Chapter 2

I almost leapt out of my bed when I woke up. Cologne was right next to me, so I asked her with wide eyes, What happened? Just rest now, you've overexerted yourself. Tell me. , I begged. Sigh Very well child. After you passed out from exhaustion your opponent rose up form the debris. Though she was in no real condition to fight, Shampoo thought she'd cheated in the fight and of course acted appropiately... they escaped mostly unscathed though... Cologne-san, I know this might be heard to believe but, that girl was a Saotome… You remember the request I made year celebration... Please, I don't want anything to happen to her, could you… could you make sure that they go after her... Cologne raise an eyebrow, Really child? An hour ago you seemed intent on harming her and now you want me to make sure no harm comes to her? I got a peeved at Shampoos challenge… It was my mistake… Cologne nodded, What are you going to do now, child? I want to go after her... and if possible, I want to take Shampoo with me. She needs to learn more of the outside world, right? The old woman smiled at me, Off on an adventure I see… I'll see what I can do, meanwhile...you need to rest and regain your strength. I nodded and lay back down in the bed, closing my eyes.

It was two days after the tournament that we finally left the village... If we moved swiftly, without any detours, we'd be able to arrive in Nerima about a day or two after their arrival. Cologne didn't question how I knew where I was going but rather accepted it, as she did with the rest of my strange quirks. In the back of my mind I was starting to form a plan of revenge against Genma. Maybe I could ruin his plans to leech off his son and have him thrown out on the street. I only vaguely recalled my memories of the Ranma ½ animè in my previous life so the future was almost as unpredictable to me as any other but at least I had an edge… an edge that could be put to good use.

To me this world, my life and my father was real and I wasn't about to place my faith in some lost memories of an animè I'd liked in my previous life... But one thing was sure… I'd make Genma pay for what he did to me. I'd make his life a living hell… I rarely disliked any person but to me Genma was an exception…

During our track to the coast I tried remembering some of the rivals and fiancés Ranma had encountered in the animè. I knew that my future would hold many encounters with people I'd come to dislike one of which was Akane whom I've never liked… 'Anyone who's hurts my Ranchan will pay!', I cried mentally. I was startled by my own thoughts and quickly glanced around to see if anyone noticed anything. Luckily Cologne and Shampoo were too busy scanning the area ahead of us.

Soon enough, Cologne bartered passage for us on a freighter and we were on our way to Japan. While we were in the dank cabin we waiting for the trip to come to an end, Cologne and I talked a bit about philosophy and some other things to pass the time... Shampoo slept of course since she couldn't stand what she called 'boring babble'.

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Please note: Events follow the normal animè timeline in Nerima and we arrive on the Sunday after Kuno has proclaimed his love to his 'pig tailed goddess'.

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On the day of our arrival I decided to head in my own direction… I was used to making it on my own and I wanted to find a place of my own where I could get some privacy. Cologne and Shampoo both went looking for a convenient location for the restaurant that they wanted to open up.

I must have been really tired since I brought a place on a whim. It had previously been used as a restaurant but I hadn't been planning on opening a restaurant of my own. The strange thing was that it appeared to have the same layout and location of Ucchan's that had been in the Anime, though I couldn't be sure. After all the papers were signed and the deed had been handed to me, it was already late afternoon.

I dropped to the floor just inside the door. I quite was surprised when I found tears start streaming down my face. This was the first time I was really alone again in a year and it brought back some bad memories of my time on the road. Inside, I was so afraid of what tomorrow would bring... I didn't even know for sure that Ranma was in this place, I was just following some old memories of a time long gone… I decided to go to school tomorrow, maybe I'd run into Ranma there, I needed to register anyway. I sniffed and leaned my head against the wall behind me. I tried to turn my thoughts away from my dark thoughts and instead chose to concentrate on the happy memories of my life… my time with Ranma... Unfortunately this only brought on the memories of my father's death and Ranma's betrayal. Slowly the flow of tears increased, "Why did this have to happen to me?", I questioned in a strained voice, trying to keep my emotion reigned in… but it was for naught, I collapsed in a shivering ball and cried myself to sleep, right there, with thoughts of the home I lost and the people I missed running through my tortured mind.

