All Ranma ½ characters
belong to Rumiko Takahashi. However this story belongs to ME!
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Soun sobbed loudly. That's what he'd been doing ever since Akane was abducted. H e woke up, cried, ate, cried, slept, cried. As manly man go, Soun Tendo was tender hearted when it came to one of his beloved daughters.
"Get a grip of yourself!" Genma tried to shake his friend to his senses.
"There there father, I'm sure Akane is just fine" Kasumi reassured him, setting a cup of tea before him "Please do try to eat"
Soun forced himself to pick up his spoon. Took a bite. Choked "Kasumi dear, why is dinner so- salty?"
"You've been crying in your miso soup" Nabiki pointed out.
Soun bowed his head.
"I mean, really father, there's nothing to be worried about. It's not like it's the first time Akane's been kidnapped" Soun's tears started to flow again. Nabiki rolled her eyes "And after all, it's Ranma's double we're talking about" she mumbled through a mouthful of cookies.
"He might be a double, but he sure is strong" Happosai allowed grumpily, ironing his renewed collection.
Everyone pointedly glanced at the boy who'd been silent and gloomy ever since his pride had taken a beating.
"RANMA! What do you plan to do about this??" Ryouga burst in and grabbed the Saotome boy by the collar.
News traveled fast in the grapevine. It traveled via express when it was Nabiki that had a tasty tidbit.
"Do you plan on sitting there forever??"
Ranma slapped his hands away.
"Knock it off, Ryouga! I'm already pissed as it is! You don't wanna get on my bad side right now"
"It's no use talking with you!" Ryouga spat with disgust "I don't know about you, but I'm going after him!"
"Tsk tsk, foolish boy" a voice said as Cologne hopped into the room.
Kasumi promptly gave the old woman some tea which she graciously accepted.
Everyone waited expectedly for her to continue.
"Well, any news?" Genma asked for everyone
"I've studied the mirror all night" Cologne set the cup on the table "It's a very mysterious object surrounded by many legends, some so old they're lost in time, most are contradictory. But all agree that the mirror causes the reflection of whoever looks into it to come to life" She sipped her tea.
"That isn't very helpful" Nabiki pointed out.
"Anything else? Any way to erase the copy?" Genma wondered.
Cologne scratched her cheek "I'm- still working on that"
"Well, you find the cure while Ranma-"
"I beat the living crap out of him!"
"Actually I'd say he's stronger" Nabiki stated casually causing Ranma's self esteem to plunged down another knot.
"But you have us!" Shampoo, Moose and Ukyo entered the dinning room.
"This nice old lady told us what happened" U-chan explained taking a seat
"We sorry we didn't believe you" Shampoo looked remorseful
"Perhaps we can't defeat him single-handedly but I'd like to see him defeat all of us!" Moose declared with determination.
Ranma's shoulders straightened as hope surged through him.
"It's true, he's only a copy after all!"
"And his being a clone doesn't automatically make him completely similar to the original" U-chan stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes, we can defeat him. We will defeat him!"
"Let me go!"
Akane struggled against the bonds that tied her, obtaining the contrary effect since they tightened further.
Footsteps advanced. A shadow fell over her.
"Tsk tsk, what a troublesome girl" a voice mocked her.
"How dare you! Let me GO!"
More struggle and a gasp of pain as the blood circulation was cut shorter.
"You like pain that much" the voice asked
Akane glared through pain lidded eyes.
"I cannot understand what he finds in you"
Cynical eyes roamed over her coldly.
"You have no figure to speak of, you lack total charm-"
The presence kneeled, grabbed her chin. Gave her a chilling look. Let her go so brutally her head fell back on the floor.
Akane blinked back tears.
The presence whipped its hands, a look of disgust on its face.
"You know, he craves you- as much as I loathe you. But then, it is only natural since I'm his reflected self"
"Reflected self?" Akane croaked.
The presence nodded, crossing its arms "He and I are the same, yet diametrically opposite. Same knowledge, same abilities, same strength. But as reflections go, we think act and feel completely opposite"
The presence seemed lost in thought.
"But now for some unknown reason, I've come out of the Reflected World. And there are two Ranma in this world. But there is only room for one. There can only be ONE!"
Akane looked into its crazed face and feared, feared for Ranma.
The three days went by quickly. For some they were never ending. For others they couldn't go any faster.
The dawn of the final confrontation was met upon by a group of four fearless individuals who stood before a deserted Furinkan High School.
Minutes crawled by.
At some unknown signal, the dark haired boy raised his head, determination shinning in his eyes.
"I don't know what awaits us in there. I don't know how it'll all end. But let me thank you for your help and support"
"You don't have to thank us, Ranma honey" U-chan smiled
"We friends" Shampoo said simply
"We will defeat this enemy!" Moose boasted
Ranma smiled his gratitude.
"Alright then, LET'S GO!"
"Fools" a voice sneered.
The presence watched as the four entered Furinkan High and straight into its trap.
Let the others succumb, it didn't care about them. His constant thoughts evolved around the Saotome boy.
He would pay for everything it had endured. And then there would be only one!
Its laugh chilled an already fearful Akane.
"You know, I never thought a school could be so creepy" U-chan commented as the two girls walked the deserted corridors.
