I don't own any of these characters or situations. They belong to someone else. Also this is done purely for fun, not profit. Any resemblance to persons living, dead, yet to be born, or visiting from other dimensions is purely coincidental. I'm doing this for fun.

Constructive criticism is always welcome.

I would like to thank the following, in order of appearance, from FukuFics 'dot' com for their input an pre-reading: WarGiver, J. St.C. Patrick, Stratagemini, and Lerris.

If I missed listing anyone, or misspelt their name, I apologize.

Boldly going where others had gone before and meekly going where few have been.

- o - o- o- o -----

Final Approach Ranma

Chapter 6

A Ranma/Futaba-kun Change crossover/fusion/whatever with a touch of Final Approach thrown in.

- o - o- o- o ---
- o - o- o- o ---

Soun staggered home leaning on his stocky friend for support, as his friend also leaned into him for support. The day started out troubled, but in the end things were beginning to look up as a plan was hatched to help Ranma see the error of his ways. It was a fine plan - an excellent plan. Kasumi would soon convince Ranma to see the light and all would be right in the world. The schools would be joined, the future of Anything Goes would be secured...

... and not to mention their retirement.

As both men weaved a convoluted path back to the dojo, Soun couldn't help but wonder: "Why doesn't the boy want to apologize to my Akane?" He then 'hrumpt' to himself, "just shows that Ranma has a lot to learn about women."

Genma was thinking along similar lines, but for him the day ended on an especially good note: They had gotten their bar tab taken care of for free! How much better could it get? "Yes, my worthless son's curse does come in handy," Genma thought as he high stepped over a curb. "I wonder how many more tabs I can pay off using his curse?"

Genma weaved to one side, then the other, taking Soun with him. Occasionally they would come close to falling, but their counter staggering into each other would somehow keep both men upright and moving. "Yes between this and a few dates with that Kuno boy, all of our tabs should be taken care of in good order." Nearing the dojo and looking forward to resuming their endless games of Go, Genma had one final thought: "After all, it is his duty to take care of his parents in our old age."

- o - o- o- o -

It was an upbeat Ranma who entered the Shimeru household as Futaba held the door open and allowed the two girls to enter first. Once inside, all three kicked off their shoes by the front door and padded deeper into the house. Ranma was filled with optimism as she followed Futaba and Misaki into the family room. There they found Mr. Shimeru there, with his nose in the evening newspaper, as was his habit before dinner.

"Dad?" Futaba questioned, breaking Mr. Shimeru away from his evening reading of the scandal sheet. "We need to talk about something important."

Mr. Shimeru looked up at the faces of the three youths and noted the seriousness of their expressions. He blinked once and also took note of the demeanor of the youths. Not wanting to make the same mistake he did earlier by jumping to conclusions, he asked, "What happened?"

Ranma swallowed hard. "Well," she began hesitantly, "you see - my folks..."

Twenty minutes of explanation followed by another ten of Mr. Shimeru asking some clarifying points. Futaba and Misaki helped Ranma detail what had happened at the Tendos, freely adding their own comments about the situation as they did.

"... and now I'm here to ask you...," Ranma's voice trailed off before finding itself again. "I'm asking you, is that offer you made me earlier still good?"

"The modeling job? Why yes, of course," he answered with a smile. "You're going to take up on the offer?"

"Yes, I am," Ranma answered. "I think I'm going to need the money..."

Mr. Shimeru nodded and folded and placed his paper away. "Okay. I'll get a hold of Mr. Gyokai and get you in for some test shots later in the next week or two."

"Dad," Futaba said. "Does Ranma have to have his parents permission to do this?"

Mr. Shimeru rubbed his chin in thought. "Yes, ordinarily - but I think we can find ways around that. It would be best to get with our lawyer and ask him. He'd know more about it than I."

Just then the sound of the front door opening was heard followed by the cry of: "I'm home!" from Futana. She soon entered the room and looked on the others gathered in the room. "Hey, everybody," she greeted as she sat down next to Ranma - very close. "Am I missing anything?"

Ranma tried not to feel weird by Futana's presence, but Futana still had a way of getting to her without even trying. "Did the temperature go up all the sudden? My imagination again," Ranma thought as she scolded herself for thinking... what might have been naughty thoughts about the elder Shimeru child. Ranma looked at the woman sitting beside her, "Man she's not just cute - she's beautiful."

"We were discussing the possibility of Ranma modeling," Mr. Shimeru answered Futana, tearing Ranma's eyes and thoughts from Futana as well. "She wants to give it a try, but is worried that her parents would interfere. I was just about to tell her that we needed to get together with our lawyer..." Mr. Shimeru's voice drifted off as he noted the growing smile on his elder child's face. "... I take it by that smile, everything went as you hoped?"

Futana nodded coyly as her smile broadened. Ranma and the others in the room blink-blinked at the exchange. "Everything went perfectly," Futana answered.

Mr. Shimeru nodded. "Good," he said. "She wants to get away from her parents and this will help immeasurably."

Futana nodded and smiled some more.

"After what happened today, I think it would be in Ranma's best interests to try and break from her..." Mr. Shimeru continued before pausing in thought, "... abusive relationship with her parents."

"Wha-what's going on?" a confused Futaba asked echoing Ranma's thoughts.

Mr. Shimeru sighed and addressed the redhead. "Ranma, I did some things that you may or may not like. When Futaba told me of your training, I was - well, quite frankly, horrified."

Ranma nodded for Mr. Shimeru to continue.

"I called my lawyer and he recommended a private investigator," Mr. Shimeru explained. "I hired him to check out your parents background."

Ranma remained silent for a moment, feeling a little uneasy, before nodding for Mr. Shimeru to go on.

"After getting the report from Mr. Club, that's the private investigator, I felt I had to do something on your behalf, but I didn't know what," Mr. Shimeru shifted in his seat. "I tried to think of anything to keep you from going back to your parents - everything from filing for an extension to..." his voice trailed off there.

Mr. Shimeru was quiet for a few heartbeats as he let the moment pass.

"Anyway, Futana thought of an idea and I gave her permission to run with it," Mr. Shimeru continued. "I don't know the exact details, so I think it would be best for her to explain it."

Futana scooted back from Ranma as so to see her better before addressing her, "I noticed that you father had a habit of engaging you to various people for the littlest of reasons," Futana explained. "I just made sure I was there when the next reason came up."

"Um, what did you do?" Ranma finally asked, slightly worried about what was going down.

"Ranma, I did something today - something I don't know that you will like or not - but it will give you a chance to take some control of your life."

