***************Alternate Universe:  Ranko and Kaneda*************

                         by: Adrian Wong

	Thanks to all those who've read the previous parts and gave their
support, especially Gary Kleppe, the proof-reader. :)       
	By the way, I apologize for misspelling Genma in the first two
parts.

Intro:
     In the Ranma manga by Rumiko Takahashi, Genma Saotome
engaged Ranma to one of Soun Tendo's daughters, Akane, in order for
him to inherit the Tendo Dojo.  The entire series largely
consisted of the problems and chaos generated by the couple. 
Suppose that Genma has a daughter, and Soun has two girls and
one boy, then what is going to happen?  Also, how will the
Jusenkyo factor apply itself in this case?  What will happen
when Ranko's mortal enemy comes to town?  And who is Kaneda's secret
crush?  Well, read on and find out!!

All major characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi (even though some have
undergone sex changes).

Part 3: Of Hair and Ties (With yet another gender-reversed character from
Ranmaverse.)                        

by: Adrian Wong


	On the empty streets of Nerima, a lost soul (no, not one of those
freaks from Mermaid Saga) shielded by a red bamboo umbrella was aimlessly
walking amidst the light shower falling from the gray sky.

	"For making me go through all this suffering, you shall pay, evil
woman."  The mysterious figure said in a tried but angry voice as he/she
stuck her nose into a map.  "Now if only I can find that damn Furinkan
High. . ."

	"Excuse me. . ."  An ordinary bystander asked.  "Are you looking
for Furinkan High?"

	Suddenly filled with hope and excitement, the umbrella-shielded
figure rushed forward to the bystander.  "Yes!  YES!  Could you please
take me there?  PLEASE?" 

	"But. . ."

	"No but's!  I've some important mission to accomplish there.  If
it is money you want-"

	"No, it's just that. . ."

	"What?!"  The figure was starting to get frustrated.

	The bystander sighed and pointed behind the figure, where the
words FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOL stood out on the front gate leading to the
school yard. 

	"Oh."  The figure did the Takahashi sweat-drop thing.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	The indoor gymnasium of Furinkan High was alive with wild cheers.
The cause of the commotion, an insufferably cute looking pigtailed girl
in chinese clothes, was light-heartedly flipping and dancing on the
balance beam with exceptional skill.  The boys were going wild, love-sick
expressions all over their faces.  Even the girls were admiring her skill.
Leaping off the beam, Ranko did a flip before making a perfect landing.

	"Oh! You are so good!" said a girl with short brown hair.

	"Not even Kodachi can do so well on the beam!  How in the world
did you do that?" asked another girl with long dark hair.

	"Years of Martial Arts training, baby."  Ranko beamed proudly,
then stopped.  "Say, aren't you girls supposed to be jealous of me due to
my engagement with that long-haired jerk?"

	"Well, not all the girls in this school are as obsessed as
Kodachi and her gang, even though we all think of Kaneda Tendo as a
heart-throb. <insert giggling>  Besides, I don't think anyone will be
openly hostile to you, seeing what you did to Kodachi 2 days ago."  The
long-haired girl smirked.  "By the way, I'm Sayuri, and that is Yuka, the
class's brain."  The other girl smiled and nodded.

	Ranko smiled.  "Nice knowing you guys.  Heh, it is good to know
that I'm not an outcast." She flexed her knuckles playfully.  "Even
though I've ABSOLUTELY no problem fighting anybody. . .  Eh?"  She
suddenly noticed that the girls were staring away from her, and turned her
eyes to the object of their attention.
 
	The boy's volleyball team was split into two groups to practice.
Even though a certain bishonnen martial artist was on one of them, the
sides were not too uneven.  Ranko observed that Kaneda was holding back,
giving the boys on the other side a chance to practice their speed in
hitting the ball.  The opposing  teammates, knowing what Kaneda was
capable of in a real match, were silently grateful.

	 <Hmmm. . . I have to admit, he is not a showoff at all. . .>
Ranko thought to herself.  Her face flushed as she saw how manly Kaneda
looked as his gym sweater was transparent with sweat, showing the
lean muscles underneath it.  The string tying his ponytail had been shaken
off during the game, and the now unruly long hair made the young man look
even more handsome.

	"Sigh. . . you're SO lucky to have him, Ranko."  Sayuri said,
never taking her eyes off the Tendo boy.

	"Na. . .Nani?!"  Ranko blushed and closed her eyes in disdain.
"Like I want to be engaged to that-"  At that moment, the boys on the
opposing side failed to catch Kaneda's volleyball, letting it collide into
the beautiful red-haired profile.

	"Sorry, that one was really unintentional."  Kaneda called out to
the KOD-ed girl.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	At the end of the school day, the dark clouds were gone and the
sun was shining brightly over the pleasant little town. Hordes of students
were happily pouring out of the school in anticipation of the weekend.


