Disclaimer: The characters and original plot of Ranma ½ do not belong to me.

I'm sure everyone realized this chapter took longer than the first two. Let's just say taking Japanese as your language class requires you to practice several pages of Kanji. But I have prevailed and found the time to pour out the next chapter from my mind.

Also, some people have reviewed as guests and since I can't reply to them, I just want to thank them here. So, thanks for all your support!

Chapter 3: To Gain an Alias is to Lose a Few Hairs

Nabiki had another satisfying day collecting debts. Ukyo was a few thousand yen short because of her overwhelming curiosity as to why Ranma was more reserved around her recently. Kuno paid for pictures of his obsessions and information about Ranma. She ran into Ryoga early in the morning and sold him a map that was more or less up to date (more likely less). A few classmates came by her usual selling spot in the park reserved specifically for when school was out and bought videos of the unsuccessful wedding.

A whole week had already passed since that day and Nabiki hadn't anticipated that people would still be talking about it. After all, more exciting things happen in Nerima all the time. However, each day had come and gone by without any change in the usual routine. Nabiki needed something big to happen soon before her current supply ran out.

She continually contemplated ideas throughout the day and before she realized how much time had passed, it was already time for her evening bath. As she lowered herself into the furo, she became desperate enough to play around with the idea of setting random people up in compromising situations.

I just have to find the perfect victims, she thought absently, slowly relaxing in the warm water. So content and tranquil was she that the sounds from the changing room didn't reach her ears until the door slid open.

Opening her eyes, Nabiki found herself face to face with an extremely handsome boy, although his hairstyle didn't seem to fit quite right. That thought vanished quickly when she noted that the boy was naked, save for the measly towel that covered his nether regions, and he did so almost ashamedly. His face showed only terror though.

Nabiki wasn't exactly scared of being in the current situation, especially since she knew all of the household members were close by. All she needed to do was scream and they would all come running. This gave her the courage to hide her surprise and ask the stranger, "And who might you be?"

Eyes wide and body shaking, he stuttered, "I-I-I'm A-A…um."

"His name is Aoi."

Both Nabiki and the boy turned their attention to Happosai, who was standing to the side of the washroom. Nabiki hadn't even noticed him enter. The window was closed and the only other entrance was blocked by the boy. Shaking her head, she knew it was useless to try and figure out how all of these martial artists managed to do their tricks. Despite coming from a family of them, she never had the interest to learn and it would only give her a headache.

"How, exactly, do you know him? Don't tell me he's another guy pissed off by something you did to him."

Happosai scoffed and said, "I did nothing to him that would deter him from manliness, if that's what you're implying."

Aoi's eye twitched in annoyance. This gave Nabiki the feeling Happosai wasn't telling her the full truth. However, she was slowly becoming uncomfortable sitting in the bath with two men just standing there. She decided to accept his reply for the time being.

"Now, if the two of you wouldn't mind, GET OUT!" She threw back-scrubbers and buckets at the two of them until they fled into the changing room, though Happosai managed a quick feel that caused her to scream in outrage.

Once Nabiki was along again, she allowed herself to calm down and took a few deeps breaths. People rarely witnessed the times she lost her cool. Those unfortunate people were later caught in mysterious accidents and though they told no one, they knew it was Nabiki's own way of warning them. Her only exceptions were her sisters. No one could ever treat Kasumi wrongly without feeling like the lowest scum of the world, and to seek revenge on Akane just wouldn't be any fun because she was a little dense on matters concerning people's demons. Though Akane occasionally brought her wrath upon the few people who really annoyed her, she always found the goodness in their hearts, even for someone like Nabiki. No, she would get no satisfaction in subtle retribution against Akane, so she settled for charging unnecessary extra fees.

Happosai and the new boy wouldn't get it that easy. Nabiki had several ideas for the old man already running through her head. As for Aoi, she assumed it would be easy to play on his apparent nervousness around girls. The guy was almost as bad as Ranma.

Though no one was there to see it, Nabiki's smile could have caused screams of silent terror throughout the district of Nerima.

. . . . .

While Nabiki was busy plotting for revenge, her two victims quickly escaped the entire bathing area altogether, though "Aoi" managed to put "his" clothes back on first.

The two at first headed for Akane's room, but once they reached the top of the stairs Happosai spotted a familiar red Chinese shirt. He automatically grabbed Akane by the collar of her shirt and turned back around. After a mad dash down the hallway, a leap down the stairs, and something short of teleporting past the kitchen doorway, he burst back into Soun's room, dragging Akane behind him.

