SKJM wrote:

At last. Here's the end.

And finally winding down my own comments,...

% Yep. And what excellent commentary it has been.

He knew she was lying. She secretly pined for him and believed that by
asking him out it would draw the two of them closer together. Fat chance
of that. Being snapped in half like a dry twig was too high a price to

pay

for sleeping with any woman.

But you can survive that!'

% True, he can survive just about anything. However he isn't desperate
enough to resort to that price yet.



He was going along solely because weddings

were a great place to pick up babes. The unattached women always felt
their biological clocks ticking when they saw one of their own married

off

to some guy, and were more inclined to be looking for a prospective mate
during the first few hours after attending a wedding. The perfect

hunting

ground.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for me either.

% Hopefully you employed different methods from D'Amour, at least.

Aki watched in confusion as the little oni dive bombed directly into the
captain's head, confirming her belief that there was nothing inside.

Except a mysterious voice.

% That will be explained in the first story arc of the sequal.

"I suddenly feel less horny than usual," D'Amour commented.

She was right!]

% Yep. ^_^

Akira looked at her in confusion as he tried sorting out the seemingly
conflicting orders of 'don't talk to strangers/talk to strangers' he had
just been given. As his child's mind continued to work, he saw two

people

that were most definitely not strangers.

strange, but not strangers...

% Normalacy only gets you so far in the Ranmaverse. You got to be strange
to cut it there.

"Unca Shanpoo. Hug!" Akira looked up to Shampoo, holding his own arms
expectedly. He was not disappointed as Shampoo picked him up and gave

him

a great, big hug.

He knows his daddy, even if he can't get the title straight.

% Heh.

Ranma finally got up and scowled at the embracing duo. They did make

quite

a pair, Akira in his little suit and Shampoo in a red and brown,
Chinese-style dress that had a high slit along the leg and a gold border
around the legs and arms. Hardly the traditional Japanese style wedding
his mother had wanted, but Shampoo unilaterally refused to wear a

kimono,

claiming it was ridiculously uncomfortable and confining. When Ranma

tried

pressing the point, Shampoo mentioned that if Nodoka was so enthusiastic
about seeing someone married in a kimono, all she needed to do was

splash

Ranma with some cold water and she could get her wish. Ranma let the
subject drop after that.

Sore winner, especially as I suspect the groom's family is having to
spring for this.\

% Nope. It came out of their own pockets. They had to do a quick tour of
some nasty fights, but they got just enough to cover expenses.

"I still think Ranma Pu has a better ring to it." Shampoo gave her

fianc�

a wicked little smile. She almost refused to take on his family name,

but

when it became obvious it meant a great deal to him, she relented. It
really was a trivial thing, but it would serve to make everyone know

that

there was an official bond between them.

Actually, if it's Chinese order, it'd be Shan Ranma....

% True. Several other people also pointed that out (thanks everyone). Of
course, I think Ranma Pu has a nicer ring to it too. ^_^

"And you'll be getting how much of our money?" Ranma asked.

"Only a standard agent's fee."

"Which would be...?" Shampoo continued, waiting for the other shoe to
fall.

"A nominal sum."

"Which would be...?" Shampoo pressed.

"Only fifty percent."

Nabiki must have been drinking before she got here.  Otherwise she would
have phrased this a lot better....more sneakily that is...

% She tried getting around it by being evasive. She was hoping they would
be so distracted by the wedding asking about a fee would never occur to
them.

"How do you justify getting half of what would be our money?" Ranma
growled.

"It goes into Akira's college fund."

% Heh. No. Nabby was going to pocket all of her 'hard earned' funds.
Besides, the jewels Cologne gave Kasumi have actually made her quite
wealthy (the old ghoul got around in her youth ^_^), not that Kasumi's
going to live extravagantly, but she won't need any handouts for the rest
of her or Akira's, (or any children he has) lifetimes.

Kurumi almost jumped at that. "No. I've just heard a lot about you. You
look a lot different from what I expected."