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I woke up early the next morning with the sun streaming in through the windows of my new shop. I quickly headed upstairs and bathed in the furo to get rid of the strain of sleeping on a hard wooden surface. It was good to actually own a home... a place I could stay, instead of living on the road, chasing after Ranma or depending on some ninja family to take care of me. I cleaned myself thoroughly and then headed out to buy a school uniform for myself before I headed to the place of teenage torture. I knew I needed an education but that didn't mean I was gonna like it. Besides, once I'm finished with university I'd have to take over my father's business.

'The corporation can't go on forever without the key stakeholder doesn't even participate in the business. Luckily daddy assigned Guro-san's to the task of keeping the place running till I came of age. He had great management and organizational skills. If it wasn't for him I'd probably be flat broke by now. I'd have to thank him when I get the chance.'

The school uniform I picked out fit quite nicely, though I still had a bracer on my left wrist that didn't quite blend in. I idly rubbed the cool metal, thinking about the scar it was hiding under it.

Flashback

I sat in a small room with my pack. Tears were streaming down my face. It's only been a month since I'd left my hometown and I was already feeling weak inside. The Ushida clan had taken me in, promising to support me for a few days. Fortunately they allowed me to pay with some of the money the doc had given me.

Taking the sword out of it's sheath I gazed upon it's blade, studying the purple sheen on it's surface. It sent shivers down my spine. I took it up and placed it against my wrist... Thinking about ending it all didn't do me much good. I was too cowardly to even try, but that didn't stop me from dragging the blade across my arm, leaving a shallow cut that bled softly. The red blood on the sword's blade almost seemed like it was meant to be there. It appeared almost right. I went to bed that night with my wrist to the side, as not to bleed on the bed... I gazed at the bleeding cut for a long time, until it eventually stalled and scabbed.

That night my dreams were filled with visions of what was to come and I finally accepted that I didn't have a home anymore and that there nothing I could do to change that fact.

End flashback

I remember that even after that there were nights when I drew my blood out of sheer need to calm down and to distract me from the situation I was in. I didn't use the sword again though... I resorted to using some of my throwing stars to cut thin bloodied lines in my shoulder. The pain comforted me in a way. It calmed the storm of emotions that I was trying to keep at bay and helped me cope. I never did try to kill myself though...

The school was mostly empty since it was still early in the morning. I signed in, got my class schedule and headed for homeroom. From what the kids in class were saying, I realized that I'd be in class with Akane and Ranma. 'I doubt he'll recognize me... If what I know from the animè is true then he probably still thinks I'm a boy or something, right?... He'll probably just see some crazy Amazon or something. He didn't recognize me in the village so I doubt he will now.

I stood by the window and looked out at the scene below. The boys were already gathering at the front gate, their weapons weren't held high in challenge though. Two people, who I recognized as Akane and Ranma, came running through the gates, side by side as they plowed through the group of boys, ending their run with a swift dual kick to the idiot Kuno's face. I shivered at the thought of meeting that the 'blue thunder' face to face. After a while the class filled up and I waited at the window, next to the teacher's desk. I didn't even glance back as I heard people entering the classroom. I did look up however, when I heard Ranma's voice... What I saw made my heart stop short. I gaped at the handsome boy and a blush started crept up on my face.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts... 'Stop it! You're supposed to be a lesbian! You're not in love with him! You don't love him!' I struggled to get my emotions under control and kept my head turned away from the class so they didn't see my blush. My mind was in turmoil however... 'I can't be falling for him, can I? I mean I used to be a guy… even if that was over thirteen years ago… It must be this stupid body!', I tried to convince myself. I forced my heart-rate to slow down and turned my mind to more prominent thoughts, like how a nice thick panda rug would look in my room.