Ranma quietly stared at Futana.

"But first," Futana said seriously, "you must understand nothing is set in stone yet. I just put the pieces in place and left the final decision to you. One phone call is all that it would take to get the ball rolling."

"What ball? What are you talking about?" Ranma asked, confused and slightly frustrated that no one was getting to the point. Futaba and Misaki were just as confused, but remained silent and hoped that things would go Ranma's way for once.

"Basically I met your father and paid his and his friend's bar tab -" Futana shot a look at her father as she continued - "a large bar tab in exchange for his signature on some forms."

Ranma felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "You didn't - you didn't... we're not engaged... are we? What ja' do? How did ja'...," was all she was able to get out before being stopped by Futana's upheld hand.

"No we're not engaged," Futana answered. "How was easy - surprisingly easy. You can tell your father has a lot of practice in bartering your life away - and cheaply. Anyway, these forms-"

"He sold me!" Ranma interrupted with a shriek. "Again!"

Futana nodded as she opened her mouth to say something more, only to be cut off by Ranma.

"I can't believe him!" Ranma exploded "He sells off both my sides to get what he wants and..." Ranma voice trailed off as she shook and got her anger under control. "You know, just when I think pops can't sink any lower, he surprises me. Did you know that I found out today that he sold my girl side out to Kuno?" Futana nodded slightly, that was in Mr. Club's report. "This is too much," Ranma said despairingly burying her face in her hands. "What side of me did he sell off this time?"

Ranma rant quieted down, giving Futana time to explain. "He didn't sell you this time," Futana said. "Instead he sold something of his this time."

Ranma blink-blinked at Futana, puzzled at the meaning. "Wha-what did he sell?" Ranma asked, half fearing the answer.

"Ranma," Futana smiled. "He sold his parental rights for about forty thousand yen."

Ranma stared off into space for a moment. "What?"

"It's different this time, Ranma," Futana said soothingly with a crafty smile. She then took Ranma's hands in hers and pulled Ranma back down beside her. "This time he signed away his and the Saotome clan's rights away. Since he is the head of the Saotome clan..."

Ranma looked at Futana for a moment, still unsure of the concept. Since no coherent thoughts were forthcoming, she said the first thing to cross her mind, "Huh?"

"You see," Futana continued to explain patiently. "The form he signed was a release and declaration. After the paperwork is filed, you'll become the legal ward of one Iroka Kahoru, famous model and star."

Ranma gaped at her, still uncertain at the meaning behind what she was told. With nothing coming to mind, she asked, "What's a ward?

"A ward is a person that is under the protection or custody of another," Mr. Shimeru said with authority. His explanation drew some interesting looks before he clarified rather sheepishly, "I wasn't too sure myself - I had to look it up in the dictionary."

"So that means in becoming Ranma's guardian, you - or rather Iroka Kahoru, could protect Ranma from any schemes that his parents may try and force on her," Futaba said, grasping at what was happening.

Mr. Shimeru nodded as Futana spoke. "Exactly, they can try to engage him, her... whatever to whomever they want, but it won't do them any good unless they can convince Iroka Kahoru, who would be Ranma's legal guardian, of that - and the chance of that happening are zero."

Mr. Shimeru nodded in agreement with Futana's statement as the room fell silent.

"You understand," Mr. Shimeru said carefully. "If you agree to this you will become my ward? That means I'll, or my female side, will be responsible for you. Understand?"

Ranma nodded slowly then stopped, pondered the meaning of Mr. Shimeru's words, and then shook her her head.

"That means that your health and welfare will be my, or my female alter-ego's, responsibility. That means that I'll become... for all intents and purposes, your parent - but not like the parents you now have. I won't force you to marry against your will or go through torturous martial arts trails, but I will not interfere if you wish to learn something on your own. I will insist however, that you apply more of yourself to your schooling. I have noticed that you are improving, but I would expect better."

Ranma jerkily shook her head in confirmation that she understood what Mr. Shimeru was taking about. Not just about her grades, but the whole meaning of what she was doing.

"You would live here," Mr. Shimeru continued. "You can visit your parents or anyone you want and have friends over, but I must have to ask that any martial arts challenges be done elsewhere."

Ranma nodded.

"Also, if I feel you are being abused by the people in your life, I will step in and have them taken care of - legally."

Ranma nodded as the true meaning of Mr. Shimeru's words sank in slowly, ever so slowly. "Y-you mean," Ranma finally managed to stammer before falling silent. "That..." her voice trailed off as she looked back and forth between Futana and Mr. Shimeru.

Futana nodded. "Just give me the word, and in one phone call, Iroka Kahoru will become your legal guardian."

Ranma opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"Only if you want," Futana reminded in a clarifying voice. "Everything is in place except the papers haven't been filed yet. You give me the go ahead and they'll be filed. Certified copies will be mailed to all interested parties - mainly your dad. Knowing his track record, he won't dare contest it. If you don't want to become Iroka Kahoru's ward, then we'll drop this and everything will as before."

"What about the Tendo's?" Futaba interjected. "What's to stop them from objecting?"

"Mainly because Soun Tendo was one of the seven witnesses," Futana said smartly. "Also, I don't think he'd want to draw attention to his behavior in this either, after all helping to sell your would-be heir for forty thousand yen - the price of their bar tab - would be frowned upon if and when it becomes public knowledge."

Silence fell among those in the room.

"Futana! You're a genius!" Misaki gushed as she crossed over to Futana, rewarding her with a hug. "Here we were trying to think of a way to help Ranma and you did it all by yourself."

"Wait a minute," Futaba said, interrupting any premature celebrating. "What about Ranma's mother? She could try to contest this."

"True," Futana said as she enjoyed Misaki's hug and almost slipped into her male form in doing so. "But she'll have to answer as to why she was absent from Ranma's life for so long and the seppuku pledge. Our lawyer has voiced the opinion that any court would question her harshly on that."

Mr. Shimeru nodded and considered what Mr. Club found out about the Saotome clan. "With as much dirty laundry as the Saotomes have, they would probably not openly contest this." He looked up at Ranma who was still sitting there, stunned by the possibilities. "Well Ranma? What do you want to do?"

Ranma stared at each of the people in the room, uncertainty clearly in her eyes. She slowly shook her head. "I don't know. I mean, no one's ever ask me that before. This all too much - I been told what I have to do for so long... I don't know. I don't know."

"Ranma!" Misaki said in astonishment. "This is your big chance! You could be free from your so-called family and have a life all your own. What's there to think about?"

