Ranma 1/2:Adjustments  
								 By:D3jake

**Note: All charactors execpt for Rod, his parents and brother, are property of 
Rumikio Takahashi/Shogakukan Inc.** 
	
	"Why do I have to go live with my cousins?" I asked for the umteenth time.
	"Because, your mother is out of a job and even if I were to get her a job at my 
work it still wouldn't be enough, besides my brother offered to take you in to 
'lighten the load' as he put it," my dad responded.
	"How can he take me in when he already has, what, six people living with him?"
	"Apperantly he can."
	"But, he's so weird!" I protested.
	"You've been acting weird since we came back from China. You've become afraid 
of cold water or something," there was a pause.
	"Hey, since Rod is moving out for a while can I have his room?" my little 
brother asked.
	"I'm gunna be back very soon so do-," I was cut off.
	"You're staying for a year," words failed me. "Finish packing. Your leaving 
tomarrow," my dad reminded me.
	"But, but," I stuttered as I searched desperatly for another excuse, the school 
will be strange 'n stuff."
"Now your just making up excuses. Furikan school shouldn't be any different 
from the one you're in now. You're going, period, end of statement."
	
	Before our story goes any further lets back track a little. First, my mother is 
American, that's why my name isn't Japanese. (Plus, I didn't now any other 
Japanese names.) My parents met when my mom was on a business trip. Yes, she can 
speak Japanese. After she got back somehow she got transferred to the Japanese 
branch of her company.  But, to get a Japanese citizenship she had to give up 
her American one first. That's why she hasn't moved back to America.  As for 
my father, he runs a shop that sells fish, both live and dead. (Pets & food).  
Now for my cousins: Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane, their okay but, don't try to steal 
anything after hours, they'll hit you with a dumbell. Now down to business.

Last month we took a vacation to China as you already read. The last place we 
visited was the Acursed Springs at Jusenkyo. 'What a joke,' or so I thought.  
About a day before we were going to leave for the airport my family was doing 
some last minute exploring and I of course was just walking along and a ledge 
crumbled beneath me. (What luck.) When I started to fall I heard a tree branch 
snap and something thump to the ground. As I fell, and tumbled for about a minute 
or so, ending up in one of the many springs. Luckily a bamboo pole along with the 
cursed spring water broke my fall...tumble. 
	I felt like every bone in my body was either broken or just gone. I was starting 
to flop onto the shore when I realized that my shirt felt a little tight across the 
chest. 'Not to mension that all of my cloths felt a bit bigger then normal,' I 
thought, (except my chest.)  Walking...stumbling out of the spring, I stopped, and 
decided to do some inventory. 'Okay,' I thought. 'Bones, don't seem to be broken. 
Joints, seem okay.' 
	Next I checked for cuts & bruses. I looked at my face in the water. A very 
attractive woman's face stared back at me. I looked away, shook my head to clear 
it of the image I saw in the water, and looked back in the water finally 
realizing that the person I saw was me. It looked like I had make-up on, so I 
submerged my face and scrubbed it with my hands. When I looked at myself in the 
water again, I noticed that most make-up was gone, and my hair color changed to 
brown, as well as that it got longer, alot longer, past waist length. (It's 
normally blonde and kinda short.) I looked over my body: 'arms, check; head, 
check; neck, check;' (I was working my way down...) 'shoulders, check; breasts, 
check. 'Well, that explains the tightness of my shirt across my chest...' My 
mouth fell open. I felt again, and looked in the water, 'well sure enough...'I 
wipped off my top... My jaw dropped open another ten feet and bounced along the 
ground.  Trying to organize myself I thought, 'The strange guide was saying 
something about the curse upon each pool...What did he say was the illedged cure, 
or someting about reversing it...lets see...I think, wasn't it hot water? That 
dosen't make any since I just came out of hot water. Then again, it's kinda hard 
to have cold springs.' I put my shirt back on with a little diffculty. I wasn't 
used to having two large lumps to work around. 
	I looked at my watch, it slipped off my now-slender wrist, I picked it up. Beleve it 
or not it still worked, It read three fifty-four. I shoved it in my back pocket.
	My dad told me to meet back at camp by four-thirty so we could pack up to leave 
for the hotel that we were going to spend our last night in. 'Not much time,' I 
thought.
	I ran all of the way back to camp. Luckily the fire was still going when I 
reached it. I filled the a kettle with water and set it on the fire.  
	That was the longest twenty minutes I've ever had to wait through.  (Hey, it was 
a lot of water!)  As soon as it started to bubble I took it off the grate and 
thought 'Well here goes nothing,' suddenly I heard some noise. 'El crappo, it 
must be my parents, back early.' I quickly poured the water over myself, just as 
my parents as well as my brother came out of the trees.  They just stood there. 
My thought was, 'Oh crap, they know.' Untill my dad spoke:
	"Okay, forget it. I'm not even going to ask." 
	I was practily carefree for the rest of the day, untill the night afterward,
before we flew out back for Japan. I was in the shower of the motel we were 
staying at, when I turned on the water a blast of cold water hit me hard.  After 
a while I realized that my had body changed again. I let out a silent scream, 
and realized that 'this isn't gunna be a one time thing.' I stared down, 
thinking,'how I am going to manage this?' The water started to warm up and soon 
enough I was my old self again. 'Well, things can't get any worse.' That was the 
vacation. Hence afraid of cold water.

I was not looking forward to living around three girls for a year.  Although, 
my dad told me a guy named Ranma and his dad moved in since my last visit. I was 
to get on a train and ride it to Furikan station. My uncle would be there, and 
walk me to his house.
	"See ya mom, dad," I said to them as I stood few feet from the train.
	"What about me?" my brother asked.
	"I don't think I'll miss you Jed," I responded.
	"Thanks alot Rod," snapped my brother.
	"Take care of yourself," my mom said.
	"Don't worry, I can behave." I said, the heard a whistle. A conductor ushered 
me into the train and to my seat. I stowed my packs. 
