(Scene:  The bank of the Mississippi River, near Nicollet 
Island.  It's getting dark.  Scott, Ranma and Akane are seated on a 
blanket, and have obviously just finished a picnic.  As they stretch, a 
rocket shoots up into the sky and explodes in a burst of color.)

Nearby picnicers:  Ooh.  Aah.

Ranma:  So this is what Independence Day is supposed to be like.  No 
aliens or anything.

Scott:  Right.  You two are all the excitement I need in my life right 
now. 

Akane:  Except of course that one bit of excitement we're still working 
on, ne?

Scott:  Well, yes.  So, I suppose you folks want to hear about the next 
chapter of "Worse"?

Ranma:  Darn tootin'!  I hate hanging forever.  Do you have any idea what 
it's like to be in a fic that never actually ends?

Scott:  No, and I'd like to keep it that way...  So, let's recap for the 
new readers, shall we?

Akane:  Well, the baka here wished he wasn't engaged to any girls, so he 
finds himself in a world where he's a girl himself.  From birth.

Ranma:  Which would *almost* be bearable...if I weren't engaged to guys 
instead.  Kunou...ewww.

Akane:  On the brighter side, you have a little brother now, Hikaru.

Ranma:  Who has the Nyannichuan curse, since he got to be taken on that 
training trip instead.

Akane:  Just recently, Mousse tried to kidnap you because your father 
sold you to him as a bride.

Ranma:  Shoulda won that fight.  (mumble) Lousy Blade...

Akane:  But I, Hikaru and Ryouga (who has the hots for you in this 
reality) saved you.

Ranma:  And then my Mom grounded me for absolutely the wrong reasons!  

Akane:  And that takes us up to the present...

				WORSE
			by Scott K. Jamison
		   (Takahashi/CLAMP disclaimer)
    Chapter Nine:  In Which Someone Named After a Flower Appears
  
