Second Chances

By Lord Archive

Legal Babble: Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, 
etc..., and are used without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll 
return them. I can't afford the overdue charge Nabiki insists on.




			--------------------------
			Chapter 9 - Ranma vs Ryoga
			--------------------------



Ranma watched his opponent carefully. The attacks were skillful. They 
just didn't have much speed behind them. Fix that and his opponent 
would become very dangerous.

"Come on, fight back!"

"Why?" Ranma replied.

"Do you think running away long enough will give you a victory?"

"I don't run away!" Ranma snapped.

"That's what it looks like to me."

"Oh, yeah?" Ranma did a foot sweep.

His opponent jumped over it. "A beginner could avoid that."

"Try this!" Ranma let a couple of punches fly.

Akane smiled as she was pegged by half of them. "That's more like it, 
but you don't have to soften them up, though, I need to know how to 
take stronger hits."

"It's not right to hit girls," Ranma replied, going back to the game 
of dodging Akane's attacks.

"Oh, really? Why is that?"

"Because girls are weaker!"

"So if you had to fight in your girl form, you'd lose because you're 
weaker?"

"No way. Even though my girl form is weaker, it's better than any 
other guy!"

"Then how come other girls can't be stronger than most guys? If your 
female body is better than most guys, why can't I be better as well?"

"Girls just aren't!"

Ranma finally failed to avoid one of Akane's attacks. An uppercut to 
the chin. He was imbedded in the ceiling.

Akane's eyes unsteadily looked at Ranma. "I'm sorry about losing my 
control there... but you need to realize that girls aren't helpless 
and weak."

Ranma pulled himself from the ceiling and landed next to Akane, 
rubbing his chin. "I know not all girls are helpless and weak... it's 
just I don't... well... Never mind." He turned and left the dojo.

"You don't feel right doing something that could hurt me," Akane 
whispered hopefully as if to finish what he tried to say. <I don't 
mind that you were playing dodge with me right now. You need the 
practice for when you face Ryoga.>

----------------------

"Place your bets!" Nabiki called out. "Place your bets on the outcome 
of a battle between old rivals. Once the best of friends, now 
bitterest of enemies. Who shall win? Will it be the Furinkan High's 
own Saotome Ranma, or will it be the Eternal Lost Boy, Hibiki Ryoga?"

"I was never his friend, and don't call me that!!" Ryoga shouted.

Akane sat by one of the exits to the soccer field watching as Ranma 
and Ryoga stood in the field sizing each other up. She had refused to 
comment on Nabiki's betting pool, but it didn't stop Nabiki from 
passing off some information she acquired through 'research' that 
Ryoga was a good match against Ranma.

Akane groaned when Ranma tried to stop Ryoga from fighting with bread. 
She had hoped she had convinced him not to do that. She smiled a 
little when she noticed that the bread wasn't past the expiration 
date this time. Not that it stopped the fight.

Ranma and Ryoga started fighting and everyone was in awe (except 
Akane) of the skill they showed. They watched in fascination as Ryoga 
pulled off feats of strengths, and yet Ranma's speed prevented the 
Lost Boy from landing a blow.

Akane grinned as the fight was almost exactly like she remembered it. 
Now all that needed to happen was for... RRRRRIIIIPPPPP... Ranma's 
shirt to tear. Akane quickly left for the fountains followed by 
Nabiki.

<YES!!> Nabiki mentally cheered seeing Ryoga land to the side of the 
fountains. 

Ranma's enraged attack followed the lost boy right into the fountains,
shattering them. Ryoga quickly used his umbrella to block the water.

Unnoticed by the two combatants, Akane's right hand flared with red 
chi. She sent a blast at the base of the water spout, causing water to 
splash irregularly. Ryoga's legs became soaked. 

Suddenly Ryoga's umbrella started to fall and his clothes washed away.
Ryoga was nowhere to be seen.

"I've been such a fool," Akane whispered.

Nabiki ran off in the direction of Ryoga's clothes, just as Ranma 
jumped out of the water.

"Huh? Where did he go?" Ranma asked.

"The idiot got lost. I'm going to drag his ass back here to finish the 
fight," Nabiki replied.

"You might want to wait until you're a guy before the next round," 
Akane added.

Ranma looked down, and blushed slightly. She readjusted her shirt so 
it wasn't so revealing. "Oh, yeah."

"Where they go?" was the most coherent question of a mob of students.

"Ah, Ryoga got lost and Ranma went to follow, but I don't think he 
went the same way," Akane answered them.

The students made some rather disgusted sounds. "Who won then?" was 
asked by someone.

"I'd say it was a draw," Akane commented.

Ranma made a disgusted sound. The students moaned knowing Nabiki would 
keep all the bets, since she had stated they were betting on the 
outcome of the fight.

