Okay - Mandatory Stuffage:
This is my first Attempt at a fanfic - I need C&C 
(Help, help I'm a fanboy and I can't get up)
Please send me responses to this at TnekG@aol.com
(I will respond to flames by changing my name and moving to Montana)
I also need people who are willing to proofread for me. 

Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumico Takahashi: My use of her 
characters is without official permission and is intended for the non 
profit amusement of other Ranma 1/2 fans out there. No Infringement 
of the creators copyright or her authorized publishers or distributors 
is intended: If you like this stuff go buy the real thing it's better; 
and the cash will make Viz happy.


Ps. - this is a continuation fic - meant to pick up at the end of volume 
38 - unfortunately I have only read synopsis's of 38 - my copy should 
be in about the time pigs learn to fly (And Astro boy P-chan doesn't count)

What has gone before: 
	A long time ago the Dinosaurs wandered the earth, then the 
dinosaurs died and became oil, then the Arabs came.. um no wait.

Quick synopsis of V37-38: 
	Akane is kidnapped (again) and taken to China. During the 
shenanigans at Phoenix mountain Akane nearly dies, Ranma declares "that he 
never had the chance to tell her that he loved her" and begs her to be all 
right, he later denies everything. The Jusenkyo Springs are broken, and 
there now exists a spring of drowned Akane. 
	The return to Nerima is marked by a wedding. Ranma and Akane's 
wedding is broken up by their friends- Shampoo and Ukyou actually throw 
bombs and damage the house, Ranma looses another chance at being rid of his 
curse as Happosai drinks the Nannichuan water thinking it is saki. 

Quick Synopsis of what I've been up to:
	P-chan has disappeared after Akane took him to the vet. Ranma and 
Ucchan are not speaking but the full reason has not been revealed. Natsume 
and Kurumi are back. Ranma's mother has made him promise to become not 
only a man but a gentleman and Akane's cooking can still kill moose at 
thirty paces ^_^ enjoy! 

Quick notes:
"" - quotes for spoken text.
[[]] - thought bubbles.
{} - sound effects.

	
--------------Begin Episode 3 -----------------------------

Chapter #3- I'm a Tendo, She's a Tendo, Wouldn't cha like to be a Tendo too?
	
	The crickets were unusually loud. Not that this would normally be 
noticeable at the Tendo household, but no one had said anything ever since 
Natsume's announcement. Finally Kasumi broke the silence.

"Oh My!" 

"Soun, I do not believe I am familiar with these girls." 

	Nodoka was puzzled at the effrontery of the two girls. Soun looked 
like he was ready to cry (but then he always did). Akane looked angry, and 
Ranma looked confused. Nabiki (ever the logical one) quickly explained. 

"Mrs. Saotome, these two girls are orphans, Happosai deceived them at a 
very young age into believing that our father was theirs as well. The last 
time they were here they challenged Ranma and Akane for the right to carry 
on the dojo; after all that is what their "father" promised them. Ranma and 
Akane beat them and they left to train for a rematch someday."

"So this is a matter of family honor?"

"Exactly."

	Nodoka nodded sagely. If there was one thing that she had learned in 
recent months it was that matters of honor, while never easy, where 
particularly contorted where the Tendos and Saotomes were concerned. She 
addressed Natsume politely but firmly. 

"It is your intention then to take Akane's place as heir to the Dojo?"

"Hai. I do not believe I have met you obasan."

"I am Saotome Nodoka, Ranma's mother." 

	As Nodoka was introduced to the girls Ranma tried to gauge his 
iinazuke's mood. It looked like Akane was happy to see Kurumi again; every 
so often the younger girl would flash Akane a sheepish grin. On the other 
hand it was pretty obvious that Natsume's presence was less welcome. Ranma 
realized his mother was speaking to him again.

"Ranma, this appears to be a matter for the Tendos to solve, while your 
assistance of Akane was admirable, you should allow her to resolve matters 
of her families honor on her own. After all, if these girls win one of them 
will become your iinazuke."

