My Secret By RankoSaotome

Disclaimer: Ranma Saotome and crew belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Ryoko Mitsurugi and crew belong to Reiji Saiga and Sora Inque. Yugi Mutou and his friends belong to Kazuki Takahashi.

A/N: With Zan waiting on the second part to Love Is Blind, I thought I'd write up something new. I hope you and he enjoy this.

Summary: For storyline reasons, Ranma has been missing for two years, and everyone's been looking for him. Meanwhile, Ryoko Mitsurugi lives with the Mutous while practicing Swordsmanship and playing games with her adoptive little brother, Yugi. When Akane and crew arrive in Domino, can there be a connection between the amazing redhead and her counterpart?

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CHAPTER ONE Konnichiwa, Ryoko-chan!

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"And that attack brings your lifepoints to zero. I beat you again, sis."

It was the new game from America, Duel Monsters! And Ryoko Mitsurugi, along with her little brother Yugi Mutou, were hooked. The immense amount of strategy needed, along with the decently alluring artwork on the cards made the young pair incredibly addicted.

Thus, also, why the young lady hated her brother sometimes. The boy's innate love and skill in games had almost always infuriated the girl, but her love for swords and samurai left her with little need as to chew her brother out for never letting her win. She imagined if he ever went into swordsmanship, she'd never go easy on him herself. Not since the events of the Shinsengumi at Daimon High a year ago.

But, her aunt had insisted Ryoko move on. The injury rate at Daimon was rising because of her, and she needed someplace new. So, Ryoko was 'adopted' by Sugoroku Mutou of Domino City. Thus, her new position as Samurai Girl of Domino and older sister to Yugi Mutou.

"Sometimes, I despise you, bro. Why is it you're so good at this game and I'm so... so bad at it?"

"Well, it's all luck of the draw, sis. You have a good deck, but you hardly play the types of combos that I do."

Ryoko sighed and put her deck away, ready to head outside for some major workout exercises. As always, she was less than a few feet to her room, and that much closer to her kotetsu, when Yugi's door reopened. She heard footsteps and the door downstairs opening.

She grabbed her doorknob and heard Yugi's voice. "Hi, Anzu, Jounouchi, Hiroshi!"

"Hi, Yugi! You want to hang out today?" Ryoko sighed as she opened her door and went inside. It wasn't that she didn't like Anzu, it was just that she thought Yugi was going to watch her practice again. She really enjoyed the company tremendously.

She moved to her bed, and the kotetsu hanging on her wall. She had to get up on her bed to reach it, since she wanted to keep it out of the reach of children. Plus, her kotetsu was her most prized possession. She didn't let anyone else, outside of Aoi, handle it. Grabbing it and pulling it down, she started for the stairs.

"You all want to hang out while Ryoko practices? Watching her can be pretty fun."

"Oh, might not be such a good idea... I still remember the pasting she gave me that first day we met..." Ryoko had to smile for a second as she started down the stairs, then her features hardened and she got down on her knees to look down the rest of the way without being seen. She had to hold her hair up to do so.

Jounouchi's back was to her. This was absolutely perfect. She quickly, but quietly, rushed down the stairs and snuck her way up behind him. She was almost giggling when she got up behind him and made a shushing gesture to the others.

She got within five feet of him, took in a deep breath, and...

"HI, JOUNOUCHI!!!"

"ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

This was followed by howls of laughter from the mismatched group as Jounouchi picked himself up off the ground. Turning, he glared at Ryoko openly, but he refused to be goaded into attacking her. He then stopped and just watched her.

Ryoko was easily unnerved by the stare. "What is it?"

"You look just like those posters, just your hair is different and you're taller..."

That got the attention of both Ryoko and Yugi, Yugi with an urk. Ryoko just looked at Jounouchi like he was a monster or something, not moving in the slightest. 'No, it couldn't be...'

"Posters?"

"Yeah, about some guy named Ranma Saotome and a girl named Ranko Saotome. Apparently, the guy kidnaps his own sister and runs away from his own family. Feh, I'd teach the pervert a thing or two..." Ryoko, and Yugi for that matter, did not answer. The name was damn familiar.

"You look a lot like Ranko, Ryoko. Is there some relation between you and the Saotomes?"

"W-well, I... I wouldn't e-exactly say there's a r-r-relation between us..." She stuttered, the tall redhead sweating bullets at the stares she was getting. She felt like they were all undressing her with their eyes, just ripping her apart at the seems. "Well, I have practice to go do. See you all later!"

And Ryoko rushed out the door, and down the street, clutching her kotetsu to her chest. 'But... they'd just been to Daimon... how could they have found me so fast? Why... why won't they all leave me alone? It's been two freaking years! I gave up my art just to be rid of them! Damn you, Genma! Damn you, Soun! Damn you, Akane!!!'

"Ranma?" Ryoko cursed silently under her breath as she slowly turned. 'I wish Hitomi were here... She'd know what to do...' Ryoko thought as she slowly turned around.

There she was, Akane Tendo. A girl who hadn't changed in the two years since Ranma's disappearance. She still had short hair, and still had this intensely angry aura around her. She looked like she was ready to attack.

"My NAME is Ryoko Mitsurugi. And you are?"

"Don't you play these games with me, Ranma! You hid from us all for two years, but how many redheads can there be in Japan?!" Ryoko had to thank Kami-sama for her recent acting skills.

