Chapter 6

	A tension filled week passed at the Tendo home.  During this time, Akane  
just ate quietly and kept her head down.  She would not say a word.  With 
the exception of Kasumi, the rest of the family's nerves were getting 
strained by the lack of fighting between Ranma and Akane.  Also contributing 
to the tension was the fact that none of Ranma's would-be suitors or rivals 
had shown up.  In short, it had been very peaceful and it was driving Genma 
and Soun nuts.

	Ranma got up and headed for the dojo when he heard Kasumi's voice.

	"Ranma, remember that you agreed to help Akane and me today," Kasumi said 
as she took the breakfast dishes back into the kitchen.

	"Err.  Sure, Kasumi," Ranma said, slightly distracted. *Maybe Akane will 
finally start talking again.*

	Ranma smirked to himself as he headed to towards the dojo. *At least 
Akane's stupid wish has got Pops off balance.  I don't like being a puppet, 
but I do enjoy the peace and quiet.*

	Ranma turned around as a thought struck him, "Hey, Akane.  Where are we 
going?"

	"Later, Ranma," Akane quietly said as she sadly glanced at Ranma.

	Ranma shrugged his shoulders and continued on his way.  Unnoticed by all, 
Akane followed him with her eyes.  She kept going over what she had felt and 
thought last week.

	*I can't be in love with him.  He's a stubborn, loudmouthed, obnoxious 
jerk.  Even if he has saved my life a couple of times, it still can't be 
true.  It doesn't matter anyway, since his female form is still my slave.  
He'll just see me as the one pulling his strings.  This ring, it... Oh, heck 
with it.*

	Akane got up and went upstairs to her room.  Before it, she noticed Nabiki 
was following her.  Shrugging, Akane went into her bedroom and started 
packing some large boxes with what appeared to be books.  Akane finished 
packing the boxes when she heard a knock at her door.

	"Come in, Nabiki."

	Nabiki opened the door and entered.  She looked at the boxes that were 
sitting on the floor and rolled her eyes.

	"Not this again.  Where do you and Kasumi go with these boxes every year?"

	Akane smiled as she said, "Sorry, Nabiki.  But, that's our secret.  There 
is a reason, though."

	Nabiki shook her head and left, leaving Akane alone.  Akane examined the 
boxes, making sure they were completely secure.  She sat down on her bed and 
just gazed at the packages.

	*Nabiki has never pushed an answer out of us.  I wonder why.

	*Ranma, I hope you don't tell Daddy about Kasumi's and my secret.  Daddy 
wouldn't understand.  I hope you had forgiven me for that panicky wish I 
made.  I'm still not sure what to do about Ryoga.*

	Akane laid down and thought, *Kasumi will wake me when it's time to go.  I 
can get in a quick nap.  Maybe...*

	Akane fell asleep.
-----------
	Akane woke to Kasumi's voice and a gentle shaking.

	"Akane, it's time to go."

	Akane sat up, yawned, and said, "Ready, Kasumi.  Is the cab here?"

	"Yes, it is.  I had Ranma load the boxes into the trunk while I woke you 
up.  We don't want to be late."

	Akane nodded as she grabbed a jacket from her closet and rushed downstairs. 
  Kasumi followed her at a more sedate pace.  Dashing past Ranma, Akane 
nodded at him.  Ranma was confused about what was going on, but he would 
help out.  He had promised to help of his own free will.  He shrugged and 
put the last box in the cab's trunk and slammed the trunk shut.

	"All the boxes are loaded; now what?" Ranma asked.

	Kasumi replied, "Now, we take a nice long cab ride.  Ready to go, Ranma?"

	"Err.  Sure."

	Kasumi, Akane, and Ranma entered the back seat of the cab and waited for 
the cabby to start driving.  As soon as the cab left, Genma and Soun each 
picked up a stack of papers and started walking.  In the cab, Kasumi started 
talking.

	"Ranma, I hope you won't tell Father or your dad about where we are going 
and what we are doing.  Father would not approve of what we do every year."

	"Um. I'm not making a promise until I know why," Ranma said. *That's what 
caused all the problems with Ryoga in the first place.*

	Kasumi nodded and said, "Okay.  What we are doing is getting enough money 
for us to make it through the next year."

	"I thought Nabiki handled bringing money into the dojo."

	Akane shook her head, "No, Ranma.  Nabiki wouldn't want to do the work 
involved."

	"Why wouldn't your pop accept that you are dojinshi artists?"  Ranma asked.

	Kasumi sighed, as Akane answered, "Daddy can accept working at a resturaunt 
to pay off your bill, because that's honorable.  To him, manga drawing is a 
hobby suitable for foreigners or peasants.  A job not fit for a samurai."

	Ranma shook his head and said, "All right.  I promise I won't tell."

	Kasumi looked up and stated, "Well, we're here."

	Ranma looked out the front window of the cab and saw a large building.  
There were two huge words done in English letters.

	Ranma scratched his head, perplexed, as he read the words aloud, "Comic 
City?"

	As the trio got out of the car, Akane explained, "It's like this:  Kasumi 
and I are dojinshi artists.  We go by the name of Crimson Mist.  Hopefully 
we'll be able to make just as large a profit this year.  Last year we 
brought home almost 10 million yen in profit from selling five different 
titles.  We didn't sell out of our dojinshi.  Maybe this year."

	Ranma was stunned at the amount of money Akane and Kasumi brought home from 
this convention.  He shook his head and started unloading the cab.

	*Oboy.  I didn't think Akane had any skills that could be useful.  TEN 
MILLION YEN?!? And here I thought Nabiki was the money monger.*

	Ranma managed to get the boxes inside the convention hall without incident. 
  He looked around and became real nervous.  He was in a room with close to 
eight thousand people;  more than seventy percent were teenage girls.

	*Eeep,* Ranma thought, *I think I'd better go change.  I've got enough 
trouble with four.*

	"Er. Akane, where can I get some cold water?" Ranma asked.

	Akane, startled, looked at Ranma and asked, "You want to change?"

	"Akane, I'm in a room with how many girls?" Ranma countered, while looking 
around nervously.

	Akane hid a smile and led Ranma to a secluded drinking fountain.  Ranma 
used the drinking fountain to fill his hands with water.  Once he had 
enough, he splashed himself in the face with the water.  Ranma, now a girl, 
smiled and took one step before fainting.


Tom Mathews a.k.a Disruptor

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