Two youthes stood outside a closed Chinese cat cafe, the door to their backs as they began walking down the street homeward.

"So.. that was weird right?" Ranma looked down at his companion.

"I would have thought you're so deprived of normalcy Saotome that you won't know how to spot the weird," Nabiki smirked.

"Gee, thanks boss," Ranma looked sideways.

"An observation is all," she lightly shrugged.

"I mean yeah my life's weird. I know enough to know that but… I haven't seen the old lady that… spooked before."

"No, I get you," Nabiki sighed, "This… latest episode of madness in Nerima feelsdifferent."

"It's like Jusendo, but worse," Ranma twitched his lips, "Like something in the air is giving off a bad vibe."

"Eloquently put Ranma darling," Nabiki darkly chuckled, "What's your read here?"

"My read? Since when does my opinion matter?" His eyes questioned.

"When I'm not holding all the cards," Nabiki gave a predatory smirk as she looked at him, "Besides, you're usually either the cause or the target when shit hits the fan. I'm curious if you're seeing something I'm not in that eye of the storm you're in."

"Mmmhhh," Ranma put his thumb to his chin, "Well, there's definitely something going on with that fortune god and her supposed daughter. Putting what little I know together, Himiko is a goddess of fortune who created the Jusenkyo springs for some reason. She's a kitsune who got nine tails so she clearly has a thing for shapeshifting. Her daughter, Fujiko, is also a kitsune and is really bad. Your ancestor kicked her ass or something at that brat's request. Now Himiko is back and is asking Akane to defeat Fujiko as her champion. The kid mentioned that people with Jusenkyo curses are a bad matchup against her so maybe she's got powers over us cause her mom made the springs. I'm betting Fujiko got's a grudge to settle with your family so she's on her way here sometime for payback soon knowing our luck. That's why the kid chose Akane so suddenly," Ranma scratched his chin.

"Astute theory," Nabiki smiled, seemingly amused that a brain existed in her companion's head.

"Like, I'm not against the tomboy getting some training but this child god freeloader is definitely hiding stuff," Ranma looked at Nabiki, "Think she cured Kuno?"

"That's not a half bad idea," Nabiki snapped her fingers, "But to what end? She seems lazy and pretty lax on training my sister just like every other adult in our lives. But curing Kuno, does that remove a wild card or makes him a potential bomb to pop at any moment?"

"And this demon chick is a shapeshifter, right? Maybe Kuno's been replaced," Ranma proposed.

"Mhhh I dislike that, although if this shapeshifter is supposed to be as clever as Cologne thinks she is, I doubt she would make such a painful obvious mistake to stand out like this."

"Maybe she's got help? Some other demons' running around doing her bidding sorta deal," Ranma shrugged, "Bad guys love their henchmen."

"Yes, someone that's been around this long undoubtedly has connections. Yakuza, assassins, or other shape-shifting demons. Which then puts Nerima's other strangers under scrutiny," Nabiki flicked to Ranma's watching eyes, "I've got an idea on some actors but not others. What's your thoughts on Ryoga's and Ukyo's recent behaviours?"

"Well Ukyo is definitely odd but it's different, not new person different, but like… I don't know… just more mature and sad? She started crying after seeing me and Akane the other day. Heck, she's stopped flirting with me. It's weird, but nice? Kinda a weird way to act if she's been replaced," Ranma scratched his head, annoyed "Ryoga is Ryoga at least. He's the same bullheaded dumbass as always, just had a weird experience meeting another… shit." Ranma stopped walking.

"Another what?" Nabiki looked back.

"Another me," he said as the wind howled through the streets.


Kuno Takewaki hovered at the door to his sister's room. His face was anguished at what to do, when after a few minutes of internal debate, the door opened itself revealing his sister.

"Brother," Kodachi spoke coldly, "I hardly expect my door to be that entertaining. Speak and banish yourself from here already."

"Sister…" Takewaki mustered courage, "How do you feel about our mother?"

Kodachi leapt forward and covered her brother's mouth, "Has your insanity returned? Speak not of her when these walls have ears."

