Ok, I was too busy today to complete it, but heres a quick update.

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.

***

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