Magical Interludes:  December's End
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi

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The story so far:

Magic has come into the world based on scientific principles.  Minor 
and low-level abilities appeared first world-wide, causing unrest in 
major metropolitan areas as people, groups, corporations, and 
governments sought to take advantage of the new power base.  The 
unlocking of major talents seemed to be linked to the appearance of 
'Vortices', people who were at the center of energy/magic storms.  A 
'vortex' gained access to power and insights of lives that they might 
have led.  The fifth vortex, Ranma Saotome, differed in that he 
managed to draw three 'daughters' into his reality.  The three sixteen 
year-olds (Ayuki, Keiko, and Midori born to Shampoo, Nabiki, and 
Ukyou respectively) came under the care of Nodoka Saotome.  Dr. 
Tofu and Kasumi found that they had healing abilities, discovered 
their attraction for each other and have decided to be married on 
New Year's Day.  Ranma and Akane also admitted their love for 
each other.  Ayuki has caused Shampoo to forget Ranma.  Ryoga has 
been exposed as P-chan.  Kasumi has gone off to visit Dr. Tofu's 
mother.  And the teenagers are going to school...

(For those who have actually been following this storyline, the next 
vortex is set to appear within the next 24 hours, and there was a 
power faction summit in Hawaii yesterday)

It is December 26th of Ranma and Akane's sophomore year...
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Chapter 4:  New Starts - Part I

Keiko:  "What are we going to do about money, cousin?"
Ranma:  "What do you mean, Keiko?"
Keiko:  "Our family isn't rich by any means.  How will we be able to 
	afford the things we need, especiallly with ba-chan buying 
	a new house?"
Ranma:  "I don't know.  I've never needed that much money.  
	Maybe... Nabiki, how about lending me some money?"
Nabiki:  "Sorry, Ranma.  You owe me too much already."
Ranma:  "I think that you should deduct the profit you make off 
	selling pictures of me."
Keiko:  "Do you sell pictures of Ranma, mo... Nabiki?"
Nabiki:  "Of course not!"
Ranma:  "Don't lie."
Nabiki:  "I sell photos of the pig-tailed girl.  And only to Kuno, 
	anyway.  Everybody else knows."

Keiko draws in Ayuki and Midori for a quick, whispered conference.

Keiko:  "How about lending the three of us some extra money for 
	today, and you can recover it from the initial sales of a 
	poster we'll let you make of us."
Nabiki:  "A poster?"
Keiko:  "A poster will allow for wider distribution.  After all, 
	mother, you're the one that told me that exploitable markets 
	do not remain so for long."
Nabiki:  "I think that I should get the majority of the profits, after 
	all, I'll be doing most of the development work..."

Keiko and Nabiki start arguing about percentages.  In the end, 
however, they decide to do a calendar instead of a poster as Nabiki 
says she can get them done before the new year (if only governments 
were as efficient).  The only task was to figure out who would 
be the calendar models.

Ayuki, Keiko, and Midori would make three.  Kasumi, Nabiki, and 
Akane make six.  Ukyou agrees in exchange for added help at Uc-
chan's when she needs it.  Female Ranma makes eight, at which 
point Ranma is about to object when he is surprised by Cologne 
(who drags an unconscious Shampoo behind her).  In return for 
returning Shampoo's memory, Cologne agrees to give up her claim 
on Ayuki and to let Shampoo pose for the calendar.  Nabiki figures 
that December could be a group shot, leaving only two spots empty.  
Nabiki figures possibly Nodoka and a girl from one of the dojo's 
advanced classes.  Ranma again attempts to weasel out.

Ranma:  "Keiko, don't you feel guilty about exploiting your own 
	father?"
Keiko:  "Of course not, you're the one that told me that profits wait 
	for no woman; oh wait, that was mother, too."

In the end, though, Ranma is not allowed to refuse the calender shot.

**********************

The rest of the school day passes by quietly, except for right after 
school when Kuno again attacks Ranma.  Ranma jumps, lands on 
Kuno's head, knocking him backward.  In their rush to go shopping, 
Keiko, Midori, then Ayuki run over Kuno's body.

