A wish come true, part 3: Forever my Ran-chan
A Ranma 1/2 fanfiction by Brian

Author's notice: ALL HAIL TAKAHASHI-SAMA!!!  All credit for these characters goes to the people who created them... that is not me.  You should know this by now.

Auth. Note: << >> Means telepathic communication.
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The story so far...  Akane got a wishing ring from Urd.  Then she got mad at Ranma.  Now he and she never met, but she kept her memories.  Oh my!

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	Akane reentered the house.  Her photo shoot with Nabiki had been almost... boring.  Nabiki had seemed completely uninterested in what she was doing.  She still made certain that the pictures were quality, and didn't show too much.  But she hadn't had the usual vitality that she did when she had been sneaking pictures of Akane or Ranma.  She seemed subdued, somehow.  She had left shortly after the shoot to go get the film developed.
	Running upstairs, Akane paused by the door to her father's room; it was slightly ajar.  She chanced a look inside and was almost scared by what she saw.  Soun was in his bed, asleep, but that wasn't what scared her.  All around the room, and on the floor, were newspapers, some new, some old.  Mounted on the wall opposite her father's bed was a postcard with a picture of a panda on it.  She was already kneeling down to examine her father by the time she realized that she had entered the room.
	Her father's face seemed a tad harder than it had been, but even in his sleep tears worked their way down his cheeks.  The pillow that he was lying on was soaked clear through with the salty water from his eyes.  She looked closer, examining the papers on the floor.  Newspaper clippings detailing battles involving Ranma Saotome or a girl using the same name in Nerima.  Akane found one from almost two years ago.  The headline read 'Saotome-Hibiki brawl results in massive property damage'.  It went on to detail accounts from bystanders.  Apparently Ryoga had jumped from the sky shouting "Ranma prepare to die!".  The ensuing battle had resulted in the destruction of several stores and ended with Ryoga being flung into a water main when the police arrived.  Ranma had been cleared of liability due to eyewitness accounts that he had not been responsible for any of the property damage, and had been acting in self-defense.  Police had been unable to locate Ryoga for questioning.
	Akane scowled at the paper in her hands.  <Yeah right, it was always Ranma's fault, he was always picking on poor Ryoga, when I get my hands on Ranma he'll wish he'd...> Akane stopped herself before she lost control.  Anger had gotten her into this; she wasn't going to let that happen again.  Not again.  When she spoke to Ranma she would be nice and considerate and careful and she would convince him to come to the dojo and they would all live happily ever after.
	She stood up, intent on her goal, and turned to find herself staring into the stern face of Kasumi.  But it wasn't Kasumi.  The Kasumi that Akane knew was full of life, was always smiling, and never got angry.  The young woman standing before Akane seemed drained, as if she were fighting a battle that she knew she couldn't win.  But she would keep fighting anyway, and would continue until either she, or her opponent, fell.
	Kasumi spoke in a voice that barely qualified as a whisper, leaning in close to her sister.  "You shouldn't be in here, Akane-chan.  You wouldn't want to wake father.  He might get upset again.  We should go to the kitchen."  Kasumi turned, exited the room, and began to walk down the hall towards the staircase.  She was walking deliberately, and took great care to keep her steps steady.  When she began to descend the staircase Akane discovered what the matter was.  Kasumi was limping.  She was favoring her left leg just a little bit when she walked.  Walking was clearly causing Kasumi great pain.
	"Kasumi, are you alright?  You're limping."
	Kasumi turned around and favored Akane with a smile that couldn't hide the fact that it was forced.  "I am fine, Akane, why don't you go change into something more... suitable.  I will be in the kitchen making some tea."
	Akane realized she was still in her swimsuit; she blushed dark crimson and sped for her room.  She emerged in record time wearing a very conservative blue housedress.  She stopped to close the door to her father's bedroom and made her way down to the kitchen where Kasumi had just begun to pour some tea for the both of them.
	"I am sorry, Akane, but the tea might be a little cold.  I don't want to risk letting it boil.  The whistle, you see."
	Akane nodded her acceptance of this.  Kasumi could have just told her that there was rat poison in there.  She wasn't going anywhere until she found out what she needed to know.  She sipped the tea; it wasn't cold, but it wasn't quite hot either.  She decided not to drink anymore.  When Kasumi walked over to the stove to turn off the heating coil, Akane noticed the way she was walking once again.
	"Kasumi, what happened?"
	"It is nothing Akane, really.  Mistress Kodachi's pet alligator, Midorigame, got loose again.  Nothing truly bad happened, just a few broken dishes and a little bruise on my leg.  She made up for it by doubling my salary for tonight.  I gave my check to Nabiki as she left.  With any luck you won't have to do another photo shoot for awhile."
	Kasumi shot Akane a smile that almost seemed genuine, if it weren't for the fact that it never reached her eyes.  Akane fought down a shudder at the emptiness she saw in her sister's eyes.
	"*Mistress* Kodachi, Kasumi?"
	"I'm sorry, most of my time over at the Kuno house is spent either cleaning or with Sasuke, their little ninja.  It just sort of rubbed off on me after awhile.  I don't usually refer to her like that though.  She insists that I call her Kodachi-chan.  She says that's more proper as I am slightly older than her and more like a friend than a servant.  I get along rather well with her.  I usually don't see either her or Tate-kun.  She spends a lot of her time planning to woo some boy"
	Akane was stupefied; <RANMA!> but she retained her calm so as not to betray any information.  <Maybe I can get some more information from Kasumi.> "What's this boy's name, Kasumi?"
	"Oh my, I never did hear either of them say his name.  I've always been in such a hurry to keep their mansion clean.  It is a truly enormous household.  Usually if one of them is planning something I am already headed somewhere else."
	"Well, I'm sure it can't be that important then."
	"I guess not Akane..." At the sound of Nabiki reentering the house and heading upstairs Kasumi glanced over at the clock, it read just past nine.  "Perhaps it was time you went to bed, Akane.  You have school tomorrow.  I think I need to head upstairs as well.  I'll clean up in the morning."
	Kasumi exited the kitchen and headed towards the stairwell.  Akane followed closely behind her.  Kasumi wobbled a little as they ascended the staircase, but with help from Akane she remained on her feet.  After they had reached the top, Akane led Kasumi to her room.  Kasumi smiled at Akane as she opened the door, her limp had apparently been aggravated by the climb up the stairs.
	"Kasumi, perhaps you should go see Tofu-sensei tomorrow.  He can help you with that limp."
	Kasumi's visage turned slightly crestfallen at the mention of the good doctor.  "Perhaps, Akane.  I think he could use with some cheering up as well.  He doesn't joke around nearly as much as he used to.  For some reason he always seems saw whenever I go to see him."  She shut the door and Akane could hear her heading to bed.
	Akane gazed sadly at the closed door for a few minutes before turning and heading towards her own room.  She flicked on the light and glanced around the room.  Several things were different, the picture she had kept, treasured, held when she was lonely, the picture of all of them at Togenkyo, was gone.  Along with it had vanished any link she had to Ranma.  She realized that that picture was the only thing she really had that could qualify as an actual photo of him.  The thought made her even sadder than she already was.  She failed to notice that none of the souvenirs that she had gotten from Ryoga were there either.
	She changed into her nightclothes, flicked off the light and attempted to sleep.
	<Dad, Nabiki, Kasumi... I'm so sorry.>

