Disclaimer: All anime characters portrayed in this series are owned by
their respective creators, as are any original characters that appear.
This is a work of fanfiction and is not to be taken literally.
------Introduction------
It was a typical summer day in Nerima. The sun was out and the sky was blue. Everything seemed right with the world. How long could that possibly last?
I was on a quiet, relaxing walk through the park. Then I was rendered unconscious by a blow to the head.
------Crystal and Crystal? You Have Got to be Kidding!------
I woke up in a very familiar location. Washu had teleported me into her lab again, but I couldn't have begun to guess the reason why. I sat up on the examination table I had been sleeping on and took a look around to find the mad scientist and get some answers as to why I had been summoned to this place again.
"So you're awake," said Washu's voice, from behind me.
I spun around, "Yes, I'm awake. What am I doing here?"
Washu actually gave me a strait answer, "I've come up with a way to prove to you what I was talking about when I said that you and Crystal are really one and the same."
I blinked in confusion. Washu continued, "I have developed a machine that will allow you both to exist in the same world at the same time, this world to be precise."
"After what you pulled on me and Ryoga with that dimensional portal device, you want me to trust you with a new machine that you probably haven't tested?" I asked.
Washu nodded, "You catch on fast."
"Why not," I answered, "this story needs a plot anyway."
The machine itself was nothing special. It consisted of three giant glass test-tube devices connected by various cables. The cables in turn had one main cable that connected off to a computer monitor. Only Washu would know how this machine worked.
She led me to this mysterious machine and instructed me, "You go into the center tube and I'll do the rest."
The central tube was lifed into the air by one of the many cables connected to the top of it and I walked underneath. It was then lowered over me. I saw Washu at the computer monitor, having materialized one of her special keyboards out of thin air. She was typing away and I realized that there would be no turning back now.
There was a surge of electricity around me and then I found myself in one of the other tubes. I was to the right of the central tube and Crystal was in the tube to the left. The tube I was currently in lifted off of the ground and I stepped out. Crystal did the same as the tube she was in was lifted.
A mirror rose up in front of me and I looked upon my true self. I was still animated, something to do with this world, but I no longer looked the part of Crystal. Sure I looked almost exactly like her, but the major difference was the fact that there was no scar going down my right arm and I was dressed differently. I also didn't look as strong as Crystal. I was wearing black Gi-like pants and a short-sleeved, dark purple Chinese-style shirt with an interesting vine pattern on it.
Crystal on the other hand was dressed in her standard black jeans and tank- top. Her sword was strapped over her left shoulder and she looked ready for anything.
"So, Washu, have you come up with some kind of cover-up story we can so that this doesn't confuse too many people in Nerima?" asked Crystal.
Washu answered, "That I have. For the next 672 hours you two will be posing as cousins."
"In other words this machine only lets us stay in the same world at the same time for four weeks," I said after going over the calculations in my head.
"Exactly," answered Washu. "When your time is done, you will go back to being Crystal in this world unless you choose to return to your world as yourself. If you want to both co-exist in the same world for a longer time period I will need to use the machine again or develop a more powerful machine to extend the time limit."
"That doesn't sound so bad," I said.
Crystal couldn't help asking, "What will happen to me after the 672 hours?"
"Well you will either have to go to Rachel's world and pretend to be her while she pretends to be you, or you will return to being yourself," answered Washu. "Rachel's choices will effect the both of you because she is the original being."
"That seems fair I guess," agreed Crystal.
I nodded, "Alright, so what do we do first?"
*~*~*~*~*
Crystal and I were led out of Washu's lab and into the dining room of the Masaki house. It was close to lunch time and everyone was gathered around the table, aside from Tenchi's grandfather who was minding the shrine and Tenchi's father who was working. Tenchi was present since it was summer.
"We'll start with a few tests to make sure you two can act like cousins," stated Washu. "Crystal I want you to introduce Rachel to everyone as your cousin, so we'll start here."
Crystal nodded and presented me to the assembled group, "This is my cousin Rachel, she is visiting from California."
"A pleasure to meet all of you," I added.
Washu smiled, "That was pretty good, especially considering everyone here was already expecting it. I wouldn't be surprised if people in Nerima are convinced that there are two Crystals roaming around for a while though."
I blinked, "Do we look that much alike?"
Washu nodded.
"Can we eat now," suggested Ryoko. "All that waiting for the experiment kinda made me hungry."
So Crystal and I joined the Tenchi gang for lunch before it was time for us to test our cousin act out in Nerima.
*~*~*~*~*
We were led back into Washu's lab and quickly rendered unconscious after we ate lunch with the Tenchi gang. That could only mean one thing.
