Skuld has been on my case lately.  You see, I left a MAJOR cliffhanger in
chapter 10.  So...  for those of you *dying* to find out what Kasumi found
in Ranma's room...  Read on.

Oh yeah, I'm including the whole thing since I made a bunch of minor
fixes.


A!MG-R1/2 -- White Wolf <wwolf@ranma.net>

			Moonlight & Cherry Pie


    Chapter One -- I Don't Have to Eat It to Know It's Toxic.

	*I'm doomed.*
	"Ok Ranma, what would you like me to make for dinner?" 
	*The gods must hate me.*
	"Ranma?  Ranma!  RANMA!!" 
	"Huh?" 
	"What do you want for dinner?!" 
	"Ah...  I'm really not that hungry..." 
	"Fine then!  I'll make it just for myself!!" 
	Ranma watched Akane storm back into the house.  *Why me?  Kasumi
finally arranges to cook dinner for Dr. Tofu, and at his place.  So, then
Nabiki suddenly announces that Kuno is taking her to dinner.  Pop &
Tendo-san claim to have planned a night out on the town for weeks.  It
looks like I was the only person stupid enough to not find an excuse to
get out of here.*
	Ranma jumped up onto the roof and sat down.  *How did I ever get
engaged to such an un-cute tomboy anyway?  Oh yeah.  Pop.  Gotta remember
to thank him for abandoning his only son to Akane's cooking, again.* He
looked out over Nerima, noticing how peaceful it was for once.  *Hm... 
it's very quiet tonight.  I wonder why?* Some half remembered line about
the calm before the storm ran through his head.  Off in the distance he
thought he heard something.  "...a haul!"  *Oh great.  Well, even Happosai
stays away from Akane's cooking...* Ranma looked down as his stomach
growled in hunger.  *Oh man, I'm starving!  I gotta get some food, and
Akane's doesn't count.  I know, take-out!*
	Ranma jumped down and crept into the house, watching carefully for
his fiancee.  *If she sees me...* Lucky for Ranma, Akane was quite busy in
the kitchen.  He crept up to the phone, and listened for a few seconds. 
Sure enough, Akane cooking made more noise than you would expect to hear
from a dozen cooks, cooking a dozen dishes, for a gross of guests.  *What
is she doing in there?!?  Never-mind, I don't really want to know.  Gross
would be a fitting word.* He picked up the phone, and dialed up the only
other Chinese place in town. 
	"Hello, Wok'n'Roll..." 
	"Hi!  Can I order..." 
	"We are sorry, but due to a Chinese national holiday, we will be
closed...  <Click>"  Ranma hung up the phone. 
	"Damn.  Ok, who's next.  Hold on a second.  National holiday?" 
Ranma dialed another number he used fairly often.
	"Ni-hao, Nekohanten!" 
	"Hi Shampoo..." 
	"So sorry, but Shampoo no here today.  Have holiday...  <Click>" 
	"Darn it!"  He punched in another number.  After letting it ring a
few times he hung it up again.  "Oh, that's right, they don't deliver
before eight."  Ranma punched in yet another number, hoping for an answer,
anything to avoid eating whatever it was that Akane was cooking this time.
	"Ucchan's..." 
	"Ucchan!  It's Ranma!" 
	"...will be open again tomorrow at eleven...  <Click>" 
	"ARG!!!"  *beepbeepbeep* <Slam!> *beepbeepbeep* <Slam!>
*beepbeepbeep* <Slam!> *beepbeepbeep* <Slam!> *beepbeepbeep* <Ring...
Ring...  Ring...>
	"MOSHI MOSHI????" 
	"Hi!  You have reached the Goddess Relief Office.  I'll be right
down for a consultation!" 
	"NANI???  MOSHI MOSHI!!  MOSHI MOSHI!!!!!"  Ranma slammed the
phone down again.  "Who the hell was that?!?" 
	"Ranma?  Who were you just talking to?"  Ranma looked up in fear
to see Akane now standing in the hallway.  *Oh no, did she hear me...?*
	"Ah...  just a wrong number I think." 
	"Um...  Ok."  Akane looked suspicious, as she didn't remember
hearing the phone ring, but having heard him yelling hello into the phone
decided to ignore it just this once.  "Well, come on into the dining room,
dinner is ready."  Without waiting for a response, Akane turned and went
back into the kitchen to bring out the food. 
	"Ah...  be right there."  *I thought she said she was just gonna
make it for herself.  I know I said I wasn't hungry...  Oh man, she must
want to poison me.* Ranma turned and walked to the back door.  *If
only...* That's when it caught his eye.  *What the hell?* Ranma watched as
the small pool started swirling around, faster and faster.  Some sort of
disk of light appeared above it, also swirling in a circle.  The disk of
light dipped down in the middle until it touched the water, and then
something really strange happened.  A girl started rising out of the disk. 
A cute girl.  A really cute girl... with a hammer on her back? 


    Chapter Two -- When You Wish Upon a Star... 

