[The MST theatre. Its empty, except for a sign on one of the seats. It reads,
"You're in the Wrong Theatre. We're next door!"]
[The MST theatre next door. Rarstarr, Amy, Sephiroth and a light blue
haired girl
in formal robes are sitting at the front.]
Amy: How did that happen?
Rarstarr: <shrug> No idea, just get on with the introductions.
Amy: Right. Greetings members of the FFML, and welcome to another MST. I'm Amy
	Anderson, also known as Sailor Mercury, from the english dub of the anime 
	Sailor Moon. Sitting next to me is Rarstarr, author at large.
Rarstarr: Hello.
Amy: Sitting beyond Rarstarr is the villain Sephiroth from the anime computer
	game Final Fantasy VII.
Sephiorth: Honored.
Amy: And our guest reviewer tonight is none other than Sasami from Tenchi
Muyo.
Sasami: Delighted.
Rarstarr: Tonight we're looking at chapter two of a Ranma fic called Twins.

Inspired by when there were two

Rarstarr: Can't say I've read it.
Sephiroth: But then again, you can't remember the titles of half the fics
you've
	read.
Rarstarr: True.

ALL C&C WELCOME

Ranma 1/2 : Twins Chapter Two
Created by Long Ngo
Started June 7, 1998
Finished June 8, 1998

Sasami: Oh, he writes faster than you Rarstarr.
Rarstarr: Hmpf

     Entering the Dojo, Ranma poured a cup of water over his head.  Soon,
where one Ranma stood, there were now two.

Amy: Ah... what?
Rarstarr: In this universe Ranma fell in the spring of drowned Twins, so
whenever
	he gets doused with cold water, there's two of him.
Sephiroth: Double trouble.
Sasami: I wonder if Aeka-chan and Ryoko could use some of that on Tenchi.
[Others stare at her in shock.]

     "What did you do that for?" asked Akane.

     "Well I made it a policy never to hit a girl.  It's something I picked
up in China," replied Ranma (red).

Sephiroth: I can't imagine why.
Rarstarr: Which is an interesting point. Why did Ranma fight Shampoo in the
first
	place? His honor would get in the way.
Amy: Its a plot point stupid.
Rarstarr: Oh, right.

     "What?  Don't you think I can defend myself?  I'm a martial artist you
know," shouted Akane in anger.  *The nerve of him to say that.*

     Ranma's (red) voice still calm, "Nothing personal, just a bad
experience."

     "Hey! You better not talk about my fiancee like that," exclaimed Ranma
(blue).

All: <laugh>
Sephiroth: A Ranma who likes Shampoo. How different.
Rarstarr: Not really, its been done lots.
Sasami: Yeah, but what's going to happen when she comes looking.
Amy: Genma's in for some lumps.

     Staring at Ranma (blue), "Shampoo was too hyper for my own good and
there was no way I was going to marry that overgrown so-called Amazon."
Turning back Akane, "Anyways Akane, you have a better chance of beating him
than me."

     "What does that suppose to mean?" Akane and Ranma (blue) shouted.

     Pointing at Ranma (blue), "He just doesn't want to admit it but he
hasn't been able to hand a single blow on me for the past few months now."

Amy: I thought it was only weeks between Ranma getting a curse and them
arriving 
	at the Tendo household.
Rarstarr: Yeah, but obviously in this universe they didn't have the driving
force
	to push onwards.
Amy: What force?
Sasami: <giggles> Shampoo.

     "Well your punches suck, I hardly fell them." Ranma (blue) retorted.

     "Shall we begin children?" Ranma (red) asked, turning to Nabiki and
winked.

     Getting the hint, Nabiki smiled, "Come on Akane, You wanted to spar

with

them, go ahead."      

     "Fine!  After I beat him," pointing at Ranma (blue), "I'll spar with
you," Staring at Ranma (red).

     "Fine, if you beat him.  Ranma, remember, this is not Cologne you are
fighting or Shampoo.  Imagine fighting Linlin and Ranran."

     Ranma (blue) nodded his head in understanding.

     "And this is point fighting, no knockout." Ranma (red) continued.

     "No fair!" Ranma (blue) shouted back.

     "Yeah!" Akane added.

     "Trust me Akane, nothing short of ramming Ranma (blue) with a car will
hurt him." Ranma (red) assured her.

Sasami: Why did Ranma (red) say (blue)? Always before they've just refered
to each
	other as Ranma.
Rarstarr: I can't wait till they get in a conversation with someone who
calls them
	both Ranma. They everyone will be confused.
Sephiroth: Had experience with that?
Rarstarr: Spent a year in the same class as two other people with the same
first 
	name. We ended up with these long periods where one of us waited for the
	other two to answer.

