This story copyright 1996 - James A Bateman

It is now 1997.

as something lifted a lid and tried to escape.  That would be followed
by pounding noises as Akane drove whatever it was back into its pot. A
series of staccato pops, like tiny explosions, and an odor convinced

                                                        ^^^^

odour. I realise that this is not a misspelling, but rather the 
American English variant. But, since you use British English 
spellings elsewhere, it is probably best to stay consistent.

"Akane's was violent towards boys before I met her.  Used to be that

   ^^^^^^^ 

you could just say the *word* 'boy' and it would set her off.  She'd
been pounding the stuffing out of them since long before I got to

Akane

"Akane has quite a temper, and Ranma has a knock for setting it off.

                                             ^^^^^ 

But it's never been this bad before.  That's what I can't understand.
Ukyou has to have been imagining things...  That's all there is to it.

Knack, I do believe.

Ranma looked at the brunette expectantly.  Miyuki smiled back at
him.  "You remember that you said Tochiro ought to try and publish his
story?"  Ranma nodded.  "Well, he sent it off to Shogikukan.  They

I don't know if this is a typo or if it's intentional, but it is 
spelled Shogakukan.

Ryouga stepped forward, and knelt before the gravemarkers.  Gently,
he reached up to his head and drew off two of his bandannas.
Laying one  across each grave, Ryouga murmured a short prayer and

            ^^

Unnecessary double-space. (Don't ask me what made me notice that; I 
really don't know myself. :)

=====
OWARI
=====

[BOO-HOO... Sniff...] Finally... [HONK... BWAAAAHHHH...]

(Half an hour later...)

Ok... I'm OK now... I think...

If you have read this far, Zen thanks you for your patience and your
persistence.

You're welcome. But who's going to pay for the water damage? :)

Well, this wasn't pretty, but I suppose it had to be said. To tell 
the truth, the profusion of 'Akane gets Ranma; everyone lives 
happily ever after' fics was starting to make me nauseous.
 
One little thing: From the Author's Notes in Between a Rock...

"Ranma-chan" is used in the narrative to refer to Ranma's female
form.  NO ONE in Zen's fics uses it as a means of addressing Ranma
except for Happousai.  When another character refers to Ranma, they
always say Ranma, they always address her as Ranma, Ranma refers to
herself as Ranma.  Only the narrator uses Ranma-chan.  If you catch
Zen in an error here, please point it out.  Thanks.

Here, not even the narrator uses "Ranma-chan". Any particular reason 
why not?

Well, I think I'll go read some Orwell to lighten up the mood.                                                       

- Sean Connor (connor@meena.cc.uregina.ca)

        "It jams." - Intel TV ad, referring to the Pentium chip.