Disclaimer: I don't own any of these people. Don't sue
me, I ain't worth it.

A Brand New Day
A Ranma ½ Fanfiction
by Tomas Megerson
E-Mail me at: NighthawkTM@yahoo.com
Visit my homepage at:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Quasar/6189/


Prelude:
Letters


4 Years ago

"Goodbye Amai, I'm gonna miss you!"

"Goodbye Ranma. I'm going to miss you too! Remember to write
to me. I look forward to your letters!"

"I won't forget Amai. I'll write you every week, and when I'm
staying in an area for a while I'll send you someplace that you can
write me back to."

"Thank-you Ranma-Kun." A beautiful girl with long ebony hair
ran up to a younger Ranma than the one we know and gave him a kiss on
the cheek. She then turned an ran down the street, leaving a shocked
Ranma holding one hand to the cheek her lips had brushed. He stood
there for a few long moments when Genma appeared from no where.

"Come along boy, its time to move on. You've got a lot to
learn before you can be called a man among men!" Genma and Ranma
turned and ran down the street and out of Juuban. Every now and then
Ranma would reach up and brush the place where he had been kissed.

2 ½ years ago

A gorgeous girl leapt onto her bed in a modest sized room. In
her hand was a piece of paper with a Tokyo address. She smiled at the
rough scrawl of her name on it. She turned it over and opened it up.
Out of iit fell a beautiful, if rough sapphire. Her eyes widened in
shock at it. Ranma had sent her little trinkets in his letters before,
but never something like this. She quickly opened the letter.

Amai-Chan,

Well, I hope you like the gift I got you. I found it
In a small cave by one of our camp sites last week.
I saw it and immediately thought of your eyes. It
Reminded me of them so much.

We've finally stopped somewhere. I'm attending
An all boys school right now and training in the
Afternoons. I've even made a friend there. We
Spar everyday over the last piece of bread. I
Haven't lost yet. He even said that I could have
Some mail delivered to his house. It's the return
Address on this one. Anyway, I really don't have
Much to say except that I really miss you. Do you
Think I could come for a visit one day? I'm on the
South side of Tokyo so I can take a train to your
House in Juuban. Let me know, please.

Your friend,
Ranma

Amai sighed and held the letter to her chest. She missed Ranma
so much over the years. It was good that they had the letters, though.
She opened a locked drawer in her dresser and added this letter to the
large pile of them. Just as she was locking the door, someone knocked
on her door. After the key was put safely away she opened the door.
Her mother was standing there with a very serious look on her face.
"Dear, we need to talk."

***

Ranma smiled as he removed a letter from Ryoga's mailbox
addressed to him. He grinned at the name in the return address spot.
Amai Harukaze. The only friend that he had ever been able to keep in
touch with. It took him a lot of hard effort to keep the letters that
she had sent him from being found by Genma, but it was all worth it.
He knew that deep inside he loved her. He was just scared that she
didn't feel the same about him. He sat on the porch step as Ryoga
practiced a kata in the lawn. He was surprised to see that the letter
was tear stained.

Ranma-kun,

Something horrible has happened. I need to see you
As soon as I can. I'm hurting so much, Ranma.
Please tell me that you will come. I don't know
Who else I can turn to. I'm just hurting so much.
My parents, no I'll tell you as soon as I see you.

Please Ranma, come as soon as you can. Please.

I love you, Ranma-kun.
Amai-chan

Ranma read the letter twice more before it had all sunk in.
Something was wrong with her parents. She needed him there now. She
loved him, she said she loved him. Ranma got up and ran to his friend.
"Ryoga! I need your help, man!"

"What is it Ranma." While he didn't like Ranma all that much
he was the only one he had to spar with and he did lead him to school
everyday.

"A friend of mine is in trouble. I have to go see her as soon
as possible. Can you think of anyway I can get Oyaji out of my hair
for a day or so?"

Ryoga scratched his head before nodding. "Well there is a
instant raman truck that comes to that warehouse on the corner every
three days. You can tell him the wrong time and get him trapped on the
truck. It would give you three days. Is that enough?"

"Yeah that should be fine. I'll see you in a few days Ryoga.
Take care man!"

***

Ranma stared at Amai's parents. "You're gonna die?"

