[FFML] [fanfic][UY/Ranma/SisPri] "Lonely Souls" Prologue R Side (final draft)

[Frederick Herriot]

Saotome Ranma's eyes fluttered as he found himself on the roof of the Tendou 
home.  A chill warped through him as he tried to recall what he had been 
doing, and then he yawned.  Damn, he was tired!  Then again, should he be 
surprised?  Getting into the fight of his life against an immortal PHOENIX 
of all things, and then getting involved in that farce that should've been 
his and Akane's wedding, would've sent most people to their graves.

	Sitting up, he stretched, and then he hopped to his feet.  Sliding into a 
warm-up kata, he took time to glance at the surrounding city.  Damn, it 
looked to be a nice day.  Well, even if he and Akane weren't wed, things 
were all right.  Akane was alive and safe.  The doojou was intact.  The 
idiots were leaving him alone, as was that freak that thought he was Ranma's 
"master."  His mother was here, trying to catch up on their long separation. 
  His friends . . .

	Friends.

	Family.

	He scowled.  If anything, the failed wedding proved one thing:  He had 
fewer friends than he had assumed, not to mention next to nothing when it 
came to family.  The instant the cask of Nanniichuan water was brought out, 
Ryouga, Mousse and Genma immediately decided their problems mattered more, 
and then got into a free-for-all over who'd get to use it first.  Hell, he 
would've tried to share that with the others; it only seemed fair since 
Jusenkyou had wound up under several metres of water thanks to the fight on 
Mount Phoenix.

	Would they've shared it with him . . .?

	Hell, no!

	Of course not!

	And then Ukyou . . .

	Ranma slowed to a stop, gently squeezing his fists together.  Damn, how did 
THAT happen, anyway?  Given how determined Genma and Souun were to see him 
married to Akane, didn't it stand to rights that Ukyou, much less Shampoo 
and the Kunous, should NOT have been invited, thus risking that sort of 
nonsense?

	Who had invited them anyway?

	"No, you're not getting paid anything back."

	Ranma perked, and then he crouched.  Nabiki.  Doing his kata, he had slid 
across the roof from over Akane's room to a point over her sister's room.  
And given his sharp senses, he easily heard Nabiki's voice even up here.  
Crouching, he tuned his ears to listen:  "Forget it, Kuonji!" Nabiki barked. 
  "You come flying into the doojou with bombs -- some of which got close to 
Ranma-kun's mother, by the way -- and you expect to get your money back?"

	Ranma tried to hear what Ukyou said in return, but that was nothing more 
than a faint murmur.  Then Nabiki:  "I don't care about your stupid problems 
with the panda.  If you want to know, it was the panda and my father who 
arranged this."  Another quick pause as she listened to Ukyou's response, 
and then she added, "Though given what I've heard about what happened in 
China, it's pretty obvious now that Ranma-kun HAS chosen who he wants to 
marry."

	Longer pause.  No doubt, Ukyou was currently ranting over Akane's many 
deficiencies.  Ranma shook his head, and then he perked as Nabiki replied, 
"Well, gee, I guess you don't know Ranma-kun as much as you'd like to know 
him, eh?  Doubt he'll be coming by to visit you in the future, Kuonji."  
Another pause, and then she said, "Don't bother.  We've got loads of 
witnesses ready to testify against you, Shampoo and Kunou-chan about what 
you did.  Your claim on Ranma-kun won't mean squat after that, girl.  Have a 
nice day."  She hung up.

	Hearing the *click!* of the phone, Ranma blinked before sighing.  *She's 
right about that,* wafted through his mind as he slid away from Nabiki's 
bedroom window before he moved down the roof to an area near the sitting 
room . . .

	"You should've told him the whole story, Akane-chan."

	Ranma paused.  Kasumi.  A quick glance around confirmed he was standing 
over the entrance.  Kasumi and Akane were in the sitting room.  He crouched 
to listen in.  Down below, Akane sighed.  "There wasn't enough time, 
Onee-chan."

	"Enough time?" Kasumi echoed her sister's words.  Though the eldest Tendou 
daughter's voice would sound normal to most, to Ranma, the edge in her words 
spoke volumes.  "Akane, you know Ranma-kun has dreamt for a long time to 
obtain a cure to his curse.  The fact that Father would actually try to hold 
back that keg of Nanniichuan water as a bribe to force Ranma-kun to marry 
you is bad enough in my eyes.  That you didn't bother telling him is just as 
bad . . . "

	A *bang!* echoed from the room; no doubt, Akane just struck a table with 
her fist.  "It didn't matter, Onee-chan!"

	Ranma blinked.  *Akane knew that Mr. Tendou wanted to use the Nanniichuan 
to force me to marry her?* he gasped, his eyes widening as her words echoed 
again and again in his mind.  *Why the hell didn't she tell me . . .?*

	Quaking, he slid away from the sitting room, and then he made a spring for 
a nearby telephone pole.  He needed to go somewhere.

	But where could he go?

**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu at hotmail.com OR fherriot at yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi Rumiko; and 
"Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino Sakurako.
**** **** ****

NOTE:  The writer's notes are in a separate text file.  This part of the 
story begins the morning after the end of the "A" Side Prologue.

**** **** ****

THE PROLOGUE, "R" SIDE - DARK BEFORE THE LIGHT

	"Did it really?" Kasumi demanded.  "Akane-chan, you could've easily taken 
that cask from Father and hid it until after the wedding was over.  You KNOW 
the Jusenkyou Guide sent the casket to Ranma-kun for what he did when you 
were kidnapped.  Why didn't you think of that?!"

	"I . . .!"  The youngest Tendou daughter blinked as Kasumi's question sank 
in, and then she sighed.  "Alright!  I didn't think it through!  I admit it, 
but . . . "  She paused.  "It didn't really matter to me, Onee-chan.  He 
said it!  He said he loved me!  I remember him saying it after he ki- . . . 
" she stuttered on that word before she sighed again.  "After he beat 
Saffron."

	Kasumi took that in.  She had obtained an abridged report on the events on 
Mount Phoenix from Hibiki Ryouga.  "Yes, I suppose seeing you so close to 
death would make Ranma-kun let go of his inhibitions."  She nodded, and then 
she shook her head, her displeasure apparent.  "I confess, I'm disappointed 
in Father and I'm VERY disappointed in Uncle Saotome.  I'd believe that 
after what happened all the other times they've tried to force you two to 
wed, they'd have learned by now.  Not to mention Uncle stealing Ranma-kun's 
gift . . . "

	Akane sighed.  "Well, we can wait for it.  I know what Ranma feels right 
now about me.  I know what I feel right now about him.  There's no need to 
press it.  And with those two out of the way . . . "  A snort escaped her 
before she smiled.  "At the same time, I think Ukyou and Shampoo have 
finally learned their lesson.  Ranma could tolerate a lot put on him, but 
his mother was nearly caught in the crossfire, too.  He won't easily forgive 
that."

	"True," Kasumi conceded.  "Perhaps it's time we force Uncle Saotome to face 
up to the things he did wrong with Ranma-kun and move to correct those 
matters once and for all time.  WITHOUT him sloughing it off on Ranma-kun."

	"Do you really think he'll do anything, Onee-chan?"

	The oldest daughter smiled as she winked.  "There are ways."

*    *    *

	"Damn!  He's not open yet."

	Ranma turned away from Nerima's only American-style hamburger yatai, whose 
owner normally set up operations in the middle of Hikarigaoka Park, to head 
into another part of the park located on the border with Itabashi Ward.  
Well, he wasn't too hungry, though he would be soon.  He had no intention of 
visiting Okonomiyaki U-chan's or the Nekohanten anytime soon.  Heck, if he 
could avoid it, he wouldn't visit either place ever again . . .

	Ranma sat on a bench, leaning his chin into his hands.  Thinking wasn't his 
real strong suit, but he needed to do it.  Fighting it out wasn't doing him 
any good these days.  Yeah, it was excellent exercise, but too many others 
took it the wrong way.  Where did it end up after the dust settled?

	He closed his eyes.  The time had come for some changes.

	First was Kuonji Ukyou.  He had pretty much ignored her claims of being the 
"cute" fiancée, basking in the fact that his oldest childhood friend had 
returned.  No more.  Ukyou would have a choice to make.  If she wanted his 
friendship, she'd have to let go of whatever marital claims she had on him.  
If her help in destroying his family home wasn't bad enough, the wedding . . 
.!

	Ranma shuddered.  Idiot!  What was she doing lobbing food bombs in the 
doojou, with dozens of innocent people in the way?!  Shampoo, he understood; 
the harshness of her tribal laws demanded things like that!  But Ukyou . . 
.?

	What the HELL was she thinking?!

	He sighed.  No.  It was one way or the other.  If she wanted to be his 
friend, she couldn't be his fiancée.  If she wanted both, she'd have to take 
it out on Oyaji and resolve it with him.  Ranma smirked, imagining what 
Genma would do if he got wind of that.  Well, the idiot started it, after 
all.

	But now . . .

	Akane . . .

	SHE KNEW!

	His fists squeezed together.  Damn it all, didn't she understand?  Didn't 
she CARE?!  How could he possibly hope to marry her, start a family with 
her, if he was still stuck with this damned curse?!  Didn't she . . .?!

	*I said I loved her.*

	His eyes narrowed, the wet sting of oncoming tears forcing him to squeeze 
them shut.  No!  No, damn it all!  He wouldn't cry . . .!

	*Did she really mean it?*

	Damn!  Why were things so confusing . . .?

	*Does she love me?*

	What could he do now . . .?

	*Or is she no different than Ukyou and Shanpú?*

	Shuddering, he took a deep breath.  Wiping his eyes, he stood.

	*Am I a person to her?*

	Ranma slowly walked back towards the doojou.

	*Or just a prize?*

*    *    *

	"Ranma, are you okay?"

	"Eh?"  He looked down at Akane.  Given the numbers of days both had missed 
out in classes, the couple had been forced to attend make-up classes during 
winter vacation to keep their grades up.  That had wound up being true for a 
lot of students at Fuurinkan, Ranma soon learned yesterday, though not much 
teaching was done given the gossiping students engaged in about the wedding.

	Unlike yesterday, where they had walked side-by-side to school, he had 
returned to fence walking.  However, this time, he was keeping a sharp eye 
out for a certain warrior-maiden on a bicycle.  Much that he didn't like the 
idea of fighting a girl -- especially given all the troubles he had endured 
thanks to Shampoo and her clan laws -- he could try to avoid that.

	"Didja say somethin', Akane?"  He then looked around.

	Akane was quick to notice him gazing around.  Ranma seemed tense at the 
dinner table this morning, hardly speaking at all to anyone save to his 
mother when she asked him about school.  Genma had tried to engage in some 
tabletop sparring with the chopsticks, but one slice of Nodoka's katana put 
a stop to that.  In fact, Akane could've sworn that she saw Ranma forming a 
ki ball in his hand when Genma tried to snatch his food.  If Nodoka hadn't 
*cut* in when she did, Genma might've got a dose of the Mooko Takabisha at 
point-blank range.

	That would've surprised everyone.

	"Are you alright?" she asked.  "Something's bothering you."

	"Huh?"  He rolled the question through his mind before shaking his head.  
"Nah!  Nothin's botherin' me, Akane.  It's cool."

	*Liar!* she sharply retorted in her mind before she chastised herself for 
feeling anger at him.  Ranma always had trouble vocalising his thoughts.  
That was one of the things Genma had failed to teach his son.  Vocalising 
things was a weakness and Genma always wanted his child to be as invincible 
as possible.  An understandable wish given the number of enemies Ranma had, 
but still . . .!

	Taking a breath, she concentrated on the walk to school.  Glancing at Ranma 
from time to time revealed that he was busy keeping an eye behind them.  
*Oh, of course!*  On the lookout for Shampoo.  No doubt, after what 
happened, whatever trust Ranma might've had with that gaijin slut had 
vanished.  Good thing, but it would clearly make for some tense days ahead.  
What would happen?

	Finally, they reached the stretch of road leading to the front gate of 
Fuurinkan High School.  Seeing that, Akane relaxed.  Shampoo would normally 
try to persuade her "Airen" to go on a date long before this.

	Maybe the stupid hussy had learned her lesson . . .

	"Hold, foul fiend!"

	Ranma perked as Kunou Tatewaki placed himself on the main path leading to 
the doors, bokken in hand.  Shuddering as the kendou club captain launched 
into his usual spiel, Ranma felt ki surge through him, and then he locked on 
target.

	"***MOOKO TAKABISHA!***"

	The students on the lawn screamed as the bolt of ki slammed into Kunou, 
sending him flying back to smash HARD into the concrete steps leading to the 
doors!  Akane stopped, her jaw dropping in disbelief as Ranma hopped off the 
fence, then calmly headed through the gates.  People looked at him, a 
mixture of fear and shock on their faces, several moving to back away from 
him.

	"Ranma-sama?"

	Ranma stopped before he spun left to see Kodachi standing near a tree.  As 
usual, the martial arts rhythmic gymnast was in her black, rose-embossed 
competition leotard, her handy battle whip in hand.  Strangely enough, a 
storm of black rose petals had NOT preceded her entrance.  Taking a deep 
breath, Ranma relaxed, though he allowed a ball of ki to form in his hand.

	"A problem, Kunou-san?" he wondered.

	More gasps from the crowd.  Most people at Fuurinkan knew Ranma wouldn't 
strike a woman.  If he didn't believe in that "no hit girls" rule, Akane and 
a host of others would've spent time in traction for the times they lashed 
out at him for whatever reason struck their fancy.  Given Kodachi's lack of 
sanity, not to mention her reputation as an honourless cheat, maybe this 
time . . .

	"No problem."  Kodachi seemed to remain outwardly calm, though inside, she 
was shivering at his look.  Deciding to change the subject -- and the focus 
of his attention -- she glanced to her brother.  "No doubt, Onii-san had 
THAT coming to him given what happened two days ago.  Much that I adore you, 
Ranma-sama, I've come to realise you don't like being forced to do anything 
. . . "

	"Hey, someone!  Get an ambulance!"

	Ranma dispersed the ki ball as he glanced at Kunou, the kendou-ka being 
tended to by several of his club mates.  Hearing the shout from one of them, 
several students drew out cell-phones.  By then, Akane has come to stand 
beside him.  "Don't you think you overdid that?" she demanded, she waving at 
Kunou.

