Sorry, I just now realised that I'd sent section 2 of chapter 2 twice 
and section 1 not at all.  So, here it is:

An Odd Engagement: A Ranma � Alternate Universe Fanfiction

               By Andrew Carey <ap_carey3@hotmail.com>
          
          The characters and situations of Ranma � belong to Takahashi 
Rumiko, and I am merely borrowing them for this non-profit work of 
fanfiction.  It may be archived, distributed, and translated freely, as 
long as this disclaimer and my name are not removed.  If you care to 
translate it into Irish, French, Scots, or Old through Early Modern 
English, please drop me a note--I'd love to talk about it.

C&C is very much desired, public or private.  Please forward a copy of 
any public C&C to me personally�I may have to go on vacation mode for a 
little while in the near future.

Many thanks to Suika Roberts for reading and giving of advice.  Many 
thanks to Takahashi Rumiko for creating Ranma �.  

My sincere apologies if this fails to format properly--this is my first 
posting from this account.
          
 <...> indicates unspoken thought.
"<...>" indicates use of a language other than Japanese, although all
dialogue is here represented in English.

Chapter Two: 

	"Why don't you go get to know your fiance, Kasumi-chan?  You could take 
a pot of tea out to the porch."  Ukyou's jaw tightened.
	"Yes, mother."
	Kasumi took up the tea tray.  "Ukyou-san, Ranma-kun?  If you'd take up 
some of the food and join me on the porch, I'd be most grateful."  She 
smiled at the younger girl, was pleased to see her relax slightly.  

	They sat in awkward silence for a moment, a silence broken only by the 
murmur of voices from inside and the faint sounds of ridiculous pop 
music from Nabiki's radio.  Kasumi tried to think of something to break 
the ice, but her thoughts kept slipping back to that marvelous hug.  
"So, tell me about China." she said at last.  Ranma moved slightly, 
stretching his shoulders, and her eyes couldn't help but linger on the 
wet cloth of his Chinese shirt and the muscles it clung to so nicely.  
"I've always thought it would be a fascinating place to visit."  Ukyou 
frowned slightly, and Kasumi diverted her attention.  "And you'll have 
to tell me as well, Ukyou.  One of Mr. Saotome's letters to Mama and 
Daddy said that you all lived with the Chinese Amazons.  Is it true what 
they say...?"
	"Do you mean all the cheap novels about warrior princesses with harems 
of handsome men?  I'm afraid it isn't.  Some of the Elders say that was 
how their Queens used to live, three, maybe four thousand years ago, but 
others say that stuff was never anything but stories."
	"But what is it like, then?"
	"Well, it's less crowded than it is here.  Amazons live in villages, 
not more than maybe a thousand people in any of them.  The Elders say 
it's better that way.  Supposedly they used to have cities, but the 
Amazons spent all their time fighting duels with each other and the 
Queendoms all fell, and ever since they've lived in villages where 
everyone can know each other and be as family to each other."
	Kasumi smiled.  "That's so nice.  It must be a very harmonious place."
	Ranma laughed.  "Well, �tis and �tain't.  Amazons don't stay angry very 
long, not at each other, but sweet gods do they fight.  We were guests, 
so we didn't catch too much of it, but Shan and her sisters were always 
getting into brawls."
	"Shan?"
	"Shan Pu.  She and her husband are our best friends in the village.  We 
met not long after Ranchan got cursed.  I think he can tell it better 
than I."
	"Well, it all began when we happened to wander into the village of 
Joketsuzoku, during the big yearly martial arts competition.  As it 
happens, Shan was just after finishing her last opponent, and the whole 
town was watching."
	"Shan's not just a good fighter," Ukyou explained, "she's a very 
elegant one.  So everyone--men, old people, children, fighters from the 
other divisions, practically every single person in the village--was 
gathered around the dueling ground.  Which meant that they weren't 
watching the victory feast."
	"Which meant that when Da came along and decided to have a snack or 
six, there wasn't anybody to deal with him but Ucchan and I."
	"And we still weren't strong enough to stop him, not his panda form."

