Well, here's chapter 8.  there are still a couple of things I don't like
about it, so any comments are especially welcome.  Earlier chapters are
available at http://members.xoom.com/Yoshiro_san/cwires.  As always my
thanks to David Johnston and Hiroyuki Yoshiro for prereading, as well as
anyone who commented on earlier parts of the story.

Disclaimer:  I'm just borrowing these characters for the story.  They
are the creations and property of Rumiko Takahashi.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8: Happy Day

     "What are you laughing about?" Ranma angrily demanded.

     Ryoga stopped her laughter with an effort.  "Don't you get it?  I
just can't win.  You know, my life really sucks."

     Ranma's belligerence faded after a moment.  "Yeah.  I can
understand why you'd be unhappy about this.  But, what're we gonna do
about it?"

     "Just keep trying to get switched back, I guess.  We don't even
know if you're right."

     Ranma frowned, unwilling to accept that answer, but unable to think
of anything better.  He was going to have to do something though,
otherwise his newly mended friendship with Ryoga could be ruined.  This
was going to take some thought.

==================

     Ukyo hummed merrily as she scrubbed down the grill.  Business had
been slow today, but she was starting to feel like she had things under
control.  The discussion she'd had with Ryoga had been quite
informative.  She stopped humming when she heard the door rattle.  Okay
hurried to open the door, it looked like she was about to have another
discussion.

     "Shampoo, what happened to you?"  Ukyo exclaimed in shock.  The
normally perky amazon was a sorry sight, her hair and clothing
disheveled and generally looking as if she'd been caught in an
explosion.  It was her downcast expression that seemed the most out of
place, however.

     "Shampoo failure," she announced.  "Not get statue back from
Happosai."

     As Ukyo watched the depressed girl slump down on one of the stools
by the counter, a thought occurred to her.  "Say, did anyone tell you
that Ryoga and Ranma took the statue?"

     "You mean Shampoo spend all day chasing Happosai and pervert coat
rack for nothing?"

     "I suppose so."  Ukyo would have asked about the coat rack, but she
had a feeling she already knew.  "Does this mean that you've been
spending all your time looking for Happosai instead of trying to figure
out how to use the statue?"

     Shampoo shook her head wearily.  "Already found out how.  Can only
be used on same people once a week.  Person's spirit needs time before
it can stand another transfer."

     Ukyo swiftly did the math in her head.  "Then we can be switched
back tomorrow night."

     "That right."

     Ukyo smiled broadly.  "Then there's no need to tell the boys right
now.  You can just stay here tonight and switch us back later."

     "Ukyo right.  The deserve to worry for stealing from Shampoo."

=================

     Ukyo tugged the collar of his uniform uncomfortably.  He silently
wished that he'd borrowed some clothes that fit Ranma's male body.
Ukyo's usual boy's uniform fit passably well, but it was just tight
enough to be uncomfortable.  It also seemed a bit drab compared to
Ranma's usual attire.  Still, if Ukyo was going to get Kiyomi to leave
him alone, he needed to be a guy to talk to her.  It didn't look like
he'd have to wait for the talk either.  Kiyomi was leaning against the
gate to Furinkan, holding that spear of hers.  She didn't seem to see
Ukyo, probably because there were dozens of identically dressed boys
entering the school.

     "Kiyomi, we need to talk."  As far as Ukyo could see the direct
approach would probably be the best.  Catching her off balance might be
useful as well.

     "About what?"  Kiyomi's voice was just short of a snarl and the tip
of spear had shifted to point directly at Ukyo.

     Kiyomi was, Ukyo reflected, not quite as surprised as he'd hoped.
Ukyo tensed and prepared to grab the concealed flour bomb she'd
brought.  "Listen, this whole thing is a big misunderstanding.  I didn't
even realize that you wanted to go on a date with me."

     "That's easy to say now," Kiyomi retorted.  "Do you have any idea
how I suffered?  Any idea how I felt when the other girls said I'd never
be able to get a boy friend?"