"Misaki," Mr. Shimeru said gently. "Ranma needs time to think about this. From what she has told us, she hadn't really made a decision in her life and she needs time to consider. This is a big decision... one that will effect the rest of her life. Give her time."

- o - o- o- o ------

Kasumi finished drying and putting away the last pot having dismissed Akane a few moments before. She looked about the kitchen and everything was in its place, neat and spotless as she liked it. Looking out the window, she was pleased to find that the wonderful weather that they had been blessed with in the morning continued onto the afternoon.

"Akane is really coming along with her cooking lessons," she thought absently as she turned from the window. "The lunch that she prepared today was actually fairly good. Auntie Saotome's lessons are starting to help."

Kasumi set down the dishrag in its place on the counter and became lost in her thoughts. She stared uneasily at the rag as she thought back a few days ago when her father made a request. Kasumi shook her head at the memory. "Father wants me to 'talk some sense into Ranma'. Can't they see that he is happy where he's - she's at?"

Kasumi sighed.

"Those two won't stop until they completely destroy poor Ranma's life," Kasumi thought with some bitterness. "Can't they leave well enough alone?"

- o - o- o- o ------

Ranma exhaled as she sat cross-legged across from Futaba and Misaki. She had found her center and concentrated on her heart, slowing it. It was about as close as she could come herself in helping Futaba with the exercises in controlling his sex-changing abilities as she could get. Ranma slowed her heart to one beat a minute before retreating from that state, opening her eyes and watched Futaba as he shifted from one form to the other. Sometimes the shift was done smoothly, other times rather haltingly. Futaba was getting better, but still he was a slave to his emotions if he didn't concentrate enough.

Ranma turned her attention to Misaki seated beside Futaba. She had taken into joining in on their little exercises, first as a cheerleader, supporting Futaba in his efforts and then joining in becoming an active part of the meditation. Ranma traced the outline of Misaki's face as she sat, eyes closed concentrating on her body.

Misaki's shifting form wasn't as noticeable as Futaba's. Her hair stayed the same color and she remained the same size between her male and female forms. Ranma noticed that Misaki's shifting was more halting that Futaba's and it was obvious that she had a lot more work ahead of her. Ranma also noted that Misaki's state of meditation was much greater than Futaba's and doubted that she was even aware...

Wait a minute...

Misaki... changing?

Ranma watch in silence as Misaki was hesitantly shifting from one form to the next.

"What the...?" Ranma mind staggered around a bit before she concentrated on how this was possible. "She's like Futaba - maybe?"

Ranma waited until Misaki shifted fully into her male form before calling out to her, him... whatever. "Misaki?" Ranma said gently. Misaki didn't stir. "Misaki!" Ranma said louder bringing both Misaki and Futaba out of their meditative state.

"Misaki blinked a few times before focusing on Ranma. "Yes? Is there something wrong?"

Ranma stared at Misaki for a few heartbeats before asking, "How long have you been able to change forms?"

Misaki blink-blinked at Ranma. "Huh?"

Ranma inhaled deeply and pointed at her friends chest. Misaki blinked and looked down.

"EEEK!" Misaki shrieked as she patted down the front of her, that is his, chest. "Not again!"

Futaba was the first to react by hugging Misaki, calming her. "Misaki, calm down. What happened?"

Misaki took a deep breath in an effort to get herself under control. She took a few more and leaned into Futaba with her still male body. She swallowed and exhaled slowly.

"It... it happened before," Misaki managed to work out with effort. "After the wrestling match with Karin and Anzu, when I lost a lot of blood... I changed... after I recovered."

Futaba held the male Misaki and thought. "That's when the nurse gave you the blood transfusion using my blood, wasn't it?"

Misaki nodded.

"I'm sorry," Futaba said softly. "I didn't know that..."

"Shhh," Misaki whispered to Futaba. "It's okay. I was just surprised. I thought it wouldn't happen again since I haven't changed in a long while. I guess all this meditation did something."

Futaba leaned back and looked at Misaki and smiled. "We're quite a pair, aren't we?"

Misaki giggled. She sounded strange with a slightly deep voice.

Ranma watched the drama unfold before her and felt... odd about it. There was no screaming, yelling, accusations or awkwardness. Just support. Ranma expression was as if someone struck her. She shook her head. "Tell you what," Ranma said as she rose from here cross-legged position. "You two keep working on it and I'll check back with both of you later."

Ranma quickly left the room leaving the Misaki and Futaba alone.

"She's really hurting, isn't she?" Misaki asked.

Futaba could only nod in reply.

Outside in the back yard, Ranma was fighting an emotional battle."Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Ranma raged to herself as she walked outside. "I will not be jealous, I will not be jealous, I will not be jealous!"

Ranma walked around the outside of the house as her vision became blurry. "IT'S NOT FAIR!" Ranma's mind roared. "IT"S NOT!"

Ranma wiped the tears that were flowing down her cheeks. "Look at me - crying and feeling sorry for myself," she thought bitterly. "I thought I would get over being jealous when I talked to them about it. I shouldn't - they're my friends and..."

Ranma buried her face in her hands in an effort to control the pent up emotions that were overwhelming her. After a few moments she was able to reign in her emotions and concentrate on what just happened. To calm herself, Ranma began to pace back in forth in the small yard.

"Misaki changed," Ranma thought as she paced, "and it was okay with her as long as she had Futaba by her side. Is that what love is... caring for someone no matter what? If something like that happened with Akane, I would be blamed for it whether it was my fault or not and all hell would break loose and..."

Ranma ceased her thoughts as her emotions welled up and took over her thought processes again. She took a deep calming breath and cleared her mind, or a least tried to. She try to think on what could have possibly happened to Misaki, but was too distracted by her feelings to really do any good. She stopped in her pacing to further bring herself under control. She was a master of her body, but her emotions still ran rampant unless she actively suppressed them, but you can only use the 'Soul of Ice' so long before it becomes useless.

Steadily Ranma calmed herself and instead of pushing her emotions aside, decided to confront them. She swallowed and resumed her pacing. "I won't find happiness just wanting what other people have, I'll have to go out and find it for myself. Futaba and Misaki pointed the way, all I got to do is go and look for my own happiness - but where to look?"

"Ranma, are you all right?" the voice broke into Ranma's thoughts. "You're wearing a path in the yard with your pacing."

Ranma stopped in her pacing and blink-blinked at Futana, who was standing just inside the back door. Ranma studied the pretty young woman who was staring back at her and felt... something - what, Ranma wasn't really sure of. "Sorry," she said. "Just thinking about some stuff."

