[Ranma][Fanfic] Childhood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 7: The Cure is Worse than the Curse

[jiml...@earthlink.net]

[Ranma][Fanfic][Lime] Childhood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 7: The Cure
is Worse than the Curse
=======================================================================
Childhood of a Modern Dynasty
Chapter 7: The Cure is Worse than the Curse

Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko
Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission

Childhood of a Modern Dynasty series created, written, and
copyright 1998 by Jim Lazar

An ongoing series set after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime.

<Speech text in angle brackets is thought by character.>
"Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese unless otherwise
specified as Mandarin or English."

E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: mailto:jiml...@earthlink.net

Make sure to check out my Modern Dynasty website for
all released CMD stories, graphics files, and other information:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime/md
=======================================================================
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:

July 12th, 2057

After enjoying ourselves at the beach yesterday, we decided to
stick around San Francisco for a few more days. Well... Hanaki decided
and I went along with her decision. My editor has been bugging me for
the drafts for the first few chapters of Childhood of a Modern Dynasty,
so he'd probably have a cow if he knew I was in San Francisco instead of
in Tokyo interviewing Akane. If he complains, I'll just have Hanaki send
a Moko Takabisha blast his way. Having a superhero as a fiancee could
come in handy, although I don't think she'd like that label. Many people
around the world think of the members of the Task Force as such, but of
course, Hanaki's not part of the Task Force. She once called her Moko
Takabisha blasts small, but they seem pretty impressive to me. She even
playfully fired off a few last night, causing some of the people nearby
to wonder where the fireworks were coming from.

Hanaki actually knows quite a bit more than I thought about Akane's
history, so I am getting valuable information for the book while we
enjoy our little impromptu vacation. I can fill in any gaps with Akane
later; assuming Hanaki ever lets me go back to Tokyo.

Today, we decided to pay our respects to the people who died in San
Francisco during the Black Wars. We stood in front of the shrine that
stood near the base of the new Golden Gate Bridge. Hanaki placed a
bouquet of flowers on the altar and lit some incense. She started
tracing several names on the long white wall with her fingers. She was
born after the Black Wars, but like all Tendos she felt connected to
those events.

After we finished, we walked slowly through what was now called
Tendo Gardens. Years ago it had been the Tendo's San Francisco Compound,
but they had converted it to a public garden and shrine after the last
Buyierfei attack here a little over seven years ago.

Ironically, it was after that battle that I first met Akane and
Hanaki here. It had been quite a mess back then, nothing but blackened
earth and rubble. "It looks a lot prettier than when I was last here," I
commented as we walked.

"When were you here?" Hanaki inquired, straight-faced.

"You don't remember?" I asked. Hanaki shook her head. "It was back
in '50 after the Buyierfei attacked the compound trying to get at
Akane."

"Oh, yeah. I came to help them clean up that mess and attend my
Aunt's last wedding."

"Anything else important happen then?" I asked, wondering if she
had forgotten that I met her there.

"Had to wash a lot of clothes. My aunt was a beautiful bride.
Hmmm... I met my future husband. I think I beat my cousin Soun in a game
of 'Tackle the Matriarch' as well," Hanaki calmly said, then finally
grinned after losing the battle to remain straight-faced.

"It's not nice to tease, you know," I said, grinning. I pulled her
in and kissed her.

"Have to give you some grief for waiting seven years to ask me
out."

"You were only fifteen then," I remarked. The nine-year difference
in our ages doesn't matter to me now, but back then it didn't even cross
my mind to think of her as a potential girlfriend. Of course, I didn't
really get to know her until I started writing 'Birth of a Modern
Dynasty' years later.

"My grandmother always says that love is ageless," Hanaki declared.
She saw a bench by a large koi pond and pointed. "Let's have our lunch
over there."

"Okay." We walked over and sat down on the bench. "Hmmmm, last time
I was here there was a big attack hoverjet parked in this pond."

"I remember. Got my first flying lesson when my uncle let me fly it
back to Japan with him."

I gasped. "You flew that big hoverjet?"

Hanki nodded and then pulled out our picnic lunch. As we ate, we
talked about her life-long passion for flying. Her uncle had taken her
flying almost from the day she was out of diapers. She got her pilot's
license five years ago and then finally earned her space-certification
license just a few days ago. She didn't waste any time in flying me to
San Francisco in one of the Tendo's private spacejets. During that
flight, I saw some of the passion she obviously had for flying. I
started having doubts that I'd be able to get her to go straight back to
Tokyo after she got tired of San Francisco.

Soon, the conversation drifted to the events after Ranma and Ranko
found out that Happosai was the one who split them into two people.

"They were really pissed at the old pervert, and now that they knew
that Cologne had something to do with the split, they wanted to go to
China and track her down," Hanaki explained.

"I can imagine. What happened next?" I asked. Hanaki gave me that
'what more business?' look of hers as O pulled out my palmcard. I smiled
back. "The more info I get from you about this, the longer we can avoid
going back to Tokyo."

Hanaki smiled. "Okay, but no business tomorrow," she insisted. I
nodded my agreement.

***********************************************************************
January 1999 - Nerima, Japan

The day after Nabiki's restaurant opened and then promptly closed
for repairs, Ranko and Ranma chased Happosai all over Nerima. A trail of
destruction, bras, and panties was left in their wake. Signs reading 'do
not destroy this' and 'do not break that' were littered all over the
streets amid the general ruble. They finally cornered the old freak
against an old abandoned warehouse after making sure he had lost all the
woman's underwear he had with him.

With nowhere else to run, Happosai emitted his battle aura. The
aura made the ten-story warehouse look small in comparison. Ranma and
Ranko just stood their ground.

"You don't scare us, old man!" Ranko shouted.

"Yeah," Ranma agreed.

"Impertinent children! How dare you gang up on your Master!"
Happosai shouted back.

"You're one to talk!"

"Yeah! You did this to me!" Ranko shouted, pointing at her chest.

"My sweet Ranko... you should be glad that you are a beautiful girl
full time instead of this ugly, ungrateful, insolent boy!" Happosai
replied. He sent a swarm of Happo fire bombs at them.

"You old pervert! Feel the wrath of BOTH Ranma Saotomes!" Ranko
snarled.

Ranma and Ranko dodged the firecrackers with ease. Then they yelled
out in unison, "Moko Takabisha-Rapid Fire!!!"

Hot balls of chi flew from their hands and impacted against
Happosai. Happosai withstood the attack and lurched towards Ranma and
Ranko.

"Is he weak enough yet?" Ranko asked, keeping up the barrage.

"No, just a little longer..."

"Happo Fire Burst-Dual Flower Attack!" Happosai shouted. Then he
tossed two groups of firecrackers at his attackers. Ranma and Ranko
leapt away from the exploding firecrackers, which detonated in a pretty
flower pattern. Several spectators ohhhhh'ed and ahhhh'ed at the
display.

"Now!" Ranma shouted. Attacking from opposite sides of Happosai,
Ranma and Ranko forced the old man to backup into a spiral.

Nearing the center, Happosai grinned. "Fools! You don't think I'd
give you any hot energy to blast me with a Hiryu Shoten Ha, do you?" he
taunted.

<No, we didn't,> Ranma thought as Happosai reached the center.
Ranma thrust his arms out in front of him and generated a long chi aura.
The aura formed around his outstretched arms and extended towards
Happosai for several meters. "Hiryu Hyouchuu Ha!!!"

Happosai blinked loudly. <Ice Pillar?> he thought, confused at
Ranma's use of 'Hyouchuu'.

Ranko formed a similar aura and yelled out. "Hiryu Hibashira Ha!!!"
As the two auras touched, Ranko's hot energy and Ranma's cold energy
mixed. Two powerful vortexes centered on the two Ranmas' arms formed.