	'Soun isn't so weird, then again, the last time I visited him was three years 
ago, then ten years before that.  I don't remember much about my cousins except 
that Akane's cooking is toxic. Plus, they have a practice hall. I could train 
there because anybody and their grandma could beat me up. I just hope that this 
Ranma doesn't beat the crap out of me. Now that I think about it how in the heck 
am I going to hide my curse? Nothing short of a miracle will save me.' 
	I got bored after a while and slept the rest of the way to the station. When it 
got to the Furinkan Station a conductor woke me up, I thanked him and collected 
all of my stuff and walked off the train. I spotted my uncle right away. Akane 
was standing next to him. I almost didn't reconize her without her kinda long 
hair. I made a mental note to ask her about it later.
	"How was your trip?" she asked me.
	"Fine. So how have you been?" I asked her.
	"Okay I guess. How are your parents?"
	"They're fine. Anything really weird happen since the last time I visited?" 
	"Not anything too weird."
	"Ah, so shall we go?"
	"Yes," my uncle said. "You look a bit over loaded, Akane take his bags."
	"Okay," she said, "but he has to carry P-chan."
	"What's a P-chan?" I asked. Something small and black colided with my leg. 
"I'm guessing this is it."
	"Yup."
	"I suppose that's fair."
	"For you anyway." I grinned, and picked up the pig. 
	"Oink?" it said.  As if to ask 'And you would be..?' I patted its head and 
noticed a bump.
	"Hey Akane, how did P-chan get this bump?" I asked as we set off from the 
station.
	"I don't really know," she thought for a moment. "He had it when I first found 
him in my room one night."
	"What was a pig doing in your room? I mean besides you." She hit me with one of 
my packs. "Ouch!"
	"Serves you right," she snapped, "I can tell you and Ranma will get along 
fine."
	"Works for me," I responded as we were nearing my uncle's house. "Last time I 
was here I was out numbered by girls three to one."
	"Oh, pity you..."
	"Now you two behave," my uncle warned. You don't want to start our year 
together on a wrong foot."
	"Sure."
	"Whatever," I said. About a minute later we arrived and walked through the 
front gate. "This place hasn't changed much since I came here last time."
	"Did you expect it to 've sprouted legs and walked away or something?"
	"Hmm...let's think...NO."  Two people were standing on the front walk...along 
with a panda.
	"Ranma get out here, Rod just arrived." my cousin Nabiki yelled toward the 
house.
	"Yeah, yeah," said a voice, "keep your skirt on." A door slid open and out 
stepped out a kid about 16. From what I can tell he is very strong and he also 
had a patch over his cheak.  He took a look and stared at the panda.
	"Pop!" he yelled at the panda. "I thought that we agreed to tell him later!"  
The panda merely took a look at him and turned back to look at me.
	"It's a bit earlier then I expected, but, so be it." my Uncle said.  "The boy 
is Ranma and the panda is his dad, Genma." I was about to ask how, but he 
continued. "Before arriving here, while training in Jusenkyo they both fell in 
to strange springs where a person turns into the last animal or person that 
drowned there. Genma fell into the one fell into the one cursed by a panda while 
Ranma fell into the one cursed by a girl." 
	Somehow I think that the pig that I was holding was laughing. Lemme tell you 
it's a strange sound. Ranma just stood, daring me to laugh.
	"Out with it," he said. "Go ahead and laugh."
	"I have no intension of doing so. That's not funny at all, it just sucks."
	"How long did it take you to figure that out Point Dexter-OUCH" His dad had 
just hit him on the back of his head.
	"Nothing too weird?!" I said histerically to Akane. "This tops my 
weirdshit-o-meter." 
	"Things have gotten...intersesting around here lately," Akane anwsered.
	"Ranma, be nice," my Uncle said. "Take his bags from Akane and show him to his 
room."
	"Yes, sir," Ranma said. He came down the walk and took my bags from Akane. He 
started off toward the house. I gave P-chan back to Akane, and followed him. As 
I passed the panda I took the longest way around him possible. He looked at me 
quizzically. I wasn't going to take any chances. 
	"It's nice to see you again," Nabiki said.
	"You too," I said.
	"I hope your parents are doing well," Kasumi said.
	"They are, thanks for your concern."
	"Your welcome," she smiled. "I have to get back to making dinner. See you 
later," she hurried inside toward the kitchen. 
	"Why don't we all go inside," Uncle Soun said. "It's pretty chilly out here." 
	"I'm not standing here for looks," Ranma said. "Hurry up." When we got inside I 
followed him down the hall of the room that I stayed in last time. The room that 
I was going to stay in was the one next to it. "Here we are, enjoy."
	"Hey Ranma, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked.
	"Make it quick," he responded.
	"Your probably not going to beleve this but, I too fell in the Acursed Spring
cursed by a girl. It was during a vacation trip."
	He stared at me for a minute. Then said, "Your right, I don't beleve you."
	"Okay, how about this, meet me behind the training hall with buckets of hot 
and cold water."
	"If you want to freeze yourself in the wind that's your decision. I'll be back
there in five minutes. You'd better be back there," he warned. "If you pull 
anything, I will beat you to submission.
	"Yes, sir. One more thing, could you bring a towel?"
	"Yes, m'am," I tried to punch him but he was so fast that he easily dodged it.
He started off down the hall. I just stood there with my fist out, marveling at 
how fast he was.
	I dragged my packs into my room, and started to unpack my stuff. 
	First, came my picture of my family. My dad's face is kind, even if you just 
stole something a smile would still be there between the lines of anger. My's 
mom's face is smooth, her hair is a little past shoulder length as well as black. 
My brother is your typical eleven year-old kid, his hair never stayed down. Even 
if you used industrial strength glue, it would still stick up. I looked at my 
watch.
	'It's time,' I thought. I put my jacket back on, and headed outside. (Ever 
notice how time speeds by in a story?)