Futana eyed the redhead with concern. Ever since she had learned more of Ranma's past and gotten Genma's signature, Futana had been backing off of Ranma and giving her room. Futana didn't want to add to Ranma's problems by teasing her... or trying to do other things with her. It didn't mean that she stopped entirely, but she did cut back.

"Anything I can do to help?" Futana asked in a very serious tone.

Ranma opened her mouth to say something, but just as quickly closed it. "I'm sorry," she said. "But not right now. I have a lot of things to think about. That's all."

Futana nodded, hesitated, and then continued on into the house.

- o - o- o- o --

Nodoka sat and looked upon her garden. She was pleased that her husband and friend came up with a plan of having Kasumi speak with Ranma. "Kasumi has always been my first pick for Ranma as a wife," she reflected. "Maybe after their talk, Ranma will see what a fine woman Kasumi is."

Nodoka smiled outwardly as she imagined the lovely children that Kasumi would have with Ranma.

"Maybe I should plant a bug in Kasumi's ear about the possibility of being engaged to my son," she thought as she watched a few insects fly between the flowers in her garden. "She would be a better choice and she would be able to bear children easier than Akane."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a bird that flew into the yard, landed on a branch of the tree, look about before alighting on the ground. She watched as the bird pecked at the ground here and there.

"Ranma must be made aware of the importance of continuing the family line," she returned to her thoughts. "It is a duty - he may not like it, but he must - he will - do it."

Nodoka smiled again to herself at the thought of Kasumi bearing Ranma's children. "All will be put right in the world when Kasumi succeeds in making Ranma see what's right. First," she mentally listed, "he must apologize to Akane and myself for being so disrespectful. Second he will swear to marry whomever we decide that he will marry. And third...," her eyes narrowed, "he will continue the family line - without delay."

She sat and pondered her garden some more, smiling at the thought of everything turning her way.

- o - o- o- o -

The redhead headed back toward the Shimeru's after her evening workout. Ranma had her hair in her trademark pigtail as sweat dripped from her face. Walking back, she took in what was left of the day. High patchy clouds dotted the sky and the sun peeked between two of them raining down warmth on an already humid day.

She was thinking about how nice some ice cream would be after she cleaned up when her thoughts were interrupted by someone calling her name. Turning, Ranma spied the familiar face of Kasumi Tendo as she approached.

"Kasumi," Ranma exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

As Kasumi neared the redhead, Ranma could see the troubled look on her face. "Kasumi what's wrong?"

Kasumi sighed as she stopped before Ranma. "I... well... I'm suppose... it's just that - oh, pooh..."

"Kasumi," Ranma gently interrupted the other girls stammering. "What's wrong?"

Kasumi sighed heavily and her shoulders sagged a bit. "I was... asked by our fathers to speak with you."

Ranma sighed before her eyes narrowed a bit, after all this was Kasumi. "What about?"

Kasumi looked at Ranma's blue eyes and sighed yet again. "I'm not really sure to be honest... my father mentioned something about Akane, you, and needing to understand women. Your father said something about you disobeying and being disrespectful. Your mother mention 'talking some sense into you' and..." Kasumi paused and blushed, "you, me and grandchildren."

Ranma's right eyebrow twitched on that.

"But no one really explained what was going on," Kasumi finished somewhat flustered. "All I really know it that they wanted me to 'set you straight' and 'turn you around' as they put it."

"You really don't know?" Ranma asked in a somewhat skeptical tone.

Kasumi caught the tone in Ranma's voice and nodded. "All I know is that something happened between you, Akane and your mother, but no one really explained the circumstances or the details."

"Not even Akane?"

Kasumi sigh... again and shook her head. "Well Akane... you understand, has a way of... speaking with her emotions... that may not reflect what really happened."

Ranma nodded and was slightly surprised that his parents and Mr. Tendo would press Kasumi into doing their dirty work. "Tell you what," Ranma said. "Let's get something to drink and I'll tell you all about it."

Ranma finished her recount of the events between her and Akane when they ran into one another shopping. Ranma also detailed the 'discussion' she and her mother had about it, as Kasumi sat and stared at the tea before her. For a few heartbeats all was quiet between the two, before Kasumi spoke. "I'm sorry-"

"Kasumi stop. Please," Ranma interrupted. "You have nothing to apologize for."

Kasumi sighed. "But Ranma, Akane-" she began, only to be interrupted again by Ranma.

"Kasumi, apologizing for things you didn't do is not going to help Akane," Ranma said pointedly. "Akane is never going to accept responsibility for herself or her actions if everyone else does it for her."

Kasumi looked at Ranma with different eyes and cocked her head to the side slightly. "You sound so much more mature than you did, before all this happened."

Ranma nodded. "I feel more mature, but I know I have a ways to go before I can claim that I'm grown." Ranma paused with a sigh. "Kasumi, it's not like I don't like your sister. I think she will become a wonderful person someday - when she's grown up. But not now. Not until she accepts and learns from her mistakes - and not have other people shield her from it."

Kasumi sat across from Ranma in silence. She couldn't really think of anything to dispute Ranma assessment of her younger sister.

Ranma smiled thinly. "Kasumi, I know you like to keep the... harmony of the household intact, but in doing so you've done Akane and Nabiki a disservice."

Kasumi eyebrow arched.

"I mean," Ranma continued. "Look at Nabiki scamming money and generally making everyone around her miserable. All so she could have fun and make spending money for herself. I'm sure you've heard of the morning challenge that Kuno had about dating Akane?"

Kasumi nodded.

"Well, did you know Nabiki was the one that was egging Kuno on?" Ranma asked as Kasumi stared wide eyed at her. Ranma nodded before she continued. "All so she could make money on the betting pool. If Nabiki would do something like that to her own sister can you imagine the type of stuff she was doing to me?"

Kasumi sighed heavily and nodded. Kasumi had found out the depths to which her middle sister had fallen, when the near pornographic photos of Ranma's girl form were uncovered by Nodoka. Kasumi fretted with her hands a bit before she motioned for Ranma to continue.

"I'm not entirely blameless in dealing with Akane either, Kasumi," Ranma said somewhat quietly. "But when does an insult given, after one has been taken, warrant being clubbed over the head by a table?"

Kasumi didn't reply. She sat there across of Ranma silently going over both her sister's behavior. She broke into a thin smile. "Here I am, sent to 'try and talk sense into you' as our fathers put it, and you're the one talking sense to me."

Ranma returned the smile with one of her own. A silence fell that was comforting in a way between them.

"So, what are the fathers up to now?" Ranma asked, breaking the silence and changing the subject.

