I have had this idea buzzing around in my head for a day or so, and thought
I'd see if anyone else thought it might be worth developing. I might just
write it, If I don't get toasted first.


	Genma Saotome looked at the faded and tattered postcard in his hand.

	Coming soon.
	Bringing Ranma.

	
	A tear slid down his cheek.He had written it the day before he and Ranma
had arrived at Jusenkio. 
That had been meant to be the last stop on their training trip before Genma
planned to take them back to Japan, and to the fiance that Ranma now would
never know about.

	He had such plans. Ranma would marry one of Soun's daughters and Genma
would retire to his well earned rest. All gone now, all his plans dust,
because his son had lost his temper and forgotten the true way of the
martial artist. 

	He had been looking for food when he had found the tattered postcard in
the bottom of his back pack. It had been crushed up against a bundle of
waxed paper. Now Genma's eyes were draw back to that packet, and with a
hand that visible trembled he reached in and picked it out.

	Unwrapping the outer layers he carefully unfolded the contents. Various
documents and letters, and most importantly, a document with his signature,
and Ranma's baby hand print. The agrement with his wife to turn Ranma into
a man among men, or commit sepeku. Genma winced, there would be no going
home for him, not ever. With a sigh he started to fold the documents back
up, when a small scrap of paper separated from the main bundle and fell to
the ground.

	Genma lent down and picked it up. looking at it in curiosity he saw that
it was a napkin from a bar he, Soun and several of their friends had
frequented back in the old days. What was it doing here among his papers?

	Turning it over he read the writing on the other side. His eyes widened in
shock at the words there, and memory flooded back.

	It had been the night he and Soun had agreed to merge there families.
Nodoka was expecting any day, and Kimiko would be due not long after. Then
an old friend who was seated with them brought up the question. What if
they both have girls. after all Soun all ready had two, and the odds were
fifty, fifty that Genma would have one. So how would they merge their
families then. 

	For a while the party turned depressed, but fueled by alcohol, Genma came
up with a solution. You have a son, We'll marry our children to him if we
both have daughters. He said
	
	Soun had objected, We can't both marry are daughters to him. Not legal I
don't think. Soun was a little drunk by then, as compared to the other two,
who were very drunk.

	It had been decided to flip a coin to decide who's daughter would get
married. Genma had won, and they had created an agrement on the spot. Genma
and his friend had written in the gist of the agrement, and Soun had signed
as a witness. Then they had forgotten all about it. Till now.

	Genma looked at the stained ripped document that was now worth more than
anything else Genma possessed. because it meant a happy retirement for him.

	Turning he yelled at the red headed girl soaking in the hot spring.
"Ranma, come on hurry up. we have an old friend to visit."

	"You mean Mr. Tendo? About time, you said we were going to see him months
ago."

	"Not Tendo, no. This is another friend. You'll like him, he has a son a
little older then you. I think you'll get along splendidly with him. And if
he's anything like his Father Tenchi Masaki will be very glad to see you.


Well, should I burn this and pretend I never thought of it?

T.H. Tiger