Thanks to all those who've mailed me C&C on this series.
And I've decided to make this a continuing series, with additional episode
added every week. ^_^  Sort of a fanfic version of a Ranma 1/2 TV episode,
highlighting the whole alternativeness and seriousness of this series.


Special thanks to...

Krista Perry
Jeff Shelton
Mark Premo
Dave Eddy
Terrence Marks
Harold Ancell
Emily Siazon
Ronald Chan
Anand Rao - I liked the ending of ASGM :)
White Wolf - our beloved FFML owner/moderator
Shiva - special thanks for the MST
Rumiko Takahashi, of course

And I still want to know where are the rest?

Anyway, on with the premier episode of ...
----------------------------

In My Life
----------

by Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr. (fmerced@pworld.net.ph)

A Fanfic inspired by the anime Ranma 1/2 created and copyrighted by Rumiko
Takahashi
---------

Prologue

Another day was just another excuse for life to drag its boring self into
self-destruction.  Well, at least that was what Ranma thought about his
life, as he still lay on his bed even after his mother had already thrown
him off his bed that morning.  Ranma looked around his room, his desk was
filled with books and notes that he still had to read and memorize, the cork
board hanging on the door still had reminders that he again forgot to do,
and his cabinet was a mess.  Ranma was depressed, and for quite some time
now, but he didn't let it get the better of him, for he knew better than to
lament over such things.  And also because he didn't know what was making
him so unhappy.

Finally, Ranma convinced himself to break out of the slump and again face
the world.  The consolation, he thought, was he can always sleep if he
didn't like what the day held for him.  Ranma scoured through the pile of
neatly folded clothes, that was mixed in with the pile of dirty clothes on
his cabinet, and he chose a blue outfit and a pair of black loose pants.  He
stepped out of his room and promptly proceeded to the bath, which was a
couple of doors away.  Ranma reached out for the door but quickly stopped
himself upon hearing noise coming from within.  "Ucchan!  Are you still in
there?!" Ranma slammed his palm several times on the door, hoping the ruckus
he's making will get through to his sister and over the faint radio music
that's coming from inside. "Feh!"  Ranma leaned back on the wall and
patiently waited for his turn, as he was convinced that nothing he could do
would get past his sister's Billy Joel tapes.  A minute later Ukyou stepped
out of the bath.  Ranma only exchanged stares with Ukyou before entering the
bath.

-----

"Gee...Ranma.  You look blue." Ukyou couldn’t help notice the dismal
enthusiasm her brother was displaying at the breakfast table.  "You still
angry about the bath?"  Ranma finally looked up from the table.

"Nah...But you should know that other people need the bath, Ucchan."  Ukyou
giggled and promptly nodded in agreement.  Genma and Nodoka were not paying
attention though, as their parents were discussing something else.

"Well, I'm going now." Genma picked up the suitcase that lay ready on the
table near the door.  "I hope I can finalize everything about the dojo
today."  Genma waved goodbye to his children while giving a blissful kiss to
his beautiful wife.

"Why is father insistent on building a dojo?  I thought he had all but given
up on that." Ukyou asked the rest of the Saotome family while she cleaned up
the breakfast table.

"I guess he feels obligated to build one." Ranma helped clear the table and
handed over the dirty dishes to Ukyou.  "Remember, he's supposed to carry on
the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts." Ranma chuckled as he recalled the
family joke about his father and his martial arts pursuits.

"Don't be rude about your father like that, Ranma." Nodoka was still sitting
down and had a small piece of paper that she was reading.  "You know that it
still breaks your father's heart whenever he recalls how he was passed over
the responsibility of carrying the name of the Anything Goes Martial Arts."
Nodoka scribbled a few more lines on the short list she was browsing.

"That's just the point.  Why would he care for Anything Goes Martial Arts,
when what we've learned from Cologne is much better?"  Ukyou finished
rinsing the dishes and quickly handed them back to Ranma for him to place
them on the top cabinet.

"You know, if you only grew a few more inches, then you wouldn't need me
whenever you have to wash the dishes." Ranma's playful jest wasn't ignored.

"Just stock them, Ranma." Ukyou walked up to one corner where a weighing
scale and height-measuring device was located.  "Ha!  I gained 1/2 of an
inch...looks like I'm taller, Ranma."
Ranma walked up to his sister and tried to verify Ukyou's claim.  "Half-an
inch doesn't make a difference.  But, those five pounds do." Ranma left the
kitchen laughing out loud at Ukyou.

"Ah! I've gained five pounds! Gawk...now I'm fat!  What am I going to do?!"
Ukyou stormed out of the kitchen in a frenzied hurry.

-----

Ranma was busily reading his books when Ukyou knocked at his door.  He
turned around only to find an angry sister glaring at him.  "Falsely
calibrating my weighing scale is not funny, Ranma!"  Ranma grinned back at
Ukyou before returning his attention to the work on his desk.  "If you mess
with my things again, I swear I'll kill you!  I may be your adopted sister,
but I'm part of the family, Ok!"  The door forcefully slammed shut.  Ranma's
concentration was again disrupted as he couldn't help smirk from the little
practical joke, but he knew he had so many things to do so he looked out the
window for a minute in order to calm down, before going back to his studies.

