Okay, here's a one shot that I've been fooling around with since the 
beginning of the year. C&C is appreciated.

If you haven't ready Destiny of Shadows, don't worry. I believe this
story is clear enough to stand by itself without reading that story. I
hope. :)


Enjoy.


========================================================================
The Shadow Files
One Pound Ranma

Ranma 1/2 and One Pound Gospel characters/situations created and
copyright by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used
without permission

The Shadow Files: One Pound Ranma story created, written, and
copyright 1999 by Jim Lazar

<Speech text in angle brackets is thought by character.>
"Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese."

E-mail comments or criticisms to: mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
My other FanFiction can be found at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
=======================================================================
This story uses the Shadows from my 'Destiny of Shadows' story. That
story can be found on my website listed above. Some explanations about
the Shadows are contained in this story, but reading that story first
will give you a better understanding of some events that occur in this
story.
=======================================================================

     Darkness.

     Although darkness wasn't the right term for the complete and utter
lack of light that filled the huge cavern. It seemed darker than dark in
the cavern, if that was possible. It wasn't, of course, but in the
Shadow-Realm the impossible sometimes became possible. Ranma actually
admitted that he loved Akane in this universe, for example. Of course,
only after twenty centuries of constant hounding by Akane and after
losing a bet which forced him to admit his love.

     The fact that it was a cavern was only recognizable by the soft
footsteps that echoed off the distant walls. The footsteps were followed
by a loud piercing scream that bellowed out and echoed across the
cavern.

     "Shit! Who the hell left that mallet laying around!" a deep male
voice cried out, obviously pissed off. Some more sounds were heard, as
an unseen figure groped around in the darkness. Another loud crash was
heard. "Where the hell is that damn switch?!"

     Suddenly, the lights came on. Actually, the light came from a large
curved video screen that hovered, unsupported, over the crouched figure
that had his hand on a control panel. That is assuming the figure was
male. Since it was wearing a long black cloak, it was impossible to
tell.

     The figure got to its feet and looked around. "About time, dammit."
The figure leaned back and a chair appeared behind it. Its hands flew
across the control panel and the video display flared to life with data.
Multiple horizontal lines branching off from a thicker, main line could
be seen, along with pop-up windows that had various incomprehensible
data in them. The figure flipped back the hood of the cloak and revealed
his male face along with his long black hair, which was tied in a
pigtail.

     "Looks promising. I might be able to change it there," Shadow-Ranma
said to no one in particular. Suddenly he was drenched with water.
"Cold!" a suddenly female Shadow-Ranma cried out, shaking the water out
of her hair. The red hair stood out clearly in the blackness of the
cavern. She looked around and spotted her assailant. "Ha! Die you foul
creature!"

     With a flash of red hair, Shadow-Ranma jumped out of the chair,
which disappeared as soon as she left it. She landed several kicks to
another figure dressed in a black cloak. The figure swung to the side
and jabbed Shadow-Ranma in the side. It then did a flip up and over his
head and then kicked him savagely in his back.

     Shadow-Ranma leapt away and held out her hands. "Black Fire!" A
very Moko Takabisha-like blast, except black instead of bright blue,
flashed out and hit the other figure right in the chest. It went flying
across the cavern and slid to a halt.

     Shadow-Ranma grinned and ran over to the crumpled figure. She
jumped onto it, whipped its hood off revealing a female face, and gave
it a deep kiss. The figure returned the kiss and the two women rolled
across the ground locked in a firm embrace.

     After the necking ended, Shadow-Ranma got up, brushed the dust off
her cloak, and then helped the other woman up.

     Shadow-Akane ran her hand through her dark-blue hair and smiled.
"No fair using Black Fire, Idiot!"

     Shadow-Ranma grinned. "All's fair in War and Love." She walked over
to a control panel and touched a big red button. A shower of hot water
poured down on her, transforming her back into a man.

     "What are you doing down here, anyway? Our bet is over... I won."
Shadow-Akane grinned broadly.

     Shadow-Ranma flinched. He didn't like to be reminded about losing
the bet, even if he did end up enjoying being married to Shadow-Akane as
a result of it. Of course, he wasn't likely to tell Shadow-Akane that.
"Oh, just trying to pass the time. Since we became eternal back in the
Twentieth century, we have so much time on our hands."

     "Gee, you could always show me how to do the Black Fire technique,"
Shadow-Akane said, miffed.

     Shadow-Ranma just sat back and settled into the chair that
reappeared. "Why? You'd just use it against me."

     "Damn, right I would." Shadow-Akane sighed. "Why do I love you?"

     "Because of my charming personality, of course."

     Shadow-Akane stuck out her tongue at him, but then planted a kiss
on Shadow-Ranma's lips. She leaned back and another chair appeared for
her to sit in. "So, what are you doing here? We haven't used the
Temporal Universal Manipulator for centuries."

     "Wait a second." Shadow-Ranma's hands flashed across the control
panel in front of him. He smiled and then hit a big button marked
'Alternate Universe Engage' and pointed to the large video screen, which
zoomed in a one of the timelines. Another line separated from the main
line and began moving along horizontally. "There. Happy Anniversary!"

     Shadow-Akane was so stunned, she just stared at the screen for a
minute. Finally, she spoke. "You remembered. Three times in as many
centuries, you're going to spoil me in expecting you to remember our
anniversary at least once a century. Thank you, Ranma." She leaned over
and planted a kiss on his lips. "But why are you creating an alternate
universe?"

     "It's my present. Take a look at the specs for the divergence
point."

     Shadow-Akane looked at the video screen. "Oh my. Thank you, that's
a very sweet gift." She gave him another deep kiss, which turned into a
necking session. Soon two cloaks were thrown off and a bed appeared out
of nowhere.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Shadow-Ranma pulled his black cloak back on and sat down at the
control panel again. Shadow-Akane soon joined him. They both were
smiling broadly. "Enjoy YOUR gift?" Shadow-Akane asked, earning a nod
from him. "So do we end up together in this universe?"

     "I don't know yet. Let's watch it an see," Shadow-Ranma said.

     "Just like old times." Shadow-Akane smiled and grabbed a bag of
potato chips and tossed it to Shadow-Ranma. "Put it on screen, Mr.
Saotome."

     "Aye, aye, Captain Akane!"

     "Warped universe factor eight!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma leapt at her father, who was currently a panda, and landed a
savage kick to his furry butt. "How dare you do this without asking me,
old man!"

     The panda traded blows with the red-headed girl and was about to
smash Ranma with a 'No Martial Arts Zone' sign he had ripped out of the
ground, when a hand reached out and stopped his swing. The panda looked
around to see a young nun dressed in a white habit. The panda held up a
sign that read, 'Excuse me ma'am, but I need to discipline my son.'

     "That is not the way to settle a argument, Mr. Panda. Please don't
hurt the girl," the nun said, calmly.

     The calm words seemed to placate the panda and he dropped the
street sign.

     "Thank you my child," the nun said, placing a hand briefly on the
panda's shoulder. She walked over, held out a hand to Ranma, and helped
the redheaded girl up. "Are you okay, miss?"

     "Yeah, just fooling around with this god-damned furball here,"
Ranma said, straightening her shirt.

     "Oh my. A young lady shouldn't talk like that."

     Ranma smirked, but decided not to correct the nun. "Err, sorry.
Thanks. I'm Ran.. ko," Ranma said, barely remembering to use the name
that his father had insisted he use while a girl. He didn't know why he
should bother concealing the curse, but his father had insisted that he
do so once they arrived in the city they currently found themselves in.

     "Nice to meet you, Ranko. I'm Sister Angela,"

     Ranma smiled. She wasn't used to being treated so well, but then
she had spent most of her life traveling with her idiot father. Their
recent trip to China had ended up cursing her to be half female and her
father to be half panda. <Stupid furball.> "Thank you again."

     Sister Angela crossed herself and smiled. "It's no trouble. If you
ever have any other problems, you can come to my church, St. Mary's."

     "Um, thanks... but I'm not... Christian," Ranma stuttered.

     Sister Angela smiled. "That's okay, we help anyone in need."

     Ranma smiled nervously and waved as Sister Angela walked away. Then
she ducked as the panda sung the sign at her again. A swift kick to the
panda's gut finished the fight. "Stupid father."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Later, Ranma walked down a street in his male form. "I told you,
I'm going back to China to find a cure for this stupid curse."

     His father held up a sign that read, 'But we need the money!'. But
Ranma kicked the sign out of his father's human hands.

     "Idiot! You're human now!"

     "Ranma, just win this fight and we can afford to get back to
China," Genma said, not mentioning that he really wanted the money to
get to Tokyo in style. He wanted to make a good impression when he
showed up at his friend Soun Tendo's house.

     "But why FEMALE kickboxing?!"

     "It's the only contest around and you do qualify... or at least
half-qualify."

     "Stupid old man."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "She's five pounds overweight," a man said, checking the scale that
Ranma, in his girl form, stood on.

     "Oh, gee... guess I can't fight then," Ranma said. She started to
step off the scale.

     "Oh no, RANKO, you will fight!" Genma said, then pulled Ranma's
shirt and pants off, leaving her dressed just in boxer shorts. The
boxing officials, all men, just stared dumbfounded by the sight of the
topless girl in front of them.

     "What'cha think you're doing, Pop!" Ranma yelled and clobbered
Genma.

     "Well, that took four pounds off," one of the coherent officials
said.

     "See, it's no use, Pop!"

     "One little pound? No problem, we'll get you down to featherweight
before the final weigh-in!" Genma insisted.

     "She could try it without the boxers," a drooling official
suggested. He was ignored.

     "Dammit, why should I bother?"

     "Because I said so!"

     Ranma smirked. "Got to have a better reason than that!"

     "Because you promised. And it would be dishonorable to go back on
your word."

     Ranma stepped off the scale and made for the door. "Fine, but
you're hardly the one to be talking about honor!"

