For Love Of Money  or:  Sugar and (Sp)Ice 

Author's notes: Well, this re-write went easier than I thought it would. I wish 
to thank evreyone who sent me idea/feedback/criticism. The general consensus 
was that "Oh my... another super newbie, yawn... big deal." They were right. 
Here ya go. He's nowhere as tough as he was before and as for his weakness, 
(that all in the ranmaverse have...) Well I'll give bonus points 
(ya expected money???) For the first to guess what Mura's problem is. It will 
come out in the story eventually. 


I have been trying to come up with a diffrent name for this story
Anyone have any better ideas?

A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
All Ranma 1/2 characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi
and are used without permission. No insult is intended.
*  Means Panda signs
 # Means english is being used.



        It was an unusually quiet morning at Furinkan High School.  No victims
 of Jhusenkyo had appeared, , No new fiancees (thankfully) had come to stake a 
claim on Ranma . The only fights taking place were the usual just-before-school
gauntlet that had become such a familiar sight that no one noticed anymore.
     Nabiki sat calmly watching from the 3rd floor window looking at the
casual mayhem going on in the courtyard with Ranma and Akane.
     "It's too quiet."  She said morosely.
     "What's too quiet Boss?" Natsume asked , crossing the classroom to look
out the window also.
     "The fights, Natsume, there have been no major fights for almost four 
weeks."
     "And this is a bad thing Boss?" Natsume asked, perplexed.
     Of course it is Baka! You should know by now that whenever it is quiet 
around here it's merely the calm before the storm."
     Uhhmmm... Boss, I think here comes the storm." Natsume pointed toward a 
brand new figure standing at the school gate.
      He was tall and slender without being skinny. His shoulder length black 
hair was pulled back into a ponytail and a book bag was held casually at his 
side. He watched the Akane/Ranma show with more than a casual eye though and 
his movements around the edge of the battle reminded Nabiki of something she 
just couldn't quite remember.
     "Woof," She exclaimed, "He's a pretty one all right. And he's a martial 
artist of course.
     "How do you know that Boss?"
     "Natsume, baka..." Nabiki said not completely unkindly. "where do I live, 
eh?"
     "Oh. Yea. Right Boss."
     "I want to know who he is Natsume."
     "Well, he's probably the new transfer student the told us was comming in."
     "I figured that much out Natsume.I want the rest of his story... uh oh"
     Down below a new drama was unfolding. Good old Kuno was distracted from 
his usual posing in front of Ranma and Akane in order to size up the latest 
student.
     "Be aware newcommer that I am the great Kunou Tatewaki, rising star of the 
Furinkan School Kendo Team Called by many 'the Blue Thunder'. The vengence of 
Heaven is slow yet strong..."
     "Uh huh, yea, Whatever. Excuse me okay? I'm sure that you are real good 
with that stick or whatever. But I'm not real interested in martial arts right 
now, Okay?"  With that the newcommer simply sidestepped the gapping Kuno and 
entered the school.
     "Not interested?. Not interested? That's... That's... Basphemy!" Kunou 
turned back towards Akane just in time to get punted halfway across the school
     "Oh my." said Nabiki. "Curiouser, and curiouser. I want his story Natsume. 
Five minutes ago I want it."
     "I'm on my way Boss. On my way."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

     Natsume's skulking failed to pick up much information though. All that they
were able to discover was that his name was Kasagi Mura, and he was just 
transfered in from America where he had lived for years. He didn't take PE 
suposedly because he had enough credits already from his previous school
Nabiki's 
fears of a storm seemed without cause though as Mura seemed content to watch
the 
antics of Akanae and Ranma (and the assorted loonies who considered themselves 
fiances and rivals) 
for the next few weeks. It was as if his arrival heralded nothing out of the
ordinary. 
     Despite his comment of not being interested, he was always around when the 
fighting started. The situation settled down to him watching all of them
fighting 
and Nabiki watching him. Unknown to her... she was being watched also.

     Four weeks after Mura arrived, the Storm broke.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

     It was a typical day at the Tendo house. Akane was steamed at Ranma who
was 
fighting with Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno. Shampoo, Ukyou, and Kodachi were
luerking 
in the wings to see who was doing what to whom, and scheming to be with Ranma. 
Genma had already managed to end up in the Koi pond and stood dripping wet
(as a 
panda) watching from the sidelines next to Soun and Nabiki.

        He stood there at the door of the Tendo residence for a long moment. 
Looking down at the ever present bookbag in his hand he sighed. A flash of 
longing mingled with disgust filled his face for an instant as he regarded the 
bag. [Well, It's now or never.] [Gods I hate having to rely on this stuff.]

