% Weee! Another chapter of ADV.


                                    A Different Viewpoint pt 39

    The next day, Ranma and Akane sparred in the yard.  Johnathon joined
them, in anticipation of the day to come.  Nodoka kept busy in the
kitchen that morning.  Kasumi spent the time watching over the kitten,
who was the only one happy to have his 'mother' back.  

% Heh. Cute.

Soun and Genma
actually played three games of go straight without cheating, 

% Ranma openly admitted he had been wrong about something. Hell froze over,
the usual stuff.


    He nodded.  "Yes.  I'm quite serious I'm afraid, but..."  He paused
to consider the girl standing before him.  "But I've decided that I
can't go through with it, unless you say it's alright."


% Hmm. Yes. I can see him asking politely about this.


    Shampoo just looked at him, a bewildered expression on her face.
After a long pause, she said, "You want to marry Shampoo?"

    He nodded.  "If you'll accept me.  You are an efficient nurse, we
worked well together.  You are also a beautiful young woman.  I could
hardly do better."

% Especially since Kasumi's a lost cause and any moment now his mother
could show up and decide that her former arrangement with 'Miss Big Hips
Japan' might not be such a lost cause after all. ^_^


    Shampoo peered at him, then shook her head.  "That not why you want
marry Shampoo."

    It was Dr. Tofu's turn to blink at her.  "It's not?"

    She shook her head firmly.  "You want save Kasumi, yes?  Shampoo
married to you, great grandmother give Kasumi Phoenix Pill."


% So much for deception.


    Tofu sighed.  "Shampoo, I....   You're right of course.  I won't lie
to you.  I want to save Kasumi, and you as well.  The other things I
said were true as well, but..."

    The amazon smiled.  "Shampoo understand.  Shampoo want to help
Kasumi too."  She got into a fighting stance.  "Shampoo challenge you to
fight.

%*WHAM*

%Shampoo: (looking over Tofu's unconscious form) <Oh sh*t! I was supposed
to lose.>

  Shampoo no lose easy."  She nodded to him.  "But Shampoo would
not be unhappy to lose to you."

    Dr. Tofu bowed to her.  "I promise, I will do my best for you,
Shampoo."  He also got into a combat stance.  "Shall we begin?"


    The doctor straightened up and headed out of Shampoo's bedroom.  "We
shall see.  Do you have any advice?"

    Cologne cackled.  "I think I like you boy, do I have any advice
indeed!"  She laughed again, smiling  "I may just have some advice after
all."  They walked down into the resteraunt together and began to talk.


% Heh. At least he'll be getting along with the In-Laws.


    He bowed formally to them, and spoke.  "Ranma Saotome, I challenge
you for Shampoo's hand in marriage."

    Cologne looked on dispassionately, Nabiki closed her eyes in
resignation, everyone else just stared at him or nearly fell over in
shock.

    "W-what"  Ranma finally stammered out.

    Tofu looked him straight in the eyes.  He said solemnly,  "I
challenge you for Shampoo.  Do you accept?"

% Ranma: NNNNOOOO!!! I can't let any of my finacees go! Where would be the
fun of it being just me and Akane? I'd get bored within a year and have to
pick up a whole new set of fiancees. I do know the Sailor Senshi and could
get one or two of them, but some of them could actually beat me. So forget
it!


    Ranma meanwhile, was frowning to himself.  He'd pretty much
determined that Dr. Tofu wasn't going to start attacking first.  <He
knows I prefer to let the other guy start things off.  I hope he also
know I ain't about to throw a fight, not even this one.>  

% Ah. That's the Ranma we know and love.


Ranma nodded
in determination and leapt into a straight forward kick to test Tofu's
defenses.

toward Ranma, and was astonished to see the young martial artist
starting to form another chi blast.  Dr. Tofu darted forward with every
bit of speed he had left and jabbed both sides of Ranma's neck.  The chi
blast faded away and Ranma's head fell back as the pig tailed martial
artist lost consciousness.

% Of course Ranma will want a rematch at some point. Hopefully after the
marriage, though.

    Dr. Tofu sat back and once again forced himself to stand.  He shook
his head in amazement.  "I won."


