I'd like to thank all the people who have acted as pre-readers.  Your
help has been invaluable.

Disclaimer: All characters that are used belong to their respective
creators. I do this for fun and do not make any money off of it. Please
don't sue me. The stories are mine so please don't use them without
asking me.
__________________________________________________________________
                      Ranma-chan: Genie of the Ring

                                CHAPTER 1


      Sitting cross-legged in his room at the Tendo home, Ranma held a
gold ring with a ruby inset. Holding the ring between his thumb and
forefinger, he carefully studied it,  occasionally glancing at the
letter addressed to him from the Jusenkyo guide that had accompanied
it..  Suddenly the door slammed open and Akane was standing there.

  "RANMA!!" Akane yelled, "What do you think you're doing?  We're
going to be late for class!"

      Ranma looked up and a glazed look slowly cleared from his eyes.

 Akane noticed the ring he was holding, and asked, "What is that ring,
and why do you have it?"

 Ranma twitched and started stammering.

 "Err. Um. This ring just arrived from Jusenkyo.  The letter that
accompanied it said that it relates to my curse somehow.  I've been
trying to figure out how ever since it arrived"

 "When did it arrive?"

 "Yesterday afternoon."

      Akane rolled her eyes and said, "Study it later;  we've got to
leave for school."

       Slipping the ring onto his right hand, Ranma thought to himself,
*Maybe this will allow me to switch back just by thinking about it.*

 Ranma glanced at the ring, hoping that it would free him, at least
partially, of his curse.  For some reason, having the ring on made him
feel a
bit better.  It felt like he was charged with energy.  Akane impatiently
stamped her foot, thinking that Ranma was going to be disappointed
again.

 Ranma looked at Akane and said, "I'm coming, Akane."

 After a quick breakfast the two rushed off to school.  They had just
passed the length of the fence when, out of nowhere, Ranma was splashed-
once
again- by the old lady cleaning her sidewalk.   She grabbed her head
with both hands and groaned like she was in pain.

       "Ranma," Akane asked worriedly, "are you all right?"

       "Just a headache, Akane," Ranma said weakly, while waving her off
in an attempt to show that she was all right.  "I'll be fine,"

       Looking closely at her face, Akane responded, "I don't think so.
I think we'd better get you to Doctor Tofu's."

       Ranma-chan looked up sharply, "I'm fine Akane.  I'm-"

       Ranma's words got cut off as the ruby in the ring flashed a
bright red and Ranma vanished.  The ring fell to the ground with a tink
as it landed in a small puddle of water.

 "Ranma?"  Akane called while looking around nervously.

 Akane first thought that Ranma might be playing a joke on her.  That
idea soon vanished, when she replayed in her mind how Ranma disappeared.

 "Ranma, where did you go?"  Akane said, nearly crying.

 Akane spotted the ring that Ranma had been wearing.  It was damp from
lying in the puddle.

 *What happened?* Akane thought miserably, while picking it up. *Maybe
this had something to do with his vanishing.*

 *Ranma where are you?* Akane thought sadly while drying the ring, by
rubbing it with the hem of her skirt.

 Red smoke poured out of the ring and coalesced into the form of
Ranma-chan.  Ranma's clothes had undergone an alteration.  Ranma was
wearing a red harem girl's outfit.  The silk pleated pants were slightly
transparent.  She was wearing a red silk halter that just had enough
opaqueness to remain decent.  A very abbreviated short sleeved vest that
was more for decoration than covering, was also worn.  Ranma-chan had
her ears pierced with small ruby earrings.  Each of her wrists had a
gold metal bracer firmly clamped around it, and her slippers were made
of red velvet.   Around her neck was a pendant necklace.

       "What is your wish, master?"  Ranma-chan said involuntarily, a
glazed look in her eyes.

      "Ranma?!?!"

 Ranma looked down at herself and then at Akane.  Ranma put her hands on
her face and groaned.

 "What happened to me?"  Ranma said, disgustedly "Why am I in this
outfit?  Is this the lech's doing?"

 Ranma looked around nervously, painfully aware that the clothes she was
now wearing showed a lot more of her form than she was comfortable with.

 Akane just stood there dazed for a second, before speaking.

 "I wish I knew what had happened to you," Akane whispered, but loud
enough for Ranma to hear..

 Ranma's eyes glazed over as she felt power building inside her.  Her
eyes flashed red as she released the energy to grant Akane's wish.

 Ranma-chan, roboticaly, said, "Granted."

 Information came flooding into Akane's mind about what had happened to
Ranma and what Ranma could do.

 *Ranma, I'm sorry for this,* Akane thought and then said, "Ranma, I
wish that you were back in your normal clothes, and I wish that we were
in our classroom."

 Ranma felt the power once again building within her.  Her eyes turned
the same color as the ruby as she released the magical energy.

 As soon as she released the energy, Ranma said, "Granted."

 After a flash of ruby light, Akane and Ranma found themselves in their
classroom.  Ranma shook her head to clear out the fuzziness she was
feeling and looked down at herself.  She breathed a sigh of relief when
she saw she was in her daily clothes and not that weird get-up.  Akane
thought about removing the ring and putting it in her desk for
safe-keeping, but decided against it.

 Ranma went outside the classroom to find some hot water.  Trying her
best to put that incident out of her mind, she failed miserably.  After
Ranma changed, he was challenged by Kuno.

 "Foul sorcerer, Saotome," Kuno spouted, while raising his bokken, "I
know not what foul magic you used to get past my loyal servant, but know
this: I shall smite thee none the less and free Akane and the pig-tailed
girl."

 Ranma, annoyed, said, "Kuno, I'm not in the mood for your hot air."

 "You will address me with respect, knave," Kuno said while raising his
bokken.

