"Hey Jhim, wait for us!" I yelled. Kotori and I ran up to Jhim who was waiting at the gate. School had just let out for the day and I was so ready to go home. Akane and Ranma had not stopped bickering all day and that type of vibes did some serious damage on my psyche.

As we approached Jhim I noticed a boy standing with him, the same one that had dumped chips on my head yesterday. "Hey Chimofu," Kotori said. "How've you been?"

Jhim smiled. "I've been great." He turned to the boy next to him. "Rizu, Kotori, this is Uiruriamu Rankinu."

The boy bowed. "You can call me Uiruru though," he said.

I bowed back. "Hey, I'm Rizu Arumigufuchi," I said.

"Uh yeah, I know," he said. "Sorry again about the other day."

I laughed. "It's no big, really!"

"Yeah, it forced her to keep her hair down for once," Kotori said jokingly. "I'm Kotori…"

"RANMA!"

Ranma bounded off past us making a face at a livid Akane.

I sighed. "Well that was different," I said sarcastically.

"Why? Have they been fighting all day?" Jhim asked. I nodded my head mournfully.

"The negative vibes from them are gonna kill my good mood," I said.

"What are they fighting about?" Uiruru said.

"Everything," I muttered.

"Yeah, I could hear them all the way down the hall," Kotori said.

Jhim looked at me and raised his eyebrow questioningly. I nodded conformation and Jhim groaned.

Kotori looked back and forth between us and threw up her hands. "I'm not gonna ask."

I laughed and patted her on the shoulder. "Good idea. Hey, we better get home," I said.

"Why don't we go downtown?" Kotori said. "I don't have anything to do."

"Me neither," Uiruru said.

"I've got lessons today," Jhim said.

"Aww come on," I said draping my arm over his shoulder. "Don't be such a kill-joy; you've got at least an hour 'till that. Let's go!"

Jhim looked a little uncomfortable and shrugged. "I don't know. I'd rather get my homework done."

"But I thought you finished that in class already," Uiruru said.

I laughed as Jhim glared at Uiruru. "That's settles it then. Off we go!"

The after school crowd was alive and kicking when we came by the shopping district, but it didn't matter much. We saw a lot of kids from school, either that Jhim and Uiruru knew or Kotori and I knew.

We were passing by a computer tech store when I noticed an American culture store. "Oh my god! Jhim! Look, they have Marilyn Manson!"

Jhim looked at me like I was crazy. "Marilyn Manson? Are you serious?"

"Who's Marilyn Manson?" Kotori asked.

"You're into Marilyn Manson?" Uiruru asked. "I never woulda guessed."

"We have to go in!" I said as I grabbing Kotori's wrist.

"Hold on, I'm coming, I'm coming," she said as we opened the door. The store was brightly lit with rows of CD's. The blue walls sported American movie and music posters along with racks of American movies.

"Oh hey," a voice said from behind the counter. A young woman with long blonde hair and yellow John Lennon glasses smiled sweetly at us. "Can I help you?"

"Oh no, we're fine," Jhim said. "We're just looking."

I immediately swooped upon the racks of music, a little fangirl squeal emitting immediately. "Y'all have the White Album! I could never find this thing!"

Both Uiruru and Jhim looked at me like one would look at a strange animal. "Marilyn Manson and The Beatles?" Jhim said disbelievingly.

"Is that normal in the States?" Uiruru said.

Jhim shook his head. "I'm not sure."

Kotori was looking over my shoulder. "I've heard of The Beatles," she said slowly, "But I've never listened to them."

"You're listening to them now," the woman behind the counter said, putting in a cd on the speaker system. 'Come Together' began playing softly, only so that we could hear each other talk.

"Abbey Road?" I asked.

The lady laughed. "A Beatles fan, don't see that much these days," she said. "At least not among your generation."

I beamed under the praise. "Nah, you just don't live in the 'States," I said. "And 'sides, I don't know that much."

"Oh look, Rizu is being modest," Jhim said, walking up behind me. "Don't see that every day."

I glared at Jhim and Kotori laughed. "Hey guys," Uiruru said, looking through the rows of CD's. "Check this out."