     Ukyo bit back the first half dozen responses that rose to his
lips.  "If they thought that they're idiots.  There are lots of guys
that would be happy to date you."

    "You really think so?" Kiyomi asked.

    "I do.  In fact, I'd be happy to date you myself."  As soon as he
spoke, Ukyo froze in disbelief.  The fact that he'd attained an
unprecedented insight into Ranma's life didn't offer any comfort.

     "I'd be happy to date you too."

     Trapped by circumstances Ukyo found himself  speaking.  "That's
nice."

     "So, I'll see you tonight then."

     Ukyo nods numbly and then walks past Kiyomi and into the school.
For some reason the whole situation seemed strangely familiar.

==================

     "Hey.  There's Ranma talking with Kiyomi.  I guess he's got that
mess straightened out."  Ranma felt a bit strange referring to Ukyo by
his own name, but since they were in public he didn't have much choice.

     "I'm sure that he has."  Akane smiled her agreement and moved
slightly closer so that her hand almost brushed against Ranma's.

     Ranma fought down the urge to jerk away and tried to ignore the
sound of Ryoga's teeth grinding.  He had the feeling that this was going
to be a long day.  he was just glad that Ukyo hadn't seen how Akane was
acting.

==================

     Ranma shuddered and tried to push himself deeper into his seat.
The way that Akane kept smiling when she looked at him was bad enough,
in fact it seemed almost unnatural.  Ryoga's angry glare was nothing
more than what Ranma expected, but Ukyo's reaction had him worried.
She'd been very quiet since classes started and had left as soon as
class let out for lunch.

     "I hope you enjoy your lunch, Ranma.  I helped Kasumi make it."
The saccharine tone Akane used made her teeth ache.  The effort was
worth it though, Ranma had started to treat her better.

      "Oh man, I hope this doesn't poison me," Ranma prayed.  He
flinched moments later when the edges of Ryoga's desk cracked audibly.

     "I'm sure it won't.  Kasumi did most of the work and my cooking has
been getting better."  Akane reminded herself that the effort was worth
it.

     "You don't have to eat it if you don't want to.  Akane isn't the
only person who made lunch for you."

     The voice was very familiar to Ranma, and very unwelcome.  Dreading
the sight, he turned to see a still damp and obviously female Ukyo,
holding a freshly cooked okonomiyaki out to him.  "What do you think
you're doing?" Ranma hissed.

     "If you don't want it I'm sure I could find someone else will.  I
think Kuno would really appreciate my cooking."

     Ranma shrugged and decided that there was only one thing that he
could do.  Eat both lunches.  After all, things could hardly get any
worse.

==================

     Shampoo busied herself preparing Ucchan's for the after school
rush.  Since Ukyo had told her what had happened to the statue, she
found herself truly relaxed for the first time in days.  It was a
feeling that would abandon her moments later when a fuming Ukyo stormed
through the door.

     "Aiyah!  What the matter Ukyo?"

     "Testosterone kills brain cells," Ukyo snarled.

     "Shampoo know that.  Is ancient amazon secret.  But, that not
explain why Ukyo upset."

     "I got Kiyomi to stop trying to kill Ranma or more importantly me,
but now she wants to date me," Ukyo explained.

     "Shampoo doesn't know who you talk about, but is no problem.
Explain you have beautiful, intelligent and strong amazon wife.  Then
when you switch back, she not chase Ranma."  Shampoo smiled, obviously
proud of her solution.

     "That's not a bad idea, Shampoo," Ukyo grudgingly admitted.  "We
can talk to Kiyomi and then get the statue.  I've got to tell you, I'll
be really happy when I get my own body back."

     "Shampoo be happy too.  Shampoo want Ranma in real body and Ukyo
almost like real amazon, remind Shampoo of home."

     The two girls sat silently together for a moment until Ukyo spoke.
"Did we just bond or something?"

     "Shampoo not tell anyone."

