Back to the kids! Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter, I haven't gotten that many reviews in a while. I'll call it… my review renewal! That has a nice ring.

IDENTICAL STRANGER

"Come on, Jatsuma. It's not all that bad." Daichi tried to console his brother. The two boys were walking home from school and the younger one had a very sour look on his face. But other than that, Jatsuma was a very handsome boy with light brown hair tied into a ponytail and blue eyes. Daichi on the other hand, had messy short black hair and brown eyes.

Since it was Saturday and they got out of school early, the restaurants and shops that lined the street were bursting of young people eager to enjoy their limited time off from school. But Jatsuma was in no mood to join them.

"Not that bad? Not that bad?" Jatsuma whispered venomously.

EARLIER

"It's okay! You can be open about your sexuality with us!" A cute young girl said in a cheerful voice. Her two friends behind her giggled uncontrollably. People in the hallway were stopping to watch.

"WHAT?" Jatsuma's eyes twitched and ponytail seemed to stand on end in shock and irritation. This was a girl he had gone out with before! Surely she didn't believe these stupid rumors too? "Whatever you've heard, it's not true!" He said desperately.

"Well it explains everything!" The girl persisted.

Jatsuma's face fell. "It does?"

"Sure! It explains why you never called me back! And why you never stayed with one girl for too long. You just couldn't get attached because you really like boys." Her friends gave her encouraging smiles. "I was at the game and I think it's just so sweet how you announced your feelings for Razor to everyone! It was awfully romantic!"

Jatsuma's heart sank into his stomach and his mouth hang open. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" His anger flared up. "I'm not gay! Those are just stupid rumors! It was all just one big misunderstanding! And even if I was gay- which I'm not- I certainly wouldn't go after Razor!" He folded his arms.

At that moment he was caught in the side of the face with a powerful left hook punch. Jatsuma slammed into the lockers and tumbled backwards onto the floor. Razor stood above him with her fist clinched and a deadly glare in her eyes. A moment later she stalked away in an obviously foul mood.

"They're so cute together!" One of the girl's friends whispered to the other. "Totally!" The other whispered back. Jatsuma lay frozen in that spot.

NOW

Jatsuma gritted his teeth in frustration. The memory of that game had haunted him for days now. Was it his fault that the microphone got turned on so everyone could hear his conversation with Razor? Why should he pay because she can't tell anyone she's actually a girl?

Stupid Razor. I've kept the fact that she's a girl secret from everyone, but is she grateful? No! All I meant was that I wouldn't go after her because a gay guy wouldn't go after a girl! WHICH SHE IS! Why does she have to take everything like it's an insult? He thought furiously to himself.

Daichi watched Jatsuma's brooding face and sighed. "Most people don't even remember what happened anymore. Trust me, in a few days this rumor will completely evaporate and everyone will go back to thinking you're the skirt-chasing pig you really are."

Jatsuma smiled. "Thanks Daichi. You're a good brother. A real role model." Daichi rolled his eyes.

Ever since the incident at the soccer stadium several days ago Jatsuma had been dealing with a lot of rumors about his sexual orientation. Through a huge misunderstanding and a whole lot of bad luck, Jatsuma had announced over the speakers to the whole stadium (most of which were students at Bunraku High) that he preferred boys to girls. At least that's what everyone had thought he meant. It was the single most embarrassing night of his life, and the humiliation wasn't over.

"Hey! Jatsuma!" Jatsuma and Daichi turned around to see their bleached blond classmate Yukio walking out of a clothing store with his girlfriend April. He was waving to them in a boisterous manner that caught the attention of other people on the street as well. Even a few people whose cars were stopped at the red light turned to look.

Jatsuma's face turned red and he grabbed Daichi and began to walk away as quickly as possible. Yukio had given him nothing but ridicule and grief since the incident with Razor. The way Yukio acted you'd think it was just friendly teasing, except that he did it very loudly and in the presence of at least ten other teenagers. Jatsuma might have gotten away too, except that Daichi tripped over his own feet and slowed them down.

"Jatsuma! How you doing?" Yukio thumped him on the back. "Where's your boyfriend, Razor? Oh, that's right. He hates you!" Yukio laughed along with April and several other people who were standing around before continuing on his way, still laughing. Jatsuma watched them go, literally shaking with anger. "That's it!" He rolled up his sleeves and started to follow after them.

