Well, here is the completed file.

Now I'm sorry about the ending of this chapter, but you have to admit, 
you do want to see what's going to happen next, don't you?  ^_-

Besides, I'm quite sure that none of you can guess what's going to be 
happening in the next few chapters, although some people do have some 
idea after reading a part I translated a few chapters down the line.

Anyways, it's now time to have fun with Ranma and Company.

Hitomi

***

	Monday morning.
	Usually mornings are a time to be happy, to glory in the renewal 
of the heat and light that brings life to the planet, warms the skin, and 
strength to the heart.  It us time to look above, and see the birds 
trilling in concert, making nature all that more amazing for some of it 
to have survived in the jungle of concrete and the sea of pollution that 
was the modern city of Tokyo.  The renewal of life should have been what 
mattered most.
	It was a little different for people in the Nerima district however.
	Here, especially for those who lived around or near Furinkan 
High, or had sons or daughters going there, it was a time to pray to the 
Kami for the deliverance of souls and property.
	Since the start of the school year, the number of disturbances 
coming from that school had been growing until there was a constant fight 
going on every morning.  Most people tried to live with it, being Asian, 
and being Japanese meant that one had to accept all things, being that 
Karma was involved.  It did not help to try to change Karma, it would 
eventually affect you in ways worse than could be imagined.
	Of course, given that almost every child always wanted to go to 
school, this was good.  Given that Japanese are extremely stubborn when 
they get an idea in their head, it was extremely bad.  For the parents of 
boys, it was a nightmare.
	While the boys that were going to go to school started to prepare 
themselves mentally and physically, the girls were rushing to finish up 
everything they could in order to get a good viewpoint for the morning 
festivities.  Mondays were always the days when the worst of the fighting 
took place, all thanks to Kuno Tatewaki.

An Alternate History of Ranma 1/2:

Chapter Three:

How did I let myself be...

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

Saotome Ranma, Saotome Genma, Saotome Nodoka, Tendo Akane, Tendo Soun, 
Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Nabiki, Kuonji Ukyou, Hibiki Ryouga, P-chan, Shampoo, 
Moose, Kuno Tatewaki, Kuno Kodachi, and Hinako Sensei are copyright 1987, 
1996 by Takahashi Rumiko.

Publishing rights:

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

By Ichinohei Hitomi

	At the Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling, there were two 
people who had woken up before the rest of the household.
	Akane and Ranma were still having fun, after having spent most of 
the night in Ranma's new room giggling quietly, as they made plans and 
decided what to do.  It was amazing, but everyone else had left them 
alone after their fathers had given into their agreement, the old men 
celebrating all into the night, congratulating each other on the success 
of the engagement.  For them it was time to initiate step two in their plan.
	"Are you sure this will work?"  Ranma whispered to Akane, looking 
into the full length mirror in the Tendo girl's room.
	"It should Ranma," Akane whispered back, "After all, if this 
works, the engagement should be dissolved by our fathers and we'll still 
be able to remain friends."
	"I'm still not sure I should be doing this, or even considering 
this."  Ranma muttered.
	Akane looked at Ranma, "Do you want to be traveling around 
again?  Going from place to place without really knowing anyone?"
	Ranma sighed, "No.  This is the first time I'll have a...a place 
where I know I don't have to leave in a little while.  It..It's nice to 
think that."
	Akane smirked.  "Then don't dawdle.  We've got a lot to do and it 
will be impossible to get done if our fathers catch us at this."
	Sighing, Ranma followed Akane out of her room, grabbing the 
briefcase on the way out.  "It's just that I'm uncomfortable wearing 
girls clothes..."