*-*-*-*

	Akane woke late, not having slept well in the first place in the first place.  She was jarred awake by a peculiar sensation.  The sensation of being someone nudging her in an attempt to wake her up.
	"Akane?  Yo, Akane!"
	Akane opened her eyes and found herself staring into the face of a pigtailed-boy in chinese clothes.  Relief at seeing Ranma was clouded quickly by the usual emotion she confronted him with, anger.
	"Pervert! What are you doing in my BEDROOM?"  She swung her fist towards the pigtailed figure.  It passed right through him.
	"That's the sorta thing that got you into this mess in the first place, Akane.  Now..." Ranma leaned in close, put his mouth near her ear, and screamed. "WAKE UP!"
	Akane sat bolt upright in bed to find Nabiki staring at her.  The brunette raised an eyebrow.  "Not quite the reaction I was expecting.  But at least you're up.  C'mon, breakfast is ready, and dad'll get pissed if we're late for school."
	Recalling her dream, Akane stared at her shaking fist in shock.  Before remembering the events of the previous day.  <Maybe I can run into Ranma at school, then I'll fix everything, and he'll love me again, and his dad will force... no, his dad will recommend he become engaged to me and he'll forget all about Ukyo.>
	Almost managing to convince herself that this would work, Akane dressed in her uniform and headed downstairs for breakfast.

*-*-*-*

	Urd watched from somewhere between dreamspace and reality as Akane left her room.  Disguising herself as Ranma and entering Akane's dream had proven to be more risky than she had anticipated.  She couldn't have Akane believing her whole experience with Ranma to be a dream.  That would be more dangerous than locking Ranma in a room full of cats.
	She was lost in her reverie when a voice inside her head began to speak to her.  <<Then maybe you should not interfere.>>
	"But Kami-sama, I have to set things right."
	<<Akane will work this out in her own time.  It is too bad that time is one thing that she does not have.>>
	"What do you mean, Lord?"
	<<Trust me on this.>>
	"I'm stuck here in dreamspace temporarily for lying to her about Ryoga so... do I have a choice?"
	<<No.>>

*-*-*-*

	Akane sat at the table, eating her meager portions of food.  Soun was at the head of the table, engrossed in a newspaper.  He hadn't touched his meal.  When Akane had seen him as she first entered she was almost certain that it was someone else.  <He's so thin...>  His face no longer looked as open as it once had, and though there had been tears on his face last night, this morning he looked as though he had been carved from stone.
	Nabiki was eating quickly and remaining silent.  The moment she finished she whisked up her backpack and was out the door.  Akane continued to nibble away at her breakfast.  The quiet in the house went beyond disturbing.  If something insane didn't happen soon she was confident that she would go nuts.
	Kasumi stood from the table and retrieved a basket from the side of the room.  It had some of Dr. Tofu's books in it, but where Akane had expected medical journals, these were books on psychology and clinical depression.  She wasn't sure what to make of it but had a guess as to what, or rather who, they were for.  Kasumi made her way to the door with some difficulty as her leg seemed slightly worse than it had been last night.
	"I'll be going to Dr. Tofu's if you need anything, Father."
	Soun's eyes moved slightly so he could get a good look at his oldest daughter. "Kasumi?  You appear to be limping, is something the matter?"
	Kasumi looked down at her toes as though they would provide an answer that she could live with.  "I suffered a minor bruise on my leg yesterday, Father.  I think that I should have Dr. Tofu look at it."
	"Akane, you go to school.  I think that I will help Kasumi to Dr. Tofu's today."  Soun stood up as he dropped his newspaper.
	Akane noticed that Kasumi looked genuinely surprised at what Soun just said.  Kasumi found her voice after a few moments of staring at Soun strangely.  "Are you sure father?  I mean, you haven't left the house for no real reason in such a long time... do you really wish to go?"
	"Why, yes, Kasumi.  I think that maybe it's time for me to get back out into the world... and if we should find Genma, I will hold him to his vow... and he will explain why he did not arrive at the dojo that night."  Soun clenched his fist as a red aura surrounded him and began to glow darker, and darker.
	Akane got up and ran out of the house, the tears were threatening to come again, and she had to be strong if she was going to do this.  Her father hated Mr. Saotome now!  Could she still get him to go along with the engagement?  And if she could, could she get Ranma to?  <Wait a minute, of course I can... I just have to meet Ranma.  I can get him to fall in love with me again.  It'll be easy, and my dad doesn't really hate Mr. Saotome.  He's just upset.>
	Akane took off towards Furinkan high, with her mind fixed on one thing... Ranma.

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	Passing through the gates, Akane marveled at the sight of probably three fourths of the male population of Furinkan lying sprawled on the ground.  Some of them looked as though they'd taken a severe beating, the rest looked to be merely unconscious.  Passing the large pile of boys by, the last thing she noticed was Tatewaki Kuno lying unconscious with his head buried about a foot in the ground.  Akane could hear him mumbling something and leaned down closer to listen.
	"Ohh... my goddess of the griddle... she loves me well."
	Akane stepped on his head, driving him further into the terra firma, punctuated with one of her favorite words.  "Baka!"  Not understanding why she had wanted to hear Kuno's rambling, she ran into the school.  She was late again.

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	Akane entered her classroom to find the teacher glaring at her.
	"Ms. Tendo... you no longer have any excuse for being late to class."  He raised his hand and pointed towards the doorway.  "Buckets, hall, now."
	Akane did a quick scan of her classroom before she grasped the buckets and headed out into the hall.  As she stood there she went over it again and again.  Yuka and Sayuri were watching her as though her being late was the strangest thing in the world.  Hiroshi and Daisuke had been half-asleep, and Ranma... Ranma hadn't been in there!
	Akane ran through the classroom in her mind over and over again.  Ranma wasn't in there!  Ukyo had been, but where was Ranma?  It didn't make any sense.  Suddenly, a commotion from down the hall distracted Akane from her train of thought.
	"Dammit Kuno!  I don't got time to deal with you right now!"  Ranma leapt out into the intersection a short ways away from Akane, he was followed closely by a bokken strike.
	"Silence, wretch!  I shall free my goddesses from thy most vile sorcery."
Kuno swung his bokken in low attempting to remove Ranma's legs.  Ranma leapt over the swing and planted a foot in Kuno's face.  Kuno flew backwards through a wall, crashing into one of the Home economics classes.  Several girls carrying trays of cookies looked out into the hall.
	"I really hope you know that people don't talk like that no more."  Ranma shook his head and sighed, "What a moron."  Ranma turned around and looked at a clock on the wall.  He jumped up in surprise.  "Dammit, Kuno!"  He turned and jetted down a different hallway, "NOW I'M REALLY LATE!"  Ranma's voice faded as he sped down the hall towards where Akane figured his classroom must be.
	"Well, that explains that.  Now how to talk to him."  Akane set her buckets down on the floor and began thinking.  No sooner had she started than a high-pitched voice rang out a few feet away from her.
	"You naughty delinquent, you shouldn't put your buckets down like that.  HAPPO-GO-EN-SATSU!"  Akane turned around about to say 'Huh?' when she found herself falling unconscious due to a severe lack of Ki.  She didn't notice the twelve year-old behind her morph into a shapely thirty year-old woman.

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	Ranma slept through most of his classes, which was not unusual.  He woke up when he heard everyone heading out for lunch.  Following the crowd, he soon found himself outside.  Taking up his usual spot under a tree, he opted to wait for Ukyo before starting to eat.  After a few minutes she walked towards the tree, her omnipresent spatula strapped to her back.  She was waving as she walked towards him.  When she reached him she sat down, pulled her grill out from nowhere, and began preparing herself a couple of okonomiyaki.
	"So Ran-chan, pleasant dreams in class?"
	"Yeah there was this one with..."  He caught himself.  "Who? Me? Sleeping in class, you're the one who's dreaming Ucchan."  Ranma bit into the sandwich he had brought for lunch.  Ucchan stared at him in shock.
	"I could hear you snoring in MY classroom, that's quite a distance you know, and you have a very distinctive snore.  Your pop's gonna be upset."
	"He'll get over it.  It's not like he ever did anything to encourage me that school was important.  No, not school, just martial arts."  Ranma shifted his voice and began imitating Genma.  "Oh yes boy, this training ground is perfectly harmless, just because it's name means 'pools of sorrow' doesn't make it dangerous."  They began laughing.  Ranma took a couple more bites, finishing his sandwich.  Ukyo noticed this time.  "And what's with the sandwich?  Are you too good for my okonomiyaki?"
	"Ucchan, you know I love your okonomiyaki, but there's other food out there in the world."
	"Like what?"
"Well, for instance there's..."  There was a loud crashing sound from across the yard. "..ramen."  Ranma finished his sentence just as a purple blur took the form of Shampoo, who latched onto him with her standard vice-like grip.
	"Nihao!  Wo de airen, Shampoo bring lunch.  You eat then take Shampoo to date, yes?"  Unwrapping one arm from around Ranma's neck Shampoo reached down at the ground by her feet to retrieve a small box. Shampoo pushed it into his face.  The ramen, which smelled delicious, had a peculiar blue tinge to it, which faded into a purple, and slowly began cycling through the entire spectrum, even bothering to stop at both white and black.
	"Uh, sorry Shampoo.  I'm not exactly hungry right now, right Ucchan?"  Ranma looked pleadingly at Ukyo as she watched the scene.  She was not pleased that Shampoo was once again attempting to drug, poison or otherwise herbally affect her fiancee.
	"That's right, Shampoo, he's not hungry."  She gracefully removed Shampoo's hands from around Ranma's neck.  "Now, my little lavender tressed bimbette.  Why don't you go take a speech course?"
	"Spatula girl keep Shampoo and Husband from being together..."
	"You bet your life I do."
	"Shampoo kill!"  Shampoo brought her bonbori down towards Ukyo's head, but found it blocked by one of her throwing spatulas.  Holding it in one hand, Ukyo reached around and punched Shampoo in the face, sending her sprawling.  Shampoo looked up in shock.  "Spatula girl been training!"
	Ukyo looked at Shampoo smugly and twirled her mini-spatula before placing it back in her bandoleer.  "I live in the same house as Ranma, what do you expect Shampoo?"  Ukyo's face changed from smug to serious.  "Now go back to the Nekohanten and let me and my fiancee eat lunch."
	Shampoo smiled just a little as she looked at Ukyo.  "Spatula girl gotten better, Shampoo no need hold back now."  With a loud 'Hiya!'  Shampoo leapt towards Ukyo, bringing her bonbori to the ready.  Sphere met spatula, and the battle was joined.  Shampoo tried a sweep.  Ukyo jumped over it, performing an elaborate backflip while sending a barrage of her throwing spatulas at the amazon.  Shampoo caught them and sent them flying right back.  Ranma just stood on the sidelines looking somewhat worried.
	The battle had raged for almost fifteen minutes when Ukyo ran out of her throwing spatulas and Shampoo started showing signs of tiring.  They had both been exerting themselves far too much.  Shampoo brought her bonbori down full strength towards Ukyo's head.  The chef crossed her arms in front of her face in an attempt to block, closed her eyes, and braced for impact.  But a strong hand stopped the descent of the balloon maces.  When Ukyo opened her eyes she saw Ranma staring straight back into them.
	Ranma turned to face Shampoo.  "You should be more careful with these things Shampoo, Ukyo coulda been hurt."
	Shampoo tried to spit in the chef's face, but her mouth had run dry.  "That whole idea... get rid of stupid chef, then take Ranma to China.  Ranma make Shampoo happy ever."  Shampoo sighed wistfully and fell into a sort of semi-daydream state.
	Ranma waved his hand in front of her face.  "Yo Shampoo!"  She awoke from the spell she had been under, a question in her eyes.  Ranma responded as best he could  "Go back to the Nekohanten, we got class."
	"Ok, Airen, baibai!"  Shampoo turned to face Ukyo with a sneer.  "Finish with Spatula girl later."  Shampoo leapt over a wall and began sprinting from rooftop to rooftop.  Ranma turned to Ukyo, a smile on his face. "C'mon Ucchan, we got class."  Pecking his fiancee on the cheek, Ranma turned and leapt up towards the third story of the Furinkan High School building, leaving an amazed Ukyo behind, until the bell rang.
	With a shriek of "I'M LATE!" Ukyo headed off to class.  Leaving a dust trail in her wake.

*-*-*-*

	Akane woke up to find herself in the infirmary.  The last thing she remembered was a little girl in a yellow dress calling her a delinquent.  <Oh, fantastic... Ms. Hinako.  That's just wonderful, now I probably missed Ranma at lunchtime.>  She glanced up at the clock.  <No, I missed lunchtime altogether... wonderful. Heck I missed most of school.>  Standing up, wobbling a little, Akane scanned the room to find her bag wasn't there.  Hearing a moan from the bed next to her, she walked over and pulled away the curtain.  Tatewaki Kuno, Blue Thunder of Furinkan high, was sitting up on one of the beds and clutching his head as if to ward off an evil spirit.  He noticed Akane staring at him.  "Ah, the noble Akane Tendo.  I see that your feeling for me has not wavered.  I must profess that I am sorry I can no longer return your love, there are others in the world who require the Blue Thunder's noble presence.  My flame-haired goddess in pigtails awaits, as does my queen of the culinary arts.  Has your sister yet captured their divine images for my noble self to purchase?  I cannot bear the thought of another owning such beauteous... uh... beauties."  Kuno stumbled the end of his sentence as images of his goddesses appeared in his head.
	Akane was so busy glaring at Kuno that she didn't notice the person walking up behind her.
	"The Blue Thunder doth protest too much, methinks."
	Akane and Kuno both looked towards the voice and recognized the brunette with the short bob haircut for what she most likely was at that time.  A source of information.
	"Ah, Nabiki Tendo, I see that you have come to bask in mine divine presence this fair day as well. I will overcome that foul Saotome's sorcery yet."
	"Yeah sure, Kuno-chan.  Akane, could you go over there for a second?  I have some business concerning his love."
	Akane looked over towards where Nabiki was pointing, the hallway.  Akane exited the infirmary and stopped just outside the door, she could still hear Nabiki's voice rather well.
	"So Kuno-chan.  How much are you willing to pay for information on your love's whereabouts?  Starting price is 20,000 yen."
	"Done."
	Akane could hear Nabiki's face-fault from out in the hall.  Obviously Nabiki had not expected Kuno's unquestioning compliance.  She heard Nabiki gather herself, the voice was cold and expressionless again.  "Okay Kuno.  Fork it over."
	Akane heard the leafing through of large bills and a satisfied click from Nabiki's wallet as it strained around the new wealth.  Kuno sighed.  "Now what is the information that is costing me such exorbant fees to obtain?"
	"The pig-tailed girl lives at 'Ucchan's Okonomyaki-ya."
	Kuno sputtered and Akane heard him choke on his voice.  "Bu-bu-but... are you telling me that my fair pig-tailed goddess dwells in the same building as Ukyo Kuonji and the foul sorcerer.  How can this be?"
	"Sorry Kuno, explanations cost extra."
	Kuno's response was as expressionless as Nabiki could ever hope to be.  "I hate you, you know..."
	"That matters to me, you can tell."  The sarcasm in Nabiki's voice was deeper than the growl coming from Kuno's throat.