Jhim and Kotori walked over to him while I talked to the cashier. "Do you own this store?" I asked.

"Nope, it's more of a part time thing," she said. "I'm trying to save up for a road trip later, ya' know what I mean?"

I laughed. "Yeah, I'm still in school."

"Bah, never learned nothin there. Dropped out my second year," the lady said.

I smiled. This lady was awesome! "Yeah, I'm in my second year technically, but I'm not sure if I get any of it."

"So drop out and help me here. I sure could use it what with all the work they've got me doin," she said.

I waved my hand. "Nah, I think I'll stick it out."

"Have you ever listened to the White Album backwards?" the cashier said. I shook my head no and she smiled. "I have the record here somewhere," she said, beginning to rummage behind the counter. "Ah here it is," she said, pulling out a genuine Beatles White Album record.

I gasped my eyes as big as saucers. "Where did you get that?" I asked adoringly.

"Oh pah, this is nothing," she said. "I have every record The Beatles ever made, from before Ringo to the departure of John."

"You have just become my best friend," I said my eyes still locked on the White Album.

"Hey Rizu!" Jhim said from behind me. "Quit drooling over that thing. We've got to go," he called.

"Huh?"

Jhim sighed and walked up to me, grabbing my arm. "Come on Yoko," he said, dragging me away from the cash register.

"But I... it's the White Album!" I whined. "Did you just call me Yoko?"

Jhim smiled slyly. "Yeah, you wanna make something of it?"

WHAM!

I smiled, putting my textbooks back inside my purse while Kotori and Uiruru examined Jhim's twitching form. Boy never had a chance.

Our little group had broken up when Jhim left us to go to the Tendo dojo. I was bored and decided to stop by the old place, just to see if it was still on it foundations.

"Hello?" I called into the entrance of the Tendo household. "Is anyone here?"

"Oh Rizu," Kasumi said as she walked out of the kitchen. "Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I was just wondering if Akane is alright," I said. "She was acting kinda stressed today."

"Oh, that's very thoughtful of you. Come on in, she's outside I think. Will you stay for dinner?"

"No thanks, I have to go home and finish my homework."

"Okay then," she said cheerfully. I bowed to her before taking off my shoes and walking through the house out back.

I could hear voices floating through the halls. "To the girl side he says. I don't think he knows you're the same person," I heard Nabiki say.

"On Sunday, in the tenth hour, meet me in the second field of Furinkan High School," Ranma read.

"Sounds like duel huh?" Akane said.

I opened the screen door. "Whatchall talking about?" I said suddenly. Akane and Ranma jumped but Nabiki merely smirked.

"R-Rizu?" Akane said. "What are you doing here?"

"Just wanted to stop by," I said. "What's that you got there Pigtail?" I said.

"Looks like a challenge from Kuno," Nabiki said.

"Oh really?" I said. "What'cha do?"

Ranma and Akane tensed visibly, but it was Nabiki to the rescue. "You didn't hear?" she said. "In Ranma's last little fight with Kuno, he wrote 'buffoon' on his forehead."

I laughed loudly. "Way to go Pigtail!" I said. "So that's why Kuno's so peeved?"

At this point the door to the dojo slid open revealing a rather exhausted Jhim, followed by both Mr. Tendo and Mr. Saotome who were laughing loudly and slapping each other on the back.

"Hey Jhimbo!" I said cheerfully.

Jhim winced as he walked over towards the porch. "Jimbo?" he said weakly.

"Hey," I said. "Now we're even."

"Even?" Akane said. "What'd he do?"

I shrugged. "He called me a bad name."

Ranma shifted to face me. "Yeah, I've been meaning to ask," he said. "Why do you call me 'Pigtail'?"

I looked at him blankly. "Why do you call me Rizu?"

"Because that's your name."

"Right. So your name is Pigtail."

"But my name isn't Pigtail."

"Exactly."

Ranma looked at me with a confused look while Akane just shook her head. "I win!" I shouted.

"So how was training today?" I asked Jhim as we walked back to the apartment.

Jhim groaned. "It was brutal," he groaned. "Mr. Tendo and Mr. Saotome drove me hard and I even got to spar Ranma."