***

	Ranma began walking on the fence as they started towards the 
restaurant, determined to have some time to themselves without any of 
their family around.  "So, what's the first thing we have to do?  Won't 
changing the registration be difficult?"
	Akane smiled, looking up at the pig-tailed girl and amazed at her 
balance.  "Not really, we have to visit the doctor first and get you a 
full check up."
	Ranma shrugged, "That's all?  It doesn't sound all that difficult."
	Akane smiled to herself, wondering how much Ranma actually knew 
about the differences between boys and girls.  True she had originally 
started out as a boy, but she seemed extremely ignorant of certain facts 
of life.  Of course, given that she hadn't even been a girl for a month 
yet might have something to do with it.  Ranma would learn a lot about a 
physical as a girl this morning.  Boy was she ever in for a surprise.  
"Well, I also have to call the school and arrange for them to tell the 
store to have a few school uniforms ready for you, and we have to do some 
shopping and other things this morning, but that's about all."
	Shrugging her shoulders, Ranma leapt down beside Akane and they 
walked over to the restaurant.  "I have a few questions about that 
Akane.  The most important one being are there uniforms with pants?"
	Akane looked at Ranma for a second.  "What type of school did you 
go to before to ask a question like that?"
	Ranma looked back at Akane.  "An all boys school.  Why?"
	Akane's expression became one of almost intense surprise, and 
shock.  "You mean you've never been to an ordinary school?"

***

	Nabiki had woken up surly.  If it wasn't for her father and 
uncle, not to mention the two giggling idiots, she would have had a 
lovely long sleep.  As it was, she was in no mood to face what had 
happened.  At least with Akane taken, there might be a chance that some 
of the boys in school would look at her.  Looking at herself in the 
mirror, she fixed up some spots on the makeup she was wearing.  It was 
almost invisible, but the school wouldn't allow the students to wear too 
much.
	Sighing a bit, she grabbed her briefcase and went downstairs to 
get breakfast.  She was a little surprised to she that Kasumi and her 
were the only ones there.  "Where's Akane and Ranma?"
	Kasumi smiled, "Oh, they already left for school.  Their note 
said that they were eating out."
	Nabiki rolled her eyes, "One day, and they've already started 
dating.  I was sure that the two of them would have been fighting it out 
somewhere by now."  She then narrowed her eyes in thought, "Although 
getting out of the house and to the school before the boys can gather is 
a good idea.
	Kasumi smiled innocently, "Before what boys gather Nabiki-chan?"
	Nabiki stared at Kasumi, she knew how violent Akane could get, 
and the fact that she complained about boys all the time.  Hadn't she 
been told about the fights every morning?  "Uh...Nothing.  It's just that 
the boys have been trying to interest Akane in them for some time now.  
With Akane having a fiancee however, I think that might calm down some."
	Kasumi made a show of putting on a small frown, "I should hope 
so!  it isn't seemly for an engaged woman to be pursued by suitors."
	Nabiki looked at Kasumi, not knowing what to make of this.  
"Ahh...Right Oneechan.  I'm sure it will calm down."
	Kasumi turned and went back to the kitchen, smiling at herself.  
There, one thought planted, and knowing Nabiki, she would unconsciously 
carryout her wishes concerning Akane.  Although Nabiki thought Kasumi was 
oblivious or ignorant to things around her, it was an act she put on to 
make sure that everyone would be able to be happy.  While she could play 
the wise elder sister, the ignorant act happened to be one where she 
could easily influence others concerning important matters.  After all, 
Kasumi was quite aware of all the manipulations that Nabiki pulled to 
supplement the income from the dojo.

