cause I�m gonna be real mad if it turns 
out ot be your grandma!  I really like blondes.  But redheads are good, too. 
  What are her measurements?�

�Why don�t we talk along the way?  It�s rather unpleasant in this rain.�  
Ginami suggested.
**********

At the Tendo Training Hall, everything was going about as normal as it ever 
was.    Ranma and Genma were training in the dojo, Kasumi was again trying 
to teach Akane how to cook, and Nabiki was beating Soun in Chinese checkers.

Kasumi was fighting to keep a smile on her face.  The concoction that was 
Akane�s latest attempt at cooking was now a bowl of greenish-gray matter 
that had the consistency of two month old pudding, and unless she was 
mistaken, it appeared to be moving.

�Akane, put in a half cup of soy sauce.�  She instructed casually.

�Right.�  Akane said, while putting in vanilla extract.

�Um, now put in two teaspoons of salt.�  Kasumi watched as Akane 
accidentally dumped the whole bag in the mix.  The mixture immediately 
turned dark brown, burst into flames, and deflated like a disturbed souffl�.

�Hey girls, when will dinner be ready?�  Their father asked.

�Uh, as soon as the delivery boy gets here, father.�  Kasumi said as she 
dumped the failed mixture while Akane walked off in a deep funk.
**********

�Dragon Master?�  Genma asked.  Ranma and his father Genma had been fighting 
fiercely; as they always did for their training, but when Ranma told him 
about Ginami Ryujin, Genma had stopped in his tracks, leaving him wide open 
to a kick to the face.

�That�s right.  He showed up at school and challenged me to a fight in five 
days.�  Ranma told him.

Genma shivered.  �This is bad news.  Dragon Masters were once considered to 
be the strongest beings on Earth.�

Ranma nodded.  �Yeah, I know.  The old ghoul told me all about it.  
Apparently I need this special sword if I want to beat h-hey!�

Genma picked up Ranma and threw him outside into the rain.

Ranma-chan ran back inside.  �What was that for?�

Genma looked down at her.  �That�s for being stupid enough to accept a 
challenge from a Dragon Master.  Now let�s get back to work.�

Ranma-chan agreed by launching her father outside in the same manner, 
turning him into a giant panda.
**********

Back in the house, Happosai and Ginami walked in.  �Hello master.�  Soun 
greeted.  �Back so soon?  And with a guest, too.�

Happosai hopped up to the table.  �This boy�s here to see Ranma.  Is dinner 
ready?�

�Kasumi, could you go tell Ranma that he has a guest?�  Soun called.

�Okay, daddy.�

Nabiki looked over at Ginami.  �You�re that guy who was fighting with Ranma 
this morning.� she stated rather than asked.

Ginami smiled at her.  �I�m glad to see I�ve left an impression on you, 
Miss.�

Akane walked into the room and froze when she saw who it was.  �Ginami!�

Ginami smiled sweetly and bowed slightly to her.  �Nice to meet you again, 
Miss Akane.  Please accept my apologies for the little incident this 
morning.�  He turned to Soun and Nabiki.  �It is a pleasure to meet you, 
also.  And my compliments on your amazing dojo, sir.�

Soun smiled with pride.  �Well, I try my best.  You wouldn�t believe how 
hard it is to keep the place clean.�

�How would you know, daddy?  Kasumi is the one who does all the cleaning.�  
Nabiki said as Soun smiled sheepishly.

Ginami stepped further inside.  �I must also compliment you on your lovely 
daughters.�  He told him while smiling sweetly at Nabiki.

Nabiki ignored the compliment, albeit turning a light shade of pink.  Akane 
had disappeared to the dojo.

Happosai, meanwhile, was bouncing around on the table ecstatically.  �This 
nice boy is going to introduce me to his cousin!  Tell Soun about her, 
Ginami m� boy, tell him what she looks like.�

But at that moment, Kasumi and Akane returned with a young wet girl and a 
wet panda behind them.

Ginami stared in confusion.  �So where is Ranma?�

�Can�t you see?�  Happosai asked, jumping over to the three girls.  �This is 
Ran��

Akane kicked the old man out the back door as casually as possible, and then 
turned back to Ginami.

�Um, Ranma is gone right now.  This is�Ranma�s sister.�  The redhead smiled 
nervously.

The panda walked past the girls, sat down at the table, and held up a wooden 
sign that said �When�s dinner?�

Ginami stared at it.  �Are you aware that there�s a panda in your house?�

Akane nodded.  �Yeah, he�s, uh�the family pet.  Uh, pretty well trained 
isn�t he?�

Kohana�d love that, Ginami thought, then turned back to Ranma-chan.  �I have 
a message for your brother. �I�ve learned of his womanizing ways.  And I�ve 
decided to raise the stakes for our fight.  If he wants to know what they 
are, he will meet me in person by the lake in the park tomorrow at noon.  
And if he doesn�t show up, it will make me quite angry.� he said with an 
extra emphasis at the end.

Ginami brushed his hair back and his calm, friendly demeanor returned.  �And 
with that, I bid you all a goodnight.�  Ginami bowed to them, then turned 
and walked out the door before anyone could say anything.
**********

�He didn�t seem all that evil to me.�  Soun said after Ranma and Akane 
filled them all in on Ginami.

�That was just an act, daddy.  He�s vicious when he�s fighting.�  Akane told 
him.

�Why didn�t you just fight him now, son?�  Soun asked Ranma.