Ukyou came back into the room.  "By the way.  Where are the rest of our
things?  I haven't unpacked much."  Ranma stared at the boxes scattered
around the room before answering his sister.  "Thanks."  Ukyou's exit was as
swift as her entrance.

-----

Soun Tendo cast a strong and powerful gaze at the twenty or more of his
pupils that were breathing hard and were visibly weary and tired from the
morning training.   "Dismiss."  Like a pack of furry critters, the students
of the Tendo Dojo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts scattered out and ran
towards the nearest exit.  Only three of the students stayed behind.

"Oww...my arm hurts." Nabiki massaged her left limb and checked if she had
pulled a muscle or if it was cramps that she was feeling.  Kasumi handed
some towels to her sisters so they can wipe the perspiration of the training
away.  "Thanks."

"Now, wasn't that a nice work-out." Her two sisters didn't receive Kasumi's
enthusiasm that warmly.

"Gee...daddy.  Aren't we too old for this kind of thing?" Akane didn't
hesitate to speak out her mind, especially in matters that she didn't like.
"And, why are we doing this anyway?"

"Why, to carry on the name of the Tendo school...."

"Yeah...we heard that one before, daddy." Nabiki walked past her father and
flung the towel over Soun's head.

"Let's not question father's intentions.  I'm sure there is a purpose for
all our training.  Isn't that right, father?"  Soun was dumbfounded when he
finally got the towel off his head.  "Is there?"

"Um...Of course there is Kasumi."  Kasumi was satisfied and quickly left
with Nabiki.  "Er...you believe me, Akane? Right?"  Akane only crossed her
arms in disagreement.  "But, you're..."

"Oh, don't worry about us daddy.  We'll take care and carry on the dojo."
Soun relaxed a bit.  "Of course, until someone stronger finally shows up and
beats me." Akane's parting words made Soun wince.

------

Chapter 1

"So then, we are agreed?" Genma was delighted at the prospect of finally
having his own dojo and the huge premises that he was eyeing to buy was
simply like what he had dreamed of for years.  Though the property used to
be a religious temple, it didn't matter to Genma.  For years, he had
traveled across Japan and China, looking for someplace that would be
suitable for his dream to finally take form.  And it was here in Nerima that
he had stumbled on this bargain of a property.  "You'll be receiving
payments from me within two days."  Genma profusely shook the hand of the
man that made the deal possible to him.

"So tell me Mr. Saotome, what are you going to do to this place?  It seems a
bit out of place since it's quite far from the main district.  I don't think
you can build a shopping mall here because this area seems quite secluded."
Genma's eyes lit up.

"I'm going to set up my very own dojo here, Mr. Kuno.  This place is just
perfect.  It has lots of room, decent surroundings, and it's quite secluded,
as you say."  Genma breathed deeply, taking in the cool gentle air.
"Perfect, just perfect."

"A martial arts dojo?  Why I never considered you to be a martial artist,
Mr. Saotome?  Well, at least this place won't go to waste after all."  Genma
lead his seller towards the gates.  "Well, I have to get back to my school
now."

"School?  You own a school, Mr. Kuno?"  Genma shook Kuno's hand in parting.

"Oh, no. I'm just a principal, of Furinkan High.  It's a great school, and
we produce the best minds and athletes in Nerima."

"Really?  Then I must ask a favor from you."  Kuno smiled and nodded in
agreement to Genma's request.  "I have two seventeen year olds, possibly
more, that..."

------

"Ranma!" Ukyou couldn't have chosen a better time to scream at her brother.
Ranma almost choked when he was rudely surprised by his sister's scream
while eating a sandwich he made in the kitchen.

"Ugh! What now?" Ranma wasn't as appreciative as Ukyou was about the news.
"So when will he arrive?"  Ranma finished off the little snack he made.

"Well, Ryoga said he finally finished Cologne's training, and he's coming
home soon." Ranma cleaned up the table, returned the leftover bread and the
sandwich spread back into the refrigerator, and sat back to continue
listening to her sister.

"Home?  Since when did he consider our house as home?" Ranma was enjoying
the reaction on his sister's face knowing full well how Ukyou couldn't stand
teases about Ryoga.  "Ok!  Stop that already!"  Ukyou stopped punching
Ranma's arm and continued to tell about the phone conversation she had a
while ago.

"Anyway...Ryoga's coming tomorrow, and he said he can't wait to see me
again."  Ukyou stood up, showing off a bratty smirk intended to make Ranma a
bit jealous.  "At least someone cares for me!"  Ukyou quickly headed out the
door.  Ranma frowned, as if something made him feel more miserable.  Ukyou
darted her head back into the kitchen.  "Oh, by the way.  Shampoo's coming
with him, so you better get ready for her."  Ranma sank deeper in his chair
upon hearing the news.

"Well, at least I'm going to get a decent training partner."  Ranma stood up
and headed to his room to sleep.

"I heard that!" Ukyou chased Ranma, all the way to her brother's room.

-----

Nodoka was still getting used to the new surroundings.   Although the move
to Nerima would constitute the tenth or more times that they have changed
addresses.  She always had a hard time breaking in into a new neighborhood.

