Well, here's a rough draft of Chapter 7, I hope I don't have to change it too 
much...

Magical Interludes:  December's End
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi <polaris@interpac.net>

*******************************************
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. 
Cologne has been recruited by the japanese army and is in the 
process of rating martial artists.  Kodachi has been spotted lurking 
around the Tendo Dojo.  Its almost New Year's, and the teenagers 
are going to school...

It is December 29th of Ranma and Akane's sophomore year...
*******************************************

Chapter 7:  Tests - Part I

Kasumi brushes away at the rafters between the house and the dojo 
with a sprig of bamboo tied to a bamboo pole.  The preparation of 
the house had been more rushed this year because of Ranma's 
"sickness", but it was almost complete.  She quickly goes over the 
list of things that had to be done:

	Finish the New Year's cleaning (almost done except for the 
	dojo).  Lay the new tatami (done).  Replace the old screens 
	(done).  Get the "special food" for New Year's (bought).  
	Pay off the year's bills (Nabiki said done).  Make and place 
	the kadomatsu at the front gate (tomorrow).  Get the 
	kagame mochi and mochi for the ozoni soup (tomorrow at 
	the mochi pounding at Dr. Tofu's - remember to make the 
	family's sweet rice!).  Clean up mother's grave (Saturday).  
	Sneak off for some passion with Tofu...

Kasumi quickly blushes at the last item.  Its not supposed to be on 
the list, but still...

Kasumi startles at a sudden knock at the front door.  She goes to 
open it, thinking that it seemed unusual (first Cologne and that 
strange girl, then Ukyou) that so many people would be coming here 
at the same time.  But Cologne had said something about a test the 
day before, so maybe it wasn't that unusual after all.

Kasumi:  "Hello, Inspector.  What are you doing here?"
Inspector:  [puzzled]  "I received a note to come here?"

Inspector Muramoto shows Kasumi a simple note with a summons 
to be at the Tendo Dojo at this time.  Kasumi stares at it, also 
puzzled.

Kasumi:  "Oh!  I understand.  It must be that they want you in the 
dojo."

Kasumi leads the inspector to the dojo.

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

Ranma:  "So why are we supposed to be fighting?"
Cologne:  [exasperated] "So I can rate the dojo for the upcoming 
	year.  You do want a good rating, don't you?"
Soun:  [suddenly looming over Ranma]  "We do, don't we?"
Ranma:  "Ack!"

Kasumi opens the door and leads the inspector inside. Inspector 
Muramoto takes one look at Cologne and stops at the door, twirling 
around.

Inspector:  "I'm outta here!"
Cologne:  "Rate him... a one."

The inspector turns back around, facing into the dojo again.

Inspector:  "I know what you're trying to do, you old goat... you're 
	trying to provoke me into attacking.  Well, its not going to 
	work.  I thumb my nose at your rating, and I thumb my 
	nose at you!"

The inspector raises his open hand to his nose, wiggling the fingers 
in a derisive manner, then adds a raspberry for good measure.  He 
turns to leave.

Cologne:  "How rude."

Cologne jumps at the inspector, preparing to hit him on the head 
with her staff.  The inspector senses her coming and rolls to the 
right.  As they start to fight outside, Kasumi cleans the rafters with 
her bamboo "broom", absent-mindedly singing a song of her 
mother's.  Soun starts crying.

Soun:  "Oh, mother... Kasumi has become so much like you..."

Everyone starts moving away from Soun (as not to get wet).  
Cologne comes hopping back into the dojo.

Cologne:  "Rate him... a three."
Inspector:  [weakly, from outside]  "I can accept that rating..."

The inspector loses consciousness.  Kasumi steps over him as she 
starts on the rafters outside the dojo.

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

Cologne:  "Captain Ninomiya, report!"
Hinako:  "OK!  Soun Tendo... Three!  Akane Tendo... Three!  
	Genma Saotome... Not Here.  Ranma Saotome... Five!  
	Ryoga Hibiki... Five!  Ukyou Kuonji... Three!  Midori 
	Saotome... Four!  Keiko Saotome... Five!  Ayuki Saotome... 
	Eight!  Happosai... unsuitable for training young girls!"
Cologne:  "All right, who's next?"