Kasumi sighed. "Well, they're worried that you might have fallen in love with Futaba. They're worried about the future of the schools."

"Figures," Ranma said with a touch of acid in her voice. "They're just worried about their retirement."

Kasumi only nodded in response.

"How's Ukyo and Shampoo?" Ranma asked, feeling another change of subject was in order. "I'm surprised that I haven't seen either of them since this all started."

Kasumi blink-blinked. "You don't know?"

Ranma blinked back. "Know what?"

"Well since the beginning, or right after your engagement to Futaba started, both have had a restraining order placed on them," Kasumi answered.

"A restraining order? By the government?"

Kasumi shook her head. "Yes, your mother suggested it to the two government men before they left. She told them how persistent Ukyo and Shampoo were and they would try to subtly undermine the experiment."

Ranma looked at Kasumi darkly. "And what about Akane? Why wasn't a restraining order placed on her?"

Kasumi sighed. She hated where this was going. "Well, according to your mother, since the Tendos and Saotomes were family friends, it wouldn't be necessary."

"I... see...," Ranma said slowly and carefully. "Stacking the deck, eh, mother?" Ranma thought. She shook her head after a few moments of silence. "It doesn't matter anyway," Ranma said firmly. "It doesn't matter what my folks or your father want anymore - only what I want."

"R-Ranma?" Kasumi asked, suddenly worried that Ranma wasn't taking Nodoka's interference well. "What do you mean?"

Ranma gave Kasumi a measured look, then shook her head. "I don't know yet," she finally said softly. "I'm just tired of living for everyone else's dreams and not allowed to have any of my own."

Silence resumed between the two as Ranma visibly wrestled with her thoughts. Ranma turned and looked out the window at the remains of the day, deep in thought. "Maybe I should go visit Ukyo and the ol'ghoul soon and see what's happening," she thought as she watch the color of the sky change, heralding the approaching night. Ranma's mind also turned over a little tidbit that Mr. Club had uncovered. "Maybe I'll even get the Amazons out of my hair."

"Ranma?" Kasumi said softly breaking into Ranma's thoughts. "I'm sorry... from me, this time."

Ranma blinked at the older girl across from her, confusion evident on her face. "What are you sorry for Kasumi? You haven't done anything to me."

Kasumi sighed. "True, but I haven't done anything to help you either. To be honest with you Ranma, you're a nice, innocent and very forgiving person and I like you immensely - but your curse..." Kasumi's voice trailed off.

"Scares you," Ranma finished for the Tendo girl.

Kasumi nodded and blushed a bit as she looked at her teacup. "Yes it does," she confirmed. "Can you imagine living in a world of science, reading about medicine and all the wonderful things that are being discovered everyday, only to have what you believe in completely turned upside down?"

Ranma pondered that for a moment before nodding. "I guess the confirmed existence of magic was something that you were not prepared for."

Kasumi nodded.

"You should be going," Ranma point out. "It'll be getting dark soon."

"Ranma-," Kasumi began.

"It's alright, Kasumi," Ranma said reasuredly. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about." Ranma then broke into a broad grin. "To be honest I like you a lot as well, but you're... a little old for me."

Kasumi blink-blinked at Ranma's statement before giggling lightly. Ranma joined in before escorting Kasumi back to the bus stop.

- o - o- o- o ---

"Lift your head a bit - good, now look to the right - no, your other right - good. Hold there," the photographer said.

-FLASH-

Ranma blinked a few times to clear her eyes. When Futaba said that modeling was tedious at times, he - she, whatever - wasn't exaggerating. Between make-up, clothes changing, being prodded into this position and that, and having strobe flashes in your eye two or three times a minute... well, it was getting on Ranma's nerves.

And this was just some test shots.

"Okay, that's a wrap!" the photographer called out.

Ranma let out a sigh of relief. She could now get out of the bikini that she was wearing. Not that she didn't look good in it or found it uncomfortable, but with the air-conditioning set as low as it was, Ranma was freezing. Ranma quickly followed Futaba, who was in girl mode, back into the dressing room.

"You weren't kidding when you said this was tedious," Ranma said as she changed out of the swim wear and into her regular street clothes. "How do you put up with it?"

"It's not that bad once all the test shots are through," Futaba answered. "You get to go places, you know, location shots. If you become a idol star, you have personal appearances, autograph signing and other stuff."

Ranma stared at Futaba with slightly widened eyes. "I don't know if I want to go that far."

Futaba waved her off. "It's okay, you don't have to go that far."

Ranma breathed a sigh of relief on that. It was making money, but it was still all too new for her.

- o - o- o- o ------

"Hello ol'ghoul," Ranma said in a voice that was just laced with mirth, thus sparing a knock on the head from Cologne's staff.

"Ah... son-in-law," Cologne said in her usual gravely way. She noticed Ranma's raised eyebrow at the greeting. "If you can joke, so can I. What brings you by today, sonny boy?"

Ranma looked about the Cat Cafe. It was unusually slow and there were very few customers seated at various tables that Mouse was tending to. She also noted that Shampoo wasn't around or she'd would have been glomped by now.

"Shampoos out on a delivery?" Ranma asked.

Colognes eyes widened a bit. "Are you interested in seeing her? It wouldn't be too much to hope that you have seen what a good wife Shampoo would make and you would like to run off with her, would it?"

Ranma smiled. "Yep, way too much to ask. Seriously though, I would like to speak with you, if you have the time."

Cologne eyebrow raised. "Oh Ranma," she said in as sultry a voice a woman her age could manage. "You're far to young for me."

Ranma blinked at the elderly Amazon before the meaning and the way Cologne said her statement registered - Ranma nearly retched. "No! I don't mean that!"

Cologne responded with mirthful cackling. After a few seconds of unrestricted laughter, Cologne quieted down. "Oh son-in-law," she finally worked out. "You're far too easy."

Ranma crossed her arms, 'hurmpted', and pouted prettily.

"I'm sorry," Cologne said placidly. "Forgive an old woman and her jest. What is it that you would like to talk to me about?"

Ranma returned the smile and looked around the room. "Can we go somewhere where we won't be bothered?"

Cologne looked at the seriousness in Ranma's eyes and nodded. "The roof," she said. "We won't be bothered there."

After climbing the stairway to the roof, the two women seated themselves as comfortable as they could on the rough surface.

"Tell me, honestly, is Shampoo really the best fighter of her generation in your village?" Ranma asked.

Cologne blinked at the question and hesitated before nodding.

"Then I take it that the latest batch of warriors have been somewhat of a disappointment," Ranma commented.

