As always, the characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi and all of the
corporations that have licensed them from her.

Please send me C&C, flames or whatever you please.

Alternatives - Chapter 4

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

It was morning.  On the outside, Furinkan High School looked like a typical
Japanese High School.  Students milled around in the courtyard, not wanting
to go to class before absolutely necessary.  However on second glance, one
noticed a regal looking student standing beneath a tree.  He didn't wear the
school uniform.  He was tall.  He had brown eyes and long black hair.  He
was slender and athletic looking.  He called himself handsome.  He wore the
outfit of a kendoist.  However, there was an air of obsessiveness around him
that kept others away.  His name?  He was Tatewaki Kuno, the self-proclaimed
Blue Thunder of Furinkan High School.

Kuno stood under the tree and waited.  He was waiting for the beauteous and
strong Akane Tendo and the man who had ensorcelled her with his spells, the
cur, Ranma Saotome.   As he waited, he thought.  Today! Yes, today will be
the day that I free Akane and the Pig-Tailed Girl from their enslavement
from that honorless dog, Ranma.  Akane suffers him only because of her
father's evil desires.  She will see that I am the better man.
Understanding that, she will come to my side freely and willingly!

She will say to me, "Oh, thank you, Upper-classman Kuno!  My father was
going to force me into a marriage with that ...  that person.  I could never
love him.  I only love you.  I have always loved you."

Yes, that is what she will say.  I will respond, "Akane Tendo, I love you.
I would marry you.  Yet, I must first free the Pig-Tailed Girl from the
fiend Saotome.  Once I have freed her, I will choose you or her."

Akane will then say, "Oh, Kuno, you don't have to choose.  I love you.  She
loves you.  You love both of us.  Why choose?  Take us both."

Oh, the happiness and joy I will bestow upon my loves.  Hark, I hear Akane's
voice!  Though I fight a thousand times and lose, I will forever fight for
your freedom, my loves!

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

Kuno saw Akane and Ranma enter the gate.  He met them in the center of the
courtyard.

He began, "Oh, How I sorrow that the bud that is Akane Tendo is being
starved in the light of Ranma Saotome. I see you strive each day to bloom
for him. What does he do? Does he shine any warmth or light onto you? No.
The dog dishonors both himself and you with his treatment of you. Oh, Akane,
come bask in the warmth that is my sunlight.  Come and grow strong in the
love that I will shower upon you. Oh ... URK"

How strong a woman!  He thought to himself.  She was able to stop my speech
with but a single strike.

Akane said  "Kuno, for your information, Ranma and I are in love. Right,
Ranma.?"

"Uh ... Right, Akane." Ranma stammered embarrassedly. "I l-l-love you. You
l-l-love me."

"Ranma, you don't have a hard time saying that you love me, do you?" Akane
teased Ranma then she hugged him.

Kuno stood frozen.  He thought, SHE HUGGED HIM!  Oh, Kami, I pray that you
set this as it should be!  Akane Tendo should be mine by right of breeding
and honor.  Have I not defended her honor daily by allowing myself to be
defeated by her?  Have I not let her prove herself against the men of this
school?  Have I ever let pass a chance of telling her of my love and
devotion?  Could it be... could it be that... could it be that she actually
chose that scum over me?  It can't be.  Who could resist my charms?  I will
find out by what foul means of ensorcellement Saotome has used to get her to
say and do these things.

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

Clap ... Clap ... Clap

Kuno stayed motionless throughout Nabiki's discussion with Ranma and Akane.

As he overheard their conversation, other thoughts emerged.  So, they are
spending the week together.  I am glad that I had Sasuke follow them last
night.  I will find out if they are staying at Saotome's mother's for the
rest of the week and what went on last night.  I must find out what Nabiki
knows.

As he stood and thought, the wind blew over his noble brow and through his
hair.  His hair resisted the wind but wasn't strong enough.  It began to
move with the wind.  This only enhanced his looks.  It wasn't until the
tolling of the morning bells that he bestirred himself and moved towards his
class.

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

During the first class break, Kuno approached Nabiki.  Nabiki was sitting at
her desk as usual.