***

	Akane was sitting across from a rather angry Ranma, who was 
grumbling a lot while eating her meal.  "Ranma , it's not that bad.  
After all, you have to get used to wearing skirts and dresses if you're 
going to be living as a girl."
	Ranma shot a look at Akane that could have drilled through 
concrete.  "Oh yeah.  Sure!  Wonderful!  I have to wear a stupid dress to 
pull this off.  First I lose my manhood, get stuck in an engagement I 
don't want, and now I have to look like a cute girl who's all sweet and 
innocent."  She grumbled a bit more.  "Why didn't you tell me this last 
night?"
	Akane giggled, "I told you last night that you would be 
impersonating and learning how to be a girl in order for our plan to 
work.  After all, our parents can't force two girls to marry."
	Ranma groused a bit louder, "I think I'd almost be willing to 
accept the engagement if that is what I have to do to get out of it."
	Amused, Akane looked at what Ranma was wearing.  The young 
pig-tailed girl had put on an oversized Chinese shirt with cloth buttons 
and a black ankle tied pants.  On her arms she had on wrist guards and 
she had allowed Akane to add a touch of makeup.  Not much, just some 
blush and lipstick, but it was enough to make her face seem more 
feminine.  It had taken some convincing to get Ranma to wear even that 
much however.
	"Look Ranma, you don't want to get a reputation as a tomboy now, 
do you?"
	Ranma looked at Akane for a moment, a bit startled at the thought 
that she would be considered a tomboy.  After all, she was a boy, or at 
least when there was hot water around.  "What's wrong with that?"
	Akane rolled her eyes, "Great!  I'm going to be engaged to a 
tomboy!  Do you have any idea how much girls go through to be pretty?"
	Ranma looked at Akane, "Oh com'on, it can't be all that much.  
After all, you hardly did anything different to me other than putting on 
that lipstick and powder."
	Akane mused for a second putting a hand under Ranma's chin and 
turning her head from side to side, contemplating something. "Not that 
much huh?  Now I know you're a tomboy.  Ah well.  I guess we won't be in 
school by midmorning like I originally planned."
	Ranma started to get nervous and a bead of sweat started down the 
side of her face.

***

	If one thing could be said of Monday mornings, it was that all 
the boys in school arrived at least half an hour before they had to be in 
class.  Unfortunately, none of the schools sports, music, theatre, or 
other programs had the benefit of this massed male audience.  They were 
all waiting for one person to arrive.
	All the girls had also arrived at school early on Mondays as 
well, not so that they could have a day off from the boys, but to see 
them beaten up, thrown into trees, over the stone wall surrounding the 
schoolyard, or otherwise being extremely foolish.
	It was literally a day for the girls.
	Of course, the teachers bemoaned the fact that a lot of their 
students were being carried into the school on stretchers at the 
beginning of every week.
	As usual for Furinkan, boys everywhere in the schoolyard, waiting 
for the view of the girl they expected to be coming down the street that 
led right to the gates of Furinkan High School.  Although they didn't 
know how, that one girl, the strongest, most violent one had become their 
icon, their goal in life.  She was the one which all the boys in school 
had to defeat, if only to say that they did so.
	It did help that they also thought that she was one of the most 
beautiful girls in the school.
	It didn't matter to them that Tendo Akane stated that she hated 
boys, or that she showed an extreme dislike to members of the male of the 
species, all that mattered was gaining the chance to ask her out.
	And since none of the boys paid attention to the other girls in 
the school, the girls naturally were routing for Akane.
	Unfortunately, they would be disappointed on this particular morning...