Genma-panda held up a sign.  �He was afraid that he would lose.�

Ranma hit him over the head.  �Don�t be stupid.  If I had fought him now, 
the entire dojo could have been destroyed.�

Soun�s eyes widened.  �Ah, good thinking boy.  Nothing wrong with being a 
coward when my dojo is at risk.�

Ranma almost hit him over the head, too.  �Besides, now I need to find out 
what he wants with me tomorrow.�

Nabiki said, �Looks like something about your womanizing has upset him.�

�I don�t womanize!�  Ranma cried.

�Then what do you call having three fianc�e�s?�

�The stupidity of my father!�  Ranma said.  �You think I want three 
fianc�e�s?�

Happosai jumped on his head.  �Of course you do, boy!  Who in their right 
mind wouldn�t want to be married to three women?�

Ranma kicked him back out the door.  �Anyone who ain�t a withered up old 
pervert!�

The arguing continued and no one saw a little black pig wander in the front 
door.  The pig quickly climbed the stairs and headed for the bathroom.  
There was water filling the tub, which Kasumi had started for Genma and 
Ranma after their training.

The pig jumped into the hot water and instantly turned into Ryoga.  He 
quickly grabbed a spare set of clothes that he always left hidden in the 
Tendo�s bathroom just for times like this, thinking how lucky he was to have 
found the Tendo�s dojo so quickly.  Then he went back downstairs.

�Hello, Ryoga.  When did you get here?�  Kasumi asked.

Ryoga just nodded and turned to Ranma instead.  �Have you seen Ginami 
recently?�

Ranma nodded.  �He just left.  Why?�

�Just wanted to let you know what you�ve gotten yourself into.  It looks 
like Ginami got bored with waiting for your fight.�

�What happened, Ryoga?�  Akane asked.  �Did he hurt somebody?�

Ryoga thought back to Konatsu�s bloodied form.  �Hurt would be an 
understatement, Akane.  But yes, he attacked Konatsu.�

�Konatsu?  You mean that girly ninja who works with Ucchan?�  Ranma asked.

�Why would he want to attack him?�  Akane asked.

Ryoga shook his head.  �I don�t know.  But I only came to tell you, Ranma; 
the way Konatsu looked, it was amazing that he wasn�t dead.�

Everyone was quiet for a few moments.

�Ginami came by a few minutes ago, and from what I saw, he didn�t have a 
scratch or bruise on him.�  Akane said as the others nodded their agreement.

Ryoga said.  �Konatsu is no slouch when it comes to fighting.  If he beat 
Konatsu that easily, it could mean two things.  He either sneak-attacked 
him, which I doubt because he would have no reason for it, or he beat him in 
a fight, meaning that there�s no telling how strong he truly is.�

Ryoga turned to the door.  �I have to go back to Akari, she went to find 
Ukyo and tell her about it.  I hope you have some plan Ranma.  
Otherwise�well, there may be one less Anything Goes Martial Artist in five 
days.�  Ryoga walked back into the night rain, and only Ranma noticed him 
turn into a little black pig.


End of Chapter 1
FYI:  Atama-san Ryu No Yurameku-- Roughly translated as Three-Headed Dragon 
Flare


Chapter 2--A Challenge, A Fight, A Secret


As the sun rose over the high mountains, Shampoo and Mousse stepped off a 
train.  It was fortunate that a tour train happened to be going almost 
exactly where they were headed, otherwise the two Amazon�s would be making 
this journey as a cat and duck, and without any source of hot water for 
miles, that thought wasn�t to appealing.

Mousse looked around, in every direction, the horizon ended in steep 
mountains.  Shampoo looked at the map.  �We in Phoenix Nest now.  We go to 
tallest mountain and find cave.  Where you see tallest mountain?�

Mousse looked around.  �They all look the same to me.�

�Put glasses on, stupid.�  Shampoo told him without looking up from the map.

Mousse put his glasses back on and checked again.  �Over there.�  He said, 
pointing to the right.

Shampoo started running toward the mountain, with Mousse running after her.  
�Hey, what�s the rush?�

Shampoo didn�t slow down or look back.  �Faster Shampoo find sword, faster 
she get to Ranma.  Then Ranma finally admit love for Shampoo, who bravely 
find special sword all by self for him.�

Mousse caught up to her.  �What do you mean by yourself?  I�m with you.�

�Shampoo can do without help from idiot.�

Mousse stopped running and watched Shampoo run off.  Tears welled up in his 
eyes and he dropped down to his knees.  �Shampoo,� he sobbed.  �Why�why do 
you hate me so?  All the time we�ve known each other, I have loved you more 
than anything, but you want nothing to do with me.  What is it about me that 
you despise so much?  If I only knew, I would gladly change anything about 
me for you, dear Shampoo.�  Then, looking up, he noticed she was almost out 
of sight, for him anyway, and he jumped up to catch up to her.
**********

At noon, Ranma made his way to the park.  Akane had wanted to go along, but 
Ranma insisted she stay behind, just in case Ginami decided to get violent, 
which sent them into another one of their rants of how Ranma thought Akane 
was weak, how Ranma didn�t want her to get hurt, how Akane could take care 
of herself, uncute tomboy, pervert, macho chick, jerk, POW!

At the moment, Ranma was actually sailing through the air, once again a 
victim of Akane�s mighty uppercut.  Fortunately for him, Akane had been nice 
enough to punch him in the direction of the park.

As it came into view, he saw Ginami standing by the lake in the center.  The 
Dragon Master looked up and waved cheerfully at him.  Then Ranma noticed 
exactly where he would be landing.

�Oh shi-�

SPLASH!

Stupid Akane!  She did that on purpose!  Ranma thought.

Ranma-chan looked over at the edge of the lake where Ginami was holding up a 
small sign that had a 7.2 written on it.

