Ranma 1/2
	Altered Destinies:  A scary thought

	What's happened so far:  Kasumi Tendo and Ranma 
Saotome were switched at an early age and raised by the other's 
parents.  Now Kasumi is cursed to change to a man and has just 
recently returned to Nerima with Genma after a training trip in 
China.  She is now engaged to Ranma, who isn't pleased, has 
attracted Kuno's attention, and isn't pleased, and has to deal with 
a very upset Ukyo who turns into a wolf (which is often mistaken 
for a dog) and guess who's fault that is.  Then there's the matters 
of Ranma taking Ukyo-wolf as a pet and Akane taking C-chan, a 
pink furred cat who's lost her memory, as a pet.  Of course there 
are other problems as well, like a certain group of costumed 
young super powered heroines taking an interest in the events at 
Nerima, Kodachi taking an interest in Kasumi-kun, Ms. Hinako 
arriving as Kasumi's assistant and finally an old woman 
confronting Kasumi and applying the cat tongue point attack on 
her.

%Chapter 10

	Kasumi stood at the door to the vice-principal's home and 
took in a long, deep breath.  Now was as good a time as any.  She 
reached out and lightly knocked then waited.  After a moment the 
vice principal opened the door and looked at Kasumi in mild 
surprise.
	"Oh, hello Kasumi.  Is there something I can do for you?"  
Seeing the grave look on Kasumi's face he added.  "Is there 
something wrong my dear?  Why don't you come in and talk 
about whatever it is."  He said.
	"Thank you."  Kasumi replied and walked in.
	The vice-principal led her to the common room.  "Please 
sit down.  Is there something you'd like to drink?"  He asked as 
he started to walk to the kitchen.
	"A glass of cold water will do, thank you."  Kasumi 
answered.
	After a minute he returned from the kitchen with a cup of 
tea and a glass of water which he handed to Kasumi.  Sitting 
down across from Kasumi he asked.  "So, what brings you here?  
Nothing wrong with Ms. Hinako I hope."
	"No, I think she'll do just fine.  Actually, I'm here to tell 
you about something that has come up."  Kasumi looked at the 
glass she was holding and briefly considered just explaining 
about the curse.  However, that just wouldn't do.  He'd have to 
see it and, besides, she might as well change under controlled 
conditions.  Not wasting a second longer Kasumi turned the glass 
over, and dumped the water over her head.
	Kasumi watched as several expressions flashed over the 
vice-principal's face: shock as her figure began to morph, then 
incredulity as the transformation ran it's course and finally his 
face settled into an expression of stunned amazement.  He was so 
stunned, in fact, that his grip on his tea weakened and the cup 
dropped into his lap.  The feeling of scalding hot liquid on his 
skin quickly brought him out of his catatonic state and caused 
him to jump to his feet with a yelp of pain.
	"Are you all right sir?"  Kasumi asked as he started to 
race from the room.  The vice-principal didn't respond, save to 
curse the tea, and rushed off into the kitchen.  A minute later he 
returned, drying his pant legs with a dish towel.
	"Sorry about that."  He said as he sat down again and 
looked at Kasumi.  After a moment he spoke.  "How long?"
	"A few months now.  It happened-"
	The vice-principal waved off the explanation.  "No, don't 
bother me with the details of how you got this... condition.  They 
wouldn't change anything.  I guess seeing Ms. Hinako's 
condition you decided to show me yours?"
	"That is part of it.  In actuality I... have a problem."
	"Problem?"  The vice principal asked.
	Kasumi sighed then began to explain how the curse 
worked and his present situation, leaving out some of the more 
messy details that he didn't need to know about.
	Once finished the vice-principal looked at him 
sympathetically.  "So, I can assume you may be trapped like this 
for some time?"
	"Unfortunately it would be best to make that assumption.  
I hope to clear up matters with this woman but that may take a 
while.  Until then..."
	"I see."  He took a moment to think.  "Are you still 
capable of working at the school?"
	"I suppose.  I have no desire to quit if that's what you 
mean."  Kasumi answered.
	"Well then, I don't think this will be that great of a 
problem.  I can explain about your condition to the other 
instructors as necessary.  As for the students, they can simply be 
told you are a substitute while... your other self is on vacation, or 
something."
	Kasumi nodded and smiled in some relief.  "That sounds 
just fine."
	"Good.  Now, have you an alternate identity of any type?  
It would be best to remain consistent."
	Kasumi nodded.  "Akane said that she once introduced 
me as Kaneda.  I'm supposed to be her cousin.  Will that do?"
	"Fine, just fine.  Okay then, if there's nothing else..."  