     "Miss?"

     Ranma didn't stop, since she didn't consider herself a miss. She
had only been a miss for about a month, and even then, only for half of
the time.

     "Miss, your clothes!" on of the officials yelled louder, mostly so
they could see Ranma's breasts again.

     Ranma looked down at her naked body. "Damn, I forgot." She ran
back, put her clothes back on, and left with her father, leaving the
drooling officials behind.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Gimme some food!"

     Shadow-Akane rolled her eyes at Shadow-Ranma's manners, but she was
used to it. "Say 'please'."

     Shadow-Ranma huffed. "Please."

     Shadow-Akane grinned and tossed some sort of green goo in a plastic
container at him. "What is this anyway? I don't recall a kickboxing
match in the other universes we created."

     "In most universes Ranma just pounded his father into submission
when his father told him about the match and they walked to Tokyo."

     "But in this one that nun stopped him? Odd that the change you made
should cause that."

     Shadow-Ranma shrugged, scooped up some of the Green Soy, and gulped
it down.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Gimme some food!"

     "No, Ranma. You must lose weight if you are to make the weigh in.
It's for your own good," Genma said selflessly, between bites of a large
steak. They were seated in a small diner.

     "Damn it, Pop! I can't fight if I'm weak with hunger!" Ranma said,
pounding the table with his fists.

     "Boy, you must resist the temptations of food until the final weigh
in!" Genma said, biting into a large rice ball.

     "Easy for you to say! Give me that rice ball!" Ranma leapt over the
table and tried to grab the rice ball, but Genma moved the ball away
from Ranma's hands. A short fight ensued, which ended when Ranma crashed
through the window and into the wet street outside.

     Ranma rose to her feet. "God dammit, Pop!"

     "Ranko! Please do use the lord's name in vain."

     Ranma looked behind her to see Sister Angela standing in the rain
with an umbrella. She looked down and noticed that she had transformed
into her hated girl form. "Um... I'm sorry, Sister."

     "Come here and stand under the umbrella with me or you'll catch
cold."

     Ranma smiled and walked over. "Thanks."

     "What happened?" Sister Angela asked.

     "I had an argument with my Pop."

     "Oh dear, did he kick you out?"

     "Yeah... out the window," Ranma mentioned, picking a piece of glass
out of her hair.

     "How awful!"

     "It's no big..."

     Sister Angel interrupted Ranma. "You must come with me. We'll give
you a bed and some food. You poor girl!"

     "Food?" Ranma said, then grinned. "Thanks, Sister."

     Genma was too busy arguing with the diner owner about the window
that he didn't see Ranma walk away with the nun.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Sister Angela watched in horror as the redheaded girl tore into the
food. Pieces of rice flew everywhere. "Slow down, Ranko. We have to feed
the homeless too."

     Ranma stopped and frowned. "Oh, sorry. Guess I'm just hungry and
this food is so good. My Pop hasn't fed me in days."

     Sister Angela gasped and pulled Ranma into an embrace and hugged
her tightly. "You poor dear. Just tell me what else that beast has done
to you."

     Ranma blushed deeply as he was pressed into Sister Angela's bosom.
"Err... okay. Well, when I was five he took me away from my mother for a
training trip..."

     Much later, Ranma was wrapping up his list of things that his
father had made her do. Fortunately, Sister Angela had let her go after
ten agonizing minutes of being pressed into her bosom. "And he didn't
even let me say goodbye to my old chum Ukyo before we left."

     "My god, your father is the Devil!" Sister Angel said, crossing
herself.

     Ranma smirked, wondering how she would react to the stuff about
Jusenkyo. "Well, almost, but he has trained me to be a great martial
artist. Err... don't tell him I said that."

     Sister Angela smiled. "I won't. Don't worry, I won't let him hurt
you."

     Ranma laughed and rubbed his hair nervously. "Oh, he couldn't hurt
me. We just fight to blow off steam and for training."

     "It's still not right for a man to hit a girl."

     "Yeah, I know, but there is something else I think I should tell
you..."

     Sister Angela yawned suddenly and stood up. "I think that can wait
for tomorrow. Let's get to bed."

     "Err... okay."

     Sister Angela led the female Ranma upstairs and into a room. "Here
you go. You can sleep on that bed over there," Sister Angela said,
pointing to one of two beds in the small room.

     "Thanks, Sister." Ranma stepped forward and heard the door close
behind her. She slipped off her shirt and pants. She just had her boxers
and T-shirt on when she pulled the bedspread down

     "Oh my, you don't have any girl's underwear? What an awful excuse
for a father!"

     Ranma spun around and gasped when she saw Sister Angela was still
in the room. She was starting to undo her habit. "Sister Angela?!"

     "Yes, Ranko?"

     "Err... I didn't know you would be staying here."

     "Oh, the shelter is full, so you'll have to stay in my room."

     "But..."

     "Don't worry about it," Sister Angela said, then began to undo her
habit.

     Ranma tried to remain calm while she turned around, slipped into
the bed, and pulled the sheets over her head.

     "Goodnight, Ranko."

     "Goodnight, Sister Angela," Ranma said, without looking. He cringed
every time he heard a piece of clothing come off.

     "Oh my. Ranko, I dropped my bra over on your side of my bed... can
you grab it for me?"

     Ranma started to make snoring sounds to avoid having to retrieve
the aforementioned bra for what she assumed was a naked nun.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Shadow-Akane glared at Shadow-Ranma. "You had better not end up
with the nun in this universe, or this will be our last anniversary!"

     Shadow Ranma gulped. "Hey! She's just feeding me, not my fault that
the nun thinks I'm a girl and isn't self-conscious around me!"

     "You could have told her!"

     "Hey, he tried! No fair blaming me for things alternate versions of
myself do!"

     "Idiot."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma awoke and stretched her arms. She looked around the small
room and didn't see Sister Angela, so she got up. She noticed a note on
the dresser. She picked it up and read it. "Dear Ranko, please help
yourself to any of my bras or panties. I'm afraid I don't have much in
the ways of dresses, so I can't offer anything like that. A pretty girl
like you shouldn't go around in such boyish clothes. If you're not
careful, someone may call you a tomboy."

     Ranma smirked. "Sorry, Sister, but I'm a guy and I don't wear no
bra and panties." She scratched her butt and slipped her shirt and pants
on. Then she opened the door and went to find the bathroom.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "You put on forty pounds!" Genma yelled as he weighed Ranma.

     "I think I need some cold water first, meathead!" Ranma said,
pounding his fist into his father's face.

     "Oh."

     "Excuse me sirs, what are you doing?" the fish shop owner asked as
he approached the fish scale that Genma was weighing Ranma on.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma, in girl form, was running down the street chasing her
father, who was in his panda form. The panda held up a sign that said,
'Come on, Ranma! You gained three more pounds even in your girl form.
Sweat it out!'

     "Stupid... old... man..." Ranma gasped as he ran.

     The panda spun the sign around. It read 'Only twenty more
kilometers to go!'

     "It was twenty kilometers an half hour ago!" Ranma yelled. Catching
his second breath he jumped at the panda, but missed. He glared at the
panda, who was riding on the back of a pickup truck. "Stupid old man."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Sister Angela finished her daily prayers and walked down the aisle
of the chapel. She paused when she heard a soft moan. She looked around
and then ran over to a figure that was sleeping on one of the rear pews.
"Ranko?"

     Ranma opened her eyes and saw the nun. "Sister Angela?" she said,
weakly.

     "Oh my, what has your father done to you now?" Sister Angela sat
down next to Ranma and cradled the redheaded girl's head in her lap.

     "Training for a female kickboxing match."

     "How barbaric!"

     Ranma smiled. "It's not so bad. I'm the world's greatest martial
artist, so fighting is a part of my life. But this stupid diet he has me
on to lose weight is killing me."

     "Is that why you were so hungry?" Sister Angela asked. Ranma
nodded. "And you've made a commitment to fight in this match?"

     "Yeah, I guess I sort of promised my father I would."

     "Ranko, you must honor your word. I wish you had told me about this
when you stayed here overnight. Now I'm responsible for you not losing
weight."

     Ranko rose to a sitting position and looked at Sister Angela. "No,
it's not your fault. I just couldn't stand not eating."

     "Man does not live by bread alone, Ranko."

     "No, there's rice and fish and..."

     Sister Angela laughed and covered her mouth. "Very amusing, but I
was talking about keeping your sprit fed. If you can't honor your own
word, how can you honor God's word?"

     "Sister, I told you I'm not Christian."

     "I know, but don't you believe in anything?"

     "Martial arts."

     "So isn't going against your word dishonorable to the sprit of
martial arts."

     "I guess. I'm going to fight, but getting down to the proper weight
is so hard."

     "Make me a promise, Ranko," Sister Angel asked, holding the other
girl's hands.

     Ranma look up into the nun's eyes. "What?"

     "Promise me that you'll keep your word and fight in that contest."

     "I already said I will."

     "But to do that you have to lose weight, correct?" Sister Angela
asked. Ranma nodded. "Then to keep your word you have to lose weight
before the match."

     "Okay, Sister, you win, but it's only two days away."

    "You'll stay here and I'll make sure you lose the weight."

    "Err... okay."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     In the basement of the church, a very sweaty Ranma worked out while
Sister Angela looked on. Ranma punched and kicked a large straw filled
bag setup in the center of the room. After a big windup, she twisted
around and landed a high kick to the bag with her right foot. The bag
exploded and sent it's contents flying across the room.

     Unfortunately, the hook holding the bag up also flew across the
room headed right for Sister Angela. She barely had time to gasp before
Ranma leapt across the room and carried her out of the way of the sharp
hook. Ranma landed gently and held Sister Angela in her arms.

     An awkward silence followed as Ranma cradled the nun in her arms.
"Err... thanks, Ranko, but you can let me go now," Sister Angela said
softly into Ranma's ear.