"Don't. They're just trying to egg you on!" Daichi grabbed the back of his shirt.

"And it's working!" Jatsuma snapped.

"Just come on. They're not worth it." He persisted. Jatsuma gave Yukio and his crew a long glare before following his brother down a side street, detouring from their usual route home. Jatsuma had managed to convince some people that he wasn't gay (meaning his closest friends and a few cute girls he knew). But Yukio had kept enough people convinced to cause trouble.

"I bet he's jealous." Jatsuma said with a hmph in his voice. "Yukio's just playing this up so he can take over and be Prince of the school!"

Daichi raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I should have seen it coming! He kept saying 'be careful Jatsuma or
Razor will take your place'. Yeah! Right! That slimy little worm! I bet he was hoping for it!"

"Jatsuma, Yukio's always been a jerk. But you're the one who hung out with him in the first place." Daichi pointed out.

"That's because he hung out with cheerleaders! Cheerleaders, Daichi!"

"And that's how you got involved with Luffa."

"You're right!" Jatsuma gasped. "He's been plotting my downfall from the very beginning!"

"Oh, good lord!" Daichi continued on his way, fed up with Jatsuma's ranting. Jatsuma followed after him in silence for a while

"You know, I've decided not to let all of this get to me." Jatsuma said some time later while they were walking down a residential street.

"Really?" Daichi asked in surprise.

"Yes, really. What do I care what people think? I have better ways to preoccupy my time." He said with a growing smile.

"Such as?"

"Buying myself something I've wanted for a long time." Jatsuma stopped with big grin on his face that made Daichi uneasy. When Jatsuma didn't offer further explanation he tried to think of something Jatsuma had wanted.

"Like… a puppy?" Daichi asked, expecting the worst.

Jatsuma shook his head. "No, it's something electronic."

"I don't know! An electric toothbrush? Would you just tell me?"

"It's a cell phone!" Jatsuma declared happily as he pulled the device from his pocket. It was small, blue and shined to perfection.

Daichi folded his arms. "Okay, I have a few questions. How did you pay for that?"

Jatsuma folded it open so Daichi could see the back lighted dials. "I saved up for! I've been collecting money for two years to get one of these! Don't you remember when I asked Dad for a cell phone two years ago? He said to save up and buy my own. Besides, the phone was free with my calling plan." He began to dial some numbers.

Daichi looked worried. "Jatsuma, how do you intend to continue paying your charges? You don't have a job. Dad's not going to like it when an unexpected cell phone bill shows up in the mail."

But Jatsuma wasn't listening; he was talking and laughing with someone on the other line. Daichi narrowed his eyes until Jatsuma was finished. "Great! I'll see you then! Bye!" He hung up, looking happier than ever. "See? Now I can plan dates in a fraction of the time I could before."

"Fine. But it's your funeral when Dad finds out." Daichi continued on.

"Don't be a party pooper." Jatsuma said with a laugh.

Daichi smiled. "I'm not. I'm just a realist who actually considers the consequences of my actions." He took another step but lost his balance, but it wasn't due to his usual clumsiness. The ground had started to shake violently. "AHH!"

"AN EARTHQUAKE?" Jatsuma grabbed a lamp pole so he wouldn't fall to the ground. It was then that he saw Iikiba streaking towards them at top speed. Since he wasn't watching where he was going he ran right over top Daichi. Jatsuma stuck out his foot and Iikiba tripped over it, falling flat on his face in the pavement. The shaking stopped. "What's the hurry, Iikiba?"

Iikiba sat up angrily. "You! Are you trying to sabotage me? Now Makoto's gonna catch me!" That was when he noticed Makoto was nowhere to be seen. He looked around curiously. "I guess I really lost her…" He said slowly. Then he stood up with a proud smile. "I must have finally outsmarted her! Haha! From now on, things are going to be different! She can't bug me if she can't catch me!"

That was when Daichi pulled himself out of his imprint in the pavement and glared at Iikiba. "WOULD YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING?"

Iikiba blinked. "Daichi? When did you get here?"

Daichi mumbled under his breath as he stood up and brushed off his clothes.

"So, you're finally rid of Makoto, huh? Left my little sister crying in the dust, didya?" Jatsuma asked an amused smirk.

