Doppelgänger
Disclaimer: If I owned Ranma ½, then I would not be working on an original series between fanfics.
AN: I'm back, bitches! …Err, ahem! Anywho, I have returned, with a new story. I know many of you have been patiently waiting for the next chapter of 'Matchmaking (and Moneymaking)', and I have NOT abandoned it. However, about a month ago, my hard drive died, and I lost all my progress on the next chapter. That said, I just got my computer back, and am back in the mood to write.
While I was waiting for my computer to get fixed, this idea hit me like a ton of bricks. So, while I work on re-writing what I lost and finishing the next chapter of Matchmaking, I hope you will all enjoy this in the mean time!
Without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter 1: Mirror Image
Ranma sighed as he walked down the street. Despite the chaos, a certain degree of predictability had come to his life. He got up, fought with his Pop, argued with Akane, went to school, got in a fight with one of his rivals, and went back to the dojo to eat dinner and sleep.
That day had been a bit different, in that Ranma had managed to get away from school without anyone attacking him. So, he had decided to go for a walk, to avoid renewing his argument with Akane about her cooking skills, or lack thereof. 'I stand by my opinion,' Ranma thought, 'If it's still moving, it ain't fit for people ta eat!'
"THIEF!"
Ranma had just been turning to head back to the dojo when he heard the shout. Curious, he headed in the direction of the cry to investigate. Cutting through an alleyway, he almost made it to the other end, when someone came barreling around the corner, and crashed into him. Caught off guard, it took Ranma a moment to get over his surprise from the impact. Fortunately, his training kept him from falling, though the person who ran into him was not so lucky, falling to her rear.
And a brief glance was all it took to confirm her gender, as the rags and dirt that covered her still failed to hide the curves underneath. However, that wasn't what held Ranma's attention, and left him standing there in shock. What was, was her uncomfortably familiar face, framed by messy, bright red hair, and with a pair of bright blue eyes. Aside from her clothes and hairstyle, she looked just like his cursed form.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurr-" The girl started to say, only to freeze and fall silent when she looked up at Ranma. She looked just as surprised to see him, as he was to see her, though Ranma had no idea why, since he was in male form.
Before either could get over their shock, a voice rang out from around the corner. "I think the thief went this way! I'll teach that brat not to steal from me!"
The cry snapped the girl out of her shock. Scrambling a bit further into the alley, she crouched behind a trashcan, and pulled a bag out from under her shirt. Ranma was about to ask what she was doing, when she reached into the bag, and pulled out… a takoyaki(1).
As the girls started to devour the food like she had not eaten in days, it hit Ranma: that was probably exactly the case. Before he could think on it further, someone else entered the alley, causing the hiding girl to freeze.
"Hey, you!" The man called out to Ranma. "I'm looking for a thief. Have you seen a girl pass by here, a gaijin(2) with red hair?"
Thinking quickly, Ranma came to a decision. "Yeah," he said, "she passed right by here with a bag in her hand. Took a left at the other end of the alley, I think."
"Thanks! You're a good kid." The man replied, before taking off, not even noticing as he passed his hiding quarry.
After the man left, the girl began eating once more, and Ranma could not help but consider her situation. The ragged clothes, covered in dirt, having to steal food… it reminded him of his training trip with Genma, but he doubted that was the reason for her condition. Chances were good that she was homeless, or perhaps even on the run from someone.
As she finished up the last of the takoyaki, the girl spoke up. "What do ya want from me?"
"Huh?" Ranma said in surprise, not expecting such a question.
"For throwin' that guy off my trail. Ya want somethin' in exchange, don'cha?" The girl said warily. "If yer expectin' me ta thank ya with my body you can forget it, 'cause I ain't that kind of girl."
Ranma blinked in surprise, before waving his hands in front of him and saying, "What? No, no, no. I wasn't trying ta get anything at all!"
"Oh, please, everybody wants somethin'." She said in a jaded tone.