The group had decided the best course of action would be to split to better search the building. Though both girls had insisted on accompanying Ranma, Moose had jumped in and all but dragged him away.
"You scared?" Shampoo mocked her.
"Of course not!" the other girl snapped "It's just- you never know what traps might be laid for us"
The Chinese nodded, suddenly sober.
They walked along the hallway, weary for anything out of the ordinary.
"What was that??" U-chan demanded stopping dead on her tracks
"What was what?"
"That- sound"
Both girls strained their ears.
"Shampoo don't hear anything"
U-chan shook her head "Let's just be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with here"
"Hey girls!" a voice called.
"Hai-ya! Ranma!" Shampoo beamed happily
"Wait!" U-chan stopped her from flinging herself at the boy.
The Chinese's eyes blazed "Why you stop Shampoo??"
"You ninny! It could be a trap!"
"Oh right" Shampoo set herself in battle position.
"How do we know you're the real Ranma?" U-chan demanded, holding her spatula threateningly.
"Yeah! Where be Moose?"
"I ditched the blind guy. I'd rather be with two charming young ladies than with a mole" He held out his hand.
Shampoo's eyes had little hearts dancing in them.
Ukyo wasn't far behind her when a nagging suspicion probed her from the spell.
"Shampoo, wait-!"
The figure smiled, taking the Chinese girl in his arms. U-chan watched horrified as Shampoo unexplainably collapsed at his feet.
"Why you-!" she launched herself at him, swinging the giant spatula like it was weightless. He sidestepped, kicked and sent the weapon flying across the hall.
U-chan glared at him as he advanced toward her with a cold smile on his face.
"You're not Ranma! You're nothing like him!" she hissed.
He grabbed her and gave her a rough kiss which sent chills along U-chan's spine before she too lost consciousness.
"Isn't it strange that nothing's happened yet?" Moose wondered.
Ranma had to agree.
They had reached the second floor without any accident, something which made the boys very suspicious and edgy. The tension of remaining on constant alert was starting to get to them but so far they've managed not to attack each other.
A moan caught their attention and the two rushed to its source.
"Ryouga!" Ranma exclaimed with alarm.
Hibiki was barely conscious, having been beaten to a near pulp.
"What happened to him?" Moose asked no one.
Ranma tried touching the fallen boy to make certain of his condition. Ryouga suddenly opened his eyes, focused on him and jumped back with a muffled oath.
"Don't you dare touch me!" he growled
Moose and Ranma exchanged a troubled look
"Ryouga, it's us-"
"I won't fall for the same trick twice!"
Hibiki shot at them. The two scrambled away as the wall exploded behind them.
"Ryouga, knock it off!" Ranma yelled as Hibiki lashed out at him, creating so many holes in the walls that they resembled cedar cheese.
From under Moose's sleeves chains shot out and caught Ryouga by the arms and legs.
"How dare you interfere! This is between the two of us!"
"I can't let you kill Ranma!" Moose stated, surprising the other two.
Ranma was honestly touched "Moose, I didn't know you ca-"
"Not before I've had my share!" The Chinese boy threw his Razor Hawk Talons at Ranma who barely had time to duck.
"Why you- traitor!" Ranma swung his leg, grazing Moose "I thought you were here to help!"
Moose smiles, returning the punch "Help you? Why would I want to do that?"
"You mean you-"
Ryouga dashed into the fray causing the other two to fall back from each other in order to avoid him.
Annoyed Moose threw one of his bombs at him causing a cloud of smoke to envelope all of them.
Ryouga blindly chased Ranma destroying anything in his wake.
Ranma flew out of the smoke just in time to avoid Moose who plunged himself in his place where Ryouga was waiting.
The already precarious floor, victim of Ryouga's Breaking Point, suddenly gave out from under them.
Windows broke, desks went flying and Furikan High lost a whole floor (much to the joy of the students the next day)
Ranma looked down from the safety of his perch: Moose and Ryouga were nearly buried in debris but still alive.
He looked up toward the roof where he was certain to find Akane and his double.
He took off running.
"He's here" the voice said.
Akane raised her head to see Ranma burst through the door.
Their eyes met and a world of feelings they would never openly share passed between them.
"Enough!" The clone stepped between them "It is time to end this"
"I agree!" Ranma crackled his knuckles smiling "But first, how about letting her go"
The other smirked "Let the prize go? Of course not!"
Ranma shrugged "Have it your way"
He launched himself. The other met him half way.
Ranma aimed a punch. The other ducked and shot out hitting flesh.
"I thought you would practice in these three days"
Ranma tried to kick him. The clone sidestepped.
"Really. You are a disappointment"
Ranma gritted his teeth and continued attacking.
"Akane!" she heard calling. She turned around: a very battered Ryouga limped toward her accompanied by a disheveled Moose fussing over an annoyed Shampoo with a disgruntled.
"Thank goodness you're well!" Ryouga sighed with relief, fumbling with the rope which gave out from under his touch freeing Akane.
"Ryouga! Are you alright?"
He gave a self conscious smile "As well as can be expected under these conditions."
"Ra-Ranma! He and that clone-" Akane exclaimed but there was no sigh of the fighters "Where'd they go?"
"I suspect the whole town is their battlefield now" Moose speculated, crossing his arms under his long sleeves.
"We've got to help him! That clone- he wants to kill Ranma!"
