Author's Notes:> Hihi Peoples, Evil-Kasumi, aka: LizMUN, here to 
greet you all. I'm a newcomer to this list, so that's why I'm doing the 
intro-bit.  Now.. bout the fic.. ::author instantly gets on her knees, 
which is so conveniently on top of your head, and humbly begins to 
apologize:: Sorry bout this fic, folks.. Just that I needed to write 
something that was bothering me for a while! I would really like some 
comments on it though. All characters portrayed here are creations of 
Rumiko Takahashi-sensei.  We're not worthy of your greatness! If you 
want to email me, and threaten me to never ever write an alternaverse 
fanfic again.. I'll accept that too!  Otherwise, hope you enjoy!
	Story notes:> While browsing through the Ranma Fanfics, I stumbled 
across a nice little ditty about a What-if story, on the concept of 
Ryouga being Ranma's long lost twin! (And I do mean Lost!) Seeing it was 
semi-outdated, and kind of short, I opted to myself to elaborate on the 
subject.  If the original author is out there, and reading this story, 
and doesn't like me to keep it posted, due to shame, his/her time of the 
month, Tell me, and we'll come to an arrangement.
	PS:> I'd like to thank my friends who are as loony as I am, and blame 
the great Kami-sama for the gift of insanity! Thanks Kami, don't know 
what I'd be without ya!
	This fic is rated Y-14, cause it deals with mortality.

==================================================================

Ranma Nibunnoichi in:
Sibling Rivalry
Part 1

	Thunderclouds loomed over the once blue skies of Nerima, promising rain 
to the drowning flora that were already having enough water as it is.  
Somehow, it seemed to rain much more than usual. But, hey.. It's Japan! 
What do you expect when you're an island? Many of the Residents were 
hurrying their way home, wanting to get out of the rain as soon as 
possible.  Saotome Ranma was no exception.
	"Jeez Akane! Hurry up! I want to get back to the dojo before it rains!"
	"Go ahead, Ranma, I'm in no hurry." She then walks faster, turning up 
her nose, trying in vain to ignore her companion.  It was bad enough 
Ranma was cranky for changing right before they got to school.  Of 
course Kuno helped (involuntarily) to ease his anger, but having Shampoo 
glomp into him like that.. That could've been avoided! And he needn't 
have picked on Ryouga! Poor Guy! He finally finds his way back, and 
Ranma has to pick on him, of all people! I mean, Ryouga is a sweet guy! 
He likes my cooking, (which was the cause of the fight.  Ranma wouldn't 
at least try her cupcakes! So, okay, maybe I shouldn't have breaded 
them, and maybe I slipped a little more Tabasco sauce than normal, but 
he could've at least tried them!) Plus, Ryouga's always defending her 
whenever Ranma would open his big mouth to insult her! The nerve of that 
Ranma! Doesn't he even care what she thinks, or anyone else for that 
matter?
	Ranma looked up ahead at Akane. Aw man! What did he say now? I hope 
she's still not angry for what happened during Lunch! It wasn't even his 
fault! Shampoo comes up unexpectedly, asking for a date! Yeah Right! 
Then Akane wanted him to eat some.... I don't know what it was! I doubt 
it was supposed to be blue though.  Then Ryouga comes yelling about 
Akane something or other! It's always the same with him! That guy won't 
give up! Such a Pig-headed... 
	"Excuse me.. Can you tell me where the Tendo Dojo is?"
	~Well.. speak of the devil..~ "Yo Ryouga! To your left!"
	Ryouga blinks, and looks away at the storeowner, looking toward his 
right. Not short after he hears a slap to the opposite of him, turns and 
sees Ranma, hand across his eyes as if in resignation, standing on top 
of the metallic fence.
	"Oh, Hi Ryouga!"
	Ryouga, eyes wide, travels down from the fence Ranma was perched upon, 
to the ground where Akane was standing, a little ahead of Ranma, but 
close-by nonetheless.  Her hair moved as the wind whipped some black 
strands unto her cheeks.  Her dress fluttering with grace, and delicacy 
that completed such a perfect image, so much like a dream.  Ryouga's 
emotions caused his head to "Poof" then to nervously twiddle his thumbs.  