	Ranma glared at her.  "He drew live steel at the doojou, Akane.  In a 
middle of a friggin' WEDDING.  As far as I'M concerned, he has no honour!" 
he growled loud enough so that as many people as possible would get the 
message.

	"If that is what you believe, Ranma-sama, I will not stop you."  Kodachi 
turned to leave.  "Please do have a good day."

	She bounded off.  Ranma and Akane watched her.  He shook his head.  "Man, 
she's just as much a loony as he is."  He thumbed Kunou before turning to 
head inside.  As he approached the crowd surrounding the downed kendou-ka, 
he quickly noted their tense looks.  Given they were members of the same 
club, it stood to rights they probably respected their captain.  Too bad.

	"Any of you care to be stupid today?" he then coldly asked.

	They quaked, and then they moved to extract Kunou from the hole Ranma made 
for him.  With that, Ranma headed in.  Behind him, Akane remained in place, 
stunned her fiancé was being THIS vicious to anyone, even a blockhead . . .!

	She shook her head before heading inside.  Well, yes, he certainly had a 
point about Kunou having no honour.  Besides, all the times Kunou tried to 
fight Ranma beforehand hadn't done anything to make him go away and leave 
them be.

	Maybe this time . . .!

*    *    *

	"Ah, Saotome-kun!  I trust you'll be staying in classes for the next few 
days," Ninomiya Hinako noted.  "We've missed you."

	Ranma curtly nodded.  "Hai, Sensei."

	"Alright then.  We'll begin."

	Ranma sighed, his eyes hooded as he tried to pay attention.  Around him, 
other students concentrated.  Most.  Akane was dividing her attention 
between the lecture and Ranma.  She then blinked as the student beside her 
placed a note on her desk.  Seeing it was addressed to "Ran-chan," Akane 
turned towards Ukyou's seat.  The chef gave her a look that was plain for 
Akane to understand:

	"Pass it to him -- and no, it's NONE of your damned business."

	Akane glanced at the head of the room to see Hinako writing something on 
the blackboard, and then she handed the note to Ranma.  Ranma perked on 
sensing Akane's hand come in range, and then he relaxed.  While most people 
believed he paid no attention at all when he was in class, that wasn't 
exactly true.  He did try to stay aware of any potential overt threats 
against him, especially from others of the "Nerima Wrecking Crew."  It 
didn't always work; look at all the times Shampoo smashed her way into the 
school to deliver lunch?  And given the sheer boredom he felt with the 
lectures, it was just plain hard to concentrate on the important things and 
not avoid a spell with the buckets in the hallway.  Didn't anyone understand 
what he felt?  Did anyone even care . . .?

	Glancing down, he noticed the note.  Recognising Ukyou's handwriting, he 
glanced towards the front to see Hinako writing things, and then he looked 
at the chef.  She beamed.  Ranma then turned back to his book, his hands 
gently gripping the folded paper.  Sighing, he casually ripped the note up, 
piling the pieces at the corner of his desk, and then he turned to his book.

	Seeing what he just did, Akane's jaw dropped.  Gods, he did THAT to a note 
from UKYOU of all people?!  Glancing towards the chef, she saw that Ukyou 
was busy writing something down to have seen what he had just done.  Turning 
to her book, Akane shuddered as the implications of Ranma's actions sank in.

	*He's rejected her!*

	Akane blinked.  Kuonji Ukyou, Ranma's oldest, best friend.  His "kawaii" 
fiancée.  The one person Ranma told all his problems to.  The most serious 
rival to Akane for Ranma's love.  The one Akane herself wanted as a friend.  
The one Akane hoped would step in just in case something happened to Akane 
herself.

	The one . . .

	*He's rejected her!*

	Akane blinked again, and then she gazed at Ranma before a light smile 
crossed her face.  *Then that means . . . *  She tried not to scream out.  
*He's finally chosen!*  She took a deep breath.  *He's finally chosen me!*

*    *    *

	Lunchtime quickly came.  Ranma, who had long been trained by Genma to 
consider every meal potentially his last, quickly got out the bentou box 
Kasumi made for him.  He blinked on noting a Saran-wrapped bowl full of 
brown-greyish sauce intermixed with vegetables awaiting him there.  "Hey, 
Akane," he called out to his fiancée.  "Did you make some curry today?"

	"Actually, they're leftovers from last night," Akane reported, and then she 
moved to moderate.  "Kasumi helped me make it."

	"Oh, that's nice."

	He dug in.  Hearing this from nearby, Ukyou smiled.  "Hey, Ran-chan!  Do 
you want some okonomiyaki?  I got my grill."

	Akane jolted, she trying not to quake.  Damn it all!  Instant she mentioned 
that she cooked something for Ranma, the other idiots always, ALWAYS moved 
to "save" him with their own food.  No doubt, Shampoo was on her . . .

	"No thank you, Kuonji-san."

	Way . . .?

	What did he just say?

	Akane blinked before watching Ranma rise, he heading to the door.  The 
whole classroom was stunned silent by his reaction.  Then as one, they gazed 
on Ukyou.  The chef looked as if Ranma just stabbed her in the heart -- and 
then the back for good measure.  "R-r-Ran-chan . . . " she sputtered.  Ranma 
stopped before giving her a look that could burn diamonds.  Ukyou balked.  
Trembling, she then averted her eyes from him.  Without another word, he 
walked out.

	The others said nothing, stunned into silence after they had just watched 
something like THAT, before Chanpatsu Hiroshi turned to Bosabosa Daisuke.  
"Me thinks, to quote our dear ol' Kunou-sempai, Ranma-kun is still a mite 
bit angry at a few people today," the former mused.

	"Not surprising," Tokoro Yuka commented from across the way, ignoring the 
fact that Ukyou was overhearing them.  "From what I heard, when everything 
fell apart, bombs got thrown at Ranma-kun's mother."  A pause.  "I'D be 
angry if my mother was threatened like that!" she then added.

	"True," Asano Sayuri added.

	Hearing that, Ukyou quaked before quickly withdrawing from the room, trying 
to mask her tears from everyone else.  The others watched her before Sayuri 
turned to Akane.  "I bet you're happy now.  Aren't you, Akane-chan?"

	"Maybe," Akane admitted.  "I guess Ranma's still angry at a few people for 
dumping the whole wedding on his head just like that, not to mention 
stealing what might be his last chance at a cure to his curse."  She scowled 
as she remembered Mousse, Genma and Ryouga -- why RYOUGA wanted the 
Nanniichuan cask, Akane hadn't figured out -- fighting over it, and then she 
sighed.  "And yes, he has a right to be angry at Ukyou and Shampoo.  I still 
can't believe he'd tore up a note she passed to him without even bothering 
to read it!"

	Everyone stared at her.  "He did THAT?!" Daisuke gasped.

	Akane nodded.  "He did!  I watched him do it, too!"

	The others hummed.

*    *    *

	Unseen by any of them, Ukyou was in the hallway gazing out the window.  Her 
ears perked up on hearing Akane mention the note.  She then nearly screamed 
out in disbelief when she heard Akane describe what Ranma had done to it.

	What Ranma had done . . .!

	What of the other notes she had written today?

	Had he read ANY of them AT ALL?!

	Did he . . .?!

	Did that mean . . .?

	"Ran-chan," she whispered before bowing her head.  "I'm sorry."

*    *    *

	"Kasumi . . . "

	"No, Father!  This has gone on long enough!"  Kasumi glared at Souun, both 
sitting in the living room.  Nodoka had gone with Genma to survey the 
repairs on their home.  "Everyone has been deliberately ignoring the fact 
that Ranma-kun is emotionally ill-equipped to deal with all the suitors your 
*friend* . . . " -- one could coat the living room floor with the scorn 
dripping from that word -- "Forced on him.  That ESPECIALLY includes you AND 
Auntie Saotome, Father.  If you REALLY want to see Ranma-kun and Akane-chan 
develop a healthy relationship, **you** have to help Ranma-kun settle all 
his problems with the others."

	Souun began to sob.  "But Kasumi . . . "

	"No, Father!"  Kasumi slapped her hand on the table, making him jolt as his 
eyes widened even more at her outburst.  "If you want to see Ranma-kun and 
Akane-chan married, you WILL MAKE Uncle Saotome deal with the other suitors 
or else I guarantee that Ranma-kun and Akane-chan will NEVER be married . . 
.!"

	Result:  Instant Niagara Falls.  "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!  MY DAUGHTER 
DOESN'T WANT RANMA-KUN AND AKANE-CHAN TO MARRY!  WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!  
NOW THE SCHOOLS WILL NEVER BE JOINED!  WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

	Kasumi sighed.  "Oh, Father . . . "

*    *    *

	"I hear you've been giving Ukyou the cold shoulder."

	Ranma perked before looking to see Nabiki walking alongside him and Akane 
just after the end of final class, they having just passed through the gates 
of the school.  He tensed for a moment before relaxing.  "If I did?" he 
commented.

	"Well, I wouldn't blame you at all if you decided to tell her to go 
straight to Hell."  Nabiki snorted before she breathed out, "By the way, 
thanks to what you did this morning, Kunou-chan will be in the hospital for 
a week."

	Akane sighed.  "A week's peace.  Pity it couldn't last forever."

	Ranma snorted.  "Well, we'll just have to make him see that.  That ain't 
gonna cause us any other problems, will it?"

	"After he drew steel at a wedding?  Not likely."  Nabiki's eyebrow arched, 
and then she smirked.  "We've got loads of witnesses who'd be willing to 
testify against him if we wanted them to.  I seriously doubt that his father 
or his sister will help in his defence.  If this gets out into the general 
public, his reputation could potentially be permanently tarnished.  I think 
that if we threatened him with that sort of thing, he'll want the whole 
incident swept quietly under the rug and forgotten in the long term."

	"True."  Akane nodded before blinking on seeing someone to her right.  
"Sasuke?" she then called out on recognising him.

	"I apologise for intruding, but Mistress Kodachi would like to see you, 
ma'am, as soon as possible."  Sasuke gazed expectantly on Nabiki.  "She 
states it is a matter of considerable import to her and she promises she 
will compensate you for taking your time, Tendou-san," he then added.

	"I . . . okay!"  Nabiki quickly nodded before turning to follow the ninja 
down a side street.  "See you guys later!"

	They returned her wave, and then they headed on toward the Tendou home.  
"I'm surprised she hasn't said anythin' about her bein' the one who invited 
all those dorks to the wedding," Ranma muttered under his breath.

	Akane perked, and then she sighed.  "Yeah, you're right!  I shouldn't have 
been surprised that she did that!  Then again, if things started to really 
calm down around these parts, she wouldn't be making as much money."

	"Is that all she cares about?" Ranma wondered, shaking his head.

	"Does seem like that, doesn't it?"

	"Yeah, ya gotta point."  He then turned to her.  "Look, Akane.  I wanna go 
take a walk.  Clear my head an' all that."

	She nodded.  "Oh, sure, go ahead!  After what we've been through, I think 
we both need the chance to relax for a while."

	"Right."  He waved before bounding onto the fence and taking off.  "See ya 
later!" he called out before disappearing around a corner.

	Akane watched him, and then she sighed before she stopped.  "Would he go 
visit . . .?"  She shook her head.  "No, he wouldn't go to that tramp's 
place!" she spat out.  "Not after what just happened.  And he wouldn't go to 
Ukyou's place either.  Maybe if she apologised first . . . "

	Sighing, she headed home.

*    *    *

	"He was on the lookout for you this morning?"

	"Yes."  Shampoo nodded, she seated at the Nekohanten's bar.  Both the young 
warrior-maiden and Cologne were speaking in the Nujiézú dialect of Mandarin, 
as they always did whenever matters of great import came up.  "I knew I'd be 
risking Airen's wrath by attacking him and the Kitchen Destroyer after what 
happened at Mount Phoenix, but I had no choice but to defend my hold on him, 
Great-grandmother.  And now . . . "  She shrugged helplessly.

	"And now, thanks to you placing Son-in-Law's MOTHER in harm's way, what 
trust he may have had in you has vanished into the abyss," Cologne 
countered.  "Leave him be for the next while, Shan.  I've already sent a 
full report about what happened on Mount Phoenix to the Council.  Maybe we 
can navigate our way out of this mess, but if we continue to antagonize 
Son-in-Law like . . . "

	"I can't let him go, Great-grandmother!" Shampoo hissed.

	"But you CAN give him breathing room," Cologne countered.  "Don't forget, 
he's just KILLED for the first time.  Despite the insanity his father forced 
him into during their training trip, Son-in-Law has NEVER been exposed to 
the idea of ending another's life.  Right now, I can't predict WHAT he might 
be feeling.  It's best to give him space and let him organize his thoughts.  
I don't want to push him to the point where he would forever reject any idea 
of coming to the village.  Remember, all the elders together couldn't defeat 
Saffron!  Though it was difficult and he was fighting to save the Tendou 
girl, Son-in-Law DID defeat him!  He DID kill him!"  Her eyes narrowed as 
she gave Shampoo a look.  "Do you think you can control Son-in-Law if he 
ever went OUT of control?"

	Shampoo shuddered.  "I still can't let him go."

	"Give him space and time," Cologne ordained.  "It's not a permanent 
separation, not by far.  As the people of the West often say, 'Absence makes 
the heart grow fonder.'  Relax.  He needs it and so do you."

	The younger Amazon blinked, and then she slowly, reluctantly, nodded.

*    *    *

	"I didn't know you were a connoisseur of ice cream, Kodachi-san."

	"It's a treat I can sparingly indulge in because of my career."  Kodachi 
smiled.  She and Nabiki relaxed near an ice cream vendor's yatai in 
Hikarigaoka Park.  "Well, thanks to Ranma-sama and what he did this morning, 
things will be very peaceful in the house for the next week."

	"You're not angry at him?" Nabiki asked.

	"Feh!  Of course not!  The fact that Onii-san still roils on and on about 
your sister and that red-haired harlot, vowing to destroy dear Ranma-sama 
just to 'free' them . . .?  Bah!"  The gymnast rolled her eyes before 
shaking her head.  "I am tired of listening to that, Nabiki-san.  Very 
tired.  Dealing with that honourless fool who happens to be my father is bad 
enough at times."

	Nabiki chuckled.  "Yeah, I suppose I can understand that.  My father can be 
a stupid idiot from time to time, too."