The teacher then entered the classroom and spotted me. "Ah, you must be the new student? Miss Kuonji?" I nodded and she motioned for me to stand beside her. The class quieted down and took their seats, some looking curiously my way. When I looked at Ranma, all I saw was confusion written on his face. Then there was recognition as his eyes widened. "Hey! You're that Amazon chick from China!", he cried without thinking. "Mr. Saotome! Sit down!" Ranma gulped and took his seat. Akane was giving him a questioning glare that could melt solid steel. "Class... I'd like to introduce a new student, who recently moved here from China, Ukyou Kuonji." I bowed lightly in greeting. "Since Mr. Satome seems to know you so well, you can take the seat on his right." My heart skipped a beat but I nodded and took my seat. A glance at Ranma, revealed that his eyes were even wider than before. If it were an anime, it would have been dinner plates.

His wide-eyed stare was starting to make me uncomfortable, until Akane smacked him upside the head, that is. Through the entire class Ranma was awfully fidgety and Akane seemed to seethe with anger. I would have smiled at her frustration if the situation had been a bit different.

Finally break came and I was out the window in a flash, making sure to keep my dress low. I took my seat near the edge of some trees and started eating my cold Okonamiyaki. Some girls walked over to me and introduced themselves. "Hi, I'm Shori and this is Karu." "Ukyou.", I replied brashly, glaring at them. They seemed surprised and that's just what I wanted. "Um, yeah. Well...we'll see you around." I smirked to myself as the rushed away, trying not to look as if they were. I didn't need them… Schoolgirls like those would only be a bother to me... I just didn't want mingle with them since there's no way they'd ever understand me enough to be my friend. The quiet was really nice... in a way it reminded me of the life I'd had before the sword but also, more prominently, the loneliness I'd experienced while on the road.

The sword...now there's something I'm not sure about. It's always been with me from the beginning, though it's been a long time since I'd drawn it from it's sheath. The blade just started making me feel weird whenever I looked at it, and besides, swords are tools for killing and I'm not a killer. I'd left it in my room today since it would be hard hiding it at school. I forced down a sudden urge to have it near me.

Suddenly Shampoo came running up to me, also dressed in a school uniform. Though her uniform really did show off her ample figure. I wonder if Cologne had made modifications to it… "Ukyou!", she cried as she got closer and I gave her a halfhearted wave and a smile. "So?" I asked, "What do you think of Japan, Xian?" "It good. No understand all that say but learn lots. You come with Shampoo to place we get after school?" I shook my head. Sorry, Xian-chan. I really want to be alone for a while, maybe I'll come visit you later, but not today. That's okay. Grandmother bought a restaurant, so I'll have to clean floors till late this afternoon anyway. , she replied with some disappointment in her voice.

I decided to change the subject, You made any new friends yet? ,I asked her. Yes, I made tons of new friends. You'd like them. Suddenly a few girls came up behind Shampoo, calling out her name. There they are, they're my new friends. Apparently they don't see many Chinese people around here, so I'm very popular. Would you like to meet them? Ah. No thanks. You go off and have some fun. Shampoo pouted, You're no fun. , she proclaimed as she headed off with a wave.

I smiled a bit at the statement. I knew exactly how I was acting and I knew that it was bothering her a bit but somehow I couldn't muster the will to do anything about it

I sat there for a few moments and when I'd eaten my fill I called a few birds closer, promising food. Racon was the first to land and I gave him some of the dried meat I'd packed for him. The smaller birds came to sit all around me and I fed them crumbs from the crust. As break was drawing to and end I wondered why Ranma hadn't confronted me yet... soon enough I found it was because he had been sent to the infirmary. Probably one of Akane's violent bouts.