"Nabiki Tendo, I, Tatewaki Kuno, wish to speak with you.  I wish to know
what Saotome has done to your poor sister to so derange her thinking.
Imagine, Akane actually believing that she is in love with such a low born
one.  So ... What is your  price, Nabiki?"

Nabiki had listened to him with obvious and growing irritation.  "Kuno, I am
going to give you this much for free.  Ranma has done nothing to derange my
sister's thinking.  All he has done since meeting my family is to help her
whenever she has needed it.  He has rescued her more times than I care to
remember.  He never used potions, like Shampoo, poisons, like your own very
dear sister, or caused her to be attacked by hordes of unwanted suitors,
like you.  As for his being low born, no one acts with less thought and
nobility in this school than you or your father.  If you would like to know
any more, it is going to cost you.  It will cost you 10,000 yen per question
to know any more."

"That is outrageous.  You cannot mean that he has never used any magical
powers on Akane.  Has he put a spell on you, too?"

"10,000 yen.  The answer to your question is no,"  Nabiki replied, "Any more
questions?"

"I would like to know where they will be staying for the week."

"20,000 yen.  They are staying with Ranma's mother."  Nabiki replied
tersely.

"So, I wonder why they are staying with Saotome's mother?"  Kuno thought
out-loud.

"30,000 yen.  He went there yesterday to ask his mother some questions.  As
you already knew.  He brought Akane along because..."  Nabiki was
interrupted by Kuno.

"He wants to marry her!  I know that.  I have not given my permission for
anyone to marry Akane.  Especially, Ranma.  ... Still, it would free the
pig-tailed girl from Ranma's evil grasp.  I must think upon this!"  he said.
Kuno started to leave the classroom.

Nabiki watched as he turned.  Kuno, you are a complete and utter idiot, she
thought.  "I haven't finished," she said to stop him.

Turning back to Nabiki, Kuno began, "What more elucidation do I require?  I
know where he is staying and what he wants to do.  What more do I need of
you?"

"For starters, the reason he asked Akane along yesterday.  It was NOT to
finalize marriage plans."  Nabiki stopped.

"..."  Kuno slowly turned back to Nabiki.

"Very well then, why did he ask her to his mother's house?"  Kuno asked.

"40,000 yen.  He needed a friend that he could trust."  Nabiki answered.

"Must I play 20 questions with you?"  Kuno lamented.  Reaching into his
outfit, he pulled a large wad of notes. "Here take what is necessary, tell
me what I wish to know."

Nabiki accepted his money, counted it (140,000 yen) and said, "That will
just about cover it.  Thank you.  I don't expect you to believe this, but
here is the truth.  A little over a year ago, Ranma was cursed in China.
When he is hit with cold water, he becomes your pig-tailed girl.  When hot
water is poured upon her, she becomes the boy, Ranma again.  He went to his
mother to ask for help in honorably solving his fiancee problems.  He
doesn't want to hurt anyone, including your sister, and he wants to maintain
his family's honor.  His mother told him of a way that he could solve all of
his problems.  There is a pool of cursed water in China that will allow him
to separate from his girl side.  In other words, there would be two Ranmas,
a boy and a girl.  In fact, he was told that he could jump into the pool and
create a Ranma for each of his fiancees.  I don't know what he will choose
to do.  I do know that he and Akane said that they wanted to be together.
You've seen the result this morning.  Kuno, give up on my sister.  She loves
Ranma and Ranma loves her.  If Ranma gets uncursed, you might want to try
and pursue his girl side.
However, his mother is very old-fashioned.  Also, I think the pig-tailed
girl's brother or brothers will be watching you closely."

Kuno listened to Nabiki.  When she finished, he asked, "Is that all?"

"No," she answered, "you must not bother either Akane, Ranma or the
Pig-Tailed girl until Ranma makes his decision.  If you do, you will
probably lose any chance at ever dating the Pig-Tailed girl."

"Very well, you have given me much to think upon.  If what you say is true,
and Saotome is willing to free the pig-tailed girl, then I may help him.  If
I find that you have lied to
me Nabiki, I will be very upset,"  Kuno turned and left.