	"Such as forcing Ranma-sama and your sister to wed almost immediately after 
your sister nearly faced her own death in China."

	Nabiki stopped, she turning to stare at her.  "Who told you about China?"

	"Sasuke overheard the Hibiki boy make his report to your sister Kasumi."  
Kodachi smiled, taking delight in seeing the middle Tendou daughter panic.  
"You're not the only one who takes great value in gaining vital information, 
Nabiki-san.  So," she then asked as she looked on her cone.  "Is it true?"

	"What?"

	"That Ranma-sama actually killed an immortal?"

	Nabiki sighed.  What sort of position could she take here?  "Yes."

	"Remarkable."  Kodachi swooned, and then she relaxed.  "Do you believe this 
Saffron might come back to haunt Ranma-sama anew?"

	"I sure as hell hope not."

	"Yes, I'd understand that."  Kodachi took a lick, and then she gazed on 
Nabiki.  "There is one thing I have to ask, Nabiki-san.  And I wish you to 
answer me directly about it.  It concerns these rumours many have persisted 
in spreading about Ranma-sama and the red-haired girl actually being one 
person."

	Nabiki blinked before gazing intently at Kodachi.  Wait a minute here!  
What was going on?  Wasn't Kodachi supposed to be as blind to things like 
that as her brother?  When the HELL did she catch onto that . . .?

	"So it is true, isn't it?"

	Nabiki blinked again, and then she sighed.  "Yes, it's true."

	"How?"

	"A place way in the highlands of China -- actually close to where Saffron 
lived -- called Jusenkyou," Nabiki began to explain.

*    *    *

	"***WHAT?!***"

	Souun tearfully gazed on Genma.  "It's true, old friend!  I can't believe 
that my own daughter forced me to demand this of you!"

	The patriarch of the Saotome family shuddered, fear and outrage battling 
for control over his heart.  "She actually wants me to . . .?!"

	Souun nodded.  "Yes."

	"I can't do that!" Genma protested, he making a dismissive wave with his 
hand.  "If I do that, all my training with the boy would be for naught!  How 
can the boy be the best if he's made to rely on others to fight his 
battles?!  That's not what the Art demands, Tendou-kun!  You know that as 
well as I do!"

	"I . . .!"  Souun shuddered.  "Yes, I do know that.  But still, maybe it 
would be easier on Ranma-kun if you settle matters with the Kuonji girl.  
Her claims on Ranma-kun DOES have validity because her father did recognise 
the yatai as a dowry.  The China girl's claims on Ranma-kun are laughable 
and the Kunou girl has no claim on Ranma-kun at all."  He perked before 
giving Genma an intent look.  "Unless . . .?!" he began with a threatening 
tone in his voice.

	Genma gargled before shaking his head.  "No!  No!  No!  Of course not!  Why 
would I try to do THAT with a lunatic like her, Tendou-kun?!"

	Souun nodded.  "Then you'll at least try to do something with the Kuonji 
girl?  Remember, Saotome-kun, you DID take her dowry!"

	The Tendou patriarch wagged a warning finger at Genma.  "I . . . " he 
paused, and then he sighed.  "Alright!  I'll do it!  But I don't like it!  
We shouldn't tell the boy about it, either!"

	"Agreed, then."

*    *    *

	"That's incredible!"

	"That it is."  Nabiki licked her cone, and then she stared at Kodachi.  "So 
now that you know, what will you do?  Tell your brother?"

	The gymnast smiled knowingly.  "Do you honestly believe he would accept 
something like that, Nabiki-san?"  She rose, turning to leave.  "No.  As you 
might suspect, he might decide that you yourself have been 'enchanted' by 
the 'foul sorcerer' to say such 'lies' about his 'pig-tailed goddess.'  At 
least after hearing that, I can try to understand my Ranma-sama better."

	Nabiki's eyebrow arched.  "'Your' Ranma-sama?  I thought I once heard you 
tell someone that you knew Ranma-kun didn't like you."

	Kodachi smirked.  "That does not bother me.  Have a good day."

	She bounded off.  Nabiki watched her go before sighing.  "Oh, shit!"

*    *    *

	"***MOOKO TAKABISHA!***"

	The next morning, everyone was jolted out of bed on hearing Ranma's shout.  
That was quickly followed by the *crash!* of a body slamming into the tree 
in the front yard, followed by the *splash!* of said body hitting the koi 
pond near the front door.  The door to the Saotomes' guestroom flew open, 
revealing Akane.  "Ranma, are you al- . . .?!"  Her voice ground to a stop 
on seeing him up, stretching himself.  There was no sign of Genma.  "What 
happened?!"

	Ranma stared at her before taking a deep breath.  "I wasn't in the mood to 
spar with Oyaji today.  Sorry to wake you guys up."

	Akane blinked as she absorbed his explanation.  She then walked to the 
window, gazing onto the front yard.  In the koi pond, a nicely cooked, 
semi-conscious panda drifted over to one rocky shore.  "Oh."  She nodded, 
sighing.  "Well, since we are up . . . "  She then headed out of the room.

	Nodoka quickly stepped in.  Since the destruction of the Saotome home, she 
had been sleeping with Kasumi.  "Son, was that TRULY necessary?" Ranma's 
mother demanded as she reproachfully gazed on him.

	"Like I just told Akane, Mom.  I wasn't in the mood to spar today."  He 
shrugged, moving to get his toiletries to start the day.  "And since he 
don't listen to me normally, I hadta persuade him another way," he then 
added.

	Nodoka nodded.  "Understandable, especially after what you just went 
through in China.  I'll speak to your father about that when he recovers."

	Ranma smirked.  "Make sure you got the katana with you, Mom."

	"I'll remember, dear."

*    *    *

	An hour later, Ranma and Akane walked through the front gate of Fuurinkan 
High.  They then slowed down, both tensing automatically.  A pause as they 
thought about what just might be making them brace up, and then they 
relaxed.  "First, no Shampoo and her stupid bicycle.  Now, no Kunou and his 
bokken."  The latter smirked.  "I just hope this doesn't end soon.  It's a 
nice change."

	He considered that, nodding.  "Yeah, ya gotta point.  C'mon, let's get to 
class . . . "  He stopped as his internal danger alarms began to ring.  Then 
he leapt into the air to avoid oncoming barber shears.  "Spoke too soon!"  
Ranma back flipped behind the Principal, cupping his hands as he locked on 
target, ensuring Akane was not in danger.  "***MOOKO TAKABISHA!***"

	The tree-topped school administrator cried out before the ki blast sent him 
flying headfirst into the wall.  "De Big . . . " he grunted as he slid to 
the ground.  "Kahuna . . . don't feel . . . that . . . "

	He passed out.  Akane stared wide-eyed at her fiancé.  "Ranma, for heaven's 
sake, that was the PRINCIPAL!" she snapped.

	Ranma straightened himself before heading into the school.  "So?!"

	Akane watched him, and then she raced in after him.  Around her, others 
began to whisper, many sending fearful glances Ranma's way.

*    *    *

	"Hmmm . . . this is NOT good."

	Genma grimaced as he watched his son head into school, Akane behind him.  
Even though Kunou's father WAS an idiot, he was the principal of Fuurinkan 
High, a figure that merited some token of respect.  And yes, given the 
twit's insane addiction to cutting people's hair and forcing his charges to 
obey his lunatic "rules," Ranma was well within his rights to deal directly 
with him.  But to limit his response to a quick-strike Mooko Takabisha?  
Yes, it got the fight done right away and Ranma, as usual, came out the 
clear victor, but . . .!

	No.

	That was NOT good.

	Not good at all.

	Genma extracted himself from his perch in a tall tree at the corner of the 
school property before heading back to the Tendou doojou.  Damn it, why was 
THIS happening NOW?  He and Souun had been within a hair's breadth of seeing 
Ranma and Akane finally married, and then all of Nerima had crashed in to 
stop it!  For what?  All so Nabiki could garnish money from the wedding 
gifts?  Stupid girl!  What business was it of hers to interfere in what they 
had worked so long to see happen?  Then Souun turned around and decided to 
hold off on things until all the other potential problems were fully dealt 
with.

	In other words:  Ukyou, Shampoo, Kodachi and the rest of those loons.

	And unfortunately, Ukyou WAS his fault, but what could he have done back 
then?  He had been hungry and the boy was growing too close to the Kuonji 
girl for his own good.  The fewer friends Ranma had to deal with in his 
life, the better; there was NO way that Genma's son could ever have become 
the martial artist he was these days with so many petty distractions getting 
in his way.

	Thinking that, the patriarch of the Saotome family then stopped, his eyes 
narrowing.  Wait.  If he actually paid back the Kuonjis for their lost 
yatai, wouldn't that make things between Ranma and Ukyou easier?  Actually . 
. .?

	Create a TRUE friendship?

	No!

	That just could NOT happen!

	Ranma just couldn't afford such a thing!

	Genma scowled.  All right, what could he . . .?

	Wait!

	His eyes widened.  Of course!  It was so simple.  So elegant!

	Yes.

	He knew what to do.

*    *    *

	Days passed.

	The remainder of the first week after the wedding at the Tendou doojou was 
uncommonly quiet for Nerima's citizens, people used for so long to see the 
"Wrecking Crew" -- not to mention the sometimes frequent super-powered 
visitors from beyond -- go at each other on an almost daily basis.  For 
those who disapproved of such violence, the peace was welcome, a chance for 
them to put their minds and souls at ease.  For those who looked on the 
fights and other odd occurrences as some live-action, real-time soap opera, 
they began to look beyond Nerima's borders for a daily dose of logic-defying 
merriment.

	They didn't find it in Tomobiki, the town on Nerima's west side.

	However, for those who preferred their entertainment much closer to home, 
the sight they confronted over those days was . . . was . . .!

	Well, it just made NO SENSE!

	There was Saotome Ranma, walking on the fence to school beside one of his 
fiancées, Tendou Akane.  Yet where was one of the lad's other fiancées, 
Shampoo?  Almost every day, the warrior-maiden, out on her morning delivery, 
would "visit" her Airen via smashing her bicycle into the back of Ranma's 
head.  Odd way of expressing one's love, indeed, but people in Nerima had 
come to accept it.

	Yet . . . ever since the wedding, it seemed as if Shampoo was going out of 
her way to AVOID meeting up with Ranma.  Why?  Had she come to hate him?  
Had he come to hate her?  How?  What was going on with those two?

	And speaking of fiancée problems, what was THIS?  Ranma and Akane actually 
speaking to each other CIVILLY?  As if they were actual FRIENDS as well as 
iinazuke?  What had happened to all the bickering?  Where were all the crass 
insults?  The "un-cute, un-sexy tomboy" and "sex-changing pervert" charges 
that spiced their conversations in the past?  Yes, things between Ranma and 
Akane HAD calmed down a lot in the last few months.  But even during that 
time, scarcely a week passed when people in Nerima hadn't at least ONCE 
heard Akane scream out "RANMA NO BAKA!" for one reason or another before 
attempting to send the poor lad into lower Earth orbit via her fist or her 
trusty Mallet-sama.

	Even more, what was going on between Ranma and Kuonji Ukyou?  Why, people 
were presently saying that Ranma wasn't even SPEAKING to Ukyou.  Reports 
confirmed that he had not visited her shop ONCE since before the wedding.  
He turned back all attempts by her to strike up a conversation, either 
spoken or via scribbled notes.  He refused her offerings for food by just 
walking out of the classroom.  Even offerings of freshly cooked food left on 
his desk by Ukyou "anonymously" wound up in the garbage instead of Ranma's 
stomach.

	This . . .!

	This was . . .!

	This was so ABNORMAL!

	What would happen next?

*    *    *

	Watching this was Saotome Genma, who could only grin.

	Not once had that China girl come out to "greet" her precious Airen in the 
mornings via her bicycle hitting his head.  Even more, Ranma was keeping a 
deliberate eye out for Shampoo on his walk to school, ensuring Akane stayed 
safe, too.  Genma recognised the signs.  Still, it was a pity.  He would 
have delighted to see what Ranma might have done if Shampoo DID seek him 
out.

	Perhaps give HER a dose of the Mooko Takabisha . . .?

	Thinking that, Genma shook his head.  No, Ranma might not like Shampoo, but 
he wouldn't hurt her THAT way.  Perhaps simply jumping clear, letting her 
crash-land on the fence, would be enough.  Yes, that WOULD be an enjoyable 
sight.  Maybe he should try to do something to stir that pot up again . . .?

	Even better, Ranma had cut off all contact with the Kuonji girl.  And it 
was hurting her, badly.  He would not speak to her, would not acknowledge 
her save with a curt reply, addressing her as "Kuonji-san" in lieu of 
"U-chan."  And from hearing the local gossips, Ranma had not gone to her 
restaurant any time during that week.  That was simply adding delicious 
insult to injury.  If Akane could avoid entering the Tendou kitchen for the 
next while and trying to concoct one of her "special" recipes, it would be 
simply perfect.

	And Akane . . .

	It was a dream come true!  There they were, walking alongside each other, 
talking to each other.  No fights, no name-calling, no taunts and ESPECIALLY 
none of that stupid ki-mallet sending the poor lad on an impromptu flying 
lesson into the Shakujii River.  Remembering that, Genma shook his head.  He 
had to teach the boy how to destroy that mallet some day soon.  It would 
simply not DO to have Akane dominate Ranma like that.  Heaven ONLY forbid 
what might happen if Nodoka handed the Saotome honour blade to Akane after 
they wed.

	And the Kunous . . .

	What fools!  The father was a joke.  Tatewaki?  A moron, but a dangerous 
one.  Not much for Ranma to deal with, as he demonstrated the second day 
after the wedding.  As for Kodachi, her "claim" on Ranma was a drug-induced 
dream.

	And Ryouga and Mousse . . .

	No problems there.  Ryouga was clearly drifting towards that Unryuu Akari 
girl.  Even better, Akari had accepted the lad, curse and all.  Besides, if 
he proved to be bothersome, all that had to be done was to threaten to 
reveal his dirty little secret to Akane, then make sure she wouldn't blame 
Ranma for it.  As for Mousse, he was so obsessed with Shampoo, he'd welcome 
any chance to see Ranma out of the way.  Having the boy marry Akane would do 
precisely just that.

	Yes, it was just perfect.

	Now, all he had to do was convince Souun and Nodoka.

*    *    *

	If Genma only realised how off base he was about one factor.

	Ranma.