	"Yes!"  Ranko stretched her arms.  "No more stinking classes for
the weekend."

	"Ranko, you've only been in school for less than a week!"  Kaneda
looked annoyed.	

	"So, that doesn't make school anymore interesting."

	"Brrrr. . . how can you be so lazy?"

	"Lazy?  At least I continually explore new techniques with Pop
every morning!  Since when have I see you do any special attacks?"

	Kaneda gritted his teeth as his hands disappeared into
hammerspace.  "I'll show you a special attack you. . .Eh?"  To his
surprise he could find nothing.

	Ranko smirked.  "Trying to find something?"

	"What. . ."

	"In case you haven't read the C&C from the Fanfic Mailing List,
James Nutley had reminded the author that the use of hammer is restricted
to girls only. . .  which comes to think of it explains why you could use
them!  BWAHAHAHAHA!"

	"Grrr. . ."  Kaneda fumed.

	"Hmmm . . . so Kaneda-sama had lost his hammer attack, huh?"  

	"Yeah, serves the wimp right for being so abusive-"  Ranko stopped
abruptly as she realized that she was talking to a still bandaged Kodachi
who had suddenly appeared between her and Kaneda.  Ranko frowned as she
remembered seeing a completely healed Kodachi by gym class.

	"Very well. . ."  The gymnast smiled deviously (which could be
seen
even under the bandage) and suddenly leapt up to midair, pulling off her
suspiciously long bandage, and whipped it at the object of her desire.
"Hohohoho!  Now's my chance, Kaneda-sama!"  

	ZAP!!

	Before Ranko could react Kaneda's hand shot out to catch the long
fabric and started spinning Kodachi around in circles.
"IIIIIwwwwwwon'tggggggiveuuuuupKKKKKanedasssssammmaaaa-"   Hearing that,
Kaneda let go of the bandage, and Kodachi flew into next week.   The
Furinkan students around them all clapped and commented on the young
Tendo's skills.

	"Why she comes back for more, I would never know."  Ranko shook
her head.

	"Heh, can't call me weak now, can you?"  Kaneda's ego inflated.

	"Please.  That was a child's trick, and can only work when your
opponent is weaker than you."  Ranko said with a bored expression.

	"Oh, then I suppose YOU can beat someone physically stronger than
you then, huh?"  Kaneda asked.

	"Of course I ca- LOOK OUT!!"   Ranko quickly pushed Kaneda aside
and leaped away as a red bamboo umbrella shot through the space that they
were in and crashed into the ground, causing a blast.  The Furinkan
students were horrified to see the concrete within a two meter radius of
the umbrella shattered into dust.

	The mysterious assailant yielding the umbrella turned out to be a
short-haired girl with a bandanna around her head.  Exactly opposite to
Ranko, whose luscious curves could show through her baggy Chinese
clothing, this girl's body was almost as tight-muscled as a boy's.
Luckily for her, the sharp  V ' of her waist helped her to be recognizable
as a female.  Her vicious dark eyes glared at Ranko.

	"I've found you at last, Ranko Saotome."  She snared and bared her
fangs at the pigtailed girl.

	"You. . . you. . ."  Ranko edged towards the girl with a serious
expression. . . and studied her face.  "Who the heck are you?"	

	Everybody facefaulted.

	"RANKO!!  How dare you forget me?!"  The girl struck out with her
umbrella, which Ranko dodged. 

	"Ranko, you know her?"  Kaneda asked.

	"Don't think so. . ."  Ranko scratched her chin as she bent
backwards to avoid another strike.

	"You ran out on our duel, stupid!"  The girl barked as she
attempted another strike.

	"Now I remember!"  Ranko blocked the umbrella and dashed forward
to tap the girl on the nose, startling her.  "You're this classmate of
mine in junior high!  You're called. . . called. . . Oh, well, can't
remember. Tee-hee."  Ranko giggled nervously.

	"I'M RYOKO HIBIKI, YOU BIMBO!!"  The muscular girl grabbed Ranko
by her Chinese collar and flung her up the air.  The latter somersaulted
in midair and landed beside Kaneda.

	"Ranko, what have you done to get her so mad?"  Kaneda asked with
a frown.

	"Well. . . Ah-ha!  Now I remember."  Ranko slapped her palms
together.  "When both Ryoko and I attended that all girls junior high..."

******************************FLASHBACK**************************	  
	On an ordinary school day, something very unusual was going on in
a certain all girls junior high's stationary.

	It was packed with enthusiastic students.

	The shop owner was holding a box of pencil-cases. "THIS WEEK'S
SPECIAL: SAILOR MOON PENCIL-CASES FOR ONLY 200 YEN EACH!  I'M RUNNING OUT
OF STOCK HERE. SO HURRY UP, KIDS!"

