What has gone before:

A mysterious new character shows up and gets trashed by Happosai.  The new
person, named Tenno, is cursed like Ranma and has some bad news.  There is
no cure for the curse.  He offers to change the curse, telling the Tendos
of his own sad story.  Shampoo refuses, Mousse and Ryouga take girl-form,
and Genma stays a panda.  Tenno starts to begin a new life with the
Tendo's help.  (OK, that's REALLY superficial)

Christopher Angel
cja124@mail.usask.ca
----
Here We Go Again

Notes at the end

*********PRIVATE************  Feedback only please

Chapter 1:  New friends and Old

Ryouga ran out of the dojo, tears glistening his eyes.  "Damn you, Ranma,"
he growled, "this is all your fault.  I don't even have a place to live
now, unless I happen to find my way home."  A light rain started to fall.
"Damn Nerima weather," he muttered. He starting to take out his umbrella.
"Last thing I need now is to go pig."  He stopped, and tears once again
started to flow.  Ryouga continued to trudge down the street, just letting
his feet lead him where they would.  Today, he welcomed his poor direction
sense, and hoped it would take him far from the dojo.  After a few hours,
the rain let up.  Ryouga continued to hold his umbrella, and glared at the
morning sky suspicously. "You aren't trying to trick me, are you?"

"Hey, sugar, you usually talk to the sky?" At the sound of the voice,
Ryouga looked around.  He was right in front of Ucchan's.

"Hi, Ukyo," he said.  

"Get in here, I'll make you some breakfast." She opened the door for him,
and dragged him inside.  "Have you been lost all night? So, what's new?"

"We can't be cured."

"Hmm?"

"The Jusenkyo curse.  There's no cure."

"WHAT?!?!"  Ukyo stuck her face into Ryouga's.  "Talk."

Ryouga told her a summary of the events of the preceeding night leaving
himself out.  Ukyo's face grew paler and paler.  "Oh, no.  Poor Ranchan.
And Shampoo and Mousse..." she trailed off.  "Hey.  You said 'we'" she
accused.

"Uhh..I did not!"

"You did!  You were cursed too!  Oh, Ryouga.  Wait.  How come no one new?"

"Ranma promised to keep it a secret."

"So what do you turn into now?"

"Girl."

"Like Ranchan?"

Ryouga snorted.  "Better."  He realizing what he said, and scowled.

"But what did you turn into before....oh my!"  Her eyes were wide and she
started to laugh.  "Y-you w-we-were P-p-chan!" She could barely hold the
laughter in.

Ryouga looked at her with a wry smile on his face.  "Damn, my secret's
out."

"Akane didn't know, did she?  I don't know how she didn't see it.  I don't
know how I didn't."

"No."  Akane's name made him miserable again.  "And she's not going to
find out."

"Are you sure?"

"Ranma will keep the secret, he's a jerk, but he's a jerk that keeps his
word."  He pounded his fist into the counter.  "Damnit, what am I supposed
to do now?"

"Well, sugar, you're going to eat that okonomiyaki, for starters."  She
looked at him closely.  "You look like hell.  When was the last time you
slept?"

"Uh......."

Ukyo sighed.  "I thought so.  Well, you can crash in the back room for a
few hours."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" he asked and tried to find his way to
the back.

She sighed again and led him there.  "Because I have this thing about
helping the pathetic.  And you're kind of my friend.  Sleep well."

******************************************

"Well, I start next month." Tenno walked down the street with Nabiki and
Akane.  Ranma walked along the fence as usual.  He looked at the course
plan, then looked at the girls.  "Spit it out."

"Huh?" the other three replied simulanteously.

"Why did no one want this job?  Why was that hawaian nutcase so anxious to
foist it off on me?" Tenno demanded.  Ranma started to chuckle.  "What's
so funny?"  The girls looked guilty.  "Why do I have a premonition of
doom?"  Ranma started to laugh.

"Uhh," Akane began.  "It's not the job that's the problem.  It's who comes
with the job."

"What is that supposed to mean?  What have you gotten me into?" Tenno
started to sweat.

"It's not THAT bad," Nabiki said defensively.

"WHAT's not that bad?!" Tenno yelled.

"What they're trying to not tell you is that you end up teaching Akane,
Ukyo, and me."  Ranma laughed and jumped off the fence.  "Not to mention
Nabiki and Kuno in another class."

"Other than the fact that I'm LIVING with three of my students, what's
wrong with that?" Tenno asked.