"Ack! Let go of me you crazy pervert!" Akane shouted, thrashing around in a panic.

"Calm down boy, before the whole family bursts in and I won't be able to keep your secret as easily as with your sister," Happosai commanded from his perch on Soun's bed. Soun himself was rifling through his closet for something more suitable for his "son" to wear.

When Happosai called her "boy," it struck something in Akane. She wasn't a girl anymore. At least, temporarily she wasn't. Instead she was an honest to goodness male. The one thing she hated most nearly a year ago, before Ranma and his panda father showed up.

Akane went limp and she quieted down.

Happosai nodded his head in approval. "Good. Now let me explain the game plan here. I have a great-grandson that I only recently met. For ten years he has been searching for me in order to learn Anything Goes Martial Arts and become a legitimate candidate as the heir to the school. You, Aoi, will begin training under me to see if you have what it takes to qualify. In order not to raise suspicions, you'll be 'staying' in a temporary home away from the dojo so Akane can freely come and go as she likes."

The only sound in the room as Akane contemplated this idea was of Soun rustling in his closet still. She glared at a spot on the floor as she realized Happosai's proposal made sense, and it wasn't too outrageous to believe. But who would be crazy enough to follow through with one of his plans?

As Akane debated in her head the brightness of listening to the old pervert, Soun finally found what he was looking for. He pulled away from the closet holding an old t-shirt that was a few sizes too small for him to wear, but he figured it would fit his daughter-turned-son much better. Unfortunately, he couldn't find a better pair of pants than the ones she was currently wearing.

He walked over and knelt by the fuming Akane. He offered the shirt to her and she hesitantly accepted it without a word.

This became one of times when Soun knew he needed to act like a parent. But it was just so hard to suddenly break out of his shelter of obliviousness. No matter how strongly he wanted to be the support one of his daughters needed, he simply couldn't reach out to them. The same thing happened here, as he lifted his hand to put a comforting arm around Akane's shoulders but pulled away at the last second. After all, what right did he have to console her when it was his fault she was in this predicament?

As for Akane, she was completely unaware of her father's internal struggle, so she continued to consider Happosai's idea. She walked to a corner of the room and turned around to change shirts as she finally began to speak.

"Your story could work. But just understand one thing," she turned back around to face Happosai before continuing, "There's no way I'm going to train under your instruction. I don't need your help because I can handle a fight myself, and I'd probably end up in prison or dead if I did anything you taught me."

Smiling mysteriously, Happosai only responded with, "That's what you think right now."

Then his entire mood changed and suddenly a pair of scissors appeared in his hands. With a slightly serious face, he said, "Before we introduce my dear relative to everyone, I'd say he needs to fix his appearance up a bit more!"

He leapt onto Akane's head and snipped away for a few seconds, then hopping to the ground before Akane could react violently and ruin her haircut.

"What did you do?!"

Running to the mirror hanging on the wall, Akane studied her face as a male for the first time. Her hair on the back of her head was shorter and her bangs fell flatter on her forehead, but it was all cut in a way to give her a messy look. It allowed her to hide her eyes more easily as well, so after pushing her bangs out of the way, Akane could take a full look at her face. It was familiar, and yet it was foreign.

If she met a boy that looked just like the one in the mirror, Akane just might call him cute. However she was that boy and saying that about herself would only make her sound like Ranma.

Ranma…

Thinking about the pig-tailed boy had Akane realize something quite obvious. Ranma must go through the exact same thoughts every single time he looks at his reflection as a girl. He controls that body, and yet it doesn't really belong to him.

Akane's eyes lit up as she thought, Maybe he won't think I'm a freak. He'll know exactly how it feels to live through a curse that changes your gender. But then again…it's different for a girl to change into a guy than it is for a guy to change into a girl…will he really understand?

Before she could think on it further, the three occupants of the room heard a call from downstairs.

"Everyone, it's almost time for dinner! Please wash up!" Kasumi's sweet voice rang.

Happosai perked up at the mention of a meal. He tossed Akane a pair of black pants and rushed out of the room saying, "Here! Ranma lent those to me for the moment so change into those and meet us downstairs, boy!"

The pants landed in Akane's arms and she looked to her father, silently begging for him to have a better plan than that of the Grandmaster's. Soun could only shake his head in regret and slowly left to join the others at the dinner table.

This left Akane to sigh in an empty room. A few seconds later and she steeled her resolve. When she finally made her appearance to the rest of the family, there would be no going back.

Glancing once more at the pants she held in her arms, Akane muttered, "Stole them is more like it."