Unfortunately for Happosai, he only registered Ranko's use of 'Fire
Pillar' after he was hit by the two blasts, which held him firmly in
place. The two horizontal whirlwinds inflicted a massive amount of
injuries and the force of the dual attack was quickly diminishing his
large reserves of perverted chi. Not having a single bra or pair of
panties in his possession, Happosai was unable to recharge.

Ranko yelled, "Now!"

In unison, Ranko and Ranma turned the direction of their two
whirlwinds towards the warehouse. Happosai was sent flying at high speed
into the old structure.

"Get Rid of Happo Fire Burst!" Ranma yelled out and hit a plunger
that had been hidden under an old crate.

The building imploded as a series of blasts demolished it. Ranma
and Ranko looked on with satisfaction at their handy work.

"Fire and ice!" Ranko proudly exclaimed, clenching her fist.

"Fool. He didn't realize that as two people we could use hot and
cold energy to form the vortexes ourselves," a very tired Ranma
explained.

Ranko wiped the sweat off her forehead and sat down, exhausted.
"Yeah, who needs Happosai's energy when you've got me."

"Not bad... for a girl."

"Shut up." Ranko quickly replaced Ranma's smirk with her fist.

After resting for a bit, they dug through the ruble and they
located the mess that had been known as Happosai. Ranko kicked it to see
if he was alive. Happosai grunted a bit.

"Oh well, I guess it was too much to ask that a large building
falling on top of him would actually kill him," Ranko mentioned.

"I'm still worried he'll just escape again," Ranko said.

"Yeah, but I just can't kill someone so defenseless," Ranma said.

"Yeah, I know. Otherwise Kuno would have been pushing up daisies a
long time ago."

Ranma and Ranko picked up the mangled mess and stuffed him into a
steel barrel. They poured some sake into it as a preservative and then
sealed it with rivets and chains.

Down at the Tokyo docks, Ranma and Ranko loaded the barrel on a
ship bound for Antarctica. English and Japanese labels on it read, 'Do
not open till 3000 A.D.', 'Do not expose women's breasts to this
barrel', 'Danger: Pervert inside', and 'Keep contents frozen'.

"How long do you think that'll last?" Ranko asked.

"Who knows. Hopefully longer than we'll live."

-C- -M- -D-

The Tendo and Saotome families all knelt at the table and discussed
recent events.

"I'm afraid that Tofu hasn't been able to find any way to recombine
Ranma and Ranko," Kasumi explained.

"Well, now that we know Cologne had something to do with splitting
Ranma, what do we do?" Akane asked.

"We go to China and ask Cologne to reverse it," Ranko stood up and
suggested. Well, more like demanded. <Even if we have to twist the
little ghoul's arm off to get her to do it.>

"That would seem to be the best course of action," Genma said.

"One problem: 'Ranko' doesn't have a passport," Akane explained.

"Nabiki, could you somehow get one for her, fast?" Nodoka asked.

"I could, but this isn't really legal. I'm trying to turn over a
new leaf, you know," Nabiki explained.

"How much?" Nodoka asked directly.

"I need some pictures of Ranma and Ranko in bed together."

"What?!?!" everyone shouted at once and menacingly advanced on
Nabiki.

Nabiki waved her hands and said, "Just kidding, although they do
still owe me for all the damage to my beautiful restaurant." Nabiki
scratched her chin, thoughtfully. "Anyway, it'll probably cost me around
two hundred thousand yen to get a fake passport and I.D."

"Please take care of it then," Nodoka instructed.

"So, we go to China and this nightmare is over?" Ranko asked.

"Looks like it. Ranma are you okay with going back to the way you
were?" Akane asked, hoping it would be that easy.

"Not really, but I know this is rough on you Akane, so I'll give up
my manhood for you," Ranma said.

"Well, don't give it all away," Akane whispered softly to him.

But apparently not softly enough, because Nabiki said, "Oh, get
married already!"

Ranma and Akane blushed. Ranko looked upset.

-C- -M- -D-

Ranko was very impatient for the next few days until Nabiki had the
fake passport ready, but everything was finally ready for their trip to
China. Ranma, Ranko, and Akane all had their backpacks strapped to their
backs as Nabiki gave them last minute instructions.

"Okay, here's Ranko's passport and I.D. Ranko, you have the same
birthday you've always had. You're Ranma's twin sister. Here's some
emergency money and your boat tickets. Call me if you have any other
problems," Nabiki said, then handed over the various items.

The three travelers left the house and found Ukyo waiting for them.
"Are you all ready to go?" Ukyo asked.

"Ukyo? This is more of a family matter," Akane insisted.

"I'm just trying to help my friends. Things can get rough in
China," Ukyo explained.

Akane said, "I'm not sure..."

"Akane, I invited her," Ranko informed Akane.

"Why?" Akane asked.

"Well... lets have a show of hands of who can speak Mandarin,"
Ranko instructed. Only Ukyo raised her hand. "See?"

"Oh, good point. Guess having someone who can speak Mandarin will
be useful," Akane said. Then as they walked towards the docks, she
asked, "Ukyo, when did you learn Mandarin?"

"I had an uncle who was Chinese, so I picked some up from him while
growing up and then even more during my trip through China last year,"
Ukyo replied.

-C- -M- -D-

"I can't believe Nabiki got us tickets in steerage!" Akane
remarked, then tried to hit a rat with her mallet.

"Doesn't surprise me," Ranma muttered.

"Let's go visit Ukyo in first class!" Ranko suggested.

"Where did Ukyo get the money for first class anyway?" Akane asked.

Ranko shrugged. "Her restaurant must be doing well," Ranma
suggested.

After Akane finally nailed the rat with her mallet, she agreed,
"Okay."

"At least she's not using the mallet on us any more," Ranko
whispered to Ranma.

Ranma nodded his acknowledgement then said a quiet eulogy for the
poor rat.

-C- -M- -D-

Later, Akane was at the front of the ship and gazed at the setting
sun. Ranma walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Evening, my beautiful carnation," Ranma said, giving her a kiss on her
cheek.

Akane smiled. "Still working on that nickname, huh?" she playfully
asked. Ranma nodded. "Getting better. My Mother used to love
carnations." Her eyes looked out at the rolling sea. "Where's your other
half?"

"I think she's up with Ukyo."

"Ranma, do you think that Ukyo came along to steal you away? I
mean... you or Ranko?"

"Huh? Don't be silly. You've got both of our hearts," Ranma
insisted, then kissed Akane on the lips.

"It's just that she's been acting strange since she found out there
were two Ranmas."

"Would that be so bad? I mean if we can't recombine, would Ukyo
wanting Ranko be so bad? You've said you can't marry us both."

"If Ranko would be happy... maybe, but I'm not sure she would be."

"Well, let's not worry about that unless we can't recombine."

"Okay," Akane agreed, then kissed Ranma.

A couple of decks above them, Ranko watched them kiss. She didn't
seem to notice when she broke the railing off with her hands and then
snapped it half. Some nearby passengers did and looked at the redheaded
girl with alarm as they slowly backed away. If the railing was wood they
wouldn't have been that frightened, but it was steel and seeing it
snapped in half made the passengers very worried.

***********************************************************************
January-February 1999 - Joketsuzoku, China; Jusenkyo, China

The four travelers got off the boat and passed through customs.
Ranko was nervous the whole time because of her fake passport, but she
went through without any problems. Nabiki would have been offended at
the thought that her fakes were anything but perfect.

Ukyo had to repeatedly insist that the giant spatula and the
smaller throwing spatulas were just cooking utensils. Finally, she got
through after bribing the guard.

They caught a train to an area near Joketsuzoku, the Amazon
village. It would still take them a couple of days to hike to the actual
village. Ranko was in quite a rush and the thought of hiking all the way
from the coast was not an option for her.

On the first night of their hike, Akane and Ukyo sat by the fire
while Ranma and Ranko tried to catch something to eat.

"Ukyo, what exactly are your intentions towards Ranko?" Akane asked
after working up her courage to talk about it.

