An Odd Engagement: A Ranma � Alternate Universe Fanfiction

               By Andrew Carey <ap_carey3@hotmail.com>
          
          The characters and situations of Ranma � belong to Takahashi 
Rumiko, and I am merely borrowing them for this non-profit work of 
fanfiction.  It may be archived, distributed, and translated freely, as 
long as this disclaimer and my name are not removed.  If you care to 
translate it into Irish, French, Scots, or Old through Early Modern 
English, please drop me a note--I'd love to talk about it.

C&C is very much desired, public or private.  Please forward a copy of 
any public C&C to me personally�I may have to go on vacation mode for a 
little while in the near future.

Many thanks to Suika Roberts for reading and giving of advice.  Many 
thanks to Takahashi Rumiko for creating Ranma �.  

My sincere apologies if this fails to format properly--this is my first 
posting from this account.
          
 <...> indicates unspoken thought.
"<...>" indicates use of a language other than Japanese, although all
dialogue is here represented in English.

Chapter Two, Section 2 of 2

	Kasumi could feel the tension when Ukyou came into the room.  Neither 
said a word as the younger girl washed and rinsed.  Still unspeaking, 
she slipped into the water opposite Kasumi.
	<Well, I might as well break the silence.> "I'm sorry about Ranma, 
Ukyou-san.  I had no idea he'd react like that."
	A long moment.  "You could have knocked."
	"I didn't know you'd changed your minds about what order we'd bathe 
in."
	Ukyou sighed: a long, exasperated sound.  "You're right.  I should have 
stayed to warn you instead of going off to help Aunt Nodoka find her 
bloody scroll.  Gods, all for some stupid Tibetan technique only an 
insane monk would attempt!"
	Kasumi raised an eyebrow, but apparently Ukyou didn't want to explain.  
"I would have been more careful if I'd known how shy he was."
	Ukyou laughed, a short bitter bark.  "I suppose somebody should have 
warned you just what you were getting into, no?"
	"Should I ask?"
	"Well, it all goes back to my dear mother-in-law-to-be.  It's not that 
Auntie Nodoka doesn't mean well, it's just that she has some very 
peculiar notions.  She wants Ranchan to become a �true man among men.'"
	"And is that a bad thing?"
	"Her definition is.  Ever since we hit puberty, it's been one thing 
after another.  �Ranma, my son, it would be a very manly thing to sneak 
into your fiancee's bed tonight.'  Or �Ranma, my son, a man among men 
would join his fiancee in her bath.'"
	"That seems a bit much."
	"Well, that's the least of it.  And the problem is, she won't let up.  
I mean, Ranchan and I love each other.  We know each other pretty well.  
We're comfortable with each other.  We probably would have done exactly 
what she wants, if it weren't for the way she's always beating the issue 
into the ground."
	"And this is why he's so very shy?"
	"That's primarily because of one incident.  We were just gone fifteen 
at the time.  Do you really want to know the gory details?"
	"If you think I should."
	Ukyou sighed, leaning back her head.  Kasumi tried valiantly to ignore 
the interesting effect the movement had on her breasts.  "Well, it all 
started when she got the idea that Ranchan and Uncle Genma should do 
some �male bonding.'"
	"Isn't that where they go out and get drunk and sing karaoke and talk 
sports?"
	"That's what I figured.  A few beers, a bit of gambling, maybe a little 
brawl.  Nothing to worry about.
	"So, one evening they go out, and I go over to Shan's.  We spend the 
evening drinking tea and fixing armour.  When I return..."

Two Years Earlier:

	The first thing Ukyou heard was the noise.  A faint whimpering, barely 
audible above Genma's snores.  She set her bag down by the door of their 
little Amazon-style hut, and drew a throwing spatula from her bandolier.  
On silent feet she drifted through the house.
	Her fiance was curled into a ball in the corner of the storage room.  
"Ranchan?" she said softly.
	"Ucchan?"  He was in female form, and had been crying.  
	"Come here, love." Ukyou whispered, and Ranma threw herself into her 
arms, laid her head on her shoulder.  "What happened?"
	"Stupid bastard took me to a brothel, over in the next village.  I 
tried to tell them I was already taken, but they... wouldn't take no for 
an answer.  Tried to dope me with Passion Spice.  I had to run.  Da 
tried to stop me, and we both wound up falling in the river.  Stupid 
bastard."
	"I'll kill him."
	"Not worth it, love.  Ma put him up to it."