"Oh, I am very afraid, Kuno," she answered sarcastically.  Nabiki looked at
his back as he left.  A smile crossed her face.  One problem child down and
three to go, she thought to
herself.  I think I�ll tackle Ukyo next.  She knows about Akane and Ranma
statement of love.  Let�s see, how shall I approach her?

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

"Kuno, what are you doing out of your classroom?" a teacher asked in the
hallway.

"I have many things to think upon,.  I am going to the Kendo Club room for
some solitude."  Tatewaki answered absently.

"You may leave your classes when the day is over, not any sooner," the
teacher returned, "Get some buckets and stand in the hallway for a period.
Then, go back to your own room."

"Yes, sensei."

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

Nabiki made sure that she was outside Ranma and Akane's classroom as lunch
period began.  As she entered the room, she saw Ukyo confront Ranma and his
subsequent departure.

"RANCHAN!!!" Ukyo yelled after him. "You'd better have a good explanation
for this!"

As Ukyo moved to the window and started to follow him, Nabiki ran over to
her and grabbed her by the arm and said, "Before doing anything you might
regret, Ukyo, let's talk."

Akane along with Sayuri and Yuka were surprised by this.  Nabiki had sought
out Ukyo.  Nabiki was always the one being sought for.  Nabiki then had
stopped Ukyo before she followed Ranma out of the window.  That was
dangerous.  Nabiki knew very well that laying hands onto an angry martial
artist can easily lead to injury.  Akane stood up, so that she could come to
her sister's aid.

"This had better be very good, Nabiki.  I want to talk with Ranma and find
out what happened last night.  I also need to know from him, if he has made
his choice,"  Ukyo said with deadly calm.  Ukyo was angry.  She had been
this angry only once before in her life.  That was when a certain boy had
left her behind while riding upon her dowry.

"Oh, it is Ukyo.  If you ever want to have a chance of getting what you
want, come with me right now,"  Nabiki said with a smile and a firm tug.

"Nabiki, is everything OK?"  Akane asked worriedly as she started over
towards them.

"Yes, Akane, everything is OK.  Ukyo and I just need to have a chat about
several things.  Isn't that right?"  Nabiki said coolly.

"Err, Yes.  We are going to have a chat."  Ukyo glared at Nabiki as she
allowed herself to be pulled from the room.

"Well...  Let me know if you need me, Nabiki.  OK?"  Akane asked as she
watched the two girls leave her classroom.

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

Nabiki led Ukyo outside of the school to the athletic field.  There was a
soccer game being played.  She sat down on the embankment away from everyone
else.  Nabiki then motioned Ukyo to sit down next to her.

Ukyo remained standing.  "Well?"  she finally asked.

Nabiki sighed.  "Please sit down, Ukyo.  It pains me enough as it is that I
will be giving you information for free.  At the least, let's be civil, OK?"

Ukyo was startled.  Nabiki never gives anything away.  I wonder what she
really wants, she thought.  She answered Nabiki, "I'll sit with you and
listen to what you have to say."

As Ukyo sat down, Nabiki smiled and said, "See, that wasn't so bad was it?"

Ukyo said nothing, as she gave Nabiki a look that a mongoose might give a
cobra.

"Let me guess, you want to know several things.� Nabiki began ticking off
items on her fingers, �One: What happened last night at Ranma's mothers?
Two: Has he decided whom he will marry?  Three: What happened this morning
between the two of them?   Is that about it?"

"Um,  yes, that is about it."  Ukyo cautiously answered.

"Well, I will gladly answer all of those questions.�  Nabiki then paused
before continuing, �That is, if you will promise to do me one little favor."

"What is the favor?" Ukyo asked.  Ukyo began thinking quickly.  I knew she
wanted something from me!  OK, here it comes.  It�s probably going to be
big.

"Outside of school, leave Ranma and Akane alone for the rest of the week,"
Nabiki answered, "Ranma has some decisions to make.  He wants Akane to be
with him.  Promise that you will leave them alone."

"OK, I promise," Ukyo carefully agreed.  I wonder what the catch is?