Amai's father nodded his head. "Yes, you see, we were in that
building that those terrorists released that nerve gas in. The doctors
give us three years to live, at the most. Even in that time, Amai will
be too young to inherit anything and it will all go to the state under
that new law passed last year. The only way to get around that law is
for Amai to marry someone. We asked her to find a kind boy to get
engaged to and marry before we die."

Ranma turned to face the dark hair girl that had been his
friend for years. "And you chose..."

"Yes, Ranma-kun, I chose you. I've read all of the letters
that you've sent me. I probably know you better than anyone else, and
you know me better than anyone else. In the past two years of
exchanging letters, I've grown to love you. Will you accept?" Ranma
could see the fear in her eyes. He knew that she was putting all of
her hope in him. He knew what he had to do.

(Besides, I love her, too.) "Yes, Amai, I accept. When the
time comes I'll gladly marry you, with all of my heart. I promise."
He was shocked as Amai threw herself into his arms and gave him a
passionate kiss. Her parents simply smiled at the scene.

2 years Ago:

Amai opened another letter from Ranma. From her Ranma. She
knew that it was getting close to the time that they could announce the
engagement to Ranma's parents. She was eager for the day. That
eagerness faded after she had read the first half of the letter. Her
eyes headed toward the second half and her body and soul relaxed as she
read it.

My Love,

You're never going to believe what that idiot of a
Father did to me. He engaged me to someone. And
Only today did he bother to tell me. I can't beleave
That he would do such a thing! I've now got this
Thing to get through. I'll admit that the girl he
Engaged me to had a cute moment.

One was all she had though. The instant I turned
Into a guy (it was raining when we arrived) I
Became a pervert. We got into a small fight and
I started to walk out. Of course with her yelling at
Me about being a pervert I couldn't let her get away.
So as I walked out I told her that my girl form was
A lot cuter than she was. Her response: hit me with
The damn table! She is so violent! And when I woke
Up her sister told me that she was a violent maniac!
I'm working on getting out of here as soon as I can.

This Akane is absolutely nothin' like you, Amai. She
just cant be trusted. I can't wait to see you again.
In the corner is a post office box I got that you can
send mail to. I can't wait to hear from you.

My love to you always,
Ranma-kun.

Amai held the letter to her heart as a slight drizzle pattered
against this window. She knew that Ranma would get out of the arranged
marriage. He promised her that he would marry her, and she knew that
he always kept his promises.

2 months ago

Amai-chan,

They tried to force me to marry the uncute
Tomboy AGAIN! This is getting rediculous.
All I want to do is get out of here. I barely
Got away this time. Thank god that Nabiki
Doesn't want me in the family anymore than
I want to be there. I don't really have too
Much else to say other than I miss you and
Want to be with you.

My love to you always,
Ranma-kun

2 days ago

Ranma read through the letter one more time to make sure that
he got it right. He didn't want to make a mistake about this. What he
was going to do was going to hurt a lot of people and he didn't want to
mess anything up. It was going to help the woman he loved be with him,
however.

Ranma, My Love,

My parents are reaching the end. They wish to be
There for our marriage. Please come as quick as
You can. The time for us to be together has come.

I will see you soon, My Love.
Amai-chan

Ranma sat on the bench in the post office for a few long minutes before
standing up. "Well then, I guess its time to get to work."

Last Night

"Come in."

Ranma opened the door and stepped into the room. "Nabiki, I
need your help."


Author's Note: Why am I writing yet another story? Because it got
stuck in my head and I had to get some part of it down, that's why.
I've got other stuff that's priority right now, but I'll come back to
it. It all depends on what type of response I get for it.


Chapter 1:
Leaving Hell

Ranma quietly watched the sun rise in the east. It was a
beautiful sunrise, one of the prettiest he had ever seen. He supposed it
was because this was the day that he would begin a new life. He wasn't
sure whether it was the anticipation of being with Amai again, or the
fact that all of his problems were about to be solved. He didn't really
care by this point, however, he was just eager for it to come about. He
was ready for a life of his own.

