"Advice"

The next identical days, Ranma Saotome sought advice.

"If ya had a day that always went the same way, 'cept for what ya did, what would you do?"

Ranma didn't know what to do, and he was unsatisfied letting the day take its normal course because tomorrow would be the same. He suspected he was responsible for getting himself out of this, but was used to letting the actions and initiative of others make him react. His own plans usually involved a potential cure for his curse, and always brought more trouble. For that reason alone, Ranma didn't want to be unprepared.

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Genma told his son he would eat every meal in all the restaurants of Japan, and sample all liquor known to man. Knocking his father on the head, Ranma left unsatisfied.

Nabiki was surprised when Ranma gave her 36,056 yen for 'the truly complete answer.' She correctly suspected it was every yen he owned. Make a fortune she told him. Figure out who wins at the horse races, the stock market, scores of sporting events.... know the order of cards in the casinos. She went into explicit detail in execution, suggesting how to ensnare others for bigger gains. This bored him terribly. Finally he asked, in an innocent way, what if the money wasn't there the next day? Shocked at such blasphemy, she found nothing more to say.

Soun considered for a long time. When he replied, Ranma beheld a nobler man than he lived with from day to day. With red fires of determination burning around him in a faint battle aura, Soun told Ranma he'd master techniques until he became a new man. After defeating and humiliating Happosai, he would reopen his dojo to a huge crowd of supplicants. The moment broke for Ranma when Soun sobbed in joy over such a happy dream.

Hinako (adult) said she would learn. She explained how wonderful an opportunity it would be for Ranma to master neglected school material. Attempting to provoke Ranma about his woeful education, she was surprised when he said "Thank you sensei," bowed, and left.

Kasumi realized being stuck in an eternal now meant the mundanities didn't matter. Whatever I did that day, she told him, it wouldn't be the same chores over and over again. I'd try new things, until I did everything I could do. Then I would break the eternal moment, and lead a more fulfilling life. Surprisingly, Kasumi served a delicate French meal (instead of beef bowl) that night.

Akane looked at him strangely, and told him she would figure out her feelings. When she said this, a strange hope flickered in her face.

A dangerous gleam caught in Sasuke's eyes. "You mean no one remembers yesterday, and everything starts over identical to before?" Ranma nodded at the ninja hiding in the bush, and the Kuno retainer swore him to secrecy upon his highest honor. With a blood thirsty smile Sasuke described the murder of the Kuno family. Looking at Ranma's vaguely horrified expression, the small ninja explained they would return untouched tomorrow, and such a memory would be cherished, should they continue to abuse his loyalty.

Akari Unryuu said Ryoga had yet to return over the phone. "Would I be the same physically?" she asked. Ranma, who found his extra punch in the Amaguriken to be lost after speaking to Soun, told her changes made to her body would vanish. In an earthy farm girl way, Akari said she'd practice with other men, so she could surprise Ryoga during their wedding night. Blushing, Ranma thanked Akari and hung up the receiver.

Nodoka took the question seriously. "My son, if I were you, I would try out your potential wives in bed, it would settle your mind and help sort your feelings. Additionally, I would spend one day in atonement for your curse, for seppuku would not matter, and in your soul you would know the your honor as a man was clean." Nodoka explained her personal answer would scandalize him, and Ranma, already blushing, passed.

"Sleep with a bunch of girls? What about you Hiroshi?" "Yep, you read my mind Dai, amazing!" Snorting, Ranma wondered why he even asked them.

Happosai smiled and twirled a white bra in celebration. "Great news m'boy, great news indeed! The terms of the spell I set have you repeating this day, until you get it absolutely Right." Dodging a punch, an axe kick, and redirecting a ki blast, the grand master cackled. "Right by your own terms sonny boy.... this day ends when you fall asleep knowing you are completely satisfied with your life!" Receding into the horizon by a well-placed feint within a feint, Happosai shouted "Challenge me for the title Ranma...."

Now knowing the cause of his trouble, the heir of the Saotome school knew the leech was right. He wouldn't be satisfied unless his fiancées were sorted out (and happy), and he was the grand master of his school. Plus his pride wouldn't allow him to exploit Happosai's obvious weaknesses for an easy win. A cheap victory was an empty one.