	Six evenings after the attempted wedding found the young martial artist in 
Hikarigaoka once again, this time sitting close to a fountain.  It had been 
nice at school.  Ukyou hadn't bothered to send any notes his way, much less 
tried to cook lunch for him.  That always bugged Akane.  Even better, there 
had been no sign of Shampoo, either in the morning or at lunchtime.  No sign 
of Kodachi and Kunou was still in the hospital.  Even more, the Principal 
seemed to have learned his lesson; Ranma hadn't seen that nutcase since.

	Things at the Tendou home were okay.  Nabiki was still going through the 
money and gifts the wedding generated for the family, so Ranma didn't have 
to worry too much about the middle Tendou daughter trying to get new 
photographs of his girl-form.  Akane helped out in the kitchen occasionally, 
but always under Kasumi or Nodoka's stern supervision.  Of course, Akane's 
curry was pretty okay and she was getting the hang of cooking rice the right 
way.  Akane's father was keeping to his promise and laying off on any future 
wedding plans.  Even better, Oyaji was keeping his peace about morning 
training after Ranma ejected him from the bedroom one day with the Mooko 
Takabisha.  Having his mother wave the katana around the fool panda's neck 
shut him up real quick.  But still . . .

	*Does she love me?*

	Ranma gazed at the evening sky.  He STILL wasn't sure.

	Yes, he cared for her.  Yes, he l- . . . lo- . . .!

	Damn!

	Why couldn't he say it NOW?!

	Why?

	He perked on sensing a billboard painter step into close range.  Glancing 
over, he watched the man paste several advertisements on a stretch of wall.  
Ranma's ears twitched on hearing the other mutter, "Folks here will like a 
change from okonomiyaki and Chinese.  Yessiree!  She's one good cook . . . "

	Ranma blinked.  Cook?  Rising, he walked over to stand close to the 
painter.  "Hey, Oji-san!  What's this about?"

	"Eh?"  The other fellow looked over before laughing.  "Oh, Saotome-san!  
It's you!"  He waved to the posters.  "Read for yourself."

	Ranma looked, blinking as the message sank in.  "'Tampopo's Ramen and 
Beefbowl Bar?'  About to open . . . hey!  That's next week!"

	"Got that right!"  The painter chuckled.  "Damn good cook.  She offered 
free dinners to me for the whole of next week instead of paying me to get 
these posters set up.  She's setting up in Kasuga-chou if you want to check 
it out.  Matter of fact, I think she's there right now."

	"Good cook?"  Ranma stared at him, remembering the important point.

	"Very good cook!  Trust me on this one, boy!"  The painter winked.  "After 
all, people have been noticing you avoiding the Nekohanten and that 
okonomiyaki place your friend runs since you tried to wed Tendou Akane."

	The young martial artist sighed.  "'Friend?'"  He gazed nowhere in 
particular before shaking his head.  "I dunno, Oji-san.  Right now, I'm not 
sure who my friends ARE these days.  Anyhow, thanks for the tip.  Ja ne!"

	He waved before heading towards one of the park gates.

*    *    *

	Ranma had decided to take his time since it was a nice night and he didn't 
want to head back to the doojou.  An hour later found him standing on the 
Kanpachi-doori, one of Nerima's main thoroughfares.  On the north side of 
the street, wedged between two office blocks, was a two-floor house-like 
edifice being remodelled to serve as a restaurant.  Already, the marquee, 
emblazoned with TAMPOPO'S in scripted Roomaji, had been erected over the 
door.  Inside the main eating area, a small army of workers was busy getting 
tables and booths set up.  Directing them was a woman Nodoka's age, though 
possessing brown hair and eyes.  She looked as stocky as Genma, but to 
Ranma's trained eyes, there was a considerable firmness to her.  Even more, 
Ranma could barely pick out something of a battle aura.  That was 
understandable.  Nerima was chock-full of martial artists of every calibre 
and ability, from the standard to the totally bizarre.  Given the frequency 
of odd things that hit this place, having some martial skills wasn't just 
prudent.  It was, at times, a survival requirement.

	"It'll look like a nice place when it's done," Ranma whispered.

	He jolted on hearing an ominous *crack!* from sign.  Looking up, he gasped 
on seeing the sign peel away from the wall, just as the door opened to allow 
the proprietor out.  "LOOK OUT!" Ranma screamed as he sprang across the 
street.

	The woman cried out as she looked up.  She dodged right as the sign pulled 
away from the wall.  Instantly, a black-and-red blur from across the street 
turned into a tall, slender man as he caught the sign before it could 
shatter on the sidewalk.  He collapsed as several of the workers come out.  
"Are you alright?!" she cried out, lunging over to pull her sign off the 
young man.

	"Y-yeah, I'm okay . . . " Ranma sputtered, feeling several bruised ribs, 
though it wasn't that bad.  He then nodded thanks as two of the workers 
helped him back to his feet.  "You okay there, Oba-chan?  Didn't trip over 
anythin', didja?" he asked as he gave the proprietor a concerned look.

	"Oh, no!  No!  I'm fine!"  The woman smiled.  She then looked to inspect 
the damage.  "Hmm.  Looks like the wood beams were rotted out."

	"We'll get them fixed up right away, Kamekichi-san," a worker vowed.

	"Do so."  Tampopo nodded as she handed the sign to another worker.  She 
then noticed the plaster on Ranma's jersey.  "Good grief!  You're a mess!"  
She walked over to bat the dust away from him.  "Here, c'mon inside and let 
me whip you up something.  You look hungry."

	"I . . .!"  Ranma then chuckled.  "Oh, it was nothin' at all!"  He rubbed 
the back of his head.  "I was gonna go home anyway . . . "

	"Hush!  I won't hear a word of it!"  Tampopo waved him down before she 
beckoned him inside.  "Lucky for you, I have the stoves and refrigerator all 
set up.  C'mon in and relax.  You deserve it."

	"I . . . w-well, if you're sure . . .!"

	She gave him a disarming smile.  "I insist!"

	Ranma felt his cheeks heat.  Oh man!  If this woman was his age, he 
wouldn't know WHAT to do in the face of a smile like THAT!  "Um, well . . . 
" he stuttered before nodding.  "Okay!"  He then stopped.  "Oh, sorry about 
that!  I'm Saotome Ranma.  Pleased ta meetcha."  He bowed.

	"Ranma?"  Tampopo blinked as she recalled the name.  She then tittered.  
"Pleased to meet you, too, Ranma-chan.  I'm Kamekichi Tampopo; this is my 
shop.  I must confess your reputation has preceded you.  Shall we go 
inside?"

	He started to sweat.  Oh man!  He HATED it when people did THAT to him.  
"Don't tell me Oyaji tried ta swindle you outta something!"

	Tampopo hummed.  "No, not that I recall.  And no, I don't have a daughter 
who's engaged to you."  She then winked at him.  "Besides, given what I've 
heard of your father, Ranma-chan, if he ever tried to do something foolish 
to me, I'd take it up with him, not force it all over you."

	Ranma blinked, his jaw dropping in shock.  *That's a switch!*

*    *    *

	"Husband, this is totally foolish!"

	"Indeed, Saotome-kun!  This is not the way to do things, especially after I 
promised them that we'd stop pressing them about that!"

	"Please."  Genma held up a hand.  It was late the next morning, sometime 
after Nabiki, Ranma and Akane had left for classes.  As Souun and Nodoka 
calmed themselves, he sighed.  "I realise this is an odd approach to take, 
but this is not a normal situation.  However . . . " -- he fixed them with a 
look -- "There are merits in doing this the way I propose."

	"In what way?" Nodoka demanded as she squeezed the family sword.  "It's 
been a week since the last attempt at getting my son to marry Akane-chan, 
Genma.  A WEEK!" she shrilled.  "That's way too soon . . . "

	"But can we deny the fact that they love each other?"

	"I . . .!"  She stopped as she considered that point, and then she nodded.  
"Of course not.  But still . . . "

	"But NOTHING, my wife!" Genma soothed.  "Akane-chan admitted her feelings 
for the boy the day of the wedding.  And Ranma certainly SHOWED how he felt 
for Akane-chan on Mount Phoenix, did he not?"

	Souun nodded.  "Of course he did, Saotome-kun!  But what of all the other 
suitors?  What do we do about them?!"

	"They're disorientated now!" Genma asserted.  "I've kept my eye on the boy 
since the wedding.  Not ONCE has that China girl tried to approach him.  
Even more, Ranma has been on the lookout for her since the wedding.  Who 
knows what might've happened if the China girl DID come out to meet her 
'Airen?!'  Also, not ONCE has the boy spoken to the Kuonji girl.  He turns 
her away at every opportunity.  It's obvious to me that the boy doesn't want 
anything to do with them.  Why?  Tendou-kun, those two girls BETRAYED him, 
plain and simple."

	Nodoka nodded.  "Yes, my husband, you have a point.  And deep down, I find 
it bothersome that outlanders like that Shampoo girl believe they can 
inflict their archaic laws on us like that.  Yes, it IS understandable that 
girl would be forced to obey her clan's laws even while she was living here 
in Japan.  But to have such laws inflicted on us too?"  She took a deep 
breath.  "I would gladly state that I would not recognise any claim she has 
on our son, Genma.  But given how supposedly powerful her great-grandmother 
is . . . "

	Souun shook his head.  "Almost like dealing with the Master."

	"Agreed.  But can even she stand up to the laws of this land when they're 
brought down full-force on her?" Genma asked.  "Perhaps, instead of making 
trouble for the boy and her sister, Tendou-kun, you can persuade Nabiki-chan 
to find some way to drive those Amazons out of this country once and for 
all."

	"Yes, that is true . . . "  Souun sighed.  He then stared at Genma.  "But 
what of the Kuonji girl, Saotome-kun?  How do we deal with her?"

	Genma sighed.  "I agree that I made a mistake when it came to that girl.  
But given the boy's change of attitude towards her, I think it won't be long 
before she realises the futility of it and withdraws her claim on her own 
accord.  If she does that, fine and fair.  Besides, she DID have a hand in 
the destruction of our home -- which, if she DID marry the boy, would have 
become HER home -- plus she endangered the wedding guests AND your 
daughters, Tendou-kun AND Ranma AND you, too, Nodoka, when she showed up 
with her bombs.  We can apply criminal charges against her, can't we?  
Certainly, that could be another thing Nabiki can do to make up for what she 
did to ruin things last week."

	Souun tensed -- he just HATED it whenever Genma bluntly brought up his 
daughters' shortcomings, no matter how true they could be -- and then he 
sighed.  "Yes, you are right.  If Nabiki-chan hadn't overstepped her bounds 
last week, they would have been wed.  But how can you be truly sure 
Ranma-kun does love Akane-chan?!  He's denied it vehemently for a long time, 
even on the day of the wedding itself!  It's clearly obvious he doesn't want 
to be pushed into this."

	Genma nodded.  "Agreed.  And yes, that was a mistake on our part when it 
came to last week.  I propose this:  We tell them we want them to wed as 
soon as possible.  No set date, but as soon as we get their agreement to 
this, we make preparations.  We warn them that the sooner they do this, the 
better it will be for all concerned.  Once they are married, then we can be 
rid of the Amazons and deal with the Kuonji girl from a position of 
strength.  As for the rest of them, they have no legal claim on the boy, so 
it doesn't matter."

	"Can we still be sure?" Nodoka wondered.

	"My wife, as I said, I've watched them over the last week.  There has not 
been a SINGLE argument between them.  In fact, they've been very civil to 
each other when they've talked to each other.  No insults, no taunts, 
nothing of that sort.  Even more so, Ranma has actually eaten all of 
Akane-chan's cooking without a single complaint.  That's always been a big 
problem between them.  And with Kuonji and the China girl out of the way, 
all that has to be done is to ensure Akane-chan can cook more things than 
what she can and they're set!"

	"Yes, that has been a problem between them," Souun mused.

	Nodoka sighed.  "I still have problems with this, Husband."

	"My wife, don't you want your son to do the MANLY thing?"

	Nodoka's brow furrowed.  "Are you saying that Ranma may be failing in that 
regard?" she asked as she squeezed her bundle.

	"No.  What I AM saying is the boy needs to be CHALLENGED!"  Genma held up a 
finger.  "And rising to those challenges IS a manly thing, Nodoka!  How do 
you think he could fight an IMMORTAL of all things to save Akane's life?  
Because he was challenged day-in and out to be the best.  He NEEDS it, 
Nodoka!  He THRIVES on it!  And if we don't give it to him, then WE are 
doing him an injustice."

	Silence fell as they considered that.  Souun sighed.  "Let's give it a 
while before we press this," he said.  "I still don't like the idea of going 
back on my word, especially so soon after last week.  I do want them to 
marry and if they are showing signs that they want this, we should help.  
But . . . "

	"Tendou-kun, you won't regret this at all," Genma vowed, he giving his host 
a nod.  "We made mistakes last time.  We must learn from them, and THEN 
strive to do better THIS time.  This is something we've wanted for a long 
time.  I don't want to see us come so close to that goal only to have it 
taken away because of a few trivial problems.  What are the concerns of 
others compared to bringing the schools together like we've wanted all these 
years?"

	Souun nodded.  "One week, Saotome-kun.  Let's watch them over the next 
week.  And then we'll decide.  Alright?"

	Genma nodded in agreement.  "Alright."

*    *    *

	"Oh, my!"

	Nabiki grimaced.  "You got it."

	She had been on the patio outside the sitting room, about ready to go to 
school, when Genma, Souun and Nodoka had their little kaffeeklatsch.  And it 
was a VERY lucky thing that she had her personal dictation machine with her 
at the time.  It struck Nabiki as odd that the adults hadn't waited until 
she was out of hearing range before Genma dropped his bombshell on his wife 
and Souun.  Then again, despite their skills, Souun and Genma certainly were 
NOT the swiftest people on the block.  It had been child's play for Nabiki 
to avoid being spotted until the chance came that she could get to Kasumi 
and pass on the news.

	Kasumi took a deep breath.  The sisters were meeting in the kitchen just 
after Nabiki had returned from school.  "I can't BELIEVE they'd be so 
callous about Ukyou or Shampoo and their claims on Ranma-kun!"  The eldest 
daughter shook her head.  "What are they trying to do?  Start a three-way 
blood feud?!"

