Equal Halves

This sequel to Genma's Daughter not only is as good as the story it continues, but it has its own unique approaches that make it just as interesting. The basic premise of a wish being granted by a rock is almost too silly to consider, but it actually works. It's also interesting that this alternate reality that Ranko falls into features characters which are canon in nature, thus behaving somewhat differently from their counterparts in Genma's Daughter.

The story also is strong in that it takes the wonderful ending to the first story and throws it, and Ranko's well-being, into a complete spin. That Ranko could possibly never return to her reality or see her Ryoga again forms the A plot, so to speak. Yet, the B plot is just as concerning, as Akane becomes worried that her Ranma will really want to be a girl, especially since he starts to take up the violin like Ranko.

These two stories constitute some of the finest Ranma-chan/Ranko fanfiction I've ever read, and I've already read them several times and never tire of reading them yet again.

chapter 1

There's a former prince who was turned into a rock. He grants wishes and hopes eventually go to the spirit world. Kuno comes along and picks the rock up.

Kuno makes a wish that others could see the "truth" (that Ranma and the pig-tailed girl are not one and the same) as he sees it.

In reality 2, Ranma is going to take a short trip and will return in time for his birthday. The failed wedding attempt had happened several weeks earlier.

In reality 1 (from Genma's Daughter) Ranko has been given a new violin. Ranko's birthday is coming up in two days and it will be her first birthday as Ranko since she was four. She's return from a music lesson on the train.

She gets off the train and is blinded by a light. Unknown to her she is transported to reality 2. The first person she meets she knows but he doesn't recognize her. She goes to a store she had been to three days earlier and it's closed. She runs into Sayuri and Yuka, neither of which recognize her.

Ranko arrives at the Tendo dojo. Kasumi is the first to see her. Kasumi's puzzled and she and Ranko have tea.

Akane and Nodoka arrive. Akane dumps a kettle of water on Ranko and she doesn't change. Nodoka slaps Ranko. Akane knocks out Ranko with a mallet.

Ranko begins to tell her story and people begin to realize something is very wrong. Nabiki notices that Ranko's ears are pierced and some of them finally realizes that her story is true. Ranko also has a student ID from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts plus she has a lot of photos of her, Akane, Kasumi and others.

Ranko shows Akane a pendant with a picture of Akane and her as four-year-olds, but Akane still refuses to believe. Ranko breaks down into tears.

Ranko starts to play her violin. Everyone finally realizes that she is not their Ranma. Nabiki begins to think that Ranko is from another reality.

Nodoka is accepting of Ranko and says if worse comes to worse Ranko can live with her. Akane is not understanding, though, and is hostile to Ranko.

chapter 2

Akane has a nightmare about Ranko. Later Akane and Ranko spar and Ranko hits Akane. Akane is happy that Ranko is taking her seriously.

Ranma arrives. He immediately proceeds to anger Ranko who smashes him with her ki-mallet even before Akane gets a chance to. Ranma and Ranko are both uneasy when they watch each other.

Ranma and Ranko end up sparring. Ranma wins, but Ranko does get two hits in.

Ranko describes later the problems she had with behaving macho when she was in her boy form; Akane and the others begin to worry that Ranma might really want to be a girl because the description of the things Ranko did matches things that Ranma did.

chapter 3

Akane is really worried that her Ranma might really want to be a girl.

Ranko and Ranma have a talk. Ranko basically tells Ranma that it is all right if he cries, eats parfaits, etc, sometimes, and will get along better with Akane if he stops insulting her and starts to respect her.

Ranko, Akane and Ranma go to see Cologne but encounter Kuno on the way. Since there are two "Ranma's", Kuno no longer believes that Ranma changes sex. Ranko tells Kuno that she is really Ranma's sister.

They talk to Cologne but Cologne doesn't know how to send Ranko home. Ranma admits he might like to try to play music himself.

Ranma then tries to play the violin but only when he is in female form. Akane watches and finally starts to stop worrying quite as much about Ranma becoming female.

Ranko rents a violin for Ranma but upon leaving the shop she runs into Ryoga.

chapter 4

Ryoga tells Ranko that he has a girlfriend named Akari and Ranko breaks down into tears. Ryoga takes her home to the dojo and there he finds out that the other-world Ryoga is Ranko's boyfriend.

Ranko tells everyone about how she and Ryoga fell in love in her world.

Ranko helps Ranma learn how to begin to get along better with Akane. Ranko and Ranma play a duet on their violins.

The mail comes and Ranko gets something. It's a letter from the rock that brought her to this world, apologizing for doing that but saying it was in a good cause.

chapter 5

Akane and Nodoka both will miss Ranko terribly and Ranko finally finds out. Nodoka says that she always wanted a daughter.

A neighbor brings over a package for Ranko that was accidentally delivered to the wrong house. It contains somewhere in it information on how Ranko will return.

They can't find the exact page and they get tired and decide to quit for the night. Both Nadoka and Akane are really upset that Ranko will be leaving.

Ranma wants to know how he can actually get to be Akane's friend. Ranma is realizing just how much of a jerk he has been as far as Akane goes. He and Ranko plan to pretend to be each other so Ranma can talk to Akane and she will think she's talking to Ranko.

The next morning they go through the rest of the papers but can't find the form that Ranko needs to return home although they find a coupon for one free wish for Ranko.

Later Akane finds the form.

Akane and Ranma have their talk and she finds out it's Ranma and not Ranko.

chapter 6

Nodaka has a talk with Ranko and Ranma. She wants the traditional role of husband and wife and Ranko argues with her that women should be able to have a career and men take care of children and housework. The argument becomes very heated and Ranko becomes very cold and formal to Nodoka. They end up making up, though.

Ranko makes her wish and gathers her things to leave. Akane gives Ranko the white dress she bought for Ranma in Pretty Womanhood.

Ranko clicks her heels three times and vanishes.

Later Ranma and Akane are talking and she asks him, if he finds a cure for the curse, could he not use it for a year or so since she doesn't want to permanently lose seeing Ranko's face. Ranma agrees.

Meanwhile Ranko reappears at her actual home but is knocked unconscious when she lands.

The mailman delivers a package that was sent to the wrong zip code. It's a letter explaining how Ranko has been chosen and will be back in a few days. Ranko has photos from the time she spent there and everyone looks at those.

Ryoga gives Ranko an engagement ring.

Back in the other world, Nodoka finds out she is pregnant with a girl child.