�Not bad Ranma, but you need to work on your entrance.�  Ginami said with a 
chuckle.

Ranma grumbled.  �Stow it, white-hair.�

�That�s silver hair, thank you very much.  And speaking of hair, I�d advise 
you to get a refund on whoever dyed yours.  One splash of water and it�s 
turned as red as your �sister�s�.�

�Will you just get to the point, Ginami?�  Ranma asked irritably.

�And unless those are air-bubbles caught in your shirt-�

�Hey Ginami!�  Ranma suddenly shouted.

�What Ranma?�

�Look out behind you.�

Ginami laughed.  �Honestly Ranma, how childish do you think-�

His sentence was cut off when he found himself in the pond next to Ranma.

�Sorry about that dude.�  A guy on a skateboard shouted.  �Didn�t see you 
there!�

Ginami�s eye began to twitch as he watched the kid skate off.

�Settle down,� he mumbled. �Just stay calm�stay calm�stay-�

�Ribbit.  Ribbit.�

�Ranma?�  Ginami said.

�Yeah?�

�There�s a frog on my head, isn�t there?�

�Two of �em, actually.�  Ranma said with a straight face.

�Right, then.�

The Dragon Master gave a bellow of rage, causing the two frogs to jump back 
into the water.

�Oh no, you don�t!� he shouted.  �Get back here and fight like men!  I�m 
gonna turn you into a French delicacy!�

Ranma climbed out of the water and began wringing her clothes out as she 
watched Ginami thrash around after the frogs.

�I can never have just a normal, level-headed opponent, can I?�  She 
muttered to herself.

After another minute, Ginami leapt out of the water and landed next to 
Ranma.  Luckily, he seemed to have calmed down slightly.

�Ranma, I�ve heard from a Miss Ukyo Kuonji that you are engaged to her, as 
well as Akane Tendo and the Amazon Shampoo.  Is this true?�

�It�s more complicated than that, Ginami.�  Ranma told him.

�What, you mean you�re actually engaged to _four_ women?� the Dragon Master 
accused.

�No!  I mean that it�s my idiot dad�s fault that I�m engaged to them!�

Ginami thought that over, then grinned.  �Well, if that�s the case, then 
I�ll get right to the point.  I�m sure you�ve heard of me:  the last Dragon 
Master, and how my people were the strongest in the world?�

Ranma nodded.

�Well this is what I propose:  I was sent by my father�s spirit to prove to 
the world that the Dragon Master�s are still the strongest force in the 
world, but that was only one of my missions.  The other�was to find a wife, 
in order to insure that our legacy would continue in the unlikely event of 
my death.�

Ginami was silent for several seconds, so Ranma decided to speak.

�So what does this have to do-?�

�DON�T INTERRUPT ME!  Kami, don�t you have any feel for dramatics, Saotome?�

Ranma just sighed.

�_Anyway_, in our fight in four days, I plan to accomplish both of these 
missions at the same time.�

�How do you mean?�  Ranma asked cautiously.

�I mean, Ranma, that after I beat you in our fight, I am going to relieve 
you of one of your fianc�e�s, and make her my wife.�

Ranma was on her feet and in the Dragon Master�s face in a flash.  �There is 
no way that is going to happen!�

Ginami smirked.  �Well Ranma, you can either accept, or you can back down 
and prove to be the womanizing coward that I know you are.  Your choice.�

Ranma glared at him.  �I won�t lose, and you won�t be taking any of them 
when it�s over.�

Ginami continued to smirk.  �We�ll see, Ranma, we�ll see.  But before you 
get too overconfident, why don�t you visit Konatsu�s hospital room and ask 
him what it�s like to fight a Dragon Master?�  He swept back his hair, then 
turned and began to walk off.  �See you at the fight, Ranma, and please, 
tell your sister �hi� for me.�

Ranma growled, then turned and walked in the other direction.  �Later, Frog 
Master.� She called back.

Ginami seethed.  He _hated_ not getting the last word in.
**********

�WHAT??�  Was the general reaction Ranma got when he told Akane and the 
others about Ginami�s message.

�Yeah, that�s what he said.�  Ranma said quietly.

�And you actually agreed to this, Ranma?�  Akane shouted.

�Hey!  It�s not like he was giving me a choice about it.  What do you think 
he would have done if I tried to call the fight off?�  Ranma shot back.

Akane didn�t answer, but glared angrily at him.

�Besides, what makes you think he would choose a macho chick like you even 
if he did win?�

Akane scowled.  �Oh yeah, I guess he would rather pick one of your cute 
fianc�e�s, wouldn�t he?�

�If he had any sense.�  Ranma retorted, sticking his tongue out at her.

Akane smashed Ranma with her mallet.  �Fine!  Go ahead.  And I don�t care if 
you win or not!�  Then she stomped out of the dojo.

�Ranma,� Soun said quietly.  �Now that you have dragged my little girl into 
this, I just want to tell you,� his head grew ten times, courtesy of the 
Tendo Demon-Head technique. �YOU HAD BETTER WIN THIS FIGHT!!!�
**********

Ranma, you jerk!  Akane thought as she stormed away from the house.  He 
never cares about anything but his own ego!

Akane wondered why he always had to be that way.  All he ever wanted to do 
was fight, and he didn�t care if someone close to him got in the way.  She 
couldn�t understand how their father�s expected them to get along, let alone 
get married, which they _weren�t_, when he insulted her all the time, even 
if she was trying to be nice to him.  Everyday it was a crack about her 
being too macho, or a tomboy, or a lousy cook.

�Akane.�  A voice called out.

