Well, I got a little inspiration on a really nasty thing I'm plotting to
do, so I got Chapter one pounded out. Again, I'm very sorry I took so long
on it. I spent breaks and lunch today with a pad and paper planning this
out, I even made myself think of this in my sleep last night. Anyway, I
know it has some rough edges, and some "bad spots" so any C&Cs on how to
smoothe those passages out are very much welcomed. I really hope you guys
like it, and again, sorry it took so long.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~
Ranma 1/2: What Was Never Meant To Be
By Wesley Bridges

Disclaimer: The characters in this fanfic are properties of Rumiko Takahashi
and appear in this fic without her permission and all that good stuff.
Ah, let's see... Oh! anything else I use in here that belongs to Viz
Video, or whoever else produces Ranma, well they own that not me. I just
came up with the script, ok?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter I: A Mother's Duty Begins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	
	Ranma's head was swimming and aching as he woke up. He looked
	around the room to see the sun coming through the window, and
	Genma gone. 

Ranma:	(thinking) The old man's got to be planning something. (rubbing
	his head) Oh, man my head hurts... wonder if its from that dream
	I had last night...

	Ranma got dressed quickly and walked downstairs. When he reached
	the bottom of the stairs, he met Kasumi carrying some towels.

Kasumi:	(cheerfully) Oh! Hello, Ranma, are you feeling any better from
	last night?

Ranma:	Last night? You... don't...

Kasumi: Don't you remember what happened?

	Ranma's head cleared as the memories of the previous night 
	found their way to the surface of his mind.

	******** Begin Flashback Scene ********

Nodoka:	The reason being... they're cousins.

	Everyone stared in absolute shock as the words reached their
	ears.

Kasumi:	(surprised) Oh My... is it really true?

Nodoka:	Yes... you see, when we were very little, our parents died in
	an accident. We didn't have any other living relatives at the
	time, so we were placed in an orphanage. They did their best
	trying to keep the two of us together, but they simply could
	not find a family who wanted to take the both of us, so we were
	split up. 

Kasumi:	How sad that must have been for you.

Nodoka:	It was... and when I was old enough, I sent an inquery in for
	a search to find her. Ten years, and it finally came... 

Nabiki:	(completely unimpressed) So Auntie Saotome turned out to be our
	Aunt after all.I'm going to bed now, night everyone.

Kasumi:	Nabiki!

Nabiki:	What is it sis? It is late after all. (thinking) and besides,
	I need to think of a price for some customers on this information.
	
Kasumi:	(looking to Akane and Ranma) But what about...?

Nabiki:	They'll get through it. They can still be cousins and remain
	close after all.

Kasumi:	I suppose you're right.

Ranma:	So this means.... I don't have to marry that uncute tomboy 
	anymore?

	A dark, sad, and angry look shrouded Akane's face.

Akane:	Ranma... you... JERK!

	Akane's fist came faster than Ranma could have ever been prepared
	for as Ranma shot through the open door of the house, crashed
	nearly head first into the wall around the dojo, then rolled 
	around and fell in the carp pond. Still angry, and nearly on
	the verge of crying, Akane rushed up the stairs.

	******** End Flashback Scene ********

Ranma:	Yeah, I remember. I'm better this morning, thanks Kasumi.

Kasumi:	(smiling) Your welcome. Breakfast will be ready in a couple of
	minutes. Why don't you go ahead and sit at the table for a while?

	Ranma proceeded to the table without a word. The resurfaced
	memories caused his stomach to sink to his toes, and a dull,
	thudding, pain to emerge from his chest. Never-the-less, he
	continued to the dining room.

	Nodoka, Soun and Genma were already seated around the table in
	the dining room.

Nodoka:	I assure you, Soun, that we will stay and help you find another
	fiancee for Akane. It is the least we could do since this happened.
	Right, Genma?

Genma:	Huh?! Oh, of course Nodoka, we'll find Akane another fiancee.

Soun:	I thank you both... Perhaps it is best if we continued this
	after breakfast.

	Nodoka and Genma followed Soun's gaze to see Ranma entering	
	the room, and sitting at the table. Akane and Nabiki came soon
	after, then Kasumi entered with the meal.