Jumping from one building to the next, Ranma and his clone fought with no concern for the battleground they happened upon. Buildings exploded, walls collapsed, people scrambled frantically out of their way looking for cover, some even tried calling the police. But only one thing mattered to the two fighters and that was to defeat the opponent.
Ranma kept attacking, looking for an opening.
The clone calmly dodged and avoided everything coming at him.
It was like a never ending dance with someone who already knew the steps better than you. Whatever move Ranma made, the other reflected its opposite. The more Ranma got angry the more his attacks became frantic. But all to no vain.
Ranma racked his brain for a solution (not that there was much to rack in the first place. He was after all a man of reaction, not of thought. But he did try, I'll grant you that). And that's when he realized the clone was leading the dances.
Too late his foot faltered into the last step of the spiral. The other gave a chilling smile.
And then the world exploded.
"Truly disappointing" Ranma's clone stated dismissively as the cloud of debris caused by the Hiryu Shoten-ha slowly settled.
Its brow raised in amused surprise.
"Still alive? How remarkable" it exclaimed while Ranma shakily got to his unstable feet.
"Feh! Takes more than that to get rid of me!"
The clone's lips curved derisively.
"Really? How- entertaining of you"
And suddenly it changed strategy. It flew at Ranma and used a chopping motion which Ranma barely managed to block with crossed wrists. The other took advantage of the opening and lashed out with its leg. Ranma was thrown back by the blow.
He picked himself up, breathing heavily.
The clone regarded Ranma coldly.
"Look at you, you can barely stand up" it said in disgust "I cannot believe you and I are the same!"
Ranma whipped his chin "I'm not done for yet! Chestnut fists!" he yelled
The other calmly dodged every single blow.
"Really, have you learnt anything from our encounter?"
Ranma doggedly continued
"Enough! It is time. Once you are gone, I will take your place in this world. And things will change!"
In the meantime the others had managed to catch up with the fighters in time to see Ranma being swept away by the tornado.
Ryouga set Akane down.
"We've gotta do something! Ranma's-" Akane ran a few steps toward the two fighters only to be blocked by Cologne.
"Child, this is a battle we cannot interfere in"
"But- but Ranma's-"
The older woman shook her head
"If son-in-law cannot defeat him, what hopes have we?"
"But, that means Ranma-"
"Ranma will die!"
The three girls watched grief stricken as Ranma received one blow after the other.
"There is of course a solution"
Five pairs of eyes turned to Cologne.
"Grandmother-"
"But we must be very careful otherwise this situation could worsen"
"I'll do anything-"
"I'd give my life-"
"Shampoo will die for-"
"Now now children, no need to go that far" Cologne chided gently.
"Why- are- you- doing- this-??" Ranma asked as he vainly defended himself.
He'd tried thinking the reason behind the blood rage his clone had for him but for the life of him he couldn't figure it out. He didn't have this kind of trouble when his female side had tried to seduce him nor when his shadow had taken a life of its own. Compared to this, all he'd suffered in the past was child's play.
"You would like to know"
"I have a right to know!"
The clone was slightly taken aback by the vehemence in his words. It smiled.
"Very well, since you are the cause of this you might as well know"
"When you look into a mirror, what do you see?" it asked
"It used to be myself" Ranma answered, taking the time to catch his breath.
It sneered "Wrong. You see anything reflected into it. This is because everything has a double- in the Reflected World"
"Reflected World?"
The other nodded "Mirrors are windows of sorts between worlds, worlds which happen to be the opposite of each other. One a reflection of the other"
It waited for Ranma to grasp its meaning but he stared at it with a blank look on his face.
It sighed.
"Whatever happens in this world, the contrary happens in the other world" it tried again.
Ranma blinked.
"I never knew my opposite would be so dense" the clone mumbled.
"Let's put it this way: in your world all girls happen to fall for you and use whatever means possible to capture your heart-"
"Hey, it's not like I'm asking for it!"
"- while the majority of the males wants your head"
"They're weaklings" Ranma dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
Then his brain grasped what the other was trying to tell him "You mean-"
The other nodded, a dark look on his face.
"Have you any idea what it feels like to be hunted daily by the women because they want your death while the men crave your-" it coughed embarrassed, interrupting his flow of words.
Ranma looked sick "Hey man, I didn't know you had it that bad-"
"Bad? You call it bad?? Is that all you can say??" The other threw a punch at Ranma. He took a step back trying to avoid its attacks "You've ruined my life!"
"Cologne, what's going on?" Akane asked watching as the clone attacked Ranma with frenzy.
"I suspect it's lost it's- cool, as you would say"
"Huh?"
"The copy is Ranma's opposite. That means he has more control of himself and of his emotions"
"That's why it's been able to beat Ranma!" Ukyo exclaimed
"Always knew Ranma was a hothead" Akane murmured to herself.
"So like- Ranma's got him upset over something?" U-chan asked
Cologne nodded.
Yes! That means Ranma honey's got a chance!" U-chan cheered along with Shampoo.
"It's not as easy as that, children" the old woman warned them "Son-in-law might be able to defeat him but not definitively"
Everyone sobered.
"What can we do to erase the copy?"
Cologne shook her head "It's impossible"
"Impossible? Then Ranma-!"