*-*-*-*

	Akane walked down the hall with Nabiki, mulling over the information that she had just received from her little bout of eavesdropping.  <So Ranma and Ukyo are both staying at the Ucchan.  Maybe I should stop by... I just have to make sure that I don't give anything away.  All it takes is a little self-control when I'm talking to Ranma or Ukyo.  I'll be fine.>  Akane smiled as she thought of how easy it would be to win Ranma from Ukyo.  After all, Ukyo couldn't compete with her in the real timeline, how much different could it possibly be here?
	Out of the corner of her eye, Nabiki saw Akane smile and noticed as her step suddenly seemed that much lighter.  Something was up, and she didn't know what it was.  Not good.  "So Akane, how was it you came to be drained by Ms. Hinako anyway.  You're never late anymore, not since those boys stopped chasing you, and I've never known you to get in trouble during class.  So what was it?"
	Akane was slightly startled at the question.  "Oh, I was just thinking about something.  I was a little distracted, otherwise Ms. Hinako would never've been able to drain me."
	"Oh, and what was it that distracted you?"
	Before Akane could answer one of Nabiki's underlings called her over for a private conference.  Nabiki seemed rather upset that she hadn't had time to get a response, but the information she was about to receive would more than make up for it.
	Akane was walking out of the doorway to the school when she heard Nabiki's yell of "WHAT?  THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE!"  Akane fell into a shocked daze when the voice rang out over the school.  <Nabiki is never that excited, what could the news possibly be to do that to her?>  Akane turned around and was almost plowed into by Nabiki who was running faster than Akane would have thought possible.  Nabiki was almost boiling by the time Akane had regained her balance.  When Akane was standing again Nabiki ran off.  Not even looking at Akane, she yelled, "Sorry!"
	<Nabiki?  Apologizing?  Something must be really wrong.>  Akane began to run after her sister.  "NABIKI!  WAIT UP!"  Akane was amazed that she had to break into a full out sprint to catch up to Nabiki.
	Akane grabbed her sister and turned her so that they were looking into each other's eyes.  "Now, what's this about sis?"
	Nabiki visibly settled down under Akane's intense glare.  She sighed before beginning to speak.  "You know that boy, Ranma Saotome."
	Akane nodded.  "What about him?"
	"Well, Akane, it turns out that both he and the pig-tailed girl... are the same person.  Whenever he gets hit with cold water he turns into the pig-tailed girl and whenever he gets hit with hot water he turns back into a boy."
	Akane couldn't grasp the importance of this.  "Yeah, so what?  You didn't know that?"
	Nabiki's eyes, if possible, got even wider at her sister's remark.  Her voice betrayed none of that, however.  "You knew about this and you didn't tell me?"
	Akane's first thought was <DOH!> followed quickly by <I guess I didn't know about Ranma's curse in this life.>  She attempted a recovery.  "I, uh, didn't think it was, um, that important..."  Akane gave sort of a moronic giggle and began inching away from Nabiki.  Nabiki put her hand on Akane's shoulder and squeezed just hard enough that Akane could feel it.  Akane stopped moving.
	"Akane... for a long time Ranma Saotome has gone to this school.  When he first showed up we promised each other that we would have as little to do with him as possible..."  Nabiki sighed.  "I discover that the two girls that Kuno would pay unimaginable amounts of money for spend a large amount of their time around him.  This make things harder than they ought to be, but I can live with that.  But when one of them actually turns out to BE Ranma Saotome, I think it qualifies as important.  Even more so when both he and Ukyo Kuonji have gone to obviously elaborate lengths to keep it secret, I'm even more amazed that they succeeded in keeping it from me as long as they did.  You've known about this, judging from your reaction, for some time now and yet YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"
	Akane was thrown off balance by Nabiki's outburst.  She'd almost never seen Nabiki mad.  Nabiki didn't get mad, she got even... with interest.  "Um, actually Nabiki, I was um... just pretending, I don't really know anything about him at all."
	Nabiki looked into her sister's eyes and was almost frightened by what she saw there.  "You're lying Akane.  I know in the past I've done some rotten things but I would hope that you'd still trust me to some small degree."  Akane flinched under her sister's words.
	Nabiki continued her speech.  "Tell me the truth... you're in love with him, aren't you?  Just like all those other girls."  Nabiki stared at her sister, hoping that the answer that was coming would set her fears aside.
	Akane closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.  Then she nodded.  Nabiki's eyes rolled back in her head and she fell to the ground unconscious.  Akane looked on in shock at her sister's reaction.  It was almost a full five minutes before she came to her senses and kneeled next to Nabiki.  "Nabiki?  Nabiki, wake up!  Come on!"  Akane placed her hand on Nabiki's throat, feeling for a pulse.  It was strong, but her breathing was shallow.  <I think we need to get going before anything else goes wrong.>  Picking up her sister and hoisting her over one shoulder, Akane set off for the dojo at a dead run.