"Ease yourself sister," Takewaki moved her hand away, "I sent Sasuke on an errand to Kobe to pick up some beef. I doubt he will return for a few hours yet. I also "accidentally" damaged the surveillance system in a training exercise just to be extra cautious."

"Ah," Kodachi sighed and stepped aside, "Very well. Come in."

"Thank you," Takewaki entered his sister's room. It had been some time since he had come in here. It was fashioned differently from the rest of manor, more old French aristocracy than Edo nobility.

"Now," Kodachi closed the door and looked to her brother, "What were you saying?"

"I… I have been informed that you've been helped as well with our family's curse," Takewaki crossed his arms.

"Correct. A few days ago, I encountered a one-eyed woman who helped me see more clearly. I appear to have had an easier adjustment than you. My curse wasn't as effective as yours I'm told," Kodachi looked to her bedside, "It helps I suppose that she gave me my diary from the future."

"Then-?"

"It's all true brother," she looked straight into his eyes. "Our mother is a yokai who preys on children. Our father, like ourselves, was cursed by her to provide entertainment and be easier to manipulate. What she will do when she returns, and our potential crimes, all happened."

"Our own mother… Sasuke…" Takewaki felt tears forming in his eyes, "What else have you learned from your diary?"

"That we are the cruel villains of an awful tragedy," Kodachi remarked, "I apparently was released of the curse to help orchestrate our crimes, but all it did was give me a conscience. Little good it did in the end. I didn't stop what you and mother did. Then we all died."

Takewaki's face dripped with sweat.

"I, unsurprisingly, did not record our deaths, but the circumstantial evidence speaks for itself," Kodachi looked to her brother, seeing his inner turmoil, "You fear it?"

"Death, or that I too may be a monster? The end is not something to strive towards nor run from, but merely the end of our agency in this world. Where we judge ourselves. " He looked up, "I fear seeing a demon in my reflection."

"You cannot seek redemption for what has never occurred but you may teach yourself and ensure you never walked such a path. Only then brother may I look at you without burning hatred in my heart."

"I… I understand," he bowed, "Thank you."

"Donotthank me," Kodachi spat out, "Now go. We are done talking."


The morning was gracing the Tendo dojo beautifully as usual. Already early signs of spring could be felt and seen with the only snow tucked away in shadows while fog swept in making things technically warmer but certainly chiller. Tendo Soun enjoyed the quiet moments the most in his day-to-day life. Memories of sitting on the patio with his wife while the children slept. Those memories would cloud his eyes looking around, but often dissipated each time when he saw closer and realised it was his eldest working the house, not his wife. Moments like this made him at times question if he had unintentionally and wrongly pushed his daughter into the role his wife left in her death. At other times, it comforted him knowing that something of his wife lived on in this world through his daughters. It was hard to process even these many years later. Not helping this were many new residents, interlopers and invaders that were more pressing and stressing concerns.

"What's the breakfast my sweet Kasumi~" Soun's evil master asked.

'Some in particular turn my dreams into waking nightmares,'Soun thought, unable to self-reflect how much he was also at fault for the daily madness. Irritated, he got up and moved to the dining table where he turned on the television. He heard his youngest return from her run and ascend the stairs while the news discussed concerns and dangers of what experts believe to be publicity stunts by television networks to promote magical girl shows. His middle-aged daughter descended the stairs at the exact moment he turned on the morning news with Akane behind her dressed for school.

"Good morning Dad," Akane half mumbled.

"Morning," Nabiki grumbled out before yawning. She sat at the table, grabbing an already-readied cup of coffee and chugging it down.

"Ah!" Life returned somewhat to Nabiki's eyes, "Stupid Kuno's somehow got my alarm clocks locked in at this god-forsaken hour. He's not even here this morning!"

"Himiko isn't either," Akane noted as she sat down, "No Ryu either. Maybe things are returning to routine."

"Sis, you just jinxed it," Nabiki groaned. Something on the news caught Soun's eye and he turned up the volume.

"Early this morning, the beloved Kuno Fuijko's private jet was hit by a missile, destroying the plane," the newswoman relayed.

"Wait, Kuno? Is she related to our Kunos?" Nabiki questioned.