Suddenly the vice-principal's face grew thoughtful, after a minute 
a grin spread across it and he started to chuckle.  Seeing 
Kasumi's puzzled look he said.  "I just realized that you must be 
the man of mystery that all the girls are talking about.  I'm afraid 
you are going to find yourself the center of a great deal of 
attention your first few days, and not just from the female 
students either.  Some of the young single teachers have been 
doing a little gossiping as well.  Some of the married ones as well 
if it comes to that, but I don't think you have much to worry 
about regarding them."  He grinned at Kasumi.  "If you were a 
real man, I would be giving you a lecture right now on not 
getting involved with the female students.  I can't tell you what a 
relief it is to have a young male teacher I don't have to worry 
about that problem with."  Not seeing the look of dismay that 
crossed Kasumi's face the vice-principal said as he started to get 
up.  "Well, if that is all then, you'll have to excuse me while I go 
get these burns properly treated.  Good luck to you in finding a 
cure."
	"Thank you sir.  Good bye then."  Kasumi responded, and 
with a troubled look on her face got up and started to leave.
	"Good bye."
	Kasumi headed off for home, a great sense of burden 
lifted from his shoulders, and another potential burden taking its 
place.  He never really gave it much thought but now he realized 
that it had been worrying him that his fellow instructors at the 
school might react badly to the curse.  He had not stopped to 
consider how some of his fellow female teachers might react to 
his physical form.  He hoped the vice-principal would tell them 
the truth before something embarrassing happened.  Once that 
was no longer a concern  he could concentrate on his work and 
hopefully find some way to deal with this newest problem.

	A short distance from the Tendo home a figure sat on a 
rooftop waiting for her darling Kaneda's arrival.  That figure was 
one Kodachi Kuno.  For the last several days she had somehow 
missed Kasumi, or Kaneda as she knew him, on his way home 
from where ever he went during the day.  Little did she know that 
the person she was searching for passed by her each day, yet in 
his female form.  Akane, of course, was getting a good amount of 
amusement out of Kodachi's confusion at this.
	However, today Kodachi spotted her target.  Finally, she 
thought as she readied herself.  Kaneda walked by the building 
Kodachi was waiting on, unaware of his audience.  Kodachi 
waited till just the right moment then dropped down to the 
ground in front of him.
	For Kasumi this was quite the surprise.  He had sensed 
something and was expecting to encounter one of three people:  
Ukyo, the old woman... or possibly even Shampoo.  However, 
Kodachi was not someone he was prepared for.
	"Hello... lover."  Kodachi said as she walked slowly up to 
the shocked Kaneda.  "Do you know how difficult it is to catch 
you?"
	Kasumi blinked in confusion at the unexpected form of 
address then noticed Kodachi's attire.  She was dressed in a form 
fitting black gown that hugged her figure, accentuating every 
curve, and dropped to just above her ankles.  As Kodachi  moved 
towards him, Kasumi could not help but notice her long trim legs 
flashing in and out of sight showing  that the dress was slit up 
each side as high as her hips.  When she was close enough 
Kasumi noticed that the dress was not solid black.  There was a 
pattern of roses worked in the material, picked out in black thread 
so it was almost invisible, and as a result could not help but draw 
the eye.  It ran in a spiral pattern that started at the hem and ran 
around her body until it ended in a single open blossom at the 
bottom of her cleavage.  The effect that this created made Kasumi 
suddenly nervous.  For some reason he suddenly had a vision of 
another woman, much lusher, and older but in a similar 
provocative dress.  As quickly as it came it went, leaving Kasumi 
with a vague feeling of familiarity he could not place.  Needing 
some distance, Kasumi started to back away as Kodachi 
continued to approach.
	"Hello... Kodachi."  Kasumi managed to say then 
bumped into something.  Without knowing it he had allowed her 
to back him up against one of the street walls and Kodachi 
quickly took advantage of this.  She pressed up close to him and 
laid a hand to either side, allowing no room for an easy escape.
	"I never did get to properly thank you for catching me."  
She said, passion and seduction all too plain in her voice.
	Kasumi rarely felt as nervous as he did now.  He was 
used to facing battles and on very rare occasion men who 
behaved in much the manner that Kodachi was now, but not 
this...  For a second the image of the lush woman once again 
flashed across his mind and disappeared.  Disregarding the 
puzzling image as irrelevant at the moment  he tried to bring his 
mind back to his current dilemma.  "It was nothing."  He 
stammered out.
	"Oh, but you deserve a reward for such a heroic act."  
Kodachi said as she brought her face within an inch of Kasumi's.
	"That's really not necessary."  Kasumi replied quickly, 
ducking his head to the side to avoid Kodachi.
	Kodachi blinked then moved her own head to meet 
Kasumi's once more.  "You're not shy, are you?"
	"Umm, well..."  Kasumi again dodged Kodachi and this 
time used his hand to move one of Kodachi's.  He escaped and 
quickly put several feet between them.  "You have the wrong 
idea.  I couldn't..."
	Kodachi looked at him, slightly dejected.  "You already 
have a girlfriend?"
	"No!"  Kasumi responded automatically and Kodachi's 
face lit up once again and she quickly closed the gap between 
them.