 Ranma yelled, "Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken," while unleashing several
dozen punches at Kuno, in under a second.

 Kuno lowered his bokken and said, "That didn't hurt."

 Kuno fell over unconscious as Ranma returned to class.  The rest of the
students either walked around or over Kuno.  To them it was just a
standard day. Ukyo, however felt differently.  Ukyo's plan to get Akane
mad at Ranma before school started had failed.  She was still fuming
over what happened last Saturday.

 She wondered how Ranma and Akane had beat her to school.  Ukyo entered
the class and took her usual seat, while shooting a hostile look at
Akane.  Akane stared back while clenching her right fist.  Both of them
were still mad at each other, over what happened last Saturday.  Soon
the class started and the glaring contest between Ukyo and Akane was
broken.  For the entire class, Akane kept her right hand out of view as
she pondered Ranma's situation.  How had the ring turned Ranma into a
genie?  If that was what he was now.  Oh, that jerk.  What kind of mess
had he gotten them into now?  She would have to talk to him privately
after school.

 Ranma, himself, was thinking about the morning incident as well,
*Granted?  Master?  I must be really losing it if I'm saying those
things to Akane.  I'm glad Kuno didn't see that costume. Arrgh.  I can
just imagine what he would have thought about both my sides if he saw me
this morning.  Why did it feel like every one of Akane's words had some
sort of force behind them?  It stopped after I changed back into a guy,
but still...*

 Once school let out, Akane tried to think of someplace private where
Ranma and she could talk.  She saw Ukyo following them and tried to
think of some way to lose her without being too suspicious.

 Ukyo followed the pair, unaware that Akane had spotted her.  Ukyo's
thoughts were whirling.

 *I don't know what you're up to Akane, but Ranma is MY fiancee,* Ukyo
thought.

 Ranma, walking beside Akane, noticed that Akane was being very quiet.

 "Yo, Akane.  What's the matter?  You sick or something?"  Ranma asked.

 "Why are you asking me that, Ranma?"

 "I don't know.  It's like you're out of it today."

 "I am not out of it, Ranma," Akane said, a bit miffed.

 Ranma and Akane continued on, with Ukyo following.  Akane spotted a
bucket of water near a corner that they would have to make a turn at, to
get home. Seeing that, Akane decided to use her own nature to help her
out.

 "I think I'll see if Kasumi will allow me to help in the kitchen
tonight," Akane said.

 Ukyo, hearing that Akane was going to try and attempt to cook, quickly
ran off to have a special meal ready for Ranma.  Ukyo also needed time
to figure out a plan to have Ranma come to her restaurant and not the
Nekohaten.

 Ranma winced and said, "I'll think I'll head over to U-Chan's or the
Nekohaten tonight."

 "What do you mean by that Ranma?"  Akane said dangerously, while she
picked up the bucket of water.

 "I'm saying that your cooking is toxic and that you should stop trying
to poison us with it,"  Ranma responded and then thought, *When am I
going to learn to keep my mouth shut?*

 Akane splashed Ranma with the water in the bucket and yelled, "RANMA,
YOU JERK!!!"

 She grabbed the front of Ranma's shirt with her left hand and delivered
an uppercut with her right.  Once Akane managed to tag Ranma with the
ring, Ranma turned into soft red smoke and was pulled inside the ring.
Akane suppressed her shudder of seeing Ranma vanish like that to keep up
her act.

 "Ranma, you jerk!" Akane said to the ring while continuing on her way.
*I'm not letting you out until I can find someplace secure.  What a mess
that jerk has gotten himself into now.*

 Akane arrived at home and stormed inside, pausing only long enough to
remove her shoes.  Her family and Genma saw her face, and figured that
she had had another fight with Ranma.

 Kasumi asked, "Where's Ranma?"

 "After he insulted my cooking, I decked him.  I haven't seen him
since," Akane angrily stated.

 "Oh my.  I'd better save some food for Ranma then,"  Kasumi said,
"He'll be hungry when he gets back."

 Akane stormed up to her room and flopped down on her bed.  She held up
her hand and stared at the ruby.  Akane went over what she would say to
Ranma, after she released her from the ring again.  A sad look swept
over her face as she thought about Ranma's plight.

 *ARRGH.  If anyone sees me wearing this, they'll think it's an
engagement ring.  But I can't take it off, because Genma and Happosai
might steal it so they can have a bit more money,* Akane thought to
herself.

 Akane pretended to take a nap while listening to the noise downstairs.
She heard the phone ring and Kasumi answer it.

 "I'm sorry, Ukyo.  Ranma hasn't yet arrived," Akane heard Kasumi say.

 A few minutes later, Akane heard the sounds of Shampoo's bike pull up.
Shampoo received the same information that Ukyo had received.  Akane
took a peek to see Shampoo riding off, no doubt hunting for her
'airen'.  A small flicker of a smile passed across her face.

 *Father and Genma will be heading to the park soon.  Nabiki will be
leaving to sell more pictures to Kuno and Kasumi will be heading to the
market. I'd better do this in the attic, just to make sure.  Kodachi and
Sasuke might be around.*

 Akane waited until everyone had left before she headed up to the
attic.  Before she went, she filled a kettle with water, heated it, and
took it with her.  Akane closed the attic door once she was inside.
Taking a deep breath, Akane rubbed the ring.  Red smoke poured out of it
once more and reformed into Ranma-chan wearing the red costume of that
morning.

 "What is your wish, master?"  Ranma-chan asked

 Exasperated, Akane said, "I wish you'd stop saying that every time you
come out of the ring."

 In a monotone, Ranma answered, "I can not fulfil that wish since my
magic can not directly affect me.  You can have me say 'yes, master'
instead."