	"Konichiwa!" 
	Ranma tried to respond, but somehow, for possibly the first time
in his life, he was without words.  Instead, he just watched in shock as
she hopped down next to the pond, and walked over to him.
	"Hi!" 
	"Uh...."  Then his superb training and reflexes finally kicked in. 
"Who the heck are you?!?  Ah...  that is..." 
	The girl blinked at that, and then frowned.  "This is the Tendo
Dojo, right?"
	"Yeah." 
	"And you're Ranma Saotome, right?" 
	*Oh no, Pop, you didn't.  Not another one!* "Um, why do you ask?" 
	She frowned again.  "Because I'm from the Goddess Relief Office,
and I'm here on important business with him.  Now are you or aren't you?" 
	*Goddess...  Hey, that sounds like that last place I called...*
"Well, actually, I am Ranma.  But, I didn't mean..." 
	The girl smiled.  "Great!  Ok, what's your wish then?" 
	"...to call you, you see I was...  My what?" 
	"Your wish!  Everyone gets one wish and only one wish.  And no
wishing for lots of wishes or anything."  She had the hint of a smile as
she pretended to glare at him.  The overall effect was quite cute. 
"That's cheating." 
	"But I was just calling for take-out, because Akane was..." 
	She leaned forward and said eagerly, "So is that what you wish
for?  Take-out?" 
	Ranma blinked a few times.  "...cooking dinner, and...  Wish?  You
mean I really get a wish?  I can wish for anything?" 
	"Just about.  You can't wish for me to stay with you, that causes
too many problem, nor..."
	"But I could wish to stay a guy all the time?" 
	"Huh?!?"  Ranma almost laughed at the look on her face, it was
confusion, surprise, and shock all rolled up in one.  "But you are a guy! 
Aren't you?"  She poked him in the chest. 
	"Right now I am... never-mind.  Could I wish I had one fiancee?" 
	"You want me to find you a fiancee?" 
	"No!  I want to get rid of three of mine, so I only have one
left!" 
	At this, her jaw dropped, literally.  "You have four fiancees?" 
	Ranma grinned.  "Yeah, but it's not my fault." 
	"Well, I guess I could do something about it..."  Ranma could hear
she didn't sound very confident now.  *Uh oh.  Wishes about love always
get messy.* Almost speaking more to herself, she said, "Do you love any of
them?  Do any of them love you?" 
	Ranma's mouth made into gear before his brain did.  "Well... 
Ukyo, Shampoo, and Kodachi have made it clear how they feel, but Akane..." 
It was about then that his thoughts caught up to his mouth, and he shut
up. 
	She tilted her head to the side and got a very curious look on her
face.  "What about you?" 
	Ranma looked distinctly uncomfortable.  "I...  I sorta like..." 
	At this point, the laws of nature imposed themselves once again. 
"Ranma!  Where are you?  The food is almost ready!"  Akane poked her head
out the door, and opened her mouth to shout again, when she spotted Ranma
standing very close to a girl she'd never seen before.
	"Akane!  Ah...  this is...  Oh, I don't know your name." 
	The girl grinned and waved to Akane.  "Hi!  I'm Skuld." 
	"Hi.  Ranma, um..."  Akane thought for a minute.  She didn't want
Ranma's food to get cold, but it would be rude to make him come in now
without inviting this girl in too.  And she needed to find out if Ranma
was at it again.  *If he has another fiancee...* "Ah, Skuld?  Would you
like to join us for dinner?" 
	Ranma's eyes bugged out.  "No, wait..." 
	"Really?!  I'd love too!"  Skuld ran by Ranma and up onto the
porch.  "Ranma still has to decide anyway."  Skuld said as they both
walked into the house.
	"Oh no!  Akane, if you kill her, I'll never be a guy again!" 
Ranma ran inside to find a table piled high with food.  It looked great,
but he knew from bitter, and bitter indeed, experience just how bad it
would taste.
	"Ok, dig in!  Tell me what you think."  Akane piled three plates
high with food and handed one to each of them. 
	Ranma stared at the plate for a second, wondering how the hell
he'd get out of this now.  *Time to bite the bullet.  Hm...  I hope it
won't be literal.* Ranma took a bite, and felt his entire body lock up in
pain.  He fell over on his side, choking and gasping.  It seemed hours,
but was only seconds before he recovered. *Must be building up a
tolerance.* He then turned to Skuld to see how she had reacted.  Skuld was
bent over with her head touching the floor, holding her stomach.  *Wow,
she's tough.* When she could sit up again, she reached for her water and
drank the entire glass at once.  *Probably to wash out the taste.  Tried
that before. Doesn't help.*
	"That has a very... unique taste."  Skuld clearly didn't want to
offend her hostess, but her reaction was very difficult to hide.
	*You have a talent for the understatement.* "Unique is a good
word.  Deadly would work too."
	"I ruined it again, didn't I?"  Akane could feel the beginning of
a tear forming.  She had tried so hard, and failed to produce an edible
meal...  again. 
	Ranma muttered under his breath, "Man, I wish Akane would learn
how to cook before she kills somebody." 
	Skuld suddenly sat bolt upright, and smiled at Ranma.  She began
to float up into the air, while a bright white light began to gather
around her.  It grew brighter and brighter for a few seconds, and then
stabbed up into the sky, without even harming the roof.  She glowed for a
few more seconds, and then slowly began to dim, and sank to the floor.
When the light had faded completely, she spoke again.  "Your wish has been
approved."


    Chapter Three -- ...Be Careful What You Wish For... 

	Akane blinked.  "Wish?  What do you mean, his wish has been
approved?  What wish?" 
	Skuld hugged herself in happiness.  *My first contract!  Oneesama
will be so proud!* Then she realized Akane was staring at her.  "Oh!  You
didn't hear him.  He wished for..." 
	"AHHH!!!!  That wish counted?!?"  Ranma felt his heart stop.  *I'm
gonna be a girl forever.* Ranma sank to the floor.  "Pop is gonna kill me. 
I could have saved us both.  I blew it." 
	"What wish?  Ranma, what did you wish for?" 
	Skuld looked back and forth between the two, and began to look
worried.  "You didn't want that wish?"  Skuld started chewing on her
bottom lip, and could feel the beginning of a tear form in her eye. 
*Could I have made a mistake?  Urd will never let me live that down.*
	Akane glared at Ranma.  "What wish?!?" 
	"Ah..."  *She'll kill me.  I know it.  Why couldn't I just keep my
big mouth shut for once.*
	A blue aura began to form around Akane.  "RANMA!!  WHAT WISH?!?" 
	Ranma jumped, and blurted out before he thought, "I wished you
would learn how to cook."
	"You don't like my cooking?!?  Die Ranma!!"  Akane pulled out a
wooden hammer from nowhere and jumped to her feet.
	"I'm glad I made that wish!  Then maybe your food would taste as
good as it looks!"
	Skuld looked up in surprise.  *Glad?  He said glad.* "Great!" 
	Akane noticed a different word.  *Good?  He said good.*
	Ranma turned to look at Skuld.  "Great?  You want her to kill me?" 
*Well, at least it's a change from wanting to marry me.*
	Skuld looked at Akane.  "That would make granting your wish a bit
difficult."
	Akane was strangely silent.  *He said my cooking looks good?*
	Skuld spoke up again.  "But I suppose, since you are affianced, I
could bend the rules this time..."
	Akane blinked at Skuld, then seemed to catch the joke.  "Really?!? 
That's wonderful!"
	Ranma's eyes grew bigger with each word.  "You're not..."  Then he
heard the giggles start.  "Ha ha.  Very funny.  I use my wish for you and
you threaten my life."  *Why am I being so nice to her today?  It's not
like I...  ah...*
	Akane sat back down, and dropped the hammer.  *That's strange. 
Why didn't I hit him?  Having guests here never stopped me before.* "So,
um...  what does this wish mean?" 
	Skuld sat down as well.  "Well, it means I get to teach you how to
cook.  I learned from Oneesama, she's a great cook."  *Arigato,
Belldandy.*
	"But why?  I mean, why did Ranma get a wish anyway?" 
	"Yeah.  All I did was dial the wrong number."  *It would be nice
if she could cook.  Then... wait a minute.  Why should I care if that
tomboy can cook or not?*
	Akane glared at him.  "I thought you said it was a wrong
number...?"  *The phone didn't ring, I was right!*
	"Well it was!  I dialed the wrong number."  Ranma looked at her
and raised an eyebrow.  "Didn't I just say that?" 
	"But he dialed *my* number, so he gets a wish."  *No need to
explain how he dialed the number.  Only a very few can dial that number at
all, and even less by accident.* "And he wished for..."
	"But I know how to cook!" 
	Ranma looked at the...  food...  before them.  "And this is a
perfect example of her cooking.  It looks great, but...  It'll kill you." 
	Skuld jumped up and grabbed Akane's hand, dragging her into the
kitchen before she could react to Ranma's words.  "Ok, first, let's start
by taking a look at the classroom..."  Her words trailed off as they left
the room. 
	*I wonder if even a Goddess can teach Akane to cook.*