Akane snapped out of her thinking and looked up to see Ukyo running down the 
sidewalk toward her.

�Hey Ukyo.  Um, how�s Konatsu?�  Akane asked.  It was always rather awkward 
when the martial artist and the okonomiyaki cook were together.  They got 
along well enough, but it was pretty hard to become real friends with the 
whole Ranma�s fianc�e thing going on.

Ukyo sighed.  �Not so good.  They say his wounds aren�t quite as bad as they 
looked, but�he�s lost his memory.�

Akane gasped.

�I went to see him just now, and�he doesn�t even remember me.  He doesn�t 
remember anything.�

Akane didn�t even know what to say about that.

�Now I�m stuck running the restaurant by myself.  Why did he have to go 
after that guy?  Just because the creep left without paying doesn�t mean he 
has to go and get himself killed.�

�Pardon me, but I couldn�t help but overhear.�  A voice said.  Akane and 
Ukyo turned around and saw a smirking, and slightly soaked, Ginami standing 
before them.

Ukyo instantly had her giant spatula out and swung at him.  Ginami calmly 
raised his hand and caught the spatula.

�Now, now, now, no need to get violent, Kuonji-san.�

�You monster!�  She screamed.  �How dare you show your face to me after what 
you did to my assistant?�

Ginami let go of the spatula.  �Is that all he is to you, Ukyo?  Your 
assistant?�

Neither girl said anything.

Ginami continued.  �I tried to talk him out of it, you know.�

The girls glared at him.

�I told him he was no match for me, but you know how stubborn some people 
can be.  Heh, he said something rather interesting to me, too.  It went 
something like �For Miss Ukyo, I will fight to the death.�  Humph, sounds 
pretty pathetic to willingly throw your life away for someone who doesn�t 
consider you anything more than an assistant.  Don�t you agree, Kuonji-san?�

Ukyo began to tremble in anger.

Akane stepped forward angrily.  �Stop this, Ginami!  Your fight is with 
Ranma, so leave the rest of us out of it.�

Ginami smiled again.  �Now Akane, I�m sure you know by now that that is not 
possible anymore.  And you have only Ranma to blame for you and the other�s 
being involved in the first place.  But perhaps you�d like to inform Ukyo 
about what Ranchan has gotten her into.  Or maybe you should wait until the 
Amazon girl is with you so you only have to tell the story once.�

Shampoo, Akane thought.  She still isn�t back from that mission that the old 
woman sent her on.

�Akane, what is he talking about?�  Ukyo asked.  �What did Ranchan get us 
into?�

Akane didn�t answer and looked down at the ground.

Ginami stepped forward.  �Go on, Akane.  Tell Ukyo what your darling future 
husband has gotten you both into because of his oversized ego.�  Again Akane 
didn�t say anything.

�Don�t want to tell her?  Very well, then I guess she�ll find out for 
herself in four days.  Good day to you.�

Ginami turned to leave, but when he did, someone was standing in front of 
him.  He smiled.

�So, we meet again.�
**********

Ryoga and Akari had set off from Akari�s farm early that morning.  Since he 
was looking for Ginami, Ryoga would have insisted that Akari stay behind, 
but knew that if he didn�t have a guide, he�d end up somewhere out of Japan.

�Ryoga, you�re not really planning on fighting this dragon guy, are you?�  
Akari asked him.

Ryoga nodded.  �I have to.  If he thinks he can go around this town 
attacking and harassing people and get away with it, he�s got another thing 
coming.�

Akari looked really nervous.  �But what if he�s too strong for you?  What if 
he hurts you like he did to Konatsu?  I don�t want that to happen to you, 
Ryoga-sama.�

Ryoga was touched by Akari�s concern for his well-being.  �You don�t need to 
worry about me, Akari.  I�m not going to let a guy like him beat me.�

�How are you even going to find him?�

Ryoga looked ahead.  �He�s around here somewhere.  I can feel him.�

They walked a few blocks, even went back down some since Ryoga seemed to be 
leading the way, before finding him.  Ginami Ryujin was talking to Akane and 
Ukyo.  Ginami was laughing, and the girls were shaking.

That beast, Ryoga thought.  He walked up to Ginami just as he was turning 
around.  Ginami looked surprised, then smiled.

�So, we meet again.�

�You haven�t learned yet, have you?  Still harassing Akane, and I see you 
are now targeting Ukyo, as well.�  Ryoga accused.

Ginami didn�t answer, but smiled and chuckled slightly.

�It�s time I pay you back for that kick you gave me.�  Ryoga said.

Ginami laughed.  �If that kick is still bothering you Ryoga, then you 
shouldn�t even be thinking of challenging me.�

�Don�t patronize me!  And don�t feel too special about catching me off guard 
yesterday.�  He dropped his pack on the ground.  �I guarantee you it won�t 
happen again.�

Ginami smirked.  �So you�re serious.  Very well, I�ll play with you for a 
while.  You�ll make a good warm-up for Ranma.�

�You�ll be lucky if you make it to Ranma!�

Ginami swept his cape back and squared up with Ryoga.  �Your move.�
**********

The two Amazon�s made their way through the valley toward the base of the 
high mountain.  Shampoo checked the map again.  �We here now, so we go this 
way.�  She started walking and Mousse followed.

Suddenly, Mousse got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.  He looked 
around, but saw nothing threatening.  As they reached the base of the 
mountain where the map said the sword was hidden, Mousse again felt the 
strong presence of something evil.

�Shampoo, do you feel that?�

�Feel what?�

�I feel something evil nearby.  I think it�s coming from that cave.�  He 
said, pointing to the cave in the mountain.

