There are a lot of fics where the whole Ranma story is rewritten because
of one small change. The Bet is a good example. Here's my idea.



     Soun is seen crying over a postcard with a panda on the front.
<He's finally coming! How I've waited for this day. I better go tell
Kasumi to prepare.>

***

     Entering the outskirts of Nerima, a pig-tailed boy in a red chinese
shirt and a balding man in a white gi walk to their destination; the
Tendo household. Both are carrying extra large umbrellas to prevent them
from getting wet.

     "So this friend of yours does martial arts too?" asked Ranma.

     "Yes. Soun and I both trained in Anything-Goes many years ago.
Unfortunately, he hasn't been practicing ever since his wife died."
Genma said solemnly.

     "So what's the point in going here? Can't we just go back home
instead?" asked Ranma.

     Genma turned pale for a second before saying, "When you get to my
age, you start to like reunions with old friends." <Plus there's that
promise Soun and I parted with.>

     "Yeah, whatever." said Ranma. <Maybe I could sneak away later.> He
looks around at the neighbourhood they're in. <I don't think I'm that
far from home.>

***

     The Tendo sisters are sitting side by side facing Soun.

     "Sometime today, a good friend of mine will be coming. I hope
you'll all be nice to them. They've just come back from China so they'll
probably be tired." said Soun, looking at each daughter.

     <China?> thought Nabiki. <Daddy actually has friends who have money
to travel?>

     "So why are we all out here?" asked Akane curiously.

     "We're going to wait until they arrive." said Soun, sounding very
pleased with himself.

     Akane's brows furrowed and she said, "We're just going to wait?!
That could take all-"

     As if on cue, there's a knocking heard on the door. Kasumi and Soun
go to the door.

     "It's going to take all what?" Nabiki asked her sister.

     "Never mind." said Akane indignantly.

***

     "Saotome!" "Tendo!"

     The two men hug each other and pat each other on the back with
blows that could have been considered dangerous.

     "Hey, you've gained a little here." both men pointed at each other.
Soun pointing to Genma's gut and Genma pointing at Soun's moustache.

     "And you've lost a little here." both men said. Genma pointing to
Soun's gut and Soun pointing to Genma's covered head.

     Kasumi looks on with a smile while Ranma is looking on with
disgust.

     "Come on. Let's all go to the living room to get better
aquatinted." said Soun, pushing the Saotomes.

***

     "Geez, make a little more noise whydontcha." remarked Nabiki on the
noise coming from the hall.

     "It sure sounds like they're good friends." said Akane, getting up
and heading towards the source of the noise.

     A blur of white passed beside her and a blur of red knocked her to
the ground. She ignored her fall to the ground and instinctively slapped
the thing that knocked her down.

     "OW!" yelled Ranma, holding his now glowing cheek.

     "Stop feeling me up you pervert!" yelled Akane.

     "It wasn't my fault! He pushed me!" said Ranma, jerking a finger up
at Soun.

     "Heh heh. Sorry." said Soun, helping Ranma and Genma to their feet.
"I guess I just got overexcited."

     "You always did Tendo." said Genma, rubbing the back of his head.

***

     Everyone is now sitting at the table, drinking tea as Genma and
Soun tell old stories. Ranma doesn't listen, knowing every story by
heart. He absently rubs his slapped cheek. Nabiki is surveying the
newcomers. Genma looked to be the standard loud, stupid oaf and Ranma
seemed like the arrogant, loud, gullible character seen in her mangas.
If she ever had to deal with them, she'd have them in the palm of her
hand. Kasumi and Akane smiled at the fact that their father now seemed
happier. However, Akane kept sneaking looks at the pervert that tried to
feel her up in front of everybody. The nerve of some people!

     Finishing his mug of beer, Soun said, "Okay. Now for the reason
you've come here old friend."

     "Yes." Genma nodded solemnly. "Promises must be kept."

     <Promises?> the teenagers thought.

     "Ranma my boy. Anything-Goes is the most powerful martial art known
to man. It would be a great tragedy if it were ever lost in the mists of
time." said Genma, having memorized and changed what he saw in a movie
once.

     "That is why Genma and I promised, many years ago, to ensure the
survival of the art, that our families would be joined." continued Soun.

     The room quickly grew perfectly quiet.

***
That's all I have so far.

If you haven't noticed, in this universe, the engagement thing is
presented at the very last minute. Everyone will see each other's
reaction to the news. And then there's the part about Ranma's curse...


-Mark