"Fujiko? She couldn't be that demon Happosai was talking about could she?" Akane further questioned.

"I've heard of her. She's a major producer at MHK, mostly dramas and the like. Particularly famous for her charity work, although she's rarely on camera herself," recalled Soun, "I never considered she could be related to the local Kuno family."

The sisters looked at one another with questions in their eyes. Still, the news broadcast continued, "Miraculously, Miss Kuno and her aid survived the explosion due to an impulsive decision to take up her old hobby of skydiving."

The news cut to Kuno Fujiko herself, a little worse for wear beside some ash on her cheek. Despite this, she radiated with warmth, beauty and charm that few could compare to even in person. "It was such a beautiful night and I just couldn't help myself," she answered into the microphone, "I picked up the hobby about a decade ago to help research for a series I was producing, the acclaimedFalling for You."

"Oh, I adored that show," Nodoka commented as she entered the room, her husband trailing behind. "One of my absolute favourites, if a bit intense for my taste."

The broadcast returned to the newswoman, "Unfortunately, the rest of the passengers were not so lucky, including two orphan children that Fujiko had just adopted," the screen displayed a photograph of the children smiling, "All are believed to have perished in the explosion."

"How tragic," Kasumi remarked solemnly.

"And very strange," Nabiki commented aloud before looking at her sister, "Happosai knew her?"

"I think so. He used to work for a yokai named Fuji-chan, who is apparently our family's mortal enemy," Akane shrugged.

Nabiki looked for the ancient prevert but said fiend had already left for another of his "treasure" hunts.

"I'd like to assume this is all coincidence but this Nerima, we don't get such luxury here," Nabiki sighed, "Whatever I worry about this all later. I'm no fighter so I'm hardly fit to deal with any of this."

Akane continued to stare at the screen, watching the interview with an intense focus. Her fists tightened and she felt a fury building the likes of which even she was unfamiliar with. Said concentration was broken by the arrival of her fiancé, walking into the room mid-yawn.

"Morning'," Ranma looked around the room, "What's with the serious faces?"

"It seems our next villain of the weekunfortunatelysurvived an assassination attempt," Nabiki relayed while standing up.

"Villain of the week?" Ranma looked at the tv, "That's Fuijko? She doesn't look that tough."

"Looks can be deceiving," Nabiki smirked, "I for one would never expect you to be able to bench press a truck."

"Hey, I can do more than that!"

"Of course, Ranma darling," she clapped him on the shoulder, "Either way, looks like the threat is stranded in India for the moment. That means we can get back to business as usual."

"You mean those stupid fights?"

"Please Ranma, I'm very smart and I put a lot of work into arranging them. They're hardly stupid," Nabiki giggled, walking away from the pair, "Laters, lover boy."

Ranma seemed to shiver at the line and stared at Nabiki as she left for school.

"What was that about?" Akane asked.

Ranma sighed, "Nabiki's up to her old tricks again." He grabbed some food from the table, quickly stuffing it down his throat before grabbing his school bag sitting on the ground.

"Come on, let's get going!" Ranma remarked, throwing his bag over his shoulder.

"Since when are you in a hurry to get to school musclehead?"

"I'm feeling antsy. If you wanna dawdle tomboy, I'll run on ahead,"

"Hey wait up!"

Several minutes passed in the living before hurried footsteps came down the stairs.

"Damn that tomboy! She didn't even wake me up!" Yelled Ranma turning the corner, "I can't even find my bag. Dammit! I'm gonna be late," He said before sprinting down the hall and out the door.

The adults of the household looked at one another, all questioning the same thing.

-Do I have two sons now?- Genma signed, despite being in human form.


Akane sat in her seat, her aura visibly agitated while Ranma immediately put his feet onto his desk and looked ready to nap already.

"You ok, Akane?" Sayuri, a friend of Akane, asked.

"Nothing that isn't new, just the usual suffering of a misogynistic fiancé," Akane muttered, ignoring the loud snoring of said fiancé.

"But hey, no Kuno show this morning on the bright side," Yuka noted.

"Yeah, it's been a few days hasn't it?" Akane thought, "Maybe we actually finally knocked some sense into him."