	"Then what's the problem?"  She asked with a smile but 
then frowned.  "Is it that you don't like me?"
	"No, that's not it.  You're just fine..."  Kasumi replied as 
he backed into another wall.  Kodachi's smile returned and she 
grabbed Kasumi by the shoulders then lay herself against him, 
pinning him against the wall with her body weight.  Kodachi 
looked up into Kasumi's eyes with passionate fire in her eyes.  
The combined factors of that look and a woman's body pressed 
so close to him caused Kasumi's mind to fumble.
	He took a second to replace the spit in his suddenly dry 
mouth then spoke.  "Ahh. You see... I'm a g..."  Kasumi trailed 
off.  Not right now I'm not and I'm stuck this way, he thought 
with a wince.
	"What were you saying lover?"  Kodachi asked, moving 
her face within striking distance of Kasumi's.  Kasumi quickly 
turned his face to the side to avoid anything further.
	"I'm really not... I really don't think... I should..."  
Kasumi paused to collect himself then continued.  "I'm just not 
ready to start that kind of relationship right now."  He said then, 
getting up his nerve, removed himself gently from Kodachi.  "It's 
nothing to do with you."  Kodachi look down at the ground, 
apparently disappointed.  Kasumi breathed a quiet sigh of relief 
then started back on his way.  "I'm sorry."  He said as he walked 
off.
	Kodachi stood silent for a moment then looked up with a 
smile at the departing figure.  "I guess I'll just have to work a 
little harder."  She said and then walked off in the opposite 
direction.

	Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru stood in front of the 
restaurant that Setsuna had recommended, having just exited 
from Haruka's car.  After a minute spent looking over the front of 
the establishment, Michiru and Hotaru started up the steps to the 
entrance.  Haruka lagged behind, however, looking over her 
shoulder at the parking valet driving her car around to the back of 
the restaurant.  Michiru sighed, and walked back down the steps. 
Linking her arm into Haruka's she steered her friend around and 
up the stairs.
	"I am sure they will take good care of your baby dear."
	Haruka sniffed septically.  "They had better," she said, 
"or else."
	Michiru merely smiled and the two of them joined Hotaru 
who was hopping from foot to foot in impatience at the slowness 
of grownups.
	Stepping through the door they entered a cool dark 
entrance way lined with wood paneling that glowed with a deep 
brown finish. At the end of the short hallway was a podium 
attended by a man of Chinese ancestry.
	As they walked up to the Maitre Dee, Michiru made 
noises of approval regarding the understated, but attractive decor.  
"This is a very nice place.  But still, I seriously doubt that 
Setsuna sent us here because it is a fine dining establishment."
	"Maybe it has a fine wine cellar as well."  Haruka joked.  
"I imagine Setsuna has an appreciation of fine old vintages.  She 
was likely there when they were bottled."
	Ahead of them the Maitre Dee was politely but firmly 
informing a well to do couple that it would be quite impossible to 
seat them.  There was a three month waiting period for a 
reservation.
	"O well, I guess that lets us out."  Haruka said in mock 
resignation.  Turning she had taken a step back the way they had 
come before Michiru caught her arm and turned her back around.
	"Don't be ridiculous."  Michiru said.  "Remember who 
told us to come here."  Haruka sighed in resignation and allowed 
Michiru to lead her back to the Maitre Dee's podium.
	"I just wish she could have picked a night there was not a 
major F1 event on."  Haruka muttered to herself.
	"Michiru Kaiou, Haruka Tenoh and Hotaru Tomoe, I 
believe you have a table for us."  Michiru said.
	The man did not even look at his book, instead he beamed 
at them in delight and said.  "But of course we do.  I have long 
been waiting to meet the people who had such foresight.  You are 
so young!  In truth I had expected someone much older.  Still it 
makes it even more remarkable that you had the wisdom to make 
your reservations on the day we opened two years ago.  If you 
would please follow me I will take you to your table."
	As they followed the effusive Maitre Dee Haruka leaned 
over and whispered in Michiru's ear.  "I really, really hate it 
when she does that."
	Michiru merely smiled and said. "Serves you right for 
doubting her."
	"There sure are a lot of beautiful ladies here."  Hotaru, 
who up to now had been on her best behavior, was looking 
around the room in amazement.  Every where they looked there 
was an attractive young girl in a scarlet dress.
	"Aa yes, our hostesses," the Maitre Dee said.  "We are 
famous for our girls.  You will not find lovelier hostesses in any 
other establishment.  Not only that, but each table has a single 
girl assigned to it, and they will be devoted to you and you alone 
for the duration of your meal."
	"That is most considerate of you.  I always enjoy having 
an attractive girl at my beck and call."  Haruka said, giving a 
wink to one of the girls in question as they passed by her 
assigned table.  The girl blushed, and lowered her eyes demurely.  
She continued to watch Haruka out of the corner of her eye as 
Haruka walked away from her duty station.
