I had to revise the whole story line due to some changes that have 
recently occured in the main story.  The chapter's revisions reflect this 
and is only the first half of it.  Hopefully I will have time tommorow to 
complete typing it in.

Hitomi

Ichinohei Hitomi
Hitomi@MBnet.mb.ca

***

A Son's Duty.

A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's ongoing Manga series, Ranma 1/2

Saotome Ranma, Saotome Genma, Saotome Nodoka, Tendo Akane, Tendo Soun,
Tendo Kasumi, Tendo Nabiki, Tendo Ranko, Kuonji Ukyou, Hibiki Ryouga,
P-chan, Shampoo, Mousse, Kunou Tatewaki, Kunou Kodachi, Kurenai Tsubasa,
and Hinako Sensei are copyright 1987, 1995 by Takahashi Rumiko. 

Publishing rights: 

Japan:              Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo
Hong Kong:          Jademan (Holdings) Ltd.
North America:      Viz Inc.

Chapter Five:

*How could a day that started off so good end up being so bad* the young
man kneeling at the table thought to himself.. *Even if this works, what
am I going to do afterwards?  Pretend to be Ran-chan's boyfriend every
time Saotome-san comes over?  Fake a life?* He shook his head, trying to
clear what had happened a few minutes ago from his mind. 

It was because of what happened that Ukyou was feeling guilty and worried
at the same time. 

*I had to listen to her,* he thought to himself, *I had to try things her
way.  There had to be a better to solution to my problems than this!*
Grumbling slightly, he turned towards Akane who had just come back in the
room with a tray with cups, a pot of hot water, a whisk, tea, and the
cakes he had brought.  "Just what do you suggest now?  You realize that
Ranma fainted?  I've never seen him faint before!" 

Akane sighed, "Ukyou...It's her, not him, and it's Ranko, not Ranma. 
Please keep that in mind." 

Although the statement was meant to be helpful, it did not make him feel
better.  As it was, Ukyou's mood had been steadily getting worse,
especially considering the various circumstances that had brought them
there that night.  His fathers letter, Ranma's mother, and Akane's plan. 
Despite the calm Akane displayed, nothing seemed to be going right. 

"Great!  Now what do we do about school.  If this is to work, Ranko will
have to act like a young lady all the time.  You do realize she'll never
be able to pull it off."  Ukyou said as he prepared himself some tea. 
"How do you expect her to put up with what we usually have to go through. 
She has no experience and no training in how to be a girl." 

"Oh come on Ukyou, she'll do fine once we explain it to her," Akane told
her friend.  "All you have to do is keep it up and continue to be romantic
and kind to her." 

She looked at the young man in front of her, trying to decide on
something, "Ukyou...You do have a suit don't you?" 

Ukyou choked slightly on the tea, "Of course I do.  Who do you think I
am?" 

Akane smirked slightly, "Well, I thought you might have gotten rid of all
of them..." 

Ukyou just looked at Akane for a moment, and then started his _long_
reply. 

"Now see here Akane-chan...: 

***

"There!  That's much better.  See how nice you look Ranko?" Nodoka said as
she turned her daughter to the mirror. 

Ranko was surprised at what she saw staring back at her.  The girl in the
mirror had her hair brought up in light curls and held in place with a
comb.  Her kimono and obi, which she usually only wore to festivals,
seemed nicer that usual, somehow, more formal yet full of fun.  But it was
the face that caught Ranko's attention.  Her mother had applied only a bit
of clear mascara, blush and lipstick, but the effect was wonderful.  She
knew from past experience that she could become a very cute young woman if
she had to, but this...she was beautiful. 

*I wonder if mom could teach me how to do this...WHAT AM I THINKING!!!*
Ranko shuddered slightly as she wondered what was going on with her mind. 
Why did she want her mom to teach her how to use make-up? *Calm
down...You're not going crazy, it nothing to be alarmed about...*

Nodoka looked at Ranko, and was pleased at the expression on her face.  If
she could teach Ranko how to dress as a young woman, then perhaps she
would start acting like one.  From how the child reacted, she was
pleasantly surprised, and that made Nodoka very happy.  As she looked at
Ranko, she came to the decision to stay for a while.  Ranko would need
some help to catch the young man upstairs.  Despite the fact that he liked
her, if the child acted like she usually did, Ukyou-kun would not have
much to do with her.  Besides, nothing was really happening at home, and
perhaps if she stayed, Ranma and Genma would arrive back. 

Smiling, Nodoka said, "Come on dear, let's go and talk to that pleasant
young man of yours." and started to lead Ranko upstairs. 

***

"Hello everyone, I'm home!" Nabiki's voice called out from the doorway,
"Anything come for me in the mail?" 

Kasumi looked out from the kitchen, "No, not today Nabiki." 

"Thanks elder sister.  I'll be upstairs for a while." 

"Ok, supper will be a little late by the way." 

Nabiki walked up the stairs wondering what she could do to make a little
extra money this week... 

***

The door to the living area opened, and Ranko walked in followed by
Nodoka. 

Ukyou's jaw fell open as he looked at the beautiful young woman in front
of her.  She wore a lovely multi-hued kimono with an offset pattern what
wound perfectly around her small frame.  The obi, in a lovely contrasting
series of colours, somehow accentuated her natural beauty.  And her
face... 

Her face, which had always been cute, was no longer that of a young girl,
but a mature woman!  Her eyes, literally seemed more defined, sharper, yet
wide and full of wonder.  The small bit of lipstick made her lips seem
fuller, more inviting.  To him, she seemed to glow from within. 

For this to be his childhood friend, his fiancee was impossible... 

Nodoka smiled to herself and turned to the table, allowing the two young
people to stare at one another.  As she prepared herself some tea, she
took note of their reactions.  From the look on his face, Ukyou-kun was
quite taken with Ranko's new look.  As for Ranko, she looked up every so
often and blushed when she noticed his gaze.  Now, if she could get the
child to go out on a date with this young man... 

Ranko glanced quickly at Ukyou, and then back down.  She was slightly
embarrassed about appearing like in front of her friends like this, but
she had to go through with it with her mother here. *Why are they doing
this?* she wondered to herself, *Why..."  She briefly looked back up and
blushed as she noticed Ukyou's expression. *No...It can't be...She likes
the fact that I look like this?*

All three of them failed to notice Akane's facial expression.  It was a
combination of jealousy, envy, and some slight anger.  The jealousy was
natural.  Anytime someone looked the wrong way at her fiancee, she felt
the need to do something to prevent it from going any further.  This time
however, it was more. *She's beautiful...Extremely beautiful.  How could
she look that good!* She looked at Ukyou as she sipped her tea, *He's
likes how she looks?  He actually finds her attractive!  What did I do?*