"It seems to me you are delusional. You think I'm this Ranma person, but I can assure you, I am not them. Besides, you sound like you almost... care... about where they have been." Ryoko said offhandedly, pretty sure this would hit the nail on the head.

"Why should I care about you, you jerk?! Dad wants you back home to redo our wedding!" Ryoko forced herself to take up wide eyes and step backwards. Akane, thinking that was guilt on her face, was about to continue when Ryoko spoke.

"EWWWW!!! I have nothing against lesbians, but to say I would marry another girl!! And I don't mind lesbian girls around me, but to be hit on by one feels... so wrong! Get away from me, pervert!!" Ryoko started, but was answered with a swift fist in her stomach, despite the height difference. She dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach as she tried hard to regain her breath.

"You think you're so smart, Ranma!! Well, I got Dad and Mr. Saotome to train me while you were gone! You'll never defeat me now, Saotome!! I am the perfect martial artist!!" Akane gloated, though her anger easily showed through her boasting. Ryoko knew just by that Akane had very little control over those skills.

'I should defend myself, but my code of honor tells me not to raise a hand against those that cannot defend themselves from me... At least, not against those that are evil...'

"My NAME is Ryoko Mitsu-URK!!!" And she took another blow, a kick that took her along her right temple and sent her sprawling. As she'd thought, Akane was a dangerous person, with little to no control over her skills.

'Why, oh why, did I train myself to forget my unarmed skills?' Another blow took her in the stomach, followed by another. Soon, she took kick after kick in the gut, then a rather vicious one sent her rolling.

As soon as she came to a stop on her stomach, Ryoko rose on her elbows, her red lochs flowing around her face as she coughed up blood.

Akane started to move forward to continue when a call off to the side caught both of their attention. Akane turned, thinking one of Ryoko's allies were here. Then another came at the exact same moment as Akane's turn did.

"Sis"
"Akane!!!"

It was Yugi and Ryouga, rushing in from different directions. Yugi had spotted the fight as he followed his sister to her usual practice field, rather shocked by how Ryoko was just taking the attacks without defending herself.

Ryouga, however, was less shocked since he thought Akane was attacking some poor boy/girl again. Seemed like a redheaded girl this time. "What happened, Akane?" He asked, getting Akane's attention off Ryoko and Yugi so Yugi could approach his sister.

"Are you alright, sis?" Ryoko didn't answer immediately, instead staying flipped on her stomach as she felt something moving up her throat, then she burst out coughing. She just had to try to fight down the want to cough up more blood.

"I... I think I'm alright..." She said, flipping over to stare up at her brother and feel a good amount of respect for him. He'd told his friends he was going after her just to make sure she was alright. 'You're very brave, little brother...'

Yugi turned to Akane and Ryouga swiftly, looking ready for the first time in his life to run into a problem with fists flying.

"Yugi!!" Came the call of three voices, and Yugi turned. Anzu and the others were right there, looking between Ryoko and her attackers. "What happened?"

"That... that..." Yugi said as he pointed at Akane. "That BITCH attacked my sister for no reason!!" All people involved that knew Yugi were taken aback by his cuss, especially since he always seemed like one that never used curses.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!?!"

"Now you shut your mouth!" Ryoko screamed as she struggled to her feet, using her kotetsu to keep her balance. Jounouchi quickly rushed over to help the girl to her feet, her balance unsteady as her knees shook underneath her. "If you touch my brother, I will declare blood feud on the Tendo clan!"

That stopped everyone cold. Even Akane and Ryouga stopped cold in their movements. "You... how do you know my name if you're not Ranma?"

"My NAME is Ryoko Mitsurugi. I don't know you, Ms. Tendo, but know this. I may not be at my strongest right now, but I will defend my family and friends to the death if I must..."

"And we'll be helping her!" Came the reply from Jounouchi, with a nod from Hiroshi. Anzu stepped forward to also defend her friends, despite she had next to no training in martial arts or fighting of any kind.

"You guys..." Was Yugi's short reply, before his jaw set and he turned back to Akane and Ryouga. "I suggest you leave, Ms. Tendo."

"I'm not leaving without Ranma!! YOU PERVERT!!!" Akane moved as if to attack, when Ryouga imposed himself in front of her. "Out of my way, Ryouga!!"

"It's not worth it, Akane. We've found Ranma, best not to push our luck." Ryoko stared at Ryouga for a few moments before clutching her stomach a little more tightly, trying to fight off the wrenching pain in her gut. 'He's changed...'

There was silence for a few moments, before Akane finally replied. "Alright, Ryouga-CHAN." Ryoko tried to hide her bristle at that comment, and did a damn good job of hiding it. As the two turned to leave, Akane looked back over her shoulder. "You never could beat me in a fair fight, Ranma, and you never will."

"I told you repeatedly, I'm not Ranma. And I'm pretty damn sure I let you win because of my honor code." Akane did bristle at that, but Ryouga dragged her away. Once they were out of earshot, Ryoko continued. "You're still such a bully, Akane Tendo..."

"Wait, you know her?"

"Let's get to Domino clinic and I'll explain."

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A/N: Yes, this is a series and the next chapter involves the others learning Ryoko's past as Ranma Saotome. Plus, a familiar face appears! Can Ryoko and Yugi survive against the enemies and friends from Ryoko's past? And where the hell is Shizuma, the love of Ryoko's life, during all this? Find out next time!