Shampoo found herself amused by that. "And what did you think I would

look

like?"

"Male."

% Yep. For some odd reason some people thought Kurumi would be using the
Akane version of Shampoo instead of the Kasumi version. The truth lies
somewhere in between the two descriptions. ^_^

"It's nice to meet you too." Shampoo agreed. Kurumi seemed nice enough.
Shampoo had assumed both of the new Tendo girls might take Akane's side
and despise Shampoo on general principles. It seemed at least one of

them

had kept an open mind.

Umm, no.  An empty mind...

% Not really. It all depended on which description the new girls believed.

Nabiki made a retching noise at that. "I can see it's not going to take
much to please you. You know, it's girls like you that make guys think
it's easy to satisfy a woman."

"I am easy to satisfy," Shampoo said.

"I just want my way, that's all."


% Just like every other woman. <Insert grumbling>

Ranma handed Akira to Shampoo, then facefaulted. Shampoo leveled a scowl
at him, that was going to be joined by a reprimand, when Nabiki spoke

up.

"Hey everyone, don't you think Akira looks a lot like Shampoo?"

Yes.

% Actually, not yet. When he gets older there will be a more pronounced
resembalence. But since he'll be wearing glasses and a different hair
style, it's hard formost to make the connection.

"They don't look a thing alike."

"I think he looks more like Ranma." Shampoo let Ranma hold Akira, then
compared the two.

"Say, he does look a little like him," Kurumi said, mystified at the
slight resemblance between man and child.

odd...

%Not all kids, especially young ones, necessarily look like one, or even
either, parent. As they get older sometimes they start to resemble a
parent or family member. As to looking like Ranma, it's a very superficial
resemblance.

"Actually, Birdy's trying to gouge her eyes out," Shampoo noted as

Nabiki

ran off, trying to dislodge the small pterodactyl.

Birdy must be Kentucky Fried.

% As I told you, even against her foil, Nabby will come out on top. I just
got to take a couple of hours to write out that little tale.

and even disapproved of the relationship he

had with Shampoo. He certainly did not care for anyone that had claimed

to

be Shampoo's friend, then turned around and brought a party of Amazons
with her to drag her 'friend' to her death. It was only luck

and Perfume's own reluctance...

% Which he is completely unaware of.

"She's holding the new girl's hand," Shampoo said.

Ranma scowled at that. He knew all about Perfume's weird tastes in men.
"There ain't no way that's a guy."

Jyuusenkkyo?

% It's been destroyed, so that's not been the consideration it has been in
the past. True, he could very easily have been plunged in it before it was
destroyed though.

"No way. Even Tsubasa doesn't look that good," Ranma insisted, receiving

a

surprised look from Shampoo. "I mean Tsubasa didn't look as convincing

as

that girl, not that he was good-looking, which he isn't."

Ranma's still trying to deny to himself that he was attracted, hmm?

% Hehehehehe!!! I still love your idea that Ranma (in the real series) was
attracted to Tsubasa when he thought he was a girl. Ranma did volunteer to
go on that date pretty quick, and did just about anything he could to
romance 'her' ^_^.

Perfume shrugged. "I had some problems a while back, but I feel a lot
better now." Perfume was as giddy as a school girl as she released her
hold on Shampoo and once again looped her arm around her escort's. "A

lot

of it is thanks to him. Meet my new boyfriend. I rescued him from his

evil

stepsisters and stepmother a few days ago. His name's Konatsu Kenzan."

Last minute surprise cameo!

% Yep. I feel kind of bad since he had an actual role to play in the first
draft version of this. If I ever get around to that MainRanma continuation
fic, he'll get a chance to shine. He's been terribly underused.

"Umm, could we change the subject off of cross-dressing?" Kurumi asked

as

she took Akira from Shampoo and held him. Kurumi had never been
comfortable talking about the subject. She had heard enough talk about

it

from the loud 'discussions' Natsume had with Ukyou about them. Curious

how

those two had taken an instinctive dislike to one another, but then

social

dynamics around Nerima never were easy to comprehend.