"Good, that didn't hurt at all, did it?" Nabiki smiled and continued, "You
want to know what happened last night.  Ranma went to his mother's for help
in resolving his
relationship problems.  His mother gave him two very good options.  The
first is to choose one fiancee and hurt all of the rest of you.  The second
is to use a pool at Jusenkyo and make a version of himself for all of you.
The downside to this second option is that he will create a permanently
female Ranma as a side effect.  The upside is that all of the other copies
of him will be fully male.  He also stated a reluctance to
choose just one of you.  He is afraid that whomever is finally chosen will
become a target for the rest of you.  I agree with this assessment."

Nabiki paused and watched Ukyo.  Ukyo for her part was struggling with what
she had just heard.

"So, he chose Akane didn't he?  His mother just gave him another option."
she finally asked.

"I didn't say that.  I said that he is afraid that whoever he chooses will
become a target for the rest of you.  He is also very worried about how to
keep his family's honor upheld.  That seems important to him, also.  Has he
made a decision?  No, at least not yet.  He asked his mother for some time
to think upon it.  He asked Akane to stay.  He wanted a friend with him at
his mother's."  Nabiki stopped, paused and continued in a very serious tone,
"I do know this, if he was forced to choose one of you today, he would pick
my
sister.  He cares for all of you, he loves my sister.  I really don't know
what exactly he feels for you.  My guess is that he loves you, just not as
much as he does Akane.  He is trying to decide whether to create clones of
himself to marry all of you.  I think this is what he will choose to do.  If
he does this, you all get what you want."

Ukyo sat quietly.  She was trying to understand what Nabiki was telling her.
It hurt.

She was confused.  Her thoughts were jumbled. Ranma loves Akane more than
me.  How?  I'm prettier.  I'm a better cook.  I'm a better fighter than her.
She is always beating on him for some reason.  I never beat on him.  I'm
always helpful.  I'm always nice.  He must love me.  Why else would he be
thinking about cloning himself?  I can't believe that I'm not his first
choice.

Ukyo began to cry.  She looked at Nabiki and sobbed out, "I, I will leave
him, them alone until he decides."  Heaven help him if he decides to choose
a single fiancee and it's not me.

Nabiki hesitantly reached out and pulled Ukyo into a light embrace.  "I'm
sorry, Ukyo.  I know it hurts." Nabiki tried to comfort her.  "Can you
imagine what Ranma is going
through?  He is trying to find a way to make Akane, Shampoo, you and even
Kodachi happy.  No one has yet asked him what he really wants.  It doesn't
seem to matter."   Now I have to face Shampoo and Kodachi.  I hope this gets
easier.  I�ll go to the Nekohanten after school.  Kodachi will probably be
hearing a garbled version from Tatewaki.  I can handle her later.

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

Nabiki thought about the upcoming confrontation with Shampoo and Cologne.
She thought, I�m much more concerned with Cologne.  Shampoo, I can easily
manipulate.  Cologne is another matter entirely.  Cologne will expect me to
barter or sell every piece of information.  She will also want to feel that
she won the negotiations.  Well, I�ll give her an easy mark this time.

As Nabiki entered the restaurant, Cologne began, �Ah, it is Nabiki Tendo.
To what do we owe this auspicious visit?�

Nabiki moved to the kitchen counter and sat in front of Cologne.  �I have
some information that you will find very, very interesting.  It includes the
possibility of Ranma acknowledging Shampoo as his wife.�

�Hmm, I would find that interesting indeed.  Why not tell it to me and I
will give you some free ramen, eh?�  Cologne opened.  Cologne then put a
bowl of ramen in front of Nabiki.

�As a matter of fact, I would like some of your regular ramen.  Please don�t
add any truth drugs or any other spice to it.  However, Cologne, since this
information has direct impact upon my family, I cannot sell it for just some
ramen.  This information is worth at least 50,000 yen.  I also would require
that none of you attempt to contact Ranma or Akane for the next 30 days.
Also, if Ranma needs help getting to or from China in the near future, you
will help him and any who he wishes to travel with him.�  Nabiki countered
with a smile.

�If your information is truly this good, child, I will gladly pay.  However,
I will pay you 10,000 yen today.  If this information leads to Ranma and
Shampoo being together, I�ll pay you the rest.�  Cologne smiled genially at
Nabiki.