Four Years Ago:

	Shan Pu smiled as her opponent fell from the log.  Once again, victory 
was hers!  In another year she'd have a shot at breaking the all time 
record for holding the Junior Champion's title, set during the Ming 
Dynasty by the legendary Per Fum.  
	"Shan Pu!  Shan Pu! Shan Pu!"  The audience was chanting her name, 
cheering, pounding their feet on the earth in an ancient rythmn.  She 
spared a glance for Rei Zhu, now standing, supported by her sister and 
brother.  Even her erstwhile opponent was smiling. <Good.  I wouldn't 
want her for an enemy.>  As a general rule Amazons didn't hold grudges 
against their own, but there were always a few exceptions, and most of 
the less pleasant moments in history hinged upon them.
	Mu Tsu was foremost in the crowd, and she wanted nothing more than to 
jump off the log into his arms and let him carry her to the feast.  But 
it just wouldn't do.  The Elders would have to hail her as victor, and 
then she'd have to walk on her own, and only much later would she be 
able to relax and let her best friend give her a back rub.  
	Then she saw something that wiped away all thoughts of rest.  "Stupid 
panda!" she shouted.  "Get away!  Shoo!"  She bounded through the crowd, 
maces raised high.  The beast was going to pay for the damage it had 
just wreaked. <That's all of Lu Fa's double cooked pork it's eaten!  My 
favourite!  Maybe Mu Tsu knows a good recipe for barbecued panda.  If 
not, I'm sure Father does...>
	To her surprise, the panda seemed to have a knowledge of martial arts.  
It blocked her first swing with an upraised paw, and fell into stance. 
<This is odd.  It's using that Japanese style Mama picked up on her 
training trip.  But there aren't any pandas in Japan.>
	Even more suprisingly, the panda was _good_.  She barely escaped the 
first backfist, and the spin-kick came within a centimeter of her knee.  
She only managed to land a single blow herself, and that didn't faze the 
beast in the slightest.  She was just starting to get worried when the 
giant spatula came down on the panda's head.  It looked vaguely 
aggrieved, then slumped to the ground.  
	"<Terribly sorry.>" said the brown-haired girl with the oversized 
cooking implement. "<We not able to stop stupid panda in time.>" She had 
a strong Japanese accent.
	Shan Pu glowered at the stranger for a moment.  A red-haired girl was 
right behind her, standing at her left, about a body's width and a half 
away--a good position from which to support her while staying out of the 
path of the spatula.  The redhead's hands didn't quite rest on her 
sword, one of the slightly curved Japanese sort. <A katana, they call 
it.> some irrelevant part of Shan's mind reminded her.
	"<Is this your panda?>" Shan Pu asked.
	"<Yes.  We sorry are.  Maybe we give--make up for loss?>" The redhead's 
Mandarin was even less fluent than her friend's.
	The brown-haired girl began to argue with her companion.  Shan couldn't 
understand their conversation, of course, but it seemed they were 
talking about the panda. <Is it the spatula-girl's pet?>
	"<Sorry.  This beast father of... fiancee.>" the brownhaired girl 
indicated the redhead with a jerk of her thumb.  "<She want to give 
up--I say her mother be unhappy.>"
	So, the two girls were engaged.  Not an uncommon arrangement among 
Amazons, but Shan had always thought the Japanese frowned on that sort 
of thing.  "<This is your father?>" she said to the redhead, pointing to 
the panda and speaking slowly.
	The girl nodded. "<I very sorry am.>"
	"<So, you've been to Jusenkyo!  Well, no harm done.  Come this way--I'm 
sure that one of the cooks will have hot water.>"

	"And so we became guests of the Amazons.  Auntie showed up a few days 
later, and it turned out she and Shan's mother had actually studied 
together.  Small world, isn't it?"
	"It must be so nice to travel.  Myself I've hardly ever been out of the 
prefect..."
	*crash* A foot-shaped, foot-sized patch seemed to explode outward from 
the wall of the dojo.  Ukyou raised an eyebrow.
	"Oh, that's just my sister.  She doesn't quite know her strength, does 
she?"  Kasumi smiled and batted her eyes.

