On Sat, 4 Jan 1997 10:54:27 -0800, Henry J. Cobb <hcobb@slip.net>
wrote:

So far:

Things are going swimmingly for Akane Tendo.

Yeah, but when we get to the beach battle vs. Cologne we'll find out
Akane CAN'T swim. :)

Public Service Announcement:

If you find yourself in a abusive relationship, please seek professional
help immediately, for both your sakes.

Good advice.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Akane and Ranma evaded Shampoo twice more then managed to lose her and
get home safely.

This kind of thing makes me agree with what Blackbird said about part
4. You've got to stop rushing through scenes like this. I know some of
this is familiar ground, but even so. If you're going to include a
scene, then flesh out the writing with more detail. Either that, or
don't include the scene; maybe describe what happened indirectly. e.g.
have R&A come home and say "I think we've finally managed to lose
her."

"Why the delay you two?"  Nabiki elbowed Akane gently.  "Did you run off
to someplace romantic?"

Know what I mean, nudge nudge?

"I killed, by bringing that fever to the village.  They probably had no
natural defense for whatever it was.  Shampoo's great-grandmother must
have been one of the victims.  She loved that old woman so.  She must
have been in training for the past six years.  And now she's here to
claim her vengeance."

Whoa, that's a pretty unlikely explanation, Akane. Amazons are used to
roughing it and would have IMHO a much greater resistance to disease
than city folk like you; particularly against Chinese diseases.

Of course we readers know that it wasn't really Akane who pissed
Shampoo off...

Shampoo pointed to another column, in Japanese, which Akane read aloud.
"If one of the amazon warriors should be defeated by an outsider who is
a woman, she must give her the kiss of death and kill her, but if she is
defeated by an outsider who is a man, she must marry him."

"Congratulations Ranma."  Nabiki said from the doorway.

Baiting Ranma here, I take it. I don't think Nabiki would really go
along with Shampoo taking her sister's fiance away.

"It's a little tight in the chest and a little loose in the waist, but
it'll do for now."

Heh. Lucky Ranma wasn't there to make that particular observation...

Genma seemed stunned to see Shampoo, but Soun recognised her at once.
"Shampoo, you've come to visit Akane?  Stay as long as you like, my
house is yours."

He's being awfully friendly. Does he not know that Shampoo is now
after Ranma?

"I know her well enough.  It's obvious that she's a violent maniac with
homicidal tendencies."

Just like someone else we know!

"But she really is a very sweet girl, once you get to know her."

Just like someone...

"I'm Akane Tendo and you are?"

"I'm the real Akane Tendo!"  The other Akane replied and took up a
martial arts stance.  "You're the imposter."

Will the real Akane Tendo please stand up and kick Ranma across the
room? :-)

Actually there are some fairly easy ways the Tendos could figure out
who the real one is, I would think.

It's all in all a very intriguing tale. I can hardly wait to see what
happens next.

Gary

Gary Kleppe
kleppe@execpc.com, Home page http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe
My fanfics and the FFML map are on my comics/manga page,
       http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics