Where's Chapter One?  See the Author's Notes below.
        C&C (especially those nifty MST ones) begged for!


        (Previously:  Souun Tendou has two lovely daughters, Kasumi and
Nabiki.  He also has a son named Kaneda who intends to become the heir to
the Tendou School of Anything Goes Martial Arts.  Years ago, he and his
old friend Genma Saotome vowed to marry their children to each other.
Unfortunately, Souun forgot to tell Kaneda about this until today.  The
young martial artist had no chance to absorb this information before his
fiancee arrived.  The lovely and demure Ranko (accompanied by her mother
Nodoka) instantly found her way into the Tendou family's hearts, except
Kaneda.  However, it turned out that Ranko secretly wishes to learn
martial arts too, and Kaneda saw some potential in the relationship.
Everything seemed to be going swimmingly when, thanks to a little prank
by Nabiki, Kaneda walked in on Ranko in the bath...and saw something he
definitely wasn't expecting.)



                              RANKO'S LIFE S
                           by Scott K. Jamison

        (Note:  Ranma 1/2 and the associated characters created by Rumiko
Takahashi, and no infringement of rights is intended.)

                      Chapter Two:  What *are* you?

        "Kaneda?"
        A female voice, friendly but touched by worry.
        "Kaneda-kun?"
        He was being held by someone warm and soft.
        "Kaachan?"
        "No, silly, it's me, Ranko."
        Kaneda suddenly remembered what he'd just seen and realized where
his head must be laying.  He sat up quickly.  "GA*umph*"  Ranko had put
her hand over his mouth.
        "Do you want people to come in here and see us like this?" she
asked sweetly.
        Kaneda shook his head and Ranko took her hand away.
        "Who--what *are* you?"
        "I'm Ranko Saotome, your fiancee.  And I'm a girl.  Well, mostly.
It's a long story--"
        "You're some kind of freak!" Kaneda hissed.  "I'll never marry
you!"
        She looked very hurt.  "Don't say that, Kaneda-kun!  You can't
refuse, not now, not after everything..."
        "What do you mean, I can't refuse?"
        "It began--"
        Kaneda was becoming uncomfortably aware of how close they were.
He grabbed a towel and tossed it at Ranko.  "Cover yourself, willya?"
        She sighed.  "That's what I've been doing all along, it seems."
She wrapped the towel around her torso while Kaneda tied his around his
waist.
        She began again.  "It began a long time ago.  As I told you
earlier, I was born Ranma, a boy.  My father was training me in the
Art..."

                    *               *               *

        Nodoka Saotome was worried.  Why was there no word from Genma?
It was now eight days since the date when he and Ranma should have
returned.
        She should never have let them leave in the first place.  But
Genma had been so insistent that a mother's coddling would spoil the boy.
He'd even talked about making Ranma a "man among men."  Fortunately,
Nodoka had talked him into a much more sensible pledge.  After all, a
yearly visit to his mother wouldn't do Ranma much harm, and might do him
a world of good.
        That was, of course, assuming Genma kept his promise.  It was
beginning to look like he'd forgotten, and after only one year, too.
        "Where are you, Dearest?  I miss you and Ranma so.  Still, I must
have faith, mustn't I?"  A year alone had started her talking to herself.
        Nodoka turned back to her embroidery.  It was slow, painstaking
work, but the money kept her at a level of comfort above what her small
trust fund could provide.
        No sooner had she begun stitching than she heard a call from the
entryway.
        "Coming!" she cried.  She wasn't expecting any visitors; who
could it be?  Perhaps Genma had sent word at last?
        Nodoka's heart sank as she saw the callers were two men in police
uniforms and long faces.  One she recognized as Officer Ise, one of the
day shift at the local police box.  The other was unfamiliar.
        "Ma'am", the stranger said, "I'm Sergeant Herita of the Tokyo
Police.  Are you Nodoka Saotome, wife of Genma?"
        "Y-yes.  May I ask why you've come?"
        Her worst fears were realized when he said, "There's been an
accident.  We'd like you to come down to Headquarters with us."