He squeaks a nervous laugh, and brings an arm back, rubbing the tension 
off from the nape of his neck.
	The wind bristled a few leaves across the scene, clouds moved unto the 
city as the silence passed between the three teenagers. 
	"So, Ryouga! Figured you'd be in Ogasaka by now!"
	"RANMA!"
	Ryouga looked hurt, but before Ranma got a chance to realize the 
emotion, he quickly masked it, and returned a furious glare.  Damned to 
Hell if he ever let Ranma see him show weakness! What came over him! He 
never would let himself show that! Maybe it was because he was starving. 
Nah! Akane was kind enough to give him some crab-puffs.. least he 
thought they were crab-puffs.  Why they had and oozy center was beyond 
him. And what was with the Bright light. Man.. he needed a rest.  Yeah.. 
that sounded good.  Ranma can be pulverized later. *THUD*
	"Eeeek! Ryouga? You okay?" 
	Akane runs over and kneels over to where Ryouga had fallen face-flat 
onto the concrete, which had cracked due to impact.  She turns him over, 
and looks at his pale face.  This worried her.  She pulls up her hand, 
and begins to continuously slap his face, trying to wake him up, but 
after the first slap, she stops abruptly and nervously places her hand 
upon his forehead, wincing back slightly at the amount of heat being 
generated.  He was burning up! Ryouga hardly ever got sick.. did he? 
Well, she didn't know him well enough, but she had to help him.  She 
looks up at Ranma, who was yelling at Ryouga's ear, trying too to wake 
him up.  Her eyes met his, hers on the verge of crying, and his, shocked 
and confusion.
	"Ranma! He's burning up! He needs our help! We got to take him to Dr. 
Tofu's, quickly, Please!"
	Ranma blinks. This was strange! Strange for even Ryouga! Man, knowing 
how things worked around here, wouldn't doubt it to be some sort of 
paralysis potion.. or maybe it was the after-effects of Akane's Cooking.  
Both, pretty darn deadly looking! He shakes off the thought and looks 
down at Ryouga, who was now trembling slightly.  Man, that wasn't good. 
He kneels down, and slings Ryouga across his shoulder, then looks back 
at Akane, who was trying, desperately in vain, to pick up Ryouga's bag.
	"Just leave it Akane! I'll come back to get it! I doubt anyone'll take 
it away!" He smirks.
	Akane nods then runs up ahead, to go prepare Dr. Tofu, or see if he 
wasn't busy with another patient. Ranma quickly follows.
	They both reach the clinic.  There they see Dr. Tofu's escorting one of 
his "regulars" from the clinic.  He was being led out by a pretty, young 
girl in some sort of tiger-striped bikini, and for the darnest reason 
she was extracting horns from her green mane.  But he's seen many of 
strange things, so he never pursued the matter.  The patient in question 
looked like he had fought against an electrical powerline.. and lost. 
Tofu just stares at the two as the leave the clinic, and sighs.  
Especially when the Boy in question saw Akane running toward the clinic, 
and he decided at that moment to glomp at her.  He let her go, after 
being pounded to the ground with a hyper-dimensional mallet by Akane, 
and mysteriously electrocuted by his companion. 
	After seeing young Morobishi being dragged away by his fianc�e, he 
looks back up to avert his attention to Akane.  
	"Is something wrong, Akane?"
	Akane was shaking, but not of cold or fever, but of sheer anger, but 
snaps out of it by the sound of Dr. Tofu's voice. At this moment Ranma 
approaches Tofu Onno. 
	"Something's wrong with Ryouga! Ranma and I were walking home when we 
saw him.  He looked fine at first, but then he fainted.  He was pale and 
shivering! Please help him!"
	Dr. Tofu moves aside, nodding. 
	"Take him to the examination room, bring his stuff as well."
	"We had to leave his stuff, I'll go get it."
	"Ranma? Hurry.. okay?"
	"Yeah,yeah, yeah." 