     "Deal.  There's something I've been meaning to ask you Shampoo,"
Ukyo said hesitantly.  "Why does Mousse want to challenge me?  There's
no way I'm going to marry him just because of some law and he wants you
anyway."

     "Mousse know you not accept marriage.  Under amazon law Shampoo
married to anyone that Ukyo married.  Ranma's claim still come first
but..."  Shampoo's voice trailed off, leaving her explanation
incomplete.

     "If Ranma refuses, then it's Mousse's turn," Ukyo said, completing
Shampoo's sentence.

     The amazon nodded, but Ukyo barely noticed already lost in
thought.  She definitely had a lot to consider.

==================

     Ryoga absentmindedly twisted, allowing the blow to slide past her
head.  After she'd gotten back from school, she'd headed for the dojo to
work off the frustrations of the day.  For a moment it had looked like
things were getting better, when Akane had asked to join her.  That idea
had been rapidly disproven.   It had started off well enough, but Akane
had soon become frustrated by Ryoga's improvement since their last
sparring match.

     "Stand still and fight," Akane challenged.

     Grunting slightly from the effort, Ryoga caught an ax kick on her
crossed arms.  Even at the best of times, Ryoga didn't have Ranma's
defensive abilities.  That left only one option, to keep Akane on the
defensive long enough to tire her out.  The hard part would be doing it
without hurting her.  Akane was a lot more skilled than some people gave
her credit for.

==================

     Nabiki stood in front of the door to Ranma's room, indecision
faintly evident in her expression.  She hated to admit it, but something
was going on and for once Nabiki had no idea what it was.  Akane was
being nice to Ranma, Ranma was acting like she was contagious, Mrs.
Saotome was trying to switch the engagement to Kasumi and Ryoga was back
to her obsessive training routine. Yes, she definitely needed answers.
Mustering her resolve, Nabiki raised her hand to knock on the door and
then hesitated.  Lowering her arm, she pushed the door open and entered
the room.

     Nabiki smirked slightly as Ranma scrambled to conceal a small
object that he was holding.  "Am I interrupting anything, Ranma?"

     "No.  No you're not," Ranma hastily replied.  Calming himself
slightly, Ranma spoke, "What do you want, Nabiki?"

     "Oh, I just want to ask a few questions about you and Akane."
Nabiki casually took a seat on the futon beside Ranma and waited for his
response.

     "It isn't any of your business."  Ranma glared defiantly at Nabiki,
with just a hint of nervousness lurking in his eyes.

     "Of course it's my business.  Akane's my sister and for some reason
she likes you.  There's something that the two of you are hiding and I
wonder if it's ...  THIS!"  With a triumphant cry, Nabiki's hand darted
behind the futon and she pulled back the object Ranma had hidden there.
Opening her hand Nabiki blinked in surprise at the dull black figurine
that she was holding.

     "Give that back!"  There was a rush of air and the statue seemed to
vanish from Nabiki's hand and reappear in Ranma's.

      Recovering from her surprise, Nabiki asked, "That's the statue
that caused the switch, isn't it?  I thought Shampoo had it."

     "She did.  I wanted to try using it myself," Ranma muttered.

     Meanwhile Nabiki was thinking.  She'd just been playing a hunch
when she'd grabbed the statue, but it looked like she might been closer
to the mark than she'd known.  It was obvious that the change would be
involved somehow, now that she thought of it.  "I'm not surprised you
didn't have any luck."

     "What are you talking about?  I remember exactly what Happosai said
when he used the statue," Ranma said defensively.

     "I suppose you think that's all there is to it.  Just say the magic
words and it works?"

     "That's all Happosai did.  Anything Goes Secret Technique: Ghostly
Spirit Switch."  Ranma's hand tightened into a fist as he recited the
words and he barely heard the faint click as his thumb pressed down.  He
was too busy staring at the thick pink and purple smoke pouring out from
the statue.