                    *               *               *

        Nodoka tried to compose herself as she was led to the Juvenile
Division.  The identification had been mercifully brief; Genma's face had
miraculously been unharmed.  She was a widow, with a child to care for
now.  She had to be strong for Ranma, and the time to weep would be
later.
        The female officer led Nodoka through a swinging door, and she
saw Ranma hanging from the ceiling lamp, apparently trying to hook his
feet so he could hang upside down.
        "Ranma!"
        "Kaachan!"  He took one hand off the fixture to wave, and nearly
lost his grip with the other.  Nodoka's heart was in her throat as he
performed a flip to get to the floor.
        She rushed forward to hold him, uncaring of the breach of
etiquette.  "Ranma-chan!  Don't scare your mother like that!"
        "It's fun!  Touchan taught me!"
        Nodoka stepped back and took a good look at her child.  Ranma
looked healthy enough, and had an infectious grin.  But the filthy state
of his gi and the bedraggled ponytail he was wearing spoke of days on the
road without proper hygiene or changes of clothing.
        "Ranma-chan.  Do you understand that your father is dead?"
        His face fell.  "Yes.  Touchan was hurted by the logs he was
puttin' up as a trainin' course for me an' him.  He stopped breathin' and
wouldn't talk to me no more...Why'd he have to die, Kaachan?"
        "Everyone dies, Ranma-chan.  Even the people we think are going
to be around forever.  We don't know why, we just have to make sure that
their lives are not forgotten by us."
        Ranma's face set through his tears.  "I'm not gonna forget
Touchan.  I'm gonna make him proud of me.  I will."
        "Yes, Ranma.  We will honor him and our family."

                    *               *               *

        Kaneda sat back, his anger lessened slightly at hearing about the
tragedy.
        "That must have been really rough on you, Ranko, uh, Ranma, but
what does it have to do with, uh, this?" he asked, waving at Ranko's
chest.
        "It's Ranko now, and I'm getting to that."

                    *               *               *

        Nodoka wasn't looking forward to this next call.  As bad as the
ones to her husband's various creditors were, she much more dreaded
talking to this man.
        Souun Tendou had apparently been Genma's best friend for years.
Genma had often talked of their days training together.  In fact, they'd
promised to engage their children to each other to combine the families
and the Anything Goes style.  Nodoka had only met the man a few times,
once at the wedding, and a couple of times when he came over for dinner
before Ranma was born.  Come to think of it, he'd spent all those visits
drinking and playing shogi with Genma.  She knew practically nothing of
his family, save that he was also married and had at least one child.
        Hmm...if the child was a daughter, then they should start
planning the marriage right away.  Arranged marriages always worked
better if the groundwork was laid early.  It would be the best way to
honor Genma's wishes.
        She picked up the receiver and dialed.
        It rang a few times, then was picked up.  Nodoka heard a loud
banging noise in the background.
        "Kaneda, cut that out!  Ah, moshi-moshi, Tendou residence," came
a voice Nodoka recognized as Souun's.
        "This is Nodoka Saotome, Genma's wife."
        "Oh, yes, I remember you!  How is the old bear?"
        "I'm sorry to say my husband is dead.  It was a training
accident."
        There was silence from Souun, but the background sounds of
running and shrieking continued.  There was someone playing a videogame
too.
        "I am deeply saddened to hear that," came the man's voice at
last.  "Genma was a true friend to me.  Why, I remember when we
pledged--Kaneda, that is not acceptable behavior!  Goro, off the table!
I'm sorry, Saotome-san, but you know how it is with a house full of
boys."
        "Ah...did you say a house full of *boys*?"
        "Yes!  Rather a handful at the moment--Put that down!"
        "Excuse me, Tendou-san.  I--I'll call again later."
        Nodoka hung the receiver back on the hook.  All boys.  Well,
there went that promise.