*-*-*-*

	On the way towards the dojo, Akane passed Dr. Tofu's clinic.  Akane noticed that it seemed slightly run-down.  There was no obvious damage, but the general mood of the area just seemed... depressing.  Hearing sounds from inside, she walked up to the door.  Akane switched Nabiki from one shoulder to the other, which elicited a slight groan.  Akane knocked and, receiving no answer, put her ear to the door.  The voices inside were slightly muffled, but Akane could make out what they were saying perfectly.
	"Thank you for the cookies, Kasumi-san, they are very tasty.  It seems your cooking gets better each time I try it."
	"Tofu-san, you shouldn't say such things.  You flatter me terribly.  I brought these as a thank you for taking care of that bruise on my leg earlier this morning.  I truly am glad that you like them."  Akane heard footsteps begin heading towards the door.  "Goodbye, Tofu-san."
	"Farewell, Kasumi..."
	Akane backed away from the door just as it was opening.  Kasumi exited the clinic with a basket on one wrist.  Kasumi's face took on a mask of worry when she saw Nabiki hanging over Akane's shoulder.
	"Oh my!  Akane, what happened, is Nabiki all right?"
	Akane shook herself out of her wonderment at Dr. Tofu's behavior and looked at Nabiki, then at Kasumi.  "Oh no, Kasumi, Nabiki's just fine.  She just fainted is all.  I was taking her back to the dojo to get some rest."
	"Oh, alright Akane, I'll walk with you."
	"Uh, Kasumi... shouldn't you be working at the Kuno's right now?"
	Kasumi looked amused at Akane's comment.  She smiled slightly.  "Of course not, Akane.  I only go there once a week to clean their mansion.  Their poor little ninja Sasuke can't do everything you know.  Though it certainly is very nice of him to try, and he always helps me whenever I am working over there."
	Kasumi walked around Akane and went down to the sidewalk.  She turned, heading for the dojo.  "Come along, Akane."  Kasumi's mind still puzzled over what could have possibly caused Nabiki to faint like she had.  <I hope nothing's wrong.>  With that thought in mind, Kasumi continued walking towards the dojo.  Her limp completely gone.  Akane followed slightly behind.

*-*-*-*

	The walk to the dojo was uneventful.  Akane's pathetic attempts to weasel information out of Kasumi met a pretty smile and an unconcerned brush-off.  Reaching the dojo, they found their father playing Pente against himself.  He barely glanced up as Akane entered with Nabiki over one shoulder and Kasumi trailing behind them.
	"I think you and Kasumi should take her to bed, Akane.  She looks like she's had a rough day.  I trust nothing is the matter."  Kasumi nodded and began walking upstairs.  Akane couldn't believe that her father had reacted the way he had.  She boggled at him for a few moments, until Kasumi tapped her on the shoulder and signaled her that they should head upstairs.  Akane followed Kasumi up and into Nabiki's room.  They laid Nabiki on her bed, Kasumi had to leave soon after to began preparing dinner.  Akane sat by Nabiki's bedside and began to wait...

*-*-*-*

	Ranma entered the Ucchan in an astoundingly good mood.  He hadn't had to face Kodachi today, and Shampoo hadn't remained a problem for long.  Ukyo had proven remarkably with the unarmed combat skills that he had been teaching her.  She hadn't had to use her giant spatula even once in her battle with Shampoo this afternoon.
	From outside came a cry of, "Now where the hell am I?".  The grin on Ranma's face rose to become an outright smile.  Heading outside, Ranma initiated his standard battle with the eternally lost boy.
	"YO!  Bacon-Boy!  How're things?"
	"RANMA!  You honorless bastard.  You've turned Ukyo against me!  Prepare to DIE!"
	Ranma's face lost all joy and happiness.  It had become a mask of total anger.  He growled as blood red Ki began to surround him.  "You slept in her bed in your cursed form, more than once.  How DARE you speak to me about honor.  Luckily Ukyo was smart enough to catch on that you and little 'Katsu-chan' were one and the same... if you'd kept pretending you'd have a spatula through your skull right now.  It's all YOUR fault that Ukyo hates you.  Don't try and pass your problems off on me."
	Ryoga prepared to launch a flurry of bandannas at the arrogant pig-tailed boy.  "You pushed me into that pool.  You'll pay for your crimes against me!"
	Ryoga threw his bandannas.  Ranma dodged them effortlessly.  The battling duo made their way down the street, exchanging blow after blow, as a crowd gathered to watch

*-*-*-*

	While waiting for Nabiki to awaken, Akane looked down and noticed a folder poking out from Nabiki's bag.  Reaching in she found what looked like a business calendar.  It had dates, meetings, notes, and a balance in the back.  Akane rifled through it and came to today's date.  There was an entry circled in red marker.  Almost like something that Nabiki would write in a diary.  Akane read it aloud to be sure that she had seen correctly.  "No sales of Akane's pictures today.  May have to use other measures to get money for the dojo.  Remember to thank Kodachi for doubling Kasumi's check yesterday.  I wonder what snapped that girl's mind back into place."
	A voice came from behind Akane.  Nabiki was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling.  "Whod've believed that Kodachi Kuno could become sane.  Of course, whod've believed that a boy could turn into a girl.  But I saw the videotape.  Ranma Saotome has some sort of Aquatransexual curse."  Nabiki began laughing in a rather disturbing way.  She abruptly stopped and turned on the bed to face Akane.  "And to think one of us almost got engaged to him."  Nabiki dropped back into her previous position and began examining the ceiling again.  "But now you WANT to marry him don't you?  My poor, poor, younger sister wants to get engaged to a boy who has three fiancees as well as the Black Rose chasing after him.  Three girls who are better martial artists than you by far and you still want to marry that boy.  Add to that the fact that he's obviously in love with Ukyo Kuonji..."
	Akane broke in at that, "HE IS NOT!  He just thinks of Ukyo as a friend, and he never liked Shampoo or Kodachi.  He's always running away from them and they're always glomping onto him.  It's not his fault he has so many fiancees."  After her tirade Akane heard her own voice echoing in her head.  <YOU'RE SUCH A PERVERT!  YOU'RE ALWAYS CHASING AFTER OTHER WOMEN!  DIE RANMA!  I WISH I'D NEVER MET YOU!>  Akane settled her thoughts to a rational degree, then she was hit by what Nabiki had just said.  <Wait a minute... FOUR fiancees... THAT PERVERT!>
	Nabiki raised an eyebrow.  "You sound like you know him pretty well, sis.  Anything going on on the side that I should know about?"  Akane opened her mouth to speak but was cut off as Nabiki continued talking.  "If you were correct I'd be really impressed.  He doesn't seem to run from Kodachi as often as you say he does.  That purple haired girl Shampoo is a different story though.  He runs from her whenever he sees her.  I hear she's gotten pretty desperate lately too.  Trying to drug him all the time."  Nabiki noticed she was rambling and collected herself before addressing her sister.  "You want to marry Saotome, huh?"  She was looking Akane right in the eye.  Akane nodded.  Nabiki seemed to wince a bit at Akane's absolute certainty.  "Well then, I guess we'll just have to go to the Ucchan's and get him.  According to daddy, Mr. Saotome should be just as sure about this engagement as he is... and he's been hunting for Mr. Saotome for almost a full two years now.  All we have to do is take daddy to the Ucchan and he and Mr. Saotome will have a little 'chat' with Ranma.  You'll be engaged to him by tomorrow afternoon."
	Akane couldn't believe what she was hearing.  "Nabiki?"  She looked at her sister more carefully this time.  "A few minutes ago you acted like you didn't even LIKE Ranma and now all of the sudden you've got a plan to get me engaged to him?  That doesn't make sense."
	Nabiki grinned at Akane as she sat up on the bed.  She held up five fingers and began speaking.  "One,  I don't care if he's a twisted maniac bent on world domination who turns into a giant minotaur as long as he makes you happy."  Nabiki continued ticking things off on her fingers.  "You're my sister and I want the best for you... believe it or not.  Two,  While he's not my favorite person in the world, you could do a helluva lot worse than Ranma Saotome for a husband.  Three,  Since he turns into the 'pig-tailed girl' I am pretty sure if you two are married he'll do ANYTHING to keep the dojo going.  Which means photos, photos, photos.  Four, even if he isn't willing, I'm still good enough that I could get plenty of photos of his girl side without him knowing.  Fifth and final fact... it's what daddy wants to happen."
	Nabiki looked at her sister with a smug smile.  "Besides, even if he does want to marry Ukyo Kuonji."  <Which I think he does.>  She added mentally.  "We've got an honor-bound agreement made by Ranma's father.  I don't think that she can claim that."  Akane thought about that and felt like she wanted to die...  <But she CAN claim that.  What chance could I possibly have now?>  "And what do we do if she can?"
	Nabiki stood up on the bed and walked over the window.  She stared out across the garden at the back of the Tendo compound.  She started to speak again, keeping her back to Akane.  "I don't do anything, Akane.  And you... you pray with all your heart that you can convince him to pick you."
	Akane stared at her sister in shock.  "Nabiki, it sounds like you been thinking about this for a long time.  How could you plan something like this."
	Nabiki smiled at her sister's comment.  "Get real Akane, you know why."  She sighed.
	"No, Why?"
	"The way you were always staring at him from across the courtyard.  Watching him fight all those insane people.  You were practically drooling every time.  You had that look in your eyes.  The same one Kuno used to have whenever you came charging the school.  You've been in love with him for awhile now.  I could tell.  I mean... it was..."  Nabiki was saved from having to finish her sentence by a loud smashing sound from the front of the dojo.
	Running from the room and heading downstairs, the two sisters burst out of the front door to see a boy with a bandanna and a redhead engaged in a most impressive battle.  Akane stared as Ranma landed punch after devastating punch on Ryoga.  <He's even better than I remember.  Or at least, Ryoga's not as good as I remember.>  Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi, and the newly arrived Soun stared at the devastation as the battle left the Tendo's front yard and headed down the street.
	Akane and Nabiki shared a look.  It seemed to convey everything that the girls had spoken of upstairs, with the addition of 'This could be a little bit harder than we thought.'