	Ranma was waiting behind the practice hall, with two buckets and a towel, just
as I requseted.
	"I don't know why I'm wasting my time but, what the hell," he said.
	"It'll be worth your time," I said and stowed my watch in my back pocket. I 
took off my jacket and shirt as well as my pants, so they wouldn't get wet. I 
picked up the bucket of cold water and poured it over myself. Just as before I 
changed back to my girl-body. "I told you it'd be worth your time," I grabbed my 
throat out of shock. 'I didn't realize my voice would change, interesting...'
	He just pointed at me for a while untill he said, "You wern't lying after all,"
I quickly poured the hot water over me, back to my old self. I grabbed the towel
from his hand, dried myself off and put my pants, shirt and jacket back on. I
picked up the buckets and towel.
	"Hey boy blunder," I said, "I think Kasumi just called us for dinner. Let's try
to keep this between us for the moment, got it?"
	"Wuh-, sure why not."
	"One more thing." I said as we neared the house, "Could you train me? You 
yourself saw how slow I am."
	"Sure I guess so. Although I normally train with my dad. Just don't expect 
results right away. I'm not sure why you don't just ask your Uncle."
	"Well...we have something in common, I don't think I can train under someone 
who is about a century older than I am."
	Ranma laughed, "Just don't let him hear that. Let's see," he thought for a 
moment, "how about tonight at eight for your first lesson?"
	"Sounds good to me," I said as we stepped inside.
	"What sounds good?" came my uncle's voice from behind us.
	"Uh, nothing," I said quickly.
	"Hurry and wash up you two it's time for dinner," he said as he walked into the 
house and down the hall.
	"Yes, sir," Ranma and I said. We made our way down to the bathroom, and went 
in.
	"Do you think he knows about the curse?" I asked while washing my hands.
	"I hope not." Ranma anwsered.
	"Why's that?"
	He stared at me, "Think of the possibilites. They don't know yet. We only know."
We started off from the bathroom to the dineing room. "One thing I'm wondering
about, you haven't seen yet but my hair doesn't change length like yours does."
	"It's fate's way of makeing my girl-body look more like a girl. If fate wanted 
to be nicer it could get rid of it altogether. Past waist lengh hair doesn't 
bother me so I'm not going to worry about it." We made it to the dineing room.
	"Here," Ranma said,"you can sit next to me."
	"Works for me," I said. We sat down. Genma-panda, Nabiki, my Uncle, and
Akane were already sat down. Kasumi came in with the last dish of food. "Smells
good Kasumi."
	"Thank you Rod," she smiled and sat down.
	"Suck up," I heard Ranma say under his breath.
	"Dig in, shall we?" my uncle said. 
	'Kasumi's cooking is better than last time,' I thought. 'Even then it was good.'  
	"Uncle?" I asked. "Why is Ranma and his dad staying here anyway?"
	"Well, he is engauged to marry Akane," my Uncle responded. Akane and Ranma 
glared at each other.
	"Doesn't that mean they should like each other?" 
	"In theory yes. They'll like each other eventually." My eyes jumped between the
two. 
	"Maybe in a few centuries from what I've seen."
	"It just might take time."
	The rest of the meal was good untill I hit upon some of Akane's cooking. It's 
like everybody else avoided it by instinct. It hadn't improved much, I didn't 
gag on it this time. 
	Dinner ended around seven forty-five. (Hey! It was very good! Plus I didn't have 
much of a lunch... Lemme tell you those free peanuts on the train don't come 
close to filling you up.) 
	I made my way back to my room and took another look at my family picture. I'm 
quite average compared to my family, I'm about 5'9", my dad is 5'3" and my mom 
is 6'0". So I'm stuck in the middle. After I got all of my cloths in the right 
places it was time to head down to the practice hall.
	On the way there I noticed that a thunderstorm was brewing. It started to rain 
so I ran the last couple of feet to the practce hall. Ranma was waiting when I 
walked in.
	"Well," he said,"I've never done this so... First let's see what you can do." 
	"I've had no previous training before, so this is going to suck compared to 
what you can do."
	"That doesn't matter for now, just give it your best shot."
	"Roger." The fight that ensued was mostly one sided. Only because Akane came 
into the practice hall to investigate what all of the noise was from that she 
was hearing, mostly from me yelling when I got hit. My main problem was that 
he was so damn fast, almost like a blur. Akane was sitting on the floor watching 
us.
	"You know what's really sad Akane?" Ranma asked her as he dodged one of my 
punches.
	"Not really, no," she anwsered.
	"I think that even you could beat the crap out of him," pointing at me.
	"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
	"That you would be beat by a girl." Just as he said that last sentence I 
finally anticipated his moves and hit him in the stomach. (Your probably 
thinking,'Not even in his wildest dreams could he hit Ranma.' My response, even 
if a I have one in a millon chance, that's still saying that I have a chance.) 
I knocked the wind from him because he stood there before he said,"Very, good, 
lets see..." I was sweating alot. I took of my shirt and threw it aside. Ranma 
on the other hand bearly broke a sweat. I could hear the thunder storm rage 
outside. The celing started to creak. "I have an idea," he rummaged around in a 
box on the floor. He pulled out two wristbands. "Here," he threw them to me,
"slip those on your wrists and let's try again."
	"Akane, could you please get me some water?" I asked her.
	"Do you think I'm a maid or someting? Why can't you get some?" she asked.
	"I'm trying my best to knock the stuffing out up Ranma here."
	"I guess so," she got up and left the hall. I put the wristbands around my 
wrists. They were about fifteen pounds each.
	"How am I supposed to hit you with these on?"
	"That's all part of your training. It's not just quickness that counts in a 
battle, anticapition is also key. Let's try again, shall we? But this time I'll 
only dodge. You bearly ever hit me, but when you do it packs a wallop." 
	"That's nice to know," we started again. It was both a little harder and easier. 
Harder because of the wristbands, easier because I didn't have to dodge his 
attacks...try to dodge his attacks.