                    *               *               *

        "All boys?" asked Kaneda, incredulous.
        "Ever notice the echo effect you get in the bath?  Yes, that's
what she thought your father said."  Ranko adjusted her towel, and Kaneda
looked away.
        "But why...how old were you then?"
        "Six.  I'm sixteen now."
        Now it came to Kaneda.  "My sixth birthday party!  I had a bunch
of guys from my first grade class over.  Kasumi and Nabiki went shopping
with Okaasan, and Otousan was watching us.  I remember he got a call and
got all grumpy...  Then when Okaasan got home, he told her something away
from us.  It was the first time I saw him cry."
        Ranko nodded.  "It was rough on everyone, I guess.  Anyhow..."

                    *               *               *

        Nodoka leafed through her husband's effects.  If the marriage was
off, then the best way to honor Genma's memory would to ensure that Ranma
learned the martial arts as his father had intended.  Even if that meant
risking that her son would die too.
        She shuddered as she read of the Neko-Ken.  What sort of madman
would come up with such a horrid training method?  And the next two pages
were partially stuck together, making it easy to miss the warning on the
next page.  Nodoka saw visions of Ranma scratched to death or permanently
driven insane.  And that was not even the most dangerous training method
described in the book.
        But that was part of the cost of martial arts.  Nodoka hoped she
could find a gentle teacher, but the books and scrolls weren't giving her
much assurance.  If the ones who wrote them actually used them to train
students, well...
        She put down the training methods text and picked up one on
famous training grounds.  Volcano...underwater cave...homeland of the
Tcho-Tcho tribe...  She struggled through the Chinese text, grateful
she'd taken it as her foreign language in college.  Then a particular
passage caught Nodoka's eye.
        "That can't be right.  Can it?"  She read it again, carefully,
and it still seemed to say the same thing.  A hope began to burn in her
heart.

                    *               *               *

        "That is most...impressive," said Nodoka to the little boy
sitting opposite her.  The little boy who moments before had been a
wrinkled old man.
        "Pshaw.  'Tain't nothing."
        "Even so, Lukkosai-san, I thank you for taking the trouble to
show me this."
        "Call me Lucky, Toots."  The boy had a distinctly wicked twinkle
in his eye.  Not surprising when you considered his usual company.
Nodoka's search for information on the springs of Jyuusenkyo had
eventually led to this man, who had actually been there.
        "Very well, Lucky-san.  I was given to understand you also have a
map of the area?"
        "Sure do.  Made you up a copy, in case you wanted one.  But it'll
cost you."
        "How much do you want?"  Nodoka hoped he wasn't too greedy.
        "A quick grope and a snuggle ought to do me."
        Oh.
        "You are much like my husband's sensei then."
        "Yep, like two peas in a pod we are, 'cept I'm handsomer.  How is
Happy, anyhow?"
        "He is on a retreat from the world, or so my husband said."
        Lucky's grin widened.  "Locked him up somewhere, eh?  So, you
want the map?"
        Several very uncomfortable minutes later, Nodoka had the map.  It
showed the springs, with many named.  "Yeti Riding Bull While Carrying
Eel and Crane?"  There seemed to be several very odd ones.  But the one
she wanted was clearly marked.

