Hello all!

Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
"The High Cost of Loving - Chapter Two"
"The Money Pit - Part Four of Five"
by Suds-kun (suds1964@tir.com)

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Ranma 1/2 characters are created by and copyright Rumiko Takahashi.
Published by Shogakukan Inc. and VIZ Comm.
Used without permission.
Intended for the sole non-profit use of fans.
============================================

"Get off me, old man!" onna-Ranma shouted as she shoved the panda off 
of her.  She stood up, stretched and looked around.  They had set up camp 
near Furinkan High so that she wouldn't be late for school. "It's been a 
while since I took a morning run as a girl."  And with that, she started 
jogging towards the athletic field.

The panda yawned and stood up.  After looking around and seeing no one, 
he gathered up the camp and left.

===

"Ohayoo, oneechan!" announced Akane as she knelt at the table.

"Ohayoo, Akane-chan. Here is your breakfast." Kasumi set down a bowl of 
rice in front of Akane. She watched her little sister for a few seconds 
before kneeling at the table herself.

Akane looked around and noticed that only Kasumi was at breakfast. 
"Where's daddy and Nabiki, oneechan?"

"Nabiki left for school already, she said that she had some things to take 
care of before school started. Father is at an emergency meeting of the 
town council. They wanted father to attend, since he was the head of the 
auxiliary police force once."

"What happened?"

"The nice policeman that came to get father said that another restaurant 
was destroyed last night by an explosion. It seems that ojiisan was 
involved." 

"I heard an explosion last night, could it have been one of Happosai's fuse 
bombs?"

Kasumi looked at Akane and paused before she answered. "It seems that 
there were some women's lingerie found in the debris, so I assumed it was 
ojiisan. But the reason for the meeting is that the store owners want to 
prevent further destruction before anyone else gets injured."

Akane looked at her sister in shock, "Anyone else gets hurt? What 
restaurant was destroyed?"

"The Neko Hanten. The policeman said that it was almost completely 
destroyed. Also, one of the employees is in the hospital. A young man with 
long black hair."

"Ranma!" shouted Akane as she jumped to her feet and started for the 
door.

"Akane! Stop!" shouted Kasumi.

Akane froze in her tracks, not from the order but from the realization that 
her sister had shouted at her.

"Father asked the policeman what the young man looked like and was told 
that he was Chinese and wore glasses. It's Mousse in the hospital, not 
Ranma. That's when the policeman escorted father to the meeting."

Akane knelt back down at the table. "First Ucchan's and now the Neko 
Hanten, no wonder the store owners are nervous. I hope Mousse is O.K."

Kasumi smiled at Akane, "Father will tell us all about it when he returns 
from the meeting, but you need to go to school." Kasumi handed a larger 
than usual lunch to her. "The extra lunch is for Ranma, if you see him 
today."

Akane started to scowl, but slowly smiled. "Hmmm. Thanks, oneechan!"

Kasumi waved as she watched Akane leave. She then cleared the table and 
set some large pieces of paper on it.

"Let's see," she hummed, "we can put a spiral design here and another 
here. A bench can go next to the wall, there." Kasumi's smile seemed to 
grow wider as she drew designs on the paper.

===

"Thanks for the lunch, Akane." Ranma said as he took another bite.

Akane smiled at him. "It's been a while since we've been able to talk like 
this."

Ranma looked at the smile and swallowed. "Has your father said anything 
more about us getting married?"

"No, he's been pretty quiet about it." Akane paused and then looked at 
Ranma. "What happened last night at the Neko Hanten, Ranma?"

Ranma looked at Akane in shock. "How, how did you find out about 
that?"

"Daddy was taken to a special town meeting by a policeman this morning. 
The store owners are worried that someone is systematically destroying 
restaurants. Ranma, what really happened?"

