PART ONE:

Ranma didn't necessarily consider himself a vain person, or even narcissistic, but when he looked into a free standing mirror in the Tendon Dojo, he really liked what he saw. A buff, handsome guy.

He prided himself in his appearance, but now he was on a whole new level, not just outwardly, but spiritually. And only recently he began to practise a form of mediation that helped him control certain feelings he had been having when it came to Akane. He used deep breathing exercises and cleared his mind to calm those feelings.

Oddly enough, he didn't learn the technique from anyone he knew. He learned it from watching old martial arts movies. He thought there was nothing to it, but once he began to really get into it, he began to relax more and his martial arts surprisingly improved. He became stronger and faster, more focussed and more fluent. He even ditched the weights and concentrated on moving his muscles in such a way that toned them better using free flowing ways. The method was scientific and even Dr. Tofu agreed with it. With a combination of physical prowess and mental intuitiveness, he had the best of both worlds.

But there were just times he needed to work things out with exercise and weights, when he needed to burn off some tough stress. Like when Akane got angry with him. And sometimes she didn't need a reason.

Since meeting the Tendo's, he had grown up from the immature person that he once was. He wanted his curse to be lifted and to return fully male—turning into a female when he was splashed with cold water was becoming annoying. But a curse was a curse and only so-called anti-curse magic could counteract old Chinese mythos.

When he fell into a spring at Jusenkyo in China during what should have been a simple training journey with his father, his entire life changed. On top of that, becoming engaged to a woman he didn't even know and who seemingly hated his guts, was bothersome to say the least, not to mention all the other suitors he had acquired since then—like Shampoo and Ukyo—who continued to chase him around like he was some sort of prize to be won at the end of a contest.
He was thankful right now he was alone. Sometimes, being alone was healthy for both the mind and the soul.

He stood in front of the mirror and flexed his arms and stuck out his chest, similar to a body builder. Kempo, his martial arts of choice, concentrated mainly on body conditioning and less on bulk, so he was toned with notable muscle. And for a seventeen-year-old, he was in prime form. And if it was to be believed, he was also in his sexual prime.

He smiled broadly at that thought.

He darted his eyes from side to side within the dojo. He was alone and he wasn't expecting anyone. He was shirtless, but he wanted to check something out. So, he slipped down his pants and checked out his butt. His gluts were tight like the rest of him. He had honed every part of his body to excellent condition and if he could bend over like a gymnast, he would kiss his own rear.

"Yeah, that's the ticket! No wonder so many girls love me."

"Playing with yourself again, Ranma?" came a voice from the back of the dojo near the doorway.

Ranma quickly turned and pulled up his pants. Ryoga Hibiki was standing at the threshold, smirking. He carried with him his travel pack and bamboo umbrella. He was decked out in his usual yellow, flashy attire. And to top the ensemble, he wore his black splotched, yellow bandanna.

"Ha! You know the old saying, you are what you eat," his rival then said. "Then again, you're also what you show others, and that confirms it—you're such an ass."

Ranma grumbled in his breath. Ryoga had not been there a moment ago. He was embarrassed that his rival found him in such a compromising position, but instead he put on a strong façade.

"Long time no see, bacon bits," Ranma responded. "And for your interest, I was checking out the efforts of all my hard work over recent weeks since you've been gone. So, where have you been, Lost Boy?"

"What do you mean 'Lost Boy'? I may have a lousy sense of direction, but I always find my way back here—like a beacon from Heaven. The gods always guide me back to Akane, knowing we are destined to be together. And besides, I was training, honing my skills—to defeat you! I've been training hard. My body is strong as a rock."

"Yeah? Well, you've always had pebbles for brains." Ranma cupped his hips. " Dream on, little piggy. In every official challenge, you've never beaten me. And sneak attacks don't count, neither do team-ups. Besides, Akane is already engaged to me."

"That will change someday. I came here to see Akane, not get into a squabble with a stupid moron like you."

Ranma grit his teeth and growled under his breath. There was just something about his rivalry with Ryoga that riled him up every time. "Let's fight, Ryoga! I swear! I'll beat the crap out of you!"