                    *               *               *

        Nodoka checked her figures again.  A properly-equipped trip to
China was economically out of the question right now.  But with a little
scrimping and saving, she could lay the groundwork now.  It was just a
matter of arranging things properly.
        "Ranma-chan!" she called out into the yard.
        "Comin', Kaachan!" he replied from the wall he'd been kicking.
        She brought out a tray of sweets, and led Ranma into the family
room.  They seated themselves, and Nodoka waited while Ranma stuffed his
first cake into his mouth.
        "Ranma-chan, do you know about honor?"
        "Sure!  Touchan said it was real important that martial artists
keep their promises and fight honorably."
        "Well, that doesn't just apply to martial artists.  Everyone
needs to have honor, to keep their promises.  And some promises are made
between families."
        "Uh-huh," replied Ranma, helping himself to another cake.
        "Now, before he died, your father promised that our family, the
Saotomes, would be joined with his friend's family, the Tendous, by
matrimony."
        "Matri-huh?"
        "Marriage.  It's when a boy and girl get together to make a
family, as your father and I did to have you."
        "Okay.  So?"
        "Well, I found out that the Tendou family has all sons, and
normally that would mean there could be no marriage, because you'd both
be boys.  The promise would be broken."
        Ranma looked puzzled.  "Boys can't marry each other?"
        "No.  It has to be a boy and a girl.  But I have wonderful news!
There's a way you can become a girl, so the promise can be kept!"
        "I don't wanna be a girl!  I'm a boy!"
        "Ranma-chan, listen to me.  I know what I'm asking is hard for
you, but it's to honor the promise your father made.  You want your
father to be proud of you, don't you?"
        The boy furrowed his brow.  It was a very tough decision, but at
length he had a question.
        "Are you sure Touchan would be proud of me?"
        "Yes, Dear.  This is what he would have wanted.  And it's a good
thing to be a girl.  You'll get to wear pretty dresses, and learn fun
things like cooking and sewing, and someday you'll have your own family!"
And, Nodoka added to herself, I'll be able to keep you safe and near me.
        "Okay, Kaachan.  I'll do it!"
        Nodoka hugged Ranma.  "Good!  Now I just have to make one more
arrangement, and then we'll begin."

                    *               *               *

        "Moshi Moshi, Tendou residence."
        "Tendou-san?  This is Nodoka Saotome again."
        "Oh, yes.  Once again, my condolences on your husband's death.
If there's anything I can do--"
        "As a matter of fact...You mentioned the pledge for our two
families to be joined?"
        "Of course.  But our children are still a bit young for that,
aren't they?"
        "Yes, they are.  But I want to plan for the future.  Is there one
of your children who'll be your heir to the dojo?"
        "Kaneda, I am sure.  He's taken to martial arts like a duck to
water.  Chip off the old block, actually."  A father's pride shone in
Souun's voice.
        "Good.  I'd like to engage my daughter Ranko to him."
        "Daughter?!  But I'm sure Saotome-kun said--"
        "I'm sure my husband said many things, but Ranko is definitely a
girl."  Or at least she will be by the time you see her, Nodoka added
silently.
        "I'm not sure we should set it in stone this far in advance, but
since it was a solemn promise...  It'll be difficult raising a daughter
alone, perhaps you should move in with us.  I'm sure my wife wouldn't
mind the company."
        "Ah, no, I couldn't impose, Tendou-san.  Besides, there are
matters to be attended to here.  Preparations to make."
        "Of course.  Please, don't hesitate to call on us if you need
help."
        "I will, thank you.  Goodbye."
        "Goodbye."
        Nodoka gently lay down the phone.  This was it then, she had
committed herself and Ranma, no, *Ranko* to the honorable path.
Everything was set in motion.
        At last, she could weep for her husband.

                    *               *               *

        "From that day forward, my life as a boy was over."
        Kaneda sat in shock for a moment.  He knew that sometimes people
did strange things in the name of honor.  But this, this was just plain
bizarre.
        "Your mother just declared you a girl...and got away with it?"
        Ranko nodded.  "Apparently if you control the family register, as
my mother does, you can change it to read whatever you want.  That was
the easy part.  Getting me to act properly was a lot tougher.  I had to
get used to a new name, different clothes...and proper behavior.
        "It was hard at first.  I couldn't do a lot of the stuff I liked,
and some of the new things didn't seem like nearly as much fun as my
mother had claimed.  But Okaasan was very patient and supportive, and
pretty soon I was really enthusiastic about training to become a perfect
bride."
        Kaneda shuddered.  "A perfect bride."  For him.  Except he didn't
want a perfect bride.  Especially if she was a freak.  His anger swelled
again.
        But he couldn't blame Ranko.  She was just a pawn here, like
himself.  Kaneda swallowed hard.  "So when did you actually become a
girl?"
        "Physically?  It was about two months ago..."