	Not a word was spoken all during breakfast. Niether Ranma nor
	Akane seemed to posess their appetites either. Afterwords, both
	excused themselves and went in separate directions.

	In the kitchen, shortly after breakfast, Nodoka helped Kasumi
	clean the dishes and the kitchen while she thought of what do
	do for both Ranma and Akane.

Nodoka:	They really loved each other, didn't they?

Kasumi:	Oh, yes. They tried hard not to show it, but I'm not sure why.
	If you were around them enough, you could tell it.

Nodoka:	I'm sure we will have no troubles finding Akane a suitable 
	fiancee. She'd make such a good wife, especially when she 
	masters her cooking. I just hope Ranma will be able to get another
	girl like Akane...

Kasumi:	Oh! Didn't you know?

Nodoka:	Know what, Kasumi?

Kasumi:	Ranma has three other fiancees already

Nodoka:	He does?!

Kasumi:	Yes. There's Shampoo, an amazon warrior who works at the 
	Nekohanten. She's been after Ranma for some time now, ever 
	since Ranma defeated her while defending Akane. Then there's
	Ukyo Kuonji who owns and cooks an Okonomiyaki shop. She's been
	after Ranma since they were children. And then Kodachi, but I'm
	not sure what reasons she has for chasing Ranma.

Nodoka:	I see. It seems that Genma and I need to have a little discussion
	about Ranma.

Kasumi:	I believe he's in the yard eating bamboo again.

Nodoka:	Thank you, Kasumi.

	On the roof of the Tendo House, Ranma sat staring at the carp
	pond.

Ranma:	(thinking) Why am I so down from this? Could it be that I actually
	l-l..l..ove her? But how could I possibly love that tomboy?!
	There's go...

Ryoga:	So there you are.

Ranma:	What are you doing here, Ryoga?

Ryoga:	Akane's taking this pretty hard you know.

Ranma:	So? Why don't you go comfort her, P-CHAN?!

Ryoga:	Look I'm not here to fight with you this time, Ranma!

Ranma:	So what DID you come here for, Ryoga?!

Ryoga:	Talk to her Ranma!

Ranma:	(surprised) Huh?! (annoyed again) Why would I want to do that?!

Ryoga:	The only way either of you is going to get over this is if you
	talk to one another and sort things out.

Ranma:	And what makes you so sure?

Ryoga:	Because I actually listened to her! Everytime I was in her room as
P-chan
	when she was mad at you I listened to her tell me how mad she
	was at you, but there was something inside that wouldn't let
	her be mad for long. She wouldn't even admit it to me, Ranma.

Ranma:	What are you talking about?!

Ryoga:	She loves you!

	Ranma froze at Ryoga's words and suddenly realized that he truly
	did love her. Even if he didn't admit that to her, Ranma realized
	that Ryoga probably did give sound advice. Ranma got up and
	jumped down, Ryoga followed him.

Ranma:	(turning to Ryoga) Uh... th..th..thanks, Ryoga.
	
	Ranma quickly walked into the house and up the stairs to Akane's
	room. He was about to knock, but hesitated to do so.

Ranma:	(thinking) Do I really want to do this? 

	Ranma knocked on the door quickly.

Akane:	Go away. I want to be alone for a while.

Ranma:	FINE! I didn't want to talk to you anyway!

	As Ranma walked off, Akane opened the door and stepped out.

Akane:	Ranma... wait..

Ranma:	(stoping) Huh?

Akane:	I.. uh... changed my mind... do you want to... talk in here?

Ranma:	Uh... sure...

	Ranma entered Akane's room and Akane closed the door behind 
	him. Ranma took a seat on the chair by Akane's desk, and Akane
	sat on her bed.

Akane:	Well... it seems you got your wish..

Ranma:	Huh? what do you mean by that?!

Akane:	Not to marry an uncute, sexless, tomboy like me.

Ranma:	Now hold on a minute I never meant... uh...

Akane:	What? You never meant what?

Ranma:	Uh... nothing... I uh... just shouldn't have been... like I was
	to you... and that.

Akane:	At least you have others who want to be with you.

Ranma:	Are you saying that...

Akane:	Of course not! What makes you think that, huh?!

Ranma:	Well, I uh.. just...

Akane:	Just WHAT?! 

Ranma:	(sarcastically, to avoid the subject) You always have Kuno.