*-*-*-*

	By the time the sun had finally set repairs had been finished on the stone wall surrounding the dojo.  Nabiki had been able to get a rush job on it by using some of the 'information' that she had access to.  The workers were gone; Nabiki's job was complete.  She retired to her room.  Twenty minutes later Akane found her.
	"Nabiki... we need to talk about this some more."
	Nabiki sat up from where she was on the bed and stared her sister in the eye.  "Akane, I'm really tired right now.  It may not be eight o'clock yet but its already been a really long day."  She sighed.  "Kasumi should have dinner ready soon.  Can you come up and get me when she does?"  Akane stared at her sister with the most pleading look she could.  Nabiki rolled her eyes again.  "We'll talk about that more tomorrow.  Maybe at lunch.  Okay?"  Akane smiled hopefully at her sister as she shut the door.
	Nabiki sat by herself for a few minutes after her sister left.  Turning her head to face the ceiling, a single thought pervaded her thoughts.  <Akane ,you stupid, lovesick, idiot.  I can't believe you want to bring the living hell that is Ranma Saotome's life down on this house.>  Reaching under her bed, she pulled out a box containing one of her cameras.  Removing the spatula from where it had been jammed through the casing, she started her repairs.  Hoping to take her mind off of her sister's problems.

*-*-*-*

	Dinner did not go as Akane expected.  Kasumi had cooked another wonderful meal, but it was eaten in silence.  There was barely any sound at all as time progressed.  Nabiki seemed to be deep in thought, and Kasumi was involved in her own little world.  As for Soun, trying to strike up a conversation with him was like speaking with stone.  He ate his meal in silence and went up to his room immediately after finishing.  Akane could hear him shut the door and fall heavily on his futon.  Nabiki headed to hers soon afterwards.  Going to her room.  Kasumi waited until Akane was finished before cleaning up and up to her room as well.  Kasumi appeared to go right to sleep, while from the sound of it Nabiki was tinkering with something.  Akane took Nabiki's advice and decided to wait until tomorrow to talk to her about it.  Sleep came easily as thoughts of winning Ranma danced through her head.

*-*-*-*

	At the Ucchan, Ranma sat on a stool in front of the grill as Ukyo bandaged some of his wounds.  He grunted with pain as she rubbed an ointment into one of the cuts on his arm.  Ukyo spoke softly as she wrapped the bandage around his bicep.
	"You know, if you'd just let me tell Ryoga I'll never be interested in him, you wouldn't have to go through this all the time.  Besides, his sense of direction seems to be improving.  Or at least he's been training his memory to help him find his way better.  Either way, he showed up three times last week.  You don't recover as fast as he does.  Cologne and her stupid 'Bakusai Ten-Ketsu' training."
	Ranma looked at her funny.  "Ucchan, you know that wouldn't work.  He'd just accuse me of lying to you and turning you against him.  He's in love with you.  Just like Kuno... and Tsubasa... and Konatsu."
	"Well, at least Konatsu will accept the fact that I want to marry YOU.  He's a nice enough guy.  Kuno's insane, people don't listen to him anyway.  Tsubasa, well..., I have a harder time thinking of Tsubasa as a 'he' than I do with Konatsu.  I just don't think he realizes it yet, that I barely even like him, I mean.  I would think that Ryoga could just find somebody else.  After all, Kodachi was after him for almost three months..."
	"Yeah, but he was already in love with you by then.  And when Ryoga does somethin' he goes all out.  Not that it would matter anyway.  When Kodachi found out he was half pig something snapped.  Now, according to Sasuke, she's saner than he's ever seen her.  Apparently she was quite the nutcase.  I heard she almost killed some girl in a gymnastics contest awhile back.  Name was Akana or something.  Of course, Kodachi's in love with ME now."  Ranma flexed his hand, testing out the muscles on his arm.
	Ukyo looked at him quizzically.  "Can you blame her Ran-chan?"
	He smirked.  "Well, I am one helluva guy."
	Ukyo whapped him across the back of the head.  "You arrogant baka."
	"And she's not the only one.  I have to deal with Shampoo, and Akari."
	"Now Akari isn't so bad.  She's a nice girl.  Not as nice as me, but she knows you aren't in love with her."
	"Yeah but she still tries, and I can't even bring myself to get mad at her.  It's not entirely her fault.  But I can't bring myself to hurt her... or Kodachi.  I think they know that I don't love them, but they have their hearts set on me... and it hurts every time I see them."
	As she reached up to place the last bandage on his arm, he placed his hand over hers.  "Ucchan... thank you."
	"For what, Ran-chan?"
	"You've always been there for me.  No matter what happens.  No matter what I have to say or no matter who tries to kill me, or marry me, or both.  You've always been there.  Thank you."
	"You're welcome."  Ukyo leaned up towards him and kissed him before returning to her work on his injuries.
	From the back of the restaurant, Genma Saotome witnessed the entire exchange.  He was not a happy camper.  The plan was to get to Nerima, marry Ranma off to one of the Tendo girls, and live off of the dojo for the rest of his life.  Things were not going well.  He'd tried many things to split Ranma and Ukyo up, and none of them had worked.  Not to mention that every time he had tried to get in contact with Soun either Ukyo or that crossdressing Kunoichi had interfered.  If he was going to get things rolling in the right direction, it was going to take some careful planning.  While Ranma and Ukyo sat near the front of the restaurant, Genma reached up to one of the cupboards and pulled out two full bottles of sake.  He needed to think, and that was something he seemed to do best when he was at least partially drunk.  One hour and three and a half bottles later he came up with a plan.