Interesting...

% Shows the world keeps moving along, even between the epilogues. Also
lays groundwork for the sequal.

"Last week," Shampoo said happily, remembering how Ranma, with the help

of

cue cards, made an elaborate 'official' pronouncement to challenge

Shampoo

in a duel with the intent to prove his worth, as an outsider, to his
would-be warrior bride. "It took him half an hour, but he defeated me at
last."

"Maybe if we had used the Challenge Log, it would have gone faster."

% If she had fought a tournament beforehand it would have too. ^_^

"Dumb Amazon marriage traditions," Ranma mumbled under his breath. Why

he

had to prove his worth to her, when she already knew what a great (and
better) fighter he was, irritated him to no end. But she had insisted on
it since she still considered herself an Amazon warrior and, as

tradition
Despite ignoring most of their other laws...

% At least the one about having her head lopped off, and those associated
with going back so that she could have her head lopped off.

"At least," Ranma seconded. "Some of them are friends, but a lot of them
are my family that I never even met."

The Saotomes from Tokimeki Memorial?

% Don't get that one.

"It was I, The Director!" Loud music blared from hidden speakers

somewhere

nearby as he bowed gracefully before the startled Amazon.

Hi!

% Missed him too, eh?

The Director nodded in approval. "Very well. I shall make certain my
incompetent production staff have not screwed everything up. Earlier I
caught them trying to set up a sacrificial altar to the demon Balthazar

oh dear.]

% They are an...enthuseastic lot.

"I think we should stick to pit fighting," said Shampoo. "I'd rather

deal

with criminals and cutthroats than Nabiki. And I still don't think I've
met anyone as insane as that director."

Famous last words.

% Too true.

"So this is what my future son-in-law looks like."

uhoh.

% Yeah. Words you don't want to hear from your future mother-in-law.

Comb's anger switched to the identical pleading look that Ranma had just
seen on Shampoo. "You can't marry this boy! He's all wrong for you! I

can

tell just by looking at his beady, little eyes that he's an egotistical,
outsider male that will abandon you the instant he grows bored with

you!"
yes.  Thanks goodness he won't get bored with her.

% He's not that fickle, once he makes a choice. Of course, with both
blessed and cursed version of having to live in 'interesting times'
neither one of them will have a chance to get very bored. Why, even the
honeymoon is going to be unusually 'interesting.'

Comb continued her diatribe. "He's a liar that will use flowery words to
turn your head, at least until he finds someone else that catches his
interest, and then you'll be forgotten!"

Flowery words?  Comb sure got wrong info somewhere.

% Right now:
Ranma=Guy from Comb's past. This translates as him being placed somewhere
around 'feces' on the marriage eligiblity scale.

"Just call me 'father-in-law'," the man told him. "You're probably
wondering why my wife finds my daughter's marriage to you so
objectionable."

"Because I'm scum?"

% No.

Shampoo's father gave Ranma a knowing smile. "I didn't say that. Oh, at
first she was ambivalent towards me, but over the years she learned to
love me, and I her, in spite of her flaws. She really is a good woman.

It

might take her several years to warm up to you, but as long as you treat
our daughter well, she'll eventually accept you."

On her deathbed.

% Could be.

Ranma was surprised by the soft sound of steel in the rather meek man's
voice. "Hey! I love her. I know how to treat a gal right."

Ha.

% Hey, this is Ranma. Just ask him anything and he'll tell you how great
he is at it. ^_^

"Why don't you marry a nice, quiet girl instead?"

Like that Kasumi.

% Yep.

Comb began sweating appreciably. "Did I say more grandchildren? I meant

to

say, 'lots of grandchildren'. Lots and lots of grandchildren. Right now
you can't have any with a man. But with a woman you could have many. It
would mean so much to me. I want to hear the sound of little feet

running

all around."

Get a few cats.

% It's not the same thing.

"Kasumi, Silk came today, didn't she?"