"Morning.  How much are those?" Nodoka was browsing through the vegetable
section of the market when a woman caught her attention.  "Kimiko?"  Nodoka
quickly finished her transaction with the vendor before approaching the
woman standing near the fruit section.  She carefully glanced to the woman's
way and tried to verify if indeed the stranger was indeed her old best
friend who she hasn't seen in years.  "It is you!"

The apples Kimiko Tendo were carrying juggled up and out of her hands for a
second as she was startled a bit the short outburst from a woman standing
almost next to her.  "Huh?" She turned to the strange woman out of curiosity
and was modestly greeted with a friendly hug.  "Nodoka?  Is that you?"  Her
best friend since childhood cheerfully smiled and there was nothing Kimiko
could do but react in similar fashion.  "I can't believe it!  It is you!"

"Um, excuse me for interrupting this reunion, but that'll be 1000 yen."  The
two women blinked before they turned around to look at the slightly annoyed
vendor.  "Um, that's for the apples and tangerines, miss."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Kimiko handed over a bill to the relief of the vendor.

-----

Akane sat under her favorite tree that was conveniently located in a
secluded portion of the quadrangle.  She always liked being left alone, away
from the ruckus and commotion that often accompanied the chatting of friends
and students of Furinkan High.  Most especially she hated hearing rumors
about her.  Things that she knew, only too well, were not true.  But,
somehow they did feel true.  Even for brief moments, she felt too alone,
with no one there for her.

"Don't let those rumors get to you Akane.  I'm here for you." Sayuri smiled
hoping to cheer her best friend.

"Am I a tomboy, Sayuri?"  Akane felt awkward asking her best friend to
verify the same rumors she hated.  "I know I don't go out on dates often as
the other girls do, and things like that.  But it doesn't mean I hate boys."
Akane pulled up her knees up to her chin, resting her crossed arms in
between. "Do I?"

"Maybe because you excel too much in martial arts, that's why the boys don’t
see you as who you really are." Those words came to Akane quite differently
that what Sayuri had intended them to mean.  "I wouldn't worry about it,
though.  Someone will be just right for you, Akane.  You'll see."  Sayuri
looked impatiently at her watch.  "Damn, he's late again."

Akane frowned a bit, seeing Hiroshi's figure slowly walking across the
schoolyard and heading towards them.  "Well, he's coming.  Your knight in
shining amour, I mean." Akane found it hard to giggle as she usually does
whenever she teases her best friend.

"I better get going." Sayuri patted Akane on the shoulder before standing up
to meet Hiroshi halfway across the quadrangle.

Akane looked strangely at the two, as Sayuri was eating Hiroshi up alive for
being late for their little date.  Somehow she had mixed feelings fighting
within her.  She didn't know if it was the food she ate at the cafeteria or
if it was her being too depressed that morning.  Akane closed her eyes for a
second, breathed deeply, then, convinced that it must have been the fish she
had for lunch, she reopened her eyes and brought out from her backpack the
reading assignment she still had to finish.

-----

Kimiko Tendo allowed her best friend to start the story telling, most on
what Nodoka had been up to the past ten years.  They had a lot of catching
up to do, and over lunch was a perfect opportunity for it.

"I've been to China and most of Honshu and Hokkaido, really Kimiko,
traveling around has been what's constant in our lives." The waiter served
Nodoka's meal just about when she was finishing telling her life story.

"I envy you, Nodoka.  Soun hasn't been that well traveled like Genma.
Although we do take a family vacation every year."  The two conversed
throughout the meal.  "By the way, how is Genma?"
"Oh, that's right.  I've got great news.  We might be staying permanently in
Nerima."  Kimiko stopped short in eating the tempura she had on her
chopstick.

"Um, I suppose you've found a nice place in Nerima?" Kimiko was visibly
worried what answer Nodoka had to her simple yet inquisitive question.
Nodoka didn't notice her friend's worried look.

"Well, I personally haven't seen it yet.  The apartment we've been living
the past few days is decent enough.  But, Genma had shown me some beautiful
pictures of the place...." Kimiko quietly smiled at everything Nodoka was
excitedly imparting to her.  Underneath was a growing sense of urgency and
some foresight into troubles ahead.

"Kimiko, you haven't touched your shrimp." Nodoka giggled a bit, catching
her long time friend quite off guard and eliciting several blinks, a
startle, and a sudden flush reddening of Kimiko Tendo's face.  But, the slow
turning away of Kimiko's face, immediately shifting her happy tone into an
instantaneous concerned for her lunch date.  "Is there something wrong?  Is
the shrimp bad?"  Kimiko stared back at Nodoka and burst into several small
laughs.

"It's not the shrimps that's bad, Nodoka."  Nodoka snapped out of her
cheerful trance and only stared inquisitively at her friend, intent in
listening for answers to the some problem she has not yet fully realized.
They began to talk a bit more seriously, and it continued throughout the
rest of lunch.