	Ranma lays Ryouga down on the table, and heads out the door.  He looks 
back at Ryouga, who was now huddled into a fetal position, sweating 
noticeably. *Hang in there, Ryouga!* He turns back around, and heads out 
the door. Ranma ran back to the place where Ryouga has fallen, gingerly 
jumping over the small puddles that the rain left to remind those of 
it's presence.  He finally makes it to the place, and stops abruptly 
from what he sees.  There, smiling widely at him, was Shampoo, sitting 
on top of Ryouga's pack waiting for someone, or someone.  She sees him, 
and without a second blink, wraps her arms around him.  Ranma acks, then 
eventually peels her off, looking around to see if Akane saw.
	"Aiyaa! Nihau Ranma! Shampoo know you look for her! Can go on date 
after all better? No?"
	"Listen Shampoo, I don't have time to play your games.  I got to get 
back to Dr. Tofu's..."
	"Shampoo Knows!"
	"Huh?"
	Ranma just looked at Shampoo curiously, but all she did was give her a 
big smile, so proud of herself.  Ranma sighs, then goes over to pick up 
the bag.  After picking it up, and falling over from the weight, he 
finally stabilizes himself.  ~What the hell does he have in here?~ His 
thoughts were interrupted as Shampoo confronts Ranma, up on her 
tippie-toes, looking at him eye-to-eye.
	"Ai-ren no want to get antidote back?"
	"Antidote? For what?"
	"For Potion great-grandmother put in Akane's Food.  Shampoo think that 
wasn't nice of great-grandmother.  Akane no deserve to get sick.. but 
what Shampoo can do?"
	Suddenly, a� + b� = c� for Ranma.  That Old Ghoul must have spiced 
Akane's cooking, thinking it was her lunch, and instead of her eating 
it, Ryouga was the one who took the fall. At this Ranma Shuddered.  
Ryouga was tougher than Akane, and he looked gravely ill.  The effect of 
the potion probably quadrupled due to the effects of Akane's cooking.  
And, to think what may have happened if Akane..... 
	"Ranma?"
	"When I get my hands at that withered piece of... ::whips his head to 
look at Shampoo:: What does that monkey carcass want?"
	"Well, Son-in-law, I see my Shampoo has found you first.  You know 
perfectly well what are your options.  So, what will it be?"
	Ranma looks up to see Cologne's large ominous eyes looking down at him 
as she perched from her cane, which was balanced on top of the fence.  
	"Give me the antidote you withered up monkey!  I WANT IT NOW!"
	"Hehe.. temper, temper, Son-in-Law. You'll get it, once you marry my 
Shampoo.  Until then, Akane will get weaker and weaker. I suggest, if 
you want to save her.."
	"Hmm.. Akane no look sick to Shampoo."
	"What?" Cologne tears her eyes away from Ranma, and looks over to see 
Akane, shaking violently.  Her face pale, and tear-streaked, as if she 
had been crying recently.  Ranma, forgetting the old Ghoul for a moment, 
rushes over to Akane.
	"Akane.. what's the matter.. what's wrong with..."
	"He's gone to us...*Sob* Ryouga's gone!" 

~~~~~~******~~~~~~

	Ryouga blinks his eyes open.  It was very bright, as if someone had 
placed all exsisting lamps right in front of his face.  But although the 
light seemed blinding, it was not.  He could see perfectly well where he 
was.  Nowhere.  There was no door to this room.  In fact, he didn't even 
think there were any walls.  He gets up from the floor, least he thought 
it was the floor.  He looks around.
	"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOOOOOOOOOWWWW??"
	"Well, you aren't on Earth, that's for sure."
	Ryouga blinks and see's someone standing right behind him. A girl, 
slightly younger, looking up at him.  She had brown hair, done in 
perfect little curls.  Big, brown, chocolate eyes, which looked youthful 
and energetic, yet wise and calm at the same time. She was wearing a 
silk, buttoned up, short-sleeved shirt, which seemed to highlight her 
form.  Her skirt was a light-blue velvet, that reached to her knees. 
Compleating the fancy, school-like image, were white, frilled socks, and 
shiny, black, school shoes.  What surprised him most, was not the fact 
that she had sneaked upon him without him noticing, but the fact that he 
had not fainted from the sight of her. He steps back, cautious now. 
	"Do not worry, Ryouga-san, I shall not hurt you."
	"Hu-Huh? H-h-how did you know my name? Who are you? Where Am I? Where's 
Akane?"
