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 1, section 2 of 2 

           Half a day's easy walking away, Kasumi was already up and
about.  After all, there was quite a lot to be done today, and precious 
little that could be done by mice.  While they worked, Kasumi reminded 
her friends that they were strictly not to show themselves.  She 
remembered the last time a rodent had made an appearance when a guest 
was about.  <Good heavens, even Mama hadn't ever heard of the Mouse Fist 
before; who would have thought Mrs. Yamaguchi's grandmother had trained 
her in it?>   And thank the kami Mr. Yamaguchi had been there; as it 
was, they'd only needed a contractor for one of the holes in the wall.
          
            "Sorry, Ranchan, I thought that branch would support the 
both of us."
            "'S okay, Ucchan.  Ma and Da will have the kettle on, I'm 
sure."  She linked an arm about Ukyou's waist, and together they trudged 
back to the hill, dripping.  
          
	Within an hour the Saotomes (and the one Kuonji) were on the road 
again.  Gradually the character of the landscape around them changed; 
the road turned to pavement, and there were more signs and more little 
roadside establishments.  Cars began to appear, and several times they 
were forced to dodge as one vehicle or another sped on its way.  
	"How much further to Nerima, Da?" Ranma asked.  
            "Oh, about five kilometers." Genma replied confidently.
            "Nonsense, love, it's eight at least.  Do you not remember 
the time Kimiko was challenged by that girl with the weird school, what 
was it, Martial Arts Flower Arranging?  We haven't yet passed her dojo."
            "And surely that was only three klicks out of town, my 
love."
            "Seven at the least."
            "Not more than four."
            "All right then, Gen-chan, we'll just have to stop somewhere 
and ask, will we not?  How about that little teashop?"
            The teashop was small and dark, and looked as if it hadn't 
had any repairs since the Meiji emperor's time.  The four men who sat at 
the corner table had probably helped to make them.
            The young couple on the other side of the room were 
obviously day trippers out from Tokyo, soaking up a bit of the rural 
ambiance, wearing the sort of  comfortable yet elegant designer sporting 
wear that marks their kind.  He was tall and blonde, she the very 
opposite, and the old men had made a few muttered comments when they 
first walked in. But whatever their feelings and those of the owner, 
tourists were good money, and most definitely not to be harassed.
	The sort of folk that came through the door, however, were not in the 
same category.  Their clothing was dusty with hard travel, and its 
eccentric mix of styles marked them as nothing more than adventurous 
wanderers.  The notably heavy Chinese influence did not help matters.
            "Just another pack of stinkin' gypsies." one ancient 
commented to his cronies.  
            "Oh, look, Harold-chan, how quaint.  Travelling people." the 
young woman burbled to her husband..
            "We don't serve..." began the proprietor.  Then he noticed
something beneath the dust on the strangers' clothes.  Perhaps it was 
the proud samurai bearing of the older woman who stood behind her 
husband, deferent, yet not in the least bit subservient.  Or perhaps it 
was the look of nobility in the face of the young pigtailed man, and the 
classic beauty of the young woman who stood beside him.  Then again, it 
might have been the swords and the battle spatula, worn with the 
unconscious grace that only
comes from lifetimes spent ever armed and always ready.  One tends to 
want to stay on the good side of highly skilled martial artists, in 
spite of one's opinions of their level of hygiene or apparent mode of 
living.  "...any but such distinguished and honourable guests as 
yourselves, O noble warriors." he said hastily.
            "How fortunate for us that such honest persons as yourself 
exist in these decadent times, O seller of tea." Nodoka answered in pure 
classical Japanese.  "Four glasses of barley-tea, if you please.  And 
how far is it to Nerima?"
          
            "Everything looks wonderful, Kasumi-chan!" Kimiko exclaimed.  
"So beautiful, so perfect.  Oh, I just know your sister and Ranma will 
hit it off so wonderfully!"
            Kasumi sighed.  She knew full well which sister her mother 
was talking about.  "It might be that Ranma will prefer one of the rest 
of us, Mother."
            But as usual her mother didn't even hear her words.  She 
grabbed Soun and they started dancing around the room again.  "Soon our 
little Akane will be a fiancee, my love." she said happily.  They 
kissed, and kept kissing, and Kasumi had to turn away. <Kami-sama, 
surely they could at least keep their tongues out of each others' 
mouths.>   
          
