My fiancee and I decided to weed out the errors in our previous post
of this chapter and threw in a new scene.  All C&C, MSTs, flames, etc.
are welcome as long as they have a point other than "I don't like this."
Happy reading.

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��� � � � � � � � � � � � � Ranma 1/2

�� � � � � � � � � � Reversal of Fortune 
�
������������������������
�Chapter 2

 �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � by
 
�����   � � � � � � � � Akihiro & Malon 

DISCLAIMER: The characters Saotome 
Ranma, Satome Nodoka, Soatome Genma,
Tendou Akane, Kunou Tatewaki, Hibiki 
Ryouga, Hiroshi, and Daisuke are property of Takahashi Rumiko and those
companies with a legal copyright claim and are used without permission.
All other characters are creations and property of the authors. 

{...} Indicates character thoughts 

______________________________________ 

���� Saotome Ranma was in the Saotome family 
dojo getting an early morning workout when Akane came in to observe. 
���� "I see you're pretty good," commented Akane. � "Well, Mom
says it's not nice to brag, but I am the best," replied the boy. He
quickly added, "No bragging, just being honest." 
��� � {Oh please} thought Akane. {You have got to be kidding me!
I think he needs to be taken down a notch or two.} She stepped in front
of Ranma and took a defensive posture. "Attack me." 
��� � "Huh? Didn't I say that I don't hit girls?" he asked. "If
I wouldn't hit you after that comment you made last night, what makes
you think I would now?" 
��� � Akane started to get angry at Ranma's lack of action.
"That was different. You shouldn't attack anyone in anger, but for
practice it's okay. Just don't forget we're only sparring." 
��� � "No. I won't attack a girl." Ranma's anger
was starting to rise as well as Akane's insult
replayed itself in his mind. {"In that respect I'm
more of a man than you could ever hope to be!" No!!! I can't do it.}
Ranma calmed himself then looked her in the eye and repeated, "I won't
attack you." 
��� � Akane finally reached her limit and quickly shifted into
an attack. "Will you defend yourself then?" 
��� � Ranma blocked the first punch Akane threw. "Good," she
said. "Now let's up the ante." She quickly went into a heavy barrage of
kicks and punches, the end result of which was Ranma resting
unceremoniously on his posterior on the floor of the dojo. "Your defense
is pathetic. I had a better defense when I was six," the girl said with
a smug expression. 
��� � Ranma, however, was too stunned to catch the insult. "How
the hell did you do that? I didn't think bridal academies teach martial
arts." 
��� � "Well, the academy didn't teach it. You see..." Akane
started, but was cut off as Ryunosuke entered the dojo. 
��� � "There you two are. Mother said to tell you that breakfast
was ready. Please hurry before it gets cold." 
��� � "Thanks Ryu! I'll be in in just a second," Ranma shouted
to his brother as he picked himself up from the floor. He turned to
Akane hoping to hear more about her martial arts training, but noticed
she was leaving. "Wait, what about what you were saying?" 
���� "I'll tell you later," she said. "Right now I want
breakfast." � Ranma watched Akane leave the room as several thoughts
filled his mind. {She didn't even break a sweat!} {If she didn't learn
from the academy, then where?} {She is kind of cute, and last night in
the bathroom... Oh man!!!} {Why am I not as mad about what she said
now?} {Maybe this situation could be worse.}   Ranma's thoughts
continued as he slowly left the dojo.