Ukyo looked shocked. "Intentions?"

"You seem to be spending a lot of time with her."

"Well, she's my friend. So are you and Ranma. Personally, I think
Ranko's feeling left out. You spend more time with Ranma than her."

"I don't think I do, but I'll try to be fair."

"Don't worry, until you make a choice I'll keep my hands off both
of them."

"Thanks", Akane replied, but then realized that Ukyo had said
'until'. <She IS thinking of taking one of the Ranmas if we can't
recombine them,> she thought to herself, but couldn't figure out why
this upset her so much. She'd already said she couldn't marry both of
them, right?

"Come on, Ranma! Get it off!" Ranko yelled from the darkness.

"Don't rush me!" Ranma yelled from the same part of the darkness.

Ukyo and Akane looked at each other with confused looks on their
faces and then tried to peer into the darkness to see what was
happening.

"I'm dying here! Please, just tear the damn pants!!" Ranko pleaded.

"Don't tell me how to do this! I'm the man here!"

"Well if I could do this myself, I would! Come on, do it before it
goes limp!!"

The rice bowls that Ukyo and Akane had been holding dropped
unnoticed to the ground. Two jaws joined them a split second later.

"Fine, but you owe me one!"

"Oh... god! Get my pants off! Please!"

Akane's battle aura flared to life. "What the hell are you two
doing out there?!!" she screamed. She received no response, so she ran
towards the source of the yelling. Ukyo followed with a flashlight, but
she didn't really need it since Akane's battle aura was a very bright
and angry red.

"Come on, get it out!" Ranko yelled as Akane's battle aura lit up
the clearing that she and Ranma were in. Ranko lay on the ground with
her gi's top open. Her pants were laying a few meters away. Ranma was
kneeling between her legs and bending over her body. He seemed to be
holding something long and skinny in his hands.

Akane and Ukyo stopped and stared at the scene in front of them.
Akane's battle aura faded as she lost consciousness. Normally she would
have hit both of them, but her mind just couldn't except what it thought
it was seeing, so it just shut down.

Since Akane was unable to do so, Ukyo took it upon herself to walk
over and clobber Ranma with her flashlight. "You sick and twisted
bastard! How could you do that with yourself!" she screamed.

Ranma fell over and the snake he was holding slipped out of his
hand and slithered away.

Ranko swore and dived after the snake, but missed it. "Shit, that
was our dinner, Ukyo!" she said. She reached over and grabbed her pants
and then pulled them on over her shorts.

"Huh?"

-C- -M- -D-

"So it was just a snake that got into your gi, Ranko?" Ukyo asked,
after hearing Ranko and Ranma's story. Akane was very embarrassed and
avoided looking at the others.

"Yes, what else could it have been?" Ranko said, perplexed.

"Well, we just weren't sure what was happening," Ukyo suggested,
not really wanting to explain what they thought was going on.

"Why'd you hit me, anyway?" Ranma asked, rubbing the bump on his
head.

"Err... in the darkness I thought you were a... big koala attacking
Ranko," Ukyo blurted the first explanation that came to mind.

"Do koalas attack people?" Ranma asked Ranko.

Ranko shrugged, then dished out some rice into her bowl.

"Um, what was that bit about it going limp?" Ukyo asked, then
blushed and looked away.

Still not understanding why Ukyo and Akane were acting so weird,
Ranko replied, "Snakes go limp right before biting... at least that's
what Pop told me, err... us once during our snake-fu training."

"Oh," Ukyo said, then started giggling. Soon, Akane joined her.
Ranko and Ranma couldn't figure out what was so funny.

"Gee, I'm sorry if my almost getting bit by a poisonous snake is so
amusing," Ranko muttered.

"It's not that, Ranko, honest."

-C- -M- -D-

After a rice-only dinner, Akane and Ranko took a walk. "Akane, what
was all that about at dinner?" Ranko asked.

Akane bit back another laugh, but couldn't hold back the blush.
"Nothing," she said, then changed the subject. "Um... Ukyo thinks you
might be feeling left out. Is this true?"

"Huh?"

"I mean... are you jealous when I spend time with Ranma?"

"Kind of... but I understand."

"Understand what?"

"That you feel more comfortable with a man. I understand."

Somehow, Akane didn't think Ranko was okay with it. "Here we go
again... I love you Ranko. The same way that I love Ranma. I'm still
trying to come to terms with the differences, but I will never stop
loving you. EITHER of you."

"Yeah, but when's the last time you made love to me?" Ranko asked,
looking at an interesting piece of dirt on the ground.

"New Years Eve, you know that."

"And HIM?"

"Huh? The same... well if you want to get picky, it was a day
earlier when you were a man."

Ranko looked up from the ground, then asked, "You haven't made love
to him since the split?"

"Is that what you're so concerned about?" Akane asked. Ranko
nodded. "No, I haven't. We really haven't had any time alone. Same with
you."

"I kind of assumed that you had..."

"With Nabiki, Kasumi, and all our parents in the house? Oh yeah,
that's a great idea, especially after we were caught in the bath making
out. It would have been a WHOLE lot more embarrassing a few minutes
later." Akane winked.

Ranko smiled and received along kiss from Akane. "Thanks, Akane."

The two women held each other and watched the moon rise over the
distant mountains.

-C- -M- -D-

Ranma and Ukyo sat on opposite sides of the fire. "Why did you want
to come along, Ucchan?" Ranma asked.

"To help you if I can," Ukyo said.

"I hope it's not because you have thoughts of stealing me or Ranko
away from Akane."

"No, of course not. I admit it's crossed my mind, but it's her
choice which one she wants to be with," Ukyo insisted.

"Okay, but either way, I still only look at you as a friend. I
don't want you to get your hopes up."

"I understand," Ukyo said, but her face told a different story.

Ranko and Akane returned to the camp. Ukyo looked up and then spit
out the tea she was drinking.

"Hey!" Ranma shouted, wiping the tea off his face. Then he saw
Ukyo's shocked expression and turned around. His jaw dropped to the
ground.

"What?" Ranko and Akane asked in unison.

"Um... you're wearing each other's gi," Ranma mentioned.

Akane and Ranko both looked down at their clothing. Sure enough,
Ranko had Akane's yellow gi on and Akane had Ranko's white one on. Both
of them blushed. "Oops," Akane said.

"Damn, should have looked closer," Ranko said.

Trying to control his anger Ranma calmly got up, walked to his
tent, and went inside. <Damn, we'd better be able to recombine or...> He
let the thought trail off, since he wasn't sure what he'd do if they
couldn't recombine.

"Damn, Akane. How could you make a mistake like that in front of
Ranma?" Ukyo said.

Akane tried to explain. "It was dark..."

-C- -M- -D-

The next day, they hiked in silence. No one seemed ready to start
any conversation. Finally at lunch, Akane pulled Ranma away to talk to
him. "Ranma, talk to me," Akane pleaded.

"What is there to talk about?" Ranma muttered, looking away.

"Last night... the fact that I made love to Ranko," Akane
mentioned.

"Did you? Oh."

"Oh come on... don't be a child. Yes, I made love to Ranko. Just
like I've made love to you."

"But not since the split."

"I'm getting really tired of you two competing for everything with
me," Akane explained softly, seemingly calm. Then she screamed, "Fine!
You want it that badly, come on! Take me here! Come on! Bang me right
now!!" She quickly pulled off her yellow gi and stood naked before
Ranma.

Back down the valley where Ranko and Ukyo were having lunch, two
pairs of chopsticks were suddenly broken in half as Akane's scream was
echoed down the canyon.

"Nice weather, isn't it?" Ranko asked, trying not to think about
what she just heard.

"Yes. I was expecting snow and freezing weather, but it's really
rather pleasant up here. A bit chilly, but still comfortable," Ukyo
replied calmly, also trying not to think about the echo which still
seemed to be resonating in her ears.