Akane:	What would I ever want from HIM!

Ranma:	He's probably the only idiot who could withstand your temper.

Akane:	Temper? I'll show you my temper!

	Akane's blow sent Ranma flying through the glass of Akane's
	window clear out to the yard where he landed with a crash.
	When Ranma opened his eyes, Ryoga was standing right above him

Ryoga:	Ranma, you were supposed to help Akane not make thing worse!

Ranma:	I didn't do anything to her?!

Ryoga:	Then why did she knock you out the window?! I don't know what
	you did to her, but I'm going to make you pay for it anyway!

	Early that evening, Ukyo was in a pleasant daydream of going out
	with Ranma on a beautiful spring morning, blossoms in bloom,
	clear blue sky and a cool breeze through the air. The two sat
	down to a picnic atop a grassy hill, and everything went 	
	smoothly... until Akane appeared, and Ranma went after her.
	
	Ukyo, and her heart came crashing back down to reality as the
	door to her shop opened. Through it came a very bruised, and
	tired Ranma.

Ukyo:	Ranma! What happened to you?!

Ranma:	Its a long story..

Ukyo:	I'm sure you can summarize it, and while you do I'll cook you
	an okonomiyaki.

Ranma:	It all started last night when mom came over. It turns out that
	Akane is my... cousin.

	Ukyo dropped a glass she was holding and stood perfectly still.

Ukyo:	C..c...cousin? You two are cousins?! What about your engagement?

Ranma:	(drearily) Everyone agreed to call it off. It can't be legally 
	done anyway.

Ukyo:	(thinking) With the engagement to Akane broken, and without her
	interference... Ranma honey is sure to pick me! 

	The vision of the picnic came back to her, but this time no
	Akane came to spoil it. Her heart soared to cloud nine where
	it floated for several minutes.

Ranma:	(flatly) You, uh, dropped your glass.

	Ukyo returned to ground state, as she heard the dissappointment
	in Ranma's voice.

Ukyo:	Oh, thanks Ranma! 

	Ukyo picked up the glass pieces and tossed them, then started
	making the okonomiyaki.

Ukyo:	(thinking) He's taking it pretty hard, poor guy... He's going
	to need me as a friend more now than ever, but if I try to be
	a friend, how will I get him to see me as someone to love...?
	
	Ranma finished his story, while pausing every now and then to
	eat. Ukyo listened trying to help Ranma through this, but words
	did not reach him.

	A few moments later, the door to the shop opened once more as
	Nodoka entered the restaurant. Ranma didn't seem to notice the
	entrance, but Ukyo straightened up.

Ukyo:	(pleasantly) Good Evening!

Nodoka:	Good Evening.

Ranma:	(turning at his mother's voice) Mom? What are you...

Ukyo:	(thinking) Ranma's... mother? If I could impress her... then
	surely she would choose me for the engagement!

Nodoka:	Kasumi said I might find you here. She said you come here a lot
	when things get rough at the house.

Ranma:	I uh...

Ukyo:	Mrs. Saotome? 

Nodoka:	You must be Ukyo, right?

Ukyo:	Yes...

Nodoka:	Kasumi has told me about you, and I've had a talk with my 
	husband. Would you like to come to the dojo for dinner? Say
	tomorrow night at seven o'clock?

Ukyo:	(cheerfully) I... I would love to!

Nodoka:	Good. It will give me a chance to get to know you better. After
	all, it is my duty to ensure that the one my son marries is 
	well suited for him. Now, come on, Ranma, let's get home before
	it gets too late.

	Ranma got up and followed Nodoka out of the restaurant, after
	both said their good-byes to Ukyo. The moment they left, Ukyo's
	heart nearly burst with joy, so much so she found herself nearly
	coming to tears. Tomorrow, she would be sure to be the future
	Mrs. Ranma Saotome..

To Be Continued...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next: Chapter II: The Three Days and Three Nights of Ranma's Fiancees.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~

I think I got everyone close to their natural character. I may have veered
a little on Nodoka, and maybe with Ukyo and Akane, but if its major, or you
find something that don't fit, please say what it is and give me a little
suggestion on how to fix it.

Souldrake
http://members.xoom.com/Souldrake/fanfic.htm