Cologne starts to bounce away on her staff.  (Young) Hinako follows 
her.

Hinako:  "Tatewaki Kuno, prelim. rating of two.  Kodachi Kuno, 
	prelim. rating of three.  Can I drain them... please?  I hate 
	this body..."

The inspector leaves the dojo, shaking his head.

Inspector:  "I hate that old bat..."
Cologne:  "Who's an old bat?"

Cologne returns to whack the inspector with her staff.  Kasumi 
finishes cleaning up the dojo, still softly singing her song to herself.  
Soun starts to cry again.

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

The dinner table was conspicuous in the absence of two members.

Ranma:  "Its not like pops to miss dinner.  What could they be 
	doing?"

The girls blush (or choke) as they think of what Nodoka and Genma 
are doing.  Ranma just shrugs and returns to  eating as Happosai 
and Soun fight over a last bit of fish.

Happosai:  "I know what they're doing... Genma wait for me!"

Happosai drops his rice bowl and goes bouncing off into the streets.  
Kasumi turns to Soun.

Kasumi:  "Father, Tofu asked if I could help him with the first aid 
	booth at tonight's festival."
Soun:  "Of course, of course."
Keiko:  [jumping up]  "Can I go to the festival tonight, daddy?  
	Please!"
Ayuki:  "Me too!"
Midori:  "Me three!"
Keiko, Ayuki, and Midori:  "Please, daddy?"
Ranma:  "Don't you have to study for exams like I do?"
Keiko:  [smiling]  "We don't have to take them since we only started 
	school a week ago."
Ranma:  "I don't know..."
Kasumi:  "Don't worry, Ranma.  I'll be there."
Ranma:  "Well... OK."
Keiko, Ayuki, and Midori:  "Yay!"

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

At 6:00, Kasumi leads the kimono-clad girls and Ryoga out of the 
house and toward the festival in the business district.  They pass by 
Dr. Tofu's clinic, where Kasumi introduces Dr. Tofu's mother to the 
others.  Dr. Tofu then walks with them, eventually reaching the 
business district where the streets have been lined with small carts 
and booths.  Strings of paper lanterns that have been hung across the 
street provide a dim, carnival-like lighting.  After making 
arrangements to meet Kasumi at the First Aid booth at 8:30, the 
three girls run off to have a good time, Ayuki dragging Ryoga 
behind her in an effort to keep up with the others and not have him 
get lost.

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

Ranma and Akane are lying side-by-side on the floor of her room, 
books and class notes spread around them.

Ranma:  "We've been studying for over an hour already... isn't it 
	enough?"
Akane:  "Ranma, you know that our finals are a third of our grade.  
	I can't understand how you can make school seem so 
	important to those three girls of yours but not to yourself."
Ranma:  "Maybe its because I got more important things..."

Ranma slips a hand onto Akane's back and turns onto his side to 
face her.  Akane smiles as she turns to face him.

Akane:  "Oh, like what?"
Ranma:  "Hmm... you know, Midori, Ayuki, and Keiko are probably 
	having fun right now.  I wish we were..."
Akane:  "Well, its 7:15, and I don't see the harm in taking a little 
	break of our own..."

Akane leans in toward Ranma and they start to kiss.

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

Ukyou has closed her restaurant and prepares her food in a small 
okonomiyaki cart in front of the building as customers pass by and 
order.  She quickly prepares each dish and wraps it in paper, 
handing it to the customers with a smile.  She looks up when she 
hears her name called out, smiling when she sees the three Saotome 
girls.

Midori:  "Hi, Uk-chan.  Do you need any help?"
Ukyou:  "No, Mi-chan.  Everything's fine."
Keiko:  [remembering the day before]  "Are you sure?  One of us 
	could take over while you go out."
Ukyou:  "I'm sure, Kei-chan."
Midori:  "It'll be no problem, Uk-chan.  Don't you have to study for 
	exams like daddy?"
Ukyou:  "I studied before the festival.  You four go on and have a 
	good time.  I'll be fine by myself."

Midori and Keiko look at each other, but leave Ukyou behind.  
Ayuki drags Ryoga to a game booth in an attempt to win a stuffed 
doll.

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

*****************************End Chapter 7, Part I