Chapter 3
	 
	At U-Chan's Ukyo was still fuming about what she found out earlier in 
the day.

	"How could Ranma give a ring to that violent maniac?"  Ukyo ranted.

	She kept seeing the ruby ring and thinking Akane didn't deserve Ranma. 

	"Ranma would be happier with me.  I can see the two of running this 
store with our children.  No more craziness from anyone.  That damned 
theiving panda stuffed and mounted as a decoration for the store.  Can't 
he see that Akane's wrong for him?"  Ukyo spoke aloud, while visions of 
her and Ranma running U-chan's happily dnaced in her mind.

	Ukyo grabbed her battle spatula and headed for the door.

	*I made Ranma promise me that he would always be there to take care of 
me, last Saturday,* Ukyo thought to herself as she left her store.  *I'm 
the cute fiancee.  That hussy has a lot of nerve, if she thinks I'm 
going to take this lying down.*  
--------------
	At the Kuno estate Tatewaki was in full spewing mode.

	"Oh vile villain Saotome, your dishonor in giving Akane an engagement 
ring shall not go unanswered by the noble house of Kuno.  When evil such 
as you doth  appear, the good and just must take up arms to defend the 
innocent blossoms of beauty.   Know this, Saotome: I will smite thee and 
free Akane and the pig-tailed one from your evil sorcery."

	Kodachi was coming down to try and stop her brother ranting when 
certain words penetrated her consciousness.

	*That peasant Akane is wearing an engagement ring by my darling Ranma?  
That engagement ring should be mine.  I better go make up some of my 
special brew to make sure that the Tendo wench will not stop me from 
claiming my engagement ring.*

	Running up to her room, Kodachi grabbed up some of her chemicals and 
started mixing up a variety of knock-out potions.  Meanwhile downstairs, 
Tatewaki snatched up his bokken and ran out the front door in search of 
Ranma.
-------------------
	Akane, still trying to figure out how Ryoga knew about the ring, 
decided to head to the library to read up on genie lore.  She kept 
herself fully aware of her surroundings, because she knew that the 
rivals for Ranma's affection would not let an engagement ring from Ranma 
go unchallenged.  Akane entered the library and headed for the help 
desk.  The librarian on duty looked up and saw Akane, and he greeted 
her.

	"Can I help you, Miss?"  the librarian asked

	"Yes.  I'm looking for books on Arabian myths,"  Akane said, "I'm 
thinking about doing a report on genies and need information."

	The librarian nodded and replied, "Ah.  Egyptian and Arabian folklore 
should be what you're looking for."

	The librarian typed in some information on the computer beside him.  He 
frowned when he called up the listings for myths and folklore books.

	"I'm sorry, miss.  We don't have any of those books in right now.  They 
were removed due to damage.  We haven't repaired them, yet,"  the 
librarian said.

	"ALL of them?"

	The librarian shrugged, "There are only four books."

	Sighing, Akane asked, "When will they be repaired?"

	The librarian shrugged and said, "Depends on where those books are at 
on the pile.  Right now, we have a over a hundred books that need their 
spines re-sewn.  If you have internet access, you might try that, or if 
you can wiat a couple days we could see if one of our branches has a 
book you could use."

	Akane nodded, thanked the librarian, and left.

	*Well that was a lot of help,* Akane thought to herself.  *I know that 
Ranma can grant wishes while female and the ring is her controller.  
But, I need to know more about genies and what they can and can't do.  
Internet access?  Not at our school and definitely not at home.*

	Akane snickered as she realized something, *I think I'm trying to make 
an owner's manual for Ranma.*

	Akane sighed, as her good mood left her, and looked sadly at the ring.  
She wondered who had sent it and why.  Akane tensed as she sensed 
someone was watching her.  Instead of turning her head to look around, 
Akane moved just her eyes and relied on her peripheral vision to scan 
the area.  Akane spotted Ukyo peering around a corner of a building.