*-*-*-*

	Akane awoke with a smile.  Today she was going to be engaged to Ranma again.  Nothing was going to stand in her way, and if anything tried she would make them regret it.  Swinging her legs over the side she stood up and looked out the window.  The world could have been ending and she wouldn't have noticed.  <It feels like so long ago I made that wish.  It hasn't even been two days yet.  Soon Ranma will be mine again.>
	Nabiki opened the door.  She was pleasantly surprised to see that she wouldn't have to go through her daily ritual of waking Akane up today.  "Well, look who's up nice and early."
	Akane turned to face her sister, the smile on her face almost splitting her face in two.  "I'm getting engaged to Ranma today.  I have a good reason to be up early."
	Nabiki smiled back at her sister.  She was a good enough actor that it didn't seem forced to Akane.  "Well, get dressed.  That all happens later today.  After school."  Nabiki left the room.  Akane followed shortly after and made her way to the bath.  Soaking in the furo gave her the opportunity to look at things objectively.  She realized she hadn't been doing that of late.  Akane stopped to think about what she was going to do today from all angles.  Ukyo would certainly be upset about this turn of events.  Shampoo would probably still be acting the same way that she always had, so there wasn't too much to worry about there.  <But what about Kodachi?  According to Nabiki she's an almost completely different person than when I knew her last.  How is she going to react?  and what made her a completely different person anyway?>  Akane opted not to think about it much more, today she was going to get Ranma back.  The consequences could wait.

*-*-*-*

	Nabiki was sitting on the bed in her room.  Looking through various things.  She couldn't seem to get Akane's hopeful smile out of her head.  Her sister appeared almost positive that this would work and Ranma Saotome would fall for her about ten seconds after meeting her.  Nabiki knew better.
	The Ranma Saotome that she knew was obviously in love with Ukyo Kuonji.  Granted, the other suitors that those two gathered like flies were blissfully ignorant of that fact.  But Nabiki, as well as almost the entire non-martial artist population of Nerima, knew the truth the same way they knew the sun was going to set in the west.
	Nabiki went over the plan in her mind once again, there were no obvious flaws in it.  But she couldn't help thinking that she was missing a vital piece of information, and that it was going to cost her, and her sister, dearly.

*-*-*-*

	Breakfast went smoothly, and silently.  Akane finished hers in a rush, and Nabiki did likewise.  They had lots to do today.  They left the house as soon as they had completed the meal, Akane with a smile, and Nabiki with her doubts.  As they approached the school, Akane got to witness firsthand just what Ukyo's life was like now.  The mob of boys was around the same size that it had been yesterday.  Ukyo and Ranma were having little difficulty clearing a path towards the school.
	Ukyo flipped another boy into the bushes with her mega-spatula, as Ranma kicked one into unconsciousness.  Akane and Nabiki made their way along the outer rim of the mob.  Akane's gaze lingered on Ranma as she made her way to the school.  Nabiki noticed, and frowned ever so slightly.

*-*-*-*

	Throughout her classes, Akane kept stealing glances at Ukyo.  The okonomiyaki chef seemed more relaxed than when Akane had last known her.  She was smiling more and staring out the window as the class dragged on.  Akane had never really liked Ukyo, that was for sure, but she had never wanted to hurt her either.
	<But nothing is going to keep me from getting Ranma back.>  Still, Akane couldn't silence the ache in her chest when she saw Ukyo, knowing that soon Ranma's father would be shoving him into a marriage that he didn't know was already planned.

*-*-*-*

	Konatsu struggled against the ropes that held him.  Mr. Saotome, while overweight, greedy, and a tad on the stupid side, was still a skilled martial artist.  He had proven that by his rather simple, yet surprisingly effective, escape plan.  The overgrown panda took off down the street at a breakneck pace.  He had to get to the Tendo's.  Problems were guaranteed to arise no matter how this ended.  But he wasn't sure he cared.

*-*-*-*

	Yuka and Sayuri sat at their lunch table with Akane.  She had arrived at school in good spirits, but for some reason she had seemed to shift during the day from happy, to resentful, and now angry.  She was continuously glancing over at Ukyo.  The sight of the happy and relaxed okonomiyaki chef was not doing wonders for her spirits.  The fact that she was currently sitting and chatting with Ranma wasn't helping out either.  What little self-control Akane had was slowly evaporating as she watched them having fun by themselves.
	Akane stood up and began to leave, when a rather loud commotion began to spring up from across the yard.  Near where Ukyo and Ranma had been sitting.  Turning around, she saw that Shampoo had arrived.  She was glomping on to Ranma while he was running around the yard.
	<That pervert!   I can't believe he's chasing Shampoo in front of the entire school!>  By now, Akane's self-control had reached its limits and she was ready to maim something.  The something in question was not aware of this at the moment.  In fact, the something in question didn't even notice her, or the rather large hammer in her hand.
	She reached the inner circle of the crowd and had her hammer at the ready, she would have used it right away had Ukyo's spatula not already been unleashed on the unsuspecting amazon.