				*****

	Kasumi hummed as she opened the oven to check on dinner.  *Dr. 
Tofu will love this.  If only...*
	Dr. Tofu walked into the kitchen then.  "Kasumi!  What a surprise
seeing you here, of all places."  He then proceeded to trip over the open
oven door. 
	Kasumi giggled at him.  *If only Akane could learn to cook for
Ranma, she wouldn't have to worry about his other fiancees as much.*

				*****

	"Ah Saotome!  What a wonderful meal that was." 
	"Yes it was Tendo.  What a splendid idea it was, going out to
dinner like this."  *I hope Ranma is alright.  Akane will surely poison
him with her cooking if he's stupid enough to eat it.*
	"Yes, well, we must discuss our plans to join our children in
marriage, Saotome."  *If Ranma is still alive after Akane's meal tonight.*


    Chapter Four -- ...You Might Get It. 

	"Dinner is ready...  Come and get it!" 
	"Oh Akane, that's wonderful." 
	"Yeah, thanks Sis." 
	"Saotome, I'm so proud of Akane, cooking such a wonderful meal." 
A living fountain of tears gushed forth with his words. 
	"And well you should Tendo, having a daughter who can cook as well
as Akane can."  If it was possible to become worse, the fountain did.  Not
to mention that his tears were forming a river in the house. 
	Akane watched proudly as her family, and Genma, dug in.  However,
one person wasn't eating.  "Ranma, don't you like it?" 
	Ranma turned to her.  "Like it?  I'm afraid to try it." 
	"But...  Skuld taught me how to cook now."  Akane grinned.  "I can
cook as good as Kasumi now."
	"Yeah right, Akane.  You'll never be as good as Kasumi." 
	"RANMA NO BAKA!!!!!"  Akane tried her best to jump at him, but
found her arms and legs couldn't move.  Something seemed to be holding her
back.  "I HATE YOU!!"  Akane struggled against her unseen captor again. 
"I HATE YOU!!  I HATE YOU!!  I HATE YOU!!"  Then everything started going
black... 
	Akane screamed, and suddenly found herself in bed.  She struggled
to sit up and nearly ripped the covers un-tangling them from herself, then
threw them out of her way.
	Akane sat up and felt her heart pounding and her pulse racing. 
She let her breath go and drew in a calmer one.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale. 
Inhale.  *Relax Akane, it was just a bad dream.*
	"Akane!  Are you Ok?"  Ranma burst in through the door, but
stopped when her saw her sitting up in bed.  "Bad dream?"  Ranma noticed
her covers strewn everywhere.  "Really bad dream?"  Gathering them up, he
walked over and sat down next to her.  "Kuno chasing you again?" 
	Akane glared at him.  She was angry.  No, she was hurt.  No, angry
was right.  No, she had been insulted.  No, she was confused.  Yes,
confused is more like it.  *How does he feel about me...  He insults my
cooking, my martial arts, my swimming, me...  But then he runs to my
rescue, even when it's just a bad dream...* "I'm fine Ranma...  it was
just a dream." 
	"Akane!  Are you alright??"  Soun rushed into the room, stopping
halfway inside upon spotting Ranma sitting on Akane's bed, holding her
covers.  *Initiative boy, that's what you need!*
	"Hey Sis, you okay?"  Nabiki poked her head around the corner of
the door.  *Ranma?  What is he doing sitting...* "Ranma.  I should have
known." 
	"Akane?  Was it that cooking nightmare again?"  Kasumi stepped in
the door, only then noticing everyone else was there already.  "Oh!  Did
everyone wake up?" 
	In another room, a large panda rolled over and went on sleeping. 
	"Girls, I think Akane will be fine, let's go back to bed."  Soun
herded the two older Tendo girls out of the room, then shut the door
behind him.  *Now all he has to do is be nice for five minutes.  What am I
saying?!?  Oh well, at least they're alone in her room, it's a start.* A
quiet drip-drip-drip could be heard. 
	As they walked back to their rooms, Nabiki spoke quietly to
Kasumi.  "Did you notice, Ranma actually seemed worried about her..." 
	"Yes...  he can't hide it from her too much longer now..." 

				*****

	Ranma sat quietly, waiting for Akane to speak first.  *Cooking
nightmare?  Her cooking gives nightmares to me!  I wonder how bad it is
for her, since she actually cooks the stuff*
	Akane suddenly grinned at Ranma.  "You weren't worried about me,
were you?" 
	*Me??  Worried?  Why would I be worried about an un-cute tomboy
having a nightmare?* That was what Ranma meant to say, but what came out
was, "Me??  Worried?  ah...  um, no, I wasn't..." 
	Akane blinked in surprise.  *He didn't...*  "Oh, Ok."
	"Um...  Kasumi said it was a cooking nightmare?  What did she 
mean by that?"
	Akane froze up.  "It means I sometimes have a dream about cooking."
	*That is a dream!* Once again, Ranma's mouth betrayed him, in
reverse.  Now instead of insulting her without thinking, he said, "What's
so bad about that?" 
	*What??  Twice in a row?  Why is he being so nice?*  "The way it 
ends.  Everyone loves my food except for one person.  He always refuses 
to eat it."
	"So?  It's only one person.  If everyone else likes it, what do 
you care what this one person thinks?"  
	Akane face faulted.  "But...  I cooked it especially for him! 
He's the one I most wanted to like it, and he hates it!"
	Ranma thought for a second.  "I thought you said he wouldn't try
it."
	"Yes!  He won't even try it."
	"Well then, how can he hate something he won't try?"
	Akane face faulted again.  "But...!"
	"Besides, who is this guy anyway?  I always tried your cooking,
even when I knew it was going to be painful.  You should forget about this
guy, he's not worth it."  *Ryoga eats her cooking, Shinnosuke likes it,
who the hell is this guy she's dreaming about?!?*
	"Ok...  besides, what do I need him for when I have you to hate 
my cooking."  
	"Exactly!"  *Wait a minute...  uh oh*
	Akane grinned.  "Ranma no baka."
	Ranma got up.  "Good-night..."
	"'Nite"

				*****	

	Kasumi listened as a door opened, then closed.  Then as another
door opened, but didn't shut all the way.  *That must have been Ranma
leaving.  Only he would forget to shut his door.  But that means Akane
didn't hit him.  They were in there together for more than five minutes
and she didn't hit him.  I knew I was right, they do like each other!*


    Chapter Five -- Now You're Cooking!