"That's right!" Iikiba seemed to swell with pride. "This has been the best week ever! It seems that as things get worse for you they get better for me!"

Jatsuma's expression changed to an annoyed frown. "Well I wouldn't want to leave Makoto upset." He took out his new cell phone and flipped it open threateningly. Iikiba recoiled at the sight of it.

"What are you doing?" He asked apprehensively.

"Just giving Makoto a call." Jatsuma said casually, his fingers waving above the dials.

Iikiba gasped in apprehension. "You're going to tell her where I am!" Desperate, he lunged towards the phone. But Jatsuma dodged to the side.

"Really? Would I do that?" A grinning Jatsuma waved the phone in front of Iikiba's face.

"Give me that phone!" Iikiba jumped after him right as Jatsuma made a break for it.

"Hey! Hold on!" Daichi shouted after them as they ran down the street. Reluctantly he followed, placing his steps carefully so he wouldn't trip.

Jatsuma in the lead, the three of them rounded the corner down an alleyway and came out next to the waterway. Daichi ran along next to the gate, trying to keep up. Right as he was starting to get impressed by how far he had come, his foot caught on a piece of gravel and he fell, face-first, into the street.

"Aw, man!" He sat up sputtering. "Guys! Wait up!" But then he realized that they were already gone. "Geez." Using the fence to steady himself, Daichi stood up. "How is he supposed to call Makoto anyway? She doesn't even have a cell phone!"

It was then that he noticed someone walking on the other side of the waterway. It was a woman with bright red hair tied back in a pigtail. Daichi smiled in amusement. His father rarely went out in girl form anymore if he could avoid it. "Hey Dad!" Shouted Daichi; waving a hand in the air.

But Ranma didn't acknowledge him. Daichi raised his voice. "DAD! OVER HERE!" He called again. Still there was no response. Ranma just continued on his way, oblivious to his son. Daichi sighed in annoyance. "Is NOONE listening today?"

Going as quickly as he could without falling, Daichi ran down the opposite way the woman was walking and over a bridge, hoping to catch up with her. "DAAAAD!" He shouted again as he rounded off the bridge and went after her.

Ranma was still unparsed. Daichi's mouth hang open as an annoying thought struck him. Is he ignoring me? He thought furiously, tripping over his own feet. With that thought in mind he picked up a piece of loose rock from the old road and chucked it towards her.

The rock knocked her square in the back of the head and she came crashing to the ground. Now Daichi's mouth was hanging open in shock and worry. "DAD!"

He ran forward and turned her over. "I'm sorry! I didn't think it would hurt you! Huh?" For the first time, Daichi noticed that Ranma wasn't wearing his normal clothes. She was wearing a kimono with a peach bottom and cheery blossom print top and tied around her pigtail was a large pink bow that clashed horribly with her hair.

It was about then that the red haired woman came to. She blinked once or twice to clear her vision and then smacked Daichi clear across the face. "EEK!"

"DAH!" Daichi held a hand over his stinging face. "What was that for? And what are you wearing?"

"Stay away!" The woman scrambled to her feet and held up her purse threateningly. As thought she was going to hit him with it.

Daichi blinked in confusion. "Dad?"

The woman huffed. "Don't try to confuse me, you mugger! I'm clearly a woman and nobody's father!"

"Uh…" Daichi stared at her for a moment. She was the spitting image of Ranma in girl form. Right down to the shade of her blue eyes. "S- Sorry. You just look like someone I know."

For some reason this made the woman look uneasy. "Oh? Do I?" She asked nervously. "I- I get that I lot! Bye!" She said quickly before turning to walk down the street, Daichi noticed, more quickly than before.

When she had gone Daichi turned to go back to the other side of the waterway. "That was weird. I've heard two strangers being identical… but there was something not right about that woman."

Pondering this and wondering if he should rush home to tell his Dad, Daichi crossed over the bridge to the other side. But when he was halfway across he felt rather than saw something small run by. "AAHH!" He fell over in surprise. Then he realized that a fuzzy black Chihuahua with a red band tied around its neck was caught under his foot. "Iikiba! Be more careful!" He shouted at the little dog.

"DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!" Jatsuma's voice shouted towards them. He was standing at the end of the bridge, carrying a bucket of water with steam floating out of it in one hand and Iikiba's school uniform in the other.

"Did I miss something?" Daichi asked.