"I doubt it," Ukyo chimed in, "If Nerima has taught me one thing; it's that people don't really change no matter how crazy things get."

"Well aren't you a cynic," Sayuri countered.

At that moment, a "crazy thing" occurred as Saotome slid into the doorway as it was being shut by the home economics teacher.

"Ha, made it!" The arriving Ranma cheered, obvious to the dead staring audience.

"Hey who's that in my spot-" the 'new' Ranma and everyone else did a double take between him and his copy napping in his seat.

"And the show goes on," Ukyo sighed.

The class erupted in questions and concerns.

"Great, now there's two of them!"

"Will this make the fiancée war simpler or more crazy?"

"Crazier! We're dealing with another Ranma!"

"Hasn't this happened before? One's got to be a soap clone or a monkey shadow puppet."

The eruption of noise made said napping Ranma groan and stirred awake. He opened his eyes to a minor of himself couching on top of his desk.

"Wha the, who the hell are you?"

"Hey, that's my question buddy!" The crouching Ranma poked the drowsy Ranma's head, "Ya that shadow demon bitch?"

The seated Ranma smacked his doubleganger's hand away, "Back at ya jerk! Did Happosai make another clone or did some magic artefacts go haywire again?"

"Ok stop it you two!" Akane shouted, "Clearly we need to solve this and you two being both dumbasses isn't helping!"

"Akane!" Both Ranma yelled, "Can't ya tell this ass is a fake?!"

The two Ranmas glared at one another.

Akane sighed, "Can't I get a normal day this month once…"

"That settles it, it's clearly impossible to tell, they're both assholes!" Yuka laughed.

"I got it!" Ryoga stood up, excited by his brilliance, "Which one of you helped me the other day?"

Both Ranmas looked at Ryoga.

Crouching Ranma spoke first, "Ryoga-"

"Buddy, that would-" the sitting Ranma continued.

"Only work-"

"If you hadn't told me-"

"Yesterday what happened."

"But… how do both know about our conversation yesterday," Ryoga was confused.

Ukyo patted Ryoga on the back, "Because it's obvious you two would talk about it, no?"

"Oh please, it should be obvious," squatting Ranma remarked, "I'm much more handsome than this jerk,"

"Who are you calling ugly, ugly!" Counter the other.

"God they're like twins!" Akane groaned.

"Hey I'm nothing like this asshole," the unseated said.

"Yeah so shut it Akane," added the other.

"Hey don't talk to her like that!"

"Wha, 'cause only you're allowed to, asshole?" The sitting Ranma chuckled.

"I guess this is one way to solve the fiancé problem," Ryoga remarked.

"This solves nothing!"Both boys yelled.

"Alright, shut it you two!" Akane's wrathful command silenced the classroom, making both Ranma hug one another in fear.

"Now, Sayuri, go get two glasses of water please," Akane asked sweetly before turning her anger back on the clone boys. "You two on the other hand, split and stand up already!"

The boys quickly obeyed.

"Now, which one of you walked to school with me today?"

Ranma on the right raised his hand. Akane grabbed from her desk a permanent marker and walked up to the boy, drawing the kanji for Horse on his left cheek. She then walked to the other and wrote the Wild kanji on his right cheek. Stepping back, she assessed her work while capping her pen.

"That should help things for now," Akane looked at Ryoga, "Mind tying one of your bananas around Wild's neck?"

"Uh sure, Akane," Ryoga obeyed timidly.

Akane looked at Ukyo, "Could you do the same with one of your ribbons around Horse's neck?"

"You got it, sugar!" Ukyo swiftly did so.

"Now, it should be easier to keep track of who's who," Akane affirmed.

Satsuki returned with two glasses of water which Akane took.

"Now to test if you have the same abilities," Akane didn't hesitate to throw water at each. Disappointingly, both changed forms.

"Fantastic, any other genius ideas tomboy?" Wild complained.

"I can always just kick your ass until you spill your beans yokai!" Horse countered.

"Hey stop you two! Akane's trying her best," Ryoga defended.

"Actually, I was going to suggest they fight at this point," Akane sighed.