            "What do you think, Ucchan?" 
            "Of Nerima, do you mean?  Too crowded, too noisy, and too 
built up.  You?"
            "About the same."
            "Show some respect, son." Genma interjected.  "You were born 
here, after all.  And you'll get married here, live here--maybe even 
have a dojo here."
            "Why would I do that, Da?  Ucchan's people are still in 
Kansai.  We'll probably move back there once we're married."
            "If we don't go back to China." Ukyou added.
            "But son, the Saotomes have lived in Nerima for nearly six
centuries!  How could you turn your back on so much history?  Oh, the 
horror of a younger generation bereft of all respect for the ages!!!"
            "I thought you said the Saotome Clan ruled three quarters of 
Hokkaido until the Meiji restoration, Uncle?"
            "And if we've such deep roots here, Da, why'd you raise me 
on the road?"
            Genma hemmed and hawed a bit, but before he could think of a 
suitable answer, Nodoka broke in to the conversation.  "I'm going aside 
for a bit of shopping.  I'll meet you at the Tendous' in a bit."
            "Love, how could you abandon me in such a time of need?"
            "Gen-chan, surely you can introduce our son and his fiancee 
without my help.  I'll only be a few minutes."
            "But love, what am I to..."
            "None of that, husband.  I'll see you there."
            Ukyou nudged Ranma.  "<I don't like that looks of this.>" 
she said in Mandarin.
            "<Oh, Da's always a coward about things, surely it's nothing 
but that.>"
            Ukyou sighed.  Her fianc� surely wasn't stupid, nor even 
slow, but he certainly could be just a touch thick at times.  "<Ranchan, 
when has he ever been a coward about nothing more than introducing his 
family to old friends?  For gods' sake, the way he goes on about Mr. 
Tendou you'd think the man was his own brother.  They're plotting 
something.>"
            "<I see your point.  Well, we'll...>"
            "We are back in Japan, kids.  You might speak our own
language, perhaps?"
            "You're just jealous 'cause you never learned to speak 
Mandarin right yourself, Da." 
          
            "Akane, you're home!" Soun cried happily.  "Today is a great 
day for our family."
            "Hurry quickly and bathe, Akane-chan." added Kimiko.  "The 
Saotomes might be here any minute."
            Akane grimaced, but didn't say anything.  Her tread on the 
stairs was about ten times heavier than it usually was.  Nabiki came in 
the door a few minutes later.  She flopped down and began to leaf 
through the latest issue of Forbes.  Kasumi sat down beside her.
            "Aren't you going to bathe and change, Nabiki?  After all, 
we do have guests coming."
            "Ah, and what use would that be, sister dear?  Da and Ma 
will simply shove Akane at Ranma, the Saotomes will shove him at her, 
and one of two things will happen.  Either they'll fall madly in love, 
or she'll beat him to a bloody pulp.  And I wouldn't lay money on the 
first."
            "But what if you find him fetching yourself?"
            "Listen, Kasumi, I'm not interested.  For gods' sake, you 
saw the father's handwriting; the son is probably illiterate.  If you 
really want the boy, be my guest; maybe you can help sew him up when 
Akane's done with him."
            "Well, you still should at least change.  After all, we will 
have guests."
            Nabiki sighed, and went to find clean clothes--preferably
something she wouldn't miss if it were splattered upon during the coming 
brawl.
          
            "Here it is, kids, the Tendou Dojo scene of many a grand 
party and many a mighty battle, back in the old days when we were your 
age.  Ah, the memories!  The joys, the sorrows, the..."
            "Will you not ring the bell, Da?  Or will we just stand here 
all day?"
            "Oh, yes, the bell."  Genma's hand shook slightly as he 
reached for the button.
          
            "Now, Nabiki, shouldn't you wear something nicer than those 
shorts and that tee shirt?  Wouldn't want your brother in law to think 
you a slob, would you?"
            "Mother, I really don't think..."  The ringing of the bell 
cut off Nabiki's words.  
            "They're here!" Kimiko cried happily.  "Why don't you go 
meet them, Sou-chan?  We'll be right behind you.  Girls, let's meet them 
in the courtyard."
          