     A knock at the door answered by Kasumi was to bring an end to the domestic 
bliss.
     "I am sorry if I am interupting anything," the young man said. "I am
looking 
for Master Soun and Master Happosai please."
     Kasumi smiled sweetly. "Oh I am so sorry, Master Happosai is not here
right 
now." Kasumi said being far to sweet to inform him that Happy was out on a
panty 
raid. "However my father is here." She led him out to where Soun stood watching 
the fighting.     
     "Master Soun Tendo?" the young man asked. On seeing the absent minded nod 
from Soun he went on. " Master Tendo, I am Master Kasagi Mura of the Kasagi 
School of Anything Goes Martial Arts" He had Soun's full attention now. " I am 
here to collect on the promise that you made many years ago to my father. I am 
here about my fiance."
     The affect of this statement was swift and brutal.
     The battle currently ongoing came to a screeching halt as they all stared 
at Mura
     "F... F...F... Fiance?" stuttered Akane.
     "Oh my." said Kasumi.
     "This is going to be stunning." muttered Nabiki.
     Soun fainted.
     
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

     For a change, everyone waited until Soun regained conciousness without 
jumping to conclusions.
     "Yes," He started. "I remember Omi well. The Lost Student of Master 
Happosai."
     "What do you mean 'lost student', daddy?" asked Nabiki.
     "Well, Traditionally in Mura's family, the eldest son inherits the family 
business and the second son trains to be the next master of the martial arts 
school." Mura nodded his head as if to encourage Soun. "Unfortunately for Omi, 
his brother died tragically in an accident and Omi was called back from his 
training to manage the family business. 
Before he left we exchanged promises of intermarrying our families."
     "Yes," commented Mura. "It is that promise that I am here about."
     That was as far as Mura managed to get, before being interupted by Kuno.
     "Another fiance?! Never! I, Tatsewaki Kunou shall never allow this 
perfidy." He struck a dramatic pose with his Bokken and advanced towards Mura. 
"I hearby challenge you..."
     "First of all, you are neither fiance or family. Your opinion doesn't 
matter. Secondly, if you wave that stick at me one more time I'm going to break 
it in half and feed it to you." Mura stepped back and removed his jacket 
leaving himself standing there in his pants and a white tank top.
     "Ha! You  told me you weren't a fighter. I shall smite you severely." And 
while saying this he strode forward and swung at Mura who suddenly was no 
longer in the way of the blow. 
         "You moron, I said I wasn't interested in martial arts right then... 
I never said I couldn't fight." Even as he spoke the words Mura suddenly closed 
on Kunou his hands chopping out in allmost blindingly fast blocks and counter 
punches. Mura stopped dodging at all and simply stood toe to toe with Kunou, 
blocking every blow of the bokken with a counter punch. After a few minutes of 
this display Mura jumped backwards and looked at the shocked Kunou. Everyone 
else was fairly shocked also. Though Kunou WAS an imbecile, 
he was a fairly skilled imbecile and Mura's off hand blocking of every one of 
Kunou's blows was impressive. "Are you done yet?" Mura asked. "If you would
just 
listen for a moment..."
     " Never," snarled Kunou leaping in and delivering a massive blow to Mura. 
Well, he intended to anyway. What happened next occured in so short a time
as to 
appear instataneous. Mura twisted with the blow catching the tip as it went by 
his face. Continuing through with the twist he struck the bokken in the middle 
with his left forearm snapping the wooden sword in half. Allowing his body to 
continue, Mura spun completely around and struck Kuno in the side with the 
remains of the bokken. Kuno almost made it completely over the Koi pond before 
he landed.     Ryoga and Mousse both took this as an open invitation to fight.
It had finally worked it's way through to Ryoga that here was another rival for 
Akane and Mousse finally realized that if Akane was taken away from Ranma then 
Shampoo might actually end up with Ranma and not himself. 
	Mura went purely defensive aginst the two. [Damn it! I was expecting 
maybe a fight not a war.] Blocking quickly he tried his best to manuver his 
opponents into fouling each other up. [Kunou was easy. I shouldn't have shown 
off. Mousse I could handle one on one] Block, shift, duck, block. [I could take 
Ryoga if it was a fast battle] He ducked another of Ryoga's roundhouse punches. 
[Well... maybe not. he's stong as a bull with stamina I can only dream of. He'd 
wear me down unless I put him down fast.] Reverse strike to Ryoga's head.
[Ouch! 
Damn, It's like punching steel!]
	For a change Ranma was left standing there and not fighting anyone. *Get 
in there, you idiot* Genma/Panda shoved the sign in his face. *you need to
fight 
for your fiance*  
     "Hey Pop, It's kinda nice watching someone else get clobbered for a change 
ya know?" 
     "Hhhmm... you're right Ranma. " purred Nabiki. "Besides it looks like he's 
even better than you."
     "What? No way! I'll show you." With that Ranma leaped into the fight.
     Nabiki looked at the giant panda standing next to her. "That'll be a 1000 
Yen as soon as you change back of course.  
      *of course*

      [Awww...Damn. Here comes Ranma, I'm screwed.] He thought as Ranma entered
the fight. Luckily for Mura old habits took over and Ryoga and Mousse attacked 
Ranma as he came in range. Mura's hopes went up. [I might just make this yet.] 
[Don't wear out now] He thought to himself forlonely as the sweat began to flow 
freely.
      The battle raged for a little while with no one gaining a clear upper 
hand. Ranma and Mura were suprisingly well matched but spent most of their time 
fending off  the attacks of Mousse and Ryoga. The pace and the relative 
lethality increased as the fight dragged on. Mousse and Ryoga looked at each 
other in silent communication. They knew that they had to do something soon. 
Suddenly they both jumped backwards.
     "Mousse's Special Final Attack: Everything Including the Kitchen Sink!!!" 
An unbelievable amount of stuff came flying out of Mousse's sleeves finally 
culminating in a massive double sink hurled at them.     
     At the same time as that Ryoga let loose with a massive "Bakusai Tenketsu!"