	<Marvelous, just marvelous.> Ukyou thought. <My fiance is engaged to 
another woman _and_ her sister is a violent maniac who destroys her own 
family's training hall.> With an effort of will, she pulled herself out 
of the downward spiral of thought.  "So, Kasumi, do you do martial 
arts?"
	"Well, I used to.  But it's been a while since I've done much.  You 
see, Mama and Daddy got so caught up in training Akane that there wasn't 
really much time for them to work with Nabiki and me.  Besides, they 
were so busy that they couldn't really take care of the house, so I took 
over the cooking and the cleaning and I didn't have any time to train, 
either."  She gave a little sigh.  
	She was too appealing to resist. <I hope I don't wind up regretting 
this.>  "Well, would you like to work a bit with Ranchan and I?  We 
haven't done much teaching, but I'm sure we could use the practice."
	"Really?  Are you sure you wouldn't mind?"  Kasumi almost glowed with 
happiness.  It was impossible to not smile back at her. <Gods damn it!> 
Ukyou thought to herself. <Why did she have to be so sweet?  If she were 
an angry monster like that sister of hers, I'd not think twice about 
running this very night.>
	"Not at all.  Would you like to start today?"

	"Kimi-chan, are you really sure about this?" Soun said softly.  Genma 
and Nodoka had at last gone off to take a bath, a fact for which Soun 
was grateful, as it had at last ended the dreadful march through the 
wedding catalogs. <Even for western clothes, some of those dresses were 
_ugly_.  And all that white can't be lucky.>
	"Well, I still think our daughter should have a proper traditional 
wedding, if that's what you mean.  Western ceremonies are so vulgar, 
don't you think, my love?"
	"No, pet, I meant this engagement.  I mean, engaging our Kasumi to a 
lad who's already got a fiancee?"
	"She doesn't seem to mind, does she?"
	"Ah, she's showing a brave face.  Such an honourable girl, she is.  I 
just don't want to see my little girl going through life as one of 
�those strange people up the road.'"
	"But honour must be served, Sou-chan.  You know the promise we made as 
well as I."
	"But isn't this taking it a bit too far?" <Kimi-chan, my heart, you 
know what I'm thinking, do you not?>
	"Well, just because he's engaged to this Ukyou doesn't mean they have 
to marry." <There, she's said it.>
	"They're obviously mad for each other, my love."
	"We'll talk to Nabiki.  She might be able to work something out."  
Kimiko's face was sad, but determined.
	"Aye, love."  Soun's heart was heavy. <Those two kids remind me of us 
at their age.  The last thing I want is to do them harm.  But my little 
girl has to come first.  Her honour, and her feelings.>

	"Do we have time before we eat?" Ranma asked Kasumi.
	"Oh, surely.  I'll go put on my gi.  Do you want to change clothes?"
	"No, thanks, Kasumi."
	"Well, then, I'll see you in a few minutes."  She went inside.
	Ranma switched to Mandarin.  "<Well, love, what do you think?>"
	"<Ranchan, I just don't know.  The first thing I thought was that we 
should run this very night.  But now...
	"<I don't know, Ranchan.  I... find myself liking this Kasumi.  She's 
so nice that I just can't think of her as a rival.  Does that make any 
sense?>"
	"<Well, my love, she isn't a rival.  I'm yours, and all the promises in 
the world can't change that.  Ucchan, without you my honour's for 
naught...>"
	"Ranchan..."  She wrapped her arms about him, laid her head on his 
shoulder.  Softly, she whispered "<There will be a solution to this, my 
love, an honourable one, for all of us...>" Her voice trailed off to 
almost nothing as she said "<and maybe sharing you with the right person 
wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.>"

	Kasumi hummed a happy little tune as she undressed.  It would be so 
nice to get back into training.  She cast one eye towards the mirror, 
evaluated herself for a moment. <Not too bad, for so long without a 
workout.> She wasn't carrying too much fat, although her muscle tone 
wasn't all it had been.  Slipping into her gi was like renewing 
acquaintance with an old friend.  
	"Sister?  May I come in?"
	"Surely, Nabiki-chan."
	Nabiki raised an eyebrow to see her sister dressed for the training 
hall.
	"I'm going to go work out with my fiances."
	"Fiances, Kasumi-chan?"
	"Yes, my fiances."
	"Ah, Kasumi-chan?  Could we talk?"
	"What about?"
	"Well... mind if I close the door?"
	"Whatever for?"
	"It's a bit private."
	"Is it about a boy?  Maybe someone from school?"  Kasumi gave a little 
conspiratorial laugh.  Nabiki closed the door.
	"Not quite.  Kasumi-chan, do you really want this engagement?"
	"Feeling you spoke too quickly this afternoon?"
	"No.  It's just...Kasumi, I spoke truly when I said I don't want to 
spend my life playing second fiddle.  But I don't want to see you doing 
it, either.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you want out of this, 
I'll give you all my help."
	Kasumi smiled warmly.  Her sister was such a kind person.  
"Nabiki-chan, thank you, but I'm really not interested.  You see, I 
don't think I'm going to be �playing second fiddle.'"
	"But Kasumi, he's obviously mad for this Kuonji girl."
	"So?  I think she's rather charming, myself."
	"Kasumi, this is the twentieth century!  Is the honour of our family so 
important that you're willing to commit to this?"
	"Not just the honour of our family.  This is my choice, as well."
	"Are you sure?"
	"Yes, Nabiki-chan."
	"Well, just remember I'm here if you change your mind.  And 
Kasumi-chan?  If they hurt you, I'll see them both in Hell."
	"I don't think you need to worry, Nabiki-chan."

	Ranma was still holding Ukyou when Akane brushed past them, muttering 
something about perverts.  A few moments later, Kasumi came out, her 
step light and her eyes merry.  Ukyou started to pull away from Ranma.
	Kasumi laid her hand on Ukyou's shoulder.  "No, Ukyou, please don't, 
not because of me." she said gently.
	"Ready, Kasumi?" Ranma said.
	"I am, Ranma.  Or should I say sensei?" she said with an impish giggle.
	"Ah, no, that's all right, Kasumi-san." he said hastily. <Gods, does 
she always flirt like this?> At least he thought this was what people 
called flirtation�he'd never been exposed to it much.  As a general 
rule, girls had never wanted to risk Ucchan's quick tongue and quicker 
spatula.
	"Well, then, come this way."
	The dojo was a fearful sight.  The walls bore the pocks and dents of 
repeated impacts, and in several places actual holes.  The high roof was 
equally battered, and the floor was if anything worse.  Fragments of 
brick and tile had been swept casually into the corners.  Only the small 
shrine at one end had been spared damage.
	"Oh, my!" Kasumi said, "I'm terribly sorry.  I had no idea it was quite 
this bad.  I thought Mama and Daddy and Akane had just done repairs last 
week.  I'm dreadfully sorry, really..." 
	"There now, Kasumi, it's all right." Ranma said.  "Anything Goes 
techniques are hard on buildings, that's all."
	"Really, Kasumi-chan, it's fine.  We've never even had a hall to train 
in." Ukyou added, patting Kasumi's shoulder.