"Huh?" Everyone collectively looked at her.

"Well, usually if there's a clone of Ranma running around, they're much weaker than the real one," Akane shrugged, "If this is a shapeshifting yokai, they probably couldn't have copied all his techniques."

"Damn, nice idea Akane!" Wild cheered.

"Hell yes, time to kick your phoney ass back to hell!" Horse cracked his knuckles.

Everyone collectively left the classroom, save its mathematics who was left crying at her desk at being forgotten. Soon enough, after a water change, the school's populace gathered at bleachers as both Ranmas stared one another down. One watcher was in a particular foul mood.

"Nabiki, you're not setting up a betting pool. Akane became more worried, "Are you ok?"

Nabiki had her arms crossed and fingers tapping. "I'm concerned."

"That's a first," Akane muttered.

"I like either being in control or absent from a situation dear sister," Nabiki twitched, "Does this look like something I'm either of now?"

"An audience does not control the play, Nabiki," Akane and Nabiki looked at the bleacher just above them where Ryu Anko sat adjusting her camera.

"And what are you doing, might I ask?" Nabiki questioned.

"My job?"

"Your job?" Akane questioned.

"I am a journalist," Anko answered.

"You could have fooled us," Nabiki glared, "Where have you been?"

"Uh, work?"

"Lovely, I'll be sure to check local missing reports and see your handy work then,"

Akane looked between the two before settling on her sister, "What's that mean, Nabiki?"

Nabiki opened her mouth but was interrupted by an announcer in the centre field.

"Alrighty! Are you all ready to rumble?!" Shouted a theatre student into a microphone.

"On one end, we've got Furinkan's number one heartbreaker and delinquent. The insensitive macho ultra cursed drag queen, love him or hate 'em, it's Saotome Ranma!"

"In the other corner, we got the ultimate question for any straight man, is it gay to find girl Ranma hot? He's the best and he'll shove that fact into your face, the egomaniac aqua sexual Saotome Ranma!"

"Geez, couldn't they say something nice about me?" Wild commented.

"Eh, who cares? They're just jealous," Horse smirked.

"FIGHT!"

There was no hesitation as the boys charged, their fists into the other face within a second, sending each flying back. Recovery was quick as Wild wiped blood from his lip while Horse adjusted his nose. They glared and were right in one another's faces again. Chestnut fist to chestnut fist, swan kick to swan kick, an onlooker may think this was some manner of choreographed symmetrical performance rather than an actual battle.

"Good grief, whoever they are, they're a perfect copy," Nabiki commented.

"No, there are differences," Akane noted.

"There is?" Anko commented.

Akane nodded, "It's subtle. You'd have to know Ranma's way of fighting well and be a fighter yourself to keep up, but Horse isn't as aerial."

"Huh, now that you mention it, one of them isn't going as high."

"Ranma can jump twenty feet regularly, but that Horse isn't going above fifteen. On the other hand, Horse seems to hit harder."

"Ultra Clean Punch!" Horse shouted as he performed rhythmic tap punches to Wild's stomach, sending the boy flying back several feet.

"That's new," Akane commented.

"He's been helping Kasumi with chores lately so of course he turned it into training," Nabiki sighed.

Wild stood, glaring at Horse, who didn't bother to give his opponent a moment's rest as he lunged. Wild barely dodged the relentless onslaught. Still, it only took one more punch to send Wild back and panting for air.

"Had enough?!" Horse chuckled, "Cause I'm just getting started."

Wild chuckled before coughing, "I'll admit, you're a pretty good copy of me,"

"What can I say, I'm a natural at being me,"

"Except you ain't and I can prove it,"

"Oh? And how's that? I know everything you know!"

"Then how did ya get caught in the dragon spiral?"

"Shit-!"

It was too late to dodge as Wild swept at unbelievable speed, sending his right hook upwards. With it, a tornado of pure ki flew into the air.

As the dust settled, Wild stood beaten and haggard but cheerful and laughing to himself despite the obvious pain it was causing him.

"I'm the best cause I'm Saotome Ranma and don't you forget it world!" Wild laughed maniacally.