"Yes. Everyone came today except Akane and Natsume," Kasumi explained.

It

was a surprise to no one that Akane did not want to come. Natsume had
remained behind to keep Akane company.

Souun I suspect only came to keep Silk company...

% He wanted to see things through to the end. Akane's over her heartbreak
by now, and he did like Ranma, even if he did hurt 'daddy's little girl'.

over the years. Of

course, once the kid got older, and was informed that his future wife

had

been picked out for him before he was born, he might not appreciate his
older brother quite so much.

Yeah, somehow I can't see Narasuma having much respect for or
trust in his big bro.

% He is the one person left holding the 'bag' so to speak. Of course, it
was the same bag everyone else gave to Ranma, and currently it won't be
the near impossible burden for Narasuma that it has become for Ranma.

"Narasuma. It's a good name," Nodoka said, beaming at her son in pride.
"I'm so proud of you, Ranma. I'm sure Shampoo will make you happy."

"We'll make each other happy." He was aware that Nodoka still did not

care

much for Shampoo, but at least she was covering her dislike better,
especially when Shampoo was not around. Maybe someday they would get
along. Someday.

Maybe after Narasuma and Kiri get married, and the family dihonor no
longer is an issue...

% Nah. They are never going to get along well with one another. They got
off to the wrong foot from the start when Shampoo impersonated Ranma, and
it never got better.

"Yep." Ranma thought the plan would probably work out just fine, having
been developed by himself.

they're doomed.

% Hehehe. That's what everyone else thought when they read this line.
Luckily, only the building was destroyed.

Ranma noticed Ai make an annoyed face before turning to confront the

Why would she be annoyed by Kyoko?  Unresolved jealousy over still being
able to cheerlead?

% Not really.

her form it was still the finely toned muscle that was on all the girls
that had taken martial arts cheerleading. Her face had changed as well,
her cheekbones becoming more prominent and she now seemed to be more

along

the lines of sultry instead of cute. Her bust was far more noticeable

now,

and her voice had gone from a high pitch to a far deeper and seductive
tone that even Ranma had failed to recognize as belonging to her.

ooh.

% Yep. Ai's jealous because Kyoko is now better-looking than her. She went
from 'cute' to 'ravishing' in just two years ^_^

out. Now all I have to do is get him prepared for the, you know, stuff
that comes after the wedding. I don't want him to bleed to death or
anything on our wedding night. Do you think I should have him donate

some

blood a few weeks beforehand, just in case he needs a transfusion?"

Yes.

"It's an idea," Ai said. "And here's some free advice. Since I know you
aren't going to sleep with him before the wedding, you can break him in

by

giving him blow-jOW!" Ai rubbed her side where Ukyou had elbowed her.

--torches?

% Really, she was going to say blow-up dolls. Would I lie to you? ^_^

"Okay." Aki handed him the gift wrapped package containing the object of
Ranma's concern.

The Kaisuifuu...

% Hardly. Herb has that and Chuiistuin under heavy lock and key. No one is
getting their hands on those too easily.

"That's Saotome, you idiot! How many times can you get that wrong?"

Ranma
indefinitely

% True.

"<That's because I'm disappointed in you.>" She returned her attention

to

her daughter, who had paused in her feeding. After a moment, Kiri

resumed

and Silk looked towards Shampoo once more. "<The others told me what
happened.>"

"<You mean they gave you their side of things,>" Shampoo snorted out in
response.

That too...

% Yep.

Silk raised an eyebrow at that. "<You mean you didn't abuse the shelter
they gave you by stealing Ranma and breaking the pact between the two
families?>"

Shampoo became defensive at that. "<I didn't intend to fall in love. It
just happened. What was I to do? Pretend nothing was happening? Ignore

my

feelings for him? I love him and he loves me, even if it took a lot for
him to realize it.>"

Well, you could have moved out from under their roof.


% She would have had nowhere else to go. Early on that would have meant
being alone with her curse, something emotionally she would have had major
problems dealing with. Later it meant being apart from Ranma, another
thing she wasn't prepared to do.