�Poo, you imagine things.  We waste time.�  Shampoo walked inside the cave 
with Mousse right behind her.

They hadn�t walked far when the cave split in two directions.  �Figures.  
Which way does the map say to take, Shampoo?�

Shampoo shook her head.  �It not say.  Map only say sword in cave 
somewhere.�

Mousse closed his eyes.  As hard as he concentrated, he couldn�t tell from 
which direction the evil aura was coming from.

�Shampoo take right way, Mousse go left.�

�No.  I can�t let you go in there alone.  I�ve still got a bad feeling in my 
stomach about this place.�

�You probably eat bad fruit.  Shampoo not feel any danger.�

Mousse knew it was pointless to try to argue further with Shampoo.  
�Alright,� he nodded. �But if you need help, just yell and I�ll find you.�

Shampoo nodded.  Then, before he could stop himself, Mousse wrapped his arms 
around Shampoo and hugged her.

Then he let go, fully expecting her to clobber him, but instead she just 
sighed angrily, punched him once, and started walking down the right tunnel. 
  Mousse watched until she was out of sight, then set off down the left 
tunnel.
**********

Ryoga roared and sprang toward Ginami.  Ginami quickly brought up his cape 
and deflected Ryoga�s punch.  Ryoga didn�t back down and continued to punch, 
but only managed to hit the cape every time.  His hand was beginning to 
sting, but he wasn�t going to give Ginami the satisfaction of knowing it.

�Is that how you plan to fight?  Just hiding behind that cape?� he asked.

Ginami lowered the cape.  �I�m merely giving you the chance to show your 
skills before I destroy you.�

Akari had joined Akane and Ukyo and they were watching the battle from a 
short distance.

�I hope Ryoga breaks that jackass in half.�  Ukyo stated.

Akari looked on worriedly.  �Ryoga won�t lose.  He�s the strongest man in 
all of Japan.�

That cape is a real problem, Ryoga thought, but, maybe I have a way around 
it.

Ryoga charged again.  At the last second, Ginami raised his cape.  But this 
time Ryoga was prepared.

�BAKUSAI TENKETSU REVISED!�  Instead of punching the cape, he stuck out one 
finger and tapped the cape with it.  To Ryoga�s great relief and Ginami�s 
astonishment, the cape exploded into hundred�s of pieces.

Ginami was stunned.  �What in the world�?�

Akane was amazed.  �The Breaking Point!� she informed the others, who both 
were looking on in equal amazement.  �Cologne taught him that a long time 
ago.  I thought it only worked on rocks, though.�

Ukyo was growing excited now.  �Well, at least now it will be a level 
playing field.�

Wow, Ryoga�s even more impressive than I thought, Akari thought, looking at 
Ryoga with starry eyes.

Ryoga grinned triumphantly.  �So how do you like the revised form of my 
Breaking Point?  From the look on your face, I have to assume that you 
didn�t appreciate it much.�

How clever.  A technique that destroys objects just by touching them.  
Ginami thought.  He glared back at Ryoga.  �You�re going to pay for 
destroying my father�s cape, Ryoga.�

Ryoga retook his fighting stance.  �Does that mean you�re actually going to 
attack now?�

In answer, Ginami lunged and punched Ryoga in the stomach, then kicked him 
across the face.  Ryoga went down, but was back on his feet the next second. 
  The two attacked fiercely, neither wanting to give an inch, but after a 
while it looked as though Ginami was starting to get the better of Ryoga.  
Finally, Ryoga started stepping backward, trying to fend off Ginami�s fists.

�What�s wrong?�  Akari asked.  �Ryoga�s falling back!�

Akane looked on in confusion, but then she understood why.  �Ryoga may be 
just as strong as Ginami, but he�s too slow.  Ginami�s been punching Ryoga 
twice as many times as Ryoga is hitting him.�

Akari and Ukyo noticed it then, too.  Ginami was punching Ryoga almost three 
times as fast as Ryoga was, and was still able to block some of the lost 
boy�s punches in between.

The struggle raged on until Ryoga was knocked to the ground again.

�Ryoga-sama!�  Akari cried.

�Don�t worry,� Akane assured her.  �He�s not beat yet.  Ryoga�s taken worse 
than that from Ranma.�

And sure enough, before she even finished saying it, Ryoga was back to his 
feet again.

Ginami laughed cheerfully.  �You�re a true warrior, Ryoga.  I couldn�t ask 
for anything more.  I only hope Ranma can give me as good a fight.�

Ryoga growled in anger, not believing that Ginami could be thinking of Ranma 
at a time like this.  �I told you, you aren�t going to make it to Ranma.  
I�m finishing you here and now!�

Ginami stopped laughing.  �Well, at least you have some bite to back up your 
bark.  But I�m going to tell you what I told that over-feminine ninja, �You 
have no chance of defeating me.�  Perhaps you�ll be the wiser and heed my 
warning.�

Ryoga wiped the blood from his lip. �Don�t kid yourself.  You haven�t beaten 
me by a long shot.�
**********

Dumb Akane, Ranma thought.  She over-reacts to everything.  It�s not like 
the stupid condition was my idea.

Ranma was walking through the town looking for Akane.  Soun and Genma had 
demanded very firmly that he find her and apologize for what he said, but he 
was beginning to wonder if it was worth it.  How in the world did their 
father�s expect them to get along, much less get married, which they 
weren�t, when she overreacted to everything he said or did?  She even took 
it the wrong way when he was trying to be nice to her.

He didn�t have to search for long before he felt two large auras battling a 
few blocks to the east.  One had to be Ginami, the other was the very 
familiar Ryoga�s.