     "Fine!" both Akane and Ranma (blue) agreed.

     "Shampoo and Cologne?"  Nabiki asked?

     "Yeah, funny isn't it.  Everyone we meet at the Chinese Amazon village
had names like that and Shampoo is his fiancee or wife to more exact." Ranma
(red) explained.

     "Wife?  Wow!  So why didn't you marry one of them?" Nabiki asked.

     "Me I prefer someone a little smarter and more reserve,"Ranma repied.

     *Someone smart and a little more reserve?* Nabiki thought, *I might get
to like this Ranma.*

Amy: Oh boy!

     *Ahem!* "Anytime bro!" Ranma (blue) spoke in an annoyed tone.

	Ranma and Akane were facing each other in the center of the dojo.

	Turning to Ranma (blue), "Better not go easy on me because I'm a girl."

Akane

warned."

	Ranma (blue ) just had laughed slightly.  "Don't worry, after living in

China

for the past few months, I won't make that mistake.  Besides, if Shampoo ever
found out I let up on an opponent cuz she's a girl, she'll kill me." Ranma
just shook his head, with a smile on his lips.  

	"She's a martial artist?" asked Akane.

Rarstarr: Do we really need Akane and Ranma (blue) rediscussing what we just
	heard?
Amy: "This is CNN repeating the news we just repeated."
Rarstarr: Have you been watching bad comedy programs again?

	Ranma nodded. "And an Amazon, too."

	Standing next to Nabiki, Ranma (red) knew his role and raised his hand to
signal both combatants to get ready.    

	"Begin!" 

	Akane let out a battle cry and threw a punch at Ranma (blue).  Knowing that
her opponent was better than those boys she fought at school, she did not

hold

back as she launched a volley of punches and kicks.  Some of her punches
landed and so did a few of her kicks but Ranma seemed unfazed.  She took a

few

hits herself before the last sent her flying across the dojo.  Looking up at
Ranma (blue), she grumply accepted his hand and rose back to her feet.  

Amy: Ranma (blue) I name thee strength!

	Back to the center of the hall, the two martial artists bowed and waited for
Ranma's (red) signal.

	"Begin!"

	"Begin!"

	"Begin!"

     At the end of their 5 minute sparring match, Ranma (red) and Nabiki
walked up to the two combatants.

     "I'm impressed," Ranma (red) praised Akane.  Looking at Ranma (blue),
"You lost."

     "What?  I knocked her down 7 times and I didn't hit the floor once,"
Ranma (blue) complained.

     "It was a point fight match and Akane got in more hits than you,"
looking at Akane,  "As promised, do you still want to spar?" 

     "Yeah!  Told you I got beat him,"  Akane rubbed it in.

All: ...
Sasami: I thought she beat him.
Rarstarr: She probably meant to say "Told you I could beat him,"

     "If it had been real ..." Ranma (blue) stopped midsentence by the star

>from his twin.

Sephiroth: That was mean, throwing a star at your twin.
Rarstarr: Worse than that, he threw it at himself.
Amy: I think he means "stare"

     "Anytime you are ready," Ranma (red) replied, his hands behind his

back.

     "This should be interesting," Ranma (blue) commented to Nabiki.

     "Why?"

     "My true abilities lie in offense while my brother rely on defense.
Those punches of Akane tickled to tell you the truth.  I was holding back
almost all my power."  

     Returning his attention to the two combant, Ranma (blue) raised his
hand.

     "Begin!"

	Ranma's (red) style was completely different from his twin.  He relied on

his

speed and misdirection to beat his opponent. There was a certain

randomness to

his actions; he would begin an attack using a certain kata but at the very

end

would switch to another. His attacks used misdirection, speed, and agility.
Where he was water and air, his brother was earth and fire.

Rarstarr: Ranma (red) I name thee speed.
Amy: And should that be "Ranma (red)'s style"

     Akane was frustrated.  She couldn't land a single blow on Ranma (red)
but on the other hand, she had felt him tag her numberous times.  He wasn't
hitting her, just tapping her.  *Is he reading my moves?*  Seeing that he was
backed into a corner, Akane used every once of energy to make her last punch
go as fast as possible, only to see him vault over her and her fist making a
hole in the dojo.  Feeling a final tap to her shoulder, Akane gave up.

	Nabiki just clapped. "That was... amazing," she finally uttered.

	"You're really good," Akane admitted, her voice a mixture of respect
(grudging), and frustration.

     "What about me?" Ranma (blue) asked.

     "I beat you!" Akane replied.

     Ranma (red) started to laugh, "That she did, bro.  Wait till I tell
Shampoo."

     "Who is Shampoo?"  Akane asked.