"Let me finish!" the old woman snapped them to silence "It's impossible because one cannot exist without the other"
"But-"
"Think children! A person without his reflection is not a living being. Or rather, it's not a whole being because reflections and shadows are part of what makes a living creature"
"Like ghosts and vampires?" U-chan wondered
The old lady nodded "Something like that. They are not living, therefore they are shadowless and reflectionless"
"I see. So the only way to get rid of the copy is to get it back where it came from" Akane mussed
"But how do we do that?" U-chan asked
"The Shadow Reflector!" Akane exclaimed clapping her hands
"But is it safe?" Ryouga wondered "I mean, it's because of that object that the other Ranma's come out?"
Everyone looked troubled.
"Do not worry children. I've come up with something. But I need your assistance"
"I'm sorry man! I don't know what to say-"
Ranma truly felt for his other self who apparently had had a worse living than his. What was being engaged to half the female population because of an irresponsible father and being challenged on a daily basis compared to the opposite? Ranma blanched at the thought.
"I really am sorry but how can you blame me??"
The clone sneered angrily "How can I not blame you, my opposite?? You've had it easy!"
"Easy? You think my life's easy?? I'd like to see you try to live my life!" Ranma cried out
"Oh fear not. As soon as I get rid of you I will be able to!"
The attacks got more furious. Ranma could only try defending himself as best as he could. But he was starting to despair of even being able to survive this battle.
"You copy cat!" Ukyo yelled causing the clone to falter "You think you're better than our Ranma??"
"You just a reflection!" Shampoo declared.
The clone laughed "Oh? It wasn't what you thought when we were together"
U-chan and Shampoo blushed.
"After what we did together, do you really think I'm worse than Ranma? Come girls, he hasn't even tried kissing you!"
The girls' faces were flaming and their minds whirling with doubts.
"How dare you!" Moose cried out in outrage throwing his Razor Hawk Talons.
The clone neatly avoided them.
"As for yourself, you and that pig-boy are no match for Ranma. What makes you think you can defeat me?"
The boys bristled with hurt pride before attacking in union.
"Oh, so you think doing a group thing will help?"
It dodged, shielded, sidestepped from every blow aimed at it from different sides.
"Really, what do you people hope to accomplish?"
"THIS!" Akane cried from behind.
The clone's eyes widened with shock. He stood immobile watching with horror as the girl raised the ancient mirror so that its surface fully faced the clone.
"NO!" It shielded its face from the sight.
"Go back where you came from!" the girl yelled.
"Ranma, now!" U-chan cried.
The boy didn't wait for further instructions. He threw himself bodily at his clone catching it by surprise.
The clone touched the mirror's surface right as the sun hit it fully creating a flash of blinding light.
"NOOooooooo!"
Ranma blinked his eyes.
"He's gone!" he exclaimed with relief
"Not quite" Cologne interrupted hopping toward the mirror.
"What do you mean?"
"We have to seal this object or it might be able to get out. See?" she pointed.
Everyone watched horrorstruck as Ranma's reflection blinked into consciousness and growled at them.
Akane dutifully set the mirror down.
Cologne sprinkled something on its surface and tied a rosary bead necklace over it. The surface filmed over before returning to its harmless appearance.
Everyone sighed with relief.
"Man, that was a close call!" Ranma collapsed "I had no idea someone could have it worse than me!"
"That'll teach you not to complain!" Akane told him"
Ranma just looked at her.
Until Shampoo and U-chan fell all over him weak with relief. He watched helpless as Akane strode away, totally ignoring Moose and Ryouga glaring at him.
Cologne picked up the innocent looking mirror.
"Hey! Where are you going with that thing?" Ranma wanted to know
"I'm going to make sure it won't fall in the wrong hands"
The boy nodded, waving his hand "Take it! I don't wanna see that thing again!"
The old woman chuckled and hopped off.
"All's well that ends well!" Genma declared touching his sake cup with Soun's.
"Never more right you were, my friend" Soun agreed happily
"It depends on how you look at it" Ranma mumbled as Shampoo and U-chan fought over him "Say, what do you think is happening in the other world?"
"Why'd you ask me?" Akane demanded grumpily, eating from her bowl
"Ranma, I challenge you!" Ryouga and Moose fought over the privilege. They tripped each other and fell into the pond.
"So Cologne old dear, where'd you put that mirror?" Happosai asked
"As if I'd tell you, you old fool!" Cologne retorted sipping from her tea
"Ranma darling, I've come to claim the continuation of our rendezvous" Kodachi's shrill voice came from the garden.
"Ranma, I demand you release Akane Tendo and the pigtailed girl from any alliance with you!" Kuno swung his katana and tripped over a little black pig which let known its discomfort by biting Tatewaki's ankle.
"Oh my, looks like I have to fix more dinner for all these guests" Kasumi shrugged and headed for the kitchen.
"This place was never noisier" Nabiki sighed getting ready for another long party night.
Somewhere in an attic, a stray beam of light hit something. The surface of a mirror shone brightly so that the figures which made up its frame seemed to take a life of their own. The mirror misted over and two red slits blinked red murder.
"Damn you, Ranma!" something hissed from its depth with such rage that it scared a little mouse passing by. "I'll get you for this! Get your hands off me! Next time I'll- ARGHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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WAIT!!! Don't miss the Epilogue!