Gazing down into the Tendo yard, he saw problem number one
walking around. Ranma hopped down and picked up a small black piglet by
the headband. "Hey, Ryoga, I need to talk to you. Come on lets go get
some hot water." The pig, predictably, tried to bite Ranma. Ranma,
predictably, hit it on the head, knocking it out. Unpredictably, Akane
wasn't there to mallet Ranma. So far so good, everything was going well
for the pigtail young man. This would shape up to be one of the most
perfect days in the young man's life. For once, fate was on his side,
and he was going to be taking advantage of it.

Ranma headed out of the Tendo yard stopping only long enough to
pick up a rather large backpack with a red umbrella attached to it.
"Damn, Ryoga, this thing's heavy. What the hell do you keep in it,
anyway?" The piglet didn't respond. It still wasn't in any condition
to respond, for that matter. Ranma quietly walked down the streets of
Nerima smiling at the peace that was working its way through the streets.
Soon he would be gone, and this type of peace would become much more
common. Hopefully the peace would follow him as well. He didn't expect
it to, but he could always hope. Most of the time that was all he had,
beside himself, anyway.

Ranma approached Ryoga's house and sighed. It brought back a
number of memories. After all, this was the place that he had received
the letter that changed his life. It was also the place where he made
one of his closest friends. Now all he had to do was try to recreate
that friendship. He was sure that he would be able to, but when it came
to the Lost Boy, nothing was a sure thing. Ranma opened the door and
walked inside. It was good of Ryoga to keep the house key in his
backpack, Ranma would have hated to have had to search through Ryoga's
clothes for it. He headed up the stairs and into the bathroom, drawing
a hot bath for the Lost Boy.

After the Bath had filled, Ranma tossed the piglet in and watched
as a sputtering black hair youth came up. "RANMA!!! PREPARE TO
DIE!!!!!"

"Relax Ryoga. I just want to talk to you with out having to
worry about being interrupted. In case you didn't notice this is your
house. You really don't want to damage it, do you?"

That stopped Ryoga. If he damaged the house his parents would
be very upset at him. With how little he saw them due to the Hibiki
curse, upsetting them was the last thing he wanted to do. Plus he was
curious as to what Ranma had to say. For most things he would have just
used the Tendo's bath to change him back. "Alright, Saotome. I'll let
you live, for now. What do you have to say?"

"Its simple Ryoga, I'm taking control of my life. When we get
back to the Tendo's the first thing I'm going to do is get out of that
damn arranged marriage."

"WHAT!!??"

Ranma sighed. "You see, Ryoga, there's this girl I'm in love
with. I have been for quite a long time now. Before I even knew about
the Tendo thing. I promised her I'd marry her. Well, her parents are
dyeing. They were poisoned a long time ago in a terrorist thing. They
want to be alive to see their daughter married. I'm putting an end to
all of these damn problems that Genma left me with. Everything is all
set up. All I have to do is make the announcement."

Ryoga stared at Ranma for a long time. "I was sure that you
loved Akane. I mean, look at all the things you've done for her."

"That's because she isn't capable of taking care of herself.
You know that. Her temper is the worst I've ever seen. And she's too
proud to realize that she isn't as good as she thinks she is. I've
simply been keeping a spoiled child safe. Now its time to move on."

"Ranma, why are you telling me all of this?"

Ranma sighed. "Ryoga, no matter how it may have seemed in the
past, you're my friend. I've got so few that I don't want to loose one.
I want you to promise me something, Ryoga. Look after Akane. She needs
someone there to protect her, and I'm no longer going to be here."

Ryoga looked at Ranma and gazed at the sincerity of his
expression. This wasn't the arrogant Ranma that he was used to. This
was the Ranma who led him to school everyday. This was the Ranma who
had kept his promise not to tell Akane about his curse. This was the
real Ranma Saotome. "I will, Ranma. I promise that I'll be here to
protect her. Just one question, who's the girl?"

Ranma gained a distant look and a smile. "Do you recall that
time back when we were in junior high and we tricked Genma into getting
trapped in that noodle truck?"

"Hahahaha yeah, and then you ran off to visit a friend of yours.
I can still see the look on Genma's face when he got back and realized
you had left him." Ryoga suddenly became serious. "Ranma, since when
did you call your father by his name?"