"NANI????"

	Ranma and Akane both were shocked. Everyone stared at Nodoka.

"It should be obvious to you son, the arrangement between our families is 
that you would marry a Tendo daughter and carry on the Anything Goes School. 
If either of these girls becomes the heir to the Tendo dojo it would be her 
duty to marry you."

	The reactions around the table were wildly varied.

	Soun, as usual, was crying (#373 What am I gonna do with two more 
daughters?).

	Kasumi was smiling and helping dishes for the two girls. 

	Nabiki had her notebook out and was looking for her phone #'s of 
various repair contractors. The last visit from these two had ended with the 
dojo needing a new roof.
   
	Ranma had his head in his hands. Faintly you could hear him 
muttering. 
"Oh no, not again."

	Genma was taking the opportunity to steal Ranma's dinner.

	Natsume was surprised. 

	Kurumi looked skeptical.  
"Hey I'm too young to get married!"

	Akane was furious.
"I am not going to LOSE!"

	At this point Genma and Soun made their last conscious mistakes of 
the evening; they congratulated Akane on fighting to keep her engagement 
with Ranma. This, combined with everything else she had been through, was 
more than enough; Akane snapped.
	Luckily the damage to the house was minimal, Nabiki, Kasumi, 
Nodoka and Kurumi survived unscathed. Ranma and the fathers were a little 
less lucky, but Ranma had only been hit on his way out to the Koi pond and 
Soun and Genma showing their usual fortitude were quickly rendered 
unconscious by a table wielding Akane. Natsume had tried to intervene and 
had gotten caught up in the general melee. She and Akane were on the floor 
now, tangled like Greek wrestlers. No one left conscious was foolish enough 
to try separating them.

"Well girls, I believe I shall take my son and husband and put them to bed. 
Kasumi, would you like a hand with your father or the mess in here?"

"Thank you Mrs. Saotome. If you would help father to bed it would be a great 
help. Nabiki would you please let Kurumi sleep in your room tonight?"

"Sure Oneechan, come on Kurumi, I'd like to talk to you anyway."

"Thank you Oneechan!" 

	Nabiki winced slightly, this was going to take some getting used to.

	Later that night there was a soft knock on Akane's door. 

"Who is it?" Akane still sounded mad.

"Um, It's me, Kurumi."

"Oh, please come in!"

	Akane had been glad to see Kurumi, the young girl was one of the 
few people who had always been nice to Akane. Even though she had only 
known her briefly Akane liked her and, to her surprise, had realized that 
she wouldn't mind having a younger sister like her. (It helped that the 
ever starving Kurumi had actually liked her cooking and had complimented 
her on it.)

"Akane, I've been thinking; and I've decided I don't want to fight you."

"Why Kurumi?"

"Akane, I, I just want a family. And you're the only one who has been nice 
to me. I couldn't try to take away your place here. Besides I don't want to 
marry Ranma!"

	The girls both laughed. They talked for a short while longer, 
renewing the friendship that had started during the last visit; and then 
Kurumi said her goodnights and went to Nabiki's room. 

	Ranma-chan meanwhile was standing on a rock by the pond. She had 
awoken part way through the cleaning up of the mess in the living room and 
had just finished helping Kasumi with the extra bedding. The house was 
getting very crowded, and it looked like the only places left to sleep were 
the roof again and the Dojo. 

[[Too bad I can't just become an animal like Ryoga or one of the others. 
Then I could just curl up somewhere quiet in the corner.]]

	As if summoned by Ranma's errant thoughts, there was a rushing of 
air and a muted cry.

"Ranma! Prepare to die for the HELL you've put me through!"

	Ryoga looked a mess. He hadn't found one of his many outfits and 
backpacks for one thing. For another he was wearing only two aluminum 
garbage can lids crimped by his great strength into some ridiculous parody 
of a diaper. He was shaking in anger and he was covered head to foot in 
mud and bracken. He smelled awful (even at this distance) and looked not 
like something the cat had drug in but rather something that a dog would 
roll in and then leave exactly where it found it.