	"Nah!  They just don't like the idea of losing control over things like 
that, I think."  Nabiki shook her head before she spat, "Damn it all!  
Neither of them are ready to get married, Onee-chan, especially while 
they're still in high school!  And to have THIS dropped on their heads so 
SOON after Akane-chan was nearly killed, not to mention what might be going 
on with Ranma-kun?!"

	"Oh, my!  Is there something wrong with Ranma-kun?"

	"I . . . "  Nabiki paused, and then she slowly exhaled.  "I'm not really 
sure about it, Onee-chan.  But over the last few days, I've sensed that 
SOMETHING'S bothering him."  She sat down before tracing a finger in a 
circle on the desk.  "Yeah, I can see the idea of him avoiding anything to 
do with Ukyou or Shampoo.  And having him be very civil to Akane-chan is 
pretty good in and of itself.  But . . . "  Her eyes narrowed.  "Something's 
bugging him big-time.  Problem is, I can't see what that something might be, 
Onee-chan."

	"What could it be, then?"

	"I dunno.  And we better find out what it is before the idiots decide to do 
something stupid.  Not just the ones here, but also the ones elsewhere.  If 
they do and Ranma-kun happens to take it the wrong way . . . "

	She raised a finger in warning.  The eldest sister nodded.  "Agreed."

*    *    *

	"And that's what happened!"  Ukyou wiped her eyes as she spoke into the 
receiver.  "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I . . . "

	"You WERE doing the right thing, Ukyou!" her father's voice echoed over the 
earphone.  "They had no right in forcing a marriage between Ranma and that 
girl without taking into account what happened to you over the last ten 
years.  I don't care what supposedly happened afterward.  You HAVE a right, 
a DUTY, to see to it the Saotomes adhere to what they agreed with us, 
child!"

	"I . . . yes, Dad!  I know!  But still . . .!"

	"No, Ukyou!" Kuonji Haruka sharply replied.  "There is no choice but to do 
this.  And if they try to fight it out, we'll fight it out.  Our honour has 
precedence here.  Listen, didn't you tell me about this 'man-above-men' 
contract Ranma was forced to sign with his mother?"

	Ukyou nodded.  "Yes, I did."

	"Well, if his mother supposedly goes along with THAT, you have to wonder 
what sort of mother IS she!  Do you REALLY want to see Ranma living under 
that sort of threat for the rest of his life?  Believe me, if you offer 
Ranma the chance to get away from that woman, he'll take it!"

	Ukyou shook her head.  "I dunno, Dad.  Ran-chan's been getting along pretty 
well with her, so I've heard . . . "

	"Come now, Ukyou!  I know her type.  She'll want to do to the boy what 
people like her have done to their children for ages.  Lord it over their 
child to the point where he won't be able to do anything without getting her 
approval first.  Tell me, Ukyou, do YOU want to have someone like her for a 
mother-in-law?  You know how some of them can be at times!"

	The chef blinked, sighing.  "Yeah, Ran-chan does seem to defer a lot -- 
hell, a little TOO much, if you ask me! -- to her."

	"My point!  Ironically, his father did the lad a favour in keeping him away 
from his mother!  You love how strong Ranma is!  How could he be that way, 
STAY that way, if he's being forced to defer to his own mother like that?!"

	"Yeah, you got a point . . . "

	"I'm glad you understand that."  Haruka chuckled.  "Don't give up hope, 
Ukyou.  You're in the right.  Don't forget that!"

	"I . . .!"  Ukyou reluctantly nodded.  "Alright, Dad."

	The conversation was soon concluded.  Konatsu, who had been cleaning up 
tables, looked at his employer.  "Ukyou-sama, do you really think Ranma-sama 
will acknowledge what you might demand of him after what happened last 
week?"

	Ukyou stared at the male kunoichi before sighing.  "I dunno, Konatsu."  She 
grimaced.  "But I DO know that I have to make up to Ran-chan somehow.  When 
I do that, then we'll see what we'll do next.  Okay?"

	He nodded.  "As you feel is right."

*    *    *

	Shampoo blinked, a grin slowly crossing her face as she read the letter 
that just arrived by carrier pigeon from her home village:

"To the Warrior Nu Shanpú,
"Greetings,
	"In the wake of the report sent by your honoured great-grandmother, the 
Elder Nu Kelun, concerning the events several weeks ago on Mount Phoenix in 
the battle with Saffron, the Council decrees the following:
	"That the marriage, as established by combat, between yourself and Saotome 
Ranma, is acknowledged as true under our laws.
	"That you, Shanpú, must continue to strive to bring your husband to the 
village as soon as possible to consummate said marriage.
	"And that you, Shanpú, will eliminate, by whatever means possible, all 
obstacles standing in your way of consummating your marriage with your 
husband.  This must be done in the light of the many crimes your husband's 
father, Saotome Genma, student of the hated Happoosai, eternal enemy of the 
Nujiézú, has committed against womankind.
	"We wish you the Goddess' blessings as you pursue those goals and hope to 
see you and your husband returned to the village soon.
"With the Goddess' blessings, I remain,
"Nu Misú, Chair of the Council of Elderwomen"

	Shampoo sighed.  Misú -- "Mist" -- was not just the supreme leader of her 
tribe, but a great-grand aunt several times removed.  Mist and Cologne had 
been friends for ages, standing together against the tribes' foes in battle 
after battle.  To receive a letter like this from her had as much impact on 
Shampoo as anything Cologne might demand.  Sighing, she read the 
post-script, written in Mist's beautiful calligraphy:  "Remember, Shan, the 
one who killed Saffron and fought Herb to a standstill must NOT elude the 
Nujiézú."

	*That settles that!* she mused as she folded the letter and left it on the 
bar.  *But will Airen accept it, especially after what happened last week?*

	She stood.  Since the letter was personal, neither Cologne nor Mousse had 
read it.  Remembering the weapons-master, Shampoo grimaced, and then she 
took the letter and slipped it into her jersey.  She would have to talk to 
her great-grandmother, but clearly, an apology to Airen was in order.  
Indeed, threatening Airen's mother was NOT a smart thing.  And she would 
have to speak to the Mercenary Girl about what precipitated that mess in the 
first place.  Shampoo strongly believed Airen's fool father and Tendou Souun 
had forced him into that farce.  If so, she'd have some words with them, 
especially the stupid panda.

	He had long deserved that!

*    *    *

	"So this is Moroboshi Ataru, huh?"

	"Hai, that's him."  Tampopo smiled as she cleaned up her dishes, just 
unpacked out of their boxes after she moved them from Tomobiki.

	It was the next afternoon after school.  Ranma hooked the framed picture on 
the wall near the doorway into the kitchen before moving to set up the rest 
of the pictures Tampopo hung around her restaurant to make things homely.  
"Heard all sorts of things about him.  Not all nice, y'know."

	The cook sighed.  "Hai, I know.  I know.  But people can say the very same 
things about you, Ranma-chan.  Not to mention the other members of the 
'Nerima Wrecking Crew.'  Don't forget that."  She winked at him.

	Actually "her."  Ranma had been splashed by the old lady near the Tendou 
home before coming to Tampopo's.  He had told the cook about Jusenkyou the 
night they met.  Much to Ranma's delight, Tampopo simply shrugged it off.  
Even more, when some of the workers who had been moving stuff into her shop 
tried to flirt with the martial artist, Tampopo laid them all low with a 
battle spatula that put Ukyou's to shame.  And her threat about not cooking 
a THING for them in response to their trying to "pick up" Ranma was 
effective, especially after Ranma himself got a sample of her cooking.  
Kasumi?  Who was Kasumi?!

	Ranma sighed.  "I guess we all got our enemies, huh?"

	"Yes, that's true.  Too many people, especially your age and male -- and 
some of the females, too -- in Tomobiki just HATED the fact that I waylaid 
Lum every time Ataru-chan ducked into here to avoid her cooking, not to 
mention being bullied by the rest of them.  Pity she got sent home; the last 
few nights she was on Earth, she was starting to show some progress with 
Ataru-chan."

	Ranma stared at her.  "Did you want them to get married?"

	"I really wish I could answer that.  My . . . "  She paused, shrugging.  
"My main concern was the fact that there was this boy.  A person who, if he 
had ever been given a chance, could've gained friends and had a healthy 
adolescence.  Suddenly, he is picked to become Earth's 'champion' in a silly 
tag game to protect us from being invaded by aliens.  THEN he winds up being 
'married' to an alien who didn't understand what her presence on Earth was 
doing to him!  I . . . "  She turned to sit at the counter.  "Lum is a nice 
girl, Ranma-chan.  But she has no CONTROL over herself.  Even more so, her 
behaviour influenced her cousin, a little BOY of five, to act in the very 
same manner she did.  And then you tack all her friends from outer space, 
pile Ataru-chan's classmates on top of that . . . "  She then made an 
exploding motion with her hands.  "And when it was all said and done, things 
got destroyed and people's lives were disrupted.  And look what happened?  
They turned and blamed ATARU for it.  Every DAMN time!"

	Ranma sighed, walking over to sit beside the cook.  "I guess that would get 
to anyone, even me."  She leaned her chin on her palm.

	"That's why I did what I did," Tampopo admitted.  "I gave Ataru-chan ONE 
place in Tomobiki where he could be free of them all.  And because of that, 
he came to trust me about things no one, not even Lum, knew.  And I . . . "  
She sighed.  "I was happy to be there for him.  He really needed it at 
times."

	"So where is he now?" Ranma wondered.

	Tampopo shook her head.  "No.  I know you're curious, but I won't say 
anything.  There are those who'd take those words and ruin his life.  Chief 
of which are the twits who're Ataru-chan's biological parents.  He renounced 
all legal ties to them before Lum was sent home."

	Ranma gaped.  "He's roonin?!"

	"No, he's not.  His clan is a matriarchy where the succession goes from 
grandmother to granddaughter, not father to son like in most other 
families," Tampopo reported.  "It skipped his parents' generation and went 
straight to him.  Muchi and Kinshou -- they're Ataru's parents -- have no 
power in that respect."  She then added in a whisper, "Especially now that 
his grandmother is dead."

	"Whoa!"  The transformed martial artist whistled, gazing at the ceiling.  
"He's lucky.  Did anyone in Tomobiki know about this?"

	"Not really, thanks very much to Kinshou.  And I'd rather not talk about 
that now.  It IS violating Ataru-chan's privacy."  The chef playfully batted 
Ranma's nose before she stood up to prepare something on the stove behind 
the counter.  "Besides, it's pretty much all settled now.  He's somewhere 
where no one can try to hurt him further, so he'll finally have a chance to 
get his wits about him, and then decide what he wants to do with his life.  
And you did tell me about your fiancée's sister Nabiki."  She wagged a 
finger at Ranma.  "By the sounds of it, she might take whatever information 
I might give you about Ataru-chan and sell it to the highest bidder.  I 
don't want that."

	Ranma snorted.  "Don't blame you."

	"So what do you want to have?"

	"Hmmm . . . how good are you at making okonomiyaki?"

	"Pretty good.  What type?"

	"Hiroshima-style.  Beef and shrimp with soba."

	"Alright."

	Tampopo got to work.  Watching her, Ranma was instantly reminded of Ukyou 
and the magic that she could unleash over a stove.  A frown turned her lips 
as she banished the chef's image from her mind.  No, she couldn't think of 
Ukyou now, especially after what happened.  If she wanted reconciliation, 
Ukyou had to make the first move.  And if she got uppity, that was no 
problem.  Ranma had no intention of marrying her even BEFORE the fight on 
Mount Phoenix.  Was it really Ranma's fault that Ukyou never got the 
message?

	"Hey, Tampopo-chan!  Can I ask you something?"

	"What is it, Ranma-chan?"

	"Was Lum really that bad of a cook?"

	Tampopo chuckled.  "I'm not so sure.  The chances are good that she was 
pretty bad no matter what she tried, but I think that the real problem was 
that she was busy preparing Oni food for a Terran."

	"Really?"  Ranma's eyebrow arched.  "Damn, pity she had to go home.  We 
could've introduced her to Akane."  She then stopped before a chill warped 
through her.  "Excuse me!  On second thought, that's NOT a good idea!"

	Tampopo glanced at her.  "She's bad?"

	"Bad . . .?"  Ranma sighed.  "Well, it was plain awful to watch her go at 
it at times!  And I got stuck eating it all.  It was a miracle that I didn't 
wind up dead or in intensive care from some of the things she made.  But . . 
. "  She shrugged.  "She's got better.  She does a good curry, but . . .!"  
Another shrug.  "I think her big problem is that she thinks she's good 
because Kasumi does it every day, three times a day, then Akane assumes she 
can do the same.  It doesn't work that way, Tampopo-chan.  You probably know 
that, don't you?"

	"Yes, I do know that.  Does she read the recipe at least?"

	"Not that I know of."

	"Oh, dear.  That IS a problem, then.  So how many times did you have your 
bilges pumped from her cooking, Ranma-chan?"

	"I've lost count."

	"And no one's tried to stop her beforehand?"

	Ranma shook her head.  "Not really, I'll admit.  I guess the only one who 
could is Kasumi, but she doesn't do it often."

	"Kasumi?  The eldest sister?"

	"Yep."

	Tampopo hummed.  "And their mother's dead?"

	"Yeah.  She passed away about ten years ago or so.  I don't know the exact 
date and all that.  I . . . "  Ranma shrugged.  "Well, I figure it's kind of 
personal with them and they are hurting from her dying and all that . . . "

	"A wise thing to do.  Still, if Kasumi has been forced to become the home 
keeper, I wouldn't be so surprised if she went easy on Akane.  To turn from 
an 'older sister-to-younger sister' relationship into a 'quasi-mother/older 
sister-to-younger sister' situation would be disorientating.  If their 
father had been smart, he would have remarried.  It would've done the girls 
a lot of good."

	"You think so?"

	"I believe it would've been the proper thing to do."  Tampopo sighed.  
"Ranma-chan, can you tell me something?"

	"What?"

	"What do you see in Akane, anyway?"

	"I . . .!"  Her brow furrowed as she considered that.  "I don't know."

	Tampopo stared at her.  "Just like Ataru-chan."

	"Eh?"

	She chuckled.  "When Lum first came to Earth and it became obvious that he 
was becoming attracted to her, I asked Ataru-chan that question.  He . . . " 
  She shrugged, turning to monitor the okonomiyaki.  "It's nothing to be 
ashamed about, Ranma-chan.  When you feel an attraction to someone, things 
do get quite confusing.  Let me ask you this, then:  What IS love?"