--------------------------

Nabiki smirked seeing the black piglet looking sadly at his clothes. 
"Oh, look at the cute piggy!" 

Ryoga looked up and saw a girl's dress twirling over his head and 
could see the girl's panties...

Nabiki shook her head. <I didn't think that would really work.> She 
grimaced noticing the blood from the pig's nose bleed on her left 
sock and shoe. She then shrugged, and picked up the unconscious Ryoga 
and his clothes.

Nabiki returned to the broken water fountain and placed Ryoga and his 
clothes near his umbrella. 

Akane arrived a minute later with half a cup of hot ramen. The girls 
quickly left hoping that Ryoga would wake up and see the ramen, using 
the hot water in it to transform back. If he did, he should make his 
late night appointment at the Tendo home in a couple days.

Several minutes later the Ryoga woke up. He saw the ramen and ate 
it. He then went to work setting up his portable stove, wishing for 
an easier way to get hot water. He idly wonder what had happened to 
the girl he saw, and why the coward, Saotome, had run off on him 
again.

--------------------------

Akane stared out the window. She somehow found it impossible not to 
cry. She tried to dry her tears when someone walked into the room.

"Sis, what's with the tears?" Nabiki asked. "Everything worked out 
perfectly. I doubt either of them suspect anything."

"It-It's not that. It's just what happened after the fight is one of 
my most important memories and now he'll never share it," Akane 
sobbed.

"What do you mean?"

"When Ryoga's weapon cut my hair, Ranma was extremely concerned for 
me. Even during the fight he was trying to protect me. Because I had 
hurt my ankle during the fight I went to see Dr. Tofu after Kasumi 
fixed my hair. When I was there Dr. Tofu said I looked cute. Do you 
have any idea how long I had waited for him to say that?"

Nabiki shook her head.

"Years! And when he said it then, I didn't care! I started crying. I 
didn't know what was wrong with me. Why hadn't I cared? Afterwards 
something happened that scared me. I wish it hadn't, but it did. Ranma 
said he liked how I looked and I couldn't have been happier! It 
shocked the hell out of me, so I tried to hide it. It wouldn't do for 
me to actually like the man I was being forced to marry. I've been 
such a stupid bitch." Akane cried into her hands.

"So, that's why you got your hair cut," Nabiki said. She knew from 
Ranma's 'other' journal that he liked Akane with short hair, but 
didn't think it was enough for Akane to cut her hair like she had.

Akane nodded.

"Well, Sis, I don't see any way you could've made that event happen 
even if your hair wasn't cut. You couldn't possibly stay in script 
for your part of the battle, so you would've had to do something 
pretty interesting to get your hair chopped."

"I know, but I still wi... wanted us to share that memory, and maybe 
make it a better one." <I won't say wish since it might just end up 
being granted in a way I don't want.>

"Well, let's not worry too much on the good memories he'll miss out 
on. You can always make sure to have better ones with him."

"I can try."

Nabiki nodded. "Now, Akane, who do you think will win tomorrow's 
soccer game?"

Akane scowled at Nabiki. "Not sure. Several of our school's players 
had minor injuries the last time around."

Nabiki shrugged, and started to leave. "Akane, are you sure you can 
go through with our plan for Ryoga's next appearance?"

Akane nodded. "I DO have some experience with what I have to do."

"Not a very good one according to the journal," Nabiki joked, and 
quickly left the room.




		  ------------------------------
		  Chapter 10 - Here Comes P-Chan
		  ------------------------------



Akane glanced at the clock. It read three in the morning. It was 
raining outside. She wondered was wrong. She got out of bed for the 
third time in the past hour and checked on Ranma. He was sleeping 
peacefully without a care in the world. 

Akane noticed a noise from downstairs. <Finally!> She then went back 
to her room and waited. <He better start fighting Ranma before it 
stops raining.>

It was almost four when Akane heard the shout of, "Wake up, DAMMIT!!!" 
She went to her bed and waited for Kasumi to 'wake her up'. 

-----------------------------

Ryoga and Ranma were flung out of the room by a disgruntled panda. The
lost boy landed to the side of the koi pond, while Ranma landed in it.

"Wha? Wha?" Ranma stammered, trying to stand up in the pond.

Ryoga blinked at the girl in the pond. "R-Ranma?"

"Ryoga!? It's the middle of the night! What the hell are you doing?!"

"So, you turn into a girl now." Ryoga smirked. "Anyway, I'm here for 
my revenge!"

"Ugh. Ryoga. Would you stop this? What's with all this 'revenge' 
stuff?" <Why didn't he seem surprised that I turned into a girl?>

"Before I send you to hell, I'll tell you this: When you ran away from 
our duel, I followed you all the way to China!!!" Ryoga shouted 
angrily.

"Don't tell me you went to Jusenkyo, and now you transform!" <So 
that's why he wasn't surprised.>

"SILENCE! It is time for you to die!!!"