	Thirty minutes and three hundred ten punches and kicks later I started to pick
up a pattern. We decided to stop for the night. I was spraled on the floor. 
Ranma sat down next to me. The celing creaked even more.
	"That was pretty good," Ranma said as Akane came in with a jug of water and 
three glasses. She set the jug next to me and sat down about a few feet from me. 
I sat up, picked up the jug and drained it.
	"Geez, you guys must've been working hard. Now I wonder why I even brought 
glasses."
	"Yeah, especially when the longest you've ever excercized was only in PE."
	"That's pretty sad. It's eight forty-five so-," she was cut off by a deluge of 
cold water from the roof. Akane didn't get hit by it. Ranma and I weren't so 
lucky. Both of us changed to our girl-bodies.
	"Hey, where did Rod go?" Akane asked.
	"Presnt," I said and raised my hand. Akane just stared, Ranma explained.
	"Rod, like me, fell into Spring-of-Drowned-Girl. But his incident was on 
vacation."
	"At least have the modesty to put a shirt on," Akane snapped. I got up, picked 
up my shirt and put it on.
	"There are you happy?" I asked.
	"Just for that you'll have to take your bath last. It'll give you time to get 
familar with your femine side." That was not what I wanted. I wanted to get out 
of this body as fast as I could.        
	"I'll deal with it," I anwsered. Akane stormed out of the practice hall, worse 
than the one that was happening outside at the time.
	"Don't worry about her," Ranma said. "She'll be over it by tomarrow." I walked 
over to one of the boxes.I started digging around, and found what I was looking 
for. A ribbon, I tried to tie up my hair, but gave up of after a while. 
	"Here, lemme do that for you," Ranma said. 
	"One question," I asked Ranma,"how did you get used to your girl-body?" She
finished,"Thanks."
	"No prob. Hmmm...," she thought for a while, as we walked toward the house.  
"It's not like I have a choice. I only use this body if I want to get free buns 
or someting like that."
	"Yeah," I said,"who could pass us up." 
	Ranma looked me over. "You know, if I wasn't enguaged and you weren't really a 
guy you'd be quite cute." I stared at her, and looked her over.
	"Same here I suppose." We got to the bathroom, somebody was already in it.
	"It's probably your Uncle," Ranma said.
	"Why do you think that?" I asked.
	"What time is it?"
	"Let's see," I took my watch out of my pocket and looked at it,"about eight 
fifty-three."
	"That's him. I go after him, and you'll come after me. It'll give you time to 
get used to yourself, chances are that you'll be stuck with it for a while."
	"I don't think I can live with this," I pointed at myself.
	"I've had to deal with it longer than you have."
	"True, I guess that this," I pointed at myself again,"is going to be a fact for
a while."
	"Could be years." 
	I shuddered,"I hope not."
	"Same here." The door opened and my Uncle stepped out with a robe on. He looked 
at both of us.
	"Let me guess," he said, "You," pointing at me,"fell into Spring-of-Drowned-
Girl."
	"How-," I started.
	"Except for the hair you look nearly identical." I stared at him. "By the way,
you two will help the roof of the practice hall tomarrow. Got it?"
	"Yes-," I started.
	"Sir," Ranma finished. My Uncle walked down the hall and went into his room.
Ranma anwered my unasked question. "He just knows." She walked into the bath and 
closed the door. I walked down the hall to my room. Just as I reached it I 
realized someting. 
	'Let's see.' I was trying to remember where Kasumi's room was. Although it's 
kinda hard to miss a door with a sign that says 'Kasumi' on it. When I reached 
the right door I knocked. "One moment," came Kasumi's voice. The door opened. 
"Who are you?" she asked me.
	"Rod," I said,"long story, ask Ranma, or Akane." 
	"Okay, so what can I do for you?"
	"Well I was wondering if I could barrow one of your brushes for my hair." I 
turned around to show her my hair.
	"Sure, in fact, I have an old one you could have."
	"Thanks, I hope I didn't interupt anything."
	"Don't worry I was only reading Lost Moon," she said as she dug through one of 
her drawers.
	"What's that about?"
	"It's about the American space disaster in 1970," she walked over to me and 
gave me a brush.
	"Thanks. Isn't the American space program called NASA?"
	"Yup, seems to me that you know a little about space." 
	"I do a little bit of light reading every now and then."
	"One more thing." 
	"Yes?"
	"Don't count on getting any hot water unless you heat it over the stove."
	"Why's that?"
	"Whatever hot water's left, Ranma's probably used it."
	"Crap," I swore, "oh well, good night."
	"Same to you," she smiled. I walked back to my room. 'I've never had to sleep in 
this body before. This'll suck,' I thought, and laid down on my bed. 
	I must've been extreamly tired because the next thing I knew I heard Ranma's 
voice saying,
	"Yo, wake up. Kasumi said that it's ten minutes untill breakfast, if you want
to change back you'll have to hop into the bath real quick," I didn't need to 
be asked twice. In one motion I grabed my bathroom pack filled with my 
toothbrush and stuff in it and I was down the hall.
	Before I undressed I looked in the mirror at myself, overal that is. 'I have 
one heck of a figure. Although it'd be a cruel joke to be cursed with an ugly 
girl-body.'
	I quckly undressed and turned on the shower head full blast with hot water. 
'Sucess! Back to my good ol' body.' After that I felt pretty good, aside from the fact that I was sore from last 
night.
	"Have a good shower Rod?" Ranma asked me as I walked into the dineing room a 
few minutes later.
	"Yeah, it's good to get out of that damn girl-body. I started to think like a 
girl. Scary isn't it?"'
	"And what's so bad about a girl-body?" Akane asked through clenched teeth.
	"Best not upset Akane," Ranma warned, "she'll hit you flying. Seriously, she 
hurtled me thirty feet. And through the roof a bunch of times..."
	I heeded Ranma's warning,"Nothing, nothing at all."
