Man! It feels like I just stared this story and now it's halfway threw! Time has flown! On a completely different note, what is the deal with flamers? They unjustly attack someone else's story and insult the writers. Why? For kicks? Are they just tired of seeing poorly written stories and this is how they handle it? By screaming "you suck!' and running away? It's not constructive criticism I'm talking about but those people who offer no advice, just insults without reason. Ohh! That burns me up! Do they do it just because they can get away with it? The cover of the internet cloaks their getaway, as it were? Don't they know how to be polite! Just because you CAN say something doesn't mean you SHOULD! HAS ALL OF HUMANITY'S DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL GRACES BEEN FOR NAUGHT! ...Hem, anyway… thank you for your time.

NEVER GIVE UP!

"What were you thinking?" Dr. Tofu asked as he put a band-aid over Daichi's nose. "Taking a boat ride down a river you know ends in a runoff is just dangerous." Ranma and Daichi were sitting on the examination in Dr. Tofu's office, both looking rather scuffed up.

"I already told you I forgot!" Ranma huffed.

"I think you're going senile!" Daichi yelled.

"What was that?" Ranma glared at his son.

"Now, now. There's no use in placing blame." Dr. Tofu said as his waved his hands slightly, wanting to keep the peace. "I just don't usually have to see the same two patients five days in a row is all."

Ranma and Daichi just sat there looking surly.

"What are you two trying to do anyway?" He asked as he pulled out another band-aid to put on Daichi's arm.

"I was trying to train so I could defeat that stupid Setsuko! But I guess that's not going to happen!" Daichi shouted indignantly.

"It's not so bad!" Ranma tried to assure him. "All your training has toughened you up!"

"You call THAT training?"

"I'm home!" Someone called as they entered the doctor's office, ringing the entryway bell. Dr. Tofu's glasses fogged over as Kasumi entered the examination room carrying some grocery bags and little pushing a little pink stroller in front of her. She was followed by Akane, who was also carrying groceries.

"Kasumi! I'm so glad you're home safe!" Dr. Tofu said happily as he rushed to forward to greet his wife.

"We just went out to pick up a few things, but thank you." Kasumi said with her usual gentle nature. The baby in the stroller cooed and reached her hands out toward Dr. Tofu. She was wearing a little pink hoodie with bunny ears on top.

"Hello Ai!" Dr. Tofu picked up the baby and she giggled with delight.

"Aw you two are so cute!" Akane said in adoration. "I remember when mine were that small and innocent. But then they turn into teenagers and…Ranma?" Akane had just noticed her husband and son sitting on the examination table. "What are you two doing here?"

"Oh, uh…just in for a checkup!" Ranma laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. But he and Daichi were both covered in obvious bruises.

Akane glared at him suspiciously. "Have you been doing some kind of dangerous training again? I told you to give it a rest after the bee fiasco!"

"I thought I was taking it easy! I forgot that that particular river ended in a waterfall!" Ranma said, taking the defensive.

"Waterfall? Oh my God! Daichi, are you okay?" Akane grabbed hold of her son in a tight hug.

"OW! Mom! That arm is still tender!" Daichi winced and pulled away.

"Oh sorry Daichi." Akane said with concern. "Ranma! Look what you've done! You were being too hard on him!"

"Quit babying him Akane! He's seventeen you know!" Ranma retaliated.

"I don't care what age he is!" Akane yelled. "You do know what you're doing, don't you?"

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"You're turning into your father!"

Ranma gasped and grabbed at his chest where his heart was. As far as he was concerned that comment was way below the belt. "That was low Akane. Even for you!"

"What do you mean 'even for you!'?" Akane advance forward threateningly.

"Um, excuse me?" Kasumi asked, raising her hand. "What exactly is going on?"

Akane sighed in exasperation. "Ranma is trying to train Daichi to defeat this guy at school who has a crush on Lotion, the same girl he likes." She explained.

"Does everyone know about this?" Daichi yelled as his cheeks turned red from embarrassment.

"Oh, you have to fight to decide who she chooses?" Kasumi asked with genuine curiosity.

"That's the idea." Ranma nodded his head.

"Uh…actually Lotion and Setsuko don't really know about this...yet." Daichi said sheepishly.

"Oh, so you have to win her back from him?" Kasumi asked.

"…well…we never actually…I mean we never…" Daichi stuttered, blushing.

Kasumi gasped and put a hand over her mouth. "She chose him over you?"

"NO! Not really…She doesn't exactly know that I…uh…"

"You mean she doesn't even know that you like her?" Kasumi asked, the realization finally dawning on her. "Why don't you tell her?"

"Isn't it obvious, Aunt Kasumi?" Daichi sighed, still blushing.

"It's the same reason Dr. Tofu didn't ask you out for…what, twenty years?" Ranma turned to Dr. Tofu.

"Roughly." Dr. Tofu sighed; still gently rocking baby Ai back and forth.

"Well THAT makes me feel better!" Daichi said in irritation.

Kasumi blinked. "Daichi, far be it of me to butt in, but shouldn't you tell her how you feel before beating this guy up?"

"Uh…I'm not so sure…"

"Yeah! That's the logical thing to do!" Akane agreed.

"Well, you could do that. Or you can do the manly thing and beat the living crud out of that guy!" Ranma suggested with resolve.

"You be quiet! You've already done enough damage!" Akane yelled at Ranma.

"Trust me Daichi." Kasumi said, looking her nephew in the eyes. "Don't wait twenty years to tell her how you feel."

"I just…I'm not sure I can. But then again, I definitely can't beat up anyone." Daichi said, considering his options.

"Come on Daichi! Do you want all your training to be for nothing?" Ranma shot up right next to Daichi.

"I said be quiet!" Akane hit Ranma away.

Daichi sighed. "And I DEFINITELY can't take anymore training." He put his hand to his temple. "Come to think of it I shouldn't have been taking romantic advice from Makoto and Jatsuma in the first place."

He stood up, having made his decision. "That's it, I give up!"

"You can't give up!" Ranma was back at Daichi's side again.

"Forget it Dad! I'm not fighting Setsuko!"

"No, I mean you really can't." Ranma explained. "I kind of already sent a letter of challenge to Setsuko."

Everyone gapped at him for a second. "YOU DID WHAT?" Daichi roared, shaking in anger.

"Well your training was really starting to come along and I just thought…"

"ARRRGGGH!" Daichi screamed.

"He looks like he has some fight in him now." Dr. Tofu said. Baby Ai cooed.

Did that scream sound like Charlie Brown? I think it sounded like Charlie Brown.