Right after school I headed off to the market district. Shopping for groceries was easier than I'd thought it would be. Wandering through the stalls actually made me feel a little more relaxed after the trying day I'd had at school. I idly sensed someone following my and when I spotted her I realized that Nabiki's cronies were already gathering data on the new student in school. 'She has to be in control of everything, doesn't she? Oh well, as long as she stays out of my way there's nothing to worry about. That reminds me, I'd better call some people when I get home to cover my tracks. Don't want her finding something that would inconvenience me…' I spent the rest of the afternoon buying things I felt I would need in the near future. When I got home and put the groceries away I wandered to the middle of the downstairs room. It was originally designed to be a shop but as of yet, I didn't feel like opening one. 'Maybe I could rent out the area to someone... That'd give me a little extra spending money.' I closed the curtains and donned my ninja uniform as I started a few katas in the middle of the floor. It was pretty much large enough to make a medium sized dojo. Sweat poured down my face as I continued my strenuous workout for over an hour. I could feel Nabiki's lackeys roaming the area outside the restaurant but I ignored them as I went into an acrobatic display that would have put Olympic gold medalists to shame.

After my workout I took a nice long, calming bath before settling in to do my homework for the day and then going to sleep with my heart at ease, feeling more sure of myself than I'd been this morning.

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The next day I got up with the rising sun and headed over to the address Shampoo had given me at school to start my training with her. Cologne had mentioned that my skills were getting dull because of my near defeat in China, though I think she was just trying to push me a little harder. She'd promised that she'd make my life hell by starting an intensive training regimen once we'd settled down. School went mostly the same as the previous day but I was starting to feel the strain near the end. During break, Ranma was sent to the infirmary again... once again missing his chance to talk to me.

I was so relieved to get out of school that I decided to treat myself to some ice-cream. I casually walked through the district, doing some window shopping, and trying to keep my thoughts off Ranma. I was quite surprised to see Nabiki there. Kuno was holding a horrible blond doll out to the brown haired girl.

I watched the exchange with some amusement for a while before I headed into the shop. I leaned over Kuno's head from the next booth as Nabiki spread some photos of Ranma-chan out on the table. Nabiki frowned a bit at my interest. She decided to ignore me and looked to Kuno. "1000 yen each." I watched Kuno gasp at the pictures. "S-so defenseless." "Pretty shameless, isn't she? You'd almost think she were a boy." "But 1000 yen per shot is utterly unfair, Nabiki Tendo." Before he could say anything else I grabbed my two favorites shots. The one where Ranma-chan was curled up into a ball on her futon and another where she was looking straight at the camera, her adorable face looked so innocent. "I'll take these.", I said as I plopped 2000 yen on the table and turned away. I pocketed the photos and started walking away, while taking a lick of my ice-cream cone. Of course Kuno's immediate rants made me cringe. I'd actually hoped I could stay away from Kuno but now it was too late. I guess my brain was too far in the gutter to think farther than, 'must get pictures.' "Miss! I think you misunderstood. Those pictures belong to me!" "Ask 'Biki to make some more for you from the negatives. These belong to me now.", I paused for a second in thought before turning to Nabiki, "Biki-chan... Could you, maybe, get me some of the male Ranma too?", I asked with an inquisitive face. Nabiki looked a bit dumbfounded but she quickly regained her composure at the thought of making more money and nodded. "Um… Sure, I'll meet you at school tomorrow." I nodded and left, ignoring Kuno's anguished face as his precious photos left the room. He was about to go after me when Nabiki said, "Now Kuno. They were sold fair and square and thanks to your hesitation these remaining photos are now 1200 yen each.", she said smirking. Kuno fell to the floor, only his left hand slapped the cash on the table from where he was lying. Nabiki's mind however was in turmoil. Nobody outside the family knew that Ranma was cursed yet, who was this girl and why would she want pictures of the girl Ranma anyway? (AN: Because she's just so cute!)

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