"I've been through hell because of you Ranma! You have no idea, the horror, 
the guy with the knife..."

	Ryoga was shaking. Ranma knew that this would happen, but hadn't 
expected Ryoga to find his way back so soon. 

-----Ryoga's Happy Little Flashback---------

	He awoke to the actinic light of the surgical arena. He was still in 
his cursed form, and his mind was hazy from whatever it was the nurse had 
given him. 

[[Akane, how could you do this to me?]] 

	P-chan tried to move but his body wouldn't respond. Distantly he 
could hear Nabiki's voice in the background, asking the doctor where she 
could stand where she would be out of the way. He felt the nurse turn him 
over on his back and wrap towels around him to keep him from rolling over. 
He could see the doctor going through a collection of knives. Nabiki was 
checking her camera, she looked bored.

[[Why is she here? Ranma must have wanted a souvenir so he could gloat over 
me... ]]

	As the nurse came back to where he lay. P-chan gave up trying to 
struggle and lay back in the warm towel. Then the nurse was over him, she 
lowered a sponge to his body, with a sudden rush of joy P-chan realized that 
it was steaming. As his body began to change he rolled off the operating 
table, landing hard on the floor and crawling toward the first door he saw. 
The nurse had screamed and fainted, the doctor had dropped the scalpel and 
stood there in shock. Nabiki looked almost as shocked and with mounting 
horror Ryoga realized that she was capturing the moment on film. 

[[Ranma!!! I'll Kill You!!!]] 

	Ryoga ran out the door, he found himself in a dirty alleyway between 
two buildings. Grabbing the first thing he could to protect his modesty he 
ran for his life, and his manhood. For the rest of the day he felt like a 
hunted animal. Not sure where to turn he frequently found himself in dire 
circumstances and twice had to run from police trying to arrest him for 
indecent exposure. Finally near dark he had seen Ranma-chan again and had 
followed her as best he could back to the Tendo's. He had collapsed in an 
alley and slept then, waking only when the fight at dinner broke out - Now 
was his chance for REVENGE!

-----Now back to your regularly scheduled slugfest-----

	Ranma was unimpressed, on a good day Ryoga was a challenge for him; 
the perfect test of speed verses strength. Tonight Ryoga was pitiful, 
without his umbrella, half naked, shivering with the cold and over exposure. 
Ranma almost felt sorry for him - almost. 

"So you wanna fight Ryoga or just cuss at me?"

"You can't know what I've been through! What kind of man are you to let 
something like that happen to me! It's your fault I have this curse!"

"And its your fault that Akane thinks your just a PIG!"

"You take that back you half woman pervert!" 

	Both sides had had enough; Ryoga jumped at Ranma-chan who rolled out 
of the way of his wild blow and countered with a foot sweep. Ryoga stumbled 
as he landed, he rolled to his side and began throwing bandannas at 
Ranma-chan. Ranma-chan was a blur, combined with the cloudy night and the 
mud all over Ryoga both warriors were totally lost in the darkness to anyone 
more than a few feet away. The only signs that a fight was occurring at all 
was the unusual amount of swearing for a Koi pond and the usual intelligent 
repartee associated with a Ranma / Ryoga brawl. 

"PIG!"

"Pervert!"

"Come at me lost Boy!" 

	etc. etc. and so forth. Any normal family would have long since 
woken and come out to see what was happening. But this was the Tendo's the 
entire sum of activity could be summed thus: 

{"Kasumi what's that noise?"