	"My my, the inqusitive one, aren't we.  But, I am here to answer any of 
your questions, so, I shall try my best.  First, of all, my name is 
Auxilio, I am your appointed guide, so I've known about you a long time, 
Hibiki-san.  You are, in what you humans call pergetory, limbo, the 
place between heaven and hell, Arizona." She laughs.  Ryouga didn't get 
the joke. She clears her throat. "Akane... well, I would suppose she'd 
be in the mortal realm."
	"You mean... I'm..... Dead?"
	"Dead? Hell no! Truth be told, you aren't supposed to even be here! 
You're body is still alive, you are just having one of those Out of body 
experiences."
	"But How?"
	Auxilio pulls out a chart, in the very same manner Akane seemed to 
always pull out her mallet.  Meaning: out of thin air.  She skims 
through several pages, smirking sometimes, then with a sad pout.  
Suddenly, she smiles, and shakes her head.
	"WHAT?"
	"Says here, that you've been exposed to a concotion of some kind.  
Chinese oriented.  Causes the victim to experience high fevers, and 
hallucinations, then subjects the recipient into a deep sleep.  But 
something seemed to interfere with the effects."  She looks at Ryouga 
questionably, pitty in her eyes. "Why were consuming poison? Were you 
attempting Suicide?"
	"Huh? I.. I.. uh. No!"
	"Wait.. says here you had sampled some of Tendo Akane's cooking.  Does 
she usually poison her food.  Was she attempting suicide?  Hold on." The 
strange girl looked up, as if trying to find something in this colorless 
place.  Then she begins to yell at no one in particular. "Yo, Mari! Get 
me Akane Tendo's File. Specifically on her Cooking."
	Instantly, another clipboard appears in her hand.  She skims through 
it, blanches.  Her eyes begin to twitch.
	"Ooo-kay.. scratch out attempt on suicide.  That was sheer murder!" 
	"Hey, Don't talk about Akane that way!"
	"Forgivness, please.  Just that, the stuff she puts in her cooking! 
Unbelievable. Well, it apears that the potion, mixed with that..... 
food... seemed to make the effects worse, and that's why you're here 
now."
	"Well then, take me back! If I wasn't suppose to be here..."
	"Calm down! We have to do this by procedure, you know.  Lookie, lookie! 
Seems you've been granted a Code seventeen."
	"What?"
	"Code Seventeen, or, A.K.A "Life-flashing before your eyes" routine." 
	"No Way! My life's been pure Hell! I don't want to go through that 
again! Anyway, the sooner I get back, the sooner I pound Ranma!"
	"Time has no existance here.  To what may have seem an hour, could be a 
few years, or a blink of an eye.  Depending on what you make of it.  It 
won't take long, I promise. Please? I'll make you all better when you 
get back to the mortal plane!  I'll be your friend!"
	Ryouga found himself quivering.  Damn, why'd she have to do that cute 
act?  No! He will stay faithful to Akane! Akane's the only one for her. 
He reluctantly turns toward Auxilio, and curses at himself for giving 
in.
	Auxilio squeels in delight, and pulls out some metallic, sun-glasses.
	"Put these on."
	Ryouga gives her a questioning look.
	"Would you rather we do it, via slide-show?"
	"Uh.. no?"
	"Good. Now trust me. Put these on."
	Ryouga sighs, and takes the glasses cautiously, not expecting anything 
of it.  He puts them on, and instantly, images came crashing into his 
mind, followed by emotions.
	Images of him just confronting Ranma and Akane. How he felt when he saw 
her, then back to eating Akane's cooking, how he was angry for Ranma for 
insulting her, and feeling the pride as he saw Akane smile at him, not 
at Ranma, but at him. The images continued.  It was almost as if someone 
had video-taped his life, and pressed the re-wind button. He saw the 
time when Akane kissed him in his pig form, when he first became cursed, 
Ranma defeating him time and time again for bread.  His first day at 
school, a rare time when his family had found their way to the house, at 
the same time!.  His childhood, how he had felt lost all the time.  Now 
he was a baby again. He's in a room he's laying there, and someone's 
right beside him.  A kin.  A close kin.  He was being taken away.  He 
felt scared then. He didn't want the boy to leave. Scene changes and he 
and the other boy are being cradled in a woman's arms, not his mother, 
but someone else.  There he felt safe, and loved. Then, nothing.
