Since I have too much on my plate right now, another of those 
ideas that niggle at the back of my head...

	Yet another alternate Ranma world...Souun has two daughters, Kasumi 
and Nabiki, and a son named Kaneda.  One day, Souun announces that 
Kaneda's fiancee Ranko is about to arrive.  This is the first Kaneda's 
heard about this, and he protests strongly.  He's even less thrilled when 
he learns his father has never even seen Ranko, and is uncertain of her 
age. 
	There's a voice at the entryway, and the Tendous go to see Nodoka 
holding up an umbrella to shield herself and Ranko from the rain.  Ranko 
seems to be a shy, rather withdrawn girl, who's uncomfortable with the 
older sisters' attentions.  She draws her mother aside and there's 
some sort of whispered argument, which Nodoka "wins".  Despite his anger, 
Kaneda decides he should try and make the best of the situation, and 
offers to show her around.  
	Ranko perks up a bit when she sees the Dojo, and asks to spar 
with Kaneda.  The boy is reluctant to fight a girl, especially one in a 
good dress, but she insists.  While Ranko isn't as good as Kaneda, she 
shows a remarkable amount of natural talent.  She reveals she's been 
practicing on the side, "to honor my father".  
	Nodoka is upset that Ranko's dress is mussed when she comes back, 
and gives a lecture about being "a proper young lady."  Nabiki notices a 
flash of anger in Ranko's eyes, but it doesn't show in her voice or 
actions.  Kasumi suggests a good hot soak.  Curiously, Nodoka declines to 
join her daughter. 
	Nabiki decides to make a little mischief and sends Kaneda down to 
the bathroom too.  But what Kaneda sees is a young man climbing out of 
the tub.  A young man with Ranko's hairstyle.  Kaneda is about to shout 
when the boy motions for silence. 
	"I suppose it's better you find out now.  I'm Ranko, though my 
birth name was Ranma..."
	Cue flashback sequence:  Genma somehow managed to get Ranma out of 
the house without making the "man among men" pledge.  About a year later, 
(after the Ukyou affair, which Nodoka is not informed about), Genma died 
in a training accident, and Ranma was returned to his mother. 
	In notifying Genma's friends of his death, Nodoka contacted 
Souun, and due to a misunderstanding, believed he had all sons.  She 
realized if this were the case, the intended Saotome/Tendou marriage 
would be impossible.  She was at a loss until she discovered a guidebook 
in Genma's belongings, one that mentioned Jyuusenkyo.
	"At that point, my life as a boy was over."  Nodoka explained the 
importance of the engagement to the family honor, and had Ranma dress and 
act as a girl at all times, even legally changing his name to "Ranko."  
She sent him to all-girls' schools ("And let me tell you, keeping my 
secret was a job and a half") and trained Ranko in all the important 
feminine skills.
	Finally, Nodoka saved up enough money for a trip to China, and 
they went to Jyuusenkyo, where Ranko dipped himself in the Nyanniichaun.  
This Ranko is very honorable and obedient to his mother, and was willing 
to go through with the engagement despite his sexual preference for 
women...
	...Until they arrived at the Tendou home and discovered that two 
of the "sons" were in fact daughters!  That whispered argument was Ranko 
arguing that she should revert to male form, and Nodoka insisting they 
would go ahead with the original plan, and forbidding Ranko to reveal her 
true gender.
	"But since you found out without me telling you, it's okay to 
give you the whole story.  So, what do you want to do now?"



SKJAM!