Back up the valley, Akane waited patiently for Ranma to have his
way with her. She was relieved when he said, "Put your clothes back on,
Akane. I don't want it like this."

Akane smiled, then redressed. "Good, the man I love would never
just do it like that. Every time we did it in the forest and the hotel
room, that was still you by the way, we made love. Not sex, love."

"Your point is?"

"Last night Ranko needed my love, badly. She is not handling the
split as well as you are. When you need my love I'll be there for you,"
Akane explained, then wrapped her arms around Ranma and looked up at his
eyes.

"I think I understand. I'm sorry. I... I was jealous," Ranma said,
then kissed Akane.

That night Ranma and Akane shared a tent away from Ranko and Ukyo.
Ranko took it in stride, somewhat. Ukyo broke some more chopsticks,
among other things.

-C- -M- -D-

The next day, they approached the Amazon village. "Now remember, no
one fight. We may have some protection since Cologne made us members of
the Amazon tribe, but let's not rely on that. Especially you Ukyo, since
you weren't a part of that pronouncement," Akane instructed.

Everyone agreed and they walked toward the lone sentry.

"Halt! What Amazon goes there?" the sentry asked in an odd dialect
of Mandarin. She was very tall and had long fuschia colored hair.

Ukyo managed to catch enough of the sentry's meaning, and replied
in her broken Mandarin, "We are travelers. We seek the Amazon Elder
known as Cologne."

Switching to the common Mandarin the Amazons only used for
outsiders, the sentry asked, "What is your purpose here, outsider?" She
spat out the last word in disgust.

Ukyo sighed; this was going to be an uphill battle. "These three
were made members of the Amazon tribe by Elder Cologne and need to talk
to her about a personal matter."

"Elder Cologne has passed away. Several weeks ago," the sentry
informed her.

Ukyo looked shocked, she turned back towards the others. In
Japanese, she said, "She says that Cologne died a few weeks ago."

Looks of grief, sadness, sorrow, and lost hope crossed all of their
faces.

"Ask if there is a family member we can talk to," Akane said.

Ukyo turned to the sentry and asked in Mandarin, "Is there a family
member of Cologne's that we can talk to? It is a urgent matter and we'd
also like to pay our respects."

The sentry looked suspiciously at the four travelers. "What are
your names?"

"I am Ukyo Kuonji. This is Ranma Saotome, Ranko Saotome, and Akane
Tendo." Ukyo introduced them all.

"Saotome and Tendo? Alright... follow me," the sentry said, after
considering the names. She motioned them all to follow her.

As they walked behind the sentry, Ukyo turned back to talk to the
others and said in Japanese, "Looks like your names do carry some weight
around here."

"I guess," Ranko said.

"So, what do we do now?" Ranma asked.

"Pay our respects, then we can try and see if someone else in the
village might be able to do something about your split," Akane answered.

They arrived at a modest hut. The sentry knocked on the door and it
opened. A middle age man with a goatee stood in the doorway. The four
travelers all recognized him from Shampoo's wake. He was Aftershave,
Shampoo's father.

Aftershave looked closely at the travelers. "Kill those people!
Now!" he suddenly yelled in Mandarin.

Ukyo jumped back, pulled out her giant spatula, and took up a ready
position. The others looked at her in puzzlement, but quickly took up
ready positions themselves.

"Aftershave, the late Elder Cologne made three of them honorable
members of the Amazon tribe. We cannot kill them, they only wish to pay
their respect to the family of Cologne," the sentry calmly said.

"Respect? Why? She's not dead, just gone on a fools errand."

Shocked, Ukyo asked him, "Cologne is not dead?"

"No, just banished from the Amazon tribe. That's the same as death
to them, but what business is it of yours?" Aftershave asked.

"We need to talk to Cologne urgently. Please tell us where she is
and we'll leave you alone," Ukyo pleaded.

"Those are the ones who killed my little Shammy. I will not help
the likes of them," Aftershave said.

"We are so sorry for your loss, but Shampoo attacked them. If
Shampoo and Cologne would have left Ranma and Akane alone, Shampoo
wouldn't have died."

"Cologne declared them Amazons, but that doesn't mean I have to
talk with them," Aftershave shouted in Mandarin, he then switched to
Japanese and screamed at them all, "Leave here! NOW!" He slammed the
door to his hut.

The travelers all recoiled from Aftershave's vicious reaction, but
understood why he was so angry.

Ukyo turned back to the others. "He said that Cologne is not dead,
just banished from the Amazon tribe."

"Banished? Did he say where?" Ranko asked, with renewed hope.

"No," Ukyo said, then turned to the sentry. In Mandarin, she asked,
"Are there any other family members or anyone who knows where Cologne
might be?"

The sentry looked at the four travelers, then said, "Cologne is
dead, but the information you seek can be found in the ruins of
Jusenkyo."

"Jusenkyo?" Ukyo asked. The sentry nodded. "Thank you." Ukyo turned
back to her fellow travelers and in Japanese she said, "She said we can
find out where Cologne is in the ruins of Jusenkyo."

"Jusenkyo? Why?" Ranma asked.

"She didn't say. She's not really that chatty and still insists
that Cologne is dead to the Amazons. Maybe we should just go to Jusenkyo
and find out," Ukyo suggested.

They all agreed and left the Amazon village and headed for the
ruins of Jusenkyo.

-C- -M- -D-

The four travelers all looked down at the ruins that had once been
Jusenkyo. All of them had deep feelings of sadness. After the Saffron
incident, Jusenkyo had briefly returned too normal. A couple of months
after the battle, the mountain that contained Jusendou collapsed. Since
that mountain was the source of the water that fed the cursed springs,
the pools quickly dried up. All that was left were shallow holes and
broken bamboo shoots to mark the spot that had changed Ranma and Akane's
life forever.

The executive and Guide's huts lay abandoned, just broken piles of
scrap wood. The Guide had been nice enough to send a telegram to the
Tendo house informing them of the disaster before he left for parts
unknown.

"I hate this damn place," Ranma and Ranko swore in unison.

"I know. So, what are we supposed to learn here?" Akane said, a
hand on each of their backs.

Ranma pointed to a small rustic hut that overlooked the valley that
once held the cursed springs. "That hut wasn't there the last time we
were here, let's check it out."

They all made the hike over to the little hut. They knocked on the
door. No one answered. Finally, Ranma opened the door and looked into
the dusty interior. "No one's here. With all the dust, it doesn't look
like anyone has been here for weeks."

They all looked around. "Some of this stuff looks like Cologne's.
Look... there's a picture of Shampoo," Ranko noticed.

Everyone nodded. Akane said, "Yes, she must have lived here. Look
for something that would tell us where she might be now."

Everyone searched the hut until Ranko shouted. "I found a map!"
Ranko spread the map out on the table and they all examined it.

Akane recognized it immediately. "Australia." Everyone else nodded
their agreement and looked at a large area in the eastern part of
Australia that was circled in red. Some English words were written in
the circle.

"Devil's... End... Canyon?" Ukyo read, somewhat unsure of her
translation.

"Yup. What are those Chinese characters under the English words?"
Akane asked.

"It might be 'ancient enemy', but I'm not sure," Ukyo replied.

"So off to Australia, I guess," Ranma suggested.

"Yes," the other three chorused.

"What do you think ancient enemy means?" Ukyo asked.

"No idea. If we can find Cologne she should be able to tell us,"
Akane said.

"Are we going to take another boat?" Ranma asked.

"Let's call Nabiki and get plane tickets. I'd rather not have to
spend any more time sitting around than I have too," Ranko said.

Ukyo and Akane both put their arms around Ranko. "We understand."

"I'm a little worried what kind of plane she might put us on, but
let's go for it," Ranma agreed.

***********************************************************************
February 1999 - Australian Outback

One flight with assorted farm animals later, our travelers set foot
in Australia. Akane passed some of the time during the flight asking
each of the caged ducks if their name was Mousse, none of them replied.
Unfortunately, she didn't think to look closer at the caged pigs or she
might have found Ryoga.