	"Hey Rod," Nabiki said,"when were you going to let me in on your little secret? 
I had to find out from Kasumi here." 
	"What was I supposed to do? Go door to door saying, 'By the way I turn into a 
girl when I get hit with cold water'?"
	"No, but it would've been nice to hear it from you." I had a little trouble 
finishing my breakfast. Oh, I suppose it was the two pairs of eyes drilling into 
my head.
	After breakfast Ranma and I had to repair the roof of the practice hall. Ranma
was to do the inside, I had to do the outside.
	My uncle gave me a crowbar and said, "All you have to do is pry up the broken 
tiles along with all of the soaked plywood. And put in new materials. Go on up 
there."
	"How?" I asked.
	"Jump," he said simply.
	"Yeah, nice wish."
	"He raised an eyebrow, "Your telling me that you can't even hop onto the roof?"
	"Uh, yeah."
	"Okay whatever," he cupped his hands,"step here." I did as I was told. In one
motion he hurled me onto the roof.
	"Whoa," I said as I landed.
	"Stop standing around and get to work."
	"Yessir." I started to pry up some tiles. After about ten minutes later my 
Uncle came out carrying someting. "Hey, what'cha got there?"
	He threw it up to me, "You are to wear that every waking moment, except when 
you are in the shower or when you are at school."
	I picked it up. 'It feels like a sixty pound pack.' "You serous?" I asked.
	"Yes I am." I put it on, and stood up. It was heavy. 'This is going to take 
some getting used to.' I continued to pry until I broke through. I saw Ranma, he
was checking the rafters for weakneses.
	"Fancy meeting you here," I said, he smiled. When I peeled all of the bad 
plywood and shingles out of the way I was to replace it with new lumber and
shingles. An hour later I completed the roof. Ranma had finished an hour before I
did. He was on his back watching my hijinx while I was on the roof.
	When I jumped down I tried to land on my feet, but my knees buckled and I ended 
up on my hands and knees. 
	"Need help up?" Ranma asked walking up to me.
	"Thanks." I said and grabbed his hand and he pulled me up with it seemed no 
effort.
	"You boys did well," my Uncle said, walking out from the practice hall." Ranma,
don't you have some school work to do?"
	"Yeah, yeah," he started to walk off, "tonight at nine, got it?"
	"Yup," I anwsered and turned to my Uncle. "What's the point of the weighted 
pack?"
	"You'll find out soon enough," he replied and walked off. I walked toward the
house. With the extra weight it took me a bit longer then normal. I truged down
the hall toward my room. I walked in and flopped down onto my bed, and just laid
there for a while, listening to the noises from the pond right outside my 
window. There was a knock at the door. I sat up.
	"Yes?" I said. The door opened and Akane stepped into my room, and closed the 
door behind her. "Come in."
	She smiled and said, "I was wondering wheather you'd like to goto the rink after 
lunch."
	"Ice rink right?"
	"Yup, you do skate, don't you?" she asked me.
	"I'm not the best..."
	"Your probably better than Ranma at least."
	"Really? How bad is he?"
	"Let's just say he's as efficent as a paper mache bathtub."
	I laughed, "For once I'll be better than him at something."
	"Well, normally she goes."
	"You mean that he-she-"
	"Yeah, I'm guessing that he dosen't want to make a bad impression on the 
public." 
	"That's-"
	"Pathetic? I know."
	"Well...now that you mension it."
	She stared at me, "What ever you want. Just be ready. Got it?"
	"Yup," she left. 'I suppose that would be an idea.'
	'My god I must be insane. As much as I hate to admit it seems like the best 
course of action. But, there is no way in HELL, that I'm going to wear a mini 
skirt or anything like that. I don't no why I would, it's not like anybody 
could talk me into it... Unless of course they knock me out.'
	"Hey Rod, it's time for lunch," Ranma's voice said through my door. 
	"Alright," I jumped off my bed. I had a little trouble with the extra ninety
pounds around my body. When I opened the door, Ranma was standing there. "Yes?"
	"You going to the rink with Akane?" he asked.
	"Yeah, are you?"
	"Yup, are you going to go as a girl?"
	I cringed, "Yup."
	"Same here. I hope I don't see Sazenin or so help me."
	"Why's that?"
	"Um, you don't want to know." So I left it at that. We walked down the hall 
toward the dineing room. My mouth was watering form the smell of the food 
waifting down the hall. 
	"Okay one question," I said as the meal commenced. "Why dosen't your dad change 
back to a human?"
	"Search me," Ranma looked at his dad, "no clue."
	"Eat, shall we?" my Uncle's said and slapped me on the back. I did a face plant 
into the floor. "sorry 'bout that."
	"Ouche," I said as I pulled myself up.
	"Rod, are you okay?" Kasumi asked me.
	"Yeah I'm fine. I've had worse."
	"Like what?" Akane asked me. 
	"Falling down a cliff into a cursed spring. Not naming Spring-of-Drowned-Girl 
of course."
	"You could've been worst off. You might've broken your neck."
	"Nothing is worse than becoming a girl when getting hit with water."
	"Yessir," Ranma said agreeing with me.
	We sat down, and started to eat. "The roof looks pretty good. You boys did
good," my Uncle said to Ranma and me.
	"Thanks," I said making sure my nose wasn't broken.
	"All in a days work," Ranma said.
	"So both of you guys are going to the rink with me?" Akane asked the two of us.
	"Yeah, by the way, your leaving for the rink accompined by two girls," Ranma
said. "I'm going to see if I can improve any."
	"Don't worry about it," I said. "I wasn't really good when I first started," I 
pause,"then again I wasn't a girl at the time. It might take some getting used 
to." 
	
"We're leaving when I get done helping Kasumi with the dishes," Akane told 
Ranma and me. "Got it?"
	"Roger," I said.
	"Yup," Ranma said.
		Ranma and I made our way down the hall to the bath's door.
	"You go first," Ranma said. "It give you time to adjust."