     The attacks were swift, savage and vicious. They also had no effect on 
their intended victims, who were no longer in their path. This is not to say 
that the attacks had no effect at all either. As Ranma and Mura landed back 
on the ground they looked at each other and smiled...until they looked behind 
them. Genma/Panda had taken almost the full blast of the double attack. Ranma 
wasn't worried about his Pop though, it was the fact that Akane and Nabiki were 
both unconcious behind him that made his blood run cold. 
He turned back towards Ryoga and Mousse. His anger was nothing compared to 
Mura's though. With a stangled cry Mura's battle aura flared clear up to red. 
     "I Have HAd ENOUGH!!" he screamed. #Kasagi Secret Quiet Riot Chi Attack!#
Mura yelled in English as he leaped at Ryoga his head glowing red with chi. 
#Bang your Head!!# He finished as he head-buted Ryoga who promptly flew 
backwards to sprawl unconcious at the foot of the Dojo wall. Everyone stared 
open mouthed at Mura as  he turned towards Mousse. #Kasagi Secret Sting Slam 
Attack!!# he yelled as his chi slowly faded back down the colour spectrum to 
a dead black. Ranma had never seen a black battle aura before and could only 
stare at Mura as a strange effect seemed to occur. For a moment Mura appeared 
to be dressed entirely in black with his face painted in a Kabuki-like mask.
of white with black outlining. A black baseball bat of pure chi power appeared 
in his hands as he swatted Mousse right in the stomach with it. Mousse flew in 
a perfect arc and landed in the Koi pond. #Stinger Splash!#  Mura finished, 
looking at the pool. 
"Well Ranma," he said turning to face him. Do you want to keep at this or
can we 
talk NOW?" 
	"Uhmm... Okay" said Ranma, looking at Mura swaying unsteadily on his feet. 
"Let's talk." He said as he headed towrds his Father, Nabiki, and Akane.
     "Good." said Mura as he slowly sank to one knee trembling and breathing 
laborously. "Real good." Mura sat there for a moment and then looked up at
Kasumi 
standing nearby. 
        "Kasumi-sama, may I please have something to drink? Any kind of juice 
if you have it please." 
     "Of couse Kasagi-san, I'd be happy to." Kasumi beamed at him before
hurrying 
off to get him a glass.
	 "Arigato, domo-arigato Kasumi... " Mura trailed off [Oh man, I hurt now. 
To much chi use. I've got to hold this together.]


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

     Genma, Akane and Nabiki were back on their feet again. None of them were 
seriously/injured luckily for Mura's opponents. Eveyone stood waiting to see
what 
Mura had to say.
     "Master Soun" Mura started, setting aside his now empty glass. He was was 
still alittle unteady but at least he was still upright. "I apologize for
all that 
has happened. if they had listened...well, nevermind. Master Soun I have a 
proposition for you. If your daughter will agree to it I will take her on three 
dates, one each month. At the end of the third month, if she asks me to stay
then 
we will consider ourselves engaged. If she tells me to go away I will leave and 
never bother your family again. The agreement between you and my father will be 
considered fullfiled either way. Is that satisfactory to you?"
     Soun looked at the young man in front of him and decided that he had a
very 
good idea and that it just might work. "I see no problems with it Master
Mura" he 
said formally.
     "Well..." started Akane "Three dates, I guess it couldn't be too bad..."
     Everyone looked at Akane thinking to themselves just how bad it could be.
     "I thank you Akane Tendo..." Mura half bowed to her. "But, I didn't
come here 
to ask foryour hand. I came here about your sister, Nabiki. 
     Time seemed to stand still at the Tendo house. Everyone stood there
gaping at 
Mura. Nabiki,for probably the first time in her life, was absolutely
speechless. 
Akane was actually a little perturbed that he diidn't want her. No one knew
what to 
say.
     "If any of you had bothered to listen to me before trying to fight
me..." Mura 
stepped forward and lightly took Nabiki's hand. he bent at the waist and
kissed the 
back of her hand. "Nabiki Tendo,would you please go out on a date with me?"
he asked 
gazing into her eyes.
     Not trusting herself to talk she merely nodded.
     Kasumi smiled sweetly, glad that Nabiki finally had someone who was
interested 
in her.
     Akane stood there wishing that Ranma could act half so sweet.
     Ranma and the rest facefaulted.
     Soun fainted. Somethings never change.


End of part one.

Again... Thank you all.  
C&C please.

Patrick/Mura