This story in an set in an alternate reality and begins shortly before
Ranma arrives in Nerima. Any comments are welcome and can be sent to
rodney.hyam@sk.sympatico.ca

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2 or any of the ideas associated with
it.  Rumiko Takahashi and Shogakukan, Inc do.  Rights in North  America
belong to Viz Communications
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1: Arrival

     Honored Father, I don't know if I will send you this letter.
However, I feel the need to  tell someone of recent events.  As you
know, I decided to abandon my vendetta against Ranma and Genma Saotome
and continue my life.  What you do not know are the events that occurred
after I enrolled in Furinkan High.

===================

     I was admittedly nervous on my first day of school.  After all, I'd
spent ten years trying to eradicate every trace of my femininity.
Attending a mixed gender school was the first step to reclaiming it.
I'd registered as a boy, but I just needed to get an idea of how girls
behaved.

     I slowly walked towards the school entrance, lost in my own thought
until the sound of a struggle drew my attention outwards.  A horde of
boys were attacking a lone girl armed only with a book bag.  She seemed
to be holding her own though.  Naturally I jumped into the fight to help
her.  It didn't take long after that.  None of the boys were very good
and they didn't work together.

     "I didn't need your help!"

     I didn't expect the girl I'd rescued to take such an angry tone, so
I turned to examine her more closely.  She was prettier than average,
but the clenched fists and snarl did detract from her looks.  "Hi.  I'm
Ukyo Kuonji."

     "I'm Akane Tendo.  Um, thanks for helping me."  She fidgeted
nervously as she spoke.  I figured that she was either embarrassed by
her earlier rudeness or didn't say thank you often.

     "Hold, peasant.  Who are you to hold discourse with the beauteous
Akane in such a manner?"

     When I turned to look at the speaker, my first thought was that he
must spend a lot of time working on his hair.  I don't know how I missed
the bokken and kendo gear.  "My name's Uk-"

     "Ah, but it is more polite to give one's name first.  I am Tatewaki
Kuno, age seventeen, the Shooting Star of Furinkan High, captain of
kendo club and undefeated-"

     At that point I'd heard enough to give me a pretty good idea where
this was going, so I just unloaded on him with my spatula.  Seeing him
crumple to the ground was satisfying, but not having to listen to the
rest of his speech was even better.

     Akane's expression was a weird mix of anger and relief, but she
shook it off quickly.  "Come on.  If we don't hurry, we'll be late for
class."

     I lingered for a moment, until I saw a short-haired girl appear to
drag Kuno off.  Since someone else was taking care of him, I set off for
my first class.

==================

     It turned out that I'm in the same class as Akane.  In fact, I
wound up being seated next to her.  That was fine with me, especially
since it gave me a chance to find out what exactly what I'd gotten
involved with.  I didn't have to wait long either because it turned out
that the teacher had forgotten her copy of the day's lesson plan.

     "Care to tell me what that mess was about?" I asked quietly leaning
over towards Akane.  "You acted like those boys attack you every day."

     Akane looked over at me distrustfully, but answered anyway.  "Well,
they've done it ever since Kuno announced that anyone who wanted to date
me had to defeat me in combat first."

     I snorted in disbelief.  "Isn't that a bit much?  Not that you
aren't cute," I said hurriedly.  "It just seems strange for so many guys
to be chasing a girl who doesn't want anything to do with them."

     "They're just a bunch of jerks.  Kuno's going be trouble though.
He really is a very good fighter."  Akane added the last words
grudgingly.

     "But you beat him right?"

     "He doesn't fight all out against me," Akane said angrily.  "I
could still beat him though."

     I thought that was a pretty fair assessment given what I'd seen of
her skills, but I didn't get a chance to say so.

     "Tendo, Kuonji, hall."  I'd been so busy talking to Akane that I
hadn't even noticed the teacher return.  Unfortunately, neither had
Akane.

=================

     "You're pretty good, but isn't a spatula an odd weapon to use?".  I
was a bit surprised that Akane had spoken to me again after she'd
ignored me all through class, but I already liked her.  At least there I
had something in common with one girl.

     "Maybe, but its my family's style.  Okonomiyaki martial arts."

     "And I thought that Anything-Goes was an unusual style."  Akane
must have noticed my curiosity, because she continued after a moment.
"That's my family's style.  We have a dojo, but Dad doesn't teach much
anymore."

     "Too bad.  I'd like to see your dojo sometime."

     "Why don't you come over then?  We can spar a bit."

     Normally I'd have been more careful, but the gleam in Akane's eyes
told me that she was looking for something other than a boyfriend.
"Sounds like fun."

     "Come on then.  Unless you have something else to do."

     "No.  No, I don't."

=================
 

     "This isn't a real fight."  Akane's face was a bit nervous, but I
could understand that.

     "I know.  You already told me that.  There's no one here to see us,
anyway."

     "I guess you're right.  Let's start."

     Akane seemed to be hanging back, so I decided to take the
initiative.  Spinning my spatula around, I launched a slow overhand
strike at her head.

