IIRC, "Cut Wood, Carry Water" is a sequel to "The Mask We Must Wear".  The

Indeed it is.  I was perhaps the first person on the list to note this,
months ago when the prologue was first posted.

question of whether Akane knows about P-Chan is handled in there -- or at
least strongly hinted at.  Ranma tells Akane that he has one last big
secret he's never confided in her, that he would rather _not_ tell her
(because he's promised not to), and that she could work it out for herself.
She allows him to keep it a secret.

And she even accepts the caveat that it is something that is going to make
her very angry when she learns it, and preforgives Ranma, as I recall...

Of course, Akane could have worked it out for herself since then.  I don't
think we've been told how much of a gap there is between the stories ...?

I don't recall there being enough info in TMWMW to place it anywhere in
the series except *after* most or all of the ensemble is in place.

-- Bob

-- 
===============================================================================
Robert M. Schroeck            || "When in trouble or in doubt,
rms@cnj.digex.net             ||     Run in circles, scream and shout."
http://www.cnj.digex.net/~rms || I have no mouse and I must scream.