Ranma sighed. "Starting today, most likely. I doubt that either
Mr. Tendo or Oyaji will allow me to just walk out on Akane. So the only
choice I'm probably going to have is to renounce the Saotome name. I
really don't want it to come to that, but I don't think I got any
choice."

Ryoga looked at Ranma in quiet shock. "You're going to give up
your name? Just like that? You do know what its going to do, right?"
Honor was all that Ranma lived for. Now he was going to throw it all
away? Ryoga didn't know how to react to the announcement.

"Ryoga, think for a minute. What has the Saotome name gotten
me? More fiancées than I can deal with. Stained honor up to my ears.
I've got a mother who will kill me if I don't live up to some psychotic
version of being a man among men. A curse that makes me an outcast in
most societies, and who knows how many rivals wanting to kill me for
taking some girl or another who I don't want and sometimes don't even
know. What would you do in my place Ryoga?

Ryoga thought about for a few moments before letting his
shoulder's drop. He leaned back in the tub and submerged himself up to
the nose in the hot water. After staying their for several long minutes
he brought his head up far enough to talk. "I would have left a long
time ago. I never really thought about the kind of situation you're in.
You're a lot stronger then I think I ever realized."

"So, Ryoga, want to see it happen'?"

Ryoga sat up and looked at him. "Huh?"

"Do you want to see me give it to everyone? I'm going to do it
now. I just wanted you to know before hand. I didn't want to have you
screaming your traditional battle cry as I walked out. It'd have ruined
the mood and all."

"Um, yeah, why not. Let me get changed first."

"Sure. Oh, I think I'll wait till after breakfast. One last Kasumi
meal will be nice." A few minutes after the comment the two former enemies
left and headed for the Tendo Dojo. As they walked down the streets they
pointed at different damaged areas and recalled which attack and which battle
caused it. There we're trees ripped up from Ranma's Hiryu Shoten Ha. Over
there was a crater caused by the Bakusai Tenketsu, and an even larger one from
a Perfected Shi Shi Houkodan.

They two arrived at the Tendo's in their cursed forms. The damn old
lady got the two of them. Ranma looked around and then sneaked up the stairs
to the furrow. After making sure that no one was there, he tossed in the
little black piglet and put Ryoga's pact down. Ryoga's head popped up above
the water and then Ranma climbed in. The two sat their just looking at each
other's face. They both realized that they wouldn't be seeing each other much
anymore, and that they had a real friendship, though it was buried under their
rivalry.

It was hard for the two of them to realize that they had come so far
together, and now they would walk on separate paths. The two had to grow up,
and each knew it was almost time. All of the fights against one another and
the battles to save Akane had brought them together when under other
circumstances it might have driven them apart.

It was here that Akane's voice came threw the door. "Ranma, I'm so
glad your home! I've cooked breakfast for you! I've tried especially hard,
so you better eat it all!" Her voice to a rather hard edge as she spoke the
last part. A rather happy note came into her voice. "Oh, this looks like
Ryoga's pack? Is he here too? He can have some of my cooking as well!"
Ranma and Ryoga stared at one another for a long moment as each got paler. It
looked like there would be one more fight.

***

"OUT OF THE WAY!" Ranma yelled as he and the others battle for control
of the bathroom.

"Foolish boy! Show your father respect by letting him have a go at the
bathroom first," Genma told his son.

"Me first Saotome," Soun said as he stepped on Genma face to get to the
restroom.

The battle continued for a while until Kasumi went to up to them.
"Please, may I use the bathroom first?" She asked in her kind voice. Being
Kasumi they had no choice but to let her go at it first. They then went their
own separate ways to find a nice little spot for them to do the dirty deed.

Ranma was outside getting rid of the poison when Akane came up to him.
"RANMA NO BAKA!" he said. She then malleted him. "That's for vomiting up the
meal I worked so hard on," she said with a huff and then left.

Ranma wasn't totally knocked unconscious when he heard Akane complaint.
"Damn it!" he thought angrily to himself. "That is it! I can't take all
this crap and bull from her anymore."

" Now is a good as time as any to tell her," he said to no one in
particular. He then picked up himself off the ground and headed back
inside.

As he re-enter the house he saw that everyone was at their usual place
again. Genma and Mr. Tendo were playing shoji as usual, while Akane and
Nabiki was watching television. Ryoga was just sitting at the table so
he wouldn't get lost. Kasumi, as usual, was in the kitchen.