	Ryouga pulls out the glasses from his eyes, slowly.  Tears were 
begining to form.  He never really understood it.  He finally got a good 
look at his life, from a different perspective.  He felt really 
depressed now.  How his life had really went downhill since that boy had 
left him.  Who was he?
	"Any Questions?"
	"Yeah.. who was that boy, when I was a baby.  Was he my brother? 
Cousin?"
	"More like.. twin."
	"Twin?"
	"Yeah. Want the long version.. or the short?"
	"Short?"
	"Can do! Ooo-kay.. Short version: You see, you were the younger twin of 
a young, poor couple.  Seeing how they could not afford to keep two 
children, they were forced to give one of you away, no matter how much 
their heart had ached.  Yet, they also felt they couldn't give any of 
you to some complete strangers.  They knew who would be perfect for the 
job.  The couple were close friends to a rich, married couple. Sadly 
they could not have any children of their own, but they loved each other 
to carry on.  They came to an agreement. Since the eldest was the true 
heir, he would stay with the orginal family, while you were given to the 
other couple, in exchange for provisions, and a home.  For some time, 
the six of you were like one big family.  Each had taken turns carring 
for the two of you.  Then one day, your adoptive parents had buit your 
real parents a home in Southern Japan.  I suppose it was part of the 
exchange.  This meant the family had to seperate.  It's not like they 
wanted to, but each had a life to live. They had said their good-byes, 
and had promised each other to visit as much as they can.  Sadly, that 
was the last your adoptive family had heard of them. 
	"But.. why was I not told of this?"
	"Because your parents probably thought the others dead, and did not 
want to burden you. I'm sorry.  I know, I'm not a good story-teller, but 
I tell it how it is!"
	"Is he.... you know?"
	"Huh? No.  You would have felt it.  Seems you two share a strong bond."
	"Who is he?"
	"You sure you want to know? From your files, you two haven't had the 
greatest of relationships"
	"You mean, I already know him? TELL ME!"
	"Calm down.  Don't want to get a heart-attack you know.  But then 
again.. it'll save the trip of going back to the mortal plane."
	"Tell me! Who is my brother."
	"But once I tell you, you have to go back.  Just a little warning, 
it'll be very sudden."
	"Will I.. will I remember this?"
	"Not much, only the most important pieces. Brace yourself. "
	Auxilio takes a final look at Ryouga, memorizing him.  She had come to 
like him.  What a shame he had to leave.  She closes her eyes and 
breaths in deeply.
	"His name is.... Ranma Saotome."

~~~~~~******~~~~~~

	Ranma blinks at the news.  It can't be.. NO! He won't let it happen! 
	"Lost boy take potion?! But what Akane mean he gone? Not should be that 
way!" 
	All eyes then turn to Cologne, who was eyes-wide. (Okay.. her eyes are 
always wide.. but you get the drift.) The potion was only to make the 
recipient look ill, but no serious damages were to ever occur.  
	With the quickness of a flash, she was gone. She was hopping from 
rooftop to rooftop, quickly heading toward Dr. Tofu's clinic. Thinking 
to herself, was the potion a failure? That couldn't be it.  Specific 
care was taken so that nothing will go wrong.  Then, she remembered 
something.  The stuff she had poured the powder in.  She shakes her 
head.  For the life of all of them, Akane should really get some cooking 
lessons. 
	She enters the clinic through an still unpatched hole in the roof.  The 
young Doctor must not have had time to call the carpenters to fix it.  
She sneeks into one of the rooms, and finds Ryouga, covered in several 
blankets.  He looked like a mess.  Shivering yet sweating, feverish, yet 
blue, shaking, yet calm. She pulls out a small bottle out of her sleeve, 
and shakes it.  With one hand, he peels open Ryouga's dry lips, and with 
the other, she pours several drops of the antidote.  She gives a 
wrinkled smile, as his shivering immediatly stops. 
	"Do not interfere with me and son-in-law again, got it boy?"
	"HEY OLD GHOUL! Get away from him!"