***

	Akane's mood was slowly changing from good to rotten as a bad 
tempered Ranma trailed along behind her.  *If it wasn't one thing with 
that girl it's another!* she thought as she was going to Tofu-Sensei's 
clinic.  *I need something to snap her out of this.  Imagine!  Thinking 
that she's actually a boy.*
	Akane grimaced suddenly, remembering that despite the fact that 
Ranma was obviously female now, not more that two hours before she had 
been male.  She needed something to make Ranma accept being female, at 
least for the next little while.  Besides, as a girl, Ranma seemed to be 
less of a threat somehow and more of a friend.
	"Akane, do we have to go looking for new clothes right away?  I 
mean, couldn't we wait a few days until a letter from the school arrives 
and then go next week?"
	That did it!  She would have to teach that uncute tomboy how to 
be more feminine, and if that...Akane smiled suddenly, "Ranma, I bet 
you're not up to a challenge."
	Ranma looked  at the back of Akane's head, "Up to a challenge?  
Of course I'm up to a challenge.  I can take on anything and anyone and 
win.  You saw how I defeated you yesterday in the Dojo!"
	Akane smiled, not turning to Ranma, she HAD read her right.  The 
pig-tailed girl was unable to resist a fight or challenge, and that meant 
that Ranma would be easy to fool and manipulate.  "Oh, I don't know.  
Martial arts is one thing, it's quite another to have real self control."
	*Not have self control?*  Ranma fumed to herself.  *I have self 
control, lots of self control, not that an idiot like Akane would realize 
that, of course.  She's too concerned with making me into little miss 
homemaker in order for us to get out of that damn engagement.  I'll show 
her!*
	Ranma stopped, pulling on Akane's hand to stop her as well.  
"OK!  That's it!  Let make a bet right now on how much self control I have!"
	Akane turned to Ranma and frowned slightly, "Well, if you're 
sure...I mean I'm bound to win this bet if I make up the terms, and 
you're bound to lose.  I don't want any hard feeling between us."
	Ranma grunted, "Oh!  So  you're backing out are you?  I don't 
believe it, here you say I have no self control, and now you're backing 
down from that statement."
	*Gotcha!* Akane thought to herself as she said, "OK then, If I 
win, I get to do to you whatever I want for a month!"
	Ranma responded, "And _when_ I win, you'll...you'll...you'll 
treat me to a dinner at a restaurant of my choice every Saturday evening 
for one month!"  Ranma smirked, *Heh!  I'm sure to win, and I don't want 
her going broke.  A little Saotome Style eating should disillusion her 
from betting with me again.*
	Akane pretended to narrow her eyes in anger, "You're on!  Here's 
the deal, you _dress_ and _act_ as a feminine young girl for one week, 
even so far as sleeping and bathing, and I will concede defeat.  If you 
fail in _any_ way, you lose.  Agreed or are you backing out before you 
begin?"
	Ranma stuck out her hand, "Agreed!"
	Akane shook the shorter girls hand, *Ranma, you'll lose as soon 
as Tofu-Sensei begins the main part of the exam...*

***

	"Say Nabiki is Akane sick or something?" one of the girls 
standing by the window asked as she looked down into the schoolyard.
	"No, why?"
	"She hasn't shown up yet and beaten up the boys."
	Nabiki smirked.  She had been expecting this, so had not even 
bothered going over to the window.  "It's not that surprising, she left 
early this morning."
	The girls started to gather around Nabiki's desk, "What 
happened?  Did she finally decide to avoid the boys or something?"
	Smiling serenely, Nabiki thought of what would be happening when 
the school got hold of the news that her little sister was no longer 
available.  All of the boys in the school were going to be disappointed 
while all of the girls in the school were going to be happy.  She herself 
might be able to finally get a guy interested in her for herself, not 
what she could do for him.  "No, she just went out for an early breakfast 
with her fiancee."
	"Fiancee!!"
	"When did she get engaged?"
	"Who is he?"
	"Is he cute?"
	"Can he fight since Akane likes to do that?"
	"How old is he?"
	"I thought Akane hated boys?"
	Nabiki chuckled to herself, "One at a time!  I'll answer all your 
questions, but you have to remember something.  With Akane taken, that 
means that the boys will be able to concentrate on us."
	Several of the girls eyes lit up as they thought of that.  For 
the first time since the start of the school year, something might go 
right for them.  Despite what happened the year before, this year they 
hadn't succeeded in getting any dates.  The boys were either not 
interested or too banged up to go anywhere.
	One girl however still wanted her question answered.  "I still 
think it's strange.  After all, everyone knows how much your sister hates 
boys."
	Nabiki scowled at the girl.  "That's true Kyoko, but she still 
got engaged last night."  she smirked suddenly at the thought, "But 
perhaps there's something different about this fiancee that she likes."
	Mika looked at Nabiki, "What's so different about her fiancee?"
	"Oh nothing much, although I think that will wait until lunch.  
Besides, you should ask her when you see her, I don't want to give too 
many things away."
	"Please Nabiki-Sempai?"
	Nabiki looked at the girls surrounding her desk, "Ok, I'll say 
this much about Saotome Ranma.  Ranma is a martial artist of the same 
type of school as my family, has been traveling for years, even to China, 
and perhaps beyond, and somehow managed to get my sister to agree to 
marriage in the space of twenty minutes."
	All the girls in the room started to murmur about what type of 
man the 'Ranma' could possibly be.  It was already surprising that Akane 
had agreed to get married, but for someone to convince her in twenty 
minutes?  He had to be some sort of deity, or as close to one as mortals 
could get.
	The rumour spread through the school like wildfire...