	The girls all rushed forward to try and grab one before the others
had a chance, resulting in an unfeminine brawl.  The last of the pencil
cases was hit out of a small girl's hand, flying in midair.

	Ryoko, who was a part of the brawl, quickly leaped up to catch the
pencil case of her desire.  Her outstretched hand was only inches away
from it when a pigtailed blur whizzed by and the pencil case disappeared.


	Ranko skipped over to the store owner and bought what was almost
Ryoko's.  "What a bargain!"  Ranko smiled to herself, and suddenly noticed
the hostile glare of a short-haired girl.

	"What. . . is. . . your. . . name?"  She growled.

	"Ranko Saotome."  Ranko replied casually.

	"Ranko. . . how dare you STEAL my pencil case!  I, Ryoko Hibiki,
will never forget this!"  Ryoko ran off with tears in her eyes.

	"Weirdo."  Ranko shook her head as she headed back to class.

***************************END FLASHBACK************************* 

	"And that was supposed to be a big deal?"  Kaneda asked the
fuming Ryoko.

	"That wasn't the worst part!"  Ryoko gritted her teeth. "The worst
part was that she showed up on EVERY bargain day at the stationary!  She
took the Sailor Venus eraser, the Sailor Mars compass, the Sailor Mercury
stapler, the Sailor Jupiter ruler. . .  "

	"Could she get any pettier?"  Ranko muttered to herself.

	"Anyway. . ."  Ryoko glared at Ranko.  "We were supposed to have a
duel, a woman to woman fight to settle this!  But you chickened out and
left for China!"

	"Hey, wait a minute!  I've waited at the battlefield/vacant lot
for THREE days already, and you didn't show up!"  Ranko said with her
hands on her hips

	"It took me four days to get there!"  

	"When the place was directly behind your house?"  Ranko said with
a bored expression.

	Ryoko narrowed her eyes.  "Ranko Saotome, you've used my inferior
sense of direction to escape, and that had led to my current state of
HELL!"   She leaped up to midair.   "DIE!!!!!!!!"

	Ranko leaped upward to intercept her.  Ryoko thrust the umbrella
at the pigtailed girl, which she caught with both hands.  Ranko flowed
with Ryoko's momentum and in a skillful toss sent Ryoko straight to the
ground as she herself landed delicately on her feet.

	As Ryoko got up immediately and charged at Ranko with her
umbrella, Kaneda had decided to put a stop to this nonsense before one of
the girls got hurt.  Leaping in front of the bandanna girl, he grabbed
onto her umbrella to disarm the furious girl. 

	Or so he tried.

	The first thing that startled Kaneda as he held onto the umbrella
was that Ryoko didn't stop her charging.  Instead, she was still pushing
forward while he wasn't even stepping back.  It took Kaneda a moment to
realize that he, who could perform an over the shoulder toss on a sumo
wrestler, was being pushed backwards.  His shoes were drawing two lines of
dust from their friction with the moving ground.

	Ryoko flung her umbrella sideways and sent the long-haired boy
that blocked her path flying towards a tree.  A look of horror crossed
Ranko's face as she leaped after the boy.  Ryoko used that opportunity to
strike at Ranko.  The pigtailed girl stopped to kick Ryoko, umbrella and
all, through the main entrance of the school building.  

	Kaneda was slammed into the tree hard, and was struggling to get
back up.  The cries of "Damn you, Ranko!  How dare you trap me in this
maze!", along with the sounds of walls crumbling, could be heard coming
from the school building.

	"How could ANYONE be so strong?"  He muttered in amazement.

 	"Hey!  You all right?"  Ranko rushed to him.

	"I'm fine."  Kaneda got up holding his shoulder, which was twisted
at an odd angle after its less than gentle contact with the tree.  He
whispered to the girl.  "And don't even think about carrying me like the
last time!"

	"Hmph!  Like I want to carry you again!"  Ranko said so in a
deliberately loud voice, turning their classmates' curious stares toward
their way.

	"Baka!"  The red-faced Kaneda quickly dragged Ranko by her pigtail
with his good arm and ran away from their curious peers in embarrassment.
At this point, Ryoko broke through the exterior wall of the school and ran
toward a random direction, shouting: "RANKO!!!  I SHALL HAVE
VENGENCE!!!!!"  The student spectators all shook their heads to clear the
weirdness around them and left for the weekend.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	 Outside a modest looking clinic, Kaneda stopped his running and
panted loudly as Ranko looked at him with a hint of amazement.  "I'm
impressed.  Must be difficult to run this fast with a twisted shoulder."

	"Damn right. . ."  Kaneda took a second to catch his breath and
pointed to the clinic.  "You might as well come in with me.  The doctor
here is. . . a close friend of the family."

	"Might as well."  Ranko held the door as Kaneda stumbled in.