Deciding that arguing would be a waste of time, Ranma replied, "Fine, how about ya just answer a question, then." Seeing her nod, with that face that he had only seen in a mirror before this, Ranma asked, "Have ya ever heard of Jusenkyo?"
The way her eyes widened at that name was all the answer he needed. Springing to her feet, the girl snapped out, "Wait, yer one of them Jusenkyo Preservation nutjobs, ain't ya? Well, don't think I'm gonna go down without a fight!"
Seeing her adopt a fighting stance, Ranma could tell she had had some martial arts training, though he didn't recognize the style. However, he could see enough opening that he knew she wasn't a serious practitioner like most of the people he knew. However, he did not want to fight. "Hey! Hold on a sec! I ain't with the Jusenkyo Preservation Society, they attacked me and my friends last year!" Ranma said, raising his hands in front of him in a calming gesture. Seeing her relax a bit, he rolled his eyes and said, "Geez, what is it with tomboys and jumping ta conclusions?"
Scowling, the girl said, "Fine, but if yer not with those crazies, then why would ya ask that?"
Ranma opened his mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by a growling sound. The girl blushed and put her hand on her stomach, revealing the source of the noise. Grinning, Ranma said, "Tell ya what, I want ta ask ya some more questions, so why don't I get ya something ta eat in exchange? My parents' house is nearby anyway. What d'ya say?"
The girl was still looking at him warily when her stomach rumbled again. With a sigh and a nod, she answered. "Fine, but if ya try anythin' funny, I'll kick yer ass, got it?"
Chuckling, Ranma led the girl out of the alley, and headed towards his parents' newly rebuilt house. As they walked, Ranma chuckled and said, "Speaking of kicking my ass, I saw ya get into a fighting stance earlier. Do ya practice some style of martial arts?"
The girl looked at him for a few moments, trying to figure out why he was asking. Finally deciding that it was genuine curiosity, she replied, "I traveled with a skilled martial artist a few years back, and he taught me enough ta defend myself."
Ranma nodded at that, before saying, "I'm familiar with most of the styles that ya see in Japan; kung fu, karate, kendo, judo, and others, but I didn't recognize that stance ya used. What style do ya practice?"
Blinking in surprise, she replied, "That's 'cause it ain't from Japan. My sensei was from Thailand, and the style's called Muay Thai."
"Oh, I've heard of that." Ranma said with a grin. "Pops wanted ta find someone ta teach me that, but he never did. I still learned some stuff from books and scroll, but that ain't the same as having a real teacher. Plus, it doesn't really fit my style anyway."
"You sound like ya know a lot about martial arts." The girl said, realizing why he had seemed more amused than threatened by her earlier warning.
"Yeah, martial arts is my whole life!" Ranma said happily. However, that caused him to realize something. "Ah, crap, I never introduced myself, did I?" That caused her to crack a smile for the first time since they met, as she shook her head. Stopping and turning to face her, Ranma said, "Well, the name's Saotome Ranma, and I'm the heir ta the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts." Seeing her shocked expression at that, Ranma asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Yer name's really Ranma?" The girl asked.
"Yeah… it is. Why do ya ask?" Ranma replied, hoping he hadn't just stumbled upon yet ANOTHER fiancée.
"Well, it's just weird," the girl replied, "'cause my name is Ran."
Translations/footnotes: (1): Takoyaki are octopus dumplings, sometimes referred to as octopus puffs.
(2): Gaijin means foreigner, but with a derogatory connotation.
AN: And there we go! Far from my longest chapter, but hopefully enough of an intro to get you interested. I already have quite a bit of this planned out in my head, so expect to see update for this go up alongside Matchmaking.
ALSO! I now have a Twitter account that is dedicated solely to my writing, so if you want updates on my progress in specific stories, (or to find out that the delay is due to my computer breaking,) feel free to check it out Maltrazz.
Who is Ran? Why does she look so much like Ranma's cursed form? And why was she so surprised when she saw Ranma? Find out in future chapters of Doppelgänger!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!