	"I . . .!" Ranma stuttered, and then she sat back in her chair to think 
about it.  "Well . . . I guess ta be in love with someone means you're 
taking a commitment ta be there for her.  Ta protect her and support her and 
. . . well . . .!"  She shrugged before giving her host a hopeful look.  "I 
. . .!"

	Tampopo flashed a sympathetic look.  "You haven't really had any chance to 
talk this over with anyone, haven't you?"

	"Not really."

	"Is there anyone you can trust to have a conversation like that?" the chef 
then wondered.  "Because it looks to me that you really need to get your 
thoughts in order before you contemplate doing ANYTHING."  Tampopo flipped 
the okonomiyaki onto a plate before placing that before Ranma.

	Her nose twitching excitedly as a mouth-watering aroma zeroed in on her 
mind's pleasure centres, the martial artist picked up her chopsticks.  "Well 
. . . " she mouthed around a morsel of food.  "Not really, I guess."  She 
gulped it down.  "I mean, there's Kasumi."  She cut another slice.  "But I 
don't wanna put her into a position where . . . "  She downed that.  "She 
might end up standin' up to the rest of her family."  She then cut up 
another slice.  "Man, this is really good, Tampopo-chan!"  Ranma grinned.  
"And there was Doc Ono Toofuu.  He was a chiropractor who lived here 
sometime back.  Don't know what happened to him . . . "  Her voice trailed 
off, and then she sighed.  "Then again, I remember one time when he used a 
shiatsu point on my back to force me to be carried home from his office by 
Akane," she ruefully lamented.

	Tampopo's eyebrow arched.  "Oh, really?  That's not behaviour I'd condone 
from my doctor.  What about your mother?  I can sense you have no trust in 
your father anymore, but surely, your mother might understand some things."

	Ranma shook her head.  "Not really.  Mom's pretty traditional and all that. 
  I . . . I guess, deep down, she . . .!"  She paused before shrugging.  "I 
don't know what she wants.  Honour and giri mean a lot to her . . . "

	"Honour?  Giri?  What about your happiness?  Good grief, doesn't she want 
you to be happy with your life, Ranma-chan?"

	"I . . .!"

	"ARE you happy with your life?"

	Ranma shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut as the concern in Tampopo's voice 
sheared her emotional guards.  Before she could do anything, fingers touched 
points on her temples.  Ranma quaked.  The dam then broke as gentle sobs 
burst from her lips.  Almost immediately, arms wrapped around her as she 
felt Tampopo comfort her.  "Let it out . . . " the chef cooed into the 
martial artist's ear.  "Let it out, Ranma-chan.  It's okay.  It's okay.  
It's okay to cry, Ranma-chan."

	"N-no . . .!" Ranma burbled.  "Men don't cry . . . "

	Tampopo shook her head.  "Who told you that?  Your father?" she whispered.  
Feeling Ranma nod, she sighed.  "He lied to you.  Kami-sama, I can't believe 
he'd force you to accept a lie like THAT!  What was he trying to do to you?"

	Ranma listened to the question, sniffling back her tears before staring at 
her host.  "N-no one . . . " she stuttered before looking down.  "No one's 
ever asked me things like that 'b-bout me, Tampopo-chan . . . "

	"Is that a fact?"  Tampopo gazed on her, and then she nodded.  "Ranma-chan, 
I want you to listen to me for a moment.  I'm going to make a promise to you 
right now.  And I really want you to believe that I will adhere to this 
promise, okay?  Are you listening?"

	The martial artist nodded.  "W-what?"

	"I want you to know that if in ANY way you feel you have to break away from 
these people you're dealing with now -- your parents, the Tendous, the 
others -- I will be there for you," she vowed.  "That's a promise I am 
making to you right now.  I want to be your friend, show you what REAL 
friendship is about.  And I want to help you figure your way out of this 
MESS you're in.  I really do, because you need it more than anything else 
does.  What's more, you DESERVE help.  Do you understand what I'm telling 
you?  Do you?"

	"I . . .!"  Ranma stared wide-eyed at her.  "Why?"

	Tampopo shrugged.  "Can't I help you?"

	"I . . .!" the younger woman stuttered before rapidly shaking her head.  
"No!  I can't ask ya to do somethin' like THAT, Tampopo-chan!  You don't 
wanna get involved in my life!  You don't!  Trust . . .!"

	A finger landed on her lips.  "That's part of your problem, Ranma-chan."  
Tampopo chuckled.  "I take it the idea of you being the ONLY person to 
settle your problems is another thing your father taught."  Her eyebrow 
arched again on her seeing the younger woman's eyes widen.  "Well, am I 
right?"

	"It ain't that!" Ranma said.  "I mean, yeah, a lot of the crap I've gotta 
deal with was because Oyaji's a lunkhead!  But believe me, you don't wanna 
get inta this whole mess.  People, especially Akane, Ukyou and Shanpú, not 
ta mention Oyaji and Akane's dad, won't like the idea of someone buttin' . . 
.!"

	"And why is that?"

	Ranma blinked.  "I don't get it."

	"Why is it they're trying to stop you from finding some way out of this 
mess?" Tampopo wondered, and then she paused before taking a breath.  
"Perhaps I should be asking that this way:  Why are they so AFRAID of you 
making your own decisions about your life?  Why?  It's YOUR life that you 
have to live!  It's not Akane's.  It's not Ukyou's.  It's not Shanpú's.  And 
it certainly isn't your parents'!  WHY?!  Why are you letting them get away 
with this nonsense?!"

	"I . . .!"  Ranma shuddered, tears flowing down her cheeks, and then she 
leaned in as Tampopo comforted her.  "I don't know anymore."

	Sobs stole her voice as Tampopo sighed.  "Then you have to find out, 
Ranma-chan.  For your sake most of all."

*    *    *

	"So where were you yesterday?  You were gone the whole day!"

	Ranma blinked.  Then glancing around to ensure Shampoo was nowhere near, he 
gazed at Akane.  "It was somethin' personal.  Don't worry about it, okay?"

	She tensed before she stared at him.  "'Personal?'  About what?"

	"Akane, if I tell ya something's personal, it's personal, okay?!" he 
snapped.  Taking a final sweep of the surrounding area to ensure Shampoo 
wasn't close, he hopped down as they headed to the front gate of Fuurinkan 
High.  "Sheesh!  You don't hear me buggin' ya about somethin' ya wanna keep 
personal if ya tell me to mind my own business!  So why're you doin' it to 
me?!"

	She stopped, staring wide-eyed at her fiancé.  Her body then quaked as a 
surge of anger roared up her spine.  "Hey, don't tell me something like 
that, Ranma!  I'm trying to show a little concern for you, you know!"

	He stopped some distance away before he stared at her.  "Why don't I 
believe that?" he wondered before heading into the school.

	Akane watched Ranma head inside, she rooted in place as his question echoed 
through her mind.  "Ranma . . . " she whispered.

	"You okay, sugar?"

	Akane gasped, spinning around to see Ukyou staring at her.  "Ukyou?!" she 
breathed out.  "Ah!  Um, is there something wrong?"

	"Is there somethin' wrong with YOU?" the okonomiyaki chef countered.  "Did 
you and Ran-chan have a fight or what?!"

	"I . . . "  Akane blinked, and then she shook her head.  "No, no fight.  It 
was just a little disagreement.  So . . . "

	"If you say so.  Look, can you ask Ran-chan to come to the cherry tree . . 
. " -- she pointed to a tree at one end of the campus -- "At lunch?  I 
REALLY have got to talk to him.  You, too.  Please, will you two come there 
today?"

	Akane stared at her rival, quickly noting the flash of pain and fear deep 
in Ukyou's dark eyes.  "I . . . al-alright."

	"Thanks."

*    *    *

	"Akane?  Ran-chan?"

	The couple and Ukyou sat under the cherry tree the chef specified before 
classes had begun.  Akane and Ranma gazed on each other before the former 
turned to Ukyou.  "I forgive you."  She reluctantly nodded.  "I can't blame 
you for getting so upset at what happened last week!"

	Ukyou blinked, and then she smiled.  "Well, since you say it was those two 
dingbats you have to call fathers that started it, not to mention what 
Nabiki did to milk it along . . .!"  She chuckled before turning to Ranma.

	He sighed.  "I forgive you, Ukyou-san."

	Ukyou jolted, her mind clouding over on hearing the words she needed to 
hear from him.  She was then brought up short by the way he just addressed 
her.  Akane was also taken aback.  "Ranma . . .?"  She gazed on her fiancé.

	Ranma sighed.  "And yeah, you certainly had a right to do what you did last 
week, Ukyou-san.  I don't hold it against you."

	Akane exploded.  "SAY WHAT?!  What the hell does THAT mean?!"

	Ranma spun on her.  "What about her honour, Akane?!" he demanded, the ice 
in his voice making both girls duck.  "What about the fact that she spent 
TEN YEARS as a boy 'cause of what Oyaji pulled on her?!"

	Silence fell.  "Ran-chan . . . " Ukyou repeated.

	Ranma stood.  "Ukyou-san, I can't begin to apologise for how much that fool 
father of mine hurt you.  I can't start to think of any way to pay you back 
for your sufferings.  I know you love me and want to marry me but . . . "  
He paused before shaking his head.  "I'm sorry, but I can't give that back 
to you.  To me, you will always be my oldest and best friend.  But I can't 
accept you as BOTH friend AND fiancée.  Ya have to be one or the other, not 
both.  I . . . "  He stopped, and then he shrugged.  "I'm sorry."

	He walked away.  Akane and Ukyou watched him.  The latter then shuddered.  
"Now, wait just a damned minute here, Ran-chan . . .!"

	Akane stepped into her path.  "No!"

	"Wha . . .?!" Ukyou sputtered.

	"Leave him alone, Ukyou!" Akane ordered, glaring the chef down.  "Don't you 
understand what you're doing to him?!"

	"But he has to . . .!"

	"Has to what?!"

	They stared at each other, and then they glanced together towards where 
Ranma had gone.  The martial artist was nowhere in sight.  Both women 
blinked.  Akane sighed.  "Damn, this is such a mess!"  She shook her head.

	Ukyou took a breath.  "Yeah, you got that right," she muttered.  "Akane, 
I'm sorry.  I know how much you care for him and all that, but I gotta warn 
you now."  She held up a finger.  "I can't and WON'T give up my claim on 
Ran-chan."

	Blinking, Akane stared back at her.  "Why?"

	"'Cause that's what my dad wants, okay?!" the chef snapped.  She shuddered 
before calming herself.  "I'm sorry.  Look, it's not your fault and it's not 
Ran-chan's fault.  I happen to like you, but I just . . . "  She squeezed 
her eyes shut.  "I can't give up on him.  If I do, I give up EVERYTHING that 
makes my life what it is.  I'd be made roonin so fast, it'd make your head 
spin.  I'd have to start from scratch again, both as a chef and as a martial 
artist.  I'm sorry, but that's the way it is.  I'm trapped and the only way 
out is through Ran-chan.  I . . . "  She shook her head, shrugging.  "That's 
the way it is."

	Akane stared at her.  "Ukyou," she breathed out before gazing intently at 
her.  "I can't believe that your dad would . . . "

	"Believe it," Ukyou flatly announced.

*    *    *

	Ranma and Akane were silent as they headed home after classes.  Both had 
small bundles in their hands, boxes full of fresh okonomiyaki; Ukyou had 
prepared them before final class.  Ranma kept his eyes peeled for Shampoo 
and her bicycle.  Akane stared at him.  "Ranma?" she then ventured.

	He glanced at her.  "What is it?"

	"You know, you were right."  She took a breath.  "She was hurt because of 
what your father did to her.  What could we do to help her?"

	He shrugged.  "I dunno.  Try ta find her family yatai if we could, but I 
don't remember what Oyaji did with that.  I can't just duck out of helping 
her, Akane.  She definitely deserves ta get something out of this.  But . . 
. " he stuttered.  "What?" he then asked with a shrug.

	"Yeah.  What could we do to pay back ten years of misery?"

	Ranma sighed.  He needed to talk to Tampopo about this.  "Akane, look, I'm 
gonna go for a walk, alright.  I'll see ya later."

	"Eh?!"  Akane stared at him.  "Where are you going?"

	"Somewhere ta clear my head."  Ranma bounded to the nearest fence.  "Tell 
Kasumi she don't have to cook anythin' for me tonight!"

	Akane watched him race off.  "Ranma," she whispered, lowering her head.  
"Why won't you tell me what's bothering you?"

	"Aiyah!  Is Airen alright?!"

	Akane jolted, spinning to see Shampoo walk her bicycle up, an empty lunch 
box on the cargo rack over the back wheel.  "Shampoo!"

	"Did you have a fight?" the warrior-maiden asked.

	Akane blinked, surprised that Shampoo had asked her something like THAT, 
and then she shook her head.  "No, no fight.  What's wrong?"

	"This . . . "  Shampoo's voice halted.  "This one wants to apologise for 
what she did to stop the wedding last week."  She lowered her eyes.  "This 
one heard from Mercenary Girl that Airen's stupid father and your father set 
that up.  But can you . . .?"  She paused before staring at her rival.  "Can 
you tell this one something?  Did you really want to marry Airen last week 
or was it because of the Nanniichuan water the Jusenkyou guide sent to 
Airen?"

	Akane shuddered before nodding.  "Yes, I did want to marry Ranma, Shampoo.  
He's saved my life so many times, that . . . "

	"You think it's an honour-debt, right?"

	Akane stared intently at Shampoo before relaxing.  "It's more than that.  I 
love him.  I . . .!"  She paused.  "I don't know when it started to happen, 
but it did.  I can't deny it, Shampoo.  It's not fair to Ranma and . . . "

	She pointed to herself.  "You think it's no fair to you, too?"

	"Hai."

	"This one understands.  In fact, this one understands much more than you 
might think.  But . . . "  She closed her eyes.  "It doesn't change one 
thing.  This one still loves Airen.  And this one can't give up on Airen.  
It . . . it's not over yet," Shampoo then breathed out.

	Akane shuddered as a chill warped through her.  "No . . . "

	"If this one can't bring Airen back, she . . . "  She gazed at Akane, 
helplessness flashing in her eyes.  "This one will face disgrace and worse.  
Even more, the Council doesn't want to let Airen go.  After Airen killed 
Saffron and defeated Herb, what do you think the Council should do?!"