"Well, Kuno's a nutcase, a pervert, and is none too bright," Ranma began.
"If he sees you change he'll fall in love with your female side, and will
be convinced you're some sorceror holding her captive.  Ukyo dresses up
alot like a guy, and wields all these spatulas, and is in love with me.
Nabiki will be regularly using your class as a place to do business.
Akane's an uncute violent maniac tomb-hey!!"  Ranma's speech was
interrupted by Akane kicking him into low earth orbit.

"RANMA, YOU JERK!" Akane fumed.

"And Ranma will be regularly getting Akane mad with him, fighting Kuno, or
getting into other trouble," Nabiki finished.

"In other words, my class is a war zone," he sumarized, then shrugged.
"Can't be worse than taking classes with engineers."  Tenno looked at the
rapidy disappearing Ranma.  "Oh dear.  He will come down in time for my
lesson, won't he?"  Tenno's stomach growled, and he blushed.  "Uh, anyone
know a good place to eat?  My treat."

"Well, Ucchan's is on the way," Nabiki suggested.  "Ukyo owns it.  She
makes great okonomiyaki."  They walked down the street, Tenno listening
attentively as Nabiki told him of what had gone before.  Akane glowered.

*********************************************

"Welcome to Ucchans!" Ukyo sang out as the trio entered.  "Oh hi, Akane,
Nabiki.  Where's Ranchan?  And who's your friend?"

"Don't speak to me about Ranma!" Akane growled.  Ukyo's mood brigtened.

"Ukyo, this is Tenno.  He's our new border, and the new math teacher at
school." Nabiki filled in.  Ukyo's eyes widened, and she nodded to Tenno.
Tenno nodded back.

"Ryouga told me about you," Ukyo commented.  

Tenno grimaced.  "Give me a chance to clear my name."

"Don't worry about it, sugar.  You did what you could."  Ukyo flashed him
a smile.

"Ryouga's here?" asked Akane.

"He's in the back, sleeping.  I found him wandering outside.  He looked
like a starved puppy, so I fed him and gave him a place to crash."  Ukyo
scowled.  "He sounds like a buzz-saw."

Tenno's stomach growled again.  Nabiki laughed.  "Can we have three
specials, please?"

"Coming up!" Ukyo got to work, and put three steaming okonomiyaki in front
of the trio in minutes.  As Tenno dug in with gusto, and finished his well
before the other two.  Ukyo giggled.  "It's always nice to see someone
appreciate my work."

Tenno blushed.  "It was excellent, Ukyo.  How much do I owe you?"  He
pulled out his wallet and paid the bill.

Tenno waited for the other two to finish their meals.  "Uh..can I meet you
two at home?  I think I need to talk to Ryouga."  Akane looked confused,
Nabiki looked disgusted, but they both nodded and left.

Tenno took a deep breath, and asked Ukyo to get Ryouga.

Ukyo disappeared into the back, and returned a few minutes later with an
embarrased Ryouga.  "Honestly, Ryouga, how did you get lost back there?
There's only 3 rooms!"  Ryouga started to explain, but stiffened when he
saw Tenno.

"You." The ice in that one word sent shivers down Tenno's spine.

Ukyo looked at Ryouga and Tenno.  "If you two plan to fight, outside.  I
don't want my store destroyed again!"

Tenno gulped and shakily smiled.  "Don't worry, Ukyo, Ryouga's not a
murderer, no matter what he wants to think, and last I checked I wasn't
suicidal." Ukyo looked at him in suprise.  "My first lesson with Ranma's
this evening."  Ukyo nodded, and went back to her counter.

"What do you want?" Ryouga demanded.

Tenno sighed.  "Look Ryouga, I don't like having someone hating me,
especially for something that's not my fault.  I didn't design the curse.
If I had, don't you think I'd be smart enough to have a way to cure it
before I was cursed too?"  Ryouga looked up at him, shocked, and Ukyo
gasped. "Yes, Ryouga, I also turn into a girl. I don't know what you
became before, Ryouga,  I think Ranma might, but he's not telling.  I
don't want to know if you don't want me to.  But I'd like there to be
peace between us."  He sighed.  "Maybe if I told you my story, you'll
understand.  You might as well know too, Ukyo."  He then told Ryouga about
his curse, and why he had come to the Tendo's.  He wiped tears from his
eyes. "You'd think that'd get easier."  Ukyo silently handed him a napkin.