-----------------------------

"Akane, are you awake? There are noises outside. Do you think it's a 
burglar?" Kasumi asked.

Akane said nothing. She walked out of her room and down stairs. Kasumi 
shadowed her.

"It is a burglar! He has a pack of stolen goods!" Kasumi said in 
fright.

Akane's face took a malevolent grin. "I'll beat the crap out of him."

"NO!! It's too dangerous!"

"What..."

"Here." Kasumi handed Akane a small stone statue.

"Huh?" <Isn't this suppose to be a dumbbell?> Akane shrugged and 
pitched it at the head of the 'unknown man' fighting Ranma. 
<Bullseye!!>

Ryoga's eyes widened in pain as the statue broke on his thick skull. 
He dropped his umbrella and ran.

"Ryoga!" Ranma shouted watching his opponent disappear.

"Ryoga? He should find a better time to start a duel," Akane commented 
dryly.

"Oh. It's only Ranma's friend." Kasumi sighed in relief.

Akane ignored her sister and watched as Ranma ran after Ryoga. "I'll 
stay up and make sure there's a hot bath for Ranma. You can go back to 
bed."

"Are you sure?" Kasumi asked.

Akane nodded. <I really wish this wasn't a school night. I'm going to 
fall asleep in class.> She went to put a teakettle on the stove and 
then went to the bath to fill it. That done, she went to her room for 
something.

Akane sighed. <I'm not going to like this, but I have to know.> She 
opened the door, and sensed another presence. "Whoever you are, come 
on out!"

A black blur charged her and Akane slammed it to the floor, HARD. The 
piglet landed and then scooted away from her.

<Now to put on a good act.> Akane called as sweetly as she could, 
"Here, piggy."

The piglet backed away more.

Akane held out her hand to the pig. "Come on. I won't hurt you!" 
<Unless you do something stupid.>

"Oh, your drenched. Must've been in the rain." She smiled. "Is that a 
bump on your head?"

Akane walked downstairs and was surprised Ranma wasn't there. She 
started to dry Ryoga while waiting. <Where is he?>

Several minutes later Ranma walked in alone. <I give up. He's probably 
in Hokkaido or somethin'.> He then saw Akane. "Yo. What's with the 
pig?"

The pig in question tried to jump out of Akane's arms and attack, but 
was held in place. 

"What wrong with you?" Akane asked the pig. "Hush now. I'll fix that 
bump now." She could not hide her grimace when she pressed the pig to 
her chest.

Ranma noticed Akane's reactions. "Is he groping ya? Hey, it's 
blushing!"

"Pigs don't blush."

Ranma snatched the pig from Akane's hands. "Hentai pig. I knew it. 
It's a guy."

"So it is." Akane grinned slightly at the pig's obvious discomfort.

Ranma gave the pig back after it attacked. "I'm going to take a bath."

"Could you warm up the piglet while you're at it?" Akane asked 
sweetly.

"Quee?" the pig questioned.

Ranma took the pig in disgust. A couple minutes later Akane noticed 
Genma walking to the bath.

<Everything is happening as it's suppose to. Just two hours later than 
it did, and without Yamane's dog. I wonder why?> Akane thought. She 
watched as Genma walked back down the hall. <They'll be out in a 
minute.>

"Get back here, you disgusting pig!!" onna-Ranma shouted, chasing 
after her porcine enemy.

After being hit in the back of the head by a wash bucket thrown by 
Ranma, the pig dashed behind Akane.

"What are you doing?!" Akane shouted.

"Coward! Hiding behind Akane!" 

The piglet took offense and attacked.

"Stupid pig! I wanted to talk this out!" Ranma snarled, slamming the 
pig into the ground.

Akane stopped further action on Ranma's part by grabbing the red-
head's bare right breast.

"Gwah!" Ranma emitted.

"Are you okay?" Akane asked the crying piglet. "Oh, he's scared. Let's 
go."

"What are you doing with that pig?" Ranma asked.

"Taking him to bed with me," Akane said, flatly.

"Wait! That pig is a..."

"Be a good boy, and don't cry." Akane rubbed her nose against P-Chan's
snout. <I may remember kissing him, but THESE lips have never kissed a
guy except dad. Ranma will be the only one to ever feel them. I hope 
this has the same effect.>

"Ghaa!!!" Ranma shook in frustration.

<Good, it worked.> "What?"

"Go ahead! Sleep with that pig!" Ranma ran off.

Akane grinned. <Maybe I should take up acting. He bought it all. Best 
of all, he's jealous!>

-----------------------------

Akane tried to remain awake, but failed with the final thought, <Ranma 
will wake me anyway.>

A little while later Akane awoke to sight that had shocked and scared 
her the first time she saw it, Ranma on top of her.

"Ah, ah... Akane it's not what it, ah..." Ranma stammered nervously.