Cologne bristled mildly at the comment. "They are young and lack experience," she defended. "In a few years-"

"I'll be better than I am today and they'll still be behind," Ranma interrupted. "This is serious, Cologne. I didn't want to speak with you with the intention of insulting you. I wanted to speak with you about the real reason you wanted me to return to China as Shampoo's husband."

Cologne remained silent for a few heartbeats. "What ever do you mean? You defeated her-"

"While protecting someone else. There was no marriage challenge, Shampoo's claim is not valid, even by your own laws," Ranma said rather pointedly. "I had a... friend look it up, but that's okay, though. I can guess why you really wanted me back in China."

"Oh? And what other reason could that be except to be Shampoo's husband?"

Ranma looked at the older person, trying to read her mood, but Cologne hid it too well.

"I think you wanting me as Shampoo's husband was just part of the deal," Ranma said. "I think you were really looking for what Happosai was looking for - a worthy heir."

Cologne regarded the boy turned girl for a moment. Ranma could feel the eyes of the elder and the subtle ki that was emitting from the old woman as it caressed her own ki. Obviously Cologne was alarmed enough by Ranma's guesses to literally 'feel her out'. It was enough of a tip off for Ranma to know that she hit close to the mark, that it embolden her.

"You presume too much," Cologne said dryly. "Shampoo is-"

"No where near my level and not likely to ever be and you know it," Ranma interrupted, weary of Cologne's games. "When I first beat her on the challenge log, she had been fighting most the day and tired."

Cologne nodded in agreement.

"While I," Ranma continued, "was tired, hungry, hadn't had a good night sleep in days, and not even really used to my girl form. Yet I beat your heir - easily."

Cologne glared at the redhead.

"You may have hopes of her being a matriarch of the village," Ranma said. "But you and I know that she won't get much better in the art than what she is right now."

Cologne looked down and sighed heavily. The jig was up.

"You are quite right in your assessment of Shampoo," Cologne said wearily. "I was hoping..." her voice trailed off into nothing. Ranma stood by, watched and waited it out, seeing if Cologne would continue without prompting. "When I first came here I watched you. I observed you hopping from rooftop to rooftop, practicing your art, and defeating the Hibiki boy. I knew that that I had met someone with unique abilities."

Cologne raised her eyes and met Ranma's stare. "Your adaptability, strength, dedication to the art and curse made you a very desirable heir. I was hoping that Shampoo would woo you into returning to China willingly as her husband and shield sister."

Ranma cocked his head and looked at the Amazon matriarch, Ranma's brow furrowed in thought. After a few moments in silence, Ranma motioned for Cologne to continue.

"You see, I wanted Shampoo to succeed me on the council and you to succeed me in the art."

Ranma exhaled. "I see... and the shield sister bit?"

"Your curse had made you both male and female... something I have no doubt that you have figured out by now. You haven't been splashed accidentally in quite a while now have you?"

"Yeah," Ranma replied while thinking back the last few weeks. "Yeah, now that you mentioned it. How'd you know?"

"Your ki, speaks volumes," Cologne answered. When you were fighting the curse, your ki was in turmoil, causing you great misfortune."

Ranma blink-blinked when she realized something. "I haven't been hit by any water - hot or cold - since..." Ranma wracked her brain and could come up with anything. "I don't remember... why has the curse let me alone?"

Her mind raced back, comparing not only the events in her life since she got cursed, but everyone she knew who was cursed. "Pops hardly ever get accidentally splashed... he doesn't care if he is a panda or not. Ryoga gets splashed, but only cares if Akane finds out... but..." Ranma pondered a moment, thinking of Shampoo, Mouse and Taro. "They've accepted their curse to a certain extent. Pops doesn't care, because he never really care what people thought of him. Ryoga it gives the opportunity to sneak into Akane's bed. Shampoo uses it to stalk me..."

She felt she was on the verge of a great discovery or something. "The Shimeru's accepted my curse... and... so have I." Then something that Cologne said penetrated her mind. "You mean my ki was affecting my curse?"

"In a sense. When you were fighting your curse, your ki was like a storm, disrupting the natural ki lines in the environment around you. This was causing such things as water to seek you out at the most inconvenient times. You have accepted the curse, calming your ki - the natural surrounding ki lines will not be affected anymore."

Ranma's reply was a small nod. "Okay, that explains that. So what about the Amazon situation?"

Cologne, still sitting, leaned against her staff. "You would have been honored husband of a matriarch and also as a woman, warrior and a shield sister to Shampoo. You would have been trained in the advanced warrior arts of the Amazons."

"But I couldn't because I was an outsider..."

Cologne nodded. "Yes, and that problem would have been solved by you marrying Shampoo and becoming part of the tribe."

Silence fell between the two. Ranma lost in her own thoughts as Cologne looked on, wondering what could be going on in the young woman's mind. The seconds ticked by, uncounted as Cologne remained silent as Ranma made up her mind.

"Cologne," Ranma finally said. "While I am honored to considered good enough to be your successor in the arts, I cannot marry Shampoo - even after this experiment."

Cologne sighed with a nod. "May I ask why?"

"Because I cannot forget Shampoo spent months tracking me down to kill me," Ranma explained. "I can forgive her, because she was a victim of her antiquated laws, but I cannot forget. That experience has tainted my view of her - and of the Amazons."

"I... see...," Cologne said softly, looking almost as old as she claimed to be.

"Look," Ranma said suddenly. "I don't mind learning from you - in fact I'd sooner be your heir than the Freak's, but I ain't going back to China."

Cologne eyed Ranma, hoping to get something out of this. "What do you propose?"

Ranma sighed. She might regret this, but... "Look Cologne, I would much rather be your friend than your son-in-law. It may not be what you want, but it is all I can offer you."

Cologne sighed. It was something to consider and maybe something more may come out of it. After all, close unions had started with friendships. If Ranma wouldn't become an Amazon by marriage, maybe by becoming a blood sister? That would open the door for any of Ranma's heirs to be welcomed into the tribe as an equal no matter what sex. It was something to consider and as long as Cologne has been alive, patience was one thing she had learned.

"I'll have to speak this over with the rest of the elders," Cologne said. "They my want you to become a blood sister to Shampoo or myself before I can train you further."

Ranma nodded. "We'll see..."

- o - o- o- o -----

The first thing Ranma noticed as she stopped just outside the open door of 'Ucchan's Okonomiyaki' was the wonderful smell of the okonomiyaki that wafted out. Her senses were filled with the aroma and her stomach was stimulated by the thought of getting some of Uyko's cooking. Patting her stomach to settle it, Ranma grinned as she entered the restaurant.