	"Thanks man."
	"That's woman to you," we both grinned I went in, took the weighted pack, 
wristbands as well as my cloths, and turned the cold water on long enough for my
body to change, and then turned it back off again.
	"I must be mental," I muttered dring off. I redressed and walked out into the 
hall and down into my room. 'Let's see,' I thought as I looked around my room,
'jeans, jacket, yeah I'm as ready as I'll ever be.' I met Ranma in the hallway.
	"I hope I don't screw up too badly," Ranma said.
	"Who'd know where to find you to taunt you?" I asked.
	"True." Akane and Ryoga came down the hall.
	"Where is this rink?" I asked as we started off up the street.
	"Just up the road," she anwsered. When we got there we...Akane rented skates 
(for me.) Half the fun was finding out my new shoe size as a girl. "You owe me 
for the rental," she said to me.
	I took out my wallet and opened it. A moth flew out of it, "My parents didn't 
give me any money when I left. I mean they did nut only for lunches."
	We found seats next to the entrance to the rink itself. When I got my skates 
tied I stood up and looked at Ranma's progress she got her skates tied and 
started to stagger toward the entrance to the rink. When I stepped onto the rink 
I easily slid foreward, stoped and turned around. Akane followed. Ranma stepped on the 
ice, slid foreward, and landed on her face.
	"Don't even," she threatened.
	"I don't think you can do much while you're on the ice," I said to her. Ranma 
stood up and tried to take a swing at me. I mearly skated backward a couple of 
inches so she would miss. She did and landed on her face, again.  
	I asked Akane,"He wasn't this bad when he started, was he?"
	"Actually, he's a bit better than last time," she anwsered. Ranma got up, a
little shaky, but not too bad.
	"I didn't think that they could be any worse." Akane smiled.
	"I'll race ya," she said.
	"You're on," and we started off leaving Ranma temperarly to fend for her self. 
I got an early lead, but after a short while Akane caught up and passed me. I 
tried my best to catch up but Akane was just too fast. She was stopped at the 
end of the rink when I caught up. "Holy crap, you're fast."
	"Yes m'am, er, sir."
	"Don't remind me. Let's go ckeck on the newbie, shall we?" We skated over to 
where Ranma and was practicing. He wasn't the best, but for the second time 
better than I was.
	She skated toward me and slowly came to a halt.
	"You're not too bad," I said. She nearly fell, but grabbed onto me, dragging us
both down instead of just her. "Geez, why did you do that?"
	"I felt like it," she replied. I stood up, and helped Ranma up. "Thanks." 
	"So what made you suddenly want to take up skateing to begin with?"
	Ranma stayed quiet.
	"Just tell him," Akane said to Ranma. "He'll find out eventully even if it is
the day of the match."
	The three of us started to slowly skate around the rink. Ranma started to 
explain of the entire fiasco. A few of the parts of the story caused me to trip, 
but I was able to recover and continue on. As she finshed I felt sorry for him,
that he had to go through such an event.
	"Geez, I hope that never happens to me," I said quitely.
	"Just wait," Ranma responded,"I'll bet ya that something similar might happen 
in the future." 
	"Just think about it makes my skin crawl."
	"What do you think living through it is like?" Ranma asked angerly. It 
frighened a couple passing us.
	"Ranma be nice," Akane said in my defence. "Don't take out all your anger on
Rod."
	She took a deep breath,"Yeah, I'm just reeeaaalllyy
	About an hour or so later Akane came to us and told us that is was time to go. 
As we reached the entrance of the rink Ranma slipped and almost fell, but I 
caught her.
	"Thanks, again," she said.
	"Just helping my fellow woman," I anwsered.
	"Don't remind me."
	"Aye," I agreed and took off my skates and returned them. 
	For some reason as we were walking back to the house I had the feeling that I 
was being watched or followed.
	"You guys ever have the feeling that you're being watched?" I asked Akane and
Ranma.
	"Well, I never know if Gosunkugi is lurking around," Akane said.
	"Who?"
	"It's some guy," Ranma explained,"that likes Akane alot. Plus, he's into voodoo
type stuff as well."
	"Ah, your typical class A nutcase."
	"He is nice," Akane said.
	"That is of course as long as he doesn't faint at the sight of you," Ranma 
said.
	"Faint?" I asked.
	"Yeah it's like Akane is beutiful or someting," Ranma said asking for it.
	"You just wait, some day, some day when you least expect it...you'll get paid
back for that comment," Akane said slowly.
	"Like you-," Akane snatched Ranma and hurled her towards the house.
	My mouth gaped open as I tracked her through the air. Akane smoothed out her 
skirt innocently.
	"You were saying something about feeling as if you were being followed?"
	It took me a moment to snap myself out of the shock of Akane's strength,"Yeah,
it's like somebody I've known for along time is standing right behind me."
	"That's strange."
	"Your telling me," I started to run towards the house.
	"You scared?" Akane shouted to me.
	"No, I just want to get out of this body is all."
	"I think I'll let that pass this time."
	By the time I got to the house Ranma had already grabbed a kettle and tipped it 
over himself. "You read my mind," he tipped the kettle onto me. "Damn, that's hot. 
How do you get used to that hot water?"
	He shruged, "I guess I don't have any choice." A few minutes 
later Akane  arrived. "Geez what took you so long?"
	Akane glared at Ranma, "Guess," and shoved him into the pond. I had saved the 
kettle just before she went under and set it kettle on the ground.
	"I'll leave the happy couple alone," I just started to walk away, but Akane 
grabbed the back of my jacket and threw me into the pond, "Very agreeable girl 
isn't she?" I asked Ranma.
	Akane dumped out the kettle and brought it the the house with her.
	"And yet the horror returns," I said looking over myself. Ranma and I pulled 
ourselves from the pond. I took my off jacket, it was soaked.
	"I'll fill the kettle," Ranma said.
	"I think I'll wait untill tonight. Lately I've been prone to attacks from cold 
water."
