Hi, everyone ^_^ While me and Mike wait for part three of Ill Met to get
back from the prereaders, here's a short.
-------------------------------------------------
A Fate Worse Than.....
by Susan Doenime
All characters and situations copyrighted by Takahashi Rumiko. Used
without permission.
------------------------------------------------



   Conspiracies, by their very nature, tend to be plotted in dark, 
bare rooms, with a single lightbulb hanging from a cord to 
provide a dim light. But, sadly, the Tendo Dojo lacked such a 
room.

   It did, however, have a perfectly nice garden. And that's 
where the Get Ranma and Akane Married NOW club met. Both 
members of it.

   They weren't, truth be told, entirely happy.

   "Tendo-kun?"

   "Yes, Saotome?"

   "Kasumi's been ironing the newspapers again. Ruined the sports
section."

   "She has?"

   "And she's also been looking at _that_ cookbook. You know, 
the one with the "Peppered Panda Steak" in it."

   "I'm sure that's just coincidence, Saotome-kun."

   "Then why has she been insisting I gain another 'serving'?"

   "Oh dear...I suppose we'll have to start her on the medication 
again."

   "'Again', Tendo-kun?"

   "Yes....I wouldn't worry. Last time she was insisting that 
rabbits weren't true and that Akane was making the armchairs 
try to kill her. This seems much less severe."

   "Good to hear, good to hear..."

   "Just make sure to hide any power tools you might have."

   The two sat in silence for a while, reflecting on this.

   "Tendo...when is your daughter going to marry my boy?"

   "I could ask you the same question, Saotome."

   Genma scratched his head. "But I don't have a daughter, and 
you don't have a son..."

   "No, Saotome-kun. I mean about Ranma and Akane."

   "Oh."

   Silence descended once more.

   Soun finally gave a little moan of despair, and sunk his head 
into his lap. "It's hopeless, Saotome. They _like_ each 
other...they really do..."

   "Crazy about each other."

   "But no matter how hard we push them together, they just 
won't say the word!"

   Genma nodded sagely. "Indeed, Tendo-kun. It seems the more 
we try to have them marry, the more they pull apart..."

   Silence.

   "Saotome-kun? Say that again?"

   "The more we try to have them marry, the more they pull 
apart."

   "Hmm."

~*~

   That afternoon, Genma and Soun called a family meeting in 
the living room. One by one, the other occupants filed into the 
room, each looking as though they'd rather be somewhere else.

   Nabiki seemed bored. Kasumi kept eyeing the armchairs 
nervously. Ranma and Akane kept glancing at each other, as if 
to say "What are the old fools going to try _this_ time?"

   After everyone had taken their seats, Genma stood.

   "My ungrateful son," he rumbled, "and Tendo's daughter Akane 
have both repeatedly demonstrated that they don't wish to be 
married. Well, fine. We've had enough. As much as it pains us, 
Tendo-kun and I have decided to break the engagement."

   Nabiki sputtered, Ranma and Akane looked uncertain, and 
Kasumi muttered something about fanged linoleum.

   "However," he continued, "I've had a much better offer. It 
seems Kunou Kodachi has decided to sign over to me her half of 
the Kunou fortune upon your marriage to her, boy. And so, I've 
promised you to her. The wedding is next week."

   "WHAT? Pop, you can't! You wouldn't!"

   "KODACHI! RANMA NO BAKA!"

   Soun picked this moment to interject. "Now Akane, you 
mustn't begrudge Ranma his happiness..."

   "My happiness? Mr. Tendo, there's nothing..."

   "...especially since you've been promised to another."

   "What? Daddy, what do you mean?"

   "Years ago, before I met Saotome-kun, a man saved my life in 
China. I promised him, in gratitude, that I would marry a 
daughter of mine to his son, or vice versa, depending. While I 
had long thought this impossible, certain information regarding 
my savior's child has come to my attention...."

   Nabiki looked up in horror. "Daddy...you don't mean..."

   "Yes, I do. Akane, you marry Tsubasa on Thursday."

~*~

   Three days later, Ranma and Akane eloped together.

   

- Susan Doenime
Brisbane, U of Q
"I hit the streets / They watched me in the monitor..."