            Tendou Soun was tall and slender, with an unusually full 
mustache, and wore his black hair loose and well past his shoulders.  He 
made an odd contrast to Genma as the two pulled each other into an 
exaggeratedly masculine back-pounding embrace.
            When they released each other, Genma said simply "These are 
Ranma and Ukyou."  They bowed.
            Soun returned the formal greeting.  "Pleased to meet you." 
Turning back to Genma, he raised an eyebrow.  "I did not know you had a 
daughter.  I'm sorry I have no son."
            "Ah, actually..." Ranma began, but Genma waved him to 
silence.  Puzzled, he complied for the moment.
            They stepped into the courtyard just as three young women 
and one older left the house.  Soun beamed with pride in his beautiful 
daughters and his lovely wife.
            Ranma and Ukyou stayed where they were, a trying to get a 
feel for these new acquaintances.  "<Something's making me nervous.>" 
Ranma said.
            "<Same here, love.>" Ukyou replied.  The older woman in the 
gi seemed harmless, but the three daughters seemed to be looking at her 
fianc� in a manner she didn't much fancy.  The stocky one in the gi 
seemed mostly irritated, but the girl in shorts and tee shirt reminded 
her of a bettor examining a race horse.  The tall one in the pink dress 
and white apron had a friendly smile, but to Ukyou she seemed just a 
little too eager to meet her Ranma.
            "Genma!" the older woman called out happily.  "How long has 
it been?"
            "Too long, Kimiko." Genma said.  "We've all missed Nerima.  
I'll tell you, China is lovely, but ah, there's no place like home!"  
            "So, this is Ranma?" Kimiko said.  "What do you think, 
girls?"
            "Not bad." The casually-dressed daughter drawled.
            "Cute!" the tall daughter said happily.  The third merely 
scowled.
            "Now wait a minute, ladies.  Ranchan's mine!" Ukyou snarled.
            "What!"  Soun spluttered.
            "I've heard of sisterly affection, but isn't this a bit 
much?" Kimiko commented.
            "Who said anything about sisters?" Ranma said.  "Ucchan's my 
fiancee!"
            "Saotome!  What is this?"
            "Well, ah..."
            "Ucchan and I have been engaged since we were children!"
Ranma said, slipping an arm about her shoulders.  She slid hers about 
his waist, and together they glared defiance at all and sundry.  "I 
don't mean any offense to you three, but we love each other and by God 
I'll not leave her behind."
            "Why in Hell's name didn't you tell us!" Soun snarled, his 
head expanding to dangerous proportions.
            "Well, I figured..."
            "You figured what?  That you'd have another child?  Then why 
didn't you stay home and live in peace, instead of wandering all over 
the world?   Unless..."  Soun's head abruptly returned to normal.  
"Saotome, you old devil, where's he hiding?"
            "Well, actually, this is all I have.  But I thought, well, 
it's not the first time there's been a man with more than one wife..."
            "And our Ranma is a man among men, isn't he, husband?  I'm 
sure he needs at least two!" 
            "Nodoka!" Kimiko cried.  The two women promptly embraced.
            Soun cleared his throat.  "Ah, Nodoka?"
            "Yes, Soun-kun."
            "When did Ranma get another fiancee?"
            "Oh, ten years or so ago."
            Kimiko jumped to conclusions immediately.  "Genma, you
overgrown panda, was it yourself who did this?  Engaging your son for a 
meal while your wife was away?"
            "Don't worry, Kimi." said Nodoka.  "I'm sure they'll get 
along famously with one of your daughters.  That's what I said to Genma 
when we met Kuonji-san and his daughter.  'Genma,' says I, 'isn't little 
Ukyou such a lovely girl, and isn't it such a shame for her to grow up 
out on the road without a mother's touch?  Let's engage her to our 
Ranma.'"
	"I'm sorry." Genma said dejectedly.  "I tried to persuade her.  Really.  
But there wasn't any stopping her."  He hung his head and began to cry.  
           Soun promptly began bawling himself.  "Ah, my little Akane,
condemned to a life of..."
           "Stop that, husband." the two wives said in chorus, and two
mighty *thwacks* echoed through the courtyard.