Ryouga was silent for a moment.  He realized that the other man had given
him an opening, one that he could use to hurt him very badly.  "When I was
younger, Ranma beat me every day at lunch," he began. 

Tenno looked at him, shocked.  "Ranma beat you up?  He didn't strike me as
the bully type."

"I went to a boy's school with Ranma.  A very cruel one, that often made
students fight to get their fair share of food.  Ranma always did better
than me.  I came to hate Ranma.  I challenged him once, and he ran from
the fight."

Ukyo, who had been silent till now, interrupted.  "He waited three days.
It's not his fault you have the world's worst direction sense."  Tenno
glared at her.  "Just keeping it honest."

Ryouga swallowed.  "I didn't see it that way at the time.  I still didn't
for a long time.  I just thought he ran away. He went to China, and
somehow I managed to follow him, all the way to the springs.  It was there
Ranma knocked me in.  He didn't even see me.  He just saw me as an
obstacle to be got around, like a rock.  I fell into a spring, and was
cursed."  He shuddered.

"I eventually came here.  I challenged Ranma, and in our first match we
did something to hurt Akane.  That was when I first met her.  Then, when I
attacked Ranma later, I got wet.  Akane found me in my cursed form, and
took me as her pet.  A year has passed, and she never made the connection.
I fell for her hard."

"It was soon after that when the real trouble began.  Ranma started
collecting suitors.  Kodachi, nutcase sister to that loon, Kuno.  Shampoo.
Ukyo."  Tenno looked over at Ukyo, who smiled sadly. "Others showed up.
Mousse, who loved Shampoo.  Ukyo's transvestite admirers.  A bunch of guys
who wanted to marry Akane.  All the guys wanted Ranma dead, all the girls
wanted Ranma for a husband."

"I don't get it.  Didn't you people see that those two were so idiotically
in love?" Tenno asked.  Ukyo hissed and even Ryouga stiffened, but then
relaxed and slumped further.

"I think of any of us, I'm the first to see that, Tenno.  We were all
pretty blind.  You've been here days and you saw what it took me a year to
accept.  None of us thought they loved each other.  Almost everybody
thought agreed that the match stunk, and we did everything to break it up.
And everything we did brought them closer."  He started to take another
breath, but was hit by his backpack.  Ukyo stood there, furious.  A faint
blue glow surrounded her.

"Get.  Out."  She pointed at the door.  "You may have given up, Hibiki,
but I haven't.  Ranchan's mine."  She looked at Tenno.  "Stay out of this,
Tenno.  I may follow the code, but don't get in my way or I'll kill you.
Now get out." Ryouga picked up his pack and sighed.

"Ok, Ukyo, I'll go.  But please think about it. You're kind of my friend
too, and I don't want to see you hurt like I was."  He walked out the
door. Tenno looked after him, then looked at her.

"Go after him.  Make sure he doesn't get lost and end up back here.  I
don't want to see him again."  Tenno nodded, and walked after the lonely
young man.

Ukyo watched them leave.  Tears welled up in her eyes.  "I won't give up,
I won't!  Ranchan's mine," she whipsered fiercely.  "Mine!"  She look at
the door again.  "Hibiki Ryouga, you jerk."  She continued to cry.

*****************************************

Tenno caught up with Ryouga and gently steered him towards the Tendo's.
"Come on Ryouga, you can stay with me for a while.  My room's at the
Tendo's is big enough for another person."  Ryouga stopped and shook his
head.

"No.  I can't go back there.  Akane will find out.  She'll hate me.  Ranma
already hates me.  I'll just wander for a while."  He turned to leave, but
found Tenno's hand on his shoulder.

"No yourself.  I promised Ukyo I'd get you somewhere safe, and I will.
Besides, I doubt Akane and Ranma hate you.  Ranma's not a hateful person.
Akane thinks of you as her friend." Ryouga stiffened for a second.  "Come
on Ryouga,"  Tenoo prodded. "You have a story to finish.  From what you
were telling me, you'd be the last one to give up, not the first.  What
changed you?"

"You.  Nabiki.  Shampoo.  Even Mousse.  When Nabiki pulled that fool stunt
with the water, you sounded so concerned.  I mean, here was a girl you
barely new, and you cared.  You cared about me, and Mousse, and even
Shampoo.  Even as you broke our hearts, you were breaking your own.  I
didn't know there were people like that.  Well, aside from Kasumi, and
she's different."