	The scent began somewhere in the kitchen, and slowly waft-ed its
way out.  It got caught for a few minutes in the hallway cross-drafts, but
slowly worked its way onward.  It ran into a tricky bit of navigating near
the stairs, but bolstered by reinforcements, it slowly worked its way
upstairs.  The final obstacle in its way was the door, but Ranma had
forgotten to close it all the way last night, so it didn't have to work
its way under the door.  It entered the room, and drifted by Ranma's nose,
tickling it.  Ranma breathed deep, and pulled the scent in.
	"Um... that smells great!"  Ranma sat up and began to think about
another of Kasumi's wonderful breakfasts, and how great it would taste. 
Then his face twisted in fear.  "Oh no.  Akane starts cooking this
morning."  Ranma shuddered.
	A few minutes later, the smell had grown stronger, it was much
clearer than before.  Ranma could now smell each and every part of
breakfast...  and it *still* smelled great.  *This is not possible.  Akane
can't cook good food...  What is going on here??*
	Ranma pulled together his courage and decided to brave the 
horrors of the kitchen.  Getting up, he pulled on a red shirt and black 
pants and went downstairs.
	When he reached the kitchen he discovered that Akane wasn't
cooking breakfast.  This should have cleared up the mystery.  But it
didn't.  Because, in fact, no... person... was at all.  Some... thing... 
he had no idea what else to call it, was.  It was some sort of robot,
sitting there on the counter-top.  Not too much unlike a metal octopus, it
had eight arms, all ending in kitchen utensils of one sort or another. 
And it was cooking.  *Well, it smells good, Akane didn't cook it, so...  I
guess I will have breakfast this morning after all.*
	"Ranma!  Ohayo gozaimasu!"
	"Um, ohayo.  Ah...  what *is* that thing?"
	"Skuld said it's a 'cooking instructor'."
	"Oh...  um, where is Skuld anyway?"
	"She's still asleep.  I think she stayed up all night building it." 
	"Oh.  Are you just supposed to watch it and learn from it or
something?" 
	"Hai.  Skuld left a note to just let it make breakfast today to
test it, but after that it'll help by demonstrating proper cooking
technique, and I just have to imitate it.  So, Skuld and I will work
together and share the cooking.
	"Oh, I get it.  So only half our meals will be deadly.  50-50 
odds.  I can live with that."
	Akane reached behind her where her wooden hammer was and grabbed 
hold of it.  "Would you care to repeat that?"
	Ranma turned, and then considered his words.  "Sure.  I can live
with you cooking half our meals."  *Wait a second, that's not quite what 
I meant to say.*
	Akane face faulted.  *What...?*  Her grip on the hammer slipped 
and it dropped out of her hand.  "You...  can live with me cooking half 
the meals?"  She looked very carefully at his face as it twisted up in 
confusion.  *Does he mean that, or is he just planning a new way to 
insult me?*
	*Did I mean that?  Why would I say that anyway?*  "Sure I meant
that.  Besides, what choice do I have?  Someone has to test your food, and
we can't risk Kasumi."  *What the hell??  Usually I speak without
thinking.  Now I'm thinking and I'm not saying what I meant to.*
	Akane started to smile, then stopped, unsure if it was an insult 
or not.  "Ok then, you can be the food taste-tester for me."
	Ranma swallowed hard.  *Of course.  Me and my big mouth.*
	"Ohayo!"  Ranma & Akane looked up as Skuld walked in.  She 
grinned at both of them, then noticed the confused looks on both their 
faces.  "What's wrong?"
	Ranma looked at Akane, then spoke up.  "I'm... not sure.  I keep
saying things I don't expect to." 
	Skuld frowned in concentration.  "What sort of things are you
saying, and what did you expect to say?" 
	"He's saying nice things for once, instead of being mean, like
usual." 
	Skuld tilted her head to the side for a second, then paled
slightly.  "You mean, you're not saying anything that would make Akane
want to kill you??" 
	Ranma's face lit up.  "Yeah!  That's it exactly!" 
	"It's the wish.  You said 'learn before she kills somebody'. 
Well, you count as somebody.  The Ultimate Force is preventing you from
saying anything to make her angry enough to kill you."
	*That's it??  The wish???  He's only saying that because he *has*
to?  I'll kill him.*


    Chapter Six -- You Want Pork For Dinner?!?
	
	Ranma wandered outside, so distracted by thoughts of eating Akane's
cooking, plus being forced to be nice to her, not to mention being nice
about her cooking, that he failed to notice the figure standing next to
the small pond.
	"You're late," snarled the figure waiting for him, who then
attacked. 

				*****

	Akane waited until after Ranma had left before turning to Skuld. 
"He doesn't mean any of the nice things he said?"
	Skuld thought for a moment of another couple she knew who had once
had trouble saying how they truly felt about one another.  "Maybe..."  *Or
maybe he's finally saying what he really feels.*
	"Fine!  Who needs him anyway?"  Akane tried to ignore the little 
voice that told her just who did need him after all.  *I don't!*