"Man," Ranma thought hungrily. "It's been too long."

Spying the person behind the grill, Ranma took her time and studied the features of Ukyo. She was dressed in her usual outfit: A deep blue chef's smock with a bandar filled with small throwing spatulas. Ukyo had her long, brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, much like the way Ranma wore her hair today. Ranma watched as Ukyo fluidly moved between each of her customers that were lined uo along the elongated grill, looking much like bar patrons waiting for their drinks. Ranma took the tiime to study Uyko's profile, the way she moved about, and the way she smiled.

"She is cute," Ranma thought. "I wonder..." Ranma shook her head to clear it of any errant thoughts and entered the restaurant. "Hey Ucchan!" she called out. "How are you doing?"

"Ranchan!" the girl behind the grill called out, her grin broadening. "C'mon and have a seat sugar, I'll fix up a special for you."

Ranma smiled warmly at her friend and slid onto an vacant stool in front of the grill and watched as Ukyo poured some batter from a large, flat bowl. The batter immediately sizzled on the grill's hot surface as Ukyo quickly, and with practiced ease, started to piling on the ingredients.

"How's it going, sugar?" Ukyo asked as she cooked. "I would have come to visit, but there were... complications."

Ranma nodded. "I understand. Kasumi told me about the restraining orders. Since you couldn't come to me, I thought I'd come to you." She then smiled, "How have you been?"

Ukyo used her spatula to place the freshly cooked okonomiyaki onto a plate and served it to Ranma. "I've been fine. In fact, since the Emperor dissolved the engagement, my dad's been making noises about me coming home."

"Really?" Ranma asked after swallowing what was in her mouth. She had learned some manners over the last month and a half or so. "I thought that's what you wanted."

Ukyo sighed. "No, not really," she said. "I was hoping that after all this was over with that you and me could get together and... date... or something."

Ranma smiled, at least Ukyo wasn't trying to force a new engagement on her. "Date? I guess I can do that... if I don't get married or anything."

Ukyo almost face-faulted onto her hot grill, but was saved by past experience on how painful that was. "Mar-married?" she squeaked out.

Ranma giggled, yes giggled, and patted Ukyo on the shoulder from across the grill. "Ucchan, I was just joking."

Ukyo returned the smile and then playfully scowled, "That wasn't funny Ranchan."

Ranma stopped her giggling and looked at her friend with serious eyes. "Ukyo, when you were trying to get me to marry you, what kind of life did you envision us having together?"

Ukyo blinked at the suddenness of the question, and then shrugged her shoulders. "Well, you know - you, me and okonomiyaki. What more is there?"

A moment of silence fell between the two friends.

Ranma blinked at the chef. "Well... there's martial arts, training, probably teaching. Opening a dojo or something later on... lots of stuff like that," Ranma suggested.

Ukyo nodded as she prepared another dish for another customer. "Yes - I could have seen those things becoming a side line, but the important things like the restaurant and okonomiyaki would always have to come first. Before the Emperor stepped in, I hoped to make you a part of it."

Ranma felt a slight pang at the kind of life that Ukyo envisioned for them. Ranma mentally shook her head and swallowed. "So you don't think learning new techniques or mastering a new form is important?"

"Of course it's important," Ukyo answered with a smile as she serve another customer. "But not as important as taking care of business."

Ranma blinked again at Ukyo. Her bad feeling about this was creeping up from her gut to enclose Ranma's heart. "I'm just curious... say if you did get me to marry you and I wanted to go on a training trip. What would you have done?"

Ukyo shrugged her shoulders as she prepared more food for more customers. Her answer was most off handed, "I'd probably go with you to at least make sure you would be gone too long. After all I'd need a hand around here for rushes."

Ranma was now feeling quite ill from the type of life that Ukyo had imagined for them. The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach was also depriving her of her appetite. The life of a restauranteur was not one Ranma wanted for herself.

"She's fitting me into her life and not thinking about what I want," Ranma thought somewhat sadly, but not wanting to give up quite yet, she had to try another approach.

"Say if I wanted to open a dojo, and it meant that we had to close the restaurant - what then?"

Ukyo looked at Ranma with an odd look in her eyes. After a few heartbeats, she shook her head. "I don't think that would be possible," Ukyo finally said. "We wouldn't need a dojo if we had the restaurant."

Ranma swallowed hard. "I... see," she said before falling silent. "Oh man, look at the time," Ranma said in a rushed tone, covering the sudden urge to get out of there. "I gotta get going back home."

Ukyo smiled at the redhead. "You have to leave so soon? You could always spend the night here."

For some reason that thought made Ranma feel a little more ill. "No, that's fine," Ranma blurted out. "I gotta get back to the Shimeru's, I promised I would be back by a certain time."

"Oh?"

"Yeah... my fiancé wants to take me on a date tonight," Ranma blurted out. It was a good lie and Ranma even managed to keep his poor poker face from revealing that fact this time.

"Okay sugar," Ukyo said with a small smile. "Come back whenever you can. You know the door is always open for you."

Ranma nodded and waved as she walked out the door. Ukyo waved back happily with a smile as she watched Ranma leave. For Ukyo, this had been a promising talk, and she hoped that it would lead to something more in the future. Ranma was talking about the future and asking questions about how she felt about doing things with her!

Ukyo turned her attention back to her customers and her smile faded somewhat as she cleared Ranma vacated spot in front of the grill. On Ranma's plate was the remains of an quarter-eaten okonomiyaki.

- o - o- o- o -------

Ranma had retreated into the guest room that she called her own and sat cross-legged on the floor, deep in thought. She bit her lower lip as she chewed through her thoughts and fretted about the possibility of reclaiming her life.

It proved to be more difficult that she first thought it would be.

"This is your big chance! You could be free from your so-called family and have a life all your own. What's there to think about?" Those words of Misaki batted around in her head for the last few weeks and remined her that it was her choice what to do with her life.Ranma sighed and mused, "What is there to think about?"

It was true: Outside a fight or learning a new technique being taught by someone else, Ranma never really thought for herself. She just let things happen to her or did whatever someone told her to do. Sometimes she would complain about it, but that didn't prevent her from doing whatever someone else wanted. "What do I want?" Ranma questioned herself.

"I want someone to love me for me...," came the answer from that same day as Misaki's words. Ranma sighed as she pondered that. "Did anyone love me? Or were they interested in getting something out of me?"