                    *               *               *

        A light mist blocked the sun from the valley of Jyuusenkyo, and
the Guide shivered despite his winter uniform.  The omens had been bad
last night, so he'd sent his daughter Plum to visit relatives.
Unfortunately, his job required him to stay.  And, from bitter experience
he knew disaster would occur whether he were present or not.
        The guests were waiting at the small inn near the valley.  Two of
them, beautiful women.  Well, actually the younger could be better
described as "handsome".  The Guide told himself to stop thinking naughty
thoughts, especially about a girl who might soon be something else
entirely.
        The older bowed, and spoke in decent Mandarin, [Greetings, kind
Guide.  I am Nodoka Saotome, and this is my daughter Ranko.]  The girl
also bowed demurely.
        [You speak our language?]
        [Only a little.]
        [Honored guests, are you sure you wish to visit Jyuusenkyo?  It
is not a healthy place.]
        [Yes, I am certain.]  Nodoka's eyes shone.  The Guide felt
distinctly uneasy.
        As they walked, the Guide explained some of Jyuusenkyo's history,
and the many tragic stories associated with it.  The daughter, Ranko,
seemed somewhat taken aback.
        [All...tragic stories?  No happy ones?]
        [They are not called cursed springs for nothing.]
        Still, the pair insisted on continuing.
        About noon, they came to the valley itself, the pools lying
peaceful with the ever-fresh bamboo poles sticking out of them.  They
always seemed peaceful, except during flood season.  This was deceptive.
        The Guide began to show his customers the better-known springs,
being very careful to keep them to the wide and safe path through the
valley.
        [And that is only safe spring for guests, Nyanniichuan.]
        [Spring of Drowned Girl?] asked Ranko.
        [Yes.  If a man or animal fell in, he would take the shape he
would have been if born a human female.  On girls, no effect.]
        Nodoka had drawn a piece of paper from her kimono sleeve.  "Yes,
this is the one.  Are you ready, Ranko?"
        "Y-yes, Okaasan.  As ready as I'll ever be."
        The guide was puzzled.  His Japanese wasn't so good, but it
sounded like they'd been looking for the Nyanniichuan specifically.
        Ranko took a rope out of her pack and tied it around her waist,
handing the other end to her mother.
        She moved forward.  "This is for you, Oto--ack!"  She slipped on
the wet grass and fell into the pool.
        The Guide flinched back instinctively.  He didn't want to get
splashed.
        Nodoka tugged on the rope and hauled Ranko out.  "Oh, your dress
is ruined."
        Indeed, the girl's traveling garb was now waterlogged and
clinging to her obvious assets.  The Guide resolutely looked away,
thinking of his dear departed wife, though he somehow thought Ranko
looked shorter.
        "I...I feel good.  Weird, but good."
        [Guide?  We've seen all we need to.  Let's go back to the inn.]
        Both of the women were grinning, as at a private joke.  The Guide
wondered when the disaster would occur, but they made it out of the
springs without further incident.  And nothing bad happened on the way to
the inn, either.  But the omens were never wrong.
        The Guide stayed up all night waiting for the other shoe to drop.