They cleared customs without trouble, this time the customs agents
didn't question Ukyo about her giant spatula. Apparently, the
Australians do everything BIG, so the giant spatula didn't seem unusual
to them.

They took a rundown bus to the area of the Australian outback that
Cologne had circled on the map. Then they hiked over the rough desert
terrain.

The first night they camped, they all sat around the campfire.
"Tomorrow is going to be a rough climb up the escarpment. Are all of you
up to it?" Ranma asked.

"Don't patronize us, Ranma. I may have a woman's body, but I can
keep up with you any day!" Ranko replied, irritated.

"I didn't mean it like that! I just wanted to make sure you were
all rested," Ranma insisted.

"I guess Akane better sleep in my tent tonight then," Ukyo
commented, with a slight edge to her voice.

"Subtle, Ukyo," Akane said.

"I just don't think you should wear them out tonight, that's all,"
Ukyo insisted.

"Right," Akane replied, with a noticeable edge to her voice. Having
two Ranmas around was starting to strain the two women's friendship,
which up until the split was a close one.

-C- -M- -D-

Ranma climbed to the top of the escarpment, followed shortly by the
others. "Ahhhh, look at that view. I'm king of the mountain!" Ranma
shouted.

"Can you give your queens a hand up, your royal hiney," Ranko
asked.

"Oh... sure," Ranma replied, then helped the women up.

Akane stood at the top and looked up at the hot sun. "Damn, it's
hot down here," she said, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

"Well, it is summer down here," Ukyo mentioned, loosening her
bindings and flapping her top to cool off.

"What a great feeling to climb this escarpment. One man against a
mountain! I feel so energized," Ranma shouted.

"He seems to have forgotten the three women who caught him when he
slipped," Ukyo pointed out.

"Yes, he has. Shall we push him off?" Ranko asked, forgetting to
mention that she wasn't really a woman.

"Well... it would solve my fiancee problem. Let's do it!" Akane
agreed and grinned wickedly.

Then the three women menacingly advanced on Ranma, who backed up
quickly. "Now ladies... no reason to get violent."

The women backed him up against a large boulder and then they all
jumped on him. They proceeded to torture him with tickles. "Say you're a
big jerk and we'll stop," Ranko commanded.

Ranma was giggling and squirming under the determined attack by the
three women.

"Say it!" Akane prodded.

Finally, Ranma gasped. "Okay... okay... I'm a big jerk."

They stopped the tickle attack and helped Ranma to his feet. "That
was fun," Ukyo commented.

"Yes, now I see why Akane liked to hit me with a mallet all the
time," Ranko commented. Akane just grinned without comment.

Ranma ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "I was just trying
to point out what a great feeling conquering this mountain was."

Ranma's pride at his accomplishment was shattered when a jeep drove
up a narrow path. A group of Japanese tourists climbed out and took
pictures of the scenery. "Oh, what a great feeling to conquer this
mountain!" one of the tourists said, then checked his Rolex for the
time.

Ranma looked downcast and started walking off towards their final
destination. Akane put her arm around his shoulder and said, "That's
okay, Ranma. We know you conquered the mountain. You're still my number
one male fiancee." Then Akane looked back at Ranko and Ukyo and winked.
The other two women smiled.

-C- -M- -D-

The next day, the travelers came across a small village in the
Australian outback. Ukyo went to find someone who could give them
detailed directions or guide them to their destination while the others
stocked up on supplies. After asking for directions or a guide at
several stores, Ukyo walked into a rundown pub and approached the long
bar. Thankful that she had paid attention In English class, she asked in
English, "Excuse me, I'm trying to find a canyon called..." Ukyo paused
to remember the name of the canyon, then continued, "Devil's End Canyon.
Do you know how to get there?"

"A pretty little girl like you shouldn't be going to Devil's End,"
the bartender said, in a thick Australian accent.

Ukyo smirked. "I can take care of myself. I'm just looking for
directions or even a guide."

"Well... what's in it for me?" the bartender asked, taking a long
look at Ukyo's cleavage.

"I can pay you for a good map and directions."

"Well, come into the back and we'll see what I can do for you."

Ukyo grew worried after seeing the lecherous leer that appeared on
his face. She looked around at the empty bar and started backing up
towards the door. "Well then... I guess you can't help me."

"Now, why would a pretty girl like you want to run off on us?"
another Australian voice said.

Ukyo spun around and saw a fat man standing in the doorway. She
leapt to the side and drew her giant spatula. She looked warily at each
of the men, her spatula held ready.

The bartender laughed. "You call that a spatula?" he asked, then
reached down behind the bar and pulled out a spatula twice the size of
Ukyo's. "THIS is a spatula." He grinned and jumped over the bar and
advanced on Ukyo holding the large spatula menacingly. The other man
advanced on Ukyo as well.

Out of options, Ukyo went into action. She jumped backward to gain
some time, then analyzed her attackers. They were trying to flank her,
so she jumped to her side to put a large table between her and them.
This forced them to bunch up and come around the table. She grabbed a
couple throwing spatulas and threw them at the fat man. She didn't have
time to check if they hit him, since she had to deflect a blow from the
bartender's spatula with her own. A loud CLANG rang out. The bartender
swung his spatula again at Ukyo, but she managed to avoid this swing by
ducking under it.

Ukyo followed the bartender's attack by thrusting her spatula up at
his gut. The bartender dodged out of the way, but the other man wasn't
as lucky. He had just pulled one of her throwing spatulas out of his
arm, when the blade of Ukyo's large spatula caught him in his belt
buckle. This was fortunate since the sharpened edge would have cut him
in two. Instead of becoming sushi, the fat man went crashing through a
nearby window.

Ukyo sidestepped another swing from the bartender and then swept
his feet with the edge of her spatula. She quickly used the handle of
her spatula to knock him unconscious.

Ukyo grinned triumphantly, then picked up the bartender's spatula.
"It's not the size, it's what you do with it!" Ukyo gloated to the
unconscious man. She left the bar carrying her own and the bartender's
spatula, or as she decided to think of it, her 'trophy'.

She paused to make sure the fat man was unconscious, then turned to
find the others.

Suddenly the fat man, who had just been playing dead, grabbed her
from behind. He wrapped his chubby arms around Ukyo, pinning her arms to
her side. He squeezed his arms together and forced Ukyo to drop both
spatulas. "Hee... hee... now let's see what you have under that pretty
shirt of yours," the fat man said, loosening his grip a bit to grab at
the shirt.

This turned out to be a big mistake, because Ukyo quickly bent her
knees causing the fat man to tip forward. Ukyo rolled backward and
knocked the man's feet from under him. He fell flat on his face. Coming
out of her roll with the bartender's spatula in her hands, Ukyo pounded
the man's head with the blade of the spatula, knocking him unconscious.
Just to make sure he was really unconscious this time, she bashed him
again. And again. And once more made four.

"Not bad for a little girl," a man's voice said in Japanese. The
voice had a distinctly Australian accent to it.

Ukyo spun around and slashed at the man with the spatula. The tall
blonde man easily deflected the blow with a large three-meter high
barbecue fork he was carrying. "Unless you want to join your two friends
in sleepy land, you'd better get lost. Now!" Ukyo snapped, also in
Japanese. She was miffed at her blow being blocked.

"Easy girl. I'm not looking to fight you," the man said. He was in
good shape and obviously spent a lot of time in the outdoors, since his
skin was dirty and well tanned. He probably was in his early twenties,
but the dirt and tan made him look older. The dirty clothes he wore were
wrinkled and unkempt. Several small forks could be seen sticking out of
pockets on his leather vest.

"What do you want then?" Ukyo asked, but kept her guard up.

"Well, word is that you're looking for Devil's End," the man said.

"Yes. Either a map or a guide," Ukyo replied and relaxed a bit.