     Ranma released Sister Angela and pulled away awkwardly. Both girls
were blushing. "Sorry about that. I should have been more careful."

     "That's okay, Ranko. Thank you for saving me." Sister Angela calmly
returned to her seat and took a sip of tea. "Now do a thousand pushups."

     Ranma gasped as she heard this. "A thousand? Gee, Pop never makes
me do such silly exercises." She started to flap her muscle T-shirt to
cool off.

     "Ranko, you promised."

     Ranma sighed and took the T-shirt off and rung the sweat out of
out.

     "Ranko! Please cover yourself in the Lord's house! Err... make that
the Lord's basement."

     Ranma looked confused for a moment, but then awkwardly pulled the
T-shirt on again. "Sorry, Sister, I wasn't thinking."

     Sister Angela shook her head sadly. "The way you act it's almost
like you were a boy."

     Ranma smirked and then started to do the pushups.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Shadow-Akane glared at the screen and then at Shadow-Ranma. "You
held that nun a bit long, don't cha think?"

     Shadow-Ranma gulped and tried to think of something to say.
"Ummm... Well, I haven't met you yet, so of course I would be attracted
to other women."

     Shadow-Akane thought she detected a compliment in there somewhere,
so she decided to let it slide.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma, in his girl form, stepped onto the scale with trepidation.
She was wearing her fight clothes, which consisted of a pair of blue
boxing trunks and a green T-shirt. Ranma didn't care that much about the
low cut T-shirt that the officials have provided, it's not like she was
planing on staying a girl for long, but she refused to wear the matching
bottom, which would normally be described as a thong bikini. To Ranma it
had looked too much like panties, and there was no way in hell that
Ranma Saotome would ever wear panties.

     Sister Angela looked on nervously as the officials looked closely
at the scale. The officials hoped that she was overweight again and
would have to shed some clothes. At first Ranma was worried about the
disappointed look that crossed their faces, but then smiled as they
announced the results.

     "Two pounds under the featherweight limit." The official making the
announcement sounded very upset.

     "Yes!" Ranma shouted, clenching her fist.

     "Ranko, I'm so proud of you!!" Sister Angel exclaimed and gave
Ranma a big hug. Ranma blushed at the embrace.

     After Sister Angel released her, Ranma smiled. "Thanks, Sister. I
couldn't have done it without you."

     "It's my pleasure. The fight is tonight, right?"

     Ranma nodded. "Yes, err..."

     "What is it, Ranko?"

     "Would you like to come to the fight? I mean... you're the reason I
made the weight limit and all," Ranma asked awkwardly.

     Sister Angela smiled. "Of course, Ranko. I'll be there for sure."
She gave Ranko a kiss on the cheek and then turned and walked out of the
gym.

     Ranma put a hand to the spot the nun had kissed and stared at the
retreating nun with a confused look on her face.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma stood in the corner of the ring as the panda rubbed her
shoulders. "Any advice, furball?"

     The panda held up a sign that read, 'Don't win too fast and don't
hurt the girl too badly.'

     "Stupid father," Ranma muttered. "I can't believe you're making me
fight a girl!"

     The panda held up a sign that read, 'What did you think FEMALE
kickboxing meant?'

     Ranma fumed, but didn't say anything else. She knew her father was
right, for some reason it had never occurred to her that her opponent
would be female as well. <Well, I promised Sister Angela, so I have to
go through with this.> She looked around and looked for the nun and
smiled as she spotted Sister Angela in the front row.

     Sister Angela smiled back and then clasped her hands in prayer.
<Please let Ranko win. She's worked so hard. And please look after the
other girl, since Ranko has a vicious high kick.>

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     The bell rang.

     Ranma's opponent moved in cautiously.

     Ranma flew through the air, her red pigtail flapping behind her.

     Ranma's opponent crashed to the ground after being kicked by
Ranma's right foot.

     The crowd was silent.

     The referee was stunned.

     Ranma's opponent was unconscious.

     Ranma slowly walked back to her corner.

     The referee found his voice and started counting. "One... two..."

     "Gee, that was easy," Ranma said, waiting for the count to finish.

     "Nine... Ten!" the referee finished counting. He walked over to
Ranma and held her arm up. "The winner, Ranko Saotome!"

     And the crowd went wild. Applause and cheers filled the small
auditorium.

     Ranma puffed out her chest as she basked in the glory of her win.
Normally this would be fine, but of course she was a girl now, so it
made her breasts stick out further. This resulted in a whole series of
catcalls and whistles. Ranma looked over at Sister Angela. She smiled to
the stunned nun, who awkwardly returned the smile.

     Ranma returned to the corner and was promptly hit on her head by a
sign held by the panda. "Whatcha do that for, Pop?" she cried out
rubbing her head. Then she read the sign.

     The sign read, 'I told you not to win too fast, now the next
fighters will be more careful.'

     "It's not my fault! She left herself wide open!" Ranma insisted.
She took a drink of water then frowned suddenly. "Next fighters?"

     The panda bonked Ranma on the head again and showed the sign to
her. It read, 'This is a championship fight. Without having a fight
record to start out higher in the rankings, you have to beat all the
other competitors to win'.

     Ranma signed in resignation. "How many?"

     The panda pointed to the score board which listed all the
competitors. All one hundred of them.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Damn! Did you see that! I am one great martial artist or what!"
Shadow-Ranma said watching a replay of the short fight on the smaller
instant-replay screen.

     "What, I think. The other fighters will probably not be that easy,
so put your ego into low speed or I'll play the DVD of your honeymoon
with Kuno," Shadow-Akane threatened, holding up a silver disc in her
hand.

     Shadow-Ranma grimaced. "I still can't believe that Nabiki sold a
billion copies of that one."

     "She didn't," Shadow-Akane said. Shadow-Ranma's eyes brightened.
"It's reached three billion now."

     Ranma scowled. "Damn multi-dimensional marketing. It's only sold
that well since she's advertising it as if it's a sequel to Debbie Does
Dallas!"

     Shadow-Akane held up the disc to show the title. "Well, I liked the
title: Kuno Does Ranma: The Return of Debbie."

     "Debbie is just the freaking maid for less than a minute!"
Shadow-Ranma bellowed.

     "Yes, but Kuno did do her."

     Shadow-Ranma slunk back into his chair. "It's bad enough I had to
be married to Kuno in that universe, but then to be cheated on..." He
shuddered at the thought.

     Shadow-Akane put the disc down, leaned over, and kissed him on his
lips. "Calm down. I know you'd never do Kuno in a normal universe."

     "Damn right I wouldn't." As if to prove his masculinity,
Shadow-Ranma pulled Shadow-Akane into his lap and gave her a deep kiss.
Soon he was massaging her arms and stomach as they got lost in the
passion of the moment. Then he had to go and open his big mouth for
something other than a kiss. "Have you gained weight?"

     Shadow-Akane grew angry and stood up. "Idiot! Are you this stupid
in every universe?!" she asked rhetorically, since she knew he was.

     Shadow-Ranma wasn't sure what he said wrong and scratched his head.


             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma's next fifty opponents followed the first's lead. Combined,
they lasted a total of twenty-seven minutes in the ring before being
knocked out. As Ranma slumped down in the corner, she sighed. "I thought
you said these would get harder? That last one ran away from me and
knocked herself out on the corner pole."

     Before the panda could scribble an answer, Sister Angela walked up
to the corner. "Ranko, do you have to hit them so hard?"

     Ranko frowned. "Huh? I'm just trying to keep my promise to you."

     Sister Angela smiled at Ranko. "Well, that is good, but try not to
hurt them too badly."

     "I'm trying, but girls are so fragile," Ranko said.

     Sister Angela chuckled. "You are such a tomboy. Please just be
careful."

     "I will, Sister."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma squared off against opponent number one hundred, a girl of
about Ranma's age who wore a green leotard with a rose design
embroidered across it.

     The bell rang.

     Ranma waited.

     Her opponent didn't. She flew at Ranma, hit the side of Ranma's
right leg with her foot, and then did a summersault into a perfect
two-point landing.

     Since Sister Angela had asked Ranma to take it easy on her
opponents, Ranma had been letting them get the first hit in. It didn't
change the outcome any, just prolonged the matches a bit. Ranma was
about to swing around and finish her latest opponent, when her right leg
suddenly went numb and she toppled to the ground.

     "Whaaaaa?" Ranma gasped, feeling her leg. <She must have hit a
pressure point or something...>

     "One..." the referee began counting.

     Ranma's challenger stood over her, and started laughing in a high
pitched cackle. Since everyone was holding their head in pain from the
noise, no one noticed her hide a small needle she had just used under
her leotard.

     Ranma tried to get back to her feet, but couldn't make her right
leg move. <Damn, what can I do?> She looked at her father, but received
no help from that direction. The panda was just making 'get up'
gestures. <Like I didn't know I had to get up, Pop!> She looked over to
see Sister Angela standing and looking at her with a very concerned look
on her face. <Dammit, I won't let you down, Sister!>

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Shadow-Ranma blinked in surprise. "Damn, to think I was that close
to fighting with Kodachi in all those other universes."

     "You'd better not get engaged to her here," Shadow-Akane muttered.

     "Well, Ranma is a girl at the moment, so that loon shouldn't fall
for him this time."

     "Well, that didn't stop Kodachi in that universe where all the
girls turned out to be lesbians."

     Shadow-Ranma smiled at the mention of that universe. Too late to
avoid a vicious glare from Shadow-Akane, he wiped the smile from his
face.

     "Jerk! Sleeping with all those lesbians in that universe!"

     "You're just mad because he didn't sleep with you at all in that
universe."

     "Well, you never did know what was best for you."

     "I'd really wish you'd stop blaming me for things alternate
versions of myself do!"