				*****

	"HI-YA!"
	Ranma eyed his opponent carefully.  It was never easy to win 
against him.  "Ready to go for a swim?"
	"You'll be the one to take a swim, Ranma.  Your arrogance will..." 
	Ranma used the moment while his opponent was distracted to knock
him into the pond, changing him into his cursed form.  "I'll be 
swimming?  I don't think so."  Ranma turned to see Akane coming up to the 
pond.
	"Breakfast is ready."
	"Ok."
	Ranma followed Akane back into the house.  Right behind him was
his early morning opponent, now changed into his animal form.  Ranma sat
down between Akane & Skuld, then noticed that everyone else was staring at
Skuld so intently, no one saw the animal wander in.
	"Oh, whoops.  Akane, did you remember to introduce them to Skuld?" 
	Akane turned to Ranma, then blushed.  "No, I forgot.  You're the
one who called her anyway.  You introduce her."
	"So Ranma...  who is this girl?  Don't tell me you have another
fiancee..."  Nabiki grinned at Ranma.  *I wonder how much he'll pay to 
keep it quiet.*
	"No, it's nothing like that!  This is Skuld, she's a Goddess."
	"Well, she is very pretty, but that's a very Kuno-esque thing to
say, Ranma."  *Hm...  a little defensive.  That's a good sign.*
	"No!  I mean she really *is* a Goddess!"  Ranma looked around at
the rest of the Tendo family and saw only incomprehension there. "Oh,
never-mind.  She's going to be here a lot.  Skuld is going to teach Akane
how to cook." 
	Akane glared at Ranma.  *You don't have to tell the whole world I 
can't cook, Ranma.*
	"Oh Akane!  How wonderful!"  Soun could feel the tears welling up
in his eyes.  *My girl, learning how to cook finally!  Saotome, you & I
will bring our children together yet!*
	"Akane, you must be so happy.  You'll be able to cook for Ranma 
whenever you like now."  Kasumi beamed at Akane.  
	Skuld visibly jumped, and stared at Kasumi for a few seconds
before recovering herself. 
	Akane looked very uncomfortable, and carefully avoided looking at
Ranma.  Of course, this meant she missed Ranma fidgeting and avoiding
looking at her too.  "Well, now that we all know who Skuld is, could we
please eat?  I don't want to be late for school." 
	At last, the rest of the clan sat down and started eating
breakfast.  While Kasumi got a few strange looks for the very
untraditional breakfast, it disappeared very fast. 
	"Ah, another wonderful breakfast Kasumi.  Thank you." 
	"Oh!  I didn't make this father.  I thought Akane did." 
	"Nah, couldn't have.  We're still alive." 
	Akane turned to Ranma.  "That can be fixed Ranma..." 
	Suddenly, Nabiki jumped up.  "C'mon guys, we're gonna be late." 
	Ranma leapt up and ran back upstairs.  "Oh man, where's my school
bag??" 
	Akane got up also and followed Nabiki out the door.  *I'll settle
with him later.  School is more important.* Ranma never even noticed his
close escape. 

				*****

	Skuld got up, and bowed to her hosts.  "Thank you for having me
for breakfast." 
	Always the perfect hostess, Kasumi replied, "You are quite
welcome, thank you for cooking it.  Will you be back when they get home
from school?" 
	"Yes, as long as I'm not intruding."  For the second time, Skuld
had to check to be sure she wasn't talking to her sister. 
	Soun thought to himself.  *What perfect manners.  Perhaps Akane
will pick those up as well.* "You could never intrude here.  You are
welcome for as long as you wish." 
	"Arigato!  I'll be back then."  Skuld grinned, then skipped out
back to the pond and jumped in.  When she didn't come back out after a few
seconds, Soun and the panda exchanged looks. 
	"Kids.  Who can understand them?" 


    Chapter Seven -- Sisters Have To Stick Together

	It only took Ranma a minute to catch up to the Tendo sisters. 
"Hey Akane, I just thought of something..." 
	"Oh, that's a good one Saotome." 
	Akane glared at Nabiki.  *He's MY fiance Nabiki.  I'm the one that
gets to insult and abuse him, not you.* "Nabiki, leave him alone.  What
did you think of, Ranma?"
	"Um...  well, I was thinking...  Skuld is teaching you how to
cook, and she cooked some strange gaijin food for breakfast.  Is that the
kind of cooking you'll be learning?"  Ranma jumped up on the fence, and
continued to walk along. 
	*That's strange.  Not that my sister's fiance is stupid, but
that's a remarkably intelligent comment.  I should have thought of that.*
	Akane turned to look at Ranma.  "I...  I'm not sure.  I didn't
think of that.  Do you think...  it'll be easier to learn, and maybe... 
thats why...?" 
	Ranma shrugged.  "I dunno.  Even if she teaches you how to cook
strange foreign food, I don't care..." 
	Akane's eyes grew wider.  *Does he mean...?*
	"...Just as long as it isn't toxic anymore." 
	Akane smiled sweetly at Ranma.  "Ranma..." 
	Ranma turned to look at Akane, and blinked when he saw her
smiling.  *Woah...  that's weird.* He jumped down and stepped closer to
Akane.  "Yes...?" 
	Akane pulled out a one way ticket, stamped Tendo Airlines, and
handed it to him.  "DIE!!!!!!"  Then she kicked him.  Hard.  "RANMA NO
BAKA!!!!!!!!" 
	"KAWAIIkune....."  Ranma yelled as he flew out of sight.  *All I
said was I'm glad she's learning to cook!* Lucky for him, Ranma landed
face first in front of Furinkan High School.  Unlucky for him, someone was
there waiting for him.  However, it more more unlucky for the person
waiting for him. 
	"Saotome Ranma.  You vile fiend.  How I have waited for this day,
you dog, you enslaver of women, you sorcerer of black arts.  How the
heavens shall make you pay for your insolence, your contempt, your lack of
honor.  I, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High School, so swear vengeance
upon thee for thy sins!" 
	Ranma pulled his face out of the ground.  "Oh, hey Kuno.  Nice to
see you too." 

				*****

	By the time Skuld made it back to the temple, it was almost
lunchtime. Skuld walked into the kitchen, looking around to see who was
there. "Belldandy?"  She wandered around the rest of the temple for a few
minutes, surprised that even Urd was gone.  *I guess no one's here, but
Urd never gets up early.*
	Keiichi's door opened, and Belldandy poked her head around the
corner.  "Oh, Skuld!  I'll... be right out."  Skuld blinked a few times. 
*Those two...  they make me wish Kenji was here.* The door opened again
and both Keiichi and Belldandy came out.  Keiichi was blushing, but
Belldandy looked perfectly innocent.(1)
	"Ah...  so Skuld, how did it go yesterday?" 
	Skuld grinned at Keiichi.  "I finally met someone who has a harder
time saying those three little words(2) than you do." 
	Keiichi blushed even harder, and glanced at Belldandy.  "Um... 
how about I just leave you two alone to talk shop..."  He turned and left
to go to the garage, where he could find something calming to work on,
like that bike that seemed to have a death wish for him.  He found
machines trying to kill him much easier to deal with then Skuld.  Of
course, it was frequently both when it came to Skuld... 
	As soon as he was out of the room, Belldandy started giggling. 
"Skuld, you're so mean to him!"  From Belldandy, this would have been a
strong rebuke.  But the giggling ruined it. 
	"Gomen, Oneesama.  I just can't help it.  It's so funny to see him
blush."  Skuld tried to look contrite, but it was hard when she could
barely stop from giggling at Keiichi herself. 
	Skuld followed her sister into the kitchen where they began to
prepare lunch together.  Belldandy noticed that Skuld wasn't talking about
her first wish.  Belldandy reached out and took hold of Skuld's hands. 
"So, how did it go?  Did you have any problems with the wish?"  *Oh
Skuld-chan, I hope it went well!*
	Skuld was slow to answer.  *It's uncanny.  They sound exactly
alike.* "Not yet..."
	Belldandy blinked.  "What do you mean, 'Not yet'?"  Belldandy
picked up her bowl again. 
	"I'm not finished yet.  He wished that his fiancee could cook... 
and, it's going to take a while to teach her.  She's very... dangerous in
the kitchen.  Well, at least that one is." 
	"'That one'?  What do you mean by that?" 
	"He has four fiancees." 
	Belldandy dropped the bowl she was mixing in shock.  *Four?!?*