"You idiot, look up!" Akane shouted.

"Huh?" Ranma looked up to the sound of clapping from the rooftop of Furinkan High.

There, giving a slow clap, was Horse, "I'll admit, that almost got me!"

Horse leapt down, a little wobbly in his landing but otherwise a little worse for wear.

"Can't say it's fun time to be on the other end of that, ooff," Horse stretched, "Too bad you didn't think to check how heated I was getting."

"But-"

"Oh don't get me wrong, that hurt, but I'm a glutton for punishment and I've only shown off a fraction of my power!"

At that point, a malicious aura enveloped Horse, turning his eyes yellow and sharpening his teeth.

"Wha ya think? I think this style really suits me," this dark Ranma began maniacally laughing.

"So you are a demon!" Ranma shouted.

"The Shadow Demon, at your service," the demon bowed, showing off two horns atop his head now, "I personified another's dark side. But damn, you make it too easy. Seriously, copying you was the best idea I ever had. I can be as big a dick as I want and no one will think twice that I'm acting out of character!"

"That's not true!" Ranma shouted.

"Yu. He's got you pegged," Nabiki commented.

"Not that different from when you're in a bad mood," Akane thought.

"Uh sugar, maybe some self reflection is needed?" Ukyo sweated.

"Since the demon Ranma cured me, can we keep that one?" Ryoga asked.

"You all stink!" Ranma retorted.

"Hey evidence speaks for itself," the demon shrugged.

"Why the hell did you choose me?"

"Well for one you're powerful. Two, you're a dick and everyone knows it, but hey, you're bar above a few folks around here. I think impersonating the old pervert would leave me sitting in a cold shower for weeks." The demon shivered, "Face it, you live to strut your stuff and punch anyone in your way and boy, you've got a good thing going. I'd like a piece of that pie."

"Well forgot, cause there's only one Saotome Ranma and I don't lose,"

"Correct, I don't lose and there will be only one of us left after this!" The demon leapt from ledge to ledge before landing in front of Ranma.

"Take your best shot, pretty boy!" The demon gloated.

Ranma punched for his head, missing barely before having to dodge a quick succession of chestnut fists.

Ranma was on the defensive and it wasn't going demon lives up to his name of fire, I'm boiling just being near him. Wait, that's it!

"Akane, you got any water on you?" Ranma shouted.

"You're already a guy, doofus!" She answered back.

"It's not for that, just get me a bucket will ya!"

"Fine!"

"What, do you wanna seduce me?" The demon head-butted Ranma, sending him back several feet. "Cause I AIN't HAPPOSAI YA DORK!"

Ranma twirled midair and landed crouched onto his feet, his nose clearly broken.

"Although maybe you're not too far off from him yourself, since your nose is bleeding like a pervert."

The demon chuckled as he slowly approached Ranma.

"Ranma!" Akane didn't hesitate, throwing the bucket. Ranma turned to see a bucket of water flying towards him. He leapt, catching it and twirling to land on his feet in front of the demon.

"I've got you, bastard," Ranma smirked.

"Uh-huh, you got me. My big weakness is the most common element on Earth. Good old H20, what silly goose I am," the demon deadpanned. He didn't even bother to dodge when Ranma threw the water at him, drenching the demon and changing his form to female. Steam filled the air.

"Your big plan was to make me a girl to weaken me?" The demon questioned before bellyache laughing. "That won't work, you idiot! Unlike your misogynist subconscious, I'm pretty self-confident in my abilities with a feminine body."

"What, no, I didn't even think of that. Huh," Ranma pondered as he approached. "Shame, guess I'll have to go with my original idea."

"Oh, do tell," the demon's devilish grin grew as claws grew on his hands.

"Nah, more of a show than tell guy," Ranma thrust his palm forward. The demon realised what exactly was occurring as he saw the steam around him begin freezing. It was too late to dodge as the intense rapid temperature simultaneously froze him before the natural phenomenon of what happens when sudden temperature shifts occur with steam.

"DAMN YOU-!"The demon barely got out with its half-frozen face.

"Nah, you first," Ranma smirked.