***

	Tofu-Sensei looked at the girls who had just walked into his 
clinic, immediately recognizing one of them.  "You're in early today 
Akane-chan.  What happened, did you get hurt again?"
	Ranma looked at Akane for a second, "Again?  I take it you come 
here often."
	Akane blushed slightly, "Umm...Yeah...Sorta...Anyway..."
	Even though Ranma had only been a girl a short time, even she 
could notice the expression on Akane's face.  The blush she had was 
threatening to spread to her neck, and she was now being extremely shy.  
Looking at the Sensei and then back to Akane, she thought, *So that's who 
it is!*
	Akane in the meantime, gathered herself from the shy girl she 
usually was around Tofu-Sensei and said, "We came here to get a full 
physical exam if you have time Sensei.  Ranma just moved here recently, 
and she hasn't been to the doctors in a long time.  I need to stay with 
her to be sure she gets things done, as well as making sure that a copy 
of this exam goes with her to the school."
	Tofu looked at the two girls.  While he didn't show it, he was a 
very experienced martial artist, one who's training had taken a few 
unusual turns over the years.  He had not only been trained by his father 
in their Dojo, but also but several of the best acupuncturists and 
moxibustionist in the trade.  Accordingly, he had also studied the body a 
lot more and had become familiar with some of the most unusual sets of 
pressure points and techniques that the human body had or could sustain.  
He could also see that while the two of them were not exactly lying, 
there was more to it than they were telling.
	"OK, suppose we get you into examining room two.  You can wait 
out here Akane-chan until you're needed."
	Akane looked at the Sensei, "Uh...Could I borrow your phone for a 
while, I need to talk to the school and inform them that we will be late 
for classes."
	"Of course Akane-chan."  He then led the pig tailed girl into the 
examining room, "Now young lady, what is your na..."
	Akane was glad that the door had closed behind the Sensei, 
especially since she had a lot of feelings for him.  She still didn't 
know why she acted like that around him, especially when she already knew 
that the Sensei had feelings for her eldest sister.  He liked her, sure, 
but only as a little girl, not as a woman.  Still, she could dream...
	Sighing, she lifted the phone and made the call to the office 
that would set everything in motion.