                    *               *               *

        "A magic spring?"
        "Yes.  Cold water allows me to assume my female form.  Hot water
makes me male."  Ranko demonstrated with some of the bathwater.  Her
towel slipped off at the transformation, and Kaneda noted with irrational
jealousy that "Ranma" was better...built...than him.
        Forcing his temper down again, Kaneda asked, "Why the rope?"
        "I can't swim.  Never learned how.  Too many problems that might
come up with changing and swimsuit accidents.  I had doctor's notes all
through school to keep from having to undress in front of the other
girls.  I had to learn gymnastics in loose sweats!"  She upended a basin
of cold water and shrunk again.  "You have no idea how nice it is to
finally be able to wear a bikini, and dump those falsies!"
        "Uh...I guess not."
        "After that, we had to get me a whole new wardrobe, we didn't
think I'd shrink that much, and I trained to get my new center of balance
right so I wouldn't look clumsy.  And as soon as I was used to my new
body, Okaasan decided it was time to honor the engagement."
        "Honor...the engagement.  Ranko, can't you see how *wrong* this
is?  You're a *guy*!"  Kaneda's voice was dangerously close to loud
again.
        Ranko looked sadly at him.  "Kaneda, for all intents and
purposes, I'm a girl who turns male in hot water.  If it disturbs you
that much, I could get used to cold baths.  You'd never see my male form
again."
        That she would go so far to preserve this mockery only served to
make Kaneda angrier.  "I can't do this!  You should be marrying one of my
sisters!"
        "Would they willingly marry a girl?"
        Kaneda started to protest, then caught his breath.  The last
thing Kasumi needed was a wife, and while Nabiki would be more than
willing to let her spouse do the housework, he knew she had no use for
effeminate men.  That wasn't going to work either, unless...
        "I have an idea."
        "Yes?"  Ranko batted her eyes at Kaneda.  Damn, but she was
seductive!  Had her mind really been warped that far?  He hoped not.
        "Uh...it'll take some time to work out.  But I am not accepting
this engagement, understand?"  He folded his arms and turned his head.
        Ranko sighed.  "Will you at least promise not to tell my secret
yet?"
        "I don't know how you plan to keep it from Kasumi and Nabiki,
since girls in a family usually bathe together, but yes, I'll keep it
secret...for now."
        "Thanks!"  She readjusted her towel, and headed into the changing
room.  "Oh, you'd better finish your bath."

                    *               *               *

        Nabiki was getting antsy.  She'd sent Kaneda down to the bathroom
ages ago, and so far no screams, shouts or crashing noises.  He hadn't
got distracted somehow, had he?
        She picked up her bath supplies and went downstairs.  It was a
bit early for her bath, and too close to supper, but it would make a
decent cover.
        As Nabiki turned into the bathroom's hall, she almost ran into
Ranko.
        "Oh!  Excuse me, please!"
        "No problem, Ranko.  Say, have you seen Kaneda?"
        "Yes.  He's taking his bath now, so you might not want to go in.
It seems someone walked off with the "occupied" sign."
        Nabiki was easily able to avoid reacting to this, thanks to long
practice at practical jokes.  She noticed the younger girl seemed more
subdued than before.  Perhaps Kaneda had been rude to her, or Ranko had
been more embarrassed when walked in on than Nabiki would have thought.
Or she hadn't liked what she'd seen...nah, her brother was "average" in
that respect.  This wasn't the first time he'd accidentally walked in on
someone, after all.
        "Thanks, Ranko.  I can wait."
        "Dinner's ready!" came Kasumi's voice from the kitchen.
"Everyone please take your places."
        The girls headed to the family room.