     Holding back proved to be a mistake.  Akane easily ducked and
launched a side kick that I barely avoided.  I recovered though and
easily dodged Akane's punches as she tried to press her advantage.

     "Come on, fight back," Akane ordered, anger beginning to creep into
her voice.

     I would've be glad to, except for one thing.  It's really hard to
hit someone with a large spatula without hurting them.  Akane could take
a bruise, but I was hoping we could become friends and that wasn't the
way to start.

     Seeing that I wasn't having any trouble avoiding her attacks, Akane
switched tactics.  She began to try to push me backward to trap me
against the wall.  That wouldn't work, but it did give me an idea.
Springing backwards, I bounced off the wall and flipped over Akane's
head.  When I landed, I swung my spatula in a low arc taking Akane's
feet out from under her.

     "You're pretty good."  Akane was grinning ruefully as she clambered
back to her feet.  "At least I didn't lose to another girl."

     "What?".  Considering Akane's attitude towards boys, that was the
last thing I'd expected her to say.

     "Well, since so few girls practice martial arts at Furinkan, being
second best would be really embarrassing."

     "That makes sense I suppose."  On the other hand, she might have
just been trying to put the best face on things.

     "I wouldn't want you to lose to Kuno, anyway."

     "You think that I'm going to have to fight him?"  Really, that was
a stupid question.  He'd wanted to fight me before I knocked him out and
I doubt that unconsciousness improved his mood.

     "Yes.  My sister, Nabiki, is in his class and she says he's pretty
mad at you."  The amusement in Akane's voice made me believe that was an
understatement.  "The sparring match was really her idea.  I think she
wanted to know what to set the odds at."

     "You make her sound like some sort of bookie."  Akane didn't
reply.  Instead she winced slightly.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to insult
her."

     "Don't be.  Nabiki likes money a lot."

     "There's nothing wrong with that.  In fact, I'm planning to open up
a restaurant soon."

     "Aren't you a bit young?" Akane asked curiously.

     "Maybe, but I'm the best okonomiyaki chef in Japan.  If you stop by
after I open it I'll give you a free sample and you can see for
yourself."

     "I'll do that.  My sister Kasumi's a wonderful cook, but I'm not
that good myself."

      "I bet you just need some practice.  Cooking is a lot like martial
arts you know."

     "Really?  Maybe you could teach me then."

     "We'll see."  Actually that wasn't a bad idea.  Teaching her to
cook wouldn't be too hard and I could pick up some pointers on proper
behavior from her at the same time.

     "I hope I'm not interrupting you and your boyfriend, Akane," a
sardonic voice drawled.

     "No, we just finished."  Akane immediately realized what she'd said
and started blushing furiously.  Funny, I wouldn't have figured her for
the type.  "Sparring.  We just finished sparring.
He isn't my boyfriend, Nabiki."

     "Relax, Sis."  Somehow, discovering that the short haired girl
who'd stayed behind to help Kuno was Akane's sister didn't surprise me.
"I'm here to deliver a message to Ukyo."

     "From Kuno I suppose."  From what Akane had told me, it wasn't a
hard guess to make.

     "That's right," she said, handing me an envelope.  Her suddenly
appraising stare made me acutely uncomfortable.  Nabiki was definitely
more forward with men than her sister.  Of course, the sleeveless
T-shirt and tight shorts she was wearing had made that clear from the
beginning.  I realized that I was starting to stare and hurriedly opened
the letter.

     "Looks like a challenge.  He wants to meet me at ten o'clock on
Sunday at Furinkan's second field."

     "Kuno-baby hates to lose," Nabiki commented.

     "Heh.  I'm not going to give him a choice."

=================

     When I arrived at the field for the duel, I was surprised to find a
sizable crowd already present.  I'd have to remember to thank Nabiki for
the audience.  I could see her standing at the center of the crowd,
talking to several other students.  Akane wasn't there, and I found
myself a bit disappointed.  I could've used the support.

     Despite my earlier bravado, I have to admit I was a bit nervous.
I'd spent a lot of time training but I'd never fought a truly skilled
opponent and from what Akane said, Kuno wasn't a typical high school
bully.  Kuno probably wasn't anymore experienced than I was, but you
wouldn't have been able to tell from the expression on his face.  The
sheer mindless confidence of the smirk he was wearing actually boosted
my spirits a bit.  He plainly wasn't taking me seriously and I could
exploit that.

     "Your cowardly tricks shall not save you this time, knave."

     "I won't need any tricks," I replied, as I readied my spatula.
Kuno was already holding his bokken and I had no doubt that he could
quickly cover half-dozen paces between us.

    "Attack!"

     Even with the warning Kuno's battle cry gave me, I barely managed
to parry his overhand slash and the force of the blow nearly drove me to
my knees.  I stepped back to take advantage of the longer reach my
spatula gave me, but that didn't work as well as I hoped.  His next
stroke actually knocked me several inches sideways, and I found myself
backpedaling rapidly to stay out of reach as he continued his assault.
Kuno's greater height seemed to almost entirely offset any edge I gained
from having a longer weapon.