	Michiru noted the byplay with amusement, wondering 
what the girl's reaction would be if she were to find that what she 
was currently so avidly focusing her eyes on belonged to another 
girl.
	Reaching their table the Maitre Dee seated the ladies 
himself.  Turning and snapping his fingers  he held up three 
fingers as he signaled to one of the Hostesses and she came over 
to them carrying three menus.  Taking them from her the Maitre 
Dee handed one each to the three girls.  "It will be my pleasure to 
serve you personally this evening," he said.

	Kasumi sat the edge of his bed staring at the floor.  He 
had walked in and gone straight here to think.  He'd inevitably 
have to tell everyone about being trapped as a boy.  That wasn't 
really that much of a concern.  What was the concern is that 
everyone would want to know why.  He could almost hear the tea 
kettle whistling right now.
	Kasumi rubbed his eyes as he cast his mind back to that 
day several months ago.  It had been just after they had left the 
springs.  They had reached a village that had turned out to be 
inhabited by a tribe of Amazons.  Thanks to Genma he had ended 
up fighting the village champion.  Fortunately he had won and 
equally fortunately the village appreciated skilled fighters.  There 
had been a festival after his fight and he had spent an enjoyable 
evening with the girl he had defeated, an Amazon named 
Shampoo.  The problems had started the next day when he had to 
reveal the truth to Shampoo.  The girl had almost killed her 
before relenting and revealing the law of the village regarding 
outsider women who defeated an Amazon.  It was barbaric, if an 
Amazon was defeated by an outsider female she had to give her 
the kiss of death and then kill without delay.  Fortunately she had 
revealed her secret to Shampoo in private and after the girl got 
over her anger she had let Kasumi escape.  She had never thought 
to hear from Shampoo again, and now it would seem her 
grandmother had some peculiar notion of what had happened 
between her and Shampoo.  Well, once she realized the truth, she 
would hopefully reverse the Cat Tongue pressure point.
	Kasumi shook himself out of the past, and sighed.  Such 
things were behind him and unchangeable.  Right now he had to 
figure out how to tell the others about this.

	Ryouko looked into the dojo and winced as Ranma 
smashed into the dojo wall.  He slid to the ground, moaning in 
pain.  "This sucks!  Why do I have to help you with this 
anyway?"  He asked as he started getting back to his feet.
	Akane tossed her gymnastic clubs into the air with a 
smile.  "Because Kodachi had something to do, that's why.  Now 
stop whining.  The tournament is tomorrow and I need to 
practice."  Akane caught the clubs without even looking.
	"Yeah, yeah.  Why bother anyway?  Kodachi is going to 
win."  He said and set himself into a ready stance.
	"We'll see about that."  Akane dashed forward and began 
a quick set of strikes with her clubs.  Ranma blocked each then 
stepped off to the side.  Akane spun about to meet him.
	Ryouko watched the bout for a moment longer then 
turned and walked off for the yard.  She was so close to telling 
him, so close...  Damn that Kasumi!  Well, she'd get hers, and 
Kasumi couldn't keep Ranma away from her forever.  Next 
chance she got she'd tell him how she felt.
	"Charolette!!"  A girl's voice rang out as she grabbed 
Ryouko in a powerful hug.  Ryouko not only was taken totally off 
guard by the sudden hug but was also completely stunned.  Who 
the hell is this, she thought, half panicked.  "You have been a bad 
doggy, running away, but now you're coming home with Azusa."
	Ryouko tried to shake herself free from Azusa but found 
the girl's grip to be like a vice.  Her struggles suddenly ceased, 
however, when she felt a slight pin prink near her neck where 
Azusa was holding her.  Within seconds she felt woozy and 
weak.
	Just then Genma stepped out onto the walkway.  "Oh, 
hello miss.  Is that your dog?"
	"Oh yes!  This is my little Charolette."  Azusa said, 
waving one of the signs Ranma had put up to Genma.  "Azusa is 
so happy to have found her.  Aren't you happy too Charolette?"  
Azusa gave Ryouko a big smile and hug.  Ryouko wanted to 
growl, snap at her or something to tell Ranma's father this 
wasn't right but she could barely keep her eyelids open.  "See, 
she's so happy to see me.  Thank you for finding her.  Can I take 
her home now?"
	"Well, I guess so."  Genma answered with a shrug.  
"She's your dog after all."
	Great, I'm being kidnapped in plain sight and what's he 
do about it, Ryouko thought angrily, nothing.  She desperately 
wanted to do anything to stop this but she was just too weak.  
She felt Azusa wrap a choke chain around her neck then begin to 
lead her off.  Ryouko tried to just drop to the ground but the 
sudden lack of oxygen quickly quashed that idea.  All she could 
do was stumble along behind the girl, trying to keep up.  The 
worst thing about it was she had an overwhelming feeling that 
this would only get worse.

	Haruka sighed and pushed herself back from the table.  
"Now that was a meal!"  She exclaimed.