"I'm your man then. No one knows these parts like I do."

"There are four in our party. We can pay you one hundred Australian
dollars to guide us," Ukyo offered.

"I can take you to the mouth of the canyon in my jeep for twice
that, but I won't go in," the man said.

"Why?" Ukyo asked.

"For the past few months anyone who has gone in hasn't come out.
Even I only got partway in before... something... attacked me."

"We can take care of ourselves," Ukyo insisted.

"I can see that, sweetheart. Anyone who can get Dirk's spatula from
him is no pushover."

Ukyo's pride boiled over into a broad grin. "Well, it's a deal
then. What's your name anyway?" Ukyo asked.

"Kang."

"Kang? Like kangaroo?"

"Yup, my mum was raised by kangaroos," Kang said.

Ukyo smirked, then said, "Ri... gh... t. Let's go find my friends
and we can go."

-C- -M- -D-

After driving halfway to Devil's End Canyon, the travelers made
camp for the night. At dinner, Ukyo asked Kang, "So where did you learn
Japanese?"

"My father was Japanese. He rescued my mother from the kangaroos
and fell in love with her," Kang said.

"That's kind of hard to believe," Ranko mentioned.

"As opposed to your father being a panda?" Akane commented.

"Well, err..." Ranko stammered, then shut up.

"A panda?" Kang asked.

"Long story."

After dinner and the long story, Ranma asked Akane, "Want to
practice your Moko Takabisha some more?"

"Sure, might as well get some training in on this trip," Akane
replied. She stood up and followed Ranma.

Ukyo looked over at Ranko and asked, "You're teaching Akane the
Moko Takabisha?"

"I was, but now I guess he is," Ranko mumbled, then had an idea.
"Ukyo, you want me to teach it to you?"

Ukyo looked up excitedly. "Sure!"

Ranko got up and led Ukyo out of the camp. "I wonder what a Moko
Takabisha is?" Kang asked himself softly, then shrugged and started to
sharpen the tines of his large barbecue fork. A few minutes later he
learned what a Moko Takabisha was after a ball of chi impacted the
ground in front of him.

Akane ran back into the camp and gasped. "Sorry, Kang. That one got
a way from me a bit," she said, then helped Kang to his feet.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Kang gasped, staring at the small
smoking crater left by the blast.

"Just a little Moko Takabisha blast. I'm getting better at keeping
them airborne longer," Akane replied, proudly.

"Amazing. You can all do that?"

"Ranma and Ranko can. I'm still learning."

"And I thought the story about the panda was unusual."

Akane smiled and winked. "That's just the tip of the iceberg."

-C- -M- -D-

The next morning, Ukyo was being hand fed breakfast by Ranko. "How
are your hands?" Ranko asked.

"Better. I'm sure I'll be able to hold stuff soon," Ukyo replied.
Then she looked at her bandaged hands and flexed the fingers a bit. The
pain from last night was mostly gone.

"Sorry about that. I'll have to teach you some chi focusing
techniques before we try that again," Ranko said, remembering the sight
of the chi ball exploding between Ukyo's hands last night.

"I guess Akane picked it right up," Ukyo muttered, jealously.

"Actually, I almost blew my foot off," Akane said, as she came out
of her tent.

Ukyo bit back a snicker. "Really?"

"Yes, it takes time," Akane explained.

"Don't worry about it Ukyo... I've got Akane shooting the blast to
about twenty meters already. She only hit her foot twice in all her
training," Ranma explained.

"Twice?" Ukyo asked, then lost control and started to laugh aloud.
Soon Ranma and Ranko joined her.

"Hey! The second time was when Ranma distracted me when I was
launching the blast! Stop laughing!" Akane yelled.

-C- -M- -D-

The travelers climbed to the top of a hill overlooking Devil's End
Canyon. "What the hell is that?!" Ranma exclaimed.

In front of the four travelers lay a rugged canyon with steep
cliffs and a stream running down the middle. A few desert shrubs and
plants were scattered along the bank of the small stream. The scenery
was not what Ranma's shocked question concerned; the tall black
rectangular monolith, which stood at the far end of the canyon, was. The
monolith stood about a hundred meters tall and dwarfed everything except
for the canyon walls.

The four travelers all stared in amazement at the monolith. After
several moments, Akane said, "I have no idea, but I bet that's what
Cologne is here for."

"That is the devil of the canyon," Kang declared.

"Looks man-made to me. Has it always been there?" Ranma asked.

"No, it appeared last winter. The one time I went closer than this,
I was attacked by ... something. I still have nightmares to this day. If
you have any sense, you'll let me take you back to Brisbane now."

"What attacked you?" Ukyo asked, concerned.

"I never saw my attacker, but this scar is the end result," Kang
said. He lifted his shirt to reveal a long scar across his chest.

"We'll be careful," Ukyo said, blushing at the sight of Kang's
well-built chest.

"Thanks for your concern, but we have to find Cologne," Ranko
insisted. Everyone else agreed and said goodbye to Kang.

"Goodbye, Ukyo," Kang said, then gave her a long hug.

Ukyo blushed as he broke the hug. "Err... bye, Kang."

As they walked away, Kang said to himself in English, "Poor brave
fools." He turned around and began hiking back to his jeep. He waited a
couple hours hoping that they would come back, but then reluctantly
drove off.

The travelers walked towards the monolith. "I think Kang likes you
Ukyo," Ranma hinted.

"Yeah, I guess," Ukyo said softly. <I wonder if he wears dresses
like all my other admirers?>

"What do you think that thing is?" Ranko asked, pointing at the
monolith.

"No idea, but it isn't natural," Ranma insisted, after noticing
that the walls were as smooth as glass, although they didn't seem to
reflect anything.

"Look, over there," Ukyo said, pointing to a small hut set to the
side of the monolith. The hut was made up of woven panels and was about
a hundred meters from the monolith.

Everyone looked to where Ukyo pointed. "That has to be where
Cologne is. Let's go," Akane said.

As they made their way over to the camp, Akane admonished the
others. "Now remember, we need Cologne's help and she's already lost
Shampoo so don't lose your cool with her. Happosai actually used the
chicken bone to split you two."

"I guess, but it still makes me mad that she planned to do this to
us," Ranko said, trying to contain her anger.

"Where do you think she could be?" Ranma asked.

"Okay, who has the biggest mouth?" Ukyo asked. Ranma and Akane
looked over at Ranko.

"What are you looking at me for?" Ranko protested.

"Give a yell for Cologne, Ranko," Akane said.

"Fine," Ranko angrily conceded, then shouted, "Cologne!!! Where are
you???" Her shout echoed off the walls of the canyon walls.

"Who is it?" Cologne's voice replied from directly behind them.

The four travelers all spun around and looked at Cologne. She
seemed to look a lot older than when they last saw her back in August.

"Oh, it's you... I asked that you not visit me," Cologne muttered,
then shambled over to her makeshift hut. "Please leave."

Akane bent over Cologne. "Cologne, are you alright? You don't look
so good."

"You try looking this good when you're over five hundred years
old," Cologne replied, irritated.

The four travelers all looked at each other, worried. Ranko stepped
forward. Controlling her anger, she said, "We're sorry to disturb you
Cologne, but I really need your help."

"What is it, son-in-law?"

"Well, that's the problem... I'm really not a 'son' anymore," Ranko
said.

"Huh?" Cologne asked, then looked up. For the first time, she
registered Ranma's presence, then looked at Ranko carefully. "Oh no, I
forgot to destroy the magic chicken bone," she said softly, then shook
her head in shame.

"Yes, I'm afraid Happosai found it and used it," Akane informed
Cologne.

"What an old fool I am, to leave such a powerful magical item
behind. I guess I deserve my fate as an outcast," Cologne muttered, then
sat down on a log.

The four travelers all knelt or sat down in front of her. "Cologne,
please tell me... is there a way to recombine me and Ranma?" Ranko
asked.