Shoot, he thought, if those two are fighting Akane better not be anywhere 
near it.

He was about to run toward them when he was suddenly doused with a splash of 
cold water.

Ranma-chan groaned, fully believing that the old water throwing lady had 
managed to hit him again.  But when she looked up, she saw the last person 
she expected or wanted to see.  Sitting above her on a brick wall, complete 
with his dragon skin bracers, pantyhose sash, and �I�m better than everyone� 
smile, was Pantyhose Taro.

�Well, well, well.  If it isn�t the fem-boy.�  He greeted Ranma.

Ranma groaned in disgust.  Why did he have to pick now to come to Japan, he 
wondered.  �I don�t have time for you now, Taro.  I have bigger problems at 
the moment.�

Taro pulled a flask from his belt and tossed it up and caught it with the 
same hand.  �I don�t think you do fem-boy.  After all, how many problems 
could be �bigger� than this?�

Ranma would never admit it, the last few times he had fought Taro in his 
cursed form hadn�t been easy.  Heck, the first time it had taken him, Ryoga, 
Shampoo, Mousse, Akane, and Happosai to beat him.

Taro�s curse was probably the strangest curse in all of Jusenkyo.  When 
splashed with cold water, the Chinese martial artist transformed into a 
giant (like house size) Minatare monster with oddly proportioned wings, an 
eel for a tail, and octopus tentacles sprouting from his back.

Taro smirked at Ranma�s hesitance.  �Don�t get your tampons in a bunch, 
Fem-Boy.  I�m not here for you�yet.  Just tell me where I can find Happosai 
and you can go back to doing whatever an aquatransexual like you does in his 
free time.�

�As if you would stand a chance against him, Pantyhose.�  Ranma felt a small 
sense of satisfaction at seeing Taro twitch at the sound of his own name.  
�And I don�t know where the old freak is anyway.�

Taro sniffed.  �What a shame, I guess I�ll just have to use you to pass the 
time.  I�ve waited this long, a new name can wait a day or two.�

Ranma knew she shouldn�t, but she couldn�t help herself.  �Why?  I think 
Pantyhose suits you just perfectly.  If you don�t like that I could always 
call you Jock-Strap.�

Taro reacted instantly.  He unstopped his flask and poured the contents over 
his head.  Ranma knew what was coming, but decided not to wait around to see 
it.  She could probably beat Taro in his cursed form as a boy, but in his 
girl form she wasn�t so sure.

As Taro�s body shifted and contorted, Ranma sprinted off in the direction of 
Ginami and Ryoga.  Right now, his top priority was to make sure Akane was 
safe.

Pantyhose Taro couldn�t believe what he was seeing.  He knew Ranma feared 
his incredible cursed form, but even he never believed that the fem-boy 
would actually run away from him.

Well, he thought, even fem-boy isn�t fast enough to escape me now.

He spread the wings on his back and took off in pursuit of the cowardly 
cross-dresser.
**********

Ginami stopped in mid-attack and looked off to the west.  What kind of aura 
is that?  He wondered.

Before he could dwell on the question he heard, �An opening!� and felt 
Ryoga�s fist connect with his jaw.  He cursed himself for being distracted 
during a fight.  As he got to his feet, Ryoga looked toward the approaching 
aura and a look of recognition crossed his face.

He glared over at Ginami, then turned to Akane and the others.  �Hey, you 
three better get out of here!  We�re about to have an unwelcome guest!�

None of the girls moved, but Ginami wondered what kind of creature, because 
the aura certainly wasn�t human, could worry Ryoga, when the fanged martial 
artist was willing to go head-to-head with him.  Granted, he _was_ humoring 
Ryoga, letting him think he had a chance of winning, but Ginami didn�t like 
the thought of something else that could actually scare the bandanna-clad 
fighter.

Then he saw it.  A large, beastly monstrosity that by the laws of nature was 
entirely too big to be flying.  The fact that the creature was flying threw 
him off almost as much as the long purplish tentacles that were sprouting 
from its back.

Well, the Dragon Master thought, I can see why Ryoga would fear something 
like that.  It even sent a chill down my spine.  The silver-haired warrior 
smiled.  �But even that creature is no match for me.�
**********

Ranma-chan could feel the Mina-Taro right behind her.  She thought about 
turning around and attacking him right now, but she wasn�t going to stop 
until she made sure Akane was okay.  Finally she reached the street where 
Ginami and Ryoga were fighting.

The fighting had ceased as everyone, including Akane, Ukyo and Akari was now 
looking at the monster that Taro had become.  Akari screamed at the sight of 
him, which was understandable, Ranma thought.  Taro�s cursed form was 
possibly the most disturbing, most hideous thing in existence.

�Akane, Ucchan, Akari, beat it, now!  You�re gonna get hurt if you stick 
around here!�  The pig-tailed girl shouted.

But the girls were either ignoring her or they were too scared to move.  
Ukyo took a step forward and brought her battle spatula forward.  �Don�t be 
stupid, Ucchan!  Leave while you can.�

The Mina-Taro surveyed the surrounding.  Besides Ranma, he recognized Ryoga 
Hibiki, the bandanna wearing pig-boy.  The shorthaired girl he remembered as 
Akane Tendo, but the other two girls he didn�t know.  Then there was the 
silver-haired boy.  From the destruction around them it appeared that the 
boy and Pork Chop had been fighting, which told Taro that he was a martial 
artist.