*~*~*~*~*
I regained consciousness shortly after Crystal. I noticed that I was back in the apartment that I had of coarse made up for Crystal, but now I would be staying in because I was supposed to be posing as Crystal's cousin. Talk about a complicated situation.
"Shall we test our act out on the town?" asked Crystal.
I rubbed my head before answering, "I guess so. I really wish Washu would find a better way to activate her teleporting device..."
"Definately," agreed Crystal.
*~*~*~*~*
We started at Nerima District Park [what can I say, I like that location]. I noticed that even as myself I retained the same awareness of the area as I had when I was Crystal. I could still understand and speak to everyone no problem and I was guessing that unlike when I was Crystal, I would be able to locate the apartment when it was time to look for it again.
Ryoga happened to be the first person we ran into. He was wandering around the park again, probably without a clue that he had made it back to Nerima.
"Yo, Ryoga, what brings you here of all places?!" shouted Crystal covering the distance that was currently between them.
I suddenly found myself being dragged over in that direction. Crystal really did have a strong grip and it was currently on my wrist. She let go once we were over by Ryoga and she was sure he wasn't going to wander off without seeing us.
Ryoga stared at us for two whole minutes before saying anything. He blinked several times and then spoke, "Crystal...am I crazy or are there two of you?"
Crystal indicated me, her look-a-like, "Ryoga, this is my cousin Rachel. She's visiting from California." She then indicated Ryoga, "Rachel, this is Ryoga, the eternally lost boy I have told you about."
"He's the one that turns into a pig, right?" I asked trying to sound like I hadn't been Crystal for the last month and a half that had seemingly passed me by.
"Right," answered Crystal trying hard not to laugh.
Ryoga didn't look too happy, "You told her?"
"Well I had to give her some sort of idea what kind of people she'd be meeting out here in Nerima," noted Crystal.
"I guess that's true," agreed Ryoga.
I nodded, "She told me all about the Jusenkyo curses."
"Ranma you jerk!" echoed through the air as one Ranma Saotome, in boy form, went flying overhead. He landed directly in the fountain near the center of Nerima District Park and instantly turned into a girl.
I grinned, "That must have been Ranma."
"Should we find out what happened this time?" suggested Crystal.
Ryoga was having trouble with words, but finally answered, "Sure. Then could you kindly direct me to the Tendo Household?"
"Sure thing," answered Crystal and I at the same time.
Ryoga blinked, but decided not to pay it much mind.
I thought ~Maybe it would have been better for us to act like long lost twins or something.~
*~*~*~*~*
As we arrived near the fountain, someone else was trying to "rescue" their pigtailed goddess. Tatewaki Kuno was embracing the currently female Ranma, who in turn looked like she was going to be sick. Of coarse at this point Ranma was out of the fountain.
*Pow!*
Kuno went flying into a low orbit, away from Nerima district park as Ranma kicked him.
"Having Kuno problems again Ranma?" asked Crystal.
Ryoga added, "What did you say to Akane this time?"
Ranma started fuming, but stopped when she took another look in our direction and focused on me and Crystal. She blinked a few times, did a double take and continued to stare for a full five minutes.
"Akane must have hit me harder than I thought...Crystal I could have sworn there were two of you..." said Ranma finally relocating her voice.
I stepped forward, "We've been getting that a lot lately. The name is Rachel, I'm Crystal's cousin visiting from California. You must be the Ranma I've been hearing about."
Crystal took this time to materialize a tea kettle. She then poured the contents over Ranma's head thus turning Ranma back into a still rather damp boy.
"I am," answered Ranma still looking and sounding extremely confused.
Crystal suggested, "Since we already promised to take Ryoga to the Tendo House, we might be be able to help get Akane to calm down while we're there. I'm sure you don't want to be sent on another trip the fountain again."
"I don't know why she hit me so hard that time...all I did was call her [insert multiple random insults that Ranma normally uses on Akane]..." muttered Ranma.
I shrugged, "I dunno...maybe because you asked for it?"
"Are you sure you two are just cousins...you both sound a lot alike," noted Ranma.
Crystal nodded, "We're just really close cousins."
I was reasonably sure that Ranma could tell it was an act. After all he did spend a lot of time pretending to be Akane's cousin Ranko. If he did know it was an act though, he didn't say anything.
I mentally noted ~Akane and I must have a different definition of the word "jerk" or something because Ranma doesn't seem to fit the description...~
Ranma and Ryoga looked equally confused as the four of us headed off in the direction of the Tendo House. I had a feeling things would be getting much more interesting in Nerima for the next month.