Ranma decided that this was now or never. "AHEM!" he said loudly enough
to get their attention. Everyone turned to face him and looked at him
questionably, all except for Ryoga and Nabiki. "I have an announcement
to make regarding my engagements."

Soun was instantly by his side as he hugged Ranma. "Oh my boy, you
finally decided to married Akane haven't you?" he started to cry tears of joy.
Well it looked like that to Ranma anyway.

"See Tendo, all of our schemes paid off. Now the school can be
reunited," Genma said happily. He and Soun started to dance around and around.

Akane just started to blush furiously. She knew that it was going to be
her. After all, he did love her. All that was going through her mind was
that Ukyo and Shampoo would be so mad and jealous, but then again that was life.

"Oh my. What is all this commotion about?" Kasumi who just came from
the kitchen asked.

"Akane and Ranma are getting married!" Genma and Soun said in unison.

"Oh my. I should get started on the menu and oh… there is just so much
to do," Kasumi said as she made a list of what she would need to make for
the wedding.

"STOP IT!" Ranma yelled out loudly to get their attention. Seeing that
everyone was stopped. "Now can we sit down and discuss this civilly?
You too Kasumi," he said as he saw Kasumi was about to go back to the kitchen.

After everyone had seated themselves, he continued. "Now like I was
about to say. I have an announcement to make regarding the engagements, now be
quiet when I am talking alright?" he asked them. Seeing everyone nodded, he
took a deep breath and told them.

"I am getting married…" he saw everyone beside Nabiki and Ryoga smiled.
" But to none of my fiancées'."

There was a shocked silence at first then the whole room exploded.

"YOU MUST!" Genma yelled at his son.

"IT IS A MATTER OF FAMILY HONOR!" Soun yelled at him.

"Who is it Ranma?" Akane asked in a deadly calm voice. She then started
to take out her mallet and swung it at Ranma, only to find that her mallet
was destroyed by Ranma outstretch fist. She then looked angrily at Ranma
but was surprise by what she found there.

"R-Ranma?" she asked. She could see it in his eyes that there was no
love for her. What left of her mallet dropped from her grip as she saw the
look in his eyes. It was one fill with coldness.

Soun and Genma went on and on about how the two schools should be
united until they exhausted themselves.

"Son. There is no choice about it, it is a matter of family honor,"
Genma said steadily.

Ranma raised his eyebrow at that. He then turned to Nabiki. "Nabiki,
can you hand me the document please?" he asked her with his hand outstretch.
He had already given her this document in advance to give it to him later.

Nabiki silently handed him the document with a look of respect in her
eyes.

"True Genma, I might have had to marry any of girls that you engage to
me because of family honor," at hearing this admission Genma rejoiced
along with Soun. "That is why I have this," he showed the document, he then
went ahead an read it aloud to them.

"This hereby in accordance with state law that if Ranma wishes to leave
his family he will have to renounce his family name. Further more all
inheritance that he might receive from his family members would be null
and void. He will be named Ronin until he can make a family name for himself.
Further with this act he cannot be held accountable for any of his
family members action, thus be free of all responsibility and obligation that
his family had made. Once this is sign there will be no going back as the
country will recognize Ranma Saotome as an independent and will strike
the Saotome name from any of his records from now on. If one is doing this
for fraud and unhonorable reasons or if one try to purposely destroy this
document then the person or whoever responsible for the destruction of
this document will be executed or imprisoned for life depending on
circumstances.

Ranma then, to the shock of Genma, Soun, Kasumi and Akane, signed the
paper. He then looked up to Genma. "I am no longer a Saotome so I do not have
to honor shit," He told Genma as he rolled up the paper. The family was just
speechless while Akane was close to tears. Throughout all of this only Nabiki
and Ryoga remained calm.

Ranma then looked at Genma. "There is still one thing I need from you
Genma and that is the forbidden technique," before Genma could start to deny
him, Ranma added. "I challenge Genma for the honor of the Saotome School of
anything for the schools forbidden technique."


With Ranma saying that that ended all chance of Genma backing down.
Genma had to accept or he would lose all honors. "I accept the challenger for
the honor of the anything goes school," He then went to the Dojo.

