I'll be working on the glossary tonight.  I want to check on a few facts 
before I place it on paper.

Hitomi

Ichinohei Hitomi
Hitomi_Ichinohei@MBnet.mb.ca

***

A Son's Duty.

A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's ongoing Manga series, Ranma 1/2

Saotome Ranma, Saotome Genma, Saotome Nodoka, Tendo Akane, Tendo Soun,
Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Nabiki, Tendo Ranko, Kuonji Ukyou, Hibiki Ryouga,
P-chan, Shampoo, Mousse, Kunou Tatewaki, Kunou Kodachi, Kurenai Tsubasa,
and Hinako Sensei are copyright 1987, 1995 by Takahashi Rumiko. 

Publishing rights: 

Japan:              Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo
Hong Kong:          Jademan (Holdings) Ltd.
North America:      Viz Inc.

Chapter Five:

*How could a day that started off so good end up being so bad!* the young
man kneeling at the table thought to himself.  *Even if this works, what
am I going to do afterwards?  Pretend to be Ran-chan's boyfriend every
time Saotome-san comes over?  Fake a life?* He shook his head, trying to
clear what had happened a few minutes ago from his mind. 

It was because of what happened that Ukyou was feeling guilty and worried
at the same time. 

*I had to listen to her,* he thought to himself, *I had to try things her
way.  There had to be a better to solution to my problems than this!*
Grumbling slightly, he turned towards Akane who had just come back in the
room carrying a tray with cups, a pot of hot water, a whisk, tea, and the
cakes he had brought.  "Just what do you suggest now?  You realize that
Ranma fainted?  I've never seen him faint before!" 

Akane sighed, "Ukyou...It's her, not him, and it's Ranko, not Ranma. 
Please keep that in mind." 

Although the statement was meant to be helpful, it did not make him feel
better.  As it was, Ukyou's mood had been steadily getting worse,
especially considering the various circumstances that had brought him
there that night.  His fathers letter, Ranma's mother, and Akane's plan. 
Despite the calm Akane displayed, nothing seemed to be going right. 

"Great!  Now what do we do about school?  If this is to work, Ranko will
have to act like a young lady all the time.  You do realize she'll never
be able to pull it off."  Ukyou said as he prepared himself some tea. 
"How do you expect her to put up with what we usually have to go through? 
She has no experience and no training in how to be a girl." 

"Oh, come on Ukyou, she'll do fine once we explain it to her." Akane told
her friend.  "All you have to do is keep it up and continue to be romantic
and kind to her." 

She looked at the young man in front of her, trying to decide on
something, "Ukyou...You do have a suit don't you?" 

Ukyou choked slightly on the tea, "Of course I do.  Who do you think I
am?" 

Akane smirked slightly, "Well, I thought you might have gotten rid of all
of them..." 

Ukyou just looked at Akane for a moment, and then started his _long_
reply. 

"Now see here Akane-chan..." 

***

"There!  That's much better.  See how nice you look Ranko?" Nodoka said as
she turned her daughter to the mirror. 

Ranko was surprised at what she saw staring back at her.  The girl in the
mirror had her hair brought up in light curls and held in place with a
comb.  Her kimono and obi, which she usually only wore to festivals,
seemed nicer that usual, somehow, more formal yet full of fun.  It was the
face, however, that caught Ranko's attention.  Her mother had applied only
a bit of clear mascara, blush and lipstick, but the effect was wonderful. 
She knew from past experience that she could become a very cute young
woman if she had to, but this...she was beautiful. 

*I wonder if mom could teach me how to do this...WHAT AM I THINKING!!!*
Ranko shuddered slightly as she wondered what was going on with her mind. 
Why did she want her mom to teach her how to use make-up? *Calm
down...You're not going crazy...It's nothing to be alarmed about...*

Nodoka looked at Ranko and was pleased at the expression on her face.  If
she could teach the girl how to dress as a young woman, then perhaps she
would start acting like one.  From how Ranko reacted, she was pleasantly
surprised, and that made Nodoka very happy.  As she looked at Ranko, she
came to the decision to stay for a while.  Ranko would need some help to
catch the young man upstairs.  Despite the fact that he liked her, if the
child acted like she usually did, Ukyou-kun would not have much to do with
her.  Besides, nothing was really happening at home and perhaps, if she
stayed, Ranma and Genma would return. 

Smiling, Nodoka said, "Come on dear, let's go and talk to that pleasant
young man of yours.", and started to lead Ranko upstairs. 

***

"Hello everyone, I'm home!" Nabiki's voice called out from the doorway. 
"Anything come for me in the mail?" 

Kasumi looked out from the kitchen, "No, not today Nabiki." 

"Thanks elder sister.  I'll be upstairs for a while." 

"Ok, supper will be a little late by the way." 

Nabiki walked up the stairs wondering what she could do to make a little
extra money this week... 