"Sounds like fun!" I said cheerfully. "Hey, you wanna get a bite or something?"

Jhim shook his head. "No thanks, I just wanna go home and rest."

"Well then let's get take-out," I said. "Come on, I'll buy!"

Jhim smiled at that. "How could I turn down a free meal?" he said.

"I know, you'd have to beh crazzeh," I said. We walked to the convince store and I got us some lunchboxes. After a bit of coxing I persuaded Jhim to let us eat at his place. To tell the truth, I was just curious about how he lived and also a bit tired of eating at my place.

"Home sweet home," he said as he opened the door. The one room apartment smelled of burnt food and soap. There were still dirty dishes in the sink from that morning and the small table was littered with books and papers. But other than that it was relatively clean.

Jhim cleared off the table quickly as I set the bags of food on the counter. "So this is your place?" I said. "Pretty clean for a freshman in college."

"Hey," Jhim said. "That's a common stereotype. Not all college guys are slobs."

"Obviously," I said cheerfully, taking the food to the table. "So what's up with that Uiruru guy? He seems to know a lot about American pop culture."

"Yeah, he's obsessed with all things American. That's how we became friends, he found out where I was from and stuck with me."

I nodded as I chewed on my food. "Kinda like how American anime fans are obsessed with all things Japanese?"

"Exactly," Jhim said. "He's not really popular in the class. Guys used to pick on him and stuff."

"I can see that," I said. "I got teased a lot cause of my manga obsession for awhile."

"Speaking of obsession," Jhim said. "That lady at the store, the one with the Beatles album?"

"Not just any album, The White Album."

"Uh yeah. Didn't she remind you of someone?" he said.

"A hippie."

"No, no," Jhim said dismissively. "I mean, didn't you have the feeling that you'd seen her somewhere?"

I leaned back on my hands and thought hard. "Well, I guess I recognize her," I said. "Yeah, now that you mention it, her face is pretty familiar."

"I've just got this nagging at the back of my head that I've seen her," Jhim said.

I shrugged. "Maybe it's nothing."

"No, I don't think so. I've seen her somewhere important, I know it."

I shrugged again. "Maybe you just need to sleep on it, you did work pretty hard today," I said.

Jhim nodded as if confirming it. The rest of our meal passed in peace, talking about school and what was going to happen to Ranma.

"Yeah, why do you call him Pigtail?" Jhim asked.

"I feel like it, no other reasons."

"But you call me Jhim, not Chimofu," Jhim said.

"I told you, Chimofu sounds stupid."

Jhim raised his eyebrow. "And Pigtail doesn't?"

"Yes, well," I said. "I came up with the name Pigtail. Not Chimofu."

"Oh, I get it. Because you came up with Pigtail that makes it all better."

I smiled and raised my chopsticks in salute. "Now you're getting it."

It was Sunday, a bright and pretty day. The wind blew gently across my face, blowing the stray strands of pink hair wildly. I hummed happily as I walked down the street, swinging my purse in the air.

I looked at my watch. Almost ten o'clock, if I hurried I could see Ranma and Kuno's "duel". I turned down the street and walked over to the school, taking my good sweet time.

As I approached the fence, I saw Ranma in his girl form, standing still in the field. She looked tense, like he was ready to spring an attack at any second. I stood by the fence, far enough away that they wouldn't notice me immediately, but close enough so that I could hear what was going on.

"So you have come." I heard Kuno before I saw him, not a big difference from the usual. "Tree-borne-kettle-girl."

"You don't learn quick, do you pal?" Ranma shot. "Well, where's your sword huh?" she said, eyeing Kuno suspiciously.

Kuno looked to the side and smirked. "Heh, I have no need of a sword."

"Pretty confident huh?" Ranma said sarcastically.

Kuno shot her a look I couldn't (and didn't want to) read. "Confident enough," he said. "To give you this!" He slung out an object towards Ranma, who caught it deftly before looking at it. I think she was too shocked to react right away.

"I love you," Kuno said with a debonair attitude.

WHUMP

Ranma collapsed on her knees, eye's wide in shock. I snickered, glad that I came by. "Tough luck, eh Pigtail?" I said loudly. "Of all the guys to hit on ya, it had to be Kuno."