=================

     "I'm going to kill you!"  As the shouted death threat rang through
the Tendo's home, Akane's body tensed..  That had almost sounded like
Ryoga was back in her own body, but Akane had finished sparring with her
only minutes before.  Any further speculation was cut off as Nabiki
barreled down the stairs and slammed into Akane, almost knocking her off
her feet.

     "You've gotta help me, Akane."

     "Help you with what?"  Whatever Nabiki's problem was it had to be
serious, Akane decided.  Her speech was really slipping.

     In response, Nabiki pointed wordlessly up the stairs and scooted
behind Akane.

     "Oh."  Looking at Ranma's livid face, Akane could honestly say that
she'd never seen him so angry.  Remembering her resolution to treat
Ranma better and realizing that it probably would be best not to provoke
Ranma further, Akane decided to try to reason with him.  "I know that
Nabiki can cause a lot of trouble at times, Ranma, but I'm sure she
didn't mean any harm."

     Ranma started to open his mouth and then stopped and visibly calmed
himself.  "I'm Nabiki.  Ranma used Happosai's statue to switch our
bodies."

     Akane looked back over her shoulder at the girl hiding behind her.
"Is that true?"

     "It wasn't my fault."

     "I don't believe this."  Akane resists the urge to grind her teeth
in frustration.  "Why don't you two just calm down.  If Ranma did this
he should be able to reverse it.  I'll go get Ryoga.  This does concern
him as well."

==================

     "I don't think this is a good idea."  Ryoga stared suspiciously at
the small statue Ranma was holding.

     "You do want to get your own body back, don't you?"

     "Sure.  I just don't think that you or Akane should be in the room
when we try it.  In fact, we should probably talk to Shampoo before
anyone should tries to use it. "

     "Hey!  I was the one who figured out how to use it, not Shampoo,"
Ranma said indignantly.

     "And it worked so well too."  Ranma flushed slightly under Nabiki's
glare.  The middle Tendo daughter wasn't taking the switch well.

     "Um, I guess that waiting a bit couldn't hurt," Ranma reluctantly
admitted.  Balancing the statue on the palm of her hand, Ranma gazed
thoughtfully at it.  Her preoccupation was probably a major reason she
didn't see Happosai enter the room.

     "Thanks for holding this for me.  I have plans for it though."
Pausing only briefly, to grope Ranma's breasts, the wizened pervert
grabbed the statue and bounded out of the room.

==================

     Mousse seethed inwardly.  He'd gone to Ucchan's to deliver his
challenge to Ukyo, but what he'd found was far worse than anything he'd
expected.  Just as he'd arrived, Shampoo and Ranma had left the
building, talking softly together.  Remaining unseen, he'd decided to
follow them and had soon realized that the were heading towards the
Tendos'.  Mousse's frown deepened further, there was another girl
waiting at the entrance.

     Ukyo took a deep breath to steady himself.  This wasn't going to be
easy.  On one hand, he was planning to crush a young girl's heart.  On
the other hand, Kiyomi was a dangerously unstable and would probably try
to kill him again.  "Kiyomi, you're  a nice girl, but there's already
someone that I love."  Ukyo hesitated, the stricken expression on
Kiyomi's face nearly stopping him.

     "Saotome, die!"  All rational thought erased by the words he'd just
heard Ranma speak, Mousse sprang to the attack, producing a set of long
metal claws.

     Spinning, Ukyo froze in surprise as he saw, Mousse plummeting out
of the sky towards him.  The split second that it took Ukyo to realize
that Mousse was talking to him, might have resulted in Ukyo's end if two
other events hadn't happened almost simultaneously.  First, Kiyomi
shoved Ukyo out of Mousse's path.  Secondly, as Mousse landed, Happosai
burst out of the Tendo's, bounced off of Mousse's head and continued
onward.

      "Stop you old freak!  Shi Shi Hokodan!"  The emerald blast of
energy slammed into Mousse and sent him flying,  but Ryoga didn't slow
in her forward charge.  Knocking  Kiyomi to the ground, she leapt after
Happosai.  A moment later, Shampoo and Ukyo followed.

End Chapter 8.