One of the girls pulled a giant spatula from her back and dropped into a 
fighting stance.  The sheer insanity of the girl thinking she could fight 
Taro made him laugh.  Then he let out a blood-chilling roar, making the 
spatula girl and the other two fall back in terror.  Ranma had joined Ryoga 
and took their own fighting stances, though Taro could clearly see the 
nervousness in their eyes.

Then Taro looked back at the silver-haired boy.  The boy was staring at Taro 
just like the others, but this boy was different.

He was perfectly calm: no fear, no nervousness, not even curiosity, just a 
light smirk that immediately irked Taro off to no end.  Taro had never known 
anyone who hadn�t been afraid of him to some degree.  Even Happosai, the one 
responsible for his curse in the first place, had been a little shocked when 
he first saw Taro�s cursed body.

Well then, Taro thought, I guess I�ll just have to show him why I am meant 
to be feared.

To everyone�s surprise, the Mina-Taro decided to attack Ginami.  A giant 
fist came crashing down toward the spot where Ginami had been a fraction of 
a second ago.  Taro swung at him, but Ginami easily jumped over the blow.  
Taro must have been expecting this, because the long tentacles on his back 
began lashing out at the Dragon Master from all sides.

As Ginami dodged blow after blow, Ranma got an idea.  �Akane, Ucchan, one of 
you go find some hot water, as fast as you can.�

Akane was confused for a moment, but Ukyo heard the urgency in Ranma�s voice 
and ran to the nearest building.

�Ranma, the hot water, is that for you or for Taro?�  The fanged boy asked.

�It�s for both of us.�  The pig-tailed warrior answered.

�Why would you want to change Taro back?  If we just let them fight, one of 
them is bound to kill the other, which would make both our lives a little 
easier.�  Ranma ignored Ryoga and continued watching the fight between the 
Mina-Taro and the Dragon Master.

Taro was getting angry.  So far he had failed to land a decent shot on the 
agile martial artist, and the boy still had that annoying smirk on his face 
that Taro had practically made famous himself.  Finally, an ink blast from 
one of his tentacles hit Ginami in the face, temporarily impairing his 
vision.  Ginami still managed to leap clear of Taro�s next attack, but 
couldn�t counterattack because he was too busy rubbing at his eyes.

�Ranchan!�

Ranma and Ryoga turned to see Ukyo carrying a kettle of hot water.  Ranma 
took it and quickly poured it over her head, changing back into his boy 
form.  �Now for Pantyhose.�  He said.

Taro was howling with pleasure, watching the cocky warrior desperately 
trying to clear his vision from his ink attack.  But his pleasure quickly 
turned to rage as he felt a splash of hot water wash over him. His body 
shrank and transformed back into his human form.  He allowed himself a 
second to readjust to being back in his human body, before turning on Ranma.

�What do you think you�re doing, Fem-boy?�

Ranma gave him a familiar smirk.  �You should thank me for saving your skin. 
  If you had gotten him too angry, he would have killed you before you had a 
chance to beg for mercy, Pantyhose.�

Taro shook with barely controlled fury.  In one sentence, Ranma had dared to 
call him a weakling, a coward and had used that name that he despised more 
than anything, with the exception of the old man who had given it to him.  
Quickly he reached down and pulled his flask back out from his belt, but 
even quicker, Ranma jumped forward and kicked the flask from his hand.

The flask flew right toward Ryoga.  �Hey Ryoga, hold on to that, will ya?�

Ryoga�s reflexes weren�t as good as Ranma�s or Taro�s, but he still managed 
to grab the flask as it sailed toward him.

But to Ryoga�s greatest horror, the stopper came out and he felt the 
terrible feel of cold water splash over him.

NO!  Nonononono, not now!  Not in front of Akane!  He pleaded silently.

But his desperate plea didn�t help, as he felt the ever-so-familiar 
sensation of shrinking, until he was reduced to the little black pig known 
as P-Chan.  He turned, hoping with all his heart that by some miracle Akane 
hadn�t noticed.

Ranma realized his blunder to late.

As Ryoga caught the flask and the water poured out on him, Ranma thought as 
fast as he could to figure out some way to hide what was happening.  He had 
promised Ryoga a long time ago that he would never tell Akane that Ryoga was 
really her precious pet pig, P-Chan.  He had almost spilled the beans 
several times when Akane had taken P-Chan to bed with her, but figured that 
even Ryoga deserved a little sympathy, as if turning into a pig wasn�t bad 
enough.

He also figured that Akane might figure it out on her own, but she was so 
dense that it seemed that someone would have to paint her a picture before 
she caught on.  But as Ranma watched Ryoga vanish under his clothes, he knew 
that there was no way he�d be able to cover this one up.

Akane stared stunned, as Ryoga shrank down to almost nothing and then 
emerged from his clothes as a familiar little, black pig.

�P-Chan?� she gasped.  �But�Ryoga�how?�

Then the sudden realization hit her.  �You mean�all this time�it�it was 
you?�

So many thoughts were running through her mind.  All those times, all the 
times she had held and cuddled little P-Chan, all the secrets she had 
confided in him, all the times he had slept in the same bed as her, it had 
been Ryoga.  Ryoga, the sweet, kind-hearted boy with no sense of direction.  
The boy who was always so polite to her, brought her gifts, defended her 
honor if Ranma wasn�t around, but most of the time when it was Ranma doing 
the insulting.

Tears of anger and sadness welled up in her eyes, as she stared at her pet 
pig that was really not her pet pig at all.  �How� how could you, Ryoga?�

P-Chan/Ryoga�s heart shattered for the umpteenth time.  But this time, it 
was a million times worse.  He felt like his very soul had been ripped from 
his body.  His greatest fear had just come true.  The last of his hope of 
ever winning Akane Tendo�s heart had vanished in the blink of an eye.