Ranma looked away when he began to speak. "Well, Cologne had been 
pressuring me into dating Shampoo or just out right marry Shampoo. I 
kept refusing. Shampoo would always grab me and try to get me to kiss
her or something. But, last night Mousse lost it when Shampoo grabbed 
me again. As we started fighting, the old letch ran in and grabbed me. He 
threw one of his fuse bombs and I knocked it back at him. That just got 
him mad and he tossed a _huge_ bomb. The next thing I knew, the old 
ghoul was waking me up. I noticed that Mousse was hurt trying to protect 
Shampoo from the blast. I stopped the bleeding while Cologne called for 
help. The paramedics said that he was going to be fine since I stopped him 
from bleeding to death. After the ambulance left, Cologne kicked me out, 
she was quite upset with me."

"I haven't talked to Uc-chan in a week and I don't know if she's still mad at 
me. Shampoo spent the night at the hospital with Mousse. I'm just worried 
that I've got another curse that destroys the places where I live and 
alienates my friends."

"That's not true, Ranma." Akane put her hand on Ranma's arm, trying to 
console him.

Ranma turned to Akane, taking her hand in his. "Why isn't it? Your dad 
kicked me out after getting tired of all the damage to the dojo. Uc-chan 
kicked me out after I destroyed her restaurant, and now the Neko Hanten. 
It's almost as if someone is making sure that everywhere I stay gets 
trashed, big time."

Their eyes met and locked. After a couple seconds they both looked at 
their hands, blushed and quickly let go of each other.

"Uhm, thanks for the lunch, Akane. I really appreciate it."

"I'll ask oneechan if she can make another for tomorrow. O.K.?"

"I'd like that, Akane."

They both noticed their classmates returning to the school as lunch time 
ended. They quietly gathered their things and followed them inside.

===

Ranma stood outside the classroom, bucket in hand, thinking. "First she 
sucks my ki and then she makes me stand in the hall. It's not my fault I fell 
asleep! Kasumi's lunch was so good, I couldn't keep awake."

"Saotome Ranma!" shouted Kuno Tatewaki as he charged, waving his 
bokken.  "Release the osage no onna from your sorcerous grasp."

Ranma easily dodged the attack and shouted back. "Why do you want 
her?"

"I love her! And I wish to prove my love to her!" announced Kuno, puffing 
out his chest.

Ranma glared at Kuno and then started to smile. "You want to prove it, 
huh?"

"That is correct, Ranma"

Ranma smiled, a devious gleam in his eyes. "I'll release her to you if you 
can pass a single test. You have to survive living with her for one week."

"My joy soars and knows no b.." Ranma's fist stopped Kuno's oratory 
short. "Why did you do that?" He mumbled.

"Here are the rules, Kuno.  One, her and her pet panda get their own, 
private room.  Two, they can come and go as they please, along with any 
of their friends.  Three, she or her panda are not held responsible for any 
damage that may occur to your mansion or any one staying in your 
mansion. If, after one week you do not throw her out of your mansion, I 
will release her.  It will then be up to her if she wants you. If you do ask 
her to leave before the week us up, you renounce any and all interest in 
her? Do you agree?"

"I agree to your test, Ranma. Where is my osage no onna?"

"I'll go get her, but you MUST ask her nicely to stay at your mansion." 
Ranma then walked away and turned the corner as Kuno started spouting 
poetry of his love for the pig tailed girl.

Ranma dumped the bucket on himself and confronted Kuno.

"Konnichiwa, Kuno-sempai." Onna-Ranma said as she batted her eyes.

Kuno rushed toward onna-Ranma with his arms outstretched, ready to 
bequeath a meaningful hug. "Ah! Megami-sama!  Thy beauty doth erf.."

Onna-Ranma's fist stopped Kuno in mid-sentence. She removed her fist 
from his face and batted her girlie eyes at him. "Ranma-sama said that 
panda-san and I can stay at your big mansion for a week. Is this true 
sempai?"

"It is most assuredly a truth, my lovely erf.."

"And will I have my own, private room?"

"Hai, My beautiful erf.."

"And can I invite any of my friends over?"

"Hai. Any of your friends, oh my beaut..erf."

"When can I move in, Sempai?"

"I will have the room ready for you this afternoon, my beau..erf."

"I'll see this afternoon, sempai!"

"Hai!" Kuno flinched reflexively at the expected fist. When it didn't come, 
he opened his eyes and found that his osage no onna had disappeared.