KABOOM

Ranma was sent flying back as a steam explosion erupted in the centre field. Ranma could barely stand up after the beating he endured, the Tendo sisters standing behind him. The wind quickly dissipated the display, leaving only burnt ashes, pieces of ice and scorched ground where the demon once stood.

The victorious teen was uncharacteristically quiet, staring at the dusty remains of his foe.

He huffed, "Damn, guess I should pay more attention to science class…"

Ranma collapsed onto the ground, sighing.

"Guess that solves that, huh Saotome?" Nabiki remarked.

"Kinda weird, I was expecting the Shadow Demon to be tougher-" a realisation hit Akane, "Hey, you stole my fight!"

"I stole nothing," Ranma huffed again. He looked ahead at the massive charter, "Betcha, that was just some mook of Fujiko's."

"What, don't want to believe that you don't have any challenges left, Ranma honey?" Nabiki shrugged, "Face it, everyone overhyped it. You can probably blow a mountain at this point. If people like you were common, the world would be nothing but carters."

"It ain't that," Ranma yelled, standing up and glaring at Nabiki. "My gut feeling is telling me something ain't right here!"

"What's eating you?" Akane questioned while Nabiki felt put off by a serious Ranma. He looked away.

"Is… that how I really act?"

The sisters almost laughed but saw he had a sad look in his eye.

"You must be joking," Nabiki chuckled, "Well, it is often said that a rock is more sensitive to feelings than you are."

"Nabiki!" Akane yelled.

"What? He wants the honest truth, there's more!" Nabiki walked up to him, putting her index finger on his chest, "Saotome Ranma has the dignity of being better than his father and grandmaster and that's it. You're a selfish, egotistical, battle manic. You have no real friends outside of those who promised to marry you or hoping to pop a feel. I regularly question if you're a fellow sociopath for how often you forget other humans have emotions. To you, the world is your playground, letting you leap around running from any commitments or threats of maturity. But what can I expect, you're a daddy's boy!"

Ranma's face twisted and cast his face down.

"That so?" He said quietly.

"No shit, you-" Nabiki looked up at his face and realised the man among men was crying. Before she could say anything, Ranma turned and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Akane asked.

"*sniff*I-I need some time to think to myself- ok?!" He yelled back.

"Ok," Akane backstepped. Ranma took off without a glance back while Akane looked at his sister, fury rising

"What the hell was that about Nabiki?!"

Akane had startled Nabiki who was lost in focus. Double blinking, Nabiki regained her composure.

"Just giving him the honest truth," she quipped.

"O, like you're any better!" Akane rebutted.

"What? I don't go around destroying the city every other day!"

"No, you're profiting from it" Akane stomped her foot down, "If not, you're instigating it! Hell, you'd sell off our whole family for your own ends! Ranma at least tries to be a good person whenever he forgets that stupid pride of his. You on the other hand are viewed as the Devil of Nerima!"

"That's-" Nabiki tried to fight back, but words died in her mouth.

"What? I'm also a monster?" Akane answered for her, "Well no da! I get angry and threaten everyone I care about while blind in rage. But hey, at least I'm in good company! This whole city is filled with degenerates, perverts, freaks, beasts and worse! And yet somehow, you're at the bottom of our district in hell. Congrats sis on being our Devil! You put us real monsters to shame!"

Akane turned from her dumbfounded sister and stomped away, Ukyo and Ryoga following after her, concern visible on their faces. The audience had started to disperse after the explosion slowly and soon enough, Tendo Nabiki stood alone before the stands and crater. Well, not quite alone. Ryu stuck around longer than the others, before she too snuck off unnoticed into the backstreets, a fox following her. Nabiki won't leave the area for some time after, eventually taking a seat on the bench. A one-eyed woman watched the young adult sitting alone. The woman was conflicted in what to do, but seeing her younger self sigh and stand with a bit of pride made the decision for her.

"Hope these lessons are sinking in, kid," remarked the elder Nabiki watching her younger self head home. "You'll need them."


Ranma wander for a while, doing a lap of the district before the sun finally fell. He had only briefly stopped by a pharmacy to patch up his broken nose. Eventually, he was feeling hungry as the sun began to set but was mentally opposed to returning home, so he went to Ucchan's.