	*Oh this just swell.  I really don't want to deal with her just now.  
Especially after last Saturday.*  Akane sighed, *But, I guess I'm going 
to have to.*  

	Searching the area with her eyes, Akane spotted something that she 
could use for her confrontation with Ukyo.  She casually walked over 
there, knowing Ukyo would follow.  Once she arrived she turned around.

	"Okay, Ukyo.  What do you want?"  Akane asked sharply.

	Ukyo, startled that Akane had spotted her, replied, "You have something 
that belongs to me."

	*Oh great. Here we go,* Akane thought and then said, "If you are 
talking about this ring of mine.  It is not yours and it is not an 
engagement ring.  So leave me alone."

	Snorting in disbelief, Ukyo responded, "Sure. Then why were you trying 
to hide that you were wearing a ring?"

	"Because of what people would think," Akane said in exasperation.  "The 
ring is something I want to keep, without Mr. Saotome trying to steal it 
every time my back is turned.  The only safe place is for me to wear 
it."
	
	"Yeah.  Sure, sugar.  Whatever you say,"  Ukyo said while reaching 
behind her to grab her battle spatula. 

	Seeing as words were worthless, Akane snatched up the overflowing trash 
can she was standing next to, and threw it at Ukyo.  Ukyo instinctively 
blocked the can with her spatula.  Unfortunately for her, the trash went 
flying everywhere.  Akane used the makeshift smoke screen to make 
herself scarce.

	*If Ukyo finds out about Ranma's problem, she'll keep trying to get the 
ring.  I don't want to take even the slightest chance that I could lose 
it,* Akane thought to herself while running.

	After the trash had settled, Ukyo looked around and saw that Akane was 
gone.  She still believed that the ring was given to Akane by Ranma as 
an engagement ring.  She wrung her hands across the handle of her 
weapon, while looking in the direction of the Tendo dojo.

	"I'll wait and see, Akane," Ukyo said through gritted teeth.  "If I'm 
wrong, and I know I'm not, I'll apologize to you.  If I'm right, I will 
claim what is rightfully mine."

	She snarled once more before walking back to her restaurant.  Unknown 
to Ukyo, she was also being followed.  The figure that had followed Ukyo 
waited until she had left the area, before leaving her hiding place.  
The girl looked in the direction that Akane had fled.  She then walked 
away from the scene with a lighter spirit.

	*So, the Tendo-wench doesn't have an engagement ring from my darling 
Ranma,* Kodachi thought happily, as she headed home. *I still have a 
chance to get Ranma.  That ring must have belonged to her mother, then.  
I wonder where my mom's rings are.  I especially liked the one with 
three sapphires.*

	Akane stopped when she reached the river.  She went underneath a bridge 
that spanned the river and looked around.  Assuring herself that there 
was no one around, she rubbed the ring.  Smoke poured forth from the 
ring and formed Ranma-chan.

	"Yes, master."

	"I think 'What is your wish, master?' sounds a lot better," Akane 
muttered and then spoke in a louder voice, "I wish I was wearing a 
yellow bathing suit."

	A crimson glow emanated from Ranma's eyes as she granted Akane's wish.

	"Granted."

	Akane was now in her usual bathing suit and was smiling.  Ranma shook 
her head, clearing away the remnants of her trance state.

	"Akane did you really have to stick me back in the ring, before we got 
home?"  Ranma asked.

	Akane looked at Ranma and replied, "I had a couple of reasons to do so.  
The main one is I wanted you here.  I want to show you how good a 
swimmer I really am."

	Looking at Akane, Ranma stammered out, "Err.  Akane.  That's not a good 
idea."

	"Oh really," Akane said, while glaring at Ranma, "Watch this."

	Akane jumped into the river to start swimming.  A kerplunk and blub 
later, Akane sank to the bottom of the river.  Ranma massaged her 
forehead with one hand.

	*You uncute tomboy, that wasn't what you wished for,* Ranma thought 
with a sigh, before diving in after her.

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com