*** 

��� � "So, you aren't mad about having to go to school here?"
asked Ranma as he and Akane walked toward Furinkan High. 
��� � Akane looked curiously at Ranma. "Why should I be? Just
because I finished with the bridal academy's courses doesn't mean my
regular education is complete." 
��� � "Well, it's just that if I spent several years away from
my home I wouldn't want to have to start school the day after I got
back. I mean, you aren't even settled in yet." Ranma looked over the
girl next to him. "How many years were you there anyways?" 
��� � "I started at the bridal academy the same year you started
your first year of school. My mother thought that my father teaching me
martial arts was 'inappropriate and un-lady-like.' Since I was the only
child they had to take this engagement, she thought I should learn to be
a proper bride." 
��� � "I thought you said you didn't know about the engagement
until yesterday?" Ranma asked. 
��� � "I didn't. That's how Mother explained it to me last
night," said Akane. 
���� "Oh. So if you'd had any sisters you may have had a normal
life?"
   � "Probably. That's how it sounded to me."
   � "How about your father? Did he ever want more kids?" asked Ranma.
   � "Well, Father and Mother tried for years to have children before
me, but..." The statement drifted off as Akane's face took on a
sorrowful look which Ranma completely missed. 
���� "They just couldn't get their timing right, huh?"
� Akane snapped out of her daze and briefly glared at Ranma. "Yeah. I
suppose," she said dryly. "How about you? How would your life be
different if you were in my shoes?" 
��� � "Why would my folks send me to a bridal academy?" Ranma
asked in utter confusion. 
���� "Baka! Not the academy! If you were an only child!"
   � He had the decency to look sheepish as he answered, "Oh. Well I
once heard Mom say that my father would have taken me out on training
trips if I were the only one. I guess he felt guilty about leaving her
with Ryu and Yoshi to raise alone, so since he couldn't take us all we
all stayed at home." 
��� � "What about Ryunosuke or Yoshihiro? Why didn't your father
take one of them on the training trips?" 
��� � "Well, Ryu has always had trouble learning the Art. I
guess my father decided that the training trips wouldn't do much good.
Yoshi was a little better, but still not much natural talent. By the
time I came along, the one who took to martial arts like a fish to
water, the other two were already here. Like I said, I guess he felt
guilty." 
��� � Akane considered for a moment, then asked a question which
she had wondered about since the conversation began. "What do you
remember about your father?" 
��� � Ranma stopped in his tracks at the question, it wasn't
often he thought about Genma. "Well, he was a great martial artist. Come
to think of it, I think he practiced under the same master as your dad.
Can't remember much other than that, although..." 
���� "'Athough' what?" Akane pushed. 
��� � "Well, he usally seemed unhappy. Like something was
missing from his life." Ranma thought back to the time when his father
was still around. "He did take me on a short training trip not long
before he died, I think I was six at the time. That's the only time I
remember him being really happy. Who knows, if I had been an only child
that he could have taken on long trips maybe he would still be around
today. I think he may have needed the open road." 
���� "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to drag up old memories like
that."
   � "No problem. How do you think your family would be different if
your parents did have more children? I mean, other than bigger."
   � Akane thought on the question for a moment then answered, "Well,
I hate to say so, but I don't think Mother would be alive today. She has
a weak heart and the stress of raising two or three kids might have
killed her. She almost died at Jusenkyou, fortunately for her her heart
is stronger as a dog." 
��� � "What's your dad like? I mean, how does it feel to have a
living, breathing father that you can turn to?" 
��� � "I don't remember my dad. I haven't seen him since I left
for the bridal academy. All I know is that Mom made some promise and I
can't go home for a while until it's worked out." 
���� "You have any idea what the promise is?" inquired Ranma.
   � "Not really, just that it's something about me. Every time I even
hint on the subject with Mother she gets really evasive." � Ranma
glanced ahead of himself and noticed that they were nearly to the
school. "Well, I guess the rest will have to be saved for later. I've
got a few minutes and I need to go visit with some friends of mine. Come
along if you want." 
���� "No, that's alright," she replied. 
��� � Ranma started to walk off but stopped after a couple steps
and turned back to Akane. "Oh yeah, where did you learn your martial
arts from?" 
��� � "There was another Japanese girl at the bridal academy.
Apparently her father engaged her to someone when she was six and wanted
to make her into a proper bride too. She was really into martial arts
and since we had weekends and holidays off but were too far away to come
home we trained together in the woods near the academy." 
��� � "Hmm. And your father trained you before you went to the
academy?" he asked. 
��� � "Yes, but mother was upset about it. I did manage to
incorporate my friend's martial arts style into the Musabestu
Kakuto-ryuu, along with several techniques I learned from some temporary
students," explained Akane. 
���� "Temporary students?" 
��� � "Yeah. A few of the girls that would train with us
occasionally let the Art get in the way of the academy's courses and
fell behind. The result of that was expulsion. And of course one or two
let on about the training and they got expelled for 'unbecoming
conduct.' There were quite a few times we would have to call off the
training for a few weeks so we wouldn't get caught, the ones who kept
going did and ended up with a three generation ban from the school."
Akane looked at Ranma seriously as she continued. "We had to change
training grounds a few times and I think they suspected us, but I felt
the Art was worth the risk." 
��� � Ranma considered this then nodded. "Well, I'm going to
visit my friends now. I'll see you in class." He turned and ran toward a
tree in the schoolyard, beneath which sat a boy in a kendo outfit.
"Tatewaki! How did the kendo club do in that match last night?" 
��� � Akane watched as her elected iinazuke went to visit with
his friends. {He was so different last night. Was this morning just an
act to get something from me?} She considered the possibility for a
moment but came up blank. {But what could he want? Maybe he's just
trying to make up for being rude before. That mother of his seems nice
enough, maybe she's ingrained some manners in him after all.} 
��� � Ranma's thoughts were quite similar as he crossed the
schoolyard. {She didn't get mad at me a single time. No one changes that
much overnight. I wonder what happened. Hmm... Maybe she was trying to
make up for the things she said before. We did start of on the wrong
foot. Maybe that academy of hers did some good after all. I don't want
my life decided for me, but this may not be so bad.} He looked over his
shoulder as he reached his friends and noticed Akane was still watching
him. 
��� � Akane saw Ranma turn to glance at her and there eyes met.
Both shared one thought simultaneously. {This is all so confusing.} 
��� � "Saotome," Kunou's words broke Ranma's thought pattern.
"What vision of lovelinees has accompanied thee this morning?" 
���� "Yeah Ranma, is that your girlfriend or something?" added
Daisuke.
   � "No way, Ranma could never bag a chick that hot!" Hiroshi put in.
� Ranma sent a half-hearted glare at Hiroshi which enduced a short
round of laughter from all present except Tatewaki.
   � "'Girlfriend!!! I protest! Such a beautious maiden should be with
one of high stature. No other shall do," shouted the kendoist.
   � "Huh?" asked Ranma, Hiroshi, and Daisuke.
   � Kunou decided to elaborate for the unenlightened ones. "This
lovely vision before us is above every man here. All are beneath her.
All, save one. I alone am worthy of her." He was immediately on his feet
and heading toward Akane. "My long-haired vision, I would date with
you!!!" 
��� � Hiroshi, Ranma, and Daisuke exchanged a pained look before
Ranma spoke. "It would seem Kunou has a new love." The trio nodded and
sighed collectively then went to save Akane. 