***

The door to the living area opened, and Ranko walked in followed by
Nodoka. 

Ukyou's jaw fell open as he looked at the beautiful young woman in front
of her.  She wore a lovely multi-hued kimono with an offset pattern which
wound perfectly around her small frame.  The obi, in a lovely contrasting
series of colours, somehow accentuated her natural beauty.  And her
face... 

Her face, which had always been cute, was no longer that of a young girl,
but a mature woman!  Her eyes, literally seemed more defined, sharper, yet
wide and full of wonder.  The small bit of lipstick made her lips seem
fuller, more inviting.  To him, she seemed to glow from within. 

For this to be his childhood friend, his fiancee was impossible... 

Nodoka smiled to herself and turned to the table, allowing the two young
people to stare at one another.  As she prepared herself some tea, she
took note of their reactions.  From the look on his face, Ukyou-kun was
quite taken with Ranko's new look.  As for Ranko, she looked up every so
often and blushed when she noticed his gaze.  Now, if she could get the
child to go out on a date with this young man... 

Ranko glanced quickly at Ukyou, and then back down.  She was slightly
embarrassed about appearing in front of her friends like this, but she had
to go through with it with her mother here. 

*Why are they doing this?* she wondered to herself, *Why..."  She briefly
looked back up and blushed as she noticed Ukyou's expression. *No...It
can't be...She likes the fact that I look like this?*

All three of them failed to notice Akane's facial expression.  It was a
combination of jealousy, envy, and some slight anger.  The jealousy was
natural.  Anytime someone looked the wrong way at her fiancee, she felt
the need to do something to prevent it from going any further.  This time
however, it was more. 

*She's beautiful...Extremely beautiful.  How could she look that good!*
She looked at Ukyou as she sipped her tea, *He's likes how she looks?  He
actually finds her attractive!  What did I do?*

Akane fumed, but kept her temper in check, *This is for Ukyou's sake.  I
have to remember that.* Still, looking at the two of them, it would be
easy to assume that...Akane suddenly smiled at the picture that appeared
in her head; That of Ukyou as a strong samurai and Ranko as a delicate
lady.  The next few days would turn out to be fun after all. 

***

Nabiki was not having much luck finding a way to make money.  Oh, there
was always selling pictures of her sister and Ranma to Kuno, but that got
boring after a while.  Taking and selling pictures, while it did provide
an income, was hardly a challenge.  She needed something more if she was
to hone her negotiating skills. 

Sighing, she headed downstairs.  Perhaps with a small snack would enable
her to come up with a challenge.  Besides, if dinner was going to be late,
she figured that a large snack was in order, especially if Kasumi was
going to let Akane cook again. 

As she passed by the open door, Nabiki glanced into the living room and
stood still with disbelief.  It was no surprise that Ranma was a girl at
the moment; with her mother here, but what was going on was unbelievable! 
It looked as though Ukyou was romancing Ranma! 

"No way...", she thought, "Ukyou isn't like that.  If anything, she is
always trying to show Ranma how good a wife she would make.  Why would
_Ukyou_ be acting like a young man...More than that, why is little sister
acting like if that is normal..." 

She looked carefully and then saw an opportunity.  If she could get to her
camera and catch this on film... 

***

Ukyou shook himself out of his momentary stupor and reached for the dish
of cakes.  As he stood up, Ukyou hurriedly put the plate back down as he
forgot that Ranko had to sit down first.  He realized that he was acting a
bit silly, but it would take a while for him to come to terms with this. 

"Uh...Ranko...Uh...I...Did you like the flowers?" he got out, his voice
breaking slightly. 

Ranko felt her face flush as she sat down, not really sure what to say or
do.  Looking down a bit, she responded, "Yes Ukyou-kun.  I do like them. 
They are so lovely." 

Ukyou picked up the plate of cakes and then presented them to her, "I...I
got these for you Ranko.  I hope you like them." 

*Well, more than two can play this game,* Ranko thought to herself, *I
don't know how they expect me to react, but I can use my imagination...*

"They are my favourite Ukyou-kun." she replied taking one, "I am glad that
you came over tonight." 

Akane started to laugh silently as this went on for the next little while. 

***

Later that evening, after Nodoka took Akane and Ranko shopping for some
clothes and a new school uniform, Nabiki headed to the shopping district. 
She had stayed in the shadows as Ranma agreed to go on a date with Ukyou. 
Such a wonderful opportunity was not to be ignored. 

"Ah...What an excellent day!" Nabiki thought as she left the film at the 1
hour photo shop.  She chuckled to herself as she thought of what had
happened earlier.  If this continued, she would not have a problem with
getting a lot of spending money for the next couple of months, and if
Nabiki arranged it right, orders for the pictures would be coming from at
least four sources. 

Going to a nearby Chocolate shop, she decided to treat herself to some
icecream.  "Now, if I talk to Kuno first..."