     "As soon as you stop re-watching those universes where you end up
with Ukyo, I will!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma hobbled onto her left leg just as the referee reached the
count of nine. Ranma wobbled a bit, but soon gained her balance on her
good leg. Unlike other times she'd fought with her father while balanced
on one foot, this time she had no way of using her right leg to shift
her balance when needed. Worse, how could she kick her opponent with
only one good leg?

     "Oh my. You should have stayed down, dear," Kodachi declared and
then charged at Ranma.

     Ranma leapt into the air and summersaulted over Kodachi's head.
Landing on her hands, Ranma swung back with her good leg and hit Kodachi
in the small of her back.

     Kodachi was caught off guard and went flying across the ring to
slam into the ropes. Dazed she turned around and glared at Ranma. "How
dare you kick me, you peasant girl!"

     "It's a kickboxing match, you fool!" Ranma yelled back, bracing for
another frontal charge.

     That charge never happened. Kodachi ran forward a bit, but then
sidestepped and bounced off the side ropes. She then flew back at Ranma
with her feet outstretched.

     Ranma barely reacted in time to drop to her back. As Kodachi flew
over her, Ranma raised her left leg and landed a vicious kick to the
other girl's stomach.

     With a muffled 'ooof', Kodachi collapsed to the ring's mat and
remained motionless.

     "One..." the referee began to count, gesturing at both combatants
on the mat.

     Ranma used his arms to get back up on her good leg, then kept her
balance as the referee finished counting to ten over Kodachi.

     "...ten!" the referee finished then turned to Ranma. "And the
winner of the championship is Ranko Saotome!"

     Ranma smiled weakly and then was sandwiched in a hug between a
panda and a nun. The former caused her to spit out a mouth full of fur.
The later made her blush. Even if Ranma knew that she was a nun, the
feeling of Sister Angela's warm body against her own was very
stimulating.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Later, Ranma and Sister Angela sat in a tea shop. "Thank you,
Sister. I couldn't have done it without your help," Ranma said. She took
a sip of her tea.

     Sister Angela smiled sweetly. "Nonsense. You are a remarkable
fighter, Ranko. I just wish you'd try to be a little more feminine or
you'll never get a husband."

     Ranma almost choked on her tea. "Err... yeah. Thanks again." She
put some coins down for the bill, slid out of the booth with Sister
Angela, and walked back to the church with her.

     "Why wasn't your father at the fight anyway?" Sister Angela asked
as they neared the church.

     "He was."

     Sister Angela frowned. "Where?"

     Ranma gulped. "Well, he was in the audience. He... err... doesn't
like to stay ringside... sort of a superstition."

     "I see. Well, that panda is very well trained."

     Ranma burst out laughing, causing Sister Angela to look at Ranma
oddly. "Yeah, but the furball still needs to be housebroken."

     Sister Angela couldn't help but laugh at that. Distracted, she
tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and fell forward.

     Acting by instinct, Ranma reach forward and grabbed the nun before
she hit the pavement. Unfortunately, Ranma managed to grab one of Sister
Angela's breasts in the process. In the awkward moments that followed,
Ranma ended up suddenly letting go. Sister Angela crashed onto the
sidewalk.

     "Oh god, Sister... I'm so sorry," Ranma blurted, holding out a hand
for her.

     Sister Angela accepted the hand and rose. "That's okay, Ranko. It's
not like you were a man or anything."

     Ranma gulped loudly. "Ummm, Sister... I think I need to tell you
something."

     Sister Angela looked sweetly into Ranma's eyes. "What is it,
Ranko?"

     "Um, I... I..."

     Sister Angela put her hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Just say it,
Ranko."

     Ranma just couldn't spill the news about her curse after so long,
so she decided to tell Sister Angela about her leaving. "My pop is
taking me to Tokyo tomorrow. He wants to visit some old friend of his
before we go back to China."

     Sister Angela frowned slightly. "Oh. Well, I'll miss you. You're
such a fun girl to be around."

     Ranma flinched. "Yeah. I've really enjoyed my time with you. You've
made me feel loved."

     "You are. God loves all his children."

     Ranma blushed. "Err... well... I'll miss you."

     Sister Angela smiled. "So will I, but we may meet again someday.
And you are always welcome to visit my church if you're in the area."
She stepped forward and pulled Ranma into a hug.

     When the hug finished, Ranma watched Sister Angela pull away.
Something inside her snapped and Ranma found herself leaning forward and
planting a kiss on the started nun's lips.

     After several seconds, Sister Angela finally managed to break the
kiss and pulled away from Ranma, a deep red blush covering her face.
"Ranko..."

     Ranma finally realized what she'd done. It was bad enough to kiss a
nun while a man, but to do it when she was a girl was twice the mistake.
"Oh.... Sister... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

     The blush slowly faded form Sister Angela's face as she spoke.
"Ranko, I think you're confused. You've spent so much time on the road
with your father, you're reaching out for love in the wrong places."

     "I'm really sorry. I just..." Ranma burst in tears and then ran off
into the darkness.

     Sister Angela followed her, but soon lost sight of the redheaded
girl in the darkness. When she returned to the church she prayed for
Ranko's safety. Then she went to confession, to clear her soul of
something that disturbed her.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Bless me Father, for I have sinned."

     "How long as it been since you last confession, Sister?"

     "One week."

     "What are your sins, my child?"

     "I have kissed a woman."

     "Oh my."

     "Well, I guess technically she kissed me."

     "I see. Well then you are not at fault."

     "But I sort of liked it."

     "Oh my."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Shadow-Akane raged. "You jerk!" Mallet hits chair where
Shadow-Ranma had been seated. "You bastard!" Mallet hits floor where
Shadow-Ranma had been standing. "You nun-chasing, cross-dressing,
lesbian!" Mallet hits Shadow-Ranma's head where his brain used to be
spherical.

     Shadow-Ranma rubbed his head. "I'm sorry already! I didn't know
making that change would have myself making moves on a nun when he was a
girl! I mean who could have known THAT little change would cause Ranma
to fall for a nun?!"

     Shadow-Akane seemed to consider this. "Well, I guess that much is
true. But I still can't believe you fell for a nun when it always takes
so long for you fall for me!"

     "Feh, most of the time, Ranma falls for you right away. He's just
never able to bring himself to admit it, that's all."

     Shadow-Akane blinked several times. "Really?"

     Shadow-Ranma gulped loudly. "Well, yeah. Why else do we almost
always end up together in those universes?"

     "So you finally admit it, you fell for me too when we first met all
those centuries ago."

     Shadow-Ranma looked very nervous. "Well... err..." He nodded
slightly.

     Shadow-Akane beamed. "He loves me... he loves me...."

     Shadow-Ranma sighed resignedly then sat back down and glanced at
the screen. "Well, looks like he and his dad are headed to Tokyo, so I
doubt he'll end up with the nun in that universe." Trying to stop his
wife's chanting, he added, "Just consider it a detour on his way to
falling in love with Akane."

     This seemed to please Shadow-Akane, who stopped chanting and smiled
broadly. "Well, I hope so, or this anniversary is really going to suck."

     "Actually, our anniversary is over, we've been watching this
universe for a couple months now. All that pausing for sex and
everything else adds up pretty fast, you know."

     Shadow-Akane smiled and looked at the calendar. "You're right... Uh
oh..."

     Shadow-Ranma frowned. "What?"

     "I missed my last two periods. I must pregnant again."

     Shadow-Ranma rolled his eyes. "Not again. That makes a hundred and
sixty-nine, doesn't it?"

     "Idiot! Little Daiji was one hundred and sixty-nine. This will make
a hundred and seventy kids for us."

     "Daiji?" Shadow-Ranma thought for a moment. "Ah! Little red haired
brat with freckles, right?"

     "That describes about a third of our children."

     "I think I played with him a few months ago."

     "Daiji is a girl, idiot!"

     "Oh."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Soun, I don't know about this."

     Soun looked at his wife with pleading eyes. "Please, Hanaki, I
promised my good friend that his son could marry one of our daughters so
the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts can continue."

     "Well since Akane and Kasumi are already spoken for, that leaves
Nabiki. Have you told her yet?"

     Soun swallowed hard. "Not yet, Dear."

     "Well, I suggest you do so then. It's her decision after all. If
she doesn't like the boy, we shouldn't force her into an arranged
marriage."

     "Yes, Dear."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Is he cute?" Nabiki asked, hopefully. "How old is he?"

     "I don't know... I've never met the boy."

     Nabiki frowned. "He better not be a looser or some uggo."

     Hanaki placed her hand gently on her daughter's hand. "We're not
going to force you to marry him, but at least meet him and get to know
him before deciding."

     "Okay, Mother, but he better at least have a good chance of landing
an executive position at a big company if he's going to support me."

     Hanaki swatted Nabiki's hand softly. "Nabiki, I've told you before
not to be so concerned with money and material goods."

     Nabiki sighed. "Yes, Mother."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "They're here!" Nabiki called out.

     Hanaki got to her feet and raced to the front of the house with
Nabiki. When the returned, Hanaki was carrying a baby in her arms while
Nabiki was straining to get a look at it.

     Hanaki made cooing sounds to the baby before speaking. "Oh, you're
just the cutest little thing, my dear, sweet grandson."

     Behind her Kasumi and Dr. Tofu walked, grinning from ear to ear and
spilling over with pride over their newborn son. The group all stepped
into the family room where Soun was calmly reading the paper. He looked
up and smiled. Before he could rise, Hanaki placed the baby into his
arms. "Ah, so this is my grandson. A fine looking child you have there,
Tofu my lad."

     Dr. Tofu bowed. "Thank you, Father. My wife says he has your
cheekbones."

     Soun looked at the baby again. "You may be right, but he has Kasumi
and Hanaki's beautiful eyes."

     The two women mentioned blushed. "Oh, Father."

     Dr. Tofu nodded. "That they do." He gave his wife's shoulder a
gentle squeeze and then knelt down next to Soun.

     "So, is Nabiki's future husband here yet?" Kasumi asked, carefully
watching while Nabiki took her son from Hanaki.