           Ranma and Ukyou held to each other more tightly.  Kasumi was 
entranced.  He was about her own height, with glossy black hair pulled 
back into a queue, down to the middle of his back.  She was a few 
centimeters shorter, and had lovely brown hair, tied back in a 
waist-length horsetail.  Both were strong and graceful.  <How perfectly 
darling they both are!>  
	She flicked her eyes over to her sisters, curious to see if they were 
apt to compete. <I don't think either of them is interested.>  Akane 
glared; there were naginata and fire in her eyes.  Nabiki simply looked 
away from the whole mess with an abstracted expression. <She's probably 
doing figures in her head again.>

           Nodoka and Kimiko turned away from their families and held a 
brief whispered conference.  Ranma strained his ears and could barely 
hear his mother say "...ly Kimi, they'll be fine with one of your 
daughters, I'm sure of it."  The two women turned back.  "Well, Ranma," 
Nodoka said, "we've settled it.  You're engaged to Ukyou and whichever 
Tendou daughter you want; how the three of you work things out is up to 
yourselves, but work them out you will.  So, pick one."
	"Maybe it would help Ranma-kun if he knew their names?"
Kimiko said dryly.  "Ranma, these are Akane" the short girl in the gi 
glowered "Nabiki" the girl in shorts and tee shirt briefly lowered her 
gaze from the sky, but shrugged and quickly looked up again "and 
Kasumi." the tall girl smiled brightly.
	Ukyou's grip on Ranma's waist would have damaged a lesser martial 
artist.  "Hmmmm, aaah, well..." he said uncertainly.
            "Girls?" Kimiko asked.
            "I'm not marrying a polygamous pervert!" Akane declared 
firmly.
            "I've never cared to play second fiddle."
            "But Nabiki-chan, I'm sure you could be First Wife, after 
all, it's only fair."  Soun said desperately
	"Don't worry, Daddy, I'll be happy to have them." Kasumi
chirped.  "And don't be shy, now, give us a hug!"  She glomped them 
where they stood together.
            <Stronger than she looks> was all Ranma could think.

	Ukyou was a little more insightful. <I think she's a bit desperate.  
Poor girl, I almost hate to do what I'll have to.  But she is kind of 
cuddly...>  Despite her intentions, her free arm slipped around Kasumi's 
back   At the very same moment, Ranma's moved as well.  Their joined 
hands rested against Kasumi's spine.
           "Ah, my son and his two future wives.  Truly a man among 
men!" Nodoka exclaimed, and drew a camera from her robes.  "Just the 
shot for the wedding album!" she observed as she snapped a picture.

           Nabiki sighed. <Poor kids.  I just hope they're stronger than
Kunou-chan and Kodachi.  At least they aren't screaming in panic yet.>

           Akane stomped off to the dojo.  The sound of breaking bricks 
and boards quickly followed.
          
	Inside, Kasumi laid out a tray of sandwiches, a pitcher of water, and a 
pot of tea.  Nodoka pulled a thick stack of catalogs from her rucksack.  
"I'd think it well if the young people were to go off and get acquainted 
a bit.  As for us, we've a wedding to plan, no?"
	"So soon, Nodoka?  Shouldn't we let them get to know each other?  It 
doesn't do to rush these things."
	"I'd like to have grandchildren before we're too old, Kimiko. 
And isn't your Kasumi nearly twenty?"
	"She's twenty last month, actually.  But that's not so old to marry, 
these days."
            Ranma cleared his throat.  "Couldn't you at least wait till 
Ucchan and I are eighteen?"
            Ukyou smiled. <That gives us just shy of a year.  If we 
can't get out of this by then, well, maybe it's fate after all.>
            "That seems reasonable." Kimiko said.  "But that doesn't 
mean we can't start thinking about the wedding, does it now?"
            "Well then, Genma-kun, let's be off to the pub." Soun said.  
            "Not so fast, my love.  We might need yourself and 
Genma-kun, mightn't we?"  Nodoka smiled assent.  The two men sighed.  
Neither alone would dream of defying his wife, and the two of them 
together were practically unstoppable.  
           Ukyou reached for a glass of water.  "Pardon me, but there's 
just one thing my beloved fianc�'s parents are forgetting to mention."  
She sloshed half the glass over Ranma's head.  The Tendous' eyes widened 
at the display, then grew even wider as Ranma's height shrank, and 
his...chest grew, and his hair turned red.
	"Oh, my." was all Kasumi could think to say.
           Soun's response was more dramatic.  "Waaaaaaaaahh!  My poor 
daughter is engaged to two other girls!"
           Attracted by the commotion, Nabiki came down from her room.  
"Who's this?" she asked.
           "I'm Ranma Saotome.  Sorry about this."  Her voice was a low 
soprano--it would have harmonised quite nicely with his original tenor.
           "Hmmm, all I can say is you're one of the best transvestites 
I've ever seen.  Ever thought about a singing career?"
           "Hey!  I am _not_ a transvestite!"
           "I don't know what other word there is for a guy who wears
falsies.  Although I do have to admit, those are better than most I've 
seen."
           "It's a curse." Ranma said through gritted teeth.
           "Addicted to dressing like a woman, are we?  I'm sure I could 
find you a therapist, future-brother-in-law.  Wouldn't want my sister to 
marry a pervert, would I?"
           Kasumi found her voice at last.  "I think she means it's some 
sort of spell, Nabiki.  He changed when Ukyou splashed him with water."
           "It could have been a trick."
           "It took less than five seconds."
           "Smoke and mirrors.  I bet those breasts are inflatable."  
Nabiki reached for Ranma's chest, only to find her hand clamped in 
Ukyou's.  The brown haired girl didn't even use enough pressure to 
bruise, but Nabiki could feel the strength in the fingers, and knew that 
this hand could easily break bones, and probably had in the past.
           "I'd suggest keeping your hands off my Ranma." she said 
gently, and released the other girl.  "This," she continued "is no act.  
Rather, it's the result of a curse.  One for which Uncle Saotome is 
entirely to blame.  Have you ever heard of the Cursed Springs of 
Jusenkyo?"
          