Sephiroth: Akane, I name thee forgetful.
Sasami: That's not very nice.
Sephiroth: Neither am I.
Rarstarr: Akane has been told directly by Ranma (blue) who Shamps is and must 
	have overheard Ranma (red) talking to Nabiki about her. They were only a
	couple of meters away.
Amy: So Akane must know who Shampoo is.

     "Shut up!" shouted Ranma (blue).

      Don't worry, I'll explain later.  Can we use your bath and clean up?"
Ranma (red) asked.

     Seeing no problem, "Sure," answered Nabiki.

* * * * *

     Later that day, the whole gang was sitting down at the dinning room
table.

Sephiroth: Define "the whole gang" please.
Rarstarr: Especially seeing as the either Ranma or Ranma (red) and Ranma
(blue)
	encompasses the same group.
Amy: Not to mention it meats out your story.
Rarstarr: Think of it like this: Never say in one word what you can say in a 
	hundred.
Sephiroth: And you'll be either a lawyer or a writer.

     "So your problem is not so bad, Ranma.  Let me introduce you to Kasumi,
she is 19, Nabiki is 17 and Akane is 16.  Pick one and she'll be your

fiancee.

     "Nani?" Ranma asked.  Turning to Genma, "I thought we agreed to drop
this stupid arrange marriage idea, Oyaji"

     "What are you saying boy!  This is a matter of honor."

     "Oh?"  Picking up a glass of water and pouring it on top of his head,
Ranma started to blur and then two Ranma sat side by side, one with a red
shirt and the other blue.

Amy: That must be really disgusting to watch.
Others: <shudder>

     "What about Shampoo, Oyaji?" Ranma shouted (blue).  Moments later,

Genma

was running for his life from a very angry Ranma.      

Sasami: May I suggest: "Ranma (blue) shouted, looming over his father."
Rarstarr: Which raises another point. I think you should consider their
names as
	"Ranma (blue)" not "Ranma" with (blue) added on afterwards.
Amy: In otherwords anything added after the the name normally gets added
after the
	closing brackets. Like "Ranma (blue)'s" or "Ranma (red) kicked". It makes
	more sense.

     "Please excuse my brother and Tousan, they get excited very easily.  As
for honor, that agreement was between you, Tendou-san and my Tousan and does
not concern neither your daughters and myself and my brother."  Ranma (red)
started to explain.

Amy: "either your daughters nor my brother or myself." <shrugs> sounds better.
Rarstarr: Alternately. "and concerns neither your daughters, my brother nor 
	myself."
Sephiroth: What you've done is form a double negative. 

     Soun was not going to lose the chance of uniting the Saotome and Tendou
clan through marriage.  "You are wrong Ranma.  The agreement was between the
Saotome and Tendou clan.  So the honor of your clan is also on the line here
and not just mine or your father's honor."

     "I do not think any of your daughters would enjoy being my fiancee,
Tendou-san," Ranma was trying really hard to a hole in the agreement.

Rarstarr: Red's not very honorable, is he?
Sasami: He should honor his fathers promise.
Amy: Besides which isn't such a contract still legally binding in Japan?
Rarstarr: <shrug> I don't remember the end of that discussion thread. 

     "That does not matter, our honor demands that you or your brother be
engaged to one of my daughters."  Soun was jumping for joy on the inside, *I
got him, I got him!!!!*

     "Seeing as how my brother already has a fiancee and they are nearly
practically married that would leave me to be engaged to one of your

daughters

is that correct?"

Sasami: "nearly pratically"? Is that like "some of a little bit"?
Rarstarr: I know Ranma's language skills are bad, but that is a little clumsy.

     "Yes!"
  
     Nabiki was surprised at how calmly Ranma was behaving.  *He is not only
handsome but smart as well.  If all else fails, it might not be so bad*
Nabiki had the reputation of being a cold-hearted individual at school

that no

one would dare approach her and ask her out and thus she was lonely.

All: Uh OH!

     Kasumi was nervous throughout this exchange.  *He is so young!* Kasumi
thought.  As the conversation continued, *He is not like any of the other
younger men I've meet.  He is quite mature.  It might not be so bad.  He is
also very polite.*

All: Uh OH!

     *I hate boys!* Akane thought, especially a boy that had beat her.

All: Phew!

     Standing up, "Excuse me for a second."  Turing around, Ranma sprinted
towards where his brother was beating up Genma, "Oyaji! You're going to die!"

All: <facefault>
Rarstarr: So much for the calm collected Ranma.

     Soun sighed.  "At least he agreed to the engagement."  *Why else would
he be so mad.*

* * * * *

     The next day, "What?  Why do I have to go to school?" Ranma (blue)
asked.

     "There is more to life than martial arts," Ranma (red) answered.

    "No way!"  Running into the kitchen, Ranma (blue) came out with a kettle
and poured it onto his head.  "You go!" he said before disappearing.