     "Gee, Sis, just because you're off the hook from this arrangement
Daddy made, doesn't mean you can call him my fiance yet."

     Hanaki tried to keep her two oldest from getting into an argument.
"Well, since you broke it off with that Kuno boy, you haven't dated
anyone, have you?"

     "I wouldn't call what we did 'dating'."

     "Then what was it?"

     Nabiki gulped. She didn't want to tell her mother that she had just
dated Kuno because he could afford to buy her some nice things and had
only broken it off when he had started chasing whatever girl caught his
fancy. "Well, we just grew apart. That's all."

     "I see. Using boys for their money isn't nice, Nabiki."

     Realizing her mom had seen right though her, Nabiki bowed her head.
"I'm sorry, Mom."

     Everyone looked around when a car horn was heard from the front.

     "That must be Genma and his son!" Soun got to his feet. "Come and
meet your fiance, Nabiki."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

    Ranma and Genma waited in the taxi until someone came to the front
door. Ranma had started to get out when they had first pulled up, but
Genma had restrained him. He wanted to make a good impression when they
showed up and with the prize money they could do just that.

     "Now be respectful, Boy." Genma straightened the nice suit he now
wore which was paid for using the prize money.

     "I will be. I mean, it's not like they are you, Old man." Ranma
said, smirking evilly at his father. Despite his father's attempts to
get him to wear a new suit, Ranma wore the same red Chinese shirt he
normally wore. Although, it had just been freshly cleaned and laundered.

     Genma saw his old friend Soun open the door, so he handed an
umbrella to Ranma. The two of them slid out of the taxi using the
umbrellas to stay dry from the pouring rain. Just before Genma walked
away the taxi driver tugged on his suit jacket. Genma tried to feign he
had already paid, but didn't fool anyone. He sighed and paid the bill,
but gave no tip.

     The taxi pulled away fast, causing a wave of water to shoot out at
Genma. He jumped out of the way, but in the escape his umbrella slipped
from his fingers. When he landed in front of Soun, he was a panda.

     Soun gasped. "What the..."

     Ranma walked up behind his father. "Ummm... Mr. Tendo?"

     "Yes."

     "I'm Ranma Saotome, and this is my furball of a father."

     "Saotome?" Soun looked closely at the panda, who nodded. "You've
changed a bit."

     The panda's shoulders slumped. So much for the good impression he
wanted to set.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma and the Panda knelt and bowed in from to the Tendos. "I'm
Ranma Saotome and this is my father, Genma Saotome. Nice t' meet ya."

     Nabiki smiled. "Oh, he is cute."

     Ranma lifted his head up and mistook to whom Nabiki was referring.
"He's not actually a Panda, he's my father. He fell into a cursed spring
in China."

     "How awful," Kasumi commented. "Well, at least you didn't get
cursed as well, Ranma."

     "Well, actually..."

     Hanaki came in carrying a steaming kettle and interrupted Ranma's
confession. "Here's the hot water you wanted."

     "Oh... thank you."  Ranma took the kettle and poured the hot water
over the panda's head. Before the assembled people's startled eyes, he
transformed into a man. He quickly pulled his suit back on.

     "Oh my."

     "Mother, that calls for a little stronger comment than 'oh my'.
Like Holy Cow!!"

     "I think 'oh my' is fine, Kasumi dear."

     Nabiki looked at Genma. "Remarkable. You know, Mr. Saotome, I could
probably find you a job in a circus."

     "Why thank you, Nabiki dear, but I don't do tricks."

     "I can fix that." The sly grin on Nabiki's face did not make Genma
feel better.

     Soun slapped Genma on his back. "Well then, now that my friend is
human again, let's get started."

     Nabiki frowned.

     Ranma looked confused. "Huh?"

     "So, Tendo, these are your three beautiful daughters?"

     Hanaki blushed and giggled. "Oh, Mr. Saotome."

     Soun cleared his throat and then started making introductions.
"This is my WIFE, Hanaki. My oldest daughter, Kasumi, her husband DOCTOR
Tofu Ono, and their newborn son, Sanji. And here is Nabiki."

     "Ah, a wonderful family you have. I guess we should wait till your
third daughter arrives?"

     Soun shook his head. "I'm afraid only Nabiki is available."

     "I see. Well then...." Genma looked at Nabiki, who had a slightly
nervous look on her face, and then Ranma, who had no idea what was about
to happen. "Ranma, say hello to Nabiki, your fiancee."

     Ranma looked nervously at Nabiki. "Hi, Nab.... WHAT!" Ranma leapt
to his feet and glared at his father. "My WHAT?"

     "Your fiancee. Soun and I made an agreement that you would marry
one of his daughters. Since Nabiki is the only one available, that just
takes the guess work out of it." A look that showed that Genma was very
proud of how well his plan had turned out formed on Genma's face.

     "Is this why you insisted we come to Tokyo?!"

     "Yes, come on Ranma, she's cute."

     Ranma looked at Nabiki and blushed. "Well, yeah, but you could have
at least warned me!"

     "Right, and you'd have probably tried to run away."

     "I might still, old man."

     Hanaki cleared her throat. "Ranma, Mr. Saotome, lets just sit down
and discuss this calmly."

     Ranma stopped just short of pummeling his father at the soft words
from Hanaki. "Err... okay." He sat down.

     "Now then, as I've explained to Nabiki here already, no one is
going to force you into this engagement. But at least give it a chance.
Nabiki is a sweet girl and I'm sure you two can find something in
common. If it doesn't work out, there will be no honor lost in
nullifying the engagement. All right?"

     "But..." Soun made to object, but was silenced by a simple look
from his wife.

     Ranma looked at Nabiki awkwardly. "I guess..."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "So what do you like to do?" Nabiki asked, as she sat on the porch
with Ranma.

     "Martial arts."

     "Oh, Dad has a dojo in the back."

     "Really? Cool."

     "What else do you like to do?"

     "Umm... what do you like to do?"

     "Reading magazines, watching TV, hanging out with the girls." Ranma
cringed at the last item in Nabiki's list. "You know... the usual."

     "I see. Um, there is something I should maybe tell you." Ranma
fidgeted with his fingers.

     <Gee, he's a bit shy, but he is handsome.> "What?"

     "I..."

     "Ranma, prepare to die!"

     Ranma looked around just in time to see the umbrella that was
thrust into his face. Ranma tumbled across the yard and teetered on the
edge of the koi pond. Before he could fall in, he did a side flip and
landed a safe distance away. Then he looked for his assailant. "Who are
you?!"

    "How dare you mock me!" the bandana clad boy shouted.

    Ranma looked at Nabiki. "Did I mock him?" Nabiki just shrugged.

    "For what you have done to me, I shall kill you!" Ryoga jumps at
Ranma, who easily dodged the attack.

    "Ahh! Now I remember! Ryoga, isn't it?"

    "You pretend to not know the person whose life you have destroyed?!"

    "Did I?"

    "I challenged you and you ran like the coward you are!"

    "What did you do to him, Ranma?" Nabiki asked.

    "Beats me." Suddenly, a flash of remembrance flashed across Ranma's
face. "Ah!" He ran into the house leaving two confused teenagers behind.

    After a few minutes, Ranma returned and started tossing little
packets of bread at Ryoga. "Here you go."

    Ryoga looked at the bread packets and grew angrier. "What do you
take me for? You think bread makes up for the hell you've put me
through?"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Damn, Ranma got into Tokyo later than he usually did, so Ryoga
attacked at the house instead of school," Shadow-Ranma said, before
gulping down a handful of spiders. Hopefully they were licorice spiders,
but since they were moving they probably weren't.

     Shadow-Akane huffed. "Looks like you'll end up with Nabiki in this
one."

     "Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't plan it that way. I just wanted
your mother to be alive. I guess, there's no reason to continue this."
Shadow-Ranma reached for a control to shut the monitor off.

     Shadow-Akane stopped him. "No... don't. I want to see who I'm
engaged or married to. At least it doesn't sound like it's Kuno."

     "Well, guess we might as well see how things turn out. I wonder if
the lost boy will end up falling for Nabiki?"

     Before Shadow-Akane could respond, a time/space vortex opened in
front of them. "Dammit, where in the multi- universes am I in now?"

     "Yo, Lost Boy, long time no see!"

     Shadow-Ryoga looked around. "Oh... hi Ranma, hi Akane."

     "How are you doing, Ryoga?"

     "Just fine, Akane. Have you lost your bet with Ranma yet?"

     "Actually, I won. We got married centuries ago and have one hundred
and sixty-nine kids." Shadow-Akane patted her stomach, which was just
showing a slight bulge. "And one more on the way."

     "Oh..." Shadow-Ryoga paused. "I guess it's too late to say that I
love you."

     "Yes."

     "Oh... Ranma, prepare to die!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "We'll be in separate classes of course," Nabiki said as they
neared Furinkan High School the next day.

     Ranma looked down at Nabiki from the fence top he was walking
along. "Yeah, but I see no reason to go to school."

     "Well, how do you expect to get into college if you don't graduate
from High School?"

     "Feh, I don't need to go to no college. My dad keeps saying that
he'll figure out some scam to get a dojo of... our..." Ranma trailed off
as he finally realized what was going on. "...own."

     Nabiki smirked. "Oh, is that the only reason he's pushing us to get
married?"

     "Err... ahh... well... He's kind of always getting me into his
schemes. I think you're nice and all... I'm not doing this because of
the dojo."

     "That's good, because if we get married, the dojo and house are
mine," Nabiki insisted.

     "Pop will be upset." Ranma flashed Nabiki a big grin, which Nabiki
returned.

     "You know for a jock, you're not that bad."

     Ranma had no idea if this was a compliment or not, so he remained
silent.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     When Ranma and Nabiki approached the school, a boy in a kendo
outfit landed in front of them.

     "Ah, my fair Nabiki. What light through yonder window shines, is
but a pale imitation of your beauty."