	"Kaneda, did you get into a fight again?"  A sensual, throaty
voice called out.  Ranko looked to the direction of the voice and her eyes
widened. <No way! THIS is the doctor!?>

	"Hi, Dr. Hinako."  Kaneda said with a light flush on his face.  

	This woman, Dr. Hinako, was a tall, beautiful. . . no, glamorous
young woman in her early twenties with a strikingly flawless profile.  Her
long, brown hair, parted to one side and flowing all the way down to her
knees, was thicker and shinier than anything that Ranko had seen before.
Her curvy body showed through her casual yellow dress, giving her an
unintentional sex appeal.    
  
	Dr. Hinako looked toward Ranko, then back at Kaneda's arm, and
smiled with amusement in her heavily-lashed brown eyes.  "So, finally
there IS a girl capable of defeating the invincible heir to the Tendo Clan
after all.  Congratulations!  You have no idea how many had tried and
failed, ending up as my patients."

	"If you are referring to that arm, I didn't do it."  Ranko said.
"Although I DID managed to defeat him before, this time some OTHER girl
beat him into a pulp."

	Kaneda blushed at Dr. Hinako's questioning look and glared at
Ranko.  "I wasn't even trying!"  Then he remembered his manners,
deliberately smoothed his features, and gestured to Ranko.  "Dr. Hinako,
this is Ranko Saotome."

    	Dr. Hinako smiled and bowed.  "Nice to meet you.  Kaneda is very
lucky to have such a pretty and skilled fiancee."
 
	Ranko pecked an eyebrow as Kaneda gasped.  "You knew?!"

	Dr. Hinako nodded.  "Yes, Mr. Tendo. . ."  Her eyes gazed over
slightly, then she quickly recollected herself.  "He told me all about it
the other day as he came over to borrow some medical books."

	Kaneda panicked for some reason.  "It. . . it isn't what you
think, Dr!  It's not blinding. . ."  Ranko looked on with curiosity while
the doctor smiled like an older sister.

	"That's good.  In my opinion, you two are both too young for an
engagement anyway."  Kaneda shrank visibly for some reason.    "Oh, silly
me, I almost forgot.  Kaneda, come over and let me take a look at that
shoulder."

	"Yes, doctor."   Kaneda took off his shirt and the doctor began
looking at the bare shoulder and arm.

	"Hmmm, this isn't too bad. . ."  Dr. Hinako suddenly got a playful
smile that looked very enticing on her.  "Okay, brace yourself."  	

	Kaneda, who looked depressed and worn out up until this point,
visibly straightened up with a sightly serious expression.  Dr. Hinako
slowly raised her hand in an elegant gesture. . .

	. . . and swiftly placed two vicious strikes at the boy's shoulder
joint.  Kaneda squeezed his eyes shut as Ranko's eyes almost popped out of
her head.  She could tell by the strength and of the blows and the
cracking sounds of the joint that this Doctor was no ordinary, untrained
person.

	The hand that had struck the shoulder now gently massaged the
struck area.  "So, does it feel any better?"  

	"Yes, Dr. Hinako."  Kaneda replied meekly as Ranko continued to
look on with amazement.

	"Good.  Now let me get you some kind of pain reliever to put on
your shoulder. . ."

	"Good afternoon, Doctor Hinako."  A familiar voice called out from
the door.

	Dr. Hinako, who remained sophisticated up to this point, suddenly
had a 180 degree personality change.  "Mr. Tendo!"  She rushed up to him
as if he was an idol singer.  "Oh!  How absolutely nice of you to come
by!"

	Soun smiled in a more gentleman like manner than he usually was.
"Good Doctor, I should be the one who is honored by your presence.
Without your healing techniques, my son's training would have been much
more difficult and painful."

	"Oh, Mr. Tendo!"  Dr. Hinako covered her face with her palms and
blushed like a love-sick schoolgirl.  

	Mr. Tendo smiled and held out a book.  "By the way, this is the
ancient medical book that I've borrowed from last week.  It was most
generous of you. . ."
	
	Meanwhile Kaneda was silently putting on his shirt.  He turned to
the doctor.  "Thanks, Dr. Hinako  I think I should go now."  The doctor,
still too engrossed with the elder Tendo, didn't even acknowledge his
hasty departure.  Ranko, sensing something wrong, went after him.  "It's
nice meeting you, Dr."  She called over her shoulder as she left.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	In the late afternoon, there was yet another shower in Nerima.
The roads had become slippery, and dirty water splashed onto his dress
pants as Kaneda ran through the rain.  But it didn't matter to him at this
point.

	"You two are both too young. . ."  Hinako's voice rang through his
head.

	Why?!  Why is it that he, who could afford to fight off dozens of
love-crazed girls at school, cannot even get the attention of the one that
he truly wants?  How could she be so oblivious to him when almost every
other girl couldn't help but drool at him?!