	"It was very good." Michiru agreed.  Hotaru nodded her 
head in affirmation, but was too busy trying to clean the last of 
the dessert from her plate to talk.  Finally deciding that all that 
was left on her plate was the pattern, she sighed in resignation.  
Looking around the restaurant she noticed one of the other 
hostesses walking by with a tray of desserts for her table.
	"Do you-" She began.
	"No, I do not."  Michiru said.  "You have had far more 
than enough sweets for one day."  She looked down and started 
to go through her dress purse.  She and Haruka had bet on how 
long it would be before whatever Setsuna wanted them here to 
see happened.  She had lost.  She had been sure it would happen 
soon after their arrival.  She should have known better.  Setsuna 
would not be so impolite as to interrupt their meal.  In hindsight 
she realized that Setsuna had more than likely scheduled their 
reservation in order that they might enjoy their dinner in comfort 
before anything else happened.  Frowning she thought, if that is 
the case then it is likely that we will soon witness whatever we 
are here to see.
	Haruka smiled and winked at Hotaru. While Michiru's 
attention was else where she slid her own half finished dessert 
over to Hotaru.
	Hotaru immediately dug in, in an effort to finish it before 
Michiru looked up from her purse.  It melted away like a snow 
ball in a blast furnace.  And, just before Michiru looked up after 
locating her wallet Hotaru slid the now empty bowl back to 
Haruka.  She began to look around the restaurant in a nonchalant 
manner, the very epitome of innocence.  Suddenly something at 
another table caught her eye.
	"Wow," Hotaru shouted, simultaneous with a loud crash 
and a great deal of yelling and screaming.  The other two girls 
turned, and saw an amazing sight.  An attractive hostess was 
holding a steak knife under the quivering double chin of an 
executive type middle aged man.  Another man was flailing his 
arms and blowing bubbles as the girl held him face down in a 
bowl of soup.  While she was doing this she kept up a steady 
stream of what must have been fairly pungent invective judging 
by the flushes that were rising on the faces of several of the other 
Hostesses.
	With a yell of outrage the Maitre Dee charged across the 
room to confront the angry girl.  He skidded to a halt quickly 
when she swung the steak knife around from the man she had 
been threatening and directed it at Maitre Dee.  He started yelling 
in the same language she was using and gestured at the man with 
his face in the soup.  The other man had fainted dead away when 
she had withdrawn the knife from under his chin.  The man with 
his face in the soup had stopped his frantic motions and was now 
weakly trying to push himself away from the bowl.
	With an angry shout the girl used the drowning man's 
hair as a handle and pulled his face up and out.  Before he could 
even so much as draw a much needed breath of air she pulled his 
head to one side and slammed it down on to the top of the table.  
Once, twice and a third time, then with one final imprecation at 
the Maitre Dee she let go of her handhold and stalked out of the 
room.  The gentleman who's head she had used for a hammer 
slowly slid off of the table and fell to the floor.
	The Maitre Dee yelled something out at her just before 
she reached the door.  She whirled and in the same motion threw 
the steak knife she still held in one hand.  It flashed through the 
air and thunked into the floor between the Maitre Dee's feet.  He 
paled and stepped backwards.  The girl, with a flip of her hair, 
disappeared out the door.
	"O good, a floor show," Haruka said.  Michiru directed a 
withering look at her, and tried to pull Hotaru's attention away 
from the other table.
	"Wow," Hotaru repeated.  "She sure showed that 
pervert."
	"Hotaru!!"  Michiru exclaimed.
	"Well he was, I saw it all.  She leaned over to clear the 
dishes and he reached out and grabbed her right on the-"
	"Thank you Hotaru, we get the idea.  Well Haruka, I 
guess you're going to get to watch your race after all."
	"Eh?"  Haruka pulled her attention back from the 
amusing scene on the other side of the restaurant.
	"Unless you don't think that is why Setsuna sent us 
here."  Michiru explained.
	Haruka grew thoughtful.  "Well she did give us a specific 
time to be here and I can't see anything else as spectacular 
happening.  I have to say, however, that it seems an awfully 
strange thing for her to arrange for us to see.  Why do you 
suppose she wanted us to witness it?"
	"I have no idea.  We may never have any idea.  Maybe 
our being in these seats at this particular time was necessary to 
something that will happen two hundred years from now."
	A half an hour later the three of them were motoring 
down the road towards home.  A sudden unexpected storm had 
blown in, but Haruka had put the top up on the convertible before 
they left the restaurant.
	Suddenly Hotaru yelled out to Haruka to stop, pointing at 
a figure trudging through the rain along the shoulder of the road.  
The scarlet dress she was wearing left little doubt in any of their 
minds that this was the same girl they had seen in the restaurant.  
Bringing the car to a stop a hundred feet past the girl, Haruka put 
it into reverse and backed up till she was next to the soaking wet 
girl.  The girl did not even lift her head in acknowledgment of 
their presence.  She did speak however.
	"What you want?"  She continued to walk, and Haruka 
kept the car level with her.