	Ranma was woken by the sound of rain against her window.  The 
grey and damp morning matched her mood.
	Breakfast was mostly silent, broken only by the mandatory polite 
phrases.  Ranma certainly wasn't going to bring up the previous night's 
events if no one else did.
	The weather forecast called for intermittent showers, so Hikaru 
was issued an umbrella and firmly told not to misplace it. He made the 
expected grousing noises, but accepted.  Ranma had to wonder just how 
effective it would be in keeping him from getting splashed.  It seemed to 
be about a 50/50 thing for Ryouga.
	Akane was waiting for them at the door, whistling a tune Ranma 
didn't recognize.
	"Morning, Ranma, Hikaru.  Why so glum?"
	"Mom grounded me because bright boy here mentioned I was hanging 
around with Ryouga."
	"Hey!  I said I was sorry, okay?"
	"Yeah, you did.  Anyhow, how is the wanderer?"
	"Had to leave him at the dojo this morning because of--" Akane 
glanced at Hikaru, "you know.  He was really looking forward to seeing 
you again.  Ryouga told me the reason he was in China looking for that 
priest was so that he could finally settle down in one place with you.  
Of course, since your mother is so deadset against you two going out, that 
could be a little tricky."  
	"You're telling me.  Maybe this is for the best, under the 
circumstances..." 
	Akane nodded.  Ranma wished she could tell her fian--*friend* the 
whole story, but Akane knew enough of it to partially understand.  
	At school, sewing class dragged interminably, and the rest 
weren't much better.  The enthusiam Ranma had been feeling had drained 
away with the reversal of her fortunes.  She supposed she should at least 
try and finish up that report on the Amazons; the kami knew she could use 
the help for her grades.
	Lunchtime brought rain again, so Ranma and Akane ate in the 
cafeteria.  The students who hadn't brought lunch were made to stand in 
line while they were issued sandwiches.  If they'd had that system in 
place at my old junior high, maybe I would never have met Ryouga at all, 
thought Ranma.
	She mused on the twist of fate that had changed his most 
persistent nemesis in the real world (Kunou being more in the nuisance 
class) into her sweetheart in this one.  Unfortunately, the "manga" she'd 
found didn't detail how they'd met here, or what Nodoka was so angry 
about. 
	"Say, Akane...about Ryouga..."
	"Yes, Ranma?"
	"I need to kn--"  She was interrupted by a shrill and almost 
maniacal laugh.  No.  This she did not need.
	It was of course Kodachi Kunou, the Black Rose of St. Hebereke.  
The gymnast was in her school uniform, but Ranma knew she habitually wore 
her leotards underneath it.
	"Hi, Kodachi!" said Akane brightly.  Ranma stared at her.  Akane 
never--oh, right.
	"Akane Tendou.  Ranma Saotome.  How good to see you again."
	"Whatcha doing here, Kodachi?"
	"I have come to fetch my brother's homework, that he might be 
prepared to return on the morrow.  And as long as I was here, I decided 
to look in on his two loves."  She laughed again, more normally this time.
	Ranma considered Kodachi for a moment.  She was another girl who 
chased him in the real world, though he had no intention of being caught 
by her.  She was awfully good looking, that was true.
	But Ranma felt no desire for the gymnast.  Am I losing myself? 
she worried.  She turned her gaze to Akane, and that strange yearning 
returned.  Ranma looked at Kodachi again.  Still no desire.  In a way, it 
was a relief.  Wait a minute, Kodachi was saying something to her.
	"Wha?"
	"Do try to pay attention.  I said, I look forward to our next 
match.  You two are the only serious competition I have.  I will miss 
that immensely when one of you becomes my brother's bride."
	"Well, it ain't/isn't going to be me!" replied Ranma and Akane 
simultaneously.
	Kodachi gave a little smile.  "So you always say.  Fare well!"
	She leapt up on a table and began spinning her ribbon.  Black 
rose petals floated everywhere.  Kodachi gave out one of her more 
frenzied laughs then leapt away.
	"I just hope she doesn't put itching powder in our tights again 
like last time," said Akane.  "I don't like her sense of humor at all."  
	"Does she have a boyfriend?"
	"Wh--oh yeah.  No, but she gets crushes a lot.  Even with her 
money, boys are too afraid of her to get close.  And she can only milk 
the bursting into tears gag so far."
	The afternoon's classes continued the tedium of the morning, and 
Ranma was thrilled to have them over with, even if it meant returning 
home to be grounded.
	She bid Akane goodbye, then noticed Hikaru standing in the rain 
outside the apartment building.  He still had the umbrella, but wasn't 
using it; his uniform was in disarray (even considering he was in female 
form) and his shoulders were slumped.
	"What's the matter, little brother?"
	He looked away.  "They found out.  They all saw.  They know!"
	What Hikaru was talking about was rather obvious, and Ranma could 
see he was only holding back his tears by sheer willpower.  What should 
she do?  She thought back to a few dark moments of her own, and decided 
Hikaru needed a Kasumi response right now.
	"Why don't you come inside?  I'll make you some hot chocolate, 
and we can talk about it, okay?  I know it's tough."  She tried to make 
her voice as gentle as possible.
	Hikaru looked puzzled.  No doubt he was wondering if this was 
really his tomboy sister.  But he let Ranma lead him into the building.  
	Thankfully, they had some of the instant mix on hand, and Ranma 
was able to get it made quickly.
	Hikaru poured a bit of the hot water over himself and toweled 
down.  Ranma let him take some time to drink before starting.
	"Now, how did it happen?"
	"Well, I got to school okay.  And I stayed in most of the day, so 
no problem there.  But there was a break in the clouds just in time for 
gym class.  Stupid coach made us all go out and play soccer."
	"And it started raining again?"
	"Nah.  I mighta been able to get away.  There was a big puddle 
right in front of the goal, and I just had to try a fancy mid-air kick to 
score.  I think I did, nobody really said.  But when I came down, I 
slipped in the mud, and ker-splash! belly flopped right into that stupid 
puddle."
	Ranma could see it in her mind's eye.  She knew from experience 
that the t-shirts schools used for gym uniforms were really clingy when 
wet, and of course Hikaru wouldn't have been wearing a bra...
	"And everybody was staring at me, and I tried to wring out my 
shirt, but that just made it worse, and then the teacher wanted to know 
why I was masquerading as a boy..."
	"Wait a minute, didn't they notice your hair color?"
	"Uhh, maybe not, it was all covered in mud..."
	"And then what happened?"
	"I went and took a hot shower real quick, and got dressed.  And 
then I ran away.  Wandered around for a couple of hours I guess.  Didn't 
even notice when it started raining again."
	Ranma collected her thoughts.  "Hikaru, I know that what happened 
seems pretty awful, like the end of the world, but you have to believe it 
can be overcome.  It's going to be difficult to deal with the other kids, 
but eventually you'll learn how to handle it and even look cool.  I 
suppose if things are impossible we can get you into a new school, but 
you should at least try to work it out."
	"You really think so?"
	"I have some experience with embarrassment, believe me.  Just 
don't think that because you've had a setback, I'm any less proud of 
you."  Ranma reached over and hugged her brother, just for a second.  
	"I suppose I can give it a try.  Thanks, Sis."
	Ranma heard a slight movement by the door and realized someone 
had been listening in.  Nodoka.
	Ranma did her homework, including one last pass at the report.  
Hikaru was out of the tub, so she could get a nice hot soak.
	She was rather startled when her mother entered the bathroom.  
	"Good evening, dear.  It was a long day at work."
	The pigtailed girl stared.  The kimonos Mrs. Saotome always wore 
hid the lines of her body somewhat.  Naked, Ranma could see where she'd 
inherited her figure from.  Blushing, she turned her head.
	"What's the matter, Ranma?"
	"I, uh, I was just thinking..."
	Nodoka lowered herself into the tub. 
	"You did very well today, Ranma.  Hikaru is lucky to have you for 
a sister."
	"Does that mean--"
	"No.  I am still very angry with you for being disobedient.  But 
that doesn't mean I don't love you anymore.  I'm sorry you don't 
understand why things must be done the way they are, but you must know 
that I only want the best for you."
	"Then you'll get me out of that stupid engagement to Kunou?  He's 
the worst!"
	Nodoka sighed.  "Do you really hate him that much?"
	"Yes!  I'd rather die than marry that creep!"
	Her mother looked at Ranma as if seeing her for the first time.  
"This is really hurting you, isn't it?  Very well, I will see if at least 
young Tatewaki can be persuaded to modify his behavior.  Honor must be 
served, but honor that destroys the heart is hollow indeed."
	They sat for a while in silence, then Ranma left the tub and 
dried off.
	Supper was quiet again, as each member of the family had much to 
think over.


			TO BE CONTINUED

SKJAM!
"Women find leather sexier than oozing scabs."