Nabiki:  "Why do you always run him over?"
Ranma:  "Its a martial arts thing."
Nabiki:  (Stepping on Kuno)  "I don't get it."

Nabiki, Akane, and Ranma follow the 'cousins' back to the dojo.  In 
the schoolyard Kuno regains consciousness, though his mind has 
slipped back to an earlier time as he starts yelling something about 
"defeating in battle" before he loses consciousness again.  
Arrangements are then made to take his unconcious body home.

*********************

Nodoka brings the three girls home from shopping, followed by an 
overburdened panda carrying a mountain of boxes.  As they enter 
the dojo, Nodoka notices Kasumi cooking dinner and starts to help.  
The panda follows the three girls to their room and drops the 
mountain off.  Soun sits surprised as he had just been told that both 
Kasumi and Nabiki plan to start taking up martial arts in order to 
protect themselves.

At dinner Soun asks about Kasumi's visit to Dr. Tofu's mother.  She 
replies that it went well, and that Mrs. Tofu would be coming to 
Nerima in two days for the wedding.  Nabiki asks if the trip went 
well, knowing that Kasumi sometimes got motion sickness.  Kasumi 
replied that she felt a little queasy on the way back, but that Dr. Tofu 
knew a pressure point to help her deal with it.  Nodoka raises her 
eyebrow at that, and Kasumi blushes, but no one else notices.

*********************

That evening Nabiki is quite busy with the phone, arranging for a 
photographer and setting up the arrangements for printing the 
calendar.  Midori takes Keiko and Ayuki to Uc-chan's so that they 
can train to help her as per their agreement, stopping off at the Cat 
Cafe to give Cologne the Formula 911.

Returning to the dojo, the three girls walk warily through the streets.  
The sense that they are being watched is almost palpable; however, 
they are confident that they can handle any threat that comes about.  
Ayuki almost yells out a challenge, but Keiko and Midori both lay a 
hand on her arm and they pick up the pace.  Suddenly they all jump 
to the rooftops, but are still unable to see what's following them.  
The eyes leave them and they warily continue on their way.

When they reach the dojo, Kasumi notices that something is wrong 
and asks them about it, but they reply that they weren't able to tell 
what it was.  Kasumi takes out some snacks for everyone and they 
go into the living room.  They sit down and start hearing noise from 
upstairs; it can only be Akane and Ranma as they are the only ones 
missing from the room.  They see Ranma flying through the air and 
landing in the carp pond.

Akane:  (looking down)  "Ranma, you gave me a hickey!"

Ranma comes up, red-headed and female.  Akane realizes what she 
just yelled and blushes, the three 'cousins' coming out into the yard 
to start making smooching motions at her.  They again start 
laughing as Akane slams the window on them and comes 
downstairs.

Ranma:  "Why are you three always doing that?"
Midori:  "It's just too much fun, daddy."
Ranma:  "Still, maybe if you stopped..."
Keiko:  (elbowing Ayuki)  "Did you hear that, Ayuki?"
Ayuki:  (nodding)  "Definitely overprotective."
Ranma:  "Hey!"

The three of them start laughing again, then flock to the living room 
once Akane enters.  They pester her to show her the hickey, 
stopping only when Nodoka calls their names out in exasperation.  
Ranma enters the room as Akane sits next to Nodoka, who causes 
everyone to break down in tears of laughter (except for an 
embarrassed Akane and Ranma) when she asks Ranma what 
happened to the vacuum cleaner he used on Akane's neck.

To help repay the Tendos' for the year the Saotomes' spent there, 
Ranma is to start teaching some of the dojo's classes after the new 
year starts.  Ranma objects, saying that he's already attending school 
and that the load will be too much for him; Nodoka agrees and 
Ranma is only to teach one night class.  The other night class is to 
be taught by Genma.

*********************

Soon everyone is ready to retire for the evening, except for Soun and 
Genma who are celebrating how well Ranma and Akane are getting 
along.  Ranma goes to the room that his parents have been using 
(actually more like the room his mother has been using and his 
father has been sleeping in front of), passes the futon still set in the 
hallway, and knocks.  Ranma identifies himself and Nodoka tells 
him to come in.

****************************End Chapter 4, Part I