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Soun sobbed loudly. That's what he'd been doing ever since Akane was abducted. H e woke up, cried, ate, cried, slept, cried. As manly man go, Soun Tendo was tender hearted when it came to one of his beloved daughters.
"Get a grip of yourself!" Genma tried to shake his friend to his senses.
"There there father, I'm sure Akane is just fine" Kasumi reassured him, setting a cup of tea before him "Please do try to eat"
Soun forced himself to pick up his spoon. Took a bite. Choked "Kasumi dear, why is dinner so- salty?"
"You've been crying in your miso soup" Nabiki pointed out.
Soun bowed his head.
"I mean, really father, there's nothing to be worried about. It's not like it's the first time Akane's been kidnapped" Soun's tears started to flow again. Nabiki rolled her eyes "And after all, it's Ranma's double we're talking about" she mumbled through a mouthful of cookies.
"He might be a double, but he sure is strong" Happosai allowed grumpily, ironing his renewed collection.
Everyone pointedly glanced at the boy who'd been silent and gloomy ever since his pride had taken a beating.
"RANMA! What do you plan to do about this??" Ryouga burst in and grabbed the Saotome boy by the collar.
News traveled fast in the grapevine. It traveled via express when it was Nabiki that had a tasty tidbit.
"Do you plan on sitting there forever??"
Ranma slapped his hands away.
"Knock it off, Ryouga! I'm already pissed as it is! You don't wanna get on my bad side right now"
"It's no use talking with you!" Ryouga spat with disgust "I don't know about you, but I'm going after him!"
"Tsk tsk, foolish boy" a voice said as Cologne hopped into the room.
Kasumi promptly gave the old woman some tea which she graciously accepted.
Everyone waited expectedly for her to continue.
"Well, any news?" Genma asked for everyone
"I've studied the mirror all night" Cologne set the cup on the table "It's a very mysterious object surrounded by many legends, some so old they're lost in time, most are contradictory. But all agree that the mirror causes the reflection of whoever looks into it to come to life" She sipped her tea.
"That isn't very helpful" Nabiki pointed out.
"Anything else? Any way to erase the copy?" Genma wondered.
Cologne scratched her cheek "I'm- still working on that"
"Well, you find the cure while Ranma-"
"I beat the living crap out of him!"
"Actually I'd say he's stronger" Nabiki stated casually causing Ranma's self esteem to plunged down another knot.
"But you have us!" Shampoo, Moose and Ukyo entered the dinning room.
"This nice old lady told us what happened" U-chan explained taking a seat
"We sorry we didn't believe you" Shampoo looked remorseful
"Perhaps we can't defeat him single-handedly but I'd like to see him defeat all of us!" Moose declared with determination.
Ranma's shoulders straightened as hope surged through him.
"It's true, he's only a copy after all!"
"And his being a clone doesn't automatically make him completely similar to the original" U-chan stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes, we can defeat him. We will defeat him!"
"Let me go!"
Akane struggled against the bonds that tied her, obtaining the contrary effect since they tightened further.
Footsteps advanced. A shadow fell over her.
"Tsk tsk, what a troublesome girl" a voice mocked her.
"How dare you! Let me GO!"
More struggle and a gasp of pain as the blood circulation was cut shorter.
"You like pain that much" the voice asked
Akane glared through pain lidded eyes.
"I cannot understand what he finds in you"
Cynical eyes roamed over her coldly.
"You have no figure to speak of, you lack total charm-"
The presence kneeled, grabbed her chin. Gave her a chilling look. Let her go so brutally her head fell back on the floor.
Akane blinked back tears.
The presence whipped its hands, a look of disgust on its face.
"You know, he craves you- as much as I loathe you. But then, it is only natural since I'm his reflected self"
"Reflected self?" Akane croaked.
The presence nodded, crossing its arms "He and I are the same, yet diametrically opposite. Same knowledge, same abilities, same strength. But as reflections go, we think act and feel completely opposite"
The presence seemed lost in thought.
"But now for some unknown reason, I've come out of the Reflected World. And there are two Ranma in this world. But there is only room for one. There can only be ONE!"
Akane looked into its crazed face and feared, feared for Ranma.
The three days went by quickly. For some they were never ending. For others they couldn't go any faster.
The dawn of the final confrontation was met upon by a group of four fearless individuals who stood before a deserted Furinkan High School.
Minutes crawled by.
At some unknown signal, the dark haired boy raised his head, determination shinning in his eyes.
"I don't know what awaits us in there. I don't know how it'll all end. But let me thank you for your help and support"
"You don't have to thank us, Ranma honey" U-chan smiled
"We friends" Shampoo said simply
"We will defeat this enemy!" Moose boasted
Ranma smiled his gratitude.
"Alright then, LET'S GO!"
"Fools" a voice sneered.
The presence watched as the four entered Furinkan High and straight into its trap.
Let the others succumb, it didn't care about them. His constant thoughts evolved around the Saotome boy.
He would pay for everything it had endured. And then there would be only one!
Its laugh chilled an already fearful Akane.
"You know, I never thought a school could be so creepy" U-chan commented as the two girls walked the deserted corridors.
The group had decided the best course of action would be to split to better search the building. Though both girls had insisted on accompanying Ranma, Moose had jumped in and all but dragged him away.