Nabiki sat for a moment and ate her ramen.  She looked around the
restaurant.  Mousse was being especially attentive to the hat rack close by.
Shampoo was not there.  Nabiki
assumed that she must be out on some delivery.  She let her gaze wander back
to Cologne.

�Cologne, here is the deal.  I�ll take your 10,000 yen as down payment and
none of you will contact any member of my or Ranma�s family for the rest of
the week.  If you agree,
I�ll give you everything I know.�  Nabiki allowed herself to be worn down.

�I see.  I agree.  Now girl, tell me what you know.�  Cologne agreed to the
terms.

�Actually, I�ll let you listen.  As you already know, Ranma and Akane
visited Nodoka Saotome yesterday.  Ranma wanted to ask his mother for help
in solving his relationship problems.  Nodoka had more to offer.�  Nabiki
finished.  She then pulled a cassette tape from her school bag and handed it
to Cologne.  �You�ll find all of the information you need to know on this
tape.�

Nabiki turned back to her ramen.  Then as an afterthought, she turned back
to Cologne, �It is always a pleasure doing business with a woman as
illustrious as you, Cologne.�

Cologne laughed and replied, �Flattery works even less well on me, child,
than it does on you.�

In the corner, Mousse looked like he had just swallowed a horse fly.  He had
overheard enough to know that Shampoo actually getting Ranma was a
possibility.  He knew that
somehow he must stop it from occurring.  He thought to himself, Ranma
Saotome, if I must kill you to win Shampoo, kill you I shall.

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

After she returned home, Nabiki sat in her room thinking.  She was trying to
decide how to keep Kodachi away from Ranma and Akane.  With someone as wily
as Kodachi, you must meet wiles with wiles, she decided.

She went downstairs to the phone and dialed the Kuno residence.

�Hello, Kuno residence, Sasuke speaking.�

�Hello, Sasuke, you are just the man I need to talk to.�  Nabiki said.

�Mistress Nabiki, what do you want with me?�  Sasuke nervously asked.

�Well, Sasuke, I assume you were at the Saotome home last night listening in
to what was being said.  Am I right?�  she asked.

How could she know that I was there?  �I don�t even know where Mrs. Saotome
lives, Mistress Nabiki,� he said.

�Of course, you were there.  I just called to let you know that I have a
tape of the conversation from last night.  Would you be interested?�  Nabiki
continued cheerfully.

�Yes, I would Mistress Nabiki.  What do I need to do for you?�  Sasuke
fearfully asked.

�I want you to keep Kodachi away from Ranma and Akane long enough for him to
make his decision.  You know the one I mean.  Keep her away until the end of
the school week, that�s all I ask.�  Nabiki offered.

Sasuke was surprised.  Nabiki always extracted a large sum from her victims.
All she wanted was for him to keep Mistress Kodachi busy for the rest of the
week?  He could do that.

�Yes, I�ll do that.  When can I get the tape?�  he asked.

�Come over right now and you can have it.  I have a feeling that your Master
Kuno might want to listen to it, also,�  Nabiki answered, �Bye Bye.�  She
then hung up.

A few minutes later there was a very hesitant knocking at her window.  She
opened her window and handed a tape to Sasuke.

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

Nabiki felt very proud of herself.  That was a good days work!  Akane and
Ranma will never know, but I just gave them a very needed vacation from
trouble.  I hope they use it wisely.

She then turned to her computer and started working on their wedding
present.

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

As always, I enjoy getting your C&C.  I was on vacation last week, that
slowed down my writing.  I hope that this was worth the wait.  Next chapter,
Ranma announces his
decision and a few rivals are not happy.

I am also experimenting with dropping the bracket notation around thoughts
[].  I want to write using standard English (American style -- or how they
pronounce it in Texas: Muhrikan.)  Since standard English doesn't use
brackets, I want to move away from them.  My pre-readers split down the
middle on this.  Thanks Guys!  So... tell me what you think.  Should I go
back to using thought brackets [] or is this readable and understandable?
(This is also a blatant plug for you to give me some C&C)

Ja ne,

Mike