 Akane thought, *Great.  I was going to wish Ranma free of both his
curse and the ring.  Now it looks like Ranma will have to live with
this."

 Ranma came out of the trance with a shudder.  She looked down at
herself and saw she was back in the weird costume.

 *My magic won't work on me?  I'm back in this thing again and I'm
calling Akane, master.  What's going on?* Ranma thought.

 Akane bit the top of her lip before saying with a quivery voice,
"Ranma?  There's something you should know.  I'm not sure about it, but
what I remember from some old stories that I've read it seems true."

 *Of course there is that wish I made earlier, that gave me most of my
information,* Akane thought to herself

 Ranma waved a hand in front of herself and said, "What?  Can it explain
this?  Can it explain why I just called you 'master'?"

 Akane held up her right hand, with palm turned towards her, and said,
"This ring that was sent from Jusenkyo.  It apparently turned you into a
genie.  You know, like the ones out of storybooks."


 "Don't be stupid Akane.  There are no such things as genies."

 Bristling with anger, Akane stated, "Fine, you don't believe me.  I'll
prove it to you, and I'll go for 'yes, master'.  It'll save time."

 After making her statement, Akane touched Ranma with the ring and
brought her back out several times.  Every time Ranma came out she
addressed Akane with a 'Yes, master'.  Before Akane touched Ranma again,
Ranma's shoulders slumped in defeat and she held her hand up.

 "Enough, Akane," Ranma said with head bowed.  "What is with that master
stuff anyway?"

 Pity flashed across Akane's eyes as she responded, "You are the slave
of the person who wears this ring.  Any wish, any command that does not
go beyond your abilities you HAVE to carry out."

 "No I don't.  I can resist.  I am a trained martial artist," Ranma said
defiantly.

 "Oh really?" Akane asked as a mischievous thought crossed her mind.
"Ranma, I order you to dance."

 "Akane, you're nuts if you..." Ranma's voice trailed off as she
realized that she was dancing.

 Ranma used all her will and chi to try and stop dancing, but could not.
after enjoying the spectacle of Ranma finally admitting her new
condition, Akane called a halt to the session

 "Okay, Ranma.  That's enough," Akane said, "Why don't you see if you
can change your clothes back to normal.  There's something I want to
test."

 Ranma stopped dancing and wondered what Akane was going to do.
Remembering the feeling of power that she wielded that morning, Ranma
called up the magic that was now part of her.  The amount of energy she
could pull up on her own was a lot lower than it had been when Akane
made her wishes.

 *Guess that means, Akane has to make a wish before I can do anything
spectacular,* Ranma thought.

 Ranma concentrated on her clothes.  Ranma's eyes flashed red as she
released the magic.  A red flash of light and Ranma was back in her
standard clothes of a red shirt and black pants.  Ranma felt relieved to
be out of that silly outfit.

 *This is just great,* Ranma thought to herself, *What else can go
wrong, today?*

 As soon as Ranma's clothes had changed Akane poured some hot water on
Ranma turning him back into a guy.

 Ranma looked at Akane curiously, "Okay.  Now what?"

 Akane said nothing and touched Ranma with the ring.  Ranma flinched
when he felt the cold gem touch his skin.  He shuddered with relief when
he realized that he hadn't been pulled into the ring.  A sudden thought
came to him.

 "Akane, why don't we just destroy the ring now?" Ranma asked.  "That
way I won't have to worry about it."

 "Ranma, do have any idea what would happen if a genie's device is
destroyed before the genie is free?"

 "No.  What?"

 "I have no idea, but I don't think it would be very healthy for you,"
Akane responded.

 "Well, we could hide the ring," Ranma supplied.

 "What if Happosai got it and found what power it has over you?" Akane
countered angrily.

 That thought caused Ranma to go very pale.  He decided to change the
subject.

 "So if my female form is a genie, I can grant wishes?"

 "Only to the person who wields this ring, Ranma,"  Akane said, while
showing the ring to Ranma.

 Ranma sighed and looked at the ring with a mixture of disgust and
resignation.

 "Is there anything else I need to know about?"  Ranma asked

 "Not that I can think of,"  Akane said

 Ranma headed for the door, but tripped over the kettle.  The water in
the kettle had cooled down enough so that it triggered Ranma's change
into a girl.

 Ranma looked back at Akane and said, "Well at least I'm still better
looking than you."

 Akane fumed for a few seconds, before speaking.

 "Okay, Ranma," Akane ground out, "Just for that, I'm going to make a
couple of wishes."

 Ranma-chan tried to leave, but her body locked up.  Since her master
stated she was going to make wishes, she had to stay to hear them.

 "I wish that when I try to swim, that I will not be in danger of
drowning."

 In her monotone voice, Ranma stated, "Granted."

 "I wish that my cooking tasted as good as Kasumi's."

 Ranma mentally shuddered as she heard the wording of that wish, but
still had to grant it.

 "Granted."

 Akane said, "That's it.  I'm done for now."

 After hearing that, Ranma was able to move freely again.  Ranma looked
at the genie ring, and finally accepted in full what her new state was.

 "Great.  Just great.  Here I am granting wishes to a tomboy,"  Ranma
muttered dejectedly, not realizing Akane had heard her.

 "OOOHHH!!" Akane said while she slapped Ranma with her right hand.

 Ranma turned back into smoke, and was promptly sucked back into the
ring.

 Akane glared at the ruby and said, "Fine stay in there.  See if I
care."

 As Akane left the attic she thought to herself, *Ranma, you jerk.*

 Akane brought her hand up so she could examine the ring.  After a
second she clenched her right hand into a fist and swung her arm down to
her side.  An itch had developed under the ring.

 "Why did he have to say that?" Akane asked herself. "I know he's upset
about the situation, but..."