"You're always so eager to fight, Ranma. I wonder why? Are you compensating for something? You may look big up there…" Ryoga pointed, and Ranma looked at his chest. "But maybe you're not so big down there and Akane knows it?"

"I'm as healthy as the next guy, even healthier? That's why all the girls love me. And I'm not shy to say it. I'm a man and the bigger the better, they say. Why are you acting so calm? You're always the one to jump off the rails with a challenge? Why the cool attitude now?"

"I know something you don't. That love conquers all." Ryoga reached into the left pocket of his pants and pulled out a small vial with a blue liquid. "And with this, I'm going to make Akane my obedient love slave. She'll do everything I tell her, and more."

"What's that?"

"The future, Ranma," Ryoga said, smiling devilishly. "And something that will make all my dreams come true. I've finally realized to get what I want I'm going to have to get more aggressive. I know I can get obsessive, but that's the past. I no longer have to fight for what I want, now I can just take it. I'm shy, but there are things that help a person overcome certain inadequacies, and this is it. The latest in romantic aids."

"Again, what's that? Don't tell me it's some sort of love potion? You've already tried something like that and it failed big time! And if you plan on using that on Akane, then you'll do so over my dead body!"

Ranma charged him, and Ryoga reacted—quickly getting into a defensive position.

Ranma suddenly pivoted and delivered a high-end kick, knocking the vial out of Ryoga's hand. It went flying and Ranma jumped and snatched it out of the air. He grinned innately with the prize in hand.

"You ain't goin' use this on anyone!" Ranma looked at it. "Doesn't look like much."

"Hey, that's mine! Give it back!"

Ranma popped off the top with the flick of a thumb and was about to pour it out, when Ryoga said, "No wait, Ranma! It's a cure to the Jusenkyo Curse. I was just kidding around with you! I came to share it! Don't spill it."

"Oh, c'mon! You really think I'd believe you?"

"Honest! Where do you think I've been for the past couple of weeks? I went back to China and spoke with that guide at Jusenkyo. He told me you if I drink this, i's a cure to the curse. I wanted to share it with you. It's very potent and comes from The Spring of The Drowned Man with additives and special sugar extracts to help it circulate through the body faster. We may be rivals, Ranma. But we both are eager to get rid of this curse. I'm not lying this time!"

Ranam's face lit up, but a little weary. Then said, "Knowing you, you would never lie about sumthing' like that! Right?" Ryoga shook his head. Ranma looked at the blue liquid. "But why is the water blue?"

"Something to do with the special additives and sugar used. It changes the colour."

"So, where's yours?"

"I've already drank it. That one is yours." Ryoga pulled another empty vial from his pocket. "See? I got two. All you have to do is ingest it, not swim in the waters as we thought. I was told this by the guide. Ingestion is faster than skin absorption."

"Sounds legit," Ranma muttered. He gauged Ryoga's demeanour. The guy was smiling. He wouldn't lie about this?

Ranma gulped the blue liquid it down. Anything to beat the curse he suffered from was worth a shot!

Ryoga then produced a sinister grin. "You are so gullible, Ranma," he said with a laugh. "That was no cure, you just drank a weakening agent. You did exactly what I knew you would do! My acting was flawless! I've been practising for days now. I know he may be a little weird and his potions don't exactly do what he claims all the time, but this time I'm confident Hikaru Gosunkugi got this one right."

"Damn you! I believed you! You son-of-a…" Ranma heard an unsettling gurgling in the stomach, then put a hand to his belly, letting out a large belch. Uncharacteristically, he dropped to his knees and folded over in front of Ryoga almost instantly. "Oh—my stomach," he moaned. "It feels like I've just eaten some of Akane's cookin'."

Ryoga looked on concerned. "Ranma? You okay? I was told it would only make you weaker, not give you a stomach ache."

"You goddamn idiot, what did you give me? Ohh…You really trusted that creepy guy to give you something to make me weaker? Well, congratulations! It looks like you finally succeeded. I can barely move. And I feel like I need to…" Ranma suddenly cupped his butt. "Oh god, no!"

To be continued...