"Oh just Ranma and one of his little friends. Don't worry he usually 
finishes these quickly. Goodnight Natsume"

"Oh Er - goodnight Kasumi.." }

	Ryoga and Ranma-chan were rolling around on the ground. Ryoga had 
managed to grab onto a leg and was inelegantly trying to rip it out of it's 
socket. Ranma-chan was getting desperate. She hadn't realized how tired she 
was and if Ryoga kept this up he was likely to break something she was 
fairly likely to need. Finally she found herself near the edge of the pond 
and almost gratefully pulled herself and the rabid Ryoga in with her. 
P-chan was much easier to deal with and after an amiguriken or two lay 
quietly in her lap like a good house pet should. 

[[Enough for one day- I don't care where it is I just need someplace to 
crash.]]

	Ranma looked at the comatose P-chan. He felt kind of sorry for the 
sap and it had been kind of rotten to scare him like that. Even if he had 
told Nabiki to make sure that P-chan got washed in hot water before the 
surgery. Oh well - to late to take it back know. And if Akane found out 
P-chan had been here and she hadn't seen him, she would no doubt blame Ranma 
for it. With a sigh Ranma climbed up the side of the house, stopping at 
Akane's window. He knocked softly. Akane slid the window open part way. She 
stood there wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"what do you want Ranma." Akane yawned.

"Here, I found him wandering around outside." 

	Ranma handed the comatose piglet to Akane and resumed his climb to 
the roof.

"Goodnight Akane."

	Akane slid the window closed quietly. She stared at the unconscious 
form in her arms. Then her nose wrinkled.

[[Ewww. What has P-chan been into? But why would Ranma? Did he go looking 
for? Oh I don't understand this- I'll think about it in the morning.]]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soun's Room
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	Soun Tendo, patriarch of the Tendo clan slept peacefully in his room. 
Of course, this could not be allowed to last. 
	Soun dreamt of earlier days before his life became so complicated, 
of days that were more likely to bring him smiles than tears. He dreamt of 
days before his daughters were grown, of days when he had students lining 
up to enter the dojo; of days he spent with his wife. 
	But the dream was different tonight. This did not feel of 
dream-stuff but more like the strangely lucid visions after a long fever, as 
if somehow he had traveled some great distance to reach this peacefull spot 
in his own soul and the journey had exhausted him. Here the cherry trees 
were in bloom and he could hear his childrens laughter, softly. Somehow it 
was like the tinkling laugh of small children and the pealing giggles of 
adolescents and the refined amusement of the mature all at once. Not 
directed at him, but laughing with him at the ridiculousness of the life 
that the Kami and karma had selected for him. He walked to the crest of the 
hill he found himself on. From there he could see the forest streching 
around him as if he stood in some great national park or undiscovered 
wilderness.

"Few men see this land beloved."

	The voice was soft, and close behind him. He turned, and as he often 
did in his dreams, he saw his wife standing before him. She was smiling and 
she was clearer and more real to him than she had been in a long time. 

"Come my husband, we have much to discuss and little time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	Ranma awoke on the cold tiles of the roof. He had been too tired to 
get a blanket or sleeping bag last night and he was paying for that 
oversight now. As onna-Ranma stretched in the cold morning sun she reflected 
on the fact that she had used to sleep in so late. But ever since phoenix 
mountain she was up with the dawn almost every morning, sure she sometimes 
had a relapse and slept in all day; but then considering the amount of 
exercise one of her days could entail it was surprising that she didn't 
nap more.

[[Heh. Of course there's always school- plenty of sleep there.]]

	The thought of school brought Ranma-chan awake with a shock. There 
were only three weeks left before summer break and then her family would be 
moving out. But would she be with them? This unpleasant thought was 
apparently lonely and so made Ranma come up with another one.

[[FINALS!!! two weeks to FINALS!!!]] 

	A few feet below Akane woke from a deep slumber. She stretched 
luxuriously for a few seconds and then the smell hit her.

[[EEWWWW!]]

"P-chan you need a bath! I'm so sorry I scared you yesterday, but you have 
been acting funny lately!"

	P-chan awoke- everything hurt. Had he killed Ranma? Had Ranma killed 
him? shaking the pain away he soon realized that he was being helped by 
someone. He was being carried somewhere but where? His head was still to 
cloudy...  