	"That's awful.  Ukyou-san, I'm sorry."
	"Not your fault, Kasumi-san."  She was visibly shaking.  "Such a little 
thing, doesn't it seem?  But Ranchan wouldn't so much as put his hand 
inside my shirt, afterward."  She gave a little sob.  "What a stupid 
thing for parents to do."
	Kasumi reached out, carefully, laid a hand on Ukyou's shoulder.  
"There, it's all right.  He will get over it."
	"It's been two years, Kasumi-san.  Two years.  Two... years."  Ukyou 
was weeping openly now.  Slowly, carefully, Kasumi guided her forward, 
put her arms around her, let her rest her head on her shoulder.  The 
younger girl didn't resist.
	"There now, Ukyou-chan.  Let it go." she whispered softly.

	Ranma sat on the porch and flipped through the newspaper.  It seemed 
that the world was its usual self. <Hmm, the American president's wife 
is expecting another kid.  Gods, didn't the president just have one 
herself year before last?>

	Ukyou blew her nose again.  "I'm sorry, Kasumi-san, I don't know what 
got into me."
	"It's all right.  Just one thing.  It's Kasumi.  Or Kasumi-chan, if 
you'd rather."  She winked.  "After all, I just spent twenty minutes 
sitting in a bathtub with you crying on my shoulder.  I think that 
counts for something, no?"
	"That it does, Kasumi-chan.  As long as you remember that my name's 
Ucchan."
	"Done."
	"We'd better go check on Ranchan.  He probably thinks we've been trying 
to drown each other for the past half hour."

	<�Today in three American states the Sasquatch held rallies 
demanding...' Gods, I already read that one, didn't I?  Gods, I hope 
they aren't fighting.  Ucchan, I never meant she was trying...>
	"Hey, Ranchan, what's going on in the world?"
	"More of the usual, Ucchan.  Our Emperor played golf yesterday with the 
Russian Czar and the Khan of Mongolia, the kitsune are protesting some 
American musical that's opening in Osaka, and another French billionaire 
crashed a balloon in the Pacific."
	"Come along, Ranchan.  I told Kasumi-chan we'd help with dinner."  She 
extended a hand, helped him up.
	<Kasumi-chan?>
	"I'm sorry, Ranma-kun." was the first thing she said.  "I'll be more 
careful in the future."
	"It's all right, Kasumi-s...chan.  Listen, I'm sorry as well.  I 
shouldn't have overreacted the way I did."
	"You've nothing to apologise for, Ranma-chan."  She laid a hand on his 
shoulder.  "May I?" she said softly.
	He nodded, slowly.  She drew him into a one-armed embrace.  "Ucchan?"  
She held out the other arm.
	Holding them both, Kasumi whispered "There's no reason for us not to be 
friends.  Let's see what life brings us."

	"Drink up, Ranma me lad!" Genma said heartily, pouring sake into his 
son's glass.  
	"Aye, lad, have another!  Here's to Nerima, home of the best sake, the 
best martial artists, and the best women in all the world, gods love 
�em!"
	"Here's to Nerima!  And the joining of the Tendou and the Saotome!  
Kampai!"  Genma and Soun drained their glasses.  Ranma took a sip.
	"I don't think he's holding up well, do you, Ucchan?"
	"No, Kasumi-chan.  Ranchan's never been much of a drinker, and those 
fools have been at it ever since dinner.  He's only had a half-glass to 
every four of theirs, but I think it's wearing on him."
	"Would you like me to extricate him?"
	"I'd be very grateful."
	"Ready to go to bed?"
	"How'd you guess?"
	"Well, the fact that your head's been resting on my shoulder for the 
past half-hour might be a give away."
	"Hmmm, maybe."
	"Ucchan, you'll have to let me up if I'm to rescue him."
	"Oh, right."  Smiling sheepishly, the young martial artist pulled 
herself upright.  
	Kasumi crossed the livinng room.  "Excuse me, Daddy, but I'd like to 
talk with my fiance."
	"But the night's young, Kasumi-chan.  A man's got to do manly things 
sometimes, isn't that right, Genma-kun?  Why, we were just going to 
sing, weren't we?"
	"That we were.  �O come all ye handsome rovers, wherever you may 
be--join in, Ranma me lad--I pray ye stand a moment and listen unto 
me...'"
	"But Daddy, I'd really like to talk with my fiance.  After all, it's a 
special night for us as well.  Please?"
	"You know, Soun-kun, the girl has a point.  A man has to get to know 
his fiancee.  The moon's bright, there's stars in the sky..."
	"Please, Daddy?"
	"Ranma, lad, there's times in life when a man's just got to sacrifice 
for a woman.  Now, why don't you go and court my daughter, hey?"
	Ranma was looking distinctly bewildered. <It really is a sweet 
expression.> "Come along, love."  Kasumi reached down, took his hand, 
and pulled him to his feet.  "Ucchan?"
	"Thanks, Kasumi-chan."  She took Ranma's other arm.
	"Why don't we go upstairs?  I'm about ready for bed, myself."
	"Any chance I could have a glass of water first, Kasumi-chan?"
	"Not a bad idea.  Do you think you'll have a headache in the morning?"
	"I don't think so.  I'm just tired is all."
	"Well, I'll let you sleep in the morning, then."
	Ukyou frowned slightly.  "Ah, Kasumi-chan?  Where will we sleep?"
	<Oh, my.  I didn't really think about that myself, did I?  These spring 
nights are still chilly, and I certainly think my bed's big enough... 
no, I don't think they're quite ready for that.> "I've a couple of spare 
futon in my room.  Will that do?"
	"Kasumi-chan, there's no need to give up your space for us.  We can 
sleep in the dojo..."
	*crash* The house shook as a body impacted a wall.  "Good one, 
No-chan!"
	"I don't think so, Ucchan.  Our maternal figures will probably be 
monopolising it for the night.  Don't worry, there's plenty of room.  
And I'll be happy to have you there."