     Ranma looked confused. "What window?"

     "I dumped you, Kuno. Please leave me alone."

     "Alas, I have no trinkets left to give you, but my heart still
yearns to encompass your feminine charms!"

     <Dream on. If I'd have known how little the Kuno family actually
owned, I'd have never started dating you.> Nabiki sighed, then looked
over to a group of boys. "Get him, guys."

     Suddenly, the group of boys all attacked Kuno. At first, Kuno held
his ground, but soon succumbed to the onslaught.

     Nabiki stepped over the mangled mess formerly known as Kuno and
towards the school. "Come on, Ranma, time for class."

     Ranma hopped over Kuno and slid in beside Nabiki. "What was that
all about?"

     "Oh, I dated Kuno for awhile, but it didn't work out. So every day
I have to pay that group of boys to beat him up." Nabiki mentally
checked the balance of what she got from Kuno and what she had to pay
the boys, and confirmed that she was still in the black.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     A few days later, Ranma was working out in the dojo. He attacked a
straw dummy in the center of the dojo and then sat down and wiped the
sweat off his forehead.

     "Impressive."

     Ranma looked over at the doors. "Oh... Hi, Nabiki."

     Nabiki sat down in front of Ranma. "You're better than my dad."

     "Feh, I'm better than everyone. I'm the world's greatest martial
artist!"

     "And so modest, too. So how do you like it here?"

     Ranma grew nervous. "Um... Well it's only been a few days, but it's
kind of nice to have someplace to call home."

     Nabiki suddenly grinned. "Do you want to kiss me?"

     Ranma started. "What? Um... why would I want to do that?"

     "I'm your fiancee. We have to kiss sometime. Why not now?"

     "Err... well, we hardly know each other."

     "That's the only way to get to live here."

     "I'm not going to marry you just for the dojo!" Ranma insisted,
with conviction.

     Nabiki flinched at the tone of his voice. <He's serious.> She
smiled before leaning in and planting a firm kiss on his un-expecting
lips.

     Ranma was so stunned he went along with the moment and kissed her
back. When the kiss ended Nabiki pulled away and stood up. "Not bad,
Ranma."

     Ranma remained silent as she stood up and walked to the doors.
"Um... Nabiki... there is something I need to tell you."

     Nabiki turned around. "What?"

     All thoughts about confessing left Ranma, when he saw that his
father--in his panda form no less--was kneeling in the doorway with a
video camera. Soun, Hanaki, and Kasumi were all around him. "What
the..."

     "How cute," Hanaki said softly.

     "I'm sure he's nowhere as good of a kisser as my Tofu."

     Ranma blushed and made a hasty retreat.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Later, he was sitting on the roof thinking, when a voice
interrupted his thoughts. "Whatcha doing up here?"

     Ranma turned to see Nabiki standing on a ladder at the roof's edge.
"Oh, just wanted to find someplace quiet to think."

     Nabiki hefted herself carefully onto the roof. "Was that your first
kiss?"

     "Huh? No. You could have told me they were watching."

     "Oh, sorry. It didn't really matter to me. I mean... we are engaged
so we can pretty much do whatever we like."

     Ranma didn't even want to think of what else she might have in
mind. "Nabiki, I like you and all, but do you really think this
engagement is going to work?"

     Nabiki gasped. "So far it is. Give it time. I mean, you're handsome
and all. I think I could be happy as your wife."

     "What about as my husband?"

     "Huh?"

     "Never mind." Ranma sat silently and stared at the night sky.
<She'll dump me as soon as she finds out about the curse. Time to get
the old man to take me back to China.>

     That night, Ranma had vivid dreams about kissing a girl. But it
wasn't Nabiki, it was Sister Angela.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Gee, guess Nabiki isn't good enough for Ranma. He still want's the
nun. What a two timing louse."

     "Shut up, Ryoga!" Shadow-Ranma shouted.

     "Make me!" Shadow-Ryoga replied, then swung his black umbrella at
Shadow-Ranma.

     "Knock it off you too!" Shadow-Akane said, walking up to them. Or
waddling up to them. She held her pregnant belly as she scolded them.

     "Yes, Dear."

     "Sorry, Akane."

     "So has he married Nabiki yet?" Shadow-Akane asked, then sat down.
She grabbed a handful of worms and started munching on them.

     Shadow-Ranma flinched at seeing her munch on the worms. <Boy,
pregnant women sure get odd cravings.> He decided not to comment on that
and instead answered her question. "Nope, he still has the hots for the
nun." He grabbed some sort of multi-tentacled thing from a nearby bowl
and casually shoved it down his throat.

     "Still? So my sister isn't good enough for you?" Shadow-Akane
glared at her husband.

     Shadow-Ranma waited for the mallet blow that would usually follow
that glare, but it never came. He looked over to see his wife had
stopped mid swing. "What's wrong?"

     "My water just broke."

     "Bweeeeeee!!!"

     "What the hell were you doing down there, Ryoga?!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     The next morning, Ranma was trading blows with his father in the
garden. "Come on, Pop!"

     "Not until you're married. Kissing is okay, but nothing more."

     "Not that!" Ranma shouted. He blushed and looked around to see if
anyone heard. He flinched when he saw Nabiki standing on the porch
wearing a smirk on her face. Distracted, he was kicked by Genma and shot
towards the pond. At the last second, he managed to twist his body and
land on the edge. "I meant to go back to China!"

     "As soon as you're married!"

     Ranma fumed. "Dang it, Pop! I want to go now!"

     "No."

     "Have it your way, old man. I'll just tell Nabiki about my curse.
She'll dump me and then we'll have no one to sponge off!" Before Genma
could stop him, Ranma walked up to the porch towards Nabiki. Before he
reached her, a voice called from the front of the house.

     "I'm home!"

     Nabiki smiled and ran to the front of the house, leaving Ranma
behind. When Nabiki came back, another girl with short dark hair was
with her.

     Nabiki introduced them. "Ranma, this is my little sister Akane.
Akane, this is my fiance, Ranma."

     Akane bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you, Ranma. I'm sure you'll
make Nabiki a fine husband."

     Ranma returned the bow, but blushed. "Err... well... it's not
official yet. We're still getting to know each other."

     "I see." Akane smiled broadly and turned to Nabiki. "So what else
has been going on around here, Sis?"

     Ranma watched the two sisters stroll off and catch up on all the
current gossip. <She's so cute.>

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     The next day, Ranma was working out in the dojo. He was startled by
a voice. "You're pretty good."

     Ranma looked over to see Akane standing in the doorway, dressed in
a gi. "Oh... Hi, Akane."

     "Nabiki said you were a martial artist. And a great kisser,
apparently."

     Ranma blushed. Not wanting to talk about the later subject, he
decided to pursue the first. Motioning towards her gi, he said, "You do
martial arts, too?"

     Akane nodded. "A little. Mostly to keep in shape. Father always
taught us girls at every opportunity. It's quite a rush to let myself go
all out during my exercises."

     "Yeah, I know the feeling. Me and my pop spent most of our lives on
the road training."

     "Wow, you must be pretty good then."

     "The best."

     "And modest too." Akane motioned towards the training floor. "Care
to spar with me?"

     "I'm sorry, I don't fight girls."

     Akane smiled. "Afraid I'll beat you, huh?"

     "As if."

     "Very well, have it your way." Akane stepped out onto the training
floor and began her usual warm up punches and kicks. "So, what do you
think of my older sister?"

     "Well, I only met Kasumi briefly."

     "I meant Nabiki." Akane started to punch the straw dummy in the
center of the dojo.

     "Oh. Well, she's nice and cute... but that seems to run in the
family." Ranma blushed when he realized what he had let slip.

     Akane smiled. "Thank you." Then with a savage kick, she decapitated
the dummy.

     "I sometimes wonder if she'd rather marry someone who's going to be
a high-paid executive."

     "Maybe. So what do you want to do with your life?"

     "Martial arts."

     "And?"

     "What else is there?"

     Akane giggled. "Lots of stuff. Don't worry, Nabiki may have a
weakness for money, but deep down she's a very sweet girl."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Akane finally showed up and now Ranma is drooling over her,"
Shadow-Ranma commented while looking at the large screen.

     "Who the hell cares! I'm in labor here!" Shadow-Akane yelled from
the bed she was resting on.

     "You've been through this almost two hundred times, what's the big
deal?"

     "Fine, next time YOU carry the baby for nine months and then you'll
see!"

     "Feh, I'm a man."

     Shadow-Akane pressed a button on a control pad by the bed and
Shadow-Ranma was doused with cold water.

     "Cold!" Shadow-Ranma shook her red hair dry. "Well, as soon as you
figure out how YOU can get me pregnant, I will."

     Shadow-Akane grinned, she loved a challenge. Then she clenched her
teeth suddenly as she had another contraction. "Where is Kasumi?"

     "Ryoga said she's at a Kasumi reunion over in dimension
00023-234-87644."

     "Well, someone better find me a doctor, or YOU'RE going to have to
deliver this baby!"

     Shadow-Ranma grew very nervous and pulled out the Shadow Pages.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     For the next week, Ranma and Akane would work out together in the
dojo. Ranma still wouldn't spar with a girl, but would sit and watch
Akane go through her exercises. Occasionally, he would make a suggestion
when he saw a hole in her technique.

     "You need to tighten up your stance there. Feet closer together
before the punch."

     Akane looked down and her feet and moved them closer together.
"Like this?" Ranma nodded. Akane threw a series of punches. "Wow...
you're right, the punches feel more powerful."

     Ranma walked up to her and motioned to her legs. "Yes, the muscles
all work together to form what looks like a single movement of your
arms, but you're actually putting the force of your whole body into the
punch. Here." Ranma casually took one of her arms and folded it back
under her armpit, then put his other arm on her hip. Then he pushed
forward a bit with both hands. "Feel that?"

     Akane smiled. "Yeah, it feels like they are connected."