    Cologne nodded in response.  "Fair enough.  I will start for China
in the morning.  It is a remote region I must go to.  It will be two to
three weeks before I return.  I will take Mousse with me, to prevent
any... problems from his end."

% Heh. Forgot about him. Yes. I can see where there might be problems with
good ole' Mousse.


    Kasumi, perched now in her husband's arms, looked at Dr. Tofu and
Shampoo, trying to figure out how she felt about what had happened. 
<I'm glad that I'm going to get the phoenix pill and be able to become
human again, but why did he do this?  Why did Dr. Tofu want to marry
Shampoo?  Does he really like her that much?  Or was this all because he
felt sympathy for her and me?  Why did he do it?>  Kasumi thought back
at everyone's reactions to Dr. Tofu fighting Ranma for Shampoo. 
<Everyone was so quiet, even... sad.  It was like something tragic was
happening.  Even Nabiki-chan was sad, and she almost never shows how she
feels.>

% Ah. Poor Kasumi. Still hasn't picked up on the Doc's old crush on her
yet.


    Kasumi looked around at her family, and at Dr, Tofu and Shampoo. 

% I'd change that to 

'family, then to Dr. Tofu and Shampoo.


<Everyone looks like they're trying to smile very hard.  Dr. Tofu and
Shampoo do look the most cheerful, but that could be because they are
hiding their feeling 

% Feelings

the best.>  Kasumi buried her head in Johnathon�s
chest.  <He did it to save us.... Dr. Tofu did all this to save us, and
everyone knows it.>  Kasumi's heart sank at the realization.

    Johnathon sighed.  <Poor Kasumi.  She never wanted anyone to
sacrifice themselves for her.  She must feel terrible.>  He stroked her
head and shoulders gently, trying to transmit his love and support to
her.  She didn't respond, and he spoke quietly in her ear.  "Kasumi,
please don't be sad.  I'm sure Dr. Tofu and Shampoo will get along
great.  He's a great guy, and she's gotten to be a really nice girl,
right?  They aren't sad, please try to cheer up."

    Looking around at the sad faces in the room, Dr. Tofu nodded to
himself.  <Here's where all my emotional control training pays off.>  He
took Shampoo's hand and winked at her, so no one else could see.  With
slowly growing passion in his voice, he spoke, drawing the attention of
everyone in the room.  "Shampoo, when you first came to Nerima I liked
you.  Did you know that?  I was very happy to have you as my nurse, but
not because you were efficient, but because I liked you from the start. 
I didn't realize it at first, but I missed you when you were gone."


% Well. This is a surprise. Pretty crafty cover story, actually.


    Dr Tofu sighed.  "When you returned, I finally knew how I felt about
you, but you were engaged to Ranma.  Therefore I did nothing.  I made
myself ignore my growing feeling for you.  I turned my sights elsewhere,
at more attainable goals, but... I sabotaged myself, and I started to
fear that I could never find someone to love.  Recently, after
discovering your troubles, I had to act.  Ranma couldn't marry you, for
he loves Akane.  But I could marry you, because I find that I truly love
you.  Shampoo, I hope you can care for me as I do for you."

    Everyone was still, their eyes wide in shock.

%Suckers. Surely Nabiki would see through it.


    Shampoo realized from the wink that Dr. Tofu was putting on a show
to cheer everyone up, but she couldn't help but be moved.  <He's a good
catch,>  She told herself.  <and a very, very nice man.>  Shampoo smiled
brilliantly, drowning the pain and loss she felt at losing Ranma for
good in a very real sense of hope, and perhaps even the beginnings of
love.

    Dr. Tofu was dazzled by her smile.  <Shampoo's joy is obvious for
anyone to see.  Did she misunderstand my wink?  Or is she simply a
better actress than she normally lets on?>

    Shampoo spoke clearly in her native Chinese.  "Wo ai ni."  She
repeated in Japanese.  "You I love."  Shampoo nodded to him.  "Tofu very
special man.  Shampoo think she love, can love, Tofu, very much."
Shampoo kissed Dr. Tofu then suddenly, remembering not to squeeze him
too tight and further injure his side.  The doctor found himself
responding spontaneously returning the kiss.

