Disclaimer: Ranma � is copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakuken, and many
others.  
Authors note: This is my first posting, anywhere.  Please be kind.  Also, I'm
not quite sure if this is a spam-fic or not, so be warned!  Also, I stole the
concept of Ranma being a descendant of the amazons from 'Cousins'.

FREE by Murmur the Fallen

	"Say what?"
	It had been unusually quiet in Nerima-Ward for a while.  No UFO's have been
causing weird rips in the space-time continuum for at least a week.  There had
been no corporate 'actions' by Mishima Heavy Industries since that 'Giant
Robo' incident that no one wanted to talk about.  And of a more immediate
concern for those in the Furinkan area, the mobs of vengeance/love crazed
martial artists have all been pretty quiet.  As the clich� goes 'the calm
before the blah blah�'. 
	In the Tendo Dojo (known to its neighbors as 'the mad house'), the fianc�es
have gathered.  Normally, this would have immediately have caused a brawl that
would have spread into the streets and eventually destroyed a lot of the
neighborhood.  However, the two guests (well, three guests really.  But
Cologne was [standing?  Sitting? Dang, she's so short, you really can't tell]
smoking her pipe, and not really involved) being in the presence of Mrs.
Saotome, have vowed to not cause any property damage, so limited themselves in
giving each other nasty looks, and trying to burn each other with their auras.
	Nodoka was standing behind Mr. Tendo and Saotome with her sword out, looking
very stern.  Ranma was twitching in the corner, occasionally glancing at the
glaring and flaring trio.  Genma was looking very tired, but not so tired that
he looked like he was going to bolt at any moment.  Soun was weeping quietly,
barely causing a puddle.  Kasumi was in the kitchen, and Nabiki was standing
in the doorway, occasionally taking a few pictures.
	Nodoka looked at the fianc�es and decided to start.  She coughed gently,
which caught the attentions of the three and started to speak. 
	"I am sure that all of you are curious as to why you were invited here."
Nods of affirmative all around.  "Well, Genma and Mr. Tendo have some news for
you.  Genma," she said her husband's name very sternly, while she pivoted her
sword so that it pointed straight at him.  Genma gulped.
	"Ah, the reason you were invited is that umm�" Genma trailed off, while Soun
cried harder.  Nodoka poked Genma with her sword.  The fianc�es meanwhile were
looking very nervous, as was Ranma.
	"The reason was," Genmas voice broke.  "The reason was that we wished to tell
you that we decided that all the engagements to Ranma are, are, are�" Tension
filled the room, as everyone instinctively knew what he was going to say.
Genma whispered, "off.  All the engagements are off." Sound and Genma started
crying and clinging to each other.  Nodoka sheathed her sword and sat looking
satisfied. When she glanced at the girl's reactions however, she felt pity
welling up in her.
	"Say what?" Ranmas question was filled with shock.  
	Ukyo's face was a mask of pain, with tears flowing out of her eyes being the
only indication of how she felt.  Shampoo was wailing her loss, crying
hysterically into her great-grandmothers shoulders.  Akane had her down, so
that no one could see her face.  Her hands clenched her dress, and her
shoulders shook.  
	"Ukyo dear, we talked with your father, and he agreed that annulling the
engagement was for the best.  Xian Pu, since Ranma is not an outsider, the law
does not apply.  I am sorry; all of you, but this really is for the best.  For
all of you." Nodoka was going to talk with Akane privately later.  
	Ranma, meanwhile had sat, numb to all.  His mouth moved but nothing came out.
Nodoka looked sadly at her son.  
	"Ranma, you are now free from the engagements." She said.
	"Free," whispered Ranma.  This caused all the girls to cry even harder.
	Suddenly, Soun stood up and with tears streaming, he said hysterically,
"Ranma!  Now is your chance!  Admit your love for Akane!  Restore your
engagement!" he then sat back down, but he stopped crying as he stared at
Ranma.  Akane too, looked up and stared at him, as did everyone else in the
room.
	"I..I.." Ranma trailed off, his twitching increasing.  His face however was
still blank.  Everyone, some filled with joy, others filled with pain,
finished the sentence. 'I love Akane.' So what he said next, came as a
complete shock.
	"I'M FREE!!!" Ranma raised his clenched fists in triumph over his head.
"FREE! FREE!  AHAHAHAAA!!!" Ranma started laughing hysterically as tears of
joy ran over his cheeks. Pity he had never heard that other clich�, ' hell
hath no fury like a woman scorned.' 
	"Ranma," said Akane.
	"No," said Ukyo
	"BAKA!" yelled Shampoo.  As one, the three girls raised their various
instruments of destruction and hit Ranma through the roof and into the
ionosphere.  They then ran out of the dojo with murder in their eyes,
following Ranmas cried of 'free!'.
	"I think that went well, don't you?" said Nabiki as she put away her camera.
Nodoka could only nod dumbly in response.

So, what do you think?  C&C is welcome, but flames are not. My e-mail address
is Harijubal@aol.com