                    *               *               *

        "So, Ranko-chan, are you looking forward to your new school?"
asked Kasumi as she passed another bowl of rice to her father.
        "Oh, yes!  I'm looking forward to meeting new friends.  I've
never been at a coed school before."  Ranko's behavior and mannerisms had
shifted back to the carefully poised young woman of before the sparring
session.
        "I'm sure you'll be very popular with the boys," offered Nabiki,
looking for her brother's reaction.  She was disappointed to see no
change to his scowl, and that twitching eyebrow did not look at all good.
        "An engaged girl should stay faithful to her betrothed, Nabiki,"
reminded Nodoka.  The Tendou daughter had already noticed that her
prospective in-law was a stickler for proper decorum.
        "I don't care," muttered Kaneda.  "'m not getting married."
        "Kaneda!" snapped Souun.  "Manners!"
        "Sorry.  I respectfully decline to acknowledge this engagement.
I did not ask for an arranged marriage, and I don't want one forced on
me."  His angry tone belied his polite words.
        "Kaneda-kun...is there another girl?" asked Nodoka.  This had
been her greatest fear, and the reason she'd insisted on making the
engagement formal now rather than giving Ranko a few more years to
adjust.  Both children were at the age where another love might have
blossomed, and made the marriage impossible.
        "N-no!"  The boy flushed.  As if he needed more than one
entanglement!
        "Oh, good.  Then there's really no obstacle to your marrying
Ranko, is there?"  Nodoka sat back, smiling cooly.
        "I think what Kaneda-kun means, Okaasan, is that he needs more
time to get used to the idea.  You didn't know about this, did you?"  The
latter bit was to her fiance.
        "No!  Oyaji didn't even bother telling me anything about this
until today!"  Kaneda's use of the impolite version of "Father" caused
some concern among his family.  It indicated a major explosion coming on.
        "I see.  Then this is a bit sudden for you."  Nodoka inclined her
head.  "But I am sure if you just give Ranko-chan a chance, you'll see
how pleasant an arrangement this is."
        Yeah, *right*, thought Kaneda.  Like I'd trust *your* judgement,
after what Ranko told me.  Out loud, "I don't need a mannequin wife.
Excuse me."
        He stood up and left the table, his dinner barely touched.
Shortly thereafter, roars of frustration and the sound of boards snapping
came from the direction of the dojo.
        "My son is a bit headstrong.  He will come around," insisted
Souun.
        Nodoka nodded her agreement.
        Nabiki watched Ranko's face, and noticed uncertainty in her eyes.

                    *               *               *

        The conversation had become rather strained after that, and
everyone was relieved when Nabiki announced she was tired, and they were
able to declare the need for an early night.
        Kasumi showed the guests to their room.  "I'll finish clearing
out the spare room tomorrow, so Ranko can have a room of her own.  I'm
sorry I wasn't able to get to it."
        Ranko assured, "That's all right, Kasumi-oneesan.  Everyone was
caught by surprise.  Your hospitality means a lot to us."
        Nodoka nodded her agreement.  "One night together won't hurt.
After all, we spent most of our trip to China sleeping in the same
rooms."
        Kasumi was curious; that trip hadn't been mentioned before.  But
she could find out more about it tomorrow.
        Good-nights were said, and each person in the Tendou house became
alone with their own thoughts.

                    *               *               *

        Souun said a prayer before the memorial portrait of his wife.
"Please, Dearest, help me be strong.  Our son needs your guidance from
the spirit world as our family promise comes to fulfillment."  Silent
tears ran down his face.
        Though he presented a brave front to the world, he knew in his
own way that he was a coward.  He should have informed Kaneda long
before, but shortly after he and Nodoka made the original arrangement,
his wife had fallen ill, and there had seemed to be no time.  After her
death, he'd needed time to recover, and as Kaneda grew, Souun had just
never found the right time to tell his son of the engagement.  In truth,
since seeing Kaneda's temper grow, he'd been afraid of the boy's
reaction, and delaying had only made the fear worse.
        Still, arranged marriages were less about instant love than
growing into a relationship, and he was sure Kaneda could learn to live
with his beautiful fiancee.  It was just a matter of time and discipline.

                    *               *               *

        Nodoka watched her daughter prepare for bed.  The day had been
hard on Ranko, especially with Kaneda seeming to reject her.  But he was
young, and according to his father, honorable.  The boy would do the
right thing in the end.
        They had come a long way from the day she'd first realized what
had to be done, and Ranko had performed admirably.  Yes, Nodoka told
herself, I made the right choice.  This is as it should be, despite
things at the Tendou home not being as they seemed to me.
        Nodoka was looking forward to getting to know her
daughters-in-law, especially Kasumi.  Such a nice girl, and to think I
thought she was hired help when she answered the phone last year...

                    *               *               *

        Kasumi straightened just one last little picture in the hall
before going to her room.
        Two permanent houseguests were certainly going to be a challenge!
But she'd do her mother proud by coping with it.  She had good coping
skills.  Hadn't she kept things running until her father was ready to
start teaching again?
        And Ranko was such a nice little girl.  So polite, but with a
hint of fun underneath.  If only Kaneda wasn't spoiling things with his
temper!  Kasumi had long since learned to work around her brother rather
than confront him; she just didn't have the right personality to make him
back down, even when she had the authority to.  Perhaps Nabiki would have
some ideas on how to get him to accept the inevitable.