-----

"Hi pop." Ranma hollered to his father as he was climbing down the stairs
just as Genma had entered through the front door.  "How was your business
trip?" Ranma opened the refrigerator door and dug into some snacks he
surprisingly discovered and thought were available.  "Hmm."  Ranma chose a
piece of blueberry pie that was wrapped in translucent cellophane and tucked
away behind everything else that was stocked in the middle tray.  He
inspected the pie and was soon convinced that it was an edible feast, a
proper reward for his morning long study marathon.  But all of a sudden the
door to the refrigerator shut closed in front of him and the hand that had
done it belonged to his sister, Ukyou.  "Huh?"

"That's it!  I told you not to mess with my things!"

Ranma awkwardly took a few steps back as Ukyou's face was breathing down his
neck in an obvious irritated reaction.  "I suppose this is yours?" No sooner
had Ranma pointed to the piece of pie, that Ukyou swiftly snatched it out of
his hands.  "Hey!" Ukyou had not a care in the world as she returned her
blueberry pie back to the confines of the ref.  "Well, excuse me."  Like
children fighting in a sandbox, Ranma took hold of the door of the
refrigerator and pushed his sister a bit aside.  "What about this."  Ranma
pointed to a cheesecake.

"That's mine."  Ranma looked again.  Pointed to some oranges.  "Those are
also mine."  Ranma's belly growled in pure agitation, and his teeth were
grinding in frustration.  He pointed to a bottle of prune juice, and Ukyou
just giggled at the same time swayed her head in disapproval.

"Darn, is there anything in this ref that's not yours!"  Genma parted the
two apart and quickly inserted himself in the middle.  He quickly rose back
up with a piece of mango fruit in one hand, and a can of soda in the other.
Ranma only blinked and Ukyou further intensifying her tittering.  "Looks
like father got them...unless, of course, you like something frozen."  Ranma
sighed in surrender before grabbing a small apple and a pitcher of water.
Ukyou didn't stop her brother this time.

Ranma brought out two glasses from the dish cabinet and poured water in one,
while Ukyou poured some prune juice in the other.  They both joined their
father, who was already seated on the table and was reading the morning
newspaper.  No one talked because everyone looked too busy to say anything.
Genma was looking up the stock market, Ukyou was browsing through the
fashion section, and Ranma, although he has the sports section up and in
front of him, his thoughts were somewhere else.

"Hello everyone." Nodoka laid down on the kitchen tabletop the load of
groceries she had bought earlier in the day.  Ukyou helped stock away the
items into the refrigerator, often announcing to everyone that something
from the grocery bag was hers.  Ranma cleared the table and helped his
mother in placing several items in the pantry.  When Ukyou announced that
the six-pack of soda was hers, Ranma declared his objection.

"Gee...Ok, you don't have to yell at me." Ukyou finished up one bag, and
proceeded to stock up the rest of the foodstuff.

-----

"And now, for my final trick," Gosunkugi waved a white handkerchief in air,
"I shall turn this cloth into...doves."  He crumpled the handkerchief in his
two hands and in the process of opening it up, two white doves rose from
within his hands.  Applause and laughter all came from the crowd that had
gathered in the classroom.  "Thank you."  Gosunkugi bowed to his captive
audience.

Finally the teacher clapped his hands.  "Magnificent performance, Hikaru.
But what has all of that got to do with my question?"  The laughter quickly
muffled the applause and soon everyone was looking at the young man standing
in front of class.  "Well, what has all of that got to do with Magnetism?"
Gosunkugi, though faced with the worst of humiliation, was unfazed.

"You see, sensei.  These love birds," Gosunkugi held the two fowls up and
towards the rest of the class, "are naturally attracted to each other."
Gosunkugi finally releases the two, and the lovebirds naturally flew all
over the room one after the other, instantly creating temporary chaos.  "So
much like the poles of a magnet."  The teacher was visibly impressed.  "The
lovebirds are attracted to each other because they are very similar to each
other.  Just like magnets." Gosunkugi turned towards his teacher and
gracefully bowed, expecting the adoration and admiration of his sensei.
Unfortunately, a whack from a meter stick was what he got.  "Oww!"

"Similar poles don't attract each other, Mr. Gosunkugi!  The opposites
attract!"  The fervor of the laughter intensified anew.  Gosunkugi Hikaru
only felt his head as he slowly went back to his seat.

"Are you sure?"  More projectiles flew in his direction.

One of the lovebirds landed on Akane's desk.  The bird looked straight into
Akane's eyes and she did the same to the lovely fowl.  "Hello there.  Want
to be my friend?" Akane held out her hand and the dove, as if it was
trained, perched on it instinctively.  Akane was delighted to see the
fondness of the dove towards her.  "Maybe I can keep you?"

Oblivious to everyone, who were having fun nailing the poor amateur
magician, the other love bird landed on an open window sill, and before
anyone saw it there, the bird flew off.

-----

Ranma and Ukyou sat opposite to their parents in the small living room of
their apartment.  "I've enrolled the two of you at Furinkan High School, and
in the afternoon, Ranma, you can help me clean up and prepare the dojo."
Genma was extremely happy in announcing his good news to the rest of the
family.

"Gee...Another school.  Well, I guess since we are finally staying put here
in Nerima, Furinkan High can't be that bad an idea." Ukyou looked at Ranma
who seems to feel comfortable with the idea too.

"What will happen to this apartment?" Ranma asked a few more questions
before he finally got everything straightened out with his father.  His
duties now were outlined for him and he was accommodating to what his father
wanted him to do in the next few days.  He liked this setup more than the
direction less life he had been living the past few years.

