Disclaimer:  As you are probably well aware of, I DO NOT own Ranma ½, a bunch of rich people do.  Suing me will result in a gum drop and an overdue phone bill.  You've been warned!

Life Sure is Funny Sometimes

Chapter 1

Reunited at Jusenkyo

            The dark haired young man had trudged through cities and mountains, deserts and jungles.  But he was close now, he could feel it.  He would have his revenge.     

            Ryouga Hibiki stood at the edge of the cliff, surveying the valley below him.  The late evening sun was setting, painting the surrounding mountains glorious shades of red and orange.

            The beauty was lost on him, however.  He eyed the numerous pools of water below, searching.  An adversary awaited somewhere below, oblivious of his fate to come.

            "Jusenkyo," he thought bitterly.  "At last…the road ends here.  Ranma, today's the day you-"

            His thoughts were interrupted by a shout.  He turned just in time to see a flash of black and white about to collide with him.  Without conscious thought, his martial arts reflexes propelled him up through the air as the…panda ran under him and hopped along the natural rock columns that bordered the cliff.

            Before the absurdity of the sight could fully register in his mind, he caught a glimpse of a girl leaping over him.

            "Wait up ya' old fool!" she shouted, seemingly oblivious to Ryouga's presence.

            He landed on his feet, but slipped on the loose ground and tumbled over the cliff head first. Before Ryouga could open his mouth to yell, however, his fall was suddenly cut short.  He looked up to see the girl from before holding his ankle with one hand.

            "Hold on," she said, shifting her weight to get better footing.  "I've got you."  With surprisingly little effort, she lifted him up to safety with one arm.

            Ryouga lay still for a moment to catch his breath.  "Thanks," he said sincerely, sitting up.  "I really owe you one."

            The red-haired girl watched him curiously for a moment.  Finally, she smiled, flipping her ponytail back over her shoulder.  "Don't mention it," she said, pulling him to his feet.  "You look half-starved.  Why don't you come on back to our camp; dinner should be ready by now."

            Ryouga was apprehensive.  "Um- thanks, but I have to…meet someone-"

            "Oh come on," she replied, pulling him along with her.  "We don't bite…well, maybe pops might…"  The girl trailed off laughing.

            "Must be an inside joke," Ryouga thought, adjusting the straps on the backpack he carried as his stomach growled urgently.  "Ok," he relented.  "Lead the way."

***

            The stew was ready when they returned.  Or rather, it had been ready.  The girl eyed the empty pot and the sleeping panda a few feet away.  "Damn it, Pop!" she growled.  Reaching into a nearby basket, she pulled out a bottle of broth and some vegetables and set to work on another stew.  "Sit down and relax; this shouldn't take too long."

            Ryouga nodded and set his backpack down before stretching his aching muscles.  It seemed like he hadn't rested in days- it was quite possible he hadn't.  Lately the days and weeks have just been blending together… 

            Whatever the case, he took advantage of the time and sat on the grass, watching the rapidly darkening sky.  'It sure is beautiful out here; I seldom find time to enjoy it.'

            The girl finished chopping and adding the vegetables, and took a seat next to Ryouga as she waited for it to heat up.  "Hey, I just remembered you haven't told me your name yet."

            "Oh, right," he said, tearing his eyes away from the splendor of the valley's natural wonders.  "I'm Ryouga Hibiki." 

            She gasped.  "R- Ryouga Hibiki?" she repeated softly, her easy going demeanor fading as she suddenly became very nervous.          

            "Yeah," he replied, curious by her odd reaction.  "Is something wrong?"      

            She closed her eyes for a moment before turning away to stare blankly down at the valley.  The fading sunlight reflected off the water of the pools, making the valley resemble a huge, shimmering mirage.  Like something that should only reside in the world of dreams. 

            Finally, she spoke.  "Do you know the 'legend' of the Accursed Springs?"     

            He nodded, having heard the stories during his travels- during his search.  "If it's even half as dangerous as people say…" 

            "It is…"  the girl replied grimly.  She took a deep breath before continuing.  "My old man and I arrived here a few days ago.  We were training, not paying any attention to the guide.  Pops, um, fell into one of the springs and he…changed."           

            Ryouga gulped and looked back at the snoring panda. 

            She followed his gaze and answered the unspoken question.  "Yeah, that's him alright.  My old man…a panda!"  Absentmindedly tugging her ponytail, she continued.     

            "I guess, somehow, he didn't know he changed and continued sparring with me.  I was so shocked, he caught me off guard and knocked me into another spring."     

            "W- which one?"         

            She closed her eyes and sighed.  "Spring of Drowned Girl."   

            His eyes widened.  "You mean…you're a…guy?"        