     "Stand and fight," Kuno snarled, slightly out of breath and plainly
frustrated.  He swung his bokken in another powerful downward slash.
This time I was ready and angled my spatula to deflect his attack to the
side.

     "Be careful what you ask for," I replied, sidestepping a thrust at
my chest and slamming the butt of my spatula into his chin.  There
wasn't much force behind the blow, but it still sent Kuno stumbling
backwards.

     "So, you do have some skill.  It won't save you.  Strike!  Strike!
Strike!  Strike!"  Kuno punctuated each shout with a lightning fast
thrust, the air pressure of his high speed attack propelling me
backwards.  That was bad enough, but with a sudden chill, I noticed that
a number of rips appearing in my okonomiyaki sellers outfit.  I had to
finish this fast, or it wouldn't matter if I won.

     Luckily, I had more than one weapon.  A single throwing spatula
aimed at Kuno's leading foot turned his advance into a stagger.  A
smashing blow to the midsection with my larger spatula lifted him into
the air and the following blow to the head made sure that he was
unconscious when he landed.

     "Hmm, I would've thought that he had a harder head than that."  As
I slung my battle spatula over my back, the watching crowd murmured in
disbelief.  The only one who didn't seem surprised was Nabiki.  I could
tell I was going to have to watch her carefully.

=================

     The day after the duel started off fairly routine.  I helped Akane
fight off her fan club and then Kuno showed up and proclaimed his love
for Akane.  She knocked him out of course.  I guess some people are just
slow learners.  The real excitement didn't start until Akane invited me
to have another sparring match with her.

     "You won't need that," Akane said, gesturing towards the spatula I
was holding.

     "I won't?"

     "Right.  A weapon can give you an advantage, but it isn't wise to
rely on one.  Besides, I'm fighting unarmed too."

     "Fair enough," I replied, standing my spatula against one of the
walls.  My style did use a few empty handed techniques, but they were
almost entirely defensive.  Akane had lost gracefully the first time we
sparred, so I supposed I owed it to her to do the same.

     It started off well enough.  I ducked under a high spin kick,
blocked a flurry of punches and sidestepped a snap kick.  I just had
time to realize that I'd positioned myself perfectly to make a counter
attack with my spatula and then I found myself sitting on the floor with
my ears ringing.

     "Sorry.  I guess you're not used to fighting without weapons."
Despite her words, Akane didn't look the least bit repentant.  I
couldn't blame her either; she hadn't hit me that hard.

     "You could say that," I commented ruefully, climbing back to my
feet.

     "Maybe I could give you a few pointers.  It'll be good practice for
when I take over the dojo."

    "It might be useful, but tomorrow it will be my turn to play
teacher."  Seeing Akane's confused look, I explained, "I promised to
teach you how to cook, remember.  Since my restaurant's ready to open
now, there's no need to wait."

     "Really?  That's great!"

=================

     "So, you live here?" Nabiki asked curiously, gazing at the sign
reading "Ukyo's Okonomiyaki".

     "On the upper floor.  The stairs are behind that curtain," I
replied, making an effort to maintain a friendly tone of voice, as I
opened the door.  I didn't have anything against Nabiki, well nothing
except how she'd invited herself along for Akane's cooking lesson.

     "It looks very nice, Ukyo," Akane said, favoring me with a smile.

     "A bit small though," Nabiki muttered.  There was more than a
little truth in that claim.  The restaurant was little more than the
cooking grill and a long counter for the customers.

     "Maybe, but it's all mine.  Besides, if it was any bigger, I
wouldn't be able to run it myself.  Come on Akane, let's get the lesson
started."

     "Are you going to teach me how to cook okonomiyaki?"

      "Um, I thought I'd start with something a bit simpler.  Plain
rice."  Nabiki had provided me with some rather graphic descriptions of
Akane's culinary efforts.  She must have been exaggerating, but I still
though a bit of caution wouldn't hurt.

     "Three thousand yen says you can't even manage to teach her that."

     "You want to lose your money that badly?  You on."

     "Don't worry, Ukyo.  I won't let you down."

     Politeness prevents me from describing the results of Akane's
attempt a cooking, except to say that it was edible.  Mostly anyway,  at
least after I chipped off the burnt parts.  Nabiki was a bit upset when
I pointed out that we hadn't agreed on a time limit.  I haven't given up
on teaching Akane how to cook, although it might take a wee bit longer
than I'd thought.

=================

     "Akane, who's that guy with Nabiki?"  I'd been attending Furinkan
High for close to two weeks and I'd gotten to know a lot of the students
buy sight.  Not the pig-tailed boy walking through the front gate beside
Nabiki though.  Since he wasn't wearing a school uniform he really stood
out, but except for a nagging feeling of familiarity I couldn't place
him.

     "You mean the pervert?"

     "Well, yes I suppose so."  That was a bit surprising.  He wasn't
part of Akane's morning workout, but I was detecting a smidgen of
hostility anyway.

     "He's Nabiki's new fiancé," Akane informed me.  "His name's Ranma
Saotome."

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