"Yes, she's scary at times."  Ryouga looked at him suspicously, then
shrugged and continued.

"Nabiki, who I thought was such heartless mercenary, pulling that fool
stunt also got to me.  I mean, of anyone, she'd be the last I expected to
do something like that."  He looked at Tenno.  "You do something to
people, you know that?"  He commented, then grimaced.  "I watched Mousse
with Shampoo, and became disgusted with him.  I mean, here's a girl who's
given him no encouragement, and he's still chasing her.  And then Shampoo.
She was sitting there, crying, and I realised, this girl loves a man who's
scared of her." He smiled a bit.  "If you ever want to beat Ranma, get a
cat.  It's his greatest weakness."

"I thought she was so pitiful, and so sad," Ryouga started to talk faster.
"It was then I realized I was just like her.  I grew so angry at myself.
I just wanted to die.  Then, when I made my choice, and Ranma made that
STUPID comment.  I snapped.  I just wanted to fight him, and make him kill
me.  I would have, too, if you didn't stop me." He paused.  "Thanks, by
the way."

"It was more self-preservation than altruism, but you're welcome."

"After I ran out, I eventually wandered over to Ukyo's.  She took me in,
and I told her about the curse.  And she wasn't horrified.  She was
intrigued.  Like Akari was before I dumped her.  She lent me a place to
sleep, and then you guys showed up later that day."

"Who was Akari?"

"This girl who trained sumo pigs." Tenno looked at him in suprise.

"You're kidding me."

"Nope.  I beat her best sumo pig and she wanted to marry me.  She didn't
even care about my curse.  She liked it."

"You turned into a pig?"  Tenno asked in an odd voice.  He started to
shake.

Ryouga scowled as he realized what he said.  "Yes."  He looked over and
saw Tenno trying to hold in laughter.  "What's so damn funny?!"  

Tenno exploded. "Most women CALL men pigs, but you really WERE one!"  He
burst.  

Ryouga snorted, furious, then began to smile.  Then he to, began to laugh
a little.  It was nice to laugh again.  "It really sucked at the time.  I
mean, I HATED pigs.  That's why I broke up with Akari.  She only liked me
because I REMINDED her of pigs."  He shuddered.

Tenno sighed.  "Ryouga, come on, we're almost there."

********************************************************************

Nabiki was NOT pleased.  For the first time in her life, someone had
pulled one over on her.  Tenno had brought home that idiot Ryouga, and
invoked the "emergency guest" clause in their tenancy agreement.  She sat
at the dining room table, scowling at Tenno.  Ryouga was in the back,
talking with Ranma.

"That's not fair, Tenno.  That was intended for real emergencies, not
picking up strays."  

Tenno sighed.  "Look, Nabiki, I didn't know what else to do.  He needed a
place to stay.  I just couldn't let him wander the island.  He's so
lonely, and he reminded me of how lonely and sad I felt before I accepted
my curse.  Just let him stay for a few days.  We'll be leaving soon."

"We?"

Tenno shrugged.  "I'll still pay for training, but frankly, I still feel
like I'm intruding.  Besides, it's too crowded, and something tells me the
rent I'm paying is awfully high." Nabiki scowled.  "We'd be better off in
our own place."

"We?" Nabiki repeated.

"Ryouga needs a caretaker right now.  Besides, I like him.  He's very
lonely, Nabiki.  I just can't but help."

"You sure you're not turning into Kasumi?"

Tenno started.  "Good god, no!"  She looked at him in suprise. "Sorry,
Nabiki, but she scares me a little."

"KASUMI?"

"Please, let it go.  I like her alot, but she sets me on edge.  She's TOO
nice."  He frowned at the argument forming outside.  "Oh, hell."  He got
up.  "I better break that up before they kill each other."

"Tenno? Wait." Nabiki stood beside him, her hand on his arm.

"Hmm?"

"You can't help everyone, you know," she said, releasing him.

Tenno sighed, and shook his head.  "I know.  I know.  It should stop me,
but it doesn't."  He went outside.  

Nabiki just sighed.  "You care too much," she said to the receeding back,
too softly for him to hear.

*********************************************************

Ranma and Ryouga stood in the Tendo's yard, staring at each other warily.
Ranma broke the silence first.  "Are we going to fight now, Ryouga?"

Ryouga stiffened, and his hand curled into a fist.  "I don't want to fight
you Ranma.  Just please, don't push me."  