	<Because she isn't a girl, she is a WOMAN.  And a woman always
prefers a MAN over a BOY.> His mind told him. 

	Kaneda kept on running blindly in the rain. <It isn't fair that
I'm not as manly as Dad, it isn't fair that I'm younger than her it isn't
fair it isn't. . .>

	With a roar he punched a street lamp with all his might, breaking
it in half.  The top half of it crumbled to the ground in a loud THUM.

	"IT ISN'T FAIR!!!"  Kaneda cried out to the heavens.

	"Hey, relax, will ya?  Life seldom is anyway."  A young, male
voice called out from behind him."

	"Ranko. . ."  Kaneda turned back to look at the girl-turned-boy,
whose Chinese clothes were soaking wet.  He was looking at him with his
arms behind his back and his head slightly clocked to one side.

	"Call me Ranma when I'm a guy, it's less. . .awkward in case
somebody heard us."  Ranma then moved back to the subject at hand.  "You
love her, didn't you?" 

	"What do you care?!"  Kaneda yelled at him, then began to feel
guilty as his frustration died down.  He should at least be grateful that
Ranma had come after him.  "I. . . I'm sorry, Ranma.  I didn't mean to
yell."

	"Hey, at least you didn't attack me."  Ranma smirked, then his
face became more serious.  "I should say something. . . anything just to
make you feel better.  But with my big mouth, I guess it would be better
for me just to stay quietly by your side in support."

	"You got that right."  Kaneda smiled, finally.  Ranma scowled but
Kaneda's next sentence made it disappear.  "Just having you. . . being
here with me. . . is already good enough for me."

	"Kaneda. . ."  Ranma didn't know what to say.

	"C'mon, let's go home.  We'll get you some hot water to change
back."

	"Uh."

	The boys quietly walked back home, one along a fence while the
other stayed on the ground.

	"Hey, Ran. . . ma."  Kaneda broke the silence.  "If I tell you a
secret, can you promise not to tell anyone else?"

	Ranma looked at him with curiosity, and answered.  "Sure."  

	"Ever wonder about why I have such long hair?"

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	The next week passed by with relative normality.  Then one day
during lunch, Ranko and her new friends (Sayuri & Yuka) began to talk
about boys.

	"Actually, I think that Hiroshi is kind of cute."  Yuka said.
	"Really? I think Daisuke looks better than him."  Sayuri observed.

	"They're okay, I guess. . ."  Ranko said in a bored tone.  The
subject of boys was never too interesting to her.  	     
	

	"Ranko, you don't look too interested."  Yuka turned to the
pigtailed girl.

	"It's only natural.  After all, she has already got Kaneda. . ."
Sayuri giggled.

	"Hey!"  Ranko protested in embarrassment.

	"Of course. . . he is so perfect!  Handsome face, lean form, and
that relaxed looking ponytail. . ."  Yuka sighed, looking at the Tendo kid
with his friends leaning against the classroom window.

	Meanwhile, Daisuke was teasing Kaneda about last week.  "Brrr!
How can you let that Ryoko girl beat you?"  He asked.

	"I told you!  I was careless, okay?!  Besides, if you're so tough
why don't YOU challenger her the next time?"

	"Now, now. . ."  Hiroshi joined in.  "We ain't no martial artists.
But YOU, my friend, are supposed to be one!"

	"Grrr. . ."  Kaneda fumed.  Then he noticed the figure in the
playground.  

	"Ranko!  She's back!"  Kaneda called out to Ranko, who was
startled.

	"After just one week?"  Ranko asked.  "Must be improving her map
skills."  


	The entire class sweated.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*
	The athletic field of Furinkan High was surrounded by a ring of
students as the two super-martial artists faced off against each other.

	"No longer can you escape me, Ranko!"  Ryoko bared her fangs in a
threatening way.

	"I have nothing to escape from."  Ranko said with crossed arms.
"I just don't understand why you hate me so much."

	"It doesn't matter if you understand or not. . ."  Ryoko raised
her umbrella.  "Cause you wouldn't and couldn't possibly understand the
shame I've been put through.  Now. . . YOU SHALL PAY!!"  She swiped
repeatedly at Ranko in a fury.  Ranko skillfully dodged all the swipes.  

	"You're just so barbaric and thick-headed."  Ranko sighed before
she ducked under a forward thrust.

	"Shut up!!"  Ryoko opened up her umbrella and threw it at Ranko
like a flying disc.  Ranko narrowly dodged its sharp edge, but couldn't
avoid a length of chain that Ryoko had previously hidden from view.  The
chain wrapped itself on Ranko's left arm, and Ryoko grinned.

	"Ranko. . ."  Kaneda stood up, remembering the inhuman strength of
Ryoko from their last encounter.  "Don't let her get near you!  Use your
speed against her!!"  He called out to Ranko.
	