 Akane's words trailed off as she pondered what her reaction would be if
she found herself in a similar situation.  Her anger dissipated towards
Ranma while she continued towards her room.  She thought of the other
problems that Ranma had and sighed deeply.

 *It would be so easy to just wish away all the fiancees and rivals, but
it wouldn't be fair to Ranma,* Akane thought to herself sadly.  "Why am
I so concerned about that jerk?  I can't be..."

 Akane's stopped just outside her room and a slow smile came across her
face. She opened the door and quickly prepared herself for bed.  She
went to sleep with her left cheek resting on top of the ring.

 Inside the ring, Ranma was thinking, *Great.  I'm the slave of that
uncute tomboy.  Well, let's see what other options are there. ARRGH!!! I
have to wear this crazy costume while I'm in here.  Now that I admitted
that I am a genie at least I'm not going into a trance.*

 Ranma remained silent for a second, before she realized something,
*Well at least here's one good thing about this entire mess.  It's
peaceful in here.  Maybe I can practice my martial arts in here without
being interrupted by Shampoo's 'Wo de airen' and Ryoga attacking me for
the slightest provocation.*

 Ranma-chan looked around her environment and decide to start with basic
katas to get the feel of her new home.  She looked up at the red sky,
that was over the walled-in field that she was in, and hoped she would
be up to the new challenges facing her.


                            Chapter 2

 Somewhere in China, the Jusenkyo Guide was meeting a person dressed in
a hooded robe.  The man he was going to see stood in the wreckage of a
temple.

 "Honored sir.  I have done as you asked and sent the ring to Ranma in
Japan with the note you wanted sent," the Guide said, "Can I please have
my daughter back now?"

 The hooded man nodded and released Plum. The man chuckled silently,
waiting for the day he could use Ranma to her fullest potential.

 Before he left, the man said, "Grape, do not warn Ranma Saotome of me.
If you go against my will, I will destroy you."

 The Guide nodded mutely, stunned that someone would use his name.

 Plum and her father left for Jusenkyo, hoping that everything would
turn out right, but had misgivings about Ranma's fate.  They discussed
the situation on their trek home.

 "Who was that man, father?"

 Grape shuddered before answering, "A very powerful and very dangerous
person.  He has something planned, and I'm unsure of what it is."

 Plum looked at her father and asked, "Father, will the one called Ranma
be all right?"

 "I hope so, daughter," the Guide said, "But no matter what happens,
Ranma will never have a normal life, now."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Around three in the morning, Akane woke up with a start.  A nightmare
of being squashed inside a box had disturbed her sleep.  She wondered at
the meaning of her dream when suddenly she realized that she hadn't
released Ranma from the ring.  Panicking, she started rubbing the ring,
visions of her nightmare forming in her head.  The red smoke poured from
the ring and formed into Ranma-chan.


 "Yes, master," Ranma said reflexively.

 "Ranma, are you all right?" Akane asked with concern.  "What's it like
in there?  Are you comfortable?"

 Ranma blinked, coming out of the trance that being released from the
ring always put her in.

 Ranma-chan said, "I'm fine.  The inside of the ring is as large as the
school's track field."

 Looking out Akane's window, she saw that the sky was dark and asked,
"Um. Akane, what time is it?"

 Akane looked at the clock beside her. She quickly made shushing
gestures.

 Akane forcefully, but quietly said, "Ranma, whisper.  It is
three-o-five in the morning."

 Ranma tried to shout, but because of that order all she could do was
whisper, "What?  I've been in that ring all this time?  How am I going
to explain this to Pops?"

 *I know what he's going to say.  I've missed a practice session and say
I'm becoming a sloppy girl,* Ranma thought with annoyance.

 Akane thought furiously for a few seconds.  As she was thinking, Akane
noticed Ranma was about to leave.

 "Ranma, stop," Akane quietly commanded.

 Ranma froze, looking like a statue.  Akane could sense that Ranma was
upset about having no choice.

 *You uncute tomboy.  Let me go,* Ranma thought, while anger filled her.

 "Ranma, sit down and listen to me,"  Akane said.

 Ranma did as she was told, without hesitation.  She looked at Akane
with anger filled eyes.

 *Just like that?  No resistance?  I..I'm sorry Ranma,* Akane thought as
she winced from the gaze.

 Taking a deep breath, Akane started talking.

 "Ranma, I have an idea.  Until I say finish explaining my idea, stay
here.  You will say that you were training last night and decided to
stay where you were, because no one was bothering you."

 Ranma smirked at the truth behind that statement.

 Akane continued, "You will teleport to the woods where you will change
into some of your daily clothes and return to the house this morning."

 Ranma, losing some of her anger at feeling like a puppet, thought about
Akane's plan.  She looked at her master and mumbled something.

 Akane asked, "What?"

 "Nothing, Akane," Ranma said as she looked away. *Thanks, Akane*

 Akane got up and walked over to the young genie.  She put her left hand
on Ranma's shoulder.

 Giving a reassuring squeeze, Akane said, "Ranma, I know this is hard
for you, but I am trying to help you."

 Ranma-chan just nodded, not saying a word.  Akane sighed sadly and put
the final touches on her plan.

 "Once you teleport, you'll be free of the whisper command.  Ranma, go."

 Ranma's form became a silhouette of red light that quickly faded.
Akane looked at the spot that Ranma had been standing, and wondered if
she and Ranma would be up to dealing with this new problem.  She was
about to return to sleep, when she heard scratching at her door.
Shrugging, she went to open the door.  She saw her pet pig, P-chan on
the other side.  Akane snatched up her pet.

 "P-chan.  Where have you been?"  Akane said, in delight.

 P-chan just squealed as Akane headed back to her bed.

