Brian Stricklin wrote:

Gary Kleppe wrote:

Mike Loader <mike@thekeep.org> wrote:

Answer to be posted in a day or two. Speculation welcome. ;)

'Kay. How about this:

Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed? None of the above.

First of all, a quick typo-spotting:

      "Yes. When I arrived home, I saw him across the street,
watching then wrap Akane's body. He had a very strange look on

          ^^^^
Now here's some spoiler space for anyone who doesn't want to see my
solution just yet:1

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Now then. What I think happened was: Ranma and Akane decided to run
away together, but they didn't want people to follow them. So they
asked Cologne to obtain for them some of the water from the
Akane-niquan created by Kima in vol. 38. This they used on Nabzy's pet
rabbit, which they killed, thereby faking Akane's death. Kuno-chan
overheard Ranma arranging for Nabs' help in this, and misunderstood.

Nice theory, except that Nabiki said that her bunny died several weeks
ago.  If had suddenly gone missing, she would have said so...

Nabiki lied of course.  Nabiki is "Villain No. 2", the person who got
the rabbit and made the deal with Cologne.  If Nabiki had a beloved pet 
rabbit which died weeks ago, the empty animal cage wouldn't be left lying 
around all that time.  Nabiki wouldn't want the reminder and Kasumi doesn't 
leave litter lying around under normal conditions.  

In addition, assuming that Cologne's parcel had something to do with what
happened, Nabiki is the only credible person to have purchased it through
her.  We know that Cologne did not lie since it's unbelievable that she'd
take her ancestors so lightly.  That means that the parcel could not have
been for any male.  It could not have been for Ukyo, because if this was
Ukyo's scheme there's no reason to try to use D-man to unravel the mystery.
It could not have been Shampoo because the initial information came from 
Shampoo.  It probably wouldn't be Kodachi because Kodachi doesn't know 
enough about the Amazons or Jyusenkyo to know what to ask for, and Cologne
probably wouldn't do anything for Kodachi anyway.  It could not have been
Akane because the conversation between Ranma and Villain 2 shows that Ranma
had yet to convince Akane, and because Akane would be taking an unacceptable
risk just walking into the Nekohanten.  It could be Kasumi, but only if you
have one of those stealth Kasumis concealing her nefarious nature. 

However, since Kuno overheard Ranma talking to Villain No 2 at Furinkan,
Kodachi and Kasumi are eliminated as viable candidates.  Assuming it wasn't
an unknown character, that leaves Nabiki, therefore Nabiki is lying.  

The real mystery to me is how Ranma made it worth her while.  

On the other hand, what if that's metaphorical as well as actual?
Maybe, unable to buy a pregnancy test without dying of embarrasment (or
getting killed by the other fiancees), Akane performed the classic test
on Nab's pet, and she and Ranma worked this out when 'the rabbit died'.

That would require medical ability that Akane doesn't have.  

Hmmm... Maybe I'm thinking too much.