Double or Nothing

Review

I'd like to thank for letting me know about this story. This is a really good story that has a lot of potential for a lot of more chapters.

It has an unusual method of ending up with separate male and female Ranmas, but that's ok. I like the way the writer handles the possibilities that event entails, and how the writer shows Ranma managing to actually mature himself and in his relationship with Akane.

Synopsis

Chapter 1

The story takes place after the failed marriage between Ranma and Akane. Just as Akane is saying she doesn't want to marry Ranma, Ranma-chan shows up at the door, wet and in bad shape.

Dr. Tofu shows up also soaking wet (there's a rainstorm going on), and he has Ranma with him, who, like Ranma-chan, is unconscious.

Ranma wakes up, but doesn't recognize Nodoka and talks as if he thinks he's still in China. Ranma-chan wakes up and wants to know who the “other” Ranma is, thinking herself the “original” Ranma.

She pours hot water on herself, but doesn't change back, and Dr. Tofu says they have been separated, probably due to the lightning bolt that hit Ranma. Ranma-chan attacks Ranma but can't hurt him, and it turns out she has forgotten everything before China, which includes all her training.

Ranma had been taking a bath using some special magical spring powder that he got from Shampoo when lightning struck, literally. This is what caused a male Ranma and a female Ranma-chan to exist at the same time, with the male Ranma not remembering anything after Jusenkyo, and Ranma-chan not remembering anything before then.

Dr. Tofu tells Ranma-chan (who still thinks of herself as Ranma, and a male), that he doesn't think there is a way to change what happened, but he'll do some research on it. Nodoka decides to call Ranma-chan Ranko until things get straightened out.

Things are complicated since Ranma doesn't know anyone there (other than Genma), and knows nothing about the arranged marriage with Akane.

Nabiki talks to Akane alone, and lets Akane know that Ranma will also not remember any of the other girls he was supposed to marry, putting her in a better position.

Chapter 2

Ukyo visits the dojo. She finds Akane and Ranko sparring in the back yard. She also sees Ranma fighting Genma, so Ranko takes her aside to explain what has happened. Ranma, by the way, has lost a year of training since he doesn't remember anything after Jusenkyo.

Ranma remembers Ukyo as a child of six, but has no memory of her grown up.

Dr. Tofu reveals that there is no cure for what happened. He and Nabiki will help come up with a cover story and documents for Ranko. The story for Ranma will be that he was somehow cured, but does not remember how. The story for Ranko will be that she has been living all along with Nodoka.

Ranma is even more macho now, and manages to insult Ukyo. He gets into a sparring session with Akane, and somehow releases a special attack.

Ranko catches up to Ukyo who has left and they talk about how Ranma behaved, then hear a ki-blast coming from the dojo.

Ranma has left, and the next day Kasumi finds a note saying he has left to do some training and “clear his head.”

Nodoka and Akane have a talk, and Akane decides to try and do something about controlling her temper.

Chapter 3

Ranma returns after three months. Ranko has undergone some “feminine” training with Nodoka, and still spars with Akane, both of them getting better.

Ranma spars with Genma, and then they all have a huge welcome-back party. It's revealed that Kasumi and Dr. Tofu are finally actually dating.

What is most amazing of all is that Akane has fixed a dish and it actually turns out not to be just edible, but actually good, although a little on the spicy side.

Ranma says he spent some of the time when he was gone training under a monk to learn to control his ki abilities.

Akane and Ranma get along very well, Ranma saying he wants to start their relationship all over, and asks for her help in dealing with Shampoo and Kodachi.

Ranko, though, is jealous of Ranma.

Chapter 4

Ranma, Akane, Ranko and Ukyo all get to school. There's a hoard of boys that go after Akane, and she beats most of them, but Ranma knocks one out and says he was just watching her back.

Then, joy of joys, they run into Kuno who refuse to believe that Ranma and Ranko are brother and sister.

Ranko gets introduced to the class as a new student, and later during lunch Kuno attacks Ranma. Kuno's been held back a grade, and has been kicked off the kendo club.

Ranko explains to Ukyo that she's jealous of Akane. Ranko runs into Kodachi. The fight between Ranma and Kuno gets quite nasty before Ranma uses a ki-blast on him. Akane knocks Kodachi a good distance away, ending the fight between Kodachi and Ranko.

The next day the hoard of boys ignores Akane and goes after Ranko instead. Ranko proceeds to beat them all up and Kuno, also.

Chapter 5

The chapter opens with a fighter defeating an entire dojo, and then later vowing to make Ranma pay.

The guy attacks Ranma at school. The guy's name is Akira. Ranma and Akira fight, Akira fighting dirty but getting beaten anyhow.

It turns out Akira has been cursed, turning into a puppy with cold water.

Unfortunately for Akira, he insults Akane and gets sent on a long aerial trip, ending up as a pet for Azusa.

Chapter 6

Ranko runs into Shampoo who follows her to Ukyo's (where Ranko is working). Ranma and Akane arrive and explain things to Shampoo.

Ranma is no longer afraid of cats. Mousse attacks Ranma, and Shampoo and Akane fight. Ranma beats Mousse, and explains to him that he has no interest at all in Shampoo, and can't really understand why Mousse wants her either.

Which causes Mousse to think (for once.)

Akane beats Shampoo, who now has to give up on trying to get Ranma for herself.

Chapter 7

Ranma receives a letter of challenge from Ryoga. Ryoga ends up attacking Ranma chan, but she manages to avoid injury.

Ranma manages to knock Ryoga into a stream. Later Akane finds P-chan and takes him home. P-chan goes to the furo to change, but Ranko is there and proceeds to beat him senseless.

Ryoga finally confesses his love to Akane. He starts to attack Ranma, but Nodoka draws her katana and nearly beheads him.

Ranma later warns Ryoga about there will be no more P-chan around. Period.

Added 3/2008