"So here Ranma, clean this room."  It was funny in a way...I didn't
think about it at the time, I COULDN'T have thought about it at the
time...but the idea of me cleaning Kasumi's room for her...who
would've guessed.  Still, it was what I was expected to do.  The room
was pretty clean already, so I just picked up a few things and started
dusting.  Kasumi's room was pretty neat to begin with.  Everything was
in order, and the room was sparsely furnished in the first place...
there were a few bi-metallic shards in her closet.  I dusted them, and
they glowed.  With a red light.  I mean, not any red light, and it was
coming from metal...and well, I think it eventually triggered my
release.

The light illuminated a few papers below the shards.  I was drawn to
them.  But somehow, somehow I felt that they were also my chance
towards freedom.  I put the paper in my hand!  It was pliable...yet
hard...like nothing I had felt before.

"I don't know who knows the extent of this.  The police broadcast
SOUNDS.  Some of them hear THOUGHTS.

I call the sheriff and he comes and broadcasts thoughts right into my
head.  I called twice and they did that twice.  County level I guess.

Going to college for electronics I was given a demonstration how they
rob, yes ROB my thoughts, that's what I said.  Next they demonstrated
how they communicate through time and just say 'Time never changes'
and if I ever figure out exactly how to tell them.

The TV talks back and they can make the TV talk back and give
suggestions even if you're a fast flipper.  That's why they make TV
and then they rob your thoughts.

IF you know all this...and DON'T go along, they try to drive you crazy
so you think you're invaded by outer space..."

I had only gone through a small portion on the document, or should I
say a small portion of the document had only gone through me, when the
light changed.  The red light, I mean.  I put the document back where
it had been.  Nabiki entered the room.

"Come down now."

I followed Nabiki downstairs.  The whole family was gathered around
the table.

"Do you have something you want to say to Akane now, Ranma?" asked
Kasumi sweetly.

I paused for a second.  Genma and Soun took the opportunity to grab
each other to grab Akane and say "At last our families are getting
joined together."  <Even if they aren't, at least we're giving them
the suggestion.  I must never give up> said Pop.  Or had he?  I could
have sworn he was saying something else at the time.  But he had said
that too...I didn't give it too much thought.

"Akane, will you marry me?"  Before Soun and Genma's jaws had even hit
the floor Akane answered "Yes, of course!"  She looked genuinely taken
aback, which surprised me...I mean, I had always thought she would
have known ahead of time, that she was the one making me.  She ran up
and hugged me.

<I thought Ranma had been acting strangely...now I see why.  Genma,
you've bested yourself once again>.  I had been looking at pop.  His
lips hadn't been moving.  But mostly I was hugging Akane...she seemed
so happy...so loving.  She was crying tears of joy, and I knew the 
emotion was genuine.  Suddenly our peace was interrupted.

"Happy is here!  Glad to see you're getting married!  Let me be the
first to hug the lovely couple!"  In one fluid motion Akane went from
hugging me to grabbing Happosai with her right hand.

"Akane...Akane?"  Happosai's face quickly went from one of glee to one
of terror.  Did he know what was coming?

Akane went into the kitchen and lay Happosai down on the counter.
Happosai lay there, perfectly still.  Akane looked into his eyes,
rubbing his abdomen.

"You're whole life has been a waste!" Akane screamed at Happosai "You
desire love, but instead you're a lecherous old man, who no women
would have anything to do with!  You want respect for your skills, but
even your students despise you, try to kill you!"

A tear came to Happosai's eye.  Akane handed him a knife, and resumed
her screams.

"Enough!  Enough of your pitiful excuse for a life!  I want your
heart!"

Happosai stood up.  I looked in his eyes...no emotion.  Nothing human.
He could have been a robot.  He took the knife and jabbed it into his
chest.  With what must have been an inhuman threshold of pain he
dragged the knife across his chest...he was literally trying to cut a
hole in his body around his heart!  After coming surprisingly close to
finishing the job he finally collapsed.  A huge amount of blood was
draining from his body to the counter around him...you wouldn't
believe how much.  I looked at the body of Happosai...I had never got
along well with the old man, but I didn't think he deserved to die
like this.  So pitifully.

Happosai stood up!  I was half rooting for him to escape!  I couldn't
believe he wasn't dead!  But instead, he took the knife, and completed
the job.  His heart fell out of his chest and landed on the ground.  A
second later it was joined by his corpse.

"Well, I imagine that'll have to be cleaned up later, but now let's
celebrate our marriage!"  offered Akane.  She hugged me.  I hugged her
back.  Kasumi laughed and got out some drinks.  Pop and Mr. Tendo were
congratulating each other on getting Akane and I engaged.  They drank beer.
Nabiki started to work on her abacus...probably calculating the cost off 
the marriage ceremony.

Akane smiled.



FIN

**

The readings of Ranma were posted on alt.ufo.sightings, and I originally 
planned for them to be in Take Off Your Clothes 1.  Wish I hadn't 
accidentally deleted the author from my logs, but no big deal, I hope.

Well, I admit that sequels distract from the point and the purpose of the 
original, but too bad. ^_^  This chapter was too much advancing the 
plot...next one oughta be better.

While I'm at it, I will award massive karma points to David Bateson for 
the update of Ranma fanfiction guide.  It's great.

FINALLY, I think I'll upload demos of some of my songs for "The Ranma 
Album" to alt.binaries.sounds.music in the next few days.  
Pop/Jazz/Blues...as demos the recording quality isn't too great, a few 
mistakes are made, and the arrangments are very simple, but still pretty 
cool.  Ooh boy!  An e-mail from the author of "Nibbuno-ichi 
Wedding!"...I'll announce when I've got the demos uploaded.

Jeff
   
****jdrutsch@ucdavis.edu***********************Jeff Rutsch************* 
"Ranma's not a boy...he's a girl!"
"Akane is MY fiance!  You TOUCH her, and I'll KILL you!"
"Ranma, change back into a boy while I buy you some time."
"But if I seem to act unkind/it's only me, it's not my mind."
"Ranma [sic],/give your heart to Akane [sic]. /Soon,/right away."
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