[Long pause.]
Rarstarr: What was the point of that. Ranma (blue) is going to be along anyway
	as part of the total conciousness of Ranma.
Amy: I think Long Ngo had better think hard on how this curse works.

     Sighing, "Ready to go?" Ranma asked Akane and Nabiki.

     "Why do I have to take him to school?" Akane asked.

     "Because he is your fiancee as well," Nabiki answered.

     "I still can't believe you suggested to your father engage me to all
three of you," Ranma exclaimed.

    "This way, you get to know all three of us before picking," Nabiki
answered calmly, *And if we do not get along, then I can back off without
Tousan crying.*

     "What is that behind your back Ranma?" Nabiki asked.

     "A flute," Ranma answered.

     "You know how to play?" Akane asked.

     "No, I just carry it around in the unlikely chance that I run across a
rat, I'll be able to charm it into jumping into the river, " Ranma answered
sarcasticly.

    Nabiki had to laugh at his comment.

    "Baka," Akane muttered.

    "Shall we go ladies?"

     After reaching the front gate, Ranma was impressed by Akane's skill as
she destroyed the male half of the Furinken High.  Suddenly he saw a boy step
into view from behind one fo the trees.  

Rarstarr: Ah, that went very quickly. Describe what happened a little more.
Amy: That's a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Sephiroth: Still, it leaves you wondering what the male half of Furinken
High were
	doing at the front gate of the Tendo dojo. At least a few seconds.

     "Who arth thou?"  Kunou asked, leveling his bokken at the stranger
standing next to a girl with long black hair in a ponytail.  "To be so

familar

with the Tendou Akane."  Before, the stranger could answer, "Tis it not
fitting to annocement thyself before combat?  Very well, I am the Rising Star
of Furinkan High, Tatewaki Kunou, the Blue Thunder, age 17!"

     Handing his bag to Akane, "I am Saotome Ranma ..."  Before Ranma could
complete his introduction, Kunou had charged Ranma.

All: ...
Rarstarr: Okay, that was, different.
Amy: What's happened to Kuno?
Rarstarr: We'll find out later.

    Akane was worried about Ranma.  Though she thought that he was a pervert
for looking at her while she was naked, a part of her mind told her that it
was partially her fault as well.  Her fears soon turned to wonder as she saw
Ranma block Kunou's bokken.

     *Not very honorable is he?* Ranma thought.  *The nerve of that poetry
sprouting idiot not let me finish,* his other half spoke.  Ranma's right hand
flashed around to his back and grasped something hard and cold and brought it
up to block Kunou's attack.  Ranma then slammed the end of his flute into
Kunou's mid-section.  Seeing his opponent kneel over, Ranma continued, " And
you have just been beaten by the heirs to the Saotome Musabetsu Kakutou Ryu,
age 16."  Returning the flute to its holder behind his back, Ranma pointed
down at Kunou's forehead just before adding a little pressure to topple his
oppenent.  Looking up at the sky, Ranma was glad he had finish his battle
before it rained.  Ranma walked inside the school building, ignoring the
sudden gossip that eose from the conscious half of Furinken, comprised mainly
of girls.

Rarstarr: Kuno's not going to much trouble, is he?
Amy: <nods> He's already at the point Takahashi spent half a dozen volumes
	getting to.
Sasami: What surprises me is that the gossip that eose consisted of a group
of 
	girls.
Sephiroth: Run that by me again.
Sasami: <giggles> "rose" not "eose" and the way it's written the girls are
part
	of the gossip.
Rarstarr: Oops.

To be continued

Amy: Written in a day, you can tell.
Rarstarr: How many times do I have to say this? Don't hurry your fics!
Sephiroth: And proof read.
Sasami: You're being to hard on him. He's got some good ideas, and the fic
is fun.
Rarstarr: At least it isn't an SI.
Sasami: HEY! BE NICE!
Rarstarr: Yes Sasami.
Sasami: He's trying hard and his style is good. Mr Ngo just needs some
practice.
Sephiroth: And some criticism, just so he knows where he went wrong.
Sasami: Oh, okay.
Rarstarr: Anything else.
Amy: Be more descriptive, don't over power your characters and nice touch
with the 
	flute.
Sephiroth: Something (red) picked up I imagine.

Rarstarr: Thank you all for joining us tonight.
Amy: <smiling> But did you really need to use glue?
Sephiroth: Amy, I think Rarstarr's humour is catching.
Amy: EEEEEKKK!!! I've been infected.
Sasami: I think he's cute.
Rarstarr: <looks nervous> I hope you're sister didn't hear that.
[Fade out.]

-----------
Rarstarr,
David Farr
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
djfarr@ihug.co.nz