*** 

��� � On a boat between China and Japan, a boy wearing a yellow
and black bandana and travel-worn outfit looked over the stern of the
ship. "Soon Akane! Soon I shall arrive back in Japan and our
relationship can continue! I swear it on the Hibiki family name!" Ryouga
stopped his rant as a thought crossed his mind, {Odd, the anouncement
said we would dock in ten minutes. I should be able to see land by now.} 

***

     After school Akane stalked angrily after Ranma as they proceeded
toward the Saotome home.  "I should have known you'd have some wigged
out friends like that."
     "Hey, Kunou isn't that bad, you just need to get to know him," said
Ranma in defense of his friend.
     "I don't _want_ to get to know him," Akane shot back.
     Ranma looked over Akane as she caught up to him.  {What was I
thinking this morning?  Openning up to this... tomboy!  I should have my
head examined.  That's the last time I tell her anything I'm thinking.}
Ranma mentally kicked himself as he thought over the morning's events.
{What made me think this wouldn't be so bad?}
     "You can consider this engagement null and void.  No way am I
marrying anyone who hangs out with those type of people," Akane
continued.  "At least that 'Kunou' person was open in his opinions, I'm
afraid to even consider what your other friends were thinking."  Akane
glared at Ranma as they continued on silently.  {I guess this morning
was just an act, how could someone like this ever be that nice?  To
think I actually considered going along with this.  God, I must be
crazy!!!}  Akane took one last look at Ranma then ran towards the
Saotome home.

______________________________________ 

��� � Well, there is the rivised chapter two of "Reversal of
Fortune." If you have any questions, flames, C&C, or MSTs they are very
appreciated. Please send any replies to my fiancee's address
(TendouNabiki@webtv.net) as my box has been having some problems lately.
I hope we have the next chapter out before we leave for San Diego on
Tuesday, but I won't make any promises. Please let us (my fiancee and I)
know what you think so far (if you think this chapter was good, just
wait for the next when the action really picks up and two more
characters arrive in Nerima}  Got to go for now, but we can't wait to
hear from you.  Until next time, ja ne.
 
Sincerely,
Akihiro & Malon
TendouNabiki@webtv.net