% well, that's nice A happy beginning for both.


    Soun and Genma cheered, completely falling for their act.  "This
calls for a celebration!"  cried Soun.

    "Absolutely!"  Agreed Genma, already thinking of the sake and food.

    Nodoka said nothing, but quietly clapped.  The pleasant smile on her
face easily hid her inner thoughts.

% Nodoka: <I wonder of Ranma has been peeping at Akane enough. Sometimes I
have to wonder about his manliness. Maybe it would be best to walk around
with the family katana for a while.>




    Nabiki sat stunned, not knowing what to think.  <It's fake, it's all
a fake.  Dr. Tofu at least, he's gotta be faking it.  But Shampoo... why
shouldn't she be happy?  Dr. Tofu's a great catch.>  Her heart was
torn.  Part of her wanted the doctor to be telling the truth, and hoped
he was really as happy as he seemed.  Another part of her, however,
wished it was all a lie, and he didn't love Shampoo, that he could
possibly be in love with....

% Happosai

  Nabiki stomped ruthlessly down on that
train of thought 

% Thankfully

and forced herself to regain her aloof arrogance.  When
she felt control return she went over to tease Ranma and Akane.

    Shampoo nodded again.  "Where Shampoo's bed?"

    Dr. Tofu blinked once more.  "Excuse me?"

    Shampoo explained.  "Great grandmother close Cat Cafe, sell. 
Shampoo stay here, yes?"

% Woah! That was quick!  Had a buyer waiting?


    Dr. Tofu hesitated, then sighed.  "I suppose so.  We'll fix you up a
room today."  He got up out of the bed.  "For now, however, I'm going to
take a cold shower."  Tofu Ono left, trying not to obviously hurry, and
Shampoo couldn't help but giggle a bit.

% At least he's got a nurse that'll work for free. ^_^

much we
decided so sign up for lessons at the Tendo dojo."  Usagi nodded at the
large group behind her.  "Several of out

% our

 friends decided to join us."

    An older woman with dark green hair stepped forward.  "I am Sestuna
Meiou.  What is the going fee for lessons?"  Before long, Sestuna had
arraigned for lessons for everyone present, three days a week for the
next month, and twice a week once school started up again. 

% with time off for Youma attacks.


    Ranma figured the older woman to be Sailor Pluto.  The cheerful
twelve year old had to be Saturn, apparently her name was Hotaru.  The
two girls around his age had to be Sailor's Uranus and Neptune.  Ranma
might have mistaken the blond for a guy, but he was starting to get
pretty good at spotting that sort of thing. 

%Hehehe

 It didn't hurt that he had
already seen her in a fuku.  Ranma already knew the others, the inner
Senshi and Mamoru Chiba from before.  Luna was still going by her
assumed name, Diana.  Artemis had dyed her hair black and was calling
herself Atlanta.

    The fathers did not question their good fortune and soon Ranma began
teaching his first paying class.

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

    The days passed quickly, for most.

    Ranma and Akane were busy with teaching the Senshi, while Ranma
spent more and more time with Akane, training her, and just being there
with her.

    Nabiki surprised everyone by starting her own martial arts training
again, joining Ranma's class.  (For free of course.)  She didn't offer
an explanation beyond staying in shape.

% Hmm. Is she up to something? I do hope she isn't planning to try to
challenge Shampoo for Tofu's hand. That could get ugly.



    As they reached the living room and informed their fathers, Akane
couldn't help but shake her head in wonder.  <Are things finally getting
back to normal? 

% Depends on how much more the author feels like writing.

 Kasumi is human again, there's nothing in the way of
Ranma and I getting married, the dojo's earning money again....  Am I
going to miss all the crazyness?>  Akane rolled her eyes.  <Nah.>  She
grinned to herself and joined in on her families celebration.

               End pt 39.  End of A Different Viewpoint.
		  ADV Epilogue follows in a few weeks.


%D.B. YES!!!  That means my fic will be longer!  And with rumors putting
WUE at around forty as well, I'll win! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!


%Nice work, as usual. I wonder what the epilogue will bring, though.


D.B. Sommer