     "That's the muscles in your back working together to form the
punch."

     Akane suddenly noticed how close they were and blushed. "Um...
thank you." She stepped away and hid the blush from him.

     Ranma didn't seem to notice. "Why don't you try some rapid punches
to the dummy."

     Akane nodded and started hitting the practice dummy.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     As the sun rose over the garden, Ranma traded kicks and punches
with his father. Everyone else was in the family room as Akane brought
out the breakfast.

     "Oh boy, one of my youngest's fabulous meals! It's been so long,"
Soun said, almost coming to tears.

     Nabiki rolled her eyes. "You've said that for the past week just
before each each meal she's made, Daddy! Give it a rest!"

     Akane smiled at her father. "Oh, Father, I'm sure Mother's cooking
is better than mine is. She's the one who taught me how to cook, after
all," she said, serving the rice. Then she got up and walked to the
porch. "Ranma, Mr. Saotome, breakfast!"

     "Thank you, Akane dear!" Genma said, while landing a kick to
Ranma's gut. Ranma responded with a quick punch followed by a leg sweep.
Genma crashed into the pond, transforming into a panda.

     Akane gasped when she saw the transformation. "What the..."

     Nabiki saw Akane's reaction and casually explained. "Oh, Mr.
Saotome is cursed to turn into a panda when he gets splashed with cold
water."

     "Ha... ha! You lost again, old man!" Ranma taunted the panda. Then
he turned towards the house, failing to notice the bucket of water that
his father tossed at him. Suddenly, a redheaded girl was standing in the
garden instead. She stopped laughing, spun around, and glared at the
panda. "Dirty trick, Pop!" Ranma then realized that her secret was out
and she looked nervously over at Nabiki.

     Before Ranma could say anything, Akane gasped. "Ranko?"

     Ranma frowned at hearing her say that name; the name that no one
from around here should know to call her. She looked into Akane's eyes
and gasped. "Sister... Angela?"

     Ranma and Akane held each other's eyes, each unable to believe what
they had just discovered.

     Their moment of recognition was interrupted when Nabiki waked over
and squeezed one of Ranma's breasts.

     "Hey! Cut that out!" Ranma shouted.

     "What the hell is this?" Nabiki glared at her father. "Daddy, you
engaged me to girl?!"

     "I'm a guy, dammit!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Oh, shit! Akane's the nun!" Shadow-Ranma exclaimed.

     "Who cares... just deliver... WHAT?!" Shadow-Akane looked over to
the video screen. "I'm the nun that Ranma fell in love with?
Arrrrrghhhhh!!!"

     "Calm down, Akane... that's a good thing. See every Ranma falls for
you... even if you're an untouchable nun!"

     "No, you idiot, I'm not upset about that... I'm having a
contraction!"

     "Oh..." Shadow-Ranma looked between his wife's legs. "Hey, I can
see the head."

     "Do something!"

     "What?"

     "Dammit... where is Ryoga with that doctor?"

     Shadow-Ranma took a closer look between her legs. "Oh, that's just
your panties. I guess I should take those off."

     Shadow-Akane grew very worried and was even more desperate for a
real doctor. <Hell, almost anyone would be better than this idiot.>

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Are you sure this is where they are?" the doctor asked while
looking at the vast plain of snow in front of him.

     "I think so..." Shadow-Ryoga trailed off as he saw a little penguin
with a backpack walk by. "What kind of screwed up universe is this?"

     Confused, Ryoga did what he normally did: blew something up.
"Breaking Point!" He stabbed a finger into the snow covered Antarctic
ground.

     And triggered Second Impact.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "You're a nun?" Ranma gasped as she knelt across the table from
Akane.

     Akane nodded. "Yes, Angela is the name I took when I entered the
seminary as a novice. So... you're a girl?"

     "No! I'm a guy! I fell into a cursed spring in China that turns me
into a girl when I'm splashed with cold water, just like my father
here." Ranma indicated the panda.

     Akane looked sternly at Ranma. "Lying is a sin, RANKO."

     "Um... my name is really Ranma. I'm sorry about lying to you, but
after Pop got me into that kickboxing tournament I got used to using
Ranko when I'm a girl. I'm sorry." He looked over at Nabiki, who was
very angry. "Sorry, Nabiki, I tried to tell you about the curse, but
something always interrupted me."

     "Well, you can kiss our engagement goodbye." Nabiki crossed her
arms across her chest and looked away.

     Hanaki put a comforting hand on her middle daughter's shoulder.
"Don't be so rash. Forgiveness is a virtue."

     "Oh, I can forgive him for lying, but that's not the problem!"

     "Then what is?" Hanaki asked.

     Nabiki looked at Ranma and pointed at her breasts. "Those. I'm not
marrying some freak with breasts!"

     "I ain't no freak!" Ranma got to her feet and ran out of the house,
grabbing a hot kettle of water from the kitchen on the way.

     "Nabiki, that was mean. I'm sure she... he... has had a hard time
dealing with this 'curse' of his." An image of the kiss that 'Ranko' had
given her flashed through Akane's mind. She shook her head to clear it.
"Judge not by outward appearances, lest thee be judged the same."

     Nabiki sighed. "You're just like Mom, you know that?"

     Akane smiled. "Thank you."

     <That wasn't meant as a compliment.> Nabiki stood up and went to
her room.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Ranma was on the roof when Akane landed by his side, startling him.
"How... how did you do that?"

     "It was one of the things that my father taught me growing up.
Seems his old master was keen on being able to jump over walls and onto
roofs for some reason."

     Ranma allowed himself to smile. "Yeah, that's what Pop always said
too."

     "How are you doing?"

     "I blew it big time, didn't I? Once I started lying about this
curse it was so easy to continue the lies."

     "That's why lying is so bad. So tell me a truth to diminish the
lies."

     "I'm a guy."

     "Yes, so you've said. Don't worry, I don't think you're a freak."

     "Thank you, Sister."

     Akane flinched. "You can call me Akane here."

     "Oh...  so why'd you become a nun?"

     "I got the calling."

     "Calling?"

     "It's hard to explain. I've always felt so much love when my mother
taught me about God. I wanted to help other people and spread God's
word. The best way I could do that was as a nun."

     "Oh, um... sorry about that kiss. I was kind of confused."

     Akane started. <So he had been thinking about that too.> She
smiled. "That's okay. It actually makes me feel better that you are
really a guy. I mean... to like a kiss from a girl is against God's
word."

     Ranma finally looked Akane in the eyes. "You liked it?"

     Akane blushed, then nodded slowly.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     The next day, the whole family was around the family room table
again. Even Kasumi, Dr. Tofu, and their baby were there. Akane was
holding her nephew in her arms and smiling lovingly at him.

     "Well, Ranma, I did some research on the Jusenkyo curses and I
believe the only way to cure you is to dunk yourself in the Spring of
Drowned Man."

     "Yeah, I kind of guessed that... but the furball here won't take me
back to China!" Ranma glared at his father, who was currently human.

     "As soon as you're married," Genma insisted.

     "Well, it won't be to me!" Nabiki insisted.

     Hanaki put her hand on her daughter's hand. "Nabiki dear, this
demonic curse is not permanent."

     "It's not like I ever agreed to marry him before I found out he was
a freak anyway!"

     Before Ranma could say it, Akane did. "He is not a freak."

     "Fine. You marry him then, Akane."

     Akane flinched. "I am already promised to the Lord."

     "I bet Ranma kisses better than your Lord."

     "Nabiki! I've heard enough from you. Go to your room and say ten
Hail Marys on your rosary!" Hanaki pointed towards the hallway.

     Nabiki looked ready to argue, but then sighed and stormed out of
the room.

     Kasumi cleared her throat. "Mother, I think you sometimes are too
preachy with Nabiki. Maybe you should try talking to her without
bringing religion into it."

     "Kasumi, you too? Have I raised a household of blasphemers?" Hanaki
clutched onto the cross she always wore around her neck.

     "I think she's right, Mother." Akane took her mother's hands in
hers. "Kasumi and Nabiki are not blasphemers. They are good people. They
just show their faith differently. I think Nabiki is a good person, but
she is rebelling from your strict Christian doctrine. Sometimes a gentle
approach is best."

     A tear appeared in Hanaki's eye. "How did my youngest get so wise?"

     "The love of my mother. Go show some of that love to Nabiki."

     Hanaki nodded.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     Nabiki didn't move when she heard a knock on her door. After
several more knocks, she relented. "Come in."

     Hanaki opened the door and walked over to the bed. She sat down and
placed a hand on Nabiki's back. "I'm sorry, Nabiki. Maybe I get a little
preachy sometimes, but it's only because I love you."

     Nabiki huffed. "A LITTLE preachy?"

     Hanaki sighed. "You've always hated my teachings, haven't you?"

     "No... just when you think your religion has the answer to
everything."

     "Maybe not everything, but it has given me strength through the
years. When I was sick, my faith kept me from leaving my family and
going to heaven."

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Oops..."

     Shadow-Akane looked down at Shadow-Ranma. "What?!"

     Shadow-Ranma looked nervous. "Looks like your mother got really
religious because I saved her life."

     Shadow-Akane gasped. "Could you PLEASE stop watching that and help
me give birth to YOUR child?"

     Shadow-Ranma smiled apologetically and returned to his task between
his wife's legs. Suddenly, he popped his head up. "Hey, if she believes
that her faith in God saved her and I'm the one who actually saved her,
that makes me God, doesn't it?"

     "Hardly! God would never be watching a soap opera when his wife is
in her fortieth hour of labor! Now pull that kid out already!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     The next day after Nabiki and her mother had their long talk, they
went shopping and to the zoo together. They had a good hard laugh when
they reached the panda exhibit. It was the first time they had shared a
laugh together in years.

     That night, things were cheerful at dinner. Nabiki and her mother
seemed to be breaking down the barriers that had formed between them.
Hanaki did still bring up God and his teachings, but not as often or as
strictly.