"Well look who it is!" Ukyo announced, "My favourite customer!"

"Hey Ucchan," Ranma said, taking the solo spot left at the bar.

"Bad day hun?" Ukyo gave him a light smile.

"Yeah," Ranma sighed.

"You ain't too bruised up from that fight were you?"

"Nothing I won't heal off in a few days," Ranma wanted to shrug but knew that it would hurt to do so.

"Well I'd love to lend an ear, but tonight's Saturday!" Ukyo yelled over her customers, "Usual?"

"It would be great," Ranma asked. He watched as Konatsu and Ukyo worked their magic around the small restaurant, both figuratively and perhaps literally in Konatsu's case. It didn't take long for a plate to appear before Ranma which he quickly descended upon.

'Damn, this is somehow better than usual!' Ranma thought, 'She must be training hard lately. Either way, no imposter could fake her cooking.'

Ranma smiled genuinely for the first time that day. He had hoped to chat with Ukyo or even Konatsu that evening but they were clearly making up for lost time being closed earlier in the week. He left with a quick wave goodbye and went about his business. It was about half past seven when he arrived at a lot cursed to be in eternal construction due to the regular Wrecking Crew shenanigans. He then pulled out a note from his back pocket.

-Meet me at the alleyway near where Ryoga usually camps at 7:30 pm for answers-

Said note had been slipped into his pocket during his fight with his doppelganger.

"I'm very pleased you chose to meet us, Saotome," said a figure jumping down from her perch atop back alley stairs. Walking into a light's radius, Ryu Anko smiled at him. "Perhaps we can see things eye to eye?" Anko before Ranma's eyes shifted her form into a carbon copy of his female side, minus the different attire.

"Neat trick," Ranma commented, "So you're the other "me" that's been running around as me these past few days?"

"Indeed," Anko shifted back to herself, "Cured Ryoga like I cured Kuno a few days prior." She gestured to a figure leaning against the back wall, Kuno Takewaki looking only slightly less dramatic than usual with the noir lighting.

"You're sane now, eh Kuno?"

"As sane as anyone from our fair Nerima can be," Takewaki remarked.

"He's still eccentric and a little oblivious. But not to the moronic degree of assaulting folks and imposing a self-centred view of reality onto the world," Anko shrugged, "Got the technique by studying some old scrolls from our friends in Joketsuzoku."

"That how you shapeshift too?"

"Oh no, that's much simpler," Anko removed her hat, revealing two fox ears. "I said I had a Jusenkyo curse didn't I?" she winked, "Splash of cold water and I get these bad boys. Although since I inherited my parents' human girl curse, it's a half baked curse. My cursed form is literally a fox girl, so not as capable as a full kitsune would be."

"You were born a guy?" Ranma raised an eyebrow.

"Nah, I was born a girl biologically but you can technically still carry a Jusenkyo girl curse, it just does nothing. Well, nothing until I fell into the spring of a drowned kitsune as a kid. Boy, my folks weren't happy about that accident!"

"I bet," Ranma kept a neutral tone.

"You don't have as many questions as I thought," Anko squinted her eyes.

"I've been piecing things together bit by bit," Ranma explained, "So, do you work with that Fuijko lady or…"

"Pfft, god no, our goal is to stop her. My sensei, adopted mom and I have been trying to off her for a long while. She's tough but I think you could be invaluable in defeating her when she comes here."

"And she is coming here?"

"Definitely, the century anniversary of her match between her and the Tendo ancestor is in May. She loves theatrics so she won't miss it for the world I imagine."

"And Kuno's fine with fighting his mum?"

"My mother was the one who purposefully cursed me with stupidity and insanity. My sister as well," Takewaki answered, "I hold no love for that woman. It's been a decade anyhow since she last visited."

"Cool, I jus have one more question before I agree to help," Ranma shut his eyes and walked up closer.

"Oh sure, what is it?" Anko smiled.

Ranma opened his eyes and looked at her, "Yer my daughter, ain't ya?"

Anko's eyes popped, "Eh?"