	"Nabiki-chan?"
	Nabiki sat up and turned off her radio.  "Mother?"
	"Could we talk?"
	"I'm in the middle of some homework right now."
	"It's important, Nabiki."
	"Just a minute."  Nabiki hid the betting record under a stack of math 
papers.  She didn't see why her mother would mind that she was making a 
profit off Akane's fights, but her parents could overreact to the 
damnedest things. <Like that little forgery business I ran in middle 
school.>  She opened the door.  Kimiko closed it behind her.  
	"It's about Kasumi and the engagement."
	"Mother, I said it once and I'll say it again.  Kasumi's welcome to 
them.  I'm not interested."
	"No, Nabiki.  It's them I want to talk about."
	"The American movie about the big ants, mother?"
	"This isn't time for jokes, Nabiki.  Your sister's engaged to a boy 
with another fiancee.  That's a serious problem."
	"But I thought you and Mrs. Saotome said they were going to share."
	"When you're as old as I am, Nabiki, you'll learn that there are times 
one has to be devious.  You'll have to agree to things and then find 
ways to work around them."
	Nabiki had begun her career as a professional gambler and hustler in 
kindergarten, gaming for sweets.  It took every ounce of skill she had 
to keep a straight face. <Dear gods, mother, who do you think you're 
talking to?  Akane?>  "Mother?"
	"It's for the sake of your sister's honour and happiness, Nabiki.  
Ranma was engaged before he was born; therefore your sister must be his 
first and only wife."
	"Mother, I don't think Kasumi minds sharing."
	"Kasumi is a very tolerant person.  That doesn't mean that she should 
have to tolerate the intolerable.  Mrs. Saotome is a very dear friend of 
mine, but it's obvious that all this time spent among strange foreign 
people has addled her sensibilities."
	"Mother, I think you've missed something.  Kasumi _likes_ this Kuonji 
girl."  As if to underscore her words, a burst of laughter rang from the 
dojo.
	There were some things her parents were seemingly incapable of 
noticing. <This is just like the time she kissed Kodachi.> Kimiko showed 
no sign of even having heard Nabiki.  "I hate to do this to a girl whose 
family didn't know about Ranma's previous engagement, but Kasumi has to 
come first.  Nabiki, do you think you could try and convince Kuonji-san 
to leave?"
	"Mother, I'm really not sure..."
	"Please, Nabiki.  For me, for your father, for Kasumi.  For all of us."
	"I don't think there's anything..."
	"Please, Nabiki.  I'm sure we can make it worth your while."
	"All right, mother, I'll see what I can do."
	Her mother left, and Nabiki tried to get back to work.  But the distant 
sound of laughter from the dojo kept interrupting her, and she kept 
thinking back to the discussion she'd just had. <Dear gods, I must have 
done something awful in a past life.>

	
	"Not bad, Kasumi, not bad �tall."
	"You're too kind, Ranma.  I'm horribly rusty."  In spite of her words, 
she was actually quite content.  If her kata didn't have quite the 
leopard-grace of her companions', neither were they unworthy of a black 
belt. <Of course, by the standards of our family the typical black belt 
is barely a beginner.>
	"Really, Kasumi, you're doing quite well for as little practice as you 
said you've had lately.  Care to spar a bit?"
	"I'd be delighted, Ukyou.  Unarmed, light contact?"
	"Blows called, not taken?"
	"Surely."
	Kasumi knew full well that the smaller girl was holding back--she was 
probably fighting at half-speed--but that was all right.  She still 
threw herself into the match whole-heartedly, and her half-speed was 
quite enough of a challenge.  Kasumi didn't feel that she'd been given 
an easy shot when she finally touched the other girl's arm, nor did she 
feel taken advantage of when a spear-hand lightly kissed her shoulder.  
In fact, she was having considerably more fun than the last time she'd 
sparred with Akane.
	"Kuonji!  Stop fighting with my sister!"
	<Speak of the devil.> Kasumi thought to herself.  Her little sister was 
standing in the doorway, mallet raised high and veritably crackling with 
ki-energy.  Ukyou spun away from Kasumi, hands reaching reflexively for 
the battle spatula that wasn't slung on her back.
	"Shite." she heard Ranma mutter as his own instinctive reach came up 
equally weaponless.  He reached up, gracefully snared the two bokken 
that hung on the wall, sent one in a beautiful spinning arc over his 
fiancee's shoulder.  The hilt of the wooden sword slapped into Ukyou's 
waiting hands.  Kasumi would have applauded the artistry if the 
situation hadn't been so serious. <I'm going to have to nip this in the 
bud.  My sister is _not_ going to go around getting into fights with my 
fiancee.>
	She stepped between the two would-be combatants.  "Akane.  Put the 
mallet down, please?"
	"Not while they're standing there with bokken, I won't!"
	Kasumi sighed.  "Ukyou, Ranma, would you relax, please?  I promise my 
little sister won't attack you." <I hope I can make that promise...> She 
heard two faint clicks behind her as two bokken points descended to rest 
on the floor.
	"Now, Akane, would you ground the mallet, please?"  
	Her face was still an angry red, but she finally lowered the mallet 
head to the floor and stood leaning on the haft.  "Why are you defending 
them, Kasumi?"
	"Because I'm engaged to them, Akane, why else?  Now would you please 
tell me why you just interrupted our sparring session?  I thought our 
parents had raised you better than that."
	"Sparring session?"
	"Yes, Akane, we were sparring."
	"But I thought..."
	"Akane."
	"All right.  I was wrong.  Kuonji-san, Saotome-san, will you accept my 
apology?"  She bowed.
	They returned her gesture.  Kasumi smiled warmly.  "Ranma-kun, 
Ukyou-san, would you mind leaving us for a few minutes?  My sister and I 
must talk, I think."