	Akane stared at the warrior-maiden, the phrases "disgrace or worse" and 
"Council doesn't want to let Airen go" echoing in her mind again and again.  
"No . . .!"  She shook her head.  "No!  No!  No!  DAMN IT ALL, NOT THIS!"

	"Akane!" Shampoo cried out.

	Too late; the youngest Tendou daughter was out of earshot.  Shampoo watched 
her go before she closed her eyes.  "This one is sorry, Akane.  This one 
really, really wishes there could be another way."

*    *    *

	A forlorn "Tadaima!" echoed through the Tendou home.  Hearing that, Nodoka 
stepped out of the kitchen, blinking on seeing tears in Akane's eyes as she 
slipped off her shoes.  "Akane-chan, what's wrong?!" she gasped as she 
immediately moved to comfort her future daughter-in-law.

	Akane jolted, staring blankly at Ranma's mother.  By then, Souun had come.  
Quickly noting the look on his youngest child's face, he panicked.  
"Akane-chan!  Are you alright?!  What's wrong?!" he parroted Nodoka's 
question.

	"I . . .!"  Akane blinked.  "Nothing's wrong, Dad, Auntie.  I'm okay."

	She turned to head upstairs.  "Akane?" Souun gasped.

	"Was it something Ranma did?" Nodoka demanded.

	Akane stopped, her eyes widening.  She spun around, outrage exploding from 
every point on her body.  "***NO!***" she bellowed loudly enough to blow 
them into the floorboards.  "***RANMA DID NOTHING TO ME!  NOTHING!***"  She 
then turned on Souun.  "***WHY IS IT EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG, YOU 
TURN AROUND AND BLAME RANMA?!***"  Then she pointed accusingly at Nodoka.  
"***AND WHY CAN'T YOU TRUST YOUR OWN SON FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, ANYWAY?!***"

She marched upstairs.  Souun and Nodoka remained quiet before exchanging a 
look.  "You think your husband might be right?" the former whispered, 
glancing up the stairs as the door to Akane's room opened, and then was 
slammed shut.

	"Perhaps."

*    *    *

	The week marched on.

	Tuesday lunchtime saw Shampoo come to the school cafeteria to deliver lunch 
for her Airen.  Before presenting a bowl of hot ramen to Ranma, the 
warrior-maiden apologised for her part in the failed wedding, especially in 
putting her Airen's mother into harm's way.  Hearing that, plus hearing that 
Shampoo had not put any drugs into the ramen -- a fear Ranma had concerning 
Shampoo's meals for a long time -- he accepted her apology.

Then, to everyone's shock, he added, "Shanpú, you've had to live with your 
laws for your entire life.  I don't really understand the reasons behind 
them, but they're something you can't deny, even living here in Japan.  
Because of that, I admit that you had every right to do what you did last 
week.  I can accept it.  I can even try to understand it.  Please, it's 
alright."

	Shampoo floated back to the Nekohanten on Cloud Nine.

	After school, Ukyou gave Ranma another packaged okonomiyaki.  He accepted 
it, though he still addressed her as "Ukyou-san," something that still 
clearly hurt the young chef.  Once she was gone, Ranma parted from Akane, 
declaring he wanted to go for a walk.  Akane accepted that, still bothered 
greatly by the words Ukyou and Shampoo had spoken to her the previous day.

	She needed a chance to be alone, too.

	Once they were separated, Ranma proceeded to a playground to gobble Ukyou's 
okonomiyaki before he headed to Tampopo's to spend some time with his new 
friend.  There was no way he was going to insult the older chef by bringing 
samples of Ukyou's cooking into her restaurant.  And besides, he had enough 
room for whatever Tampopo might make him, plus any surprises that might be 
waiting for him at the Tendou home.  Before leaving the chef for the day, 
Ranma received several special packets of a homeopathic cure Tampopo had 
once given Moroboshi Ataru in case he had to deal with Lum's cooking and 
couldn't duck out of his home to avoid it.  "It should be more than enough 
to deal with whatever Akane might want to prepare for you," she advised him.

	Ranma certainly appreciated that.

*    *    *

	"She said that to you?!"

	Genma stared hopefully at his wife and his best friend.  Nodoka nodded.  
"Yes, she was quite boisterous about it, my husband.  It appears that, even 
if they are uncomfortable openly expressing it, they do feel it."

	Souun sighed.  "I do agree, Saotome-kun.  Perhaps you were right, but I do 
want us to wait until this weekend before we approach them.  And we keep the 
wedding date as flexible as possible.  Let them decide when they want to 
wed."

	"That sounds more than fair enough," Nodoka mused.

	Genma blinked before sighing.  "Alright, I can go along with that.  I'll 
keep an eye on the boy anyway, just in case.  I still haven't figured out 
where he goes to when he parts from Akane after school."

	"Spying on our son, Genma, may not be the wisest thing to do."

	"Yes, Saotome-kun, he might take it the wrong way."

	"Still, I want to make sure he isn't slacking off."  Genma held up a hand 
to forestall any protests from Souun or Nodoka.  "Don't worry.  I won't 
press anything with the boy, but I don't want him to lose his edge."

	Souun and Nodoka stared at him, and then they nodded.

*    *    *

	"Oh, my!" Kasumi whispered; she was in the kitchen, having been there since 
before Genma had got together with his wife and the Tendou patriarch.

	*Saturday,* she mused with a grimace, and then she sighed.

	She had to talk to Nabiki about this as soon as possible.

*    *    *

	Wednesday was a quiet day, save lunchtime.  Like the day before, Shampoo 
came to Fuurinkan High with lunch.  When she got there, a trivial annoyance 
imposed himself on her.  "De Big Kahuna say there be NO take out in the . . 
.!"

	*CLONG!*

	"This one doesn't care what you say, Palm-Tree Man!" Shampoo snapped before 
swatting the tree-topped school administrator into the afternoon sky with 
her bonbori.  With that, she marched into the cafeteria.  "Nihao, Airen!"

	The warrior-maiden was quick to notice that Ukyou had already given Ranma 
some okonomiyaki to enjoy for lunch.  Even more so, there was a bowl of some 
brown-grey sauce -- curry? -- too.  Who had . . .?  Her eyes then fell on 
Akane, she having a very expectant look on her face.  Oh, no!

	"Oh, hi, Shanpú!"  Ranma perked up.  He then noticed her staring warily at 
the bowl of curry rice Akane had made the previous evening.  "Oh, relax, 
relax!"  He waved her down as Shampoo came up.  "This is pretty okay!"

	Shampoo stared intently at Akane, who gave her a neutral look in return.  
"Akane's never cooked good before, Airen."

	Ranma sighed before taking his chopsticks, forking out a small hunk of 
curry rice for Shampoo.  "Here!  Try it."

	Everyone stared at the warrior-maiden.  Shampoo blinked.  Then realising 
that Ranma would NOT try to intentionally poison her with bad food, she took 
the curry rice into her mouth.  Munching it, her eyes widened as the spices 
hit home, and then she swallowed it.  "You're right, Airen!  This IS good 
curry!"  She nodded, gazing at Akane.  "There might be hope for you yet, 
Akane!"

	Akane grinned.  "I am trying."

	"And ya gotta keep ON trying, Akane," Ukyou moderated.  "And listen to your 
sister and Ran-chan's mom, too.  Remember, they've been at this a lot longer 
than you have.  You can't get it right overnight."

	Hearing that, Akane nodded.  "Yeah, that's true."

	The other students watching this scene then exchanged worried looks.  Many 
of them were clearly wondering when Rod Serling was going to show up and 
tell them that they just took a trip into the Twilight Zone.  By then, 
Shampoo had served out the lunch she made before heading out.  Just as she 
was about to mount her bicycle for the ride to the Nekohanten, she noticed a 
folded note tucked into the frame.  Drawing it out, she opened it to read:

"Shampoo,
	"Come to Hikarigaoka Park, near Yamada Fred's yatai, tonight at eight 
o'clock.  Don't be late.  Ukyou and Kodachi will be there, too.  It's about 
something you all need to know about Ranma and Akane.
	"Feel free to tell your great-grandmother, but DON'T let Mousse know.  
You'll understand when you hear what I have to tell you.
"Nabiki"

	Shampoo stared at the note.  Nodding, she hopped onto her bicycle.

*    *    *

	Thursday and Friday buzzed past almost in a blur.

	Matters between Ranma and Akane remained cordial, which pleased Genma very 
much.  Souun and Nodoka also accepted what was happening, realising that if 
things were to happen between the two, they best happen very soon.

	Genma didn't bother to report his failure to trace Ranma when he went off 
to "clear his head."  Try as the Saotome patriarch might, he couldn't trace 
his son several blocks before losing him.  How was that possible?

	Was the boy keeping an eye out for him?

	School was still boring for Ranma, though he did try to pay attention to 
the lectures.  Lunch and physical education classes remained his favourite 
times in the day.  Noting that, his classmates were comforted by one 
seemingly "normal" thing.  Though lunchtime did stretch it a bit.  On both 
days, Ukyou and Shampoo showed up with fresh meals for their fiancé.  Akane 
also added in her curry, plus a reasonable attempt at a stir-fry she made 
with Kasumi's help.

	Seeing Ranma's conditional approval -- some habits DO die very hard! -- 
made Akane's smile glitter like the sun.

	After school, Ranma parted from Akane and made his trek to Tampopo's for 
dinner and chat.  He had been quick to notice Genma trying to track him down 
when he started to do this, which forced Ranma to dip into his knowledge of 
the Umisen-ken to ensure the panda didn't learn of Kamekichi Tampopo.  
Hearing what Ranma had been doing on her behalf, Tampopo could only smile, 
telling him that it was no real problem.  She was prepared to stand at his 
side against Genma.  Noting the chef's obvious martial art skill, Ranma 
could agree, but still felt it was only proper.  One just did NOT put one's 
friends into danger like that!

	During his times with Tampopo, Ranma soon evolved a basic strategy to get 
some control over his life and resolve a lot of the outstanding issues 
hanging like Damocles' sword over his head.  Indeed, Akane's father had it 
exactly right the day after the wedding attempt; things could NOT happen 
with the extra fiancées, not to mention all those other hangers-on, looming 
over Ranma's head.

	And Ranma certainly could do with some peace and quiet.

	First priority was Ukyou.  He had to do something to repay the debt his 
family ultimately owed hers.  This basically meant that he couldn't use the 
actions of the Gambling King concerning the Kuonji family yatai.  The 
infamous gambler WAS a well-known cheat and Ukyou had only been five years 
old when she "gambled" the yatai away.  Kuonji Haruka, as head of Ukyou's 
family, would have been within his rights to ignore what had happened 
between Ukyou and the King -- and since Genma had taken the yatai shortly 
afterward . . .!

	There was one possible solution concerning Ukyou:  Finding the Kuonji yatai 
and returning it to her in the same or better condition that it had been 
when it had been taken.  Regardless of which, he was not interested in 
marrying her.  Ranma just couldn't envision doing something like THAT with 
his friend.  He wanted his "U-chan" back, the person he trusted so much when 
they were kids.  He didn't want her as a wife.  And he sure as hell didn't 
want a mistress, even if that might be something Nodoka would consider 
proper.

	If Nodoka wanted to press an insane idea like that, Ranma would refuse.

	It was just unfair to all concerned, especially Ukyou.

	Next would come Shampoo.  Ranma would have to spend some time looking over 
the Nujiézú laws to find some loophole in the Kiss of Marriage.  If not . . 
.!  Well, Ranma couldn't think of much beyond that point.  He did owe 
Cologne a lot for teaching him the Chestnut Fist and the Rising Dragon 
Ascension.  Could his actions on Mount Phoenix be parlayed into something 
for both Ranma and Shampoo?

	That would have to be investigated.

	Then there was Kodachi, but that had an easy answer:  The gymnast needed 
therapy and couldn't be allowed to duck out of it until she agreed to get 
it.  How that could be done, Ranma had no idea, but he'd try to figure it 
out.

	With that done, he'd have to decide what to do with Akane.  Ranma liked her 
very much.  He cared for her a lot and certainly didn't want to see her 
hurt.  But the whole matter with the Nanniichuan still rankled him.  Yes, 
Akane had admitted she loved him just before the wedding.  But with the 
revelations that came after that event, he was unsure of what sort of love 
she meant.

	Ranma sighed while he was considering that point.  He didn't want things to 
go back to the way they were when he first met Akane.  Yes, he instinctively 
knew that he could, if he wanted to, avoid her punches and mallet strikes -- 
how he let that keep happening, he didn't understand -- but if he did that, 
what would happen?  Would Akane be so offended by his "avoiding his just 
punishment" that she'd want to end the engagement once and for all?

	Did he want that to happen?

	What would his mother think?

	Nodoka did like Akane and Ranma didn't want to disappoint her.

	"I want to learn how to love her, Tampopo-chan.  That much I think I want 
to do with Akane," Ranma admitted to the chef Friday night before he headed 
back to the doojou.  "But I gotta know first what her feelings are."

	"Do you think you should tell her that soon?" she asked.

	"No, not yet.  I gotta clear the air with all the others first before 
worryin' about that.  I'll talk to her about the cask soon, though.  Maybe 
when I find out about that, I'll decide what to do then."

	"That sounds pretty rational," Tampopo admitted.

*    *    *

	"Tadaima!"

	"Okaeri nasai," Kasumi called out as Ranma, Akane and Nabiki stepped into 
the sitting room after classes on Saturday.  "How was school today?"

	"It was alright," Akane admitted before she noticed Souun, Genma and Nodoka 
awaiting them by the dinner table.  The determined looks on their faces made 
the youngest Tendou blink.  "Is there something wrong?"

	"No, Akane, but there is something we should talk about," Souun declared, 
waving them to the floor mats across the table from them.  "Please sit down. 
  The sooner we get this over with, the better for everyone."

	Akane and Ranma exchanged a look.  *Uh-oh!* they thought, though they sat 
themselves.  "What's this about?" Ranma asked.

	The adults exchanged a look.  Souun sighed.  "Ranma-kun, two weeks ago, I 
promised you that we'd set aside all talk about weddings until such time as 
all the potential suitors have been fully dealt with."

	Ranma nodded.  "Yes, that's true."