Four Years Earlier:
	The valley was full of little ponds, with tall bamboo poles
randomly distributed among them.  There was a sign.  Ranma didn't read 
Chinese too well yet, but it seemed to be saying something about curses.  
He didn't like the looks of it.  "It says it's, ah... 'Jus-en-kyo.'  
Weren't they telling stories about it in the inn last night, Ucchan?"
           "That they were, Ranchan.  I think we should get out of 
here."
          Genma gave out a great roar.  "Yes!!!!  So, kids, here it is!  
The Training Ground of Jusenkyo.  Some of the greatest martial artists 
ever to walk the earth have trained here, or so the legends say.  Are 
you ready?"
           "Da, they say it's cursed!"
           "Don't be ridiculous, Ranma!  That's just a story they made 
up to keep people away, I'm sure of it."
           "But all the people in the villages are terrified of it, 
Uncle.  They say horrible things happen to people who fall into the 
springs.  I really don't think we should try to train here."
           "Ah, that's just stories.  You know what I think, kids?  I 
think the Amazons use the springs in their secret training exercises, 
and they spread the horror stories to keep others from learning the 
roots of their powers!"
           "But what about the people who fell in and were turned into
animals?"
           "Son, that's exactly the point of it!!  The most deadly 
technique of all--battle transformation!  A martial artist who trains in 
Jusenkyo may come out with the ability to become a raging tiger!  Or a 
great bear!  Why, they say men once came all the way from Europe, and 
went home as "bear-shirts' and 'wolf-men,' gifted with powers so great 
that they were thought to be nothing less than sorcerers and the chosen 
of their gods!"
           "But what about the people who are transformed into monkeys 
or rabbits or housepets, Uncle?"
           "Obviously, the springs turn a person to their animal self!!  
Great warriors become deadly animals, the rulers of the forest, while 
weaklings and cowards become small game!  And we are neither weaklings 
nor cowards, are we?!"
           "Da, you can't understand the stories they tell in the inns 
and the taverns.  But they all say that people just fall into the 
springs and come out as something that drowned there, whatever it was, a 
mouse or a piglet or a Buddhist priest..."
           "<Honourable Guests!  Beware!  You have reached the Cursed 
Springs of Jusenkyo.>"  The speaker was a stout Chinese gentleman, 
getting on in years, wearing surplus Chinese army fatigues.  He sounded 
to be a bit out of breath, as if he had run from some distance away.
           "What did he say, son?"
           "He says we've reached the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo, and to 
watch out!"
           "Good.  Tell him we don't need to watch out, we are great
martial artists and the springs will only help us!"
           "<Ah, we...martial arts...artists.  Old fool think springs 
make
us...fighting animals.>"
           "<Young sir!  I am the Official Jusenkyo Guide.  You must not 
go near the springs!  They will not make better warriors of you.>"
           "Da, he says he's the Jusenkyo Guide, and the springs won't 
make us better fighters.  We shouldn't go near them!"
           "Ah, he's just telling old stories.  The Amazons probably 
hired him to keep people away."
           "No, Sir!  I no tell lies!  Springs cursed!  Evil!  Only 
horror
there!"  The Chinese man said desperately in broken Japanese.
           "I don't believe you." Genma said, speaking slowly and rather 
too loudly.  "Son, tell him we will go ahead and take the technique of 
transformation for ourselves!!"
           "Da, I ain't goin' t' tell him any such thing!!!  For gods' 
sake,
Ucchan and I are leaving now!"
           "That we are." Ukyou said.  "<Honourable sir, please watch 
old fool.  He is my... man's father.  Hopefully he not will kill self.>" 
She switched back to Japanese.  "Come along, Ranchan, let's be going.  
If Uncle wants to become cursed to turn into an ox or something, he can 
do it alone."  She and Ranma linked arms and headed back along the path.
           "No, my son!  You will learn the art of transformation and
become the greatest martial artist of your generation!  Or maybe your 
mother will kill me!" 
	Genma grabbed Ranma, threw him over his shoulder, and ran back towards 
the springs.  Ranma struck at him, but at thirteen he was still too 
slight to escape his father's grasp.  Ukyou ran after them, but there 
were only a few spatula blows she could throw without hitting her 
fianc�.  Genma kept running, but he was too distracted to watch the 
path, and so it came as no great surprise when he tripped on a branch 
and flipped head over heels, throwing Ranma in a great arc to land with 
a splash in a nearby pool.  Genma himself went rolling some distance to 
land in another. 
	Ukyou dropped her spatula and prepared to jump in to save her love, but 
the Guide held her back.  "<No, Miss.  Your husband will not drown.  He 
will be cursed, but that is a minor problem, and many people have lived 
full lives despite.  Why, my own dear wife once fell in the Spring of 
Drowned Yeti.>"
	Dripping, Ranma hauled himself out of the pond.  "<Oh, Miss, this is 
very good. Your husband fell in the Spring of Drowned Girl. Fifteen 
hundred years ago, a beautiful young warrior girl drowned there.  It is 
a very tragic story, but there are many worse springs for a young man to 
fall in.>"
	From some little distance away came a series of loud grunts. 
Neither Ranma nor Ukyou nor the Guide understood them, but any panda 
would have heard them as "HA!  I have fallen in the Waters of Jusenkyo, 
and I am reborn!  Now I wear the deadly warrior's fighting shape of the 
invincible, the magnificent, the merciless king of the forests, 
the...Panda Bear?  Shite!  I wanted razor-sharp claws and fifteen 
centimeter fangs!  For feck's sake!"
           "<Oh dear.>" said the guide.  "<It seems your honourable 
father has fallen in the Spring of Drowned Panda.  Oh well, at least it 
wasn't the Spring of Drowned Extraterrestrial Hamster.>"
          