*~*~*~*~*
To Be Continued...
------Introduction------
It was a typical summer day in Nerima. The sun was out and the sky was blue. Everything seemed right with the world. How long could that possibly last?
I was on a quiet, relaxing walk through the park. Then I was rendered unconscious by a blow to the head.
------Crystal and Crystal? You Have Got to be Kidding!------
I woke up in a very familiar location. Washu had teleported me into her lab again, but I couldn't have begun to guess the reason why. I sat up on the examination table I had been sleeping on and took a look around to find the mad scientist and get some answers as to why I had been summoned to this place again.
"So you're awake," said Washu's voice, from behind me.
I spun around, "Yes, I'm awake. What am I doing here?"
Washu actually gave me a strait answer, "I've come up with a way to prove to you what I was talking about when I said that you and Crystal are really one and the same."
I blinked in confusion. Washu continued, "I have developed a machine that will allow you both to exist in the same world at the same time, this world to be precise."
"After what you pulled on me and Ryoga with that dimensional portal device, you want me to trust you with a new machine that you probably haven't tested?" I asked.
Washu nodded, "You catch on fast."
"Why not," I answered, "this story needs a plot anyway."
The machine itself was nothing special. It consisted of three giant glass test-tube devices connected by various cables. The cables in turn had one main cable that connected off to a computer monitor. Only Washu would know how this machine worked.
She led me to this mysterious machine and instructed me, "You go into the center tube and I'll do the rest."
The central tube was lifed into the air by one of the many cables connected to the top of it and I walked underneath. It was then lowered over me. I saw Washu at the computer monitor, having materialized one of her special keyboards out of thin air. She was typing away and I realized that there would be no turning back now.
There was a surge of electricity around me and then I found myself in one of the other tubes. I was to the right of the central tube and Crystal was in the tube to the left. The tube I was currently in lifted off of the ground and I stepped out. Crystal did the same as the tube she was in was lifted.
A mirror rose up in front of me and I looked upon my true self. I was still animated, something to do with this world, but I no longer looked the part of Crystal. Sure I looked almost exactly like her, but the major difference was the fact that there was no scar going down my right arm and I was dressed differently. I also didn't look as strong as Crystal. I was wearing black Gi-like pants and a short-sleeved, dark purple Chinese-style shirt with an interesting vine pattern on it.
Crystal on the other hand was dressed in her standard black jeans and tank- top. Her sword was strapped over her left shoulder and she looked ready for anything.
"So, Washu, have you come up with some kind of cover-up story we can so that this doesn't confuse too many people in Nerima?" asked Crystal.
Washu answered, "That I have. For the next 672 hours you two will be posing as cousins."
"In other words this machine only lets us stay in the same world at the same time for four weeks," I said after going over the calculations in my head.
"Exactly," answered Washu. "When your time is done, you will go back to being Crystal in this world unless you choose to return to your world as yourself. If you want to both co-exist in the same world for a longer time period I will need to use the machine again or develop a more powerful machine to extend the time limit."
"That doesn't sound so bad," I said.
Crystal couldn't help asking, "What will happen to me after the 672 hours?"
"Well you will either have to go to Rachel's world and pretend to be her while she pretends to be you, or you will return to being yourself," answered Washu. "Rachel's choices will effect the both of you because she is the original being."
"That seems fair I guess," agreed Crystal.
I nodded, "Alright, so what do we do first?"
*~*~*~*~*
Crystal and I were led out of Washu's lab and into the dining room of the Masaki house. It was close to lunch time and everyone was gathered around the table, aside from Tenchi's grandfather who was minding the shrine and Tenchi's father who was working. Tenchi was present since it was summer.
"We'll start with a few tests to make sure you two can act like cousins," stated Washu. "Crystal I want you to introduce Rachel to everyone as your cousin, so we'll start here."
Crystal nodded and presented me to the assembled group, "This is my cousin Rachel, she is visiting from California."
"A pleasure to meet all of you," I added.
Washu smiled, "That was pretty good, especially considering everyone here was already expecting it. I wouldn't be surprised if people in Nerima are convinced that there are two Crystals roaming around for a while though."
I blinked, "Do we look that much alike?"
Washu nodded.
"Can we eat now," suggested Ryoko. "All that waiting for the experiment kinda made me hungry."
So Crystal and I joined the Tenchi gang for lunch before it was time for us to test our cousin act out in Nerima.
*~*~*~*~*
We were led back into Washu's lab and quickly rendered unconscious after we ate lunch with the Tenchi gang. That could only mean one thing.