Nodoka was unusually silent throughout the family talk.  Although she was
receptive to the ideas, she felt she had something to tell her husband, but
was being held back by her conscience.  She thought that if she doesn't say
anything, fate might still intervene, and make the predicament smooth out
for everyone, including for her husband, whose life long dream was finally
taking shape.  Nodoka couldn't take that away from Genma, no one should.

-----

"Wow, this place is huge!" Ranma ran into the rather large courtyard that
was in the center of the old temple.  He admired the vast space that was
opening up in his mind as practice grounds for his martial arts training.
"You've really done it this time, pop."  Ranma ran towards the central hall
and made his way towards the smaller hallways that circled around the whole
premises.

Ukyou was admiring the beautiful tapestries and painting that literally
flooded the hallways of her new home.  She loved the place instantly and she
was also finding it hard to believe that they were going to live in such
grand accommodations.  "I can't believe we're going to live here!"

Genma and Nodoka was just happy to see how much their children was
appreciating the soon to be Saotome School of Anything Goes School of
Martial Arts.  The future seemed so bright and prosperous for them.

Ukyou was the first to notice the white dove perching on top of the central
hall's roof.  "Hey, Ranma look at that.  Isn't that wonderful." Ukyou walked
up closer to the bird, hoping not to scare it away."

"I bet you want to keep it, and make it your pet." His sister didn't
disappoint Ranma as Ukyou leapt up to the roof and landed just a grasp away
from the dove.  Unfortunately the bird flew off just as Ukyou leapt forward
to grab hold of it.  She was losing her balance so Ukyou jumped off the roof
and skillfully landed near where Ranma was standing.  "Dumb bird." Ukyou
turned around and was awestruck, as the dove she leapt up the roof for was
handsomely perched on her brother's shoulder.

"Looks like this one's mine, Ucchan." Ranma extended his arm, and as if on
cue, the dove changed places and settled itself on Ranma's extended hand.
"I hope you like okonomiyaki my little friend."  Ranma left Ukyou standing
in the middle of the courtyard still in disbelief.

"Show off!" Ukyou followed Ranma inside the dojo.

-----

Chapter 2

Akane was happy.  She made a new friend today in class and the dove seems to
feel the same way about her.  She even bought some birdseed at the nearby
pet store right after classes ended.

"Oh I can't believe it!" Nabiki was in a major foul mood and for the most
part of the three sister's journey back to the Tendo dojo, Nabiki had been
complaining immensely.  "How can he do this to me?!"

"Now, Nabiki.  Tatewaki already told you that he had to do an errand for his
father, the principal.  I'm sure he wouldn't have cancelled your date for
anything unimportant." Kasumi smiled to her sister hoping to cheer her up.
Akane was not listening, as she was having fun feeding her new friend.

"What kind of excuse is that?  I don't think a temple is more important than
me." Nabiki eyes twitched and she was clenching her fists.  "Especially me!"

Kasumi giggled a bit, knowing how affected her sister is about a man.  "You
find this amusing?  Well, ha ha ha.  Wait till I tell Dr. Tofu, you went on
a date with Mikado..." Nabiki ran ahead of the two.

"Wait!  It wasn't a date.  Nabiki!" Kasumi ran after Nabiki.  "He just
showed me how to skate!  Nabiki don't!  Wait!"

Akane kept her pace, as if she didn't hear her sister's conversation the
whole time.  But she did, and it was getting harder for her to take the next
step forward.  But she knew she'll make it back home, and she'll all be
alone again.  The dove on her shoulder chirped and this made Akane realize
that she was wrong.

-----

"Are you ready?" Ukyou asked her brother who was sitting in front a mirror.
Ranma sighed.

"Are you sure ponytails are not allowed in school?"  Ukyou grinned, while
the sound of the scissors she was holding reverberated near Ranma's ears.

"Of course.  Remember the last school we went to?" Ranma turned his head to
one side just as

Ukyou attempted to cut of his brother's long ponytail.  "Hold still, will
ya!"  Just then a tall young man entered the room.

"Oh! Hi, I've finished showing to your father everything and left all the
keys to him.  I guess my services are through.  Hope you like it here."
Tatewaki Kuno was clearly in a hurry to leave and the rush in his tone made
that impression.  He was just only passing by, since the room was adjacent
to the main hall and towards the exit as well.

"Say, Kuno.  Do they ban ponytails in schools?" Ukyou tried to cut again,
and failed again as Ranma shifted his weight again while sitting on the
chair.

"Ponytails? Oh, don't worry about it.  I don't think they do."  Ukyou
finally, in desperation, made a headlock hold from behind Ranma.  Kuno was
shocked by what he saw.

"I said, hold still." Ranma struggled to break free, and he was almost
turning blue because of it.  Ukyou flashed the scissors in front of her
brother eyes.  "Now I'll get my revenge!  Thought you could get away from
cutting my beautiful hair, eh!  I'm going to..." Ukyou hand was unable to
move, as if someone had caught her hand in mid-air.  She turned around and
it was Tatewaki Kuno who was stopping her.  "Huh?"  Ranma finally was able
to breathe again and he fell off the chair choking.