Ranma follow him and everyone else followed Ranma. After everyone was
in the Dojo, Ranma and Genma bowed to each other once and start attacking each
other. However the battle was one sided as he quickly made mincemeat
out of Genma. After Genma recovered from his beating he reluctantly handed the
scroll over to Ranma.

"Thank you," he told Genma as he received the scrolls. He placed the
scroll in his backpack and then started to go to the kitchen.

"Genma, don't tell me the school won't be united now!" Soun told his
friend dangerously.

Just as Akane was about to say something, and his former father and
Soun was about to yelled at him again, they heard a familiar battle cry.

"SWEETO!"

Genma then thought of an idea. "Hah! You still know the Saotome School
of anything goes so unless you give that up too, you will have to marry
Akane," he said as he puffed his chest up in triumph at having found a flaw in
Ranma announcement. He knew that Ranma loved the martial arts so he would not
renounce his family name so easily.

Just then Happosai enter to a quite scene. "Eh? Why look so glum?" he
started to ask until Ranma stepped in front of him. Happosai was about
to splash him with water until Ranma looked straight in his eyes and said.
"I challenge you for the title of Master of the anything goes school of
martial arts."

"Eh?" challenge me eh?" Happosai said questionly. He then to everyone
surprise started to laugh. Even Ranma, Ryoga and Nabiki looked at him
in bewilderment. Then before anyone can see it Happosai jumped up and
punched at Ranma but to every one surprise Ranma react and caught Happosai
fist in his hand. Happosai then smirk and stood back on the ground.

"Well it is about time you asked for the title my boy, heaven knows you
are more qualify then these two idiots," the last part he said while
pointing to Soun and Genma, he then cleared his throat. "I Happosai, founder
of the Anything Goes school of martial arts hereby grant Ranma the title of
Master of the Anything Goes school of martial arts. His rank will be the
highest and second only to mine," Happosai said as he saw Ranma bow and to
Happosai with respect in his eyes. Akane and the fathers couldn't believe it,
Happosai made his rank higher then theirs. They would actually have to listen
to him now.

"What about Akane master? Surely she qualify for the rank of master!"
He told his master that.

Happosai looked at Akane for a while then jumped on her chest. "Ahhh
the only thing she is good for are these babies," he said as he pats Akane
chest fondly. Akane reacted as she usually does and punted him to kingdom
come, she can't believe the old freak actually insulted her skills as a
martial artist.

Genma just laughed weakly. Akane on the other hand don't' know what to
feel.

Just then Ranma came out with a glass of water but instead of drinking
it, he splashed all over himself, changing him into a girl. Everyone was
surprise at this. It seemed that surprises have been popping up like
weeds lately. Just then the Amazons arrived.

"Arien!' Shampoo cried out happily. "You call Shampoo for date yes?"
she asked him with a hopeful look in her eyes. She then proceeded to go
over and was about to glomp him until Cologne stopped her.

Cologne just shook her head and then turned back to Ranma. "You called
Son-in-law?" the old crone asked Ranma.

"Yes, I have just recently renounced my family name so if you have any
grievances you can go to Genma for that," Ranma-chan told Cologne
normally.

Cologne just raised her eyebrow. "Was that all Son-in -Law?"

"No, I also want you to stop calling me son in law, I am now a female
now," Cologne nearly dropped off of her stick.

"WHAT PERVERT GIRL DO TO ARIEN?!" Shampoo said as she got out her bonbori and
was about to pound Akane for turning Ranma into a pervert. However before she
can go Cologne stopped her with her stick.

"Impossible! You have defeated Shampoo so you have to marry her. It
say so if you are an outsider male," she told Ranma.

"Haven't you heard what I said? I told you that I renounced my family
name, so what ever I did while carrying the Saotome name does not applied to
me anymore, not only that but I have also declared myself a female," she
told Cologne in a calm way. "I defeated Shampoo as a Saotome, since I am no
longer a Saotome, I am not bound by it anymore."

The others were now trying to scrap their jaws off the floor, while
Shampoo dropped her bonbori to the floor. Ranma have actually declared himself
a female, Ranma the guy who always acted tough and manly. The man among man
has declared himself a female.