 Ryoga thought, *If it wasn't for that sprinkler, I would have crushed
Ranma with my new attack.*

 Akane laid back down.  P-chan, feeling something different about
Akane's right hand, maneuvered so he could see it.  The glint off the
ruby caused P-chan to freeze.

 Inside the pig's body, Ryoga thought to himself, *Ranma!!  How dare you
give Akane an engagement ring!?*

 Akane, speaking her thoughts, said, "Ranma should arrive in the
morning, just in time for breakfast."

 *Just you wait, Ranma!"  Ryoga thought viciously, *How dare you leave
Akane unprotected, Ranma!  You will pay!  Akane deserves better than
you!*

 Akane drifted back to sleep, thinking of Ranma's plight.  Ryoga fumed
silently at the supposed claim that Ranma put on his Akane.  He stayed
awake all night, mentally ranting about Ranma. He kept thinking of all
the injustices that he had been through, that he believed were Ranma's
fault.  His eyes bulged out as he scanned the area.  Clenching his piggy
paws in anger, Ryoga's snout flared out as he took stock of the scene.
Akane, still asleep, rolled over and coldcocked Ryoga with her elbow,
sending him to slumberland.  Other than that, the night passed
peacefully.
---------------------
 As the sun crested the horizon, Ranma entered the Tendo home.  Kasumi,
being up already, greeted her pleasantly.

 "Good morning, Ranma," Kasumi said, "I see you're back.  I'm sure Akane
has cooled off by now."

 "I wasn't staying away because of that macho chick," Ranma replied
forcefully, "I found the perfect practice spot and stayed there last
night."

 "Well, at least you made it back in time for breakfast,"  Kasumi said.

 "Err, yeah," Ranma said and then thought to herself, *I guess I had
better eat, even though I'm not hungry.*

 Soun and Genma, in his panda form, came into the room and saw
Ranma-chan.  The two of them confronted Ranma.

 "You have a lot of explaining to do, son," Soun said.

 Genma held up a sign, "What were you doing?"

 Ranma rolled her eyes and responded, "After Akane hit me, I found the
perfect spot to practice my martial arts.  I wasn't interrupted by
fiancees or rivals there."

 "Where is it?"  Soun asked

 "It's my secret," Ranma said defiantly. "If I told you, the others
would find out."

 Before anyone could comment on that, Kasumi said, "Breakfast is ready,
everyone."

 Ranma-chan just smirked and went to the table. Soun and Genma promised
each other they would find this hiding spot of Ranma's, so they could
send Akane with him next time.  Akane came downstairs holding P-chan.
When P-chan saw Ranma, he leapt from Akane's arms and attacked Ranma.

 "Hey, get away from me, bacon-breath," Ranma said, while slapping
P-chan away.

 Akane, getting mad, said, "Stop hitting my P-chan, Ranma."

 A slight tingle came over Ranma as she heard Akane's words.  P-chan
charged at Ranma a couple more times.  She tried using her hands to slap
the pig away, but found she could not proceed.  After a few seconds,
Ranma sighed in defeat, since she realized she was affected by Akane's
command.  Akane flinched as Ranma gazed at her with resentment-filled
eyes.  Knowing it was pointless to even argue, Ranma stood up.

 Ranma shook her head and said, "Fine, see you at school, Akane."

  Ranma leapt over the wall, leaving the Tendo household in a stunned
state.
Ranma had just left without eating any of Kasumi's cooking.  She didn't
bother to insult Akane or Genma.  Genma, Soun, and Nabiki stared at the
wall Ranma had leapt over.  Akane was the first to recover from the
shock that Ranma had given them.  Ranma had never just left like that.
A gleaming reflection of the sun caught her attention, and she looked at
the ring she was wearing.   Akane slowly realized that she had given a
command to Ranma-chan.  Grabbing her school supplies, Akane ran after
Ranma, and thought about what she would say to Ranma at school.

 *Do I apologize for making him a toy?  If he hadn't attacked P-chan, it
wouldn't have happened.  I don't want Ranma mad at me,* Akane thought
sadly, *I don't what to do.*

 Akane mentally shivered as she recalled the other emotion that was in
Ranma's eyes: hate.

 Ryoga shook off his daze and thought, while following Akane, *Ranma!!
You coward!! How dare you run from a fight!!   Just you wait, Ranma!!*

 Ryoga, after a couple of minutes of following Akane, managed to get
hopelessly lost.

 *You shall pay, Ranma,* Ryoga thought, getting more depressed as he
wandered.

 Akane managed to catch up with Ranma just before they arrived at
school.  Akane looked at Ranma, stumped.  Ranma stared straight ahead
trying to figure out how to deal with Ryoga the next time he showed up
in human form.

 Akane thought, *Now that I'm here, what do I say?*

 Ranma took a quick glance at her, and then just looked straight ahead,
without saying a word.  An unfamiliar feeling came over Akane, as this
was the first time anyone had ever ignored her.  Akane's thoughts became
confused as she tried to sort through her emotions.  She opened her
mouth to speak, but Ranma spoke first.

 "Don't worry about me hitting your precious pig anymore, Akane.  Thanks
to your order, I can't attack him," Ranma said.

 Akane was about to say something when she noticed that Principal Kuno
was heading towards them.  The principal was carrying an armload of
brooms, when he spotted Ranma-chan and Akane.

 Principal Kuno chortled evilly while he said, "Ey, you two.  Don'tcha
know that all keiki gotta be sweepin' de school roof before dey goan' to
de next grade?  And it gotta get done befoah class."

 Akane rolled her eyes as she listened to Principal Kuno's latest
scheme.  Giving the principal a dirty look, Ranma-chan clenched her
fists and thought to herself that this might be the perfect way to
release some stress.