===

Akane jogged into the dojo, her afternoon run just completed.  She quickly 
changed out of her jogging attire and into her gi.  After finishing her warm 
up stretches, she went through her kata. She then turned her attention to 
the stack of cement blocks, taking two blocks and setting them up. 
"Hiyaaa!" she screamed as her fist broke through the blocks. With a sigh 
she tossed the broken pieces into the wheel  barrow and headed for the 
yard.

As she made her way to the godzilla sized pile of broken blocks, she 
noticed Kasumi watching her. "Oneechan! Did you need me for anything?"

Kasumi smiled and walked over to Akane. "Akane, you seem to have quite 
a collection there."

"Hai. I still haven't figured out what Ranma did with the broken blocks. 
These just seem to have piled up quickly." Akane sighed as she dumped 
the load of broken cement.

"Do you think you can build something out of these pieces?"

Akane looked quizzically at her sister, "What do you mean?"

"I was thinking of a rock garden. You could turn this corner of the yard 
into a nice, quiet, private place."

Akane looked at the pile of cement, and then at the walls of the property 
and then at her sister, a smile forming on her face. "That sounds like a 
great idea, oneechan!" Akane's smile quickly faded. "But, I don't have any 
idea or experience in building something like that."

"Oh, don't worry, Akane-chan. I can help you out. I'll show you which 
pieces to use and where to put them. You can pound them into place. It 
could be training and fun at the same time.

Akane smiled. "Can we start now?"

Kasumi returned the smile. "Supper is already prepared, and I have a few 
ideas for designs."

Kasumi began explaining her ideas to Akane as the two set about 
preparing the yard and deciding which pieces of cement went where.

===

Drool dripped from Onna-Ranma's open mouth as she stared at the table in 
front of her. Spread out before her was the most food she had ever seen in 
her life. Some of the dishes she recognized, others seemed so exotic and 
foreign. She looked across the table to Kuno. "Did you make all of this for 
me?"

"Hai, my goddess in pig-tails. You may eat any of the dishes you see 
before you."

The panda poked onna-Ranma in the ribs, as he pointed at the plate of 
bamboo in front of him. She scowled at him and then giggled. "Oh, panda-
san! Don't you want to eat that yummy bamboo?"

The panda growled at the laughing girl and swatted her on the head. "Hey! 
Cut that out!" She yelled and started punching the panda.

"My osage no onna! Why do you fight with your pet? Don't you like the 
banquet that I have laid out before you?"

Onna-Ranma and the panda stopped and the two looked at Kuno, who was 
now standing. She batted her eyes and mustered the most kawaii voice she 
could, "Oh, sempai! Panda-san thinks the food you've prepared is so 
yummy, that he wants to eat it too! Can he, sempai?" She tilted her head, 
clasped her hands to her chest and blinked her eyes like there was no 
tomorrow.

Kuno knelt back down at the table as if his whole body had melted. "Hai, 
my beautiful one. Eat as much as you like."

"Arigatoo!" shouted the red head as her and the panda began eating. Not 
your normal 'open mouth and shovel' eating, but the kind where you check 
to see if the table service has disappeared.

A shocked Kuno Tatewaki stared at the sight before him, the great number 
of dishes that had covered the large table were quickly vanishing. Coming 
to his senses, he grabbed up the plate before him, just as a small hand 
darted toward it. He turned and protected his meal, as he watched the last 
morsel of food on the table be grabbed by his osage no onna. He quickly 
ate the small serving of sushi-rice in his possession, a reaction more out of 
survival instincts than hunger.

"Ahh! That was delicious, Kuno-sempai!" announced onna-Ranma as she 
wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

"Gurowwf!" added panda-san.

Kuno just stared at the girl, until Sasuke got his attention. "Master," he 
whispered, "we're going to run out of food in two days if this occurs every 
evening. How long is she going to stay here?"

Kuno looked down at Sasuke in disgust. "The mighty Kuno family can 
easily support my osage no onna's desires for a week! No matter what they 
may be!"