     Nabiki was kneeling next to Ranma. They both cast an occasional
awkward glance at each other, as if they both had something to say.
Akane was serving up the dinner she made when she noticed the tension
between them. "Nabiki, Ranma, is there something wrong?"

     They both shook their heads 'no'.

     Akane smiled. She then withdrew the food from the table just as
everyone was reaching for it. "No one eats until you two get whatever is
bothering you off your chests."

     "Nabiki, please let us know. Everyone here loves you," Hanaki said
softly, intentionally avoiding mentioning that God loves her too.

     Although her mother didn't say it, Nabiki felt it in the tone of
her mother's voice. Maybe it had more impact on Nabiki that way.

     "Um... I'm going to give the engagement another chance." Nabiki
looked at Ranma, who blushed and looked away. "I mean, I guess I could
put up with a hermaphrodite for a little while until he's cured."

     Hanaki smiled. "That's my daughter. I'm very proud of you. And so
is..." She stopped speaking before finishing her statement.

     Nabiki looked at her mother and then finished for her. "...the
Lord." Hanaki nodded.

     "Ranma?"

     "Err... well, I guess that's nice, but I can see that you're not
happy about this engagement and everything, Nabiki. I think it would be
better if we don't force ourselves."

     The women all gasped. Soun and Genma grew angry.

     Soun glared at Genma. "Saotome, if your son backs out of this
agreement, I shall never talk to you again!"

     Seeing his chances at a dojo slipping away, Genma glared at his
son. "Ranma, this is very dishonorable for you to break this agreement
between our honorable families!"

     Ranma shook his head slowly, but didn't raise his gaze from the
floor. "I'm not breaking it. The agreement was that I would marry one of
Mr. Tendo's daughters." He suddenly looked up at Akane. "I want to marry
Akane!"

     The room went silent after the dishes Akane had been holding
finished shattering against the floor.

     "What?" Hanaki gasped.

     "Ranma..." Akane muttered.

     "She's a nun, you bastard!" Nabiki swore.

     Hanaki glared at her daughter. "Language." Nabiki looked properly
chastised.

     "I know... but just a novice. So she hasn't taken her vows...
right?" Ranma asked.

     Akane smiled sweetly at Ranma. "Ranma, I'm flattered, but I can't
turn my back on God on a whim."

     "It's not a whim! I love you!"

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Arrrrrgghhhhhhh! It's coming!" Shadow-Akane screamed and pushed.

     "He popped the question! Damn, I can't believe I would have the
guts that early after meeting her."

     "Excuse me?!"

     "Yes, Honey, what is it?" Shadow-Ranma asked softly.

     "Oh, it's just that your one-hundred and seventieth child is flying
across the room."

      Shadow-Ranma gasped and finally noticed that Shadow-Akane's last
push had sent the baby flying out of the birth canal at a terrific
speed. It even snapped the umbilical cord in the process. "Damn, talk
about strong muscles."

     He took off running and matched his speed to the baby's. At the
last second, he jumped and made a perfect catch in mid-air. He tucked
the baby into his arms and did a roll on the floor. With a flourish, he
bounced into the air and landed standing up. He held the baby in his
hands triumphantly and smiled broadly. "Saotome School of Anything Goes
Baby Catching!"

      "Just don't spike it!" Shadow-Akane called out.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     After the chaos of the proposal had died down and Nabiki had to be
restrained from causing bodily harm to him, Ranma sat on the roof with
Akane.

     "I'm sorry, Ranma. I can't break my promise to the Lord. I may not
have taken my vows officially, but in my heart I have."

     "But... I love you." Somehow, he had figured that was enough. The
shock that it might not be was weighing heavily on his heart.

     "I think you're just latching onto me since I'm the first girl to
ever spend time with you."

     "No!" Ranma clenched his fist and then released it. In a single
movement, he pulled Akane into his arms and planted a long kiss on her
trembling lips.

     When the kiss ended, Akane put her fingers to her lips and just
stared into Ranma's eyes.

     "Tell me you didn't just feel the sparks between us!"

     Akane took a few moments to answer. "No, I'm sorry.... I didn't.
Please... don't do that again." With that said, she leapt down to her
room, leaving a devastated Ranma behind her.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     "Ouch..." Shadow-Ranma said, as he looked away from the video
screen. A part of him felt sorry for his other self.

     Shadow-Akane was cradling their new daughter in her arms. "She is
so adorable."

     "You've said that for the past one hundred and sixty nine
children."

     Shadow-Akane smiled. "Well, that's because they are all adorable."

     Shadow-Ranma looked down at his new daughter and smiled. "Well, I
guess with a beautiful mother like you, that is to be expected." He
leaned down and kissed his wife.

     The new parents, for the one hundredth and seventieth time, cradled
their newborn daughter in their arms.

     "Want me to get the 'Big Book o' Names'?"

     Shadow-Akane smiled, but shook her head. She glanced at the video
screen before speaking. "Angela. In honor of the love that couldn't be
in the face of a greater love."

     "What love is that?"

     "The love of God."

     "Deep. Never knew you were that religious."

      Shadow-Akane shrugged. "Well, my mom was Christian, but never had
the chance to become as devout as she did in that universe."

      "I'm sorry my anniversary present didn't work out the way I
intended."

      "That's okay. It gave us little Angela, that is the best present I
could ever hope for."

      The two Shadows kissed and little Angela started to cry.
Shadow-Akane smiled and comforted her new daughter as she and
Shadow-Ranma walked out of the large dark chamber.

      "Just don't think this gets you off the hook for our next
anniversary in a couple months."

      Shadow-Ranma gulped loudly as they left. Since his mind as
suddenly preoccupied with thinking of what to get his wife for their
next anniversary, he forgot to shut off the large video monitor.

             -=The=-         -=Shadow=-         -=Files=-

     In the months that followed Akane's rejection of Ranma, the
Saotome's left on a training voyage to China. Both families agreed that
no honor was lost, since Ranma did offer to marry one of the Tendo
daughters as Soun and Genma had originally agreed to. Akane's prior
commitments and rejection of the engagement were considered honorable as
well.

     Kasumi and Dr. Tofu had their happy family to attend to.

     Nabiki met a boy whose family was filthy rich, but dumped him
because he was too much of a geek for her tastes. She ended up dating
the strange fellow who kept coming around looking to kill Ranma. She
decided that pigs were easier to tolerate than hermaphrodites. Easier to
control too.

     Some Chinese girl came around looking for girl Ranma. Hanaki told
her that Ranma died. One little white lie won't condemn her to hell,
after all. The Chinese girl ended up marrying a childhood friend.

     A young okonomiyaki chef never did find the boy she was seeking to
get her revenge. During a chance encounter, she rescued a boy from a
group of women who were treating him like a girl. The two of them
eventually married and had a happy life.

     And Akane?

     About a year after Ranma walked out of her life, her family was
proudly watching her as she stood in front of Mt. Mary's church and
began her vows.

     "Stop!"

     Everyone looked to the back of the church to see a young man with a
pigtail standing in the doorway, gasping for breath.

     "Ranma?"

     "Akane!"

     A tremor ran up Akane's body and ended when the tears started to
flow from her eyes.

     Ranma started running towards the front of the church. Akane
remained on the altar, her mind still locked in its internal conflict.

     Suddenly, Hanaki stood up and took the three steps to her daughter.
"If you love him, God will understand."

     That was the push Akane needed. She flew down the aisle and into
Ranma's arms. And before everyone and God, they kissed.

     Destiny can sometimes be altered, sometimes it can be fought, and
sometimes it just takes a little time to work itself out.


[End - One Pound Ranma]
=======================================================================

Author's notes/ramblings:

This is an idea that popped into my head after reading the One Pound
Gospel graphic novels by Rumiko Takahashi. Sister Angela without her
habit looks similar to Akane, so I said to myself 'What if Akane was
Sister Angela and Ranma ran into her before they made it back to Tokyo?'
and this twisted idea was born.

I put this story in my Shadow universe since it dealt with an alternate
universe where Akane's mother, Hanaki, didn't die. The women's
kickboxing elements come from Ayane's High Kick.

Now, maybe Kasumi would make a better nun, but without the death of her
mother at a young age who knows how differently Akane would have grown
up. Granted, Akane as a nun is a stretch, but if Hanaki was Christian
and her faith was strengthened by her 'miraculous' recovery from
whatever illness that caused her death in the real Ranma universe, it
wouldn't be too hard to imagine that Akane might be as religious if her
mother was still around.

Kasumi being married to Dr. Tofu already and with a baby made sense,
since without the pressures of running the household she had a chance to
date and fall in love like a normal girl. This is also why Akane's hair
was always short, since in the original timeline she only grew it long
because of her crush on Dr. Tofu.

Nabiki didn't change too much. She did get a little more extreme about
money as she rebelled against her mother's Christian teaching and
constant scolding (I think Nabiki is the type to rebel when pressured to
change her ways). Ironically, without Akane around to drool over, Kuno
was caught up in Nabiki's web and was milked for everything he had.

For the record, Kodachi was in the kickboxing contest because she needed
the money after Nabiki bled the Kunos dry. :)

I'd like to thank my pre-reader Thomas C. Kinnen for helping me find and
fix problems with this story.


Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (January 9, 1999)
Revision 0.3 - Pre-reader draft (May 26, 1999)
Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (June 24, 1999, 1999)

-=-
Jim Lazar

E-Mail - mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
FanFiction - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
-=-
     Kasumi found her father cradling her mother in his arms. He
had run out of tears to shed long ago, but the expression on his face
told the story.
     After several minutes of silence, Soun asked with a scratchy
voice, "Kasumi dear. Will you please say goodbye to your mother?"
     "Of course, Father," Kasumi said. She stood up, took one of her
mother's hands in hers, and said a soft, "Goodbye, Mother. I'll keep
my promise."
-=-
Excerpt from: Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family