The Importance of Rules
   By Taiteki Kagato
   Chapter One

The Tendo's and Saotome's gathered around Akane in the darkened dining room. 
In her hands, the small creature she'd been given by Ranma stared back, 
smiling a little and mumbling incoherently every now and then.

"Do you know how much this thing would be worth as a Pet?" Nabiki asked, 
wondering how many more were out, running around Nerima.
"It's so cute, Akane. What are you going to name it?" Kasumi asked, wondering 
if she could make some little clothes for it. 
"A fitting Engagement gift if I do say so myself. Wouldn't you agree, 
Saotome?" Soun said, a grin plastered to his face.
"Growf!" Genma-Panda said, nodding to emphasize his concurrence.
"I think... I think I'll call it 'M-chan!'" Akane said, thinking the name up 
as she stared into her pet's eyes. Ranma frowned a little, thinking about the 
other friendly consonant Akane had as a pet. Nabiki, catching Ranma's frown, 
thought about why he would seem upset, now. He'd just given Akane a gift that 
she herself would never have figured Ranma capable of choosing. And now, he 
almost looked like he thought he'd made a mistake.

"Well, Ranma," Nabiki said, "looks like even you can do something right once 
in a.. " Nabiki trailed off as Ranma walked into the kitchen. Nabiki 
shrugged, and looked at Akane. 
"So sis, how would you like to help the family out?"
"Huh?" Akane said, not paying much attention. She was too busy tickling the 
little Mogwai's tummy and watching it squirm.
"I think, if properly applied, you could make quite a bit with the cute 
little guy."
Akane whirled on Nabiki, "Are you suggesting I SELL little M-chan?" She said, 
a mixture of horror and anger in her voice.
Nabiki took a step back, raising her hands in a non-agressive manner. "No! 
No. I Just meant, you should probably have people pay to even look at him. 
That's all." The fire in Akane's eyes died, and she muttered a small "Oh." 
Before looking down, and continuing her games with M-chan.

"Hold on a second, Akane. I want to check something." Ranma called from the 
Kitchen. Everyone turned to see Ranma emerge with a steaming kettle. "Ranma?" 
Akane asked, as he pulled back to toss the water on her and her new pet. 
Nabiki, Kasumi, and Soun chose that instant to scoot out of the way. 

Ranma thrust the kettle forward, launching water at Akane the Mogwai, and a 
Gemna too lazy to bother moving. 

"Whew. Nothing... hap...  pened?" Ranma said, staring at the creature as it 
writhed in obvious agony. "What the he-" His question was cut off as he was 
driven into the ground like a tent stake, courtesy of a glowing, wet Akane 
and her subspace mallet. "What were you THINKING, throwing hot water all over 
a little animal? Don't tell me. you WEREN'T! Oh, M-Chan.."She said, crouching 
to hover over the screeching creature.

"It's back! It's like it's boiling, or something!" she cried out in horror. 
She quickly scooped up her new pet, and ran out the door, leaving everyone to 
watch the now empty doorway. Empty, that is, except for the little ball of 
fur sitting near the doorframe, and throbbing like a heart.

Ranma groaned, and pulled himself out of the hole he was in, intent on 
chasing Akane down, and apologizing. However, the furball chose that time to 
pop open, revealing a new Mogwai. Ranma, seeing this new Mogwai, stopped 
before he accidentally stepped on it, and bent down to pick it up. 

"Akane, wait! You dropped M-chan!" Ranma cried, as he ran out into the night.
Nabiki and Kasumi stare at each other for a moment, before staring out the 
door again.
"Ahh... young love." Soun said, slapping Gemna on the back. Genma just nodded 
solemnly.

****************

Akane was running through the dark streets of Nerima, hoping to see her 
destination soon. She was too distraught to notice the furballs that would 
occasionally pop out of M-chan's back. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the 
darkness ahead. She frowned, hoping it wasn't anyone looking for a fight, and 
the frown changed into a scowl as the figure spoke.