				*****

	"She's learning to WHAT?" 
	"Cook.  I, ah...  met this girl who, um... offered to teach her." 
*Gotta be careful.  Can't let anyone know she's a Goddess*
	"But, Ran-chan!  Why do you need Akane to cook for you when you
have me?!" 
	"Um..." 

				*****

	"Tendo, this is a great day." 
	"Yes it is, Saotome.  Our children will be together soon." 
	"And Akane will be able to cook for them." 
	"Perhaps we should call your wife now.  I'm sure if Ranma was
married it would fulfill the promise, curse or no curse."
	*Splash!* A large Panda sitting in the pond held up a sign.  <Not
just yet, Tendo-san.>

				*****

(1) In other words, exactly like she always does. 

(2) One way of saying 'I love you', in Japanese, is 'Suki da yo'. 


    Chapter Eight -- Where Do We Go From Here...? 

	Ranma sat quietly in the lunchroom, watching Akane talking with
her friends.  It wasn't very often that lunch was quiet around here, and
Ranma was determined to enjoy it. 
	*boom*
	Akane noticed Ranma looking at her.  It wasn't very often that
they got along, so Akane smiled at him, determined to enjoy it while it
lasted. 
	*Boom!*
	Ranma saw the smile and grinned back at her.  *She really is
cute..*
	*BOOM!!*
	Akane turned at the sound.  While the dust had not yet settled, it
was still quite clear what had happened.  After all, this happened fairly
often. 

				*****

	Belldandy smiled and waved as Skuld left the temple to head back
to the Tendo Dojo.  *I hope she isn't in over her head.  Yet it wouldn't
be fair to ask Urd to help her.  Urd may be the expert in affairs of the
heart, but I suspect four fiancees is a new one to her.*
	Belldandy turned and went out to Keiichi's work space.  He looked
up as she walked in, and grinned.  "I think it's your turn for a massage,
Bell-chan."
	Belldandy blushed, and nodded wordlessly. 

				*****

	Ranma didn't even bother to turn around.  He knew who he would see
behind him.  Instead he looked at Akane, to gauge how mad she would be
after school.  Ranma's survival instincts always cut in when two of his
fiancees were in the same room with him.(1)  And Shampoo was a very vocal
fiancee. 
	"Ni-Hao Ranma!  Shampoo bring husband lunch!" 
	"Thanks Shampoo, but I already have lunch."  Ranma turned around
finally.  "Shampoo, why do you always have to go through the walls?  They
have doors you know." 
	Shampoo blinked once.  *Why is it, whenever I show him my
strength, he asks me to stop?  Doesn't he want to know how powerful his
wife is?  Japanese men are so strange.* "Shampoo in too big hurry to use
door.  Here, eat lunch Shampoo bring."  Shampoo placed a bowl of ramen of
the table. 
	Ranma sighed and sneaked a glance at Akane.  She didn't appear to
be paying much attention.  It seemed that Akane had seen this too many
times to get any measure of real anger from it.  *Whew.  Well, eating it
will get rid of Shampoo faster, and it does taste good...* Ranma reached
out and started eating the ramen. 
	Shampoo sighed happily.  "Shampoo must go now, very busy today." 
Shampoo gave Ranma a quick hug before he could react and ran back out the
hole in the wall. 
	Ranma closed his eyes.  *I'm dead.* He opened them and carefully
took a look at Akane.  *She looks mad now.* Ranma ate the rest of his
lunch as fast as possible, which for him was pretty damn fast, and left
the lunchroom as soon as he was done.
	Akane watched him wolf down the food and leave.  *That jerk.  He
didn't have to hug her.* A thought occured to Akane.  *Next time, that
could be my lunch that he would be eating!* Akane smiled to herself, any
thoughts of hurting Ranma long forgotten.  He'd never know what wouldn't
hit him. 

				*****

	"Now, add from the red bottle...  no, not the tabasco sauce!  Yes,
that's the one.  Ok, now add a dash of it...  On second thought, here's a
measuring spoon."
	Skuld shook her head in amazement.  *I'm watching her like a hawk,
and I'm still not sure this will be edible.*
	Akane had been quick to grasp the physical parts of cooking.  She
was quite deft at separating eggs, as long as you reminded her to throw
out the shell.  Mixing, chopping, grating...  so long as you kept her from
rushing, she could do it right.  So it was clear Skuld's new invention
wouldn't be any help this time.  Akane didn't lack physical ability. 
	Skuld had narrowed her cooking problem down to a few things. 
First, Akane frequently used the wrong ingredient.  "Akane!  That's BAKING
SODA!  You want flour!"  Second, she would add things the recipe did not
call for.  "Akane, why do you have cajun powder out?  You're not going to
add that are you?"  And third, she rushed.  "Hold on, that's not mixed
yet."  Really rushed.  "It doesn't work that way!  You can't cook it at
600 and just cut the time in half!"  Akane seemed to think cooking was a
speed contest.  Adding extra spices, flavors, and the like...  that was
just a bad habit Skuld could help her break.  Using the wrong
ingredient...  well, it was tied into her rushing through the cooking
process.  "Ok, now you can put it in the oven." 
	*I wonder if Akane's cooking problem really has anything to do
with cooking at all.  It may be she simply has no patience.*

				*****

	Ranma sat calmly in front of the table.  Well, that wasn't quite
true.  He was a vision of outer calm, but no inner calm at all.  After
all, he was waiting for Akane to serve him dinner. 
	It did not surprise Ranma that for the second day in a row, both
families had abandoned him to Akane's cooking.  What did surprise him
however, was that he had, somewhat, willingly offered to taste it.  If he
had been thinking clearly, he would recognized his actions as a kind of
death wish.  But he was not. 
	"Dinner is served!  Hey, where is everybody?"  Akane placed
several dishes on the table.  "Didn't they know I was cooking dinner?" 
	*Yes, why do you think they're not here?* "I guess not.  Maybe
they thought it was a fend for yourself night again." 
	"Well, that just leaves more for us!"  Akane smiled at Ranma, and
began serving him. 
	Ranma turned to Skuld, to see what her reaction was to being given
a plate of food that she watched Akane cook.  It wasn't promising. 
*Great.  More for us is just what I want.*

				*****

(1) Not that it ever helped. 