            She nodded quietly.     

            "Uh, well-" he stuttered.  "I heard hot water reverses it temporarily…" 

            The girl shook her hair.  "It works for pops, but I hit my head… took in some water…  Apparently ingesting the water 'locked' me like this," she said, laughing bitterly and gesturing at her body.  "The guide said it's only a temporary lock…usually.  But it could be weeks or years- it varies."         

            The sun finally disappeared behind the mountains, plunging them in dark twilight.  The glow of the fire danced off her sad eyes- blue eyes that suddenly seemed very familiar to Ryouga.           

            "Ranma?" he asked incredulously.  "Ranma Saotome?"

            "Hey, Ryouga," she answered sadly.  "It's good to see you again."      

            Ryouga couldn't help but stare, shocked.  The person he'd been tracking for years, the coward who had run away from his challenge…was this woman?  The girl sitting before him was…Ranma? 

            He wanted to say something, anything, but his mouth refused to move.          

            She seemed to grow more uncomfortable and broke the silence.  "So, what brings you here?" she asked, trying to sound more cheerful then she looked. 

            Ryouga finally found the power of speech.  "What brings me here?" he asked, his temporarily forgotten anger rising once again.  "I've been following you!"         

            "Me?" she asked, surprised.  "How come?"     

            'She- He…whatever- doesn't know?'  He pointed an accusing finger at her.  "You ran away from our duel!"  

            Ranma thought for a moment, her finger on her chin.  "You mean over those stupid bread fights we had in the cafeteria?  And what do ya' mean 'ran away?'  I waited three days for you!"   

            "And when I showed up on the fourth day, you were gone!" 

           Ranma rolled her eyes and lay back on the cooling grass.  "I guess I should have known better, especially with your sense of direction."  She smirked.  "But I didn't think you'd want me leading you by the hand to our duel."    

            Ryouga blushed furiously at that last comment, his cheeks turning a dark crimson.  "Wh- what are you talking about?"           

            She laughed.  "Don't tell me you forgot!  Who do you think got you to school and back each morning?"

            "I don't know," Ryouga murmured, looking away.  'She remembers that?'

            Ranma got up to check the stew.  Finding it heated, she scooped some into a wooden bowl and handed it to Ryouga.  "Look, I'm sorry about the bread, ok?  You know what a battlefield lunch was…"

            Ryouga ate his meal silently, wondering what had gone wrong.  This really wasn't going the way he imagined at all.  He had envisioned many scenarios, but none of them involved Ranma serving him dinner and apologizing.

            Finally, he spoke.  "It wasn't the bread," he said quietly.  "Maybe… I don't know- never mind."  He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see her apologetic but curious face.

            "What?" she asked, more gently than Ryouga had thought capable of the Ranma he had known.

            He took a deep breath.  "Maybe…maybe I felt a little betrayed.  I thought you were my friend, and then you just left without even saying goodbye."  Ryouga turned away, unable to look her in the eye after such a confession.

            "Ryouga, you knew I was leaving.  And I was going to save the goodbye until after the duel."

            Glancing at her, Ryouga realized that he just couldn't bring himself to be angry at her anymore.  'What the hell am I doing out here?  Imagine following someone thousands of miles for such a pitiful reason.'

            Ryouga came to a decision.  Finishing his food, he stood and shouldered his backpack.  "Thanks for the meal," he said evenly, turning away.  "Seeya later."

            "Hey, wait!" Ranma said, grabbing his arm.  She thought a moment.  "Look, we're on the last leg of our trip before we head back to Japan.  Why don't you come with us?"

            Ryouga looked hesitant.  "I'm not sure if that's a good idea…"

            "Oh, come on.  I could use a new sparring partner; don't tell pops, but he's getting kinda slow.  And besides, who knows when you'll find your way back home, anyway?"

            She did have a point.  "Well, I suppose that since I owe you my life for saving me back there, I could-"

            Ranma smiled and shook her head.  "Forget about that.  I'm inviting you because you're my friend, not because you owe me."  She held out her hand.  "So, what do you say?  Friends?" 

            He looked away for a moment, seeing the seemingly endless mountains and forest.  The long journey ahead.  'The loneliness.'  Ryouga finally returned the smile and set down his pack.  "Friends," he said, shaking her hand.

            'I came here looking for revenge, and instead rekindled an old friendship.  Life sure is funny sometimes…'

            Ten minutes later, they were each in their own sleeping bags and fast asleep.

            The panda, also known as Genma Saotome, thought about the conversation he had just heard.  Undoubtedly, this Ryouga fellow's debt to the Saotome Clan might come in handy someday.  Yawning, he turned his large, furry back to the fire and fell asleep.