	Cologne turns and see's Ranma glarring at her from the doorway.  He was 
really worked up, his ki seemed to illuminate the room, where the 
florecent lights couldn't.  Sensing this was no place for fighting, she 
smiles, she throws the bottle at Ranma, who catches it instantly, then 
blinks.
	"I have no quarels with the boy. He'll awaken in a short while."
	And with that, she exits out the window. Ranma follows her exit, 
glarring daggers. Then looks back at Ryouga.  Dr. Tofu, had opted to 
review his patient.  He turns to the others.
	"His pulse is returning back to normal, and his fever has broken." He 
then begins to poke Ryouga in certan pressure points, to speed up the 
recovery. 
	"Uh, Akane.  I thought you said he was.. you know.. gone?!" 
	"I.. just thought..I didn't find any pulse, he wasn't responding.  Not 
even when Dr. Tofu did some reflex excersises.."  
	"There was a pulse, only very faint. He seems to be recovering in an 
alarming rate, I wouldn't be surprised if he.."
	"Uhhgh... Auxilio?"
	"Auxilio? What the hell is that? Yo, man, you okay?"
	Ryouga blinks his eyes open, damn it! Now the Bright-lights were back! 
This time it hurt his head like hell. Squeezing his eyes shut, he groans 
in disaproval. He felt a little jolt, and arms wrapped around him?
	"Oh Ryouga, we were so Worried!"
	"A..Akane? Where am I?"
	"You're at Dr. Tofu's.  Hey man, gave us all quite a scare."
	Ryouga blinks at Akane, who had let go, a bit reluctantly he'd say.  
She was wiping her tears, yet smiling at him. He then looks at Ranma, 
suddenly remembering his conversation with Auxilio.  Him? It's got to be 
a joke! Probably part of the effects of the potion.  But then.. CUT IT 
OUT! He wasn't his brother! He was the cause of all his problems.  The 
Lunch was ment for Ranma!  He sits up and clutches his head.  Dr. Tofu 
begins to approach him, but Ryouga just holds his hand out.
	"I'm fine, okay."
	Ryouga gets off the table.  Big Mistake.  He knees instantly weaken, 
and he colapses onto the ground. Ranma just shakes his head. He goes 
over and pulls him up.
	"Such a stubborn, pig-headed jerk!"
	"Shut up Ranma! I can still beat you anyday!"
	"Yeah, whatever."
	"Ranma? Let's take him back to the dojo.  If that's okay, is it Dr. 
Tofu?"
	"Just make sure he gets plenty of food and rest."
	"Thanks Doc." Ranma pulls up Ryouga's arm, and begins to wrap it around 
his shoulders for support.  Ryouga whips it off, causing him to loose 
his balance momentarly, but then stablizes himself.
	"I can take care of myself!" He stands up straight, then wabbles his 
way over to where Ranma had put down his sack, and attempts to pull it 
up, with no results.  He takes in a deep breath.  He again attempts to 
pick up his sack, this time, with ease.  Ranma twitched at how easily 
Ryouga picked up his sack.  ~I guess what doesn't kill him, will make 
him stronger, huh? And that stuff almost killed him!~
	Ryouga then walks over to Dr. Tofu.  He puts down his sack and begins 
to rummage through his stuff.
	"What are you doing, Ryouga?" Akane walks over to where he was, and 
looks down at him.
	"I.. uh.. well.. uh.. How much do I owe you, Tofu-sama?"
	"Oh Ryouga, don't worry about it.  Dr. Tofu, put it on our tab."
	"Bu..But Akane!"
	"Ryouga, that potion was meant for me.  It's the least I can do.  Come, 
I'll lead you back to the Dojo." 
	Ryouga felt like he was in Heaven.  None of that pergetory or Arizonan 
stuff.. whatever that was.  Just to see Akane smile at him, the lengths 
he will go through. He nods at her, feeling weak at the knees again, but 
this time not of the potion.  They both say thier thanks to the Doctor, 
and walk out the door.  
	Ranma snorts.  Left behind, forgoten.  He sighs.  He's about to go 
follow them when suddenly, he see's a piece of paper on the ground.  
More like a photo.  He picks it up. It's a picture of a couple and a 
baby, plus an Aunt of some sort.  Wait.  That "Aunt" looks familiar.  He 
looks at the picture closely and blanches.
	"M-m-mom?"
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