   	"Aw, man!  Stop worrying about me!"  Ranko yelled backed.  To
Kaneda's horror, Ryoko took the moment of distraction to strike at Ranko's
face.

	Or so she tried to.

	Before her hand can make contact, Ranko had suddenly disappeared
from view.  It took the sensation of her chain wielding hand being pulled
down to make her realize that the pigtailed girl had escaped from between
her legs.  Then something heavy hit her on the back of her head and her
face was pushed into the ground.

	The Furinkan students were in awe to say the least.  One moment
before Ranko had been caught in a seemingly impossible restraint, and now
she
was sitting on top of the short-haired head of her opponent.  The
obviously
stronger girl was helplessly pinned to the ground.

	"Ryoko, just give it up, will ya?"  Ranko said, sitting on the
back of her opponents head.

	"You dare. . .YOU DARE TO SIT ON MY HEAD?!"  Grunting like a
beast, the impossibility strong girl lifted up her body (Ranko attached)
with her one free arm.

	"Woha. . ."  Ranko was clearly startled by her strength.

	"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"  With a strong push to
the ground, Ryoko launched herself and her opponent up onto the sky like a
rocket.   Twisting out of Ranko's hold, Ryoko aimed several powerful side
kicks at her opponent.  Ranko somehow managed to twist around and dodged
all of them, even when floating in midair.  

	"Kyaa!!!"  A center kick from Ranko caught Ryoko right on her
chin, sending her twirling to the ground.  But the clumsy landing seemed
to have no effect on her, as she quickly grabbed her umbrella and dragged
Ranko back to the ground with the chain.
Both girls leaped over the high fence of the field and continued their
fight near the water fountain at the back of the school.  The students,
all fascinated by the fight, immediately went after them. 

	"Take this!!"   Ryoko unleashed six or seven bandannas from her
hair and threw them at Ranko.  Ranko, sensing the strength of the
projectiles, leaped over them. . .

	. . . and let them cleave through the water tap that she was
directly above.

	"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"  Ranko screamed, and the Furinkan
kids echoed her several seconds afterwards as the change took place
directly in front of their eyes.

	"Ranma . . ."  Kaneda gasped.

	Ranma landed, and slowly looked around at the surrounding
students.  Their horrified, intense stares cut through his heart like
daggers.

	"Ranko. . . is that you?"  Ryoko asked with a stunned expression.

	Ranma had a look between anger and embarrassment on his face.
"It's freaky, isn't it?  It's almost. . . funny.  Ryoko, I don't know why
you hate me so much. . . but. . ."  Ranma squeezed his eyes shut to keep
his tears from flowing.  "JUST LOOK AT ME!!  I'M ALREADY MORE UNFORTUNATE
THAT ANYONE ELSE COULD EVER BE!!!"

	Strangely, Ryoko began to chuckle insanely, and Ranma slowly
backed away.  "So, you think you are unfortunate?  Don't make me laugh!"
She viciously ripped out a bunch of bandannas from her head and began
twirling them around.  "To be able to turn into such a handsome man... IS
NOT
EVEN CLOSE TO BEING UNFORTUNATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  With
that, she shot out a storm of bandannas in the general direction of
Ranma.

	Ranma immediately began dodging, but somehow, his male body seemed
to have less agility than his real one.  Several bandannas shredded his
clothes.  Ryoko, on the other hand,seemed to have an infinite supply of
bandannas tied around her head.  The average students, without any skill
in dodging, could only flatten themselves to the ground to avoid the worst
of it.

	Kaneda, who realized Ranma's decrease in speed, called out to her.
"Hang on!  I'll get you some hot water!"  With that, he ran towards the
shower.  

	"Baka!  Stay down!"  Ranma called out.

	"I'll be all rig-AUG!!"  Tripping on a piece of rock, Kaneda fell
onto the ground.  Ranma immediately rushed to his aid.  "Kaneda!" 

	Remembering the boy as Ranma's/Ranko's weakness, Ryoko didn't
hesitate in throwing her umbrella at Kaneda.  "You can't escape me!!"  She
added in half a dozen of projectile bandanna for good measure.

	Jumping in front of Kaneda, the pigtailed boy kicked Ryoko's
umbrella in such a way that cancelled its momentum and brought its handle
to his hand.  In one fluid motion, Ranma opened the umbrella as a shield
against the bandannas and grabbed Kaneda by his waist. He then leaped up
onto the branch of a large tree with Kaneda under his arm, carrying the
umbrella all the while.

	As both of them calmed down, an uncomfortable silence loomed over
them.  Finally, Ranma spoke up.

	"You shouldn't butt into other people's fight." 

	"But you were in danger. . ."

	"I wasn't , dammit!  I was just waiting for an opening!  Both of
us almost get killed, thanks to you!"

	"What did you say?!"