    Chapter Nine -- These Are A Few Of My Favorite Foods... 

	*This has been the longest 24 hours of my life.* Ranma leaned over
and took a quick sniff.  Then another quick sniff.  He leaned closer and
took a long smell.  "It smells good...?" 
	"Great!  Now taste it."  It was hard to be hopeful, after the
number of times Ranma had insulted her cooking, but Akane was anyway.  *I
just know he'll like it this time.*
	Ranma took a bite.  He slowly chewed it, and swallowed.  He
grimaced slightly at the taste, and drank from his glass of water to wash
out his mouth.  Then he waited. 
	A few minutes passed, with all three of them looking from one to
the other.  Ranma looked bored, Akane looked curious, and Skuld looked... 
dumb-founded.  "So...  how was it?" 
	"It was...  an improvement."  Ranma took another bite.  It was
clear it didn't taste very good, in fact, you could tell it tasted pretty
bad.  Ranma pushed his plate away from him after washing out his mouth
again.  "Still needs a bit more work."  *No, it needs lots more work. 
But, it didn't kill me either...*
	Akane traded expressions with Skuld.(1)  "You mean... it was
better?"  At Ranma's nod, her face changed from dumb-founded to happy, and
she took a bite.  *Yuck.  This is terrible.*
	Skuld allowed her curiosity to get the better of her, and she too
tried it.  *Hm...  We've got a long way to go still.*

				*****

	Ranma walked up to the store front of a small shop, and knocked on
the door. 
	A voice called out from the other side of the door, "Gomen, we're
closed already."
	"Konatsu, it's Ranma."  Ranma heard nothing for a few seconds,
then the door opened for him to see the Ucchan's kawaii waitress. 
	"Konbanwa Ranma.  Come in.  Ukyo is in the back washing dishes." 
	"Arigato."  Ranma walked in back to see Ukyo finishing up the
dishes from the day.  "Hiya Uk-chan!" 
	"Ran-chan!  But, wasn't Akane cooking tonight...?"  *This is it
girl, your big chance.  Don't blow it now.*
	"Yep."  Ranma grinned.  "Don't worry, I survived." 
	"I see.  Was it...  good?" 
	Ranma went bug-eyed.  "Have you forgotten who we're talking
about?!?" 
	Ukyo grinned and giggled.  "No, of course not!  I was just
kidding."  *So, it's still terrible then.  I'll be a bride soon.* "I'll
bet you're still hungry then."
	"Well...." 
	Ukyo walked over to the grill and turned it on.  "One deluxe
okonomiyaki, coming right up.  And then, how about a game of poker?" 
	"But I don't have any money." 
	*We could play strip poker...* "Oh, well, we'll think of
something." 
	
				*****

	"I'd say it was a success." 
	"He didn't even finish it!  Ranma no baka." 
	"Well, it does need more work.  Give it time.  Before you know it,
you'll find him asking you to cook for him." 
	Akane sighed.  "I hope so." 
	Skuld smiled at her pupil.  "The way to a man's heart is through
his stomach.  And with the way he eats..." 
	It was hours before Akane could think of Ranma eating without
falling down laughing.

				*****

	Ranma was whistling as he walked home later that night.  *I wonder
why she reacted so oddly when I said we could play for something else.  Oh
well.  That game 'Hearts' was fun too.  Even though I lost.*
	Halfway there, a small notice on a pole caught his attention.  "No
way!  Martial Arts...  So that's why!  I should have known there's a
competition for it." 
	Ranma ripped the flyer down and took it with him.  *I think I'm
going to end up in the middle of this.  Every time we have any sort of
competition, I always get involved.  Might as well plan ahead this time.*

				*****

	Two figures crept into the house, as silent as shadows. 
	"The coast is clear, they've gone to bed," whispered one to the
other. 
	"Saotome, something must be done.  We'll starve if we have to eat
Akane's cooking."
	"Don't worry Tendo, we'll think of something.  Don't we always?" 
	Soun stopped and thought for a few minutes.  Finally, he answered. 
"No, not always." 
	Genma looked nervous for a few seconds.  "We will this time.  Our
very lives rest on our doing so."
	"Not to mention our stomachs." 

				*****

(1) Akane went from curious to dumb-founded, and Skuld vice versa. 


    Chapter Ten -- Martial Arts Figure Skating, Redux.

	Saturday morning came early for the Saotomes in the Tendo
household.  It was a matter of survival. 
	"Akane, why don't you take a break from cooking?  Go out with
Ranma, have some fun, relax." 
	*Pop, she'll never fall for it; but I'll support you all the way.*
"Yeah, Akane.  Let's go... ice skating!  I've gotten much better..." 
	Akane paused from taking her cake out of the oven.  In the
process, she somehow failed to notice it bore a great resemblance to a
lump of charcoal.  "You want to go ice skating?" 
	Ranma deftly took the slightly overdone, well, whatever it was,
and handed it off to Skuld.  "Yeah.  You've been working hard, but now
it's the weekend, and a break would do you good.  Let Kasumi cook
tonight." 
	Soun burst out in tears.  "Saotome, look at how they get along so
well!"  Akane & Ranma turned to him, but before they could say a word,
Genma spoke up. 
	"You've sav...GROWR!!" 
	Ranma let the empty bucket hit the floor.  "One of you is bad
enough.  Let's go, Akane."  *Stupid old man.  You almost blew it.*

				*****

	Ranma had learned how to skate the hard way.  This is to be
expected with Ranma, but it was a rather painful lesson even by his
standards.  Thus, he had learned well.  And given that he would become a
show-off when he had a chance, it was to noone's surprise that he was
currently skating backwards, three feet in front of Akane, taunting her to
catch him.  Peter never was very bright.(1) 
	"C'mon Akane, just a little bit faster..." 
	"Ranma, when I catch you..." 
	"Oho, so you're trying to catch me?  Better hope Ukyo and Shampoo
don't hear..."  Ranma stuck out his tongue at Akane, then spun as she
moved to grab him.  It was therefore a bit of a shock when he ran into
someone. 