                    *               *               *

        Nabiki juggled possibilities in her head.  She liked the thought
of having a little sister.  Her father tried to give her attention, but
most of his time had to be spent on Kaneda, training him to take over the
Dojo.  And Kasumi had moved into a role of not-quite-mother fairly early
on.  Ranko could be someone to talk to about, well, girl things.
        And liking Ranko, Nabiki was irritated with Kaneda.  A catch like
that came along once in a lifetime, and he didn't even want to be near
her!
        Hmm..."Mannequin wife," Kaneda had said.  That was it.  Nabiki
knew that despite his popularity with the girls at school, Kaneda had
hardly dated.  He always complained they were too "domestic", not someone
to "have adventures with."  To use a Western metaphor, her brother didn't
want a princess, but Maid Marian.
        But Kaneda's adventure-story mindset might be just the thing to
bring him around.  If he had to fight to save Ranko from danger, real or
imagined, it would tend to make him see her as a love interest by
association.
        Nabiki smiled slyly.  She knew just the person to talk to
tomorrow to start the ball rolling...

                    *               *               *

        Ranko cuddled her favorite stuffed toy next to her chest.  She
was really too old for dolls.  Heck, she was almost married!  But right
now she needed the comfort.
        For nearly as long as she could remember, she'd been in training
for one goal.  It had become the center of her life, this engagement to
Kaneda.  And now, all her hard work seemed almost pointless.
        There were two Tendou daughters.  She didn't have to become a
girl, she could have stayed a boy and continued learning martial arts.
Her mother's misunderstanding had cost Ranko more than she truly
understood.  But it would still be worth it, if only Kaneda was willing.
        But that did not look good.  Kaneda had reacted very badly to
Ranko's secret.  She'd hoped her poses and calm words would bring him
around, but obviously boys were not as much slaves to their hormones as
some of her friends had claimed.
        Oh, Mr. Panda, what am I going to do? she cried silently.  But
the black and white toy had no wisdom to offer.

                    *               *               *

        It wouldn't make him so angry, Kaneda thought, if he hadn't
believed, just for a few minutes there, that it could work.
        He'd glimpsed, in the dojo, something behind the prim and proper
mask Ranko wore.  Kaneda had dared to hope it was the real girl, one who
would be his partner in a true sense, rather than just the household side
of a cold equation.
        But instead the mask hid a hideous truth, a madness disguised as
honor.  That beautiful body--Kaneda shivered as he thought of it, and his
own body betrayed him by reacting--was a lie.  Ranko was really Ranma, a
boy trapped in a role he should never have played.  There was no way
Kaneda was *ever* going to accept this engagement!
        Still...there was family honor.  There should be a way out, if
only he could pull it off.  But in the meantime, he had to keep up the
hostility, keep their parents from rushing a wedding.  Kaneda needed time
to do what he had to do...

                    *               *               *

        So eldest to youngest, they drifted to sleep, and awaited the
morrow.

                             End Chapter Two


Author's Notes:  Hitomi Ichinohei wrote the first chapter, under the
title "Ranko's Life".  But since I came up with the idea behind the story
in the first place, I decided to claim it back.  You can find Chapter One
in the RAAC archives, or request it from me at majks@cyberx.com .
        I'd like to thank Hitomi, wherever sie is, my enthusiastic group
of Prereaders, and Augsburg Fortress Press.

        Upcoming Ongoing Projects:
        "Worse":  An invitation is made, and Ranma tells a story.
        "Twilight Existence":  The wind-up of the Shampoo story.
        "No Fair!":  Another flashback, and things get worse.
        "Half Moon":  Two additions to the cast; but are they friend or
foe?

SKJAM!
"Say the name, pay the royalties!"

------------------------------