Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2 or Cheeky Angel.

Authors Note: This story takes place directly after Shampoo appeared in Ranma 1/2 (after she first appeared and before she erased Akane's memory) and right after Ichimonji showed up in Cheeky Angel. By the way, this story does NOT involve a Ranma-Megumi pairing. They're both guys, and the Baron don't bend that way!

Also, I would like to quickly recommend Cheeky Angel to those who haven't tried it. I've been a huge Ranma fan for years (it's still my favorite show), and felt a bit lost when it finally ended. I then happened upon Cheeky Angel, a series that is very similiar to Ranma 1/2, but with a style all its own. The stories are full of laugh-out-loud comedy, endearing characters, and the like. So, if you're in need of something to satisfy your "gender-bending martial arts romantic comedy" kick (gawd, we're weird...), then this series is DEFINITELY the way to go. Now, on to the story!

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Prolouge

Life has been rough for Ranma Saotome. Not only did his father take him away from home on a decade-long training journey at the young age of six, but then they had to go to THERE on their final training excursion before heading back. Without speaking a word of Chinese, Genma and Ranma traveled all the way to Jusenkyo, China, only to fall into two of the springs there. Normally, this just would've meant wet clothes, but it just so happened that the Jusenkyo springs had a powerful curse on them: those who fall in take the body of the last thing that drowned there! Genma emerged from the waters a giant panda, and Ranma crawled out a bosomy, red-headed girl. Good news: hot water allows them to change back. Bad news: cold water makes them transform back into their cursed bodies.

However, fate wasn't through toying with Ranma yet. Upon returning to Japan, Ranma discovered that his dad had arranged for him to marry Akane Tendo, the beautiful but tomboyish daughter of Genma's best friend Soun. The two didn't get off to a good start, and things have improved little since. Then, another fiancee reared her pretty head: Shampoo, the Chinese Amazon. Amazon law states that "if an Amazon is defeated by a male outsider, she must marry him, but if she is defeated by a female outsider, she must kill her." Ranma has accidentally beaten her in both forms. Since Shampoo doesn't realize that boy-Ranma and girl-Ranma are the same person, she wants him when he's a guy and wants him dead when he's a girl! The Kuno siblings complicate things even further. Swordsman Takewaki Kuno wants to kill male Ranma and date "the pigtailed girl" (female Ranma), while his sister Kodachi wants to date her "darling Ranma" and crush "that pigtailed she-demon". Go figure...

Ranma's suffering is completed by the appearance of Ryoga, a directionally-challenged rival of Ranma's who would honestly like him better six feet under. The natural dislike between them because of their rivalry in the martial arts has turned into bitter hatred because of Ryoga's undying love for Akane (he doesn't have the guts to tell her), and because Ranma accidentally caused Ryoga to fall into "the spring of drowned black piglet" at Jusenkyo. Ryoga's grudge is deep-set, and he won't rest until Ranma is defeated and Akane is his.

Constantly chased by battle-happy martial artists and lovesick suitors of both sexes, what's a half-boy, half-girl martial artist to do?

Meanwhile...

Megumi Amatsuka, a nine-year-old martial arts enthusiast and all-around rapscallion, had dedicated his life to becoming "the manliest man on earth." Unusually strong for someone his age, virtually unbeatable in combat, and with a rich family able to afford the best trainers, he seemed to be well on his way toward his goal. However, things aren't always what they seem... After saving a sorcerer from a group of local thugs, Megumi was rewarded by the old man with a mysterious book. When he and his gal-friend Miki opened the book, a genie popped out and offered to grant Megumi a wish! Despite Miki's pleading to shut the book, Megumi impulsively blurted out his desire to become the manliest man on earth; the genie was only too happy to oblige. Unfortunately, the genie was either hard of hearing or something of a "monkey's paw", because he had cast a spell turning Megumi into the "womanliest woman on earth"! In a fit of rage, Megumi tossed the book into the river. He (now she) quickly discovered that the genie had "rewritten history"; no one other than Miki ever remembered Megumi being a boy. Now, six years later, Megumi is the hottest girl in school, but can't (or won't) drop his/her tough talkin', punk stompin' ways!

If that's not enough, Meg is attracting boys left and right! Genzo Soga was formerly the baddest dude in town, but his overwhelming affection for Meg has made a bit of a softy out of him (as Meg would say, "he's changed from a mean, stupid idiot to a happy, stupid idiot"). Then there's Ichiro, a self-described average guy who is now willing to do above-average things for Meg's sake (and hopefully, her attention). There's also Yasuda (nicknamed "Glasses"), a kinda perverted little fellow who is nonetheless extremely intelligent and brave, on occasion. Finally, there's the new guy, Ichimonji. The ultimate gentleman, he scolded Meg for being vulgar when he first met her, but is now falling for her just as much as the others (as it so happens, he's an excellent fighter in his own right, and is perhaps the only one of Meg's suitors who could hope to defeat Genzo in a fight).

The four are very dedicated (the word "stalkers" might come to mind), and have even formed a fan club called "Megumi's Musketeers." Despite the fact that Meg has told them her secret, they are unsure about whether to believe her or not, and in any case want her to remain a gal.

With Miki's help, Megumi does her best to make do with "what is" while trying to somehow regain "what was."

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Sixteen-year-old Ranma and fifteen-year-old Megumi are both victims of cruel fate. Raised to be "men among men", they were both robbed of that dream by a single rash decision. If only Ranma had stopped to listen to the warnings of the Jusenkyo guide, if only Megumi had not made that hasty wish... Now, far from being the manliest men on earth, they are doing their best to be men at all. Carrying around broken dreams while trying to come to terms with an identity crisis is quite a load for the strongest of individuals; unfortunately, Ranma and Megumi have few people to support them in this.

Ranma's fiancees are too busy trying to marry him to care much, and Ryoga's bitter hatred for him overshadows any common ground their curses might provide. As for Megumi, the last thing in the world her "musketeers" want is for her to regain her manhood. Also, as much as Miki wants Meg to be happy, she honestly hopes that Meg stays a girl; she is afraid that when Meg becomes a guy again, their friendship will come to an end. As for family, Genma Saotome and Mr. Amatsuka are about the most dysfunctional fathers on the face of the planet. Thus, Ranma and Megumi must shoulder their respective curses alone, without anyone who could honestly understand their burden.

That is, until the day that the two met...

END OF CHAPTER 1

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That's it for the prolouge; it's mostly an introduction to the two series for those of you who aren't familiar with both. I'm going to try to update about once a week, maybe earlier this first time. I DESPISE unfinished fanfics, so never fear: this one will come to a good conclusion!

Please review this lil' teaser; the more substantial chapters will be here for your viewing pleasure soon enough! Until next time, my literate compadres!