"You scared?" Shampoo mocked her.
"Of course not!" the other girl snapped "It's just- you never know what traps might be laid for us"
The Chinese nodded, suddenly sober.
They walked along the hallway, weary for anything out of the ordinary.
"What was that??" U-chan demanded stopping dead on her tracks
"What was what?"
"That- sound"
Both girls strained their ears.
"Shampoo don't hear anything"
U-chan shook her head "Let's just be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with here"
"Hey girls!" a voice called.
"Hai-ya! Ranma!" Shampoo beamed happily
"Wait!" U-chan stopped her from flinging herself at the boy.
The Chinese's eyes blazed "Why you stop Shampoo??"
"You ninny! It could be a trap!"
"Oh right" Shampoo set herself in battle position.
"How do we know you're the real Ranma?" U-chan demanded, holding her spatula threateningly.
"Yeah! Where be Moose?"
"I ditched the blind guy. I'd rather be with two charming young ladies than with a mole" He held out his hand.
Shampoo's eyes had little hearts dancing in them.
Ukyo wasn't far behind her when a nagging suspicion probed her from the spell.
"Shampoo, wait-!"
The figure smiled, taking the Chinese girl in his arms. U-chan watched horrified as Shampoo unexplainably collapsed at his feet.
"Why you-!" she launched herself at him, swinging the giant spatula like it was weightless. He sidestepped, kicked and sent the weapon flying across the hall.
U-chan glared at him as he advanced toward her with a cold smile on his face.
"You're not Ranma! You're nothing like him!" she hissed.
He grabbed her and gave her a rough kiss which sent chills along U-chan's spine before she too lost consciousness.
"Isn't it strange that nothing's happened yet?" Moose wondered.
Ranma had to agree.
They had reached the second floor without any accident, something which made the boys very suspicious and edgy. The tension of remaining on constant alert was starting to get to them but so far they've managed not to attack each other.
A moan caught their attention and the two rushed to its source.
"Ryouga!" Ranma exclaimed with alarm.
Hibiki was barely conscious, having been beaten to a near pulp.
"What happened to him?" Moose asked no one.
Ranma tried touching the fallen boy to make certain of his condition. Ryouga suddenly opened his eyes, focused on him and jumped back with a muffled oath.
"Don't you dare touch me!" he growled
Moose and Ranma exchanged a troubled look
"Ryouga, it's us-"
"I won't fall for the same trick twice!"
Hibiki shot at them. The two scrambled away as the wall exploded behind them.
"Ryouga, knock it off!" Ranma yelled as Hibiki lashed out at him, creating so many holes in the walls that they resembled cedar cheese.
From under Moose's sleeves chains shot out and caught Ryouga by the arms and legs.
"How dare you interfere! This is between the two of us!"
"I can't let you kill Ranma!" Moose stated, surprising the other two.
Ranma was honestly touched "Moose, I didn't know you ca-"
"Not before I've had my share!" The Chinese boy threw his Razor Hawk Talons at Ranma who barely had time to duck.
"Why you- traitor!" Ranma swung his leg, grazing Moose "I thought you were here to help!"
Moose smiles, returning the punch "Help you? Why would I want to do that?"
"You mean you-"
Ryouga dashed into the fray causing the other two to fall back from each other in order to avoid him.
Annoyed Moose threw one of his bombs at him causing a cloud of smoke to envelope all of them.
Ryouga blindly chased Ranma destroying anything in his wake.
Ranma flew out of the smoke just in time to avoid Moose who plunged himself in his place where Ryouga was waiting.
The already precarious floor, victim of Ryouga's Breaking Point, suddenly gave out from under them.
Windows broke, desks went flying and Furikan High lost a whole floor (much to the joy of the students the next day)
Ranma looked down from the safety of his perch: Moose and Ryouga were nearly buried in debris but still alive.
He looked up toward the roof where he was certain to find Akane and his double.
He took off running.
"He's here" the voice said.
Akane raised her head to see Ranma burst through the door.
Their eyes met and a world of feelings they would never openly share passed between them.
"Enough!" The clone stepped between them "It is time to end this"
"I agree!" Ranma crackled his knuckles smiling "But first, how about letting her go"
The other smirked "Let the prize go? Of course not!"
Ranma shrugged "Have it your way"
He launched himself. The other met him half way.
Ranma aimed a punch. The other ducked and shot out hitting flesh.
"I thought you would practice in these three days"
Ranma tried to kick him. The clone sidestepped.
"Really. You are a disappointment"
Ranma gritted his teeth and continued attacking.
"Akane!" she heard calling. She turned around: a very battered Ryouga limped toward her accompanied by a disheveled Moose fussing over an annoyed Shampoo with a disgruntled.
"Thank goodness you're well!" Ryouga sighed with relief, fumbling with the rope which gave out from under his touch freeing Akane.
"Ryouga! Are you alright?"
He gave a self conscious smile "As well as can be expected under these conditions."
"Ra-Ranma! He and that clone-" Akane exclaimed but there was no sigh of the fighters "Where'd they go?"
"I suspect the whole town is their battlefield now" Moose speculated, crossing his arms under his long sleeves.
"We've got to help him! That clone- he wants to kill Ranma!"