"A WEEK!" shouted Sasuke. He quickly shrunk back as he saw the 
menacing stare from Kuno. "Yes, master. You are always correct." He 
bowed and scampered away.

"Yaaawwwwwn."

Kuno turned to watch his beloved stretch as she stood up from the table. 
"Ah! My beloved godde..erf."

Onna-Ranma pulled her fist from Kuno's face. "Sempai, panda-san and I 
are going to our room for the night. We'll have our privacy there, just like 
you promised?"

"Hai." replied the deflated Kuno. "Sasuke will wake you in the morning, 
so you can prepare for school."

"Oh, sempai? When is your sister coming home?"

"My fair sister will be arriving in three days, her gymnastic tour is ending 
tomorrow afternoon."

Onna-Ranma nodded her head and then turned. "Arigatoo. Good night,  
sempai."

Kuno smiled as he watched his goddess walk down the hall. "What grace! 
What movements! You will profess you love for me as ..." Kuno stopped, 
expecting a fist in the face. When he did not receive one, he smiled again 
and turned toward his room. "Success!" he thought, "By the end of the 
week I will have broken down all of her defenses! She will be mine!"

===

Nabiki eyed her sister carefully as they walked home from school. She was 
smiling, humming and even had a bounce in her step. "Something 
happened today," she thought, "and I bet it's something about Ranma." 

"Isn't it a beautiful day out, today, oneechan?"

Nabiki looked up at the overcast sky. "Yes, the sun is blinding." She then 
looked at her smiling sister and wondered on which planet she currently 
was. "Hey, sis!" shouted Nabiki.

Akane turned her head toward the noise. "Did you say something, 
oneechan?"

Nabiki rolled her eyes, "Yes, Akane. Did something happen today that you 
liked?"

"Oh, Ranma asked me over for dinner tomorrow."

"Dinner? Where is he taking you?"

"Well, he's staying at Kuno-sempai's mansion and"

"What!" shouted Nabiki.

Akane stopped and looked at her sister. Nabiki was glaring at her. 
"Oneechan, what's wrong?"

Nabiki quickly regained control of herself and waved her hand at her little 
sister. "You just surprised me, that's all. Ranma is staying at Kuno-
chan's?"

"Hai, Ranma got Kuno-sempai to let him stay at his mansion as the pig 
tailed girl for one week. If Kuno-sempai doesn't kick her out before the 
end of the week, she will then be 'free' to choose Kuno. Of course, Ranma 
says that the 'pig tailed girl' will not choose Kuno."

"What does this have to do with dinner?"

"Ranma thinks that if he can eat Kuno-sempai out of house and home and 
have his two 'loves' be the culprits, Kuno-sempai will stop hounding us.  
Ranma even asked me to bring P-chan. He said that if his 'pet' panda and 
my pet pig eat with us, Kuno should get even more bothered."

"So, Ranma is trying to get Kuno-chan to stop chasing the two of you by 
making him sick of you? I didn't think Ranma could make up such a 
complicated plan." Nabiki started walking again and Akane resumed her 
daydreaming.

"Ranma asked you out on a date?" thought Nabiki, "no wonder your 
happy. Even after all of this you still get to go out on a date." Nabiki's free 
hand clenched into a fist and she furrowed her brow. "It's just not fair!" she 
screamed to herself.

===

*knock*
*knock*

"Come in, Nabiki." replied Kasumi as she folded up her designs and 
placed them in her desk drawer.

Nabiki closed the door behind her and slowly made her way to Kasumi's 
bed, where she sat down.

Kasumi noticed that her sister was a little preoccupied by something. 
"How was your day today, Nabiki?"

"Ranma is staying at the Kuno mansion." Nabiki said icily.

"Akane mentioned that at supper tonight. She was quite happy with Ranma 
asking her out."

"But Ranma is going to use that date to get Kuno-chan to stop chasing 
him.  Daddy and Uncle Genma are also planning something when Kodachi 
returns. Kuno-chan is going to be hurt when they get done."

Kasumi looked at her sister and quietly gave a knowing smile. She moved 
from her desk to sit next to Nabiki on the bed.