Ranma is less culpable in the "abuse of hospitality" charge since
1) he was there at the order of his father, who he still theoretically
had to obey, while Shampoo voluntarily chose to stay with him; 2) He
didn't realize the promise to the Tendous was any more serious than the
others Genma had made until Nodoka told him (and still doesn't understand
why); and 3) Didn't realize he couldn't follow through until after he
left the Tendou home.  He should still apologize, but he's not terribly
culpable, where Shampoo most certainly is.

Shampoo held up her hands in frustration. Why did Silk have to be so
difficult? Couldn't she see the obvious? "<Why don't you tell me what I
should have done to keep everyone from being miserable.>"

Everyone, nothing,

% Yep. By definition, someone was going to end up hurt. People's desires
were in conflict with one another. And once there was some resolution to
the realtionships, that was going to happen.

but you could have limited the damage...

% True, but no one in this series is really any good at that sort of
thing, Shampoo is definitely no exception.

wrong one?>"

"<Sometimes,>" Silk relented, then looked down at the child in her arms.
"<But it worked out in the end.>"

"<It's worked out in the end for me too,>" Shampoo said. "<The promise
still holds, it just doesn't apply to Ranma anymore.>"

"<Fortunately,>" Silk agreed, her mood lightening somewhat.

though dubiously.

% No more so than with Ranma originally. With the possible exception that
Nara will only have one person to choose from, unless some of the other
Tendo girls have daughters of their own.

there to be these kind of problems between us. You're one of the last
links I have to home. Isn't there something I can do to satisfy your
anger?>"

Well, a full apology to the Tendous would be a good start.
Acknowledging that you've hurt people is a long way towards healing the
wounds.

% True. To date she only apologized to Kasumi, of course up until now that
promise was still in the way of her and Ranma's marriage, so things still
hadn't been resolved (from her POV). Although Nabiki couldn't care less
about one, and Akane doesn't care what Shampoo has to say. Soun would feel
better, though. And there is the principle of the matter.


 Unfortunately, Silk can't ask for this because 1) she can't
fully explain what Shampoo's done wrong to her without revealing Kasumi's
lie;

% Well, Kasumi was just as responsible for that whole matter. And as you
say, Shampoo isn't even aware of the situation.


and 2) If you have to *ask* for an apology, it isn't worth anything.
Kasumi's little speech in "Breaking of the Circle" was very
pretty, but a bit too easy on Shampoo.


% I think you mean their conversation in chapter 39, Aftermath. And yes,
it was a little, but since Kasumi had been fairly certain that the day
before Shampoo was dead (Actually she had been dead) she was simpy happy
Shampoo was alive. And when you consider Kasumi's feelings towards her, do
you really think she would be anything other than forgiving?


Yes, over time, wounds will heal,
or people learn to compensate for their losses, but that doesn't mean
that harm wasn't done.  And Shampoo has to own up to that.

% True, although the alternative to that would have been Shampoo taking on
the hurt. She might be sorry about the results that happened from her
actions, but she is not sorry that she 'won' so to speak.

looks beautiful.>"

Silk beamed with pride at her daughter. "<She is. Poor thing, though.
She's going to have to marry Genma Saotome's offspring. I can't imagine

a

worse hell.>"

Ataru Moroboshi?  He's available.

% Heh.

Shampoo began to nod her head. "<Oh, I agre...hey! I'm getting married

to

one of his offspring!>"

"<Let's just say that he's not the sort of boy I would have been
interested in when I was your age. I would have looked for someone more
open with his emotions and less egotistical.>"

And not given to sluffing off his problems on others...

% Of course, is it really a 'problem' for Narasuma. Ranma doesn't think
so, and none of the other parents (except Silk) had better call it that
now, since no one was refering to it as such when Ranma was the only
choice.  It only became a 'problem' after he chose someone that wasn't a
Tendou. Nara has a clean slate and putting him in this situation is no
different than what everyone did to Ranma from when he was born too. Now,
once Nara gets older he has every right to complain (if he doesn't like
the situaiton) to Ranma, but that's pretty much it.