	"Kasumi, I'm sorry.  I just didn't know what else to think.  I mean, I 
came into the dojo and there you were, that Kuonji woman circling around 
you, and I just reacted."
	Kasumi gathered her little sister into a hug.  "There now, Akane, it's 
all right.  I know it must seem odd to see me sparring.  But you know 
I've been meaning to get back into practice.  Ranma and Ukyou are 
honourable people; neither of them would just go attacking me for no 
reason."
	"But Kasumi, she was so angry this afternoon.  What was I to think?"
	"Of course she was angry.  She thought Mama and Daddy were trying to 
take her fiance away."
	"But..."
	"Akane, she's been engaged to him for ten years.  They love each other.  
Anyone would be furious in a situation like that."
	"But he was engaged to one of us before he was born..."
	"Akane, that has nothing to do with it.  She's been by his side for ten 
years.  If any claim is better than the other, it's hers.  In fact, I 
think she's being uncommonly gracious to me."

	Ranma and Ukyou were sitting quietly on the porch, holding hands, when 
Kasumi came from the dojo.  She paused for a moment, just to watch them. 
<So sweet, they are.  I think I'm becoming quite foolishly fond of 
them.>  They looked up, their two heads moving as one. <Must have heard 
my footsteps.>  "Sorry about that little incident."
	"�Twasn't your fault." Ranma said simply.  "Sorry about not asking 
before we borrowed the bokken."
	"Don't mention it."  She smiled softly.  "That was a beautiful 
toss-and-catch, by the way."  They both flushed slightly.  "Would you 
like to take a bath?  I just checked, and the tub's free."
	"If there's time." Ukyou said.
	"Remember, I'm the one who controls the kitchen here.  If I say there's 
time, there's time.  Come right this way."
	They paused outside the door.  Ranma looked slightly uncertain. <It's 
really a charming expression.  Hard to resist playing with.> "So, the 
tub's big enough for three, and we are engaged.  Rather silly to be shy 
around each other, don't you think?"
	Ranma turned red, much as she'd suspected he would.  But she certainly 
hadn't expected him to begin to fall backwards, his eyes rolling.  Ukyou 
caught and steadied him.
	"There now, Ranma, I was only teasing." she said, and laid a hand on 
his shoulder.  He smiled weakly.  "Seriously, though," Kasumi went on, 
"it would save time if we girls, at least, were to bathe together.  So, 
who first?"
	"Why don't you two go ahead?"
	"No, why don't you, Ranchan?" Ukyou replied.  
	"No, really.  Ladies first."
	<There, that's settled.  I'd better go get some extra towels from the 
linen closet.>

