"I suppose you are wondering why I called you all here," Nodoka Saotome
commented, gently cradling her teacup.  

"We are of course eager to hear anything you wish to say," Kodachi 
answered smugly.  Naturally she'd shown to the greatest advantage during
the tea ceremony.  Shampoo and Ukyo hadn't had any idea what to do and
Akane had been pathetically clumsy.  

Ukyo commented, "Actually I was wondering what Kodachi is doing here.
She isn't a fiancee, after all," and got a glare from Kodachi.

Nodoka smiled calmly, and raised a hand, "None of that, please.  As a 
matter of fact, this week my son agreed to become engaged to 
Kodachi-kun."

"What!?"

Everyone else winced at Kodachi's grating laugh.  "Oh my dears, did you 
think the passion Ranma and I share could be denied forever?"

Nodoka broke the stunned silence.  "The precise details of how Ranma 
came to make such a promise, no longer matter.  Given that the males
of this household, Ranma included, have made such gordian knot out of 
this situation that it falls to us to cut through it.  Regrettably under 
present-day law Ranma can not legally marry all of you, manly though 
such a solution might be."

They all glared at Nodoka.  She kept smiling, unmoved by their anger, 
and continued, "As his mother, it is my responsibility to ensure his 
greatest possible happiness.  Is there anyone among you who feels that
their love for Ranma is exceeded by the others?"

The other three looked at Akane who defensively snapped, "What?"

"Go on Akane," Shampoo urged.  "You say you not love Ranma many, many
time."

"Oh and you do?  You just want to own him!"

"Well now, Akane makes a good point," Nodoka interrupted.  "Love is more 
than your personal needs.  It's caring about another's happiness more 
than your own.  Do the four of you care about Ranma's happiness?"

"Yes!"

"More than life itself!"

"Is for sure!"

"Well...I guess..."

"You must realise that your competition for Ranma, the constant 
pressure, and the physical abuse he gets does not make him happy."

"Well that's Akane's fault!"

"You do it too!"

"That Akane is the most frequent offender does not make her the only 
one.  You have used your spatula to reprimand him repeatedly, and 
humiliating him via his fear of cats or the use of paralytic chemicals
is hardly any better," Nodoka scolded.  "I will not allow this to go on.
I will set a test for you to establish which of you is worthy to marry
my son.  Those who fail will be considered to have no further claim."

Shampoo crossed her arms smugly, "Shampoo better at everything.  Shampoo
win easy no matter what."

Kodachi giggled. "I don't think so, China Girl.  After all, being able 
to speak to your husband in Japanese is a useful talent for a Japanese
wife."

"It won't be that kind of contest," Nodoka assured them.  "The true 
measure of devotion is self-sacrifice and so my test will be of your
willingness to give something up for the man you love."

"Like what?" Ukyo asked.

"You must give up the thing you love most apart from Ranma.  
Okonomiyaki."

"But that's not fair!  None of the others will care about that!"

"But Shampoo does care about the Amazons."

Shampoo started, and asked, "What Mother mean?"

"You must give up your membership in the Amazons, their laws, and any
intention you had of taking Ranma back to China.  You will become a
Japanese wife, or you will not marry Ranma.  Only thus may I be assured
that your love is for Ranma rather than for yourself and your law."

"But, Shampoo...I..."

"And what terms would you dictate to me?  Willingly would I give up 
my luxuries for the ultimate joy of being with my Ranma-sama!  Ohohoho-"

"Get treatment."

"What did you say?"

"What you must do to prove yourself worthy, is go to psychiatrist of my
choosing, let yourself be diagnosed and follow whatever course of 
treatment he prescribes."

"How dare you!"

"I believe that this is necessary for my son to have any hope of 
happiness with you, and it sacrifices the thing you hold most dear.
Your pride."

Akane remained silent, gritting her teeth in anticipation.

"And what of the Tendo-girl?  What has she to offer that matches what 
you demand from me?"

"Violence.  The engagement to Akane is severed unless she gives up all
practise of martial arts and her position as heir to the Tendo school.
Further, she must restrict herself to verbal abuse when Ranma angers
her.  One more blow struck in anger, and..."

Ukyo spoke up again.  "I can see why the other sacrifices, but why 
okonomiyaki?  Ranma _likes_ okonomiyaki."

"I know, but like the others you have been looking for a way to fit 
Ranma into your life instead of learning to fit your life to Ranma as
a proper wife should."

"But I..."

"Shampoo..."

"The shame..."
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And now for a word from our Sponsor:  This will conclude in Part 2.