***


	Furinkan High's secretary was in a rather good mood this 
particular morning, considering that the usual team of Emergency Services 
Training Personnel that were usually in attendance to assist the schools 
medical staff had left without having to attend to a single patient.  It 
was wonderful not having to call all those parents with the report that 
their son had just been injured for trying to assault a young woman.  
That in itself was rather pleasant, as it meant there was less risk of 
the Police Service being called to handle such incidents.
	Not that Police Service had paid much attention to high schools 
other than to try to keep down property damage in the past several years.
	It was a surprising, but little known fact outside of Japan that 
high schools were some of the most violent places in the country.  It was 
not in the way that North Americans thought of danger, considering the 
dearth of guns and other weapons of mass destruction, but rather in how 
the students took it upon themselves to try to challenge and battle with 
one another.  In many places, such attacks could happen without any 
warning, although an effort was made so that the opponents could fight at 
an equal level of skill.
	It was the way a warrior race, still not quite done with older 
forms of honour, survived.
	Of course, the educators did their best to make sure that no 
reporters who were not raised in the Japanese way found out about it.  
The few times that it had been found out and reported by the new media 
from other countries, it had been dismissed as a complete joke.  That was 
one advantage of all the Manga and Anime stories that had finally 
trickled into the markets of other countries;  Those countries thought it 
was a publicity stunt for a new show or movie.
	<beep>
	Looking towards the phone on her desk, she was surprised to 
actually hear it ring for a change.  So often on Mondays, the phones in 
the office were tied up as calls were made to the local doctors, 
hospitals, and parents.  It was actually _rare_ that someone would phone 
the school in the morning.
	"Moshi Moshi!  Furinkan high school."
	"Good morning, Natume-san.  It's Tendo Akane, and I'm just 
calling to inform you that I will be away this morning escorting a new 
person living at my house."
	"OK, Akane.  I was wondering why you weren't in school."
	"umm...Well, I also need to talk with a councilor about her, and 
her school record.  She'll be attending the school with me, and after the 
exam, I was going to take her to get a few school uniforms."
	"Ok, I'll see if Morisato-Sensei is free.  She should be able to 
help you with any problems."
	"Thank you very much."
	"No problem, just a second."   Natsume Sayoko said and put Akane 
on hold.   She then pressed a button on the intercom.
	"Moshi Moshi!"
	"Morisato-Sensei, Tendo Akane is on line one for you."
	"Thank you, Natsume-san.  I'll take it right away."
	Sayoko sat back in her chair.  *So that's why it was so quiet 
this morning...*

***

	All the boys who had come back in after waiting for Akane to show 
up were stunned when they heard what the girls were babbling about.  They 
didn't normally listen to what the girls said, most of them not being 
interested in talking or learning about peoples feelings, but as soon as 
they heard Akane's name mentioned, they became concerned.  Not that their 
concern lasted much longer than a few seconds after they heard the news.
	In a rather interesting way, the types of devastation, and the 
reactions it provoked throughout the school ranged from good nature to anger:
	Among the boxers in the school, it was felt that they should have 
faced whoever it was that won Akane's heart before he stole her away from 
them.
	For the football players, they were cheerful, even good natured 
although they privately wished to face a team in order to obliterate 
them.  The violence that football fans showed in Europe would have seemed 
pleasant by comparison to what they wanted to do.  Of course, they were 
too gentlemanly to ever really do that to opponents.
	The Kendo team wasn't so happy about the situation.  While they 
did want to go out with Akane, and they had never defeated her, the fact 
that she was a martial artist who could face them bare handed was enough 
for them to virtually worship her in their own way.  They did wish her 
the best, and if someone won her heart, so be it.  Unfortunately, they 
also feared the wrath of the Captain of the team.
	Of course, Tatewaki's reaction was not only the most predictable, 
but the loudest in the school when he heard about it.  He had changed 
back from his Gi top and Hakama into his school uniform when he first 
heard the rumour.  He had asked the girls what they were talking about, 
and each one of them refused to answer him.  If he wanted answers, he 
would have to go to Nabiki in order to get them.
	He knew, of course, that this might cost him some money, although 
he was not very concerned about it at that moment.  If dealing with 
Nabiki's habits was the price to pay for getting the necessary 
information, he would pay it.  However, just to make sure, he checked his 
wallet before he went into class.
	Since he sat next to Nabiki in class, he had no problem in 
talking to her.  "Nabiki-chan.  I would speak with you about Akane-chan.  
What has happened to her that she would not show up for school on this day?"
	Nabiki looked over at Kuno and smiled to herself, not that she 
let that show on her face.  Kuno was not only somewhat handsome, he was 
also rich, his family having transferred much of the money to each 
succeeding generation upon engagements and marriages.  Of course, they 
were also one of the families that had taken advantage of placing money 
in Swiss bank accounts before the current tax laws had gone into effect.  
While never directly owned by the Kuno family in Japan, there overseas 
fortunes were quite lucrative.  The proviso being that they were only 
inheritable outside of the country.
	That would be something that Nabiki could work with.  Of course, 
if she were to have Kuno to herself, then she would need to discourage 
him from pursuing Akane, and in that case, Kasumi was right.  "What would 
you like to know Kuno-chan?"
	"I would know what has happened to keep her fairness from these 
hallowed halls."
	"She got engaged last night."
	"WHHAAATTTT!"  Kuno screamed upon hearing that, "I will brook no 
one engaging such a beauty as Akane-chan as long as I am around.  What is 
the name of the knave who dares such travesty."
	Nabiki sighed to herself.  She should have expected this, but 
then again, they may be more than one way to stop Kuno, especially if 
Ranma could fight as well as Akane.  "The name is Saotome Ranma, and I 
don't think you can stop he-him from marrying Akane.  Not only did our 
parents arrange it, but they agreed to it themselves.  The honour of both 
families is at stake."
	Kuno continued, not even hearing what Nabiki had said after 
Ranma's name.  "I shall defeat this insect, this one who dares stand in 
the way of one willed by the Kami to be greater than other mortals!"
	Nabiki took this in without changing the expression on her face.  
*Perhaps it would be better if I just dealed him out of the family 
fortune...*