 The principal laughed a bit and continued, "Betta get busy if you wanna
get on class on time, othahwise you gettin' held back!"

 Ranma was about ready to clobber the principal when she heard Akane
say, "I just wish for once that you would go somewhere else and leave us
alone."

 Ranma sighed as she thought about where to send the principal.  A
mischievous thought came into Ranma's mind as she teleported Principal
Kuno away.

 After Principal Kuno had vanished,  Ranma said, "Granted."


 Akane put her hands to her lips, once she realized what she had just
said.

 "Oh, my!"  Akane said, doing a very reasonable impression of Kasumi.

 She took a quick look around the grounds.  She sighed with relief when
she saw that no one heard or saw what Ranma did.

 Feeling a bit nervous, Akane asked, with trepidation in her voice and
concern in her eyes, "Ranma, where did you send him?"

 Ranma smirked and said, "I sent him to the Amazon Village.  I sent him
so that he would fall headfirst onto one of the Amazons.  That should
keep him out of our hair for a little while."

 Akane just stared at Ranma's retreating form and then giggled at the
thought of an Amazon wanting to marry the principal.  She followed Ranma
into the school.  Ranma, feeling much better, got some hot water,
changed back to his male form, and went to class.  Until lunch rolled
around, it was a very peaceful day.
-----------
 During lunch, Akane and Ranma were sitting on a bench, near the
school's birdbath.  While eating his lunch, Ranma heard a very loud
shout.

 "Ranma!! Prepare to die!!"

 Ranma looked up and sighed.  He said, "Well, well.  If it isn't
pig-boy.  I'm surprised that you found me this early.  Is your sense of
direction improving?"

 "Enough!!"  Ryoga yelled, and threw punches at Ranma.

 Ranma easily dodged the punches, but did not strike back at Ryoga.
Ranma leaned back against the wall of the school.  He looked at Ryoga
with disgust.

 Ranma thought to himself, *This is just great.  Akane's command
prevents me from hitting her precious P-chan.  Since Ryoga is P-chan, I
can't fight him.  Oh well at least I can still dodge.*

 "You're getting sloppy, Ryoga"

 Ryoga poked his finger into the wall, near Ranma's head while yelling,
"BAKU-SEI-TEN-KETSU."

 Chunks of bricks went flying everywhere.  Ranma did a quick somersault
roll between Ryoga's legs.  He used Ryoga as a shield from the flying
rocks.  The explosion brought the other students running, including
Akane, Kuno, and Ukyo.

 Ryoga screamed, "How dare you give Akane an engagement ring!!  Have you
no honor, Ranma!!  You will die for staining Akane's honor!!"

 *At least he doesn't realize what it is,* Ranma thought with disgust.
*Ryoga, you have just royally screwed up my life.*

 Ranma prepared himself for battle.  He wanted to knock pig-boy within
an inch of his life.  The other students gasped and stared at Akane.
All of them noticed the ruby ring that Akane was now wearing.  Ukyo
silently fumed at this latest development.

 "Akane, if you think you've won,  you are wrong,"  Ukyo whispered with
a lot of venom in her voice.

 Tatewaki Kuno was stunned at the revelation.  His delusional mind was
unable to accept that Akane would willingly wear Ranma's engagement
ring.

 "Oh, how the flower of womanhood hath been enslaved by the foul one.
Fear not, fair Akane.  I shall soon smite the one who enslaves thee and
the pig-tailed one, and you shall be free of his evil,"  Kuno spouted
while running towards Ranma.

 Akane was painfully aware that she was being stared at by everyone,
when she noticed that Ranma hadn't once struck at Ryoga.

 Akane thought, *What is that idiot doing?  He's going to get killed."

 Kuno rapidly approached Ranma with his bokken raised, when Ranma
grabbed him and threw him towards Ryoga.  Ranma hadn't thrown the
deranged kendoist hard enough for him to actually reach the lost boy.
Just enough to distract Ryoga.  Ryoga was so full of despair and fury
that he didn't notice Ranma's tactic.  Ryoga started glowing green.

 Ryoga yelled, "SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!!"

A blast of green chi energy streaked towards Ranma.  Fortunately for
Ranma, the blast hit upperclassman Kuno and knocked him into a drinking
fountain.  The drinking fountain crumbled under the impact and sprayed
Ranma with water.  Ranma changed back into the cursed form, her clothes
remaining unaltered.  She looked at Ryoga with wide eyes.

 "What was that?"  Ranma blurted out, shocked to her core.

 Ryoga smirked and said, "That was my chi-blast.  I learned it, just so
I could kill you!!!  SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!!"

 Doing a ground roll, the first green blast passed harmlessley over her
head.  The bolt struck the school, where it blew a hole straight to the
gym.

"SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!!"

The slightly larger blast came searing towards Ranma, who did a quick
cartwheel to get out of the way.

 *Those things are getting stronger.  I don't know how much longer I can
dodge.  Nuts.  If Akane hadn't given me that command, I wouldn't be in
this mess,* Ranma thought

"SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!!"

 Ranma jumped up and used a branch of a tree to springboard over the
large green ball of energy.  Ranma landed near Akane who was whispering,
unaware that Ranma could hear her.

 "I wish that you knew how to counter this and start fighting back,"
Akane muttered.

 Ranma smirked to herself, *Thanks, MASTER.  Now I can fight Ryoga,
since you just canceled your previous order.*

 Ranma used her magic to have the knowledge of how Ryoga was making the
chi-blasts and how she could counter it come pouring into her mind.  She
smirked at the unintentional boost that Akane had given her.

 Ranma whispered, so that only Akane could hear, "Granted."

 Akane glanced up, startled.  She then resolved to watch what she said
from
then on.  Ranma turned back to the fight and prepared herself.