"Just the usual." Jatsuma said before getting serious. "The little bugger's got my cell phone!"

Sure enough, clamped in Iikiba's jaws was the cell phone, its antenna bent slightly. The little dog struggled to get away as Daichi picked him up by the scruff of his neck and growled as Jatsuma got near.

"Spit it out you mangy mutt! Do you have any idea how long I saved to buy that? You're getting your dog slobber all over it!" Jatsuma shouted angrily. "And the antenna's bent!"

"Grrrrrrrr!" Iikiba growled deeply, showing his little white teeth.

"If you don't drop it I'm going to have you spayed!" Jatsuma advanced but Daichi held out his arm to stop him.

"Jatsuma, something really strange just happened." He said.

"Strange? What's strange is that you're defending the enemy!" Jatsuma said angrily.

Daichi narrowed his eyes. "Oh, grow up! And gimme that water!" He snatched the bucket from Jatsuma's hands, but Jatsuma wouldn't let go.

"No!" Jatsuma and Daichi both tugged on the bucket. It shook and half the water spilled out onto Iikiba. "GAH!" Daichi and Jatsuma jumped back as Iikiba turned almost instantaneously to human.

"ACK! Yuck!" Iikiba spit the phone into his hand.

"Put some clothes on!" Jatsuma threw Iikiba's clothes at him. "And give me back my phone!"

Iikiba dressed quickly and held the phone high over his head. "So you can turn me in? I don't think so!" Right as he said this the antenna broke off and the number three button popped off of the phone. Iikiba's eyes widened and he brought the phone down to look at it. And then the mouth piece fell off as well. "Wow, these things aren't very sturdy, are they?"

Jatsuma's gaping expression contorted with fury. "YOU! YOU DESTROYED MY PHONE!"

"AAHHH!" Iikiba make a break for it, Jatsuma chasing after him at top speed. "Guys! Wait a minute! ARGH!" Daichi shouted in frustration as he grabbed his school bag and ran after them. The phone was left forgotten on the pavement.

Several minutes of running thought the streets later, Iikiba came to the top of an unusually steep incline in the road and only just managed to stop before going over. "What are you stopping for?" Jatsuma stopped right behind him.

Iikiba didn't have a chance to answer because right then Daichi slammed into Jatsuma and sent all three of them tumbling down the hill. "YAAAAHHHH!"

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL

"Thank you and come again!" The glass figurine salesman waved goodbye to his most resent customer. The shop was now empty and he was ready to close up early so he could spend a quiet Saturday night at home. He whistled to himself as he locked the cash register and walked to the front door to grab his coat off the rack.

CRASH! A defining crash shook the store and the shop keep saw the front window and every piece of glass near it shatter as three people smashed through it, screaming like madmen.

"Ow." Daichi picked himself up out of the rubble, rubbing his head. He looked around to see Jatsuma and Iikiba were both also standing up dizzily.

The shop owner's eyes twitched uncontrollably as his gaze landed on them. "You… You're the ones who have been destroying my shop!" He spat angrily.

Daichi held up his hands. "S- Sorry!"

"THAT'S THREE TIMES NOW!" The shop keeper grabbed a broom and held it up.

Jatsuma stepped forward. "Hey, buddy. It was just an accident."

The shop keeper lost his temper and swung his broom at Jatsuma, who had to jump in the air to dodge it. "Yow!"

"Run for it!" Iikiba shouted, and they did.

The three boys fumbled out onto the street and ran as fast as they could. But the shop keeper didn't give up so easily. He darted out the now open window and chased them down the street with his broom held high over his head, shouting curses at them as they started to draw ahead.

After several minutes they had sufficiently outran him and they dodged into a narrow alleyway to hide. Panting, Jatsuma slid to the ground. "That was more exercise than I wanted today."

"Three times. Do you have some kind of grudge against that guy?" Iikiba asked Daichi.

"All three times were accidents!" Daichi snapped.

"Hey! What are you guys doing back there?" A girl's voice shouted towards them from the street. Lotion had happened to be walking by on the other street when they had run into the alleyway. She had done a double take before realizing who was down there.

Daichi went ridged. "We're fine! Great even!" He yelled back cheerfully, blushing slightly.

"We are?" Jatsuma asked.

Lotion blinked in confusion. He hadn't answered her question, but then she decided she'd rather not know.