% Also is the fact that Narasuma is AUTOMATICALLY covered in the promise
without Ranma doing anything. Ranma hasn't married yet and Nara is a
Saotome, which means it appliles to him just as much as Ranma. The catch
is he's about to become the only choice, which is an awkward position, but
one that can't be any worse than the situation Ranma is in now.

% Besides, at this point it's obvious forcing Ranma into marrying one of
the Tendou girls is just going to make everyone miserable. Everyone (but
Silk) is releaved that they are going to get an opportunity to try it
again (and of course they won't make the same 'mistakes' they did the
first time ^_^)

Speaking of her daughter, she adjusted her grip on Kiri, then looked

back

at Shampoo once more and was surprised to see a forlorn expression on

her

once again. One that was not directed at Silk, but rather at the child

in

her arms. "<What's wrong now?>"

Shampoo was not sure if she should say anything, then reconsidered.

"<I'll

never be able to do what you're doing.>"

Still got that blind spot, eh?

% Of course. Shampoo has no reason to think about her cursed 'equipment'
being capable of reproduction. It's not the sort of thing she would
consider. Now, in a couple years there will be a situation in which she
becomes aware that male cursed forms are still capable of that, at which
point then she will become aware that she is has the ability to do that
too.

As she headed out of the room, Silk spoke up. "<Shampoo, it is the
responsibility of the parent to take care of the child, no matter what,
wouldn't you agree?>"

yes...

% And she agrees with you. Of course she still isn't aware that she is
one.

Perhaps, by some miracle, you

will produce offspring of your own blood. It would be your duty to help
take care of them, though.>"

In order for Shampoo to be happy:
Akane: gives up her choice of husband, and friendship with Ranma.

%As Jason mentioned, Ranma also chose Shampoo. That wasn't her decision
alone, and Ranma has, in effect, taken the choice from Akane even moreso
than Shampoo ever could.

Kasumi: gives up her choice of husband,

% She did this on her own, Shampoo had no say in the matter. Actually, the
one time in chapter 26 Shampoo started to suggest they try to make a go of
it, Kasumi nixed the idea, stating there would be too many problems (quite
possibly true)

has to raise her son alone,

% This is actually a double-edged reason on Kasumi's part. Yes part of it
is to protect Shampoo (from a situation she isn't even aware of) but also
it ensures Kasumi will be the one raising Akira. She regards him as HER
son, and Shampoo is simply the father. Certainly Shampoo can visit, but
Akira's not taking any extended 'training journeys' with his 'dad'

 and
lie about his heritage,

% True.

 and suffer a bad reputation.

% Not quite as bad as you think, once the Tendou name becomes a little
more famous in a number of years.

Nabiki:  Has to go along with Kasumi's lie.

% Like lying bothers her. She just doesn't want the situation to explode
in everyone's faces later (a justifyable fear). And besides, as Jason
pointed out, she's already trying to get around her promise not to say
anything by dropping hints to get the others to fess up.

Kurumi:  Has to go along with Kasumi's lie.

% This was her own fault for listening in on what was obviously a private
conversation. She should have minded her own buisiness instead of
continuing to stick around.

Silk:  Has to go along with Kasumi's lie, and sacrifice her daughter to
the family promise.

% Kiri is not being 'sacrificed' any worse than any of the other three
girls or Ranma was. Now Silk, unlike the other three parents, does have
every right to grumble about the situation since she wasn't involved in
things the first time around and has to lie about Akira. Like Nabiki,
she's afraid of the situation exploding later as well.


Souun: has to give up his choice of son-in-law,

 % It's not his choice to make. Especially not with Nara around. And
considering the odds that any his girls being forced into a marriage with
Ranma would just make both parties miserable, even he doesn't really want
to try pressing the issue.


 and wait decades for a
chhance to restore his family's honor.