"I'm sorry." Kuno had let go of Ukyou's hand and was looking down on the
floor.  Ukyou stood paralyzed for a moment, until Ranma crept up from behind
and slapped her on the nape.  "Oww!"

"That was years ago, Ucchan!"  Ranma stood at a defensive, expecting a
volley of attacks from his sister.  It was actually a game they always
played with each other.  They'd find some stupid reason to fight each other,
since training seriously was quite strenuous and tedious for them.  But
Ukyou didn't retaliate, instead she turned to where Kuno was standing a
moment ago.  No one was there though.

"Tatewaki Kuno? Hmm." Ukyou left the room.  Ranma just picked up the chair
that had fallen over, sat in front of the mirror, and started to play with
his ponytail.

-----

Kimiko Tendo had just finished stocking the groceries in the pantry and
refrigerator when she heard the three voices of her children fill the house.
"Kasumi, are you here already?"  Footsteps echoed down the stairs and the
eldest of the Tendo sisters emerged from the stairwell.

"Yes, mother.  Is there something that you wanted of me?" Kasumi entered the
kitchen and casually put on an apron.  "I wonder what I'll cook for dinner?"

"Kasumi, are you available tonight?" Kasumi looked strangely at her mother
but answered anyway.

"I'm sorry mother, I have a date tonight."  Kasumi turned to the vegetables
on the tabletop, hoping that her mother wouldn't ask anything more about her
plans tonight.  Unfortunately her curiosity was aroused by the question.
"Why do you ask mother?"

Nabiki entered the kitchen and also got into uniform.  "Hi mom.  What are we
cooking tonight?"  Nabiki grabbed a tray full of thawed meat from her
mother.

"Don't cook too much, Nabiki.  Only for your father and Akane." Nabiki
grinned at Kasumi, knowing that her sister had plans for tonight, but a
sudden realization that she too wasn't mentioned made her inquisitively
stare back at her mother.

"I was hoping you could accompany me to dinner with an old friend, Nabiki."
Nabiki's mind raced with suspicion.  But Kimiko wouldn't give any clue, and
Nabiki didn't have much choice, so she accepted her mother's invitation.  "I
hope you're not too depressed after having your date got cancelled."  Kimiko
didn't stay long in the kitchen to see the gloomy reaction on her daughter's
face.

"Gee.  I wonder how mother knew?"  Nabiki stared at Kasumi, who just turned
the other way.

"Kasumi?!"  Her sister ignored Nabiki, and proceeded to heat the stove.
"I'll get you for this, Kasumi."  Kasumi threw the fresh cut vegetables into
the pan before walking past her sister on her way to the pantry.

"You can try, but I've got a date.  And so do you." Kasumi giggled while
Nabiki expressed her dissatisfaction of her situation into the meat searing
on the stove.  Just then, Akane walked into the kitchen.

"What are we cooking?" Akane put on the last apron and walked over to the
refrigerator.  Kasumi came out of the pantry carrying some bottles of her
favorite spices and answered Akane's question.  "So, where are you and mom
going tonight?" Nabiki abruptly stopped abusing the piece of food she was
cooking and looked blankly at her two sisters.

"I haven't the slightest idea." Nabiki took off her apron and ran upstairs.
Akane brought out some flour, sugar and gelatin from the freezer and laid
them on the counter.  Kasumi took over the cooking of the main dish as Akane
prepared to fix the desert for dinner.

"See what a man does to a woman, Akane." Kasumi giggled a bit more while
turning over the meat she was looking after.  "It makes us forget, among all
things."  Kasumi stopped giggling and instead started humming a song, while
she added some spices to the cooked vegetables.  Akane blinked at her
sister, but she decided to ignore her instead.  She felt she had no
experience in adding something to that thread of conversation.

"Say, don't you have a date, Kasumi?" Before Akane could ask again, Kasumi
was out through the door, leaving the kitchen and cooking dinner to Akane.
"Gee.  At least I don't have the same problem." Akane placed the gelatin she
prepared into the oven and then she finally turned off all the stoves.

-----

Ranma wasn't having trouble carrying the box filled with personal items he
took from their apartment.  But it was obvious his father was having
difficulty with his load.  They rounded a corner before they stopped to
rest, for Genma's sake.  "You should get some better clothes, pop.  That
suit is not good for doing this kind of work." Genma nodded in agreement as
he was still trying to calm himself with some heavy breathing.  "And to
think we did all of these moving three days ago." Genma sprang into life
again and led the way, Ranma was only too happy to follow from behind, it
was a rare opportunity to be able to tease his father and get away with it.
But they had only walked a few houses down the road when Genma stopped dead
in his tracks.  The box his father was carrying fell to Genma's feet.
"Huh?"  Ranma first looked at the pale reaction on his father's face before
staring at the direction Genma's eyes where locked on to.

"No." Genma cursed to himself.

Ranma saw a tall beautiful woman coming out from one of the houses' gates.
Immediately he sported a mischievous grin.  "Gee, pop.  You find something
you like?" Ranma chuckled some more before walking ahead of his father.
Genma finally snapped out of his trance and tried to pick up the load he had
accidentally dropped.