Ranma looked at his oldest enemy. He couldn't believe it.  Ryouga ALWAYS
threw fists first and talked later.  "I'll..try."

"Ranma, I've hated you for years.  I've fought you hundreds of times, and
always lost.  But this once, I'm going to end it.  I want the fighting to
stop." Ranma started to speak, but remained silent at Ryouga's glare.
"I'm not going to go after Akane anymore, Ranma.  I care about her too
much to do that to her.  She cares about you.  I see that.  I even see you
care about her, as much as you deny it."

"Ryouga..." Ranma started, but Ryouga's glare again stopped him.  Ranma
saw tears in Ryouga's eyes.

"Shut the hell up, Ranma, and let me finish.  I want it to end.  All this
business with your fiancees.  It just has to end.  Akane thinks of me as
her friend, and you're the closest thing I have to one besides her and
Ukyo.  It needs to stop."  Ryouga fought to hold back tears.

"Ryouga, your the closest thing I have to a friend besides those two too.
You're a jerk, but I like you.  I never wanted to be your enemy.  I don't
know what happened to you, but I'm glad, whatever it was.  Whenever I
thought about ending this madness, it was you that stopped me from going
through, because I was afraid of what you'd do.  I know you c..are for
Akane, but I..I l..lo..lo.."

Ryouga sighed.  "You love her.  You'll have to say it someday.  Better
sooner than later.  But I need to know.  Can we be friends?"

Ranma was silent for a moment.  In all this time, he never hated Ryouga.
He really wanted to be friends, but something stopped him.  "Not if I have
to keep secrets from Akane.  We have to tell her about P-chan."

Ryouga stiffened, and looked down.  He was hoping it didn't come to this,
but knew it would.  "I know.  Can you help me?"

Ranma smiled, and placed his hand on Ryouga's shoulder.  "Hey, what are
friends for?" he said.  "Any ideas?"  

***********************************************

The bickering that Tenno came out to break was the two discussing battle
plans.  He saw the two arguing by the pool, their voices steadily growing
louder.  Tenno picked up a stick.

"I am NOT telling her for you!" Ranma yelled.  "No way!  She'll kill me."

"Well she'll kill me if I tell her!"  Ryouga retorted.

"Better you than-hey!" Ranma's latest foray is interrupted by his trip
into the water, as he was pushed into the pool by Tenno.  "What'd ya do
that for?!"  

Ryouga started to laugh, and soon followed the other into the pool.  "What
the hell?"  Nabiki gasped from inside the house as she saw Ryouga-chan.

Tenno laughed at the two girls and their outraged expressions.  "My first
day and I already am one up on my teacher.  This martial arts stuff must
be easy."  The two girls looked at each other and the next thing Tenno
knew she was in the pool, and the other girls  were on the bank wringing
out their clothes.  "OK, maybe not quite so easy."  She said as she swam
to the edge of the pool.  "So I assume you two aren't going to kill each
other?"

"We were trying to decide how to tell Akane about a secret we kept from
her." Ranma-chan said as she helped Tenno-chan out of the pool.

"The pet thing?  Oh, you guys are on your own on this one.  I'm going to
get some hot water." Tenno-chan shook her head as she went back to the
house, droplets of water flying off of her hair.  "I may be a fool, but
I'm not suicidal."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Ranma-chan called after her
sarcastically.  She looked over at Ryouga-chan, and an idea popped into
her head.

**********************************************************************

That evening, Ranma-chan, Ryouga-chan, and a wet, shiverring Tenno-chan
stood outside Akane's door.

"Why did I get dragged into this?"  Tenno-chan muttered to herself.
Louder, to the two other girls, she asked "Why am I here?  And why did we
have to visit the pool first?  I'm freezing."

"Akane likes you.  She's stronger than you and she knows it.  You have no
secrets from her.   You're like a second Kasumi," Ranma-chan recited in a
sing-song voice.

Tenno-chan shivered.  "I wish people would stop saying that."

"The combination of three good looking girls, all of whom she likes, plus
the shock of finding out about my curse, might keep her from killing us."
Ryouga-chan seconded.

"Might."  Tenno-chan shivered again.  "But you guys can take it if she
gets mad at you.  She kicks me once and I'm a grease spot!"

"The life of a martial artist is filled with peril," Ranma-chan intoned.

"Aww...maaaann," Tenno-chan sighed as they knocked on Akane's door.