"Kuno Tatewaki will be all right. It's better for Ranma and Akane if he's 
not chasing them."

"I just didn't expect Ranma to move in with Kuno-chan." Nabiki paused 
and looked at the floor. "I just wish _I_ could get all dreamy over a guy 
like Akane did today. It's just not fair, oneechan."

Kasumi put her arm around her sister and gave a quick hug. "Remember, 
your next after Akane."

Nabiki took in a quick breath as she started to shake. "But will he survive 
this, so we can, can ..." Tears started to slowly emerge from the corner of 
her tightly shut eyes. She then shook her head and wiped away the tears. 
*ahem* "We better get those two together as soon as possible." Nabiki 
stood and walked towards the door. "Arigatoo, oneechan. I'm glad I have a 
sister like you." Nabiki smiled as she looked at her smiling sister.

Nabiki went to open the door then stopped, deep in thought.  She turned 
and walked over to her sister, then kneeled before her. "Oneechan, you 
have always been so supportive of Akane and myself. Arigatoo gozaimasu, 
oneechan. I promise that I will be there for you,whenever you need me."

Kasumi wiped at her eye as she listened to her sister. "Nabiki, right  now 
I'd really appreciate a hug." Nabiki quickly complied. "I was a little jealous 
of Akane and even you, today. You both have someone on your hearts. I 
have no one. No one visits me or shows any interest in me."

Nabiki hugged her sister fiercely and whispered to her. "I promise that I 
won't rest until we find you someone, oneechan, I promise with all of my 
heart."

After a few minutes they separated and wiped away the tears, Kasumi 
offering tissues to Nabiki.

"Good night, oneechan."

"Good night, Nabiki."

Nabiki quietly shut the door as she left. "If only you could recognize that 
Tofu-sensei has got it bad for you." Nabiki walked into her room and 
snickered. "You know, I wonder how daddy and mom ever got along 
together, considering how the three of us are so inept at relationships.

===

Kuno Tatewaki smiled at the visage before him. His osage no onna and 
Tendo Akane eating the banquet that he had prepared for them.  Even their 
pets were joining them as they ate. The pig tailed girl was as full of life as 
always, but seemed to be quite uncouth when eating. The strong and 
masculine Akane was acting quite feminine and laughing at the jokes that 
the pig tailed goddess made. How different they are acting than when they 
are at school.

"Akane, when are you going to let P-chan dig into the food by himself? 
He's had his eye on my food ever since we started eating."

Akane looked at onna-Ranma and then at the little black pig. "Is that what 
you want, P-chan?" The piglet shook his head quickly and jumped out of 
her arms toward onna-Ranma. He landed in a large bowl of rice that was 
setting in front of Ranma.

Onna-Ranma laughed, "What a pig!"

Akane giggled in response. "I guess you were right, he did want to
eat by himself."

"Isn't this great, Akane? Kuno's supplying the food and is honor bound to 
not bother us."

Akane smiled at the red head as she reached for an exotic looking plate of 
food. "Do you think I could cook food like this, Ranma?"

Onna-Ranma started to reply when the hair on the back of her neck stood 
on end.

"OH HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO !!!!!!!"

Big sweat drops appeared on the panda, Akane, onna-Ranma, Sasuke and 
even Kuno.

Kodachi bounded into the dining hall, twirling a ribbon. "Dear Brother, I 
am home!  Where is Sasuke? He is needed to carry in the many awards 
and trophies I obtained at the tournament. Ah, there you are Sasuke. Go 
and take my luggage to my roo.." At this point Kodachi noticed the table 
of food and the visitors.

"How dare you enter this house, you vile stealer of my Ranma-sama's
heart!" Kodachi threw a spiked-club at onna-Ranma as she continued to
rave.

Ducking the projectile, Onna-Ranma grabbed a plate from the table and
flung it at Kodachi's ribbon hand.

The panda quickly grabbed up as many plates of food as possible. One
of the bowls also contained a struggling pig.

"Welcome home, Sist.." was all Kuno could say, before the deflected
plate hit him square in the face.