	"Good idea." Something was flung at my head, I saw it in time to duck.
	"Forget someting?" it was my Uncle's voice. I picked up what was flung at me.
	It was the weighted pack, it seemed a bit heaver that before.
	"Do you mind getting us some towels?" Ranma asked my Uncle.
	"Get'm yourself," he responded.
	"What, and drip on the floor."
	"I can live with that." I took off my shirts and wrung them out, and I put them 
back on. Ranma twitched slighly at the sight of my...(Well, you get the point.)
	"Hey Rod, would you like to have your training early today?" Ranma asked.
	"Sure," I said, "but let's wait untill you cool down...you know what I mean."
	She took a deep breath, "Don't worry. I'm fine." We were walking toward the 
training hall when I realized someting.
	"Hey, go ahead. I have to get my wristbands out of my room."
	"Gotcha." I hurried into the house. Just before I passed the dineing room I 
heard voices. I stopped to listen.
	"That's a steaming load of-," said my Uncle's voice
	"I still think we should tell his parents," said Nabiki's voice.
	"Well if he's like my son, the smaller of people who know the better," said a 
voice of a man.
	"I still think we should tell his parents." I walked into the doorway.
	"Tell my parents what?" I asked. Nabiki stood up, walked over to me and prodded
my chest with her finger, "Um, can I help you?"
	"Take a wild guess about what were talking about," she said.
	"I agree with Genma. I don't want alot of people to know," I said.
	"But they're your parents," my cousin protested.
	"So what? I'll tell'm when I'm ready, got it?!"
	"The decision's yours," my Uncle said calmly.
	"Good," I walked to my room and found the wristbands. When I got to the 
practice hall I told Ranma what just happened.               
	"You mean that your parents don't even know."
	"Nice work Sherlock. Shall we get to work?"
	"Yes." It was harder to hit her with the pack on, but I got a few shots in... 
Nice joke, eh?
	"You've improved a little," Ranma complemented me.
	"I'm not sure if it's just this body," I responded. 
	Once she tried to punch me I grabbed her fist, pulled it behind me and slammed 
her on the back as she flew past. 
	She stood up,"Very good, where'd you learn that from."
	I wiped some sweat from my brow, and pulled off my sweatshirt,(I had a shirt 
underneath.) "Just spontanious, I guess. Didja like that?"
	"Yup, good thinking."
	Half an hour later Akane came in. We decided to take a break.
	"So is Rod any good?" she asked Ranma.
	"Well he's not nearly as good as you, but..."
	"Are you sure you're feeling well? You just volentarley complemented me."
	"Don't push it. How about you two duke it out, see who's better." 
	"Sure," I said, "but compared to her I probably suck."
	"Suits me," Akane said. We walked to the center of the practice hall.
	"I don't like to hit girls, old habit of mine."
	"Your a girl yourself. I don't see any problem."
	"Phisically yes, mentaly no."
	"Ready?"
	"Roger." Well, I have to say that I had a better chance with her than Ranma. 
>From the get go I could dodge her attacks okay but it's like she was using me 
to vent her anger on. I think the only reason why my punches were doing anything
was because I had the wristbands on. Half the fun was trying not hitting Akane 
in a important place. About half an hour later we decided to quit.
	"Your pretty good for not having any training," Akane said.
	"Yeah, I didn't think you'd be still standing after a fight with with Akane,"
Ranma said.
	"Well you thought wrong," I said. "Although I'm starting to not like this 
body." I could tell that Akane's temper was starting to simmer. "Don't get me 
wrong, but it's starting to strech out my shirts. Walking down Main St. with 
the top of my shirt puffed out...sombody might call me a girl." Akane slapped
me. It's not that big of a deal except for the fact that it made me slide a 
several feet.
	"My, my is this how cousins normally act?" Ranma asked. Akane picked up a  
bean bag that was on the floor and threw it at Ranma. It hit her right between
her eyes, knocking her out.
	"Remind me never to anger you again, deal?" I asked.
	"Deal. You know what we could do?" she walked over to me and whispered 
something in my ear. I grinned, her plan sounded good. 
																														
																														1 hr. later, Dinner
	"It's not like Ranma to miss a meal," Kasumi said. 
	"Well," Akane said,"let's just say that he's really gotten attached to the 
celing recenty." I had to choak down a laugh.
	Genma-panda held up a sign that said,"Are you okay?" 
	"I'm fine, thank you," I said. A little bit later everybody heard a:
"Wuh?"*CRASH-WUMP* Ranma came by a little later with a celing tile, that was 
cracked down the middle, duct taped to her back.
	"Akane, you relize that you have a death wish now," Ranma asked.
	"Yes m'am," she anwsered.
	"Don't remind me."
	"Well, that would explain the empty roll of duct tape I found in the trash,"
Kasumi said. Ranma tried to charge at Akane and I but the celing tile was too 
wide for the doorway.
	I turned to Ranma's dad,"Tell me you taught him that a square peg doesn't fit        
in a round hole." 
	He held up a sign that said,"One might think that's common since." 
	After a while she gave up and said, "Little help, please."
	"I'll get some scizors," Akane said. She got up and went into the kitchen and
returned with a pair of scizors.
	"Try anything funny and I'll stab you," Ranma stayed as stone still as she 
could as Akane cut the tape. When she was free she streched her arms and joined
dinner.
	"Rod," Kasumi said,"I got a letter from Furikian school. It says that you'll be 
in classroom 1-F, it's the same one that Ranma and Akane are in."
	"This ought to be good," Ranma said.
	"You two better not screw me up. Got it?" Akane asked.
	"Yes m'am," I said.
	"Suck up," Ranma said.
	"Hey I don't want the crap beat out of me by a girl, or be knocked by a one 
either." The rest of the meal was in silence.

"Meet me in the practice hall in five minutes," Ranma said after we left the
dineing room.
	"Sure," I responded. 
	I decided to change back to my boy-body.