*-*-*-*

	Ukyo pried with all her might, attempting to 'de-glomp' her fiancee.  She was, to say the least, slightly surprised when her spatula broke in half, the sudden shock causing her to fall backwards and land on the ground with a loud thump.  Ranma was now turning an interesting shade of navy blue as Shampoo continued to cut off his oxygen supply.
	Ukyo looked up to see a girl with long black hair wielding an impressively large mallet in her hands.  The girl turned to her with an almost sadistic smile and said "Allow me."
	Akane raised her mallet high above her head and with a loud cry of 'BAKA!' brought it crashing down onto the head of Ranma Saotome, shattering his link to the purple-haired amazon.  Of course, it also left him even more unconscious then he already had been.
	Shampoo turned to the new arrival with murder in her eyes.  "Who you?  You hurt Shampoo's airen, stupid hammer girl.  You go now and I no kill."
	Akane returned Shampoo's stare with equal fervor.  "I hurt him?  'I' hurt him?  You were strangling him, you stupid Chinese bimbo!  He might've died if I hadn't done that.  I can't believe you could be so stupid."
	Shampoo retort was cut off as the heft of a broken battle spatula slammed into the top of her head.  Shampoo collapsed in a heap.  A loud shout was heard from a tree some distance away.  "SAOTOME!  You have injured my beloved Shampoo, you shall pay!"  
	A flurry of chains wrapped themselves around an unsuspecting student who was standing near Ukyo.  When Mousse descended to finish the job he found himself stopped by Ukyo's hand.  "Mousse you idiot.  That's not Ranma."
	"Then where is he?"
	Ukyo leaned down and picked up Shampoo, placing her in Mousse's arms.  "Just take Shampoo back to the Nekohanten, Mousse.  Fight Ranma another day."
	With a nod to okonomiyaki cook, Mousse leapt off into the distance, with Shampoo in his arms and a rather bedazzled look on his face.
	Turning to Akane, Ukyo began sizing up the person who had saved her fiancee from the amorous amazon.  "I'm Ukyo Kuonji, nice to meet you."
	Akane shook the offered hand, surprised at the chef's openness.  "I'm Akane Tendo."  For just a moment, Ukyo's features darkened as though she was trying to remember something.  They reverted to normal and changed quickly to worry when a soft groan from Ranma caught her attention.   Kneeling down next to him, Ukyo cradled Ranma in her arms and started gently shaking his head.  "Ran-chan?...  Ran-chan, you alive in there?"
	Ranma slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring up at Ukyo through her rather impressive 'attributes'.  She didn't realize this until a slight trickle of blood leaked out his nose.
	"Pervert."  Ukyo smacked him lightly with her hand.
	Akane fumed, glaring at the person who would be her fiancee in a few hours.  If she, Nabiki, and Soun had anything to say about it anyway.
	Ukyo stood, helping Ranma to his feet and turned to Akane.  "This is my fiancee, Ranma Saotome.  Ranma, this is Akane, she's the one who got Shampoo off of you."
	"I didn't need your help, you know."  Ranma's usual attitude was showing once again, just as the color was returning to his face.
	Their was the sound of a large battle spatula readying itself.  Well, half of one anyway.  "Ran-chaaan."  The two syllables were said in a deep growl that threatened violence.
	Ranma began waving his arms in protest.  "Okay!  Okay! Thank you Akane, Thank you.  Jeez!"  When the threat had passed Ranma stood up to his full height, still casting wary glances at Ukyo, who was looking at the remains of her spatula with a regretful expression on her face.  "Do you think I'll still be able to cook with this?"
	Everyone who had been listening in on the conversation turned to look strangely at Ukyo.

*-*-*-*

	Genma Saotome sat across the dojo from his old friend Soun Tendo.  When Genma had first arrived, he had had to endure the frightening 'Soun Tendo Demon Head' but after all had been explained he had been able to calm down the patriarch.
	"So what you are saying, Saotome, is that your son is cursed to turn into a girl whenever he is splashed with cold water."
	Genma nodded.
	"If I had not seen you turn from a panda to a man I would not have believed, but as I did see just that, I do.  Now, tomorrow you will bring Ranma to the dojo, he will meet my daughters and he will be engaged to one of them, do you understand?"
	Genma looked down at the floor for a moment before he began to speak.  "Soun, my old friend, there is a problem with the engagement.  I will not be able to bring Ranma tomorrow, but rest assured that he will be wed to one of your daughters eventually."
	Soun looked at Genma with eyes of ice.  "What... problem?"
	"My son currently considers himself engaged to a girl named Ukyo Kuonji.  It will be difficult for us to break them up.  But I have a plan."  Carefully, so as not to confuse Soun, Genma explained what he was going to do in great detail.

*-*-*-*

	Ukyo and Akane were walking away from Furinkan, with a disgruntled Ranma in tow.  Ukyo was prying away at Akane, asking question after question.  Had Akane not known better, she would have assumed that Ukyo was interrogating her for information on her family.  Which was exactly what Ukyo was doing.
	Akane was kept on her toes the entire time.  She had never before had to watch what she was saying, but now she found herself having to remain in control.  She didn't want to appear to know too much about Ranma, and she couldn't pass herself off as completely clueless either.
	Akane was staring ahead as they walked down the street.  Ukyo had said that she had plans to go shopping today and had asked Akane to come along.  Suddenly, Akane saw something that made her stop dead in her tracks.  Racing over to a water fountain, followed by strange looks from both Ukyo and Ranma, Akane filled her thermos from lunch with cold water and dumped it onto Ranma's surprised form.
	"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"
	Unable to voice an answer, Akane just looked back and forth at Ukyo and Ranma's unworried faces.  At the same time, Nodoka Saotome was walking towards them from across the street where Akane had spotted her.  When she had reached within a short distance Ukyo called out to her, waving her hand in the air.  "MRS. SAOTOME, WE'RE OVER HERE!"
	Nodoka walked up to the three of them and for the first time Akane noticed that she wasn't carrying the katana that had always been present whenever she had seen her before this.
	"Ukyo-chan, it is not polite to shout in public."
	"Sorry Auntie."
	Nodoka turned to Ranma-chan who was glaring only slightly at Akane out of the corner of her eye.  "Ranma... why are you a girl in public?  Especially with your shirt all wet.  It is most uncivilized.  Now, who's your friend?  I don't think we've met."
	Akane was absolutely stunned.  Ranma's mother knew about the curse...  Somehow, Ranma had been able to break it to her in this life in a way that he had not been able to in Akane's.  For some reason, that thought hurt more than almost any other Akane had experienced since her wish had been made.  She was startled out of her train of thought as Nodoka voiced her question again.
	"And what is your name, dear?"
	Akane took a moment to gather herself.  "I'm Akane Tendo."  Akane extended her hand to Nodoka, only to find herself encased in a rib-cracking hug that she was fairly certain rivaled any Shampoo had ever managed.
	Nodoka removed herself from around Akane with a slightly frenzied air about her.  "Are you Soun Tendo's daughter, Akane?"  At Akane's nod she continued.  "It's been so long since I've seen him.  He is such a dear old friend of my husband Genma.  They both trained together you know.  It has been so long since I saw Soun.  I was at your mother's funeral, you know.  Your father was an absolute wreck.  I hope that he has improved some since I saw him.  He was always a very emotional person."
	Neither Akane nor Nodoka noticed when Ranma and Ukyo's eyes widened.  One  thought was echoing in both their heads at the same time.
	<Soun Tendo...>
	Ukyo's suspicions were confirmed.  The girl that she had befriended had a distinct chance of becoming another one of Ranma's fiancees.

*-*-*-*

	Nodoka dragged Ukyo and Akane into a nearby boutique.  Nodoka's original enthusiasm at meeting one of Soun's daughters was still present but slightly more controlled.  Nodoka was asking Akane opinion on several dresses, most of which were a beautiful shade of pink, as Ukyo fidgeted in the background, turning a matching shade.
	Akane, after seeing many of them and even trying on a few, had finally gotten up enough nerve to ask Nodoka what they were for.
	"Why, for Ukyo's wedding of course."
	Akane could only choke out a whimper of a reply.  "Wedding?"
	Nodoka looked at her with an outright smile.  "Of course, my son and she are engaged."  Turning to watch as Ukyo fidgeted with one of the gowns Nodoka's grin almost doubled in size.
	"Just think Ukyo-chan.  In three weeks, you and my son will be married."
	Ukyo turned to match Mrs. Saotome's smile with one of her own.  "And then he'll finally be mine.  Forever."

*-*-*-*

End Chapter 3


Author stuff:  Oy.

FAQ:	What is Genma's plan?  (Already decided, I'm not telling though.)
	Where are the other characters?  (They're coming... jeez, hold on.)
	How long till the next one?  (I wish I knew.)



"My only dream in life, is that someday there will be a program that doesn't ask me if I'm sure I want to quit when I ask it too."
		-Me

?_?

Brian, singing off...