				*****

	Soun looked up from the game.  "Saotome, will you excuse me?  I
need to talk to someone." 
	His opponent held up a sign.  <I won't touch the board.>
	"Of course not."  *I'll just turn it around when I get back.* Soun
wandered over to the tree, where a young girl was sitting. 
	"May I join you?" 
	Skuld looked up and gave a weak grin.  "Please do." 
	They sat in silence for a few minutes, each waiting for the other
to speak. 
	Finally, Soun broke down and turned to her.  "I... I have to know. 
Can you actually teach my daughter to cook?" 
	Skuld contemplated the burned mass in front of her, and sighed. 
"Yes, I think so.  But it won't be easy.  She just tries so hard." 
	*Akane-chan, I know you can do it!*

				*****

	Nabiki watched her father from her window.  *Daddy, I think this
time you need to leave it in the hands of a professional.* She turned as
her door opened. 
	"Nabiki, I found this in Ranma's room.  Do you think I should show
it to Akane?" 
	Nabiki looked at the item Kasumi held in her hand.  *Ranma, you
rotten little devious son-of-a...*
	"Kasumi, let me.  I think it would be better coming from me than
you." 
	"Whatever you think best." 
	*Now, how best to use this...*

				*****

	*Ow.*
	"Ukyo!  What are you doing here?"  Akane called in surprise. 
	Ranma looked up, to see that he had indeed run into Ukyo.  She was
currently holding her nose and wincing.  *Oh.  So that's who I ran into.*
"Ucchan, are you okay?" 
	Ukyo nodded and let go of her nose.  "You just surprised me."  *I
was going to...  well, never-mind.* "You just turned as I got close to
you."  *Story of my life.*
	"What *are* you doing here?  I didn't know you could skate." 
	"Just keeping in shape."  *Looking for you.* "Different kinds of
exercise for different muscles."  *Looking for you.* "You know what I
mean." 
	"Say...  you haven't seen Ryoga lately, have you?" 
	"No...  Should I have?" 
	"Nah, I've just gotten used to him showing up when I least expect
it." 
	"Oh, Akane, I heard about a cooking... MRMPH!!"  Ukyo stared at
Ranma as he jumped to cover her mouth. 
	"Heard about what, Ukyo?" 
	"Your cooking lessons!  Right Ucchan?" 
	"Not exactly.  Are you en...  MRNG!!"  Ranma grabbed her again. 
	"Ranma, leave her alone.  Am I what?" 
	"Enjoying yourself!  Having a good time!  Relaxing!  *Right*,
Ucchan??" 
	"Of course Ran-chan.  Whatever you say."  *Just so long as you
keep holding me.*

				*****

	Outside a skating rink, a young man wearing yellow and brown
clothing, a black and yellow bandanna, and carrying a huge pack, stopped
to ask for directions.  "Excuse me, but where am I?" 
	"Outside a skating rink boy.  Eyesight going?" 
	"Ah, no.  Thanks anyway." 
	He turned and headed south.  If he had been lucky, that would be
the way he wanted to go.  But he wasn't.

				*****

(1) That's Peter Noone of course.  You do know who he is, right?  Go read
    Mike Loader's essay on him from the FFML archives.  #4696


    Chapter Eleven -- Anything Goes Martial Arts Okonomiyaki Making

	Like hunters lying in wait, they each chose their place of ambush
carefully.  One waited in the kitchen.  One waited in the dojo.  It would
have been masterful plan of attack, one targeting Akane, and one targeting
Ranma.  Had they known of each other's plans, it would have been perfect. 
It would take a small miracle to make it work now. 

				*****

	"Ranma."
	Ranma turned and faced her.  He braced himself for whatever might 
happen.
	"Did you have fun at the rink today?"
	"What do you want?"
	Nabiki brought her arm from behind her back.  "Kasumi found this
in your room.  When were you going to tell her?"
	"Nabiki, please, not yet.  It's just not fair."
	"She'll find out sooner or later.  It would be better if you told
her."
	Ranma sighed.  "Alright.  I'll tell at dinner tonight."
	Nabiki flinched.  *Damn.*

				*****

	"Akane."
	Akane turned and faced her.  She braced herself for whatever might
happen.
	"We need to try this a new way.  We're going to pick one thing,
and practice until you get it perfect."
	Akane nodded.
	"Not too simple, yet not too hard."  Skuld picked up the notebook
of recipes Akane had showed her earlier that day.  She opened it at
random, and read out the recipe on that page.
	Akane's eyes went wide.  "You want me to learn..."
	"Is there something wrong with that?"
	Akane smiled.  "No, it's perfect."

				*****

	Elsewhere, two quiet voices spoke.  It would have been a challenge
to tell them apart.
	"Are you sure about this?"
	"Yes.  Thank you."
	"Don't forget our deal.  One small miracle for your chicken curry
recipe." 

				*****

	Dinner that night was eventful.  Kasumi cooked the family's
favorite dish.  It seemed Akane had decided not to try cooking full meals
anymore, but neither Skuld nor Akane would talk about what she was
cooking.
	Ranma was silent all through the meal.  Almost.  "OW!  What didja
do that for?!"
	Nabiki leaned across the table.  "Problem?"  
	Ranma glared at her.  "Yeah, someone kicked me."
	Akane looked up.  *Nabiki?*
	"Don't you have something you want to say?"  Nabiki tossed a
folded square of paper at him.
	Ranma groaned, and turned to Akane.  He unfolded the paper and
showed it to her.  "I, uh...  saw this posted up on a pole last night.  I
thought maybe..."
	Akane's expression was hard to read.  Skuld's was not.  Her jaw
was hanging open.  "Martial Arts..."  Her voice trailed off.
	"Okonomiyaki making.  Oh my, I wonder if Ukyo will be entering
it."
	A blue aura formed around Akane.  "I hope she does."

				*****

	A panicked Ranma ran to find Skuld after dinner.  "You've gotta
stop her!  She doesn't stand a chance.  Ukyo has been practicing
okonomiyaki making for 10 years!"
	Skuld sighed.  "It's out of my hands."  She held up the notebook.
"We decided today to stick to one thing, and learn it perfectly."  She
opened it to the same page picked at random earlier that day.
	Ranma glanced down at the page, then opened his mouth again.  His
eyes went wide and his mouth shut.  He looked at the page again.
	"Okonomiyaki.  The secret Tendo family recipe."
	Skuld gave him a weak smile.

				*****

	"Wasn't that strange the way it worked out?  I would have
suspected divine intervention, except that Skuld was so surprised."
	"Oh, you never know Nabiki."


    Chapter Twelve -- Practice makes...