Ranma sat cross-legged on her floor and meditated on the problem. She had been searching for answers since the Shimeru's made the offer, and all avenues led to one answer. It was an answer that made her feel uncomfortable, but no matter how she looked at it, the conclusion was the same.

Ranma sighed and then focused her thoughts on the many people in her life that wanted or laid claim to her. Ranma focused on the women in her life who had a proclaimed their love for her or demanded marriage before the Emperor intervened. Ranma started at the top of the list.

"Akane," Ranma thought almost wistfully, remembering back when they first met. "She could be a good person, if she learned to take responsibility for her actions. She's too immature right now." Ranma barked out a bitter laugh before suppressing it. "Like I was much better trying to out do everyone because I thought I always had to be on top."

Ranma shook her head at the memory of trying to "out-girl" Tsubasa when she was called ugly by her... him... whatever. "Yep, my pride wouldn't leave well enough alone," she thought as she continued to shake her head at her own stupidity at the other things she had done in the past. It was disturbing and humbling when she realized that she wasn't as guiltless as she thought.

Ranma stopped her train of reminiscing and sighed as she thought sadly, "Akane needs to grow up more... like I'm starting to do, before I can consider her."

Ranma shifted around, making herself comfortable before continuing on to the next person of interest. "Ukyo. She's my friend, but she wanted me to marry her because of what my dad did to her." Ranma furrowed her brow in though. "But all her talk has always been of me fitting into her... precon-, hmm - preconceived idea of how I would fit into her life. Not a life that we would build together..."

Ranma sighed with a touch of depression that her best friend never really took her wants into consideration.

"Shampoo," Ranma considered for an unsurprising brief instant before rejecting her. "She wants me as a trophy husband. If it wasn't for her stupid laws, she wouldn't even give me the time of day. I don't care how much she says she loves me - I will not forget the months she spent trying to kill me because I was a girl."

Ranma took a deep breath and calmed herself. "What am I going to do with my life?"

Ranma felt like a animal that had been kept caged it's entire life and had gotten it's first taste of freedom and didn't know what to do with it. It was said that an animal that grew up in captivity will stay within its cage because that is all it had ever know,n even if the cage door is left open - Ranma found herself in a similar situation. Ranma had taken the first tentative steps of looking beyond the bars of her old life, Futana had opened the cage door for Ranma to give her the opportunity to step outside for the first time.

Instead of the liberating feeling one would expect that freedom would bring, Ranma felt a certain amount of trepidation. Freedom was wonderful to get back, but what if you never had any freedom to begin with? How would anyone deal with it? How does one cope?

Instead of feeling exhilarated, it was frightening.

Fear of freedom and what it meant was causing Ranma to hesitate.

"I have to think about this," Ranma scolded herself. "I have to make a decision for me."

As bad as her life had been, it was the only one she knew. She had grown used to, and gotten comfortable with the way things were. "I already told Futaba and Misaki that I couldn't go back to my old life," Ranma thought. "But am I ready to change my life?" Not having to make her own decisions, it was hard to think in any other way until she came to the Shimeru's.

"No more!" Her brain, her pride, and her honor demanded. "I need to get away from that. The time I've spent here, I have never been happier - I've never been so in control... I need to..." She paused in thought for a moment. "I need to stay out of the trap that my old life has built for me. If I don't, I'll only be living my life for other people's happiness and not my own."

Still the fear of the unknown lurked in the recesses of her mind.

"This is a fight," she concluded. "I'm fighting for something that should have been mine to begin with - my life."

Ranma opened her eyes and looked out the window and the sunlight streaming in through it. "I remember someone saying 'that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step'," Ranma sighed. "In this case a phone call."

On that thought, Ranma rose from the floor and headed downstairs. Soon Ranma found herself in the Shimeru's family room. Futana and Mr. Shimeru were discussing something about student teaching when Ranma cleared her throat, drawing their attention.

"Please forgive my interruption," Ranma said politely with a slight bow. "Mr. Shimeru, Futana?" Ranma pause to draw a deep breath, "I've decided."

Mr. Shimeru looked at Ranma. "So... what would you like to do?"

"Let's make the call and get the paperwork filed," she replied, adding a nod for emphasis.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Ranma nodded again. "Yes sir," she said. "I can't got back to the way things were. My life will never be my own unless I do something to change it."

Mr. Shimeru eyed Ranma.

"Let's do it," Ranma said while returning Mr. Shimeru's look with a firm one of her own. "Let's get the ball rolling."

- o - o- o- o -
- o - o- o- o -

Howdy all!

I think it's safe to say that this story has graduated from 'anti-writer's block' story to 'full-all-out' story. The title for 'anti-writer's block story' has been passed down to a little gem I call: Lesbian Amazonian Dominatrix. I play with that in my sick and twisted moments and have about forty five hundred words down on it so far. I still don't have a real plot for it, for it is more of a free-flowing thing, but a plot is starting to jell out of nowhere and it has been fun as hell to play with.

I know my updates have been coming in longer intervals, and I apologize. My muse has been very flighty lately and she has been fluttering to one story to the next a lot lately. There had been times I've had four stories up on my computer and I go from one to the other, writing nonstop. Then there are times I stare at my keyboard and wonder "what in the hell I'm going to do now?" because I'm at a loss as what to write.

This is on top of my other hobbies and 'real life' that has been intruding more often now.

To answer a few questions:

lol wrote: ...did you get Drunken Ryu Kendo from another story, or did you make it up?

I got the idea from watching Jackie Chan in 'Drunken Master' and thought "Hey! What if...?"

This bit was really poking fun at the many fanfics out there than have shown Nodoka as being very skilled with the sword, when in the manga she is anything but. If she were to be anyone's second, she'd probably accidently stab herself to death before the ceremony got very far. I thought this would be a fun way of having Nodoka be clumsy and skilled at the same time.

Hiryo wrote: I like that fic... only thing I'm curious about is that Ranma didn't change... Not even hot water seeked him out.

True. I was a plot hole that you pointed out and I hope my explanation satisfies you. Ranma will change back eventually, but right now his own sense of honor and the acceptance of the Shimerus of his curse makes this only a secondary concern right now.

To whoever (sorry, I couldn't find your post) asked how many chapters this was going to be: When I originally outlined this, it was to be six chapters of about ten thousand words each. To those of you who have read my other story and its notes, you already know how bad I am at estimating how long it takes me to get anywhere. Right now, I am about two-thirds of the way through my outline. I have no idea how many more chapters there are to go to finish this.

I would like to thank everyone else for taking the time to leave a review. I do appreciate it.

Thanks for reading.