Loos like I'm back in business! Take that as either a bad
or a good sign, guys. :)

        And Life Goes On
 
                        Part 1, chapter 9: Photoes of Evidence
 
        Shampoo never cycled so hard in her life. From her eyes tears
 of humiliation and her heart ached from sadness and bitterness. Ever
 since she had met her husband, she had sworn forever faithful to him,
 but how could she, with this idiotic law she had to obey? True, it was
 another one of her 'idiotic' laws that had led her to Ranma, and gotten
 her married to him, but that wasn't the point! 
 
        She took comfort in the fact that she wouldn't have to chase
 Kuno for at least another two weeks; the comfort was little, though,
 just the thought of having Kuno's children sent shivers down her spine.
 She prayed that Ranma would kick Kuno's ass, and soon; the suspense
 was killing her.
 
 
        Ranma had a knack for worrying Akane; not a single day
 went by that Akane hadn't worried over Ranma's faithfulness, health
 or anything else about him. Today's new worry, was slightly different;
 she noticed he was acting more and more like Ryoga. When he just
 saw her, he had practically jumped out of his skin, a typical Ryoga
 reaction when he saw her. Not that Ryoga wasn't a great guy, but that
 sort of behavior was simply not Ranma-ish... which could only lead
 her to think he was up to something. Either that, or he had finally
 flipped; Akane didn't which was worse.
 
 
        "I'm just playing with your mind. That's all." Ranma stared at
 Nabiki, the feeling of anger piling up in him.
 
        "Playing... with... my... mind? I should have known... it's
 because of you, isn't it?! Well, I want you to stop it right now!" She
 leaned back, not having expected this sort of reaction from him.
 
        "What are you talking abo-"
 
        "....Or do I?"
 
        "Eh?" 
 
        Turning around, Ranma again reconsidered his options. He
 could ask Nabiki to stop whatever she was doing, and have him
 return to normal. But what was so great about that? He couldn't see
 anything wrong about lo-  "No! I do NOT love her!"
 
        "Who said anything about you loving me?" Ranma just
 ignored her. So what if he loved Akane? What was wrong with
 seeing her in that special way? Nothing, he decided. And I'll tell her
 that.
 
        "Nabiki.... thanks." This was too strange, especially for Ranma.
 She began to wonder if she should stay there, or run out and hope
 he'd come back to his senses. "I don't know what you did to me,
 and why, but I appreciate it."
 
        "I hope you know I have NO idea of what you're talking ab-"
 
        "Ranma!" Akane burst in, none to happy. "Have you seen my-"
 Noticing the sudden redness of Ranma's face, she asked, "Ranma, are
 you ok?" 
 
        "N-never felt better!" *Oh-oh, he's starting to stammer too...*
 Akane thought. "Akane... just so you know..." He stood up, taking
 her hands in his. Nabiki was surprised that he was doing this in front
 of her, and Akane was embarrassed by that fact.
 
        "Er.. what are you do-" Shampoo ran into the room, knocking
 Akane away and hugging Ranma, crying into his shoulder.
 
        "It's so terrible, Ranma!"
 
        "Shampoo?..." Akane didn't appreciate the fact that she had
 just been pushed against a wall, and she knew Shampoo well enough
 that she used crying to get what she wanted. "What are you doing
 here?!" Shampoo ignored Akane and continued to cling and bawl. 
 
        "Shampoo hate law! Please, beat Kuno again soon, Shampoo
 no want marry him!"
 
        "Shampoo, do you mind?..." Asked Ranma, trying to push
 Shampoo off. Having Shampoo glomp onto him when he was trying
 to tell Akane something important irritated him. Shampoo didn't even
 hear him, just continued babbling.
 
        "He terrible kisser, nothing like you! He idiot, I know want bear
 stupid children! He not even strong, he will be shame of my family!"
 
        "What's all this?" Asked Nabiki, intrigued. 
 
        "She has some law that if I get beaten, and I don't beat the guy
 again in two weeks, she has to marry him, no ifs ands or buts."
 
        "Really?" 
 
        "Is that so..." Nabiki smiled smugly. "Well then, if that's the case...
 I bet you don't want me to pass copies of this photo around town."
 Nabiki whipped a photo and showed it to Ranma, who quickly paled.
 
        "What is on it?" Shampoo asked, now just barely sniffling,
 trying to twist her head to see it.
 
        "NO!" Ranma exclaimed, turning Shampoo's head in the other
 direction with his hands. "How much?" 
 
        "1500 yen."
 
        "1500 yen?!"
 
        "Hey, Shampoo, bet you'd love to have this picture..." She 
 offered to Shampoo, who looked at Nabiki blankly.
 
        "Ok, ok, I'll pay for it!" He finally managed to shake
 Shampoo off, and pulled about half the amount of money Nabiki
 wanted. "I don't have anymore on me." He explained.    
 
        "Are you sure?" Ranma nodded. "Doesn't Ranma look good
 in this picture, Sha-"
 
        "Hey, Nabiki, lemme have a look at it."
 
        "I've got it, I've got it! Look, Nabiki." The business women
 smiled, and put the photo back into her pocket.
 
        "Sorry ladies, Ranma and I have a deal." Sighing at first a sigh
 of relief, he realized something.
 
        "Hey, aren't ya goin' to give me the negatives?"
 
        "But of course not, Ranma. I'll take good care them." Nabiki
 promised, and quickly zipped out of the room before Ranma could
 protest.
 
        "What were on those photos, Ranma?" 
 
        "No-nothing that concerns you, Akane. Don't worry."
 
        "With you around, that's a hard thing not to do."
 
        "Shampoo not really care about that, all Shampoo want is for
 Ranma to teach Kuno a lesson." As Shampoo went on about to what
 extent Ranma should beat up the Blue Thunder, Ranma whispered to
 Akane that he'd explain later, after Shampoo had left. Akane was sure
 by this point Ranma's mind was seriously messed up at the moment.
        
 
	
	Isabel Arantes
	   terrin@netcom.com