	"We just wanted-"  Michiru started to say but was 
interrupted by Hotaru.
	"You were great.  You really showed that pervert he had 
better keep his hands to himself."  She enthused.
	"I agree," Haruka said.  "I doubt that either of them will 
be quite so free with there hands in the future."  At the sound of 
Haruka's voice the girl raised her head, and turning gave Haruka 
a hard searching look.  She then looked at Michiru and finally at 
Hotaru, who she smiled at.
	"Thank you.  I no like grabby men."
	"Can we offer you a lift home?"  Michiru asked.  "It is a 
filthy night out and you will catch your death of cold if you have 
to go far in this."
	"I no cold."  The girl said.  A bout of shivering showed 
that statement to be the merest bravado.
	"Really, please let us drive you home."  Haruka said.  "In 
payment for a wonderful floor show if nothing else.  A pretty girl 
like you should not have to travel unescorted.  You should go 
everywhere in the company of fine young men."
	At this statement the girl gave bitter laugh.  "I no have 
boy, I no have home, I no have nothing."
	"No home?"  Michiru asked.
	"Restaurant have rooms for girls in back.  No job, no 
room."
	Haruka stopped the car.  Getting out, she placed herself in 
front of the former hostess and pulled the seat forward.  "Please 
get in," she said to the girl.  "We can go to a tea house and 
discuss this in comfort."  For a minute she thought the girl would 
refuse, but finally she heaved a resigned sigh and climbed into 
the back seat with Hotaru.
	A little later they were all seated around a table and each 
of them was cupping a warm bowl of tea in their hands.  The 
former Hostess had a warm towel wrapped around her shoulders, 
courtesy of the old lady who ran the tea shop.  Haruka was 
flirting outrageously with the pretty granddaughter of the owner.  
Michiru was attempting to draw out their guest, every now and 
then exchanging glances with Haruka.  Their was an entire 
conversation in their glances.  Michiru was saying that they 
would have to take this girl in until they could find her a place.  
Haruka was saying, what about our secrets.  Michiru's return 
glance replied that something could be worked out, and that this 
was more than likely the reason Setsuna had wanted them at the 
restaurant.  Haruka's eyes agreed and she looked over at Hotaru.  
Hotaru looked up at both of them and with her eyes said that she 
thought the girl very nice and that she thought they should help 
her, especially after that pervert had gotten her fired.  She needed 
to know that there were good people in the world.  Suddenly her 
glance started to tell a different story, as did the fact that her face 
was turning a little green.
	Haruka said. "I think that last dessert was just a little too 
much of a good thing."  Extending her hand she helped Hotaru 
up from the floor.  She then gently picked up the little girl and 
carried her off to the ladies room.  She returned about five 
minutes later with a now pale faced Hotaru.  "I think we had best 
get this one back to her own bed." Looking around in puzzlement 
she said. "Where is our warrior waitress?"
	Michiru looked up from where she had knelt down beside 
Hotaru to feel her head, and said.  "She said she had to go 
home."
	"Home?"  Haruka asked.  "I thought she had no home."
	"I guess she found one."  Michiru shrugged.  "In any 
event we can't go looking for her.  We need to get Hotaru home 
and in a warm bath.  Her face is ice cold."  There was nothing 
Haruka could say to that, and the three of them left the tea house.  
As their car pulled out into the street a shadowy figure emerged 
from the nearby alley.
	"Shampoo thank you for showing her."  Then she turned 
and started lopping down the street.  After a block she bounded 
to the roof of a nearby home and then leapt to it's neighbor.  In 
seconds she disappeared into the darkness.

	"Okay, okay, I take it back.  Maybe you do have a 
chance."  Ranma said as he stepped into the common room, 
rubbing the side of his chest.  Akane followed close behind him.
	"Maybe you should go get Dr. Tofu-"  Akane began to 
suggest.
	"I'm fine.  It's just a stupid bruise."  Ranma replied.
	"Okay.  I'm going to go take a bath."  Akane headed off 
to the bathroom.
	Ranma slumped down next to the table where Nabiki was 
concentrating on a book.  He tried to rub away the pain for a 
moment longer then gave up and looked at what Nabiki was 
reading.  It was a psychology manual and Nabiki was presently 
looking over the chapter on sex related disorders.  "What are you 
reading that for?"
	Nabiki suddenly slammed the book shut and looked up at 
Ranma in surprise.  "Nothing...  No reason...  Where the hell did 
you come from?"
	"I was right here.  Gees, that must be one interesting 
book."
	Nabiki scowled and quickly hid the book under the table 
and replaced it with a math text.  "I don't know.  It's not my type 
of book."
	"Certainly had you engrossed though."  Ranma replied 
with a teasing smile.  Nabiki turned her attention to the text and 
ignored him but he caught a slight embarrassed blush on her 
face.  Ranma let the subject drop and looked around.  "Hey, you 
seen Ryouko."