***

	"Good morning Akane-chan"  Morisato-Sensei said as she prepared 
herself for whatever problems may have been happening.  "What can I do 
for you this morning?"
	"Sensei, I will be out for the morning settling a new member of 
my family into the household.  We are currently at Tofu-Sensei's clinic 
where she is undergoing a full examination.  I was wondering if you could 
contact the uniform store and inform them that we will be coming in this 
morning to pick up a selection of school uniforms for her."
	Morisato Keiko smiled slightly.  Akane, while a bit stubborn, was 
a good student and could be allowed this lax.  It wasn't as though she 
looked for excuses to skip classes, and she did attempt to do all she 
could, despite the problems she had dealing with the boys.  "That would 
be fine Akane-chan.  I do need to know the name of this new member of the 
	"Her name is Saotome Ranma, Sensei."
	"Just a second while I pull up her records.  Is she already 
registered with the school?"
	"She should be.  Her records may be a little out of date however 
as she has just come back from a rather long training trip."
	Keiko looked at the record that had just popped up on her 
screen.  Saotome seemed to be a fair student, good in athletics from the 
note on her transcript.  The boys school he was last at...
	"Akane, are you sure Saotome is a girl?"
	"Yes Sensei."
	Keiko checked the system to see if there was a fault at her end, 
and then sent to check if there was another Saotome Ranma elsewhere in 
the National database, just in case she had received the wrong file.  
Apparently not, because the name was rather unique.  Of course, how many 
parents would name their child 'Wild Horse.'  "Akane, according to this 
record, Ranma is a young man, sixteen years of age."
	"I was hoping we could sit down with you this afternoon and 
discuss that Sensei.  There are some things that you need to know, such 
as she was raised as a boy."
	Keiko noted the nervousness on the other side of the line.  
"Akane, Ranma isn't one of those boys who have been changing gender is 
he?  If that is the case, special dispensation can be made, and a 
specialized school uniform can be created."
	She heard Akane giggle over the phone, "No Sensei, she's 
definitely female, although she sometimes doesn't act like it.  Her 
father raised her as though she was his son so she's a bit of a tomboy.  
	"OK, Akane.  As soon as the two of you arrive at school however, 
I would like to see you in my office.  We will need to discuss several 
things and one of them is the matter of these passed school records."  
Keiko heard a scream in the background.
	"Ahhh...I have to go Sensei, something's happened to Ranma."
	With that the phone went off the line and Keiko was left to muse 
to herself.  If this was something unusual, she could handle it.  After 
all, her family was still ninja, and such training, especially in this 
school, came in handy.  She would have to see what she could do, but in 
the meantime, she would open up a new folder.