Ranma snickered back to his father.  When he turned his head back to the
path he was leading, the lovely maiden was just in front of him and they had
almost collided with each other in their hurry.  "Oops!  Sorry miss."  The
beautiful girl was a bit startled, casually exclaiming 'Oh, my', but after
which, she smiled and ran past Ranma and Genma, who was at the moment
bending over.  Ranma followed the girl with a stare that didn't falter,
until his father asked him the same question he had asked a while ago.
"Maybe, pop. Maybe."  The two rounded a corner, and would be at the dojo in
no time at all.  But the rest of the journey back
home was silent, no one uttered a word again.  Both were thinking of
something else.

-----

"This must be the place." Nabiki checked the piece of paper her mother
handed to her.  Written on the paper was the address of her mother's
friend's house.  Nabiki looked around and saw mostly trees and shrubs
surrounding the premises. The house could hardly be seen from the outside,
and there were hardly any neighbors as well.  "Kind of creepy mother.  Are
you sure someone lives here?"  Kimiko confidently walked up to the gates and
knocked.

A few minutes later, and after both of Nabiki's hands were sore from
knocking at the huge wooden gate, someone finally opened the door for them.
"Oh, you must be Mrs. Tendo." Ukyou was amazed at the youthfulness of one of
her mother's old fiends.  "Wow, what do you use?  How come you look like
you're twenty?"  Nabiki blinked. "For someone who's suppose to be at least
forty, like my mom, you look awfully beautiful."

"I beg your pardon?! I am not forty!" Nabiki foul mood was acting up again.
Fortunately, Kimiko intervened just in time.  "Mom!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm Mrs. Tendo." Ukyou stared at the two before smiling bit,
hoping to hide her embarrassment.  "And, this is my daughter, Nabiki."
Nabiki wasn't happy being introduced to someone who had just accused her of
being old.

"No, it's my fault.  I'm truly sorry, Nabiki."  Nabiki forgave Ukyou and
followed her lead into the house.

"Right this way."  Ukyou stopped abruptly.  "Oops.  No, it's this way.  I
keep forgetting how big this place is."  She turned to another hallway and
the two guests, though in doubt, had no choice but to followed her again.

-----

Akane was almost finished with her reading assignment, and half of the small
snack she had prepared a while ago was also gone.  Just as she closed her
history book, she finally noticed someone knocking at the front gate of the
dojo.  Downstairs, she deposited in the kitchen sink the saucer plate and
glass she used in her bedroom, before seeing to who, at this late hour, was
at the door.

"Tatewaki?  What on earth are you doing here?" It was raining in Nerima for
about half an hour now so Kuno was drenching wet when Akane got him out of
the pouring rain and allowed him to settle inside.

"Sorry to bother you.  I was about to give up since nobody was answering."
Kuno accepted the towel handed over to him by Akane, and naturally used it
to prevent further messing more of the Tendo household.  "I guess Nabiki is
not here?" Akane meagerly gave an affirmative nod and Tatewaki could only
sigh in disappointment.

"He escorted my mother to dinner, I don't think they'll be back within the
hour though."  Tatewaki just smiled, inside he regretted canceling his date
with Akane's sister.  "So what do you do now?"
Tatewaki promptly gave his pardon to leave, and Akane was almost
disappointed that he did.  Kuno was already halfway out the door when a
shout came from the stairs behind them.  "And where do you think you're
going, Mr. Kuno?!"  Soun was standing at the foot of the stairwell and was
visibly angry.

"Eh, sensei. I...I." Tatewaki was trapped in a corner. He thought this was a
fitting end to what seemed to him was a very luck-stricken day.  He had to
cancel a date he had plan for weeks, he had to meet some pretty weird and
violent people just to obey his father, and now...he's going to get the
worst tongue lashing from his sensei for skipping training that morning.
Tatewaki stepped back a bit when Soun slowly approached him and was waiting
for his reply.  "I..." In desperation, he grabbed Akane and pushed her in
between Soun and himself.  "I was going on a date with your daughter."
Akane and Soun's eyes grew in surprise.

"You are?" Soun's mood changed as fast as he handed to Akane her coat and an
umbrella.  "Why didn't you tell me?  Well...go on then."  Soun eagerly
pushed out both into the drizzling rain.  "Have fun!  And don't worry about
me."  The gates closed even before both Akane and Tatewaki realized they
were getting wet.

"I'm sorry." Tatewaki quickly opened the umbrella and both took shelter
underneath it.  Akane felt awkward and Tatewaki felt the same way.  Neither
spoke for a minute or so, until the gates again opened in front of them.

"Of course, I'll expect my daughter to be back home before ten, young man."
Tatewaki braced up instinctively and nodded back at Akane's father.  Soon,
the two found themselves cautiously walking down the road.  Akane was
looking down on the damp road they were travelling on, before Tatewaki held
her chin up.

"Why don't we go to the arcade?  I heard they already have Tekken 3 over
there."  Akane didn't know how to react to that question.  One part of her
was thrilled to hear the invitation, while the rest of her was slightly
disappointed.  "I still think I can beat you in martial arts, even if it is
just a game." Kuno's smile was genuine and that cinched the decision for
her.