	Meanwhile, Ryoko took off the piece of fabric that was her belt.
The Furinkan students all looked oddly at her.  "Now what is she up to?"
Boy 31 wondered.

   	Ryoko took a swing at the tree Ranma and Kaneda were on with the
belt, and the large tree was cleanly sliced off at the lower trunk.

	"What?!"  Everybody was freaked.

	Meanwhile, way up on the branch, the now same-sex couple were in a
shouting match.

	"Just stay out of my business!"  Ranma yelled.

	"Fine!  See if I-"  Kaneda stopped abruptly as the tree began to
slide.  Ranma immediately grabbed him and leaped off the falling tree.

	Ryoko, leaping up at them with a maniacal glint in her eyes,
slashed out with her belt.  It cut off the umbrella that Ranma was
holding.

	"Let go!"  Kaneda yelled angrily at Ranma. 	 
	  	 	
	"Like I want to protect an interfering wimp like you all the
time!!"  Ranma retorted.

	ZOOM!!!!

	Kaneda violently leaped out of Ranma's hold in midair, almost
throwing Ranma off balance in the process.  He somersaulted, and landed
facing Ranma.
			
	Glaring at the pigtailed boy with eyes full of anger and
bitterness, he spoke in a low voice.  "If that is what you think of me..."
He
turned and walked away without finishing the sentence.

	Ranma, seeing how his big mouth had once again upset things, ran
after him.  "Hey..."

	"Take me seriously, dammit!"  Ryoko slashed at him with her belt,
which was immediately kicked out of her hand.  

	"Just leave me alone!"  Ranma continued to go after Kaneda,
unaware of the twirling belt in midair.  "Kaneda, wait!"

 	"From now on. . ."  Stopping abruptly, Kaneda turned around with
much violence to face Ranma, his loose ponytail flowing in the air.  "I
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU WHATSOEVER-"

	And the falling, sharp-edged belt cleanly sliced off his hair.

	His classmates all stopped breathless at what had just
happened, especially the girls.  The flowing, long hair that had given a
unique
enhancement to Kaneda's handsomeness was now replaced by an unevenly cut
mess on his head.  The two long strands of hair at his temples, no longer
balanced by the thick ponytail, became downright ridiculous looking.   The
long pony tail, still braided by the string, lay lifelessly on the ground
behind him.  Everybody was paralysed with tension around the motionless
boy.

	But none of them were close to being as devastated as Ranma, who
alone knew the significance of Kaneda's long hair. Ryoko walked up to
him and laid a hand on his shoulder.  "Hey, at least the belt didn't cut
off his head."

	Ranma slapped the hand away and turned to her with a how stupid
can you be' look.  "But his trademark long hair is gone!" 	 

	"Well. . . errr. . ."  For once, Ryoko seemed to look guilty
instead of angry.

	Ranma walked up to Kaneda, whose eyes were still blank.
"Kaneda... I...
I'm sorry, okay?  C'mon, hammer me if you want to. . .err. . .
then again, you can't use it anymore, heheh. . ."  Kaneda was still not
responding, and a chill went through Ranma's heart.  "I. . . I know!  How
about a punch?  Here, give it to me good on the jaw. . ."

	At this point, Ryoko grudging stepped up to the still boy.  "I'm
sorry to have dragged you into this fight.  Do with me as you like."

	At this point, Kaneda's eyes came back to focus.  He slowly turned
toward a tree beside him, gave it the strongest punch that he is capable
of, and quietly walked away.

	"Quite a gentleman, isn't he?"  Ryoko said, with a slight
admiration in her voice.  Ranma simply looked sadly at Kaneda's retreating
figure.

	And the tree that Kaneda had punched gave way and fell on top of
the two.

	Ryoko painfully popped out her head from beneath the massive
weight.  "Then again. . ."

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	Racing back to the Tendo Dojo with a ponytail in her hand, the now
female Ranko thought back to Kaneda's confession' to her from a week ago.

*****************************FLASHBACK***************************   
	"So you grow long hair just to look like your father?"  Ranma
looked at Kaneda critically.  "Mr. Tendo doesn't have short bangs though."

	"Well, my head seemed to be less. . . angular than Dad's. No
matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get my long bangs to flow backwards
like his.  So eventually, I cut them short just to make a window' for me
to see through."

	Ranma's interest grew.  "And what about this lose ponytail?  Why
not just tie it tighter?"

	Kaneda replied.  "This used to be Dad's hair style when we first
knew Dr. Hinako."

	"Are you going to grow a moustache also?"

	"I. . . don't think so."

	"That's good.  I like the way you look now."  Ranma breathed a
sign of relief.

	"Huh?"  Kaneda turned to him with a curious stare.

	"It's just. . . I mean. . ."  Ranma blushed.  