Jumping from one building to the next, Ranma and his clone fought with no concern for the battleground they happened upon. Buildings exploded, walls collapsed, people scrambled frantically out of their way looking for cover, some even tried calling the police. But only one thing mattered to the two fighters and that was to defeat the opponent.
Ranma kept attacking, looking for an opening.
The clone calmly dodged and avoided everything coming at him.
It was like a never ending dance with someone who already knew the steps better than you. Whatever move Ranma made, the other reflected its opposite. The more Ranma got angry the more his attacks became frantic. But all to no vain.
Ranma racked his brain for a solution (not that there was much to rack in the first place. He was after all a man of reaction, not of thought. But he did try, I'll grant you that). And that's when he realized the clone was leading the dances.
Too late his foot faltered into the last step of the spiral. The other gave a chilling smile.
And then the world exploded.
"Truly disappointing" Ranma's clone stated dismissively as the cloud of debris caused by the Hiryu Shoten-ha slowly settled.
Its brow raised in amused surprise.
"Still alive? How remarkable" it exclaimed while Ranma shakily got to his unstable feet.
"Feh! Takes more than that to get rid of me!"
The clone's lips curved derisively.
"Really? How- entertaining of you"
And suddenly it changed strategy. It flew at Ranma and used a chopping motion which Ranma barely managed to block with crossed wrists. The other took advantage of the opening and lashed out with its leg. Ranma was thrown back by the blow.
He picked himself up, breathing heavily.
The clone regarded Ranma coldly.
"Look at you, you can barely stand up" it said in disgust "I cannot believe you and I are the same!"
Ranma whipped his chin "I'm not done for yet! Chestnut fists!" he yelled
The other calmly dodged every single blow.
"Really, have you learnt anything from our encounter?"
Ranma doggedly continued
"Enough! It is time. Once you are gone, I will take your place in this world. And things will change!"
In the meantime the others had managed to catch up with the fighters in time to see Ranma being swept away by the tornado.
Ryouga set Akane down.
"We've gotta do something! Ranma's-" Akane ran a few steps toward the two fighters only to be blocked by Cologne.
"Child, this is a battle we cannot interfere in"
"But- but Ranma's-"
The older woman shook her head
"If son-in-law cannot defeat him, what hopes have we?"
"But, that means Ranma-"
"Ranma will die!"
The three girls watched grief stricken as Ranma received one blow after the other.
"There is of course a solution"
Five pairs of eyes turned to Cologne.
"Grandmother-"
"But we must be very careful otherwise this situation could worsen"
"I'll do anything-"
"I'd give my life-"
"Shampoo will die for-"
"Now now children, no need to go that far" Cologne chided gently.
"Why- are- you- doing- this-??" Ranma asked as he vainly defended himself.
He'd tried thinking the reason behind the blood rage his clone had for him but for the life of him he couldn't figure it out. He didn't have this kind of trouble when his female side had tried to seduce him nor when his shadow had taken a life of its own. Compared to this, all he'd suffered in the past was child's play.
"You would like to know"
"I have a right to know!"
The clone was slightly taken aback by the vehemence in his words. It smiled.
"Very well, since you are the cause of this you might as well know"
"When you look into a mirror, what do you see?" it asked
"It used to be myself" Ranma answered, taking the time to catch his breath.
It sneered "Wrong. You see anything reflected into it. This is because everything has a double- in the Reflected World"
"Reflected World?"
The other nodded "Mirrors are windows of sorts between worlds, worlds which happen to be the opposite of each other. One a reflection of the other"
It waited for Ranma to grasp its meaning but he stared at it with a blank look on his face.
It sighed.
"Whatever happens in this world, the contrary happens in the other world" it tried again.
Ranma blinked.
"I never knew my opposite would be so dense" the clone mumbled.
"Let's put it this way: in your world all girls happen to fall for you and use whatever means possible to capture your heart-"
"Hey, it's not like I'm asking for it!"
"- while the majority of the males wants your head"
"They're weaklings" Ranma dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
Then his brain grasped what the other was trying to tell him "You mean-"
The other nodded, a dark look on his face.
"Have you any idea what it feels like to be hunted daily by the women because they want your death while the men crave your-" it coughed embarrassed, interrupting his flow of words.
Ranma looked sick "Hey man, I didn't know you had it that bad-"
"Bad? You call it bad?? Is that all you can say??" The other threw a punch at Ranma. He took a step back trying to avoid its attacks "You've ruined my life!"
"Cologne, what's going on?" Akane asked watching as the clone attacked Ranma with frenzy.
"I suspect it's lost it's- cool, as you would say"
"Huh?"
"The copy is Ranma's opposite. That means he has more control of himself and of his emotions"
"That's why it's been able to beat Ranma!" Ukyo exclaimed
"Always knew Ranma was a hothead" Akane murmured to herself.
"So like- Ranma's got him upset over something?" U-chan asked
Cologne nodded.
Yes! That means Ranma honey's got a chance!" U-chan cheered along with Shampoo.
"It's not as easy as that, children" the old woman warned them "Son-in-law might be able to defeat him but not definitively"
Everyone sobered.
"What can we do to erase the copy?"
Cologne shook her head "It's impossible"
"Impossible? Then Ranma-!"