"Come in." Akane's voice shounded through the wood.  They entered.  She
smiled at them faintly.  "Hi Ranma, hi Tenno, hi...RYOUGA?!" She stared at
Ryouga-chan.  Then she started to glow blue. "Raaaaaaaannnmmmmaaaaa!" 

"Wait, don't hit me!  Just hear us out!  Well, me and Ryouga.  And don't
kill Tenno, she's just here as moral support!"  Ranma-chan was
fast-talking for all she was worth.  "Remember when Tenno had that meeting
with the other cursed people?  Well Ryouga was one of them.  She..HE chose
the girl-water."  Akane seemed to be in shock.  The blue glow left her,
and she sat on the bed.

Ryouga-chan seemed reluctant to speak. "Tell her, Ryouga," Ranma said.
"She needs to know."

Ryouga took a deep breath.  "Akane, when I first fought Ranma, and you
tried to save him, I started to fall for you."  Ranma-chan started to
interrupt, but Tenno-chan put her hand on Ranma-chan's arm and shook her
head.  "As  time went by, I really grew to love you." Akane gasped.  "Yet,
you only saw me as a friend.  Poor Ryouga, who Ranma was always picking
on.  But I also kept a secret from you, and forced Ranma to keep it from
you.  I...I don't know how to say this, Akane.  I wanted to be with you,
but I couldn't as normal.  I was so jealous of how you and Ranma felt for
each other.  I wanted you to love me too.  So when you started to love
P-chan, I never told you it was me.  I'm sorry, Akane.  I don't know if
you can forgive me, but I don't want you to hate me.  I wanted the
fighting between Ranma and I to stop, and that meant the lies had to end."

Akane was shaking.  Ranma-chan went to confort her, and stopped.  Akane
was crying, but there was a smile on her face.  "This was the secret?
This is what you two were arguing about?  Oh, thank god."  She was
smiling, and tears welled up in her eyes.  "Ranma, Ryouga, YOU JERKS!  How
dare you scare me like that!  I thought Ryouga was leaving forever or
something!  I thought I was going to lose one of my friends!"  Ranma-chan
and Ryouga-chan looked at each other, confused.  She stopped, and started
to glow blue.  She turned to Ryouga-chan. "YOU were P-chan?" she growled,
"RYOUGA, YOU JERK!"  Ryouga-chan flew through the roof and into the air.
She whirled on Ranma-chan. "YOU! You kept it from me!  RANMA, YOU JERK!"
Ranma-chan followed Ryouga-chan. She turned to Tenno-chan who has her
hands up in submission.

"HEY! No beating on innocent bystanders!"  Tenno-chan tensed for the kick
that would send her though the air, and probably kill her.  A moment
passed without pain.  Another.  Tenno-chan looked up and saw Akane on her
bed, crying.  She got up, and started to leave, but stopped at the door.
"Remember what she said, Akane.  Ryouga loves you.  Even she sees how
Ranma feels for you.  Think about how you feel for them."  Quietly, she
opened the door and went to find Kasumi's first-aid kit.

**************************************************************

Ranma and Ryouga-chan sat at the Tendo's table, wolfing down the breakfast
Kasumi made for them. Even as she matched Ranma bite for bite, it was
clear Ryouga-chan was uncomfortable being female.  Nabiki watched them and
sighed.  "It's a good thing you and Tenno are leaving, Ryouga. I don't
think we could afford another two bottomless pits, even with Tenno paying
rent."  She turned to watch Tenno suffer through the particularly brutal
drills Genma and Soun were putting him through. She smiled.  "Revenge is
mine," she whispered.

Akane came down the stairs, and saw Ranma and Ryouga-chan gorging
themselves at the table.  She walked to the table, and sat.  "Did you
leave any for me?" she asked angrily.  Ranma and Ryouga-chan stopped
eating.  Akane smiled when she saw how much food was left.  "Oh good, I
didn't want to have to kick you through the ceiling again.  Friends
shouldn't do that to friends."  The three looked at each other, and
smiled.

Chapter 1 End


Notes:

I'll defend most of the events in this one with my life.  I love the way
this Chapter goes.  ALOT.  It almost wrote itself for me.  It's a little
too angst-y for my tastes, but it leaves me with a nice WAFF so, hey. :)

The one complaint I can forsee is this: "Ryouga gives up too easy."  Hey,
what can I say, if Kasumi was in charge, these problems never would have
started.  It's hard to be inreasonable and angry when there's someone like
Kasumi (or Tenno) listening.

As I said, constructive cricism is welcome.