 Using her new knowledge, Ranma yelled, "MOKO TAKABISHA!!"

 Ranma-chan unleashed a yellow ball of chi energy that caught Ryoga
completely off guard.  The blast knocked Ryoga into a tree, which fell
over.  Ryoga stood up, while backhanding the tree aside.  Ryoga
concentrated on the memory of the ring on Akane's hand.  Ryoga grabbed
hold of his own shoulders and started shivering, while glowing brighter.

 *An engagement ring,* Ryoga thought to himself, getting more depressed
by the minute.  *Akane hates me, because Akane loves Ranma.  Akane loves
Ranma.  Akane LOVES Ranma.   AKANE LOVES RANMA!!*

 "SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!!!" Ryoga screamed as tears welled in his eyes.

 Ryoga launched a column of green energy into the air.  Ranma and the
others were shocked at this display of power.  Green light started
filling the courtyard, and everyone looked up.  They saw a huge ball of
green chi come barreling down, with the centerpoint of its impact being
where Ryoga was standing.  Ranma and the others quickly dived for
cover.   The perfect shishi hokodan hit and blew a crater into the
ground.  Ranma looked and saw that Ryoga was unharmed by the blast.

 "Ranma!!  How dare you run away, you coward!!"  Ryoga bellowed

 Ranma, for her part, did a flying kick at Ryoga's face.  Ryoga went
soaring.  Ryoga smashed through the outer wall of the school.  He went
sailing through the room he was in.  A clonging sound came forth, as
Ryoga's head plowed through the school's piano, four tubas, and a drum
set.  Ryoga's flight continued as he cracked into the inner wall of the
music room.  He broke through the wall, where he slammed into a toilet.

 *What the heck?!* Ranma thought. *My kicks don't have that much power."

 She studied Ryoga's flight path and wondered about what she had just
done.

 *Okay.  I just guided Ryoga through the school, so he could get
splashed with water.  This isn't right.  And, why should thinking Akane
is in danger put me partially into a trance?*

 Looking around the devastated schoolyard, Ranma-chan decided something.

 "Come on, Akane.  Let's go home.  I don't think there's going to be any
more school today,"  Ranma said.

 Akane looked around and seeing that their classmates were still in
shock nodded.  Akane also wanted time to think about what just happened.

 *How did Ryoga know that I was wearing a ring?  Ranma and I are the
only ones who knew of its existence,* Akane thought to herself, *His
yelling that so that the entire school could hear is going to cause
problems.*

       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.

                            Chapter 4

 Under the surface of the river, Ranma swam towards Akane.  Akane kept
flailing her arms about, trying to swim.  She was holding her breath,
not wanting to drown.  Seeing Ranma swimming towards her gave her a
sense of relief.  She quickly thrust out her right hand to grab Ranma,
not remembering about the ring.  As soon as Ranma made contact with that
ring, she was turned into smoke and drawn back inside it.

 Freaking out, Akane blurted, "Ranma!"

 Once Akane opened her mouth, river water came pouring in.  Akane, in
sheer terror, kept trying to force the water out of her lungs.  After a
few fear- filled minutes, Akane realized that she was all right.

 "Huh?" Akane said, wonderingly, "Why am I not choking?  I should be
dead."

 Looking around in awe, Akane stood up on the floor of the river and
started walking.

 *I can breathe underwater?  How?*  Akane thought.

 Going back over what had just happened, Akane rubbed her ring.  Red
smoke once more came forth and formed Ranma.

 "What is your wish, master?" Ranma said, her words not hampered by
being underwater.

 *I guess Ranma did hear me,* Akane thought before asking, "Ranma, tell
me why I can't swim, and why I'm able to breathe underwater."

 Still in her trance state, Ranma-chan intoned, "I thought that the wish
that you made was so that you would not be in danger of drowning.  I
believed that you wanted to try and learn how to swim on your own, but
didn't want to worry about drowning.  I gave you the ability to breathe
underwater, instead."

 Akane felt her anger build up, as she realized that Ranma had screwed
up her wish.  She waited for the trance to wear off, before speaking.

 "Okay, Ranma," Akane said, dangerously, "What about my second wish?"

 "What about it?"

 "Did you foul that one up as well?"

 Ranma sighed, looked at Akane, and said, "I tried not to screw up the
intent, but I failed.  You're cooking will taste as good as Kasumi's."

 Akane cheered up at this.

 "But, it will still be the same bad cooking that it always was."

 Akane glared at Ranma when she heard that her cooking hadn't improved.
She was about to punch Ranma when she recalled what Ranma had said.

 "What do you mean by 'tried'?" Akane asked

 Running her fingers through her hair, Ranma replied, "Akane, I've only
been a genie for a couple days.  I'm going to make mistakes with the
magic.  I WANTED to give you the ability to cook well.  At least then,
no one would be in danger of dying."

 Akane tried slapping Ranma.  The water that was surrounding them,
slowed her hand down immensely.  Akane looked up and then at Ranma.  She
covered her mouth with her hands, to hide a smile.

 Giggling slightly, Akane said, "Ranma, I think you had better change
your clothes.  Your standard genie outfit wasn't meant for underwater
wear."

 Looking at herself, Ranma blushed as she realized how transparent wet
silk was.  She followed her master's suggestion and used her magic to
change her clothing into a one-piece, blue, bathing suit.

 *That serves you right for messing up my wishes, Ranma,* Akane thought
to herself, smugly.

 Still blushing, Ranma finally took note of their surroundings.

 "Underwater?  I gave you the ability, but why should I have it?"

 "Well... Wait a second.  How can we be speaking underwater?"  Akane
asked.

 Ranma opened here mouth to say something, but closed it without saying
a word.

 Sighing in exasperation, Akane thought for a few seconds.