	As Kasumi went upstairs, Ranma and Ukyou continued to discuss the 
matter.  "<Really, love,>" she said in quiet Mandarin, "<we'd be better 
off if you went ahead.  I'd like a chance to talk with Kasumi, and it'll 
be easier without us having to hurry so you can bathe.>"
	"<Very well, then, love, why don't you wait and tell her.>"
	He closed the door behind him.  Ukyou leaned herself up against the 
wall. <Damned strange day this has been.  Wake up in the morning 
figuring nothing worse is going to happen than maybe some stupid city 
person is going to make a crack about my spatula, and less than twelve 
hours later I find out I'm sharing my fiance.  Gods, and I thought 
having a panda for a father-in-law was rough.>
	"Ukyou-chan?  Do you know where the scrolls are?  I wanted to show 
Kimiko that one about the Tibetan technique, what was it called, the 
Yak-Dancing-on-Thin-Ice?"
	"They're in my pack, Aunt Nodoka.  Just one moment and I'll find them." 
<Gods, my mother-in-law thinks I'm a librarian.>

	Kasumi came down the hall, her arms full of towels. <Hmm, where's Ranma 
gone to?  I was going to ask him if he'd like the newspaper.> Oh well, 
he'd probably already found it himself.  She was looking forward to the 
warm water, and a chance to chat with Ukyou.  She sighed contentedly as 
she slipped out of her sweaty gi and threw it into the hamper.  She 
bound her hair into a bun, took up a bucket, and stepped into the 
bathroom.

	Ranma closed his eyes and lay back in the steaming water. <So nice to 
take a bath as a man again!> he thought happily.  Bathing in cold rivers 
was supposed to be good for a martial artist, but it got old after a 
couple of weeks. <It does make an ordinary furo seem like a luxury, 
though.>  "Man, what a day." he sighed.
	To his surprise, the sound of the sliding door roused him from his 
reverie.  "Da?  Mr. Tendou?" <I sure hope this isn't going to be some 
kind of �Son, you'd better do right by my daughter.' lecture.>
	"Silly Ranma-kun, it's only me."
	"Ka-Kasumi-san?"  His eyes opened wide.  Sure enough, there she was, 
bucket in hand, wearing only a white hair ribbon. <Omygods, she's/we're 
naked...>
	"Yes, Ranma-kun, that's my name.  You don't have to be so formal, 
though.  Can you say �Kasumi'?  Or �Kasumi-chan'?"
	"Ah, no, that's all right, Kasumi-san..."  He blushed furiously.
	"Really, Ranma-kun, it's no big deal.  I mean, we are going to be 
married."
	"I'd, ah, really--better leave..."
	"Don't be silly.  You're already soaking, and I'm not washed yet.  I'll 
go put on a robe and find Ukyou, and we can just take our bath together.  
We might as well, since we've already seen each other."
	"No, really, that's all right, Kasumi-san."  He made a convulsive leap 
out of the tub, grabbing for his towel.  Unfortunately, before he could 
get it around his middle, he dropped it.  To his embarrassment, Kasumi 
picked it up and handed it to him.  He stumbled out the door and threw 
on his clothes without bothering to dry himself.

	<Oh, my.> Kasumi thought to herself. <I wasn't expecting anything like 
_that_ to happen.> Who would have thought the boy would be so prudish? 
<One would think that after ten years of living with his fiancee he 
would at least be used to the _idea_ of seeing a woman in the 
alltogether.>

	"Ranchan?  What happened?"
	"She walked in on me, Ucchan!  Didn't even knock, just came right in 
and not a stitch on her."  He was still shaking, and she could tell he 
hadn't even toweled himself off.  
	She held him close against her, let his head rest on her shoulder.  
"There now, Ranchan, it's all right." <Auntie Nodoka, you have a great 
deal to answer for.>


Andrew Carey -- ap_carey3@hotmail.com
"Mirie it is, while sumer ilast,
With fugheles song..."

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