Sort of inspired by a recent court decision...

			FAITH AND CREDIT
			by Scott K. Jamison
			(Takahashi disclaimer)

	"At the top of the news tonight, the Prime Minister today signed 
the budget bill passed by the Diet on Monday--"
	"Oh, just get to the weather report, wouldja?" implored Ranma of 
the TV.
	"Shh!" hissed Nabiki.  "Some of us care about pocketbook issues, 
okay?" She was listening for those subtle cues that would tell her how 
the stock index would be affected; and thus how she should arrange her 
investments.  
	The report seemed to be pretty upbeat; perhaps there was hope 
that the current stagnation would be broken up a little.  So that meant-- 
	"Niihao!" came a cheery voice.  Shampoo.  It had to be her, since 
the other Chinese person likely to visit usually started conversations 
with "Die, Ranma!"
	Sure enough, it was the purple-haired Amazon, most persistent of 
Ranma's would-be fiancees.  But something was wrong.  It took Nabiki only 
a nanosecond to spot it.  She wasn't carrying any food.  Instead she had 
a sheaf of papers with small print on them.  And that smile wasn't her 
usual "I'm glad to see Ranma" one, but her "I have a plan" one, the one 
that made her look especially like a hungry cat.
	"Uh, hi Shampoo.  What brings you here?" asked Ranma, ready to 
avoid being glomped.  Not that it usually worked.
	"Shampoo bring something to read!" she responded brightly.  
	"Looks a bit bigger than your usual taste in books." put in 
Nabiki. 
	"Not for Shampoo to read!  For Ranma and Tendou family!  Greedy 
girl want look?"
	"I suppose.  Hand it over."
	It turned out to be the latest budget bill.  The one the Prime 
Minister had just signed.  But why would Shampoo be interested in that?  
Nabiki scanned the pages.  Pork.  Harmless political posturing.  Pork.  
An actually needed new bridge.  Pork.  National Defense. Pork.  Trade-- 
	"Oh.  My.  God.  Ranma, you'd better look at this." 
	"Can it wait?  They're finally on the weather." 
	"You're not going to care about the weather."
	Ranma reluctantly turned away as soon as the word "rain" came 
from the TV set.  He looked where she was pointing.  He frowned, confused 
by the formalistic legal language. 
	"What does that mean, 'full faith and credit'?"
	"It means, Ranma, that Joketsuzoku marriage customs are now 
considered legal in Japan."
	Ranma's face turned white.
	"So!" gleefully exclaimed Shampoo.  "All time, people say Amazon 
laws not hold in Japan.  Now they do.  Ranma Shampoo's husband!" 
	She glomped Ranma, who was too stunned to resist.  Naturally, it 
was then that Akane returned from shopping.
	"Ranma you faithless pervert!"
	"Hold up Akane." advised Nabiki, who clued her in on the recent 
events. 
	"Ranma, how could you!"
	"Hey, I wasn't the one who signed that stupid law!  Leggo, 
Shampoo!" 
	"Shampoo never let go husband again!  We make babies tonight!" 
	"Not tonight you don't."  
	"What greedy girl mean?"  Shampoo gave Nabiki the Glare of Death. 
	"This bill doesn't actually go into effect until January 1.  And 
under the Constitution, laws don't apply retroactively." 
	"Retro-what?" asked Shampoo and Ranma simultaneously.
	"It can't apply to things that happened before it goes into 
effect.  The Americans did *some* things right."
	Shampoo let go of Ranma.  "Shampoo will find way to make marriage 
stick!  Shampoo not beaten yet!"  She fled out the door.
	Ranma sighed in relief.
	"Don't get comfortable yet."
	"Huh?"
	"All she has to do is have you defeat her *after* January 1, and 
the law *will* apply.  Unless of course you're already married by 
then..." 
	There was a long silence.


		The End

SKJAM!
"There!  Your major sympathetic role in a story."
"Don't forget you still owe me a CD player, a new boyfriend and winning 
the lottery..."