"Akane Tendo, Come, leap into my arms and I shall free you from the bonds of 
wicked sorce-UMPH" Kuno was cut off as a small ball of fur ended up in his 
opened mouth. Akane sped past the suprised kendoist as she made her way 
towards her destination. 

Kuno, put off by this odd display of love and thanks, spit the growing 
furball into his hand. "What odd gift is this that the fair Akane Tendo doth 
present to me this eve?" He asked no one, as the ball of hair continued to 
grow.

Finally, it opened, revealing a new Mogwai. "How.. cute.." Kuno said, staring 
at it. With his fierce tigress gone off on an obviously important errand (why 
else would she so disappointedly turn down a change to be with the Blue 
Thunder of Furinkan High?) Kuno turned towards home, carrying his gift with 
him.

***************

The third Mogwai to emerge landed at the feet of an okonomiyaki chef who had 
been closing her shop down for the night.

"What's this?" Ukyo Kuonji asked, looking at the furball. It looked like a 
throbbing dirty cottonball, and she considered throwing it away, when it 
pulsed, growing rapidly. She drew back, staring, as it continued to throb, 
and on occasionally pulse larger, before it suddenly popped open, 
revealing...

"Oh! It's so cute! You come right inside, sugar. I'll take care of you!" Ukyo 
said, picking up the confused Mogwai. 

***************

Lost in his own depression, Ryouga stared at his hands, and then up at the 
night sky. 

"Oh Akane. Akiri... what Hell is it that forces me to choose between the two 
of you? What good is my strength if It doesn't help me overcome this 
obstacle? Am I doomed to.. huh? What's this?" Ryouga asked, as a running 
figure dropped something warm, fuzzy, and vibrating in his hand. 

Ryouga watched, mystified, as the small ball of fur throbbed once, growing, 
then realized just who the running figurine was. "A-Akane! That was Akane... 
and she looked upset, too. Oh, I bet Ranma's done something to upset her 
again." He glowed a sickly green, setting the growing furball on his backpack 
before taking off in the direction Akane had come running from.

"RANMA SAOTOME, FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO AKANE, PREPARE TO DIE!!!"

Moments later, Ryouga was in the middle of the woods. 

"DAMNIT RANMA! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

**************

Finally spotting her destination, Akane slowed, which turned out to save her 
from a painful meeting with the ground. Instead, Shampoo landed with her 
bicycle in Akane's way. a big grin on her face. "Nihao, Kitchen Destroyer! 
Know where Shampoo Airen is? What that?" She asked, realizing Akane was 
holding something that seemed to be squirming. Suddenly, a ball of fur popped 
out and bounced of Shampoo's nose before hitting the ground.

Akane stared at it for a moment, before shrugging, and running around Shampoo 
and her bike, and entering Dr. Tofu's office. Shampoo, in the meantime, was 
staring at the ball of fur, and wondering why Akane had tried to attack her 
with it. Finally, it opened, revealing another Mogwai, this one with a white 
stripe of hair down it's back. IT was all the same length, but stood out, 
nonetheless. 

"How cute! Grandmother love this!" Shampoo exclaimed, reaching out to pick 
the Mogwai up. As her hand got near, it tried to bite her, and shampoo 
squealed with delight. "Oh! Is too, too cute. No bite Shampoo little one. 
Shampoo take you home as pet!" And with that, Shampoo scooped up the 
creature, and set it in the basket of her bike, before pedaling off towards 
the Nekohanten.


AN: This takes place after the Failed Wedding in the Ranmaverse, and before 
the first Gremlins Movie. Gizmo hasn't been named yet, and if I do decide 
upon a name, it won't be 'Gizmo' for obvious reasons. Also.. as my favorite 
Movie, I know the storylines to both movies backwards and forwards, but never 
really enjoyed the "buildup to mischief" sections, though, as in all forms of 
entertainment, a buildup of anything is to be expected. Still.. I apologize 
for appearing to move fast here.. though.. how long do you think they'd stay 
dry in the Ranmaverse? .. ohyeah.. I know Tofu isn't supposed to be around 
anymore by this time.. but in my story, he just sorta.. is. Nothing like 
having all the cards in place.. or whatever that phrase is...



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