[[Cloudy, no THAT'S STEAM!]]

	P-chan tried groggily to escape but Akane tossed him into the 
bathroom and closed the door so she could put her nightshirt in the laundry, 
after all it did now smell like an alley. P-chan twisted wildly on the slick 
floor- he had one hope - the tub.

	Ranma-chan was standing bemused on the roof watching the last of the 
sunrise and stretching the last kinks out of her system. then she heard a 
window slide open below her. Ryoga clad only in one of the Tendo's towels 
was trying to squeeze out of the bathroom window. She heard a door open 
somewhere below.

	Akane finished disrobing and opened the door to the tub. She was 
shocked- some stranger was trying to sneak into the house NAKED! And somehow 
they had gotten stuck in the bathroom window in a very _exposing_ position. 
Or. Could Ranma be trying to? Akane took a closer look at the evidence 
before her.

[[Nope Not Ranma - no dimples]]

	There was only one acceptable solution to this matter. Akane reached 
for her hammer. 

"HENATI !!!!!"

	Ranma-chan was lying on the roof now hanging a little over the edge. 
It was hard to keep from laughing. Suddenly with a scream from inside the 
house Ryoga launched for the skyline like he had been shot from a VERY rude 
cannon. A towel drifted towards the lawn. Akane leaned out the window. 
Looking around she saw Ranma-chan hanging above her. 

"Ranma! Did you see who that was?"

"Nope I was just looking to see what all the commotion was about. What 
happened?" 

"Some Pervert tried to sneak into our bathroom! .. AND P-CHAN is missing 
AGAIN!"

	Ranma-chan was laughing so hard that he barely heard Akane call her 
baka again and slam the window shut.

~~~~~~~~~
	During breakfast, which thanks to the fact that Natsume, Kasumi and 
Nodoka had all worked on it was exquisite, the families began to discuss 
what would be done about the two new girls. Soun claimed to have dreamed of 
his wife last evening; she had told him that he should accept the girls as 
his daughters and that one day they would be a source of pride to the Tendos.

Genma seemed skeptical but Akane and Kasumi seemed happy and Natsume was 
smug. Nabiki brought up the point that the grocery budget was already 
stretched to the breaking point by Ranma and Genma's enormous appetites. 
Kasumi was reserved but polite about the fact that unless someone moved out 
there just wouldn't be enough room. Soun surprisingly did not cry but had a 
peacefull expresion. Akane strangely seemed to be on Natsume and Kurumi's 
side. As had become recent habit, Nodoka was the first to come up with a 
reasonable suggestion.

"Soun, you have been a great friend to Genma and Ranma in their times of 
need. But our family has imposed on you for long enough. Genma and I can 
move back to our house, when Ranma moves home in a few weeks you will have 
even more room. Further I think that I should begin working again, with 
Genma and I both working we should be able to send you a little money to 
help with Ranma."

	Nabiki made a few calculations on her abacus.

"Hmm that will help but it still will not be quite enough."

	Natsume, Akane and Ranma spoke at almost the same time. 

"Then I'll get a job to help."

	The three looked at each other uncomfortably. Nabiki looked a bit 
happier. 

"Well then, if the three of you are actually willing to work for a living, 
we may just be able to make this work."

"Hmmp. Gee thanks Nabiki."

"Ranma! be polite to your hosts."

"Yes mom."

	Apparently trying to diffuse the situation; Kurumi leaned over 
to her sister. 

"Natsume, I don't want to fight Akane."

"NANI?? That's why we came here!"

"No Natsume, I came here to find a family. If Akane and her family are 
willing to give me that I have no reason to fight, at least not to 
fight them!"

	Natsume lowered her head. 

"Besides Natsume I don't wanna marry Ranma!"

	Akane laughed, even Ranma found himself smiling.

"Very well Kurumi- Akane I challenge you for the right to carry on the 
dojo!"

	Akane considered Natsume breifly and then nodded. 

"Ok, but not until schools out I have finals soon."

	Soun turned on the water works again.

