Hitomi Ichinohei wrote:

Only a few of more scenes.  ^_^

It's coming along nicely.  ^_^

***

damn overconfident.  Remember that each variation can have a thousand
different endings."

Just like stories.  This one for example.

        Nabiki narrowed her eyes, "Daughter, eh?  I take it you've engaged
her to Kaneda and he doesn't know about it as of yet."

Sharp as a tack..

        There was a slight rumble of thunder and rain began falling
lightly over the Nerima district when a shout could be heard coming from
the Tendo Dojo.  "ARE YOU NUTS POP!!!  WHO THE HELL SAID I WANTED A
FIANCEE?!?"

Trading places.. very reminicent of _Ranma_ in the first episode.

        Kaneda was about to raise a rather loud objection, which was to be
concluded with his throwing his idiot of a father out of the door and into
the rain when he caught Kasumi's frown.  Gritting his teeth, he kept his

Very Ranma..

I've been told, she is a very nice and polite young lady who has been
trained in all the traditional duties.  She is accomplished in the tea
ceremony, has been taught how to prepare most foods and dishes..."

Describes a housekeeper rather than soulmate.. 

        Kaneda slammed his hand down on the table.  Hard.  "Father....That
is all fine and good, but how about some information.  Such as how old is
she?  Have you ever met her?  What is her personality like?  Does she like
martial arts?  That sort of stuff."

Much more important!

        Nabiki started to grin a little, enjoying the spectacle of her
little brother getting the better of their father.  It was rare, but when
it happened the situations were classic.  It was especially funny when you
considered that Kaneda was a cross between modern and feudal Japan.

That would be confusing.. now, he'll probably have an interesting array
of blind spots in the areas where these attitudes meet and conflict.

        Growling under his breath, Kaneda followed his father and sisters
out front to greet their guests.  *If he thinks for one minute that I'm
gonna agree to this marriage, he's got a screw loose.  I ain't marrying
anyone but another martial artist.*

(Chuckle)

        Kaneda quickly shook his head.  *What the hell am I thinking
about?  This girl is probably the fiancee pop arranged for me, and she
doesn't look as though she would be able to fight her way out of a sack.
Definitely not someone I could take on the road with me while I look for
exciting adventures.*

I tend to the opinion that 'adventures' are someone else a long way away
in _deep_ shark infested custard...  He'll learn.  If you have got to go
out looking for trouble, do it for more of a reason than adrenelin
tripping. 

Opps.. ranting again 

        Kaneda turned to his father, fuming at the old man for having made
_HIM_ the one who was the baggage carrier for a girl he didn't even want
to get to know.  If it wasn't for their guests, he would have expressed
himself as he usually did; by hitting the offending object a good five to
ten metres away.

The Akane factor..

thinking?!?  There's no _way_ I'm gonna marry this girl.  Anyone who gives
into something that easy will not be suited for traveling around for a few
years.*

A _strong_ sense of duty..

        Ranko looked at Kaneda once more after she had shaken the umbrella
outside and blushed again.  Whatever else could be said about Kaneda, he
was handsome enough to make her feel nervous around him, not that it was
hard given that this man was going to be her husband.  As she took off her
shoes, she quietly said, "Kaneda-kun, please let me help you with that.
I...I don't want you to be hurt because I packed too many bags."
        Kaneda, who was already walking down the hall to the stairway, was
startled enough so that he tripped.  While most of the luggage fell
forward, one particularly heavy bag fell on his head stunning him for
about a minute.  When he finally regained his senses, he realized three
things:

Lucky he fell over _in_ _the_ _hall_  he would have dropped the umbrella
outside.

        One:  Ranko was above him gently wiping his brow and gently saying
his name.
        Two:  His head was in Ranko's lap.
        Three:  Having her here was going to be trouble.  For him.

Hooboy yes!

        Ranko's eyes suddenly gleamed, and her voice took on just the
slightest bit of excitement, as she grabbed his arm suddenly.  "What a
lovely dojo!  Let's go take a look at it.  You do know how to do the Art
don't you?"
        Kaneda, for his part, was stunned.  Up until this point, she had
been the perfect Japanese woman; a quiet, monotone voice without much
emotion, not touching him unless he was injured in some way, always
keeping a proper attitude and letting him virtually dictate her every
move.  To have her suddenly touching him, and pulling him towards the dojo
was unexpected!  "Well...uh...I...I've been practicing the Art since I
could stand.  Why?"

Finally, a spark shows through the mask of duty.

it.  If she picked up that from only reading a book, then it was possible
that she actually had the potential to become a good martial artist.

_That_ takes talant!

        Frowning a bit, and concentrating more, he decided to try to push
her as close to her limits as possible, forgoing the immediate win he had
been thinking of.  IF she had potential, then perhaps he could use that to
give her a little bit of a backbone.  Besides, she did say she wanted to
practice.  He struck back with a combination quarter speed punches which
she managed to avoid.  He was struck by how Ranko's movements were both
graceful and unusual.

Heh.. using radically different elements..

The best swordsmen doesn't fear the second best (ro at least not much)..
but the worse, because there's no knowing what they'll do..

       At his nod, she leapt up slightly, a large smile on her face and
impulsively kissed his cheek.  While he remained in shock at that, she
said, "Thank-you Kaneda- kun!  I'm going to go inside now and change!" 
        Kaneda stayed like that for about a minute after she left before
he put his hand to his face and slowly sank to his knees, now completely
baffled at the young lady he was supposed to marry. 

A useful tactic ^_^  Keep the bloke confused and off balance ^_^

Perhaps not one of the truely _great_ kisses.. 

(Remembers on 'Sic Transit Vir'  Babylon 5.. "If kisses were weapons,
that one would have flattened small _Towns_" (not quite right.. from
memory))

But still, great oaks from little acorns grow. ^_^

-- 
Barry Cadwgan ( BCADWGAN@FL.NET.AU )
"The end does not justify the means.  
 The end is the sum of the means,
 as the road travelled determines the destination." 
Valijon Starbringer (Hellflower Trilogy, Eluki bes Shahar)