*~*~*~*~*
I regained consciousness shortly after Crystal. I noticed that I was back in the apartment that I had of coarse made up for Crystal, but now I would be staying in because I was supposed to be posing as Crystal's cousin. Talk about a complicated situation.
"Shall we test our act out on the town?" asked Crystal.
I rubbed my head before answering, "I guess so. I really wish Washu would find a better way to activate her teleporting device..."
"Definately," agreed Crystal.
*~*~*~*~*
We started at Nerima District Park [what can I say, I like that location]. I noticed that even as myself I retained the same awareness of the area as I had when I was Crystal. I could still understand and speak to everyone no problem and I was guessing that unlike when I was Crystal, I would be able to locate the apartment when it was time to look for it again.
Ryoga happened to be the first person we ran into. He was wandering around the park again, probably without a clue that he had made it back to Nerima.
"Yo, Ryoga, what brings you here of all places?!" shouted Crystal covering the distance that was currently between them.
I suddenly found myself being dragged over in that direction. Crystal really did have a strong grip and it was currently on my wrist. She let go once we were over by Ryoga and she was sure he wasn't going to wander off without seeing us.
Ryoga stared at us for two whole minutes before saying anything. He blinked several times and then spoke, "Crystal...am I crazy or are there two of you?"
Crystal indicated me, her look-a-like, "Ryoga, this is my cousin Rachel. She's visiting from California." She then indicated Ryoga, "Rachel, this is Ryoga, the eternally lost boy I have told you about."
"He's the one that turns into a pig, right?" I asked trying to sound like I hadn't been Crystal for the last month and a half that had seemingly passed me by.
"Right," answered Crystal trying hard not to laugh.
Ryoga didn't look too happy, "You told her?"
"Well I had to give her some sort of idea what kind of people she'd be meeting out here in Nerima," noted Crystal.
"I guess that's true," agreed Ryoga.
I nodded, "She told me all about the Jusenkyo curses."
"Ranma you jerk!" echoed through the air as one Ranma Saotome, in boy form, went flying overhead. He landed directly in the fountain near the center of Nerima District Park and instantly turned into a girl.
I grinned, "That must have been Ranma."
"Should we find out what happened this time?" suggested Crystal.
Ryoga was having trouble with words, but finally answered, "Sure. Then could you kindly direct me to the Tendo Household?"
"Sure thing," answered Crystal and I at the same time.
Ryoga blinked, but decided not to pay it much mind.
I thought ~Maybe it would have been better for us to act like long lost twins or something.~
*~*~*~*~*
As we arrived near the fountain, someone else was trying to "rescue" their pigtailed goddess. Tatewaki Kuno was embracing the currently female Ranma, who in turn looked like she was going to be sick. Of coarse at this point Ranma was out of the fountain.
*Pow!*
Kuno went flying into a low orbit, away from Nerima district park as Ranma kicked him.
"Having Kuno problems again Ranma?" asked Crystal.
Ryoga added, "What did you say to Akane this time?"
Ranma started fuming, but stopped when she took another look in our direction and focused on me and Crystal. She blinked a few times, did a double take and continued to stare for a full five minutes.
"Akane must have hit me harder than I thought...Crystal I could have sworn there were two of you..." said Ranma finally relocating her voice.
I stepped forward, "We've been getting that a lot lately. The name is Rachel, I'm Crystal's cousin visiting from California. You must be the Ranma I've been hearing about."
Crystal took this time to materialize a tea kettle. She then poured the contents over Ranma's head thus turning Ranma back into a still rather damp boy.
"I am," answered Ranma still looking and sounding extremely confused.
Crystal suggested, "Since we already promised to take Ryoga to the Tendo House, we might be be able to help get Akane to calm down while we're there. I'm sure you don't want to be sent on another trip the fountain again."
"I don't know why she hit me so hard that time...all I did was call her [insert multiple random insults that Ranma normally uses on Akane]..." muttered Ranma.
I shrugged, "I dunno...maybe because you asked for it?"
"Are you sure you two are just cousins...you both sound a lot alike," noted Ranma.
Crystal nodded, "We're just really close cousins."
I was reasonably sure that Ranma could tell it was an act. After all he did spend a lot of time pretending to be Akane's cousin Ranko. If he did know it was an act though, he didn't say anything.
I mentally noted ~Akane and I must have a different definition of the word "jerk" or something because Ranma doesn't seem to fit the description...~
Ranma and Ryoga looked equally confused as the four of us headed off in the direction of the Tendo House. I had a feeling things would be getting much more interesting in Nerima for the next month.
*~*~*~*~*
To Be Continued...