"Well, you are just as much Ranma as the male Ranma, dear," Cologne
said, patting Ranko's hand.

Ranko shot a glance at Ranma that said 'I told you so'. Ranma just
nodded back to Cologne. Ranko asked again, "Please, tell me... is there
any way to recombine us into a single person again?"

"I'm sorry, there isn't any way to do that," Cologne stated,
flatly. Ranko's heart broke. "Even if it was possible physically... to
recombine you two now that you have lived separate lives, with separate
minds, would drive you insane." She started to shake her head sadly.

Ranko just stared at Cologne for several moments. Ranma, Ukyo, and
Akane looked at her with sadness and concern. Finally, Akane moved
closer to Ranko, wrapped her arms around her, and whispered softly,
"It'll be okay, Ranko. I'm here for you."

Ranma looked away from the hugging women towards Cologne. "Are you
sure, Cologne?"

"Yes, my shame is complete. First I lost my great-granddaughter to
my selfish pride and motives, then I was banished from the only life I
have ever known, and now I've destroyed whatever happiness you might
have had. What a pathetic excuse for a person I am," Cologne mumbled,
wallowing in self-pity.

"Cologne, we don't blame you... well not entirely... but are you
sure that there is no way?" Akane asked.

"Yes I sure. I discovered the magic I used in some old Amazon
scrolls. It only works on a Jusenkyo cursed person. It splits the person
into their two cursed forms, duplicating the person's spirit and mind.
There is no way to recombine the two forms. I'm sorry," Cologne
apologized, then thought for a second and said, "Although..."

Ranko looked up from Akane's shoulder. "What?" she asked. A glimmer
of hope appeared in her eyes.

"I can make up for the problem somewhat," Cologne stated. She got
up and rummaged around inside her makeshift hut for a bit, then came out
with a bottle of water marked 'Spring of Drowned Man'.

Everyone else gasped. "You had a bottle of 'Spring of Drowned Man'
all this time?" Ranma asked, with a touch of anger in his voice.

"So... I could at least be male part-time again?" Ranko asked,
wiping the tears out of her eyes.

"Yes. I had planned to offer it to you after splitting you two, in
exchange for one of you marrying my dear Shampoo. Before the magic
chicken bone finished bonding, she died. Again, I'm sorry."

"Well, at least I can be male again, even if it is in a cursed
form," Ranko said, cheering up a bit.

"Yes, but you need-" Cologne began to speak, but Akane interrupted
her.

"You said the magic you used to split them only works on a Jusenkyo
cursed person?" Akane asked.

"Yes. It adjusts the magic of the curse to form two separate bodies
instead of a single body switching between the two forms."

"So if I used the 'Spring of Drowned Man' water on myself, then you
could split me so both Ranma and Ranko could marry me?" Akane suggested.

Cologne looked up, nodded and said, "Theoretically, yes, but it
would be dangerous. Ranma has an unusually high stamina and
constitution, so he could withstand the pain and torment of the
splitting. Akane dear, you might not be able to survive the splitting."

"Well, that's not an option then," Ranko declared. Ranma agreed.

"But... but Ranma just slept through the splitting," Akane
insisted.

Cologne's eyes widened, then looked at Ranma and Ranko. Amazed, she
asked, "You slept through it?" Ranma and Ranko both nodded. "Amazing. I
guess I underestimated you once again, but I still think it would be too
dangerous for you to try, Akane."

"I still want to try," Akane declared.

Ranko and Ranma looked at Akane. Ranko was the first to speak.
"Akane, please don't... it's too dangerous."

"Yes... I couldn't bear to lose you," Ranma insisted.

"But... you both deserve to be happy," Akane said.

"The risk is too great," Ranma insisted.

"Guys, let's just think this over tonight. No need to rush into
anything," Ukyo suggested.

"Yes, I guess that's a good idea. Cologne, can we camp here?" Akane
asked.

"Of course, child. It's the least I can do," Cologne said.

The four travelers unpacked and set up their two tents.

-C- -M- -D-

At dinner, there was a long discussion about whether Akane should
use the 'Spring of Drowned Man' water or not. Everyone, except Akane,
was against it. All for various reasons, of course.

Then the discussion turned to other events in Nerima. "So you used
a ice and fire pillar attack to modify the Hiryu Shoten Ha and attack
Happosai? Very clever, sons-in-law," Cologne said, then chuckled deeply.

"Thank you," both Ranmas replied.

"So, how is Mousse doing with the Cat Cafe?" Cologne asked.

"Err... well..." Ranma stammered.

"You see..." Ukyo trailed off, not sure Cologne would like the
thought of Nabiki running it.

"Um... Mousse gave it to Nabiki. They've sort of... been dating,"
Akane explained, nervously awaiting Colognes reaction.

"Hmmm, I didn't intend it to become a dowry."

"So, it WAS intended as a marriage proposal?" Akane asked, a little
shocked at how calmly Cologne was taking it. <Looks like Shampoo's death
really hit her hard.>

"Yes. Amazon males must provide a dowry to a willing woman in order
to marry them."

"Unfortunately for Nabiki, Mousse didn't stick around for the
marriage."

-C- -M- -D-

After dinner, they all took turns trying to change Akane's mind.
Ukyo and Akane were talking while Ranma and Ranko did some sparring down
the canyon a bit. "Akane, please don't do this. It's too dangerous. I
don't want to lose a dear friend," Ukyo pleaded.

"Ukyo, I consider you my best friend, but it's obvious that you've
been thinking about taking one of the Ranmas," Akane said.

"Err... yes, but I've told you that it's your decision which one
you will marry. I don't see how you can say you won't marry them both,
but won't let me try and make the one you don't marry happy."

"I don't know why either, I keep saying that I can't marry them
both, but the thought of either of them with someone else makes me
jealous."

"I can understand that. I've been feeling that way since summer
when I realized I wasn't going to be able to marry my Ran-chan. I had
accepted it, but now with two of them running around my old feelings are
resurfacing. It feels like a second chance to me," Ukyo said, starting
to tear up.

"I wish I had a second chance to marry Ranma before the split, at
least then I wouldn't need to chose one. I'd already be married to them
both."

Ukyo raised an eyebrow. "And you'd think that would make this
easier?"

"No. That probably just make it worse... I guess," Akane muttered,
then broke down crying.

Ukyo comforted her. After a few minutes, she said, "It's your
decision, Akane. I won't go against anything you decide."

-C- -M- -D-

"Ranma, if I don't use the water and then marry Ranko instead of
you, could you be happy without me?" Akane asked Ranma later.

Ranma didn't look up. "If you'd be happy that way, I think so. I
think the only thing I couldn't take was if you died. Please don't try
the split... it's just too dangerous. Please."

Akane hugged Ranma closely. "If I were to marry Ranko... would you
marry Ukyo?"

Ranma leaned back from Akane, then said, "Ukyo? No... I just don't
think of her that way. I've never loved anyone except you, but I'll
accept whatever you decide."

Akane hugged Ranma again.

-C- -M- -D-

"Ranko, if I don't use the water and then marry Ranma instead of
you, could you be happy without me?" Akane asked Ranko.

Ranko looked up at Akane. "If you'd be happy, I'd be happy. But if
you died... that I couldn't take. Please, don't use the water... even if
I can't marry you, I want you to be happy."

Akane hugged Ranko closely. "If I were to marry Ranma, would you
marry Ukyo?"

Ranko leaned back from Akane with a confused look on her face.
"Ukyo? I don't know... I doubt she could accept me as a girl like you
do," she said, remembering Ukyo's reaction after finding out that she
was a girl fulltime.

Akane hugged Ranko again, mostly to hide the troubled look on her
face. <Could the two Ranmas have changed that much already? Does Ranko
feel love for Ukyo? Or is it just because I spent more time with Ranma
than with her after the split?> Akane rattled off questions to herself,
before asking her next question out loud, "What about becoming half man
again? How do you feel about that?"