Kodachi continued to laugh and rant as she snagged a leg of the table
and flipped it up. The bowls and plates of food landed on both
onna-Ranma and Akane.

"My dress!" shouted Akane, "You're going to pay for that! Well, at
least the dry cleaning!"

With a kick, Onna-Ranma split the flying table in two.

As the battle progressed, the panda took the little pig into a side room. In 
the room were a number of steaming tea kettles and a couple changes of 
clothes. The panda poured the contents of one kettle on the pig and then 
tossed the clothes at the naked Ryouga. After getting dressed, Ryouga 
looked out the door at the escalating fight. He grabbed a kettle and started 
for the fight. "Now you're going to pay, Ran..." Ryouga's shout was  
stopped short as he caught a pork bun in his mouth.

Spitting it out, he charged onna-Ranma and tossed the hot water from the 
kettle at her.

The shock from Ranma's change lasted only a split second.

"Ryouga!" shouted Ranma.

"Ranma-sama!" shouted Kodachi.

"Saotome!" shouted Kuno.

"Ranma!" shouted Akane.

"Well, now I know who all is here." thought Sasuke.

"You're going to pay for ripping out part of my heart, Ranma!" Ryouga 
then threw a barrage of bandannas.

Ranma leapt out of the way of the razor sharp projectiles they made small 
holes in the wall. "Ryouga! Stop! What are you doing?" shouted Ranma.

Kodachi glomped onto Ranma, knocking him onto his back. "Oh,
Ranma-sama! I am so glad you came to welcome me home!" She leaned 
over and kissed him on the lips.

Ranma immediately struggled to escape the kiss and pushed her off.

Akane stared in disbelief as Ranma struggled. Her expression turned to 
anger as Ranma looked at her after pushing Kodachi off. "Unfaithful 
Hentai!" shouted Akane as she punted Ranma away from Kodachi and into 
the collapsing wall. Which finished collapsing onto Ranma. Akane then 
stormed out the hole in the wall. "I'm leaving!"

Ranma dug his way out from the rubble, searching for Akane. Except,
Kuno found Ranma.

"Vile sorcerer!"

Ranma dodged Kuno's bokken, but the wall behind him was not as lucky.
The force of Kuno's attack caused the section of the wall to explode
outward.

Leaning against another wall, Ranma tried to catch his breath. The
respite was not long lived.

"Bakusai Tenketsu!"

Ranma repeated the jumping, leaping and dodging from one part of the
hall to another. Trying to avoid each attack.

"Enslaver of women!"

"Ranma-sama!"

"Shi shi houkoudan!"

"Vile sorcerer!"

"Ranma-sama!"

"Shi shi houkoudan!"

"Base Letcher!"

"Ranma-sama!"

"Shi shi houkoudan!"

"Hey!" shouted onna-Ranma as a bucket of water landed on her head. She 
glared at the retreating panda, and then at the little black pig that was 
chewing on her ankle.

"My pig tailed goddess!" shouted Kuno as he grabbed onna-Ranma in a 
hug.

"Get off me, you pervert!"

Onna-Ranma then punched Kuno away and was ready to shout something
else when she stopped. Kodachi and Sasuke were staring at the ceiling.

"Nani?" whispered onna-Ranma as she looked up.

Kuno stood up and looked around, trying to see what the others were 
staring at. "'Tis a beautiful night out, tonight. The wind is blowing the 
leaves around and the clouds.." Realization of what has happened finally 
dawns upon him.

"Brother! What have you done? The great Kuno mansion is in ruin!"

Onna-Ranma could only see a couple rooms that were untouched. She
guessed that about half of the mansion was missing.

"Sempai, where am I going to stay?" the red head walked up to him and 
covered her mouth with her hands.

Kuno looked down at her and started to tremble. He then dropped to his 
knees. "Oh, my pig tailed goddess! Please forgive me, but your room has 
been destroyed. There is no where else in the mansion I can let you stay."

"I, I must leave? You won't let me stay here?"

"That is correct! You wicked girl!" interrupted Kodachi. "Leave! Now!
Before you destroy what is left of the great Kuno mansion!" She then
threw a club at her brother and knocked him unconscious before he
could speak.