	"Nope."  Nabiki simply replied.  Ranma frowned at that.  
Ryouko was always around.  Usually she'd hang so close to him 
he thought they were connected by a rope.  He got up to go look 
for her.
	As soon as Ranma left the room Nabiki immediately 
switched back to the psychology manual.

	A short time later Ranma was getting worried.  He'd look 
through the whole house and couldn't find Ryouko anywhere.  
Then he ran into his father as he came in from a walk.
	"Hey Pop, have you seen Ryouko?  I can't find her."
	"Oh, some girl came to pick her up earlier."  He replied 
absently and started walking towards the common room.
	"What do you mean `some girl'?!"  Ranma exclaimed.
	"She must have been the owner."
	"Why didn't you tell me she was here?!  I at least wanted 
to meet the...  Wait a minute, you didn't just let her take Ryouko 
did you?"
	"Yeah, so?"
	"Did you even bother checking to see if she was the real 
owner?"
	Genma stopped dead in his tracks and looked at his son 
with a nervous grin.  "Well... ahhhhh, ummm..."
	"Pop, you are by far the most irresponsible person I 
know!!!"  Ranma yelled out just as Akane walked up, drying her 
hair with a towel.
	"Now what?"  She asked.
	"He went and gave away Ryouko to some girl without 
even checking out who she was!"  Ranma answered and glared at 
his father angrily.
	Akane looked between the two, sympathizing with 
Ranma's anger.  If someone had given C-chan away without 
checking on the person she'd probably be a little peeved herself.  
"Did you get her name?"  She asked Genma, a scowl on her face.
	"Ahh... ahhh... oh yeah, she called herself Azusa I think."  
Genma responded.
	Azusa, where have I heard that name before, Akane 
thought to herself then suddenly the answer came to her.  "Oh 
brother, I know her.  Mai warned me about her.  She's supposed 
to be a bit weird or something."
	"Great, you gave Ryouko away to some nutcase!"  Ranma 
yelled out causing Genma to hide behind Akane.  Ranma stared 
daggers at his father then turned his attention to Akane.  "Do you 
know where she lives?"
	"No, but Mai might.  We can go ask."  Akane replied and 
Ranma was already leaving.  Akane gave Genma a disapproving 
shake of her head and chased after Ranma.
	Genma watched them leave then sighed in relief.  He then 
turned and ran right into Kasumi-kun and from the expression on 
Kasumi's face he knew his trouble had just increased.
	"We have to talk."  Kasumi said.
	"About?"  Genma asked, fearing the answer.
	"I can explain that to everyone at once."  Kasumi replied.  
Genma had a bad feeling...

	Shampoo landed nimbly on the roof of the house across 
from the Tendos'.  She had scouted it out once before but 
couldn't go through with it.  Now she had seen something that 
made her reconsider.
	She had been of a split mind.  Her great grand mother had 
assured her that it would all work out.  Who was she to 
disbelieve her?  Her great grand mother was older, wiser and 
vastly more experience in matters of the heart than Shampoo.  
Yet, despite all her assurances, it seemed so hopeless.
	How could she live out her life with another woman, half 
man or not?  It was not like she was unaware of such 
relationships.  The village had a few such matches, but that 
simply wasn't her.  She couldn't see herself with a woman and 
having anything meaningful.
	When it came to love, Shampoo had to admit, her 
knowledge was horribly limited.  Her only real gauge on the 
matter was Mousse and his overbearing torrential outpouring of 
`love'.  She'd never seen such a thing between other women and 
without it those relationships seemed so... shallow in 
comparison.  However, she saw now that she had been horribly 
mistaken.  Such outpouring `love' was merely window-dressing.  
Much more powerful connections were made than that and in 
much more subtle ways.
	The looks that she had noticed being exchanged by those 
two women this afternoon carried a great impact.  She had 
noticed them in the restaurant and thought them a married 
couple.  It was not until she heard the `man' speak that she 
realized the truth.  Then she had thought she had misread their 
relationship, but the small amount of time she had spent with 
them had shown that they were indeed in love.  When she 
thought about how they behaved she was reminded of how her 
own parents sometimes looked at each other.  In the end, that's 
really what she had wanted without even knowing it.
	She spotted the family gathering in the common room and 
then she saw Kasumi-kun.  Seeing him caused her to waver.  
How could she talk with him?  She felt such a mix of emotions 
that she couldn't even be sure how she would act when they were 
face to face. This woman had tricked her, made a mockery of her, 
and torn up Shampoo whole self image in the process.  Perhaps 
she hadn't intended the deception but it still hurt.  Still, she felt 
there was something there and she had to see what it truly was, 
and if Kasumi-
	<"There you are child.  I knew you'd show up 
eventually.">  Shampoo turned in surprise to see her great grand 
mother behind her, balancing on her staff as usual.  <"Where 
have you been?">  She asked, a slight touch of concern in her 
voice.