"Let me finish!" the old woman snapped them to silence "It's impossible because one cannot exist without the other"
"But-"
"Think children! A person without his reflection is not a living being. Or rather, it's not a whole being because reflections and shadows are part of what makes a living creature"
"Like ghosts and vampires?" U-chan wondered
The old lady nodded "Something like that. They are not living, therefore they are shadowless and reflectionless"
"I see. So the only way to get rid of the copy is to get it back where it came from" Akane mussed
"But how do we do that?" U-chan asked
"The Shadow Reflector!" Akane exclaimed clapping her hands
"But is it safe?" Ryouga wondered "I mean, it's because of that object that the other Ranma's come out?"
Everyone looked troubled.
"Do not worry children. I've come up with something. But I need your assistance"
"I'm sorry man! I don't know what to say-"
Ranma truly felt for his other self who apparently had had a worse living than his. What was being engaged to half the female population because of an irresponsible father and being challenged on a daily basis compared to the opposite? Ranma blanched at the thought.
"I really am sorry but how can you blame me??"
The clone sneered angrily "How can I not blame you, my opposite?? You've had it easy!"
"Easy? You think my life's easy?? I'd like to see you try to live my life!" Ranma cried out
"Oh fear not. As soon as I get rid of you I will be able to!"
The attacks got more furious. Ranma could only try defending himself as best as he could. But he was starting to despair of even being able to survive this battle.
"You copy cat!" Ukyo yelled causing the clone to falter "You think you're better than our Ranma??"
"You just a reflection!" Shampoo declared.
The clone laughed "Oh? It wasn't what you thought when we were together"
U-chan and Shampoo blushed.
"After what we did together, do you really think I'm worse than Ranma? Come girls, he hasn't even tried kissing you!"
The girls' faces were flaming and their minds whirling with doubts.
"How dare you!" Moose cried out in outrage throwing his Razor Hawk Talons.
The clone neatly avoided them.
"As for yourself, you and that pig-boy are no match for Ranma. What makes you think you can defeat me?"
The boys bristled with hurt pride before attacking in union.
"Oh, so you think doing a group thing will help?"
It dodged, shielded, sidestepped from every blow aimed at it from different sides.
"Really, what do you people hope to accomplish?"
"THIS!" Akane cried from behind.
The clone's eyes widened with shock. He stood immobile watching with horror as the girl raised the ancient mirror so that its surface fully faced the clone.
"NO!" It shielded its face from the sight.
"Go back where you came from!" the girl yelled.
"Ranma, now!" U-chan cried.
The boy didn't wait for further instructions. He threw himself bodily at his clone catching it by surprise.
The clone touched the mirror's surface right as the sun hit it fully creating a flash of blinding light.
"NOOooooooo!"
Ranma blinked his eyes.
"He's gone!" he exclaimed with relief
"Not quite" Cologne interrupted hopping toward the mirror.
"What do you mean?"
"We have to seal this object or it might be able to get out. See?" she pointed.
Everyone watched horrorstruck as Ranma's reflection blinked into consciousness and growled at them.
Akane dutifully set the mirror down.
Cologne sprinkled something on its surface and tied a rosary bead necklace over it. The surface filmed over before returning to its harmless appearance.
Everyone sighed with relief.
"Man, that was a close call!" Ranma collapsed "I had no idea someone could have it worse than me!"
"That'll teach you not to complain!" Akane told him"
Ranma just looked at her.
Until Shampoo and U-chan fell all over him weak with relief. He watched helpless as Akane strode away, totally ignoring Moose and Ryouga glaring at him.
Cologne picked up the innocent looking mirror.
"Hey! Where are you going with that thing?" Ranma wanted to know
"I'm going to make sure it won't fall in the wrong hands"
The boy nodded, waving his hand "Take it! I don't wanna see that thing again!"
The old woman chuckled and hopped off.
"All's well that ends well!" Genma declared touching his sake cup with Soun's.
"Never more right you were, my friend" Soun agreed happily
"It depends on how you look at it" Ranma mumbled as Shampoo and U-chan fought over him "Say, what do you think is happening in the other world?"
"Why'd you ask me?" Akane demanded grumpily, eating from her bowl
"Ranma, I challenge you!" Ryouga and Moose fought over the privilege. They tripped each other and fell into the pond.
"So Cologne old dear, where'd you put that mirror?" Happosai asked
"As if I'd tell you, you old fool!" Cologne retorted sipping from her tea
"Ranma darling, I've come to claim the continuation of our rendezvous" Kodachi's shrill voice came from the garden.
"Ranma, I demand you release Akane Tendo and the pigtailed girl from any alliance with you!" Kuno swung his katana and tripped over a little black pig which let known its discomfort by biting Tatewaki's ankle.
"Oh my, looks like I have to fix more dinner for all these guests" Kasumi shrugged and headed for the kitchen.
"This place was never noisier" Nabiki sighed getting ready for another long party night.
Somewhere in an attic, a stray beam of light hit something. The surface of a mirror shone brightly so that the figures which made up its frame seemed to take a life of their own. The mirror misted over and two red slits blinked red murder.
"Damn you, Ranma!" something hissed from its depth with such rage that it scared a little mouse passing by. "I'll get you for this! Get your hands off me! Next time I'll- ARGHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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WAIT!!! Don't miss the Epilogue!