"Just what are you doing in my room?" Akane asked him, trying to be 
angry to continue the act. It came out a little hollow.

Ranma backed away from her. "Er... ah... well..."

"Are you here because you wanted to 'try me out' before the wedding?" 

Ranma waved his hands in protest. "That's not it!!! It's Ryoga. He's 
the..."

"He's what?" Akane glanced over at the teakettle. She grabbed it and 
shook it threateningly. "What's with the teakettle? Thought you'd get 
wet on the way here?" 

"No! I was, ah..."

Akane shock the teakettle enough that the lid slid off. Some of the 
hot water in it splashed the startled piglet.

"I, ah, can explain..." Ryoga stammered, desperately trying to cover 
himself.

Akane eyes first widen 'in shock' and slowly her face took on a deadly 
vision of anger. "Oh, yes. Explain to me why you did NOT resist being 
held to my chest. Explain to me why you made NO effort to clue me in 
that you're not a pig. Explain to me why you did NOT leave my bed as 
soon as I fell asleep."

"Er, I know this, ah, looks bad, but it's not my fault! It wouldn't 
have happened if Ranma hadn't cursed me!!"

"Oh, he dragged you all the way to China and dunked you in?" Akane 
asked sarcastically.

Ranma was grinning, and it was obvious to Akane that he loved 
watching Ryoga squirm.

"Not exactly. I followed him after he ran out on our duel..." 

"Which would NOT have happened if you accepted your loss for not 
showing up on time," Akane added.

Ryoga scowled at her. "When I arrived at Jusenkyo, he knocked me in."

"Did you?" Akane asked.

"It was an accident. I didn't now he was there. I was trying to kill 
Pop at the time," Ranma answered.

"And how would you know that if you didn't know he was there?" Akane 
asked.

"He said the girl was chasing after a panda all over Jusenkyo, which 
only happened once."

"Oh." Akane then moved over to Ryoga. "So. It appears to me everything 
you're blaming Ranma for is your fault." She grabbed the lost boy's 
bandannas and forced him to stand. "If you want to challenge Ranma 
later for a fight, fine. But you will NEVER attack him in the middle 
of the night again!!" She then punched him out the window, and heard 
the satisfying splash of the koi pond.

"Ah, well, I better get back to bed," Ranma said, moving towards the 
door.

"Okay." Akane slipped back into her bed.

Ranma left her room. <Why did she look disappointed? I guess she 
wanted a pet.> He wasn't sure why he couldn't entirely believe that 
thought.

Akane smiled. <He was jealous, and he came to protect my honor nearly 
at the expense of his own. Ryoga might try to say Ranma broke his oath 
for 'showing' me, but that just ensures they'll continue to 'spar.'> 
She sighed. <But now all the future encounters with Ryoga will be 
different. At least I won't have to break his heart.>

-----------------------------

"Now Akane, why are you so tired and what was Ranma doing in your room
last night?" Nabiki asked smugly, while eating breakfast with her 
family.

Ranma missed the question entirely as he inhaled breakfast.

Kasumi looked worried.

Soun and Genma decided to listen in.

Akane scowled at her sister. "I'm tired because Ryoga's attacks on 
Ranma kept me up. And Ranma went into my room because he saw that 
Ryoga had snuck in."

"So, Ranma was protecting you." Soun grinned, and then turned towards 
Ranma. "But if you want to sneak into her room, go ahead."

"Dad!!" Akane screeched, blushing.

"They shouldn't. They're too young," Kasumi gasped.

"I'd never sneak in. Why would I want to do that with her?" Ranma 
protested.

Akane glared at Ranma. <It's not like he'd really have to sneak in.>

-----------------------------

Author's notes:

Comment on some of the changes that occurred: 
Some of the changes can be seen as directly being affected by Akane's 
future knowledge - Ryoga being late. Other changes, may or may not be 
affected: The stone statue will be left as a mystery for now-
Chaos Theory or does Kasumi know? (Don't ask me, I'm not completely sure
yet.)

This is the end of Volume 1 of Second Chances only 20+ more volumes to 
go (Even then, it might not end ;) I'll take a break from this series 
to move The Insanity Continues up in priority.

C&C is desperately wanted, since this is the only time these two chapters
will appear on the FFML as they will be sent with the rest of chapters to
RAAC. If you want to send C&C privately, send it to archive@mich.com

My other stories can be found at http://www.mich.com/~archive/anime

If you want to MST any or parts of Second Chances (or any of my other
stories) please do so.

			 / LORD ARCHIVE \
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* The JAFO otaku.    *        A Knight of The True Fiancee, Akane.     *
* Slave of GRAAC     *     Addiction, The Footman of the Appocalypse.  *
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*      Web Page: http://www.mich.com/~archive - Ranma fan-fiction      * 
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