Once again, to continue...

---

     She found him sitting on the back porch. 
    Ukyou took a deep breath, fighting the natural indignation that was the
hallmark of the Kuonji family. It wouldn't help her any to be disrespectful.
    "Father?" she said.
    "Do not call me that. You have dishonored me."
    "What? How? I don't understand."
    Shiro explained without looking at her.
    "Seven years ago, my daughter Ukyou set out to exact vengance on
the thief Genma Saotome and his miscreant son, Ranma. Some time later
she informed me that vengance had been taken upon the elder Saotome
and she had renewed her engagement to the younger.
   "Three years passed. My daughter continued to pursue the young
Saotome. The young Saotome, however, soon professed his love to and
married another. My daughter did NOTHING."
    Ukyou stared at her father in astonishment. He thought she did nothing?
She *couldn't* do anything. She had promised Ranma...and she had
Konatsu.
    Shiro continued. "My daughter proceeded to shame herself further by
taking up with a...a crossdressing PERVERT. She intended to bring him
into the family." At this, Shiro turned to face her. His words dug deeper
into her than the sharpest knife.
     "My daughter died that day."
     Ukyou stared at her father. She began to feel ashamed, then she
remembered what he had said about Konatsu. 
    Hatred flooded her senses. How DARE he? How dare he judge
Konatsu like that? They had never met, ever. The old hypocrite has
judging the man she loved by outward appearance!
    She fought down her rage, and glared at her father.
    "Father-" she began. He held up a hand, stopping her.
    "You are dead. Haunt me no longer."
    Ukyou stared at her father, shocked. He was disowning her. His only
daughter.
    "Father..." she began again, a little more softly this time.
     He ignored her.
    "Listen to me!"
    Silence.
    "Why, you--" Ukyou gave up. She'd burn in Hell before she'd beg for
forgiveness for falling in love with someone her father disapproved of.

---

    I'm really getting fed up with these idiot lab aides shutting everything
down...

          Back in 5...

                                                   ---Erin 2.5