	"Here we are." Kasumi said brightly, letting them into the room ahead 
of her.  "See, there's plenty of space for all of us.  If you just want 
to put your packs in the corner until we have a chance to get things 
sorted out, that's fine, or if you want to put your clothes in the 
closet now that's fine as well.  Now I'll just slip out for a bit and 
let you get situated."  She took a nightgown and robe from the closet 
and left the room.
	"Ucchan?"
	"Ranchan?"
	"What do you think?"
	"It's better than at least half the places we've slept."
	"Like that cave in the thunderstorm?  The week after Jusenkyou?  Do you 
remember?"
	"How could I forget?  The romantic smells of wet panda and wet rock, 
the joys of a cold meal eaten in the dark, the sheer wonder of the first 
time I managed to get a certain utterly adorable and 
only-sometimes-clueless boy-turned-girl to kiss me..."
	"Ucchan..."  She embraced him.
	"Ucchan, do you think this is going to work?"
	She kissed him lightly.  "I don't know, Ranchan.  But I do know one 
thing: Kasumi-chan's on our side."

	Kasumi squeezed a careful dollop of toothpaste onto her brush. <Better 
brush well--there's always a chance we might get a kiss.> Granted, it 
wasn't likely, but it was still a nice thought.  She rinsed her mouth, 
and returned the toothbrush to the cabinet.  From the door came a knock.  
"Just a minute." she called.
	"Kasumi?  Could we talk?"
	"Of course, Akane."  She opened the door.  "What is it?"
	"Where are they sleeping tonight?"
	"In my room.  Where else would they sleep?"
	"Are you sure?  What would Mama and Daddy think?"
	"Akane, we've no other place to put them.  They couldn't very well 
sleep in the guestroom with Mr and Mrs Saotome, could they?  There's 
space in my room; I've laid out a couple of futon.  We'll all be fine."

	"Ranma-kun, Ucchan?  May I come in?"
	"Of course, Kasumi-chan."
	Ukyou was wearing a loose shirt and shorts. <Not the most becoming 
ensemble I've ever seen, but gods does she have nice legs...>  Ranma was 
already rolled up in a blanket on one of the futons.
	"I hope I wasn't too loud coming in." Kasumi whispered.
	"Don't worry, Kasumi-chan, it'd take stampeding elephants to wake him."  
She yawned.  "In a few more minutes, it'll take stampeding elephants to 
wake _me_."
	Kasumi turned off all the lights but the bedside lamp.  "In that case, 
I'll let you sleep in the morning as well."  
	"Thanks, Kasumi-chan."  She lay down on the futon, drew up the blanket.
	"You're welcome, Ucchan.  Good night."
	"G'night, Kasumi-chan."
	Kasumi shut off the lamp and got into bed.  She lay awake for a few 
moments, all too conscious of the two people sleeping a few feet away, 
breathing in the same slow steady rhythm.  Gradually, her own breath 
slipped into time, and she followed them into slumber.

Endnote: Chapter 3 will hopefully be along in a few weeks.
For anyone who cares, _A Fiancee in the Grass_ is not dead, just in 
suspended animation: a revised first chapter and a new second will 
hopefully be sent to the list sometime soon.  I also have my own take on 
the "Ranma goes to North America" theme in the pipeline.



Andrew Carey -- ap_carey3@hotmail.com
"Mirie it is, while sumer ilast,
With fugheles song..."

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