 *Okay, Ranma is a genie.  His genie house is the ruby in my ring.  Oh!
Inside a rock,*  Akane reasoned out.

 Feeling that she had the answer, she tapped the ring and said, "Ranma,
your female form's home is the interior of this ruby.  Rubies don't have
air or water in them.  You don't need to breathe."

 Ranma sat down on a large rock, idly remembering how this rock ended up
here, and why Akane had thrown it into the river.  Ranma put her face in
her hands and started mumbling.

 "I don't know how much more I can take.  Pops threw me into a cat pit.
He's engaged me to who knows how many women.  I have guys trying to kill
me more the slightest thing or trying to date my female form.  Your
sister sells pictures of me," Ranma said and then shouted, "And now,
I've been turned into a genie that is at your beck and call!!"

 Akane said nothing as Ranma put her face in her hands and spoke softly,
"I hate my life."

 Akane looked at Ranma with sympathy and thought, *I know this is hard
for you Ranma, but you're eventually going to have to accept this new
part of your life.*

 Deciding to change the subject, Akane said, "Ranma, since we're down
here, why don't we do some sightseeing?"

 Snorting, Ranma responded, "We're at the bottom of a river. What can we
see?"

 Akane sighed and said, "I don't know.  That's what I want to find out."

 A sudden idea came to Akane, as she said, "What's the matter, Ranma?
Are you scared of what you might find down here?"

 Ranma's head snapped up at Akane's challenge.  She gave a defiant look
and stood up.

 "I'll show you, who's scared," Ranma stated as she walked away.

 *That did it,* Akane thought to herself.  *Challenging him got him out
of his depression.*

 Looking over her shoulder, Ranma-chan asked, "Coming, Akane?"

 Akane was about to agree when a sudden thought stopped her.  She sighed
sadly as she realized the necessity of it.  Hoping that Ranma wouldn't
slide back into her funk, Akane started speaking.

 "Ranma, I wish that when it is an hour before curfew, that an alert
will be given to us."

 Ranma called up the magical power stored within her and granted Akane's
wish.

 "Granted."

 "That really bothers me you know," Akane said.

 "What does?"

 "Your eyes turning red every time you grant a wish."

 Ranma just rolled her eyes at that comment, and let it slide.  The two
walked around the river bed, looking at the fish and other marine life.
Soon the pair were talking about Ranma's new condition.  Ranma explained
to Akane how the magic felt, every time she granted a wish.  To her,
granting Akane's wishes felt like warmth building within her.  Right
before the energy was released, a pleasant tingle suffused her body.
Ranma also described the interior of the ring for Akane in great detail.
Akane suppressed a shudder, when she found out that the inside of the
ring was nothing more than a barren field with walls and a vaulting
ceiling.

 *Ranma must be terribly bored in there,* Akane thought, *He doesn't
even have a blanket to keep him warm.  I'm going to knit him one, just
so he has something to cover him while he's asleep.*

 After a while, a chiming sound came from Ranma.  Akane looked at Ranma
with some annoyance.  The chime sounded just like the school's clock.

 "What was that?" Akane asked.

 "That was the reminder you wished for," Ranma explained. "I couldn't
think of anything better."

 Sighing, Akane let that go.  Ranma feeling a bit better, waited for
Akane to make a wish.

 *I have no control over my life anyways,* Ranma thought to herself.
*What's granting wishes to Akane, compared to life so far?*

 Ranma put that depressing thought out of her mind, and instead focussed
on what she could do to improve her control over her magical abilities.

 "Ranma, I wish that when we teleport next, we will be in the clothes we
wore before entering the water."

 "Granted."

 "I wish that we were teleported to a spot close to home, that no one
would notice our sudden appearance."

 A flash of red light came from Ranma's eyes.  When the glow faded, the
two were in a secluded alley.  Akane was still wearing her bathing
suit.  Ranma, on the other hand, was back in her genie costume.  Looking
at Ranma and then herself, Akane put her face in her hands and moaned.

 "Ranma, I wish we were back in our standard clothes."

 A slight red glow formed around Ranma and faded.  Akane was back in the
clothes she wore to school.  Unfortunately for Ranma, she was still in
her genie outfit.

 "Granted."

 Exasperated, Akane blurted, "Ranma, that's not funny.  My wish is for
you to be in the clothes you usually wear to school."

 Ranma's clothes glowed red for a second, before reforming into her
usual attire: red shirt and black slacks.  Both, Akane and Ranma
breathed a sigh of relief once the clothes had changed.

 *What was that all about?* Ranma thought while shuddering.

 Curious about something, Akane said, "Ranma, I wish that some hot water
would splash you in the face."

 Ranma-chan's eyes glowed red and a stream of hot water materialized.
The stream hit Ranma fully in the face, changing him back to his male
form.

 "Akane, that wasn't funny," Ranma said.

 "Hey, neither was that bit about your clothing."

 "You think, I wanted to be in those clothes?"

 "I don't know.  You are a pervert," Akane said, steering the
conversation back to their usual arguments.

 They continued to verbally fight as they made their way home.  The pair
made it to the Tendo home, still arguing.  Entering the house, the two
of them were surprised by their fathers.

 Soun bawled, with two waterfalls coming out of his eyes, "Oh I am so
happy.  You have made this man so happy."

 "I'm proud of you, my son.  Soon the Tendo and Saotome lines will be
joined,"  Genma stated.  "Isn't that right Tendo."

 "Yes,  we'd better go make the wedding preparations."

 Akane and Ranma looked at each other in some confusion, wondering what
had gotten into their fathers.  Sitting on the upper landing of the
stairs, Nabiki smirked as she counted the money she received from
telling the fathers of what Ryoga had yelled at school today.
__________________________________________________________________
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