Let's try this again. Some comments before we get to the fic.

    I apolgize to the pre-readers.  I use Netscape 3.01 and it doesn't like 
those large posts. :)  The more recent browsers keep crashing on me, so I'll 
stick with what works.  Probably why I'm still using Word 2.0.  If it wasn't 
for the pre-readers, especially Gary Kleppe this fic would be a lot worse 
off.

    I also owe Jeffrey Vasquez a big apology for not giving him credit for 
Ranma's costume change in Chapter 07.  He gave me a picture, which I based 
Ranma's change of costumes on.  You can see it here:
<http://home1.gte.net/mathews1/r5djinn.jpg>

Previous work can be found here:
<http://home1.gte.net/mathews1/fanfic.htm>
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Disclaimer: All characters that are used belong to their respective 
creators. I do this for fun and do not make any money off of it. Please 
don't sue me. The stories are mine, so please don't use them without asking 
me.
---------------------
	Walking into her house, Akane was rushed at by her father and Genma.  Genma 
was in panda form.

	"Have you seen Ranma?  Where have you been?" her father demanded.

	"Growf!!"

	Akane took a deep breath to calm herself before saying anything.

	"No, Daddy.  I didn't encounter Ranma while I was out.  P-chan showed back 
up and I took him to the vet," she said, feeling a bit angry. "If you don't 
mind, I'd rather not talk anymore.  I still want to know what you were 
thinking with those flyers."

	"Akane, that's for the good of the Dojo, and..."

	Akane didn't hear the rest of the words, as she turned away and walked up 
to her room.  She saw Nabiki leaning up against her door.  Glaring at 
Nabiki, she noticed that her sister was looking somewhat exasperated.  The 
youngest of the Tendo girls cocked her head in a questioning manner.

	"I didn't print the second group of flyers for them, sis.  They found 
someone else to do it, after I refused."

	"Why didn't you?"  Akane whispered harshly.

	Nabiki, shivering at her sister's rage, replied, "Ranma is starting to 
scare me.  The way he's been bursting into rages makes me wonder if he's 
about ready to snap and severely injure someone.  I don't want be the one he 
goes after."

	Akane replayed recent events in her mind and did recall that Ranma's temper 
was becoming shorter and shorter.  She resolved to talk to him about that, 
when she could arrange some secluded place, one where they wouldn't be spied 
upon.  She glanced back at her sister and examined her.  Seeing Nabiki 
biting her lip and shuddering, she was able to tell that her sister was 
telling the truth.

	Her eyes softening, Akane said, "I believe you, Nabiki.  Nothing Daddy or 
Mr. Saotome suprises me anymore."

	Akane entered her room, leaving the middle Tendo sister alone with her 
thoughts.  Wondering where to go to talk with Ranma, Akane lay down on her 
bed.

	*Ranma, I need to talk with you.  I just can't think of any place around 
town that is private enough for us.  I'd better think of where I'm going to 
move to and how to support myself.  I can't use Ranma for something like 
that.  I'm trying to avoid suspicion.*

	Akane pondered the problems for a bit when she was interrupted by a knock 
at the door.

	"May I come in?"

	"Sure, Kasumi."

	The eldest Tendo sister entered Akane's room and sat down on the bed, next 
to Akane.

	"I came to see how you're holding up," Kasumi said.

	"I'm fine.  As to Ranma, I'm not too sure about him."

	Kasumi gazed thoughtfully at her younger sibling.

	"There is something else, isn't there?"

	Akane nodded, sighed, and replied, "Yes.  I'm thinking about moving out.  
I'm getting a little tired of having my dad and Mr. Saotome pushing Ranma 
and me together.  Right now I'm trying to figure out where to get the money 
from, that won't raise any suspicions."

	Kasumi narrowed her eyes at some of the statements, She understood the real 
reasons Akane wanted to move.

	Kasumi offered, "Why don't you sell some of the items that Ranma has built 
up.  I'm sure that those three urns that were supposed to form a spring of 
drowned man would be of some value to a museum."

	Surprised at the suggestion, Akane looked at her sister and said, "I 
thought you would be opposed to the idea."

	"I know why you want to move, little sister. And, I agree with you.  I also 
think Father went a little too far today.  If you want, I'll help you with 
packing."

	Nodding her thanks, Akane got up and started pulling her clothes from the 
wardrobe.  As soon as she found a place to live, she wanted to move out as 
fast as possible.  She carefully laid the clothes on her bed.   Kasumi 
returned, carrying the two gray suitcases that she had left the room to get. 
  The two sisters managed to pack a lot of Akane's clothes into the luggage. 
  There was quite a bit of clothes left over, but Akane decided that she had 
enough to get started.  Kasumi looked around the room and came to a 
decision.