***

	Akane grinned to herself.  She had been expecting that scream to 
becoming sooner or later.  Ranma hadn't known that a full exam included 
breast examination for Cancer.  Nor did she realize that later there 
would be a gynecological examination.  From the reaction of that scream, 
Ranma had just lost with just the breast exam.
	"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO YOU HENTAI!"
	Composing herself, Akane strode into the room, "What's all the 
shouting about Ranma?"
	Tofu-Sensei was looking a bit startled, but calm.   "I was giving 
Ranma a breast exam when she shouted.  I don't know why however, unless 
she is having her period."
	Ranma looked startled, not able to say a word, much less comment 
after she heard that, suddenly curious.  "You mean that's a normal part 
of the exam?"
	Akane giggled, "Ranma, how long has it been since you've been to 
the doctors?"
	Ranma thought for a second, "About seven or eight years.  Why?"
	Tofu looked at the girl, now realizing what was wrong.  She had 
been raised in the older country ways which included not going to the 
doctors for yearly exams.  It was dying as everyone grew used to the new 
industrial Japan, but the attitude still existed.  "It's a normal part of 
the exam, Ranma.  Before I go any further, I think I better have a talk 
with you."
	He took out a note sheet and added it to the file he had started 
on Ranma.  OK Ranma, the first thing I am going to do to you is give you 
a booster shot of immunizations.  It doesn't hurt to be sure, and those 
immunizations are important.  Also I'm going to have to exam you entire 
body, including your vagina, so I need to know if you are having your 
period."
	Ranma was now confused, looking both at Akane and the Sensei.  
"What's a period?"

***

	After the examination was over, Ranma was feeling a bit woozy.  
Not from the immunizations, but the other more...embarrassing things that 
she had to go through, not to mention the utterly scary talk that she had 
with the Sensei.  She shuddered to think of what would have happened if 
she had started to bleed as the Sensei had said, without any experience 
to help her.  Not only that, but some of that talk had been disgusting, 
and that book the Sensei had shown her about diseases...
	One thing was for sure, she would DEFINITELY avoid having sex.
	"What's the matter Ranma?"  Akane asked, seemingly unconcerned 
about what had happened.
	"What's the matter?!  I just went through what amounted to hell, 
especially with that cold object....ARRGGGHHHH!  Do women have to go 
though that often?"
	Akane turned back to her friend, taking the smaller girls hand in 
her own.  "About once a year Ranma.  It's nothing to be worried about.  
Besides, you already lost the bet."
	"Huh!  What are you talking about?"
	"You do have to admit that you didn't act particularly feminine 
inside of the clinic."
	Ranma fumed.  Akane was right, she had lost the bet.  She hadn't 
lost like this since...Since when?  She didn't remember a time when she 
had ever lost.  "Ok, I admit I lost.  How about we go double or nothing."
	"Are you sure about that Ranma?  I mean you didn't even last a 
couple of hours, are you sure you want to risk it?"
	"I'm sure.  Do we have a bet?"
	Akane smiled to herself, "We have a bet!"
	*Ranma.  You just don't know when to quit, and now you are going 
to end up being a nice feminine girl for at least the next two months...*

***

	Kuno was standing out in the hall, holding a fire bucket of water 
in each hand.  This he could do easily, even tune out his mind to the 
drudgery of holding the buckets.  After all, this was similar to some of 
the exercises done by Kendo practitioners in order to strengthen there 
limbs and increase their endurance.  In fact, this time he had a good 
point to focus one, face of his beloved Akane and the foul person named 
Ranma who had spirited her away from the school.
	*Wherever you are Saotome, I promise that you will feel my 
wrath.  You are unworthy of such a beautiful, adoring woman.  The only 
one who deserves such is myself or another whom the Kami have smiled 
upon.  I shall defeat you and take the precious Akane away from your foul 
grasp!*
	As he stood there, he began going over the variou Kata in his 
mind, shifting away from the practices used by Kendo and over to the 
practices used by Kenjutsu.
	He was going to make sure Saotome didn't come away from their 
encounter intact.

***

Ichinohei Hitomi
Hitomi@terminal.autobahn.mb.ca
http://204.112.189.3/~hitomi
"The beginings of wisdom is the ability to always ask questions."