~~~~~~~~~~
	It was too late in the year for Natsume and Kurumi to start school 
at Furinkan. As the two younger Tendo daughters prepared for school Ranma 
asked Kurumi to step out to the dojo with him. Once there Ranma sat on one 
of the mats and faced the younger girl.

"Kurumi, Who do you want to win if Akane and Natsume fight?"

"I, I don't really know Ranma. Why?"

"Lets just say it took me a long time to get used to the idea of Akane as my 
iinazuke and I don't want to have to start all over again with somebody I 
barely know. Kurumi, I need you to help me with something, I ask you to do 
it for Akane's sake."

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
	During lunch at school Ranma and Akane sat together with their 
friends. The six teenagers were in a good mood and the conversation turned 
to the subject of the new members of the Tendo household and of the 
arrangements that were being made.

"Akane? where do you plan on looking for work?"

"I really don't know Yuka, I've thought about maybe doing some baby-sitting
or 
trying to waitress at one of the Kiassen in town. What about you Ranma? I was

surprised that you volunteered to help so soon."

"Well I could go back to waitressing, that pays ok even if it is
embarrassing. 
I'm not really sure, I just saw that you wanted Kurumi to stay so I wanted to

help."

"Gee Ranma! as if it weren't enough already now you're living with 5 cute 
girls! Some guys have all the luck!" Hiroshi interjected.

"Feel free to take Natsume or Kodachi if you want em. Hiro- See how generous 
I can be." Ranma had assumed an joking imperial pose as if handing out
favors.

"Gee Ranma Maybe I should tell the other members of your Harem you said
that!"

"Maybe I should tell them you called them a harem Daisuke, Ne?"

"eep!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~
	Akane and Ranma were late home that evening. Ranma had found a 
promising job as a waiter at a new restaurant, Akane had put in a few
applications 
but had not found anything sure yet. 
	Kurumi asked Akane to spar with her while Ranma changed and went to 
his new job. Akane was surprised at how much Kurumi had improved since she 
had last seen her. The young girl was even faster than before and if it were
not for 
the constant practice Akane had with Ranma she would have been hopelessly 
outclassed.

"Akane, um would you like me to show you something?"

"Huff .. What Kurumi? A new technique or something?"

"Sort of, I was talking to a friend of yours and they said that you have a
battle 
aura when you get angry, I was wondering if you would like to learn to focus 
your chi better. "

"That would be great! But would I have to use a weapon like you do?"

"Um, no I don't think so, I'm kinda learning how to do manipulate Chi
myself."

	Akane sweatdropped.
~~~~~~~~~~~

	Far away, (but not far enough off for some peoples taste) a small 
black piglet emerged from the wilds of the japanese forest and scratched 
on the door it had not expected to find.

"Oh Ryoga-sama! I'm so glad your finaly here!"

	Akari swept the exhausted piglet into her arms and held him tight. 
he was soon asleep, dreaming of better days. 

------- end chapter 3 --------

coming soon! part 4 - Sweet dreams are made of???
( I hate the fact that somebody beat me to that title but I'm gonna use it 
anyway)
It's the night before the big fight between Akane and Natsume, Natsume 
dreams of victory and what it will bring her, Kurumi dreams of finally 
having a home and a friend, but what are Ranma and Akane dreaming of?

PS MUCHOS GRACIAS to the following!
Rumiko Takahashi - for making this world up for us to play in.
ZEN AND the Lost Lurker- I promise to get at least one of the characters 
	names right on the first try before this fic is over! really !
DRM - for the constructive criticism
and the others on the FFML who commented or told me they wanted to see 
more of this.

Kent Armstrong 
TnekG@aol.com
or
armstk@uf4965p01.BentonvilleAR.ncr.com 

web page-find parts 1-2 and the rest as i write em, there.
http://members.aol.com/TnekG/index.html

Thanks for reading this!