Prince Toma, laughing at Ranma's plight over the phone, and crying tears of joy at the description of the ruined wedding, finally gave a serious answer. 'I'd use fair means or foul to know the inner hearts of the people closest to me, so for the rest of their lives, I could make them happy.' Enthused with determination, Ranma thanked the prince and hung up the phone. Toma turned to his retainers on his island kingdom, and posed to them the question. After much debate, it was universally agreed 'sleeping with a bunch of girls' was the best answer. Poor sap, thought the Prince.

"Get my name changed Fem-boy, not exactly a great revelation. It's all I've been trying to do since I encountered your sorry gender-bending carcass!" Mentally shrugging, Ranma responded, "Stupid Pantyhose loving moron, for once I thought ya might look beyond yer nose, and not see clothing line designer labels." Then Taro poured water on himself, and Ranma had a very satisfying fight.

Disappointed, Ranma couldn't locate Dr. Tofu, Natsume, Ryoga, and Ryu Kumon. Other warriors he respected were unreachable in a mere day. Still upset with his other girls over the wedding, Ranma did the next best thing instead, and the answers surprised him.

"Such a question pigtailed girl, mused Tatewaki Kuno." Three hours later, after pondering the implications, Tatewaki spoke. "Since I already have money, good looks, and a noble heart I would use this opportunity to woo my twin loves. . . . and perhaps other noble maidens." Kuno added the last part reflectively; thunderstruck he might succeed given infinite time. "I would also take time to understand my twisted sister, and learn what drives the man referred to as my 'father' by legal right."

Konatsu gave the most insightful answer. "I'd speak to mistress Ukyo for days on end. If I said the wrong thing, and got her angry, she wouldn't remember it. However I'd take care not to make her believe I was obsessed."

Tied in his own chains after making a delivery, Mousse stopped struggling to answer. "I'd spend eternity winning my Shampoo's heart you fiend." Knowing what a wrong answer sounded like, Ranma left the man to his own devices.

Cologne cackled. "An interesting dilemma son-in-law, caused by Happosai no doubt. Should you ever despair of a perfect solution, make Shampoo your wife, and I will break the loop with a counter-technique." Not knowing if she bluffed, Ranma declined.

After much tears, Ukyo and Shampoo essentially said the same thing (completely ignoring his original question): "Get to know us better before you choose."

Kodachi's answer was ignored, a great pity in tomorrow's retrospect. With concentration so great sweat beaded her face, she told him "Ranma-sama I would understand who was responsible for manipulating my life, misleading me, and interfering with my happiness. Once I had achieved clarity, I would crush them utterly, with all fairness!" After he was driven away by her laugh, Ranma did not see the Black Rose collapse into a pained little ball, with her hands massaging her forehead.

Principal Kuno appeared extremely surprised when roused at 2am in the morning. Fending off the hedge clippers of education, Ranma managed to calm the man after a painful joint lock. As his head was slowly shaved (the price for an answer), the deranged Hawaii-loving man asked Ranma if he understood depression and perfection. Looking at his blank expression, the school administrator explained: "What would be the end of endless time, Wahini? Perfection, where worries are meaningless, or depression at failing to achieve perfection?" Immortalizing Ranma's snipped hair in a special jar, the loony educator wandered off inside his house. This answer deeply disturbed the heir to Musubetsu Kakuto Ryuu, who believed perfect Art lay in adaptability. Subconsciously, he wondered 'Is perfection static or dynamic?'

It had been ten repetitions of the same, and now Ranma felt ready enough to follow good advice. To his regret, he had decided against attempting to cure his curse; likely a cure wouldn't last between days.

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AN: This ends the introductory portion of the story.

--IMPORTANT-- Review now, even if more chapters are posted. Before my vision of this story unfolds, I am very interested in what you think will happen given this opening premise.

See the little Review Button down there? First time readers PLEASE use it now. Reading further will skew your untouched imaginative capacity with my ideas. I want to know what ---YOU--- think. If this entire thing is posted, expect to be asked this once more. Thank you,

--Judah