There was a moment of silence as Cologne just stood there looking at
Ranma. Seeing the determine look in her eyes, Cologne finally let out a tried
sigh.

"Well then So- I mean Ranma, since you have renounced your family name,
even amazon law says that I have to leave you alone now. You are a Ronin now
so therefore you can be whatever you want to be," Cologne kind of felt a bit
remorseful at losing so talented a fighter.

"That not all," Ranma said when Cologne was about to leave. Cologne
turned back around and looked at Ranma questionly.

"I would like to join your amazon tribe in order to avoid further abuse
by my father," Ranma said.

Genma eyes widen at this.

Cologne just looked amused at this. "YOU want to be an amazon?" she
asked Ranma. Seeing Ranma nodded.

"Why Arien do this for? If Arien want to become amazon, just have to
marry Shampoo," Shampoo stated desperately.

Ranma saw the pain and desperation in Shampoo eyes and felt a bit
remorseful. "Shampoo, I am sure you will find better guys then me, but
now I want to join your tribe as a female," with that said she turn back to
Cologne and awaited her answer.

"No regrets?" She asked Ranma, seeing that she shook her head, Cologne
smiled. "And here I thought I lost a great fighter." She said to
herself in amusement. She then looked at Ranma seriously.

"Granted under the ground of protecting you from further child abuse. I
hereby make you an honorary amazon. You will help them if needed and
they will help you as all sisters do. DO you accept Ranma?" she asked Ranma
seriously.

"I do," she said.

" Then Ranma the Ronin, I hereby adopt you into our amazon tribe. Go
forth into the world now as a Joketsuzoke amazon."

"HEY! What do you mean by child abuse boy?" Genma demanded indignantly.

"The Neko-Ken, your training methods, the abuse of other children,
namely Ukyo, Selling my body…NEED I go on?" she asked him as she glared at
Genma dangerously.

Genma tactfully backed down as Shampoo finally gotten over what just
happen.

Shampoo, with tears in her eyes, went up to Ranma and embraced her.
"Welcome sister," she said a bit sadly.

Ranma tactfully removed Shampoo arms around her neck and bowed to
Cologne in respect. She then walked to the kitchen again. Once again they
heard the water tap running, then a splashing noise. When Ranma got back out
she was a he again. He then walked up to Kasumi and hugged her, much to
everyone surprises. "Thank you Kasumi for making my stay here a whole lot
better then it could have been."

Kasumi was just left speechless as Ranma detached himself away from her
and when ever to Nabiki. He then surprises everyone again but hugging her.
Even Nabiki was surprise. "Thank you Nabiki for helping me prepare to deal
with the world, even if your method wasn't exactly pleasant."

Nabiki just blush to that. He then whispered in her ear. "And don't
worry about not finding a job after college. Just talk to me and I'll help
ya."

"Why is that?" she whispered back into his ear.

"Because the person I am marrying is a Harukaze"

"No way." Nabiki whispered in awe. That family own one of the 5 biggest
company in the world.

Ranma just smiled back at her.

He then let go of Nabiki while she was still in shock and went over to
Ryoga.

He then extended his hand to Ryoga. Ryoga took his and shook it hand
firmly. "Don't forget your promises Ryoga," Ranma said.

"I won't," Ryoga promised.

"Oh and if you ever need anything here the number I'll be staying at,"
he then handed it over to Ryoga. Ryoga just smiled.

"Take care of yourself," he told Ranma warmly.

Ranma then turned back to Cologne. "There is one more thing I would
like to ask of you elder."

"Yes?"

"Would you come with me to my wedding?" Ranma asked her.

"Gladly my child, gladly," She said.

"Can Shampoo come too? She promise she be good," Shampoo said. She
wanted to meet the person who won Ranma heart.

"Sure, why not sister," Ranma said.

Ranma then looked at his father, Soun and Akane and with a shake of his
head walked out the door.

To be continued by someone else…

Author's Notes:
Sorry this took me so long to get out, But I had six weeks of problems. I've
had this for 4 of them. Again I'm sorry. Big thanks to Vahn for his
Wonderful job on this.

Co-author rants…

Well I had the privilege of working with Tomas so hope I don't
disappoint you guys too much.