I rolled my eyes and reached into my purse, pulling out my happy sling-shot and my happy ammo (hot glue and straws: tis the stuff) aimed. Pull back the straw and… SNAP! Direct hit! "Pigtail! Snap out of it!"

Ranma jerked her head my way, and if possible, her eye's got bigger. "What?" she said, a little apprehensive. "What did you call me?"

It suddenly occurred to me what I was doing, and I smacked my head with the palm of my hand. "I mean," I said hastily. "Hey, girl who has no resemblance to Ran-, I mean…" Oh screw it, he was gonna find out anyway. "I called you Pigtail because that's what I call you, you being Ranma Saotome and stuff."

"How did you know?" Ranma asked her voice defensive.

I rolled my eyes, although I was trying really hard to come up with an excuse. "I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that Kuno's challenge was addressed to 'The Tree-Borne-Kettle-Girl' and yet you responded."

"How'd you know who it was addressed to?"

I shrugged. "Jedi mind-tricks man. May the force be with you."

Ranma had by now walked over to me and flipped over the fence. "Bull, I don't buy it," she said.

"What if I said that I saw the letter after you were done reading it," I said. "Although I personally like the Jedi option…"

"How do you know I'm not Ranma's sister or something?" Ranma said.

I sighed. "Because, Pigtail, in the past five minutes you've all but told me that you are you." Ranma blanked, obviously trying to come up with a comeback. "Don't insult my intelligence. I'm not Kuno."

Ranma shut her mouth and studied me carefully. "Did you tell anyone?" she said.

I shook my head. "I figured something like this was better if you told everyone," I said. "I mean, who am I to say that Ranma Saotome likes to cross-dress?"

"IT'S NOT CROSS-DRESSING!" Ranma yelled.

I laughed and waved my hand. "Relax man, its okay. I'm not gonna tell," I said. "But you do get a theme song."

Ranma looked at me curiously. "Theme song? What song?"

I smiled. "I'll never tell," I said in a sing-song voice.

Ranma stood and studied me for a minute. "Are you crazy?" she asked forwardly.

I laughed loudly and clapped my hands. "Dude, it's all in the eye of the beholder." I stuck my hands in my pocket and smiled. "Let's get you to the dojo man; Akane is probably dying to find out what happened."

Ranma rolled her eyes as she followed me down the street. "Akane doesn't care at all."

I looked back at the girl and sighed. "Hey man, give her time. I mean…"

"I heard," Ranma interrupted. "She's a very sweet girl; she's just a violent maniac."

I sweat dropped and laughed nervously. "I wasn't really gonna say that but…" I sighed. "Ah whatever. So you wanna explain your ability to acquire breasts and other female body parts?"

Ranma blushed lightly but took on a serious face. "I was training at the Legendary Ground of Cursed Springs," she said.

I raised my eyebrow. "So it does exist," I said. "I thought it was some sort of legend."

Ranma laughed harshly. "No, it's real. I feel into Spring of Drowned Girl and the result…" she indicated to her body.

I nodded. "Makes sense. I mean, if the Force is real, why can't this be?"

Ranma looked at me strangely. "What is it with you and Star Wars?" she asked. "You don't really believe in that stuff do you?"

I waved my hand dismissively. "Nah, it's more of something I watch to make fun of. I don't honestly believe that stuff," I said. "But it does make sense. Technically, you aren't supposed to be like this, so why can't the Force exist?"

"Because it's stupid."

I laughed. "Yeah, well, I do lots of stupid things."

"Like giving me a theme song?" Ranma said.

"Yes, like giving you a theme song. But don't feel left out; I'm trying to find one for Akane." We walked around the corner and the dojo came into sight. "So you gonna tell them about Kuno's little crush?" I said.

Ranma blanched. "Could you not talk about that?" she said painfully. "Or tell anyone else?"

I held up my right hand. "I won't tell a soul," I said solemnly. Then I broke out into a grin. "It's still really funny."

"Shut up."

So I parted with Ranma at the dojo entrance, walking away humming a little tune by Aerosmith.

Da-na, da-na, dude looks like a lady!

Song: "Dude Looks Like a Lady" by Aerosmith