The fanged boy was so distraught that he barely noticed when Ranma poured 
the last of the hot water over him and quickly threw Ryoga�s clothes over 
him when he was back to human.  Ryoga gave one last longing look at Akane 
before turning and dashing off.

�Ryoga, wait!�  That had been Akari, but at the moment, the heartbroken lost 
boy couldn�t even face her.  Then he stopped, not because of Akari, but 
because Ginami had stepped in front of him.

Things were happening way too fast for Ginami Ryujin.  He had been fighting 
with the monstrous creature when he got a face full of ink.  Then, after his 
vision had been cleared, the monster had been replaced by a boy wearing 
Chinese clothes�and if he wasn�t mistaken, a sash made of pantyhose, and 
Ryoga Hibiki had been replaced by a small black pig.  The three girls were 
staring at the Ryoga-pig, one on the verge of tears, the other two looking 
grim and angry and confused beside her.

Ranma Saotome walked to the pig and poured hot water from a kettle on him, 
returning him to Ryoga Hibiki.  Ryoga seemed to come out of his trance and 
made a mad dash in the direction opposite of the girls.  The girl who had 
arrived with the bandanna-clad warrior cried out to him, but it appeared to 
be falling on deaf ears.

�What�s wrong with Pork Chop?� he heard the Chinese boy snicker.  A swift 
kick to the head from Ranma sent the boy crumbling to the ground.

Ginami managed to get his bearings back in time to intercept Ryoga before he 
got too far away.

�Ryoga,� he said quietly.  �Before the interruption, we were in the middle 
of a battle.�

The silver-haired warrior studied the lost boy�s face for a moment.  He 
didn�t think he had ever seen so much despair before in his entire life.

�But I can see by the look on your face that you no longer intend to finish 
this fight.  Unfortunately, as a Dragon Master I can�t allow you to simply 
run off like this without admitting defeat first.�  Ginami gave Ryoga a hard 
look, �So I ask you, Ryoga Hibiki, do you concede?�

For a moment, Ryoga looked like he was considering forfeiting the match, but 
suddenly a strange glint appeared in his eyes.

Ryoga lifted his head to look back at Ginami.  �Not yet.� the fanged warrior 
said in a low, cracked voice.  �Let�s see this thing through to the end.�

Ginami frowned, then shook his head and grinned.  �A true warrior to the 
end.  And as a warrior myself, I shall honor you with a death worthy of a 
spirited fighter such as yourself.�

But a split second after lunging for Ryoga�s throat, Ginami knew he had made 
a mistake.

Ryoga gave a weak smirk and his battle aura flared to life, but it was 
impossible, because it was several times bigger than it had been when the 
fight had started.

�Get down!� the Dragon Master heard Ranma yell to the three on-looking women 
as the pig-tailed martial artist flung himself to the ground.  Ginami tried 
to pull away, but knew it was already too late.

�SHI-SHI HOKUDAN!!!�

And everything around the lost boy exploded in a flash of light.
**********

Smack!

Mousse rubbed his sore face, really wishing he had brought a lantern or 
something.  Now that he was all by himself in a dark cave, he had no idea 
where he was going.  All he had to go on was his better-than-average 
hearing, but it seemed the deeper he went into the cave, the less noise he 
heard.  It also became more narrow and twisted, causing him to run into more 
walls.

Then he got an idea.  He brought his aura out.  It wasn�t nearly as 
impressive as Ranma�s or Ryoga�s he knew, but it was still enough to light 
up the cave so that even he, with his terrible vision, could see.

Despite the fact that the near-sighted Amazon was no longer in the dark, he 
still didn�t like the fact that the evil presence he had felt seemed to be 
moving further away, which meant it was probably hiding in the tunnel that 
Shampoo had taken.

He fought the urge to run back and warn her, because he knew that if he came 
back to her without the sword, he would only get clobbered.  And for some 
reason, Shampoo seemed to believe that there was no dark presence in the 
cave, and would just think that Mousse was making up an excuse to come back 
and be with her.

So the Amazon boy trudged on through the twisting tunnel, hoping that it 
would be him who would have to fight this dangerous thing, or at least find 
the sword so he could get back to Shampoo as soon as possible.
**********

Shampoo stumbled over a small stalagmite as she walked down the ever- 
darkening tunnel, trying to avoid the slimy puddles of liquid that was 
dripping from the ceiling.  She shivered as a cold breeze blew up from 
further in the cave, penetrating the thin material of her Chinese clothes.

After walking down the tunnel for a few minutes she finally started feeling 
the dark aura that Mousse had warned her about, and now that she was feeling 
it, the Amazon girl wished she had asked Mousse to give her her bonbori, 
just in case.  She was very powerful in her own right, but without her 
bonbori, the only real techniques she knew were her herbal formulas, her 
Martial Arts Take-Out, and her acupressure points.  And she didn�t want to 
rely on using just pressure points to defeat this unknown creature.

After walking for over fifteen minutes, Shampoo began to wonder just how far 
this tunnel ran.  How long would it take her to reach the sword?  What if 
Mousse had already found the sword and was waiting for her back at the 
entrance?

If that was the case, then she would just be wasting her and Ranma�s time by 
continuing down this dark, damp path.  But in order for her to be sure, she 
had to go to the end of the tunnel and see what waited.  So she too brought 
up her aura and began running down the tunnel, all the while noting that the 
dark presence she felt was growing closer by the second.


End of Chapter 2


Hope everyone read up to this point, and i also hope you enjoyed it.

Dragonboy

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