The panda suddenly appeared and tossed a backpack to onna-Ranma.  She
put it on and picked up the angry little black pig. They then left through
the very large opening behind the still form of Kuno.

===

"Ahhhh." moaned Akane as she enjoyed the hot bath. "This feels so
gooooood." She slid further into the tub, so that she could rest her
head on the edge.

She closed her eyes and tried to relax, but her thoughts kept returning to 
Ranma and their dinner. "Why did that unfaithful baka have to make a 
mess out of our dinner? My new dress is ruined and it's his fault!" Akane 
took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "O.k., time to calm down. Kasumi 
says that I need to stop and figure out why I'm mad at Ranma. Let's see, 
while we were eating he was grabbed by Kodachi and let her kiss him. So, 
I kicked him away from her." Akane paused, remembering her sister's 
advice. "Did I trust Ranma and give him a chance to explain?"

She closed her eyes and thought. The angry expression on her face slowly 
disappeared. "No, I didn't. She kissed him before he could stop her, and he 
did push her off."

Akane turned her head toward the door. She could hear someone stomping 
up the stairs.

"Just, just leave me alone!" shouted a voice that sounded on the verge of 
tears.

"That was Nabiki!" thought Akane, "Why was she upset? She doesn't get
upset like that. Well, not very often. I bet it's Ranma's fault."

Akane shook her head. "That's not fair, Akane! Everything is not Ranma's 
fault. That's Ryouga's excuse." *sigh* "Well, he did ask me to dinner. He 
didn't insult me, we even had a good time before Kodachi showed up." A 
smile started to come to her lips. "He was even nice to ... P-CHAN!"

Akane jumped out of the tub and quickly began drying herself.

"I forgot about P-chan! I hope nothing happened to him. He could be lost 
anywhere in the Kuno mansion. That baka got me so mad that I left P-chan 
behind. Kodachi might try and cook him if I don't hurry and find him."

Akane grabbed her clothes from the laundry room and hurriedly dressed.  
She opened the door and headed for the front door when she stopped in her 
tracks.

"P-CHAN!"

The little black pig hopped off the floor cushion and jumped into Akane's 
open arms.

"I'm so sorry, P-chan. I didn't mean to leave you behind. How did you get 
home?"

"Ranma dropped him off." replied Kasumi.

"Ranma?"

"Hai. He said that you got mad at him and left without your pet. He was 
very sorry for what happened."

"Ranma?" repeated the shocked Akane.

"He left a couple minutes ago. He also said that he and his father were 
going to be camping out again. They were kicked out of the Kuno 
mansion. It seems that most of it was destroyed in a fight."

Akane's mouth dropped open in shock. "Oh, no." she said quietly. She 
turned and looked up the stairs. "Nabiki ..."

*knock* *knock*

"I wonder who that could be?" asked Kasumi as she went to the door.

"Konbanwa!" came the greeting from the visitor.

Kasumi stared at the woman and then quickly recovered from her shock.
"Konbanwa, Auntie-Nodoka!"

Nodoka smiled. "Is dear or my son home?"


============================================

Those funny looking words:

Arigatoo                Thank you
Arigatoo gozaimasu      Thank you, very much
Sempai                  Upperclassman
Oneechan                Older/Elder sister
Ojiisan                 Grandfather
Nani                    What
Hai                        Yes
Ohayoo                  Good Morning
Konnichiwa           Good Afternoon
Konbanwa              Good Evening
Baka                      Akane's pet name for Ranma
Hentai                   Akane's second pet name for Ranma
Osage no onna       Kuno's pet name for Ranma
Kuno-chan             Nabiki's pet name for Kuno baby


Thanks to the following who gave me C&C on this back in November:
Kun-chan
Sebastian Weinberg
Don Wang
Raphael See

All of your comments, short or long, was appreciated and did affect
the story.


--
suds-kun (Shaun Schillinger)
suds1964@tir.com
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/8222/
"THIS time, we didn't forget the graaavy!" Cat & Mouse to Dog