	When I got to the kitchen Kasumi was finishing up some dishes. 
	"Good evening Rod," Kasumi said to me.
	"Same to you," I said.
	"What can I help you with?"
	"Well, I was hoping to get some hot water so I can get out of this body," I 
paused. "You're not going to Vesuvius on me like Akane did, are you?"
	"No, not at all," she refilled the kettle and placed it on the stove, "Hmmm..."
	"Yes?"
	"One thing I realized the night before last is that the length of your hair 
changes, unlike Ranma's."
	'Boy,' I thought, 'she's a brain child.' "Yeah, that thought occured to me as
well." I pulled my hair in front of me like Kasumi has her's. "it doesn't bother 
me much so I don't worry about it. That reminds me, what happened to Akane's 
hair?"
	"She just told me she wanted a bit of a change."
	"Oh, is that it,' the kettle started to steam. (Ever notice that time speeds by 
in a story?)
	"That should be hot enough," she picked up the kettle and handed it to me.
"Could you do this outside?"
	"Yes mother," I smiled and took the kettle outside. I tipped the kettle over 
me, she was right, it was warm enough. In no time I was my old self. I left the
kettle in the kitchen, and walked to the practice hall. 
	When I got there I already heard some people fighting. I opened the door and 
went in.
	It was Akane and Ranma, again. Akane was having as much luck hitting Ranma as I
did. I walked into the practice hall, and sat down. They didn't even notice me 
come in.
	'Geez, they're good. I hope they don't pull some moves on me like they're doing
now.' After about ten minutes they took a short breather. Ranma looked around,
finally spying me.
	"What took you so long?" she asked.
	"I've been watching you guys for the last ten minutes," I responded.
	"My, my," Akane said, "time flies when your venting anger. I softend 'em up,
take your best shot."
	"I'll try." I walked to where Ranma was standing. She splashed me with some 
water, I changed back to my girl-body, "Hey! What'd you do that for?"
	"If you can be good as a girl, you can probably be good as a guy. A bit less 
flexible grant you but...ready?" 
	I charged and threw a punch, she dodged. I decided to try something different, I 
swong my arm in the direction that she had dodged. My arm connected with her 
shoulder. She staggered a bit.
	"Very good, you just make that up?"
	"Just thought of it and thought, 'What the hell, let's try it.'" We continued I
was doing better than before. An hour later she tried to kick my chest but I had
lost my balance, because of the pack, so I leaned back really far, so she sailed
right over me, as she did I arched my back and double kicked her on the back,
sending her to collide with the wall.
	I heard Akane let out softly,"Wow. I don't think anybody has ever been able to 
do that to him." I guess Ranma didn't know what hit her, because she hit the 
wall with a mighty SMACK! I ran over to where she lay.
	"Are you alright?" I asked. Akane ran up next to me.
	Ranma shook her head and said, "Wasn't expecting that. Let's stop for tonight, 
okay?"
	"Sure," she staggered out of the practice hall.
	"That was really good," Akane complemented me.
	"Yeah," I said, "if it wasn't for this damn pack that wouldn't of happened."
	"Well my dad works in mysterious ways," we walked out of the practice hall. "I 
don't want you start off your day as a girl. So you can take your bath before 
me," she smiled. 
	"You sure you're okay, you're being nice."
	"Don't push your luck."
	"Yes m'am," I gave her a fake salute. I walked to my room and grabbed my 
bathroom pack. When I got to the bathroom sombody was already in there, so I sat
down and waited. A couple of minutes later Kasumi came out with her robe on.
	"Isn't Akane supposed to come after me?" she asked.
	"She's letting me go instead of her," I responded as I stood up.
	Kasumi walked up and hugged me,"I'm glad you're staying with us," she walked
down to her room and closed her door.
	'Did I miss something...' I thought as I walked into the bath.
	
I walked to Ranma and his dad's room when I was done with my shower, the door 
was open.
	"One question, when do we leave for school tomarrow?" I asked Ranma.
	She shurged,"Beats me, it's whenever Akane says that were late."
	"I think not. I'll be sure to walk with Nabiki to school. She's never late, is
she?"
	"Normally she's ten minutes early."
	"Works for me. 'Night."
	"'Night." I walked to Nabiki's room, I knocked.
	"Who is it?" came Nabiki's voice.
	"Rod," I anwsered.
	"Come in," I opened the door and stepped inside. "What can I help you with?"
	"I was wondering if you could let me know when you'll be leaving for school 
tomarrow, so that I can be on time?"
	"Sure. I suppose you want to make a good first impression."
	"Uh...yeah whatever," I started to leave.
	"One more thing. There is an old woman who spreads water for her plants along 
the way to the school. But not during winter of course."
	"Why do I need to know this?"
	She pressed on, "Some on this cold water splashes onto the sidewalk next to 
her." A small ball in my head finally cluncked into the right spot and I 
understood.
	"Thanks for the warning, 'Night."
	"'Night"
	I walked back to my room,'Well I should be fine for tomarrow. Key word being
"fine" of course.' I climed into my bed, after I took off the weighted pack. 
'That was a nice shower that I took, it got rid of all of my sores from training 
with Ranma. Although I doubt that I'll be beating Akane or Ranma any time soon. I 
still think I'm getting better. 
	'Over all I think that staying here will be either my worst nightmare, or, the 
best year I've ever spent. But, how the heck am I going to explain to my parents 
my curse.  
	'That's right, I was supposed to get a letter from one of my old classmates, 
after we came back from vacation. I wonder what happened to him. He probably got 
caught up in his trip to- Wait a minute! He said he was going to Juesenkyo for a 
a vacation. Oh, shit! That means that the wierd feeling I've been getting is him 
but...which of the many springs did he fall into? Hmmm...the worst one is 
probably the one I fell into. Actully that would probably be the best one for 
him to fall into, at least he'd still be human.
	'Anyway, if life here is going to be this strange...I'm in for one hell of a 
ride.'

																																		THE END