"I want to use the water, this stupid body is getting on my nerves,
but I wonder if that will make a difference between the two of us."

"No, I love you as a man, as a woman, or half and half," Akane
insisted.

Akane about what to do for thought most of the night. Once she came
to her decision, she then had to think about whether or not it was the
right one. She ended up only getting a quick catnap before everyone else
awoke.

-C- -M- -D-

The sun rose over the canyon, casting long shadows. They almost
seemed to move of their own accord in the misty morning light.

Akane walked along with the others over to Cologne's fire, where
she was making tea. "Cologne, please let me have the water," she asked,
holding out her hand.

"If that is your wish. I pray you can survive the split. I'd hate
to have more pain on my shoulders," Cologne said, then shuffled back to
her hut to get the water.

The others all tried to talk Akane out of it again, before Akane
quickly silenced them with an upraised hand. Cologne handed the water to
her. Akane looked at the bottle for a few seconds and then handed it to
Ranko. "Good luck, Ranko."

"Huh?" Ranko gasped, looking at the bottle.

"I think you need to be male again more than I need to be able to
love you both separately. I still don't know if it'll work, but I'll
try. Of course, you two have to be able to accept a three-way marriage."

Ukyo looked shocked. Ranma looked shocked. Ranko looked shocked.
Cologne looked like a proud mother, as she gained a newfound respect for
Akane.

Akane just smiled and then asked, "Ranma and Ranko... it may not be
a normal marriage, but will you marry me?" Akane smile broadened as she
realized that even marrying Ranma before the split wouldn't have been
what anyone could call 'normal'. Before Ranma came into her life, her
'normal' life was very boring. She couldn't even imagine a life without
THEM now.

Ranma and Ranko looked at each other, then back at Akane. Then in
unison, they said, "Yes."

Akane pulled them both into a hug.

"Err... I don't have to kiss Ranma do I?" Ranko asked, not even
wanting to think of the other stuff she that might have to do with him.

"No," both Akane and Ranma quickly replied in unison.

Ukyo just looked on, her body shaking. Suddenly, she turned around
and walked off. Only Cologne noticed her leave, so she decided to follow
Ukyo and leave the three lovers alone.

Ukyo finally stopped once she was out of sight of the monolith and
camp. She knelt down at the stream's edge and started to throw pebbles
into it.

Cologne came up beside her and placed one of her wrinkled hands on
Ukyo's shoulder. "Don't worry, child, you will find someone to love."

Ukyo wiped a tear out of her eye. "It's not fair. I was over him...
then when I thought I might have another chance, she goes and takes them
both."

"Yes, but she may find it's impossible to love them both equally. I
obviously have underestimated her, just like I've underestimated Ranma
in the past. Just the attempt shows that their love is stronger than I
could ever have hoped to break up," Cologne said.

"I guess we both failed," Ukyo suggested.

"Yes, I just wish I didn't have to pay the price I did."

"I'm sorry about Shampoo."

"An old woman's pride cost me my great-granddaughter and caused
those three so much pain. It took six hundred years for me to learn my
lesson. Don't wait that long, child. You need to live your life."

Ukyo smirked at the ever-increasing age that Cologne kept giving.
When most women lie about their ages, they usually decrease their age.
Of course, Cologne wasn't exactly your typical woman.

"Thank you. You know, Cologne..." Ukyo started to say, but was
interrupted by a piercing scream that echoed down the canyon. Ukyo and
Cologne both snapped their heads around towards the source, which
appeared to be from their camp. They jumped to their feet and ran back.

They arrived back at the camp to see Ranma and Akane huddled over a
female form that was convulsing and twisting in pain.

"Oh no... .Ranko used the water already!" Cologne said softly.
Then she yelled, "Idiots! Didn't I tell you not to use the water yet?"

Ranma looked up at Cologne and replied, "What? No... you didn't.
Why?" Then he returned his attention to holding down Ranko, who was
silently convulsing in pain.

"Because the magic I used in the chicken bone hasn't fully
stabilized yet... it'll take several months to bond completely with the
cells of her body."

"So what's going to happen to Ranko now?" Akane asked.

"I don't know," Cologne replied sadly.

They all looked down at the struggling Ranko, concern evident on
their faces. Ranko was convulsing and twisting in pain on the ground.
Ranma and Akane tried to keep her from hurting herself, which was all
they could do at this point. Ranko looked like she was screaming, but no
sound had come out of her throat after that initial scream. Suddenly her
body started to glow with a red light and before all the onlookers' eyes
Ranko's body blurred. Shocked, Ranma and Akane gasped and let go of
Ranko's arms. Then a ghostly image of Ranko without her gi was violently
thrown away from Ranko and landed a few meters away.

The others all looked over to see the image start to solidify. Then
they looked back at the first Ranko. "What the hell happened?" Ranko
asked, as she rose to a sitting position and scratched her head.

Akane pointed. "Look behind you."

Ranko looked around and saw herself. The ghostly Ranko had almost
become fully solid.

"The magic I used to split you hasn't fully stabilized yet... using
the water now caused the Jusenkyo magic to interact with my magic,"
Cologne quickly explained.

"So there are three Ranmas now?" Akane asked, although she knew the
answer already. She was looking at the evidence... three separate
Ranmas.

"Yes, it looks like it. I'm so sorry, Akane dear. This old fool has
caused you and your families nothing but trouble," Cologne said, then
seemed to age several years before their eyes.

The new Ranko had become fully solid, then rose to a sitting
position, she asked, "What the hell happened? I'm sore all over."

"Welcome to our club, number three," Ranma said, shaking his head
sadly.

The new Ranko looked over and saw Ranma and the other Ranko. She
then looked down at her naked body. "Still a girl," she sighed.

"Still a girl? STILL A GIRL??? Who the hell cares about that?!!
There is no way I can marry all THREE of you!" Akane screamed, then ran
into one of the tents and began to cry.

Ranma and Ranko both scolded the newly arrived Ranko. "Idiot."

***********************************************************************
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:

"Ah, I was wondering how the third Ranma came into existence," I
said, as I sat by Hanaki's side on the bench. "Akane told me about some
of these events a long time ago, but only a brief explanation."

"My aunt was just getting used to two of them when the third showed
up. I afraid she didn't take it at all well," Hanaki said, looking at
the sun set in the distance.

"Well, knowing that it couldn't be reversed at that point must had
made it much more difficult."

"I imagine."

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" I asked Hanaki.

"As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter," she replied.

The sun set behind us, but we were too busy kissing to notice.

[End - Chapter 7]

Coming soon: Chapter 8: Throw Another Ranma on the Barbie
=======================================================================
>The real author's (Jim Lazar) notes/ramblings:

As tempted as I was to have Akane marry both Ranmas or have two Akanes
running around, that just wasn't in the cards for them. Stay tuned, the
next chapter is a fight for survival, but are three Ranmas enough to
save them all?

Hiryu Hibashira Ha = Flying-Dragon Fire-Pillar Strike
Hiryu Hyouchuu Ha = Flying-Dragon Ice-Pillar Strike

100 Australian dollars is about the same as 50 American dollars.

This chapter written on location in Canyonlands National Park, Utah,
USA. Revised elsewhere.

I'd like to thank various FFML members and my pre-readers:

I'd like to thank my pre-readers: Anthony Pardilla, Arnold Callwood,
David Johnston, James Mackey, Johnathan Ng, Lonewolf, Rex Yu, Gamers,
Alex Archon, and Ryan Erik. Of course in the end, any mistakes and
botched characters are my fault.

Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (ch 6 & 7 as one chapter) (June 12, 1998)
Revision 0.3 - Heavily Revised (August 15, 1998)
Revision 0.4 - Pre-reader draft (October 6, 1998)
Revision 0.5 - FFML draft (October 18, 1998)
Revision 1.0 - First RAAC posting (October 27, 1998)