-----

"Taxi?" The driver was on his last hour on his shift.  He wasn't really
looking forward to driving anymore at such late hour, but three strange
looking people picked his cab among the queue of taxis in front of the
Nerima train station, so he had no choice but to take this fare.

"Driver. To this address, please."  Shampoo sat up in front while Ryoga and
Cologne was in the backseat.  The driver finished loading the luggage the
three had and then quickly sped away towards the suburb.  "How's my
Japanese?"

"A little shabby on the accent, but nevertheless comprehendible."  Ryoga
couldn't help jump-in and answer the question, even though Shampoo was
talking to Cologne.  "Oww!"  Ryoga felt his nose, the recent victim of
Shampoo's pinches.

"When Shampoo wants your opinion, Ryoga.  I'll still won't ask you."  Ryoga
concede, thinking it'll be bad taboo making an amazon angry when there were
two of them inside a small, cramped, moving vehicle.

-----

Ranma rummaged through all the room of their apartment seeing to it that
everything they owned was on the last few boxes they were taking out of
there.  "Ok, pop.  Let's go."  Ranma locked the door behind him and picked
the last box sitting on the floor outside their former apartment.

"I sure hope your mother made something extra special tonight."  Ranma felt
the same, and couldn't hope for anything more.  The whole afternoon they've
been hauling boxes after boxes, and they had to change their route, ever
since he nearly bumped into a woman earlier in the day.  Though he didn't
quite understand or believed the reason his father gave to make their route
back to the dojo longer, he didn't have the heart to argue with his father.

No farther than they had walked ten meters from the apartment when a taxi
stopped abruptly near them.  Ranma and Genma were a little surprised upon
seeing Shampoo, Ryoga and Cologne stepping out of the taxi, but they soon
realize that their guest's arrival was a bit early.

"Nihao Ranma!  Sensei!"  Shampoo was glad to have caught up with both
Saotomes.  Cologne paid the fare, and Ryoga was designated to carry the
group's luggage.  Shampoo took from Genma some of the load and walked beside
Ranma.  "Happy to see Shampoo?"

"Always, Shampoo."  Ranma looked back at Ryoga, who was clearly struggling
with the luggage, especially with the extra baggage, which was Cologne,
sitting on top of Ryoga's head, and was continuously berating him.  "Gee.
I'm sure glad I'm over her training regimen."  Shampoo just laughed and both
Ranma and Genma decided to join in, chuckling and often teasing Ryoga along
the way.

-----

"I'm bushed!" Nabiki fell wearily on the couch, she took off her coat and
shoes and grabbed a pillow and was all ready to sleep there and then.  Only
after her mother said something did Nabiki walk up to her room, intent on
retiring for the night.  Kimiko was only too happy to pickup the pieces of
clothing Nabiki dropped along the way.

"Goodnight dear."  Kimiko always said goodnight to her three daughters. Just
then Kasumi arrived from her date.  Kimiko Tendo asked if everything was all
right, and Kasumi just gave an agreeing nod.  Kasumi went straight to her
room and Kimiko again bade goodnight to her eldest.  She then proceeded to
her youngest daughter's room, but was surprised to find it empty.  "Akane?"

"Soun, have you seen Akane?" Kimiko's husband stirred in bed for a moment
before answering her.  "What?  She's on a date, with Tatewaki Kuno."  Kimiko
was evidently worried about that particular bit of news.

"Why?  Is there something wrong, Kimiko?"  Soun sat up and was almost about
to rise from the bed when Kimiko calmed him down.  "The way I figured it.
I'll have my two best pupils fall for each other.  Isn't that great?"  Soun
just fell back to bed and almost immediately fell back to sleep, obviously
dreaming that thought he just said.

"You're probably right, dear." Kimiko heard the gates of the dojo open and
quickly realized the last of her daughters had arrived.  She promptly left
Soun with his dreams and proceeded to see if everything was fine and alright
for Akane.

-----

"I said don't rub it in!"  Tatewaki frowned a bit, as Akane still whistled
'ten-zero' even if they're already back at the Tendo dojo.  "Cut it out."

"Hah! Just admit it. I'm better than you, even if it's just a computer
game."  Tatewaki sported a grin before finally giving in to Akane's childish
teases.

"I better go." Tatewaki was halfway out the door before he turned around.
"Oh.  Can you tell your sister..."

"I know.  She'll call you, or meet you tomorrow.  Either way, she'll eat you
up alive for canceling your date."  Tatewaki winced at the thought and Akane
couldn't help but laugh at the embarrassing sight.  "Goodnight, Tatewaki."
Kuno bowed before finally leaving.

"Is everything all right Akane?" The worried look on Kimiko's face was
unfounded, and was quickly overwhelmed by the blissful expression on Akane's
face.  "I see.  Well, goodnight then.  You still have school tomorrow."

"Goodnight mom."  Akane kissed her mother before retreating to her room
upstairs.

-----

End of Episode


-----

Preview of Next Week's Episode:

Ranma and Ukyou and their friends attend their first class in Furinkan High.
Rumors about Akane and Tatewaki spread throughout the school with Nabiki
most affected by it.
Kasumi notices a new student that keeps following her around school while
Ryoga finds his way to the principal's office on the first day.