	"Akane, I think it might be best if you stayed with me tonight.  We'll put 
your luggage in my room as well.  People seem to have a habit of visiting 
your room at night with hostile intentions."

	"I understand, Kasumi."

	The sisters picked up the suitcases and carried them to Kasumi's room.  
Akane lay down on a futon that had been set out for her.  She waited for her 
eldest sister to finish getting ready for bed.  Kasumi came out of the 
bathroom, rubbing her neck and went to her bed.

	*I think Kasumi had better change the battery for her Tamagotchi, it's 
starting to beep,* Akane thought to herself, before slumber overtook her.
--
	During the night,  a large crash woke Kasumi  and Akane.  Kasumi got up and 
went to the door.

	"Sis, where are you going?" Akane asked nervously.  "You don't know
martial arts."

	"I know.  But, I have a feeling that whoever this is, is after you and will 
leave me alone."

	So saying, Kasumi walked towards he little sister's room.  Before leaving, 
she closed the door to her room to keep anyone from seeing in.  She looked 
into Akane's bedroom and saw Shampoo.

	Seeing Kasumi, Shampoo demanded, "Where is Akane?  Shampoo searched for 
Ranma all day and couldn't find him."

	"Oh my."

	Before Kasumi could say anything more, the two men in the house came 
rushing upstairs.

	"Ranma my boy, where were you?"

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

	The two men slid to a stop when they saw Shampoo confronting Kasumi.  The 
Amazon glared at Genma and Soun.

	"Where is Akane?"  Shampoo asked again.  "Shampoo will find her and get 
where Ranma is at, from her,"

	"WHAAAAAAAAH!!!" Soun cried, with two waterfalls coming from his eyes.  "My 
baby girl has ran away."

	Kasumi just watched and didn't say anything, noticing that her father must 
have just came from the bathroom.

	Clapping Soun on the back, Genma said, "Cheer up, Tendo.  Our children must 
be together.  All we have to do is go find them.  Our houses will be 
joined."

	The human waterfall stopped crying and replied, "You're right, Saotome.  We 
just gave up the hunt too early."

	The two men raced downstairs and out into the night, not caring it was two 
in the morning.  Watching them go, the Chinese girl bounded out of Akane's 
window and went after the two. Kasumi smiled as she returned to her room.

	Opening the door, she said, "It's okay, Akane.  Shampoo, Father, and Mr. 
Saotome left."

	Akane nodded, nervously wringing her hands.  Through that action, she 
accidentally rubbed the ruby. Smoke billowed forth from the gemstone.

	"What is your wish, master?"  Ranma-chan said, after she formed from the 
smoke.

	Gazing at Ranma with pity in her eyes, Akane said, "Sorry, Ranma.  I 
summoned you by accident.  Please return to the ring."

	"Yes, master," the genie replied before turning back into smoke, that was 
pulled into the ruby.

	Kasumi saw Akane shudder at the word 'master' and placed an arm on her 
sister's shoulder.

	"It hasn't been easy for you, has it?  Get some sleep.  We'll talk 
tomorrow, while we're hunting for a place for you."

	Akane nodded, looking like she was about ready to burst into tears.  Kasumi 
lay down and listened as her younger sister quietly sobbed herself to sleep.
---
	Outside Kasumi's room, Nabiki was in a state of shock at what she just saw.

	*Was that Ranma?  Akane crying and moving out?*

	Nabiki stumbled back to her room and flopped down on her bed.  Putting the 
back of her right hand against her forehead, she looked up at the ceiling.

	*Now I understand why Ranma has had such a short temper recently.  Akane 
does not seem to be taking this well,* Nabiki thought to herself.

	The middle Tendo felt a bit hurt that her sister was able to keep a secret 
that big from her.  After a moment of consideration, she realized the 
necessity of silence in this matter.  Some visions of using Ranma to make 
money went through her head.

	"No.  I'm not going to make Akane mad at me by taking advantage of Ranma.  
Besides, where would the fun be in that," Nabiki said quietly, trying to 
convince herself of the rightness of that decision.

	Recalling Akane's face, after summoning Ranma, Nabiki thought, *My little 
sister is hurting, and I can't do a thing to help.  Because, Akane doesn't 
trust me.  Maybe I can do something to help her, without her being aware of 
it.*

	The middle Tendo sister sighed heavily and started making some plans to 
divert Ranma's would-be suitors and rivals away from Akane.  She wondered 
where her little sister would move to.

	*This isn't going to be easy,* Nabiki thought.  *It would be easier to swim 
to China, than to straighten this mess out.*

	A few minutes later, she joined her sisters in slumber.


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