	The Tendou patriarch took a breath, glanced at Genma before carrying on, 
"Well, when we made that decision, we didn't take into account that you 
aren't . . . well, trained to deal with this sort of thing.  Since you came, 
we've assumed you would do the right thing.  Clearly, you don't fully and 
properly understand what the right and honourable thing is in this case.  
For that," -- he bowed his head apologetically -- "I personally apologise to 
you for making so many assumptions about you in the past.  It was wrong and 
it brought a lot of disharmony and mistrust between yourself and my 
daughter, Ranma-kun."

	Akane's eyes widened.  "Dad . . . "

	"I . . . "  Ranma blinked.  He hadn't expected this.  Taking a deep breath, 
he nodded.  "It's okay.  You did what you thought was best."

	Souun and Genma brightened.  "Well, , you might be pleased to hear this," 
the latter declared.  "Son, when we made our decision two weeks ago, we 
assumed the problems were many and difficult.  We were wrong to assume that, 
and then mislead you and Akane-chan.  The problems are actually quite 
trivial."

	The younger people blinked.  "I wouldn't think of them as 'trivial,' 
Oyaji," Ranma protested.  "They do matter, you know . . . "

	"No, my son, you're wrong," Nodoka spoke up.  "You've only been led to 
believe they are more than what they seem."  She held up a finger.  "Outside 
the Tendou Clan, you have an engagement with Kuonji Ukyou.  After her 
actions, in the matter when our house was destroyed, then two weeks ago, she 
demonstrated clearly she would not respect the family she supposedly wishes 
to marry into.  I won't have that woman be part of our family.  Yes, she 
will be compensated for her dowry, but she will not be, from today on, 
recognised as your fiancée."

	"Mom, she deserves more than that," Ranma automatically countered.  "Yeah, 
I don't want to marry her, but she spent ten whole years actin' as a boy so 
she could get her revenge on us for what Oyaji pulled on her.  And I want 
her to be my friend.  I'm not gonna cast her off like Oyaji did."

	Nodoka stiffened.  "I'd hardly call someone like her worthy to be your 
friend, my son, much less a fiancée," she frostily intoned.

	Ranma shuddered, ducking Nodoka's look.  Akane sighed.  "Dad, what about 
Shanpuu?  What do we do about her, then?"

	Souun snorted.  "She's an outlander, Akane, trying to impose her laws on a 
place where they have no effect.  She has no right whatsoever to think of 
Ranma-kun as her husband, 'Airen' or what have you!"

	"What happens if she goes back to her village empty-handed?!" Ranma 
demanded.  "You know how harsh their laws are!"

	"That is her problem, not ours," Nodoka stated.  "Perhaps if she is 
punished because of her 'failure,' then her people will see reason at last 
and learn to treat other outsiders much better than they treated you."

	Genma snorted, he nodding in agreement.  "Agreed.  The Kunous have no claim 
on Akane-chan or yourself, so anything they say is worthless.  And if they 
try to press the point, we'll deal with them.  Outside that, there is 
nothing else to worry about.  Now, given that we know what to do, we can get 
on with the wedding preparations and see you both finally married."

	Silence.

	More silence.

	Still more silence.

	Then . . .

	"SAY WHAT?!" Akane and Ranma screamed.

	"Of course!"  Souun nodded with determination.  "Please.  We realise how 
much you don't like to be pushed into this, but we DO want to see you wed.  
And we DO know that you two love and care for each other a lot.  We are all 
in agreement about that, so why delay it anymore?  Everything else can be 
brushed aside if you just let your hearts guide you to where you should go."

	"It's the right thing to do, Ranma."  Nodoka gazed on him, her hands 
squeezing the katana in her arms.  "It's the manly thing to do."

	Ranma jolted.  Kasumi sighed.  "Auntie . . . "

	Akane blinked as her mind rolled through what everyone just said.  A smile 
then crept across her face, the same smile she had shown Ranma when he saw 
her in her wedding gown two weeks ago.  Seeing this, Nabiki and Kasumi 
blinked before they exchanged a look.  Why was she smiling?  Did she 
actually WANT this to happen?  Did she really mind being forced into this as 
soon as possible?

	And what of Ranma . . .?

	Ranma?

	Ranma was still staring at Nodoka, a lost, hurt look etched on his face.  
As if he was asking himself who this woman was and what the hell had she 
done to his mother.  Noting that, Nabiki gazed on Nodoka, who was looking 
towards Souun and Genma, not taking notice of how much she had just hurt her 
son.  Damn it, did she HAVE to bring that rotting old seppuku agreement into 
this damned mess?!

	"Akane?" Souun probed.

	Akane jolted, flustering.  "Dad, I . . .!"

	The door to the sitting room flew open as twin bonbori sailed in.  Souun 
and Genma didn't react fast enough before they were knocked out.  Nodoka 
bolted to her feet, her hands moving to unwrap her katana.  A throwing 
spatula slammed into her wrist, making her drop the blade.  A ribbon snapped 
up the katana, yanking it from Ranma's mother to dunk it into the koi pond.

	"Just before you say anything, Akane, we got something ta say to these 
jerks!" Ukyou growled, battle spatula at the ready.

	Kasumi smiled.  "Oh, we have more guests."

	She headed into the kitchen, quickly followed by Nabiki.  "What are you 
guys doing here?!" Akane demanded, bolting to her feet.

	"Stoppin' something that has no right to happen, sugar," Ukyou snarled 
before she spun on the adults.  "Did you really think you'd get away with it 
so soon after we stopped you the first time?!"

	"You have no right to be here, girl!" Nodoka snapped.  "This is an 
honourable arrangement between two families, neither of which you belong to 
nor will you ever be ALLOWED to belong to . . .!"

	She gasped as a throwing spatula wings past her, cutting several strands of 
her hair.  Nodoka staggered, and then she turned to Ranma, who sat where he 
had been since the meeting started.  Ukyou lunged in, whipping her battle 
spatula in an overhead strike.  Genma smashed his fist into Ukyou's chin, 
sending her flying over Akane into the wall.  Kodachi's clubs and another of 
Shampoo's bonbori slammed into Genma's head.  By then, Souun was on his 
feet, he moving to disarm the girls and throw them out of his house.

	The wall behind Nodoka exploded inward, the force staggering the older 
woman.  "SHANPÚ!" Mousse screamed out.

	Shampoo back-pedalled from Souun's fist before driving her bonbori into his 
stomach.  "Stupid Mùsi!  What are you doing here?!"

	"Doing something that needs to be done!" Mousse focused on what he thought 
was Ranma -- his glasses were on his forehead again -- and then lashed out 
with a storm of chains and knives.  "DIE, SAOTOME!"

	"Hey!  You're aiming at ME, you idiot!" Akane screamed as she danced clear 
of the weapons-master's onslaught.  "Get out of here!"

	Shampoo grabbed one of her bonbori and flung it at Mousse.  Nodoka was in 
her line-of-fire; the spheroid-hitting tool winged her in the side, sending 
her into a wall.  Ranma, seemingly uncaring of what just happened to his 
mother, grabbed it out of mid-air, and then he fired it at its intended 
target.  Mousse screamed out as the bonbori slammed into his head, sending 
him flying out of the house.  Thunder then echoed from the direction Mousse 
vanished.  "HOLD!"

	Akane rolled her eyes.  "Oh, shit!  He's back!"

	People turned as Kunou Tatewaki stormed in, bokken in hand.  "I did not 
grant permission for this unholy union between my fair Tendou Akane and the 
foul sorcerer Saotome Ranma to occur!  HAVE AT THEE, SORCERER!"

	He wound up slamming into Mallet-sama.  "Get it through your head finally, 
jerk!  YOU HAVE NO SAY IN OUR MARRIAGE!"

	"Beautiful Akane . . . " Kunou groaned, dropping to the floor.

	Akane shuddered before she spun on Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi.  "And that 
goes for you too!  I've HAD it with you blasting your way into places where 
you don't belong!  Ranma is MY fiancé!"  She thumbed herself, and then she 
pointed accusingly at Ukyou.  "Not yours!" -- then to Shampoo -- "Not yours 
and especially not YOURS!"  She pointed at Kodachi before she pointed at 
herself again.  "I would have been married to Ranma had it not been for 
you!"

	Ukyou tensed herself.  "Well, I'm afraid that it ain't gonna happen, sugar! 
  If Ran-chan's gonna marry anyone, it'll be me!  You got your dowry!  I had 
mine stolen!  So you better cough him over right now!"

	"Not a chance!" Akane snapped before looking over.  "Ran- . . . huh?!"

	Everyone stopped on seeing an empty space where Ranma had been sitting not 
seconds before.  "Where did Airen go?!" Shampoo demanded.

	"I think he left when you started arguing over who was going to marry him," 
Nabiki announced, she standing at the kitchen doorway.

	The four girls exchanged a shocked look.  Ukyou grunted.  "Damn it!  We 
better find him before he gets too far away . . .!"

	"ENOUGH!"

	Everyone spun on Genma, who was now staggering to his feet.  "My son will 
marry Akane even if it's over your dead bodies!" the Saotome patriarch 
growled.

	He gasped as a ribbon snared him by the throat.  Kodachi yanked Genma into 
the yard, sending him face-first into the cherry tree by the koi pond.  
Before he could recover, a storm of bokken strikes followed.  "HOW DARE YOU 
PRESUME YOUR FOUL MAGUS OF A SON WILL MARRY TENDOU AKANE?!" Kunou thundered.

	Shampoo looked at Ukyou.  "Let's go find Airen!"

	"Right!"  The chef nodded, and then she screamed as chains wrapped around 
her.  "Hey!  What the hell are you doing, Mousse?!"

	"Ensuring Saotome will NEVER have my Shanpú!" the weapons-master vowed.

	He then screamed out as Shampoo's bonbori slammed into him.  "Stupid Mùsi!  
Mind your own business for once!" Shampoo growled, and then she screamed out 
as Souun lunged at her with a table.  "Aiyah!"

	He unleashed the Demon Head.  "RANMA WILL MARRY AKANE!"

	That caused Mousse to release Ukyou.  He then fired a storm of knives at 
Souun.  "HOW DARE YOU THREATEN SHANPÚ?!"

	Souun's battle cry turned into a panicked yelp.  Ukyou growled, lunging 
into the front lawn before taking a look around.  "Akane?" she whispered 
before cursing herself.  "Damn!  She must've gone after Ran-chan!"  Her eyes 
fell on Genma, who was being deluged by a joint assault from the Kunous.

	"Well, might as well get some practice in," she declared.

*    *    *

	"Ranma!  Ranma, where are you?!"

	Ranma looked over as Akane ran toward the bridge over the Shakujii where he 
normally came when he wanted to be alone.  He remained quiet as she jogged 
up.  "Baka!  There you are!" she breathed out.  "Why'd you run off like 
that?"

	He looked nowhere in particular.  "I didn't want to get involved this time. 
  Doin' that doesn't do spit for any of us, so I decided ta do something 
else.  Feels nice not to be in the centre of some useless fight like that."

	Akane sighed.  "Ranma . . . " she whispered, and then she took a deep 
breath before continuing, "Ranma, they're not going to stop just because you 
left.  Don't you understand?!  It's YOU that they're fighting . . . "

	"***THEN IT'S THEIR PROBLEM!***"

	Akane gasped, her eyes widening as Ranma's battle aura clicked on, 
surrounding him in a sea of pure crimson fury.  "R-r-Ranma . . .!"

	He pointed at her.  "Is that all I am to you?!  Just a THING for all of you 
to fight over?!  Somethin' nobody, EVEN YOU, really cares a flying DAMN 
about?!  Is that all I really am to you?!  IS IT?!  WELL?!"

	She shuddered, her mouth fluttering as she tried to give him an answer.  
Staring at her, Ranma growled.  "Fine!  Since I'm not bein' given any chance 
to decide anything for myself, then I say this:  You can beat each other 
senseless for all I care now!  Hell, you can KILL each other for all I care! 
  Either way, I'll be rid of you all!  When you FINALLY decide ta treat me 
like I'm a person, THEN talk to me!"  And with that, he stormed off.

	Akane was rooted in place, her eyes wide as those words echoed inside her 
mind.  Suddenly, a storm of anger welled in her as she felt Mallet-sama 
materialise in her hands.  Growling, she lunged after him.

	"***RANMA NO BAKA!***"

	The mallet slammed home on the back of Ranma's head.

	And then it shattered!

	Akane gasped as the pieces cascaded around his head.  He turned around to 
glare at her, clearly not the least bit affected by her attack.  Her eyes 
then locked on his face as a grip of mortal TERROR snared her heart.

	The look there . . .!

	Oh, no!

	Oh, Kami-sama, please, no . . . not this . . .!

	Don't let it end like THIS!

	Ranma shuddered.  Then a strange calm crossed his face.  "Fine," he 
declared before turning around and walking away.

	Akane stayed rooted in place as he turned a corner and vanished.  She then 
blinked as a voice in her mind began to warn her that what she had just done 
was probably the most STUPID thing she had ever done with her fiancé.

	"Ranma."  She shuddered, turning away.  "I'm sorry."

*    *    *

	"I'm surprised he didn't kill her for that!"

	"For all his faults, Cologne-chan, the boy is not THAT!"

	Cologne blinked, and then she stared at Happoosai before a slow nod shifted 
her head.  She then glanced in the direction Ranma had disappeared.  "He's 
going to that new restaurant that'll open this week," she reported.

	"Smart, given who runs the place," the grandmaster of Musabetsu 
Kakutou-ryuu calmly noted as he drew his pipe and took a puff.

	Cologne looked at him.  "You know her?"

	A grin split his face before he whispered something into the Nujiézú 
elder's ear.  She blinked, and then her eyes went totally wide.  "GODDESS!  
Happy, you m-MUST be j-joking!" she sputtered, staring at Happoosai.

	He shook his head.  "Nope."  A deep breath.  "It's time for some damage 
control here, Cologne-chan.  I'll worry about the two dunderheads and the 
fool's wife.  Keep Shampoo-chan and Mousse occupied for the time being."  A 
tired sigh.  "Maybe the boy will listen to us with them out of the way."

	She watched him go, nodding.  "I hope you're right, Happy."

*    *    *

	"So, you are the one, aren't you?"

	Chikage drew out a tarot card from her pocket to look at it.

	The Fool, herald of new beginnings.

	A befitting card indeed.

	"Ane-kun?"

*    *    *

To be continued . . .

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