	Sensing his discomfort, Kaneda changed the subject.  "I guess long
hair doesn't exactly have the same effect on me as on Dad.  But. . . I
don't know, I feel that I just MIGHT have a chance at her if I keep my
hair this way.  It's probably a stupid thought anyway. . ."

	Ranma simply looked at him quietly.   

**************************END FLASHBACK**************************

	"Oh man oh man oh man!  I've got to find a way of making up to
him."  Ranko leaped over the high wall and entered the dinning room
through the yard.  Kasumi was cleaning up the table for dinner, and smiled
at her warmly.

	"You're back, Ranko-chan."

	"Hey, Kasumi.  Do you know where Kaneda is?"

	"He left right after I gave his hair a trim."  Kasumi looked
worried.  "It was really strange.  My brother's long hair was almost his
life to him.  I have no idea why he would cut his hair this short all of a
sudden.  And then he left for Dr. Hinako's place, saying that he twisted
his ankle at school.  Is there something that had happened that I should
know about?"
   
*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	Running on top of a fence, Ranko ran toward the direction of the
clinic.   Then she saw a familiar looking boy in a Furinkan's male uniform
walking ahead and leaped over to him.

	"Kaneda!  I. . . Oops, sorry.  Got the wrong person."  She
continued on her way until a familiar voice called her back.

	"Who are you looking for?"

	Ranko stopped to look back at the boy.  Gone were the ever-present
strands at his temples, since his hair was now clipped close to the sides.
The hair at the back of his head was also cut short.  The only thing that
is recognizable about his hair were the heavy bangs parting in the middle.  
	
	"Kaneda. . . it's you?"  Ranko asked questioningly.

	"Even you can't recognize me anymore. . ."  He replied.

	"I'm sorry."  Ranko bowed to him.  Kaneda smiled.

	"It's no big deal."  He began walking away.  "After all, I have
always wanted to cut my hair short." 

	The two walked to the clinic in silence.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	"Hello, Kaneda and Ranko."  Dr. Hinako greeted them warmly.  She
smiled at Kaneda  "Hey, what's with the new look?"  Kaneda simply smiled.

	With the boy sitting on the patient's bed, Dr. Hinako checked his
ankle.  "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. . ."

	"Doctor?"

	"Yes?"

	"What do you think of the short hair?"  Kaneda asked in as casual
a way as possible.

	Dr. Hinako took a long look, and smiled.  "I think it makes you
very manly."

	"Really?"

	"Really."

	Through this exchange, Ranko was quietly looking on the side.  Her
eyes looked watery for some reason.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	It was already close to the evening as they left the clinic.  The
sunset had casted a melancholic red glow on the city.  Ranko and Kaneda
are walking home in the usual way: one on the fence and the other on the
ground.  Ranko noticed that Kaneda had a smile of relief on his face.

	"Why are you smiling."  She asked.

	"Because, I have just unloaded an unnecessary burden."  He
replied.  "No longer do I need to live under other people's shadow.  I
have accepted the truth: Dad is the only one for Dr. Hinako.  From now on,
I shall be free. . . free from the ties of my own wishful thinking." 

	"Hey, you know what?  I think you look really cool with this new
hair."

	"Enough.  You don't need to say it just to make me feel better."

	"Hey!  I'm telling the truth!  You do look studly with short
hair!"

	"Huh?!"  Kaneda was clearly startled as Ranko ran through several
shades of red as she realized what she just said.

	"It's just. . . I mean. . ."  She turned her back to him on the
fence to hide her blushing.  Kaneda looked up at her, and smiled.	
 
	"Thanks, Ranko."

	Ranko turned back, and was enchanted by the sight that greeted
her.  Kaneda's smile, combined with the red glow of the setting sun,
showed off a gentleness on his part that she wasn't aware of before.

	<He's an angel.> She thought to herself.

	So enchanted was she that she didn't notice Kaneda's finger
pushing her off balance.

	"What the-"

	SPLASH!!!

	"What did you do that for?!"  Ranma yelled up at him from the
river.

	Kaneda smiled down at him with mischief in his eyes.  "Now we are
even, tomboy!"

	"Grrr. . . I'll get you for this!"  Ranma leaped out of the water
and chased the laughing boy all the way back home.

*		*		*		*		*
*		*

	Meanwhile, in a place surrounded by trees, Ryoko was busily
finding her way to the Tendo Dojo.  "This is not over yet, Ranko. Once I
find my way out of this forest, you shall pay dearly!"  Sticking her nose
in a map, she began to wander aimlessly. . .

	. . . in Furinkan High's sakura garden.

                         END PART 3          Feb. 22, 1997  

Criticisms and comments are welcome at:
awong@delasalle.toronto.on.ca 
note:  This address will expire by June, 97.  Please check the FFML by
then to get my new address. 
	

 	        


Gary Kleppe
kleppe@execpc.com, http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe