DISCLAIMER:None of these characters are mine,and no copyright 
infringement is intended.This film has been specially written to 
commemorate the following events:the U.S Olympic Track/Field trials
(being held here in Sacramento),the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics,and the 
very belated first anniversary of my entry into the Ranma 1/2 
fanfiction arena.Enjoy!

"Marathon"(A Ranma 1/2 fanfic),by Mike Rhea

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"Remember,Ucchan,"Ranma Saotome told his wife as they were getting 
ready to run a one-on-one marathon race beginning and ending at their 
residence/okonomiyaki-ya in the Yamanouchi neighborhood(within a half-
block of the train station of the same name)in the Ukyou district of 
western Kyoto."The loser cooks the two of us dinner tonight."

"I know,Ran-chan.But today,victory will belong to me!,"replied Ukyou 
Saotome,fully aware that when they were kids,Ranma would always win.

Not only was their neighbor Ikuko Otonashi watching the couple's 
3-year old son during the race,but she was also standing guard at the 
start/finish line.It was the middle of summer,and the restaurant was 
closed for the day as it was typically the slowest day of the week 
business wise.

"On your mark,get set,GO!,"yelled Ikuko as she blew the whistle to 
signify the start of the race.Immediately,Ranma and Ukyou darted from 
the starting line at basically at the same time.About 500 meters later,
as they made a right turn onto the Shuuzan road leading into the 
mountains in the northern end of the city,they still were neck-in-neck 
because they were busy flirting with each other.Both were wearing quite 
a bit less than they wore most of the time(not counting the necessary 
footwear they wore for this very occasion):Ranma was just wearing tank 
tops and shorts,Ukyou a sport bra and gym shorts.Suddenly,despite the 
fact that it was summer,the sky quickly began to cloud up.

About 2 kilometers later,the 2 began the long climb into the southern 
end of mountainous Tanba plateau.Not only was there less traffic,but 
there was also many shrines and memorials to the emperors of the feudal 
era.As they continued further down the road,it was becoming harder for 
either to squeak ahead of one another,as the high altitude was slowing 
them down quite a bit.Finally,at the sharp right turn about halfway 
through the high-altitude section of the course,they decided to pause 
and rest for a while as it started to rain.

"Ucchan,isn't view beautiful up here,"inquired Ranma,referring to the 
view of the city of Kyoto about a few hundred meters below.

"It truly is,Ran-chan,"replied Ukyou."It also beats Nerima."

"Definitely,Ucchan."

"Look,Ran-chan!A 500-yen piece!"

"Where?"

Ukyou then took the opportunity to speed ahead of her husband in the 
race.

"Ucchan,wait up!,"exclaimed Ranma as ran in pursuit of his wife.Despite 
the rain,Ranma did not change into a girl;as he cured himself years 
ago.Eventually the uphill climb became a downhill descent as Ranma 
caught up with his wife near Mount Shiro.

*I actually beat Ran-chan when I finally got him to propose to and 
eventually marry me,but why is he so better than me at sports and 
games?,*Ukyou thought to herself they jogged past Mount Shakadani.

By time they re-entered the city in the Kitayama neighborhood,it had 
stopped raining.The sun began to peek out as they entered Takaragaike 
park.As they jogged southward along the Takano River in the direction 
of Kyoto University,Ukyou started blushing profusely as she noticed 
Ranma staring at and admiring her.*Ran-chan must really like it when 
I'm wearing this,*she thought to herself as they jogged across a bridge 
over the Kamo river near the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

As they jogged past the city offices and eventually reached the main 
downtown train station,they got hungry.

"I'm hungry,Ucchan,"said Ranma."Why don't we get some ramen at that 
yatai just ahead of us?I have some money with me."

"Why not,Ran-chan?,"replied Ukyou."I must admit,okonomiyaki every day 
can get a bit boring.Let's try it!"

Immediately,Ranma and Ukyou ran up to the ramen stand,purchased a 
couple bowls of ramen,and wasted little time consuming the contents of 
their ramen bowls.

"Ran-chan,do you think that we should think about having a second 
child?,"inquired Ukyou.

"Why not,Ucchan,"replied Ranma."I must admit,young Kyou-chan could sure 
use a sibling;as he IS already 3 years old.BTW,Ucchan,is it just me or
do I see a poster for an all-Japan okonomiyaki cooking contest?"

"Where,Ran-chan?!"

Ranma then wasted little time taking the lead over his wife in the 
marathon.

"No fair,Ran-chan!,"yelled Ukyou as she ran in pursuit of her husband.
She eventually caught up with him as the entered the vicinity of the 
Nishikyougoku sports complex.They were just 2 kilometers from the 
finish line.

They remained neck and neck even as the raced past a car-assembly plant 
about a kilometer later.They ran only faster as the made a right turn 
towards the finish line.Their respective right feet touched the finish 
line at the exact same time.

"I hereby declare this race a draw,"said Ikuko after blowing the 
whistle to signal the end of the race.

At that moment,Ranma's and Ukyou's 3-year old son came running out of 
the restaurant."Daddy,who won?,"he asked.

"It's a long story,Kyousuke...,"Ranma told his son."...but the race 
ended in a draw."

"Arigatou,Ikuko-sama...,"thanked Ukyou."...for watching Kyou-chan for 
us."

"You're welcome,Saotome-san,"replied Ikuko as she headed back home.

Ranma,Ukyou,and their son all headed back into the restaurant.

"Ran-chan,I'm sweating from that marathon in the hot and muggy 
weather,"said Ukyou."We could sure use a bath."

"Why not,sugar,"replied Ranma as he accompanied her and their son to 
the bathroom.Once in the bathroom(while their son undressed for the 
bath),Ranma and Ukyou wasted no time taking each other's clothes off 
until they were both stark nude;and they then accompanied their son 
into the bathing area.

As the 3 soaked in the tub,Ranma asked his wife "Ucchan,wasn't it very 
sweet that we got very good news on that postcard that we got from 
Ryouga-kun yesterday?"

"Definitely,Ranchan,"replied the former Ukyou Kuonji."The fact that 
both Akane and Akari gave birth to Ryouga-kun's first children wasn't 
the best of it."

"True,Ucchan.Thanks to both Tsubasa and Konatsu not only opening the 
book of the Universe of The Four Gods,but also being sucked into it;we 
won't have to worry about them for a long time.BTW,do you think that 
Tomo will not only find out their true genders,but will also pursue 
them romantically?"

"Most likely,Ran-chan.It would be definitely sweet if it does happen.
Since they're in ancient China now,that basically means that would be 
the last we'll ever hear from those 2 drag queen weirdos.Do you thank 
Tamahome would beat Tsubasa to a pulp if he even tried to compete for 
Miaka's affections?"

"It would be sweet if it happened,Ucchan.BTW,do you think the Summer 
Olympics should come to Osaka in 2008?"

"Definitely,Ran-chan.It's a shame that we weren't able to make it to 
the Nagano Winter Games;but at least we'll be just a short Shinkansen 
ride away if the city wins out in the bidding.That could mean a major 
windfall on both customers and profits."

"True,Ucchan.Besides,we should work out more often."

**Music:"Physical,"by Olivia Newton-John**

"Why is that,Ran-chan?"

"You look very sexy in that get-up.It just proves that you're 100% 
women,regardless of what you regularly wear."

Ukyou blushed profusely,then exclaimed "Oh,Ran-chan!" as she and Ranma 
engaged in a passionate kiss as their son averted his eyes and got a 
nosebleed.As all this was unfolding,an animated Rumiko Takahashi held 
up one of Genma-panda's signs.It read...

THE END

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:As you may know,not only was this episode inspired by 
the fact that the Summer Olympics are just a couple of months away,but 
also by a future Ranma episode which comes late in the Martial Mayhem 
season:In that episode,Ranma and Ukyou get A LOT of screen time 
together(most of it with Ukyou in gym shorts!).Also,if you've watched 
enough of the anime and/or read enough of the manga,you may notice that 
of Ranma's fiancees,Ukyou seems to be the only one who seriously wants 
to have a family with him(hint:watch "Ranma 1/2 Outta Control,The 
Harder They Fall:Ranma Gets Weak!" and/or read page 117 of Viz Ranma 
1/2 graphic novel #11);and additionally,some sources state that Ukyou 
wants to have 2 children with Ranma:one son and one daughter.As you 
may know,in any post-manga fic that I write that takes place in Kyoto,
the locations mentioned ARE real:the source that I used for the 
localities used in this fic(and other fics by yours truly)is Kodansha's 
"Kyoto-Osaka:A Bilingual Atlas."In case you're wondering why I inserted 
Maison Ikkoku's Ikuko Otonashi in this fic,her character is definitely 
quite older age-wise in this fic,considering that Maison Ikkoku 
preceded Ranma 1/2 in terms of both manga AND anime.As for the 
Fushigi Yuugi references late in this fic,my sister is a die-hard in 
the FY fandom department;and I'm fully aware of the fact that Tomo is 
homosexual(and is perfect for Tsubasa/Konatsu and vice versa).Finally,
this fic was also partially inspired by Osaka's bid for the 2008 Summer 
Olympics(the host city will be selected next year).If not Bangkok(the 
Thai capital,my mom comes from northeastern Thailand),the 2008 Games 
should be in either Osaka or Toronto.

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