% Given the situation, this is probably for the best. It will be a bit
irritatiing because of the extra time, but it really is the same promise
that had been around before. Nara was always eligible for it from the
moment of his birth.


Akira:  Has to grow up without his father,

% True, but this is Kasumi's doing, not Shampoo's. Shampoo would most
definitely want her son growing up knowing who his father is and help
raise him.

and suffer the effects of his
mom's reputation.

% Already covered this. There will be some problems, especially early on,
but by far the majority of them will be almost non-existant.

Kiri:  May well have to give up her choice of husband.

% Just like one of the other girls would have to have done otherwise. When
the promise was made, it all but guarenteed one member from each family
would lose their ability to choose a spouce.


All in all, Shampoo owes the Tendou family a *huge* karmic debt, after
sharing their bread and salt...

% I wouldn't call it huge, but she was still in the wrong, true.

should be put to death. I would guess she's had it since she first
disappeared without a trace from home three years ago. Is this correct?"
she asked Shampoo-kun, who nodded in response. "As I thought. It's been
three years since she's had this curse, yet by some miracle our society
has not fallen apart." That was said in a heavily sarcastic tone.

"Bearing
Due to her not being there.

% Nah. Most of the stigma attached to it is from the incident told in
chapter 14. Nowadays the fact that a cursed woman can't bear children (you
know what I mean) is more than enough reason for all but a handful to
never want to be cursed. So a repeat of that situation would never occur.
Social stigma from that old incident is what has kept that law around.

Shampoo-kun found himself considering that, despite the fact it really

was

no choice. To give up his home for the rest of his life seemed too high

a

price to pay, especially if he found a cure, but considering the
alternative...

Not to worry, something will happen to get you back there eventually.

% Not the way you mean. Most assuridly not that way. Remember, Perfume
doesn't want Poo around either. Turning up alive around any member of the
Joketsuzoku is an inconvience Perfume never wants to have to deal with.

"Let me put it to you this way. If you don't hurry things along right

now,

an eighty foot psychotic Chinese Dragon/Emperor might very well come
along, rip the roof off of this place, and begin turning us all into

piles

of briquettes."

No, he's busy tonight.

% Heh.

'

"We're married," Shampoo confirmed.

"And nothing bad happened?"

"And nothing bad happened," Shampoo confirmed once again.

depends on your definition./

% I guess.

Aki rubbed her chin in thought. "Shoot. I thought I was the only one

that

would have thought of that. Maybe I can figure out something else before

I

have to go."

It could have been toasters...

% You need somewhere to plug a toaster in though. Ranma and Shampoo don't
have anywhere to put it.

D'Amour's voice disturbed her peaceful wish. "I've been talking with

Aki.

She says you aren't going on much of a honeymoon, just to some crappy
little hot spring for a few days. Well, it just so happens that my
wonderful ship is going on an extended voyage to Taiwan. I was thinking
that, since I didn't get you a present, I could offer a pleasant

honeymoon

cruise to you."

Sail the Earth, eh?

% Heh. Yet another of Marty the Minor Mentalist's predictions coming true.
And the trip is going o be very unusual indeed.

even the bride, and still no luck. Even when he offered his services to
the lesbians, Ukyou and Ai, they had hit him with a spatula and a baton.
Everyone was just so violent lately. Whatever happened to 'free love?'

It went out with AIDS.

% he still mourns that age's passing.

D'Amour unleashed his most roguish smile as Comb's hand slowly went for
something tucked behind her back.

oops.

% You got that right.

"Well, yes, but I hadn't even gotten to that part yet!"

"DIE!!!" She swung once again.

Ah.  Comb thought Ranma was Captain D'Amour in disguise.  that explains
everything.

% D'Amour is pretty much the epitome if everything she despises in men.


ja,
SKJAM!

% Thanks a lot for all of the wonderful and intensive commentary, both in
here and the other chapters you went over. It is greatly appreciated.

D.B. Sommer