           When the story was over, Nabiki was laughing, Soun was 
crying, Kimiko was looking mildly appalled, and Kasumi was glaring.  
"Mr. Saotome!  That was perfectly awful!  Why didn't you listen to the 
guide?  If I were Mrs. Saotome, I would have killed you!"
           Soun stopped crying.  His eyes widened.  "Kasumi-chan, are 
you sure you're all right?"
           "Oh, I'm just fine, Daddy."
           "I considered it for a while, Kasumi-chan." Nodoka said 
dryly.  "But in the end, I'd miss the great stupid panda.  You'll need 
to think about these things when you're my son's wife."
           "So, cold water transforms you." Kimiko said.  "And hot turns 
you back?" she reached across the table with a tea kettle.
           "Ouch!  It needn't be quite that hot, Mrs. Tendou."
	"Well, Kasumi," Ukyou said softly "do you really still want to do 
this?"
           "Maybe Akane would fancy Ranma if she knew he wasn't a boy 
all the time."  Soun sounded hopeful.  Ukyou thought about kicking him.  
	"No, really, I don't mind."  Kasumi smiled.  "Actually, I think your 
female form is quite... fetching, Ranma."


Endnote: (For those who like to read such things)
	This was based on one scene from a silly lime I posted from my old 
Chicago account sometime in August.  Limish flavours will probably 
appear again at some point in the future, although not in Chapter 2, 
which should appear in close proximity to this.
	Thanks much for reading,
	Andrew


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

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