	<"I needed to think.">  Shampoo answered and turned 
back to look at Kasumi.
	<"Well, it is time we got this settled.  I have already set a 
plan in motion.  Come.">  Shampoo nodded and followed her 
great grand mother.

	"What's this all about Kasumi?"  Soun asked as he sat 
down by the table, next to Nabiki who looking off into the yard 
away from Kasumi.
	"A bit of a problem has come up."  Kasumi answered 
then noticed two absences.  "Where are Ranma and Akane?"
	"They had... a pressing matter to attend to."  Genma 
answered nervously.  Nodoka gave him a sideward suspicious 
glance but then turned back to Kasumi.
	"Oh well, I suppose they'll have to hear about this later."  
Kasumi said then sat down next to the table.  She took a moment 
to gather himself then looked up to address the others.
	"Earlier today a woman confronted me in the street.  We 
fought briefly and she managed to ably the cat-tongue pressure 
point on me."
	"What's that supposed to do?"  Nabiki asked, giving 
Kasumi only a quick glance then looking down at the table.
	"Basically it-"
	"It leaves him unable to change forms."  Everyone turned 
to the yard to see the old woman hopping into the room on her 
staff.  A second later Shampoo landed in the yard.  Kasumi found 
herself paralyzed with shock at seeing the Amazon again.
	"Who are you?"  Nodoka asked, not noticing Kasumi's 
condition.
	"I am this one's great grand mother."  The old woman 
responded, gesturing to Shampoo.
	"And what business have you with my daughter?"  Soun 
asked, his tone strict and challenging.
	"The business we have is to make Kasumi return with us 
back to China and fulfill his obligations to my great grand 
daughter."
	"What obligations are those?"  Nodoka asked.
	Before the old woman could respond Kasumi spoke.  
"Wait a moment, please.  You have the wrong idea.  Nothing 
happened between us.  I'm sure Shampoo can confirm that."  
Everyone looked at Kasumi in confusion, including Shampoo, 
which shocked Kasumi.  Kasumi felt a sudden sense of panic 
overwhelm him.  I know nothing happened, I know it, he thought 
as he stood up and quickly walked over to Shampoo.  
"Shampoo?"
	Shampoo continued to look at Kasumi in confusion.  
"What you...  Shampoo no understand."
	"I-"  Kasumi began but got cut off by his father who had 
just put together what was going on.
	"Wait, am I to understand that you want my daughter and 
your great grand daughter...  That's insane!"
	"It is his obligation."  Shampoo's great grand mother 
responded.  "He cannot simply ignore it."
	"But they're both girls!"  Soun exclaimed.  At this 
moment Nabiki and Nodoka finally picked up on what the 
situation was and looked at Kasumi and Shampoo in shock.
	Nodoka then turned to ask for confirmation from her 
husband and noticed him making for the door.  "Genma, where 
are you going?!"  Genma turned back to look at his wife like he 
was facing his executioner.  However, Nodoka's stare destroyed 
his will and he came back to sit at the table.
	Kasumi noticed none of this.  He was simply trying to 
understand why Shampoo was acting this way.  Nothing could 
have happened, he was sure of it.  Despite this could she still 
want...  No, that could not be.  Her great grand mother must have 
forced this on her, but he couldn't let this continue.
	"Shampoo, this is not right.  I can't marry you.  It would 
be..."  Kasumi trailed off when he noticed the look of complete 
shock on Shampoo's face.  Then, laughter filled his ears and he 
turned to look at the old woman.  "What are you laughing 
about?"
	She continued to laugh a moment longer then pulled a 
document from her shirt and handed it to Kasumi.  Kasumi took 
it and looked over the Chinese writing to no avail.  Then he 
spotted two things that made sense, his and Mr. Saotome's 
names in Mr. Saotome's handwriting .  There was what looked 
like a fingerprint beneath his.  "What is this?  I don't remember 
this."
	"Perhaps you should ask him."  The old woman 
responded and pointed to Genma.
	Kasumi turned to Genma.  "Mr. Saotome, do you know 
what this is?"
	Genma was sweating buckets by this point.  He could lie 
but what good would it do.  He was a dead man anyway he 
looked at it.  He might as well spill it.  "Well... it's... kind of... 
a... ahh... well... marriage licence."
	Kasumi blinked once, twice, then when the implications 
fully hit him he fainted.

%End Chapter 10

	I can just hear the comments now.  C&C is, as always, 
very welcome, even flames.
	Special thanks to T. H. Tiger for his creative assistance 
which has been and continues to be extraordinarily helpful.  
Mental torment is our game.  Everyone better watch out.
	For you heathens who don't know who Artemis and the 
others are check out Sailor Moon.
	If you wish to check out my other works look at:
	http://www.mala.bc.ca/~tritscwa
	I'm presently off for the summer but I just got a ftp 
service so my page will get updated more regularly now.  If you 
missed a chapter just check there, all chapters to date are stored 
there for your convenience.
	Bye for now.